Chapter 2072 : Clash of Sovereigns and Sages

The Obsidian Abyss Great Emperor [a title for a supreme ruler of profound darkness] soared through the heavens, wielding the Obsidian Abyss Imperial Spear [a sovereign spear imbued with the power of the abyss]. The Thunder Emperor Battle Armor [divine armor crackling with the power of thunder] encasing his form was pushed to its absolute limit.

In that fleeting moment, he engaged in a world-shaking duel against three Limitless Sage Ascendants [beings who have ascended to a sage-like state of boundless power], unleashing his ultimate technique in a clash of unprecedented ferocity.

Meanwhile, Eldrin Chen acted instantly. He commanded the Returning Abyss Seal [a mystical seal with the power to return all to the abyss] to split into twelve Innate Supreme Treasures [primordial treasures of ultimate power], engaging nine Sage Ascendants [beings who have ascended to a sage-like state] in a breathtaking battle.

In this battle, Eldrin Chen faced nine opponents alone, yet displayed a demeanor of near-invincibility.

Even under the relentless, cascading assaults of the nine Sage Ascendants, Eldrin Chen never yielded an inch of ground.

He did not seek an opening to counterattack, focusing instead entirely on defense, as if stalling for time, waiting for the Obsidian Abyss Great Emperor to break the deadlock.

This titanic struggle raged on for millions of years before the nine Sage Ascendants finally began to lose patience.

The Vermilion Bird Sage Ascendant [a sage ascendant embodying the mythical Vermilion Bird] wore a face dark with fury. "He is stalling," he declared, his voice cutting through the chaos. "We must end this swiftly."

The Flame Soul Sacred Venerable [a venerable being whose soul burns with sacred flame] had reached the same conclusion. "Suppress him with your full might," he commanded. "I shall deliver the crippling blow."

As his words faded, the Flame Soul Sacred Venerable instantly merged his Nine Great God Forms [a divine ability to manifest nine godly avatars] into a Sole Divine Form [a singular, ultimate divine manifestation]. The Flame Soul Divine Spear [a divine spear forged from soul-fire] in its grasp tore through the firmament, aimed with crushing force at Eldrin Chen.

In the blink of an eye, Vermilion Bird Sage Ascendant and the other seven Sage Ascendant [a realm of power just below the Path Ancestors] unleashed their full might. They erupted with their ultimate power, desperately attempting to suppress Eldrin Chen with a coordinated assault.

"Hah—"

Seeing these powerful figures attack relentlessly without any regard for defense, Eldrin Chen finally glimpsed the opening he needed to break the stalemate.

In that instant, Eldrin Chen transformed the Returning Abyss Seal [a powerful enchanted seal artifact] into the Chaos Heaven Halberd [a legendary polearm of immense power]. Then, to the utter astonishment of his foes, he chose to directly withstand the combined, full-force strike of the nine Sage Ascendant.

Not only did Eldrin Chen emerge from blocking the nine Sage Ascendant's combined assault completely unscathed, he even used the momentum to propel the Chaos Heaven Halberd forward. It pierced through the void and instantly impaled the chest of Flame Soul Sage Ascendant.

"Aaaagh—!"

Flame Soul Sage Ascendant let out a piercing shriek of agony and immediately tried to disengage and flee for his life.

But it was already far too late. Eldrin Chen gave a fierce, resonant shake to the Chaos Heaven Halberd.

In that moment, the nine Great Path Divine Form [divine manifestations of one's cultivated path] of the Sacrificial Self Path merged their power with the formidable strength of his Primordial Chaos Indestructibility Body [a legendary physique of unbreakable chaos]. Together, they instantly tore Flame Soul Sage Ascendant's physical body to shreds.

Stripped of his bodily vessel's protection, the Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core and true self of a high-level cultivator] of Flame Soul Sage Ascendant was immediately assailed by the corrosive curse energy. He paid a tremendous price, barely managing to escape the battlefield with the tattered remnants of his spirit.

"Disaster!"

Seeing that their full-force strike had failed to harm Eldrin Chen, the expressions of the group changed drastically.

In that instant, they realized they likely could not overcome Eldrin Chen and immediately began fleeing downstream along the Primordial Era Soul River.

"Thinking of running?"

Watching them attempt to escape, Eldrin Chen let out a cold laugh. He promptly activated the Returning Abyss Seal, causing it to manifest as the Polarity Void Mirror.

In that very moment, an intangible force of void energy completely sealed off this expanse of space, cutting off their retreat.

The current power of the Returning Abyss Seal was now comparable to a Chaos Spiritual Artifact. The Polarity Void Mirror it manifested was in no way inferior to a Chaos Spiritual Artifact of Spatial Attribute nature.

Now, as Eldrin Chen wielded this treasure to seal heaven and earth, combined with the binding power of the Primordial Era Soul River, the retreat path for the nine Sage Ascendant [cultivators who have ascended to the sage realm] was decisively severed.

"That upstart Eldrin, must you be so utterly ruthless?"

Seeing their escape route cut off by Eldrin Chen, the several Sage Ascendant revealed expressions of frantic desperation.

Yet Eldrin Chen remained utterly calm, his voice cold as he declared, "Even if I cannot annihilate you all today, I will make you pay a terrible price."

As his words fell, Eldrin Chen unleashed his full power. He commanded the Chaos Heaven Halberd to cleave the void, engaging the nine Sage Ascendant in a desperate, all-out battle.

In that moment, Eldrin Chen held nothing back. He erupted with the invincible combat prowess of one who had truly stepped into the domain of a Limitless Sage Ascendant.

Though the nine Sage Ascendant were formidable, faced with such earth-shattering techniques from Eldrin Chen, they were driven to the brink of madness.

For Eldrin Chen possessed an Immortality [a state of perfect, unyielding physical form] body, and the Returning Abyss Divine Rune [a mystical sigil that absorbs and nullifies incoming attacks] absorbed nearly all damage inflicted upon him. They could not harm him in the slightest.

Under such circumstances, their struggle held almost no chance of victory.

After three thousand exchanges, Eldrin Chen fought with berserk fury. One sword stroke cleaved the physical form of the Verdant Crow Sage Ascendant, and a following fist blow shattered half of the Kunpeng Sage Ascendant's body.

The Vermilion Bird Sage Ascendant [a title for a supreme expert aligned with the Vermilion Bird, one of the Four Symbols], bleeding profusely, soared into the air, attempting to flee this stretch of the Primordial Era Soul River. Yet Eldrin Chen seized its wing once more and tore it from its body with brutal force.

"Aaaargh—!"

As the battle reached its final, desperate stage, more than half of the nine Sage Ascendant's physical forms lay in ruins. Just as despair threatened to consume them, a sliver of hope unexpectedly appeared.

Three great Sage Ascendant [powerful beings one step below the Path Ancestor realm] launched a fierce assault. After a bitter struggle, they managed to temporarily suppress the Obsidian Abyss Great Emperor. Then, the most formidable among them, the Primordial Heaven Sacred Venerable [a supreme title for a master of the primordial heavenly path], shattered the void itself to arrive, intent on utterly crushing Eldrin Chen.

"With your power, you are not yet worthy of harming this venerable one."

As the Primordial Heaven Sacred Venerable charged forth to kill, a glacial coldness erupted in the depths of Eldrin Chen's eyes.

He unleashed his Burst [a supreme technique that temporarily multiplies one's power] and fought with all his might, clashing with the Chaos Heaven Sage Ascendant in a battle that bordered on madness.

One had to admit that the path of Fleshly Body Sanctification [a cultivation art focused on forging an indestructible physical body] was truly formidable. This Chaos Heaven Sage Ascendant was, after all, a Limitless Sage Ascendant [a Sage Ascendant who has reached the pinnacle of their realm].

By pushing his Burst to its absolute limit, he temporarily fused the power of the Nine True Spirit Divine Forms [divine forms representing nine primordial true spirits], attaining the might of the Sole True Form [the ultimate, unified divine form].

Though this elevated state of power could not be sustained for long, in the moment the Sole Divine Form existed, his combat prowess could be described as world-shaking, capable of throwing heaven and earth into chaos.

Forced to engage, Eldrin Chen could only fuse five of his True Spirit Divine Form for the time being, borrowing their collective power to resist. He even pushed the power of his Sacrificial Self Path [a profound cultivation art centered on self-sacrifice and transcendence] to its absolute extreme.

Thus, the two sides clashed for over a thousand exchanges. The residual shockwaves of their cataclysmic battle churned the boundless Soul River [the metaphysical river of souls in the afterlife] into towering, chaotic waves.

"Perish!"

The Chaos Heaven Sage Ascendant fought until his blood boiled with fervor, the Heavenly Emperor [a supreme title for a ruler of the heavens] lineage within him nearly fully awakened.

He roared, clashing with Eldrin Chen in an ultimate duel. The Innate Supreme Treasure [a peerless treasure born from primordial chaos] divine spear in his hand was imbued with the indomitable battle intent of Immortality [the divine power of unyielding endurance].

Yet, Eldrin Chen showed not a shred of fear. Bolstered by the dual Half-Step Ultimate Divine Form [a near-perfect state of divine physical enhancement] powers of the Black Tortoise Shield [a defensive technique mimicking the legendary Black Tortoise's shell] and the Ancient Life Pearl [a pearl containing ancient life force], his physical body was already forged to a nigh-indestructible, Immortality-like resilience.

Moreover, there was the Returning Abyss Divine Rune [a mystical rune capable of absorbing and negating incoming damage], which devoured all harm directed at him.

In this frenzied, ultimate Slaughter [a state of all-out, relentless combat], both combatants were driven to the brink of madness. With a thunderous roar, Eldrin Chen unfurled his Vermilion Bird Wings [wings of blazing crimson flame, symbolizing the mythical Vermilion Bird], manifesting ultimate speed as he Slaughter-charged forward.

The Vermilion Bird Wings granted by the Half-Step Ultimate Divine Rune [a cultivation art nearing the pinnacle of divine rune mastery] surpassed all speed-type True Spirit Divine Runes [divine runes derived from the essence of mythical True Spirits].

The Chaos Heaven Sage Ascendant wielded his war spear, desperately parrying Eldrin Chen's assaults, only to realize he was utterly on the defensive, merely weathering the storm.

The Burst [a sudden, explosive release of power] force and speed, relentless as a series of Thunderclap [a move as sudden and powerful as a clap of thunder], pummeled the Chaos Heaven Sage Ascendant repeatedly, sending him flying through the air. Their striking speeds were simply not on the same level.

"Argh! Primordial Heaven Golden Bell [a golden bell of primordial heavenly origin, renowned for its supreme defense]!"

Seeing himself unable to withstand the onslaught, the Chaos Heaven Sage Ascendant was nearly driven to madness by sheer fury.

In that instant, he activated his Sole True Form [a supreme defensive technique that manifests an indestructible avatar], conjuring a golden bell to shield his body. His strategy was to remain still, weathering the storm to find the perfect moment for a counterattack.

Yet Eldrin Chen merely let out a cold sneer. With a thought, he transformed the Chaos Heaven Halberd [a divine weapon capable of shifting forms], morphing it into a colossal Primordial Chaos Giant Axe [an axe embodying the destructive power of primordial chaos] that descended with world-sundering force to suppress his foe.

"The ultimate expression of force lies in speed Impenetrable [an unstoppable, all-piercing offensive principle]. Nothing can withstand its shattering power."

"Today, I shall show you the true meaning of annihilating force!"

Eldrin Chen declared, his words saturated with boundless Slaughter Intent [a murderous aura so dense it distorts reality]. He raised the Primordial Chaos Giant Axe high, and with a motion that seemed to cleave the very fabric of existence, he brought it down in a devastating arc meant to sunder all things.

As the Giant Axe fell, the Primordial Heaven Golden Bell [a legendary defensive treasure] shattered instantly like fragile glass. The overwhelming residual force did not stop there, shearing through Chaos Heaven Sage Ascendant's defenses and cleaving away half of his body in a single, brutal stroke.

"Aaaargh—!"

Struck by this catastrophic wound, Chaos Heaven Sage Ascendant let out a howl of utter despair.

At this life-or-death juncture, a surge of profound Chaos [the primordial, formless state from which all things originate] energy Burst [erupted violently] from a hidden treasure within his body. This power forcibly elevated Chaos Heaven Sage Ascendant's strength back to its peak, if only for a moment.

He shot a venomous, final glare at Eldrin Chen. With a furious roar, he Burst forth with every last shred of his power. The desperate strike managed to pierce through the spatial confinement of the Polarity Void Mirror [a mirror that manipulates and seals space], tearing open a temporary pathway through the void to escape.

Eldrin Chen was unwilling to let him escape. With a powerful beat of the Vermilion Bird Wings [a divine ability that grants immense speed and fiery power] on his back, he overtook the Chaos Heaven Sage Ascendant with astonishing speed. Seizing the opening, he delivered a devastating punch that crashed squarely into the Sage Ascendant's back.

"Guh—"

In that instant, the Chaos Heaven Sage Ascendant coughed up blood and was sent reeling through the air. Yet, with a desperate effort, he managed to activate a Chaos Void-Rending Talisman [a talisman that tears through the fabric of space to facilitate instantaneous escape] and vanished into the depths of the Primordial Era Soul River [an ancient, mythical river said to flow with the essence of souls from the dawn of time].

Seeing this, the remaining Sage Ascendant [a title for cultivators who have ascended to a supreme level of power and understanding] and the two Limitless Sage Ascendant [an even more exalted rank among Sage Ascendants] immediately adopted expressions of grave solemnity. Without hesitation, they each produced their own Chaos Void-Rending Talisman and likewise disappeared into the Primordial Era Soul River.

Only three of the Sage Ascendant remained. Their physical bodies had been destroyed by Eldrin Chen, and their grievous wounds left them unable to resist the corrosive curse. They sank into the Primordial Era Soul River, falling into a deep, slumbering torpor.

After the other Sage Ascendants had all fled, the Obsidian Abyss Great Emperor [a title for an emperor whose power is likened to a fathomless, dark abyss] approached, his face slightly pale. He sighed and said, "A pity. We only managed to claim three Sage Ascendants."

Eldrin Chen nodded, his expression calm. "Sage Ascendants possess formidable Force Extreme [the ultimate pinnacle of power and vitality, granting immense resilience and life-preserving abilities]. Furthermore, they have the backing of the Chaos Heavenly Emperor [the supreme sovereign of primordial chaos]. To have taken down three is a respectable outcome."

The Obsidian Abyss Great Emperor nodded in agreement. In truth, this battle had not been an easy one for them.

Eldrin Chen had fared relatively well; facing nine Sage Ascendants single-handedly had, in itself, afforded him certain tactical advantages.

But for the Obsidian Abyss Great Emperor, who had initially contended against three Limitless Sage Ascendant, it had been an exceedingly arduous struggle.

It must be understood that those who have attained the Limitless Sage Ascendant realm are beings whose combat prowess startles even immortals, each possessing world-shaking, heaven-defying methods. To contend against even one such being is considered an act of defying the heavens themselves.

Simultaneously facing three Limitless Sage Ascendant naturally placed an immense and overwhelming pressure upon him.

In contrast, Eldrin Chen possessed a physical defense that was peerless under heaven. Even against a multitude of Sage Ascendant, unless they were a Top-Tier Sage Ascendant specializing in Slaughter techniques, it was exceedingly difficult to inflict harm upon Eldrin Chen.

In truth, even Top-Tier Sage Ascendant found it challenging to wound the present Eldrin Chen with conventional means.

Only by fusing nine Great Path Divine Form and unleashing their ultimate, extreme techniques could they barely manage to inflict some degree of injury upon Eldrin Chen.

To pose a truly sufficient threat to Eldrin Chen, one would need to be a practitioner of the Fleshly Body Sanctification [a supreme cultivation art focused on tempering the physical body to an indestructible state] who had cultivated nine True Spirit Divine Form.

This was an unavoidable reality. Even among those who had cultivated nine Great Path Divine Form, a Sage Ascendant of the Path of Path Mastery [a cultivation path focused on comprehending and mastering the fundamental laws of existence] was far inferior in combat power to a practitioner of Fleshly Body Sanctification who had achieved the Nine True Spirit Divine Forms.

The fundamental reason lay in the source of their power. For a Sage Ascendant of the Path of Path Mastery, their strength derived from the Great Path [the fundamental laws of the cosmos] itself. The potency of their combat prowess depended entirely on their mastery and application of these cosmic laws.

Conversely, those who walked the Path of Fleshly Body Sanctification fundamentally cultivated their physical bodies.

The so-called Nine True Spirit Divine Forms were, in essence, merely a method of integrating the power of the Great Path into the fleshly body, amplifying its inherent combat capabilities.

Mastering the Great Path [the fundamental laws of the cosmos] is one thing, but Fleshly Body Sanctification [the art of refining one's physical form to a divine state] involves merging the physical body with the True Spirit Divine Form [the ultimate spiritual avatar of a cultivator]. The result is synergistic, far greater than the sum of its parts.

The difficulty of these two endeavors is incomparable, as are the resources they consume.

This is precisely why a practitioner of Fleshly Body Sanctification who has cultivated the Nine True Spirit Divine Forms [the nine supreme spiritual avatars] possesses combat power rivaling that of a Limitless Sage Ascendant [a Sage Ascendant who has mastered the Limitless Path] who commands at least twelve Great Path Divine Form [divine avatars embodying a Great Path].

Furthermore, one who successfully merges the Nine Great God Forms [another term for the Nine True Spirit Divine Forms] into a single entity can rival an existence that commands thirty-six Great Path Divine Form.

The reason is that an existence capable of unifying nine Great Path Divine Form to forge the Sole Divine Form [the singular, ultimate divine avatar] has already refined their physical body to the absolute limit of the quasi-Saint Realm [the realm just below that of a true Saint].

With the physical body and the True Spirit Divine Form fused into one, complementing each other perfectly, the resulting Saintly Physique becomes flawless and without weakness, naturally granting peerless combat prowess.

Returning to the matter at hand, Eldrin Chen noticed a slight pallor on the face of Obsidian Abyss Great Emperor and immediately inquired, "Senior, how is your injury?"

"It is nothing serious, merely a significant expenditure of energy," replied Obsidian Abyss Great Emperor.

As he spoke, he consumed an Immortal Pill [a pill of immense potency used by Immortals] to gradually restore himself.

After a considerable time had passed and he had Recovery [recovered] most of his expended energy, he finally rose and gazed toward the distant end of the Primordial Era Soul River [an ancient river of spiritual essence].

"Legend has it that the end of the Primordial Era Soul River is a place of extreme peril."

"We are not far from its source now. It is time we went to see it for ourselves."

Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod. He first took a moment to gather the spoils from the battlefield before speaking. "Few can reach this place. We should be undisturbed from here on."

Obsidian Abyss Great Emperor chuckled, summoning his Obsidian Abyss Imperial Spear. "Then let us join forces and brave this dragon's den and tiger's lair."

With those words, Obsidian Abyss Great Emperor took the lead, advancing toward the source of the Primordial Era Soul River.

Within the Primordial Era Soul River, a dense, ghostly mist coiled and swirled, obscuring the path ahead. Eldrin Chen lost track of how long they walked, unable to gauge the remaining distance to the river's origin.

They pressed onward without cease, only halting when they arrived before an endless, stygian pool.

"Is this... the source of the Primordial Era Soul River?"

Gazing at the dark pool before him, Eldrin Chen murmured softly, his eyes reflecting a profound and heavy solemnity.

For there, seated within the depths of the pool, was a skeleton of utter, light-devouring blackness.

Clad in a robe of deepest black, its divine bones seemed forged from Dark Immortal Gold [a legendary metal of supreme hardness and darkness], radiating with the eternal, unyielding light of Immortality [the state of being deathless and eternal].

Most crucially, Eldrin Chen sensed from that skeletal form a power of Curse [a malevolent supernatural affliction or hex] of a magnitude he had never before encountered.

It was chilling, ominous, profoundly unsettling.

This was an eerie, ineffable force—indelible, untouchable, and impossible to name. A mere glance was enough to send a shiver of primal cold coursing through Eldrin Chen's very bones.

Eldrin Chen even had the uncanny sensation that a pair of eyes, gazing from across the unimaginable vastness of the Vast and Boundless Chaos Sea [the primordial, formless expanse from which all realms are born], were watching everything transpiring here.

In that fleeting moment, a wave of immense terror surged within his heart, nearly compelling Eldrin Chen to flee this place instantly.

Yet, at the critical juncture, Eldrin Chen suddenly felt the Primordial Chaos Ancient Scripture [an ancient and profound cultivation manual of primordial origin] within him tremble faintly.

Hundreds of the Primordial Chaos Ancient Characters [mystical symbols from the dawn of creation] glowed with a soft light, and instantly, an intangible force enveloped Eldrin Chen's entire being. That terrifying gaze seemed to vanish in an instant.

"…"

"Ah—!"

Simultaneously, far beyond the Chaos [the primordial state from which all existence emerged], an indescribably bizarre and sinister figure let out a mournful wail.

Boundless blood streamed from its eyes. The nearly tangible aura of calamitous power surrounding it was on the verge of complete dissipation, and its majestic pressure, once suffocating the Chaos, seemed to have weakened to an extreme in an instant.

At that very moment, a tall, slender figure materialized beside the ominous being.

Gazing at the entity whose eyes bled and who cried out in agony, the newcomer spoke with a tone of genuine surprise, "Nether Curse, who has wounded you?"

"It is..."

The ominous being wailed, its face a mask of utter terror as it trembled and uttered, "It is the avatar of The End [the ultimate terminus of all cycles], the calamity of all living beings, the Returning Abyss [the final point of convergence where all things dissolve] of this Chaos."

"Heavenly Emperor [a supreme ruler of a heavenly domain] lies dead, Supreme [a title denoting ultimate authority] bones are buried, and even the highest Sovereign [a being who commands a fundamental aspect of reality] has turned to mere dust."

"I witnessed the shattering of the Eternal True Spirit [the immutable, foundational essence of reality], the annihilation of the Chaos, the silence of all things. We too shall sink into it, finding no deliverance."

The tall figure fell into a deep silence. After a long while, it finally spoke, "The Primordial Chaos [the absolute, undifferentiated origin preceding all existence] is the source of everything, from which the Vast and Boundless Chaos [the infinite expanse of the primordial realm] later unfolded."

"The Chaos has endured countless, uncountable Kalpa Tribulation [cosmic cycles of creation and destruction]. It is divided into seven stages: Genesis, Flourishing, Zenith, Decline, Decay [the stage of pervasive entropy], Oblivion [the state of complete non-existence], and The End. Together, they form one complete Chaos Epoch [a full cycle of the Chaos realm's existence]."

"When the prophesied terminus of this cosmic era draws near, Chaos [the primordial, undifferentiated state of existence] shall return to the Returning Abyss [the mythical place of cosmic dissolution and rebirth], reverting to Primordial Chaos [the formless void before creation]. This marks the dawn of the next Chaos Epoch [a grand cycle of cosmic creation and destruction]."

The tall, slender figure spoke. "The avatar of The End [the personification of an era's conclusion], the one destined for the Chaos Returning Abyss [the cataclysmic event where Chaos reabsorbs all creation], is said to emerge only at the moment of the Chaos End [the absolute, final conclusion of a Chaos Epoch]."

"Has the harbinger of this Chaos Epoch's end manifested in the world so soon?"

After a long silence, the slender figure performed a series of intricate hand seals, engaging in profound divination. Moments later, his voice turned cold and detached. "Unfathomable. Untouchable. Shielded by the Great Path [the supreme, fundamental laws of the cosmos]."

"Is this the blessing of the era's Mandate, veiling even my sight from discerning its origins?"

"…"

Unaware of the disturbance unfolding beyond the Boundless Void [the infinite, starless expanse between realms], Eldrin Chen remained oblivious.

At that moment, he stood at the terminus of the Primordial Era Soul River [an ancient, metaphysical river flowing with the essence of souls], his expression turning grave as he beheld the figure bound by the Curse [a powerful, malevolent supernatural binding].

"Kill me... end me!"

From the depths of the Nether Spring, the skeletal figure slowly rose, its voice dripping with a bone-chilling, sinister aura.

Eldrin Chen and the Obsidian Abyss Great Emperor exchanged a glance, refraining from rash action. Instead, they watched the jet-black skeleton with immense gravity.

This skeleton was clearly likely the remains of a Soul Path Heavenly Emperor [a supreme cultivator who has mastered the Dao of the Soul]. It was saturated with the aura of eternal Immortality [the state of being deathless and unchanging] and Indestructibility [utter imperviousness to harm], yet was utterly polluted by an endless, foul Curse [a malevolent supernatural power that brings misfortune or decay].

Trembling, it rose to its feet. Gazing at Eldrin Chen and the Obsidian Abyss Great Emperor, it finally spoke with a tone of utterly deranged Slaughter Intent [murderous will]: "Kill me, or let me kill you!"

"Hymn—"

In that fleeting moment, an indescribable sword hymn resonated.

The imperial bone soared into the air, wielding a peerless Sword Embryo [the nascent, unformed spiritual essence of a divine sword] and cleaved towards them.

Instantly, the River of Space-Time [the conceptual flow of time and space] was brutally severed. An immeasurable sword radiance descended, a force capable of utterly dividing all existence.

This single strike surpassed all within the ancient and modern River of Space-Time, causing even the Primordial Chaos Great Path [the fundamental, formless Dao from which all creation springs] to tremble violently.

"Beware!"

The Obsidian Abyss Great Emperor cried out, instantly shoving Eldrin Chen aside. The eight Great God [a supreme cultivation realm, one step below Heavenly Emperor] forms surrounding his body merged into one, Bursting forth with the supreme power to Oblivion [utterly erase from existence] all things.

In that fleeting moment, the power of Obsidian Abyss Great Emperor nearly surpassed the limits of the Mortal Realm, even reaching a level where he could contend with a Chaos Heavenly Emperor.

Yet, even such formidable might proved utterly fragile before this single sword strike.

In an instant, Obsidian Abyss Great Emperor was sent hurtling through the air, blood spraying from his wounds, sustaining injuries of the most grievous nature.

"Great Emperor!"

Eldrin Chen's expression shifted slightly. He immediately urged the Chaos Heaven Halberd forward, intercepting the skeleton's peerless Sword Embryo [the nascent, conceptual form of a divine sword].

Yet, that brief clash alone drained the color from Eldrin Chen's face. The opponent's power was truly immeasurable; even his Returning Abyss Divine Rune [a supreme defensive divine technique] struggled to withstand it completely.

"This is the power!"

The skeleton suddenly spoke, its soul-flame blazing with madness. "Kill me! Kill me, I beg you, kill me now!"

Eldrin Chen could only think the skeleton before him had gone utterly insane, yet he also felt a profound sense of disbelief.

This was, after all, a peerless Soul Path Heavenly Emperor [a supreme sovereign who has mastered the Dao of the Soul]. Why would such an existence plead for death?

Before Eldrin Chen could gather his thoughts, the skeletal figure charged forward with frenzied abandon. It launched a relentless assault, attacking with a near-total disregard for defense, its sole purpose to kill Eldrin Chen.

Its blazing gaze was locked onto Eldrin Chen. With a maniacal, twisted grin, it snarled, "Kill me. Use that power—the force of The End that sends one utterly into Returning Abyss."