Chapter 2002 : The Limitless Path's Ascension

Of course, whether it is a weak Innate Great Path or a powerful Innate Great Path, once they transform into a Primordial Chaos Great Path, they will be perfected to encompass nine Chaos Divine Form.

Therefore, whether it is a Chaos Heavenly Emperor who broke through with four Great Path Divine Form or one who broke through with nine, there is not much difference in combat power between them.

The sole exception is the Limitless Great Path. Because it transcends nine Great Path Divine Form, its breakthrough also surpasses the nine great Chaos Divine Form, granting it potential far exceeding that of an ordinary Primordial Chaos Great Path.

However, the Limitless Great Path is far too potent and rare, often coveted by existences at the level of Chaos Heavenly Emperor. An ordinary Primordial One Imperial Lord would have no chance to attain Path Mastery, even if they had the opportunity to cultivate it.

"But six Great Path Divine Form is certainly not weak by any measure," Eldrin Chen murmured to himself.

Generally speaking, after a Sage Ascendant achieves Path Mastery, their Great Path will have a period for consolidation and further progress in the near Future.

Once the Vermilion Bird Sage Ascendant's cultivation solidifies, it is very likely they will advance further, cultivating a seventh Great Path Divine Form. At that point, their chances of successfully impacting the Chaos Heavenly Emperor realm would be no less than thirty percent.

The Demon Race's Primordial Era Verdant Crow Great Emperor and the Kunpeng Primogenitor—these two Sage Ascendant—are roughly at this very level.

Regardless, with the Demon Race gaining another Sage Ascendant, their strength is bound to increase significantly once more.

Of course, Eldrin Chen was not overly concerned about the Demon Race gaining another Sage Ascendant. After all, the Human and Divine Races now had a Chaos Heavenly Emperor standing at the forefront to bear the brunt.

No matter how powerful a Sage Ascendant [a cultivator who has ascended to the penultimate sage-like stage] may be, they can scarcely withstand the supreme and overwhelming might of a Path Ancestor Immortal Sage [the ultimate pinnacle of cultivation, a being who has founded a Great Path and attained sagehood].

Unless the Demon Race [a powerful faction of demonic beings] were to gain another Chaos Heavenly Emperor [a sovereign who has mastered the Primordial Chaos and rules over a heavenly domain], fundamentally altering the balance of power among the three great races, only then would Eldrin Chen feel a truly immense pressure.

Regarding this, Eldrin Chen did not believe the Demon Race could give birth to a fourth Chaos Heavenly Emperor within a short span of time.

For within this Chaos [the formless, primordial state from which all existence emerged], attaining the Sage Ascendant realm is not the rarest feat; what is truly scarce is the Chaos Genesis Energy [the primordial creative force that birthed the cosmos], which is exceedingly rare.

Furthermore, the metamorphosis of an Innate Great Path [a supreme cultivation method born from one's innate nature] into a Primordial Chaos Great Path [the ultimate Dao that encompasses and commands Primordial Chaos] offers but a single chance. Failure results in but one outcome: the destruction of one's Great Path and utter annihilation.

Although the Demon Race now possesses three great Sage Ascendant, whether they can break through to the Realm of Chaos [the sovereign realm of Primordial Chaos mastery] still depends on sufficient Opportunity and Fortune [the confluence of chance and destiny], as well as ample courage and resolve.

Since time immemorial, countless beings who reached the Sage Ascendant Realm have remained stranded for eons before the threshold of the Realm of Chaos, forever unable to take that final, fateful step.

Some failed to obtain the Chaos Genesis Energy; others perished, their Great Paths shattered in a failed breakthrough attempt; still others, lacking the confidence to proceed, chose to remain where they were. In the end, those who succeeded were vanishingly few.

Having realized that the Vermilion Bird Sage Ascendant [the Sage Ascendant of the mythical Vermilion Bird] posed no significant threat, Eldrin Chen promptly withdrew his focus.

He directly recalled his forces and returned to the Celestial Beam Imperial Star [a majestic celestial body and strategic stronghold], there to await in stillness the final news of the great war's conclusion among the three races.

In truth, this news swiftly made its way back as well.

Merely a few million years later, after Vermilion Bird Sage Ascendant had consolidated his cultivation base, he personally convened the powerhouses of the three races to negotiate peace.

No one knows what they discussed, but in the end, the Human and Divine Races tacitly permitted the Demon Race to reclaim the Vermilion Bird Star Domain and the White Tiger Star Domain, bringing an end to the protracted Heaven-Seizing War that had lasted for seven or eight Kalpa Tribulation.

Upon receiving the news, Eldrin Chen immediately ordered the withdrawal of forces from the major powers in the Eastern Departure Flame Domain, then personally journeyed to the Obsidian Abyss Heaven.

Arriving once more at the Obsidian Abyss Heaven, Eldrin Chen noticed that Obsidian Abyss Great Emperor's demeanor lacked its usual composure, seeming to conceal a trace of weariness he could not fully mask.

"You have come," Obsidian Abyss Great Emperor spoke, then sighed before continuing.

This time, Obsidian Abyss Great Emperor did not receive him within the Great Hall, but instead was seated at a stone table within a courtyard of the Obsidian Abyss Imperial Court.

As if facing an old friend, he looked at Eldrin Chen with a hint of resignation and said, "Sit."

"Your Majesty."

Eldrin Chen hesitated, words caught in his throat, but ultimately he cupped his hands in salute and took his seat.

After taking his seat, Eldrin Chen spoke, "I sense a shadow of melancholy in Your Majesty's bearing?"

Obsidian Abyss Great Emperor shook his head, took a sip of immortal wine, and sighed. "Not long ago, the three clans gathered. I intended to secure advantages for the Human Race."

"Yet, I never imagined that the Vermilion Bird Sage Ascendant could, with a single palm, press down with such force that I could barely rise."

Eldrin Chen's expression shifted subtly. He had not expected that Obsidian Abyss Great Emperor, one of the Human Race's Five Direction Great Emperors, would be utterly powerless to retaliate against the Vermilion Bird Sage Ascendant.

Obsidian Abyss Great Emperor sighed again, then continued, "The Sage Ascendant realm and the Great Emperor Realm are entirely different domains."

"One who wields the power of Great Path Authority [the authority to command a fundamental law of the cosmos] could not be defeated by ten Great Emperors joining forces."

"It is a bitter truth that our Human Race lacks a Sage Ascendant to stand guard. We are left vulnerable, forced to endure humiliation and watch helplessly as they seize the White Tiger Star Domain from us!"

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen fell into a heavy silence.

He had never imagined the chasm between a Sage Ascendant and the Great Emperor Realm was so vast—a gulf that seemed almost insurmountable.

For a moment, Eldrin Chen found no words of comfort for Obsidian Abyss Great Emperor. He could only pour another cup of wine in silent companionship.

Obsidian Abyss Great Emperor [a title for a powerful sovereign] picked up the immortal wine and drained it in one gulp, his expression turning grave as he spoke. "In this realm of Chaos [the primordial, formless state before creation], everything is decided by strength."

"Over these years, my focus has been entirely on the affairs of the Immortal Court [the celestial governing body of immortals], and I have neglected my own cultivation."

"My Nine Revolutions Heavenly Art [a supreme body refinement technique involving nine cycles of transformation] is the paramount path of Fleshly Body Sanctification [the art of refining the physical body to an indestructible state]. Its only requirement for further advancement is an immense, almost unimaginable amount of resources."

"Therefore, I plan to venture into the Chaos Desolation Sea [a vast, perilous expanse within the primordial chaos] to seek the Opportunity and Fortune [the chance and resources bestowed by fate and destiny] needed to break through to the eighth revolution of the Nine Revolutions Heavenly Art."

Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen [the protagonist, a powerful cultivator] felt a slight tremor within. Obsidian Abyss Great Emperor had cultivated the Nine Revolutions Heavenly Art for countless years; his physical body had long ago reached a pinnacle where no ordinary advancement was possible.

The current Obsidian Abyss Great Emperor had not only stepped into the realm of a Great Perfection Primordial One Imperial Lord [the perfected stage of the Primordial One Imperial Lord cultivation level], but had also successfully cultivated four True Spirit Divine Form [divine manifestations of one's true spiritual essence, granting immense power].

Given this, for him to progress further, achieving the eighth revolution of the Nine Revolutions Heavenly Art was an absolute necessity.

Now, as a Primordial One Imperial Lord Realm [a high-level cultivation realm], successfully completing the eighth revolution of the Nine Revolutions Heavenly Art would, at the very least, give birth to two additional True Spirit Divine Form.

At that point, Obsidian Abyss Great Emperor would possess Six Great True Spirit Divine Forms [six divine manifestations], and his combat power would directly brush against the threshold of the Sage Ascendant Realm [a realm just below that of a true Sage].

If Obsidian Abyss Great Emperor could then, upon this foundation, also cultivate the ninth and final revolution, he would achieve the legendary Nine True Spirit Divine Forms [the complete set of nine divine manifestations], a feat of near-mythical power.

At that time, the Obsidian Abyss Great Emperor, by unifying the power of the Nine True Spirit Divine Forms, could surpass the authority granted by Path Mastery and possess combat prowess unrivaled among Sage Ascendants, even gaining the qualification to challenge a Chaos Heavenly Emperor.

Alas, cultivating the ninth revolution of the Nine Revolutions Heavenly Art was destined to be an immensely arduous task.

For the Obsidian Abyss Great Emperor to tread this step, it would require not only a vast ocean of resources but also sufficient innate potential and Opportunity and Fortune.

Nevertheless, given the Obsidian Abyss Great Emperor's potential, the likelihood of achieving the eighth revolution should be considerable, provided sufficient resources were available.

Contemplating this, Eldrin Chen finally spoke, "Great Emperor, do you have confidence in returning safely from venturing into the Chaos Desolation Sea?"

The Obsidian Abyss Great Emperor pondered for a moment before replying, "With my strength, safety should be assured as long as I do not encounter a formidable enemy of the Sage Ascendant Realm."

"My greatest concern is the possibility of losing my way, having my mind eroded by the Chaos Desolation Sea, and transforming into a mindless Chaos Malevolent Spirit."

So saying, the Obsidian Abyss Great Emperor smiled again. "Do not worry. We who seek the Dao are like mortal climbers scaling a mountain; our path must inevitably wind through treacherous terrain."

Eldrin Chen remained silent for a long while, deeply moved by these words.

For many years, this Great Emperor had watched over him with great care, even going so far as to personally deter the Primordial Solar Great Emperor to ensure his protection.

Now, as he was about to set foot into the Chaos Desolation Sea [a primordial, turbulent sea of chaotic energies at the edge of the known cosmos], Eldrin Chen felt a wave of complex emotions stirring within him.

After much deliberation, Eldrin Chen finally reached into his sleeve and retrieved a suit of battle armor, its surface etched with countless scars from blades and swords. He presented it before the Obsidian Abyss Great Emperor.

"Is this... the Indestructibility Battle Armor [a legendary suit of armor famed for its near-impenetrable defense]?"

The Obsidian Abyss Great Emperor's expression shifted slightly, a flicker of astonishment crossing his features.

Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod. "I obtained this Indestructibility Battle Armor from within the Heavenly Emperor's Treasure Vault [a fabled repository of celestial artifacts]," he stated.

"Among Innate Supreme Treasure [treasures born from the primal forces of creation, possessing immense power], its defensive capabilities rank among the very pinnacle. Moreover, it offers remarkable resistance against the corrosive energies of the Chaos Desolation Sea. Should Your Majesty venture into the Sea of Chaos [another name for the Chaos Desolation Sea], this would be the ultimate protective artifact."

The Obsidian Abyss Great Emperor immediately shook his head, declining firmly. "I have heard tales of the Indestructibility Battle Armor. But a treasure of such magnitude is far too precious. You should keep it for your own protection."

Eldrin Chen shook his head in turn. "My Primordial Chaos Indestructibility Body [a supreme physical constitution granting immense resilience, especially against chaotic forces] provides me with formidable resistance to the energies of the Chaos Desolation Sea. Thus, this armor is of limited practical use to me."

"Furthermore," he continued, "the true power of the Indestructibility Battle Armor can only be fully unleashed by one possessing immense physical strength."

"Only with Your Majesty's Primordial One Body [a legendary physique representing the unity and perfection of primal form] can this treasure's maximum potential be realized."

Speaking thus, Eldrin Chen could not help but smile and say, "In that case, how about I lend this battle armor to Your Majesty? When Your Majesty ventures into the Chaos Desolation Sea to explore, you can give me one-tenth of the treasures you obtain."

His eyes lighting up, the Obsidian Abyss Great Emperor decisively spoke, "One-tenth is far too little. How about I give you three-tenths?"

"This..."

Eldrin Chen hesitated, feeling that taking three-tenths was too much. After all, the Obsidian Abyss Great Emperor was the one risking himself to explore the Chaos Desolation Sea. For him to receive such a large share merely for lending a single Innate Supreme Treasure [a supreme treasure born from the primordial chaos] seemed somewhat inappropriate.

Seeing this, the Obsidian Abyss Great Emperor smiled and said, "Do not trouble yourself over it. This Indestructibility Battle Armor can greatly amplify my combat power."

"Its defense is peerless. My Obsidian Abyss Imperial Spear and its Slaughter [a divine ability focused on absolute destruction] are invincible. Combining the two will significantly increase my strength. Even if I were to face a Sage Ascendant [a cultivator who has ascended to the threshold of sagehood], I should have some ability to protect myself."

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen finally nodded and said with a smile, "Then I wish Your Majesty a journey that returns laden with treasures."

The Obsidian Abyss Great Emperor gave a slight nod, stood up, and declared, "For this venture into the Sea of Chaos, barring unforeseen events, I shall return within ten Kalpa Tribulation [a cosmic cycle of immense duration, often billions of years]."

"You may remain within the Returning Abyss Immortal Domain and await my good news."

With these words, the Obsidian Abyss Great Emperor shattered the heavens and vanished into the Endless Chaos.

"Senior."

Just as Eldrin Chen was about to speak further, he realized Obsidian Abyss Great Emperor had already departed.

He had not expected Obsidian Abyss Great Emperor to be so decisive. Eldrin Chen could not help but wear a bitter smile. With no other choice, he left Obsidian Abyss Heaven and returned to Returning Abyss Immortal Domain.

By this time, the various Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [the highest tier of immortal cultivators] of Returning Abyss Immortal Domain had returned, and the rewards from the Immortal Court [the celestial governing body] for the Chen Immortal Clan had been delivered.

Eldrin Chen then convened the Great Encompassing [the highest tier of cultivators] of the Chen Clan to hold a council within the Returning Abyss Grand Hall.

Within the Great Hall, Eldrin Chen gazed upon the assembled Great Encompassing Golden Immortal and let out a slow, measured breath.

The Heaven-Seizing War [the great conflict to seize control of the heavens] had raged for a staggering eight Kalpa Tribulation [immense cosmic cycles spanning billions of years], and all three paramount powers had paid a heavy price.

The Human Race alone saw over thirty Primordial One Imperial Lord [powerful immortals one step below the Great Encompassing realm] have their physical bodies destroyed. The Demon Race fared even worse, with over fifty of their Primordial One Imperial Lord suffering the same fate.

Among the Primordial One Imperial Lord of both sides, more than a dozen were even imprisoned within the Solar Golden Pagoda [a supreme magical treasure] or the Great Abyss Demon-Suppressing Pagoda [a legendary demon-suppressing artifact], only to be released during the final prisoner exchange.

Overall, the Human and Divine Races had suffered a significant setback.

The Human Race lost the White Tiger Star Domain. The Divine Clan not only lost the Vermilion Bird Star Domain, but even one of their Divine King [a supreme ruler among divine beings], the Southern Blaze Divine King, perished utterly.

It must be understood that the vast Divine Clan possessed only thirty-six Divine King in total. The weakest among these sovereigns possessed cultivation at the Primordial One Imperial Lord Late Stage [the advanced stage of the Primordial One Imperial Lord realm], and each was a being whose name shook the Vast and Boundless Chaos.

After this battle, the Divine Clan was left with only thirty-five Peerless Divine King [Divine Kings of unmatched prowess].

And the one who fell completely, the Southern Blaze Divine King, was among the foremost of the Thirty-Six Divine Kings, a being whose cultivation had reached the lofty Primordial One Imperial Lord 8th Tier.

Fortunately, although the Human and Divine Races suffered grievous losses, the Chen Immortal Clan emerged relatively unscathed.

After all, the Demon Race's assault on the Southern Dipper Six Stars was merely a feint, not a committed deployment of their crucial forces. Furthermore, the members of the Chen Immortal Clan were no easy prey.

In this conflict, far from suffering heavy casualties, the Chen Immortal Clan slew numerous powerful enemies.

The greatest gain was that the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [Golden Immortals who have comprehended the Great Dao and encompass a vast domain] of the Chen Clan were tempered and honed through relentless battle, their foundations becoming unshakably solid.

Each of them fought in at least several hundred battles, consolidating their foundations in the crucible of war and receiving a vast ocean of resources distributed by the Immortal Court [the celestial governing body of the immortal realm].

Bolstered by these resources, the cultivation of the Chen Clan members advanced by leaps and bounds. Now, nearly all of the clan's Great Encompassing Golden Immortal had broken through to the Late Stage Great Encompassing Golden Immortal.

Even those who attained the Great Encompassing realm latest, such as Goose Startles Cold and others, having been tempered through seven or eight Kalpa Tribulation [immense cosmic cycles] and bolstered by the resources of the Great Encompassing realm, have all stepped into the Seventh Layer Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [the seventh level of the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal cultivation stage].

As for those who attained it earlier, like Exquisite Jiang and her peers, their cultivation has also progressed immensely, unknowingly reaching the realm of the Eighth Heaven of the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [the eighth level of the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal cultivation stage].

Furthermore, after the war, the Chen Immortal Clan seized the opportunity to sell a large batch of Ten Revolutions Immortal Pill [pills that can catalyze ten cycles of rebirth and refinement] to the Immortal Court [the celestial governing body], for the purpose of nurturing Celestial Soldiers and Generals [heavenly troops and commanders] among its various Immortal Lord [powerful immortal cultivators].

With these Ten Revolutions Immortal Pill, the Chen Immortal Clan also amassed vast resources, among which were over a thousand strands of Innate Indestructibility Spirit Light [a primal, unbreakable spiritual radiance used for high-level cultivation].

This enormous trove of resources was one of the reasons for their rapid and dramatic cultivation progress.

"From this Kalpa Tribulation, combining the military merits we earned and the proceeds from selling the Ten Revolutions Immortal Pill, the total value of treasures we obtained exceeds three thousand strands of Innate Indestructibility Spirit Light," reported Lior Chen.

Within the Great Hall, Lior Chen finished tallying the gains and handed the ledger to Eldrin Chen.

Eldrin Chen glanced over it and nodded with satisfaction.

With this batch of resources, added to what was previously obtained from the Heavenly Emperor's Treasure Vault, the clan could sustain a high-speed cultivation pace for the next ten Kalpa Tribulation.

Eldrin Chen estimated that after ten Kalpa Tribulation, the average cultivation level among this group of twenty Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [supreme immortal cultivators] from the clan would likely reach the eighth or ninth heaven of that realm. Furthermore, at least over ten of them would have attained Great Encompassing Golden Immortal Great Perfection [the pinnacle of the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal stage].

By that time, Eldrin Chen would have been walking the Path for less than thirty Kalpas [immense cosmic cycles in Buddhist cosmology, each spanning billions of years].

To cultivate over ten experts who had reached the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal Great Perfection [the pinnacle of the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal realm] in less than thirty Kalpas—such a foundation was nothing short of astounding.