Chapter 2038 : A Sovereign's Defiance

Beneath the radiance of the sword light, Chaos crumbled to dust, myriad worlds faced Annihilation, and all existence dissolved into motes of nothingness, scattered into the void by that unstoppable gleam.

"He intends to unleash his full power," a voice cried out in alarm, "to slay a Great Emperor and establish his dominance!"

Shock and dread surged through the hearts of the onlookers.

Yet, the Great Wilderness Emperor Sword was an unstoppable force, its peerless edge descending with annihilating intent to cleave Immortal Great Emperor asunder.

Just as Immortal Great Emperor seemed destined for a grievous wound, the very fabric of heaven and earth stilled.

There, before Immortal Great Emperor, stood a figure robed in snow-white. He stood serene before the onslaught, raising a hand to catch the Imperishable sword light between two fingers.

For all its world-shaking, peerless sharpness and power, the Great Wilderness Emperor Sword could not so much as scratch him.

"Hmm?"

Great Wilderness Emperor Sovereign paused, his gaze finally settling on the newcomer. His pupils contracted sharply.

Behind the snow-robed figure, an infinite tide of Great Dao and Laws power surged forth, pouring from the depths of the Great Desolate Ancient Realm itself.

These Great Dao Laws were sublimely beautiful, like a pair of eternal wings sprouting from his back, bestowing upon him a power that seemed nearly limitless.

With such power bolstering him, even when facing the Great Wilderness Emperor Sovereign's full-force strike head-on, he showed not the slightest intention of retreating.

"The Authority of the Heavenly Dao [the supreme mandate and power granted by the fundamental laws of the cosmos] empowers you. Are you the new Lord of the Great Wilderness Realm [the sovereign ruler of the Great Wilderness Realm]?"

The Great Wilderness Emperor Sovereign spoke, a flicker of apprehension surfacing in the depths of his pupils.

Eldrin Chen remained utterly calm. With a flick of his finger, he deflected the Great Wilderness Emperor Sovereign's sword, then spoke in a placid tone, "Since you, Fellow Daoist, have already departed, what need is there to return?"

"Hahaha!"

The Great Wilderness Emperor Sovereign let out a hearty laugh and quickly replied, "This old one merely heard of the ancient realm's revival and came to protect the Great Desolate Ancient Realm."

"I never imagined the Great Desolate Ancient Realm already had a Realm Lord [the sovereign ruler of a realm]. It seems my journey today was in vain. In that case, this old one should take his leave."

So saying, the Great Wilderness Emperor Sovereign cupped his hands in a salute and decisively withdrew, making his departure.

Those present were somewhat taken aback. After the Lord of the Great Wilderness Realm had departed, Liora, the Emperor Lord could not help but speak up, "For him to leave so simply... does it not seem rather anticlimactic?"

"He is a wise man."

Eldrin Chen spoke, then said: "His Great Dao [the supreme path of cultivation] possesses only five Grand Dao Divine Form [divine manifestations of a Great Dao]. His combat prowess is considered relatively weak even within the realm of Sage Ascendant [a supreme cultivation realm]."

"If he dared to invade the Great Desolate Ancient Realm, I would have a fifty percent certainty of utterly annihilating him."

"His retreat now is an understanding that the situation is untenable, a strategic withdrawal in the face of an overwhelming current."

At this moment, Eldrin Chen largely understood why the Lord of the Great Wilderness Realm [a title for a powerful ruler] of old did not dare to attempt the breakthrough into the Celestial Emperor [the realm of a Heavenly Emperor] realm.

The success rate was simply too low. Having cultivated only five Grand Dao Divine Form, the chance of successfully breaking through to the Chaos Great Dao [the Great Dao of Primordial Chaos] likely did not exceed twenty percent. If the hope of a breakthrough was truly that slim...

With this thought, Eldrin Chen also grasped the profound nature of the Three Poles Origin Domain.

The Three Poles Origin Domain was not merely a large Origin Domain [a primordial realm of existence] with seven Chaos Celestial Emperor [Celestial Emperors who have mastered Chaos] presiding over it. Furthermore, the nine Mandate Divine Emperor [Divine Emperors who bear the Heavenly Mandate] of antiquity were all beings who had cultivated nine Grand Dao Divine Form.

Such individuals possessed an immense probability of breaking through to Celestial Emperor. In contrast, these smaller Origin Domain were incomplete in their Great Dao, and the Child of Destiny [a person favored by fate] they nurtured had a much weaker foundation. Their hope of proving their Dao and becoming a Chaos Celestial Emperor was also greatly diminished.

In truth, not a single Origin Domain within the entire Seven Domains of the Southern Abyss was simple.

After all, to be able to traverse the vast Primordial Chaos Desolate Sea [the boundless, chaotic void between primordial worlds] while carrying an entire Origin Domain [a primordial world, the foundational realm from which all things originate], and to arrive at a place where other Origin Domain gather, converging to form a prosperous Chaos Domain [a cluster or region formed by the convergence of multiple Origin Domains], is no simple feat.

To accomplish such a thing, one would need at the very least a Chaos Celestial Emperor [a supreme ruler whose power stabilizes and governs a Chaos Domain] presiding over it.

Of course, terms like prosperous and remote are only relative.

Compared to those flourishing Origin Domain, the Seven Domains of the Southern Abyss [a specific, relatively remote cluster of Chaos Domains] are but a small, rustic village within the vastness of Chaos [the primordial, formless state from which all existence emerged], a truly remote corner.

But places like the Great Wilderness Primordial Domain [a specific, isolated Origin Domain], which lack even a single Chaos Celestial Emperor, drifting alone in the Primordial Chaos Desolate Sea, cannot even be considered a village.

For countless Desolate Journey [a vast, immeasurable unit of distance in the primordial chaos] in every direction across the distant Desolate Sea [another term for the Primordial Chaos Desolate Sea], it stands utterly alone, with no neighboring realms to visit.

"The Primordial Chaos Desolate Sea is boundless. Perhaps ancient realms as solitary as the Great Wilderness Primordial Domain are the most common of all."

"In ages past, the Indestructible Elder's Indestructible Primordial Domain [the Origin Domain once ruled by the Indestructible Elder] was likely much the same."

"For the Indestructible Elder to cross the Boundless Chaotic Desolate Sea [a poetic variation describing the same vast, chaotic void] was akin to an old hermit descending from his mountain peak to seek a thriving village, pursuing a chance for further advancement."

Eldrin Chen's thoughts flickered with these musings before he quietly gathered them back, letting the contemplation settle.

Beside him, Sword Abyss Great Emperor observed this and could not help but voice his concern, asking, "Will that Indestructible Elder continue to covet the Great Desolate Ancient Realm?"

"Even if he returns, our current strength should be sufficient to handle him."

Eldrin Chen spoke slowly, then added, "Our most pressing task now is to focus on enhancing our power."

"Once our strength reaches a sufficient level, all manner of demons and malevolent spirits will cease to be a concern."

Hearing this, everyone nodded in agreement, their resolve to accelerate their cultivation hardening further.

Meanwhile, the Great Wilderness Emperor Sovereign, carrying the Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] of the Pioneer Divine General, was traversing the depths of the Boundless Chaotic Desolate Sea.

The Pioneer Divine General gazed at the Great Wilderness Emperor Sovereign before him and asked with worry, "Your Majesty, are we truly abandoning this matter just like that?"

"Hmph—"

The Great Wilderness Emperor Sovereign let out a cold snort before speaking. "That individual is bolstered by the Authority of the Heavenly Dao [the mandate and power of the supreme natural order], his combat prowess nearly rivaling that of a peak-tier Sage Ascendant."

"Do you, perhaps, wish to engage him in battle?"

Pioneer Divine General fell momentarily speechless, yet could not help but add, "But within the Great Desolate Ancient Realm, there remains a single Great Wilderness Sacred Tree and two Innate Supreme Treasure."

"If we could seize them, your power would undoubtedly advance another step."

Upon hearing this, a flicker of desire stirred within the gaze of the Great Wilderness Emperor Sovereign.

Seeing this, the Pioneer Divine General pressed on, "Relying solely on our own strength, we indeed lack the certainty to conquer the Great Desolate Ancient Realm."

"But if we agree to aid Emperor Vorgath Di in seizing the Authority of the Heavenly Dao within the Imperial Extreme Primordial Domain, he will surely lend his hand to us once the deed is done."

The Great Wilderness Emperor Sovereign's pupils gleamed faintly at these words, yet he hesitated, "But once Emperor Vorgath Di controls the Imperial Extreme Primordial Domain, we would forever live under another's roof, losing our tripartite balance of power."

"Why concern ourselves with the Imperial Extreme Primordial Domain?"

The Pioneer Divine General sneered, then declared, "After our success, we shall return to the Great Desolate Ancient Realm. We need never dwell under another's shadow again."

"A sound point."

The Great Wilderness Emperor Sovereign nodded, then cautioned, "However, that 'Extreme Emperor' is not to be underestimated. He commands a portion of the Authority of the Heavenly Dao as well."

"Even if I were to join forces with Vorgath Di, we would not have absolute certainty of utterly defeating him. Further preparations are required, and I fear we will be unable to capture him in a short time."

The schemes of Great Wilderness Emperor Sovereign were not clear to Eldrin Chen.

At this moment, he was within the Great Wilderness Sacred Hall, discussing the matters to come with the Great Emperor under his command.

Within the great hall, Eldrin Chen's gaze swept over the assembly before he spoke. "The immediate crisis has been averted. Next, I intend to depart from the Great Wilderness Primordial Domain."

"This journey is to sever a karmic bond [a metaphysical connection or debt formed by past actions]."

"During this period, I shall leave my Reincarnation Body here to wield the Authority of the Heavenly Dao [the power to command the fundamental laws of the cosmos]. Should any urgent matters arise, you may report directly to my avatar."

Upon hearing this, everyone showed concern. Liora, the Emperor Lord could not help but ask, "When will the Emperor Lord return?"

"Barring unforeseen circumstances, I shall return within Thirty Kalpas [thirty immense cosmic cycles, each spanning billions of years]."

Seeing their apprehension, Eldrin Chen spoke again, weighing his words carefully.

This time, he planned to seek out the Indestructible Primordial Domain to aid Indestructible Elder in completing his revival.

If this endeavor succeeds, Eldrin Chen will likely gain an invincible ally at the Sage Ascendant Realm level. This would significantly bolster his position, whether in confronting Great Wilderness Emperor Sovereign or in his eventual return to the Seven Domains of the Southern Abyss.

At the very least, it would fulfill a promise made long ago.

With the spatial beacon left behind by the Indestructible Elder, Eldrin Chen had great confidence in locating the Indestructible Primordial Domain.

The estimated need for thirty Kalpa Tribulation [immense cosmic cycles] was due to the vastness of the Primordial Chaos Desolate Sea. One could encounter perilous Chaos Tsunamis and storms at any moment, which were likely to cause significant delays.

Seeing that Eldrin Chen's resolve was firm, the others ceased their objections.

Only Liora, the Emperor Lord drew a deep breath and could not help but speak, "Go swiftly and return swiftly. Remember, your safety is paramount."

"Understood."

Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod. Without further words, he activated the Abyssal Pearl and vanished into the depths of the Boundless Chaotic Desolate Sea.

After departing the Great Desolate Ancient Realm, Eldrin Chen activated the Abyssal Pearl several times in succession. Only when he was a vast distance from the Great Wilderness Primordial Domain did he cease its use.

Then, he immediately focused his senses, using the resonance between the Indestructible Battle Armor and the Indestructible Blood, to perceive the location of the Indestructible Primordial Domain.

The Indestructible Battle Armor and the Indrastructible Blood were profoundly connected to the Indestructible Primordial Domain. Even across the vast expanse of the Primordial Chaos Desolate Sea, Eldrin Chen could still faintly sense the direction of that domain.

Thus, he ceaselessly traversed the Primordial Chaos Desolate Sea, following that subtle pull towards the Indestructible Primordial Domain.

The Primordial Chaos Desolate Sea was boundless, its eons uncounted. Eldrin Chen knew not how long he had flown, enduring peril after dreadful peril along the way.

There were Chaos Tsunamis, terrifying Chaos Storm, and Primordial Chaos Dire Beast that devoured all things—each capable of reducing even a Grand Luo Golden Immortal or a Primordial Chaos Emperor Monarch to dust.

Fortunately, Eldrin Chen's current power was extraordinary. He either weathered the dangers through his formidable defenses or found opportunities to evade them entirely.

Then, one day, Eldrin Chen suddenly realized he had passed through the turbulent Primordial Chaos Desolate Sea and arrived at the shores of a vast and tranquil Chaos Domain.

"This place is..."

Eldrin Chen paused, a look of astonishment crossing his face. "Another prosperous Origin Domain?"

Lifting his gaze, Eldrin Chen surveyed the boundless Chaos Sea before him. To his surprise, this sea of chaos appeared far more expansive than the Seven Domains of the Southern Abyss.

Within this Chaos, Eldrin Chen detected thirty-seven immensely majestic auras, each one seemingly emanating from a vast and flourishing Origin Domain.

"A Origin Domain [a foundational region within the vast Chaos] of unparalleled prosperity, far more bustling than the Seven Domains of the Southern Abyss."

Eldrin Chen was inwardly astounded. He lifted his gaze toward the heart of this boundless Origin Domain, where an aura blazed like a celestial sun, radiating an indescribable, supreme presence.

That aura was the most powerful Eldrin Chen had ever witnessed in his life, instilling in him a profound sense of dread.

"A peerless powerhouse, suspected to be at the Second Chaos Realm [the second major stage of cultivation within the primordial Chaos], a supreme existence of the Dao Union Realm [the realm of unifying with the fundamental Dao]."

Eldrin Chen murmured to himself, swiftly locating a Chaotic Fiendgod [a powerful demonic entity born of primordial Chaos].

From the information gleaned from the creature and by analyzing the ambient aura of this Origin Domain, he finally deduced the identity of this Chaos Domain [a vast territory within the primordial Chaos].

"The Blazing Central Chaos Domain."

The realization flashed through Eldrin Chen's mind, leaving him utterly shaken.

The Blazing Central Chaos Domain was an immeasurably vast Chaos Domain, composed of thirty-seven Origin Domains and Celestial Pole Domains [domains aligned with celestial poles]. It was home to over several dozen powerhouses at the level of Chaos Celestial Emperor [a supreme ruler within the Chaos].

Here, Sage Ascendant [a demi-progenitor, one step below a true Progenitor] ancestors numbered in the hundreds, Great Emperors [powerful emperor-level cultivators] nearly a thousand, and Primordial Chaos Emperor Monarchs [lesser emperor-monarchs of the primordial Chaos] were as numerous as the stars in the sky.

Most terrifying of all, within the Blazing Central Chaos Domain resided a Dao-Union Supreme of the Second Chaos Realm.

It could be said that this Blazing Central Chaos Domain, the very heart of the surrounding Primordial Chaos Desolate Sea, was far more prosperous and formidable than the Seven Domains of the Southern Abyss.

By comparison, the Seven Domains of the Southern Abyss seemed like a mere remote mountain village, almost insignificant.

"What a powerful Chaos Domain," Eldrin Chen murmured inwardly, surprised to discover that, unlike the denizens of the Seven Domains of the Southern Abyss, the cultivators here in the Blazing Central Chaos Domain possessed a certain degree of knowledge about his homeland.

He found a Cosmographic Map [a celestial chart mapping vast regions of the cosmos] here, which marked the locations of dozens of surrounding Chaos Domains, including the approximate coordinates of the Seven Domains of the Southern Abyss.

However, these coordinates were outdated, recorded a full thousand Kalpa Tribulations [immense cosmic cycles spanning billions of years] ago. Relying on this Cosmographic Map to find his way back would entail significant risk.

Even a powerhouse of the Great Emperor Realm could easily become lost in the Boundless Chaotic Desolate Sea due to such erroneous coordinates.

Furthermore, Eldrin Chen was astonished to learn that the various Chaos Celestial Emperors from the Seven Domains of the Southern Abyss had, to a greater or lesser extent, all visited the Blazing Central Chaos Domain in the past, leaving behind traces of their reputations.

This was because, within the Blazing Central Chaos Domain, a Treasure Exchange Grand Assembly [a grand gathering for the exchange of rare treasures and resources] of Chaos-level significance was held once every thousand Kalpa Tribulations.

In that era, only the most supreme Sage Ascendant or those at the level of a Chaos Celestial Emperor possessed the qualification to attend the Treasure Exchange Grand Assembly.

At the Treasure Exchange Grand Assembly, one could find Chaos-grade rarities, exceedingly rare Chaos Spiritual Treasure, and even Chaos Primordial Qi [the primordial energy of chaos, the source of all creation] occasionally made an appearance.

Almost every time the Treasure Exchange Grand Assembly was convened, one or two Chaos Celestial Emperor from the Seven Domains of the Southern Abyss would come to participate.

Eldrin Chen quickly grasped the reason for this. After all, the Seven Domains of the Southern Abyss had only twenty Chaos Celestial Emperor; it was difficult for them to trade for suitable treasures amongst themselves.

In contrast, the Treasure Exchange Grand Assembly in the Origin Domain of Chiyang attracted dozens of Chaos Celestial Emperor from the surrounding regions each time.

For a Chaos Celestial Emperor, traversing the Primordial Chaos Desolate Sea was not difficult, making it perfectly reasonable for them to attend the Treasure Exchange Grand Assembly there.

Thinking this, Eldrin Chen examined the Cosmographic Map more carefully and could not help but breathe a sigh of relief.

Compared to the Seven Domains of the Southern Abyss, the influence of the Great Desolate Ancient Realm was far too insignificant. As it drifted endlessly within the Primordial Chaos Desolate Sea, its location was nearly impossible to pinpoint.

Therefore, the Cosmographic Map contained no record of the Great Desolate Ancient Realm's location.

Not only that, this Cosmographic Map did not even mark the Origin Domain as a separate entity; all recorded Origin Domain were depicted as part of a larger Chaos Domain.

Generally speaking, at least three or more Origin Domain [a fundamental realm of existence in the cosmos] are gathered together, each one guarded by a Chaos Celestial Emperor [a supreme ruler born of primordial chaos]. They use grand Formation [powerful arrays or formations] to stabilize the vast Chaos Domain [a region of ordered chaos] formed from the churning Primordial Chaos Desolate Sea [the boundless, turbulent sea of primordial chaos].

Furthermore, the recorded spatial coordinates are not precise.

This is because the Primordial Chaos Desolate Sea is in constant, turbulent motion. A single Chaos Tsunamis [a cataclysmic wave of chaotic energy] can alter the trajectory of these drifting Chaos Domain.

Without the ability to calculate their shifting paths, relying solely on coordinates left behind hundreds or even thousands of Kalpa Tribulation [cosmic cycles of destruction and rebirth] ago makes locating these specific Chaos Domain an immensely difficult task.

After all, the Primordial Chaos Desolate Sea is unimaginably vast. A deviation of a mere millimeter on a Cosmographic Map [a celestial chart mapping the cosmos] could translate to an error spanning hundreds or thousands of Desolate Journey [a unit of measure for vast distances in the desolate chaos] in actual flight.

Without constant, real-time positioning, pinpointing the exact location of a Chaos Domain is a challenge of near-impossible odds.

Moreover, within this Primordial Chaos Desolate Sea, for a being of a Chaos Celestial Emperor's power, concealing the precise coordinates of their Chaos Domain is not an overly difficult feat to accomplish.

Returning to the matter at hand, after assimilating the intelligence on the Blazing Central Chaos Domain [a specific, formidable chaos domain], Eldrin Chen immediately grew cautious.

He carried the heavy treasure, the Abyssal Pearl [a legendary pearl of profound power], and within this Blazing Central Chaos Domain, if its presence were detected, its origins might very well be recognized.

"Until I possess sufficient strength, as an outsider, I shall avoid contact with the denizens of this place as much as possible."

With this thought, Eldrin Chen decided not to linger. He immediately withdrew from the Primordial Chaos Desolate Sea and then took a detour, continuing his journey towards the Indestructible Primordial Domain.

Skirting the vast Blazing Central Chaos Domain, Eldrin Chen traversed the Boundless Chaotic Desolate Sea. Unconsciously, he finally arrived at the periphery of a vast Origin Domain.

"This place should be the Indestructible Primordial Domain, correct?"

Gazing at the Origin Domain before him, a faint smile touched Eldrin Chen's lips. Through the resonance of the Indestructible Battle Armor and the Indestructible Blood, his heart confirmed this was indeed the Indestructible Primordial Domain.

With his mind set, he flew forward. Yet, just as he neared the Indestructible Primordial Domain, Eldrin Chen's brow furrowed slightly, and a cold glint flashed in his eyes.

He discovered that within the Indestructible Primordial Domain at this moment, a towering aura of blood Qi [the vital energy associated with life force and blood] was surging skyward. It seemed a brutal and desperate battle was erupting.

He hurriedly stepped into the Indestructible Primordial Domain. There, he beheld countless Immortals [beings who have achieved immortality through cultivation] from the Flesh Ascendant lineage [a cultivation path focused on achieving sainthood through physical body refinement] soaring through the heavens. They wielded war weapons, sweeping across the firmament as they clashed against a host of celestial soldiers at the very edge of the Nine Heavens.

Those celestial soldiers exuded an icy, chilling aura, as terrifying as the dead returned from the netherworld.

"Kill! Kill! Kill! This war to defy the heavens is our final chance!"

"All Immortals, heed my command! To defend the Indestructible Primordial Domain! Now, at this very moment, follow me as we slaughter our way to the Nine Heavens!"

Eldrin Chen looked up and saw a supreme expert of the Emperor Lord [a title for a cultivator who has reached the pinnacle of power] realm roaring between heaven and earth, riding his mount to charge into the sky, engaging in a world-shaking battle against an unfathomably powerful being from the Nine Heavens Above [the highest celestial realms].

Countless Immortals [cultivators who have ascended to a state of longevity and great power] roared as they slaughtered their way towards the firmament, soaring upwards with boundless killing intent, bellowing desperate roars: "We, the Indestructible Sons! Even in death, our souls endure!"

"Today, even if we shed our last drop of blood and become Netherworld Yin Spirits [spectral beings of the underworld], we cannot allow that demon to sacrifice the world in a blood ritual."

"Kill! Kill! Kill!"

Innumerable Immortals roared as they took to the skies, ascending with murderous intent.

Eldrin Chen, somewhat confused by the situation, immediately grabbed a passing Immortal and asked, "Young friend, what has happened?"

"What has happened?"

The Immortal was momentarily stunned, then replied, "Senior, how long have you been in seclusion? The Blood Sea Great Emperor, in his pursuit of the Sacred Realm [a legendary realm of cultivation], is willing to sacrifice all living beings in a blood ritual to advance his cultivation."

"Now, we are going to our deaths in rebellion, making our final stand."

"Blood Sea... that treacherous disciple dares!"