Chapter 2001 : The Vermilion Bird's Fall

Having set aside his thoughts, Eldrin Chen then turned his attention to surveying the strategic layout of the Celestial Beam Imperial Star.

The Demon Race forces that assaulted the Celestial Beam Imperial Star in this battle were not overwhelmingly numerous. Although they managed to breach the defenses of the Celestial Beam Ancient Star in a short time through the collusion of internal agents, the Human Race swiftly reclaimed it with a prepared countermeasure.

Consequently, the losses suffered by the Human Race were not severe. While many of the Grand Luo Golden Immortal from the Chen Immortal Clan who participated were seriously wounded, there were no casualties at the Grand Luo level.

Since the situation was not dire, Eldrin Chen could not help but breathe a sigh of relief.

He immediately organized the Human Race forces to launch a counteroffensive, aiming to recapture the lost stars within the Celestial Beam Star Domain while the main force of the Demon Race was focused on attacking the Vermilion Bird Star Domain.

In fact, this was precisely the strategy adopted by the various Emperor Lord of the Southern Dipper Six Stars. Except for a few top-tier Emperor Lord like the Black Abyss Great Emperor who went to reinforce the Vermilion Bird Star Domain, the others all seized the opportunity to counterattack.

Having achieved their primary objective, the Demon Race was unwilling to engage in a protracted, bloody conflict with the Human Race while their main force was absent. They thus withdrew from the territories of the Southern Dipper Six Stars.

In this manner, within a mere several hundred thousand years, the Human Race had completely reclaimed the vast stellar expanse of the Southern Dipper Six Stars.

It was at this time that news finally arrived from the depths of the starry void concerning the Vermilion Bird Star Domain.

"So, the Southern Departure Divine King has finally fallen?"

Within the Celestial Beam Imperial Star, Eldrin Chen sat facing the assembled Emperor Lord [a supreme title for a ruler who has attained the peak of the Dao]. Gazing at the report in his hand, he could not help but let out a slow, heavy sigh.

Hearing his sigh, the gathered Emperors also let out soft sighs of their own, their expressions tinged with a shared sense of lament.

As for the fall of the Southern Departure Divine King, everyone present had long harbored a premonition in their hearts.

After all, it was an ambush by three Great Emperors, and one of them was a Great Dao Adversary [a fated nemesis born from the same Great Dao, possessing the power to utterly annihilate their counterpart]. That the Southern Departure Divine King would fall was well within expectations.

Yet when this event truly came to pass, they all could not help but feel a pang of sorrow, a sense of mourning for a fallen peer.

One must remember, this was a peerless Emperor Lord [a supreme title for a ruler who has attained the peak of the Dao].

For ages, it had been a consensus throughout the Three Thousand Immortal Domains [the collective name for the myriad realms of the immortal world] that Primordial Chaos Emperor Monarch [a Celestial Emperor who has mastered the power of Primordial Chaos] were nigh Imperishable [a state of near-absolute immortality, making them incredibly difficult to kill permanently]. Even a Dao Ancestor Immortal Sage [a supreme being who has comprehended the origin of the Dao itself] taking action would find it exceedingly difficult to slay one.

Although they understood that a Great Dao Adversary [a fated nemesis born from the same Great Dao, possessing the power to utterly annihilate their counterpart] possessed the power to completely eradicate a Primordial Chaos Emperor Monarch [a Celestial Emperor who has mastered the power of Primordial Chaos], such occurrences were exceedingly rare even within the vast expanse of the Three Thousand Immortal Domains [the collective name for the myriad realms of the immortal world].

After all, the Great Dao is boundless. The probability of two Emperor Lord [a supreme title for a ruler who has attained the peak of the Dao] achieving Ascension [the act of transcending to a higher state of being or realm] along the same strand of the Great Dao, and moreover, residing within the same Primordial Immortal Domain [one of the foundational, ancient realms of the immortal world], was simply too remote and infinitesimal.

Furthermore, both the Vermilion Bird Great Emperor and the Southern Departure Divine King were existences at the level of the Eighth Layer of Primordial Unity Emperor Lord or above.

That Southern Departure Divine King was an ancient Divine King who had existed since the Primordial Middle Era. Among the many Divine Kings of the Divine Race, he could rank within the top ten.

Such a figure, whose status was not inferior to that of the Celestial Mansion Emperor Lord, and whose power was perhaps even a sliver greater,

yet even so, the Southern Departure Divine King still fell. His Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] was utterly extinguished by the Vermilion Bird Great Emperor, with only a wisp of his True Spirit [the indestructible spiritual essence of a being] plummeting into the Samsara [the endless cycle of death and rebirth].

Even if one day he could once again prove his Grand Luo [the Great Luo, a supreme cultivation realm] path, the Southern Departure Divine King, having lost his Dao Authority [the authority and control over a specific Great Dao], would likely find it exceedingly difficult to return to the realm of a Primordial Chaos Emperor Monarch [an Emperor Monarch born from Primordial Chaos].

"Alas—"

The Celestial Beam Emperor Lord let out a soft sigh before speaking. "With the fall of the Southern Departure Divine King, the Vermilion Bird Great Emperor has obtained a supreme portion of Dao Authority. I fear he is about to step into the realm of a Sage Ascendant [a Sage who has ascended to a higher plane of existence]."

Upon hearing this, the expressions of all present shifted slightly.

Eldrin Chen pondered for a moment, then could not help but ask, "I have heard that to break through to the Sage Ascendant realm, one must obtain the complete Dao Authority of a Great Dao."

"The 'Vermilion Heaven Departing Flame' [the Great Dao of the Vermilion Heaven's Departing Flame] path of the Vermilion Bird Great Emperor is also an immensely powerful Primordial Great Dao [a Great Dao originating from the Primordial Era]. Could it be that the Vermilion Bird Great Emperor has already mastered the complete authority over this Great Dao?"

Shaking his head from the side, Meng Huang, the Emperor Lord spoke, "Among the Ten Great Chaos Immortal Flames [the ten supreme flames born from Chaos], the Southern Brilliance Li Fire [the Southern Brilliance Li Fire] ranks within the top ten. It was originally one of the most supreme Boundless Great Dao [limitless and profound Great Daos]."

"This Vermilion Heaven Departing Flame can be considered a variant of the Southern Brilliance Li Fire. They share a profound connection, yet its power is only slightly diminished by half a measure."

"Precisely because it is a variant flame, there are fewer cultivators of the Vermilion Heaven Departing Flame, and it is not classified as a Primordial Fire. Consequently, one will not encounter an insurmountable Great Dao Adversary [a destined rival on the same Great Dao path]."

Speaking thus, Meng Huang, the Emperor Lord continued, his words flowing smoothly, "Of course, cultivators of the Vermilion Heaven Departing Flame are not few. They are scattered across the boundless Chaos, their numbers reaching not merely hundreds, but thousands."

"No matter how powerful the Vermilion Bird Great Emperor may be, it is impossible for him to traverse the endless Primordial Chaos Desolate Sea and completely eradicate all these Great Dao Adversary."

"However, he can initiate a Great Dao Authority Struggle [a cosmic contest for dominance over a specific Dao principle]. Within the infinite Sea of Dao [the metaphysical ocean where all Dao principles converge], he can contend with those formidable foes for Dao Authority [sovereignty over a fundamental principle of existence]."

"Oh?"

Eldrin Chen was momentarily taken aback, a flicker of surprise coloring his gaze.

Celestial Beam Emperor Lord also nodded, his expression grave as he affirmed, "Should the day come when your cultivation breaks through to the Great Perfection of Primordial Emperor Lord, and the Dao Authority you hold ranks first, or the portion you control exceeds one-tenth, you may then initiate a Great Dao Authority Struggle."

"At that time, you can project your Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] into the Sea of Dao. With supreme, overwhelming power, you can forcibly refine the Dao Authority of others. To protect their own Dao Authority, those Great Dao Adversary must, in turn, project their Primordial Spirit into the Sea of Dao to do battle with you."

"Once they retreat, they can only utterly abandon their claim to that Dao Authority."

Eldrin Chen was momentarily taken aback. So, the one who held the most Dao Authority [the authority and control over a specific Great Dao] could directly initiate a Great Dao War [a metaphysical conflict fought within the Sea of Dao, where Primordial Spirits clash over control of a Great Dao's authority].

Such wars take place within the Sea of Dao [the metaphysical realm where the fundamental principles of existence reside], and are pure contests between Primordial Spirits [the spiritual core and true essence of a cultivator]. Their outcome hinges primarily on the strength of each combatant's Primordial Spirit and their mastery over the Great Dao in question.

Upon reaching this point in his thoughts, Eldrin Chen suddenly realized something, his expression shifting to one of profound shock. "If that's the case," he said, "then those who have cultivated a True Spirit Primordial Spirit [a Primordial Spirit of the highest purity and power, a foundational requirement for the highest paths], or those who directly follow the Primordial Spirit Dao Attainment [a cultivation path focused on supreme refinement of the Primordial Spirit to comprehend the Dao], must hold an immense advantage, correct?"

"Precisely so."

Meng Huang, the Emperor Lord gave a slight nod, his countenance serene as he spoke. "Since time immemorial, not a single being who has attained sagehood via the Path of Dao Dominion [a cultivation path focused on seizing and wielding the authority of a Great Dao] has possessed a weak Primordial Spirit. A True Spirit Primordial Spirit is merely the most basic prerequisite."

"Moreover," he continued, "those who cultivate multiple Chaos Great Daos [the fundamental, primordial Daos that underpin Chaos itself], or even step into the Second Chaos Realm [a profound realm of cultivation within the Chaos Dao], almost invariably possess supremely powerful Chaos Primordial Spirits [a Primordial Spirit refined and tempered by the power of Chaos]."

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen felt a tremor deep within his heart.

In that moment, Eldrin Chen grasped, in broad strokes, why the Myriad Souls Emperor Lord had met an untimely end, and why that peerless expert who transformed into the Primordial Soul River [a legendary river formed from the essence of a fallen supreme being's soul] had perished.

For the potential of Primordial Spirit Dao Attainment was truly terrifying. Such existences possessed not only astonishing combat prowess, but also held a tremendous advantage in the struggle for Dao Authority.

Consider this: if the Solar Celestial Emperor [a Celestial Emperor associated with the sun and solar principles] were to prove his Dao and become a Soul Path Celestial Emperor [a Celestial Emperor whose authority is rooted in the soul and Primordial Spirit], he could directly wrest the authority over the Starry Great Dao [the Great Dao governing stars and celestial bodies] from within the Sea of Dao itself. There would be no need for intricate schemes or convoluted plots.

Even if one sets their sights upon a Boundless Great Dao [a supreme and limitless path of cultivation], all that is required is to settle one's heart, diligently cultivate and comprehend it until one's Dao Authority [the measure of one's mastery and control over a specific Great Dao] ranks first, or until one grasps more than ten percent of its Dao Authority. At that point, one can directly initiate a Great Dao Contention [a profound and direct clash of wills and mastery over fundamental cosmic principles].

By that time, with the supreme Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] cultivation of a Soul Path Celestial Emperor [a supreme cultivator who has attained the Celestial Emperor realm through mastery of the soul], seizing all Dao Authority would be as easy as turning one's hand.

Thus, by mastering several compatible Chaos Great Dao [fundamental cosmic principles born from the Primordial Chaos] and then attempting to break through to the Second Chaos Realm Dao Union Realm [a legendary realm where one's being merges with the Dao itself], the difficulty would not just be reduced—it would be made several times simpler, if not outright trivial.

"Once one attains the Celestial Emperor [a supreme sovereign among cultivators] realm through Primordial Spirit Dao Attainment [a method of breakthrough focusing on the profound enlightenment and power of the Primordial Spirit], attempting to break through the Second Chaos Realm in the future would likely have a success rate more than ten times greater than that of an ordinary Celestial Emperor."

"Moreover, whether one can break through to become a Soul Path Celestial Emperor via Primordial Spirit Dao Attainment is likely one of the key conditions determining if one can ever reach the Second Chaos Realm."

Eldrin Chen murmured inwardly, a trace of solemnity flickering deep within his gaze.

In that moment, Eldrin Chen felt a faint glimmer of understanding. Within the entire Thirteen Domains of the Northern and Southern Celestial Abyss [a vast and storied region of the cosmos], combined with the former Immortal Cosmos Origin Domain [the primordial birthplace of the immortal cosmos], the number of Chaos Celestial Emperor [Celestial Emperors who have mastered the power of Primordial Chaos] was certainly no fewer than several dozen.

Yet, among so many Chaos Celestial Emperor, not a single existence at the Second Chaos Realm had ever emerged. This revealed just how utterly, devastatingly difficult it was to take even one step further after reaching the realm of a Chaos Celestial Emperor.

Consider this: within the Great Luo Realm [a high realm of cultivation], out of every ten Grand Luo Golden Immortal [powerful immortals of the Great Luo realm], there would essentially always be one who reached the Late Great Luo Golden Immortal [the pinnacle stage of the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm].

Even at the Primordial Chaos Emperor Monarch [Emperor Monarchs who wield the power of Primordial Chaos] realm, those who could attain the Late Primordial Chaos Emperor Lord Realm [the advanced stage of the Primordial Chaos Emperor Lord realm] were no fewer than one in ten.

However, upon reaching the Chaos Realm [a profound and advanced stage of cultivation], it is said that not only are those in the Third Chaos Realm [the third and highest tier within the Chaos Realm] exceedingly rare, but even cultivators of the Second Chaos Realm [the second tier within the Chaos Realm] are fewer than one in a hundred. This reveals how immensely difficult it is to advance even a single step further at such heights.

This scarcity stems not merely from a lack of resources, but from imperfections in one's Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator], magical power, comprehension of the Great Dao, and foundational cultivation. Whether one can achieve Primordial Spirit Dao Attainment [a state of perfect spiritual enlightenment and unity with the Dao] may very well be the key to ascending to even greater heights.

Contemplating this, Eldrin Chen felt his resolve to walk the path of Primordial Spirit Dao Attainment solidify with even greater determination.

"Boom—"

Just as Eldrin Chen's thoughts were swirling, he suddenly sensed an indescribable, supremely powerful aura.

He looked up to find the source emanating from the Vermilion Bird Star Domain [a celestial region associated with the mythical Vermilion Bird]. Deep within that domain, an immensely majestic Vermilion Bird Divine Soul [a divine manifestation shaped like the Vermilion Bird, a mythical fire-avian] soared into the heavens. Wreathed in scorching flames, it tore through the fabric of World Creation [the primordial void from which worlds are born] and plunged into a nameless expanse of Space-Time [a dimensional fold or pocket reality].

Within that nameless Space-Time, countless Great Dao Divine Chain [cosmic chains formed from the laws of the Great Dao] crisscrossed and intertwined. Myriad upon myriad strands of the Great Dao coiled and spiraled within the boundless vastness.

Among them, one chain blazed with a fiery radiance, dazzling like an eternal divine sun, its light illuminating the endless Chaos [the primordial, formless state before creation] and the Cosmos [the ordered universe].

"As expected, it is indeed attempting its breakthrough."

Luo River Emperor Lord murmured softly, his expression grave as he sighed, "If she succeeds in this ascension, the Demon Race [the race of powerful, often bestial, cultivators] will once again possess three Sage Ascendant [beings who have ascended to the pinnacle of sagehood]. I fear they may reclaim the glorious zenith they held in the ancient eras."

Meng Huang, the Emperor Lord also let out a soft sigh, then shook his head and said, "Make your preparations. This Kalpa Tribulation [a cataclysmic cycle of cosmic destruction and renewal] is also nearing its end."

"Nearing its end?"

Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen's gaze flickered with momentary surprise, but he quickly grasped the implication.

In this Three Races Great War, the Demon Race had already reclaimed the Vermilion Bird Star Domain. Most crucially, it was highly likely they would soon gain another Sage Ascendant [a supreme cultivator who has ascended to the threshold of sagehood]. One could say they had already secured a significant advantage; it was impossible for them to launch any further major offensives.

For if the Vermilion Bird Great Emperor failed in her breakthrough, the Demon Race, having lost the combat power of a Great Emperor, would certainly be forced into retreat.

Conversely, if the Vermilion Bird Great Emperor succeeded, it would likely alarm the Divine Emperor [a supreme ruler among deities] and Immortal Sage [an immortal who has attained profound wisdom and power] of the Human and Divine Races.

With one Celestial Emperor [the supreme ruler of the heavens] already absent, if the Demon Race failed to quit while they were ahead, they risked suffering a devastating defeat.

From Eldrin Chen's understanding, that venerable senior, Sage-King of the Grand Abyss, was not one to stand on ceremony.

If he couldn't win, he would simply overturn the board.

In the past, the elder had not shied from bullying the weak, going so far as to shatter the Cosmic Starry Sky Grand Formation [a grand defensive array spanning the stars]. Now, he would surely have no qualms about lowering himself to strike at juniors.

Returning to the main narrative, after a flicker of thought, Eldrin Chen quickly grasped the strategic landscape that lay ahead.

He rose directly to his feet and declared, "Since that is the case, let us mobilize our forces for a counteroffensive and see how many of the lost Cosmic Stars we can reclaim."

Everyone nodded in agreement, and they began deliberating on troop deployments and strategies to recapture the lost Myriad Heavens' Stars.

In the years that followed, the Human and Divine Races organized their military strength and launched continuous counterattacks against the lost Nine Heavens Stars.

Meanwhile, the main force of the Demon Race remained within the Vermilion Bird Star Domain, guarding the physical body of the Vermilion Bird Great Emperor with their full might, paying little heed to the loss of these celestial bodies.

Thus, the great war raged on, time flowing past in a blur until more than a single Kalpa Tribulation [an immense cosmic cycle in Buddhist cosmology, often billions of years] had elapsed.

Then, on this day, a world-sundering fissure tore open in the depths of the Vermilion Bird Star Domain.

Immediately after, endless Great Dao Divine Chain descended from the Sea of the Great Dao [the metaphysical ocean representing the source of all cosmic principles]. They coalesced into one after another Grand Dao Divine Form [divine manifestations of supreme cosmic principles], coiling around a supreme Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] as it descended.

That Primordial Spirit radiated an eternal light. A mere wisp of its aura could Annihilation the Myriad Heavens, and every single strand of its presence carried a pressure that would make even a Primordial Chaos Emperor Monarch [a supreme cultivator at the peak of the Primordial Chaos realm] tremble.

"Six Great Dao True Form [the ultimate, perfect manifestation of a Great Dao]..."

Clad in robes white as driven snow, Eldrin Chen stood atop the boundless Myriad Heavens, his gaze fixed upon the Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] encircled by endless Great Dao Divine Chain. A profound gravity settled within the depths of his eyes.

He understood in his heart: this was the birth of a Sage Ascendant [a supreme cultivator one step below a Dao Progenitor], the re-emergence of an eternal existence into the mortal realm.

Sage Ascendant are the highest of Dao Master [masters of a Great Dao]. Such beings need only obtain a single wisp of Chaos Primordial Qi [the primordial energy of Chaos] to attempt a breakthrough into the realm of a Chaos Celestial Emperor.

Generally speaking, a perfected Primordial Great Dao [a fundamental law of existence] can, at most, give birth to nine Grand Dao Divine Form [divine manifestations of a Great Dao's power].

Yet this is merely the theoretical limit. In truth, Great Daos capable of nurturing nine Grand Dao Divine Form are exceedingly rare.

The majority of perfected Daos possess no more than five or six Grand Dao Divine Form. Many weaker perfected Heavenly Dao [the Heavenly Way, the natural order] have only two or three.

That the Vermilion Heaven Departing Flame [the Great Dao of the Departing Flame of the Vermilion Heaven] of the Vermilion Bird Great Emperor possesses six Grand Dao Divine Form proves it is far from a weak Dao.

The probability of such a Grand Dao Divine Form, upon obtaining a wisp of Chaos Primordial Qi, successfully ascending to the Chaos Celestial Emperor realm…

Eldrin Chen pondered silently, then shook his head after a moment. "I fear it does not exceed two tenths," he murmured.

For a Perfect Innate Great Dao [a perfected innate Great Dao] to advance further and transform into a Chaos Great Dao [a Great Dao born of Chaos] invariably carries immense and stringent requirements.

Generally speaking, for weaker Great Daos [the fundamental cosmic principles] that manifest fewer than four Grand Dao Divine Form, their inherent frailty and fragility render the probability of a successful breakthrough and transformation virtually nonexistent.

Those capable of manifesting between four and six Grand Dao Divine Form are typically considered not-weak Daos, possessing a one or two in ten chance of successfully breaking through and undergoing metamorphosis.

Once the number exceeds seven Grand Dao Divine Form, the probability of transforming into a Chaos Great Dao increases dramatically.

As a rule, with seven Grand Dao Divine Form, supplemented by a Chaos Rare Treasure, there is a three in ten chance of completing the metamorphosis.

Eight Grand Dao Divine Form yields a five in ten chance, while nine Grand Dao Divine Form boasts a probability exceeding eight in ten.

Legends speak of those surpassing nine Grand Dao Divine Form—these are the supreme Boundless Great Dao. Once one fully achieves Dao-Grasping and refines Chaos Primordial Qi, transformation into a Chaos Great Dao is assured.

However, the more potent the Great Dao, the greater the number of formidable experts who cultivate it, making the attainment of Dao Authority exponentially more difficult.

In ages past, figures like the Primordial Phoenix and the Candle Dragon succeeded in breaking through to become Chaos Celestial Emperor precisely because they were fated Chaos Divine Emperor, each mastering a supreme Dao that manifested the full nine Grand Dao Divine Form.