Chapter 1999 : Supreme Scriptures and Ancient Rivals

Eldrin Chen smiled faintly before speaking. "The Nine Revolutions Heavenly Art [a supreme cultivation scripture] is a technique capable of shattering one's limits nine successive times. Even within the vastness of the Primordial Chaos [the primordial, formless state before creation], it stands as a peerless and ancient scripture, truly one of a kind."

"No matter how powerful the ancient scripture I create may be, I fear it would be exceedingly difficult to surpass this Nine Revolutions Heavenly Art."

"Senior, you cultivate such a supreme heavenly scripture. Why seek a distant path when a superior one lies at hand?"

Black Abyss Great Emperor also smiled and replied, "Do not be overly modest. The method you have created can be called a scripture that shakes the ancient and illuminates the modern. Moreover, it is a perfectly tailored method, crafted for you alone. It may suit you even better than the Nine Revolutions Heavenly Art."

"In my view, even the 'Ant Heavenly Scripture' [the supreme cultivation art of the Ant Race] of the Ant Celestial Emperor might not surpass this ancient scripture of yours."

Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod, offering no further words on the matter.

Seeing this, Black Abyss Great Emperor spoke again. "Time grows short. You should proceed swiftly to break through your cultivation realm."

"Understood."

With a nod, Eldrin Chen immediately grasped the Imperial Decree [a decree issued by a supreme emperor] and made his way into the depths of the Grand Nether Soul Pool.

A treasured cultivation ground of the Immortal Court [the celestial court governing immortals], the Grand Nether Soul Pool was situated within the Grand Nether Abyss Domain [a profound and dark domain] in the Depths of the Netherworld [the deepest, most yin-infused regions of the underworld]. It was overseen by Eldrin Chen's old acquaintance, Grand Nether Emperor Lord.

After many years, he once again beheld Grand Nether Emperor Lord. In their previous encounters, Eldrin Chen had only sensed that the Grand Nether Emperor Lord's cultivation was unfathomably profound. This time, however, Eldrin's perception finally pierced through the veil, discerning the true depths of the Grand Nether Emperor Lord's power.

It was revealed that the Grand Nether Emperor Lord's cultivation had reached the seventh layer of the Primordial Chaos Emperor Monarch realm, ranking her among the most venerable and supreme Emperor Lord figures within the Human Race.

Perhaps her cultivation level was not as lofty as that of Black Abyss Great Emperor, yet this did nothing to diminish the Grand Nether Emperor Lord's exalted status and inherent dignity.

Within the entire Human Race, the Grand Nether Emperor Lord stood as one of the paramount Emperor Lords, second only to the Five Great Emperors. Her combat prowess was such that it could rival, and even challenge, that of many a Great Emperor.

The fundamental reason for this lay in the Grand Nether Emperor Lord's possession of an Innate Supreme Treasure known as the 'Earth Soul Scripture' [a supreme treasure born of the world's primal essence, embodying the soul of the earth itself].

An Innate Supreme Treasure holds a status equivalent to a Great Emperor, forged from the fusion of nine Great Dao Divine Chain [cosmic chains representing fundamental laws of the Great Dao]. When wielded by any cultivator at the Late Primordial Chaos Emperor Lord Realm, it grants them the power to contend with a Great Emperor.

Such was the case for the Grand Nether Emperor Lord. With the Innate Supreme Treasure, the Earth Soul Scripture, in hand, once unleashed, it rendered her virtually invincible. Even the Five Direction Great Emperors of the Human Race would find it exceedingly difficult to defeat her.

Should a Demon Race Great Emperors armed with their own Innate Supreme Treasure launch an assault, the Grand Nether Emperor Lord, relying on the Earth Soul Scripture for defense, would have more than sufficient means to ensure her safety.

Most crucially, the Grand Nether Emperor Lord held the Dao Authority [the authority to command a specific aspect of the Dao] over the seventh layer of the Netherworld Hell. As long as she remained within the Netherworld Region, her cultivation would be bolstered by the empowering authority of the Netherworld Realm itself. Under such circumstances, she would face even a direct attack from a Sage Ascendant without the slightest fear.

In truth, the Star Lords of the Southern Dipper Six Stars operated on a similar principle. Taking the most powerful among them, Celestial Mansion Emperor Lord, as an example: while stationed upon the Celestial Mansion Imperial Star, his combat strength could rival that of a Late Primordial Chaos Emperor Lord, granting him the capacity to engage even a Great Emperor in battle.

The remaining five Star Lords held a slightly lower status, yet each was bolstered by the authority of the Heavenly Dao Rank [a supreme rank granted by the Heavenly Dao itself]. Even the weakest among them could rival a cultivator in the mid-stage of the Primordial Chaos Emperor Monarch [a supreme realm of cultivation representing mastery over primordial chaos].

Returning to the matter at hand, after discerning the true cultivation level of Grand Nether Emperor Lord, Eldrin Chen dared not show the slightest disrespect. He immediately cupped his hands and said, "Greetings, Emperor Lord [a title of supreme honor for a ruler of a vast domain]."

"Between you and me, there is no need for such formality."

Grand Nether Emperor Lord smiled faintly, then rose to his feet. "I understand the purpose of your visit," he said. "Come with me."

With those words, Grand Nether Emperor Lord swept his sleeve, tearing through the Void [the empty space between dimensions], and brought Eldrin Chen before the Grand Nether Soul Pool.

Gazing at the Grand Nether Soul Pool before them, Grand Nether Emperor Lord said with a smile, "The Grand Nether Soul Pool is a sacred site for cultivating the soul. By training here, your Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core and true essence of a cultivator] should advance to the next level."...

Eldrin Chen nodded in acknowledgment and cupped his hands once more. "My sincere thanks, Senior."

With that, Eldrin Chen stepped into the Grand Nether Soul Pool. The moment he entered, a torrent of soul-nourishing power surged towards him.

The waters of this Grand Nether Soul Pool were actually formed from a vast concentration of Soul-Nourishing Treasure Liquid [a precious liquid that directly strengthens and refines the soul]. Every single drop possessed astonishing mystical properties.

After refining just a small portion, Eldrin Chen felt his Primordial Spirit Immortal Embryo [the nascent, immortal form of a cultivator's primordial spirit] grow light and ethereal, as if on the verge of Ultimate Sublimation [a state of perfect spiritual refinement and transcendence].

Moreover, and even more astonishingly, the Grand Nether Soul Pool [a profound spiritual realm for soul cultivation] seemed capable of shattering the usual limitations on consuming the Soul-Nourishing Treasure Liquid [a rare elixir that nourishes and strengthens the Primordial Spirit], allowing him to ingest multiple portions of the Soul-Nourishing Treasure Liquid in succession.

With this realization, Eldrin Chen began to devour the Soul-Nourishing Treasure Liquid with ravenous hunger. His Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core and highest essence of a cultivator] cultivation base began to surge upward at a breathtaking pace.

Time lost all meaning in this state. Eventually, Eldrin Chen finally felt his Primordial Spirit cultivation reach its absolute limit, brushing against the very threshold of a breakthrough into Great Luo Golden Immortal Great Perfection [the pinnacle stage of the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm].

Throughout this process, Eldrin Chen attempted to devise a cultivation art for the Primordial Spirit, striving to elevate the method of Primordial Spirit Dao Attainment [the state of fully comprehending the Dao of the Primordial Spirit] to the level of a Celestial Emperor [a supreme sovereign ruler among immortals].

Yet, through relentless deduction, Eldrin Chen discovered that without supreme ancient soul scriptures like the Nine Revolutions Heavenly Art or the Indestructible Heavenly Scripture to serve as references, his own foundational understanding of the Primordial Spirit Dao was insufficient. He found it exceedingly difficult to create a true ancient scripture capable of reaching the Celestial Emperor level.

Although the Innate Supreme Treasure [a treasure born from primordial chaos, possessing supreme power] known as the 'Earth Soul Scripture', left behind by Grand Nether Emperor Lord, was also a peerless ancient scripture rare in all the world, it ultimately remained at the level of a Great Emperor or a Sage Ascendant [a sage who has ascended to a higher plane of existence]. It had never touched the domain of a Chaos Celestial Emperor, making it inadequate to advance Eldrin Chen's Primordial Spirit methods any further.

With no other choice, Eldrin Chen abandoned his pursuit of perfecting the Dao of the Primordial Spirit. He redirected his focus entirely toward assailing the bottleneck of his Primordial Spirit cultivation. In the end, he successfully completed his breakthrough into Great Luo Primordial Spirit [the Primordial Spirit cultivation level corresponding to the Great Luo realm].

"Haa—"

After completing the breakthrough in his Primordial Spirit cultivation, Eldrin Chen slowly let out a long, steady breath.

He examined his own cultivation base, and a faint smile of satisfaction touched his lips. With this breakthrough of his Primordial Spirit cultivation to the ninth layer of Grand Luo Golden Immortal, the combat power derived from his Primordial Spirit had undergone a qualitative transformation.

Of course, due to the insufficient potency of his Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] cultivation method, Eldrin Chen estimated his combat prowess based on Primordial Spirit alone likely resided only at the level of a newly ascended Emperor Lord.

To possess combat strength at the Primordial Chaos Emperor Monarch [the highest echelon of cultivation power] level relying solely on Primordial Spirit cultivation was already remarkably astonishing. Yet, deep within, Eldrin Chen felt a flicker of dissatisfaction.

After all, his Primordial Spirit had successfully forged five True Spirit Aperture [profound spiritual apertures that amplify power], theoretically capable of unleashing triple the power of his peers. With such profound foundational strength merely matching a newly ascended Primordial Chaos Emperor Monarch clearly indicated that Eldrin Chen's method for cultivating his Primordial Spirit was incomplete and unrefined.

The root cause lay in the inherent weakness of Eldrin Chen's Primordial Spirit cultivation art. It remained confined to the Primordial Chaos Emperor Monarch tier, never having breached the domain of a Great Emperor. Thus, it failed to unlock the full, latent potential of his True Spirit Primordial Spirit [a Primordial Spirit of supreme purity and power].

"My Primordial Spirit cultivation lacks a coherent system," he mused inwardly. "It relies more on piecing together various foundational elements rather than being built upon a supreme, dedicated secret art forged for the Primordial Spirit itself."

"Although the Earth Soul Scripture [a profound scripture for soul cultivation] is profoundly mystical, its resonance with my personal Primordial Spirit path is imperfect. It seems a journey to the Primordial Soul River [the mythical river of primordial souls] will be necessary in the future."

With these thoughts, Eldrin Chen gradually drew his focus inward, settling his mind.

Although his Primordial Spirit had achieved its breakthrough, Eldrin Chen did not emerge from seclusion. Instead, he retrieved several portions of Great Dao Source Marrow [a primordial substance containing the essence of the Great Dao] and began preparations for the breakthrough of his Great Dao cultivation.

In truth, as far back as a million years ago, Eldrin Chen's Great Dao cultivation had already brushed against the threshold of Great Luo Golden Immortal Great Perfection [the pinnacle of the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm]. It was only due to the decree from Black Abyss Great Emperor that he had refrained from immediately breaking through.

Now, thanks to the nurturing from the Immortal Court [the celestial governing body of immortals], his physical body and Primordial Spirit had advanced four or five Kalpa Tribulation [cosmic cycles of destruction and rebirth] ahead of schedule. The time had finally come to complete the breakthrough of his Great Dao cultivation.

Having long prepared the Great Dao Source Marrow [a primordial essence that refines one's comprehension of the Great Dao] needed to advance his Great Dao cultivation, Eldrin Chen began refining it. His progress was nearly visible to the naked eye, and he swiftly broke through to the realm of Great Luo Golden Immortal Great Perfection [the pinnacle stage of the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm].

"Success!"

After this breakthrough in his Great Dao, a flicker of elation surged within Eldrin Chen.

With this latest advancement, all three of Eldrin Chen's foundational pillars had now reached the Great Luo Golden Immortal Great Perfection realm.

This completion of his three primary cultivation foundations vastly elevated Eldrin Chen's combat prowess and inherent potential. Each foundation had become utterly incomparable to its former self.

Eldrin Chen rose to his feet, sensing his current cultivation. He discovered that among his three pillars, his physical body cultivation was the most formidable, now residing somewhere between the second and third layers of a Primordial Chaos Emperor Monarch [a sovereign ruler within the Primordial Chaos realm].

His Great Dao cultivation was slightly inferior, roughly equivalent to the first layer of a Primordial Chaos Emperor Monarch. His Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] cultivation was the weakest, yet it was still potent enough to rival a newly ascended Primordial Chaos Emperor Monarch.

With these three foundations fused into one, Eldrin Chen's combat power brushed against the threshold of the mid-stage Primordial Chaos Emperor Monarch domain. Furthermore, if he were to employ the Path of Self-Sacrifice [a profound cultivation art that temporarily unleashes immense power at a great cost], Eldrin Chen estimated he could hold his own against an opponent at the fourth layer of Primordial Chaos Emperor Monarch without conceding any ground.

At this thought, a wave of joy washed over Eldrin Chen. He had originally believed that the unification of his three foundations would, at best, grant him peerless combat power within the third layer of the Primordial Chaos Emperor Monarch realm, barely sufficient to withstand a mid-stage opponent.

However, the breakthrough of his Primordial Chaos Indestructible Body [a legendary physique of near-absolute resilience] had provided an unexpected surge in strength. It had now endowed Eldrin Chen with the capability to truly contend with a fourth-layer Primordial Chaos Emperor Monarch.

It must be understood that merely holding one's ground is simple; it only requires entanglement and delay to achieve. Even a Third Layer of Primordial Chaos Emperor Lord might manage it. However, to face a mid-stage Primordial Chaos Emperor Monarch in direct confrontation, one must be of the same realm to accomplish such a feat.

Thinking of this, Eldrin Chen felt a flicker of joy, gaining a measure of confidence for the impending counter-offensive.

He stepped out of the Grand Nether Soul Pool [a profound pool of spiritual energy within the Netherworld], only to find Grand Nether Emperor Lord had been waiting for some time. She examined Eldrin Chen and remarked with a smile, "To have your Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] and your Great Dao [the fundamental path of cultivation] both achieve breakthroughs simultaneously—this secluded cultivation has clearly granted you no small increase in strength."

"A mere trifling advancement, hardly comparable to Your Excellency's profound and boundless cultivation," replied Eldrin Chen with a modest smile, clasping his hands in salute.

Grand Nether Emperor Lord gave a slight nod of acknowledgment. "I imagine Black Abyss Emperor Lord is growing impatient by now. I shall not detain you further," she said.

"Take this with you on your journey. Remember, your own safety is paramount above all else."

As she spoke, Grand Nether Emperor Lord handed Eldrin Chen an ancient-looking scroll.

Eldrin Chen took the scroll and froze for a moment, his expression shifting dramatically. "The Earth Soul Scripture [a legendary scripture of immense power]?" he exclaimed.

However, he quickly realized his mistake. What Grand Nether Emperor Lord had given him was a replica of the Earth Soul Scripture, or rather, a single-use Great Emperor's Forbidden Artifact [a treasure of devastating power, forbidden for its immense cost and consequence].

Such Great Emperor's Forbidden Artifact [a supreme artifact forged and sealed by a Great Emperor, containing a sliver of their divine power] cannot compare to the might of an Innate Supreme Treasure [a treasure born from the primal laws of heaven and earth, containing innate divine powers] in its true form. However, they have imprinted a trace of the Earth Soul Scripture's [a legendary scripture containing profound earth-attribute cultivation arts and secrets] fundamental essence and contain a wisp of Grand Nether Emperor Lord's power. Once unleashed, they can rival a full-force strike from a Primordial Chaos Emperor Monarch [a supreme cultivator who has mastered the seventh layer of the Primordial Chaos realm] of the seventh layer.

Thinking of this, Eldrin Chen felt a surge of gratitude in his heart. He immediately spoke, "Many thanks for your profound favor, Emperor Lord [a title of supreme respect for a ruler who has attained the Emperor realm in cultivation]."

Grand Nether Emperor Lord waved his hand dismissively, offering no further words, and vanished into the boundless Netherworld Realm [a vast, shadowy dimension of death, spirits, and yin energy, separate from the mortal and heavenly realms]. ….

Seeing this, Eldrin Chen immediately tore through Chaos [the primordial, formless state from which all creation emerged] and the Void [a profound cultivation art or state of emptiness and nothingness], disappearing into the endless, desolate horizon.

Having returned to Black Abyss Heaven [a celestial realm or domain associated with profound darkness and abyssal power], the Black Abyss Great Emperor gave a slight nod upon seeing him and then spoke, "Go and prepare yourself. Await the message to deploy for battle."

With matters thus, Eldrin Chen could only returned to the Celestial Beam Imperial Star [an imperial celestial body or domain, likely a headquarters or capital star].

Upon arriving at the Celestial Beam Imperial Star, Eldrin Chen suppressed his cultivation level, feigning that he had not yet achieved a breakthrough.

By this time, merely over one hundred thousand years had passed since Eldrin Chen's departure. Not even the various Emperor Lord of the Demon Race [a powerful faction of beings who cultivate demonic arts and often possess bestial or monstrous traits] had noticed anything amiss, let alone the few Emperor Lord of the Human Race.

After returning to the Celestial Beam Imperial Star, Eldrin Chen began living a reclusive life, rarely venturing out, to consolidate his cultivation base. Thus, time flowed on unceasingly, and in the blink of an eye, several million years had passed.

Until one day, a secret missive once again arrived at the Celestial Beam Imperial Star and landed in the hands of Eldrin Chen.

Thus, on this day, Eldrin Chen departed Celestial Beam Imperial Star without a trace, arriving at a nameless star beyond Celestial Concord Emperor Star.

At this moment, upon this nameless star, seventeen Primordial Chaos Emperor Monarch had gathered.

Eldrin Chen swept his gaze over the assembly, discerning that most of these Primordial Chaos Emperor Monarch were at the Early Stage Primordial Chaos Emperor Lord level. Among them were several Emperor Lord who had retreated from Celestial Concord Emperor Star, and nearly half had been redeployed from Southern Dipper Six Stars.

Eldrin Chen even spotted, among their number, an old comrade-in-arms from many battles past: Meng Huang, the Emperor Lord.

The remainder hailed from within the Chaos [the primordial, formless void], clearly being one of the hidden reserves of the Human Race.

Only two among them had attained the Mid-Stage of Primordial Chaos Emperor Monarch: Celestial Concord Emperor Lord and, from the School of Military Strategy, 'Meng Qi, the Emperor Lord'.

Meng Qi, the Emperor Lord possessed cultivation at the fifth layer of Primordial Chaos Emperor Monarch. He was a fellow Dao Lord of the same clan as Meng Huang, the Emperor Lord, and the Meng Clan formed the main lineage of the School of Military Strategy.

The master of the School of Military Strategy, Black Abyss Great Emperor, was the Progenitor of the Meng Clan. All other Grand Luo Golden Immortal and Primordial Chaos Emperor Monarch within the School of Military Strategy were disciples and followers of Black Abyss Great Emperor.

The two Emperor Lord, Meng Qi and Meng Huang, both cultivated the Nine Revolutions Heavenly Art. In a sense, they were senior fellow disciples of Erlang and Xander Chen.

"It seems Black Abyss Great Emperor is the main force in this great battle. The other Great Emperors do not appear to have taken action?"

Eldrin Chen murmured inwardly, a thought flashing through his mind in an instant.

After a momentary assessment, he realized that although only seventeen were participating in this battle, they were all elites among the Primordial Chaos Emperor Monarch [the supreme rulers of the Primordial Chaos realm].

Those at the Early Stage Primordial Chaos Emperor Lord [the initial phase of the Primordial Chaos Emperor Lord realm] almost all possessed combat power rivaling the Third Layer of Primordial Chaos Emperor Lord [the third stratum of the Primordial Chaos Emperor Lord realm].

Meng Huang, the Emperor Lord was considered top-tier even among Early Stage Primordial Chaos Emperor Lords, but even stronger was the Meng Clan's prodigy, Meng Qi, the Emperor Lord.

It was said that Meng Qi, the Emperor Lord had once cultivated to the seventh revolution of the Nine Revolutions Heavenly Art [a supreme cultivation art involving nine cycles of heavenly refinement]. He had stepped into the Great Luo Realm [the Great Luo, a profound realm of cultivation] with a True Spirit Physique [a constitution of pure, unadulterated spiritual essence], granting him combat power that could stand toe-to-toe with even a sixth-layer Primordial Chaos Emperor Monarch.

"The number of high-tier experts is not great, but they are all elites among the Primordial Chaos Emperor Monarchs," Eldrin assessed.

As this thought flickered through Eldrin Chen's mind, he saw Meng Qi, the Emperor Lord speak up: "Since everyone has arrived, I shall now outline the battle plan."

At these words, a solemn gravity settled upon the faces of all the Emperor Lord [a title for a supreme ruler-lord].

Meng Qi, the Emperor Lord, his expression resolute and his gaze stern, declared: "In this battle, I shall take the lead, forcing open the grand formation of the Celestial Concord Emperor Star [a celestial body governed by the principle of heavenly harmony]."

"Once inside the formation, Fellow Daoist Celestial Concord Emperor Lord will use his authority as Star Lord to disrupt the array. The rest of you will follow my lead to intercept the enemy."

As he spoke thus, Meng Qi, the Emperor Lord gazed at Eldrin Chen and Meng Huang, finally stating, "Within the formation are twelve great Demon Race Emperor Lord [a supreme title for a ruler among cultivators], along with two mid-stage Primordial Chaos Emperor Monarch [a supreme cultivation realm, the monarch of chaos]."

"Of the two mid-stage Primordial Chaos Emperor Monarch, one has attained the fifth layer of that realm. I shall personally engage and defeat him. However, the remaining fourth-layer Primordial Chaos Emperor Monarch requires someone to intercept and hold him at bay."

"If the two of you join forces, you need only stall that remaining mid-stage Primordial Chaos Emperor Monarch. Once I have vanquished my opponent, or once Celestial Concord Emperor Lord reclaims control over the formation's core, victory in this battle shall be ours."