Chapter 1304 : Clash of Primordial Powers

"A genuine-grade divine ability [a supreme-level supernatural power]!"

As the attack from Eldrin Chen descended to suppress him, the Primordial One Energy Grasping Hand blotted out the Cosmos. The pupils of Nether Grand Austerity contracted slightly.

His gaze sharpened for a moment before he sneered coldly, "You truly possess some skill!"

"Then witness this!"

As his words fell, Nether Grand Austerity spread his arms as if embracing the Cosmos. A profound, shadowy radiance manifested, swirling and cycling until it coalesced into a dark sun of devouring, heaven-consuming darkness.

This dark sun spun and devoured, its gravitational pull warping the very fabric of the surrounding heavens and earth. It sought to draw the Primordial One Energy Grasping Hand into its abyssal maw.

"Netherworld Heaven-Devouring Path [the Path of Devouring Heaven, a supreme demonic art]."

Witnessing this, Eldrin Chen's brow furrowed slightly, a flicker of surprise in his eyes.

Nether Grand Austerity's true form was that of a rare Primordial Era Nether Dragon among the Dragon Clan. This was the progenitor bloodline of the Black Dragon lineage, one of the Primordial Era True Dragon that had shaken the Immortal Domain with their might.

As the progenitor bloodline of the Black Dragon, the Primordial Era Nether Dragon naturally possessed the divine abilities of its kin, but these were the more potent, primordial versions from the Primordial Era.

This Netherworld Heaven-Devouring Path [a supreme technique of devouring and assimilation] is an Innate Divine Ability [a power inherent to a specific bloodline or being] of the Primordial Era Nether Dragon lineage, essentially the complete version of the Black Dragon Devours Heaven Technique, its grade having reached the domain of a true, orthodox divine ability.

This World-Opening Heavenly God Ability [a power of cosmic creation and destruction] continuously pulled and tore at the Primordial One Energy Grasping Hand, seeking to utterly devour it.

Fortunately, the Primordial One Energy Grasping Hand incorporated the Five Elements [the fundamental forces of Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth] and had reverted to a state of Chaos [the primordial, undifferentiated state before creation], unconstrained by the myriad things of heaven and earth. Even this Netherworld Heaven-Devouring Path found it difficult to completely consume it.

Witnessing this, Eldrin Chen let out a cold laugh. "You wish to devour this lord's divine ability? I fear you are not yet capable!"

As his words fell, Path Principles [the fundamental laws and truths of the Dao] surged around Eldrin Chen. The supreme powers of Primordial Solar Flame [the ultimate flame of creation], the waters of Profound Darkness [the profound and mysterious power of shadow and depth], the metal of Primordial One [the undivided origin of all things], and others all intertwined and poured into the Primordial One Energy Grasping Hand, evolving into the ultimate Path Principles of Chaos.

"Boom—"

In that instant, with a deafening roar, the heaven-and-earth-devouring wheel of the Netherworld [the realm of the dead and darkness] was crushed on the spot.

His divine ability broken, Nether Grand Austerity retreated three steps. He looked at Eldrin Chen, and a trace of solemnity flashed in his usually indifferent eyes.

"To achieve the Dao with Five Spiritual Roots... it seems this lord underestimated you."

"Clang—"

A crisp, resonant sound echoed through the air as Nether Grand Austerity [a formidable cultivator from the Netherworld] flicked his sleeves, revealing a blade and a sword.

The blade was of a pure, obsidian black, wreathed in boundless Netherworld [the realm of the dead and malevolent spirits] miasma. The sword gleamed with a pristine white radiance, its piercing sword-light seeming to cleave the very heavens.

Then, Nether Grand Austerity advanced, blade in one hand, sword in the other. His pupils darkened, reflecting a profound and chilling void.

He regarded Eldrin Chen with an impassive expression and stated calmly, "The blade is named Karma-Severing Blade [a weapon said to cut through the karmic ties of its victim]. The sword is called Reincarnation Sword [a sword meant to send souls directly into the cycle of rebirth]."

"I shall sever all your karmic bonds and send you to your next life."

"*Clang!*"

In that instant, blade and sword crossed, unleashing a supreme, Immortal-Slaying Radiance [a devastating energy specifically honed to destroy immortal-level beings] that flooded the firmament, seeking to cleave Eldrin Chen asunder.

Both weapons were Nether Grand Austerity's Lifebound Immortal Treasure [a magical treasure nurtured with one's life force and soul, granting unparalleled resonance and power], their might fierce and overwhelming. Eldrin Chen dared not be negligent. He immediately channeled his Celestial Abyss Twin Swords to meet the assault, the three weapons clashing in a furious dance.

One combatant was a peerless prodigy ranked twenty-eighth on the Western Abyss Immortal Spirit Ranking [a prestigious ranking of the most powerful young cultivators in the Western Abyss region]. The other was a supreme talent who commanded the power of three Heavenly Rules [fundamental laws of the cosmos that cultivators can comprehend and wield]. Their battle was naturally intense and evenly matched.

After exchanging over seventy moves, Eldrin Chen realized victory would not come swiftly. He split a fraction of his consciousness to survey the broader battlefield.

At a single glance, a deep furrow etched itself between his brows.

Among the four most pivotal battlefields of this confrontation, he was locked in a bitter struggle with Nether Grand Austerity, while Great Mystery Divine Spirit and White Nether Patriarch were also locked in a stalemate. Even the combined might of the Five Elements Heavenly Dragons could not gain an upper hand against Earth Spring Patriarch.

However, Sun Consort was already at a disadvantage. That Purple Radiance Thunder Dragon Patriarch was a Fourth Tribulation Earth Immortal [an Earth Immortal who has survived four Heavenly Tribulations], one who had opened a Threefold Heaven [a foundational inner world of three layers] in the past. Although he had only recently broken through to the Middle Stage Earth Immortal [the middle phase of the Earth Immortal realm], his power far surpassed what an Early-stage Earth Immortal [an Earth Immortal in the initial phase of the realm] could contend with.

While Sun Consort wielded three World-Opening Treasure [supreme artifacts capable of shaping worlds]—the Great Sun Heavenly Wheel, the Great Sun God Pearl, and the Sun-Refining Heaven Sword—and used the Lingering Sun Heavenly Wheel to stabilize her Fortune [the flow of destiny and luck], making her combat prowess not far inferior to the Purple Radiance Thunder Dragon,

the truth remained that Sun Consort had only just broken through to the first layer of Earth Immortal [the realm of terrestrial immortals]. Even though she had opened a Sixfold Heaven [an exceptionally vast six-layered inner world], granting her a foundation considered powerful among Earth Immortals, her reservoir of spiritual power [the cultivated energy used for magic and techniques] still could not match that of Purple Radiance Thunder Dragon Patriarch.

In such a protracted and fierce battle, once Sun Consort exhausted her spiritual power, she would likely face the calamity of defeat and death.

"Someone must break this deadlock,"

Eldrin Chen murmured inwardly, his gaze shifting towards Exquisite Jiang and the others.

At this moment, Exquisite Jiang and her companions were also embroiled in fierce combat. The forces arrayed by Thousand Dragon Lake and the various Demon Race factions were undeniably formidable.

Besides the four combatants with Earth Immortal level strength, there were also several Half-Step Earth Immortal [cultivators on the very cusp of becoming full Earth Immortals] providing support. These included Grand Granary Black Fish, the Azure-Scaled Dragon Serpent, the Nine-Lives Heavenly Demon, and the Ironclad Crocodile Dragon.

Under the command of the White Nether Patriarch, there were three Demon Race [a race of beings often possessing bestial traits and formidable power] Earth Immortal [a powerful immortal who has forged a connection with the earth, gaining immense strength and longevity]. Adding the two Demon Race Earth Immortal from the Heavenly Demon Sea [a vast and perilous sea domain ruled by powerful demons], the total attacking force comprised nine combatants of Half-Step Earth Immortal [a cultivator who has partially transcended the limits of an Earth Immortal, possessing power far beyond the norm] caliber.

On the side of the Human Race, the Returning Abyss Sea Region [a treacherous sea region known for its deep abysses and swirling currents] boasted seven such powerhouses: Heaven Wind Path Master [a title for a master of the heavenly wind path], Exquisite Jiang, Verdant Consort, Kael Chen, Energy Abyss Chen, Star Consort, and Moon Consort.

Furthermore, with the addition of five Half-Step Earth Immortal who had come to lend their aid, along with Ancient Buddha Empty Brightness from the Heavenly Demon Sea, the human forces mustered a formidable total of thirteen Half-Step Earth Immortal combatants.

On paper, the Human Race held a numerical advantage. However, the Minor Cosmic Stellar Formation [a powerful battle array that harnesses the power of stars to create a defensive or offensive field] deployed by the three hundred or so Immortal [a being who has achieved immortality through cultivation] of the Demon Race was no ordinary threat. It was one of the foundational treasures of Thousand Dragon Lake [a legendary lake domain], making it exceedingly difficult to counter.

Currently, Moon Consort, Star Consort, and Energy Abyss Chen were jointly channeling their power into the Triad Wonder Pearls [a set of three mystical pearls that work in unison] to desperately hold the line. Meanwhile, the Million Treasure Ship [a legendary ship imbued with countless defensive treasures] was integrating with their formation to bolster the defense. Only through this combined effort were they barely managing to withstand the onslaught.

With these three top-tier combatants thus occupied, the remaining human forces faced nine enemies with only ten of their own—a mere one-person advantage.

Fortunately, Exquisite Jiang, Verdant Consort, and Heaven Wind Path Master were all combatants of the highest Six Tribulations Immortal [an immortal who has survived six heavenly tribulations, marking immense power and resilience] tier. Ancient Buddha Empty Brightness had also stepped into this realm, creating a qualitative gap in power that opened a path to potentially breaking the deadlock.

Now, seeing Eldrin Chen's glance, Exquisite Jiang gave a knowing nod. With a sweep of her sleeve, she moved to suppress and encircle the Heavenly Demon King.

Exquisite Jiang's foundation was originally the Great Encompassing Potential [an innate constitution of vast, all-encompassing potential]. In recent years, having mastered the Heavenly Rules [the fundamental laws and principles that govern the heavens and the cosmos], she had smoothly broken through to the Half-Step Earth Immortal Realm. Her combat prowess was now on a completely different level, incomparable to her past self.

She engaged the Heavenly Demon King head-on with the Six Harmonies and Eight Desolations Cauldron [a mighty cauldron embodying the concepts of harmony and desolation] and the Heavenly Ruins Immortal-Slaying Sword [a sword famed for its power to slay even immortals], forcing her foe to defend with all his might. Simultaneously, her Second Primordial Embryo [a powerful secondary spiritual avatar or clone] stealthily maneuvered the Azure Wave Lotus Immortal Sword [an immortal sword as graceful and deadly as a lotus upon azure waves]. With this cunning pincer attack, she finally succeeded in striking down the Heavenly Demon King with a single, decisive sword stroke.

After the fall of the Heavenly Demon King [a powerful ruler among demonic beings], the battlefield's balance shifted instantly, and it seemed the Demon Race [the collective faction of demonic cultivators and creatures] was about to fall into a position of utter disadvantage.

Seeing this, a Six Tribulations Immortal [an immortal who has survived six heavenly tribulations] from the Pale Nether Blessed Land [a sacred realm imbued with yin and nether energies] gritted his teeth, drew a dazzling sword talisman from his sleeve, and unleashed it.

This talisman was an eighth-rank World-Opening Ancient Talisman [an ancient artifact of immense power capable of sundering space and reality]. Possessing the World-Opening [the primordial act of creation or the power to cleave apart the fabric of the world] ability, and to ensure absolute success, he directed its strike towards a Four Tribulations Immortal [an immortal who has survived four heavenly tribulations].

That Four Tribulations Immortal was named Nine Profundities Path Master [a Daoist title meaning 'Master of the Nine Profound Depths']. He was a longtime friend of Sun Consort [a title for a powerful female immortal associated with solar energy] and had been invited by her to lend his aid. However, he possessed only a single Supreme-Grade Immortal Treasure [a top-tier artifact forged by immortals] for defense.

With such meager defenses, how could he possibly withstand such a blow? He perished on the spot, his soul forced into the cycle of reincarnation.

"Brother Nine Profundities!"

Witnessing his friend's death, Sun Consort's heart clenched with a pang of shock. Seizing this momentary distraction, the Purple Radiance Thunder Dragon [a mighty dragon demon wielding thunder and violet light] pressed its assault, driving her back step by step.

Fortunately, Heaven Wind Path Master [a Daoist title meaning 'Master of the Heavenly Winds'] finally unleashed his full might. He activated the Lingering Sun Heaven-Suppressing Pagoda [a pagoda-shaped treasure that can suppress even the heavens with the power of the lingering sun], bringing it crashing down to instantly annihilate another Six Tribulations Immortal.