Chapter 2024 : The Awakening of a Fallen Emperor

After regaining her consciousness [the state of being aware and able to think], this Desolation Emperor had undergone a drastic transformation in appearance, revealing herself to be a woman of breathtaking, peerless beauty.

Her gaze fell upon Eldrin Chen, and as the memories of all that had transpired flooded back, she was overcome with profound emotion. She immediately prostrated herself upon the Earthly Path. "My deepest gratitude, Benefactor. This life-saving grace you have bestowed upon me, this humble one shall forever hold in her heart."

"There is no need for such formality."

Eldrin Chen offered a gentle smile before speaking. "My Daoist title is Returning Abyss. Currently, I serve as the Lord of the Great Wasteland Realm. You may simply address me as Fellow Cultivator Eldrin."

"I dare not be so presumptuous."

The peerless Imperial Lord [a title for a powerful immortal ruler] spoke with solemn gravity. "This humble one's Daoist title is Liana. You may call me Liana."

Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod of acknowledgment, his eyes resting on Liana Imperial Lord. "How fare your injuries?" he inquired.

Liana Imperial Lord pondered for a moment before replying with a bitter smile. "My Human Soul [one of the three souls in Chinese metaphysics, representing the conscious self] is more than half shattered. My Heaven and Earth Souls have suffered losses of thirty percent."

"Injuries to the Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core and highest essence of a cultivator] are exceedingly difficult to Recovery. Without a Primordial One Tier [the highest grade] Primordial Spirit-nurturing Immortal Herb, recovery would likely take several hundred Kalpa Tribulation [immense cosmic cycles of time]."

Eldrin Chen nodded in understanding. As long as her consciousness had been Recovery, these spiritual wounds could be healed through quiet cultivation and were no longer a critical issue.

With these thoughts in mind, Eldrin Chen spoke, "To be frank, my act of Recovery [restoring your consciousness and memories] was not without its own purpose."

"Today, you have received my grace. In the future, you must heed my commands."

"The kindness of restoring my spirit is beyond repayment. To say nothing of commands, even if..." Liana Imperial Lord paused, her gaze lingering on Eldrin Chen's countenance before concluding, "...this humble one would not refuse."

Eldrin Chen offered a faint smile. Even for a Primordial One Imperial Lord [a supreme cultivator who has unified their foundational path], her directness was rather striking.

Little did he know, the thoughts swirling within Liana Imperial Lord's mind were entirely different.

"He is merely at the early stage of Primordial One Imperial Lord, yet he can contend with Daylight Extinction Imperial Lord [an Imperial Lord whose Dao title signifies the extinction of daylight] without defeat, and he rescued me from the sea of bitter oblivion. Could he be my destined one?"

As a peerless Imperial Lord [a sovereign-level cultivator] who had mastered the True Spirit Great Path [a supreme cultivation art focused on refining one's true spiritual essence], her standards had always been exceedingly high. In the past, even late-stage Primordial One Imperial Lord suitors had failed to capture her regard.

Even that Quasi-Divine Sovereign [a cultivator on the cusp of the Divine Sovereign realm] who was a Sage Ascendant within the former Great Wasteland Primordial Domain had never won her favor.

In that bygone Great Wasteland Primordial Domain, she had been hailed as the most untouchable pearl among the stars—aloof, pure, and forever out of reach.

Yet, facing a figure like Eldrin Chen stirred a sense of awe within her. Coupled with the unique circumstances of surviving a tribulation and the profound debt of a life-saving grace, it was inevitable that her heart would be moved.

"Liana."

Just as countless thoughts swirled within the heart of Liana Imperial Lord, the voice of Eldrin Chen reached her.

He rose to his feet, tossed several Primordial Spirit Immortal Pill [a supreme-grade pill capable of healing and restoring a cultivator's Primordial Spirit] to her, and spoke, "Recover your wounds here first. Henceforth, you shall also guard the Great Wasteland Sacred Hall on my behalf."

"My Lord, please wait."

Just as Eldrin Chen was about to depart, Liana Imperial Lord suddenly reached out and grasped his sleeve.

The perceptive Liana Imperial Lord understood his initial reluctance in a glance. Yet, as a peerless Imperial Lord of her generation, she understood the hearts of men all too well.

Thus, she stepped forward slowly, her silken robes whispering to the floor. "My Lord, do not trouble yourself with concerns. Serving you today is but a humble repayment for a debt of grace too vast to settle. I can only offer myself in return."

"..."

"Such profound and potent Primordial Yin energy [the foundational feminine essence vital for cultivation, often associated with purity and receptivity]."

As he departed from the Great Wasteland Ancient Realm, Eldrin Chen sensed the vast and potent Primordial Yin energy now circulating within him.

The pristine Primordial Yin [the foundational feminine essence] power of a peerless Imperial Lord caused Eldrin Chen's cultivation to advance with astonishing speed. Not only did his Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] cultivation break through to the second tier of the Primordial One Imperial Lord realm, but both his spiritual energy reserves and physical body received significant enhancements.

At this rate, Eldrin Chen estimated he might break through to the Primordial One Imperial Lord 3rd Tier within the next five Kalpa Tribulation [immense cosmic cycles].

Previously, he had calculated that even with the continuous refinement of Chaos Divine Liquid [a primordial liquid of immense spiritual power], it would likely have taken him over a dozen such Kalpa Tribulation to achieve the same breakthrough.

This thought brought a wry, helpless smile to Eldrin Chen's lips.

How could any man refuse an offer like Liana Imperial Lord's? She had asked for nothing in return and placed not a shred of pressure upon him.

Moreover, she was a peerless beauty of her generation, a Imperial Lord once hailed as one of the three legendary Immortal Consorts of the Great Wasteland Primordial Domain and reputed to be the foremost beauty under the starry heavens.

Yet, one had to admit that her decisive and direct approach revealed a resolve and character far beyond the ordinary—a course of action few, even among cultivators, would dare to take.

"A clever woman indeed," Eldrin Chen mused to himself.

With these thoughts flickering through his mind, Eldrin Chen left Liana Imperial Lord to guard the Great Wasteland Sacred Hall and once again ventured alone into the depths of the Chaos Desolation Sea.

Though their acquaintance was brief, Eldrin Chen harbored no fear that Liana Imperial Lord might harbor any duplicitous intentions.

Within the entire Great Wasteland Ancient Realm [a primordial and desolate world], the only thing that could possibly cause Liana Imperial Lord to betray him was the treasure known as the Tome of Human Soul [a legendary tome said to contain the essence of human souls].

Unfortunately, the Tome of Human Soul had already been refined by Eldrin Chen, and with the Heavenly Path Will [the will of the Heavenly Dao, the cosmic order] watching over it, Liana Imperial Lord had absolutely no way to take it.

Without the Tome of Human Soul to expel the Desolation Power [the corrupting energy of the Great Wasteland], it was impossible to leave the Great Wasteland Ancient Realm. Liana Imperial Lord would have to be utterly mad to betray him under such circumstances.

Returning to the main thread, after departing the Great Wasteland Ancient Realm, Eldrin Chen once again arrived within the Myriad Star Archipelago [a celestial sea dotted with countless star-like islands].

This time, Eldrin Chen once more stood firm against several Chaos [the Primordial Chaos Realm, a supreme cultivation stage] Desolation Emperors, capturing one at the Primordial One Imperial Lord Mid Stage [Mid Stage of the Primordial Unity Imperial Lord Realm] from the depths of the Chaos Desolation Sea [a sea of chaotic desolation energy].

After returning to the Great Wasteland Ancient Realm, Eldrin Chen again utilized the power of the Tome of Human Soul to purge the Desolation Power from him.

However, this time, after cleansing this Imperial Lord's Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core and true self of a high-level cultivator], Eldrin Chen discovered his pupils were utterly unfocused, retaining only the faintest glimmer of sentience.

"My thanks."

The Imperial Lord spoke, offering gratitude with the last vestiges of his Primordial Spirit's power, then voluntarily dissolved his own Primordial Spirit.

"Why did this happen?"

Watching this Imperial Lord [a supreme cultivator who has ascended to rule over a vast domain] voluntarily dissolve his Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core and highest essence of a cultivator's being], Eldrin Chen spoke with a trace of confusion in his voice.

Witnessing this scene, Liana Imperial Lord beside him spoke thoughtfully, "He never cultivated the True Spirit Foundation [a supreme foundational art that protects and perfects the cultivator's soul essence]. After enduring such prolonged erosion, his Human Soul [the fundamental spiritual essence of a human being] had long grown perilously weak."

Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen's brow furrowed slightly as understanding dawned on him.

So, without the protection of the True Spirit Foundation, the Human Soul possessed very poor resistance against Desolation Power [a corrupting, entropic force that erodes spirit and form]. Even if one cultivated to the Primordial One Imperial Lord Mid Stage [the middle stage of the Primordial One Imperial Lord realm], their Primordial Spirit could still be worn down to a tattered remnant.

However, once the True Spirit Foundation was mastered, its power could shield and preserve the integrity of the Human Soul.

This was precisely why, when the three mid-stage Great Emperor [a sovereign cultivator of immense power, ruler of empires]—Trident Desolation Emperor, Savage Ox Desolation Emperor, and Sword Mystery Desolation Emperor—were struck by the Tome of Human Soul [a legendary artifact that directly attacks the soul], their reactions differed so drastically.

Trident Desolation Emperor and Savage Ox Desolation Emperor were instantly rendered powerless, while Sword Mystery Desolation Emperor managed to flee.

From this, it was clear that Sword Mystery Desolation Emperor, sheltered by the True Spirit Great Path [the supreme cultivation path centered on perfecting the True Spirit], must have possessed a Human Soul far more intact than those of Trident Desolation Emperor and Savage Ox Desolation Emperor. This allowed him to withstand the Tome of Human Soul's assault and escape.

Contemplating this, Eldrin Chen sighed with regret. "I had hoped to rescue these Desolation Emperors, to guide them onto the righteous path and bolster the strength of the Great Wasteland Primordial Domain [the ancient, primordial land of the Great Wasteland].

"I even envisioned them one day returning with me to the Southern Abyss Seven Domains [the seven great domains of the Southern Abyss], to settle the score for our defeat and retreat from the Chaos Desolation Sea [a turbulent and dangerous sea of chaotic desolation energy]. It seems that hope is now beyond reach."

"To have rescued an Imperial Lord who possesses the True Spirit Foundation [a supreme cultivation art that forges one's foundation with the power of a True Spirit] is already an act that defies the heavens."

Liana Imperial Lord nestled in his embrace and said with a smile, "Moreover, a Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] that undergoes a forced dissolution is not completely annihilated. With the cultivation of the Primordial One Imperial Lord [the first and foundational stage of the Imperial Lord realm] realm, it would take approximately ten thousand Kalpa Tribulation [immense cosmic cycles spanning billions of years] for them to revive."

"Ten thousand Kalpa Tribulation."

Eldrin Chen shook his head. By the time those Primordial One Imperial Lord revived after ten thousand Kalpa Tribulation, they would likely be of little help to him.

With this thought, Eldrin Chen spoke, "It seems the only ones who can truly be of use to me are those prodigies who possess the True Spirit Foundation."

"True Spirit Imperial Lords."

Liana Imperial Lord's brow furrowed slightly. After a moment of contemplation, she said, "Within the Three Forbidden Lands [three legendary and perilous realms], aside from those four late-stage Primordial One Imperial Lord..."

"...those with the True Spirit Foundation are exceedingly rare. Including myself, there are only three."

"The other two are Dragon Turtle Desolation Emperor, and that former Sword Mystery Imperial Lord."

Eldrin Chen nodded. He had crossed blades with that Sword Mystery Imperial Lord long ago. That Sword Mystery Imperial Lord possessed formidable Force Extreme [a concept representing the pinnacle of martial force and combat prowess], and Eldrin Chen believed he had the potential to reach at least the Great Emperor [a supreme cultivation realm above the Imperial Lord] realm.

Had he not encountered the Great Tribulation [a cataclysmic event of heavenly punishment] in those bygone years, he would likely have long since ascended to the Great Emperor Realm [the pinnacle realm of cultivation, signifying supreme power and longevity].

As for the Dragon Turtle Desolation Emperor, he was reputed to be an immensely powerful Chaos Demon God [a primordial demon deity born from the chaos of creation], a being of whom Eldrin Chen truly knew little.

Seeing this, Liana Imperial Lord spoke with a smile, "Among the three of us, Sword Mystery Imperial Lord forged three True Spirit Foundation [a supreme cultivation foundation based on the power of a True Spirit]. In his time, he was hailed as the foremost prodigy of the Great Wasteland Primordial Domain [an ancient and vast primordial world]."

"This humble concubine is slightly weaker, having cultivated only two True Spirit Foundation: the True Spirit Great Path [the supreme cultivation method of a True Spirit] and the True Spirit Physique [a body constitution imbued with the essence of a True Spirit]."

"As for the Dragon Turtle Desolation Emperor, his physical aptitude was extraordinary. He walked the path of the Fleshly Body Sanctification Art [an art focused on refining the physical body to an indestructible state], and his defensive prowess ranked first among our trio."

At this point, Liana Imperial Lord proposed, "This humble concubine suggests we first seek an opportunity to restore the Sword Mystery Imperial Lord and the Dragon Turtle Desolation Emperor to their senses through the power of Recovery [a divine ability focused on healing and restoration]."

"When the time comes, with the combined strength of us three, augmented by the Imperial Lord's [a high-level cultivator ruling over a vast domain] own methods, we might be able to subdue that Daylight Extinction Imperial Lord [an Imperial Lord whose title signifies the extinguishing of daylight, implying immense destructive power]."

Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen fell into deep contemplation.

Among the three Great Emperor [supreme rulers among cultivators], Liana Imperial Lord, as the foremost figure beneath the Daylight Extinction Imperial Lord, possessed cultivation at the formidable level of the Primordial One Imperial Lord 6th Tier [the sixth tier within the Primordial One Imperial Lord realm]. Her combat prowess was nearly unrivaled within the Primordial One Imperial Lord Mid Stage [the mid-stage of the Primordial One Imperial Lord realm].

Her initial suppression had been achieved primarily by relying on his own formidable defenses, coupled with the immense power of the Returning Abyss Pearl [a legendary magical treasure capable of creating or controlling abyssal forces].

If one sets aside defensive capabilities and the Returning Abyss Pearl [a powerful defensive treasure], the methods of Liana Imperial Lord are not much superior to my own.

The cultivation base of Dragon Turtle Imperial Lord is also at the Primordial One Imperial Lord 6th Tier [the sixth level of the Primordial One Imperial Lord realm], his combat prowess is nearly on par with Liana Imperial Lord, and his defensive power is exceptionally formidable.

Sword Mystery Imperial Lord possesses truly formidable combat strength. Although his cultivation is only at the Primordial One Imperial Lord 5th Tier [the fifth level of the Primordial One Imperial Lord realm], his techniques surpass even those of Liana Imperial Lord by a slight margin.

If we could secure the aid of these three, it would be akin to gaining three invincible combatants at the Primordial One Imperial Lord Mid Stage [the mid-stage of the Primordial One Imperial Lord realm]. There truly would be a possibility of suppressing Daylight Extinction Imperial Lord.

And once we could restore the Recovery [a divine ability to restore consciousness or sanity] to Daylight Extinction Imperial Lord, we would possess a means to deal with the other two Desolate Domain Forbidden Land [forbidden lands within the Desolate Domain].

Having thought this through, Eldrin Chen spoke, "Then I shall first go to the Sword Abyss Ancient World and the Desolation Ancient Continent to see if I can rescue them."

"Those two Desolate Domain [regions of desolation and danger] are exceedingly perilous. This concubine shall accompany you,"

Liana Imperial Lord said with concern, taking his hand.

Eldrin Chen shook his head and replied calmly, "There is no need for worry. I am protected by an Innate Supreme Treasure [a supreme treasure born of primordial chaos], which renders me fundamentally unassailable."

After giving instructions to Liana Imperial Lord, Eldrin Chen spent some time Recovery [recovering and replenishing] his spiritual energy, then departed once more from the Great Wasteland Ancient Realm, arriving amidst the Chaos Desolation Sea [a sea of chaotic desolation].

After traversing several Desolate Journey [vast and perilous stretches of wilderness], Eldrin Chen arrived at the periphery of the Desolation Ancient Continent [a primordial landmass saturated with the essence of decay and oblivion].

"So this is the Desolation Ancient Continent?"

Gazing upon the Desolation Ancient Continent before him, Eldrin Chen's brow furrowed slightly, a shadow of solemnity crossing his features.

This Desolation Ancient Continent was originally constructed through the joint efforts of thousands of Chaos Demon God [primordial fiends born from the formless chaos] within the Sea of Chaos [the primordial, formless expanse from which all realms were born] surrounding the Great Wasteland Primordial Domain.

It fused dozens of Primordial One [the foundational state of a supreme cultivator] Path Domain [a realm where a cultivator's understanding of their chosen Path manifests as a personal domain] and thousands of Great Encompassing Chaos Lair [fortresses and territories carved from the raw stuff of chaos] into one, forming an immeasurably vast Ancient Continent.

The original intent behind building the Desolation Ancient Continent was to resist the encroaching Desolation Power [a corrupting force that erodes life, spirit, and reality itself into nothingness], yet in the end, even this bastion failed.

Such a monumental Ancient Continent harbored far more Chaos Demon God than the Myriad Stars Archipelago, with the number of Great Encompassing Desolate Race [tribes of beings fully adapted to and thriving within desolation] dwelling within exceeding eight thousand.

As for powerhouses at the Primordial One Imperial Lord [a supreme realm where one's personal domain is perfected and one stands as a sovereign lord] level, there were a full thirty-three of them.

Furthermore, unlike the scattered Myriad Stars Archipelago, the powerful beings of the Desolation Ancient Continent were densely concentrated. Once Eldrin Chen made his move, he would inevitably alert the entire Chaos Desolate Race [a hybrid race born from the union of chaos demons and desolation-adapted beings].

"To avoid being jointly suppressed by these Desolate Race, I have only one chance to strike. I must be swift and decisive."

Eldrin Chen's thoughts flickered. He then shrouded himself with the Chaos Mist [a primordial mist that obscures all perception] and silently arrived within the Desolation Ancient Continent [a vast, primordial landmass steeped in desolate energies].

Upon reaching the Desolation Ancient Continent, Eldrin Chen followed the intelligence he possessed and sought out the dwelling place of the Dragon Turtle Desolation Emperor [a primordial emperor of immense power, part dragon and part turtle]. Deep within the heart of the Desolation Ancient Continent, he finally located the Dragon Turtle Desolation Emperor.

There, upon the immense Ancient Continent, rested a colossal dragon-headed turtle whose sheer size dwarfed even an entire Immortal Domain [a realm governed by immortal laws].

Merely by slumbering there, the Fiendish Energy [a malevolent and chaotic form of spiritual power] radiating from its form churned the surrounding Chaos [the primordial, formless state before creation] into towering waves. Not even the Desolate Race [a race of ancient, desolation-aligned demons] of the Great Encompassing Realm [a supreme cultivation realm] dared approach its vicinity. This, however, provided Eldrin Chen with the perfect opportunity to infiltrate.

He advanced steadily towards the dragon-headed leviathan, finally halting several dozen Path [a measure of cosmic distance] away. Gazing at the Dragon Turtle [a mythical beast combining the attributes of a dragon and a turtle], he fell into deep contemplation.

"Legends speak of the Dragon Turtle Desolation Emperor possessing peerless defenses, capable of withstanding attacks from a Primordial One Imperial Lord 7th Tier [a supreme being of the seventh tier among primordial imperial lords] with little consequence," he mused silently.

"With my conventional methods as they are now, they would likely prove ineffective against the Dragon Turtle Desolation Emperor."

"To subdue such a being, I must leverage the power of an Innate Supreme Treasure [a treasure born from the primordial chaos, possessing supreme power]. It seems I have no choice but to unleash the Returning Abyss Pearl [a supreme treasure embodying the power of the returning abyss]."

Eldrin Chen murmured these words softly to himself. Even when suppressing the Liana Imperial Lord [an imperial lord associated with creeping vines and binding power], he had ultimately succeeded only by deploying the Returning Abyss Pearl.

Unwilling to waste any more time, Eldrin Chen immediately summoned forth the Returning Abyss Pearl.

In that very instant, a radiance that blotted out the heavens and earth surged upwards, and the immense Returning Abyss Pearl manifested within the Desolation Ancient Continent [a primordial continent steeped in desolate and ancient energies].

"ROAR—"

The Dragon Turtle Desolation Emperor struggled with all its might, desperate to break free from the crushing weight of the Returning Abyss Pearl.

Alas, the power of the Returning Abyss Pearl was truly staggering. Even with Eldrin Chen able to wield only thirty percent of its might, it could contend head-on with a Primordial One Imperial Lord 7th Tier [a supreme cultivator at the seventh tier of the Primordial One Imperial Lord realm]. Suppressing the Dragon Turtle Desolation Emperor was a trivial matter in comparison.

As the Returning Abyss Pearl continued to exert its overwhelming force, the Dragon Turtle Desolation Emperor shrank in size until it was finally drawn into and sealed within the pearl's depths.

"BOOM—"

Simultaneously, the devastating power unleashed by the Returning Abyss Pearl's Burst finally stirred the very consciousness of the Desolation Ancient Continent.

In a flash, the vast continent trembled violently. One after another, Desolation Emperors [powerful rulers of the desolate lands] shot forth with unstoppable momentum, intent on crushing Eldrin Chen.

At their forefront, a leader rode upon a Primordial Chaos [the formless, primordial state before creation]-infused divine spear, its point aimed directly at Eldrin Chen. It unleashed a terrifying divine energy potent enough to challenge the Returning Abyss Pearl itself.

"Withdraw—!"

Without a moment's hesitation, Eldrin Chen instantly activated the Returning Abyss Pearl to tear through the void and return to the Great Wasteland Ancient Realm.

Even now, as Eldrin Chen recalled the single strike unleashed by his assailant, a faint frown still creased his brow.

"The Immortality Desolation Emperor,"

Eldrin Chen murmured softly, his thoughts turning to the origins of that formidable figure, the Immortality Desolation Emperor.

The Immortality Desolation Emperor was once the mightiest among the countless Chaos Demon Gods that dwelled beyond the borders of the Great Wasteland Primordial Domain.

His true form was a Holy Spirit born from a vein of Immortality Immortal Gold ore, his physical combat prowess and latent potential hailed as peerless under heaven.

It is said that the original Great Wasteland Body Tempering Art was created with the participation of this very Immortality Desolation Emperor.

Legends speak of the Immortality Desolation Emperor's supreme Force Extreme strength, claiming he once, with a cultivation base at the Primordial One Imperial Lord 7th Tier level, fought an opponent at the Primordial One Imperial Lord 8th Tier level to a standstill without defeat.

"An invincible powerhouse from the Fleshly Body Sanctification lineage, no wonder he could face even three-tenths of the Returning Abyss Pearl's power without a trace of fear,"

"If he could be persuaded to serve my cause, and after consuming a Great Wasteland Sacred Fruit to break through his cultivation, he would undoubtedly become a formidable asset when the day comes to march back to the Southern Abyss Seven Domains."

Eldrin Chen's thoughts stirred briefly before he swiftly reined them in.

By now, Liana Imperial Lord had been waiting for some time. Seeing Eldrin Chen, she couldn't help but inquire, "How did it go?"

"All is well."

Eldrin Chen spoke, then said with a smile, "I have finally achieved my wish and brought back Dragon Turtle Desolation Emperor."

As he spoke, Eldrin Chen released Dragon Turtle Desolation Emperor and immediately channeled the power of his Great Path Authority to suppress him.

Though Dragon Turtle Desolation Emperor was mighty, he was ultimately unable to withstand the power of a Great Emperor. He was instantly suppressed, rendered immobile.

Seeing this, Eldrin Chen promptly activated the Tome of Human Soul, continuously purifying the Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] of Dragon Turtle Desolation Emperor.

Once the Desolation Power [a chaotic and corrupting energy associated with primordial desolation] was cleansed away, Dragon Turtle Desolation Emperor awoke from his dazed stupor. He immediately prostrated himself respectfully before Eldrin Chen on the Earthly Path [the foundational cultivation path associated with stability and the material world] and said, "I thank you, honored one, for your life-saving grace."

"There is no need for such formalities."

Eldrin Chen smiled, explained his purpose to Dragon Turtle Desolation Emperor, and then asked, "Are you willing to heed my commands from this day forward?"

"Since it is a grace of deliverance, then naturally it must be repaid."

Dragon Turtle Imperial Lord spoke, his expression grave as he said, "However, there must be a time limit."

Eldrin Chen nodded. Compared to Liana Imperial Lord, this Dragon Turtle Imperial Lord was far more prudent.

Yet, a state like that of Dragon Turtle Imperial Lord was the normal one. Someone like Liana Imperial Lord, who seemed to agree to everything, actually harbored a deeper purpose—it was for Eldrin Chen himself.

Or rather, it was his potential as Future that was valued; the life-saving grace was merely one part of it.

Thinking this, Eldrin Chen spoke, "Ten thousand Kalpa Tribulation [immense cosmic cycles in Buddhist cosmology, often billions of years], how does that sound?"

"Acceptable."

Dragon Turtle Desolation Emperor nodded. For a Primordial One Imperial Lord [a supreme cultivator who has unified their inner cosmos and attained the peak of the Imperial Lord realm], ten thousand Kalpa Tribulation was not a long time; this was already exceedingly generous.

Seeing this, Eldrin Chen casually scattered a batch of healing elixirs [spiritual pills that restore vitality and mend injuries] and tossed them to Dragon Turtle Desolation Emperor, saying, "Go and Recovery [enter a state of deep recuperation to heal your wounds] your Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core and highest essence of a cultivator's being]. Your strength will be needed for a battle in the coming days."

"Understood."

The Dragon Turtle Imperial Lord [a powerful being of the dragon-turtle lineage who has attained the rank of Imperial Lord] nodded, performed a respectful bow, and then departed in haste.

After the Dragon Turtle Desolation Emperor [a formidable Desolation Emperor of the dragon-turtle lineage] had left, Liana Imperial Lord [an Imperial Lord whose power is likened to a resilient, climbing vine] shook her head slightly, a flicker of insight in her eyes. "I fear he does not comprehend," she said, "that he has just lost an opportunity to follow a figure of truly extraordinary destiny."

Eldrin Chen remained utterly calm. Liana Imperial Lord possessed keen discernment; having witnessed his methods, she understood with certainty that he was destined to ascend to the Realm of Chaos [the ultimate, primordial realm of existence where all laws converge and dissolve].

The Dragon Turtle Desolation Emperor, however, had only seen him wield the Returning Abyss Pearl [a supreme treasure capable of creating and controlling abyssal voids]. He had not witnessed Eldrin's true, unfathomable depths. Thus, his reluctance to pledge allegiance was, in a way, understandable.

After all, the Dragon Turtle Desolation Emperor possessed the inherent potential to break through to the Late Stage of the Primordial One Imperial Lord [the pinnacle rank among Imperial Lords, one step below a Great Emperor]. It was not impossible for him to eventually reach the Great Emperor Realm [a sovereign realm of power commanding vast cosmic authority].

Though Eldrin Chen had subdued him using an Innate Supreme Treasure [a treasure born of primordial chaos, possessing unparalleled might], that alone did not necessarily prove Eldrin possessed the destined potential of a Chaos Heavenly Emperor [a title for a sovereign destined to rule over primordial chaos]. It was difficult for such a display to truly stir the heart of a proud Dragon Turtle Desolation Emperor.

Eldrin paid this no mind. A Dragon Turtle Desolation Emperor founded upon a mere Single True Spirit Foundation [a cultivation foundation built upon one primordial spiritual archetype] held less latent promise than the Liana Imperial Lord standing beside him.

The one who truly caught his eye, the peerless prodigy worthy of being recruited as a Divine General under his banner, was the Sword Mystery Desolation Emperor [a Desolation Emperor whose path is the profound mystery of the sword]—a being who had forged his power upon Three True Spirit Foundations [an exceedingly rare and potent cultivation foundation built upon three fused primordial spiritual archetypes].

With this thought settling in his mind, Eldrin Chen spoke. "Stand guard for me. Once I have Recovered [restored to peak condition through meditation and energy circulation] my spiritual power, we shall seek out this Sword Mystery Desolation Emperor."