Chapter 2006 : Prodigies Gather at Heaven's Center

On this day, at the Immortal Ruins Ancient Continent Center of Heaven, the Vermilion Bird Holy Son stood clad in crimson robes, a solitary figure against the boundless void of the heavens.

Across the Eight Desolations, other peerless prodigies of the Demon Race stood arrayed—figures like the Profound Nether Imperial Scion, the Kunpeng Imperial Scion, and the True Dragon Scion.

Having waited for a considerable time, the gathered prodigies all turned their gazes in unison toward a specific point at the horizon's edge.

There, at the farthest reach of the sky, six figures strode across the firmament, arriving at the designated battleground of the Celestial Center.

These six were Eldrin Chen's eldest son Xianzhu Chen and his wife Susu, his three chief disciples Xander Lin, Celestial Balance Scion, and Tynan Zhang, along with the singular genius known as the Inscription of Sorrow Lord.

"Only six have come?"

At the sight of them, the Profound Nether Imperial Scion's eyes narrowed slightly, a frown creasing his brow.

After a deliberate appraisal of the six, he spoke, his voice laced with cold disdain. "This Sovereign has heard that those who entered the tribulation through the Path of Self-Sacrifice number over a hundred."

"Yet for today's appointed battle, why have only six appeared? Have the others lost their nerve?"

Upon hearing his words, the other immortals present exchanged subtle glances, their eyes flickering with a glimmer of understanding.

Several Imperial Scions from the Human Race [the collective term for humanity in this cultivation world] nodded slightly, letting out a breath of relief. One of them spoke up, "Having six of us engage the main force of the Demon Race [the collective term for demonkind and monstrous beasts] to draw their attention, while the rest scatter to face their tribulations, does indeed seem like a sound strategy."

"In my view, I fear it will be of little use."

The Human Race's peerless prodigy, Luminous Radiance Imperial Scion, shook his head and stated, "The Demon Race came precisely for them to face their tribulations. They would not have failed to consider this possibility."

It was at this moment that the Vermilion Bird Holy Son finally spoke.

With a face of icy indifference, he gazed upon the six, his eyes shimmering with boundless chill. "I have entered this tribulation for one purpose alone: to challenge all the prodigies of the Path of Self-Sacrifice [a specific, formidable cultivation path or school of thought]. Yet you have sent only six. Are the rest of you nothing but cowards?"

"Are the others all mere rodents, then?"

Above in the heavens, the six prodigies of the Path of Self-Sacrifice exchanged faint smiles upon hearing his words.

After a shared glance, it was Xander Lin who spoke, "You intend to face the hundred Great Luo True Seed [individuals marked by destiny with the potential to reach the Great Luo Realm, the pinnacle of cultivation] of our Path of Self-Sacrifice all by yourself?"

The Vermilion Bird Holy Son stood cold and unmoved, the Crimson Phoenix Divine Spear [a divine weapon imbued with the essence of a crimson phoenix] grasped firmly in his hand. His pupils gleamed with a profound darkness as he declared, "In this tribulation, I shall sweep through the gathered heroes and subjugate all who dare defy me! What can a mere hundred Great Luo True Seed from your Path of Self-Sacrifice do, even if they all came at me at once?"

"What can a mere hundred Great Luo True Seed from your Path of Self-Sacrifice do, even if they all came at me at once?"

"Such audacious spirit."

The various prodigies of the Demon Race all nodded in agreement, offering their words of praise.

Profound Nether Imperial Scion nodded, a trace of a smile on his lips as he said, "To stand alone against over a hundred Great Luo True Seed from the entire Path of Self-Sacrifice, such talent and courage from Your Highness is truly worthy of the name of a direct descendant of a Sage Ascendant."

The six of them could ultimately hold back no longer. That Celestial Balance Scion spoke up, saying, "Leave this to me."

As his words fell, the Celestial Balance Scion took a single step that shattered the firmament. With a flick of his sleeve, he unleashed a sweeping force imbued with the power to invert Yin-Yang [the fundamental opposing yet complementary forces of the universe].

The Vermilion Bird Holy Son was momentarily taken aback, then sneered coldly, "Impudent!"

With that, the Vermilion Bird Holy Son soared into the sky astride his Crimson Firmament Divine Spear, piercing through the vast heavens and earth in a single, devastating thrust.

In an instant, they had exchanged a hundred blows, only to disengage just as swiftly, locked in a stalemate with no clear victor.

Only then did the Vermilion Bird Holy Son turn his gaze back to the Celestial Balance Scion, his expression turning grave. "A True Spirit Physique [a legendary body constitution forged from the essence of one's true spirit]? No... yours is not a true True Spirit Physique."

"You have condensed your entire cultivation foundation into one, taking a shortcut to forge a semblance of the True Spirit Physique. This power, though an imitation, can still be considered a genuine True Spirit Foundation [the foundational cultivation realm built upon a True Spirit Physique]."

The Vermilion Bird Holy Son spoke slowly, stating, "This method reduces the difficulty of achieving the True Spirit Foundation [the foundational cultivation stage where one's spiritual essence is refined into its truest form] by more than tenfold. It seems the Path of Self-Sacrifice [a cultivation art that fuses one's entire foundational potential into a single, powerful entity] indeed has some merit."

"A pity," he continued, "that this method sacrifices one's entire cultivation foundation, yet can only forge a single True Spirit Foundation. In the end, it remains a heterodox path, unworthy of the grand hall."

In but an instant, the Vermilion Bird Holy Son grasped the strengths and flaws of the Path of Self-Sacrifice.

The peerless imperial scions present all nodded in agreement, having likewise discerned the profound intricacies of this art.

The Path of Self-Sacrifice merges one's entire foundational potential into a unified whole. The resulting Body of Self-Sacrifice [a powerful physical vessel forged through the Path of Self-Sacrifice] is exceptionally potent, making the attainment of a True Spirit Physique [a physique harmonized with True Spirit energy] far simpler than achieving a conventional True Spirit Foundation.

Yet, this very process forfeits any chance of cultivating a Sevenfold True Spirit Foundation [the pinnacle True Spirit Foundation, comprised of seven harmonized layers]. Thus, in the eyes of truly peerless prodigies, it is merely a side path.

However, many of the Ancient Immortal [cultivators who have ascended to immortality in ancient times] seated here had their eyes gleaming with keen interest.

For prodigies like the Vermilion Bird Holy Son, cultivating a Dual True Spirit Foundation [a foundation comprising two True Spirit layers] or even Three True Spirit Foundations [a foundation of three True Spirit layers] might be within reach. But for the vast majority of Ancient Immortal, achieving even a single True Spirit Foundation is an impossibility.

One must understand that attaining a True Spirit Foundation is a feat of immense difficulty. Even among those who have reached the realm of Eight Tribulation Ancient Immortal [an Ancient Immortal who has survived eight heavenly tribulations], less than one in ten thousand succeeds.

The great majority of Ancient Immortal could never hope to tread this path. But if they were to switch to the Path of Self-Sacrifice, would it not offer a sliver of hope to finally achieve a True Spirit Foundation?

Perhaps for those supreme prodigies who aspire to the Primordial Chaos Emperor Monarch realm, this is but a heterodox path. Yet for the vast majority of Ancient Immortal [immortals who have existed since ancient times], it represents nothing less than a direct avenue to the heavens.

Contemplating this, many of the Ancient Immortal present exchanged glances, a flicker of desire igniting within their pupils.

"Hmph—"

In that instant, Vermilion Bird Holy Son seemed to sense the shift in atmosphere, his expression darkening immediately.

Unwilling to let the Path of Self-Sacrifice [a cultivation method that achieves power through profound personal sacrifice] spread further, he fixed a cold gaze upon Celestial Balance Scion and declared, "I presume you are the foremost among the Hundred Great Prodigies who cultivate the Path of Self-Sacrifice?"

"With a mere True Spirit Foundation [the foundational cultivation stage focused on nurturing one's True Spirit], to possess such strength—even if it stems from a heterodox path and exacted a grievous price—you are indeed no weakling."

"But this alone condemns you to remain forever at the single True Spirit Foundation."

"Today, I shall show you what it truly means to be an invincible True Spirit Prodigies [a prodigy who has perfected their True Spirit Foundation]!"

As his words faded, Vermilion Bird Holy Son's body erupted with an eternal, scorching radiance. Boundless True Spirit Great Dao [the supreme Dao principles of the True Spirit realm] flooded the firmament, coalescing into infinite Great Dao Divine Patterns [divine sigils woven from the threads of the Great Dao] that intertwined upon his Crimson Flame Divine Spear.

In that breath, heaven trembled and earth quaked; the very Sun, Moon, Star [celestial bodies representing supreme cosmic forces] began to shudder violently.

"This is..."

In that instant, the expressions of everyone present changed.

Even the direct offspring of the Luminous Radiance Great Emperor paled, his face turning grave as he said, "The Dual True Spirit Foundation... This youth's innate talent likely rivals even that of the Vermilion Bird Sage Ascendant from ages past."

"This is bad. The chief disciple of the Path of Self-Sacrifice is likely in grave peril..."

With this thought, the direct offspring of the Luminous Radiance Great Emperor immediately sought to intervene, only to find himself locked in place by an intangible, oppressive aura.

He turned his head sharply and saw the gaze of the current Imperial Scion of the Kunpeng Lineage fixed upon him, a faint smile playing on his lips as he spoke, "Why the haste to interfere, Luminous Radiance Scion?"

The Luminous Radiance Imperial Scion's heart sank. Before his thoughts could fully form, a supremely powerful aura suddenly erupted across the heavens.

In that very moment, the Luminous Radiance Scion's heart plummeted. He looked up in alarm, only for his face to contort with utter disbelief.

There, high in the firmament, stood the Celestial Balance Scion, clad in an Azure Immortal Robe. He stood upon the sky like a Primordial Immortal King, an unshakable sovereign.

Behind him, the Ten Indestructible Immortal Treasuries whirled and orbited. With one hand, he pressed down in a gesture of absolute suppression, manifesting nine immortal wheels that blazed like Chaos Heavenly Suns. Their overwhelming force pressed down, forcing the Vermilion Bird Holy Son to his knees.

"Aaaargh—"

At that very moment, Vermilion Bird Holy Son's face flushed crimson as he unleashed a heaven-shaking, earth-quaking roar.

He had already pushed the power of his True Spirit Physique to its absolute limit. Furthermore, the True Spirit Great Dao [the supreme cultivation path of the True Spirit] intertwined upon his Crimson Phoenix Divine Spear, as he strained with all his might to withstand the Great Derivation Immortal Wheel [a supreme immortal treasure of creation and derivation] bearing down upon him.

In stark contrast, Celestial Balance Scion remained utterly composed and at ease. Behind him, from within the depths of the Void [the primordial state of emptiness and potential], the Ten Indestructible Immortal Treasuries [ten supreme, unbreakable repositories of immortal power] radiated an eternal divine brilliance, containing a power that seemed nearly infinite.

As he extended a hand and pressed down with a mere gesture, blazingly intense strands of the Great Dao's Laws [the fundamental principles governing reality] converged and poured entirely into the Heaven's Derivation Celestial Wheel [the celestial wheel that derives and governs the heavens]. This force suppressed Vermilion Bird Holy Son completely, leaving him unable to rise even an inch.

"This is..."

Luminous Radiance Imperial Scion was utterly astonished, murmuring to himself in disbelief: "Origin [the primordial source of all existence], Blood Qi [the vital energy and essence of blood and life force], Force Extreme [the ultimate expression of physical and martial power], Primordial Qi [the most fundamental and purest form of energy], Soul [the spiritual essence and consciousness], Dao Heart [the unwavering heart and will aligned with the Dao], Eternal Life [the principle and power of immortality], Celestial Mechanism [the celestial workings or machinery of fate and heaven], Laws [the fundamental principles], Grand Luo [the supreme Grand Luo realm]."

"These are the ten supreme Origin powers concealed within the Void. They are akin to the power of ten dantians [the core energy centers within a cultivator's body]."

"So this is using the power of the External Immortal Treasury [an external repository of immortal power] to compensate for the inherent deficiency of a single True Spirit Foundation [the foundational cultivation realm of a True Spirit] on the Path of Self-Sacrifice [a cultivation path that requires immense personal sacrifice]?"

The son of Western Pole Ethereal Void Sword Emperor also whispered in awe, his voice tinged with profound surprise as he spoke.

"Not only that, but within his Body of Self-Sacrifice [a unique constitution forged through immense personal sacrifice], there seems to reside an Inner World [a personal microcosm cultivated within one's own being]. It is the fusion of this Inner World with the External Immortal Treasury [an external repository of power] that weaves together an inexhaustible, supremely potent force."

In that very moment, the peerless imperial scions present exchanged glances, each revealing a flicker of genuine interest in their eyes.

From the current perspective, the Path of Self-Sacrifice [a cultivation path built upon profound personal sacrifice] appears to hold a nearly overwhelming advantage over the immortal path of the Ancient Immortal Realm [the realm of ancient immortals].

Were it not for the fact that the Path of Self-Sacrifice currently seems limited to the Great Luo Realm [the Great Luo Realm, a pinnacle cultivation stage], they might well have been unable to resist prostrating themselves before Eldrin, the Abyssal Emperor and hailing him as Dao Progenitor [a progenitor of a fundamental Dao path].

"So, the famed Dual True Spirit Foundation [a foundation built upon two perfected spiritual cores] is merely this?"

Simultaneously, Celestial Balance Scion spoke calmly from high in the firmament, his gaze carrying a hint of detached coldness.

Beholding him, he commanded the Heaven's Derivation Celestial Wheel [a celestial wheel artifact that derives and manipulates heavenly principles] to press down, as if suppressing the Vermilion Bird Holy Son beneath the weight of an entire vast Immortal Domain [a domain inhabited by immortals], crushing the breath from his lungs.

At this moment, even Celestial Balance Scion felt a surge of excitement within. He understood his own true strength all too well—at best, he was only slightly superior to the Vermilion Bird Holy Son.

By all conventional reasoning, he should have been utterly incapable of completely suppressing such a formidable foe.

The reason this battle allowed for such effortless domination was precisely because the Heaven's Derivation Celestial Wheel, gifted by his Master, was truly a weapon of extraordinary and peerless power.

This treasure was not only immensely powerful, but also resonated perfectly with the very foundation of his cultivation, allowing him to unleash the full potential of the Ten Great Immortal Treasuries power inherent in the Path of Self-Sacrifice.

Even so, while he appeared utterly composed and at ease as he completely suppressed the Vermilion Bird Holy Son, in truth, he was already exerting a full seventy to eighty percent of his strength.

"Aaaargh—!"

It was at this moment that the Vermilion Bird Holy Son, unwilling to endure this humiliation any longer, let out a world-shaking roar. He resorted to a self-maiming technique, unleashing a rare and earth-shattering divine power that instantly overturned the Heaven's Derivation Celestial Wheel.

In that instant, he transformed into a crimson phoenix soaring into the sky, sweeping forth with a force capable of annihilating heaven and earth.

"The Immortal Phoenix Beats Its Wings... So this is the peerless divine ability of the Vermilion Bird lineage, the Vermilion Bird Heaven-Severing Slash?"

Facing the world-shaking Slaughter divine ability of the Vermilion Bird lineage, Celestial Balance Scion remained utterly unperturbed. With his hands clasped behind his back, he retreated three leisurely steps as if strolling through a garden. With a casual gesture, he summoned the Heaven's Derivation Celestial Wheel once more.

In that moment, nine blade-wheels interwove and crisscrossed, transforming into endless streams of blade-light that clashed with the attack thousands of times.

Instantly, the Void shattered; mountains, rivers, sun, and moon were pulverized into dust under the interweaving blade-lights. Even Space-Time itself fractured under their clash, rending open endless, gaping fissures.

Even so, the peerless Slaughter divine ability of the Immortal Phoenix lineage proved truly extraordinary, managing to fight its way out from the very heart of this Spiritual Treasure's strangulation formation.

As the Vermilion Bird Holy Son continued his relentless charge, a flicker of resolve finally sharpened within the eyes of Celestial Balance Scion.

In that instant, the Ten Great Immortal Treasuries [ten supreme cultivation arts representing ultimate mastery] behind him surged with power, instantly summoning nine Great Derivation Blade Wheels [massive, spinning wheels of enchanted blades that embody the principles of cosmic derivation]. With Instant [a supreme art of instantaneous movement and assembly], they converged before him, coalescing into a single, ancient shield-like celestial wheel.

And in that same breath, the Vermilion Bird Holy Son was upon him.

"BOOM—"

A cataclysmic collision ensued. In its wake, the vast region housing the Celestial Center [the central nexus of celestial energy and authority] was scoured clean, boundless mountain ranges flattened to dust by the residual shockwaves.

Across the endless expanse of the Immortal Ruins Ancient Continent, countless Chaos Mountain Rocks [massive boulders infused with primordial chaos energy] were sent hurtling skyward, defying gravity as they hung suspended in the air.

And at the very epicenter of the clash, the view was utterly swallowed by a raging maelstrom of Chaos [the primordial, formless state from which all creation emerged] currents, obscuring all that transpired within.

"Is it over?"

High in the void, the assembled spectators wore expressions of profound gravity. Their gazes, heavy with tension, were fixed unwaveringly upon the heart of the battlefield.

And in that very moment, another world-shaking roar erupted once more from the battle's core.

Immediately following, a crimson figure was sent flying backward, crashing onto the distant Chaos Divine Mountain.

Then, a figure clad in deep azure light strode forth.

Celestial Balance Scion still wore his Azure Daoist Robe, his form pristine and untouched by dust. The Ten Great Immortal Treasuries revolving behind him blazed with a light that outshone the Myriad Heavens, radiating an eternal brilliance.

"To have forced this one to unleash the full power of his cultivation physique."

Gazing at the Vermilion Bird Holy Son, who had fallen onto the divine mountain in a most wretched state, Celestial Balance Scion spoke slowly, his tone carrying a note of final, genuine praise: "You... are not unworthy."

"BOOM—"

In that instant, the assembled heroes of the Demon Race paled, utterly shocked by this unforeseen turn of events.

Their gazes snapped toward the Vermilion Bird Holy Son. They saw him covered in blood, his face a mask of profound shock and terror as he stared at the Celestial Balance Scion.

He drew a deep, ragged breath, and with a rare note of respect in his voice, declared, "Your cultivation... is not inferior to one who has laid a Three True Spirit Foundations [the pinnacle foundation for a cultivator, forged from three distinct and supreme spiritual sources]."

"Such a peerless prodigy is indeed worthy of being the True Disciple of Eldrin, the Abyssal Emperor."

The Vermilion Bird Holy Son spoke slowly, drawing a deep breath before finally saying, "I admire your talent and spirit, but we serve different masters. In the end, a victor must be decided between us."

As he spoke, the Vermilion Bird Holy Son surveyed his surroundings and declared, "Fellow Daoists of the Demon Race [the collective term for sentient beings of monstrous or bestial origin who cultivate demonic arts], if we allow this one to mature, the Human Race [the collective term for mortal humans who cultivate the orthodox path] will surely gain another Eldrin, the Abyssal Emperor."

"If we do not eliminate him now, when will we ever have another chance?"

As his words fell, one prodigious genius of the Demon Race after another soared into the air, encircling Celestial Balance Scion at the heart of the battlefield.

At their forefront, more than ten peerless prodigies stepped forth in succession.

Among them were a supreme Imperial Scion from the Bifang Lineage [a powerful demonic clan descended from the mythical Bifang bird], a secret-heir Imperial Scion from the Bai Ze Lineage [a demonic clan of profound wisdom and ancient heritage], and an invincible Imperial Scion from the Kunpeng Clan [a mighty clan descended from the legendary Kunpeng, a creature that transforms between a giant fish and a colossal bird].

So many supreme prodigies, the weakest among them were already prodigious talents who had cultivated the Three Indestructible Foundations [a legendary and supremely stable foundation for future cultivation, achieved by perfecting the Body, Qi, and Spirit Tempering stages].

They surrounded Celestial Balance Scion with deadly intent, determined to suppress and slay this peerless genius.

High in the heavens, Xianzhu Chen's gaze tightened slightly. "Who among you will go to assist?" he inquired.

The Inscription of Sorrow Lord [a title for a powerful cultivator whose Dao is associated with profound sorrow or lamentation] observed this calmly and stated, "Sending one person will suffice. I shall not intervene."

Everyone nodded in agreement. Inscription of Sorrow Lord [a title for a supreme master of the Dao] was a peerless genius whose creation, the Dreamwalking Path to Dao Method [a supreme cultivation method for attaining enlightenment through dreams], was unparalleled under the heavens. His talent was such that even Eldrin, the Abyssal Emperor marveled at it.

If he were to personally take action, this battle would likely seem rather dull.

It was clear that while the prodigies of the Demon Race [a powerful race of demonic beings] present were not weak, none were worthy opponents for the Inscription of Sorrow Lord to face.

Seeing this, Xander Lin finally spoke. "Since that is the case, I shall be the one to act."

The others, hearing his words, all nodded their assent.

Among the three new personal disciples recently taken by Eldrin Chen, Celestial Balance Scion excelled in the arts of divination and deduction, placing his combat prowess at the lowest among the trio.

Tynan Zhang was skilled in the Dao of Space [the profound principle governing spatial manipulation], making him slightly stronger than Celestial Balance Scion.

As for Xander Lin, he specialized in methods to shatter limits. Over the years, he had tirelessly delved into the Indestructible Immortal Treasury [a legendary cultivation art focused on forging an unbreakable foundational treasury of power], even managing to reduce the difficulty of its breakthrough.

Such a person, in the extreme refinement of the Immortal Treasury [a foundational cultivation realm representing one's core reservoir of power], stood unparalleled even among the Ten True Disciples [the ten foremost disciples of a supreme lineage], having reached an inconceivable level. His combat strength was, naturally, immensely formidable.

If one were to say that the Indestructible Immortal Treasury of Tynan Zhang and Celestial Balance Scion had only just entered the Indestructible Realm [the perfected, unbreakable state of the foundational treasury],...

Therefore, Xander Lin's Indestructible Immortal Treasury [a supreme cultivation art focused on unbreakable defense and immense spiritual reserves] has at least reached the upper echelons, if not the very pinnacle, of the Indestructible Immortal Treasury realm.

With such profound foundational strength and having received ten Immortal Vault Treasure [legendary treasures of immense power, often used to store and amplify one's cultivation] from Eldrin Chen, his combat prowess naturally stands at the forefront among the three.

Contemplating this, Xianzhu Chen spoke, "Since that is the case, I shall trouble you, Junior Brother."

"It is no trouble at all."

As the words faded, Xander Lin had already stepped forth into the void.

With a flick of his sleeve, he strode forward, sword in hand, his aura carrying the power to shatter Chaos [the primordial, formless state of existence before creation] as he charged toward the heart of the battlefield.

Facing this onslaught was the current Imperial Scion of the Bifang Imperial Clan.

This individual was the direct grandson of Bifang Great Emperor, his talent and intellect rare across the ages, a peerless genius who had also laid a Seven Indestructible Foundations [a legendary and nearly impossible achievement of establishing seven perfect, unbreakable cultivation foundations].

Such a person could even contend with a True Spirit Prodigy [a prodigy whose spirit has reached a state of perfect purity and immense power]. Initially, he paid Xander Lin no heed, merely raising a hand to unleash a sword beam intended to annihilate him.

Yet, a single miscalculation against Eldrin meant the difference between life and death.

Xander Lin [a powerful cultivator] took a single step that spanned the heavens, casually shattering that sword energy with a flick of his hand. He then strode through the firmament, brushing past the Bifang Imperial Scion [a scion of the Bifang clan], and in that same motion, plucked the head from the Bifang Imperial Scion's shoulders.

"A fine head indeed!"

"Hahaha…"

Xander Lin laughed heartily, drew a flask of wine from his waist, and drained it in one gulp. Sword in hand once more, he charged back into the heart of the battlefield.

"An endless cup of wine to drink, an endless tally of Demon Immortal [a powerful demonic cultivator who has attained immortality] heads to claim."

"Disaster!"

The sudden and brutal demise of the Bifang Imperial Scion sent a wave of terror through the demon ranks. Shock and fury erupted among them, throwing their formation into momentary chaos.

Under the guidance of the Vermilion Bird Imperial Scion [a scion of the Vermilion Bird clan] and another True Spirit Prodigies [a genius cultivator who has reached the True Spirit realm], the demon horde managed to barely steady their lines. Yet, when they sought to counter the two human cultivators, they found the situation teetering on the brink of collapse.

In battles at the Ancient Immortal [an ancient being who has attained immortality] level, it is no exaggeration to say that all beneath the True Spirit [the highest spiritual core of a cultivator] realm are but ants.

Without having forged an Indestructible Foundation [an unshakable and perfect foundation for cultivation], one does not even possess the qualification to set foot upon such a battlefield.

Facing two True Spirit Prodigies who possessed Three True Spirit Foundations, the assembled heroes of the Demon Race [a powerful race of beings often in conflict with humanity] were nearly broken in spirit in the span of mere moments.

High in the heavens, Xianzhu Chen could not help but sigh with emotion.

This generation of Abyssal True Disciple [elite disciples of the Abyssal Path] who walked the Path of Self-Sacrifice [a cultivation path that emphasizes sacrifice for power] had already achieved the Ten Indestructible Immortal Treasuries [a legendary state of ten unbreakable spiritual repositories] upon entering the tribulation. Their combat prowess far surpassed that of the generation led by Yinghui Ye.

That previous generation's five great True Disciple [elite disciples of a major power] had not cultivated the Ten Indestructible Immortal Treasuries upon entering the tribulation. Their power was only comparable to a single True Spirit Foundation [a foundational cultivation stage] or perhaps a Dual True Spirit Foundation [a rare state of dual spiritual foundations], and they could still be hunted down by the combined forces of the Demon Race heroes.

But for this generation, the three True Disciple who had achieved the Indestructible Immortal Treasury [an unbreakable spiritual repository] possessed combat strength that was simply incomparable to the past.

Moreover, Eldrin Chen was now an Emperor Lord [a title for a supreme ruler or sovereign], and the methods he could bestow upon his disciples and followers were no weaker than those granted to the direct imperial scions of these Imperial Court [the ruling court of a major empire].

With this thought, Xianzhu Chen spoke, "If the Demon Race has no further stratagems, there will be little suspense left in this battle."

"*Hummm—*"

At that very moment, the Void [the empty space between realms] suddenly fell deathly still.

In an instant, a dazzling radiance bloomed from the depths of the empty heavens. A World-Ending Heavenly Halberd [a divine halberd of apocalyptic power] cleaved through the firmament, shattering the sky as it descended, and violently split the very center of the battlefield.

Immediately after, the endless Chaos [the primordial, formless state before creation] shattered. Beams of eternal golden light pierced through the void, tearing through the Chaos as they arrived, each ray layered with the radiance of countless heavens.

The group looked up. At the far edge of the Celestial Center [the central axis or core region of the cosmos], they saw a majestic, towering figure standing firm within the churning Chaos.

He merely stood there, yet a blazing Golden Sun [a manifestation of supreme yang energy or divine power] rose behind his head. Ten thousand sacred golden rays pierced the heavy clouds. Cast against his immense silhouette, his shadow blotted out more than half the firmament.

"It is him."

Vermilion Bird Holy Son turned, his voice carrying a mix of wariness and distinct surprise.

At that moment, the newcomer moved.

With a serene expression, he strode forward and took his place above the Celestial Center, like a Primordial Divine Emperor gazing down upon the Myriad Heavens [the countless realms and celestial domains]. His eyes fell upon Xander Lin and Celestial Balance Scion below the celestial axis.

After a moment of silence, he finally smiled and spoke, his tone calm and measured.

"Chaos Waves Billow, Myriad Ages Drift By."

"In the blink of an eye, over ten Kalpa Tribulation [immense cosmic cycles marking epochs of destruction and renewal] have passed. I have suppressed my cultivation, waiting through such vast stretches of time, and finally, I have waited for you."

"Disciple of an Old Friend."