Chapter 1853 : A Changed World, Familiar Faces

"Many thanks for your guidance, Senior."

Eldrin nodded slightly and cupped his hands in gratitude once more.

The Grand Netherworld Emperor smiled faintly and waved his hand. "With your current foundation, attaining the Great Luo Realm should be well within your grasp. You might even have a sliver of possibility to prove the Dao and become a Primordial Chaos Emperor."

"However, remember not to grow complacent. While the Indestructible Primordial Spirit and Indestructible Body are formidable, they may not be particularly rare assets for Chaos Origin Emperors like us."

"For those Dao Ancestors and Immortal Sages, this merely scraped the threshold of being considered passable."

"You must accumulate far greater reserves of power if you wish to set foot upon the path of the Primordial Chaos Emperor, let alone transcend beyond the Primordial Chaos itself."

Eldrin (Person Name) fell into a contemplative silence upon hearing this, his gaze turning pensive.

He understood the meaning behind the Great Nether Emperor's words—to urge him to advance further and cultivate the foundation of the 12 Limits.

At this thought, Eldrin fell silent for a moment, yet could not resist asking, "I have heard that 1 only needs to cultivate the 12 Limit Heavenly Gates to possess the potential to prove the Dao and reach the realm of the Primordial Heavenly Emperor. May I ask, Elder, if this is true?"

"You could say that."

The Grand Yin Emperor nodded slightly, then said after a moment of contemplation, "Any foundational path, if cultivated to the Twelfth Limit realm, would be enough to claim invincibility throughout heaven and earth, possessing the power to suppress 10 1000 paths with but 1."

"Only by cultivating a 12-Limit Foundation can 1 truly command the Great Dao and attain the capital to prove themselves as a Chaos Dao Ancestor or Celestial Emperor."

However, forging a foundation of 12 Limits was as challenging as scaling the heavens. The most critical step was to fuse 1’s True Spirit with it—a feat achieved by only a handful since time immemorial.

As Emperor Taiyou spoke in his measured tones, Eldrin gradually came to understand the profound difficulty of cultivating the 12 Limit Foundation.

Whether it be the physical body, magical power, or even the primordial spirit, the Great Dao, or the Dao Fruit—cultivating any foundational path requires merging 1’s True Spirit with it.

The soul may perish, yet the true spirit endures.

The True Spirit came into existence at the dawn of Primordial Chaos, serving as the origin of all living beings. Its nature is akin to the source of the Great Dao itself, possessing an indestructible and eternal quality. Even the Chaos God-King, the Celestial Emperor, or the Ancestral Daoist cannot annihilate the True Spirit.

Once the True Spirit merges with 1’s foundational roots, the fused foundation gains the attribute of absolute immortality.

Having cultivated the 12-Circuit True Spirit Divine Soul, even a Dao Ancestor or Celestial Sage would find it impossible to eradicate her divine soul.

If 1 were to cultivate the 12 Limits True Spirit Body, their physical form would become an indestructible seal. Even if utterly annihilated to ashes by a powerful foe, they could still revive and return from the primordial chaos.

Those who have cultivated the 12 Extremes Art, even if they have completely perished within the River of Time, see their cultivated power dissipate into the chaos, transforming into the spiritual energy of heaven and earth and the waters of primordial chaos, yet they still carry within them the indestructible imprint that belongs to them.

1 day, when He awakens and returns, the indestructible imprints within the spiritual energy of heaven and earth and the primordial waters will revive, merging back into the bodies of cultivators.

"The True Spirit is eternal, and once fused with all foundational elements, it can forge the indestructible and imperishable foundation of the True Spiritual Root (Spiritual Root)."

The Grandshadow Sovereign spoke unhurriedly, his gaze fixed upon Eldrin as he said, "This is the foundation for mastering the Great Dao. If 1 cannot achieve this step, then there is ultimately no hope of reaching the Chaos Realm."

Undying Imprint.

Eldrin murmured softly, unable to resist asking, "How can 1 merge their own foundation with that True Spirit, forming that indestructible and eternal mark?"

The Grand Yin Emperor shook his head and vanished into the boundless void, leaving only a faint voice trailing behind: "You are not yet strong enough. When you 1 day set foot upon that threshold, it shall come naturally."

"My thanks for your guidance, Elder."

Watching the departure of the Grand Nether Emperor, Eldrin bowed once more in gratitude.

At this moment, Eldrin grew even more resolute in his determination to forge a foundation with the 12-Limit True Spiritual Root.

As the Grand Netherlord had already gone far into the distance, Eldrin did not linger any longer. He drew a slow, deep breath and departed from the Sea of Nether Origin.

He departed from the Abyssal Source Sea, emerged from the Great Nether Domain, and journeyed all the way to the Primordial Immortal Realm.

After returning to the celestial realm, Eldrin performed a quick calculation with his fingers and discovered that over a 100 1000 years had passed during this seclusion. Nearly 2 100 1000 years remained until the Grand Barter Assembly of the Radiant Gloom Ancient Domain.

With time still early, Eldrin leisurely journeyed through the Primordial Immortal Realm while making his way toward the Radiant Light Ancient Domain.

Thus, journeying with intermittent pauses, he traversed several Great Luo ancient domains before finally halting at the foot of a celestial mountain.

He looked up and saw that before this celestial mountain, a man in white robes sat atop the peak of the spiritual mountain, his eyes lowered in contemplation of the boundless, vast expanse of the immortal realm's mountains and rivers.

Eldrin did not disturb him, merely standing quietly by his side, patiently waiting for him to awaken from his state of enlightenment.

After a long while had passed, the man in white slowly awoke from his slumber. He cast a placid glance at Eldrin, and a trace of a smile—1 that had not graced his features for ages—finally surfaced.

"Long time no see."

"Indeed, it has been a long time."

Eldrin responded with a light smile, gazing at Magnus the Virtuous Lord before him as he remarked with deep emotion.

It turned out this man was none other than Magnus the Virtuous Lord, who had been cast into the cycle of reincarnation by Eldrin in the past. After nearly 10 million years apart, his cultivation had become unfathomably profound, having long broken through to the realm of Ancient Immortality at some unknown time.

Magnus the Virtuous Lord smiled, studying Eldrin for a moment before finally remarking with a light chuckle,

Sun and moon revolve, rivers and mountains shift; I have changed worlds, yet find people unchanged.

"It is truly wonderful to see you once more."

Eldrin wore a gentle smile as he calmly sat upon the ground, shoulder-to-shoulder with Magnus the Virtuous Lord, watching the clouds swirl and unfold. They began to share the stories of their lives over the years.

As Magnus the Virtuous Lord recounted his tale, Eldrin gradually came to understand all that he had experienced over these years.

In that year, Magnus the Virtuous Lord fell from grace, reincarnating with a scroll of the Primordial Dao Inquiry, once again setting foot upon the path of cultivation.

This Primordial Book of Inquiry was a scripture of the Dao, an ancient classic no weaker than the 'Earth Soul Scripture'. Carrying this tome on his cultivation journey, Magnus the Virtuous Lord (Person Name) gained insights into heaven, earth, and nature that surpassed his previous life by a hundredfold.

With such a foundation, Magnus the Virtuous Lord (Person Name) attained the Realm of Ascending Immortality in an astonishingly short time.

Over the years, Magnus the Virtuous Lord (Person Name) had no fixed cultivation sanctuary. He wandered endlessly through myriad celestial realms, traversing the primordial chaos and 3 1000 immortal domains, until he finally arrived in this primordial celestial realm.

Throughout this process, Magnus the Virtuous Lord (Person Name) continuously gained insights into the workings of heaven and earth, comprehending the Dao and principles underlying mountains, rivers, sun, and moon. His cultivation advanced by leaps and bounds imperceptibly, and he had now reached the realm of Ancient Immortals.

He journeyed across 3 1000 immortal realms, comprehending the Dao and principles of heaven, earth, and nature.

Eldrin murmured softly under his breath, then after a long while, nodded.

He understood that this was truly the most suitable path to cultivate the Primordial Path-Seeking Scripture.

Thinking of this, he began to recount his experiences over the years to Magnus the Virtuous Lord (Person Name).

A long while later, Magnus the Virtuous Lord (Person Name) had finished listening to the account of his experiences over the years, yet offered no excessive commentary or words.

He rose to his feet and began strolling into the distance, merely advising with tranquility, "Walk a stretch with me."

Eldrin nodded slowly, then began strolling through the celestial mountains and rivers. He quietly contemplated the vast expanse of sun and moon over the landscape, perceiving the Dao of heaven, earth, and nature.

No 1 knew how much time had passed before they finally arrived before the Ancient Realm of Yaoguang.

Magnus the Virtuous Lord ceased his advance and turned to Eldrin, inquiring with a gentle smile, "How has this journey felt to you thus far?"

Upon hearing this, Eldrin did not reply but slowly lowered his gaze as if contemplating something. After a long while, he shook his head and said, "There is no need to rush through worldly affairs. Rarely do we have the chance to set aside all worries and truly appreciate the magnificent beauty of heaven and earth—a precious moment of detachment from worldly strife."

Magnus the Virtuous Lord (Person Name) smiled faintly, his gaze drifting toward the distant mountains and rivers as he remarked placidly, "For mortals, this journey might take a 1000 lifetimes to complete. Yet for you and me, it is but a short stretch of road."

"But regardless of the journey's length, you must understand—our entire existence is an eternal pilgrimage."

Forever on the Path.

Eldrin murmured softly, as if on the verge of enlightenment, yet something always seemed just out of reach.

He understood that Magnus the Virtuous Lord (Person Name) was implying something, yet he did not press for an explanation.

The path is 1's own, and in the end, 1 must walk it alone. Some truths can only be comprehended through personal enlightenment.

Magnus the Virtuous Lord (Person Name) said nothing more upon seeing this. He merely waved his hand and declared, "My path stretches long ahead, but I cannot walk it with you any further."

"At the time of the Cosmic Tribulation, perhaps we shall meet again."

With those final words, Magnus the Virtuous Lord (Person Name) spoke no more, striding forth until he vanished beyond the horizon's edge.

After Magnus the Virtuous Lord (Person Name) departed, Eldrin (Person Name) let out a faint sigh. Without another word, he watched as Magnus the Virtuous Lord (Person Name) vanished beyond the horizon before turning to stride toward the Radiant Light Ancient Domain.

The Primordial Glorious Realm was 1 of the 3 1000 ancient domains of the Primal Immortal Realm. This ancient land stretched boundlessly, vaster even than an entire immortal domain itself.

The ruler of the Evershine Ancient Domain is the Evershine Holy Land, 1 of the paramount ancient sects of humanity. Its core cultivation path revolves around the Great Dao of the Stellar Vein.

The Evershine Ancient Sect boasts a lineage spanning millennia, with as many as 6 Great Perfected Golden Immortals among its ranks. The sect's sovereign, Lord Yaoguang, has reached the late-stage Great Perfected Golden Immortal realm, placing him among the foremost powerhouses within the ancient Great Perfected sects.

This time, the Grand Barter Conference hosted by the Radiant Light Ancient Realm was the highest-level gathering of its kind in tens of millions of years among the surrounding dozens of ancient realms, attracting tens of thousands of ancient immortals and mighty figures to participate.

After entering the Yaoguang Ancient Domain, Eldrin concealed his aura discreetly before arriving at the location of Yaoguang Immortal City.

Just then, Qingwei Sanren (Person Name) approached with a gentle smile and said, "Fellow Daoist, your timing is perfect. Had you arrived any later, you would have likely missed the Grand Bazaar of Mutual Exchange."

“I chanced upon an old acquaintance, which delayed me for some days.”

Eldrin smiled faintly and cupped his hands in a polite salute, greeting the Qingwei Wanderer with courteous words.

After a brief exchange of greetings, the Clear Mist Sage led Eldrin (Person Name) toward the center of the Shimmering Light Immortal Pond. Soon they arrived at the Stellar Pavilion, where the exchange of treasures took place.

"Fellow Daoist of the Returning Abyss."

At that very moment, Eldrin heard a familiar voice.

He looked up and saw that the speaker was none other than Luoxingxuan (Person Name), the direct lineage disciple of the Flower Goddess Palace.

After so many years apart, Luo Xingxuan had actually advanced her cultivation yet again, reaching the Sixth Heavenly Tribulation Ancient Immortal realm—a development that took Eldrin somewhat by surprise.

Xingxuan Luo approached, a smile dancing in her beautiful eyes as she spoke, "It has been many years. Your cultivation has grown even more unfathomable, Fellow Daoist."

"You flatter me," Eldrin replied with a serene smile, his tone composed. "Your cultivation has also ascended to new heights, Fairy. It appears this celestial tribulation may present an opportunity for you to breach the Grand Luo Realm."

"You flatter me," Eldrin (Person Name) gave a bitter smile and shook his head involuntarily. "I know my own limitations. If I can cultivate through 7 kalpic tribulations in this cosmic catastrophe, I shall already be content."

At this point, Luo Xingxuan couldn't help but ask, "Since you've come to the Trading Conference this time, what exactly are you planning to acquire?"

"I require some rare treasures to prepare for the perils of the cosmic tribulation."

Eldrin spoke calmly, offering no further words.

Seeing this, Luo Xingxuan said no more. After exchanging a few pleasantries with Eldrin (Person Name), she took her leave.

Qingwei Sanren was rather astonished. He couldn’t help but glance at Luo Xingxuan before remarking, “This is the Great Luo True Seed of the Flower Goddess Palace. I never expected you would recognize it, fellow Daoist?”

"We merely crossed paths a few times while venturing through the Chaos Sea."

Eldrin shook his head without another word and stepped into the Star Pavilion.

This Starry Sky Pavilion was a manifestation of a magnificent celestial expanse, its interior an infinitely vast void where countless stars shimmered, each forming 1 celestial platform after another.

Eldrin casually chose 1 of the platforms and ascended, only to discover that these celestial altars possessed the remarkable ability to shield divine consciousness.

At this moment, Eldrin scanned his surroundings and finally noticed that within the vast Star Pavilion, over 10 1000 stars now hovered majestically in the void, each containing an ancient immortal of immense power.

"Not counting other regions, the gathering of ancient immortals around the Eldrin Ancient Domain alone has already drawn over 10 1000 supreme ancient immortal beings."

"This Primordial Immortal Realm truly lives up to being the source of the 3 1000 immortal realms, the primordial land born of chaos."

Eldrin murmured under his breath, a flicker of delight stirring within him.

The more Ancient Immortals present, the greater his chance of exchanging for a suitable Great Luo treasure.

Having been delayed by his travels through the immortal realms with Magnus the Virtuous Lord, Eldrin had only just arrived at the Star Pavilion when the Grand Bazaar commenced.

But at the end of the starry river, a woman of unparalleled elegance came treading through the void.

She strolled forward, alighting at the very center of the cosmic stars, radiating a peerless elegance akin to the moon being worshiped by countless constellations.

Yaoguang Saintess.

Eldrin murmured softly, a ripple of emotion shimmering in his gaze.

The Radiant Saintess is the most formidable prodigy of the Radiant Holy Land in this kalpa. Having cultivated for merely 1 kalpa to date, her cultivation has already reached the realm of an 8-Tribulation Ancient Immortal, ranking her among the most dazzling talents in the Primal Immortal Domain.

Eldrin examined her carefully and noticed that the Radiant Saintess possessed an exceptionally powerful Dao Fruit and primordial spirit. It seemed both had been cultivated to the 10-extreme foundation, prompting him to steal a few extra glances.

"With 2 10-Limit Foundations, her chances of attaining the Great Dao of Luoh are likely not insignificant."

Just as the crowd's thoughts were wavering, the Eldrin Maiden swept her gaze over the assembly and calmly declared, "The Eldrin Ancient Domain's Artifact Exchange commences today. As your host, I shall begin by offering my humble example to draw forth greater contributions."

As her words faded, the Radiant Light Saintess flicked her sleeves, releasing several dozen beams of miraculous light—each 1 a rare innate treasure.

Eldrin merely glanced, yet his pupils contracted slightly as a flicker of delight surfaced in his expression.

This time, the Radiant Light Saintess presented a total of 30-2 rare treasures. Each of these treasures held immeasurable value, every single 1 being at least a top-tier innate treasure of the 20-4-mark innate treasure level.

There were as many as a dozen Tenth-Rank Great Luo Odd Treasures, among which were the Li Fire Dao Source required by Eldrin (Person Name), the Yi Wood Heavenly Lightning Marrow, the Heavenly Luo Odd Light, and other such rarities.