Chapter 1962 : A Master's Fateful Bestowal

Finally, Eldrin Chen turned his gaze towards Lofty Peak Lu and Lingering Ye.

Among these two personal disciples of his, Lofty Peak Lu possessed a will of iron, his perseverance and daring spirit being rare in this world.

As for Lingering Ye, his comprehension was exceptionally high, and he was bold enough to take risks and experiment. Therefore, his future path was more treacherous and unpredictable; he might achieve even greater heights, but was also more likely to ruin his very foundation through failed cultivation attempts and perish midway.

In Eldrin Chen's earlier divinations, Lofty Peak Lu's cultivation path in the early stages was steady and solid, but later became winding and obscure, seemingly turning more radical, making its inner mysteries difficult to discern.

In contrast, Lingering Ye seemed to advance by leaps and bounds on his path, but upon reaching a certain peak, he fell into a cycle of repeatedly rebuilding his cultivation and Reincarnation [the process of being reborn into a new life].

Now, as the Kalpa Tribulation [an immense cosmic cycle of destruction and renewal] drew near, Eldrin Chen faintly perceived that the pivotal moment affecting their Destiny [the predetermined course of events] was approaching.

After pondering deeply for a long while, Eldrin Chen looked at Lofty Peak Lu and spoke: "Lofty Peak Lu."

"Your disciple is here."

"I bestow upon you the Innate Spiritual Rare Material [a primordial substance of immense spiritual power] known as the 'Heaven-Slaying Heavenly God Fiend' [a legendary material embodying the power to slay celestial beings]. Do not disappoint your master."

Lofty Peak Lu was momentarily taken aback. The Heaven-Slaying Heavenly God Fiend was a supreme treasure of the Slaughter [the Dao of killing and destruction] path, yet it carried the risk of damaging one's physical body. He had always pursued a steady, solid foundation, prioritizing the stability of his Sacrificial Self Physique [a legendary body cultivation method that refines the self through sacrifice]. Why would his master grant him such an artifact? Find thousands of chapters at audio–novel.com.

As for Lingering Ye, she was extremely eager for this Heaven-Slaying Heavenly God Fiend. She enjoyed the thrill of cultivating unorthodox methods and had, over the years, devised countless techniques to develop the Sacrificial Self Path. Many of these methods were harmful to the physical body and fell outside the mainstream practices of the Sacrificial Self Path.

If she could obtain this Heaven-Slaying Heavenly God Fiend, she might be able to further refine her Immortal Treasury [a supreme cultivation technique manifesting as a conceptual repository of power], potentially replacing one of the Ten Great Immortal Treasuries with the Heaven-Slaying Celestial Immortal Treasury to achieve even more formidable combat prowess.

Eldrin Chen remained silent for a moment before speaking calmly, "Keep this item for now. It will serve its purpose in due time."

Only then did Lofty Peak Lu clasp his hands in a formal salute, his expression grave. "Many thanks, Master."

Seeing this, Eldrin Chen took one last look at Lingering Ye. Recalling the inscrutable threads of fate that seemed to bind her, he finally bestowed upon her an Ancient Seal [a powerful enchanted artifact often used for sealing or protection], saying,

"Lingering Ye, your comprehension is Extraordinary, yet you often take risks to create unorthodox methods. While they may grant greater power, they frequently carry significant hidden dangers."

"This Returning Abyss Path Seal was personally forged by your master. Should you ever face true peril, this treasure can protect your True Spirit [the immortal spiritual core of a high-level cultivator]."

Lingering Ye received the Returning Abyss Path Seal, her heart giving a faint tremble. It was an Innate Spiritual Treasure [a supreme-grade magical artifact born from the cosmos itself] of exceptional quality.

Most crucially, it seemed Eldrin Chen had divined something, specifically seeking out this life-preserving artifact for her. The implications behind this gesture felt profound and weighty.

Nevertheless, Lingering Ye did not feel her chosen path was flawed. This was her own cultivation journey, a path she ultimately had to walk herself.

With these thoughts in mind, Lingering Ye spoke without delay, "Many thanks, Master, for bestowing this treasure."

"Mm."

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

He led the group once more to the Returning Abyss Forbidden Land [a perilous and spiritually rich region], employing the Creation Cauldron [a legendary artifact capable of refining and forging spiritual items] to aid them in refining their newly acquired treasures. He also seized the opportunity to further consolidate and mend the foundations of their cultivation.

Once these matters were concluded, the foundational strength and latent potential of all five had been elevated to a remarkable degree.

This was especially true for Worthy Longevity Chen. Not only had he successfully cultivated a single True Spirit Foundation [the purest and most potent form of spiritual foundation], but he had also managed to refine the Innate Spiritual Treasure [a treasure born of natural spiritual laws, possessing immense power] known as the Thirty-Three Heavens Vast Sea Divine Pearls [a set of thirty-three divine pearls, each containing the essence of a celestial ocean].

When these Thirty-Three Heavens Vast Sea Divine Pearls merged, the power they unleashed was nearly unstoppable, its might even brushing against the threshold of what could be considered a True Spirit Treasure [a treasure that has transcended its material form to become one with a True Spirit, possessing sentience and unparalleled power].

Yet, it was a pity. No matter how many Innate Spiritual Treasure one possessed, they remained merely Innate Spiritual Treasure. They could not undergo the final metamorphosis into a True Spirit Treasure.

Worthy Longevity Chen attempted to cultivate the Heavenly Emperor's Artifact Fusion Chapter [a profound technique for fusing and elevating artifacts], hoping to refine the set into a genuine True Spirit Treasure, but his efforts ended in failure.

The reason lay in the incompleteness of this set of Vast Sea Divine Pearl [divine pearls embodying the power of the vast seas]. It was missing the final three pearls, which had never been forged and refined.

Regarding this, Eldrin Chen also had no recourse. To refine the final three Vast Sea Divine Pearl [divine pearls containing the essence of the vast sea], Worthy Longevity Chen needed to pass through a tribulation [a trial of fate and cultivation] ordained by the heavens themselves.

Returning to the main thread, after assisting the five disciples with their Foundation Reforging [a profound process of reforging one's cultivation foundation], Eldrin Chen instructed them to continue consolidating their foundations. He then retreated into secluded cultivation, awaiting the moment his spiritual power would reach its peak.

Thus, time flowed swiftly. Unnoticed, several million years passed, and the Seventh Kalpa Tribulation [the seventh great cosmic cycle of destruction and renewal] began its silent approach.

Before the Kalpa Tribulation [the great cosmic cycle of destruction and renewal] arrived, Eldrin Chen prepared to seal his mountain retreat. At their parting, he gazed upon his five disciples and sighed, saying, "In this tribulation, take great care."

"We will not fail your expectations, Master."

Within the Great Hall, the five disciples kowtowed three times with solemn reverence. Finally, with unwavering resolve, they departed from the Returning Abyss Immortal Domain. Support the author by reading on audio-novel`com.

Eldrin Chen sat high upon his immortal dais, watching the receding figures of his disciples. At last, he released a sigh and completely sealed the Returning Abyss Immortal Domain.

As the Kalpa Tribulation descended, the great Immortal Domain [realms of immortals] began sealing their gates. Worthy Longevity Chen and the other four also felt a wave of solemn gravity.

Fate Birth wore a grave expression. After glancing at the others, he spoke with deep seriousness, "Within this Kalpa Tribulation, each of us five carries a destined Great Tribulation [a major, fate-ordained trial]."

"If we can pass through it, attaining the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [the supreme realm of the Golden Immortal] will be assured. However, such a Tribulation is exceedingly perilous. I suggest we each face our calamity separately, lest our individual trials influence one another."

Hearing this, everyone nodded. Goose Startles Cold spoke up directly with a smile, "Fellow senior and junior brothers, we shall meet again after the Kalpa Tribulation [the immense cosmic cycle marking the end of an era]."

"Agreed."

The others smiled in return, then clasped their hands in farewell amidst the Chaos [the primordial, formless void from which all creation emerged].

"…"

At the same moment, deep within the Three Thousand Immortal Domains, several dozen peerless Ancient Immortal Great Power [powerful cultivators who have transcended mortality and weathered countless tribulations] stood firm within the Chaos.

Among them, a man clad in violet robes held a compass-like artifact. A flicker passed through his gaze as he said, "They have dispersed."

The other Ancient Immortal Great Power frowned slightly upon hearing this. A man clad in Golden War Armor remarked, "Scattering… that does complicate matters."

Yet the others seemed to have anticipated this.

The five Ancient Immortal of the Chen Immortal Clan had entered the tribulation separately, each heading to a different Primordial Domain [ancient, foundational realms of existence]. If they were to be besieged one by one, the allotted span of a million years would be insufficient. It was highly likely that two or three of them would successfully attain the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [the supreme state of a perfected, all-encompassing immortal being] during that time.

Thus, they too had no choice but to split their forces, targeting their opponents with precision.

Considering this, a white-haired man from the Primordial Solar Imperial Court [one of the supreme powers of the immortal realm] spoke up: "According to the plan, our Four Great Imperial Courts [the four paramount celestial empires] and the nine Great Encompassing Ancient Sect [the most ancient and powerful sects] shall divide into four teams, each armed with means to counter them, and go forth to hunt them down to the last."

"Esteemed colleagues, let us depart."

As his words faded, the assembled powerhouses from the Four Great Imperial Courts and the nine great ancient sects took action, vanishing into the depths of the Endless Chaos [the primordial, formless expanse between worlds].

Simultaneously, the five disciples had already traversed the Boundless Chaos and were charging towards other Primordial Domain [vast, ancient realms that formed at the dawn of creation].

Among Eldrin Chen's five disciples, the other three had each entered their tribulations separately. Only Lingering Ye and Lofty Peak Lu [a married couple who are both powerful cultivators], having long ago become Dao companions, had pledged to face the trials together, supporting one another through the tribulation.

At this moment, the five were undergoing their tribulations in four different domains: the Domain of Chaos Celestial Pole, the Domain of Chaos Firmamental Extreme, the Primordial Domain of Myriad Gods, and the Primordial Domain of Saint and Demon.

The location where Lingering Ye and Lofty Peak Lu went to undergo their tribulation was one of the four great Primordial Domain—the Primordial Domain of Saint and Demon [a primordial realm where the forces of sanctity and demonic power are in constant conflict].

They fought their way to the Primordial Domain of Saint and Demon and Burst [unleashed] a world-shaking battle upon the Immortal Firmament Ancient Continent [an ancient landmass within that domain].

In this battle, they displayed near-invincible prowess, cutting down nearly all their foes. Even a peerless Ancient Immortal [an immortal who has survived for eons] who had cultivated five Indestructibility Foundation [foundational pillars of an indestructible cultivation base] could not withstand ten exchanges in their hands.

But just as the duo fought their way to the Central [heartland] of the Immortal Firmament Ancient Continent, they encountered their most formidable adversaries yet.

A full several dozen Eight Tribulations Ancient Immortal [powerful beings who have survived eight heavenly tribulations] laid down a grand formation, setting up a peerless great array within the Immortal Firmament Ancient Continent [an ancient landmass of immense spiritual significance] to trap them within the Depths of Chaos [a primordial, formless realm of pure disorder].

"Fifty-seven Eight Tribulations Ancient Immortal [powerful beings who have survived eight heavenly tribulations]. You truly honor us," he said, his voice laced with cold irony.

As the encircling figures closed in, Lofty Peak Lu stepped forward, shielding Lingering Ye behind him. A grave solemnity settled in his gaze.

Lingering Ye swept her eyes across the surrounding host, and a flicker of profound gravity also surfaced within her own.

For this battle, aiming to utterly annihilate the pair, one of the Four Great Imperial Courts [the four supreme demonic powers of the era], the Desolate Ape Imperial Court [a mighty empire ruled by ancient ape-demon sovereigns], had taken personal action. They had dispatched a full seventeen Eight Tribulations Ancient Immortal [powerful beings who have survived eight heavenly tribulations]. Furthermore, they had allied with five great ancient sects, including the Mace of Earth Immortal Lord [a title for a powerful earthbound immortal] and the Verdant Extreme Patriarch, mustering another twelve such ancient immortals.

Yet even this was not enough to satisfy them. They had also conspired with several major ancient sects from the Primordial Domain of Saint and Demon [a chaotic realm where holy and demonic powers clash], assembling a total force of fifty-seven Eight Tribulations Ancient Immortal [powerful beings who have survived eight heavenly tribulations] to lay this killing formation and hunt them down.

However, this alone was not what caused the weight in their hearts.

After all, both of them possessed the True Spirit Foundation [a supreme cultivation foundation forged from a True Spirit's essence]. Bolstered by their Inner Universe [a perfected internal cosmos within a cultivator's body] and the Ten Great Immortal Treasuries [a set of ten supreme divine abilities], their combat prowess was at least comparable to that of a peerless expert standing between Three True Spirit Foundations [a legendary level of cultivation attainment].

With such foundational strength and depth of power, they would not fear several dozen ordinary Eight Tribulations Ancient Immortal [powerful beings who have survived eight heavenly tribulations].

But their foes were not lacking in peerless experts either. The Desolate Ape Imperial Court [a mighty empire ruled by ancient ape-demon sovereigns] alone fielded two prodigies who had attained the seventh level of the Indestructibility Foundation [a near-mythical stage of cultivation focused on achieving unbreakable form], alongside a host of other great powers who had also forged their own Indestructibility Foundation [a near-mythical stage of cultivation].

The most terrifying aspect was that these individuals seemed to have cultivated some form of Forbidden Divine Ability [a powerful, taboo technique that grants immense power at the cost of one's future potential], sacrificing their latent potential in exchange for even more astonishing combat prowess.

With such formidable strength, combined with this meticulously prepared, world-shaking grand Formation [a complex array of energy channels and symbols used to create powerful magical effects], it was likely that even with their own formidable abilities, a direct confrontation would be exceedingly difficult.

After a split-second assessment, Lofty Peak Lu decisively said to Lingering Ye, "I will hold them off. You break through."

"I do not need your protection."

Lingering Ye's pupils turned icy cold. Without hesitation, she summoned a dazzling sword energy that transformed into a magnificent sword aura, surging outward to cleave a path.

Yet their foes were well-prepared. A peerless Ancient Immortal [an immortal who has transcended countless tribulations and lived for eons] from the Desolate Ape Imperial Court [the imperial court of the ancient Desolate Ape lineage], wielding an ancient divine mountain, activated a heaven-covering Formation to block Lingering Ye's assault.

"You will not break through. Today, both of you shall be buried here."

A man clad in black robes spoke, commanding a Netherworld Divine Furnace [a divine furnace imbued with the power of the underworld] to press down upon them. His very first move unleashed a world-shattering, earth-destroying divine might.

From the outset, the battle turned heaven and earth upside down. Two invincible prodigies of the Sacrificial Self Path [a profound cultivation path that emphasizes self-sacrifice and transcendence] found themselves locked in a desperate, bitter struggle against several dozen supreme Eight Tribulations Ancient Immortal.

Overall, the situation was unfavorable for Lingering Ye and Lofty Peak Lu.

The opposing side appeared to have prepared for a long time, bringing with them methods specifically designed to counter the two, including terrifyingly powerful weapons of mass destruction capable of severely injuring or even annihilating a supreme prodigy who had cultivated the True Spirit Foundation [a legendary and nearly perfect foundational cultivation stage].

Those who had cultivated multiple Indestructibility Foundation [a powerful, resilient foundational cultivation stage] layers could, after paying a tremendous price, possess combat power approaching or even rivaling that of a True Spirit Foundation cultivator.

Thus, the great battle raged on incessantly. Unbeknownst to them, the two sides had been locked in fierce combat within the formation for hundreds of thousands of years.

"*Cough*—"

Lingering Ye struck once more, pushing his Slaughter [a divine ability focused on pure, overwhelming killing intent] technique to its absolute limit. He annihilated an Eight Tribulations Ancient Immortal [an ancient immortal who has survived eight heavenly tribulations] within the void, but in turn was sent reeling through the air, blood spraying from his mouth by a blow from another foe.

"Lingering!"

Lofty Peak Lu swiftly activated a Body Protection Divine Ability [a defensive divine ability that forms a protective barrier] to shield Lingering Ye, a flicker of urgency appearing in his eyes.

By this point in the battle, they had slain over a dozen powerful enemies, but they themselves had sustained grievous wounds. Yet, their opponents simply had overwhelming numbers. Even with their formidable skills, breaking through the encirclement seemed an impossible task.

"Don't worry about me."

After forcibly suppressing his injuries, Lingering Ye noticed that the protective Divine Body [a constitution blessed by divine power, granting immense durability] of Lofty Peak Lu was already on the verge of shattering.

She gritted her teeth, then spoke decisively: "I possess a forbidden art [a powerful technique with severe self-damaging consequences] that might shatter the Formation's blockade. Take me with you and fight our way out."

"A forbidden art?"

Lofty Peak Lu was momentarily stunned, about to voice his concern.

Lingering Ye cut him off immediately, her tone resolute. "Guard me while I perform it."

As her words fell, Lingering Ye decisively activated the forbidden technique. Her aura suddenly surged with terrifying intensity.

Witnessing this, Lofty Peak Lu's expression changed drastically. He wanted to intervene, but it was already too late.

Lingering Ye's method was unexpectedly decisive and overwhelmingly fierce. She had actually created a horrifyingly potent Forbidden Divine Ability: the 'Sacrificial Self Strike'.

The so-called Sacrificial Self Strike was crafted by drawing inspiration from the cultivation path of the Sacrificial Self Realm.

Both involved sacrificing the old self. The Sacrificial Self Realm used the old self as nourishment to gestate a new self with far greater potential.

However, this Sacrificial Self Strike instantly sacrificed everything—the physical body, spiritual energy [the vital energy cultivated by practitioners], the Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator], the Path Fruit [the condensed essence of a cultivator's understanding of the Dao], the Immortal Treasury [a cultivator's internal repository of treasures], the Inner Universe [a cultivator's personal microcosmic world], and all other powers—transforming them into an almost unstoppable torrent of force. It Burst forth with power that did not belong to her current realm.

At this moment, Lingering Ye forcibly sacrificed everything. The Immortal Treasury [a cultivator's personal dimensional space for storing treasures] surrounding her began to disintegrate, her Inner Universe [the self-contained cosmos cultivated within a high-level cultivator's body] started to collapse, and her magic power, physical body, and Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core and highest essence of a cultivator] all began to fracture and unravel.

"No—!"

Lofty Peak Lu roared, teetering on the brink of utter madness.

This process was unstoppable. With her Ancient Immortal [an immortal who has survived multiple heavenly tribulations] cultivation base, Lingering Ye unleashed such a tyrannical Forbidden Divine Ability [a supreme technique that carries immense cost or risk to the user], instantly Burst forth with a sword energy that was utterly irresistible.

That sword energy cleaved through the heavens. Several Eight Tribulations Ancient Immortal [ancient immortals who have survived eight heavenly tribulations] were reduced to bloody mist before they could even react.

The remaining force remained unstoppable, crashing instantly upon the Formation [a structured array of energy used for defense, attack, or cultivation]. It split the formation cleanly in two on the spot.

"Lingering—!"

Lofty Peak Lu let out a roar of disbelief, reaching out to grasp at the fading silhouette of Lingering Ye, desperate to salvage something, anything, at any cost.

Alas, it was all in vain. That peerlessly elegant woman offered a final, radiant smile, then dissolved into motes of shimmering light that scattered upon the wind, leaving behind only a single, ancient and unadorned Daoist seal.

"The Returning Abyss Path Seal."

'This Returning Abyss Path Seal [a powerful protective talisman] was personally forged by your master. Should a day of true calamity ever befall you, this treasure shall guard your True Spirit [the highest spiritual core of a cultivator, representing their immortal foundation].'

In that instant, the words of Eldrin Chen echoed in his mind. Without a moment's hesitation, Lofty Peak Lu seized the Returning Abyss Path Seal, transforming into an unstoppable beam of light that vanished from the Immortal Firmament Ancient Continent [an ancient and vast landmass steeped in immortal history].

The faces of the others present changed drastically, and they immediately gave chase with frantic, murderous intent.

"…"

While the cataclysmic battle erupted within the Primordial Domain of Saint and Demon [a primordial realm where the forces of sanctity and demonhood eternally clash], the other three battlefields also exploded into wars of unprecedented, earth-shattering scale.

Within the Domain of Chaos Firmamental Extreme [a realm of primordial chaos and ultimate extremes], Goose Startles Cold too found himself ambushed in a long-planned encirclement.

Fighting alone against dozens of formidable foes, he battled fiercely, slaying over ten peerless Ancient Immortals [immortals who have survived for eons] in a single engagement, and through sheer force of will, managed to carve a bloody path through the siege.

Yet his adversaries were overwhelmingly powerful. Armed with trump cards bestowed by a Primordial One Imperial Lord [a supreme ruler from the dawn of creation], they pursued Goose Startles Cold relentlessly across countless Paths [the fundamental laws and disciplines of cultivation, often visualized as roads to power]. Find this and other novels at (audio-novel.com).