Chapter 2066 : A Divine Mediation for Ascension

Departing from the Qilin Ancient Domain, Eldrin Chen proceeded directly to the Primordial Era Divine Court to pay his respects to the two Great God Emperors of the Divine Clan.

The two Great God Emperors of the Divine Clan accorded the utmost importance to this Returning Abyss Path Ancestor. They received Eldrin Chen with the full ceremonial protocol reserved for an audience with a Heavenly Emperor.

Within the hallowed halls of the Primordial Era Divine Hall, the two Great God Emperors personally greeted Eldrin Chen and commanded a seat to be prepared for him.

Once he was seated, the Primordial Beginning Divine Sovereign smiled and said, "Fellow Daoist, your visit surely indicates a matter of great import you wish to discuss."

Eldrin Chen pondered for a brief moment before replying with a smile, "To speak plainly, I have come to serve as an intermediary."

"An intermediary?"

The Purple Tenuity Divine Sovereign's eyes flickered with interest. He exchanged a glance with the Primordial Era Divine Sovereign, both revealing a spark of curiosity.

Seeing their reaction, Eldrin Chen continued, "My good friend, the Primordial Mire Path Master, is preparing to attempt a breakthrough into the Chaos Heavenly Emperor Realm. I am here to humbly request the Divine Clan's... benevolent consideration during this critical juncture."

"He seeks to ascend?"

The Primordial Beginning Divine Sovereign's gaze sharpened. Another look passed between him and the Purple Tenuity Divine Sovereign, this time tinged with genuine surprise.

A moment later, Primordial Beginning Divine Sovereign said with a smile, "Fellow Daoist Primordial Mire is a Heaven-Appointed Divine Sovereign [a being whose divine authority is ordained by the heavens], but he lost his Chaos Genesis Energy [the primordial energy of creation] due to the upheavals of the past."

"I never imagined he would possess such Opportunity and Fortune [great destiny and luck] to once again find Chaos Genesis Energy."

At this point, Primordial Beginning Divine Sovereign weighed his words and said, "However, my relationship with Fellow Daoist Primordial Mire is merely cordial. Out of respect for you, I will not obstruct his path to enlightenment, but that is all."

"As for the two of us actively watching over him... I'm afraid that..."

Here, Primordial Beginning Divine Sovereign paused briefly, leaving the sentence unfinished.

Seeing this, Eldrin Chen smiled and said, "Fellow Daoist Primordial Mire Path Master is a close friend to two of our Human Race's Immortal Sage [supreme immortal sages]. When he makes his breakthrough, our Human Race will surely lend its full support."

"Furthermore, he enjoys the protection of the Heavenly Path Will [the will of the Heavenly Dao itself]. Barring direct interference from the Primordial Era Divine Court [the ancient court of the gods], his breakthrough should proceed without incident."

"However, Fellow Daoist Primordial Mire harbors a feud of life and death with the Solar Heavenly Emperor, making him a natural ally for the Divine Clan. If the Divine Court were to offer its full assistance, the benefits would far outweigh any potential cost."

Here, Eldrin Chen's tone shifted subtly as he continued with a knowing smile, "Since that is the case, why not seize this opportunity? Extend a helping hand and let Fellow Daoist Primordial Mire Path Master owe you a favor."

Hearing this, Purple Tenuity Divine Sovereign gave a slight, thoughtful nod.

He then turned his gaze towards Primordial Beginning Divine Sovereign and transmitted a silent message: "A newly ascended Chaos Heavenly Emperor [a supreme ruler who has attained the highest level of power within the primordial chaos]—we must either suppress him or befriend him. There should be no third option."

"Returning Abyss Path Ancestor [the founding master of the Returning Abyss cultivation path] has already formed an alliance with Primordial Mire Path Master and is certain to protect and assist him in achieving his Dao. If we obstruct his path, we will inevitably incur his enmity."

"Moreover, his words hold truth. Primordial Mire Path Master bears a grudge against Solar Heavenly Emperor for obstructing his own Dao. His ascension to the Realm of Chaos [the ultimate state of existence, merging with the primordial chaos] would be more beneficial than harmful to us."

Primordial Beginning Divine Sovereign also gave a slight nod. After a moment of contemplation, he smiled and said, "Since you, Fellow Daoist, have personally made the request, we shall naturally lend our assistance as well."

"My thanks, then."

Eldrin Chen offered a faint smile, then rose and clasped his hands in salute. "In that case, I shall go and inform Fellow Daoist Primordial Mire."

"I believe Fellow Daoist Primordial Mire will surely come in person to express his gratitude upon learning of this."

Primordial Beginning Divine Sovereign smiled slightly and stood as well. "Then we beg your pardon for not seeing you off further."

Only after Eldrin Chen had departed from the Primordial Era Divine Court [the celestial court established in the most ancient of times] did a profound, inscrutable light flicker deep within the eyes of Primordial Beginning Divine Sovereign.

At the same moment, a strand of Chaos Spiritual Light [a luminous essence born from the primordial chaos, containing immense power] flew from the Depths of Chaos and landed in the hand of Purple Tenuity Divine Sovereign.

Purple Tenuity Divine Sovereign cast a glance and then spoke, "Word has come from the Blazing Central Chaos Domain. Not long ago, Primordial Mire Path Master, along with Returning Abyss, Obsidian Abyss, and Spirit Emperor among others, successfully seized a Primordial Chaos Secret Realm [a hidden realm born from the primordial chaos, rich in ancient treasures and energies]."

"It was a damaged secret realm, but it seems their harvest was not insignificant."

Primordial Beginning Divine Sovereign gave a slight nod and said, "This Returning Abyss Path Master possesses extraordinary Fortune [a profound and favorable destiny], and is further protected by the Chaos Merit Golden Light [a divine radiance born from immense virtuous deeds within chaos]. Naturally, his Opportunity and Fortune [chances and favorable destiny] are considerable."

"I have investigated the Returning Abyss Path Master. His combat prowess is nearly peerless within his realm, yet he consistently prefers to engage enemies with superior numbers. Consequently, since achieving his path, he has scarcely suffered a setback."

"The reason for this is his penchant for forging wide friendships, uniting a great number of powerful figures around him. Thus, he is rarely ever forced to fight alone."

Purple Tenuity Divine Sovereign nodded in agreement and added, "His principle has always been to repay a drop of kindness with a flowing spring. To this day, his path remains untainted by any ill repute."

"It is precisely because of this that others can place their trust in him, refusing to betray him even in the direst of crises."

Primordial Beginning Divine Sovereign's gaze flickered thoughtfully. After a long moment of contemplation, he remarked, "No one has ever betrayed him. It seems his judgment of character is exceedingly sharp."

Purple Tenuity Divine Sovereign offered a faint smile and continued, "This time, he did not covet the Chaos Genesis Energy [the primordial creative energy of chaos]. Instead, he busied himself on behalf of Primordial Mire Path Master, smoothing the path for his breakthrough to Chaos Heavenly Emperor [a supreme sovereign who commands the authority of primordial chaos]."

"Primordial Mire Path Master is bound to regard him as a closest ally because of this. Should he succeed in proving his path as a Chaos Heavenly Emperor, he will likely become one of his most steadfast comrades."

"Indeed," Primordial Beginning Divine Sovereign sighed, then spoke, "If it were you or I, we too would likely be deeply moved, and regard him as our most trusted confidant."

"Compared to Solar Heavenly Emperor, he truly represents the opposite extreme of human nature."

"..."

Unaware of the exchange between the two Great God Emperors, Eldrin Chen returned to the Qilin Ancient Domain. After explaining the situation to Primordial Mire Path Master, he personally escorted the avatar of Primordial Mire Path Master to the Primordial Era Divine Court.

Under the guarantee of Eldrin Chen, Primordial Mire Path Master pledged a favor to the Divine Clan, promising to lend his full strength should the clan ever face peril in the future.

In return, the two Great God Emperors of the Divine Clan agreed that if the three Chaos Heavenly Emperor of the Demon Race intervened to obstruct the Path, they would intercept two of those Heavenly Emperor.

Finally, with Eldrin Chen acting as guarantor, both parties formalized their agreement with a binding contract.

Thus, the greatest variable threatening Primordial Mire Path Master's attempt to break through to the Chaos Heavenly Emperor realm was finally resolved.

With this matter settled, Eldrin Chen and Primordial Mire Path Master returned to the Qilin Ancient Domain.

Upon returning to the Qilin Ancient Domain [a primordial realm associated with the mythical Qilin], Primordial Mire Path Master spoke without delay, "I am truly and utterly grateful for your assistance this time, Fellow Daoist."

"You are too kind," Eldrin Chen replied.

Eldrin Chen offered a slight smile before continuing, "My ability to cultivate the True Spirit Divine Form [a supreme physical transformation technique] was greatly aided by the Qilin Battle Armor [enchanted armor forged from Qilin materials] you gifted me."

Primordial Mire Path Master gave a nod, pondered for a moment, and then inquired, "I have heard that you plan to attend the Heavenly Emperor Barter Convention [a grand trade gathering for cultivators of the highest echelons] in the Blazing Central Chaos Domain [the central, most prosperous region among surrounding chaotic realms] in the near future?"

Eldrin Chen affirmed with a nod. "Indeed. My purpose for going is to acquire some Rare Spiritual Wonders [extremely scarce materials imbued with profound spiritual properties]."

As the central hub for dozens of surrounding Chaos Domain [vast, unstable regions of primordial chaos], the Blazing Central Chaos Domain hosts a Sage Ascendant [a realm just below the pinnacle of cultivation]-level Barter Convention [a formal gathering for the exchange of rare cultivation resources] once every one hundred Kalpa Tribulation [a cosmic cycle of immense duration, often spanning billions of years].

Approximately once every one thousand Kalpa Tribulation, a Heavenly Emperor [a title for a supreme ruler among immortals]-level Barter Convention is convened.

In the past, Eldrin Chen had attended a Sage Ascendant Barter Convention alongside Indestructibility Ancient One. It was there he obtained the White Tiger Imperial Sword [a legendary sword embodying the power of the White Tiger], which allowed him to master the True Spirit Divine Form White Tiger Sword [a divine sword technique channeling the White Tiger's essence].

Now, with the once-in-a-thousand-Kalpa Tribulation Heavenly Emperor Barter Convention approaching, Eldrin Chen naturally had no intention of missing such a prime opportunity.

After all, for his Returning Abyss Seal [a powerful seal treasure] to ascend to the rank of an Innate Supreme Treasure [a treasure born from the primordial chaos, possessing supreme power], it required the integration of twelve portions of Chaos Rare Treasure [rare materials born from primordial chaos] to enhance its fundamental substance.

Although they had now obtained the Chaos Fire Jade and the Chaos Mysterious Gold, fulfilling two of the requirements, they were still short of ten portions of Chaos Rare Treasure [a primordial treasure of immense rarity and power, often used in forging supreme artifacts].

The best method to gather ten portions of Chaos Rare Treasure would undoubtedly be to participate in a Barter Convention [a grand gathering where powerful cultivators trade rare resources] of this Heavenly Emperor [a supreme title for a cultivator who has reached the pinnacle of power] level.

For whenever a Barter Convention at the Heavenly Emperor level commenced, at least a hundred Chaos Heavenly Emperor [a Heavenly Emperor who has mastered the power of primordial chaos] would participate, with the number of attending Sage Ascendant [a cultivator who has ascended to the sage realm, one step below the Heavenly Emperor] nearing a thousand.

Many resources of extraordinary rarity, even the priceless Chaos Genesis Energy [the primordial energy from which all creation springs], frequently appeared at such high-level Barter Convention.

Hearing this, Primordial Mire Path Master felt a flicker of joy in his heart.

He pondered for a moment before speaking, "For this breakthrough of mine, this old man also wishes to acquire a Chaos Immortal Pill [a supreme pill refined from primordial ingredients, said to aid in transcending mortal limits]."

"However, I dare not leave the Primordial Immortal Domain [a sacred realm of primordial energy and ancient power] while carrying Chaos Genesis Energy, so I would ask you, Fellow Daoist, to make the journey on my behalf."

Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen's eyes gleamed with interest. The Chaos Immortal Pill was an exceedingly rare type of Immortal Pill [a pill of divine efficacy, capable of granting immense power or facilitating profound breakthroughs], refined from Chaos Origin [the foundational essence of primordial chaos] and the fruit of a Chaos Spiritual Root [a spiritual plant that grows by absorbing chaotic energies].

Such an Immortal Pill possessed wondrous and boundless uses, capable of increasing one's chance of breaking through to the Chaos Heavenly Emperor realm by half a tenth.

Although the increase in success rate seemed small, a breakthrough to Chaos Heavenly Emperor was an all-or-nothing endeavor with no retreat. Consequently, Chaos Immortal Pill often commanded an astronomically high price.

Generally speaking, the value of a single Chaos Immortal Pill [a supreme pill refined from primordial chaos materials] likely starts at the equivalent of three Innate Supreme Treasure [a top-tier magical artifact born from the world's natural laws] or three portions of a Chaos Rare Treasure [a rare spiritual material originating from the primordial chaos], and it often commands a significant premium on top of that.

Eldrin Chen understood this well. After a moment of thoughtful silence, he spoke, "Since this matter is entrusted by you, Fellow Daoist, I shall certainly exert my utmost effort to accomplish it."

"Then I offer my sincere thanks."

Primordial Mire Path Master let out a sigh of relief and promptly retrieved four treasures from his sleeve.

These four treasures were respectively an ancient sword, a Dragon Pearl [a luminous pearl formed from the condensed essence of a dragon], a piece of dark nether iron, and a piece of Chaos [the primordial state before heaven and earth] bluestone.

Among these four treasures, the ancient sword was named the Heavenly Scale Ancient Sword [an ancient sword forged from the scales of a celestial beast]. It was crafted by Primordial Mire Path Master from his own scales. The Dragon Pearl was discovered within the Chaos, and both were classified as Innate Supreme Treasure.

The dark nether iron was named Chaos Nether Iron [a rare metallic ore imbued with the energies of primordial chaos and the netherworld], and the Chaos bluestone was named Primordial Chaos Great Path Stone [a stone from the primordial chaos, said to contain traces of the Great Dao]. Both were exceedingly rare Chaos Rare Treasure.

Most crucially, both of these treasures were suitable for enhancing the Returning Abyss Seal [a powerful seal treasure named for its abyssal power].

Thus, Eldrin Chen collected them and declared without hesitation, "With these four treasures in hand, I am bound to secure a Chaos Immortal Pill for you, Fellow Daoist."

"Then I shall await your good news."

Primordial Mire Path Master nodded, a glimmer of anticipation flickering in the depths of his gaze.

"..."

Departing from the Qilin Ancient Domain, Eldrin Chen immediately returned to the Returning Abyss Immortal Domain.

Upon his return to the Returning Abyss Immortal Domain, Eldrin Chen promptly summoned the three Great Emperor-level figures—Liana, Sword Mystery, and Immortality—and even journeyed once more to the Great Wasteland Ancient Realm to reclaim the Innate Supreme Treasure [treasures born of the world's primordial essence] he had bestowed upon them.

Afterwards, Eldrin Chen returned to the Nameless Space and began to take stock of the treasures in his possession.

"The gains from this journey are not insignificant. I wonder if I will be able to acquire the treasures I desire at this Barter Convention [a grand gathering for the exchange of rare and precious items]?"

Eldrin Chen murmured to himself. After a moment of contemplation, he began the meticulous task of cataloging his treasures.

Swiftly, Eldrin Chen sorted through his holdings, bringing order to all artifacts of Innate Supreme Treasure grade and above.

He had not truly grasped the extent of his hoard until this moment. The act of inventory revealed a staggering abundance of treasures.

Among the myriad artifacts were one Chaos Spiritual Artifact [a supreme treasure forged from the raw essence of primordial chaos], over ten Innate Supreme Treasure, several portions of high-grade Chaos Rare Treasure [a rare, condensed essence of primordial chaos], several portions of mid-grade Chaos Rare Treasure, and a veritable ocean—tens of thousands of drops—of low-grade Chaos Rare Treasure.

The Chaos Spiritual Artifact [a supreme artifact born from the primordial chaos] was naturally the Chaos Void-Refining Vase, and there were also quite a few Innate Supreme Treasure [a supreme-grade treasure born from the world's innate laws]. Eldrin Chen categorized them into those that could be sold and those that could not.

Among those not for sale were the Returning Abyss Seal, the Returning Abyss Pearl, the Creation Cauldron, the Primordial Energy Vase of Heaven and Earth, and the Primordial Chaos Three Souls Scripture [an ancient scripture detailing the cultivation of the three primordial souls].

Those available for sale were the Vermilion Bird Heavenly Seal, the Nine Dragons Supreme Treasure, the Heaven and Earth Formation Diagram [a diagram depicting a grand formation harnessing the power of heaven and earth], the Nine Heavens Milky Way Star Sand Sword, the Heaven-Slaying Warblade, the Heaven-Binding Golden Chain, the Azure Dragon Halberd, and the Great Wasteland Imperial Sword.

There were also the Dragon Pearl [a pearl containing immense draconic essence] and the Ancient Qilin Sword that belonged to Primordial Mire Path Master, which also counted as Innate Supreme Treasure.

Among these treasures, the Nine Dragon Treasures were a set composed of nine individual Innate Supreme Treasure.

Because it was a complete set of Innate Supreme Treasure, its power far surpassed the realm of ordinary Innate Supreme Treasure, its value equivalent to half a Chaos Spiritual Artifact.

The Heaven and Earth Formation Flags and the Nine Heavens Milky Way Star Sand Sword were both obtained from Ancient One of Heaven and Earth. The Heaven and Earth Formation Flags consisted of the formation diagram and two Formation Flag [flags used to anchor and power a formation], the Qian and Kun flags—all three were Innate Supreme Treasure.

When Heaven and Earth Sage Ascendant deployed the grand formation with them, it could even partially withstand the might of the Nine Dragon Treasures, proving it was far beyond what any ordinary Innate Supreme Treasure could match.

According to Eldrin Chen's estimation, the value of this Heaven and Earth Formation Flags set was at least equivalent to five individual Innate Supreme Treasure.

The Nine Heavens Milky Way Star Sand Sword was a superior-grade Innate Supreme Treasure, seemingly the Life-Bound Treasure [a treasure intimately connected to a cultivator's life force and cultivation] of a certain peerless Sage Ascendant [a cultivator who has ascended to the sage realm] from the ancient Immortal Cosmos Primordial Domain.

It is said this treasure exists as a pair; the other blade is named the 'Ten Directions Limitless Void Heaven Sword'. When the twin swords are united, their combined power is said to be capable of slaying a Limitless Sage Ascendant [a cultivator who has ascended to the pinnacle of the Sage Ascendant realm, possessing near-boundless power].

No one knows where the Heaven and Earth Sage Ascendant obtained it from, nor where the other sword has gone.

Beyond the Innate Supreme Treasure [a supreme-grade magical artifact born from the primordial chaos of creation], the Chaos Rare Treasure [a rare and precious material or object formed from primordial chaos] in Eldrin Chen's possession is also astonishingly impressive.

Among the high-grade Chaos Rare Treasure, there are three pieces of Chaos Mysterious Gold [a mysterious, chaos-born metal], Chaos Fire Jade [a jade imbued with the essence of chaos fire], Chaos Nether Iron [an iron alloyed with nether energies from the chaos], and seven other supreme treasures like the Primordial Chaos Great Path Stone [a stone containing traces of the primordial Great Dao]. The combined value of these seven treasures slightly exceeds that of an Innate Supreme Treasure.

There are only nine portions of mid-grade Chaos Rare Treasure, all of which are Chaos Origin [the pure, foundational essence of primordial chaos]. The value of this grade of Chaos Origin is roughly half that of an Innate Supreme Treasure; combined, they are equivalent to four or five such treasures.

The low-grade Chaos Rare Treasure is the Chaos Divine Liquid [a divine liquid condensed from chaos essence]. Eldrin Chen possesses over twenty thousand drops of it, a hoard whose total value is approximately equivalent to four Innate Supreme Treasure.

After careful deliberation for a long while, Eldrin Chen spoke inwardly, "The Chaos Divine Liquid is cultivation sustenance [vital resources for advancing one's cultivation]; it cannot be sold."

"The Chaos Origin also has some utility for fusing the Nine Great God Forms [a set of nine supreme divine transformation techniques]; it, too, cannot be sold off."

"The four high-grade Chaos Rare Treasure are essential for me to refine the Returning Abyss Seal [a powerful seal-type magical treasure]."

"It seems that to exchange for the Chaos Immortal Pill [an immortal-grade pill refined with chaos essence] this time, I will have to sell some of those Innate Supreme Treasure after all."

Eldrin Chen pondered silently, and a plan soon took shape in his mind.

He decided to prioritize using the Vermilion Bird Heavenly Seal [a powerful seal imbued with the essence of the Vermilion Bird], the Nine Heavens Milky Way Star Sand Sword [a divine sword forged from the sands of the celestial river], the Heaven-Slaying Warblade [a legendary blade said to be capable of cleaving the heavens], the Heaven-Binding Golden Chain [an enchanted chain that can bind even celestial beings], the Azure Dragon Halberd [a halberd channeling the power of the Azure Dragon], the Great Wasteland Imperial Sword [an imperial sword from the primordial wastelands], the Dragon Pearl [a pearl containing the condensed essence of a dragon], and the Ancient Qilin Sword [a sacred sword once wielded by an ancient Qilin] to barter for the Chaos Immortal Pill [a legendary pill that can elevate an immortal's cultivation through chaos energy].

If these treasures proved insufficient, he would then offer the Nine Dragons Supreme Treasure [a supreme treasure forged with the power of nine dragons] and the Heaven and Earth Formation Diagram [a diagram containing the secrets to a formation that encompasses heaven and earth] in exchange.

According to Eldrin Chen's estimation, the Heaven and Earth Formation Diagram was already of extraordinary value, and the Nine Dragons Supreme Treasure was likely to stir the interest of even the Chaos Heavenly Emperor [a supreme sovereign ruling over primordial chaos].

Exchanging these two sets of Innate Supreme Treasure [supreme treasures born from the primordial chaos of creation] for the Chaos Immortal Pill should proceed without any unforeseen complications.

With his mind settled, Eldrin Chen carefully stored these treasures separately and then exited the Nameless Space [a mysterious, extradimensional pocket realm].

As there was still considerable time before the Barter Convention [a grand gathering where cultivators trade rare treasures] commenced, Eldrin Chen did not depart immediately.

He began refining the Chaos Divine Liquid [a divine liquid brimming with primordial chaos energy] to cultivate in seclusion. Concurrently, he distributed a portion of the acquired resources as rewards to the members of the Returning Abyss Immortal Domain [an immortal domain governed by Eldrin Chen].

From this expedition, they had captured an entire Primordial One Mysterious Gold Vein [a primordial vein of a rare and potent mystical gold ore], which contained a vast sea of resources. While these held little direct use for Eldrin Chen himself, they were perfectly suited for rewarding his clan members.

This was especially true for Thalion Chen. With access to this Chaos Mysterious Gold [a type of gold ore infused with chaotic energies] mine, his Gold-Silver Body Forging Art [an art for tempering the physical body to a state akin to gold and silver] was certain to experience a tremendous leap forward.

Not long after Eldrin Chen's return, a group of guests of peerless elegance and grace arrived at the Immortal Court to pay their respects to the Returning Abyss Path Ancestor [the revered title of Eldrin Chen, signifying his mastery over the profound and abyssal mysteries of the cultivation path].

The visitor was none other than the Seven-Colored Immortal Lord of the Immortal Clam Clan [a powerful clan whose members cultivate spiritual power akin to that of immortal clams]. She was accompanied by over ten immortal maidens of breathtaking beauty. Upon seeing Eldrin Chen, she immediately performed a respectful bow and said, "We pay our respects to the Path Ancestor."

"Rise," he said.

Eldrin Chen offered a faint smile, then cast his gaze upon the assembled Great Encompassing Immortal Lords [cultivators who have ascended to a profound realm of immortality, their power encompassing vast cosmic principles].

Among these Great Encompassing Golden Immortals, besides the familiar face of the Seven-Colored Immortal Lord, were several old acquaintances such as Glazed Qu and Purple Mist Qu.

Over the years, as the Chen Immortal Clan rose to prominence, the Immortal Clam Clan, being closely aligned with Eldrin Chen's lineage, had also benefited from his patronage. Several of these old friends had consequently managed to break through into the realm of Great Encompassing Golden Immortal.

Of course, among these Great Encompassing Golden Immortals, there were also many faces unfamiliar to Eldrin Chen.

These individuals were Great Encompassing Golden Immortals from the Immortal Clam Clan who had fallen during the Late Primordial Era [a cataclysmic period marking the twilight of the ancient world].

From the Primordial Era [the mythic age of creation] until the present day, these fallen Great Encompassing Golden Immortals of the Immortal Clam Clan had been slain time and again by the clan's enemies.

Yet, since the rise of Eldrin Chen, their fates had been irrevocably altered.

Approximately several dozen Kalpa Tribulation [immense cosmic cycles] ago, Nyssa Qu personally took action to eradicate several enemies of the Immortal Clam Clan before these Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [Golden Immortals of the Great Encompassing Realm] from the clan revived, aiding their return to the world.

At that time, the Immortal Clam Clan had come seeking an audience on multiple occasions. However, as Eldrin Chen was in secluded cultivation, preparing for the matter of the incomplete Chaos Domain, he had consistently been unavailable to receive them.

Now, upon hearing of his return once more, the Immortal Clam Clan immediately visited the Returning Abyss Immortal Domain, and only today were they finally able to meet with Eldrin Chen.

Having understood the Karma [the cosmic principle of cause and effect] involved, Eldrin Chen inquired with a smile, "You have all been revived for some time now. How fares your recovery?"

"By the grace of the Path Ancestor, our strength has largely recovered," the assembled immortals replied in unison.

They smiled warmly as they presented their gifts of gratitude.

Eldrin Chen had the gifts received and exchanged pleasantries with the Great Encompassing [Golden Immortal] elders of the Immortal Clam Clan for a short while. He was about to have Nyssa Qu take over the hosting duties.

But at that very moment, the Seven-Colored Immortal Lord suddenly prostrated herself upon the Earthly Path [the hall's floor]. "Path Ancestor," she pleaded, "this humble one has a request to make."

"Oh?" Eldrin Chen's gaze shifted subtly.

In a flash of insight, he discerned the Seven-Colored Immortal Lord's unspoken thoughts. He then voiced the question, "You wish to know the whereabouts of the Nine-Colored Immortal Maiden, do you not?"

"Indeed," Seven-Colored Immortal Lord nodded, his tone filled with utmost reverence as he inquired, "I beseech you, Path Ancestor, to enlighten us."

Witnessing this, Eldrin Chen could not help but let out a soft sigh.

As a scion of an ancient imperial clan from a bygone age, the Primordial Ancestor of Immortal Clam Clan, the Nine-Colored Immortal Shell, was once a figure of immense power. His cultivation had already reached the Great Emperor Realm during the Primordial Era.

For such a personage to vanish during the Primordial Era has remained the greatest regret of the Immortal Clam Clan.

However, Eldrin Chen, as a Path Ancestor of his generation, naturally understood the profound Karma [the cosmic principle of cause and effect governing all actions] woven within these events.

He sighed softly once more, then gestured for the others to withdraw, leaving only Seven-Colored Immortal Lord and Nyssa Qu. Only then did he speak: "In truth, the Nine-Colored Immortal Maiden was never imprisoned."

"Never imprisoned?"

Seven-Colored Immortal Lord was utterly astounded, his face a mask of disbelief.

Eldrin Chen gave a slow, confirming nod before continuing, "The Nine-Colored Immortal Maiden possessed extraordinary talent. She was once counted among the Ten Great Immortal Maidens of the ancient Primordial Immortal Domain."