Chapter 2006 : Prodigies Gather at Heaven's Center

On this day, upon the Immortal Ruins Ancient Continent, within the Central Heaven Location, the Vermilion Bird Holy Scion stood clad in crimson robes, a solitary figure poised upon the boundless expanse of the Void Heaven.

Across the Eight Desolations that stretched to the horizon, other peerless prodigies of the Demon Race stood arrayed, including the Nether Mystery Imperial Scion, the Kunpeng Imperial Scion, and the True Dragon Child.

After a long wait, the gathered prodigies all turned their gazes in unison towards a specific point at the very edge of the Heavenly Vault.

There, at the horizon's limit, six figures strode calmly across the firmament, arriving at the designated battleground at the Heaven's Center.

These six were none other than Eldrin Chen's eldest son Worthy Pursuit Chen and his wife Plain Essence, his three chief disciples Lofty Pavilion Lin, Tianheng Child, and Pavilion Stop Zhang, along with the singular genius known as the Melancholy Inscription Lord.

"Only six have come?"

The moment he saw them, the Nether Mystery Imperial Scion's eyes narrowed slightly.

After a careful appraisal, he spoke with a tone of icy detachment, "I heard the Sacrificial Self Path [a profound cultivation method focused on self-transcendence through sacrifice] had over a hundred participants entering this tribulation."

"Yet for today's appointed battle, only six have appeared. Have the others lost their nerve?"

Upon hearing this, the assembled immortals exchanged subtle glances, a flicker of understanding passing between them.

The several Imperial Scions from the Human Race nodded slightly, letting out a faint sigh of relief. One of them spoke up, "Using six of us to engage the main force of the Demon Race while the rest scatter to face their tribulations separately seems like a sound strategy indeed."

"In my view, I fear it will be of little use."

The peerless prodigy of the Human Race, Bright Radiance Imperial Scion, shook his head and said, "The Demon Race came precisely for them to face their tribulations. They would not have failed to consider this."

It was at this moment that the Vermilion Bird Holy Scion finally spoke.

With a cold expression, he gazed upon the six, his eyes glinting with boundless frost. "I have entered this tribulation for one purpose: to challenge all the prodigies of the Sacrificial Self Path."

"Yet only six of you have come. Are the rest all cowards?"

Upon the Heavenly Vault, the six prodigies of the Sacrificial Self Path could not help but let out a light, derisive laugh at these words.

Exchanging glances, it was Lofty Pavilion Lin who finally asked, "Do you intend to face the hundred Great Encompassing True Seed cultivators of our Sacrificial Self Path all by yourself?"

The Vermilion Bird Holy Scion stood coldly, gripping his Crimson Phoenix Divine Spear, his pupils dark and profound. "In this tribulation, I shall sweep through all challengers and subdue all who dare defy me!"

"What can a mere hundred Great Encompassing True Seed cultivators of the Sacrificial Self Path do to me, even if they all come at once?"

"What formidable spirit."

The various prodigies of the Demon Race all nodded in agreement, offering their praise.

Nether Mystery Imperial Scion nodded, a trace of a smile on his lips as he said, "To stand alone against the entire Sacrificial Self Path with its hundreds of Great Encompassing True Seed cultivators—such talent and audacity is truly worthy of the name of a direct descendant of a Sage Ascendant."

Ultimately, the six of them could no longer hold back. The Tianheng Child spoke up, "Leave this to me."

As the words fell, the Tianheng Child took a single step that shattered the firmament. With a flick of his sleeve, a palm strike swept forth, carrying the power to invert the Polarity [the fundamental opposing forces of the cosmos, such as Yin and Yang].

The Vermilion Bird Holy Scion was momentarily taken aback, then sneered coldly, "How bold!"

With that, the Vermilion Bird Holy Scion soared into the sky astride his Crimson Firmament Divine Spear. In the time it takes for a single breath, the spear's point had already pierced through the vast heavens and earth.

The two exchanged a hundred blows in an instant, then stood apart in the next, locked in a stalemate with no clear victor.

Only then did the Vermilion Bird Holy Scion turn to look at the Tianheng Child, his expression turning grave. "A True Spirit Physique [a body constitution that embodies the power of a primordial true spirit]... No, wait. Yours is not a true True Spirit Physique."

"You've condensed your entire cultivation foundation into one, taking a shortcut to forge a semblance of the True Spirit Physique. This power, though an imitation, can still be considered a genuine True Spirit Foundation [a foundational cultivation art based on true spirit power]."

The Vermilion Bird Holy Scion spoke slowly, his voice measured. "This method reduces the difficulty of cultivating a True Spirit Foundation [the supreme foundational cultivation stage] by more than tenfold. It seems the Sacrificial Self Path [a cultivation art that sacrifices one's inherent potential] does indeed possess some merit."

"A pity," he continued, "that this method consumes one's entire cultivation foundation, yet can only forge a single True Spirit Foundation. In the end, it remains a heterodox path, unworthy of the grand hall."

In but an instant, the Vermilion Bird Holy Scion grasped the strengths and flaws of the Sacrificial Self Path.

The peerless imperial scions present all nodded in agreement, having likewise discerned the profound intricacies of this art.

The Sacrificial Self Path fuses one's entire cultivation base into a singular entity. The resulting Sacrificial Self Physique [a body forged through self-sacrifice] is immensely powerful, making the attainment of a True Spirit Physique [a body aligned with the True Spirit Foundation] far simpler than through conventional means of building a True Spirit Foundation.

Yet this very process sacrifices any chance of cultivating the full set of seven True Spirit Foundations. Thus, in the eyes of truly peerless prodigies, it remains merely a side path.

However, many of the Ancient Immortals [immortals who have weathered countless tribulations] seated here felt their eyes gleam with a sudden light.

For prodigies like the Vermilion Bird Holy Scion, cultivating dual or even Three True Spirit Foundations might not be an impossibility. But for the vast majority of Ancient Immortals, attaining even a single True Spirit Foundation was a dream forever out of reach.

One must understand that forging a True Spirit Foundation is a feat of monumental difficulty. Even among those who have reached the realm of an Eight Tribulations Ancient Immortal, less than one in ten thousand succeeds.

The overwhelming majority of Ancient Immortals were never destined to tread that exalted step. But if they were to switch to the Sacrificial Self Path... did that not mean a sliver of hope to finally achieve a True Spirit Foundation now glimmered before them?

Perhaps for those supreme prodigies who aspire to the Primordial One Imperial Lord realm, this is merely a heterodox path. Yet for the vast majority of Ancient Immortal [powerful beings who have transcended mortality and attained immense age and power], it represents nothing less than a Path to Heaven [a direct and profound method to ascend towards ultimate power].

At this thought, many of the Ancient Immortal present exchanged glances, a flicker of desire igniting within the depths of their pupils.

"Hmph—"

In that instant, the Vermilion Bird Holy Scion seemed to sense the shift in the atmosphere, his expression darkening immediately.

Unwilling to let the Sacrificial Self Path [a cultivation method that achieves power through profound self-sacrifice and transformation] spread further through this opportunity, he fixed a cold gaze upon Tianheng Child and declared, "I presume you are the foremost among the Hundred Great Prodigies of the Sacrificial Self Path, are you not?"

"With a single True Spirit Foundation [the foundational cultivation stage built upon the power of a True Spirit, a primordial divine entity], and possessing such strength—even if it comes from a heterodox path and was purchased at a grievous price—you are indeed no weakling."

"But this alone will forever confine you to the realm of a single True Spirit Foundation."

"Today, I shall show you what a truly peerless True Spirit Prodigy [a cultivator born with an innate, supreme affinity and connection to a True Spirit] is capable of!"

As his words fell, the Vermilion Bird Holy Scion's body erupted with an eternal, searing radiance. Boundless True Spirit Great Path [the supreme cultivation law derived from a True Spirit's essence] flooded the heavens, coalescing into infinite Great Path Divine Rune [mystical symbols containing the fundamental principles of the Great Dao] that intertwined upon his Crimson Flame Divine Spear.

In that fleeting moment, heaven trembled and earth quaked. The very Sun and Moon [the celestial bodies governing day and night] and Stellar [the cosmic essence of the stars] began to shudder violently.

"This is..."

In that instant, the expressions of everyone present changed.

Even the direct offspring of the Bright Radiance Great Emperor paled, his face turning grave as he said, "A dual True Spirit Foundation [a foundational cultivation stage where both spiritual roots are of the highest purity]... This youth's innate talent likely rivals even that of the Vermilion Bird Sage Ascendant from ages past."

"This is bad. The chief disciple of the Sacrificial Self Path [a formidable and unorthodox cultivation path] is likely in grave danger..."

With this thought, the direct offspring of the Bright Radiance Great Emperor immediately sought to intervene and offer aid. Yet, he found himself locked in place by an intangible, oppressive aura.

He turned his head sharply and saw the gaze of the current Imperial Scion of the Kunpeng Lineage [a powerful clan descended from the mythical Kunpeng] fixed upon him, a faint smile playing on the latter's lips. "Why the haste to interfere, Bright Radiance the Imperial Scion?"

The Bright Radiance Imperial Scion's heart sank. Before his thoughts could fully form, an overwhelming, supreme aura erupted high upon the Heavenly Vault [the celestial platform where the duel was taking place].

In that fleeting moment, dread gripped the heart of Bright Radiance the Imperial Scion. He looked up swiftly, only for his eyes to widen in utter disbelief.

There, upon the Heavenly Vault, stood Tianheng Child, clad in robes of deep azure that shimmered like immortal raiment. He stood immovable as an Primordial Era Immortal King [a legendary sovereign from the dawn of time], his presence dominating the platform.

Behind him, the Ten Great Indestructibility Immortal Treasuries [ten supreme, unbreakable manifestations of immortal power] whirled and orbited. With one hand extended in a gesture of supreme suppression, he summoned forth nine immortal wheels, each blazing like a sun born of Chaos Heaven [the primordial, formless realm before creation]. With crushing force, they pressed down, forcing the Vermilion Bird Holy Scion to one knee.

"Aaaaargh—"

At that very moment, Vermilion Bird Holy Scion's face flushed crimson as he unleashed a heaven-shaking, earth-trembling roar.

He had pushed the power of his True Spirit Physique [a supreme physical constitution embodying a primordial spirit's essence] to its absolute limit. Furthermore, the True Spirit Great Path [the supreme cultivation method of the True Spirit lineage] intertwined upon his Crimson Phoenix Divine Spear, as he strained with all his might to resist the Great Deduction Immortal Wheel [a supreme artifact of deduction and calculation] bearing down upon him.

In stark contrast, Tianheng Child remained utterly composed and at ease. Behind him in the void, the Ten Great Indestructibility Immortal Treasuries [the ten supreme, unbreakable repositories of immortal power within a cultivator's body] radiated an eternal divine brilliance, containing a power that seemed nearly boundless.

With a mere gesture of his hand pressing down, searing Great Path [the supreme laws of cultivation] and Path Principles [the fundamental truths and laws that govern a cultivator's chosen Path] converged and poured into the Great Deduction Heavenly Wheel, completely suppressing the Vermilion Bird Holy Scion, pinning him down without the slightest chance to rise.

"This is..."

Bright Radiance Imperial Scion was utterly astounded, murmuring to himself in disbelief, "Origin, Vitality [the essence of life force], Force Extreme [the pinnacle of physical strength], Primordial Energy, Soul, Dao Heart [the unwavering heart and will of a cultivator, core to their cultivation], Longevity, Celestial Mechanism [the heavenly mechanisms and profound calculations of fate], Path Principles, Great Encompassing [the all-encompassing, ultimate state]."

"These are the ten supreme origins hidden within the void, their power almost equivalent to ten Elixir Fields [the core energy center within a cultivator's body]."

"So this is using the power of the Outer Immortal Treasury [an external repository of immortal power] to compensate for the singular True Spirit Foundation [the foundational cultivation method of the True Spirit lineage] inherent to the Sacrificial Self Path [a profound cultivation path centered on self-sacrifice and transcendence]?"

The son of the Western Pole Voidwalker Sword Emperor also whispered in awe, his voice tinged with astonishment as he spoke.

"Not only that, but within his Sacrificial Self Physique [a unique cultivation constitution that empowers the self through sacrifice], there seems to reside an Inner World [a personal, internal universe cultivated within a practitioner]. It is only by merging this Inner World with the Outer Immortal Treasury [an external, refined repository of power] that one can weave an unending torrent of supreme might."

In that instant, the peerless imperial scions present exchanged glances, each revealing a flicker of genuine interest in their eyes.

From the current perspective, the Sacrificial Self Path [a cultivation path focused on empowering the self through sacrifice] appears to hold a near-overwhelming advantage over the Immortal Path [the traditional path of immortal cultivation] practiced within the Ancient Immortal Realm [the realm of ancient immortals].

Were it not for the fact that the Sacrificial Self Path currently seems limited to the Great Encompassing Realm [the Great Encompassing Realm of cultivation], they might well have been unable to resist prostrating themselves before Eldrin the Abyssal Emperor and hailing him as a Path Ancestor.

"So, a dual True Spirit Foundation [a foundation built upon the power of a True Spirit] is merely this?"

Simultaneously, from atop the Heavenly Vault [a celestial platform or domain], Tianheng Child spoke with calm detachment, a hint of coldness in his gaze.

He was seen commanding the Great Deduction Heavenly Wheel [a celestial treasure wheel of great deduction] to press down, as if suppressing the Vermilion Bird Holy Scion beneath the weight of an entire vast Immortal Domain [a domain of immortals], crushing the breath from his opponent.

At this moment, even Tianheng Child felt a surge of excitement within. He knew his own true strength was, at best, only slightly superior to that of the Vermilion Bird Holy Scion.

By all logic, he should not have been able to so completely suppress such a formidable foe.

The reason he achieved such effortless dominance in this battle lay in the extraordinary power of the Great Deduction Heavenly Wheel, a treasure bestowed upon him by his master.

This treasure was not only immensely powerful, but also resonated perfectly with the very foundation of his cultivation, allowing him to unleash the full potential of the Ten Great Immortal Treasuries power of the Sacrificial Self Path.

Even so, to completely suppress the Vermilion Bird Holy Scion as he was now, while appearing effortless and unperturbed, actually required him to exert a full seventy to eighty percent of his strength.

"Aaaargh—!"

It was at this moment that the Vermilion Bird Holy Scion, unwilling to endure this humiliation any longer, let out a world-shaking roar. He resorted to a self-injurious forbidden technique, erupting with a rare and peerless divine might that instantly overturned the Great Deduction Heavenly Wheel.

In that instant, he transformed into a crimson phoenix soaring into the sky, sweeping forth with a power that could shatter the heavens and extinguish the earth.

"The Immortal Phoenix Flapping Wings... So this is the peerless Divine Ability [a supreme supernatural power cultivated by immortals] of the Vermilion Bird lineage, the Vermilion Bird Heaven-Severing Slash?"

Facing the world-shaking Slaughter Divine Ability of the Vermilion Bird lineage, Tianheng Child remained utterly composed. With his hands clasped behind his back, he retreated three leisurely steps as if strolling through a garden, then gestured with a finger to summon the Great Deduction Heavenly Wheel once more.

In that moment, nine blade wheels interwove and crisscrossed, transforming into endless streams of blade-light that clashed with the attack thousands of times.

Instantly, the void fractured. Mountains, rivers, the sun, and the moon were pulverized into dust under the intersecting flashes of blade-light. Even Space-Time itself was torn asunder by their clash, leaving endless, gaping fissures in reality.

Even so, the peerless Slaughter Divine Ability of the Immortal Phoenix lineage proved truly Extraordinary, as it managed to carve a bloody path straight through the lethal encirclement of this Spiritual Treasure [a powerful enchanted artifact].

Seeing the Vermilion Bird Holy Scion still charging forward, Tianheng Child's pupils finally contracted slightly.

In that instant, the Ten Great Immortal Treasuries behind him surged with power, instantly summoning nine great Great Deduction Blade Wheels. They converged before him in the blink of an eye, forming a single, ancient shield-like Heavenly Wheel.

And in that same moment, the Vermilion Bird Holy Scion arrived before him.

"BOOM—"

After a world-shaking collision, the vast region where the Heaven's Center was located was utterly flattened by the shockwaves, its endless mountain ranges reduced to dust.

Across the boundless expanse of the Immortal Ruins Ancient Continent, countless Chaos Mountain Rocks were sent flying, seeming to lose all weight as they hung suspended in the air.

And at the very Central point of the clash, the area was completely inundated by endless torrents of Chaos Energy Flow [the primordial, formless energy that existed before creation], obscuring everything happening within.

"Is it over?"

Within the Void Heaven, the assembled heroes observing the battle all wore grave expressions. Their faces etched with solemnity, they stared intently at the Central point of the battlefield.

And in that very instant, another earth-shattering roar erupted once more from the battlefield's Central.

Immediately following, a crimson figure was sent flying backward, crashing onto the distant Chaos Divine Mountain.

Then, a figure clad in deep azure robes stepped forth with measured grace.

Tianheng Child remained clad in his pristine azure Daoist robes, untouched by a single mote of dust. The Ten Great Immortal Treasuries revolving behind him blazed with incandescent light, radiating an eternal brilliance that illuminated the Myriad Heavens.

"To have forced this seat to unleash the full power of my perfected physique..."

Gazing at the Vermilion Bird Holy Scion, who lay battered and embedded in the divine mountain, Tianheng Child spoke slowly, his tone carrying a note of final, genuine praise. "You... are not unworthy."

"BOOM—"

In that instant, the expressions of the Demon Race heroes shifted dramatically, utterly confounded by this unforeseen turn of events.

Their gazes snapped toward the Vermilion Bird Holy Scion. They saw him covered in blood, his face etched with profound shock as he stared back at Tianheng Child.

He drew a deep, ragged breath, and with a rare note of respect in his voice, he said, "Your cultivation... is not inferior to the Three True Spirit Foundations [a legendary cultivation method said to forge an unshakable spiritual foundation]."

"Such a peerless prodigy... truly worthy of being the true disciple of Eldrin the Abyssal Emperor."

The Vermilion Bird Holy Scion spoke slowly, finally drawing a deep breath and saying, "I admire your talent, but we serve different masters. In the end, a victor must emerge between us."

As he spoke, the Vermilion Bird Holy Scion surveyed his surroundings and finally declared, "Fellow Daoists of the Demon Race, if we allow this one to grow, the Human Race will likely gain another Eldrin the Abyssal Emperor."

"If we do not eliminate him now, when will we?"

As his words fell, one prodigious talent of the Demon Race after another soared into the air, encircling Tianheng Child at the Central of the battlefield.

At their forefront, more than ten peerless prodigies stepped forward in succession.

Among them were a supreme Imperial Scion from the Bifang lineage, a secret heir from the White Marsh lineage, and an invincible Imperial Scion from the Kunpeng clan.

So many supreme prodigies, the weakest among them were all rare geniuses who had cultivated three great Indestructibility Foundation.

They tightly surrounded Tianheng Child, determined to suppress and slay this peerless prodigy.

Above the Heavenly Vault, Worthy Pursuit Chen's gaze tightened slightly. "Who among you will go to assist?" he inquired.

Seeing this, the Melancholy Inscription Lord stated calmly, "Sending one person is sufficient. I shall not intervene."

Everyone nodded in agreement. Melancholy Inscription Lord was a peerless genius whose creation, the Dreamwalking Path Attainment Art, was unparalleled in the world. His talent was such that even Eldrin the Abyssal Emperor marveled at it.

If he were to personally take action, this battle would likely become rather anticlimactic.

It was clear that while the Demon Race prodigies present were not weak, none among them was a worthy opponent for the Melancholy Inscription Lord to face personally.

Seeing this, Lofty Pavilion Lin finally spoke. "In that case," he said, "I shall be the one to act."

The others nodded in agreement upon hearing his words.

Among the three new direct disciples Eldrin Chen had taken on, Tianheng Child excelled in the arts of deduction and divination, his combat prowess ranking last among the trio.

Pavilion Stop Zhang was skilled in the Dao of Space, making him slightly stronger than Tianheng Child.

As for Lofty Pavilion Lin, he specialized in methods that pushed the limits of the Limit-Breaker realm. Over the years, he had continuously delved into the mysteries of the Indestructibility Immortal Treasury [the ultimate, unbreakable repository of immortal power], even managing to lower the difficulty of breaking through to it.

Such a person, in terms of exploring the absolute depths of the Immortal Treasury [the foundational source of an immortal's power], stood at the very forefront even among the Ten Direct Disciples, having reached an inconceivable level. His combat strength was, naturally, extraordinarily formidable.

If one were to say that the Indestructibility Immortal Treasury attainment of both Pavilion Stop Zhang and Tianheng Child was merely at the initial entry into the Indestructibility Realm [the state of absolute durability], then...

Therefore, the Indestructibility Immortal Treasury [the foundational cultivation realm of an Indestructibility Immortal] of Lofty Pavilion Lin had at least reached the upper echelons, if not the very pinnacle, of that realm's power.

With such profound foundational strength, further augmented by the ten Immortal Treasury Treasure [a specific type of powerful artifact] bestowed by Eldrin Chen, his combat prowess naturally placed him at the forefront among the three.

Considering this, Worthy Pursuit Chen spoke, "If that is the case, then I must trouble you, Junior Brother."

"It is no trouble at all."

As his words faded, Lofty Pavilion Lin had already stepped into the void.

With a flick of his sleeve, he strode forth, sword in hand, his aura carrying the power to sunder Chaos [the primordial state before creation] as he charged towards the heart of the battlefield.

Facing this onslaught was the current Imperial Scion of the Bifang Imperial Clan.

This individual was the direct grandson of the Bifang Great Emperor, his talent and intellect rare even across the annals of time, a peerless genius who had also laid a foundation within the seven great Indestructibility Foundation [the foundational cultivation realms for achieving Indestructibility].

Such a figure possessed the strength to contend even with a True Spirit Prodigy [a cultivator born with an innate connection to a primordial True Spirit]. Initially, he paid Lofty Pavilion Lin no mind, merely raising a hand to unleash a sword beam intended to obliterate him.

Yet, a single miscalculation, a single misjudgment of Eldrin's disciple, spelled the difference between life and death.

Lofty Pavilion Lin took a single step that spanned the Heavenly Vault [the celestial dome of the sky]. With a casual flick of his hand, he shattered the incoming sword energy. He then strode through the Heavenly Vault, passing shoulder-to-shoulder with the Bifang Imperial Scion. In that same motion, he had already plucked the head from the Bifang Imperial Scion's shoulders.

"A fine head!"

"Hahaha…"

Lofty Pavilion Lin laughed heartily. He drew a wine gourd from his waist and drained it in one long draught. Sword in hand once more, he charged back into the heart of the battlefield.

"An endless cup of wine, an endless harvest of Demon Immortal [a powerful demonic cultivator who has attained immortality] heads."

"Disaster!"

The sudden and shocking demise of the Bifang Imperial Scion sent a wave of terror through the demon ranks. Some were gripped by panic, others by furious rage, and for a moment, their formation dissolved into chaos.

Under the direction of the Vermilion Bird [a mythical firebird, one of the Four Symbols] Imperial Scion and another True Spirit Prodigy [a genius born with the bloodline of a primordial True Spirit], the demon horde barely managed to steady their lines. But when they turned to confront the two human cultivators, they found the situation teetering on the brink of collapse.

In a battle at the Ancient Immortal [an immortal who has survived for countless ages] level, it was no exaggeration to say that all beneath the True Spirit [a primordial spirit entity, a realm of immense power] realm were mere ants.

Without having forged an Indestructibility Foundation [a foundation of cultivation so perfect it is considered unbreakable], one did not even possess the qualification to set foot upon such a battlefield.

Facing two prodigies who had cultivated the Three True Spirit Foundations [a supreme cultivation art that establishes three foundational spiritual cores], the assembled heroes of the Demon Race [a powerful faction of demonic beings] were nearly broken in spirit in the span of mere moments.

High upon the Heavenly Vault [the celestial battlefield], Worthy Pursuit Chen could not help but sigh with profound feeling.

The true disciples of the Sacrificial Self Path [a profound cultivation method focused on self-transcendence] from Returning Abyss [a legendary sect] in this generation had already achieved the Ten Great Indestructibility Immortal Treasuries [a pinnacle cultivation realm granting tenfold resilience] upon entering the tribulation. Their combat prowess far surpassed that of the generation led by Lingering Ye.

The five true disciples of that previous generation had not yet cultivated the Ten Great Indestructibility Immortal Treasuries when they entered the tribulation. Their strength was only comparable to a single True Spirit Foundation [a foundational spiritual core], or at best a dual True Spirit Foundation, and they could still be hunted down by the combined forces of the Demon Race heroes.

But in this generation, the three true disciples who had achieved the Indestructibility Immortal Treasury [the foundational state of the tenfold resilience realm] possessed combat power that was simply incomparable to the past.

Moreover, Eldrin Chen was now a figure of Imperial Lord [a sovereign-level cultivation realm] stature. The means he could bestow upon his disciples and followers were no weaker than those granted to the direct imperial scions of the great celestial courts.

With this thought, Worthy Pursuit Chen spoke, "If the Demon Race has no further stratagems to deploy, there will be little suspense left in this battle."

"*Hummm—*"

At that very moment, the void fell into an abrupt and profound silence.

In the next instant, a dazzling radiance erupted from the depths of Void Heaven [a domain of chaotic nothingness]. A World-Ending Heavenly Halberd [a divine weapon capable of sundering worlds] cleaved through the firmament, forcibly splitting the battlefield at its Central [the heart of the conflict].

Immediately after, the Endless Chaos shattered. Beams of eternal golden light pierced through the void, carrying layers of celestial radiance as they tore through the Chaos [the primordial, formless state before creation].

The group looked up. At the far end of Heaven's Center, a majestic, towering figure stood resolute within the Chaos.

Merely by standing there, a golden sun seemed to rise behind his head. Myriad sacred golden rays pierced the heavy clouds. Through his colossal silhouette, a shadow fell, engulfing a vast expanse of the firmament.

"It's him."

The Vermilion Bird Holy Scion turned, his voice laced with a mixture of apprehension and a flicker of anticipation.

At that moment, the newcomer moved.

With a serene countenance, he strode forward and took his place above Heaven's Center. He stood like a Primordial Era Divine Sovereign [a supreme deity from the dawn of time] gazing down upon the Myriad Heavens, his eyes falling upon Lofty Pavilion Lin and Tianheng Child below.

After a moment of profound silence, a faint smile finally touched his lips, and he spoke with calm assurance.

"The tides of Chaos surge endlessly; the ages of antiquity flow on and on."

"In the blink of an eye, more than ten Kalpa Tribulation [immense cosmic cycles spanning billions of years] have passed. I have suppressed my cultivation, waiting through such an interminable stretch of time... and finally, I have waited for you."

"A disciple of an old friend."