Chapter 2015 : The Desolate Tide Rises

"Desolate People [mindless beings corrupted by the Chaos Desolation Sea]."

Upon hearing this, the expressions of everyone on the ship shifted subtly.

The young maiden, however, showed a flicker of curiosity and couldn't help but ask, "Grand Priest, are the Desolate People truly that terrifying?"

The old man's face grew solemn, his expression turning grave as he replied, "Since time immemorial, any being tainted by the Chaos Desolation Sea [a primordial sea of chaotic desolation] becomes one of the mindless Desolate People."

"Those Desolate People are like beasts, devoid of any consciousness. They become savage and cruel, even taking pleasure in devouring the souls of us sentient beings."

"Once one becomes Desolate People, it is no different from death. And to be consumed by them means the utter dispersion of one's soul."

The maiden, hearing this, paused for a moment before asking, "Why do the Desolate People devour our souls?"

"Because the Desolate People, and indeed the entire Desolate Race [the collective term for beings corrupted by desolation], are largely formed from sentient beings who have been corrupted. By consuming a great number of our kind, they can Recovery [regain or recover] fragments of their lost consciousness."

"Driven by an instinctual urge, they have, since ancient times, periodically launched assaults known as the Desolate Tribulation [a cataclysmic invasion by the Desolate Race] upon our Great Wasteland Ancient Realm."

"The genesis of every Desolate Tribulation stems from this very cause."

The elder spoke at length, finally tapping his staff upon the ground. "The power of the Divine Jade [a legendary spiritual artifact] is nearly depleted. This is no place to linger. We must return swiftly to the Great Wasteland Ancient Realm [a primordial and desolate world]."

Upon hearing this, the cultivators aboard the ancient vessel immediately began steering it towards the Depths of Chaos [the turbulent, formless void between worlds].

Simultaneously, another group began dissecting the Chaos Leviathan [a titanic beast born from primordial chaos], processing the greatest prize of their journey.

Though the girl clad in beast-skins was lovely and charming, she too took up a Giant Axe [a massive battle-axe] to help dismember the colossal whale. After an indeterminate time of labor, her blade struck something unexpected, and she cried out in surprise.

"Grand Priest [a title for a high-ranking spiritual leader], come quickly! There's a person here!"

The group rushed over and, with many hands, hauled a living being from the Whale's Belly. When they saw its form clearly, their expressions changed dramatically.

Before them lay a man of towering, elegant stature, a peerless figure. He was clad in a suit of Golden War Armor [enchanted golden battle armor], its surface scarred with countless marks from blades, spears, swords, and halberds. Yet his visage possessed a rare and transcendent majesty.

"A Desolate One!"

The faces of the burly men paled. They immediately summoned their weapons, blades and spears flashing, intent on cutting the man down where he lay.

"Hold!"

Yet at that very moment, the Old Priest [the elderly ritual master] halted them. After scrutinizing the figure for a long while with a deeply grave expression, he spoke solemnly, "This is not one of the Desolate People [the savage inhabitants of the wasteland]."

"His body bears no trace of Desolation Essence [the corrupting energy of the wasteland]. He must be an outsider from beyond our realm, one who fell into the Desolation Sea [the vast, perilous sea of desolation] by accident."

"An outsider?"

The maiden was taken aback for a moment before asking, "Beyond our realm? What place is that?"

The Old Priest shook his head and sighed. "Legends speak of other ancient worlds beyond the Great Wasteland Ancient Realm [their own primordial world], adrift within the Vast and Boundless Chaos Sea [the infinite, primordial ocean of chaos]."

"Within the Chaos Desolation Sea [the chaotic sea of desolation], ancient realms are occasionally born. They can nurture Innate Heavenly God Being [beings born as divine entities], gifted with profound intelligence from their very inception."

"Alas, the Desolation Sea is boundless and fathomless, its Desolation Power [the corrosive power of desolation] treacherous and unpredictable. Once such a world fully forms, a single colossal wave of Chaos [primordial disorder] is enough to shatter it utterly."

"After a world's destruction, eroded by the Desolation Power, its inhabitants transform into the Desolate Race [the mindless desolate fiends] and Chaos Desolate Beast [the savage beasts of chaos]."

"Yet, a rare few possess some resistance to the Desolation Power, allowing them to retain their consciousness, if only for a time."

Hearing this, the maiden looked at Eldrin Chen with pity in her eyes. "Look at his wounds," she said softly. "He must have suffered many attacks from the Desolate Race."

"Since he is not of the Desolate Race [a savage and ancient race of monstrous beings], Grand Priest [a title for a high-ranking spiritual leader], let us save him."

The Old Priest said nothing more. He scrutinized Eldrin Chen for a long while, but his eyes narrowed sharply a moment later.

It seemed he had discerned something. Finally, he took a deep breath and said, "Then take him back with us."

"..."

Not long after being rescued, Eldrin Chen sensed the change in his surroundings and gradually roused from a profound slumber.

"Where is this place..."

The moment he regained consciousness, Eldrin Chen awoke with a frown, his gaze instantly alert.

He first checked his internal condition. He discovered that his Chaos Divine Form [a supreme divine physique embodying primordial chaos] had been worn away by more than half, and his injuries had recovered considerably.

"My Great Path Divine Form [a supreme divine physique aligned with the Great Dao] has been mostly eroded, and my wounds have healed significantly."

"If I do not aggravate my internal injuries, I should be able to exert about thirty percent of my combat power."

Eldrin Chen murmured inwardly, a faint sigh of relief escaping him.

With his current strength, even if he could only exert thirty percent of his combat power, he would still be capable of suppressing an ordinary early-stage Primordial One Imperial Lord.

Coupled with the defensive capabilities of the Indestructibility Battle Armor, his safety was finally afforded a sliver of assurance.

After assessing his own condition, Eldrin Chen then turned his attention to his surroundings, discovering he was residing within a chamber.

The room itself contained no Formation [a structured arrangement of energy for defense, attack, or other purposes] or seals, suggesting it was not a place of immediate peril.

His eyes flickered with thought. He rose and extended his divine sense [a cultivator's spiritual perception, akin to a powerful sixth sense], observing the state of the ancient vessel. Combining this with his own deductions, he quickly pieced together his situation.

"An ancient ship forged from the bones of a Primordial One Divine Demon [a powerful demonic being at the Primordial One realm]. The crafting method is exceedingly crude, and it seems to have endured prolonged warfare, leaving the vessel severely damaged and dilapidated."

"The condition of this ship is likely inferior to even thirty percent of its prime."

As these thoughts flashed through his mind, a spark of curiosity ignited within Eldrin Chen.

To his discerning eye, a vessel crafted from skeletal remains at the Primordial One Imperial Lord level logically implied the involvement of powerhouses at that same formidable tier.

For a power of such stature, repairing an ancient vessel of the Primordial One Imperial Lord level should not pose an overly daunting challenge.

Yet, why did the entire ship give him a pervasive sense of Decay [a state of advanced deterioration and ruin], as if it had been long neglected?

It felt as if a group of cultivators with modest cultivation, mere Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [a high-tier immortal realm], had haphazardly patched together a Chaos Ancient Ship [a vessel capable of navigating the primordial chaos] upon the skeletal frame of a Primordial One [pertaining to the primordial, foundational stage of existence] era ship.

"To dare cross the Chaos Desolation Sea [a vast, perilous sea of primordial chaos] in such a Decay vessel... do these people truly value their lives so little?"

As these thoughts drifted through Eldrin Chen's mind, before he could ponder further, the door creaked open. A young woman clad in animal skins entered.

The moment she stepped inside and saw Eldrin Chen awake, her face lit up with surprise. "Grand Priest [a title for a high-ranking spiritual leader], Grand Priest! He's awake!" she exclaimed.

Eldrin Chen paused briefly, swallowing the questions on his tongue, and waited in silence.

Soon, the old man in animal-skin robes entered the room. After a brief glance at Eldrin Chen, he smiled and inquired, "You are awake."

Eldrin Chen nodded, rising to offer a formal bow of gratitude. "My thanks for your life-saving kindness."

"You should thank *me*," the girl interjected, a hint of pride in her voice. "I was the one who found you first."

The girl clad in animal hides, her eyes gleaming with curiosity, stared intently at Eldrin Chen and asked, "Are all outsiders from beyond as fair as you?"

"Sturdy Fellow, mind your manners,"

the old man chided the girl. He then turned his gaze to Eldrin Chen and said, "It is good that you are awake. I see you are still injured; you should sit down first."

Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod. He waited for the elder to take a seat before settling himself nearby.

He observed them carefully. The girl's cultivation seemed to be at the initial stage of the Great Encompassing Realm [the foundational stage of the highest cultivation realm], while the old man's cultivation was impressively at the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal Great Perfection [the pinnacle of the Golden Immortal stage within the Great Encompassing Realm].

However, the cultivation arts they practiced were rather unique. They did not seem to follow the mainstream Path of Path Mastery [the orthodox system focusing on comprehending and mastering the fundamental laws of existence], but rather a form of Fleshly Body Sanctification Art [a cultivation method focused on tempering and empowering the physical body to god-like resilience].

Yet, this particular Fleshly Body Sanctification Art felt distinct. It differed from the mainstream versions in some fundamental way.

Eldrin Chen could faintly sense that their cultivation was not based on the Bloodline Divine Ability [innate supernatural powers passed down through a powerful lineage] typical of the Path of Fleshly Body Sanctification. Instead, it drew upon another, more crude and overwhelmingly potent force.

"A unique variant of the Fleshly Body Sanctification Art?"

The thought flickered through Eldrin Chen's mind, but he quickly suppressed it, focusing on the present.

At that moment, the old man gestured for the maiden to withdraw, then fixed his gaze solely upon Eldrin Chen and inquired, "How fares your injury?"

"Thanks to your aid, I have recovered considerably,"

Eldrin Chen replied with a faint, calm smile.

Old Priest gave a slight nod, his eyes carefully appraising Eldrin Chen before asking further, "I see that your physical form is extraordinary, seemingly far surpassing that of the Chaos Leviathan [a colossal, primordial beast of chaos]. How then did you come to be devoured by it?"

"Could it be you were ambushed by the Chaos Desolate Race [the savage, chaotic denizens of the primordial wastelands]?"

"Desolate Race?"

A flicker of understanding passed through Eldrin Chen's eyes. He then spoke openly, "To be frank, my fall into the Chaos Desolation Sea [the boundless, turbulent sea of chaotic desolation] was due to being pursued by a sworn enemy."

"My knowledge of the Chaos Desolate Race is limited. Might you enlighten me as to what constitutes a Desolate Race [a race of beings native to the desolate, primordial realms]?"

"And furthermore, to which domain does this place belong?"

Old Priest paused briefly, a hint of surprise in his expression, before explaining, "We are all remnants of the Great Wasteland Remnants [the scattered survivors of a fallen ancient civilization], dwelling within the Great Wasteland Ancient Realm [the Ancient Realm of the Great Wasteland]."

"This place, the Chaos Desolation Sea [a vast, corrosive expanse of primordial chaos], lies approximately three Desolate Journey [a unit of distance in the Chaos Desolation Sea] to the south of the Great Wasteland Ancient Realm."

Eldrin Chen listened quietly, swiftly absorbing the information presented before him.

The Great Wasteland Ancient Realm possessed an ancient history, having once been a flourishing Primordial Domain [an ancient and foundational world]. It was home not only to numerous Innate Heavenly God Being [beings born with divine power from the heavens] but also to a great many Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [immortals who have achieved the Golden Immortal realm of great encompassing power] and Primordial One Imperial Lord [supreme lords who have attained the Primordial One realm].

However, during the ancient era, the Great Wasteland Ancient Realm suffered a terrible Great Tribulation [a catastrophic, world-altering calamity], causing the entire world to begin to Decay [wither and decline], its very rank and stature plummeting as a result.

Witnessing the Great Wasteland Ancient Realm's fallen state and its inability to withstand the Corrosive Power [eroding and destructive force] of the Chaos Desolation Sea, the realm's most powerful beings joined forces. They forged two peerless ancient ships and, carrying the high-ranking Immortal [beings who have ascended to immortality], fled far into the Sea of Chaos [the primordial, formless chaos beyond ordered realms].

Those Great Encompassing Golden Immortal who were not powerful enough or who were unwilling to leave their homeland remained within the Great Wasteland Ancient Realm to guard it. They became what is now known as the Great Wasteland Remnants [the guardians and survivors of the shattered Great Wasteland realm].

The Old Priest before them was one of these remnants. He had lived for tens of thousands of Kalpa Tribulation [immense cosmic cycles spanning billions of years] and was now one of the Heaven-Propping Pillar [a foundational, world-sustaining treasure] of the present-day Great Wasteland Ancient Realm.

Unfortunately, because the Great Wasteland Ancient Realm was broken and its resources had long been taken by those who departed, his cultivation had found it difficult to advance further. He remained perpetually at the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal Great Perfection [the pinnacle stage of the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal realm].

As for the Desolate Journey mentioned by the Old Priest, it was the most commonly used unit of measurement within the Chaos Desolation Sea.

The distance of one Desolate Journey was defined as the distance a Great Encompassing Golden Immortal Early Stage [an immortal at the initial stage of the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal realm] could travel flying at full speed for one million years within the Chaos Desolation Sea.

After comprehending this information, Eldrin Chen could not help but feel a flicker of doubt arise within him.

He turned his gaze towards the Old Priest and inquired, "I am curious. Since the Great Wasteland Ancient Realm [the primordial world of the Great Wasteland] is already shattered and broken, how can it still resist the erosion of the Chaos Desolation Sea [the boundless, annihilating sea of chaotic desolation]?"

"Furthermore, how is it that you are able to traverse the Chaos Desolation Sea?"

Upon hearing this, the Old Priest's expression shifted subtly, a trace of coldness flashing in his eyes.

Eldrin Chen realized he had overstepped and asked something he should not have. He quickly offered an apology, "My apologies, that was presumptuous of me."

The Old Priest said no more. He rose to his feet and declared, "The Chaos Desolation Tribulation [the cataclysmic event where the Chaos Desolation Sea surges] approaches. Within each Kalpa Tribulation [a cosmic cycle of immense duration], the Chaos Desolation Sea becomes exceedingly perilous."

"Given your injuries, I will not force you to leave now. Once the Desolate Tribulation [the peak of the Chaos Desolation Tribulation] has passed, you must depart on your own."

With those final words, the Old Priest stood and vanished from the room.

After the old man departed, a glimmer of understanding passed through Eldrin Chen's eyes. He grasped that, in the eyes of these people, the secret to resisting the Desolation Power [the annihilating energy of the Chaos Desolation Sea] was far more crucial than the history of the Great Wasteland Ancient Realm.

After all, the Great Wasteland Ancient Realm was now a shattered ruin, holding nothing worthy of another's covetous gaze.

The artifact capable of resisting the Chaos Desolation Sea was the very key to their survival, so they naturally dared not be the slightest bit careless.

With this thought, Eldrin Chen gathered his focus and turned his gaze towards the ancient jade at the Central of the ancient ship.

He saw that the ancient jade emanated a mysterious force, actually expelling the Desolation Power [a corrosive and annihilating energy] beyond the confines of the ancient vessel.

"A Divine Jade [a jade imbued with divine or profound spiritual power] that can repel Desolation Power... this kind of power..."

Eldrin Chen's brow furrowed slightly as he spoke with a note of surprise, "Such pure soul energy. Could this be some kind of Soul Supreme Treasure [a supreme-grade treasure that nourishes or protects the soul]?"

After a moment of astonishment, Eldrin Chen suppressed his racing thoughts.

If it could truly resist Desolation Power, and if this was indeed a Soul Supreme Treasure, it would likely be an invaluable treasure beyond price for any being cultivating the Primordial Spirit Path Attainment [a profound cultivation method focused on refining the Primordial Spirit, the spiritual core].

However, Eldrin Chen had been rescued by these Great Wasteland Remnants [survivors or descendants of the Great Wasteland], so he naturally would not commit the treachery of repaying kindness with malice.

Setting his heart at ease, he remained within the ancient ship and began to Recovery [a technique or process for healing and recuperation] from his injuries.

"..."

A distance of three Desolate Journey [a unit of measurement in the primordial chaos] is considered quite vast within the Southern Abyss Seven Domains.

Yet, as Eldrin Chen traversed the Chaos Desolation Sea, he discovered that this immense expanse was almost devoid of life.

This realization sent a chill down Eldrin's spine, deepening his understanding of the true terror of the Chaos Desolation Sea.

The Desolation Power [a corrosive, life-extinguishing energy] of the Chaos Desolation Sea was too dreadful; here, not a blade of grass could grow, and it was nearly impossible to sustain any living beings.

Only Colossal Chaos Fiend [massive, primordial beasts born of chaos] whose cultivation had reached the level of Ancient Immortal or Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [a high-tier immortal realm] could survive within the Chaos Desolation Sea.

And even these Colossal Chaos Fiend tended to cluster around Chaos Lair [nests or dens formed in the chaos], rarely wandering the open desolation of the sea.

It was precisely for this reason that the Great Wasteland Remnants [survivors dwelling in the desolate wastes] grew so exhilarated upon hunting a Chaos Leviathan.

For if they failed to secure enough prey, they would be forced to venture into the perilous heart of those Chaos Lair to hunt.

Within the Chaos Desolation Sea, Chaos Lair were birthed by the Primordial Chaos World Sea, and thus they existed in dense clusters.

Often, a single region of Chaos Lair would host thousands upon thousands of such dens, among which lurked powerful Chaos Ancient Beast of the Primordial One Imperial Lord [a supreme cultivation realm] level. For the Great Wasteland Remnants to dare delve into such places would be nothing short of seeking their own demise.

Time flowed swiftly by as Eldrin Chen tended to his wounds and observed the world, until in the blink of an eye, several hundred thousand years had passed.

"We're home, we're home!"

On this day, amidst the cheers of the beastskin-clad maiden, the Chaos Ancient Ship finally drew near the Great Wasteland Ancient Realm.

Standing at the ship's prow, Eldrin Chen watched as the Chaos Ancient Ship traversed the Vast and Boundless Chaos Desolation Sea and, almost imperceptibly, arrived at the edge of a fragmented ancient world.

It was a realm of staggering vastness, its diameter a full hundred times greater than any Immortal Domain [a celestial realm where immortals reside] Eldrin Chen had ever beheld.

By comparison, even the expansive Returning Abyss Immortal Domain seemed like a mere sesame seed next to a watermelon.

Yet, Eldrin Chen's brow furrowed slightly, a flicker of regret passing through his eyes.

He knew that a Primordial Immortal Domain [an immortal realm from the dawn of creation] should be thousands, even tens of thousands of times vaster in diameter than a standard Immortal Domain. The fact that this Great Wasteland Ancient Realm was only this size revealed how severely its cosmic rank had fallen.

"The core essence of this Primordial Domain seems to have been siphoned away by some external force, causing the world's fundamental stature to plummet,"

Eldrin Chen's brow creased once more, a cold glint flashing in his eyes.

Whether it is a Primordial Immortal Domain [a primordial world of immense scale and power, the foundation of a cosmic region] or an Immortal Domain [a vast world inhabited by immortals and governed by celestial laws], its foundational essence can generally be utilized.

However, within the Southern Abyss Seven Domains [the seven great cosmic domains of the Southern Abyss], the major powers are exceedingly cautious regarding the foundational essence of Immortal Domains and Primordial Domains [a primordial world, the precursor to an Immortal Domain]. This is because extracting too much of this essence can cause the world's cosmic rank to permanently decline.

Generally speaking, even the master of an Immortal Domain would, at most, consume only a small portion of the world's foundational essence at one time, then patiently wait for its Recovery [a natural or mystical process of restoration and healing].

The Great Wasteland Ancient Realm [an ancient and desolate primordial world] before them had not only been stripped of all its foundational essence but had also had its Future [a personification or embodiment of a world's potential destiny] potential overdrawn. Consequently, this led to the complete and irreversible collapse of its cosmic rank.

"To drain the foundational essence of an entire Primordial Domain... what a ruthless act,"

Eldrin Chen murmured inwardly, a shadow of gravity darkening his gaze.

The cosmic rank of a Primordial Domain is supremely high. In theory, even the weakest Primordial Domain is capable of nurturing a Chaos Heavenly Emperor [a supreme sovereign who has attained enlightenment within the primordial chaos, a ruler of cosmic order].

Once a Primordial Domain gives birth to a Chaos Heavenly Emperor, that sovereign, personally wielding the Heavenly Path [the fundamental laws and principles of the cosmos, the Great Dao] power of their Primordial Domain, would fear no confrontation, even against several other Chaos Heavenly Emperors.

However, if no Chaos Heavenly Emperor has arisen, then merely two or three Chaos Heavenly Emperors joining forces could breach the World Membrane [the dimensional barrier separating a world from the outer void], plundering its Chaos Genesis Energy [the primordial creative energy from which all things are born] and various Opportunity and Fortune [chance encounters and destined blessings that aid a cultivator's path].

Even such an act, in Eldrin Chen's view, was simply the law of the jungle—the strong preying upon the weak—and nothing more needed to be said about it.

However, the other party not only took the Chaos Genesis Energy [the primordial energy from which all things originate], but also completely drained the foundational power of a Primordial Domain [a primordial world born from chaos], exhausting all the potential of that Primordial Domain. Their methods were truly too ruthless.

"Killing the goose that lays the golden eggs—this is not the way of the righteous path."

As these thoughts flickered through Eldrin Chen's mind, the ancient ship arrived at the Great Wasteland Ancient Realm [an ancient world steeped in primordial desolation].

"Hooray, Sturdy Fellow is home!"

The moment the Chaos Ancient Ship [an ancient vessel capable of navigating chaotic seas] docked, Sturdy Fellow let out a cry of joy and excitedly stepped onto the Great Wasteland Ancient Realm.

Eldrin Chen looked up and saw that within the ancient realm, many of the Great Wasteland Remnants [the descendants of the ancient inhabitants of the Great Wasteland] were eagerly looking on, as if they had been waiting for a long time.

These Great Wasteland Remnants were not particularly high in cultivation level or number; most were at the level of Earth Immortal [an immortal whose power is anchored to the earth] or Celestial Immortal [an immortal who has ascended to the celestial realms]. They all followed that special path of Fleshly Body Sanctification [a cultivation art that refines and purifies the physical body to an extreme degree].

Perhaps because this place was especially suited for cultivating that Fleshly Body Sanctification Art, their physical bodies seemed exceptionally sturdy, granting them greater resistance to the Chaos Desolation Sea [a sea of chaotic, desolate energy].

Some cultivators at the Ancient Immortal Realm [the realm of ancient immortals] could directly step into the Chaos Desolation Sea and withstand the scouring of the Sea of Chaos Water [the corrosive waters of the chaotic sea].

Were it not for the Desolation Power [the power of primordial decay] eroding their flesh, they might even have been able to wander briefly within the Chaos Desolation Sea itself.

"This unique Fleshly Body Sanctification Art [a technique for refining and purifying the physical body] truly possesses remarkable qualities."

"It seems I must also find a way to earn their trust when the opportunity arises."

With these thoughts, Eldrin Chen followed the others and ascended into the Great Wasteland Ancient Realm [a primordial, desolate world steeped in ancient history].

Upon arriving at the Great Wasteland Ancient Realm, Eldrin Chen was assigned quarters within its vast expanse by the Old Priest. However, due to his unique status, he was only placed in the peripheral regions of the realm.

Fortunately, the Great Wasteland Remnants [the surviving inhabitants of the ancient wasteland] were simple and honest folk. They placed no harsh restrictions upon him; aside from barring him from the Great Wasteland Ancient Realm Core Sanctuary [the most sacred and protected central area of the realm], he was free to roam elsewhere without constraint.