Chapter 1999 : A Supreme Scripture's Revelation
Eldrin Chen smiled faintly before speaking. "The Nine Revolutions Heavenly Art is a technique capable of breaking through one's limits nine consecutive times. Even within the vastness of Chaos, it stands as a peerless and supreme Ancient Scripture [a foundational text of profound cultivation methods], truly one of a kind."
"No matter how powerful the Ancient Scripture I create may be, I fear it would be exceedingly difficult to surpass this Nine Revolutions Heavenly Art."
"Since you, Senior, cultivate such a peerless heavenly scripture, why seek a distant path when a near one is at hand?"
Obsidian Abyss Great Emperor also smiled and replied, "There is no need for such modesty. The method you have created can be called one that shakes the ancient and illuminates the present. Moreover, it is a perfectly tailored method, crafted specifically for you. It may, in fact, suit you better than the Nine Revolutions Heavenly Art itself."
"In my view, even the 'Ant Heavenly Scripture' of the Ant Heavenly Emperor may not necessarily surpass this volume of Ancient Scripture you have penned."
Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod, offering no further words on the matter.
Seeing this, Obsidian Abyss Great Emperor spoke again. "Time is running short. You should proceed swiftly to break through your cultivation realm."
"Understood."
With a nod, Eldrin Chen immediately grasped the Imperial Decree and arrived within the Grand Netherworld Spirit Pool [a sacred pool of immense spiritual energy located in the Netherworld].
As a treasured cultivation site of the Immortal Court, the Grand Netherworld Spirit Pool was situated within the Grand Netherworld Domain in the Depths of the Netherworld. It was overseen by Eldrin Chen's old acquaintance, Grand Nether Imperial Lord.
After many years, seeing Grand Nether Imperial Lord once more, Eldrin Chen finally perceived the true depths of her cultivation, a mystery that had eluded him in their previous encounters.
It was revealed that Grand Nether Imperial Lord's cultivation had reached the Primordial One Imperial Lord 8th Tier, ranking her among the most venerable and supreme Imperial Lord figures within the Human Race.
While her cultivation level might not rival that of a figure like Obsidian Abyss Great Emperor, it did nothing to diminish the profound respect and lofty status commanded by Grand Nether Imperial Lord.
Within the entire Human Race, Grand Nether Imperial Lord stood as one of the paramount Imperial Lord figures, second only to the five Great Emperor. Her combat prowess was such that it could challenge even many who bore the title of Great Emperor.
The root of this formidable power lay in her possession of an Innate Supreme Treasure known as the 'Earth Soul Scripture' [a supreme treasure born of the world's primal essence, containing profound earth-soul laws].
An Innate Supreme Treasure [a treasure born from the primal laws of heaven and earth] is peer to a Great Emperor, forged from the fusion of nine Great Path Divine Chains [divine chains representing fundamental cosmic laws]. When wielded by any Primordial One Imperial Lord Late Stage, it grants the power to contend with a Great Emperor.
Such was the case with Grand Nether Imperial Lord. With the Innate Supreme Treasure Earth Soul Scripture in hand, once unleashed, she became virtually invincible. Even the Human Race's Five Direction Great Emperors would find it exceedingly difficult to defeat her.
Even if a Demon Race Great Emperor armed with their own Innate Supreme Treasure were to attack, Grand Nether Imperial Lord could rely on the Earth Soul Scripture to defend herself with more than ample capability.
Most crucially, Grand Nether Imperial Lord held the Great Path Authority [the sovereign right to command a fundamental cosmic law] over the seventh layer of the Netherworld Hell. As long as she remained within the Netherworld Region, her cultivation would be bolstered by the authority of the Netherworld itself. Under such conditions, she would fear no assault, not even from a Sage Ascendant [a cultivator who has ascended to the threshold of sagehood] personally.
In truth, the Star Lord of the Southern Dipper Six Stars operated on a similar principle. Take the most powerful Imperial Lord of the Celestial Mansion as an example: while stationed upon the Celestial Mansion Imperial Star, their combat strength could rival a Primordial One Imperial Lord Late Stage, granting them the capacity to battle even a Great Emperor.
The remaining five Star Lord held slightly lower status, yet each, bolstered by the authority of their Heavenly Path [a supreme cultivation art], could at the very least rival a cultivator at the Primordial One Imperial Lord Mid Stage [the middle stage of the Primordial One Imperial Lord realm].
Returning to the matter at hand, upon discerning the true cultivation level of Grand Nether Imperial Lord, Eldrin Chen dared not show the slightest disrespect. He immediately cupped his hands and said, "Greetings, Imperial Lord [a title for a supreme ruler in the cultivation world]."
"Between you and me, there is no need for such formality."
Grand Nether Imperial Lord smiled faintly, then rose to his feet. "Your purpose in coming is clear to me," he said. "Follow me."
With those words, Grand Nether Imperial Lord swept his sleeve, tearing through the void, and brought Eldrin Chen before the Grand Netherworld Spirit Pool [a legendary pool of spiritual energy that nourishes and refines the soul].
Gazing at the Grand Netherworld Spirit Pool before them, Grand Nether Imperial Lord said with a smile, "The Grand Netherworld Spirit Pool is a sacred site for cultivating the soul. By cultivating here, your Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core and highest essence of a cultivator] should advance significantly."
Eldrin Chen nodded in acknowledgment and cupped his hands once more. "My sincere thanks, Senior."
Without further delay, Eldrin Chen stepped into the Grand Netherworld Spirit Pool. The moment his foot touched the pool's surface, an overwhelming tide of soul-nourishing power surged towards him, a force worthy of a Heavenly God [a deity residing in the heavenly realms].
The waters of the Grand Netherworld Spirit Pool, he realized, were formed from a vast concentration of Soul-Nourishing Treasure Liquid [a precious liquid that strengthens and purifies the soul], each drop brimming with astonishing spiritual properties.
After refining just a small portion, Eldrin Chen felt his Primordial Spirit Immortal Embryo [the nascent immortal form of one's primordial spirit] grow light and buoyant, as if on the verge of an Ultimate Sublimation [a state of perfect spiritual refinement and transcendence].
Even more astonishingly, the Grand Netherworld Spirit Pool [a mystical pool of profound spiritual energy] seemed capable of bypassing the usual limitations on consuming the Soul-Nourishing Treasure Liquid [a rare elixir that nourishes and strengthens the soul], allowing him to ingest multiple portions of the precious liquid in succession.
With this realization, Eldrin Chen began to devour the Soul-Nourishing Treasure Liquid with a ravenous thirst. His Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core and highest essence of a cultivator] cultivation base began to surge upward at a breathtaking pace.
Time lost all meaning in this state of profound absorption. Eventually, Eldrin Chen felt his Primordial Spirit cultivation reach its absolute zenith, brushing against the very threshold of a breakthrough into the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal Great Perfection [the pinnacle stage of the Golden Immortal realm].
Throughout this process, Eldrin Chen attempted to innovate a cultivation method for the Primordial Spirit, striving to elevate his Primordial Spirit Path Attainment Art [his personal cultivation art for the Primordial Spirit realm] to the level of the Heavenly Emperor Realm [a supreme realm of power rivaling the Celestial Sovereigns].
Yet, in his relentless deductions, Eldrin Chen discovered a critical flaw. Without supreme soul cultivation Ancient Scripture [ancient and profound cultivation manuals] like the Nine Revolutions Heavenly Art or the Indestructibility Heavenly Scripture to serve as reference, his foundational understanding of the Primordial Spirit Path was insufficient. He found it impossible to create a true Heavenly Emperor [a title for a supreme cultivator]-level Ancient Scripture from scratch.
Although the Innate Supreme Treasure [a treasure born from primordial chaos] known as the 'Earth Soul Scripture', possessed by Grand Nether Imperial Lord, was indeed a peerless Ancient Scripture rarely seen in the world, it ultimately belonged to the level of a Great Emperor or a Sage Ascendant [a realm just below the Heavenly Emperor]. It had not touched the domain of Chaos [the primordial state before creation] or the Heavenly Emperor's Domain, and thus could not propel Eldrin Chen's Primordial Spirit cultivation art to the next level.
With no other recourse, Eldrin Chen abandoned his ambition to perfect his Primordial Spirit Path for the moment. He redirected his focus entirely towards breaking through the bottleneck of his Primordial Spirit cultivation. In the end, he succeeded in achieving the breakthrough into Great Encompassing Primordial Spirit [the perfected state of his Primordial Spirit cultivation art].
"Haaa—"
After completing the breakthrough in his Primordial Spirit cultivation, Eldrin Chen slowly let out a long, steady breath.
He examined his newfound power, and a faint smile touched his lips. With this breakthrough to the ninth layer of Great Encompassing Golden Immortal, the combat prowess of his Primordial Spirit had undergone a qualitative transformation.
Of course, due to the inadequacy of his Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] cultivation method, Eldrin Chen estimated his combat power at the Primordial Spirit realm likely only matched that of a newly ascended Imperial Lord [a powerful immortal lord].
To possess combat strength at the level of a Primordial One Imperial Lord [a foundational rank among Imperial Lords] based solely on Primordial Spirit cultivation was already considered astonishing. Yet, deep down, Eldrin Chen was not truly satisfied.
After all, his Primordial Spirit had successfully cultivated five True Spirit Aperture [spiritual apertures that amplify power], theoretically granting him triple the power of his peers. With such profound foundations merely rivaling a new Primordial One Imperial Lord was clear proof that his Primordial Spirit cultivation art was incomplete.
The root cause was precisely the weakness of his Primordial Spirit cultivation method. It remained at the Primordial One Imperial Lord level, not even reaching the domain of a Great Emperor [a sovereign emperor among immortals], and thus failed to unleash the full potential of his True Spirit Primordial Spirit [a primordial spirit of exceptional purity and power].
"My Primordial Spirit cultivation method lacks a coherent system," he mused. "It relies more on various foundational achievements rather than a dedicated, supreme secret art crafted for the Primordial Spirit realm itself."
"Although the Earth Soul Scripture [a profound scripture for soul cultivation] is profoundly mysterious, it is not perfectly aligned with my Primordial Spirit path. It seems I must still journey to the Primordial Era Soul River [the legendary River of Souls from the Primordial Era] in the future."
With these thoughts, Eldrin Chen gradually withdrew his focus, settling his mind.
Although his breakthrough in Primordial Spirit cultivation was complete, Eldrin Chen did not emerge from seclusion. Instead, he retrieved several portions of Great Path Source Marrow [a primordial essence vital for major breakthroughs] and began preparing for his advancement in Great Path [his core cultivation path] cultivation.
In truth, as far back as a million years ago, Eldrin Chen's Great Path cultivation had already touched the threshold of Great Encompassing Golden Immortal Great Perfection [the pinnacle of the Golden Immortal realm]. He had refrained from breaking through immediately only due to the decree from Obsidian Abyss Great Emperor [the Great Emperor of the Obsidian Abyss].
Now, nurtured by the Immortal Court [the celestial governing body], his physical body and Primordial Spirit had broken through four or five Kalpa Tribulation [cosmic cycles of immense duration] ahead of schedule. The time had finally come to complete the breakthrough in his Great Path cultivation.
Having long prepared the Great Path Source Marrow [a rare substance that refines the very marrow of one's cultivation foundation] needed to advance his Great Path [the supreme cultivation art of the Great Path] cultivation, Eldrin Chen began refining it. His progress was almost visible to the naked eye, and he swiftly broke through to the realm of Great Encompassing Golden Immortal Great Perfection [the pinnacle stage of the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal realm].
"Success!"
After his Great Path breakthrough, a ripple of joy surged within Eldrin Chen.
With this latest advancement, all three pillars of his Three Great Foundations [the three core cultivation systems of body, energy, and spirit] had now reached the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal Great Perfection realm.
This completion of his three primary cultivation foundations vastly elevated Eldrin Chen's combat prowess and foundational depth; each pillar was now on an entirely different level.
Eldrin Chen rose to his feet, sensing his current cultivation. He discovered that among his Three Great Foundations, his physical body cultivation was the most formidable, now hovering between the second and third tiers of the Primordial One Imperial Lord [the foundational realm of a Primordial One Imperial Lord] realm.
His Great Path cultivation was slightly weaker, roughly comparable to a first-tier Primordial One Imperial Lord. His Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] cultivation was the weakest of the three, yet still powerful enough to rival a newly ascended Primordial One Imperial Lord.
With his Three Great Foundations fused into one, Eldrin Chen's combat power nearly brushed against the domain of a mid-stage Primordial One Imperial Lord. Factoring in his Sacrificial Self Path [a profound cultivation art centered on self-sacrifice and rebirth], Eldrin Chen estimated he could now hold his own against a fourth-tier Primordial One Imperial Lord without conceding ground.
At this thought, delight washed over Eldrin Chen. He had originally believed that fusing his Three Great Foundations would, at best, grant him peerless combat power within the third tier of the Primordial One Imperial Lord realm, allowing him to barely withstand a mid-stage opponent.
However, the breakthrough of his Primordial One Indestructibility Body [a legendary physique of near-unbreakable resilience] had provided an unexpected boost to his strength. It had granted Eldrin Chen the power to truly contend with a fourth-tier Primordial One Imperial Lord.
It must be understood that merely holding off an opponent is simple; one only needs to entangle and delay. Even a Primordial One Imperial Lord 3rd Tier [the third tier within the Primordial One Imperial Lord realm] could potentially manage it. However, to face a Primordial One Imperial Lord Mid Stage [the middle stage of the Primordial One Imperial Lord realm] in direct confrontation, one must be of the same cultivation realm to accomplish such a feat.
Thinking of this, Eldrin Chen felt a flicker of joy, and his confidence for the upcoming counter-offensive grew by several degrees.
He stepped out of the Grand Netherworld Spirit Pool, only to find Grand Nether Imperial Lord had been waiting for some time. She looked him over and said with a smile, "A simultaneous breakthrough in both Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] and Great Path [a profound cultivation art]. It seems this seclusion has significantly increased your strength."
"A minor breakthrough, hardly comparable to an Imperial Lord [a lord among cultivators] whose power touches upon Creation [the fundamental act of world-creation]."
Eldrin Chen smiled modestly, cupping his hands in a respectful salute.
Grand Nether Imperial Lord gave a slight nod, then spoke, "I imagine Obsidian Abyss the Imperial Lord is growing impatient. I shall not keep you long."
"Take this with you on your journey. Remember, your own safety is paramount."
As she spoke, Grand Nether Imperial Lord handed Eldrin Chen an ancient-looking scroll.
Taking the scroll, Eldrin Chen was momentarily stunned, his expression shifting dramatically. "The Earth Soul Scripture [a legendary scripture of immense power]?"
However, Eldrin Chen quickly realized that what Grand Nether Imperial Lord had given him was not the original, but a replica of the Earth Soul Scripture, or rather, a single-use Great Emperor Forbidden Artifact [a forbidden artifact of power rivaling a Great Emperor's].
Such Great Emperor Forbidden Artifact [a powerful artifact forbidden to all but the most supreme rulers] cannot compare to the might of an Innate Supreme Treasure [a treasure born of heaven and earth, possessing innate supreme power] in its true form. However, they are imprinted with a sliver of the Earth Soul Scripture's [a legendary scripture of profound earth essence] original essence and contain a trace of Grand Nether Imperial Lord's power. Once unleashed, they can unleash a strike rivaling the full-force blow of a Primordial One Imperial Lord 7th Tier [a supreme cultivator at the seventh tier of the Primordial One Imperial Lord realm].
Thinking of this, Eldrin Chen felt a surge of gratitude. He spoke immediately, "My deepest thanks for your generous favor, Imperial Lord [a title for a ruler of an imperial domain, a supreme cultivator]."
Grand Nether Imperial Lord merely waved a hand, offering no further words before vanishing into the boundless Netherworld [the realm of the dead and shadowy spirits].
Seeing this, Eldrin Chen immediately tore through the Chaos Void [the primordial, formless space between realms] and disappeared into the vast, desolate reaches beyond.
Upon returning to Obsidian Abyss Heaven, the Obsidian Abyss Great Emperor [the Great Emperor who rules over the Obsidian Abyss] gave him a slight nod upon seeing him and then spoke, "Go and prepare yourself. Await the summons to battle."
With matters thus, Eldrin Chen could only return to the Celestial Beam Imperial Star.
After arriving at the Celestial Beam Imperial Star, Eldrin Chen suppressed his cultivation level, presenting himself as if he had not made a breakthrough.
By this time, barely over one hundred thousand years had passed since Eldrin Chen's departure. Not even the various Imperial Lord of the Demon Race [the race of malevolent spirits and demons], let alone the few Imperial Lord of the Human Race, had detected anything amiss.
Back at the Celestial Beam Imperial Star, Eldrin Chen began living a reclusive life, rarely venturing out as he focused on consolidating his cultivation base. Time flowed on relentlessly in this manner, and in the blink of an eye, several million years had passed.
Then, one day, a secret missive once again arrived at the Celestial Beam Imperial Star, landing in the hands of Eldrin Chen.
Thus, on this day, Eldrin Chen departed Celestial Beam Imperial Star without a trace, arriving at a Nameless Stellar [a star or celestial body] beyond the borders of Celestial Concord Imperial Star.
At this moment, upon this Nameless Stellar, seventeen Primordial One Imperial Lord [powerful cultivators at the Primordial One stage of the Imperial Lord realm] had gathered.
Eldrin Chen swept his gaze over the assembly. He noted that most of these Primordial One Imperial Lord were at the early stage. Among them were several Imperial Lord [cultivators of the Imperial Lord realm] who had retreated in defeat from Celestial Concord Imperial Star, while nearly half had been transferred from Southern Dipper Six Stars.
Eldrin Chen even spotted, among their number, an old comrade he had fought alongside for many years: Desolation Meng Imperial Lord.
The remainder hailed from within the Chaos [the primordial, formless void beyond the ordered realms], clearly representing one of the Human Race's hidden contingencies.
Only two among them had reached the Primordial One Imperial Lord Mid Stage: Celestial Concord Imperial Lord and, hailing from the School of Military Strategy, 'Primordial Breath Meng Imperial Lord'.
Primordial Breath Meng Imperial Lord possessed cultivation at the formidable Primordial One Imperial Lord 5th Tier. He was a fellow clansman and Path Lord [a master of a specific cultivation path] of Desolation Meng Imperial Lord, and the Meng Clan formed the main lineage of the School of Military Strategy.
The master of the School of Military Strategy, Obsidian Abyss Great Emperor, was the founding ancestor of the Meng Clan. All other Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [cultivators at the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal realm] and Primordial One Imperial Lord within the school were his disciples and followers.
Both Primordial Breath Meng and Desolation Meng, these two Great Emperor [supreme rulers among cultivators], cultivated the Nine Revolutions Heavenly Art [a supreme cultivation technique involving nine cycles of refinement]. In a sense, they were senior martial brothers to Second Son Worthy Path Chen.
"It seems Obsidian Abyss Great Emperor is the main force in this campaign," Eldrin mused. "The other Great Emperor have yet to make their move?"
Eldrin Chen murmured inwardly, a thought flashing through his mind in an instant.
After a momentary assessment, he realized that although only seventeen were participating in this battle, they were all elites among the Primordial One Imperial Lord [the first major stage of the Imperial Lord realm].
Those at the early stage of Primordial One Imperial Lord almost all possessed combat power equivalent to the Primordial One Imperial Lord 3rd Tier [the third minor tier within the Primordial One Imperial Lord stage].
Desolation Meng was considered top-tier even among early-stage Primordial One Imperial Lord, but even stronger was the Meng Clan prodigy, Primordial Breath Meng Imperial Lord.
It was said that Primordial Breath Meng Imperial Lord had once cultivated to the Seventh Revolution of the Nine Revolutions Heavenly Art [the seventh cycle of a supreme cultivation art involving nine profound transformations], having stepped into the Great Encompassing Realm [a foundational cultivation stage] with a True Spirit Physique [an innate constitution of exceptional purity and power]. His combat prowess was such that he could hold his own even against a Primordial One Imperial Lord 6th Tier [the sixth minor tier within the Primordial One Imperial Lord stage].
"There are not many high-level experts, but they are all elites among the Primordial One Imperial Lord," Eldrin Chen concluded.
As this thought flickered through Eldrin Chen's mind, he saw Primordial Breath Meng Imperial Lord speak: "Since everyone has arrived, I shall now outline the battle plan."
Upon hearing this, all the Imperial Lord [powerful cultivators who have attained lordship over a domain] present grew solemn.
Primordial Breath Meng Imperial Lord, his expression resolute and gaze stern, declared: "In this battle, I will take the lead, forcibly tearing open the grand formation of the Celestial Concord Imperial Star [a major celestial fortress]."
"Once inside the formation, Fellow Daoist Celestial Concord shall use his authority as the Star Lord [the sovereign ruler of a celestial body] to disrupt the formation's operations. The rest of you will follow my lead to intercept the enemy."
As he spoke, Primordial Breath Meng Imperial Lord [a powerful ruler of the Netherworld] looked at Eldrin Chen and Desolation Meng, and finally declared, "Within the formation are twelve great Demon Race Imperial Lords [powerful demonic rulers], as well as two Mid-Stage Primordial Sovereigns [Imperial Lords who have attained the middle stage of the Primordial Chaos realm]."
"Of those two Mid-Stage Primordial Sovereigns, one has attained the Fifth Tier. I shall personally engage and defeat him. However, the remaining Fourth-Tier Primordial Sovereign [an Imperial Lord of the Primordial Chaos realm] requires someone to intercept and hold him at bay."
"If the two of you join forces, you need only stall that remaining Mid-Stage Primordial Sovereign. Once I have vanquished the other, or once Celestial Concord Imperial Lord [the Imperial Lord of Celestial Unity] reclaims control over the grand formation's core, victory in this battle will be ours."