Chapter 1871 : Flawed Dao Heart

After subduing the vast Nether Abyssal Inferno Sea, Eldrin felt his spiritual platform become clear and empty, while an invisible shackle in his heart vanished without a trace.

He let out a slow, measured breath and said with a gentle smile, "The great vow I made in the past has been fulfilled. The shackles in my heart have been loosened. It is time to take that final step."

Eldrin murmured inwardly, yet smiled faintly in that fleeting moment.

At this very moment, Eldrin resolved to assail the Heavenly Barrier of the Dao Heart, striving to break through to the realm of the 6-Calamity Ancient Immortal.

To break through the Heavenly Barrier of the Dao Heart, 1 must confront the Primordial Chaos Dao and withstand the 3 Trials of Heavenly Inquiry. The slightest imperfection could lead to failure in the breakthrough.

At this moment, Eldrin slowly lowered his gaze, his primordial spirit communing with the primordial chaos, thus initiating the Tribulation of the Heavenly Gate of the Dao Heart.

"Boom!"

As Eldrin made his breakthrough, a voice of boundless grandeur swept across the realm.

"In this life of yours, have you ever felt shame before Heaven?"

Eldrin's heart trembled as memories of his past surfaced from the depths of his soul—fragments of his days in the Qingcang Realm, followed by every step of his journey since setting foot in the immortal domain.

A moment later, he declared with unwavering resolve, "I hold no shame before the heavens."

Yes, he was born in the Zi Realm. In this lifetime, he had eradicated the demonic tribulations, and after ascending, he returned to nourish his homeland 3 consecutive times—truly without shame before the mortal dust of his native land.

After ascending, he owed numerous karmic debts to the Qingcang Immortal Realm. Yet by slaying the Netherworld Emperor, Xuanheng Ancient Demon, and Myriad Ghosts Ancestor—3 formidable foes—he thwarted their scheme to sacrifice the entire realm.

Having also purified the Demonic Fiend Qi (Spiritual Root) of the Nether Abyss Purgatorial Sea, he had sufficiently repaid the karmic debt, proving himself worthy of the immortal realm. Since he held no regrets toward the mortal dust nor any shame before the immortal domain, he stood with a clear conscience before heaven itself.

"Crack—"

The Great Dao reverberated, and after a violent tremor, an invisible shackle shattered.

In the next instant, that majestic voice resounded once more.

"In this life of yours, have you ever felt shame before others?"

Eldrin remained silent. He had returned to this life, this era, walking a path alongside those who had journeyed with him through time.

In his youth, his father, drenched in blood, traversed a 100 1000 miles of rivers and mountains to bring him back to Verdant Chariot Mountain (Location). Since then, as he stepped onto the path of the cultivation world and encountered all manner of people and events, he fell into a deep silence.

After a long while, he finally spoke, "Throughout my life, I have never betrayed a clear conscience toward those close to me."

"Yet I have slaughtered demons, beheaded mortals, and slain deities. Among the thousands of adversaries I've encountered over the years, there must have been innocent souls who met unjust deaths by my hand."

"Thus, in reflecting upon my life, my deeds have been a mix of right and wrong—I was never a flawless man."

"Yet for these unjustly slain souls, I may feel sorrow, but my heart holds no remorse."

The voice of the Great Dao, devoid of emotion, spoke coldly: "Since they met unjust deaths because of you, why does your heart remain without remorse?"

Eldrin (Person Name) wore a sorrowful expression, enveloped in immortal mist as he uttered an ethereal voice.

The Buddha once said, "In a single bowl of water dwell 80-4 1000 living beings."

A single breath of a mortal can extinguish countless minute lives. Throughout their existence, whether by intent or accident, the carnage they inflict could truly be described as innumerable as the sands of the Ganges.

"A cultivator devours the resources of heaven and earth throughout their life, refining the essence of the world into their very being. Are they not, in truth, beings drenched in boundless sin?"

"I have cultivated to this day, transcending the mundane world. If I were burdened by remorse in all matters, I would have long since undergone corporeal dissolution to merge with the mortal dust, rather than attaining my present realm of cultivation."

At this point, his voice paused briefly, growing increasingly distant as he continued.

"The Great Dao of Heaven and Earth cycles without cease."

In the mortal realm, time spreads like wild grass; in 20 years, the wasteland can transform without cease.

"All things grow within it—sprouting, flourishing, decaying, and returning to fertile soil. The cycle of life, the ecology of all beings—this is the fundamental order of existence."

The Voice of the Great Dao, supremely selfless and detached, spoke with impartial resonance: "Mortals are born of heaven and earth, and to heaven and earth they return—such is the eternal cycle of all existence."

"But you have transcended the mundane world; this karma of slaughter is destined to cling to you."

Eldrin smiled faintly, his Dao Heart steadfast as an unyielding monolith. Without a trace of hesitation, he declared, "This burden of slaughter, I shall bear it."

No more need be said of that inquiry of the Great Dao. In the end, the second inquiry of the Great Dao failed to shake Eldrin's (Person Name) Dao Heart. With a series of crisp cracking sounds, the second shackle upon his Dao Heart shattered.

Then, the voice of the Great Dao inquired once more, "In this life of yours, have you any regrets in your heart?"

Upon hearing this, Eldrin (Person Name) turned his gaze inward, reflecting deeply upon himself, until he ultimately fell into a heavy silence.

Throughout his life, he had been worthy of others and worthy of heaven—but had there ever been a trace of remorse in his heart?

He reflected on the memories of this lifetime, recalling Lyra, Qing Ji, Seraphina Qu, Lila, and Yan Zi Ji. In this life, the only regret that weighed on his conscience was his conduct toward Lyra.

To be fair, when the incident involving Lila (Person Name) occurred, he was filled with remorse and regret upon regaining his composure.

Over the years, he and Lyra had maintained an unspoken agreement to avoid discussing such matters.

But he knew in his heart that for Lyra (Person Name), this might remain a thorn in her side. Yet, the bond they had forged over the years and the deep connection among the 5 sisters had allowed her to tolerate these matters.

For Eldrin, this was the past he found most difficult to conceal in his heart.

Recalling his several dao companions, Lila's circumstances were accidental, while Qingji was the reincarnation of Huaixu—these could still be explained. But when it came to Seraphina Qu and Yan Zijī, their motivations stemmed more from the greed in their hearts.

The yearning for beauty, their proactive affections, and Lyra's (Person Name) non-interference in these matters ultimately brought them together.

"Lust, greed, temptation—I too have failed to hold fast to my true heart."

Eldrin (Person Name) murmured softly, falling into a contemplative silence as he faced this third inquiry of the Great Dao.

He could not answer, for this was indeed a flaw in his Dao Heart. If he were to insist that he had a clear conscience, it would instead leave a crack within his very soul.

And if he did not confront this question directly, he would never be able to pass this trial of the heart.

It was a dilemma, yet Eldrin remained silent for a moment before steeling his resolve—after all, he still had other paths to choose from.

He rose to his feet, his gaze blazing as he stared at the firmament, and declared, "My conscience is clear!"

"No, your Dao Heart is flawed."

The voice of the Great Dao reverberated, plunging heaven and earth into gloom as if a heavenly tribulation were descending upon the world.

But in that very instant, Eldrin summoned his world-shaking divine power. A ray of True Spirit light pierced through the heavens, simultaneously shattering the final shackles within his heart.

The Great Dao churned violently, and within its merciless will, a faint sigh resonated as it spoke, "You have done it."

"Lust, greed, temptation—these are the very foundations of human nature."

Eldrin spoke slowly, his gaze resolute. "If a person is simultaneously without guilt in their heart, without blame from others, and without fault in the eyes of heaven, then they are the epitome of selflessness. Such a person possesses no emotions, as detached and indifferent as the Great Dao itself."

"I wish to become the master who commands the Great Dao, not its slave or puppet."

The Great Dao of Chaos trembled faintly, offering no further words as it gradually faded into formless nothingness.

Meanwhile, Eldrin slowly closed his eyes. Within his Dao Heart, a faint crack gradually mended, transforming into a Dao Heart illuminated by the light of humanity.

This is a Dao Heart, and a Dao Heart that possesses human nature.

It turns out the Heavenly Trial of Dao Heart never demanded a flawless heart. So long as 1 held unwavering faith in their own convictions and carried no significant unresolved karma, even a deranged demonic cultivator could shatter this celestial barrier.

"The Heavenly Barrier of the Dao Heart has finally been broken through."

Eldrin murmured softly, sensing his cultivation base and spiritual power before slowly letting out a sigh of relief.

After this breakthrough, he had shattered the 6 great heavenly barriers—fleshly body, the Great Dao, magical power, primordial spirit, Dao heart, and divine abilities—and his own strength had grown by no small measure.

Although his direct combat power saw little increase, the depth of his magical energy grew by another 30 percent, significantly enhancing his endurance in prolonged battles.

"The 6 Great Celestial Passes have been broken through. Now I must prepare for my journey to the Ancient Immortal Ruins Continent."

Eldrin murmured in his heart, then stepped back into the Abyssal Return Grotto-Heaven.

At this moment, Lyra and the others were still in seclusion, refining the Source of Dao. The entire Abyssal Sanctuary was far quieter than usual.

Eldrin (Person Name) found a rare moment of leisure and decided to take stock of his gains. After carefully examining the treasures in his possession, he ultimately retrieved a piece of divine iron from the clan vault.

Profound Darkness Immortal Iron.

Gazing at this divine iron, Eldrin was momentarily stunned before a trace of delight flickered across his face.

This Profound Nether Immortal Iron is a Great Luo treasure, its material brimming with an aura of ultimate Yin and cold—a Yin-attributed Supreme Luo rarity.

Recalling the formidable power of this immortal iron, Eldrin retrieved a fragmented ancient mirror from his sleeve, a faint smile gracing his lips.

"It seems this Profound Heaven Ancient Mirror has a chance of being restored."

This incomplete ancient mirror was precisely what Eldrin had obtained back then from within the nest of the Chaotic Purple Phoenix.

This object is known as the Profound Heaven Ancient Mirror, capable of refracting the attacks of others. It is an immensely powerful defensive innate spiritual treasure, once the Dao-proving treasure of an 8-Calamity Ancient Immortal.

Later, for reasons unknown, that 8-Tribulation Ancient Immortal perished in the primordial chaos. The treasure was torn asunder by a formidable foe and ultimately fell into the hands of the Violet Zenith Ancient Phoenix.

Unfortunately, the Violet Extreme Ancient Phoenix was not skilled in artifact refinement, and thus never managed to restore this treasure, which ultimately fell into the hands of Eldrin (Person Name).

This Profound Heaven Ancient Mirror is an innate spiritual treasure of Yin attribute, making it perfectly suited for restoration with this Profound Darkness Immortal Iron.

Given Eldrin's current level of power, crafting an innate spiritual treasure from scratch might have been beyond his confidence, but restoring a damaged 1 significantly reduced the difficulty.

Eldrin exhaled a wisp of Primordial Chaos Purple Qi, using it as bait to refine the artifact spirit of the Mystic Heaven Ancient Mirror. Once the spirit was fully assimilated, he began mending the fractures upon the mirror's surface.

He refined the Mysterious Nether Immortal Iron with the Pure Yang Heavenly Flame, while the Profound Heaven Ancient Mirror continuously devoured the divine metal. In merely 30 1000 years, it was completely restored.

"Bzzz—"

After the Profound Heaven Ancient Mirror was restored, it unleashed a divine light of overwhelming power, causing tremors throughout the entire Vast Azure Immortal Domain and stirring countless immortals from their secluded cultivation.

Lyra was also startled awake and immediately sought out Eldrin, asking, "What are you doing?"

"Mending the Profound Heaven Ancient Mirror has certainly increased our odds by a fair margin for this expedition to the Ancient Immortal Ruins Continent."

Eldrin said as he handed the Profound Heaven Ancient Mirror to Lyra, "This artifact shall be entrusted to you for refinement."

Lyra took the Profound Heaven Ancient Mirror, her heart still trembling with excitement. The rarity of an Innate Spirit Treasure needed no elaboration, yet she never imagined she would possess 1 so early in her journey.

At this thought, she grabbed Eldrin (Person Name) and swiftly moved deeper into the cave abode.

After a moment of intimacy, Lyra rested her head upon his chest and murmured, "With this Profound Heaven Ancient Mirror, I can finally accompany you to the Celestial Ruins Ancient Land."

Eldrin (Person Name) pondered briefly before speaking, "The Ancient Immortal Ruins Continent is far too perilous. I would be concerned if you were to go."

"Worry not."

Lyra shook her head and grasped his hand, saying, "This time, during the cosmic tribulation, we will spare no effort to assist you in attaining the Great Dao of the Primordial Chaos. This is what we resolved long ago."

Eldrin fell silent, then took her hand and said, "Not long ago, when I broke through the Heavenly Barrier of the Dao Heart, 1 of the tribulations was about you."

He began to recount in detail the matters concerning the Heavenly Barrier of the Dao Heart.

After listening, Lyra (Person Name) sighed and said, "Alas, what happened in the past cannot be changed now that it has already occurred."

"We are no ordinary mortals; this life of ours will be long—perhaps stretching into eternity. Fleeting joys and pleasures mean little. What truly matters is the ability to walk alongside 1 another through all ages."

"Besides, Qing Ji and Zi Ji are both my sisters. I wish to continue walking this path alongside them. Had they not become your dao companions, I would never have been able to support them in reaching their current cultivation level."

Upon hearing this, Eldrin (Person Name) felt a slight sense of relief in his heart.

In truth, he understood clearly that Lyra’s magnanimity stemmed from the depth of her affection for him, coupled with Eldrin’s inherently resolute character. Had it not been for these factors, given her fiercely uncompromising nature, how could she ever tolerate sharing her man with another?

At this thought, Eldrin held her close and said with a gentle smile, "Though speaking it aloud may wound their feelings, you and I have weathered life and death together all these years. You should know you will always be the most irreplaceable 1."

Scumbag.

Lyra (Person Name) let out a light scoff, yet a faint smile still shimmered in her eyes.

After spending a long, intimate moment with Lyra (Person Name), Eldrin (Person Name) checked her cultivation level and was astonished to discover that Lyra (Person Name) had made tremendous progress in her cultivation.

Over the years, Lyra had refined 5 Dao Origins, and her strength had advanced by leaps and bounds. She had now shattered the 5 Heavenly Barriers: the Fleshly Body, the Great Dao, Magical Power, the Primordial Spirit, and Divine Abilities.

Among the 5 Heavenly Passes, the Physical Body Heavenly Pass had reached the Tenth Limit, while the Magical Power Heavenly Pass and the Primordial Spirit Heavenly Pass, bolstered by the Great 5 Elements Pure Yin Divine Thunder, had both been cultivated to the Eleventh Limit.

The Heavenly Gate of Divine Abilities goes without saying, and while the Great 5 Elements Pure Yin Divine Thunder is not a True Spirit ability, it has already reached the level of the 11th Limit.

Having just attained the Great Dao Heavenly Pass was even more astonishing. She had already cultivated the 5 Elements Pure Yin Great Dao, a supreme path that not only pointed directly to the Eleventh Limit realm but was already not far from the Twelfth Limit.

Of course, the 5 great Daos cultivated by Lyra (Person Name) were slightly inferior to the 5 great Daos of Eldrin (Person Name), making them considerably easier to comprehend. Moreover, achieving the Pure Yin Dao of the 5 Elements posed less difficulty, allowing her to master the 5 great Daos earlier than Eldrin (Person Name).

Eldrin understood clearly that Lyra had chosen the easier Path of Pure Yin of the 5 Elements to avoid competing with him for the Dao. Otherwise, given her innate talent, she could have attempted to cultivate the Chaos Great Dao.

Of course, perhaps due to her possession of the Lunar Immortal Physique, Lyra's comprehension of Yin-attributed Dao Principles and divine abilities far surpassed her grasp of other elemental arts—by tenfold, even a hundredfold. In this particular aspect, she had even eclipsed Eldrin's own profound understanding.

If it were the Great Dao of Pure Yang in the 5 Elements, Lyra (Person Name) likely could not have mastered it in such a short time.

5 Heavenly Passes, 4 paths and 11 thresholds foundation.

"Your foundation and reserves are no weaker than an 8-Calamity Ancient Immortal. Once you refine this Profound Heaven Ancient Mirror, you won't have to fear even an 8-Calamity Ancient Immortal in the slightest."

Thinking of Lyra's combat prowess, Eldrin couldn't help but say with delight,

Lyra nodded with a smile and said, "With the addition of the Minor Heavenly Cycle Taiyi Golden Bamboo Sword Array, I doubt even an ordinary 8-Calamity Ancient Immortal could withstand me."

"The only issue is that his magical power is still somewhat meager—likely not as profound as those 8-Calamity Ancient Immortals."

At this point, she said with a smile, "By the way, based on your description today, I've gained some confidence in breaking through the Heavenly Barrier of the Dao Heart. I shall attempt to reach the 6 Calamities Ancient Immortal realm during this period as well."

Eldrin felt a warmth in his heart upon hearing this. He understood that Lyra had completely let go of her lingering reservations, and the matter of cultivation partners would no longer be a source of inner turmoil for her.

At this thought, Eldrin took her hand and said, "No need to rush. While there's still time, let me guide you in contemplating the Dao of Yin and Yang."

Time flows like water, fleeting and swift, the passage of years gone in the blink of an eye.

In the blink of an eye, tens of thousands of years had passed, and the day when the Ancient Immortal Ruins Continent was about to open had arrived.

On this day, all members of the Chen Immortal Clan (Organization) emerged from seclusion and gathered at the Violet Night Palace to convene an assembly.

This meeting was of monumental importance. Every Ancient Immortal ancestor and high-ranking Celestial Immortal of the Chen Clan had arrived in person, each wearing expressions of utmost gravity.

Eldrin sat upright upon the central throne of the grand hall, his gaze sweeping over the assembled immortals. A faint, approving nod escaped him.

After a continuous seclusion of 70 to 80 1000 years, the group had digested much of the gains from this battle, and nearly all of them had experienced a meteoric rise in their cultivation.

The 16 Ancient Immortals of the Chen Immortal Clan (Organization) had nearly all shattered 1 or 2 additional Heavenly Barriers in their cultivation, with each breaking at least 1 10-Limit Heavenly Barrier. Their average cultivation had now reached the level of 4 Calamities Ancient Immortals.

In terms of combat prowess, with the Great Yang Golden Bamboo Sword Formation at their disposal, they dared not claim to rival a 7-tribulation ancient immortal, but dealing with 6-tribulation ancient immortals was well within their capabilities.

Among them, Seraphina Qu (Person Name) had made the most significant progress. She had already broken through the 7 Heavenly Barriers and successfully refined the innate spiritual treasure bestowed upon her by the Fairy Clam Clan—the 9-Colored Immortal Pearl (Magic Treasure). Her cultivation had advanced to the realm of an 8-Tribulation Ancient Immortal.

Moreover, Qing Ji's cultivation had advanced yet again, reaching the level of a 7-Tribulation Ancient Immortal.

Among the others, both Qing Ji (Person Name) and Chen Xianzhang (Person Name) had combat prowess approaching the level of 7 Calamities Ancient Immortals.

Kael and Chen Xianzhu had yet to fully digest the Dao Origins of the 2 8-tribulation Ancient Immortals. Once assimilated, they would likely soon possess combat prowess rivaling 7-tribulation Ancient Immortals. With Kael wielding an Innate Demonic Treasure, even breaking through to the 8-tribulation realm would likely encounter no bottlenecks.

Of course, Kael (Person Name) was currently at too low a cultivation stage, and it would likely take an extensive period to fully digest his gains.

2 combatants with the strength of 8-Tribulation Ancient Immortals, and 3 with the power of 7-Tribulation Ancient Immortals.

Eldrin (Person Name) murmured softly, feeling a subtle sense of reassurance settle within his heart.

With this combat strength, plus myself and Ao Hong (Person Name), we had already assembled a force that was far from weak.

At this thought, Eldrin spoke, "3 1000 years from now, the Ancient Immortal Ruins Continent will open. I intend to venture there to seize the Great Perfection opportunity. This time, I may need to bring a few companions with me."

Everyone was both astonished and overjoyed to hear this. Ethan (Person Name) immediately declared, "Uncle, what more needs to be said? Our entire clan shall follow you into battle. Even if we are wiped out to the last soul, we will ensure you attain the Great Perfection of the Dao."

"Indeed, it is only fitting for the entire sect to dedicate all its resources to safeguard the ascension of a Great Luo Golden Immortal."

Hearing this, everyone nodded in agreement and exclaimed with great excitement,

Eldrin raised a hand, silencing the crowd. With a grave expression, he declared, "This time is unlike any before. From what I've learned, this tribulation concerns the legacy left behind by the Violet Immortal Sovereign. That's why the number of 8-Calamity Ancient Immortals involved far exceeds that of any previous tribulation."

In the past, when the cosmic calamity erupted and the 8-Calamity Ancient Immortals journeyed to the Ancient Immortal Continent to prove their Dao, they would mobilize the entire sect's strength, bringing tens of thousands of Celestial Immortals and Ancient Immortals to their aid.

But this time, the number of 8-Tribulation Ancient Immortals joining the battle was more than tenfold compared to previous years. I believe any cultivator below the Ancient Immortal realm would be merely throwing their lives away, and even those beneath the Seventh Tribulation would find themselves with no place to bury their bones.

Eldrin (Person Name) spoke slowly, his eyes revealing a profound solemnity.

The members of the Chen Immortal Clan (Organization) all slightly changed their expressions upon seeing this.

Chen Qiyuan (Person Name) took a deep breath before asking, "According to your strategy, which of us should go?"

Eldrin pondered briefly before speaking, "Lyra and Seraphina Qu shall accompany me. As for those below the Seventh Heavenly Tribulation, they shall remain in the Qingcang Immortal Realm to focus on their cultivation."

"Father, allow me to accompany you."

Chen Xianchang spoke, his expression resolute as he said, "The Immortal Ruins Ancient Continent holds numerous opportunities. Once our child breaks through to the 7 Calamities Ancient Immortal realm and combines it with the power of the Canghai Divine Pearl, he should be able to lend you a hand."

Qing Ji also pulled him back in time, her expression grave as she said, "I should be able to lend a hand as well."

Eldrin fell into a brief contemplation before speaking, "This cosmic tribulation is unlike any before. Without the combat prowess of an 8-Calamity Ancient Immortal, the likelihood of falling is exceedingly high. I cannot risk bringing you along."

"As for Xianzhang (Person Name), although you possess the Oceanic Divine Pearl (Magic Treasure) and can wield the combat prowess of the Eighth Tribulation immediately upon entering the Seventh Tribulation, you must remain within the clan as well to prevent any unforeseen circumstances. After all, our family must preserve its foundational strength."

Seeing Eldrin’s resolute attitude, Qing Ji’s heart trembled faintly. In the end, she sighed softly and said, “It is my cultivation that falls short—I cannot even be of help to you.”

"Do not grieve." Eldrin took his hand, offering solace as he spoke, "This kalpa's tribulation does not belong to your era."

"A moment's speed matters little. The true hope of attaining the Great Dao and reaching greater heights lies in whether 1 can forge a stronger foundation."

"There is no need to rush to assist me immediately. It would be better for you to accumulate more foundational strength. Even if it means enduring the Heavenly Tribulation a few more times, as long as you can cultivate a single True Spiritual Root (Spiritual Root) foundation—that is the true key to determining whether 1 can attain the Dao."

Upon hearing this, Qing Ji could only let out a soft sigh and eventually nodded.

Seeing this, Eldrin turned his gaze to the crowd and spoke, "The Qingcang Immortal Realm no longer harbors any significant threats. During my absence, you need only devote yourselves to diligent cultivation."

"If, by any chance, I fail in proving my Dao, you must abandon everything in the Return to Ruins Heavenly Domain. First, venture into the Chaos Sea and do not consider returning until you have cultivated into an 8-Calamity Ancient Immortal."

Upon hearing this, everyone's expressions turned grave.

They all understood how perilous it was to prove the Dao and attain the Great Luo Golden Immortal realm. Should 1 encounter an invincible foe, even the most exceptional prodigy under heaven would likely fail in their ascension.

At this thought, they all took a deep breath and said, "Rest assured, we will ensure everything within the clan is properly arranged."

Seeing this, Eldrin said no more. He rose to his feet, cupped his hands in a salute to the assembly, and departed the Vastblue Immortal Realm with Lyra and the other 2. To their surprise, the Primordial Ice Phoenix had been waiting for them for quite some time.

"I have been waiting for you for a long time."

The Primordial Ice Phoenix smiled faintly, her luminous eyes sweeping over the trio before she spoke. "To venture through the Ancient Ruins Continent with such exquisite companions by your side—truly, 1 cannot help but envy you."

Happy National Day (End of Chapter)