Chapter 1957 : Allies Gather, Apex Battle

"My husband, I shall aid you!" [a term of endearment for a spouse, often used in cultivation settings]

In that instant, Exquisite Jiang [the wife of Eldrin Chen, a powerful cultivator], Verdant Consort [a powerful female cultivator], Nyssa Qu [a powerful female cultivator], Violet Ultimate Ancient Phoenix [a primordial phoenix of immense power], and others all moved to lend their assistance.

Even Ethan Chen [a cultivator of the Chen Clan], Lila [a cultivator with a special constitution], and Violet Consort Yan [a powerful female cultivator] immediately tore through the void to join the fray directly.

Eldrin Chen [the protagonist, a powerful cultivator] channeled the Chaos Unity Energy [a supreme form of primordial energy] to block the enemy's assault and spoke decisively, "None with cultivation below the mid-stage of the Great Encompassing [a high cultivation realm] may enter this battle."

Upon hearing this, Energy Abyss Chen [a cultivator of the Chen Clan], Ao Hong [a powerful dragon cultivator], and Gentle Deer [a cultivator] all had their expressions shift repeatedly, ultimately halting their steps toward the battlefield.

Their cultivation bases were insufficient; joining a conflict of this level would carry an immense risk of perishing.

With this thought, they ultimately suppressed their killing intent, remaining within the formation to await an opportunity to provide support using its power.

Meanwhile, seeing the reinforcements arrive, the Primal Chaos Kui Ox [a primordial chaos beast resembling a one-legged ox] sneered coldly, "Perfect. We can wipe you all out in one fell swoop."

As the words fell, the Primal Chaos Kui Ox brandished the Divine Thunderclap Spear [a divine spear that unleashes thunderclaps] and charged directly into battle against the Violet Ultimate Ancient Phoenix.

"I shall assist you."

Nyssa Qu understood that the Violet Ultimate Ancient Phoenix was not the Primal Chaos Kui Ox. She immediately took control of the Nine Severities Spirit-Slaying Swords, soaring across the celestial expanse to lend the Violet Ultimate Ancient Phoenix a helping hand.

Yet, it had to be admitted that these six rivals contending for the Path were indeed formidable.

Aside from the Primal Chaos Kui Ox and Primordial Solar Immortal Lord, who were both at the Eighth Heaven of Great Encompassing [the eighth layer of the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal realm], the Profound Darkness Ghost Ancestor and Earthly Halberd True Lord also possessed cultivation at the Eighth Heaven of Great Encompassing. The Golden-Winged Demon Lord was slightly weaker, having reached the Seventh Layer Great Encompassing Golden Immortal.

And the strongest among the six, the Verdant Extreme Patriarch, had even stepped into the realm of Great Encompassing Golden Immortal Great Perfection [the pinnacle of the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal realm].

With six such powerful adversaries, their combined strength was truly and shockingly immense.

Eldrin Chen immediately took control of the Returning Abyss Seal [a powerful seal artifact], intercepting the Verdant Extreme Patriarch first and engaging him in an earth-shattering, ultimate battle of Burst [a divine ability of explosive power].

Exquisite Jiang then blocked the Profound Darkness Ghost Ancestor, while the Verdant Consort confronted the Primordial Solar Immortal Lord. The remaining three—Ethan Chen, Lila, and Violet Consort Yan—joined forces to face the Golden-Winged Demon Lord.

Over the years, Ethan Chen, Lila, and Violet Consort Yan had all broken through to the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal Mid Stage. However, their foundations were not as solid as those of Exquisite Jiang or the Verdant Consort, so after this breakthrough, their cultivation had not yet entered the domain of the Seventh Layer Great Encompassing Golden Immortal.

Currently, the combat power of these three had half a foot in the Seventh Layer Great Encompassing Golden Immortal realm, but they ultimately fell short by that final half-step. It required their combined efforts to contend with the Golden-Winged Demon Lord.

Yet, what astonished them was the sheer, staggering power possessed by each of these six great enemies.

Even the weakest among the Golden-Winged Demon Lord had cultivation levels brushing against the peak of the seventh level of the Great Encompassing realm. Their combat prowess allowed them to fight two opponents of equal rank simultaneously, forcing the trio to retreat step by step under their relentless pressure.

The opponents faced by Exquisite Jiang, Verdant Consort, and the others were exceptionally formidable as well. Although they had each cultivated several True Spirit Foundation [a supreme foundational cultivation art], they found it difficult to decisively break the deadlock for the moment. In fact, they were even being pushed into a disadvantageous position.

"Your strength... is actually this profound,"

the Mace of Earth Immortal Lord [the Imperial Lord who wields the Mace of the Earth Immortal] spoke, his heart filled with shock and his expression turning gravely solemn. "It seems today, we cannot afford to let you leave."

"*Clang!*"

As soon as the words of the Mace of Earth Immortal Lord fell, he immediately urged his Heavenly Halberd forward to suppress and slay his target.

Facing the pincer attack from the Mace of Earth Immortal Lord, Eldrin Chen also felt a sliver of pressure. He was already under immense strain dealing with Verdant Extreme Patriarch alone; how could he not feel the added weight of another powerful foe joining the fray?

Yet, Eldrin Chen's cultivation foundation was anything but ordinary. In that instant, he commanded the Chaos Heaven Halberd to clash with Verdant Extreme Patriarch, while with a flick of his sleeve, he unleashed the Chaos Weapon Forging Art. From this art, nine Chaos Ancient Arms manifested to press down upon the Mace of Earth Immortal Lord.

In the span of a few breaths, they exchanged over a thousand moves. The very fabric of the Chaos [a primordial state of disorder preceding creation] around them seemed on the verge of shattering from the force of their battle. Astonishingly, Eldrin Chen did not fall behind in the slightest.

"Could this be... an Innate Supreme Treasure Embryo [the primordial form of a supreme treasure, born from chaos itself]?"

Seeing that he could not subdue Eldrin Chen, Verdant Wood True Lord [a title for a powerful cultivator who has comprehended a profound truth] revealed a look of astonishment.

He scrutinized Eldrin Chen's Returning Abyss Seal [a powerful enchanted seal artifact], and a trace of covetousness could not help but appear in his eyes.

The might of the Returning Abyss Seal was simply too astonishing; its Burst [a technique to unleash explosive power] unleashed force comparable to a Supreme Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure [a top-tier treasure born from the world's essence], stirring greed even in Verdant Wood True Lord.

With this thought, he could no longer afford to hold back his reserves. He threw his head back and roared to the heavens, "Longevity Ancient Seal!"

As his voice fell, a colossal Ancient Seal [a seal-type magical artifact] soared into the sky, carrying the power to suppress all creation as it descended to crush Eldrin Chen.

"Trouble! That's a Supreme Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure!"

Eldrin Chen's expression hardened. He immediately commanded the Returning Abyss Seal to block, yet it felt as if he were being crushed by an entire Chaos [the primordial state before creation] world, his spine nearly buckling under the immense pressure.

Supreme Grade Innate Spiritual Treasures were exceedingly rare. Among ten Great Encompassing Golden Immortal Great Perfection [the peak stage of the Golden Immortal realm] cultivators, at most three might have the Opportunity and Fortune [the chance and luck bestowed by fate] to obtain one. Who could have imagined that Verdant Wood True Lord actually possessed one?

"Hahaha! That upstart Eldrin, today is your day of reckoning!"

Seeing Eldrin Chen fall into a disadvantage, Primordial Solar Immortal Lord [an immortal lord title signifying mastery over the primordial sun] actually abandoned his duel with Exquisite Jiang and directly steered his Primordial Solar Immortal Furnace [an immortal furnace artifact imbued with primordial solar power] to bear down upon Eldrin Chen.

In that fleeting instant, a deluge of Primordial Solar Flame [the purest, most destructive essence of the sun] surged forth, seeking to reduce Eldrin Chen to ashes of tribulation.

"Husband!"

Exquisite Jiang's expression shifted slightly as she moved to intervene, only to be forcefully blocked by the Mace of Earth Immortal Lord.

Yet, in that very same moment, the Verdant Extreme Immortal Lord [a powerful immortal being] suddenly paled, his voice ringing out in urgent warning, "Beware—!"

Instantly, the Longevity Ancient Seal [an ancient artifact of immense power] was sent hurtling backward. Then, from within the boundless sea of Primordial Solar Heavenly Flame [a realm of pure solar fire], a figure of awe-inspiring majesty erupted forth.

"Primordial Solar [the embodiment of the primordial sun], meet your end!"

"BOOM—!"

Before the Primordial Solar Immortal Lord could even react, an unstoppable fist materialized from the void and slammed into his chest. It punched clean through his torso, sending his entire body flying backward like a broken doll.

"GHAK—!"

In that moment, the Primordial Solar Immortal Lord was sent reeling, blood spraying from his mouth. His final glimpse was of Eldrin Chen standing tall upon the Heavenly Vault [the celestial dome of the sky], his form wreathed in the coiling energies of the Chaos Limitless Great Path [a supreme cultivation art of boundless chaos]. Hidden within the void around him pulsed the latent power of the Ten Great Immortal Treasuries [ten legendary repositories of immortal power].

"This is..."

Witnessing this scene, all the assembled immortals were utterly astounded.

Primordial Solar Immortal Lord's pupils contracted in shock, his face a mask of disbelief as he exclaimed, "This is the power of Path Mastery [the profound state of having fully comprehended and mastered a Great Path of cultivation]. You have actually grasped a Great Path [a fundamental and supreme law of the cosmos that forms the core of a cultivation system]."

At this moment, even Verdant Extreme Patriarch was visibly moved.

It turned out that in that fleeting instant, Eldrin Chen had directly activated the Great Path Authority [the supreme command and dominion inherent to a fully mastered Great Path] of the Sacrificial Self Path, summoning the empowerment of the Ten Great Immortal Treasuries [ten legendary, supreme repositories of power and law associated with a Great Path] of that Path to descend upon his person.

Even though these Ten Great Immortal Treasuries were not yet perfected, the power of Great Path Authority was ultimately astonishingly formidable, in no way inferior to the might of a Late Stage Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [a cultivator at the advanced stage of the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal realm], even brushing against the domain of the Eighth Heaven of the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [the eighth and penultimate sub-realm within the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal stage].

Such power bolstering his own form caused Eldrin Chen's combat prowess to surge once more, allowing him to shake off the suppression of the Longevity Ancient Seal.

Everyone present could discern that such a potent Great Path was no ordinary Innate Great Path [a Great Path that has existed since the dawn of creation]; it was an entirely new cultivation system with limitless potential.

"Returning Abyss, I never imagined you possessed such profound talent and vision."

Verdant Extreme Patriarch, deeply moved, could not help but speak, "Since you already wield a Great Path, then as long as you continue to refine and perfect it, you hold the potential to one day prove your Dao and attain the status of a Chaos Heavenly Emperor [a supreme sovereign whose authority stems from and governs the primordial chaos]. Why then must you remain fixated on the Chaos Limitless Great Path [a legendary, perilous, and seemingly impossible-to-master Path], a road that leads only to a dead end?"

"If you surrender the authority over the Great Path of Life [the supreme principle governing all life and vitality], we shall let bygones be bygones for today's affairs."

In truth, at this very moment, not only was Verdant Extreme Patriarch visibly shaken, but everyone else present was also gripped by profound alarm.

Initially, in their calculations, Eldrin Chen could not possibly have broken through to the Chaos Heavenly Emperor Realm [the realm of a Heavenly Emperor, a sovereign ruler of the cosmos]. Even if he had forged a True Spirit Foundation [a perfect, unshakable foundation for one's cultivation], they believed that by stripping him of his Great Path Authority [the sovereign control over a fundamental cosmic principle], he would inevitably become a negligible threat.

Yet now, Eldrin Chen had pioneered the Sacrificial Self Path [a cultivation path centered on the ultimate sacrifice of the self], a brand new Great Path [a supreme cultivation methodology] of immense and latent Force Extreme [ultimate, boundless power]. Therefore, even if he lost the Chaos Limitless Great Path [the divine ability of the Limitless Chaos Path], his future potential could absolutely not be underestimated.

After all, once the Sacrificial Self Path reached its grand completion, Eldrin Chen, as its Path Master [the supreme master and progenitor of a cultivation path], would directly possess combat power on par with a Primordial One Imperial Lord [an Imperial Lord who stands at the very beginning of creation].

And if the Sacrificial Self Path were to step into its state of perfect consummation, then Eldrin Chen would, at the very least, be a Path Ancestor [a founding ancestor of a cultivation path] of the Saint Realm [the realm of Saints, beings of near-divine power] level.

It could be said that were it not for the inevitable nature of the Great Path Contention [the cosmic struggle for supremacy between different fundamental cultivation paths], they would never, under any circumstances, have chosen to make an enemy of Eldrin Chen.

"Is that so?"

Eldrin Chen retorted with a cold sneer. The Chaos Limitless Great Path was the very foundation of his entire being. To lose his Great Path Authority would force him to rebuild his foundation from scratch. Even if he succeeded in the end, his strength, potential, and inherent reserves would all be drastically diminished.

Yet these people demanded his Great Path Authority as if they were bestowing some great favor upon him.

"Mortals are always thus, refusing to believe until they see the coffin," Eldrin Chen remarked coldly.

"Kill—!"

With a cold sneer, Eldrin Chen made his move. The Returning Abyss Seal in his hands crisscrossed, transforming into twin swords, a treasure mirror, an immortal lotus, an Ancient Bell, an Immortal Pagoda, a Great Cauldron, an immortal zither, an Ancient Seal, a Heavenly Halberd, and other supreme treasures from the ten directions.

The ten supreme treasures whirled and danced before descending into ten ethereal Immortal Treasury [a conceptual repository of an immortal's power and treasures].

In that instant, the Ten Great Immortal Treasuries erupted with eternal light. The Great Path [the supreme, fundamental law of cultivation] power of the Sacrificial Self Path surged to its absolute zenith.

Empowering the Ten Great Immortal Treasuries with a True Spirit Supreme Treasure [a treasure born from a True Spirit's essence, possessing immense power] summoned the foundational force of the Great Path. This power ultimately transformed into peerless might that infused Eldrin Chen's physical body, temporarily merging even his Great Path and Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] foundations into his flesh.

Eldrin Chen felt as if his body had transformed into a new Sacrificial Self Physique [a legendary body forged through supreme self-sacrifice]. His cultivation base soared continuously until it reached the very pinnacle of the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [a supreme immortal realm representing the zenith of cultivation].

At this moment, Eldrin Chen sensed infinite cosmic universes being born within him. A torrential surge of Chaos [primordial, undifferentiated energy from before creation] energy swept through the Eight Desolations [the eight most desolate and ancient corners of the cosmos] and Six Harmonies [a formation representing the harmony of the six directions], unleashing a supreme power capable of annihilating all eternity.

"Perish!"

With a furious roar, Eldrin Chen, wielding the Battle Slaughter Art [a supreme combat technique focused on absolute slaughter], instantly closed the distance to the Primordial Solar Immortal Lord. A single punch shattered the Immortal Lord's protective immortal robes and nearly fractured his entire physical form.

In that fleeting instant, Primordial Solar Immortal Lord [a title for a powerful immortal associated with the primal sun] cried out in terror and anguish, fleeing for his life while shouting in shock and fury, "Save me—"

"How dare you!"

Witnessing this scene, Verdant Extreme Patriarch was instantly incensed with rage.

He understood with perfect clarity that if he failed to slay Eldrin Chen now, he would surely meet a death with no place for burial in the days to come. Without hesitation, he commanded the Longevity Ancient Seal [a powerful enchanted seal artifact] to sweep across the Chaos [the primordial, formless state before creation] and descend to suppress Eldrin Chen.

Yet in that very moment, Eldrin Chen remained utterly composed and unshaken.

With a cold sneer, he raised his palm and struck down with a single fist, instantly sending the Longevity Ancient Seal hurtling back through the void.

At last, Verdant Extreme Patriarch's expression shifted slightly. He spoke decisively, "Fellow cultivators, we can hold nothing back any longer. We must join forces and kill him."

"Agreed—"

The Primal Chaos Kui Ox [a mythical, thunder-heralding bovine demon beast] roared its assent. It immediately charged forth, wielding the Thunderclap God Spear [a divine spear that strikes with the force of thunder] to pierce through the air in a lethal assault.

The expressions of Exquisite Jiang and the others tightened. They moved to intercept their opponents, but in that same instant, a force of void energy [a power related to spatial manipulation] shifted them, teleporting them to a distant point far beyond the immediate Space-Time [the fabric of reality encompassing dimensions and the flow of time].

Eldrin Chen's brow furrowed slightly as he lifted his gaze to survey his surroundings. He discovered that the Primal Chaos Kui Ox [a primordial bovine demon beast of immense power], Earthly Halberd True Lord [a powerful celestial lord], the Golden-Winged Demon Lord, the Profound Darkness Ghost Ancestor [an ancient and malevolent spectral entity], Primordial Solar Immortal Lord [a lord of the pure yang path], and Verdant Extreme Patriarch had, at some unknown moment, encircled him from all sides.

The Profound Darkness Ghost Ancestor stood astride the Vast Domain Void Heavenly Wheel [a supreme treasure capable of sealing vast stretches of space], his expression icy as he declared, "This Vast Domain Void Heavenly Wheel is boundless and infinite. Not only does it possess the power to seal the void, but it can also temporarily isolate enemies on the far shore of the spatial continuum."

"Your allies will find it impossible to reach you for quite some time."

"Hahaha—"

Primordial Solar Immortal Lord let out a laugh bordering on madness, the lofty and pristine demeanor he once possessed utterly gone.

He immediately summoned endless Great Path Divine Chains [divine chains embodying the laws of the Great Path] to Recovery [rapidly heal] his wounds. Then, gripping his treasure pagoda and immortal furnace, he surged forward to suppress his foe.

"Eldrin [the one known as Returning Abyss], today you will die with no place for your burial!"

"Is that so?" Eldrin Chen retrieved the Crimson Flame Firefly [a legendary spear named for its crimson, firefly-like glow], his expression serene as he pointed it at Primordial Solar Immortal Lord and stated, "In this battle, you shall be the first I slay!"

Primordial Solar Immortal Lord felt a chill pierce his heart. He immediately turned to the others and urged, "Fellow Daoists, if we join forces, we can surely crush him utterly!"

"Boom—"

In the span of a single Ksana-time [an infinitesimal unit of time from Buddhist cosmology, less than a second], six supreme adversaries struck simultaneously.

An Immortal Furnace, the Treasure Seal, the Heavenly Halberd, a Divine Spear, an Ancient Sword, a Nether Pool—one supreme treasure after another tore through the heavens. Each was a mighty Upper Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure [a top-tier treasure born from the primordial chaos, possessing immense power].

It had to be admitted, these six opponents before him were truly formidable. United, their combined assault could potentially force even a Great Encompassing Golden Immortal Great Perfection [the pinnacle stage of the Golden Immortal realm, representing near-perfect mastery] to meet a bitter end.

Unfortunately, Eldrin Chen was far from ordinary.

"Slay them all—!"

Facing the siege of six supreme powers, Eldrin Chen remained preternaturally calm and composed. He pushed his ten Void Cosmos Immortal Treasury [a profound cultivation art that manifests ten cosmic treasuries] to their absolute limit, channeling all the power of the Returning Abyss Seal to empower his temporary Sacrificial Self Physique [a unique physical constitution forged through self-sacrifice, granting immense temporary power].

Instantly, Eldrin Chen felt the forces of his physical body, his Great Path [the supreme cultivation art he follows], and his Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] intertwine, his power brushing against the very apex of the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal realm.

"BOOM—!"

Without hesitation, he activated the Chaos Weapon Forging Art [a divine ability to forge weapons from primordial chaos]. Immediately, ten Chaos Ancient Arms [ancient weapons forged from primordial chaos] materialized in the sky: a Great Cauldron, an Ancient Sword, a Divine Furnace, the Heavenly Halberd, a War Spear, and more.

Empowered by Eldrin Chen's current level of spiritual energy, each ancient weapon radiated power nearly comparable to an Upper Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure.

In that instant, he commanded the ten Chaos Ancient Arms to strike across all directions, fiercely battling the six formidable foes all the way to the Six Harmonies Eight Desolations.

This battle was of an intensity and terror beyond measure. Eldrin Chen did not even consider using the Returning Abyss Pearl to flee. From the very outset, he marshaled his full power, resolved to fight these six powerful enemies to the death.

In that moment, the heavens shattered and the earth cracked, the very cosmos was overturned. The Chaos [the primordial, formless state before creation] trembled and shook under the force of the seven combatants' clash.

Whirling, inverting, repeating, annihilating, Reincarnation [the endless cycle of death and rebirth]...

Wave after wave of supreme power surged through the Chaos, stirring unimaginable phenomena. The shockwaves of the battle rippled through the entire Eastern Departure Flame Domain, startling countless Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [cultivators who have attained the pinnacle of the Golden Immortal realm, encompassing all phenomena]. Even two Primordial One Imperial Lord [Imperial Lords who have attained the foundational unity of the Primordial realm] turned their gazes upon the scene.

"He has forged an entirely new Great Path [a supreme and complete system of cultivation]. A Path Master [a master who has founded their own Great Path] so young... it is truly inconceivable."

Blazeflame Imperial Lord murmured. After a long pause, he shook his head. "A pity. It is merely a minor accomplishment of the Great Path. To refine it to a major accomplishment would require at least nine practitioners to ascend to Great Encompassing Golden Immortal through this Path."

"If it truly reached that stage, his combat prowess could step into the domain of the Primordial One Imperial Lord."

Blazeflame Imperial Lord spoke slowly, but shook his head once more moments later.

In his view, it was merely a nascent Great Path. No matter how astonishing its potential, it likely harbored significant flaws.

Such an incomplete Great Path [a foundational cultivation method] harboring the ambition to give birth to nine Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [the highest echelon of immortal cultivators] was nothing short of a fool's dream, a feat even a Primordial One Imperial Lord [a supreme ruler from the dawn of creation] could not accomplish.

"..."

While the Primordial One Imperial Lord [supreme rulers from the dawn of creation] of the Eastern Departure Flame Domain [a vast and ancient realm of fire] were still reeling in shock, the war upon this battlefield raged on unabated.

Eldrin Chen fought alone against six formidable foes. The cataclysmic shockwaves of their clash swept through the Chaos [the primordial, formless state before creation] of the Eight Desolations [a desolate and ancient expanse], and before anyone realized it, the conflict had persisted for over a million years.

Throughout this million-year war, Eldrin Chen was battered and covered in wounds, while his six powerful adversaries were also drenched in their own blood, each suffering grievous and severe injuries.

They fought with a near-maddened ferocity, yet a decisive victory remained agonizingly out of reach.

The six powerhouses, led by the Primal Chaos Kui Ox [a primordial bovine demon of immense strength], had arrived with a resolute intent to kill Eldrin Chen. Yet, the longer the battle dragged on, the more their hearts chilled with dread.

For Eldrin Chen's battle-lust was utterly berserk. The Sacrificial Self Physique [a supreme physical form born from ultimate self-sacrifice] temporarily manifested by his Sacrificial Self Path [a cultivation method based on the principle of ultimate self-offering] was nigh Immortality [the state of being unkillable] and Indestructibility [the quality of being impossible to destroy], rivaling even the legendary Mana Immunity [immunity to magical energy attacks] and the Indestructibility Golden Body [an impervious golden physical form].

Even when the six unleashed their ultimate trump cards, even resorting to desperate Forbidden Divine Ability [taboo techniques of catastrophic power], they found it impossible to inflict a truly mortal wound upon Eldrin Chen.

In stark contrast, Eldrin Chen, wielding his myriad Divine Ability [supernatural powers granted by cultivation], struck back against the encircling foes. Unbeknownst to them, he had battered each one into a state of severe injury, their very foundational life essence teetering on the brink of exhaustion.

"Is this man truly an undying entity?"

Once again, Profound Darkness Ghost Ancestor [a powerful spectral being from ancient times] activated the Vast Domain Void Heavenly Wheel [a supreme treasure capable of manipulating space and void] to banish the reinforcements led by Exquisite Jiang, his expression turning gravely solemn as he spoke.

At that moment, a dry tightness gripped the throats of all present.

While suppressing Eldrin Chen with the Longevity Ancient Seal [an ancient seal imbued with the power of longevity], Verdant Extreme Patriarch [an ancient patriarch of immense power] felt his heart grow increasingly heavy. A premonition dawned on him: if this battle of attrition continued, it might be the six of them who would be the first to exhaust their life force and perish.

"The Kalpa Tribulation [the great cosmic cataclysm that ends an era] approaches. I am not adept at offensive techniques. It seems relying on these useless fellows will not be enough to slay this Returning Abyss Path Master [Master of the Path of the Returning Abyss]," he thought inwardly.

After a moment's contemplation, Verdant Extreme Patriarch ultimately decided to seek cooperation from a more formidable Great Path Rival [a destined rival on the Great Dao] of Eldrin Chen.

His mind made up in an instant, he addressed the others, "The Kalpa Tribulation is nearly upon us. We cannot afford to continue this fight."

"Let this battle end here. We shall deal with this Returning Abyss Path Master after the Kalpa Tribulation has passed."

With those final words, Verdant Extreme Patriarch was the first to vanish into the void.

The faces of the remaining five figures paled dramatically. Without hesitation, Profound Darkness Ghost Ancestor immediately commanded the Vast Domain Void Heavenly Wheel to tear through space and flee.

The Mace of Earth Immortal Lord [a title for a powerful immortal lord], the Golden-Winged Demon Lord, the Primal Chaos Kui Ox [a primordial beast of chaos], and others all followed suit, each being the first to tear through the Chaos [the primordial, formless state before creation] and vanish into the Depths of Chaos [the unfathomable, turbulent heart of primordial chaos].

Only the Primordial Solar Immortal Lord [an immortal lord embodying the pure essence of the primordial sun], in the very instant he sought to flee, was intercepted by Eldrin Chen. A world-shaking duel Burst [erupted] between them.

Already grievously wounded, the Primordial Solar Immortal Lord now faced the full might of Eldrin Chen. Within mere exchanges, his physical form shattered and disintegrated. His Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core and true essence of a cultivator] barely managed to seize control of the Primordial Solar Heaven-Suppressing Pagoda [a mighty pagoda artifact imbued with the power of the primordial sun] and tear through the void to escape.

As Eldrin Chen prepared to give chase, Exquisite Jiang rushed forward. "The Kalpa Tribulation [the great cosmic cycle of destruction and renewal] is nearly upon us," she urged. "You cannot continue this fight."

"Then I shall carve a path straight through this Kalpa Tribulation!"

Eldrin Chen's eyes blazed with a sky-obliterating Celestial Slaughter [a divine, annihilating intent]. With those words, he cleaved through the Chaos Void [the formless expanse of primordial chaos] and vanished into the emptiness.

By then, Verdant Consort and Nyssa Qu had also caught up. Witnessing this scene, their expressions shifted subtly.

Exquisite Jiang drew a deep breath. Her gaze fell upon Lila's crimson-hued eyes, and she sighed. "So be it. Let him vent his fury."

Hearing this, the others offered no further objection.

Nyssa Qu slowly exhaled before finally speaking. "What shall we do now?"

"The Kalpa Tribulation [a cosmic cycle of immense destruction and renewal] is not a path to tread lightly," Exquisite Jiang shook her head, a sigh escaping her lips. "If he goes alone and slays the Primordial Solar Immortal Lord [the Immortal Lord of the Primal Sun], this tribulation can be averted."