Chapter 1993 : A Gathering of Golden Immortals

The fall of the four great True Spirit Prodigy seemed to cast a shadow over this Kalpa Tribulation for the Demon Race. In the end, not a single one among them managed to attain the Great Encompassing Realm [the supreme realm of cultivation, signifying mastery over the fundamental laws of existence].

At this moment, after Eldrin Chen deduced the cause and effect of these events, he received Silas Chen in the Returning Abyss Immortal Hall and remarked with a slight smile, "You did well. It served to dampen the arrogance of the Demon Race."

Silas Chen nodded. After a moment of contemplation, he added, "There is another figure from the past who has reawakened during this Kalpa Tribulation."

"Three Souls Imperial Lord has revived within this tribulation and has attained the realm of a Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [a supreme cultivator who has transcended mortality and attained a state of golden perfection within the Great Encompassing Realm]."

A flicker passed through Eldrin Chen's eyes. He gave a noncommittal nod and stated, "A pitiable figure indeed. Even if he has cultivated back to the Primordial One Imperial Lord Realm [a powerful realm just below the Great Encompassing], he can hardly become a true threat."

Having said this, Eldrin Chen looked at Silas Chen and continued, "I will be heading to the Starry Sky Battlefield. You shall remain in the Returning Abyss Immortal Domain to seclude yourself and consolidate your cultivation. In the meantime, stand guard over the Returning Abyss Immortal Domain in my stead."

"..."

After seeing Silas Chen off, Eldrin Chen convened the various Great Encompassing Golden Immortals of the Chen Clan. Following their discussions, it was decided to dispatch nearly half of their Great Encompassing Golden Immortals to participate in the war.

The chosen participants for this campaign were: Eldrin Chen, Exquisite Jiang, Verdant Consort, Nyssa Qu, Lila, Violet Consort Yan, Path Ruins Jiang, Ethan Chen, and Energy Abyss Chen—a total of nine Great Encompassing Golden Immortals.

These nine individuals represent the core combat strength of the current Chen Immortal Clan. Many among them had obtained Opportunity and Fortune [rare chances and resources that can dramatically alter a cultivator's destiny] from the Immortal Firmament Treasure Vault, and their cultivation had now advanced to the Seventh Layer Great Encompassing Golden Immortal realm.

Most crucially, each of them had cultivated a foundation of True Spirit [the purest form of spiritual essence, signifying profound potential]. Therefore, even though they had only just entered the Seventh Layer Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [the seventh stage of the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal realm], their combat prowess was already comparable to a ninth-layer Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [a supreme immortal realm of vast power and comprehension].

Among the most outstanding, such as Exquisite Jiang, Verdant Consort, and Nyssa Qu, their combat strength even brushed against the very limits of the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal realm. They were capable of fighting three ordinary Great Encompassing Golden Immortal Great Perfection [the pinnacle stage of the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal realm] cultivators single-handedly.

Eldrin Chen chose these few not only for their formidable strength but also because, having just broken through, it was unlikely they would advance further for several Kalpa Tribulation [immense cosmic cycles spanning billions of years] into the Future.

As for the others, whose cultivation remained at the early or middle stages of Great Encompassing Golden Immortal, it was better for them to accumulate more foundational strength. They could take their turns tempering themselves on the Starry Sky Battlefield [a legendary, chaotic battlefield among the stars] after breaking through to the Late Stage Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [the advanced stage of the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal realm].

Returning to the main point, after selecting the combatants, Eldrin Chen immediately mustered the Celestial Soldiers and Generals [an elite army of immortal warriors] and set forth.

This time, apart from the nine Great Encompassing [referring to Great Encompassing Golden Immortals] joining the battle, the Returning Abyss Chen Clan also dispatched eighty million Celestial Soldiers and Generals. These warriors represented the accumulated foundational strength [the deep reserves of power and resources built up over time] of the Chen Immortal Clan over ten Kalpa Tribulation.

Nurtured by vast quantities of Nine Revolutions and even Ten Revolutions Immortal Pill [pills of supreme refinement, capable of drastically boosting cultivation], the lowest cultivation among these Celestial Soldiers and Generals was at the ninth layer of Celestial Immortal [a high immortal realm]. Over thirty percent were already comparable to Ancient Immortal Great Power [venerable and powerful ancient immortals].

The most exceptional among the Celestial Generals even rivaled Eight Tribulations Ancient Immortal [ancient immortals who have survived eight cosmic tribulations], their physical strength alone touching the apex just below the Great Encompassing threshold.

One could say that, judging merely from this force of Celestial Soldiers and Generals, the foundational strength of the Chen Immortal Clan was in no way inferior to that of many Imperial Courts.

On that day, Eldrin Chen led his host of Celestial Soldiers and Divine Generals [the elite commanders among the Celestial Soldiers and Generals] to the Primordial Immortal Domain [the original, foundational realm of immortals]. In an instant, they shattered the Vast and Boundless Chaos [the formless, primordial chaos between realms] and, passing through a Stargate, arrived upon the Celestial Mansion Imperial Star [a sovereign celestial body serving as a military command center].

This was the second time Eldrin Chen had arrived at the Celestial Mansion Imperial Star. In the past, during his first descent to the lower realms, Eldrin Chen had been forced to utilize the Teleportation Formation of the Celestial Mansion Imperial Star to traverse the Boundless Void and reach his homeland Universe, due to his insufficient cultivation at the time.

Back then, Eldrin Chen had been but an insignificant figure among the countless Immortal [powerful beings who have transcended mortality] of the Celestial Mansion Imperial Star. Yet now, upon his return, his status and position were utterly incomparable to those bygone days.

This time, Eldrin Chen arrived not only with the exalted rank of a peerless Imperial Lord [a supreme ruler among immortals], but was also personally received by the Imperial Lord of the Celestial Mansion [the sovereign ruler of the Celestial Mansion domain].

"Fellow Cultivator Eldrin, your arrival this time truly resolves our most urgent crisis," the Imperial Lord of the Celestial Mansion said with a smile.

Within the Great Hall of the Celestial Mansion Imperial Court, the Imperial Lord of the Celestial Mansion received Eldrin Chen with exceptional courtesy.

Eldrin Chen did not dare show the slightest neglect. Within the primordial starry expanse governed by the Human Race, two primary forces held sway: the Supreme Subtlety Enclosure [the celestial domain of supreme subtlety and profundity] ruled by the Central Heaven Purple Tenuity Great Emperor, and the Southern Dipper Six Stars [the constellation of the six stars of the Southern Dipper] governed by the Imperial Lord of the Celestial Mansion.

Of these two Imperial Lord, the Purple Tenuity Great Emperor, as one of the Human Race's Five Direction Great Emperors [the five directional sovereigns of humanity], had long since ascended to the realm of Great Perfection Primordial One Imperial Lord [the pinnacle state of a primordial first-stage imperial lord], and was thus, in principle, the most exalted.

Unfortunately, as far back as the Primordial Era [the mythic age of creation], the Purple Tenuity Great Emperor had failed in his contest for the Dao against the Purple Tenuity Divine Sovereign, and his Great Path Authority [sovereign authority over a fundamental cosmic principle] had been seized by the latter.

Even after the Purple Tenuity Divine Sovereign broke through to the Chaos Divine Sovereign [a sovereign who commands primordial chaos] realm and still permitted him to cultivate the Purple Tenuity Great Path [the supreme path of purple tenuity], the Divine Sovereign retained the power to strip him of his control over that path at any moment.

It could be said that the life and death of the Purple Tenuity Great Emperor rested entirely in the hands of the Purple Tenuity Divine Sovereign.

In such circumstances, the status and weight of Purple Tenuity Imperial Lord in the eyes of the countless Human Race Great Encompassing across the starry expanse might not necessarily compare to that of the Imperial Lord of the Celestial Mansion standing before him.

This Imperial Lord of the Celestial Mansion had cultivated his power to the Eighth Heaven of the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal, and had even forged a Root Origin Treasure [a primordial treasure born from one's own foundational essence]. Should he take the next step and enter the Great Emperor Realm, he might one day possess the potential to prove his path and attain Chaos.

Therefore, Eldrin Chen remained exceedingly courteous and spoke with measured gravity, "You flatter me, Imperial Lord. As a member of the Immortal Court, coming to participate in this war is my duty."

The Imperial Lord of the Celestial Mansion gave a slight nod, then, with a faint furrow appearing between his brows, said, "Your arrival is most timely. The front lines are currently short-handed and require your strength."

Eldrin Chen nodded in acknowledgment and inquired, "I beg you, Imperial Lord, to enlighten me on the current state of affairs."

The Imperial Lord of the Celestial Mansion naturally agreed and immediately began to recount the overall situation of the ongoing great war.

As the Imperial Lord spoke, Eldrin Chen quickly gained a foundational understanding of the Three Races' Heaven-Seizing War.

The structure of the Primordial Immortal Domain within the Cosmic Stellar was broadly divided into the Supreme Lunar [the supreme lunar principle], the Solar Sun [the solar sun essence], the Three Enclosures Stars [the three celestial enclosures], the Big Dipper, the Southern Dipper Six Stars, the Three Thousand Major Stars, and the Myriad Stellar [the countless lesser stars].

Among these, the two primary stars, the Supreme Lunar and the Solar Sun, were formed from the convergence of the Polarity Dual Energy [the primordial energies of yin and yang] at the dawn of the Primordial Immortal Domain. Their inherent rank was extraordinarily high, constituting supreme Path-Field [a domain for cultivating one's Dao] of the Chaos Tier.

Furthermore, the convergence of the Three Enclosures Stars, forming an unparalleled grand formation that drew in boundless Stellar Qi [stellar energy], also qualified as a Chaos Tier cultivation Path-Field.

The Southern Dipper Six Stars and the Big Dipper are both realms of extraordinary stature, each one a Path-Field [a domain of cultivation and power] for practitioners of the Primordial One Tier. When their primary stars unite, they can unleash power rivaling that of the Sage Ascendant level.

The remaining Three Thousand Major Stars constitute over three thousand Path-Field [domains of cultivation and power] at the level of Great Encompassing Golden Immortal.

As for the Myriad Stellar, they are countless in number. The lowest among them are Ancient Star [ancient celestial bodies imbued with power] of immortal rank, with the majority serving as the Nine Heavens Stellar [celestial anchors] for Blessed Land [lands of spiritual abundance] and even Grotto-Heaven [heavenly grottos, superior realms of cultivation].

Prior to the Burst [a cataclysmic eruption of power] of the Heaven-Seizing War between the three races, the structure of the Cosmic Stellar [the cosmic starry realm] was one of tripartite balance. The Demon Race held dominion over the two stars of Supreme Lunar and Solar, controlled one of the Three Enclosures—the Celestial Market Enclosure—along with over five hundred major stars, and commanded roughly two-tenths of the Cosmic Stellar.

The Divine Clan held the Purple Tenuity Enclosure and the Big Dipper, encompassing approximately one thousand five hundred major stars and nearly half of the Cosmic Stellar.

The Human Race held a lesser share of the spoils, yet still possessed the Supreme Subtlety Enclosure, the Southern Dipper Six Stars, around a thousand major stars, and roughly three-tenths of the Cosmic Stellar.

From this perspective, although the Demon Race suffered a great defeat in the second Heaven-Seizing War, losing the Southern and Northern Dipper primary stars as well as two of the Three Enclosures, their core holdings of Supreme Lunar and Solar remained intact. Their fundamental stake in the Cosmic Stellar was still secure.

In this current campaign to retake territory, the Demon Race's primary objective is to reclaim the Three Thousand Major Stars and the countless Cosmic Stellar. Should they succeed in recapturing the Southern Dipper Six Stars and the Big Dipper on top of that, they would have largely achieved their desired outcome.

As for the Supreme Subtlety Enclosure and the Purple Tenuity Enclosure, these are Path-Field [domains of cultivation and power] of the Chaos Tier. Much like the twin stars of Supreme Lunar and Solar, they are often places where Divine Sovereign [supreme divine rulers] and Immortal Sage [enlightened immortal beings] engage in secluded cultivation. Even if the Demon Race were to elevate a new Heavenly Emperor [a supreme ruler of heaven], reclaiming these enclaves would be exceedingly difficult.

Since the onset of this great war, the Demon Race has concentrated its forces on seizing the Three Thousand Major Stars and the Myriad Stellar. They have already recaptured thousands of major stars and one-tenth of the Cosmic Stellar.

At this rate, if the fighting continues, they will likely have to take action against the thirteen Imperial Star [a major celestial body under the control of a powerful faction].

Of course, the Human and Divine Races [the collective term for the Human Race and the Divine Clan] were not without countermeasures. However, as the defending side, the Imperial Lord [a supreme ruler of a domain] of the Human Race and the Divine Clan intended to use the Cosmic Stellar [the vast expanse of stars and celestial bodies] to deplete the strength of the Demon Race. They planned to launch their counterattack only after the Demon Race's power had been sufficiently weakened.

In this process, many would undoubtedly be sacrificed. Yet, compared to a full-scale war between the two sides, this strategy of fighting from behind the Stellar Grand Formation [a massive defensive array powered by stellar energies] undoubtedly resulted in the fewest casualties.

After all, with the Imperial Lord and Great Encompassing [a supreme cultivation realm] of both sides mutually restraining each other, it fell to the Celestial Soldiers and Generals [the elite military forces of the celestial realms] and countless Immortal [beings who have transcended mortality through cultivation] to Exchange Move [engage in tactical skirmishes and attrition warfare].

After clarifying the situation, the Imperial Lord of the Celestial Mansion [the sovereign ruler of a celestial palace domain] spoke, "Since Blazeflame Imperial Lord was severely wounded and forced to retreat, the situation at the Celestial Beam Imperial Star [a key Imperial Star] has deteriorated considerably. I would like to ask you to go and reinforce it. What do you say?"

Eldrin Chen did not answer immediately. Only after observing the star chart for a long while did he finally nod and say, "Since the Imperial Lord asks, I will go and garrison the Ancient Star of Celestial Beam [the ancient stellar fortress of Celestial Beam]."

Hearing this, the Imperial Lord of the Celestial Mansion smiled and said, "With you taking charge, Fellow Daoist, the safety of the Ancient Star of Celestial Beam will undoubtedly be assured."

"..."

Departing from the Celestial Mansion Imperial Star, Eldrin Chen immediately used a Stellar Gate to travel to the Celestial Beam Star.

The moment he arrived at the Celestial Beam Star, Eldrin Chen's eyes flickered slightly. He instantly sensed several extraordinarily powerful auras.

He looked up and saw three figures of extraordinary grace and bearing, Imperial Lord [a supreme cultivator who has attained mastery over a fundamental cosmic principle], strolling towards him.

The three Imperial Lord consisted of two men and one woman, all at the early stage of the Primordial One Imperial Lord [the first and foundational tier of the Imperial Lord realm] realm.

The leader, whose cultivation was at the Primordial One Imperial Lord 3rd Tier [the third minor tier within the Primordial One Imperial Lord realm], was none other than the master of the Celestial Beam Imperial Star [a celestial body governed by the Celestial Beam constellation], 'Celestial Beam Imperial Lord'. Having already received word, he smiled upon seeing Eldrin Chen and said, "So it is Fellow Cultivator Eldrin. Come, come, let me make the introductions."

"This is Luo River Imperial Lord, and this one is Mystery Departure Imperial Lord."

Eldrin Chen returned their salutes one by one, finally turning to Luo River Imperial Lord with a smile. "Several Kalpa Tribulation [immense cosmic cycles spanning billions of years] have passed since we last met. I trust you have been well, Imperial Lord."

Luo River Imperial Lord returned the smile, her exquisite eyes appraising Eldrin Chen before she nodded in acknowledgment. "Merely a handful of Kalpa Tribulation have passed. I never imagined you would already stand shoulder to shoulder with me."

This Luo River Imperial Lord was, in fact, the very same Luo River Imperial Lord with whom Eldrin Chen had traded for the Primal Radiance Energy [a potent, primordial energy of pure yang] during the Barter Convention [a grand gathering for the exchange of rare cultivation resources] he had attended long ago.

At their first meeting, Luo River Imperial Lord had only just broken through to the Primordial One Imperial Lord realm three Kalpa Tribulation prior. Now, after several more Kalpa Tribulation had flowed by, her cultivation had not progressed significantly, merely solidifying firmly at the first tier of the Primordial One Imperial Lord realm.

This outcome was something Eldrin Chen had anticipated. The cultivation resources required at the Primordial One Imperial Lord level were exceedingly rare. Unless one received the full support of a top-tier Primordial One Imperial Lord or the backing of a Path Ancestor Immortal Sage [a being who has transcended the Immortal realm and forged their own supreme Path], progress within this realm was destined to be agonizingly slow.

Without sufficient resources, relying solely on bitter, incremental personal cultivation, one might not advance from the first to the second tier of Primordial One Imperial Lord even after thousands of Kalpa Tribulation.

Fortunately, the Primordial One Imperial Lord [the highest tier of immortal sovereigns] possesses boundless lifespan, so there is no urgent need for immediate advancement. Even if one relies solely on the slow grind of time, one can eventually reach the Primordial One Imperial Lord 3rd Tier [the third level of the Primordial One Imperial Lord realm].

The Mystery Departure Imperial Lord standing nearby serves as the clearest proof of this. According to the information known to Eldrin Chen, this Mystery Departure Imperial Lord has been a sovereign for over one hundred thousand Kalpa Tribulation [immense cosmic cycles], yet his cultivation base remains stagnant at the Primordial One Imperial Lord 3rd Tier.

He indeed ground his way to the Primordial One Imperial Lord 3rd Tier through sheer longevity. However, due to an insufficient foundation and ill fortune, he failed seven consecutive attempts to break through to the Primordial One Imperial Lord Mid Stage [the mid-stage of the Primordial One Imperial Lord realm], thus forever remaining at the Primordial One Imperial Lord 3rd Tier.

After the introductions were exchanged, Eldrin Chen and the several Imperial Lord [immortal sovereigns] proceeded into the Great Hall. It was then that Eldrin Chen spoke, inquiring, "I beseech you all to inform me of the current situation regarding the Ancient Star of Celestial Beam [the ancient stellar domain centered on the Celestial Beam Star]."

The three exchanged glances upon hearing this. After a moment, it was the Celestial Beam Path Master who finally spoke. "Ever since Fellow Daoist Blazeflame fell into ambush, the Demon Race [the race of malevolent demons] within the Celestial Beam Star Domain [the stellar domain ruled by the Celestial Beam Star] have grown increasingly brazen and arrogant."

"They have ceaselessly assaulted the surrounding great stars. In a remarkably short time, they have already breached three-tenths of the Stellar [stellar energy] Formation Eye [the core nodes of a grand formation] protecting the Celestial Beam Imperial Star [the imperial-grade star at the heart of the Celestial Beam Domain]."

Upon hearing this, a slight frown creased Eldrin Chen's brow. As one of the Southern Dipper Six Stars [the six major stars of the Southern Dipper constellation], the Celestial Beam Imperial Star possessed formidable Stellar Force Extreme [defensive power]. Generally, with three early-stage Primordial One Imperial Lord presiding over it, it could withstand an assault from a single late-stage Primordial One Imperial Lord Late Stage foe.

However, this level of Stellar potency was not solely derived from the Celestial Beam Imperial Star itself. This star was merely a lower-grade Primordial One [primordial essence] Path-Field [a domain imbued with the power of a Great Path]-level Imperial Star [an imperial-grade star]. Such a Path-Field, even with an early-stage Primordial One Imperial Lord in command, should logically only be able to resist a mid-stage Primordial One Imperial Lord Mid Stage enemy.

The reason it could contend with a late-stage Primordial One Imperial Lord Late Stage adversary was primarily due to the Myriad Heavens Stellar [the collective stellar energy of the myriad heavens] power channeled from the entire Celestial Beam Star Domain.

If these Stellar Formation Eye were lost, the defensive power of the Celestial Beam Imperial Star would be drastically diminished. Consequently, the likelihood of it being conquered by the Demon Race would increase exponentially.

At this thought, Eldrin Chen furrowed his brow slightly and said, "We cannot allow them to continue their destruction. Otherwise, the Celestial Beam Imperial Star [a major strategic star fortress] will inevitably fall as well."

Upon hearing his words, everyone's brows knitted in concern.

The Mystery Departure Imperial Lord narrowed his eyes and spoke, "The Blazeflame Imperial Lord was ambushed. If we were to suffer a similar fate..."

Seeing this, the Heluo Imperial Lord and the Celestial Beam Imperial Lord also felt a wave of apprehension.

Eldrin Chen observed their hesitation and spoke again, "In truth, our Human and Divine Races alliance means the Demon Race holds no overwhelming advantage on this battlefield."

"The reason the Blazeflame Imperial Lord was ambushed was primarily due to the unforeseen intervention of the Nether Race's Nether Mystery Imperial Lord."

"If we proceed with caution, the three of us Imperial Lords [powerful cultivators who rule over vast domains] acting together should be more than sufficient for self-defense. At the very least, our chances of retreating if the situation turns dire would not be low."

The three exchanged glances, yet a seed of doubt remained firmly planted in their hearts.

Finally, however, the Mystery Departure Imperial Lord shook his head, rejecting Eldrin Chen's proposal. "We are currently on the defensive. Launching an attack now could disrupt the grand strategy laid by the Great Emperors [the supreme rulers among cultivators]."

"In my judgment," he concluded, "the prudent course is to hold our ground."