Chapter 1992 : A Pact Forged in Ancient Blood

But now, the injuries of Blazeflame Imperial Lord are no less severe than those of the Departing Flame Demon God [a powerful demonic entity], thus this plan had to be abandoned.

After all, no matter how grievously wounded the Departing Flame Demon God might be, it remains a being of the Primordial One Imperial Lord 3rd Tier [the third tier of the Primordial One Imperial Lord realm]. It is absolutely not an opponent a single Primordial One Imperial Lord 3rd Tier cultivator could subdue.

Thinking this, Eldrin Chen spoke, "How long would it take for you to fully recover?"

Blazeflame Imperial Lord pondered for a moment before replying, "Even with the supreme healing treasures bestowed by the Immortal Court [the celestial governing body of immortals], I fear it would still require at least several Kalpa Tribulation [immense cosmic cycles, each spanning billions of years] to recover."

"As for reforging my Primordial One Path Body [a supreme physical constitution aligned with the fundamental Dao]..."

Blazeflame Imperial Lord paused, his gaze shifting meaningfully towards Eldrin Chen.

Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod of understanding, grasping the unspoken implication.

Cultivating a Primordial One Path Body is an arduous path, demanding not only vast stretches of time but also staggering quantities of resources.

Unless Blazeflame Imperial Lord could obtain a Demon God Heartblood Pill [a legendary pill refined from the heart's blood of a demon god] of the Primordial One Imperial Lord [the Primordial One Imperial Lord cultivation realm] level, recovery would likely take hundreds, even thousands, of Kalpa Tribulation.

Considering this, Eldrin Chen inquired, "You desire the God-Demon Heart [the crystallized heart of a god-demon hybrid, a source of immense power] of the Departing Flame Demon God, don't you?"

Blazeflame Imperial Lord nodded, his expression grave as he spoke. "The God-Demon Heart of the Departing Flame Demon God is exceptionally compatible with my Primordial One Path Body."

"If I can refine it into a Demon God Heartblood Pill and supplement it with a wisp of Innate Primordial Breath, I should be able to recover from my injuries within ten Kalpa Tribulation cycles."

Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod and spoke. "The God-Demon Heart of the Departing Flame Demon God can indeed be entrusted to you, Fellow Daoist. However..."

"Rest assured, I would never let you suffer a loss."

Blazeflame Imperial Lord spoke up, then produced a white jade treasure vial and handed it to Eldrin Chen. "I have heard you practice Triple Path Cultivation and are likely in urgent need of resources for Primordial Spirit cultivation."

"It so happens I have this item in my collection. I wonder if it could be used to exchange for the God-Demon Heart?"

Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen opened the vial to look inside and discovered it contained a radiant, precious liquid.

The liquid emanated an extreme power of the soul and spirit. With just one whiff, Eldrin Chen felt as if he were floating in bliss, his mind's eye [the seat of spiritual clarity and perception] growing even more lucid.

"Soul-Nourishing Treasure Liquid [a rare spiritual liquid that nourishes and strengthens the soul and spirit]."

Delight surged in Eldrin Chen's heart, and he immediately declared, "Agreed."

The Soul-Nourishing Treasure Liquid [a rare elixir that nourishes the spiritual core] is a scarce Primordial One Marvel [a treasure of the Primordial One Realm] and an exceedingly rare Divine Soul Rare Treasure [a treasure precious to the Divine Soul]. It can nourish the Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] of a Primordial One Imperial Lord [a cultivator who has mastered the Primordial One Realm] and even assist the Primordial Spirit of a Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [a Golden Immortal of the Great Encompassing Realm] in breaking through to the Primordial One Imperial Lord Realm [the realm of a Primordial One Imperial Lord].

Such a wondrous treasure would be of immense use to Eldrin Chen, so naturally, he had no reason to refuse.

Having completed the transaction in high spirits, Eldrin Chen inquired further, "Might I ask, Fellow Daoist, where exactly did you obtain this item?"

Blazeflame Imperial Lord smiled and replied, "When the Primordial Era Soul River [an ancient, mythical river of spiritual essence] opened in the past, I was fortunate enough to enter in search of the Nine Orifices Divine Stone [a divine stone with nine spiritual apertures]. Although I never found such a rare treasure, I did obtain some of this Soul-Nourishing Treasure Liquid. These are the last three portions."

A flicker of understanding passed through Eldrin Chen's eyes; he instantly grasped Blazeflame Imperial Lord's underlying intent.

The Chaos [the primordial, formless state before creation] holds countless wonders. Among the supreme treasures for Primordial Spirit cultivation is the Nine Orifices Divine Stone.

The Nine Orifices Divine Stone is categorized from one to nine orifices. It can open one to nine Innate Acupoints [natural spiritual nodes] within the Primordial Spirit, or it can be integrated into the Primordial Spirit Apertures [the spiritual apertures of the Primordial Spirit] to enhance the cultivation speed of the Primordial Spirit.

Within Eldrin Chen's nine Primordial Spirit Apertures, seven are occupied by Nine Orifices Divine Stone. The most precious among them possesses a full seven orifices and has been used for years to accelerate his Primordial Spirit cultivation.

Among the Nine Orifices Divine Stone, stones with more open orifices are more precious and exceedingly rare.

Generally speaking, an Eight Apertures Divine Stone [a divine stone with eight apertures] could drive a group of early to mid-stage Primordial One Imperial Lord to fight to the death, while a Nine Orifices Divine Stone is a treasure countless Primordial One Imperial Lord dream of obtaining.

The reason for this is that once the nine Innate Acupoints are opened, one can attract a True Spirit Imprint to cultivate the True Spirit Primordial Spirit [a supreme spiritual foundation], thereby compensating for any deficiencies in one's Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] foundation.

Furthermore, the Nine Orifices Divine Stone is also the key to achieving Primordial Spirit Path Attainment [a legendary cultivation method focusing on the Primordial Spirit]. It is said that those who walk the Primordial Spirit Path Attainment must first cultivate the Nine True Spirit Apertures [a state of nine perfected spiritual apertures].

After achieving the Nine True Spirit Apertures, one must refine one to Nine Orifices Divine Stone [a legendary divine stone with nine apertures], then fuse the nine divine stones into one to forge a 'Primordial Spirit Treasure' [a supreme treasure born from the Primordial Spirit]. Only then is one qualified to attempt the Primordial Spirit Path Attainment and step into the Soul Path Heavenly Emperor Realm [the realm of a Heavenly Emperor who has mastered the Soul Path].

Although Eldrin Chen has already cultivated the True Spirit Primordial Spirit, he intends to walk the path of the True Spirit Primordial Spirit.

Therefore, for him, both the Eight Apertures Divine Stone and the Nine Orifices Divine Stone are treasures he must obtain in the future.

Thinking of this, Eldrin Chen could not help but ask, "Fellow Daoist, what manner of treasure is this Primordial Era Soul River you speak of?"

Blazeflame Imperial Lord let out a soft sigh before speaking. "As far back as the Primordial Era [the primordial age of creation], there existed a Primordial Era Soul River within the Heaven Abyss Domains."

"It is an extremely terrifying Chaos Forbidden Land [a perilous land within the primordial chaos], hidden within the boundless Chaos Desolation Sea [the sea of desolate chaos]. Legend says it was formed from the cursed remains of a fallen Soul Path Heavenly Emperor. It harbors unspeakably dreadful Forbidden Evil Spirit [ancient, forbidden evil spirits], yet also countless rare treasures related to the Primordial Spirit."

"In ordinary times, not even a Chaos Heavenly Emperor [a Heavenly Emperor who rules over chaos] would dare enter. However, every few thousand Kalpa Tribulation [a grand cosmic cycle of destruction and rebirth], the Primordial Era Soul River falls into a state of dormancy, greatly reducing its dangers. It is during these periods that we may enter to seek our fortunes."

As Blazeflame Imperial Lord spoke, a deep wariness flashed in his eyes. "The Primordial Era Soul River is perilous beyond measure. Even a Primordial One Imperial Lord [an Imperial Lord at the peak of the Primordial Spirit realm] who steps within risks utter annihilation."

"If you have not yet set foot upon the Primordial One Imperial Lord Realm [the first major realm of the Primordial Lord stage], then even if the Primordial Era Soul River [the legendary river formed from the shattered soul of an ancient supreme being] manifests in the world, I would still advise against you entering it."

Eldrin Chen's expression shifted slightly, and he could not help but speak out: "The cursed Chaos Heavenly Emperor [a supreme title for a cultivator who has mastered the power of primordial chaos]... could it be there are some forbidden taboos behind this as well?"

Blazeflame Imperial Lord shook his head, his expression turning grave as he lowered his voice: "Legend says the aptitude of a Soul Path Heavenly Emperor [a Heavenly Emperor who has mastered the Path of the Soul] is far too astonishing. Therefore, any existence who cultivates the Primordial Spirit Path Attainment [the supreme art of refining one's Primordial Spirit to its ultimate potential] and attempts to break through to a higher realm will be met with an utterly terrifying curse."

"The Primordial Beginning Divine Sovereign once stated that the predecessor of the Primordial Era Soul River was, in fact, a Soul Path Heavenly Emperor who was invincible within the First Realm of Chaos [the foundational realm of Chaos cultivation]."

"He cultivated nine great Chaos Divine Ability [supreme techniques born from the power of primordial chaos] and had already touched the threshold of the half-step Second Chaos Realm [the second major realm of Chaos cultivation]. Yet, when he attempted the final breakthrough into the true Second Chaos Realm, he was struck by an incomparably dreadful curse. In the end, his True Spirit Primordial Spirit [the perfected, indestructible core of his soul] completely disintegrated, transforming into the eternally Indestructibility [the state of being unbreakable and everlasting] Primordial Era Soul River."

Eldrin Chen's face paled. He had never imagined that behind the Primordial Spirit Path Attainment lay such a horrifying curse.

Even after breaking through to the Soul Path Heavenly Emperor Realm, one could not escape a dreadful death calamity. Could it be that the Primordial Spirit Path Attainment was truly a path leading to a dead end?

Noticing his expression, Blazeflame Imperial Lord also sighed. "It is said that those who cultivate the Primordial Spirit Path Attainment often possess the potential to reach the Third Chaos Realm [the third and pinnacle realm of Chaos cultivation]."

"Once they refine their Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] to the Second Chaos Realm, then, bolstered by the power of that perfected Primordial Spirit, they would possess combat strength ranking among the very top within the Second Chaos Realm."

"Most crucially, once one cultivates a Primordial Spirit of the Second Chaos Realm and simultaneously cultivates the Path of Path Mastery [the art of comprehending and mastering the fundamental laws of existence], their capability to contend for Great Path Authority [the supreme authority over a fundamental law of the cosmos] would increase dramatically. Consequently, the possibility of breaking through to the Third Chaos Realm would also be greatly enhanced."

"Therefore, certain supreme powerhouses within the Chaos [the primordial state of existence before the formation of ordered worlds] are unwilling to witness the emergence of a Soul Path Heavenly Emperor [a supreme cultivator who has attained the Heavenly Emperor realm through mastery of the soul] within the Second Chaos Realm."

Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen largely understood the reason.

Those who attain the Primordial Spirit Path Attainment [a supreme cultivation method focusing on refining the Primordial Spirit to its ultimate form] or achieve the Heavenly Emperor realm through physical body cultivation often possess combat power capable of sweeping through opponents of the same realm. Once a Soul Path Heavenly Emperor breaks through to the Second Chaos Realm, they would likely possess sufficient self-preservation capability even when facing those in the Third Chaos Realm.

Such a formidable Soul Path Heavenly Emperor might find it arduous to break into the third realm solely via the Soul Path [the cultivation path focused on the soul]. However, if they were to concurrently cultivate the Path of Path Mastery [the supreme art of comprehending and mastering the fundamental laws of existence], their progress would surely be meteoric, granting them a tremendous advantage when contending for the Great Path Authority [the supreme authority over a fundamental law of the cosmos].

For such an individual, the hope of breaking through to the Third Chaos Realm is likely more than ten times greater than that of an ordinary Path Union Realm [a cultivator who has unified their comprehension of a fundamental Path]. This is indeed enough to make those supreme powerhouses within the Chaos wary.

After all, judging from existing records, beings within the Third Chaos Realm are exceedingly rare within the entire Chaos, their numbers likely countable on one's fingers.

It seems only natural that some would not wish for a new Third Chaos Realm powerhouse to emerge within the Chaos.

Beyond this, Eldrin Chen even suspected that upon reaching the second or even the third realm, the Soul Path Heavenly Emperor might harbor even more astonishing secrets.

Secrets so profound that they compelled certain supreme beings of the Third Chaos Realm to cast aside their dignity and resort to laying curses upon them.

"It seems the road ahead remains fraught with formidable adversaries," he murmured.

Eldrin Chen murmured inwardly, a sigh escaping him as he felt the path ahead grow ever more rugged and treacherous.

Yet, Eldrin Chen swiftly reined in these thoughts. After all, that realm of power remained a distant horizon for him now, far too remote to confront its ultimate terrors.

With his focus returned, he offered a gentle smile and said, "Opportunities within the Primordial Era Soul River [a legendary river of souls from the dawn of time] are exceedingly rare. For you to have emerged from its depths, Fellow Daoist, surely speaks of awe-inspiring capabilities."

"It was merely fortune, catching the river during one of its dormant periods," the Blazeflame Imperial Lord demurred, offering no further elaboration.

After a moment of contemplation, the Imperial Lord turned his gaze back to Eldrin Chen. "There is another matter. I will need to enter seclusion to heal my wounds. It is likely I shall not emerge for several Kalpa Tribulation [immense cosmic cycles spanning billions of years]."

"The Starry Sky Battlefield [a vast, war-torn expanse between realms] will still require your strength, Fellow Daoist."

Eldrin Chen nodded in acknowledgment. In truth, the thought of journeying to the Starry Sky Battlefield had taken root in his mind a full Kalpa Tribulation ago. He had only held back because the Blazeflame Imperial Lord had gone to wage war in his stead.

Now, with the Imperial Lord returned wounded, Eldrin Chen was resolved to test the mettle of the Demon Race upon that celestial battleground himself.

"Once this Kalpa Tribulation has passed, I shall depart for the Starry Sky Battlefield," Eldrin Chen stated plainly. "However, the legacy of the Eastern Departure Flame Domain [the Immortal Domain of the Departing Sun's Flame] will require your aid to safeguard in my absence."

Upon hearing this, Blazeflame Imperial Lord [the Imperial Lord of the Blazeflame lineage] nodded in agreement. "The Departing Flame Demon God [the Demon God of the Departing Flame] is already wounded," he said. "There should be no major disturbances within the Eastern Departure Flame Domain [the Eastern Domain of the Departing Flame] for the time being."

Eldrin Chen [the cultivator Eldrin Chen] also gave a slight nod of assent. Within the current Eastern Departure Flame Domain, their great enemy, the Departing Flame Demon God, was unlikely to emerge from seclusion for a short while. The others posed little cause for concern.

The most crucial point was that after Eldrin Chen departed the Eastern Departure Flame Domain, the likelihood of his Great Path Rival [a destined rival on the Great Path of cultivation] making a move against the Returning Abyss Immortal Domain [the Immortal Domain of the Returning Abyss] was also slim.

After all, as long as the Returning Abyss Immortal Domain stood, it represented a potential vulnerability for Eldrin Chen. Should it be destroyed, Eldrin Chen would instead be free to roam the Chaos [the primordial, formless Chaos beyond ordered realms]. From then on, tracking his movements would become a task of immense difficulty.

With this thought, a measure of calm settled within Eldrin Chen's heart.

He then spent some time with Blazeflame Imperial Lord discussing the latest developments on the Starry Sky Battlefield [the vast, celestial battlefield among the stars] before finally bidding the Imperial Lord farewell.

After Blazeflame Imperial Lord vanished from sight, Eldrin Chen perceived the tribulation aura [a malevolent energy heralding great calamity] between heaven and earth gradually thickening. The Eleventh Kalpa Tribulation [the Eleventh Great Cosmic Calamity Cycle] was clearly on the verge of eruption.

In response, Eldrin Chen immediately sealed off the Eight Great Immortal Domains [the collective name for eight major Immortal Domains] and entered secluded cultivation to refine the Soul-Nourishing Treasure Liquid [a precious liquid that nourishes and strengthens the soul].

The Soul-Nourishing Treasure Liquid lived up to its reputation as a Primordial One Marvel [a treasure of the highest order from the Primordial Era]. The efficacy of each portion was approximately three times that of a Heaven Soul Fruit [a fruit that enhances the soul]. After refining just one portion, Eldrin Chen felt his Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core and true self of a high-level cultivator] cultivation reach the very limits of the Seventh Layer Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [the seventh layer of the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal realm].

As his Primordial Spirit cultivation broke through this barrier, Eldrin Chen immediately sensed a significant increase in the combat power of his Primordial Spirit.

Unfortunately, the power of his Three Great Foundations and the Sacrificial Self Path was already overwhelmingly potent. Consequently, his overall combat prowess saw only a marginal increase, amounting to less than half a measure of additional strength.

Returning to the main thread, Eldrin Chen's Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] cultivation had only recently broken through. Thus, this Kalpa Tribulation [an immense cosmic cycle of conflict and renewal] passed by in a hurried blur.

Upon emerging from seclusion, he discovered that Silas Chen had already returned. Moreover, Silas Chen had stepped into the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal realm by following the Sacrificial Self Path.

During this descent into the tribulation, Silas Chen encountered numerous formidable adversaries. The Human Race, Demon Race, and Divine Clan were locked in fierce contention. Major ancient sects and imperial courts had dispatched many invincible imperial scions to partake in the struggle.

Among them were the True Dragon Imperial Scion from the True Dragon Clan, the direct grandson of a Sage Ascendant [a realm just below that of a Sage] from the Kunpeng [a mythical giant bird-fish] clan, an invincible phoenix maiden from the Immortal Phoenix Clan, and even the Soaring Sky Imperial Scion, who had awakened once more, determined to sweep across the entire Kalpa Tribulation.

The Demon Race alone had sent forth four such True Spirit Prodigy [individuals blessed with the bloodline or essence of a primordial true spirit] into the tribulation, showcasing a depth of power and heritage unprecedented in history.

Yet, the Human and Divine Races were not to be outdone. From among the Divine Clan emerged the direct bloodline descendant of the Primordial Beginning Divine Sovereign, known as the 'Primordial Beginning Imperial Prince'. Also entering the fray was the 'Stellar Divine Scion', a champion under the banner of the Purple Tenuity Divine Sovereign.

The Human Race fielded its own champions: the seventh direct disciple of the Primordial Genesis Path Ancestor, the 'Eight Trigrams True Lord', and the personal disciple of the Obsidian Abyss Great Emperor, the 'Second Son True Lord'.

Among these four, the Primordial Beginning Imperial Prince and the Stellar Divine Scion were hidden aces from the ancient lineages of the two Great God [a powerful divine cultivation realm] sovereigns. The Eight Trigrams True Lord was none other than Worthy Remembrance Chen, the youngest son of Eldrin Chen. As for the Second Son True Lord, that was the Second Son, Worthy Path Chen.

Of these four, while the Primordial Beginning Imperial Prince and Stellar Divine Scion were formidable as expected, it was Worthy Remembrance Chen and Worthy Path Chen who truly displayed combat prowess so dazzling it would be remembered for ages to come.

And Worthy Remembrance Chen was a Person of Destiny [an individual blessed by fate with extraordinary potential], who had also received the true teachings of a Path Ancestor [a supreme master who has comprehended a fundamental cosmic principle], cultivating the rare trio of True Spirit Foundation [the foundational cultivation method for building a perfect spiritual core]: the Eight Trigrams Great Path [the Great Path of the Eight Trigrams, representing the fundamental forces of creation], the Eight Trigrams Path Body [a physique perfectly attuned to the Eight Trigrams], and the Eight Trigrams Immortal Embryo [an embryonic immortal form forged from the Eight Trigrams].

Worthy Path Chen had even cultivated the Nine Revolutions Heavenly Art [a supreme art of nine cycles of refinement] to its ninth revolution, unlocking a full three True Spirit Aperture [spiritual apertures within the True Spirit Foundation, each representing a profound source of power].

When the four Demon Race [a race of powerful, often malevolent, beings] Imperial Scions faced the four peerless prodigies of the Human and Divine Races [the allied races of humanity and celestial beings], it was expected to be a clash of unprecedented grandeur. Yet, to everyone's astonishment, the battle held no suspense whatsoever.

Among the four True Spirit Prodigy [a prodigy who has achieved a perfect True Spirit Foundation] of the Demon Race, the True Dragon Imperial Scion and the Kunpeng Holy Scion both possessed only a single True Spirit Foundation. Against their opponents, they stood no chance, each being decisively slain in one-on-one duels within the Depths of Chaos [the primordial, formless expanse beyond ordered reality].

The True Dragon Imperial Scion was cleaved apart by Worthy Path Chen, while the Kunpeng Holy Scion failed to last three thousand exchanges against Worthy Remembrance Chen before being crushed upon the Void Heaven [a desolate, empty celestial plane].

The Immortal Phoenix Divine Maiden was a peerless prodigy with dual True Spirit Foundation. She personally crossed hands with the Primordial Beginning Imperial Prince [the Imperial Prince of Primordial Beginning, a title denoting supreme origin], only to discover, to her horror, that he was a peerless genius of Three True Spirit Foundations. In the end, her physical body was utterly destroyed, and only her Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core and true essence of a cultivator] managed to flee, vanishing from the Void Heaven.

As for the Soaring Sky Imperial Scion, though he had revived with the supreme foundation of Three True Spirit Foundations, his misfortune was to encounter the present Silas Chen.

In this tribulation, Silas Chen had transitioned from dual True Spirit Foundation to cultivate the Sacrificial Self Path [a profound and demanding cultivation path], forging a peerless foundation nearly comparable to Five True Spirit Foundations. After a fierce battle spanning over seven thousand exchanges, he ultimately beheaded his foe within the Depths of Chaos.