Chapter 2093 : Depths of the Sunken Abyss

Here, the Chaos Heavy Water [a primordial water of immense density and weight] is beyond count, and the deeper one ventures, the heavier and more oppressive it becomes.

With the cultivation level of the Primordial Spirit Emperor, it is fundamentally impossible to penetrate the deepest reaches of the Sunken Abyss Heaven [a profound and perilous heavenly realm].

Considering this, Eldrin Chen turned his gaze towards the Primordial Spirit Emperor and the Desolate Wasteland Quasi-Emperor beside him, then inquired, "How do you fare?"

"I fear venturing deeper would be difficult."

The Desolate Wasteland Quasi-Emperor spoke, a trace of bitter laughter in his voice. "This is merely the shallows of the Sunken Abyss Heaven, yet its pressure is already sufficient to crush an ordinary Primordial Chaos Emperor Monarch [a sovereign ruler at the peak of the Primordial Chaos realm]."

"Although I have stepped into the Sage Ascendant Realm [a realm of profound enlightenment and power], venturing deeper still carries the risk of severe injury. It would be better to remain here in secluded cultivation, adapting to the environment before attempting to progress further."

Eldrin Chen nodded in agreement, then stated, "Each time the Celestial Furnace Grotto-Heaven [a celestial realm of forging and creation] opens, the Sunken Abyss Heaven remains accessible for ten cycles of a Kalpa Tribulation [a cosmic cycle of immense duration and tribulation]."

"If you cultivate in seclusion here, you need only endure for the duration of ten Kalpa Tribulation, and you will be able to proceed to the next trial, the Dao-Forging Heaven [the Heaven of Dao Forging]. We two shall not linger here any longer."

Upon hearing this, both the Primordial Spirit Emperor and the Desolate Wasteland Quasi-Emperor inclined their heads in acknowledgment, immediately cupping their hands in salute. "With your strength, you may perhaps contend for the supreme treasure nurtured within the Sunken Abyss Heaven."

"Do not concern yourselves with us. Proceed directly to the deepest heart of the Sunken Abyss Heaven."

Upon witnessing this, Eldrin Chen and Black Abyss Great Emperor immediately descended deeper into the Sunken Abyss Heaven [a profound and perilous realm of chaotic waters].

As they journeyed downward, they gradually realized the surrounding Chaos Heavy Water [a primordial, incredibly dense and heavy form of water] was growing increasingly ponderous.

By the time they had traversed half the Sunken Abyss Heaven, the water pressure here had surged severalfold, reaching a level sufficient to crush an ordinary Sage Ascendant [a cultivator who has ascended to a sage-like state, one step below true immortality].

At this depth, even Black Abyss Sage Ascendant began to feel significant strain.

Eldrin Chen could still withstand it, but he inquired of Black Abyss Sage Ascendant, "How do you fare?"

"I can still endure it."

Black Abyss Sage Ascendant replied with a grave expression, then pushed the power of his Chaos Divine Form [a supreme body-refining technique manifesting nine divine archetypes] to its absolute limit to resist the boundless crushing force of the Sunken Abyss Heaven's heavy waters.

In this process, Black Abyss Sage Ascendant felt his own physique, which had seemingly reached its limit, begin to strengthen bit by bit.

"This is a supreme cultivation treasure ground. It oppresses our very beings, helping us temper our physical strength and even aiding in breaking through our bodily limits."

Eldrin Chen also nodded in agreement. He attempted to sense his surroundings but found that even this level of Chaos Heavy Water could scarcely impose significant pressure upon him.

Unable to exert any pressure, it naturally could not bring about a breakthrough for him, which left Eldrin Chen with a tinge of regret.

This also stirred a flicker of envy within Eldrin Chen. The power of the Sunken Abyss Heaven was truly astonishing, capable of pushing ordinary Sage Ascendant cultivators to new heights, even potentially helping them shatter the limits of their physical bodies.

Yet, this power ultimately had its limits. For an existence like Eldrin Chen, who had already shattered his physical limits multiple times, its aid was comparatively less significant.

"Further in. I hope it will provide a greater tempering for me."

Eldrin Chen murmured inwardly. Exchanging a glance with the Black Abyss Sage Ascendant, he then pressed onward, deeper into the heart of the Sunken Abyss Heaven.

They journeyed ever downward, traversing the Bottomless Abyss without realizing it, arriving at the lower strata of the Sunken Abyss Heaven.

This place was now the profound depths of the Sunken Abyss Heaven, separated from its very core by only a single final layer.

Here, even the Black Abyss Sage Ascendant was clearly feeling considerable pressure, and Eldrin Chen himself began to sense a definite weight upon him.

Considering this, Eldrin Chen turned to the Black Abyss Sage Ascendant and spoke, "Perhaps we should cultivate here for a time, acclimating to the pressure before venturing to that core region?"

"Agreed."

Black Abyss Sage Ascendant [a supreme being who has ascended to the Sage realm] nodded. He understood that Eldrin Chen could proceed directly to that core region, yet he did not ask Eldrin Chen to leave.

Given the nature of their relationship at this point, certain formalities were no longer necessary.

Moreover, as he intended to attempt a breakthrough of his Limit-Breaking [the ultimate boundary of one's cultivation realm] here, he required Eldrin Chen to stand guard for him.

Thus, the two of them began their secluded cultivation within the depths of the Sunken Abyss Heaven [a profound and perilous heavenly realm of immense pressure]. Between them, Black Abyss Sage Ascendant focused entirely on assailing his Limit-Breaking.

Meanwhile, Eldrin Chen spent his time acclimating to the power of the Sunken Abyss while observing the deeper layers of this Sunken Abyss Heaven.

He was acutely aware that, given the current foundation of his physical body, even the deepest pressures of the Sunken Abyss Heaven could not help him break his own Limit-Breaking. At most, it might allow for a minuscule advancement.

Such progress might be measured in mere hundredths of a percent, but for an existence like his, who had nearly reached the pinnacle, it was still a rare and valuable gain.

And so, Eldrin Chen honed his physical form while simultaneously scouring the Sunken Abyss Heaven for its various rare treasures.

Within the vast expanse of the Sunken Abyss Heaven, numerous wonders were nurtured. Among them were treasures of the Primordial Unity Marvel [a supreme grade of spiritual marvel] level and even rarities of the Chaos Rare Treasure [a legendary grade of treasure born from primordial chaos] tier.

Such divine objects were mostly incredibly dense and heavy. There was Chaos Heavy Water [a primordial water of immense weight] of the third revolution, and there was also Sinking Abyss Divine Iron [a divine metal that sinks into the abyss] of the Chaos Rare Treasure grade.

Sinking Abyss Divine Iron [a legendary metal of immense weight] is extraordinarily heavy, typically found deep within the earth's core, making it an exceedingly rare and precious treasure of the ages.

However, the environment here is too peculiar, causing the lower-grade pieces of Sinking Abyss Divine Iron to be lighter than the Chaos Heavy Water [water of primordial chaos imbued with immense density] in these depths. Consequently, many pieces of Sinking Abyss Divine Iron float within the water.

This phenomenon results in the quality of the Sinking Abyss Divine Iron increasing the deeper one ventures into the Sunken Abyss Heaven [a profound and sunken celestial realm].

Eldrin Chen roamed in all directions, gathering a considerable amount of rare treasures, even acquiring pieces of Sinking Abyss Divine Iron at the Chaos Rare Treasure [a treasure of the primordial chaos] level.

He placed all these divine irons into the Nameless Space [a mysterious, unnamed dimension] contained within the Abyssal Pearl [a mystical pearl connected to the abyss].

"This is..."

Suddenly, Eldrin Chen paused, a flicker of surprise crossing his features.

To his astonishment, he discovered that the piece of Chaos Stubborn Iron [an unyielding iron born from primordial chaos] within the Abyssal Pearl began to emit a dazzling light and started voraciously devouring the surrounding pieces of Sinking Abyss Divine Iron.

Whether it was an illusion or not, Eldrin Chen had an indistinct sense that after consuming the Sinking Abyss Divine Iron, this piece of Chaos Stubborn Iron seemed to have undergone an intangible enhancement in both its durability and its grade.

"Could it be that this Chaos Stubborn Iron can devour divine irons to strengthen itself?"

Eldrin Chen murmured inwardly, a flicker of astonishment coloring his expression.

He immediately attempted to feed it various divine metals, only to discover this piece of Chaos Stubborn Iron was remarkably picky; it would only devour divine iron whose hardness reached the level of an Innate Supreme Treasure.

As for divine iron below that grade, the Chaos Stubborn Iron would not even glance at it, seeming to regard such material with utter disdain.

"I never imagined you could be so fastidious,"

Eldrin Chen muttered with considerable surprise, then a trace of hesitation surfaced on his face.

This Chaos Stubborn Iron possessed an Indestructible [utterly unbreakable] quality; not even a Dao-Union Supreme [a supreme cultivator who has unified with the Dao] could refine it. It was a true oddity among Chaos Rare Treasure [rare treasures born from primordial chaos], and he currently had no means to utilize it.

If he fed these pieces of Sinking Abyss Divine Iron to the Chaos Stubborn Iron for it to devour, causing its grade and level to rise further, wouldn't Eldrin Chen's hope of refining it become even more distant and uncertain?

Thus, whether or not to sacrifice the Sinking Abyss Divine Iron for its consumption was a decision that gave Eldrin Chen pause.

After a moment of deep contemplation, however, his resolve crystallized instantly. He fed all the Sinking Abyss Divine Iron to the Chaos Stubborn Iron for it to devour.

"Ten pieces of rotten iron are not worth one piece of hundred-fold refined steel."

"These Sinking Abyss Divine Iron are of no use to me. It would be better to see the limits of this Chaos Stubborn Iron."

Eldrin Chen murmured inwardly, sensing a strange affinity with this piece of Chaos Stubborn Iron. It seemed to possess an unfathomable, latent potential.

Perhaps one day, this Chaos Stubborn Iron could break through its inherent limitations, becoming the vessel for a high-grade Chaos Spiritual Treasure or even a Chaos Supreme Treasure.

"You may have all of this Sinking Abyss Divine Iron, but I hope you will not disappoint me."

With this thought, Eldrin Chen began scouring the area, gathering the Sinking Abyss Divine Iron to feed to the Chaos Stubborn Iron.

The Sinking Abyss Divine Iron was incredibly resilient, its toughness and density surpassing even the finest materials of its grade, making it the perfect nourishment for the Chaos Stubborn Iron.

For what felt like tens of millions of years, Eldrin Chen wandered the depths of the Sunken Abyss Heaven, ceaselessly gathering Sinking Abyss Divine Iron.

Then, on one such day, Eldrin Chen suddenly sensed something amiss.

He looked up to see a burly man clad in profound black robes, seated amidst a cluster of Sinking Abyss Divine Iron, his entire form drenched in blood.

"It's him."

Eldrin Chen murmured inwardly, a flicker of astonishment coloring his expression.

This individual was none other than Panhuang, who had once crossed blades with Eldrin Chen within the depths of the Profound Heaven Ruins.

Panhuang cultivated the Strength-Based Dao Attainment method, having forged nine Grand Dao Divine Form [divine manifestations embodying different aspects of strength] of varying power attributes. His physical might surpassed even the most elite cultivators of his realm.

Yet, precisely because of this, his physical Origin [the foundational life force and constitution of a cultivator] and resilience were comparatively lacking. This left him severely constrained within the Sunken Abyss Heaven [a realm of immense gravitational and spatial pressure], where he suffered tremendously.

In theory, one who had achieved the Nine True Spirit Divine Forms should possess a body robust enough to withstand the pressures of this level of the Sunken Abyss Heaven.

Yet, Panhuang was being crushed, his body drenched in blood, teetering on the very brink of complete physical disintegration.

"He is in mortal peril," Eldrin Chen whispered to himself.

With that thought, Eldrin Chen stirred his Chaos Life Great Dao [the supreme principle of chaotic life force], channeling a torrential surge of Life Great Dao [the fundamental law of vitality] power. He directed this immense vitality towards Panhuang, initiating a profound Restoration of the other's grievous internal injuries.

The critically endangered Panhuang suddenly felt a wave of potent Vitality [life-giving energy] wash through him. A look of profound relief, the joy of one snatched from the jaws of death, dawned upon his face.

"My gratitude..."

He opened his eyes and looked at Eldrin Chen, preparing to thank him, but was stopped by Eldrin Chen's gesture.

Then, Eldrin Chen gritted his teeth, his expression grave, and spoke solemnly: "Tightly guard your mind and spirit. Command the power of the nine great divine forms."

"If you still cannot master them, I fear the risk of a sudden, violent death remains."

Panhuang immediately fell silent and, sparing no cost, mobilized the power of the nine great divine forms.

The nine True Spirit Divine Forms of power slowly began to circle and intertwine around him. As time passed, they finally started to harmonize with one another, seemingly reaching a pivotal moment of equilibrium.

After a long while, this balance gradually solidified. Only then did Eldrin Chen nod in approval.

With the nine Grand Dao Divine Forms achieving balance, the nine ultimate types of True Spirit Power could be unleashed to their fullest potential. Confronting the depths of the Sunken Abyss Heaven should no longer be an issue.

He said nothing more, directly withdrawing the Life Great Dao. After a glance at Panhuang, who was in deep cultivation, confirming he was in no danger, he ultimately departed without a sound.

Returning to Black Abyss Sage Ascendant's side, Eldrin Chen found that Black Abyss Sage Ascendant had reached a critical juncture in his cultivation. He immediately began to stand guard with solemn vigilance.

An immeasurable time later, the nine great divine forms of Black Abyss Sage Ascendant slowly rose and fell. With the Chaos Divine Form at the core, the other eight divine forms orbited and undulated around it, finally forming a state of perfect balance.

"Haa—" [a long, slow exhalation]

Having completed this step, Black Abyss Sage Ascendant slowly drew in a deep breath and opened his eyes from his deep meditation.

Then, he looked towards Eldrin Chen and spoke with a smile, "Although I have not broken through the Limit-Breaking threshold, I have finally fully mastered the nine great divine forms."

"At this point, if I were to attempt to fuse them into the Unique Divine Form, I should have a success rate of forty to fifty percent."

Eldrin Chen nodded. Fully mastering the nine great divine forms qualified one to attempt the realm of the Unique Divine Form.

If one could not even achieve this, recklessly attempting to fuse the nine divine forms would be nothing short of courting death.

Within the vast expanse of the Blazing Zenith Hundred Domains, those who have cultivated the nine great divine forms likely number in the hundreds.

Yet, among these individuals, less than one-third have succeeded in fusing the nine forms to cultivate the Unique True Form, demonstrating that this step is far from simple to accomplish.

Considering this, Eldrin Chen could not help but smile and say, "Since you have mastered the nine great divine forms, let us proceed directly to the core area."

"Very well."

Black Abyss Sage Ascendant [a supreme cultivator who has attained the Sage Ascendant realm] nodded. Having fully mastered the Nine Divine Forms, he now possessed sufficient resistance to withstand the most perilous depths of the Sunken Abyss Heaven [a legendary and treacherous realm of sunken seas and profound darkness].

Now was the time to venture into the core region of the Sunken Abyss Heaven and contend for its ultimate treasures.

Thus, the two of them immediately set forth, striding towards the heart of the Sunken Abyss Heaven.

They advanced towards the deepest reaches of the Sunken Abyss Heaven, gathering resources along the way and harvesting vast quantities of Sinking Abyss Divine Iron [a rare, heavy metal forged in the profound pressures of the abyssal sea].

They journeyed for an immeasurable time through the Sunken Abyssal Sea, until even Eldrin Chen felt immense pressure bearing down upon him. Finally, they arrived before a majestic Seafloor Abyss [a colossal chasm in the ocean floor].

It was a vast, primordial sea trench. At its heart, an Ancient Cauldron [a primordial vessel of immense power] even more colossal than the Immortal Domain [a celestial realm] was sealed, its surroundings enveloped by a shimmering curtain of light.

And upon the brink of this sea trench stood seven towering, majestic figures.

Eldrin Chen swept his gaze around, recognizing several familiar presences: Blazing Zenith Ember [a powerful cultivator associated with celestial fire], Misty Smoke Female Sage [a revered female sage], and the Primordial Demonic Ape [an ancient and mighty ape demon].

The remaining few, Eldrin Chen had not met before, but he could vaguely surmise their origins.

"Thunder Halberd Celestial Saint [a saintly being wielding the power of thunder and halberds], Chaos Dragon Lord [a dragon sovereign born of primordial chaos], Crimson Phoenix Holy Maiden [a holy maiden of the crimson phoenix lineage], Verdant Sun Sacred Lord [a sacred lord embodying the verdant sun]."

Beside him, Black Abyss Sage Ascendant murmured softly, revealing the origins of these individuals.

Eldrin Chen's brow furrowed slightly as he suddenly recalled the backgrounds of these four figures.

Among the four mighty experts, Thunder Halberd Celestial Saint was similar to Indestructible Elder—a renowned rogue cultivator who had attained the Flesh Sanctification Saint [a saintly realm focused on perfecting the physical body] within the Seven Domains of the Southern Abyss, with no backing from a powerhouse at the level of a Chaos Celestial Emperor.

Chaos Dragon Lord hailed from the Chaos Nine Dragon Nest, a faction Eldrin Chen had long heard of.

Within the entire Seven Domains of the Southern Abyss, the Chaos Nine Dragon Nest stood as a hegemon, a peak-level force.

This lineage possessed formidable Force Extreme [a divine ability that pushes physical strength to its absolute limit] and boasted nine True Dragon [primordial dragon beings of immense power] at the Chaos Celestial Emperor level. Their Nest Lord's cultivation had even reached the Half-Step Dao Union Realm [the threshold of unifying with the fundamental Dao].

He dual-cultivated both the Primordial Spirit Dao Attainment [a profound realm focused on elevating the Primordial Spirit] and the Path of Dao Dominion [an esoteric art centered on mastering and commanding the Dao], placing his strength firmly within the first tier beneath the Dao-Union Supreme [Supreme Beings who have fully unified with the Dao].

Crimson Phoenix Holy Maiden was similar. She originated from the Chaos Seven Phoenix Nest, a lineage possessing seven Chaos Celestial Emperor and even including a top-tier Half-Step Dao-Unification expert—the Immortal Phoenix Empress.

Across the vast expanse of the Blazing Zenith Hundred Domains, there were several dozen Half-Step Dao-Unification experts. Among them, only five could be considered top-tier.

This list included the Foreign Realm Demon Emperor, the Lord of the Nine Dragon Nest, and the Immortal Phoenix Empress.

It is said that each of these five supreme Half-Step Dao-Unification [cultivators who have nearly unified their cultivation path with the fundamental Dao] possesses the strength to contend against two opponents of the same realm, and when united, they could even challenge a true Dao-Union Supreme [a supreme expert whose cultivation path is fully unified with the Dao].

These three individuals also share a common trait: they have all cultivated to become Soul Path Celestial Emperor [Celestial Emperors who have forged a unique and powerful path focused on soul cultivation], and have traversed a considerable distance upon this path.

The last among them, Verdant Sun Sacred Lord, also boasts an extraordinary origin, backed by a force at the Half-Step Dao-Unification level.

However, that particular Half-Step Dao-Unification is merely an ordinary one, having not cultivated a Soul Path Celestial Emperor. His strength pales in comparison to figures like Foreign Realm Demon Emperor.

"Seven individuals who have cultivated the Unique True Form [a supreme divine ability that manifests one's unique and perfected true essence form]," Eldrin Chen murmured inwardly.

His thoughts swirling, Eldrin Chen exchanged a glance with Black Abyss Sage Ascendant.

Simultaneously, the figures gathered before the barrier turned their gazes. Upon seeing Eldrin Chen, a flicker of surprise passed through their expressions.

"I did not expect you to reach this place as well," one of them spoke.

Blazing Zenith Ember was the one who spoke, a thread of disdain coloring his tone.

The others wore varied expressions. Chaos Dragon Lord inquired with a hint of amusement, "I have heard that Fellow Daoist Blazing Zenith once crossed blades with Eldrin, the Abyssal Daoist. Pray tell, how fares the strength of Eldrin, the Abyssal Daoist?"

"Hmph."

Blazing Zenith Ember's expression chilled slightly, and he spoke, "In that battle of yore, I alone faced the combined might of Eldrin, the Abyssal Daoist, Indestructible Celestial Emperor, and Black Abyss Sage Ascendant."

"Had it not been so, I would have utterly suppressed this Eldrin, the Abyssal Daoist long ago."

"Is that so?"

Crimson Phoenix Holy Maiden offered a faint, mocking smile. "Yet what I heard was quite different, Fellow Daoist. They say you failed to pass even the second trial within the Profound Heaven Ruins [the ruins of the Profound Heaven], while Eldrin, the Abyssal Daoist succeeded in clearing the third."

"You—!"

Blazing Zenith Ember's face darkened, a sliver of cold intent flickering in his gaze.

Unfazed, Crimson Phoenix Holy Maiden merely smiled and turned to Eldrin Chen. "So it is the direct successor of the Immortal Cosmos Dao Progenitor [the progenitor of the Immortal Cosmos Dao] who stands before us. You are indeed worthy to stand among our ranks. Please, come forward swiftly."

Without another word, Eldrin Chen stepped forward to the barrier's edge.

In ages past, the Immortal Cosmos Dao Progenitor was the mightiest Chaos Celestial Emperor [a supreme ruler born of primordial chaos] within the Blazing Zenith Hundred Domains, his power surpassing even that of the Lord of the Nine Dragon Nest. In those days, even the Foreign Realm Demon Emperor [a demonic sovereign from a foreign realm] was forced to lie low and bide his time.

With this status bolstering him, in the eyes of those present, Eldrin Chen's background indeed did not appear inferior to that of these few individuals.

Therefore, even the proud Chaos Dragon Lord harbored no objection to Eldrin Chen's arrival.

He looked towards Eldrin Chen and Black Abyss Great Emperor, his expression calm as he stated, "To unlock the final realm of this Sunken Abyss Heaven, the combined strength of nine powerhouses capable of challenging a Celestial Emperor is required."

"The seven of us, plus Fellow Daoist Eldrin, already make eight. The only question is whether this one's strength is sufficient."

Seeing this, Misty Smoke Female Sage spoke up, "Although he has not yet cultivated a Unique True Form, he has after all achieved the Chaos Divine Form. His power is already exceedingly close to our own."

"Why not attempt it? Perhaps we can indeed unlock this final realm."

Upon hearing these words, all those present adopted expressions of solemn consideration.

Regardless of whether Black Abyss Sage Ascendant had cultivated a Unique Divine Form, the mere fact of having achieved the Chaos Divine Form meant Black Abyss Sage Ascendant deserved their serious regard.

The Verdant Sun Sacred Lord gave a slight nod and said directly, "If that is the case, then let us make the attempt."

Hearing this, everyone present gave a slight nod of agreement.

Once they set foot within the final realm, the nine of them would inevitably clash over the treasures contained within.

It was far better to let Black Abyss Sage Ascendant, whose power was demonstrably a notch below, enter than to invite someone who had cultivated a Unique True Form [a supreme manifestation of one's cultivation path and laws] and could challenge a Celestial Emperor [a supreme ruler among cultivators, wielding power over cosmic laws].

With this thought in mind, all those present nodded in agreement. The Crimson Phoenix Holy Maiden spoke directly, "Since it is so, let us join forces and open this ultimate realm."

As her words fell, the Blazing Phoenix Celestial Maiden made her move. She was the first to harness the power of her Unique Divine Form [a divine manifestation unique to a supreme cultivator], materializing a Chaos Crimson Phoenix that soared into the sky, pressing down upon the barrier.

The others also took their positions across the eight directions, each unleashing their own Unique True Form to suppress the barrier.

At this, Eldrin Chen and Black Abyss Sage Ascendant exchanged a glance. Then, they summoned their Unique True Form, the 'Chaos Great Cauldron' [a primordial cauldron embodying the power of chaos], and brought its immense pressure to bear upon the barrier.

In that instant, within the vast barrier, a full eight Formation [a structured arrangement of energy nodes for defense, attack, or other mystical purposes] nodes lit up, leaving only the final one shrouded in darkness.

Seeing this, Black Abyss Sage Ascendant immediately manifested his own Chaos Divine Form [a divine form born from primordial chaos] and directed its force to suppress the barrier's last remaining node.

The barrier fell into a brief, profound silence. After a moment, it shuddered violently, and finally, the ninth Formation node was completely illuminated.

"BOOM—"