Chapter 1984 : Into the Chaos Desolation Sea

As these thoughts flickered through their minds, they saw the others all tear through the void and depart. Eldrin Chen did not linger either. He immediately led his companions into the depths of the Chaos Desolation Sea.

The Heavenly Emperor's Treasure Vault was sealed within the Chaos Desolation Sea, concealed by the methods of the Nine Great Immortal Sages. Even the Chaos Heavenly Emperor [the supreme ruler of the primordial chaos] would find it difficult to locate, let alone open it.

Each time the Heavenly Emperor's Treasure Vault opened, a Teleportation Formation Platform [a mystical platform for instantaneous travel] would manifest at the edge of the Chaos Desolation Sea. By stepping onto this platform, one would be transported directly into the vault's interior.

However, the Teleportation Formation Platform imposed significant restrictions. Firstly, only cultivators at the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [a high-tier immortal realm] could ascend the platform. Those whose cultivation had reached the Primordial One Imperial Lord [a sovereign realm above the Golden Immortal] or higher were utterly barred from entering the Heavenly Emperor's Treasure Vault.

Regarding this, Eldrin Chen understood the reasoning well. After all, the Heavenly Emperor's Treasure Vault was fundamentally intended to nurture rising talents.

Those who had attained the Primordial One Imperial Lord Realm were considered formidable powers even within the vast Chaos [the primordial, formless state from which all existence emerged]. For such beings to advance further required resources of immense rarity and value—treasures so precious that not even the Chaos Heavenly Emperor would part with them lightly.

Returning to the matter at hand, after Eldrin Chen and his group entered the Chaos Desolation Sea and stepped onto the Teleportation Formation Platform, they noticed their Ancient Immortal Firmament Token [a medallion granting access to ancient celestial realms] begin to glow with a faint light.

Immediately afterward, they felt an intangible force of spatial displacement wash over them, whisking them away to an indistinct location within the void.

Heavens spun, earth reversed; mountains and rivers flowed backward.

When Eldrin Chen regained his senses, he found himself standing before a majestic complex of immortal palaces.

Those immortal halls soared into the clouds, connected by stairways paved with white jade, all shrouded within a vast sea of Chaos [the primordial, formless state before creation] immortal mist.

"It is the Immortal Firmament Celestial Stairway [a legendary staircase leading to the heavens, testing the foundation of cultivators],"

Exquisite Jiang spoke, her expression grave. "The Immortal Firmament Celestial Stairway was forged and consecrated with Chaos Immortal Jade [a legendary jade born from primordial chaos, containing immense foundational power]. It consists of nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine Path Platform [a conceptual step or stage on one's cultivation journey] steps. Upon it, the Immortal Firmament Path Ancestor laid down a Chaos Grand Formation [a grand array harnessing the power of primordial chaos]. Even a Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [a supreme immortal who has attained the Golden Immortal realm, encompassing all within their domain] would find their power suppressed by this Formation [a structured arrangement of energy, objects, or concepts to achieve a specific magical effect]."

"Merely ascending three thousand steps signifies the potential to become a Primordial One Imperial Lord [an Imperial Lord who has returned to and mastered the state of primordial unity], granting one the qualification to proceed to the next trial."

Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen's eyes narrowed slightly.

If merely three thousand steps indicated the makings of a Primordial One Imperial Lord, then what of one who ascended the entire Celestial Stairway? Would that not signify the foundational depth of a Chaos Heavenly Emperor [a Heavenly Emperor whose power and authority stem from the primordial chaos itself]?

Seeing his reaction, Exquisite Jiang offered a faint smile. "Legend says that cultivating a single True Spirit Foundation [a foundational cultivation art that refines one's spirit to its truest, most primordial state] allows one to ascend beyond eight thousand steps. Each step thereafter increases in difficulty exponentially, demanding immense foundational depth and unwavering perseverance."

"And to complete the entire staircase... legend holds that one would need to have cultivated all seven great True Spirit Foundation to even have a chance."

Eldrin Chen's gaze flickered with contemplation at these words.

He glanced around and saw that many Great Encompassing Golden Immortal had already begun their ascent upon the Celestial Stairway. Yet, the stairway was wreathed in dense, swirling mists, obscuring from view just how far any of them had managed to climb.

"Let us ascend and see."

So saying, Eldrin Chen immediately strode forward and stepped onto the Immortal Firmament Celestial Stairway.

The moment he set foot upon the Immortal Firmament Celestial Stairway, Eldrin Chen instantly felt a vast and overwhelming pressure descend upon him.

It was a supreme Dao Aura [the profound resonance and pressure emanating from a fundamental cosmic principle], imbued with the power of the ultimate Chaos Great Path Authority. Even the faintest wisp of it made Eldrin Chen feel a trace of strain.

The suppression of this aura was measured against a cultivator's cultivation base; the higher one's realm, the greater the pressure they would bear.

By Eldrin Chen's estimation, an ordinary Seventh Layer Great Encompassing Golden Immortal would need to actively circulate their energy to withstand such pressure.

Fortunately, Eldrin Chen's combat prowess far exceeded his cultivation level. To him, this pressure was but a single feather added to his shoulders, scarcely noticeable.

With this thought, he glanced down at Exquisite Jiang and the others beside him.

Fortunately, Exquisite Jiang and the others possessed exceptionally profound foundations. They remained utterly unaffected by this pressure, feeling no strain whatsoever.

"It seems there is no issue. Let us proceed forward then."

Eldrin Chen spoke, his steps calm and steady as he ascended, swiftly reaching the summit of the three thousand steps.

At this moment, Eldrin Chen noticed that around the three thousandth step, numerous immortal palaces now floated and sank amidst the surroundings.

"The treasures within these immortal palaces were all left behind by the disciples of the former Nine Great Immortal Sages and the supreme Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [the pinnacle of the Golden Immortal realm] cultivators of the Immortal Cosmos Primordial Domain. They will not contain any exceptionally rare treasures."

Exquisite Jiang spoke slowly, a faint ripple of emotion shimmering in her gaze.

Eldrin Chen nodded. When the nine Heavenly Emperor [supreme sovereigns of the heavens] forged the Heavenly Emperor's Treasure Vault, their purpose was to nurture all the rising talents of the Immortal Cosmos Primordial Domain. Naturally, it was not just the nine Heavenly Emperor who contributed resources and effort.

The entire Heavenly Emperor's Treasure Vault contains approximately three thousand immortal palaces. Each palace is a legacy left by a cultivator who reached the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal Great Perfection [the ultimate stage of the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal realm].

Among them are nine Heavenly Emperor Ancient Hall, twelve palaces belonging to Sage Ascendant [cultivators one step below the Sage realm], thirty-six halls of Great Emperor [powerful emperors within the immortal realms], and over a thousand halls of Primordial One Imperial Lord [ancient and powerful imperial lords].

The remaining two thousand or so palaces are all Treasure Vault [treasure repositories] left behind by those at the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal Great Perfection.

The palaces connected to the three thousandth step of the Immortal Firmament Celestial Stairway represent the lowest, least valuable layer of legacy Treasure Vault within the Heavenly Emperor's Treasure Vault.

Yet, one must not underestimate the difficulty of reaching this three thousandth tier. Since ancient times, those who have not forged an Indestructibility Foundation [a foundation of unparalleled durability] or attained cultivation at the Late Stage Great Encompassing Golden Immortal level have likely been unable to ascend these three thousand steps.

"Let us press onward."

Eldrin Chen spoke, his gaze dismissive of the Immortal Halls on the three thousandth tier.

Within the span from the three thousandth to the six thousandth tier of the Celestial Stairway, there were no Immortal Halls left behind by a Primordial One Imperial Lord, nor could there possibly be Innate Primordial Breath or other priceless, ancient Rare Spiritual Wonders of immeasurable value.

Furthermore, over the course of tens of thousands of Kalpa Tribulation, countless Immortal had ascended the Heavenly Emperor's Treasure Vault and had long since plundered the majority of the treasures from the first several thousand tiers.

What remained were items that could not be taken away, such as Spiritual Root that could continuously produce Innate Spirit Fruit, or treasures like Immortal Spring.

However, due to their lower tier, the grade of these treasures was mostly not high, and there was nothing particularly capable of stirring Eldrin Chen's heart, making them unworthy of wasting their precious time to explore.

The group continued their stride forward, and before they knew it, they had passed another several thousand tiers, arriving at the six thousandth tier.

Upon reaching this position, Eldrin Chen distinctly felt a not insignificant pressure.

He could clearly sense that this pressure seemed to be the full-force assault of a supreme Great Encompassing being at the Late Stage Great Encompassing Golden Immortal level, relentlessly suppressing him with supreme divine power, making it difficult to advance further.

"If even at my realm I can feel such pressure, those at the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal Great Perfection level likely endure an even greater burden."

Eldrin Chen murmured inwardly, having roughly calculated that the number of Great Encompassing Golden Immortals capable of reaching this level was now exceedingly few.

One must have cultivated at least three Indestructibility Foundations to even have a chance of reaching this six-thousandth tier; advancing further depended on one's own perseverance and Creation [the fundamental principle of generating and shaping reality].

As he spoke, Eldrin Chen glanced at an immortal hall not far away, his eyes glinting with a flicker of interest. "A hall left behind by a Primordial One Imperial Lord [a supreme ruler from the primordial era of creation]. Shall we investigate?" he proposed.

The others nodded in agreement, a shared spark of curiosity lighting their expressions.

They ascended the steps to the hall's entrance, where they discovered a plaque hanging above it, inscribed with four grand characters.

"Twinkling Light Immortal Hall."

Eldrin Chen whispered the name, then stepped calmly across the threshold into the hall.

Upon entering, Eldrin Chen swiftly surveyed the interior, finding several treasured pavilions within: an Immortal Herb Garden, an Immortal Pill Pavilion, an Immortal Pool Hall [a hall housing a pool of immortal energy], and others.

They first entered the Immortal Pill Pavilion, only to find nine immortal pedestals meant for holding treasures, now all empty. Clearly, the contents had been taken long ago.

"A pity," Eldrin Chen remarked. "The Immortal Pills [elixirs of immortality] were taken long before our arrival."

Ethan Chen spoke slowly, a trace of regret coloring his voice.

An Immortal Pill [a supreme elixir forged by immortals] left behind by a Primordial One Imperial Lord [a supreme cultivator who has unified their path and attained a lordly status] would undoubtedly be a rare and world-shaking divine treasure. Even if it were of no use to Eldrin Chen, for them, it would still be an unparalleled Rare Spiritual Wonders [an object of immense spiritual value and rarity].

Without further comment, Eldrin Chen proceeded to the Immortal Herb Garden [a garden cultivating plants of immense spiritual and medicinal value]. There, his eyes lit up with pleasant surprise at the sight of a dazzling patch of Immortal Herb [plants imbued with potent spiritual energy, used in alchemy].

At that very moment, a faint shimmer of light trembled within the Immortal Herb Garden, and a figure of peerless grace and bearing materialized—a man clad in verdant robes.

His gaze was calm as he looked upon the group, a slight smile gracing his lips. "If you wish to claim the treasures within this Immortal Herb Garden, you must withstand three moves from this Emperor," he stated.

"Three moves, is it?"

Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod, his demeanor unperturbed. "Make your move," he replied evenly.

No sooner had the words left his lips than the Twinkling Light Imperial Lord [an Imperial Lord associated with the Twinkling Light constellation] struck. His palm descended like a cleaving blade, Bursting [unleashing in a sudden, explosive manner] forth with astonishing, earth-shattering power.

Yet, Eldrin Chen's eyes merely flickered with a hint of appraisal. The combat prowess displayed by this Great Path [a profound and supreme cultivation method] phantom of the Twinkling Light Imperial Lord was truly formidable, nearly reaching the absolute limit of the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal Great Perfection [the pinnacle stage of the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal realm]. It was likely that even two or three ordinary cultivators at that same peak would be forced into retreat.

Fortunately, Eldrin Chen's own strength was extraordinary. With a simple turn of his palm, he met the attack head-on. In an instant, the Great Path phantom of the Twinkling Light Imperial Lord was utterly shattered, its form dissolving into motes of dissipating light.

"Pfft—" [the sound of something being pierced or a sudden expulsion of air]

An instant later, the phantom of Twinkling LightImperial Lord's Great Path re-coalesced. He gazed at Eldrin Chen with a look of profound shock and said, "You possess such formidable power?"

As he spoke, Twinkling LightImperial Lord's expression shifted slightly. "With your caliber, Fellow Daoist, you are destined to walk the same path as us in the future."

"I can open this Immortal Herb Garden to you. I only hope that when the time comes for my own revival, you might offer a measure of assistance."

Eldrin Chen remained utterly composed. "If it is within my power, I will naturally lend my aid," he replied.

Only then did Twinkling LightImperial Lord offer a faint smile and release the seals binding the Immortal Herb Garden.

Upon entering the Immortal Herb Garden, the group discovered it was densely planted with Immortal Herb [plants of immense spiritual value used in alchemy and cultivation]. Among them were rare specimens of Immortal Herb of Innate Spiritual Treasure [a supreme grade of spiritual artifact] grade, and even a single Upper Grade Innate Spiritual Root [a plant of the highest innate spiritual quality]—the 'Stellar Fruit Tree'—its branches laden with immortal fruits.

"By convention," Twinkling LightImperial Lord began, "those who can withstand three of my strikes may claim three Stellar Fruit or three Immortal Herb."

Twinkling LightImperial Lord continued, a smile gracing his features. "However, since you, Fellow Daoist, have bested me, I shall make an exception. You may take all the Immortal Artifact [artifacts of immortal grade] here, save for the Stellar Fruit Tree itself."

"Yet, by the rules, I must ask you to leave behind seeds," he added. "So that new Immortal Herb may be cultivated once more within this Immortal Herb Garden."

Eldrin Chen [the protagonist, a powerful cultivator] smiled and nodded, then spoke: "When gathering herbs, leave the roots; when plucking flowers, leave the seeds. This is the proper way."

As they spoke, the group harvested the Immortal Herb [rare plants imbued with spiritual energy] from the medicinal garden. They discovered they had obtained several dozen Great Encompassing Immortal Herb [a specific, highly valuable type of immortal herb]. Among them were even nine rare Immortal Herb of the Upper Grade Innate Spiritual Rare Material [a top-tier classification for spiritual materials] grade, all items of considerable worth.

The valuable Stellar Fruit [a fruit that contains condensed stellar essence], they obtained a total of thirty-six in one go.

After collecting these Rare Spiritual Wonders [precious objects of spiritual power], they proceeded to the Immortal Pool Hall. This hall housed a rare Immortal Pool [a pool of liquid spiritual energy used to temper the physical body], a treasured site for body refinement. It could even accelerate Eldrin Chen's own process of honing his physical form.

Eldrin Chen entered the pool to cultivate for a period. He felt his physical cultivation base grow increasingly solid and consolidated. Even the cooldown period for consuming the Supreme Grade Indestructibility Golden Fruit [a supreme-grade fruit that grants incredible durability] had shortened considerably.

"It seems I can consume another Indestructibility Golden Fruit [a fruit that grants incredible durability] sooner than expected," he mused.

With this thought, Eldrin Chen immediately took out and consumed one of the fruits. Instantly, he felt his Indestructibility Body [a constitution renowned for its near-unbreakable resilience] strengthen once more by a significant degree.

Besides Eldrin Chen, the physical cultivation of the others also improved noticeably.

Unfortunately, this particular Immortal Pool was not of a high grade; it was merely a Twenty-Four Patterns Supreme Grade Innate Spiritual Treasure [a supreme-grade innate treasure marked with twenty-four mystical patterns]. Therefore, its beneficial effects were only potent during the first use.

After completing their body tempering in the Immortal Pool, the group exited the Twinkling Light Immortal Hall and continued their ascent along the stone steps.

They continued their journey forward, exploring dozens of Primordial One Immortal Halls. Yet, to Eldrin Chen's regret, many of these halls were sealed by restrictions.

Numerous Primordial One Immortal Halls required meeting specific conditions to be opened—such as possessing a physique or aptitude similar to the hall's original master. Those halls with simpler access requirements often held little of their treasures within.

Among the treasures they did find, the truly precious ones—such as Innate Primordial Breath or Innate Supreme Treasure Embryo—remained entirely elusive to Eldrin Chen.

"After hundreds of explorations, it seems the lower-tier Primordial One Immortal Halls hold no truly exceptional treasures," Exquisite Jiang remarked, her gaze drifting toward the higher reaches of the Celestial Stairway.

Eldrin Chen nodded in agreement. "Then let us not waste time. We shall ascend beyond the eight thousandth tier."

With those words, Eldrin Chen strode forward, his steps carrying him inexorably upward until he stood upon the eight thousandth tier of the Heavenly Emperor's Treasure Vault.

Reaching the eight thousandth tier of the Celestial Stairway demanded immense perseverance and willpower, coupled with extraordinary talent and profound foundational strength.

Generally, only those who had forged a True Spirit Foundation [a perfect, flawless foundation for cultivation] could hope to tread upon this level of the Heavenly Emperor's Treasure Vault.

The Immortal Halls above the eight thousandth tier were exceedingly rare. Eldrin Chen surveyed the path ahead and found that only slightly over one hundred halls remained.

A profound sense of anticipation settled upon him. The treasures within these final halls were likely the most extraordinary the vault had to offer.

"The Treasure Vaults above the eight thousandth level were left behind by the most elite Imperial Lords at the Primordial One Imperial Lord Late Stage."

Exquisite Jiang spoke, her expression turning grave. "Vaults of this caliber once belonged to the supreme powerhouses of the Immortal Cosmos Primordial Domain. It is highly likely they contain remnants of Innate Primordial Breath [the primordial, foundational energy of creation], and there is even a possibility of encountering Innate Supreme Treasures [treasures born from the chaos of creation, possessing unparalleled power]."

"However, we can only open a maximum of three vaults from this tier."

Eldrin Chen nodded in understanding upon hearing this.

The Heavenly Emperor's Treasure Vault operated under its own immutable rules. Among the vaults above the eight thousandth level, one could open at most three: one each from the Primordial One Imperial Lord Late Stage, the Great Perfection Primordial One Imperial Lord, and the Sage Ascendant tiers.

In other words, after opening a Primordial One Imperial Lord Late Stage vault, if one failed the trial of a Great Perfection Primordial One Imperial Lord vault, then only that single vault could be accessed.

As for the levels above nine thousand, those were the Treasure Vaults left behind by the nine Heavenly Emperors [the supreme rulers of the primordial cosmos]. Vaults of that caliber were incomparably precious, and an individual could open only one at most.

Since the Heavenly Emperor's Treasure Vault had existed, the vaults left by the nine Heavenly Emperors had been opened barely over a dozen times in total.

"With our attempts so limited, we must aim for the most powerful vaults."

Eldrin Chen turned his gaze to the others present. "Given your innate talent and potential, most of these hundred-plus Heavenly Emperor's Treasure Vaults should be within your reach. You may each choose three to attempt their trials."

"Remember, rather than choosing the most powerful Heavenly Emperor's Treasure Vault [a legendary repository of treasures left by a Heavenly Emperor], it is better to choose the Treasure Vault [an ancient hall containing legacies and trials] most suited to yourself."

Hearing this, everyone nodded in agreement. They soon selected the ancient halls they wished to ascend and began striding deeper into the Celestial Stairway [a grand staircase leading to various ancient halls of inheritance].

After the others had departed, Eldrin Chen also continued his ascent. He directly chose a Treasure Vault [an ancient hall containing legacies and trials] belonging to an Eighth Heaven of the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [the eighth level of the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal realm, a profound stage of cultivation].

This Treasure Vault [an ancient hall containing legacies and trials] was named the Dawnlight Immortal Hall [the Hall of the Dawnlight Immortal]. It was the legacy left behind by the peerless Imperial Lord [a supreme ruler among immortals] known as the 'Dawnlight Patriarch' from the ancient Immortal Cosmos Primordial Domain [a primordial realm of immortals and cosmic wonders].

That Dawnlight Patriarch had founded the Nine Suns Coexisting in the Sky Art [a supreme cultivation technique envisioning nine suns blazing simultaneously in the heavens]. Furthermore, he wielded an Innate Supreme Treasure [a treasure born from the primordial chaos, possessing supreme power], and his combat prowess was on par with even a Great Perfection Primordial One Imperial Lord [an Imperial Lord who has reached the pinnacle of the Primordial One realm]. In his era, he was one of the invincible powerhouses of the Immortal Cosmos Primordial Domain [a primordial realm of immortals and cosmic wonders].

Most crucially, this Dawnlight Patriarch was also a direct disciple of the Chaos Heavenly Emperor [a Heavenly Emperor who embodies the primordial chaos], making his status exceptionally noble.

Upon setting foot within the Dawnlight Treasure Vault [an ancient hall containing legacies and trials], Eldrin Chen immediately noticed that the various Immortal Treasury [treasures and resources left by an immortal] within were preserved in remarkably pristine condition. It was evident that over countless eons, very few had been able to pass the trials set by the Dawnlight Patriarch.

"*Hum—*"

Just as Eldrin Chen's thoughts drifted, he suddenly felt an intangible force envelop him.

After a moment of dizzying disorientation, Eldrin Chen found himself transported to a Nameless Space [a featureless, ethereal void]. Before him stood a red-haired elder.

"To have set foot within this Dawnlight Immortal Hall [the celestial abode of the Dawnlight Immortal], young friend, you truly can be considered divinely favored..."

The red-haired elder began to speak, but upon clearly seeing the features of Eldrin Chen, he suddenly froze, his expression shifting dramatically as he exclaimed in shock, "Patriarch..."

Eldrin Chen was slightly taken aback and could not help but say, "Fellow Daoist, I fear you have mistaken me for someone else."

The red-haired elder paused for a moment before coming to his senses. After a long while, he spoke, "The resemblance is uncanny, yet why is there also such a profound difference?"

A slight frown creased Eldrin Chen's brow. Finding it strange that this elder would mistake him for a patriarch, he inquired, "Fellow Daoist, does your patriarch bear some likeness to me?"

The red-haired elder did not answer immediately. Instead, he carefully circled Eldrin Chen several times before murmuring to himself, "Could this person be the reincarnated form of the Patriarch?"

Yet in the next instant, he shook his head.

Having cultivated to his current realm, he naturally possessed the insight to discern the unique aura of a reincarnated soul at a glance.

The Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] of Eldrin Chen seemed distinctly more primal and youthful compared to that of the Patriarch, lacking the ancient and unfathomable depth that characterized the Patriarch's soul essence.

With this thought, the red-haired elder withdrew his probing intent. Looking at Eldrin Chen, he said, "This old man's Daoist title is Dawnlight. I presume you are already aware."

Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod and then spoke, "You are a direct disciple of a Heavenly Emperor [a supreme ruler of the heavens]. Even after tens of thousands of Kalpa Tribulation [immense cosmic cycles], your name would still be like thunder in the ears of those within the Southern Abyss Seven Domains."

The red-haired Patriarch [a venerable clan or sect leader] began to speak, "In my youth, I was fortunate enough to accompany my master to pay respects to our Founding Ancestor and had the honor of seeing him once. Fellow Daoist, your resemblance to our Ancestor is striking, which is why I mistook you for him for a moment."

Eldrin Chen was visibly shaken and could not help but ask, "Fellow Daoist, who exactly is this Founding Ancestor of yours?"

The red-haired Patriarch pondered for a long while before replying, "Before the era of Antiquity-Tracing [one who traces the origins of antiquity], when the Immortal Cosmos Primordial Domain first opened, our Ancestor arrived from the Depths of Chaos."

"He established the Nine Methods of the Immortal Path [the supreme path of immortality cultivation]. My master and the other senior uncles, the nine Heavenly Emperor of the Immortal Cosmos Primordial Domain, were the nine great disciples seated beneath our Ancestor."

Eldrin Chen's pupils contracted sharply. If the words of the Dawnlight Patriarch were true, then the nine great Heavenly Emperor of the ancient Immortal Cosmos Primordial Domain were all disciples of a single, supremely powerful being?

Most crucially, Eldrin Chen looked exactly like that Founding Ancestor. If this was not mere coincidence, then the two must be connected by countless intricate threads.

This revelation was so astonishing that for a moment, Eldrin Chen even began to doubt his own origins.

"Could it be... that my identity holds hidden mysteries?"

Eldrin Chen murmured inwardly, his thoughts a tangled web he could not yet unravel.

In the bygone era of the Immortal Cosmos Primordial Domain, its nine Heavenly Emperor [a supreme title for the most powerful rulers of the cosmos] all possessed cultivation at the First Realm of Chaos [the foundational stage of power within the primordial chaos]. Among them, the Immortal Firmament Path Ancestor had even half a foot stepped into the Second Chaos Realm [a higher, more profound stage of existence within the chaos].

If he truly were the reincarnation of that founding ancestor, wouldn't his previous life have been at least at the Second Chaos Realm Path Union Realm [a realm signifying the profound union of one's cultivation path with the fundamental laws], and very likely even touched upon a loftier realm?

A being of such stature should be a master player upon the board of the Boundless Chaos [the infinite, primordial expanse from which all realms are born], a supreme figure gazing down upon its vastness from the heights. How could such a one possibly have perished, sitting in meditation until their end?

This stirred a faint sense of incongruity within Eldrin Chen, yet he felt only a dense fog of mystery before him, unable for the moment to part the mists and glimpse the truth.

"Alas..."

After pondering the matter repeatedly, Eldrin Chen remained unable to deduce anything concrete. In the end, he withdrew his thoughts and settled his mind.

Returning to the present, he decided it was wiser for someone of his current cultivation not to become entangled with beings of excessive power. He turned his gaze to the Dawnlight Patriarch and said, "A figure like your sect's founding ancestor must have been a peerless Heavenly Emperor whose might shook the very Chaos [the primordial state of undifferentiated existence, the source of all things]."

"I am merely at the Great Encompassing Realm [a realm signifying one's power and influence has grown to encompass a significant domain]. How could I possibly be connected to such an existence?"

"The Chaos holds wonders beyond count. I believe encountering someone with a passing resemblance is likely just a coincidence."

The Dawnlight Patriarch nodded in agreement. While he could not discern Eldrin Chen's true origins, he could perceive that Eldrin Chen was likely not the reincarnated form of his sect's founding ancestor.

After a moment of contemplation, he spoke, "Since there is a resemblance, perhaps fate is at play. An ordinary person who passes my trial may only take one Heavy Treasure [a term for an exceptionally powerful and rare magical artifact] and two ordinary treasures."

"But if you can defeat this Great Path Divine Form [a supreme manifestation of one's mastered Great Path, granting immense power] of mine, I shall permit you to select three Heavy Treasures."

Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen's eyes gleamed with anticipation. Given the status and discernment of the Dawnlight Patriarch, what he termed 'ordinary treasures' were likely all Supreme Grade Innate Spiritual Treasures [the highest grade of treasures born from heaven and earth, containing immense innate spiritual power]. Any item deemed a Heavy Treasure would undoubtedly be extraordinary.

The chance to choose three such Heavy Treasures promised a harvest that would greatly enrich even Eldrin Chen.

With this thought, Eldrin Chen declared, "Fellow Daoist, please make your move."

"Be on your guard."

As the words fell, the aura around the Dawnlight Patriarch surged violently. Boundless Great Path [the fundamental cosmic principle or law one has comprehended and mastered] power converged upon his form, coalescing into a majestic Great Path Divine Form—the Crimson Sun Celestial Crow [a Divine Form embodying the essence of the blazing sun and a celestial crow].

Eldrin Chen was not entirely unfamiliar with the concept of a Great Path Divine Form. It was known to be a supreme power attainable only upon reaching the Primordial One Imperial Lord [a supreme cultivation realm where one's spirit and body are unified into a primordial singularity] realm.

It was analogous to how, upon advancing Fleshly Body Sanctification [the art of refining one's physical body to divine levels] to the Primordial One Imperial Lord level, one could transform their True Spirit Divine Runes [divine symbols formed from one's true spirit essence] into the more potent True Spirit Divine Form [a physical manifestation of one's true spirit power]. Similarly, those who had mastered their Path of Path Mastery [the state of having fully comprehended and embodied a Great Path] could cultivate a Great Path Divine Form to empower themselves.

After breaking through to the Primordial One Imperial Lord realm, if one further grasped their Great Path Authority [the authority and dominion granted by complete mastery over a Great Path], they could transform the power of their mastered Great Path into the ultimate Great Path Divine Form.

And the Great Path Divine Form is the true form manifested by a Great Path [a supreme cultivation art that embodies a fundamental cosmic principle], capable of Burst forth with a divine power of a rarity seldom seen since antiquity.

Generally speaking, a single Perfect Innate Great Path can, at most, give birth to nine Innate Supreme Treasure [treasures born from the Great Path itself, embodying its ultimate principles]. Consequently, a Great Path also possesses nine distinct forms, which can be cultivated into the Nine Great God Forms.

The more Great Path Divine Form one cultivates, the more profound and powerful the mastery over the Great Path's power becomes.

Typically, cultivating a single Great Path Divine Form allows one to step into the Primordial One Imperial Lord Late Stage. Cultivating three divine forms marks one as an existence at the Great Perfection Primordial One Imperial Lord level.

As for those who cultivate all Nine Great God Forms, they are exceedingly rare beings who stand at the threshold of the Saint Realm.

In fact, many Perfect Innate Great Path lack sufficient foundational depth and can only give rise to six or seven divine forms. Those quasi-Saint Realm powerhouses who wield the authority of such a Great Path can, at most, cultivate only six or seven Great Path Divine Form.

At this moment, the phantom of Dawnlight Patriarch manifested the Crimson Sun Celestial Crow Divine Form, unleashing with his first move a divine power of peerless might, a sight rarely witnessed since time immemorial.

Even though he had suppressed his cultivation to the Seventh Layer Great Encompassing Golden Immortal level, he still displayed a peerless prowess rarely seen even in the Chaos [the primordial state before creation], sufficient to rend apart a Great Encompassing Golden Immortal Great Perfection existence. None but a Primordial One Imperial Lord could hope to withstand it.

"You are not unworthy,"

Eldrin Chen said calmly, raising his palm to meet the attack. With a single exchange, he sent the Crimson Sun Celestial Crow hurtling away.

He was somewhat curious about the power of the Great Path Divine Form [a supreme divine ability that embodies the authority of the Great Path itself] and could not help but speak: "You may unleash your full power. Let me witness the might of the Great Path Divine Form."

"Very well!"

Dawnlight Patriarch acted decisively. Endless Great Path Divine Chains [divine chains woven from the fundamental laws of the Great Path] intertwined and surged forth, carrying a near-infinite power of Great Path Authority [the supreme authority derived from comprehending the Great Path]. Each chain possessed the supreme might to suppress and slay a Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [a Golden Immortal who has attained the pinnacle of their realm].

It was an ocean formed from the convergence of the Great Path [the fundamental principle and source of all laws and existence], a supreme power originating from the very Great Path Origin [the primordial source and root of the Great Path].

Even though Dawnlight Patriarch had long since fallen, this Great Path Divine Form, bolstered by the power of the immortal hall, still manifested a force of ultimate potency.

"The ultimate expression of Great Path Authority, power drawn from the very root of the Great Path,"

Eldrin Chen murmured softly, his expression grave as he clashed with the Crimson Sun Celestial Crow Divine Form [a divine form embodying the power of the Crimson Sun and the Celestial Crow].

In the span of mere moments, the two had already exchanged over three thousand blows. The cataclysmic divine energy unleashed was sufficient to obliterate a vast Immortal Domain [a realm governed by immortals]. Were it not for the incredibly resilient space within the Heavenly Emperor's Treasure Vault [a vault of treasures belonging to a Heavenly Emperor], the entire immortal hall would have long been reduced to dust.

After three thousand exchanges, Eldrin Chen had largely grasped the profound mysteries of the Great Path Divine Form. A glint of light appeared in his eyes as he spoke: "A formidable Great Path Divine Form indeed. It is worthy of my full strength."

"BOOM—"

As his words fell, Eldrin Chen unleashed a palm strike that forced back the Crimson Sun Celestial Crow [a divine technique manifesting a crow of pure solar energy], then transformed into the Eternal Divine Sun [an ultimate form embodying an undying solar deity] and soared into the sky.

In that instant, the Ten Great Immortal Treasuries [ten supreme repositories of immortal power] behind him began to rotate. A faint, illusory silhouette of an Immortal Domain [a realm of pure immortal energy and law] materialized, channeling its supreme might to empower his own form.

"Great Path Authority [the authority to command a fundamental cosmic principle]... You have already grasped a Great Path [a supreme cultivation art representing a fundamental cosmic principle]?"

Dawnlight Patriarch cried out in shock. He hurriedly urged the Crimson Sun Celestial Crow to its limits, unleashing its full power in a desperate Burst [a technique of explosive, concentrated release]. Alas, it was already too late.

For Eldrin Chen, now wielding the deepened authority of the Sacrificial Self Path [a supreme cultivation art based on the principle of self-offering for ultimate power], brought his fist down in a cataclysmic suppression. A force of supreme dominion cleaved through all things; every opposing power was swept away and utterly annihilated beneath this overwhelming fist.

"Huff—"

The Crimson Sun Celestial Crow shattered, instantly dissolving back into the spectral form of the Dawnlight Patriarch.

He gazed at Eldrin Chen, his expression one of profound astonishment. "To think you have already mastered a Great Path," he said. "I perceive that this particular Great Path holds boundless potential. In the future, you will likely become, at the very least, an invincible powerhouse of the Saint Realm [the realm of sainthood, a step below the ultimate Sage Realm]."

"To be defeated by you... this old man has not lost unjustly."

Eldrin Chen's expression remained serene. A faint smile touched his lips as he replied, "Due to the restrictions imposed by the rules of the Heavenly Emperor's Treasure Vault [a legendary repository of celestial treasures], fellow Daoist, your projection's cultivation base is confined to the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal Great Perfection [the pinnacle of the Golden Immortal realm, one step below the Primordial Immortal realm]."

"Had you been at your peak, Fellow Daoist, I would likely have been subdued by a mere thought from you."

Dawnlight Patriarch shook his head and spoke, "There is no pride in relying on superior cultivation to overwhelm others."

"For you, with a cultivation at the Seventh Layer Great Encompassing Golden Immortal realm, to defeat my Great Path Divine Form while surpassing two major realms... such talent is truly peerless, even within the annals of the Immortal Cosmos Primordial Domain's history."

Eldrin Chen nodded in acknowledgment. This Dawnlight Patriarch possessed extraordinary strength. Even during his time in the Ancient Immortal Realm, he had cultivated several True Spirit Foundation.

With such profound foundation, augmented by the power of his True Spirit Divine Form, he was fully capable of challenging a Primordial One Imperial Lord despite being at the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal Great Perfection realm.

To have defeated such an opponent was indeed a testament to transcendent talent.

With this thought, Eldrin Chen smiled and inquired, "Fellow Daoist, you mentioned earlier that I could choose three Heavy Treasures?"

Upon hearing this, Dawnlight Patriarch waved his sleeve, summoning over a dozen radiant treasures. Eldrin Chen glanced at them, and his expression shifted slightly.

Each of the dozen or so Heavy Treasures presented by the Dawnlight Patriarch was of staggering value.

Among them were four Innate Supreme Treasure Embryo [the nascent forms of supreme treasures born from the primordial chaos], thirteen portions of Innate Primordial Breath [the purest form of energy from the dawn of creation], one top-grade Primordial One Grade Immortal Pill [a pill of the highest tier, capable of greatly advancing a cultivator's power], and several Primordial One Grade Immortal Herb [plants of immense spiritual potency, used in crafting supreme elixirs].

Each of these Heavy Treasures [exceptionally powerful and valuable enchanted artifacts] possessed a staggering value, each worth at least one Innate Primordial Breath [a strand of the universe's foundational, primordial energy] or more.

Eldrin Chen surveyed the options for a long while. After a moment of deep contemplation, he finally retrieved a portion of 'Primordial Solar Origin' [a spiritual essence born from the fusion of an Innate Primordial Breath, embodying the purest essence of the primordial sun]. For the remaining two breaths, he chose pure Innate Primordial Breath.

Although the other treasures were also of extraordinary worth—especially those few Innate Supreme Treasure Embryos [the nascent forms of supreme-grade innate treasures], each a divine object of astonishing value—they were primarily offensive or defensive artifacts. For Eldrin Chen, they held little practical use.

In contrast, the Primordial Solar Origin, when integrated into the Primordial Solar True Spirit Divine Runes [divine sigils of the true spirit] of his Primordial One Indestructibility Body [a legendary physique of unbreakable unity with the primordial source], would provide a sufficient catalyst for his cultivation. It would sustain him without lack all the way to the Primordial One Imperial Lord Realm [the realm of a sovereign lord unified with the primordial beginning].