Chapter 2100 : Into the Immortal Refining Furnace

"The Immortal Refining Furnace [a legendary furnace said to be capable of refining even immortals], and the Soul-Burial Heaven [a realm or artifact designed to entomb and suppress souls]."

Eldrin Chen felt a slight stirring in his heart and gave a faint, thoughtful nod.

His gaze turned towards the Immortal Refining Furnace. While this furnace was an exceedingly perilous place, it was ultimately a sacred ground for cultivation, designed not to utterly refine and annihilate a being like the Chaos Celestial Emperor [the supreme ruler of primordial chaos].

Having already shattered the ultimate barriers of the Celestial Emperor [the pinnacle realm of celestial rulership] realm, Eldrin Chen now faced no mortal peril even if he were to step into the heart of the Immortal Refining Furnace.

After weighing his thoughts, Eldrin Chen thus spoke, "If that is the case, I shall test the wonders of this Immortal Refining Furnace for myself."

With those words, Eldrin Chen took a single, heaven-defying step and crossed the threshold into the Immortal Refining Furnace.

"Hmmmm—"

The moment Eldrin Chen entered, the Immortal Refining Furnace gave a subtle tremor, and its massive lid slammed shut with a thunderous boom.

Instantly, boundless Refining Immortal Fire [a divine flame capable of tempering immortal bodies and souls] surged and boiled. A Chaos Immortal Flame [a primordial flame born from chaos, possessing the power to incinerate all creation] capable of reducing everything to ashes swept towards Eldrin Chen.

"Chaos Immortal Flame."

Gazing at the Chaos Immortal Flame [a primordial divine fire born from the essence of chaos] before him, Eldrin Chen's eyes narrowed slightly, a trace of solemnity coloring his gaze.

The Chaos Immortal Flame, also known as the Chaos Immortal Flame, is one of the Ten Great Chaos Divine Flames [ten legendary fires of ultimate power born from the primordial chaos]. In theory, it can lead one directly to the realm of Dao-Union Supreme [the supreme state of unity with the fundamental Dao], and even among Dao-Union Supreme experts, it is considered top-tier.

In ancient times, the Lord of the Celestial Furnace [a legendary master of alchemy and fire] comprehended the Chaos Great Dao [the fundamental principle of primordial chaos] through this very Chaos Immortal Flame. Furthermore, it is said the Chaos Immortal Flame possesses boundless potential, harboring even a sliver of possibility to evolve into the Boundless Great Dao [the limitless and infinite Dao].

Such a supreme divine flame, even without a Dao-Union Supreme master to control it, unleashes power far beyond the mundane. Once fully unleashed, it is potent enough to incinerate any powerhouse beneath the level of a Chaos Celestial Emperor [a supreme ruler who commands the power of chaos].

Yet, Eldrin Chen sat cross-legged within the immortal furnace, calmly enduring the furnace's endless flames as they scoured his body, his expression remaining utterly unchanged.

For he had already shattered the ultimate barrier of the Celestial Emperor [the realm of a Heavenly Emperor] realm. Relying solely on the instinctual power of the Chaos Immortal Flame, it was impossible to completely refine and destroy Eldrin Chen.

Thus, Eldrin Chen remained seated at the core of the Immortal Refining Furnace [a legendary furnace capable of refining even immortals], continuously using its boundless immortal fire to temper and refine his own body.

As time flowed on, the pressure imperceptibly grew, layer upon layer, until it reached a level that could make even a Chaos Celestial Emperor pale with apprehension.

Alas, even at this terrifying intensity, it still proved insufficient to push Eldrin Chen a single step further.

"My physical body," he mused inwardly, "has already broken its limits multiple times. This is the absolute pinnacle beneath heaven and earth, a domain where further advancement seems nearly impossible."

"To break through once more, one must undergo the tribulation of rebirth between life and death, only then can one glimpse a sliver of opportunity for advancement in the Vitality."

With this thought, Eldrin Chen decisively summoned his Root Origin Treasure, the Abyssal Furnace [a divine ability manifesting as a furnace of profound abyssal flames], and descended into its heart to refine his own body.

Thus, within the Immortal Refining Furnace [a supreme treasure furnace for refining immortals], there now existed a furnace within a furnace. Eldrin Chen resided within this innermost Abyssal Furnace, undergoing the ultimate tempering.

If one counted this Immortal Refining Heaven [a realm shaped like a divine furnace] as well, Eldrin Chen was practically situated within three immortal furnaces simultaneously.

These three great divine furnaces, each layer absorbed the flames and oppressive force of the previous, generating ever more powerful supreme flames and crushing pressure.

Residing within the core of the Abyssal Furnace, Eldrin Chen continuously channeled the supreme divine fire to sear his flesh. His Chaos Physique [a legendary body said to be born from primordial chaos], famed as eternally Imperishable [an ability granting near-indestructibility], finally began to show the first signs of transformation.

"This is the way."

Eldrin Chen murmured inwardly, a flicker of elation crossing his features.

He tempered himself with boundless immortal flames. Each time he neared his limit, he would activate the Space-Time Divine Runes [mystical runes governing space and time] and the Life Power of Rules [the fundamental laws governing existence] to Restoration [restore and heal] his body.

Through this relentless cycle, Eldrin Chen continuously accumulated minute opportunities for breakthrough. His physical body seemed to be shattering its own Limit-Breaking [a state of surpassing one's inherent limits] again and again.

Although this limit was exceedingly minute, each breakthrough brought Eldrin Chen an enhancement of merely one percent.

Yet, after nine consecutive breakthroughs, Eldrin Chen still felt his physical combat prowess had risen significantly, finally reaching the absolute bottleneck of a certain ultimate limit.

"Minor Limit Breakthrough [a minor transcendence of one's inherent limits]. Nine Minor Limit Breakthroughs."

Eldrin Chen murmured inwardly, instantly comprehending the realm he now occupied.

It turned out that Eldrin Chen's physical body, through constant limit-breaking, had long ago completely reached the ultimate pinnacle possible beneath the heavens for Sainthood through the Flesh [the path of achieving sainthood through physical cultivation].

Combined with his Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator], the Path of Self-Sacrifice [a cultivation art based on self-renunciation], the Chaos Limitless Great Dao [the Great Dao of Boundless Chaos], and his complete cultivation foundation, Eldrin Chen's combat power had fully stepped into the domain of a Celestial Emperor [a supreme cultivation realm], shattering that indescribable barrier of limits.

However, setting aside his other foundational aspects, if one considered only Eldrin Chen's physical combat prowess, it had still not truly broken through that ultimate barrier.

To shatter this barrier, one must complete nine Minor Limit Breakthroughs followed by a single Major Limit Breakthrough [a major transcendence of one's inherent limits].

Now, empowered by the immortal furnace, Eldrin Chen had completed the nine Minor Limit Breakthroughs. This meant that with just one final Major Limit Breakthrough, he could directly ascend into the realm of a Celestial Emperor.

At that point, even without refining Chaos Primordial Qi [the primordial energy of chaos], Eldrin Chen's physical cultivation would be able to continue its ascent.

"To forcefully ascend to the realm of a Chaos Celestial Emperor without relying on Chaos Primordial Qi, using the Limit-Breaking Method created by Yinghui?"

Eldrin Chen murmured softly, falling into deep contemplation for a moment before shaking his head slightly.

The ultimate barrier of the Chaos Celestial Emperor realm, that final step of the Major Limit Breakthrough, was an almost insurmountable limit.

One must understand, a Chaos Celestial Emperor who achieved Sainthood through the Flesh could see their combat power soar to the heavens in a single step, directly entering the ranks of the top-tier Chaos Celestial Emperor.

Even with all his power combined, Eldrin Chen was still far from matching such a supreme Celestial Emperor. How, then, could he possibly shatter the Celestial Emperor barrier through a great Limit-Breaking Method without first refining Chaos Primordial Qi?

"A Minor Limit Breakthrough might still be possible with the aid of an immortal furnace's power."

"But a Major Limit Breakthrough requires complete destruction and rebirth. One must glimpse a thread of Vitality within utter Annihilation to seek even a sliver of a chance for ascension."

"This path is far too perilous, and compared to breaking through by refining Chaos Primordial Qi, it offers no clear advantage."

Eldrin Chen shook his head, dismissing the thought.

He put away the Abyssal Furnace and turned to the Grotto-Heaven Spirit to inquire, "Esteemed Senior, may I now venture to the Soul-Burial Heaven?"

"Come forth."

Simultaneously, a calm voice emanated from within the Void.

Eldrin Chen immediately sensed the flow of the Void shift. The Space-Time before him warped and twisted, and in the next moment, he found himself transported to a vast and imposing domain of profound darkness.

"This is..."

Eldrin Chen's heart jolted with alarm. He lifted his gaze to survey his surroundings, only then realizing that within the Void stretching across the four directions, countless shadowy souls drifted and wandered. Each one emanated an aura of power that was by no means weak.

This caused Eldrin Chen's brow to furrow slightly, a trace of wariness coloring his expression.

At that moment, the Grotto-Heaven Spirit materialized slowly, standing beside Eldrin Chen before speaking. "Do you know," it began, "why this place is called the Soul-Burial Heaven?"

Eldrin Chen did not answer, choosing instead to listen quietly for the Grotto-Heaven Spirit's explanation.

The Grotto-Heaven Spirit paused in contemplation for a moment, then spoke as if to itself. "The so-called Soul-Burial Heaven," it said, "is the place where the heroic souls of the Celestial Furnace Grotto-Heaven are laid to rest."

"In the distant epochs of the past, this ground has interred far too many prodigious talents. Among them are a great number of peerless heroes who failed in their attempt to ascend to the realm of the Chaos Celestial Emperor."

"The True Spirit [the refined spiritual essence of a cultivator] of these prodigies will depart for reincarnation, while their residual soul power will be refined into the purest spiritual energy, serving as the finest cultivation resource for a Soul Path Celestial Emperor [a supreme cultivator who has mastered the Dao of the Soul]."

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen nodded slowly and said, "With the souls of prodigies interred here, the Soul-Burial Heaven [a realm where the souls of the departed are laid to rest] lives up to its name."

The Grotto-Heaven Spirit [the sentient spirit of a mystical realm] nodded in agreement. Guiding Eldrin Chen to the deepest part of the Soul-Burial Heaven, it spoke, "Within this Soul-Burial Heaven, there lies a treasure of unparalleled rarity."

"Whether you can gain its favor depends entirely on your own fortune."

Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen lifted his gaze toward the very core of the Soul-Burial Heaven. A tremor of awe passed through him.

There, at the heart of the Soul-Burial Heaven, a single, incomplete seed drifted and swayed. It emanated an indescribable aura of supreme power, one that far exceeded anything Eldrin Chen could possibly withstand.

"What... is this?"

Eldrin Chen spoke slowly, his voice laced with profound uncertainty.

"Half of a Seed of the Soul Dao [a primordial fragment containing the essence of the Soul Dao]."

The Grotto-Heaven Spirit spoke with measured gravity, finally revealing, "In ages past, that Nameless Dao Progenitor [the legendary founder of a supreme cultivation path] pioneered the method of Primordial Spirit Dao Attainment [the ultimate enlightenment of the Primordial Spirit]. He came within a hair's breadth of achieving the realm of a Soul Dao Sovereign [the absolute master of the Soul Dao]."

"Yet at the final moment, He failed, perishing at the very last step before the breakthrough, leaving only this half of the Seed of the Soul Dao behind."

"Legend holds that within this Seed of the Soul Dao is recorded the secret to breaking through to the Soul Dao Sovereign realm. Sadly, it is now incomplete and damaged, making it difficult to glean the opportunity for Primordial Spirit Dao Attainment [the state of achieving enlightenment in the Dao of the Primordial Spirit] from it."

The Grotto-Heaven Spirit [the sentient spirit of a Grotto-Heaven, a blessed realm] continued, its tone tinged with helplessness: "This Soul Dao seed is incomplete. It was once deemed useless, not worthy of being treasured so."

"However, the Lord of the Celestial Furnace believed that since this treasure was, after all, an object left by a Dao Progenitor [a progenitor of a Great Dao, a being of unimaginable power], it might conceal profound and unfathomable mysteries. Therefore, He left it within the Soul-Burial Heaven, awaiting one destined to gain its recognition."

Eldrin Chen felt a tremor in his heart. Gazing at the half-seed before him, an inexplicable sense of familiarity washed over him.

He could not articulate the source of this feeling, yet a strange, profound sense of recognition lingered.

Almost without conscious thought, Eldrin Chen reached out, his hand moving to touch the half-formed Soul Dao seed.

In that very instant, the Seed of the Soul Dao quivered faintly, then erupted with a blazing, incandescent light. It circled Eldrin Chen several times before finally streaking into his Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator].

"This is..."

The Grotto-Heaven Spirit's expression shifted subtly. It scrutinized Eldrin Chen for a long moment before speaking, unable to contain its astonishment: "You... you actually gained the recognition of the half Seed of the Soul Dao?"

"Could it be... you have a connection with the Dao Progenitor [the ultimate progenitor of the Great Dao, a being of unfathomable power and origin]?"

Eldrin Chen fell into a contemplative silence, offering no verbal reply. Instead, he lowered his gaze inward, focusing his senses on the half-seed of the Seed of the Soul Dao [a mysterious object rumored to be a fragment of the primordial Soul Dao's essence] residing within the depths of his consciousness.

He observed as the Seed of the Soul Dao orbited his spiritual core, its faint luminescence eventually dimming completely, leaving behind no trace of its earlier anomaly.

Eldrin Chen attempted to probe the Seed of the Soul Dao with his spiritual sense, but his efforts met with utter silence. The half-seed felt inert, like a lifeless stone, offering no response whatsoever.

"No change. Is the time not yet ripe, or is this object simply too weakened?"

With a quiet sigh, Eldrin Chen suppressed the swirling questions in his heart.

Meanwhile, the Grotto-Heaven Spirit [the sentient guardian spirit of a mystical grotto-heaven realm] regained its composure, its initial shock fading. It studied Eldrin Chen with a piercing gaze for a long moment before finally speaking.

"To possess even half of the Seed of the Soul Dao... it seems your potential is extraordinary. You may even possess the makings of a future Chaos Sovereign [a supreme ruler who commands the primordial forces of Chaos itself]."

"I had initially intended to grant you but a single rare treasure. Now, I see you are worthy of far greater investment."

With those words, the Grotto-Heaven Spirit produced over one hundred rare treasures from its sleeve. "From among these," it declared, "you may select three to take with you."

"All I require is your pledge that, when your cultivation reaches sufficient heights in the future, you will lend your strength to the Celestial Furnace Grotto-Heaven."

Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen turned his gaze towards the hundred or so rare treasures.

With but a single glance, his heart gave a sudden, profound tremor. For these hundreds of treasures were all supreme-grade artifacts at the level of Chaos Spiritual Treasure [a primordial treasure of immense power, born from the chaos of creation].

Among them were dozens of portions of Chaos Primordial Qi [the most fundamental and potent form of chaotic spiritual energy], dozens of Chaos Spiritual Treasure, and over thirty Chaos Spiritual Treasure. Each one could be said to be a treasure of heaven-defying value.

To have so many treasures laid out before him left Eldrin Chen momentarily at a loss, uncertain of how to choose.

"The Heavenly Forge Lineage truly lives up to its reputation as a supreme, paramount Daoist tradition."

After a moment of quiet awe, Eldrin Chen's eyes fell upon a particular treasure. He could not help but inquire, "Is that... a Seal of Space?"

"Oh?"

The Grotto-Heaven Spirit [the sentient guardian spirit of a grotto-heaven, a pocket dimension] shifted its gaze, retrieving a hazy, crystalline object. "You have a discerning eye," it said, presenting the item. "The Seal of Space [a rare treasure capable of stabilizing or manipulating the fabric of space itself] is exceedingly rare, a peerless treasure even among Chaos Spiritual Treasure."

"It truly is a Seal of Space."

The moment he laid eyes on this treasure, Eldrin Chen felt a subtle tremor within his heart.

The Seal of Space and the Mark of Time—both are supreme-grade treasures among Chaos Spiritual Treasure [spiritual artifacts born from primordial chaos], exceedingly rare wonders even within the vast expanse of the Chaos [the primordial, formless state before creation].

Most crucially, these two treasures are the core artifacts required for cultivating the Space-Time Divine Runes [divine symbols governing the laws of space and time] and even their ultimate manifestation, the Divine Form.

Eldrin Chen had already obtained the Mark of Time. If he could now acquire this Seal of Space, mastering the Space-Time Divine Runes would likely be within his grasp.

With this thought, Eldrin Chen promptly spoke, "This Seal of Space is precisely what this junior urgently requires."

"Hmm."

The Grotto-Heaven Spirit [the sentient spirit of a Grotto-Heaven, a blessed realm] gave a slight nod. After appraising Eldrin Chen, it could not help but nod again, remarking, "You have already cultivated the Time Divine Rune [the divine symbol of temporal law], so you must have already obtained the Mark of Time."

"If you now gain this Seal of Space as well, you may perhaps glimpse the realm of the Space-Time Divine Runes, and even that of the Space-Time Divine Form [the ultimate physical manifestation of space-time laws]."

"It seems your Fortune [heavenly ordained luck] and Opportunity [fated encounters and chances] far surpass what ordinary individuals could ever hope to match."

With those words, the Grotto-Heaven Spirit handed the remaining Seal of Space to Eldrin Chen.

Eldrin Chen took the Seal of Space [a mystical seal imbued with the power to manipulate spatial dimensions], his heart settling into a semblance of calm. He then turned his gaze to the remaining rare treasures.

After a long moment of hesitation, he suddenly inquired, "Does the Black Abyss Sage Ascendant who accompanied me here qualify to receive a portion of Chaos Primordial Qi [the primordial, undifferentiated energy from which all creation emerged]?"

"The one who has cultivated the Chaos Divine Form [a supreme physical manifestation born from the power of primordial chaos]?"

The Grotto-Heaven Spirit [the sentient spirit of a blessed, self-contained paradise realm] spoke, then nodded. "He possesses the potential to reach the Dao-Union Supreme [the supreme realm of unity with the fundamental Dao]. He is worthy of my full support in nurturing his path, and thus naturally merits a share of Chaos Primordial Qi."

Seeing this, Eldrin Chen felt a wave of relief. He then selected one Nine-Aperture Divine Stone [a mythical stone with nine natural orifices, said to possess heaven-defying properties] and one Chaos Origin Pearl [a pearl condensed from the essence of primordial chaos].

These two treasures were far too rare. To let such an opportunity slip by would make finding their like again in the future a task more difficult than scaling the heavens.

In contrast, Chaos Primordial Qi and Chaos Spiritual Treasure [magical artifacts forged from or infused with the power of chaos] were comparatively more common within the depths of the Chaos [the primordial, formless void from which the cosmos was born].

Having obtained these three precious items, Eldrin Chen was thoroughly satisfied. Observing this, the Grotto-Heaven Spirit spoke once more, "If you wish to cultivate the Space-Time Divine Form [a supreme physique commanding the laws of space and time], the Immortal Refining Heaven [a legendary realm of celestial forges and supreme refinement] would be an excellent destination."

Eldrin Chen nodded in agreement. With the aid of the Immortal Refining Furnace [a legendary furnace capable of refining even immortal materials], his confidence in assimilating the imprints of Space-Time would increase significantly, saving him vast amounts of time.

Thus, he clasped his hands in a respectful salute and said with deference, "In that case, I must trouble you, Senior."

The Grotto-Heaven Spirit [the sentient spirit of a Grotto-Heaven realm] did not speak. With a mere flick of its sleeve, it teleported Eldrin Chen back into the Immortal Refining Furnace [a legendary furnace capable of refining and tempering immortals].

After returned to the Immortal Refining Furnace, Eldrin Chen immediately began to contemplate the Seal of Space [a profound artifact containing the mysteries of spatial laws].

Having obtained fragments of Great Dao [the supreme principles of existence] insights from several hundred Celestial Emperor [the pinnacle sovereigns of the heavens] within the Celestial Furnace Grotto-Heaven [a celestial realm centered around a divine furnace], Eldrin Chen's foundational depth was now beyond compare to his former self.

Now, further aided by this Chaos Spiritual Treasure [a primordial treasure born from the chaos at the dawn of creation], Eldrin Chen's comprehension of the Space Great Dao [the supreme principle governing space] proceeded as naturally as water flowing downhill. He fully mastered it in a mere thirty million years.

Thereafter, he refined the Space Great Dao into the Time Divine Rune [a divine symbol of temporal power], perfectly fusing the two into one entity. This fusion ultimately transformed into a set of Space-Time Divine Runes [divine symbols embodying the unified laws of space and time].

"Time is supreme, Space is king."

"Unite Space-Time, and none under heaven can rival you."

The moment he completed the Space-Time Divine Runes, Eldrin Chen felt an indescribable transformation occur within his Chaos Indestructible Body [a physique of primordial chaos, renowned for its near-absolute durability].

A supreme power of Space-Time intertwined with Eldrin Chen's physical form. While it did not elevate his foundational cultivation base, it wrought a tremendous change in his combat prowess.

"The power of Space-Time."

Eldrin Chen spoke slowly, discovering that as he activated the Space-Time Divine Runes, a power of Space-Time [the fundamental forces governing time and spatial dimensions] flooded his physical body.

It was an indescribable force, allowing Eldrin Chen to instantly shatter the barriers of time and space, appearing anywhere within a certain range of the Space-Time continuum.

Such a method of traversing Space-Time was a heaven-defying ability, whether used for combat or for fleeing peril.

"If the Space-Time Divine Runes alone are already so astonishing, what would it be like if I cultivated the Space-Time Divine Form?"

Eldrin Chen murmured inwardly. He immediately retrieved the Mark of Time and the Seal of Space, beginning to refine these two peerless Chaos Rare Treasure [a treasure of immense power born from primordial chaos].

To cultivate the Space-Time Divine Form, it was essential to refine a Chaos Spiritual Treasure [a spiritual artifact of chaos origin] that bore the Time-Space Great Dao [the supreme principle governing time and space].

The Mark of Time and Seal of Space were not Space-Time Spiritual Treasure [a magical artifact imbued with spiritual power]. To use them for cultivating the Space-Time Divine Form, they first had to be forged into a Chaos Spiritual Treasure.

Fortunately, here he had the aid of the Immortal Refining Furnace and the Chaos Immortal Flame, with the Grotto-Heaven Spirit [the sentient spirit of a grotto-heaven, a pocket paradise] lending its covert assistance.

Otherwise, given Eldrin Chen's current strength, attempting to refine such treasures into a Chaos Spiritual Treasure would have been a task more difficult than scaling the heavens themselves.

With the Immortal Refining Furnace and the Chaos Immortal Flame, combined with Eldrin Chen's full exertion, the speed of refining the two supreme treasures proceeded at a steady, unremarkable pace.

After approximately nine Kalpa Tribulation [a cosmic cycle of immense duration and transformative power] had passed, the two supreme treasures were completely refined, transforming into a simple, unadorned artifact—a 'sundial'.

"The Cosmos Sundial [a supreme artifact that governs the flow of time and space],"

Eldrin Chen murmured softly as he gazed upon the Space-Time [the fundamental forces of time and space] treasure before him.

This Cosmos Sundial resembled a traditional sundial, yet it was enveloped by the mists of Chaos [the primordial, formless state before creation] and the radiance of the Sun, Moon, Star [the celestial bodies that govern cosmic cycles]. Countless threads of Starry [pertaining to stellar energies] and Space-Time power swirled around it, seemingly capable of altering the very flow of time within its domain.

"A magnificent treasure indeed,"

Eldrin Chen spoke slowly, a flicker of awe crossing his features.

This Cosmos Sundial truly lived up to its name as a Space-Time supreme treasure. Once activated, it could isolate the internal and external flow of Space-Time, possessing the wondrous ability to manipulate the passage of time itself.

By invoking this artifact, Eldrin Chen could seal off an entire expanse of Void [empty space or a void-like state], rendering it somewhat independent from the surrounding Chaos. Within this sealed domain, the flow of time could be accelerated by tenfold, a hundredfold, or even a thousandfold compared to the outside world.

Given Eldrin Chen's current cultivation level, and without destabilizing the Space-Time equilibrium or affecting the long river of time, he could achieve a maximum acceleration of approximately one hundredfold.

In essence, with this supreme treasure in hand, Eldrin Chen could possess a hundred times the cultivation time available to an ordinary person.

Furthermore, as Eldrin Chen's cultivation realm advances, this effect will continue to grow in the future.

"What a formidable Chaos Spiritual Treasure [a primordial artifact of immense power born from chaos]. It is a pity that I can only refine and absorb its essence."