Chapter 2014 : Blood and Thunder in the Abyss

Within the grand formation, Black Abyss Great Emperor stood drenched in blood, his Thunder Emperor Battle Armor erupting with cataclysmic Thunder-light as he fiercely battled the horde of enemies, the Black Abyss Emperor's Spear a blur in his grasp.

His entire body was stained with crimson imperial blood, bearing wounds of the most grievous severity.

Yet even so, his fighting spirit burned with unprecedented intensity, a force capable of rending heaven and earth that nearly tore the boundless Chaos asunder.

He abandoned all defense, fighting with reckless abandon to hold back the assembled Great Emperors. With sheer physical might, he seized the Primordial Thunder Crow Great Emperor who sought to give chase.

"BOOM—"

He swung the Primordial Thunder Crow Great Emperor and slammed him violently into the Depths of Chaos, his roar shattering the Vast Chaotic Sea.

"Do not look back! Go!"

"Senior..."

Then, weathering a combined strike from the enemy host seemingly unscathed, he charged directly before the Desolate Ape Emperor Lord.

Yet facing these seven peerless Great Emperors, he was ultimately powerless. His presence would only become a burden, forcing the Black Abyss Great Emperor to protect him and sustain further injury.

"Slay them—!"

Eldrin Chen's eyes were bloodshot, his heart screaming to turn back and fight.

In that instant, the Abyssal Seal transformed into the Primordial Chaos Heaven Halberd, descending with Eldrin Chen's overwhelming killing intent to suppress the foe.

His opponent's Primordial Spirit Immortal Embryo [the nascent spiritual form of an immortal] instantly fled his body in a panic, but Eldrin Chen seized it with one hand.

Just moments ago, if not for ensuring his escape, the Black Abyss Great Emperor would not have needed to withstand the combined assaults of the other Emperors and sustain such grievous wounds.

Even if a Sage Ascendant [a cultivator who has ascended to the penultimate sage realm] were to strike personally, the Indestructible Battle Armor could mitigate half the damage.

In comparison, the Black Abyss Great Emperor's Thunder Emperor Battle Armor, which only reduces sixty to seventy percent of damage at the Great Emperor level, is far inferior to this Indestructible Battle Armor.

The leader among them, whose cultivation had reached the seventh layer of Primordial Chaos Emperor Monarch, was the 'Heaven's Punishment Emperor Lord' from the Sacred Demon Primordial Domain. This figure was the direct disciple and eldest apprentice of the Heaven's Derivation Sacred Emperor.

As Eldrin Chen arrived, the Profound Nether Emperor Lord slowly spoke, a cold sneer curling upon his lips.

"The Heaven's Derivation Sacred Emperor commanded us to await you here. It seems his calculations were indeed flawless, leaving no room for error."

"Perish!"

"Emperor's Fall!"

In the span of a single breath, the physical form of Desolate Ape Emperor Lord was utterly ground to dust.

Among this group of Primordial Chaos Emperor Monarch, there were Eldrin Chen's Great Dao Adversary—Desolate Ape Emperor Lord and Profound Nether Emperor Lord—as well as peerless Emperor Lord from the Demon Race.

The Primordial Chaos Emperor Monarch, famed for his Imperishable [an ability that grants near-absolute immortality], was completely severed by the Great Dao Adversary. Even the Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] anchored within his Dao Authority [the authority and dominion granted by one's cultivation path] was Annihilation [utterly erased from existence] by Eldrin Chen.

"*Clang—*"

The other Emperors also acted in unison, unleashing attacks of supreme destructive power.

The besieging Emperors were struck with profound shock. Heaven's Punishment Emperor Lord, their leader, felt his expression shift slightly.

In that instant, the heavens wept and the earth mourned; the Great Dao itself grieved. A rain of blood began to fall across the vast expanse of the Chaos.

Yet Eldrin Chen neither dodged nor evaded. Paying the price of enduring the combined assaults, he charged directly at Desolate Ape Emperor Lord.

The Desolate Ape Emperor Lord had fallen, utterly and irrevocably annihilated.

Yet, ahead within the Void, over a dozen Primordial Chaos Emperor Monarch figures stood arrayed, as if they had been lying in wait for an eternity.

They had traversed an unknowable number of Dao Paths. As the Primordial Chaos Desolate Sea drew ever nearer, the expression on Eldrin Chen's face grew increasingly grim.

The Desolate Ape Emperor Lord roared in a final, desperate fury, but it was a cry without hope, a struggle against the inevitable.

His gaze fixed upon the battle armor adorning Eldrin Chen, a figure spoke with profound shock, "The Indestructible Battle Armor... That is the Indestructible Battle Armor of the Indestructible Elder!"

The assembled Emperor Lords initially believed Eldrin Chen was courting death, but then they witnessed it—a suit of armor materializing upon his form.

"Ah... Save me!"

Pathways converged, foes barred the way. Without a word, Eldrin Chen met them, his advance a tide of murderous intent.

Such a concentrated assault, unleashed in unison, could inflict grievous wounds even upon a cultivator at the Late Primordial Chaos Emperor Lord Realm who dared to meet it head-on.

In the end, Eldrin Chen clenched his jaw, a sea of hatred churning within him as he turned and fled toward the Primordial Chaos Desolate Sea.

Eldrin Chen unleashed his world-shaking combat prowess, the all-erasing Chaos Limitless Great Dao piercing through the body of the Desolate Ape Emperor Lord.

In that instant, the hearts of the assembled Emperor Lords trembled slightly. The Indestructible Battle Armor was the foremost defensive Innate Supreme Treasure, capable of nullifying ninety percent of damage from any foe below the Sage Ascendant realm.

With such a supreme defensive treasure upon his person, it was no wonder Eldrin Chen had emerged unscathed after weathering their combined assault.

The Desolate Ape Emperor Lord wore a cold sneer as he was the first to strike, his attack cleaving towards Eldrin Chen.

At this moment, Eldrin Chen could only curse his own insufficient cultivation. A profound sense of powerlessness flooded his heart.

In a flash, the Primordial Chaos Heaven Halberd tore through the Chaos and plunged ruthlessly into the chest of the Desolate Ape Emperor Lord, unleashing an Eruption of Annihilation-like, supreme destructive force.

Eldrin Chen spoke, paying the price of enduring the attacks of the Emperor Lords to utterly annihilate the Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] of the Desolate Ape Emperor Lord.

"You seek death."

The Desolate Ape Emperor Lord also nodded, speaking calmly, "Eldrin, the Abyssal Brat, today marks your demise."

In the blink of an Eldrin's eye, the Emperor Lords' expressions shifted to one of wild joy. Such a supreme defensive treasure would stir the heart of even a Sage Ascendant.

Should they obtain it, even if they could not keep it for themselves, presenting it to a Sage Ascendant would likely yield them astonishing rewards.

With this thought, their killing intent surged even more wildly, and they all moved to capture Eldrin Chen.

"Seeking death!"

As the Emperor Lords charged once more, Eldrin Chen acted with cold, decisive finality.

The killing intent within him boiled over the heavens; he fought with pure offense, no defense, pushing his combat prowess to its absolute limit.

The invincible might of the sixth layer Primordial Chaos Emperor Monarch was unleashed to its fullest extent in this moment.

Behold, the Ten Great Immortal Treasuries behind Eldrin Chen's head bloomed with eternal light. His entire being, his ultimate power, was driven to its peak. In the blink of an eye, he had already engaged the gathered Emperor Lords in thousands of life-and-death clashes.

With such a desperate, all-out fighting style, after merely tens of thousands of exchanges, he had already severed the head of an Early Stage Primordial Chaos Emperor Lord.

Alas, this was not a Great Dao Adversary. After his head was cleaved by Eldrin Chen, his Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] had already sunk into the Sea of Dao.

Protected by the endless Great Dao Divine Chain, even Eldrin Chen found it difficult to completely extinguish his opponent's Primordial Spirit through the barrier of the Sea of Dao.

Yet even so, after two Emperor Lord [a supreme title for cultivators who have reached the pinnacle of power] were severely wounded and fell in succession, a trace of fear began to ripple through the assembled emperors.

It was not that Eldrin Chen was utterly invincible, but rather his desperate, life-risking style of combat was far too terrifying.

Without the protection of the Indestructible Battle Armor [a legendary suit of armor renowned for its near-impenetrable defense], engaging Eldrin Chen in a fight to the death simply wasn't a worthwhile exchange for them.

After another several thousand exchanges with the group, Eldrin Chen finally turned his gaze toward Profound Nether Emperor Lord, his eyes icy as he spoke, "You and I, Profound Nether Emperor Lord, shall settle our long-standing account today!"

With those words, he surged forth with an aura of invincibility. Ignoring the attacks from the others, he struck out relentlessly, blow after blow, sending Profound Nether Emperor Lord hurtling through the air.

Profound Nether Emperor Lord's combat prowess was no match for Eldrin Chen's to begin with. Faced with Eldrin Chen, who was clad in the Indestructible Battle Armor, fear ultimately took hold.…

After thousands of fierce exchanges, watching his wounds accumulate, and realizing defeat meant annihilation by his Great Dao Adversary [a fated, inescapable nemesis within the grand tapestry of the Dao], he could no longer suppress the dread in his heart. He turned and fled.

There were only three mid-stage Primordial Chaos Emperor Monarch [a supreme cultivation realm representing mastery over primordial chaos] present. With Profound Nether Emperor Lord's flight, the collective power of the emperors diminished significantly.

The Heaven's Punishment Emperor Lord channeled his full power into a divine ability aimed at Eldrin Chen, only to find his might could barely inflict any meaningful harm. A profound gravity settled in his heart.

"His physical body is of such formidable strength. If we do not eliminate him today, he will surely become a calamity for ages to come."

Heaven's Punishment Emperor Lord spoke with immense astonishment, a trace of solemnity flickering deep within his gaze.

With his cultivation at the seventh layer of the Primordial Chaos Emperor Monarch realm, and his mastery over the Heaven's Punishment Great Dao which excelled in Slaughter, even if the Indestructible Battle Armor could mitigate ninety percent of the damage, his attacks should have been enough to severely injure an existence at the Early Stage Primordial Chaos Emperor Lord level.

Even a mid-stage Primordial Chaos Emperor Monarch should have been grievously wounded under his relentless assault.

Yet, Eldrin Chen's physical body was as sturdy as Indestructible Vajra, its resilience rivaling even the sixth layer of the Primordial Chaos Emperor Monarch realm. Consequently, Heaven's Punishment Emperor Lord could only inflict superficial wounds upon Eldrin Chen.

Seeing that he could not subdue Eldrin Chen, Heaven's Punishment Emperor Lord immediately shifted tactics, beginning to stall for time while awaiting reinforcements from other powerful beings.

Eldrin Chen understood this perfectly. After the escape of Profound Nether Emperor Lord, that Great Dao Adversary, he fought a retreating battle towards the Primordial Chaos Desolate Sea.

After an immeasurable period of ceaseless conflict, he finally reached the shores of the Primordial Chaos Desolate Sea, only for a supreme existence to arrive from the Depths of Chaos.

"You shall not escape!"

A voice thundered from within the Chaos, followed by a figure wreathed in boundless Primordial Thunder making its move. It summoned a Divine Thunder Spear that cleaved the heavens as it shot forth.

"Primordial Thunder Crow Great Emperor!"

Eldrin Chen's expression shifted subtly. He pushed the defensive power of his Indestructible Battle Armor [an incredibly durable suit of enchanted armor] to its absolute limit and, in the same breath, summoned forth the Creation Cauldron [a primordial artifact of creation and protection], drawing himself inside its protective embrace.

Almost in the very same instant, the Innate Supreme Treasure [a treasure born of heaven and earth, possessing supreme power] known as the Divine Thunder Spear pierced through the void and struck the Creation Cauldron with cataclysmic force.

"*Cough—*"

Eldrin Chen violently expelled a mouthful of blood, suffering grievous, soul-shaking wounds.

The strike, unleashed with the Primordial Thunder Crow Great Emperor's full might, erupted with a terrifying, annihilating force of Thunder [the primordial power of heavenly punishment and destruction] that was simply staggering.

Infinite Great Dao Divine Chain [divine chains embodying fragments of the Great Dao, the fundamental laws of existence] intertwined and fused, transforming into a Grand Dao Divine Form [a divine manifestation of the Great Dao's power] that pierced forward, erupting with the dreadful, Annihilation [the divine ability to utterly annihilate and erase] power to obliterate all creation.

Even with the dual defenses of the Creation Cauldron and the Indestructible Battle Armor, the killing intent managed to pierce through Eldrin Chen's chest, leaving behind a wound that seemed nearly indelible.

"*Hmph—*"

At this critical juncture, Eldrin Chen gritted his teeth, forcibly suppressing his injuries. Using the momentum from his opponent's devastating blow, he was sent hurtling backward, instantly crossing the shore of the desolate sea and vanishing into the depths of the Primordial Chaos Desolate Sea [the vast, chaotic, and primordial sea of desolation].

"*BOOM—*"

"Creation Cauldron [a supreme treasure capable of forging and refining all things], Indestructible Battle Armor [an armor of legendary resilience]!"

After a violent tremor shook the heavens, Primordial Thunder Crow Great Emperor stood firm upon the shores of Primordial Chaos Desolate Sea.

Gazing in the direction where Eldrin Chen had vanished, His pupils contracted slightly, a flicker of profound gravity surfacing within their depths.

Simultaneously, several more figures materialized within Chaos, none other than Pure Yang Great Emperor and Heaven's Derivation Sacred Emperor, along with five other Great Emperors.

Heaven's Derivation Sacred Emperor cast a glance, his expression turning grave as he spoke, "My calculations were flawed. I never anticipated he would possess two Innate Supreme Treasure [treasures born of primordial chaos, possessing supreme power]."

"Otherwise, he would have had no hope of escaping alive today."

Witnessing this, the nearby Heaven's Punishment Emperor Lord stepped forward and inquired, "Master, why do we not pursue?"...

Upon hearing this, a cold glint flashed within the eyes of Heaven's Derivation Sacred Emperor.

Sensing the shift in atmosphere, Heaven's Punishment Emperor Lord promptly ceased his questioning and signaled for the remaining Emperor Lord to withdraw.

Only after the Emperors had departed did Heaven's Derivation Sacred Emperor finally relent, a trickle of blood escaping the corner of his mouth.

He drew a deep breath, wiped the blood clean, and spoke with evident trepidation, "I never imagined that after mastering the Six Paths True Spirit Divine Forms [a supreme divine ability that manifests six primordial true spirit forms], the power of the Black Abyss Great Emperor would be so formidable."

"The seven of us joined forces against him alone, yet now each of us bears grievous wounds. If word of this spreads, we shall likely become a laughingstock."

"Such is the inherent might of the Path of Fleshly Body Sanctification [a supreme cultivation art focused on forging an indestructible physical form]," another voice intoned.

The Pure Yang Great Emperor [a title for a supreme emperor who has mastered the Pure Yang Dao], pressing a hand against the spear wound within his body, spoke, "Fortunately, our combined efforts were sufficient to subdue him."

"But now, how shall we deal with Eldrin, the Abyssal Emperor?"

The Azure Extreme Sacred Emperor pondered for a moment, his expression grave. "Our injuries are severe. Pursuing him into the Primordial Chaos Desolate Sea [a vast, primordial, and perilous sea of chaotic energies] would be far too reckless."

"Yet, leaving him alive will surely breed a great calamity."

"Fear not," the Primordial Thunder Crow Great Emperor interjected with a cold laugh. "He took my full-powered strike. Even with the protection of the Creation Cauldron [a legendary cauldron capable of creation and profound defense] and the Indestructible Battle Armor [a suit of legendary, nigh-unbreakable armor], his combat power must surely be spent."

"Moreover, given his realm, a wound inflicted by the Grand Dao Divine Form [a divine ability that channels the power of the Grand Dao itself] is nearly impossible to heal. It is likely that for a long time to come, he will be incapable of any true recovery."

"The Primordial Chaos Desolate Sea is fraught with unimaginable perils. With such grievous injuries, plunging into its depths, he will not survive a single Kalpa Tribulation [a cosmic cycle of destruction and rebirth, often lasting eons]."

Hearing this, the several Great Emperors finally let out a slight sigh of relief.

Seeing this, Pure Yang Great Emperor spoke with grave solemnity, "We must not be careless. Should the Path of Self-Sacrifice [a forbidden cultivation art that sacrifices one's own being for ultimate power] reach completion, wielding the power of Dao Authority [the authority to command a fundamental principle of reality], he could directly ascend to the realm of a Sage Ascendant [a supreme realm just below that of a true Sage]."

"By that time, should he return, his momentum would likely be unstoppable."

"This matter indeed requires vigilance."

Heaven's Derivation Sacred Emperor nodded and then spoke, "Fortunately, he is now gravely wounded and resides within the Primordial Chaos Desolate Sea [a vast, primordial sea of chaotic energies at the edge of the cosmos]. The power of the Path of Self-Sacrifice must be exceedingly feeble."

"If we can gather nine Great Emperors, augmented by the power of a single Sage Ascendant, we can jointly cast the Dao-Blocking Curse [a supreme curse that blocks a cultivator's connection to the Dao], ensuring those who cultivate the Path of Self-Sacrifice can never attain immortality for all eternity."

Upon hearing this, the assembled Great Emperors gave calm, solemn nods of agreement.

Cultivators of the Path of Self-Sacrifice who stand above the Ascending Immortal [the realm of an immortal who has ascended to a higher plane] begin to touch upon Laws [fundamental cosmic laws], rules, and even Dao Principles [the core principles of the Great Dao] and the power of the Great Dao itself. Cursing them to be unable to advance further carries an immense price.

However, if the curse is limited to those below the Ascending Immortal realm, preventing practitioners of the Path of Self-Sacrifice from ever achieving immortality, the required sacrifice is significantly reduced.

This is especially true because the moment of Self-Sacrifice [the final, perilous stage of the Path of Self-Sacrifice] completion is inherently a time of extreme peril and vulnerability, making the task far simpler.

Seeing this, Primordial Thunder Crow Great Emperor [the ancient and mighty sovereign of the thunder crows] spoke, "Then let the seven of us join forces, find two more Great Emperors, and alter the fundamental laws of heaven and earth within the Seven Domains of the Southern Abyss [the seven vast and perilous realms of the southernmost abyss]."

"Henceforth, any who tread the Path of Self-Sacrifice [a forbidden cultivation method that consumes one's own life force and destiny for power] and dare to gaze upon the realm of Immortal [the transcendent state of an immortal being] shall be cursed."

Heaven's Derivation Sacred Emperor [the emperor who comprehends the heavenly principles] also nodded and said, "The Chaos [the primordial, boundless expanse before creation] is infinite. Since ancient times, there has been no shortage of heaven-defying individuals. To prevent such beings from breaking the curse in the future, we must establish the Heaven's Punishment Rule [a divine law that invokes celestial retribution]."

"From now on, any practitioner of the Path of Self-Sacrifice shall face heavenly tribulation with every realm breakthrough. Upon attempting ascension to immortality, they shall be subjected to ten thousand layers of the Nine Heavens Thunder Tribulation [the most devastating thunder calamity from the highest heavens]."

Upon hearing this, all the Great Emperors revealed faint smiles of satisfaction….

Heavenly tribulations are perilous and unpredictable. Even orthodox immortal path cultivators, when transcending their mortal coil, need only pass the Four-Nine Heavenly Tribulation [a tribulation of seven times seven, or forty-nine, layers of thunder], a mere forty-nine layers of lightning.

Yet, practitioners of the Path of Self-Sacrifice must endure ten thousand layers of the Nine Heavens Thunder Tribulation. This is not merely a hundred times more difficult than the standard immortal Dao Tribulation [the tribulation faced when comprehending one's Dao]; even a truly heaven-defying prodigy, or a reincarnated Grand Luo Golden Immortal [a supreme immortal of the highest order], would be utterly annihilated by such fury.

With these two layers of insurance, the seven Great Emperors collectively breathed a sigh of relief.

They were confident that with these dual curses in place, no practitioner of the Path of Self-Sacrifice could ever again reach a state of perfection.

Just as the Emperors of the outer realms prepared to enact their curse, Eldrin Chen had already fled deep into the heart of the Primordial Chaos Desolate Sea [the vast, untamed sea within the primordial chaos].

At this moment, Eldrin Chen's injuries were grievously severe. He had stored away the Creation Cauldron [a legendary cauldron capable of forging creation itself] and attempted to refine Primordial Chaos Qi [the primordial, undifferentiated energy from which all things originate] to restore his spiritual energy and heal his wounds. Yet, he discovered an indelible Chaos Divine Form [a divine manifestation born from primordial chaos] entrenched within his body.

It was a searing divine manifestation of the Great Dao of Thunder [the supreme principle governing thunder and lightning]. Its form resembled a thunderous Golden Crow [a mythical solar bird imbued with the power of thunder] coiled within him, its entire body woven from interlocking Great Dao Divine Chain [divine chains formed from the principles of the Great Dao].

"Is this... the power of a Grand Dao Divine Form [a divine form embodying a supreme principle of the cosmos]?"

Eldrin Chen murmured inwardly, a bitter smile touching his lips.

The power of this Grand Dao Divine Form was overwhelmingly tyrannical. Even though the Indestructible Battle Armor [a suit of legendary armor famed for its unbreakable defense] and the Creation Cauldron had blocked the majority of its force, the residual energy continued to relentlessly corrode Eldrin Chen's physical body.

This power was indelible. Even the Great Dao Divine Chain forged from his Chaos Limitless Great Dao [a supreme cultivation art of boundless chaos] struggled to refine and expel it from within.

"The disparity in level... the chasm is simply too vast."

Eldrin Chen whispered to himself, his expression growing even more solemn.

Without dispelling this thunderous divine manifestation, his wounds could not heal, and his strength would only continue to wane.

In such a state, facing the relentless erosion of the Primordial Chaos Desolate Sea [a vast, primordial sea of chaotic desolation] and the hidden Primordial Chaos Dire Beast [ancient, monstrous beasts born from primordial chaos] lurking within was an exceedingly perilous endeavor.

Eldrin Chen attempted to circulate the Life Great Dao and Restoration [a divine ability focused on healing and recovery] to mend his wounds. After exhausting various methods to no avail, he finally tried to absorb this Grand Dao Divine Form [a divine form embodying a supreme Dao principle] using the Abyssal Furnace.

It was merely an attempt, yet unexpectedly, the Abyssal Dao Runes [mystical runes of the Abyssal Dao] within the Abyssal Furnace began to glow with intense brilliance, proving capable of devouring this Grand Dao Divine Form.

However, the process was excruciatingly slow. It would require at least ten Kalpa Tribulation [a cosmic cycle of immense duration, often billions of years] to completely devour and refine it.

Having found a solution, Eldrin Chen finally allowed himself a slight sigh of relief.

As he relaxed his taut nerves, a wave of drowsiness washed over him. Unconsciously, he slipped into a deep slumber while the Restoration continued its work on his wounds.

After Eldrin Chen fell into this profound sleep, several Primordial Chaos Dire Beast [ferocious beasts born from the Primordial Chaos] were drawn to his location.

A physical body at the Primordial Chaos Emperor Monarch [a cultivation realm of immense power within the Primordial Chaos] level was a supreme tonic for these Primordial Chaos Dire Beast. Lacking higher intellect, their cultivation mostly hovered around the Ancient Immortal Realm.

Tempered by the harshness of the Primordial Chaos Desolate Sea [a desolate expanse within the Primordial Chaos], the physical bodies of these Primordial Chaos Dire Beast were far more formidable than the Chaos Ancient Beast [ancient beasts of the Chaos Sea] found within the Chaos Sea.

Some of these Primordial Chaos Dire Beast had even touched the threshold of the Grand Luo [a supreme cultivation realm] through sheer physical might alone.

They erupted into conflict, vying for Eldrin Chen's body. In the end, a Chaotic Leviathan [a titanic beast of chaos] with power comparable to a Grand Luo Golden Immortal proved mightiest. It swallowed Eldrin Chen whole into its belly.

This Chaotic Leviathan was the beast king of a pod of Chaotic Leviathan. After devouring Eldrin Chen, it continued to roam the Primordial Chaos Desolate Sea [the primordial, chaotic, and desolate expanse of the cosmos], journeying ever deeper into its heart as time flowed on.

Time holds no meaning in the Primordial Chaos Desolate Sea. Uncounted ages passed—perhaps several Kalpa Tribulation [immense cosmic cycles of creation and destruction]—before this Chaos Ancient Beast [a primordial beast born of chaos], migrating with its pod, arrived at a place of unimaginable remoteness.

And there, they Eruption [clashed violently] with another group of living beings.

"BOOM—"

"A hit! We got it! Don't let it escape!"

Amidst the Primordial Chaos Desolate Sea, a crude and battered Chaos Ancient Ships [an ancient vessel forged to sail the primordial chaos] soared forth. It unleashed a massive bolt, forged from Great Luo Immortal Gold [a legendary, nearly indestructible immortal metal], striking down one of the Chaotic Leviathan—precisely the pod's leader.

The remaining Chaotic Leviathan scattered in terror. From the Chaos Ancient Ships, a group of people descended, working with frantic haste to haul the slain leviathan's colossal form into the hold of their ancient vessel.

"Huzzah! With this Chaotic Leviathan, we'll have enough to survive this coming Desolate Tribulation [a period of catastrophic hardship and scarcity]," exclaimed one.

A young woman clad in beast-hide looked down at the massive Chaotic Leviathan, her face alight with joy and relief.

Beside her, an elder watched the scene, but his gaze was drawn to a cyan-hued divine jade [a mystical stone imbued with potent spiritual energy] at the heart of the dilapidated ship. His expression turned grave. "The power within the divine jade is nearly spent," he said, his voice heavy with concern.

"Now that the leviathan has been hunted, we must return at once. Should the power of the Divine Jade [a legendary jade artifact of immense protective power] be exhausted, we too will be eroded by the Desolate Sea [a vast, spiritually corrosive ocean] and become mindless Desolate People [a term for humans who have lost their spiritual essence and intellect to the Desolate Sea's corruption]."