Chapter 2105 : Clash of the Divine Dao

Upon hearing this, every person present revealed expressions of profound shock.

Simultaneously, the nine personal disciples who had encircled the group had already sealed the Void. That Qingfeng Ye then turned his gaze towards Celestial Balance Scion and inquired, "How do you feel, Ninth Junior Brother?"

"The expenditure was significant, yet I retain ample strength for battle,"

Celestial Balance Scion replied, his demeanor remaining unflappable and his bearing peerlessly elegant.

Qingfeng Ye gave a slight nod, then finally looked towards Demon Dragon Great Emperor and declared, "Let us duel fairly, one against one, lest anyone accuse us of ganging up on you."

Demon Dragon Great Emperor's expression turned solemn, revealing a look of gravity for the first time.

He scrutinized Qingfeng Ye carefully before speaking, "You cultivate five distinct Great Dao [the supreme, fundamental laws of the cosmos], and have already mastered the Grand Dao Divine Form [a divine manifestation of one's comprehension of a Great Dao] for each. Such profound foundation is indeed extraordinary."

"Very well. This sovereign shall engage you with his full power."

As his words fell, Demon Dragon Great Emperor instantly shot into the sky, Eruption [unleashing] his ultimate techniques and combat prowess to clash with Qingfeng Ye in a battle that Eruption [unleashed] the absolute limits of their power.

From the very first exchange of blows, Qingfeng Ye immediately understood why Demon Dragon Great Emperor was hailed as the leader of the Ten Heroes of the Foreign Realm.

It turned out that this Demon Dragon Great Emperor had long since cultivated the ninth True Spirit Divine Runes [the foundational divine patterns that form a cultivator's spiritual core].

With such a formidable foundational base, logic dictated he should have long been able to cultivate the ninth True Spirit Divine Form [the ultimate spiritual manifestation of a cultivator's power] and step into the realm of the Primordial Limitless Sage Ascendant [a supreme cultivation stage beyond ordinary sages].

Yet, the Demon Dragon Great Emperor had suppressed his breakthrough, deliberately leaving one divine rune blank.

The reason for this was clearly in preparation for the Chaos Divine Rune [a divine rune of primordial chaos, the most powerful foundation]. This Demon Dragon Great Emperor had secluded himself for hundreds of thousands of Kalpa Tribulation [immense cosmic cycles], even going so far as to follow the Foreign Realm Demon Emperor, all for the sake of a single Chaos Origin Pearl [a pearl containing the primordial essence of chaos].

However, the resources in the hands of the Foreign Realm Demon Emperor were also limited. Without sufficient merit and accomplishments, the Foreign Realm Demon Emperor would not bestow the Chaos Origin Pearl upon the Demon Dragon Great Emperor.

The purpose of the Demon Dragon Great Emperor coming to the Seven Domains of the Southern Abyss was precisely for this one Chaos Divine Rune.

The Demon Dragon Great Emperor, having cultivated the Nine True Spirit Divine Patterns [the complete set of nine foundational divine patterns], possessed strength that ordinary Sage Ascendant [cultivators who have ascended to sagehood] could not hope to match. His combat power had even stepped into the ranks of the top-tier Sage Ascendant Realm.

Now, with him unleashing his full power, not only did those on the battlefield pale, but even the various Sage Ascendant within the Void [the formless space between realms] changed their expressions.

"This Demon Dragon Great Emperor could have long ago cultivated the Nine Great Divine Forms and stepped firmly into the Sage Ascendant Realm."

"If not for his ambition towards the Chaos Divine Rune, and his desire to glimpse the realm of the Chaos Divine Form [the ultimate divine form born of chaos], he would not have wasted hundreds of thousands of Kalpa Tribulation."

"Such a formidable foe, even if you and I were to intervene, I fear we would have little certainty of prevailing."

High in the firmament, the various Sage Ascendant [the pinnacle realm of cultivation, one step below the legendary Dao Progenitors] conversed gravely, their expressions one and all etched with solemnity.

The Heaven's Prison Sage Ascendant cast a glance at Eldrin Chen and spoke, "Can your esteemed chief disciple withstand the Demon Dragon Great Emperor?"

"Whether he can withstand him or not, we shall know once they clash."

Eldrin Chen offered a faint smile, his gaze calm as he observed the heart of the battlefield.

There, at the epicenter of the conflict, Qingfeng Ye and the Demon Dragon Great Emperor had already Eruption [unleashed their full power] in a battle pushed to its absolute limits.

The Demon Dragon Great Emperor, clad in his Primordial Battle Armor [ancient armor forged in the dawn of time] and wielding the Demon Dragon War Spear, swept through the eight directions. Each strike carried a divine might capable of annihilating all creation, a power no ordinary Sage Ascendant could hope to rival.

Yet, Qingfeng Ye was not the slightest bit outmatched. Behind him, the Ten Great Immortal Treasuries [a supreme cultivation art manifesting ten conceptual repositories of immortal power] whirled. Within five of these Immortal Treasury sat True Spirit Divine Form [divine avatars embodying the cultivator's truest spiritual essence], each one Eruption with ultimate divine energy.

Thus empowered by these five True Spirit Immortal Treasury, infinite Order Divine Chains [chains of solidified cosmic law and order] intertwined, their power channeled into Qingfeng Ye's body, erupting with a force that could shatter heavens and rend the cosmos.

After a series of fierce collisions, not only had the Demon Dragon Great Emperor failed to gain the upper hand, but he found himself forced to give ground, fighting a retreating battle against Qingfeng Ye.

"It seems our intervention is unnecessary."

Within the Depths of Chaos, Jiang the Sovereign Emperor cradled the Primordial Genesis Sword, a profound calm settling upon his features.

Eldrin Chen glanced back and saw the Ten Great Immortal Treasuries [ten supreme repositories of immortal power] swirling behind Jiang the Sovereign Emperor. Nine of them were occupied by a True Spirit Divine Form [a divine manifestation of one's true spiritual essence].

Compared to the peerless talent of Qingfeng Ye, the genius and aptitude of Jiang the Sovereign Emperor could be described as earth-shattering and unprecedented. Coupled with the vast resources provided by Eldrin Chen, his cultivation speed in recent years had been nothing short of meteoric.

Now, Jiang the Sovereign Emperor had successfully cultivated the Nine Great True Spirit Immortal Treasuries, his combat prowess rivaling that of a Primordial Limitless Sage Ascendant [a supreme sage who has transcended all limits].

However, the tenth True Spirit Immortal Treasury represented a bottleneck that was nearly insurmountable. Once crossed, it would signify the potential to reach the Dao-Union Supreme [the supreme realm of unity with the Dao] and even possess combat strength capable of challenging a Celestial Emperor.

Given the limited time and a lack of sufficient Opportunity [a confluence of fate, timing, and circumstance crucial for breakthroughs], even with Jiang the Sovereign Emperor's extraordinary talent, he had not yet achieved this breakthrough.

In truth, after reaching the Primordial Chaos Emperor Monarch realm, opening new Immortal Treasuries [internal repositories of immortal power] was not particularly difficult.

With the cultivation base of a Primordial Chaos Emperor Monarch, opening one hundred ordinary Immortal Treasuries would not be an issue. However, ordinary Immortal Treasuries held little practical value for an existence at that level.

Only Immortal Treasuries of the Imperishable [the level of divine abilities that are eternal and indestructible] tier could marginally enhance the strength of a Primordial Chaos Emperor Monarch.

Yet what truly enhances the potential and combat prowess of a Primordial Chaos Emperor Monarch [a supreme ruler who has mastered the primordial forces of chaos] is this crucial True Spirit Immortal Treasury [a supreme cultivation art that refines one's foundational spiritual essence].

Once one cultivates the True Spirit Immortal Treasury, even a single True Spirit Immortal Treasury [a foundational spiritual essence refined by this art] brings an improvement surpassing ten Indestructible Immortal Treasuries [powerful cultivation arts focused on forging an unbreakable physical foundation].

With this thought, Eldrin Chen spoke, "After this battle, the number of captured Innate Supreme Treasures [treasures born from the primordial chaos, possessing supreme power] will be significant. Seize this opportunity to advance further."

"I see no remaining suspense in this conflict. Once the war concludes, you should take them to the Great Wilderness Primordial Domain [a vast, ancient, and untamed realm] to take refuge from the coming storm."

Upon hearing this, Jiang the Sovereign Emperor's expression changed abruptly.

He understood clearly that with the conclusion of the clashes at the Great Emperor [a supreme cultivation realm, one step below the Celestial Emperor] level, the situation ahead would grow even more arduous.

The Sages of the Foreign Realm [powerful sage-level beings from alien dimensions] who had suffered a great loss, and even the Chaos Celestial Emperors [supreme rulers who command the fundamental chaos of the cosmos], would not let the Seven Domains of the Southern Abyss [a coalition of seven powerful realms in the southern cosmic depths] off without punishment.

When that time came, the Sages of the Foreign Realm would surely descend, clashing with Eldrin Chen and the others in a cataclysmic battle that would unleash their ultimate Eruption [a divine ability representing a sudden, overwhelming release of power] techniques.

With this realization, Jiang the Sovereign Emperor said, "I should stay. Perhaps I can be of some small assistance."

"There is no need."

Eldrin Chen shook his head and spoke with calm finality. "In the coming war, the Path of Self-Sacrifice will undoubtedly become the prime target. Even I cannot guarantee the safety of all its practitioners."

"I will remain here to draw their focus. You must take the disciples of the Path of Self-Sacrifice and our core clan members and depart. I have already sent word to Thalion, the Ancient Ancestor in the Great Desolate Ancient Realm."

"Remember, safety is paramount above all else."

Only then did Jiang the Sovereign Emperor give a slow nod, his expression grave. "Then you must be exceedingly cautious. If the tide turns irreversibly against us, abandon the Seven Domains of the Southern Abyss immediately."

Eldrin Chen nodded in agreement, yet a flicker of profound understanding passed through his gaze.

As a high-ranking figure within the Seven Domains of the Southern Abyss, his vision had long since transcended its borders, encompassing the entirety of the Blazing Zenith Hundred Domains.

Eldrin Chen understood with perfect clarity: this war for the Seven Domains of the Southern Abyss was not merely necessary—it was inescapable.

For the Blazing Zenith Supreme would never tolerate the rise of a Foreign Realm Demon Emperor, nor stand idly by as he sought to unify the Fourteen Domains of the Celestial Abyss.

From Eldrin Chen's understanding, even without a Half-Step Dao-Unification expert presiding over a Formation, if more than ten Origin Domain united their power, the Chaos Grand Formation they could deploy would be capable of confronting a Dao-Union Supreme head-on.

And within the vast expanse of the Blazing Zenith Hundred Domains, only one Chaos Domain possessed more than ten Origin Domain: the Blazing Central Chaos Domain itself.

If the Foreign Realm Demon Emperor were to unify both banks of the Heavenly Abyss and then join forces with the fourteen Origin Domain to deploy the Chaos Grand Formation, wouldn't he be able to directly challenge Blazing Zenith Supreme?

By that time, even if the Foreign Realm Demon Emperor were to break through to the Dao-Union Supreme realm, Blazing Zenith Supreme could only watch helplessly as he advanced, utterly powerless to obstruct his path.

Precisely for this reason, Blazing Zenith Supreme dispatched two Celestial Emperor and also sent Blazing Zenith Ember to the Seven Domains of the Southern Abyss.

This was not merely to plant a strategic foothold, but also to prepare for the confrontation with the Foreign Realm Demon Emperor.

Eldrin Chen even suspected that if the Southern Abyss were to suffer a complete and irreversible defeat, that Dao-Union Supreme would intervene personally or dispatch a Half-Step Dao-Unification cultivator to meddle in the war, even if he did not take to the field himself.

Under such circumstances, Eldrin Chen could not simply depart at will, unless he was prepared to utterly abandon the Seven Domains of the Southern Abyss and irrevocably sever ties with Blazing Zenith Supreme.

"The Foreign Realm Demon Emperor, Blazing Zenith Supreme."

"Caught between the clash of these two great powers, survival in this narrow crevice demands seeking victory amidst peril, grasping for that sliver of opportunity to attain the Dao within the very jaws of calamity."

Such thoughts flickered through Eldrin Chen's mind before his gaze turned towards the heart of the battlefield.

There, the conflict was already beginning to draw to its inevitable close.

The Ten True Disciples who cultivate the Path of Self-Sacrifice are not only individually powerful enough to rival the Seven Heroes of the Foreign Realm, but they are also bolstered by a Primordial Unity Immortal Domain [a perfected personal realm formed by a powerful cultivator], granting them a truly profound and overwhelming reservoir of spiritual power.

For the Seven Heroes of the Foreign Realm to fight the Ten True Disciples was akin to assaulting ten massive Primordial Unity Immortal Domain [perfected personal realms]. They faced not merely ten opponents of equal rank, but also the combined might of an entire Primordial Unity Immortal Domain's Great Dao [the supreme, fundamental principles of existence] and Laws [the underlying rules governing reality and power].

This titanic struggle raged on for several Kalpa Tribulation [immense cosmic cycles of destruction and rebirth]. In the end, the Seven Heroes of the Foreign Realm were utterly defeated.

The Three Souls Emperor Lord was vanquished in direct combat by Yinghui Ye. Meanwhile, the Five Extremes Great Emperors, who jointly mastered five Great Dao [supreme principles], met their end beneath the sword of Frostwing Yan.

The Six Harmonies Great Emperor, a peerless figure within the Foreign Realm [a distant and hostile dimension] who had cultivated six Great Dao [supreme principles], was ultimately refined and consumed by the Four Symbols Formation [a powerful battle formation based on the four celestial beasts] wielded by Wen Yuan Lu.

The remaining heroes were either defeated or forced to flee. Even the mighty Demon Dragon Great Emperor finally perished, trapped within the Five Extremities Sword Formation [a lethal sword formation representing the five cardinal directions] unleashed by Qingfeng Ye.

With the fall of the Ten Heroes of the Foreign Realm, the hundreds of other Great Emperor [a supreme cultivation realm] from the Foreign Realm stood no chance. They were not even a match for a single exchange.

They suffered defeat after defeat. The majority were forced to form defensive arrays and retreat into the depths of the Primordial Chaos Abyss [a churning, formless void at the edge of creation], awaiting rescue from the Sages of the Foreign Realm.

"You juniors... you all deserve death."

Shortly after the defeat of the Ten Heroes of the Foreign Realm, the Sages of the Foreign Realm could no longer restrain their fury. They surged into the Heavenly Abyss [the celestial battlefield], intent on annihilating every last one of the Ten True Disciples.

"Hold them back."

Eldrin Chen spoke, immediately moving to seal off the Heavenly Abyss [the vast, chaotic chasm separating realms].

Desolate Wasteland Quasi-Emperor, Primordial Spirit Emperor, Violet Glow Sword Extreme, and the other thirty-plus Sage Ascendant [powerful cultivators one step below the Sage realm] from the Southern Abyss also acted in unison, unleashing their power to blockade the Southern Shore of the Celestial Abyss.

The more powerful an Immortal [a being who has ascended to immortality through cultivation] was, the greater the pressure they endured when traversing the Heavenly Abyss.

Although the Sages of the Foreign Realm [powerful cultivators from an alien dimension] could resist the violent torrents of the Heavenly Abyss to cross over, the effort was not insignificant. For a time, they found it difficult to pierce through the vast, turbulent expanse of the chasm.

Seizing this opportunity, Eldrin Chen swept up the Ten True Disciples [the ten core disciples of a lineage or sect] with a flick of his sleeve, then instructed Jiang the Sovereign Emperor and Lyra Jiang to lead them away to safety.

"My husband."

Before parting, Lyra Jiang and the others felt a pang of reluctance, their gazes lingering on Eldrin Chen.

Eldrin Chen did not look back. He strode calmly toward the edge of the Heavenly Abyss and spoke, his voice steady. "Go to the Primordial Chaos Desolate Sea [the primordial sea of chaos at the edge of creation]. Remember, no matter what happens, do not look back."

His words sent a tremor through their hearts. Clenching their teeth, they all turned and fled toward the Depths of Chaos.

Simultaneously, the brows of the Sages in the heavens above furrowed slightly. Heaven's Prison Sage Ascendant could not help but speak out, "The battle is urgent. How can so many powerful experts depart like this?"

Eldrin Chen did not answer directly. He merely stated, "My lineage has slain over one hundred Great Emperor and decisively defeated the Ten Heroes of the Foreign Realm. Is such a contribution still insufficient?"

Heaven's Prison Sage Ascendant fell silent for a moment, then finally spoke again, "Your disciples may leave, but you cannot."

Eldrin Chen offered no reply, only letting out a derisive laugh. "Before Your Excellency flees for your life, this seat fears I shall not be departing."

As the two exchanged words, the Sages of the Foreign Realm had already slain their way to the heart of the Heavenly Abyss.

Eldrin Chen cast his gaze outward and saw a Chaos Ancient Platform suddenly rise from within the Heavenly Abyss. Upon it stood nearly one hundred Sage Ascendant from the Foreign Realm.

At their forefront were ten majestic figures, led by none other than the Primordial Demonic Ape.

Now, the Sages of the Foreign Realm stood poised in the air. The Primordial Demonic Ape gazed calmly at the Sages of the Southern Abyss and declared, "In the war of Great Emperor, you indeed held your own. Yet that was merely a minor skirmish."

"In my view, how about we make a wager for what comes next?"

Upon hearing this, all those present were momentarily taken aback.

They exchanged a glance, and finally, Heaven's Slaughter Sage Ascendant spoke up, inquiring, "A wager? Speak your mind."

The Sages of the Northern Abyss all offered faint smiles. From among the ten foremost powerhouses at their vanguard, a figure of imposing stature stepped forth.

He gazed calmly at the assembly and declared, "We of the Northern Abyss shall dispatch ten Sage Ascendant [the pinnacle realm below the Celestial Emperor] to face you in fair, one-on-one duels upon the Heavenly Abyss."

"You may take turns. If you can defeat these ten, we of the Northern Abyss shall cease hostilities for one thousand Kalpa Tribulation [immense cosmic cycles spanning billions of years]."

"But if we prevail, you of the Southern Abyss might as well surrender outright."

Upon hearing this, the expressions of the Southern Abyss Sages shifted, each face darkening with indignation.

Though their foe possessed nearly one hundred Sage Ascendant, they offered only ten for this contest—intending to face their thirty-plus opponents in successive single combat. This was nothing less than a blatant insult, a show of utter contempt for the Sages of the Southern Abyss.

The humiliation was profound. Many Southern Abyss Sage Ascendant seethed with fury, yet none dared refuse the proposal put forth by the Sages of the Northern Abyss.

After all, the enemy held overwhelming numerical superiority. Should a full-scale Eruption [a cataclysmic, all-out conflict] erupt, how could thirty hope to prevail against one hundred?

True, among their ranks stood the Abyssal Dao Progenitor [a title for a supreme Sage who can rival a Celestial Emperor], an Invincible Sage Ascendant [a Sage Ascendant of unparalleled, peerless strength] capable of challenging a Celestial Emperor [the supreme sovereign of a heavenly realm]. But their adversaries were not lacking in such peerless powerhouses either.

Under the command of Foreign Realm Demon Emperor [a powerful demonic ruler from a foreign realm] were the Ten Divine Generals [a group of ten supreme commanders]. Each of these Divine Generals was a Primordial Limitless Sage Ascendant [a supreme cultivator who has transcended the limits of the Sage Ascendant realm], and among them, three were even said to rival a Celestial Emperor [the supreme ruler of the heavens, a pinnacle existence]. Every single one of them was terrifyingly powerful.

With this thought in mind, the various Sages of the Southern Abyss [a profound and perilous abyssal realm in the south] exchanged glances. Finally, Heaven's Slaughter Sage Ascendant [a Sage Ascendant whose title signifies mastery over the Dao of slaughter] spoke, "Agreed!"

As the Sages of the Southern Abyss gave their consent, the Chaos Dueling Platform [an ancient arena forged from primordial chaos, used for decisive battles] above the Heavenly Abyss [the Celestial Abyss, a realm bordering the heavens] rose. Following this, the Ten Divine Generals led by the Northern Abyss [the Northern Abyssal Realm] surged onto the platform one after another.

Eldrin Chen glanced at them, a slight frown creasing his brow as he instantly recognized the origins of several among them.

Each of the Ten Divine Generals under the Foreign Realm Demon Emperor was a figure whose combat prowess could startle even Sages.

Among them, the Primordial Demonic Ape [an ancient and ferocious ape demon from the dawn of time] stood at the center, clearly the strongest of the group. By his side were two other peerless Sage Ascendant [a cultivator who has attained the pinnacle of the Sage realm, one step below a Celestial Emperor]: a crimson-haired man and a violet-robed Sage Ascendant.

Eldrin Chen had heard some rumors about these two as well.

The crimson-haired man was named Crimson Blood Demon Lord [a demon lord whose power is intertwined with crimson flames and blood]. It was said he simultaneously mastered three distinct Perfect Innate Great Dao [supreme, naturally perfect paths of cosmic law]: the Crimson Flame Qi [the essence of crimson, scorching flames], the Blood Sea [the Great Dao of the Endless Blood Ocean], and the Nether Spring Great Dao [the Great Dao of the Netherworld Spring].

Among these three Great Dao [fundamental cosmic laws or paths of power], the Crimson Flame Great Dao possessed fifteen Grand Dao Divine Form [manifestations of a Great Dao's ultimate power], making it a true Boundless Great Dao [a Great Dao of immense, nearly limitless potential].

Meanwhile, both the Blood Sea and the Nether Spring Great Dao possessed seven Grand Dao Divine Form each. Even among Perfect Innate Great Dao, this was not considered weak.

The Crimson Blood Demon Lord [a powerful demonic cultivator] cultivated three distinct Primordial Great Dao [fundamental cosmic principles] simultaneously, and had mastered each one completely. This made his strength a veritable miracle even among Sage Ascendant [powerful cultivators one step below the Celestial Emperor realm].

As far as Eldrin Chen knew, the Crimson Blood Demon Lord's power was sufficient to rival and even contend with a true Celestial Emperor [the pinnacle realm of cultivation]. He was counted among the very apex of all Dao-Wielding Sage Ascendant [Sage Ascendants who have fully grasped a Great Dao].

Had it not been for his desire to further perfect his Crimson Flame Great Dao [the cosmic principle of Crimson Flame], this Crimson Blood Demon Lord would have long since broken through into the Celestial Emperor realm.

The other violet-robed Sage Ascendant, named Violet Night Demon Monarch, had also achieved a Unique Divine Form [a unique and powerful physical manifestation of one's cultivation]. His strength was in no way inferior to that of the Primordial Demonic Ape [an ancient and mighty demonic beast].

"It seems this battle will require considerable effort," Eldrin Chen mused.

His thoughts flickered, a trace of solemnity surfacing within him, but it soon dissipated.

The Ten Divine Generals [the ten elite commanders] under the Foreign Realm Demon Emperor [the ruler of the invading foreign realm] were indeed formidable. However, aside from the three whose power rivaled a Celestial Emperor, the rest were not worth undue concern.

Eldrin Chen felt a flicker of curiosity. Why, when the Sages of the Foreign Realm [the collective force of Sage Ascendants from the foreign realm] held the strategic advantage and could have overwhelmed the sages of the Southern Abyss [a major power in the cultivation world] with sheer numbers, did they insist on this duel of only ten champions?

Could it truly be nothing more than the pride of the Foreign Realm Sage Ascendant at work?

As these thoughts drifted through Eldrin Chen's mind, the Ten Divine Generals hovering in the heavens above finally spoke.

One of the Foreign Realm Divine Generals pointed his war spear at the assembled group, his expression calm as he spoke: "You of the Southern Abyss [the southernmost region of the primordial chaos], why do you delay? Come forth and meet your end."

The Southern Abyss cultivators exchanged thoughtful glances. After a moment, a Sage Ascendant [a supreme cultivator who has ascended to the threshold of sagehood] from the Myriad Gods Primordial Domain spoke: "Fellow Daoists, allow this old man to be the first to test the mettle of the Sages of the Northern Abyss."

As his words faded, that Sage Ascendant soared into the air and alighted upon the Chaos Dueling Platform [a primordial arena forged from chaotic energies for decisive combat].

Watching this, the Desolate Wasteland Quasi-Emperor beside him said to Eldrin Chen, "The strength of Violet Sun Sage Ascendant is considerable even among Sage Ascendant."

"With him taking the field personally, this battle should reveal the true depth of our opponent from the Northern Abyss."

Eldrin Chen merely shook his head and sighed. "Ten moves."

"What?"

The Desolate Wasteland Quasi-Emperor was momentarily stunned. Before he could process the words, a sharp cry of agony pierced the air.

In that instant, a majestic figure was sent hurtling back through the void, crashing into the depths of the Boundless Chaotic Desolate Sea [the endless, turbulent sea of primordial chaos].

Only then did the Desolate Wasteland Quasi-Emperor look over. He saw the Violet Sun Sage Ascendant drenched in his own blood, more than half the sacred bones in his body shattered.

"Alas—"

Eldrin Chen let out a soft sigh, then spoke: "Even among Sage Ascendant [the highest echelon of cultivators below the Immortal Emperor realm], there exists a chasm of power. Before a Primordial Limitless Sage Ascendant [a Sage Ascendant who has comprehended the foundational principles of limitless chaos], even a Pinnacle Sage Ascendant [a Sage Ascendant at the absolute peak of their power] would find it difficult to confront them head-on."

"In a one-on-one duel, flight would be the only viable option."

The assembled Sages fell into a heavy silence, yet there were inevitably those who remained unconvinced.

That Myriad Tribulations Divine Venerable [a title for a supreme cultivator who has endured countless heavenly tribulations] snorted coldly and declared, "We who stand as Sage Ascendant, what have we to fear from battle?"

"Be it a mere Sage Ascendant or even facing a Chaos Celestial Emperor [a supreme ruler born from primordial chaos] directly, I would dare to draw my sword with all my might."

As his words faded, the Myriad Tribulations Divine Venerable stepped directly onto the platform. He summoned his Life-Bound Supreme Treasure [a treasure of ultimate power bound to a cultivator's very life force], the Myriad Tribulations Sacred Sword, and unleashed a cleaving strike.

This Myriad Tribulations Divine Venerable proved himself worthy of his status as a supreme Sage Ascendant, his power far surpassing that of the Violet Sun Sage Ascendant. The sword radiance from his hand stretched endlessly, a tide of boundless sword intent that swept through the Chaos Heaven [the primordial, formless realm of chaos], threatening to sunder everything in its path.

"Heh—"

Yet, in that very instant, a cold, mocking laugh echoed from the opposite side.

Within the Vast Chaotic Void [the primordial, formless expanse that existed before creation], a sudden sword cry rang out. An indescribable blade of light descended, cleaving through the endless Space-Time [the fabric of reality encompassing all dimensions of space and time] with the Indestructible [an unyielding, eternal principle] sword intent that seemed capable of annihilating all existence.

"It is him."

Eldrin Chen's heart stirred, instantly recognizing the origin of the swordsman.

This person's Dao title was 'Heaven-Severing Sword Saint' [a legendary swordsman whose blade could sunder the heavens]. Tens of thousands of Kalpa Tribulation [immense cosmic cycles of destruction and rebirth] ago, he had slain the Vast Azure Great God with a single sword strike across the Heavenly Abyss [a chasm of infinite depth separating realms]. The residual force of that blow had even traveled down the River of Time and Space [the metaphysical flow governing all temporal and spatial events] to slay the Vast Azure Great God hundreds of times over.

"Ah—!"

As the sword intent flashed, another agonized scream tore through the void.

The Myriad Tribulations Divine Venerable [a supreme being who has endured countless cosmic calamities] had one of his arms severed. He tumbled out from the Void [a state of absolute emptiness and non-being], his face deathly pale.

"You dare to wield a sword?"