Chapter 2084 : A Sovereign's Glimpse Through Time

The illusory figure murmured softly, its expression one of profound shock.

As a contingency left behind by the Profound Heaven Lineage, he naturally understood what the cracking of the Profound Heaven Mirror signified.

One must know, the Profound Heaven Mirror was a Mid Grade Chaos Spiritual Treasure [a supreme artifact of primordial chaos, of the middle grade], its power virtually limitless, capable of peering into the myriad possibilities of his Weilai's future.

Even if one used the Profound Heaven Mirror to observe the future of a Dao-Union Supreme [a supreme being who has unified with the fundamental Dao], theoretically, there should be no possibility of it shattering the mirror.

Even one with the potential to reach the Chaos Sovereign [the sovereign ruler of primordial chaos] realm, if their chance of breakthrough was not exceedingly high, would at most merely exceed the mirror's capacity, rendering their future unobservable.

For the Profound Heaven Mirror to crack, there could be only one explanation.

That was, Eldrin Chen's likelihood of breaking through to Chaos Sovereign was virtually one hundred percent.

To use the Profound Heaven Mirror to observe the future of a Chaos Sovereign whose destiny was all but sealed was to see nothing at all.

Conversely, the Chaos Sovereign of that future, sensing the intrusion, cast a single glance back along the River of Time and Space [the metaphysical river that flows through all of time and space]—a gaze that already surpassed the limits of what the Profound Heaven Mirror could bear.

The chasm between a Chaos Sovereign and a Dao-Union Supreme was too vast, an utterly insurmountable gulf.

For such an existence to suppress and slay a Chaos Celestial Emperor, it would not even require a personal appearance. A mere wisp of its aura descending would be enough to annihilate such an entity again and again.

Even to utterly vanquish an ordinary Dao-Union Supreme, a single finger would suffice to completely subdue them.

"A Chaos Sovereign from the Weilai."

The illusory figure murmured softly, its gaze finally igniting with intensity as it spoke, "This is the greatest Opportunity for the revival of the Profound Heaven Lineage. Perhaps by following him, we can shatter those primordial shackles."

"It seems that treasure, too, should finally have an owner worthy of it."

Meanwhile, at the location of the third trial, the assembled cultivators exchanged bewildered glances.

Misty Smoke Female Sage turned her gaze towards Eldrin Chen, a note of astonishment in her voice as she inquired, "For you to stir such a phenomenal vision, sir, could it be you possess the potential to reach the very pinnacle of the Dao-Union Supreme realm?"

Eldrin Chen shook his head calmly and replied, "My innate talent is indeed not lacking, but I dare not presume to predict how far upon the path I may ultimately tread."

"Abyssal Dao Progenitor, I have heard of you."

The Primordial Demonic Ape spoke slowly, its eyes burning with a fierce light. "You forged a new path of cultivation, contributing great Merit [a metaphysical "currency" representing good karma or virtuous deeds] to the Vast Chaotic Void itself. For that, I hold a measure of respect for you."

"Yet we each serve our own masters. When the day comes for our confrontation upon Heavenly Abyss [the legendary celestial realm of profound mysteries], neither of us should hold back."

Hearing these words, Eldrin Chen's gaze flickered subtly, a faint understanding seeming to dawn within him.

Seeing this, the Primordial Demonic Ape [an ancient and immensely powerful demonic beast progenitor] offered no further concealment and spoke plainly: "The turmoil of the Heavenly Abyss is nearing its end. The unification of the Northern and Southern Celestial Abyss [the two great celestial realms] is an inevitable tide of fate."

"Your Seven Domains of the Southern Abyss [the seven major territories of the Southern Celestial Abyss] have but two paths: submit willingly, or be beaten into submission."

"Is that so?"

The Black Abyss Great Emperor's eyes turned icy, the Black Abyss Emperor's Spear [a legendary spear wielded by the Black Abyss Emperor] gleaming fiercely in his grasp. He spoke with cold indifference, "I, for one, would like to test whether the so-called prodigies of the Six Domains of the Northern Abyss [the six major territories of the Northern Celestial Abyss] are truly as formidable as claimed."

"Enough. Cease this bickering."

At that very moment, a translucent, ethereal figure descended through the air, stepping between the tense, confrontational individuals.

His gaze swept over the mountain range ahead before he stated calmly, "This third trial holds unpredictable perils. You would do better to conserve your strength for overcoming it."

Upon hearing this, the gathered figures immediately reined in their palpable killing intent.

Seeing this, the illusory figure spoke with a measure of calm, "Having passed the trials of combat prowess and innate aptitude, you must now face the test of my Profound Heaven Lineage."

"And this final trial is known as the Three Tribulations Heavenly Pass."

"The Three Tribulations Heavenly Pass?"

Upon hearing this, the group was momentarily taken aback.

The Misty Smoke Female Sage could not help but inquire, "What is this Three Tribulations Heavenly Pass?"

"The so-called Three Tribulations Heavenly Pass is the ultimate trial left for you all by Profound Heaven Supreme,"

the illusory figure explained methodically, a trace of apprehension in its voice. "In comparison, the Three Tribulations Heavenly Pass is far more perilous."

"Yet true strength is forged through countless trials. Even if you do not fully conquer the third tribulation, those who endure the ordeal of the Three Tribulations Heavenly Pass will undoubtedly reap immense rewards."

With those final words, the illusory figure waved its sleeve, transporting the group into a Nameless Void.

Eldrin Chen felt the flow of Space-Time beneath his feet, and in an instant, he found himself within a scorching, primordial realm of molten rock.

"This is..."

Eldrin Chen was momentarily taken aback, a look of solemn gravity washing over his features.

The illusory figure spoke at that moment, its voice resonating through heaven and earth like a divine pronouncement of the Great Dao [the fundamental principle governing all existence]: "This first trial is named the Purgatory Heavenly Pass."

"This place contains seven supreme Chaos Divine Flame [primordial fires of immense power and origin], including the Purgatory Flame, the Crimson Lotus Karmic Flame, the Netherworld Ghost Flame, the Verdant Spirit Divine Flame, the Frost Soul Profound Flame, the Nine Nether Demonic Flame, and the Indestructible Immortal Flame."

"If you can endure the incineration of any one of these divine flames upon your own body, you shall be considered to have passed this first trial."

"Should you withstand the burning of multiple divine flames, you may even seize the opportunity to forge and temper a supreme Chaos Treasure Body [a physique of unparalleled resilience and power]."

Eldrin Chen's heart clenched with shock. The seven divine flames mentioned by the illusory figure were each born from the Great Dao [the fundamental principle governing all existence] of Fire mastered by seven different Chaos Celestial Emperor [supreme rulers of primordial chaos].

The power of such flames was boundless and infinite. Not even a Primordial Limitless Sage Ascendant [a being who has ascended to the pinnacle of sagehood in the primordial era] could claim with certainty to withstand them. No wonder the requirements for this third trial were so exceedingly high.

With this realization, Eldrin Chen immediately channeled his cultivation base to its utmost limits. He then drew upon a strand of the Purgatory Flame, using it to sear and temper his own Chaos Indestructible Physique [a body forged to be unbreakable by the forces of chaos].

"*Hum—*"

In that instant, Eldrin Chen felt a torrential surge of Purgatory Flame [a divine fire of immense destructive power, often associated with purification or punishment] flood into his body.

This Purgatory Flame truly lived up to its origin from a Chaos Tier Great Dao [the supreme, fundamental principle of existence]. Its power far surpassed any divine flame Eldrin Chen had ever encountered, potent enough to reduce even a Sage Ascendant to ashes with ease.

Fortunately, Eldrin Chen's Chaos Indestructible Physique [a legendary body tempered to near-absolute resilience] was extraordinary. Despite the relentless incineration of the Purgatory Flame, his flesh showed not the slightest sign of being refined away. Instead, the strength of his physical form continued to grow ever greater.

"Such formidable divine fire. This is a fine opportunity,"

Eldrin Chen murmured inwardly, a glint of pleasant surprise coloring his expression.

Since his cultivation had broken through to the Primordial Chaos Emperor Monarch realm, Eldrin Chen had rarely relied on the Earth Veins [dragon lines of spiritual energy coursing through the world] and natural pressure fields of heaven and earth to temper his body.

This was because Eldrin Chen had created the Refine Self Through Self Dao [a supreme art of self-perfection through internal alchemy], which allowed him to hone himself and continuously surpass his limits without needing external assistance.

Yet the fundamental reason was also that Eldrin Chen's physical body had grown too powerful. Within the Vast Chaotic Void, it had become exceedingly difficult to find an environment that could completely suppress his corporeal form.

Now, however, the divine flames within this Purgatory Heavenly Pass [a legendary, perilous trial ground] had once again provided Eldrin Chen with the precise conditions he required.

With this realization, Eldrin Chen directly summoned his Root Origin Treasure [a cultivator's most fundamental and powerful artifact], the 'Abyssal Furnace' [a manifestation of his inner cosmos, capable of containing and refining all things]. He then plunged into the Abyssal Furnace and began cultivating the Refine Self Through Self Dao.

In an instant, the Abyssal Furnace summoned the Purgatory Flame [a divine fire born from the depths of purgatory], the Crimson Lotus Karmic Flame [a mystical flame intertwined with the threads of karma], the Netherworld Ghost Flame [an eerie, soul-chilling fire from the underworld], the Verdant Spirit Divine Flame [a vibrant, life-giving flame of nature], the Frost Soul Profound Flame [a flame of absolute cold that freezes the very soul], the Nine Nether Demonic Flame [a corrupting blaze from the deepest hells], and the Indestructible Immortal Flame [an eternal, unquenchable fire of immortality]—seven supreme Chaos Divine Flame [primordial fires born from the chaos at the dawn of creation].

Then, using these seven supreme divine flames as the furnace's fire, it began to ceaselessly burn and temper Eldrin Chen's Chaos Indestructible Physique [a legendary body forged from primordial chaos, renowned for its near-absolute durability].

In that moment, Eldrin Chen's physical form seemed on the verge of melting away completely, yet the power contained within his body grew ever more vast and profound.

The five divine forms—the Ancient Pearl of Life [a primordial artifact containing the essence of boundless vitality], the Ancient Black Tortoise Shield [a legendary shield embodying the ultimate defense of the Black Tortoise], the White Tiger Ancient Sword [an ancient sword channeling the lethal sharpness of the White Tiger], the Vermilion Bird Wings [wings of flame granting supreme speed and agility], and the Kirin Seal [a seal imbued with the auspicious and majestic power of the Kirin]—blazed with dazzling radiance. They fused together, coalescing into a single Primordial Chaos Cauldron [a divine cauldron born from the primordial chaos, used for supreme refinement] that continuously condensed and reforged Eldrin Chen's flesh.

At a pace almost visible to the naked eye, Eldrin Chen's body grew increasingly solid and Indestructible [possessing a quality of absolute durability and resistance to harm].

Time lost all meaning. After an immeasurable duration, when the seven divine flames could no longer harm Eldrin Chen in the slightest, his physical form had once again shattered its Limit-Breaking [a state of surpassing the known absolute limits of a cultivation realm] constraints. It now resembled a divine embryo cast from Chaos Stubborn Iron [a mythical, unyielding metal forged in primordial chaos], eternally Imperishable [existing in a state of timeless, unchanging perfection].

"BOOM!"

The boundless Chaos [the formless, primordial state from which all creation emerged] was torn asunder. A torrent of Vast True Spirit Mark [primordial marks of true spirit essence, the fundamental building blocks of higher existence] howled down, ultimately being completely devoured by Eldrin Chen's Chaos Indestructible Body [his physique, now fully ascended to its ultimate, chaos-forged indestructible state]. Only a single portion was intercepted and retained by Eldrin Chen himself.

When all finally settled into stillness, Eldrin Chen slowly opened his eyes. Within their depths, a blazing, profound light shimmered.

"Once again, I have shattered the limits."

Eldrin Chen spoke slowly, extending his hand as he discovered that the five True Spirit Divine Form within his body had completely coalesced into a single Primordial Chaos Cauldron [a legendary vessel forged from the essence of primordial chaos], possessing an indestructible power.

"A Unique True Form [a singular, supreme physical manifestation achieved by a cultivator]."

Eldrin Chen murmured to himself, his expression tinged with a trace of doubt.

His Unique True Form was forged from the convergence of five divine forms, not from the fusion of the Nine True Spirit Divine Forms, yet its power was not the slightest bit inferior.

Thus, Eldrin Chen was uncertain whether he could truly be considered to have stepped into the realm of the Unique True Form.

Yet Eldrin Chen knew with clarity that his combat prowess had fully entered the domain where he could challenge a Celestial Emperor [the supreme ruler of a heavenly realm]. His physical combat strength likely reached sixty to seventy percent of a Chaos Celestial Emperor's level.

"The unification of five True Spirit Divine Form allows one to cultivate the Unique Divine Form."

Meanwhile, the figure concealed within the Void [the formless, boundless space that underlies all existence] drew in a sharp, astonished breath.

He observed Eldrin Chen intently for a long moment before exclaiming in awe, "His talent and potential are rare across the eons. He has even cultivated the divine runes of both Chaos [the primordial state of undifferentiated matter and energy] and Abyssal [pertaining to the profound, unfathomable depths]."

"Could it be... he intends to gather all four Ultimate Divine Rune [the supreme symbols of cosmic principles]?"

At this thought, the ethereal figure could not help but draw in a sharp, cold breath and said, "If this is truly the case, his potential and the achievements of Weilai are likely not inferior to the progenitor of the Flesh Ascendant lineage."

"No wonder the Profound Heaven Mirror shattered for him. This is the true bearing of a Chaos Sovereign."

Just as the ethereal figure was reeling in shock, Eldrin Chen slowly opened his eyes.

He rose to his feet unhurriedly, allowing the seven Chaos Divine Flame to sear his very being, and then stepped out from within the Purgatory Heavenly Pass.

Once beyond the Heavenly Pass, Eldrin Chen surveyed his surroundings and discovered that Indestructible Elder, Black Abyss Great Emperor, Primordial Demonic Ape, and Misty Smoke Female Sage had all emerged before him.

Moreover, it was evident that all four had successfully traversed the Purgatory Heavenly Pass and had done so ahead of him.

This was only to be expected, as all four were practitioners of Sainthood through the Flesh, granting them a significant advantage in overcoming this Purgatory Heavenly Pass.

Furthermore, one only needed to endure a single Chaos Divine Flame to step out of the Purgatory Heavenly Pass. Eldrin Chen, however, had utilized all seven Chaos Divine Flame to cultivate the Refine Self Through Self Dao, consuming a great deal of time in the process.

Seeing Eldrin Chen emerge, Indestructible Elder promptly inquired, "I sense a significant shift in your aura. Have you achieved a major breakthrough?"

"I have gained some small insights."

Eldrin Chen offered a faint smile before inquiring, "Senior, what were your gains?"

Indestructible Elder chuckled, a note of delight in his voice. "By tempering my body with the five great divine flames this time, my physical foundation has finally made some slight progress, improving by roughly half a tenth."

"Then congratulations, Senior."

Eldrin Chen nodded in acknowledgment, promptly offering his felicitations.

Unlike Eldrin Chen, who still possessed vast room for improvement, Indestructible Elder's foundation had long ago reached a state of near-perfect limits.

Unless he were to break through to the realm of a Chaos Celestial Emperor, even a mere one percent improvement would be considered a remarkable breakthrough.

With this in mind, Eldrin Chen turned his gaze to Black Abyss Great Emperor, who also nodded and stated, "My foundation is slightly inferior; I only managed to refine four of the divine flames."

"However, through this trial, I have gained a slightly greater chance of success for my future attempt to merge the nine divine forms."

Eldrin Chen gave another nod, then looked towards Primordial Demonic Ape and Misty Smoke Female Sage. Both wore expressions of clear satisfaction, indicating they had reaped significant rewards.

It was at this moment that the ethereal figure emerged once more, casting its gaze upon the group. "Since you have all passed through the Purgatory Heavenly Pass," it began.

"Then, for this second trial, the Combat Heavenly Pass, you must remember to be cautious."

As the words fell, the illusory figure waved its sleeve, transporting everyone to another illusory ancient realm.

The moment Eldrin Chen appeared within the illusory ancient realm, his steps faltered slightly. Without hesitation, he summoned the Abyssal Seal, which transformed into the Wu Earth Sovereign Emperor Bell to shield him.

In that instant, a peerless slaying sword cleaved forth from the Chaos, clashing with a world-shaking eruption from the Wu Earth Sovereign Emperor Bell.

After the momentary collision, Eldrin Chen steadied himself and looked up. He saw a peerless woman, shrouded by endless Great Dao Divine Chain, standing majestically in the air with a sword in hand, her gaze radiating boundless killing intent.

"A Great Dao phantom, the Chaos Divine Form left behind by a Chaos Celestial Emperor of ages past."

Eldrin Chen's heart shook, a flicker of astonishment crossing his features.

Simultaneously, a voice echoed from the heavens. It was the illusory figure speaking once more: "To set foot upon the Dao Union Realm, one must contend for Dao Authority [the authority and dominion over a fundamental cosmic principle]."

"Without sufficient combat prowess, what right does one have to vie for Dao Authority?"

As the words faded, the peerless empress thrust her sword forward. A sky-obscuring sword intent swept through the six directions and the Eight Desolations [the eight desolate, far-flung corners of the world], seeking to utterly annihilate Eldrin Chen within the Void [a profound cultivation art or state of emptiness].

Yet Eldrin Chen showed not a trace of fear. With a flick of his sleeve, he struck out with a single palm, forcefully sending the illusory figure flying through the air, blood spraying from its mouth.

By this point, Eldrin Chen had realized that the opponents within the Combat Heavenly Pass were generated based on his own cultivation realm.

The foe before him was an illusion possessing strength comparable to an Invincible Sage Ascendant. It seemed the formation calculated its power based on the number of divine forms Eldrin Chen had successfully cultivated.

Yet such power was utterly insufficient to withstand Eldrin Chen. Within mere exchanges, the illusion was sent reeling and coughing blood by his overwhelming strikes.

"Such formidable combat prowess."

From within the Void, the fading illusory figure murmured softly. Then, with a sweeping gesture of its sleeve, it pointed towards the Combat Heavenly Pass.

In that instant, nine supreme figures materialized from the Void, soaring into the sky. Each was a projection left behind by the Chaos Celestial Emperor of ages past.

These Celestial Emperor projections, radiating peerless killing intent, charged forth. Every one of them unleashed techniques at the level of a Primordial Limitless Sage Ascendant.

"Perfect timing."

Eldrin Chen's spirit stirred. Without hesitation, he summoned the Primordial Chaos Heaven Halberd into the sky, Eruption into an epochal battle against the ten Celestial Emperor projections.

The facts proved that Eldrin Chen, having cultivated the Unique True Form, now possessed combat power unrivaled in the world, capable of facing a Chaos Celestial Emperor head-on.

Even when ten Celestial Emperor projections unleashed their ultimate Eruption, they were ultimately completely suppressed by Eldrin Chen.

Driven to the peak of his battle frenzy, Eldrin Chen commanded his Unique True Form, the 'Primordial Chaos Cauldron', to descend and suppress the heavens, annihilating all ten divine manifestations on the spot.

"Haa—"

Having vanquished the ten divine manifestations, Eldrin Chen slowly let out a breath.

In that moment, he truly understood what it meant to be a contender against a Celestial Emperor. The gulf between them was simply too vast.

Even if ten Sage Ascendant who had just entered the Primordial Extreme Domain realm were to join forces, they would stand no chance against a single being capable of contending with a Celestial Emperor.

This is because the power, defense, speed, and Life force of such a contender all approach the domain of a Chaos Celestial Emperor.

An ordinary Primordial Limitless Sage Ascendant, even at the peak of their Eruption, could at most inflict minor wounds upon such an existence, posing no genuine threat.

This was a difference in quality, an insurmountable chasm.

"The power to challenge a Celestial Emperor [the supreme ruler of the heavens, a pinnacle existence in the cultivation world]."

Eldrin Chen murmured softly, a faint smile of joy gracing his lips as he stepped forth from within the Combat Heavenly Pass [a mystical trial formation that tests a cultivator's combat prowess against formidable opponents].

This time, Eldrin Chen emerged from seclusion rather early, for he had carved his path out by directly overwhelming all adversaries in his way.

In contrast, the others emerged much more slowly, for the trial of this Combat Heavenly Pass was predicated on defeating a phantom of a Chaos Celestial Emperor [a supreme ruler born from primordial chaos, representing the peak of power] of the same cultivation realm.

Although these were merely phantoms of the Chaos Celestial Emperor, possessing only ninety percent of the combat prowess the true emperor wielded at that stage, they were not opponents one could simply defeat at will.

Even those who have achieved Sainthood through the Flesh [a legendary cultivation path focusing on tempering the physical body to an indestructible, sacred state] possess peerless strength within their realm, yet every being who managed to break through to become a Chaos Celestial Emperor was, in their time, a peerless prodigy unmatched in their generation.

Thus, the great battles raged on for a long time. It was only after several hundred thousand years that Black Abyss Great Emperor became the second to fight his way out.

Having mastered the Chaos Divine Rune [a supreme divine ability born from primordial chaos], he crushed his powerful foe with overwhelming, irresistible force.

The third to emerge was the Primordial Demonic Ape [an ancient and ferocious demon beast of immense power], the fourth was Misty Smoke Female Sage, and the last, Indestructible Elder, was the slowest of all.

Not specializing in offensive techniques, he was forced to endure for thirty million years before finally passing this trial.

As the four emerged, the illusory figure finally spoke, "It seems your combat aptitudes are commendable. For this final trial, I hope you will not disappoint me."

With those words, the illusory figure gestured, and with a turn of its palm, it opened a gate to the Chaos.

The five cultivators filed in one after another and were immediately assaulted by a surge of overwhelming Primordial Spirit Power [the foundational spiritual energy of a cultivator's core being]. They could not help but show expressions of astonishment.

Seeing this, the illusory figure spoke directly, "This third trial is named the Primordial Spirit Heavenly Pass. Its purpose is to test your innate talent and cultivation in the Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator]."

Eldrin Chen now understood. The trials of the Profound Heaven Ruins were clearly designed to select and nurture those with the potential to reach the Dao-Union Supreme [the supreme realm of unity with the Dao].

The initial ten high platforms were meant to weed out those who were unqualified or merely pretending.

The second trial, the Profound Heaven Ancient Mirror, sought to identify those possessing the latent potential for Dao-Union Supreme.

The subsequent Three Tribulations Heavenly Pass and the Purgatory Trial tested the physical constitution and potential, seeking those who could potentially break through to Dao-Union Supreme via the path of Sainthood through the Flesh [ascending to sainthood through physical cultivation].

The Combat Heavenly Pass tested combat prowess. After all, if one possessed formidable strength, they could seize Dao Authority [the authority over a specific Dao] from others, thereby cultivating a second or even a third Chaos Great Dao [a supreme Dao of primordial chaos].

And this Primordial Spirit Heavenly Pass tested whether one possessed the innate talent to cultivate into a Soul Path Celestial Emperor [a Celestial Emperor who has ascended via the path of soul cultivation].

After all, those who have cultivated to the realm of a Soul Path Celestial Emperor [a supreme cultivator whose soul has merged with the Heavenly Dao] possess the potential and aptitude for a significant breakthrough to Dao-Union Supreme [the pinnacle state where one's being is completely unified with the fundamental Dao]. If one cannot achieve the Soul Path Celestial Emperor realm, it is likely they would not receive the meticulous nurturing of the Profound Heaven Lineage [a powerful and ancient cultivation sect].

It was at this moment that the illusory figure spoke, its voice echoing, "Should you pass this third trial, you shall be granted resources to aid your breakthrough to the Chaos Realm [a legendary realm of cultivation representing primordial chaos and immense power]."

"Even if you do not succeed, our Profound Heaven Lineage will still bestow upon each of you a precious treasure, one that will increase your chances of breaking through to become a Chaos Celestial Emperor [a Celestial Emperor who has mastered the power of primordial chaos]."