Chapter 1998 : The Emperor's Sacred Favor

"My deepest gratitude for Your Majesty's profound favor."

Upon comprehending the immense value of the Bottomless Black Abyss, Eldrin Chen promptly expressed his thanks.

Black Abyss Great Emperor shook his head, then produced a token and handed it to Eldrin Chen, saying, "This is the access token for the Grand Nether Soul Pool. Once your physical body achieves its breakthrough, you may enter to temper your Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator]."

Hearing this, a flicker of understanding passed through Eldrin Chen's eyes as he recalled the origins of the Grand Nether Soul Pool.

The Grand Nether Soul Pool was a sacred ground painstakingly constructed by the Immortal Court at significant cost, utilizing the Earth Soul Scripture of the Grand Nether Emperor Lord and a rare Primordial Unity Spiritual Treasure. It held immense benefit for Primordial Spirit cultivation, its value rivaling even that of the Bottomless Black Abyss.

However, the cost to activate such a cultivation treasure trove was typically astronomical. Only those at the mid to late stages of the Primordial Chaos Emperor Monarch realm, who had also rendered monumental service, were deemed worthy of entry.

That Eldrin Chen was granted a session was clearly an exceptional privilege granted by Black Abyss Great Emperor.

Realizing this, Eldrin Chen offered his gratitude once more, "My thanks to Your Majesty."

Black Abyss Great Emperor gave a slight nod, then spoke with purpose, "You must enter and cultivate with haste. Break through both your Primordial Spirit and physical body to the Great Luo Golden Immortal Great Perfection. Only then can you live up to the expectations placed upon you and contribute your strength to the Immortal Court."

Eldrin Chen nodded in acknowledgment, offering no further words.

He cupped his hands in a respectful salute towards Black Abyss Great Emperor [the sovereign ruler of the Netherworld's deepest reaches], then stepped into the depths of Bottomless Black Abyss [an unfathomable chasm filled with primordial heavy water].

"*Hum—*"

The moment he crossed the threshold into Bottomless Black Abyss, Eldrin Chen was instantly assaulted by a pressure of unimaginable magnitude.

He found that the Bottomless Black Abyss was filled with an ink-black liquid, each droplet as heavy and boundless as an entire Cosmos [a universe or realm of existence]. This water seethed with a savage, untamed power, exerting a colossal pressure that even Eldrin Chen found immense.

"Primordial Unity Heavy Water [an incredibly dense and rare primordial water, each drop possessing the weight of a cosmos]!"

Bracing against the pressure, Eldrin Chen focused his senses once more upon the endless black waters of the Bottomless Black Abyss, and his expression shifted slightly.

He realized these waters were the famed Primordial Unity Heavy Water, a Primordial Unity Marvel [a rare treasure born from the chaos of creation] so scarce that even within the boundless Primordial Chaos [the formless void preceding creation], it was a rarity beyond measure.

By all reason, even a mere handful of such heavy water could command a price of several strands of Innate Indestructible Spiritual Light [a fundamental, indestructible energy of creation]. Yet here, an entire abyss's worth lay before him—a testament to its staggering, almost mythical abundance.

"Tempering one's body with Primordial Unity Heavy Water... no wonder Black Abyss Great Emperor is hailed as the foremost master of Sainthood through the Flesh [the path of achieving divine sainthood through physical cultivation] across the Three Thousand Immortal Domains [the myriad realms inhabited by immortals]," Eldrin Chen murmured inwardly.

With this understanding, Eldrin Chen gathered his strength, channeling power throughout his form. He allowed himself to sink deeper into the Primordial Unity Heavy Water, beginning to endure its crushing, purifying force to temper and refine his own body.

As Eldrin Chen submerged himself within it, he instantly felt the boundless Primordial Unity Heavy Water [a primordial, dense water of immense weight and pressure] begin to permeate his entire being. A torrential pressure started to squeeze inward, relentlessly compressing his body from all sides.

In that moment, Eldrin Chen felt the myriad Cosmos [microcosmic worlds] birthed within his countless cells begin to burst like bubbles one after another, dissolving back into the magnificent, primordial core at their very center.

Yet simultaneously, Eldrin Chen sensed the previously unstable foundation within him solidifying, his very foundation growing ever more firm and Indestructible [unyielding and impervious to destruction].

An immeasurable span of time seemed to pass. When Eldrin Chen finally perceived that every single Cosmos within his Chaos Indestructible Body [a supreme physique forged from primordial chaos] had completely returned to unity, reverting to their most primordial and essential form...

...it was then that Eldrin Chen realized with astonishment that his Chaos Indestructible Body had grown even more resilient and Indestructible. Both his physical strength and defensive capabilities seemed to have undergone a qualitative leap.

"This is..."

Eldrin Chen murmured in surprise, but comprehension dawned swiftly.

The truth was, while his Chaos Indestructible Body was immensely powerful, compared to a peerless cultivation art like the Nine Revolutions Heavenly Art [a legendary technique involving nine cycles of heavenly refinement], it inherently possessed significant flaws and shortcomings.

The root cause lay in the fact that the Chaos Indestructible Body, for all its might, had always rested upon a fundamentally unstable and insubstantial foundation.

The source of power for Eldrin Chen's Chaos Indestructible Body was to seize the very creative essence of heaven and earth, absorbing the Primordial Source Power [the foundational spiritual energy of the world] from the Five Elements [Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth] earth veins. It then used the cyclical interplay of the Five Elements to temper its foundation, and finally employed the three forces of Wind, Ice, and Thunder to quench and refine the body.

Yet even so, the path of cultivating the Chaos Indestructible Body [a supreme physique forged through chaos] is, in its essence, merely tempering the body by borrowing external forces. The physical form cultivated through such methods ultimately possesses its own inherent limits.

Even later, when Eldrin Chen mastered the Abyssal Furnace [a divine ability to refine one's foundation] and began to temper his entire foundational base using a Root Origin Treasure [a treasure connected to the fundamental source of one's power], it only elevated the Chaos Indestructible Body to the level of an Emperor-level cultivation art at the ninth layer of the Primordial Chaos Emperor Monarch realm.

After all, Root Origin Treasure are accessible even to cultivators at the Late Primordial Chaos Emperor Lord Realm and Emperor realms. No matter how potent Eldrin Chen's Root Origin Treasure was, its potential remained confined to the Emperor level.

Such a Chaos Indestructible Body, while formidable for a Grand Luo Golden Immortal, still possessed inherent limitations when compared to a Chaos Heavenly Scripture [a supreme chaos-aligned cultivation scripture] of the caliber of the Nine Revolutions Heavenly Art.

It was precisely for this reason that the Nine Revolutions Heavenly Art could cultivate three True Spirit Divine Runes [divine symbols representing a cultivator's true spiritual essence] within the Ancient Immortal Realm, whereas all five of Eldrin Chen's Five True Spirit Divine Runes were achieved by borrowing from other True Spirit Foundation sources.

"The foundational origin of the Chaos Indestructible Body is astonishing, yet its inner substance remains hollow and unsubstantial."

"If I grow complacent and continue cultivating the Chaos Indestructible Body along my current path, I risk allowing this physique to gradually fade into mediocrity."

Eldrin Chen murmured to himself, beginning to comprehend the path laid out by his Weilai [a being representing the concept of the Future].

He understood clearly that the current method for cultivating the Chaos Indestructible Body was, at its core, merely a body-tempering art of the Emperor level, inferior to a peerless art like the Nine Revolutions Heavenly Art.

Yet, the cultivation method of the Chaos Indestructible Body still held significant merit and potential for refinement.

The Chaos Indestructible Body [a supreme physical constitution born from primordial chaos] draws upon the veins of the Five Elements [the five fundamental energies of Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth] as its foundation, cultivating five divine spirits within the five viscera. Using this as a base, it then channels the three extraordinary powers of Wind, Ice, and Thunder.

Furthermore, with the continuous tempering by the Root Origin Treasure [a primordial treasure that refines one's very essence], Eldrin Chen's Chaos Indestructible Physique [another name for the Chaos Indestructible Body] can be said to be impervious to myriad arts and possesses a Primordial Source Power [the foundational, primordial energy of creation] far surpassing that of peers at the same realm.

The sole issue is that the Chaos Indestructible Body has not undergone the myriad tribulations, thus its foundation remains somewhat ethereal and unsteady.

In contrast, Erlang's Nine Revolutions Heavenly Art [a supreme body-tempering art requiring nine cycles of tribulation and refinement] demands enduring a lightning tribulation for tempering the body at each minor realm breakthrough. Upon reaching the Ancient Immortal Realm [a high immortal realm], one must even undergo the harrowing process of dissipating and rebuilding one's cultivation power nine times.

Thus, the Nine Revolutions Heavenly Art requires enduring nine revolutions within each major realm. The physical body ultimately forged through this process possesses a sturdiness and resilience utterly incomparable to others of the same rank.

According to Eldrin Chen's estimation, if Xander Chen cultivates the Nine Revolutions Heavenly Art and breaks through to the ninth layer of the Grand Luo Golden Immortal [a supreme immortal realm], then his physical strength alone could rival a Primordial Chaos Emperor Monarch [an emperor-monarch born from primordial chaos] at the second layer, and might even match one at the third layer.

While the foundational essence of Eldrin Chen's Chaos Indestructible Body is not inferior to the Nine Revolutions Heavenly Art, the comparison is like that between crude iron and profound steel. In terms of actual combat prowess, it falls noticeably short.

Therefore, even if Eldrin Chen's physical body were to break through to the ninth layer of the Great Luo Body [the physical cultivation equivalent of the Grand Luo realm], his physical strength alone would only match that of a newly ascended Primordial Chaos Emperor Monarch, clearly lagging behind the Nine Revolutions Heavenly Art by more than a single step. ….

"My Primordial Chaos Indestructible Body [another name for the Chaos Indestructible Body] indeed possesses a powerful foundation, but its roots must be tempered and refined further,"

Eldrin Chen murmured inwardly. After a moment of contemplation, he began to ponder the methods for advancing his physical form to the next level.

In truth, the finest method to temper one's physical body is to directly cultivate and switch to the Nine Revolutions Heavenly Art. After all, the Nine Revolutions method of the Nine Revolutions Heavenly Art for refining the flesh stands peerless, unmatched by any other technique across the vast expanse of Chaos.

However, the Nine Revolutions Heavenly Art is also exceedingly domineering, requiring the abandonment of all foundational aspects—the physical body, spiritual power, and everything else—to practice it. Eldrin Chen could never bring himself to take such a step.

Thus, Eldrin Chen could only study the principles of the Nine Revolutions Heavenly Art, alongside the Indestructible Heavenly Scripture of the Indestructible Elder. He drew inspiration from their respective methods for tempering the physical form. By synthesizing their strengths and compensating for their weaknesses, and aligning them with his own unique circumstances, he began to forge his own path.

Thus, time flowed on, and several hundred thousand years passed unnoticed.

"I have attained enlightenment!"

Finally, on this day, Eldrin Chen succeeded in creating his own cultivation method, having fully assimilated the wisdom of his predecessors.

Eldrin Chen murmured softly to himself. Then, with decisive resolve, he activated the Abyssal Furnace [a divine furnace forged from the essence of the primordial abyss] within him, causing it to surge forth. He channeled the entirety of his foundational power to empower it, drawing his own physical body into the heart of the Abyssal Furnace to be refined.

In that instant, within the vastness of the Bottomless Black Abyss, an ancient, unadorned immortal furnace soared into the void. It began to inhale and exhale, drawing upon the power of the Primordial Unity Heavy Water [a primordial water of immense density and spiritual weight].

Simultaneously, Eldrin Chen, now residing within the Abyssal Furnace, began to exert his full power to operate the furnace. He summoned forth the Chaos Fire [a primordial flame born from the essence of Chaos] to immolate his own form.

The reason was this: his Chaos Indestructible Body [a physique forged from Chaos, possessing near-absolute resilience] was far too potent. Relying on external forces alone could scarcely temper such a formidable vessel.

Unable to transition to the Nine Revolutions Heavenly Art, the Chaos Indestructible Body had reached its inherent limit, with almost no possibility of advancing further.

Thus, Eldrin Chen forged a different path, choosing to pit his own spear against his own shield.

He used the Abyssal Furnace [a divine ability forged from his entire cultivation foundation] to refine his own Chaos Indestructible Body, thereby pushing the constitution to a higher state.

Within the vast Abyssal Furnace, the Chaos Fire [a divine flame born from his complete foundation] raged and roared. Eldrin Chen's Chaos Indestructible Body was continuously tempered and refined. Even its near-Indestructible and Imperishable nature could not withstand the unified power of his lifelong cultivation foundation.

After all, the Abyssal Furnace was a fusion of his Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator], his Great Dao [the fundamental principle or path he follows], his physical body, his divine abilities, his Dao Fruit [the culmination of one's cultivation path], his Abyssal Seal, and all other aspects of his foundation. This combined power far surpassed that of his singular Primordial Chaos Indestructible Body.

As time flowed on, Eldrin Chen's physical form finally began to melt, teetering on the brink of Annihilation [complete dissolution] and the peril of a forced Body-Spirit Dissolution [a desperate last resort where a cultivator abandons their physical body to preserve their spirit].

Yet, at this critical juncture, Eldrin Chen activated the Chaos Life Great Dao. Simultaneously, he harnessed the Indestructible Method inscribed upon the Indestructible Heavenly Scripture. Combining these two forces, he continuously performed Restoration upon the injuries sustained by his Primordial Chaos Indestructible Body.

Building upon this foundation, Eldrin Chen also drew upon the principles of the Nine Revolutions Heavenly Art. Using the Samsara Great Dao to command the profound mysteries of Samsara [the cycle of death and rebirth], and then merging it with the Time-Space Great Dao, he ultimately forged a cyclical, self-perpetuating method of tempering.

Thus, in a state of profound trance, after Eldrin Chen successively completed the tempering of one grand celestial cycle, he finally sensed that he had reached a certain ultimate limit within himself.

"BOOM—"

Amidst the resonant echoes of World Creation, Eldrin Chen finally completed his breakthrough in the Primordial Chaos Indestructible Body [a legendary physique said to be unbreakable and born from the primordial chaos], having refined an immeasurable quantity of Primordial Unity Heavy Water [a primordial substance of immense weight and density, foundational to creation].

Only then did Eldrin Chen slowly open his eyes. He quietly sensed the power now coursing through his being, and a faint smile of profound satisfaction touched his lips.

"The ninth layer of the Great Luo Body [the pinnacle stage of physical cultivation, representing a body nearing perfection]."...

"And more than that, the most crucial aspect is that the Primordial Chaos Indestructible Body has undergone another qualitative transformation."

Eldrin Chen murmured softly, a glint of wild elation shining deep within his gaze.

After this breakthrough, the foundational essence of his Primordial Chaos Indestructible Body had roughly doubled. Yet, this alone was not the source of his exhilaration.

The paramount reason was that Eldrin Chen had pioneered the art of 'Refining the Self with the Self,' elevating the Chaos Indestructible Body to an unprecedented zenith.

By Eldrin Chen's own estimation, had he broken through to the ninth layer of the Great Luo Body through conventional means, his combat prowess relying solely on physical strength would have, at best, matched that of a newly ascended Primordial Chaos Emperor Monarch [a sovereign ruler whose power originates from the primordial chaos].

Yet, following this particular breakthrough, Eldrin Chen distinctly perceived that his Primordial Chaos Indestructible Body had undergone a fundamental metamorphosis.

The current Eldrin Chen estimated that while the foundational essence of his Chaos Indestructible Body might still be at the level of a new Primordial Chaos Emperor Monarch, his raw physical power now rivaled that of a Primordial Chaos Emperor Monarch at the second layer. In terms of defensive capability alone, it was even sufficient to match a Third Layer of Primordial Chaos Emperor Lord [an Emperor Lord whose authority over chaos has reached its third profound stage].

"Its power rivals that of a Primordial Chaos Emperor Monarch of the second layer, and its defensive capabilities are on par with a Primordial Chaos Emperor Monarch of the third layer."

Eldrin Chen murmured inwardly, a faint smile touching his lips. "The Chaos Indestructible Scripture I have forged now should have surpassed the level of a Great Emperor. It has likely even transcended the Sage Ascendant tier, rivaling a true Chaos Heavenly Scripture [a supreme scripture of the Chaos lineage], has it not?"

With this thought, a sense of profound satisfaction welled up within Eldrin Chen.

By his estimation, the current Chaos Heavenly Scripture might still lag a hair's breadth behind the Nine Revolutions Heavenly Art [a legendary body-tempering art of nine cycles], but the gap was minuscule. At the Primordial Chaos Emperor Monarch level, it was undoubtedly a peerless technique.

The most crucial point was that the 'Refining the Self with the Self' art of the Chaos Indestructible Body [a supreme physique born of Chaos] had taken its initial form. As Eldrin Chen's cultivation advanced in the future, he would only need to build upon this foundation step by step. Ultimately, it would surely rival the complete Nine Revolutions Heavenly Art.

At the very least, in the hands of Eldrin Chen, it should be capable of standing shoulder to shoulder with it.

After all, with the 'Refining the Self with the Self' art of the Chaos Indestructible Body, the more powerful the 'self' that served as the catalyst, the more formidable the 'I' that would be refined.

If Eldrin Chen's physical body, his Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator], and his Great Dao—the three foundational pillars—all ascended to the realm of a Chaos Celestial Emperor, then using this supremely powerful 'self' as the crucible would inevitably forge an equally supreme 'I'.

Of course, the prerequisite for the 'Refining the Self with the Self' art was that the other foundational pillars must be even more powerful. At the very least, their combined strength had to surpass that of one's own Great Luo Physique [a body tempered to the Great Luo realm].

If the foundations of the Great Dao, magical power, the Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator], and so forth were not sufficiently robust, then even using a Root Origin Treasure [a treasure connected to one's fundamental origin] to refine the self might prove utterly incapable of affecting one's own Indestructible Body [a physique of supreme resilience].

With these thoughts in mind, Eldrin Chen swiftly gathered his focus and proceeded to record this cultivation method onto a scroll.

After finishing the transcription, Eldrin Chen fell into a brief, contemplative silence before murmuring to himself, "This method of mine has already evolved beyond the Chaos Indestructible Scripture. To continue calling it by that name may no longer be fitting."

"Since it was forged upon the foundation of the Chaos Indestructible Scripture, augmented by the technique of 'refining the self with the self,' it shall henceforth be known as the 'Chaos Self-Refinement Dao'."

Having spoken thus, Eldrin Chen formally renamed his Flesh Sanctification Method.

Having successfully created the Chaos Self-Refinement Dao, a profound sense of satisfaction filled Eldrin Chen as he stepped forth from the Bottomless Nether Abyss. There, he found Black Abyss Great Emperor watching him in silence, a flicker of astonishment gleaming within the depths of his gaze.

"I pay my respects to the Emperor Lord [a supreme title for a ruler among cultivators]."

Eldrin Chen's eyes shifted slightly, and he promptly spoke, "I pay my respects to the Emperor Lord."

Black Abyss Great Emperor waved his hand dismissively and said, "To use one's own spear to pierce one's own shield, to refine the Indestructible Body [a legendary physique of near-perfect resilience] using one's own foundational cultivation as the crucible..."

"Such a method to shatter one's limits is truly a stroke of ingenious conception, a rarity that echoes through the annals of time."

As he spoke, Black Abyss Great Emperor suddenly sighed and added, "A pity, though. This method requires simultaneous cultivation of multiple Daos [fundamental principles or paths], and one must first achieve a supreme Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] and comprehend a Great Dao before a breakthrough is possible."

"And for those of us who walk the path of Sainthood through the Flesh [a cultivation method focused on tempering the physical body to divine levels], alas..."

Black Abyss Great Emperor sighed repeatedly, finally shaking his head with a rueful expression as he said, "Your cultivation art is at least comparable to the Sage-Ascendant Ancient Scripture [a legendary scripture leading to sagehood], and it may very well have touched the realm of a Dao Progenitor [the ultimate pinnacle of cultivation, the originator of a Great Dao]. A pity that I have no affinity with it."