Chapter 2008 : The Assembly of Golden Immortals

Before the Great Hall stood a full thirty-six Great Encompassing Golden Immortals.

Among these Great Encompassing Golden Immortals, aside from Worthy Pursuit Chen, Plain Essence, and four others, were also old acquaintances such as Master of the Horizon Pavilion, the Heavenly Mountain Goddess, Violet Mystery Path Master, Heaven Abyss Path Master, and Ancient Ruins Nether Lord.

'Thirty-six Great Encompassing practitioners of the Sacrificial Self Path [a profound cultivation method focused on self-sacrifice and transcendence]. No wonder the power of the Sacrificial Self Path has grown so immensely.'

These thoughts flashed through Eldrin Chen's mind, and he gave a slight, approving nod.

Thinking of so many disciples and old friends attaining the Great Path [the ultimate Dao of cultivation], a smile touched Eldrin Chen's lips. "My congratulations to you all," he said warmly.

"The Great Path of the Great Encompassing [the supreme Dao of the Great Encompassing realm] is a state once attained, forever held. Today, you have proven your Great Encompassing [the pinnacle Golden Immortal realm] Dao. From this day forth, you are beyond the reach of Reincarnation [the cycle of death and rebirth] and shall enjoy the carefree Longevity [eternal life and freedom]."

"It is all thanks to your guidance and nurturing, Imperial Lord [a title for a supreme cultivator], Master."

The assembled Immortals smiled, yet none dared show the slightest disrespect.

The greater their own cultivation became, the more profoundly they understood the terrifying depth of Eldrin Chen's power.

Even now, having attained the Great Encompassing realm themselves, facing Eldrin the Abyssal Emperor felt like standing before a bottomless, fathomless ocean. The gap between them seemed as vast as the chasm between Heaven and Abyss.

Eldrin Chen [the protagonist and master of the Sacrificial Self Path] nodded and then spoke again, "You cultivate the Sacrificial Self Path [a profound cultivation method based on self-sacrifice and devotion], and the authority over this Great Path [a fundamental cosmic principle or law of cultivation] resides with me."

"Therefore, I can guarantee that as long as you do not violate the sect's rules, then even if you fall in battle in the future, or lose the authority to cultivate this Great Path, I will be able to revive you from within the Great Path itself."

Upon hearing this, everyone nodded in understanding. Practitioners of the Sacrificial Self Path who reached the Great Encompassing [the Golden Immortal realm, a high level of cultivation] could simultaneously cultivate the Path of Path Mastery [the orthodox method of mastering a Great Path to achieve immortality].

This meant they could anchor their Primordial Spirit [the immortal spiritual core of a high-level cultivator] within both the Sacrificial Self Path and the Great Path Authority [the conceptual authority over a specific Great Path].

In this way, even if their Great Path Authority was seized by another in the future, they could still rely on the Great Path Origin [the fundamental source energy of a Great Path] of the Sacrificial Self Path to be revived, granting them a dual layer of protection.

Of course, the Sacrificial Self Path was ultimately controlled by Eldrin Chen. If an enemy were to cultivate it, Eldrin Chen could also prevent their revival from within this Great Path.

Furthermore, reviving a single Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [a Golden Immortal cultivator] from within the Sacrificial Self Path would consume a portion of the Path's foundational power.

If too many were revived simultaneously, it would also drain Eldrin Chen's own strength to a certain degree.

Nevertheless, for those cultivating the Sacrificial Self Path, even without pursuing the Path of Path Mastery, the ability to be revived from the Great Path meant their path was in no way inferior to that of a Great Encompassing Golden Immortal who walked the orthodox Path of Path Mastery.

Returning to the main point, after Eldrin Chen examined everyone's cultivation foundations, he proceeded to impart to them the method for advancing to the Great Encompassing realm within the Sacrificial Self Path.

As for the various practitioners of the Sacrificial Self Path who have attained the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal realm, each has contributed a portion of their Innate Indestructibility Spirit Light [a foundational, unbreakable spiritual radiance cultivated within] to Eldrin Chen.

Over the years, Eldrin Chen had bestowed upon them numerous cultivation treasures, even granting each a personal Innate Spiritual Treasure [a treasure born from one's own spiritual essence] to aid their breakthrough into the Great Encompassing Realm.

Now that they had successfully attained Great Encompassing, it was naturally time for them to reciprocate.

Eldrin Chen reclaimed over one hundred strands of Innate Indestructibility Spirit Light. While this was not a vast amount for him, it was sufficient to invest in nurturing the next generation of Sacrificial Self Path practitioners aspiring to become Great Encompassing True Seed [a foundational state for reaching the Great Encompassing Realm].

After receiving this batch of Innate Indestructibility Spirit Light, Eldrin Chen examined the foundational cultivation of each individual and, as a reward, bestowed upon each person thirty vials of Ten Revolutions Immortal Pill [a supreme-grade elixir refined through ten cycles of purification].

Each vial contained ten thousand pills, so thirty vials amounted to three hundred thousand pills in total.

With such a massive endowment of Ten Revolutions Immortal Pill, even though the Great Encompassing Physique [the body tempered by the Sacrificial Self Path] rivals the starting point of an Indestructibility Body [a body of legendary durability], it would be more than sufficient for their cultivation to advance to the Second Layer Great Encompassing Golden Immortal realm.

With these matters concluded, Eldrin Chen departed the Great Hall and returned to his secluded abode.

At this moment, Exquisite Jiang had also emerged from her own secluded cultivation. Upon seeing Eldrin Chen, she inquired, "How does it feel?"

"Thirty-six newly ascended Great Encompassing cultivators," he replied. "The authority and power of my Sacrificial Self Path have increased tremendously."

Eldrin Chen spoke slowly, a faint smile gracing his lips.

Then, after a moment of contemplation, he added with a hint of regret, "A pity. The difficulty of advancing further is likely to increase significantly."

Exquisite Jiang nodded in agreement. Once the power of the Great Path Authority [the supreme authority over a fundamental cosmic principle] reaches the Primordial One Imperial Lord Mid Stage, it enters a bottleneck phase. Progress beyond that point becomes excruciatingly slow.

From here on, even if another thirty Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [cultivators who have achieved the pinnacle of the Golden Immortal realm, encompassing all phenomena] were added, the authority of Eldrin Chen's Sacrificial Self Path [a profound cultivation method centered on self-sacrifice and devotion] might still not rival that of a Primordial One Imperial Lord 5th Tier.

Only when the Sacrificial Self Path boasts over three hundred Great Encompassing Golden Immortal and over thirty-six who have reached Great Encompassing Golden Immortal Great Perfection [the absolute zenith of the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal realm] will its Great Path Authority undergo a metamorphosis into a Perfect Innate Great Path [a flawless, primordial cosmic principle inherent from creation].

At that moment, Eldrin Chen's strength would undergo a qualitative transformation, allowing him to ascend directly to the Sage Ascendant Realm [a realm of existence just below the legendary Sages].

However, birthing three hundred Great Encompassing Golden Immortal of the Sacrificial Self Path would undoubtedly be a monumental challenge.

The most critical hurdle would be nurturing thirty-six practitioners of the Sacrificial Self Path to the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal Great Perfection—a task fraught with immense difficulty.

To reach Great Encompassing Golden Immortal Great Perfection requires not only prodigious innate talent but also the consumption of a sea of resources.

Unless Eldrin Chen were to cultivate them with utter disregard for cost, for these Sacrificial Self Path cultivators to reach Great Encompassing Golden Immortal Great Perfection through their own efforts would take at least several thousand Kalpa Tribulation [immense cosmic cycles spanning billions of years] to begin with.

Moreover, the immense cost required for Eldrin Chen to nurture him was currently far beyond his means to bear.

After all, Great Encompassing Golden Immortal Great Perfection represented the pinnacle powerhouses among Great Encompassing Golden Immortal. Even within the Primordial One Imperial Court, figures of such caliber were exceedingly rare.

Furthermore, after reaching Late Stage Great Encompassing Golden Immortal, the resources consumed for cultivation were of the caliber of Innate Spiritual Treasure-grade Rare Spiritual Wonders [rare spiritual materials of immense value], or the Innate Spirit Fruit [spiritual fruits of innate origin] borne from Supreme Grade Innate Spiritual Root [the highest grade of innate spiritual roots].

Supreme Grade Innate Spiritual Root held immense value. For the Primordial One Imperial Court, they were foundational treasures, the very bedrock of their deepest reserves.

Using Innate Spiritual Treasure-grade Rare Spiritual Wonders as cultivation resources also carried a truly staggering price.

The reason the current Returning Abyss Imperial Court possessed over a dozen Great Encompassing Golden Immortal at the eighth or ninth layers was primarily due to the Opportunity and Fortune [fortuitous encounters and destiny] obtained from the Heavenly Emperor's Treasure Vault within the Immortal Ruins Ancient Continent.

At that time, Eldrin Chen and the others had each obtained at least one Great Emperor-level Opportunity and Fortune. Coupled with the timing of the Three Races War, which yielded substantial cultivation resources, they were able to advance.

Building upon this foundation, Eldrin Chen had nurtured several Supreme Grade Innate Spiritual Root, and with the accelerated maturation effect of the Primordial Energy Vase of Heaven and Earth [a magical vase that condenses and refines the primordial energies of creation], they managed to amass these cultivation resources.

Without these Opportunity and Fortune, the various Great Encompassing Golden Immortal of the Chen Immortal Clan would likely have remained stalled at the Sixth Layer Great Encompassing Golden Immortal level, reaching at most the seventh layer of Great Encompassing.

"For our Chen Immortal Clan to have reached this day, the Primordial Chaos Violet Aura [the supreme primordial energy born from chaos] accounts for eighty to ninety percent of the credit. Of the remaining merit, the Primordial Energy Vase of Heaven and Earth claims at least thirty percent."

Eldrin Chen's thoughts flickered, and he finally began to speak, "The cost of nurturing thirty-six cultivators to the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal Great Perfection [the pinnacle state of the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal realm] is truly immense. Our Chen Immortal Clan cannot bear such a burden at present."

"However, time is still on our side. The matter is not yet urgent."

Speaking thus, Eldrin Chen declared, "Since the Sacrificial Self Path [a cultivation method centered on self-sacrifice and rebirth] has now bared its fangs to the world, the time has come to spread its teachings."

"Have three thousand volumes of the Scripture of Path Transmission [ancient scrolls containing the foundational teachings of a cultivation path] prepared. Each copy shall contain the complete method to reach the perfected state of the Immortal Treasury [the highest realm of the Sacrificial Self Path, equivalent to an immortal's divine repository]. Send them forth to propagate the Path across the Three Thousand Immortal Domains [a collective term for the myriad immortal realms of the cosmos]."

Exquisite Jiang nodded slightly, a smile gracing her lips. "I have already made the preparations."

As she spoke, Exquisite Jiang handed a thick, ancient scroll to Eldrin Chen.

Eldrin Chen glanced at it. The ancient scroll meticulously recorded the methods for each cultivation stage of the Sacrificial Self Path.

From the six mortal realms—Body Forging [the initial stage of tempering the physical body], Vital Essence Refinement [refining the body's vital life force], Foundation of the Path [laying the foundation for one's cultivation path], Divine Treasury [opening the body's divine repositories of power], Path Embryo [forming the nascent seed of one's chosen path], and Indestructibility [achieving a state of near-immortality for the mortal form]—to the five immortal realms of the Immortal Path [the conventional path of immortal cultivation], namely Sacrificial Self, World-Opening [the realm of creating one's own inner world], Three Realms [mastery over the realms of heaven, earth, and man], Cosmos [comprehending the laws of the cosmos], and Immortal Treasury, every stage was documented in exhaustive detail.

Among them, the six mortal realms each contained three thousand distinct cultivation techniques and over thirty thousand volumes of various secret arts. The system for these foundational stages was extraordinarily comprehensive.

These techniques encompassed all things. It could be said that in terms of completeness for the six mortal realms, this system was no weaker than the conventional Immortal Path methods; in fact, it was even more potent for practitioners of equivalent realm.

Starting from the Sacrificial Self [a profound cultivation art focused on self-transcendence] and extending to the Four Immortal Realms [the four foundational stages of the immortal cultivation path] of Cosmos [the ultimate state of unity with the universe], each realm encompasses over three thousand volumes of cultivation arts and more than eight thousand volumes of secret techniques.

These arts are all-encompassing and diverse, scarcely inferior to those of the Immortal Path [the orthodox path of immortal cultivation].

Only the fifth realm of the Immortal Path, the Immortal Treasury [the repository of an immortal's accumulated power and essence], is less developed, with merely over one thousand volumes of arts and only around three thousand volumes of secret techniques, falling notably short of the Immortal Path.

This is because cultivators who achieve perfection in the Immortal Treasury are exceedingly rare. Consequently, compared to the Ancient Immortal Realm [the venerable stage of ancient immortals] within the Immortal Path, the Sacrificial Self Immortal Treasury Realm [the stage of the Immortal Treasury within the Sacrificial Self art] remains insufficiently refined.

Fortunately, these thousand-plus volumes of arts already encompass all the major meridians and core branches of the Immortal Treasury Realm. The remaining aspects are but minor details, often varying from individual to individual, which later generations can innovate and perfect on their own.

"For the Sacrificial Self Path [the cultivation path of self-sacrifice and transcendence] beyond the Immortal Treasury, to achieve a true flourishing of diverse schools requires a multitude of powerful Immortal Treasury experts to refine it,"

Eldrin Chen spoke slowly, closing the all-encompassing Scripture of Path Transmission [the sacred text containing the transmitted knowledge of the cultivation path]. He then declared, "These three thousand copies of the Scripture of Path Transmission shall be sent to the Three Thousand Immortal Domains [the collective realm of three thousand immortal territories]. Have another three thousand copies transcribed."

"Henceforth, whether they are denizens of the Three Thousand Immortal Domains or the heroes from the Southern Abyss Seven Domains [the seven perilous domains of the Southern Abyss],"

"All who seek the Dao [the fundamental truth and principle of existence] with sincere hearts, coming to our Returning Abyss Immortal Domain [the immortal domain of the Returning Abyss], shall receive a copy of the Scripture of Path Transmission."

Hearing this, Exquisite Jiang could not help but smile.

The wider the Sacrificial Self Path [a cultivation method based on self-sacrifice and offering] spreads, the more astonishing the Fortune [heavenly favor and luck] and Merit [virtuous karma accumulated from good deeds] Eldrin Chen receives will be. Furthermore, the authority and power inherent to the Sacrificial Self Path will grow ever more formidable.

Moreover, from this point onward, any cultivator who practices the Sacrificial Self Path must, upon meeting Eldrin Chen, sincerely address him as the Path Ancestor.

Such a status as the Ancestor of a Great Path [the founding progenitor of a major cultivation path] is not only supremely exalted, allowing Eldrin Chen's cultivation base to ascend continuously, but also commands the reverence of all living beings. It is a position of immense honor and prestige.

Therefore, Eldrin Chen would never seek to hinder the propagation of the Sacrificial Self Path. On the contrary, he would strive to facilitate its spread across an even broader expanse.

Contemplating this, Exquisite Jiang spoke, "Here is my proposal: have all the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [a supreme immortal realm] under your lineage who cultivate the Sacrificial Self Path each establish their own branch within the Great Encompassing Ancient Sect [a primordial and vast sect], and command them to widely recruit disciples."

"Your disciples and their descendants in turn may also venture into the Myriad Heavens [the countless realms and heavens of existence] to preach the Dao."

"In the future, for any branch that manages to produce a single Great Encompassing Golden Immortal, you shall bestow a batch of Ten Revolutions Immortal Pill [a supreme elixir refined through ten cycles] and Innate Indestructibility Spirit Light [a primordial, indestructible spiritual radiance] as a reward."

"As for those Great Encompassing True Seed [a foundational cultivation stage] disciples of exceptional talent, they too may be cultivated at a certain cost."

At this point, Exquisite Jiang said with a smile, "With the Primordial Energy Vase of Heaven and Earth [a supreme treasure vase containing the primordial energies of creation] in your possession, you lack for no resources—be it Ten Revolutions Immortal Pill or Innate Rare Treasure [naturally formed rare spiritual treasures]."

"Simply allocate these resources to nurture your most promising disciples and descendants."

"Henceforth, each Great Encompassing Ancient Sect [a major orthodox sect of the cultivation world] shall, based on the performance of its disciples during the Great Tribulation [a cataclysmic event testing the fate of all beings] and the Path Tribulation [a personal trial of one's cultivation path], select candidates for Celestial Immortal [a high-level immortal realm] True Seeds, Great Encompassing True Seed [the highest potential candidates for the Great Encompassing Realm], and Imperial Scion-level prodigies."

"Prodigies of each tier shall receive cultivation resources corresponding to their level, and each lineage shall be granted corresponding rewards. This will serve to motivate all lineages to nurture their disciples diligently."

Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen began to grasp the outline of the plan.

Currently, the Sacrificial Self Path [a profound cultivation method focusing on self-sacrifice and transcendence] relied almost entirely on Eldrin Chen's personal guidance for its development. The selection of disciples was based solely on their performance during the Great Tribulation, the Path Tribulation, and the Kalpa Tribulation [a cosmic cycle of destruction and renewal].

This approach was manageable when the numbers were small.

However, once the Sacrificial Self Path began to expand rapidly, it would become impossible for Eldrin Chen to oversee everything personally.

In fact, in recent years, many talented individuals in the regions surrounding the Returning Abyss Immortal Domain [Eldrin Chen's immortal domain] had already been overlooked, their great potential ultimately wasted.

After all, as his cultivation advanced, a single session of secluded meditation could last tens of millions of years, or even several Kalpa Tribulation. He could no longer afford to concern himself with the affairs of disciples at the Three Realms Realm [a foundational cultivation stage] or Cosmos Realm [a higher cultivation stage involving cosmic laws] levels.

For the Sacrificial Self Path to develop properly, it would be best for the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [a powerful immortal realm] under his guidance to establish their own Great Encompassing Ancient Sect.

The Returning Abyss Immortal Domain, serving as the ancestral court of the Ancestor of the Sacrificial Self Path, would then only need to allocate resources periodically to these Great Encompassing Ancient Sect, based on their success rate in nurturing talent.

As for the resources granted, they were all relatively low-tier materials, which held little practical use for Eldrin Chen himself. They were perfectly suited, however, for nurturing disciples and clan members.

If we follow Exquisite Jiang's reasoning, then the various branches of the Great Encompassing Ancient Sect under the banner of the Returning Abyss Ancestral Court would undoubtedly spare no effort in cultivating their disciples, thereby selecting more exceptional talents.

With each ancient sect cultivating its own disciples in this manner, the success rate for prodigies of the Sacrificial Self Path [a profound cultivation method centered on self-sacrifice and transcendence] would certainly increase dramatically.

Thinking this, Eldrin Chen could not help but smile and say, "My wife is truly wise. With this method, I will no longer need to personally oversee the affairs of the Sacrificial Self Path in the future."

Exquisite Jiang chuckled softly before continuing, "While daily oversight may be unnecessary, if any of the ancient sects produces a supreme prodigy capable of cultivating the Indestructibility Immortal Treasury [the pinnacle foundational realm representing an indestructible spiritual core], it might still be worth offering them some personal guidance."

Eldrin Chen nodded in agreement. Anyone capable of achieving the Indestructibility Immortal Treasury possessed, at the very minimum, the potential to reach the Primordial One Imperial Lord [a sovereign realm of immense power]. Whether they were taken as a second-generation disciple of the Sacrificial Self Path or kept as a third-generation personal successor, such an individual was undoubtedly worthy of focused cultivation.

If one could not cultivate the Indestructibility Immortal Treasury, they would likely be forever confined to the Great Encompassing Realm [a powerful but ultimately limited realm], and thus not warrant Eldrin Chen's personal attention.

Having considered this, Eldrin Chen spoke decisively, "As you suggest, my lady. Let it be arranged thus."

"..."

With the conclusion of the Kalpa Tribulation [a cataclysmic cosmic cycle of destruction and renewal], the Southern Abyss Seven Domains seemed to erupt into a frenzy of activity almost overnight.

For this Kalpa Tribulation [a cataclysmic cosmic cycle marking the end of an era], the Southern Abyss Seven Domains [a collective name for seven vast and perilous regions in the southern reaches of the world] combined had fewer than one hundred Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [the pinnacle realm of immortal cultivation, representing supreme power and longevity]. Yet, the Sacrificial Self Path [a profound and unorthodox cultivation method centered on self-sacrifice and transcendence] alone accounted for thirty-six of these supreme beings, nearly half of their total number.

Such staggering news sent shockwaves through the countless powers of the Southern Abyss Seven Domains.

The moment intelligence of this tribulation arrived, innumerable Great Encompassing Ancient Sect [venerable and powerful sects with lineages stretching back to antiquity] and Primordial One Imperial Court [imperial courts claiming direct descent from the primordial era's first sovereign] were thrown into upheaval. Even factions at the level of Chaos Heavenly Emperor [a title bestowed upon emperors who have mastered the primordial chaos and command heaven-shaking authority] felt the tremors of this revelation.

Not long after, disciples and followers of Eldrin the Abyssal Emperor began arriving across the Three Thousand Immortal Domains [the myriad realms and territories governed by immortal powers], bearing the Scripture of Path Transmission [the sacred canon containing the foundational teachings and laws of a cultivation path] of the Sacrificial Self Path.

Within the Three Thousand Immortal Domains, every single Immortal Domain [a territory ruled by an immortal power, often encompassing continents and stars] received one volume of the Scripture of Path Transmission.

Countless Immortal [beings who have transcended mortality and attained immortality through cultivation] delved into these scriptures. From them, each comprehended a version of the Sacrificial Self Path cultivation method suited to their own level of attainment.

Upon obtaining the cultivation method of the Sacrificial Self Path, many Immortal were first shocked, then driven to a state of near frenzy.

For within the teachings of the Sacrificial Self Path, they glimpsed the possibility of advancing beyond their current limits.

The characteristic of the Sacrificial Self Path that allowed even ordinary mortals to cultivate sent waves of astonishment through the immortal community.

It must be understood that among the teeming masses of living beings, mortals constituted ninety-nine out of every hundred souls. Those born with a Spiritual Root [an innate spiritual conduit that allows a being to sense and absorb spiritual energy, the fundamental requirement for cultivation] were less than one in ten thousand.

Thus, in a single moment, hundreds of millions of Immortal [powerful beings who have transcended mortality] left the cultivation methods of the Sacrificial Self Path [a profound cultivation art centered on self-sacrifice and refinement] within their clans and sects as foundational legacies.

Countless other Immortal also descended to lower realms or employed various means to transmit the methods they had obtained across the boundless expanse of the Myriad Heavens [the infinite realms and dimensions of existence].

Many Immortal who found themselves unable to achieve a breakthrough even chose to reincarnate and begin cultivating the Sacrificial Self Path anew, carrying its profound methods with them into their next lives.

Simultaneously, the various Great Emperor [rulers of vast domains, possessing immense power] courts, and even the ancient sects of the Heavenly Emperor [supreme sovereigns who command the heavens themselves], obtained the ancient scrolls detailing the Sacrificial Self Path.

"..."

"To guide mortals onto the path of cultivation... this Eldrin the Abyssal Emperor possesses truly staggering ambition."

On this day, within the halls of the Demon Race Heavenly Court [the celestial court ruled by powerful demonic beings], a gathering of peerless Imperial Lord [lords who command imperial authority and vast power] examined the ancient scroll before them, their expressions tinged with awe.

The foremost among them was the Primordial Era Thunder Crow Great Emperor [an ancient and mighty emperor from the race of thunder crows]. He studied the Scripture of Path Transmission [a sacred text containing profound cultivation knowledge] with intense scrutiny, his face grave as he declared, "The six mortal realms are already exquisitely refined."

"The five Immortal Path [the primary path of cultivation leading to immortality] realms can also be considered a true Path to Heaven [a direct and potent method to ascend to the heavens], in no way inferior to the Ancient Immortal Realm [the realm of ancient, nearly primordial immortals] of the standard Immortal Path."

Beside him, the Bifang Great Emperor from the Bifang Clan [a powerful clan associated with the mythical Bifang bird] frowned, his gaze wary. "This Sacrificial Self Path allows mortals to cultivate. Moreover, it seems tailor-made for the Human Race."

"If it spreads widely, the Human Race [the collective term for humanity in this cultivation world] will likely rise with terrifying speed. Within a few tens of thousands of Kalpa Tribulation [immense cosmic cycles spanning billions of years], the number of their Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [the pinnacle realm of cultivation, a supreme immortal] could very well surpass that of our Demon Race [the collective term for demonkind, a major power faction]."

Hearing this, the assembled Demon Race [the collective term for demonkind, a major power faction] Imperial Lords could not help but change their expressions.

The primary reason the Demon Race [the collective term for demonkind, a major power faction] remained the foremost among the Three Great Heavenly Courts [the three supreme ruling powers of the world] and could even suppress a combined force of the Human and Divine Races [the alliance of humanity and the god race] was precisely their vast number of Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [the pinnacle realm of cultivation, a supreme immortal].

If the number of Human Race Great Encompassing [the supreme immortals of the human race] were to exceed that of the Demon Race [the collective term for demonkind, a major power faction], and if the Human and Divine Races [the alliance of humanity and the god race] continued their alliance, wouldn't the Demon Race [the collective term for demonkind, a major power faction] find themselves completely suppressed?

With this thought, the various Demon Race Imperial Lords [the supreme rulers of the demon race] all turned their gazes towards the few Great Emperor [a supreme ruler, a rank below the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal] seated at the head of the hall.

At the Great Hall [a grand assembly hall]'s Central [center], the Primordial Solar Great Emperor [a Great Emperor whose title signifies the primordial, pure essence of the sun] observed this and spoke, "To halt the rise of the Sacrificial Self Path [a profound and powerful cultivation method], the best method is to slay Eldrin the Abyssal Emperor."

"While Eldrin the Abyssal Emperor has not yet fully ascended, eliminating him would deal a crippling blow to the Sacrificial Self Path [a profound and powerful cultivation method]."

"Thereafter, by joining forces with powerful adversaries to unleash a Great Path [a supreme cultivation art or principle] curse, we could lay down a malediction that the Sacrificial Self Path [a profound and powerful cultivation method] shall never produce an immortal for all eternity, thereby severing the Human Race's [the collective term for humanity in this cultivation world] path to ascension."

Upon hearing this, the eyes of the Demon Race [the collective term for demonkind, a major power faction] Emperors all gleamed with a faint light.

However, the Primordial Era Thunder Crow Great Emperor [a Great Emperor from the primordial era, embodying the power of thunder and the crow] seated nearby shook his head and said, "Eldrin the Abyssal Emperor has cultivated the True Spirit Physique [a legendary, near-indestructible body constitution]. He cannot be truly, permanently extinguished. This plan is fundamentally unrealistic."

"Moreover, the two Path Ancestor Immortal Sage [the highest echelon of cultivators who have comprehended the fundamental laws of existence] of the Human Race would never stand idly by and allow us to move against Eldrin the Abyssal Emperor."

Hearing this, Primordial Solar Imperial Lord [a supreme lord whose power embodies the essence of the primordial sun] smiled and said, "While we may not be able to utterly annihilate him, we can seal him away for all eternity within the Solar Golden Pagoda."

"With the power of the Innate Supreme Treasure [a treasure born from the primal chaos of creation, possessing unparalleled might] Solar Golden Pagoda, it should be sufficient to sever his connection to the Great Path [the fundamental laws and principles that govern all of existence]."

"At that point, we can unleash a Great Path curse, damning the Sacrificial Self Path [a heretical cultivation method that involves sacrificing one's own essence for power] to never achieve immortality for all eternity. That should resolve the issue."

The assembled Imperial Lord [a supreme ruler whose power can command the heavens and shake the earth] of the Demon Race all nodded in agreement upon hearing this.

Upon hearing this, the Bifang Great Emperor [a legendary emperor whose form is that of a mythical single-legged firebird] spoke up, "But what of the Human Race? How shall we deal with them?"

"I shall handle it personally."

At that very moment, a calm, measured voice echoed from beyond the entrance of the Great Hall.

All eyes turned to see a majestic figure clad in crimson phoenix robes stride into the Great Hall from outside.

"We pay our respects to the Sage Ascendant [a being who has ascended to the threshold of sagehood, possessing wisdom and power that transcends mortal limits]."

Upon hearing this, the assembled Demon Emperors immediately bowed in respect, their faces then alight with unrestrained joy.

For the one who had arrived was none other than the newly ascended Sage Ascendant of the Demon Race, one of the three great Sage Ascendants—the Vermilion Bird Sage Ascendant.