Chapter 2105 : Clash of the Great Paths

Upon hearing these words, everyone present revealed expressions of astonishment.

Simultaneously, the nine personal disciples who had encircled the group had already sealed the surrounding void. Ye Verdant Peak looked towards Tianheng Child and inquired, "How do you feel, Ninth Junior Brother?"

"The expenditure was not small, but I still have strength for battle."

Tianheng Child spoke, his demeanor remaining composed and unflappable, his bearing peerlessly elegant.

Ye Verdant Peak nodded, then turned his gaze to the Demonic Dragon Great Emperor and said, "Let us have a fair duel, lest anyone say we bullied you with numbers."

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

He scrutinized Ye Verdant Peak carefully before speaking, "You cultivate five distinct Great Path [the supreme cultivation arts representing fundamental cosmic principles] simultaneously, and have already mastered the Great Path Divine Form [a divine manifestation of a Great Path's power] for each. Such profound foundation is indeed extraordinary."

"Since that is the case, this sovereign shall engage you with my full power."

As his words fell, the Demonic Dragon Great Emperor instantly soared into the air, unleashing his ultimate techniques and combat prowess, clashing with Ye Verdant Peak in a battle of supreme extremity.

From the very first exchange, Ye Verdant Peak immediately understood why the Demonic Dragon Great Emperor was hailed as the leader of the Ten Heroes of the Outer Realm [a renowned group of ten supreme powerhouses from realms beyond the known cosmos].

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

With such formidable foundational strength and reserves, by all logic, he should have long been able to cultivate his ninth True Spirit Divine Form [the ultimate divine manifestation of a True Spirit's power] and step into the realm of the Limitless Sage Ascendant [the pinnacle stage of a Sage Ascendant, representing boundless potential].

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

The reason for this was clearly in preparation for a Chaos Divine Rune [a divine rune of primordial chaos, representing ultimate power and origin]. This Demonic Dragon Great Emperor had secluded himself for hundreds of thousands of Kalpa Tribulation [immense cosmic cycles spanning billions of years], even going so far as to follow the Outer Realm Demon Emperor, all for the sake of a single Chaos Origin Pearl [a pearl containing the primordial essence of chaos, a priceless treasure for cultivation].

However, the resources in the hands of the Outer Realm Demon Emperor were also limited. Without having accumulated sufficient Merits [a metaphysical "currency" representing good karma or virtuous deeds, often required for great rewards], the Outer Realm Demon Emperor would not simply bestow the Chaos Origin Pearl upon the Demonic Dragon Great Emperor.

The Demonic Dragon Great Emperor's arrival in the Southern Abyss Seven Domains was precisely for this one Chaos Divine Rune.

And the Demonic Dragon Great Emperor, having cultivated nine great True Spirit Divine Runes, possessed strength far beyond what any ordinary Sage Ascendant [a cultivator who has ascended to the sage realm] could 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 observing from the void had their expressions change drastically.

"This Demonic Dragon Great Emperor could have long ago cultivated the Nine Great God Forms [the nine ultimate divine manifestations] and stepped firmly into the Sage Ascendant Realm," one voice murmured.

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

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

Upon the Heavenly Vault [the highest celestial platform], the gathered Sage Ascendants [cultivators who have ascended to the penultimate stage before godhood] spoke gravely, their expressions uniformly etched with solemnity.

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

"Whether he can withstand him or not will be revealed in battle."

Eldrin Chen offered a faint smile, his gaze calmly fixed upon the Central [the heart of the battlefield].

At the very core of the conflict, Verdant Peak Lu had already erupted into a climactic duel with the Demonic Dragon Great Emperor.

Clad in Innate [born of primordial chaos] battle armor and wielding a demonic dragon lance that swept across the heavens, the Demonic Dragon Great Emperor unleashed strikes imbued with the power to annihilate all creation, a force far surpassing that of any ordinary Sage Ascendant.

Yet Verdant Peak Lu stood his ground without yielding an inch. Behind him, the Ten Great Immortal Treasuries [ten supreme repositories of immortal power] whirled, and within five of these Immortal Treasuries sat manifested True Spirit Divine Forms [avatars of pure spiritual essence], each erupting with ultimate divine might.

Thus empowered by these five True Spirit Immortal Treasuries [cultivation arts that harness the power of true spiritual forms], countless chains of cosmic order intertwined, their power funneling into Verdant Peak Lu's body, unleashing a force capable of shattering heavens and cleaving the cosmos.

After a fierce and thunderous exchange, not only did the Demonic Dragon Great Emperor fail to gain the upper hand, but he found himself steadily forced into retreat under Verdant Peak Lu's relentless assault.

"It seems our intervention will not be necessary."

Within the Depths of Chaos, Imperial Sovereign Jiang cradled the Innate Primordial Breath Sword [a supreme sword technique born from the fundamental breath of creation], a serene expression settling upon his features.

Eldrin Chen glanced back and saw the Ten Great Immortal Treasuries [ten supreme repositories of immortal power] orbiting behind Imperial Sovereign Jiang, with a True Spirit Divine Form [a divine avatar embodying a primordial true spirit] seated in meditation within nine of them.

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

Now, Imperial Sovereign Jiang had mastered nine of the True Spirit Immortal Treasury [a supreme cultivation art that forges immortal treasuries anchored by true spirits], granting him combat prowess rivaling that of a Limitless Sage Ascendant [a supreme realm just below the Path Ancestors].

However, the tenth True Spirit Immortal Treasury represented a bottleneck of near-insurmountable difficulty. Successfully crossing it would signify the potential to reach the Path Union Supreme [the ultimate realm where one's path merges with the supreme Dao], and even grant the power to challenge a Heavenly Emperor [a sovereign ruler of a heavenly domain].

Yet, time was still short, and the necessary profound opportunities were lacking. Thus, even with Imperial Sovereign Jiang's extraordinary talent, he had not yet achieved this breakthrough.

In truth, after reaching the Primordial One Imperial Lord [the foundational realm for Imperial Lords, representing the unity of primordial essence], opening new Immortal Treasury [internal repositories for storing and refining immortal power] was not particularly difficult.

With the cultivation base of a Primordial One Imperial Lord, opening one hundred ordinary Immortal Treasury would pose no issue. However, such ordinary treasuries offered little to no benefit to one at the Primordial One Imperial Lord level.

Only Immortal Treasury forged at the Indestructibility [a supreme qualitative state of being unbreakable and eternal] level could marginally enhance the strength of a Primordial One Imperial Lord.

Yet what truly enhances the potential and combat prowess of a Primordial One Imperial Lord [a supreme cultivator who has unified their foundational essence into a singular, primordial state] is this crucial True Spirit Immortal Treasury [a legendary cultivation art that forges the cultivator's very spirit into an immortal repository of power].

Once one cultivates the True Spirit Immortal Treasury, even a single True Spirit Immortal Treasury [the foundational stage of this art] bestows an enhancement surpassing that of ten Indestructibility Immortal Treasury [a powerful cultivation realm focused on achieving an unbreakable body].

With this thought, Eldrin Chen spoke, "After this battle, the captured Innate Supreme Treasure [treasures born from the primordial chaos of heaven and earth, possessing supreme power] will not be few. Seize this opportunity to advance further."

"I see no suspense remains in this conflict. Once the war concludes, you should lead them to take refuge in the Great Wasteland Primordial Domain [a vast, ancient, and desolate realm] to avoid the coming storm."

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

He understood clearly that with the conclusion of the clashes at the Great Emperor [a sovereign-level cultivator of immense power] level, the ensuing situation would grow even more arduous.

The foreign realm sages—and even the Chaos Heavenly Emperor [emperors who command the primordial forces of chaos]—who had suffered such a grievous loss, would not simply let the matter rest with the Southern Abyss Seven Domains [a coalition of seven domains in the southern abyssal region].

When that time came, the foreign sages would surely launch an assault, triggering a climactic battle against Eldrin Chen and the others.

With this realization, Imperial Sovereign Jiang 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 resolve. "In the coming war, the Sacrificial Self Path will undoubtedly become the target of all. Even I cannot guarantee the safety of everyone."

"I will remain here to draw their focus. You must lead the disciples of the Sacrificial Self Path and our core clansmen to safety. I have already sent word to the Energy Abyss Patriarch in the Great Wasteland Ancient Realm."

"Remember, safety is paramount."

Imperial Sovereign Jiang nodded gravely, his expression solemn. "Then you must be exceedingly careful. If the tide turns against us, do not hesitate to abandon the Southern Abyss Seven Domains."

Eldrin Chen gave a firm nod, yet a flicker of profound understanding passed through his gaze.

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

Eldrin Chen understood with perfect clarity: this battle for the Southern Abyss Seven Domains was inevitable and must be fought to its conclusion.

For the Blazing Center Supreme would never tolerate the rise of the Outer Realm Demon Emperor, nor stand idly by as he sought to unify the Heaven Abyss Fourteen Domains.

From Eldrin Chen's knowledge, even without a Half-Step Path Union expert presiding over the formation, if more than ten Primordial Domain joined forces, the Chaos Grand Formation they could deploy would be capable of directly confronting a Path Union Supreme.

And within the vast expanse of the Blazing Central Hundred Domains, the only Chaos Domain possessing more than ten Primordial Domain was the Blazing Central Chaos Domain itself.

If the Outer Realm Demon Emperor were to unify both banks of the Heaven Abyss and then join forces with the fourteen Primordial Domain to deploy the Chaos Grand Formation, could he not directly challenge the Blazing Center Supreme [the supreme ruler of the Blazing Center]?

By that time, even if the Outer Realm Demon Emperor were to break through to the Path Union Supreme Realm [the supreme realm of cultivation where one's path merges with the cosmos], the Blazing Center Supreme could only watch helplessly as he advanced, utterly powerless to obstruct his path.

Precisely for this reason, the Blazing Center Supreme dispatched two Heavenly Emperor [rulers of heavenly domains] and the Blazing Center Incinerator to the Southern Abyss Seven Domains.

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

Eldrin Chen even suspected that if the Southern Abyss suffered a complete and irreversible defeat, that Path Union Supreme [a supreme being who has merged their path with the cosmos], even without personally intervening, would send Half-Step Path Union [cultivators on the cusp of the Path Union realm] to interfere in the war.

Under such circumstances, Eldrin Chen could not simply leave at will, unless he intended to abandon the Southern Abyss Seven Domains entirely and sever all ties with the Blazing Center Supreme.

"The Outer Realm Demon Emperor, the Blazing Center Supreme."

"Caught between these two colossal powers, survival demands seeking fortune amidst peril, grasping for that sliver of opportunity to forge my own path within the crucible of crisis."

Such thoughts flickered through Eldrin Chen's mind before his gaze turned toward the Central battlefield.

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

The Ten Direct Disciples [the ten foremost disciples of the Sacrificial Self Path], who cultivated the Sacrificial Self Path, were not only individually powerful enough to rival the Seven Heroes of the Outer Realm, but were also bolstered by the power of a Primordial One Immortal Domain [a supreme immortal realm], making their spiritual energy reserves profoundly vast.

For the Seven Heroes of the Outer Realm to contend with the Ten Direct Disciples was akin to assaulting ten massive Primordial One Immortal Domain. They faced not merely ten opponents of equal rank, but the combined Path Principles Power [the fundamental power of a Great Path] of an entire Primordial One Immortal Domain, channeled through its Great Path [a supreme cultivation art].

This titanic conflict raged for several Kalpa Tribulation [immense cosmic cycles], culminating in the utter defeat of the Seven Heroes of the Outer Realm.

The Three Souls Imperial Lord was vanquished in direct combat by Lingering Ye, while the Five Extremities Great Emperors, who commanded five Great Path, met their end beneath the sword of Goose Startles Cold.

The Six Harmonies Great Emperor [a supreme cultivator who had mastered six Great Paths], a figure hailed as peerless within the Outer Realm, was ultimately refined by Literature Abyss Lu using a Four Symbols Formation [a formation harnessing the power of the four celestial beasts].

The remaining heroes were either defeated or forced to flee. Even the mighty Demonic Dragon Great Emperor ultimately perished, shattered by the Five Extremities Sword Formation of Ye Verdant Peak.

With the fall of the Ten Heroes of the Outer Realm, the hundreds of other Great Emperor from the Outer Realm stood no chance, unable to withstand a single clash.

They were routed, with the majority forming defensive arrays and retreating into the depths of the Chaos Heaven Abyss [a churning, primordial abyss], awaiting rescue from the Saints of their homeland.

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

Shortly after the defeat of the Ten Heroes of the Outer Realm, the Saints of the Outer Realm could no longer restrain themselves. They surged into the Heaven Abyss, intent on annihilating the Ten Direct Disciples once and for all.

"Hold them back."

Eldrin Chen spoke, immediately moving to seal off the Heaven Abyss [the vast and turbulent boundary between realms].

The Desolate Heaven Quasi-Emperor, the Primordial Era Spirit Emperor, the Violet Radiance Sword Extreme, and over thirty other Sage Ascendant [powerful cultivators one step below the Sage realm] from the Southern Abyss also acted in unison, sealing off the southern shore of the Heaven Abyss.

The more powerful an Immortal [a being who has transcended mortality through cultivation] was, the greater the pressure they endured when crossing the Heaven Abyss.

Although the foreign saints from other realms could resist the Heaven Abyss's violent torrents to cross over, the effort was not insignificant. For a time, they found it difficult to pierce through the vast and boundless Heaven Abyss.

Seizing this opportunity, Eldrin Chen swept up the Ten Direct Disciples [the ten personal disciples of Eldrin Chen] with a flick of his sleeve, then instructed Imperial Sovereign Jiang and Exquisite Jiang to lead them away.

"Husband."

Before parting, Exquisite Jiang and the others felt a deep reluctance in their hearts, unable to help but look at Eldrin Chen as they spoke.

Eldrin Chen did not look back. He simply strode forward with calm resolve, advancing to the edge of the Heaven Abyss before speaking. "Go to the Chaos Desolation Sea [a primordial and lawless expanse of chaotic energy]. Remember, no matter what happens, do not look back."

Upon hearing his words, everyone's hearts trembled slightly. In the end, they all gritted their teeth and set off towards the Depths of Chaos [the innermost, most turbulent regions of the primordial chaos].

Simultaneously, the brows of the sages upon the Heavenly Vault [the highest celestial realm] furrowed slightly. The 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. Instead, he stated, "My lineage has slain over one hundred Great Emperor [supreme rulers of immense power] and decisively defeated the Ten Heroes of the Outer Realm. Is such a contribution still not enough?"

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

Without a direct reply, Eldrin Chen let out a derisive chuckle. "I fear I shall not depart before Your Excellency flees for your life."

As the two exchanged words, the sages from the outer realm had already charged to the Central region of Heaven Abyss [the Celestial Chasm, a strategic defensive line].

Eldrin Chen cast his gaze outward and saw a Chaos [Primordial Chaos] ancient platform suddenly rise from the depths of Heaven Abyss. Upon it stood nearly one hundred outer realm Sage Ascendant [powerful beings one step below the ultimate Sage realm].

At their forefront were ten towering figures, led by none other than the Primordial Era Demonic Ape [an ancient and terrifying demonic beast progenitor].

Now, the outer realm sages stood poised in the air. The Primordial Era Demonic Ape gazed calmly at the sages of the Southern Abyss and declared, "In the war of Great Emperor, you were indeed not weak. 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 Northern Abyss Sages all offered faint smiles. From among the ten foremost powerhouses at their head, a figure of imposing stature stepped forward.

He gazed calmly at the assembly and declared, "We of the Northern Abyss shall dispatch ten Sage Ascendants to face you in fair, one-on-one duels upon the Heaven Abyss."

"You may take turns. If you can defeat these ten, we of the Northern Abyss shall cease hostilities for one thousand Kalpa Tribulations."

"But if we prevail, you of the Southern Abyss should simply surrender."

Upon hearing this, the expressions of the Southern Abyss Sages shifted subtly, each revealing a flicker of indignation.

Though their foe possessed nearly one hundred Sage Ascendants, they offered only ten for this contest—intending to face their thirty-plus opponents in successive single combat. It was a blatant display of contempt for the Southern Abyss Sages.

The humiliation was profound. Many among the Southern Abyss Sage Ascendants showed signs of fury, yet none outright rejected the Northern Abyss Sages's proposal.

After all, the enemy held overwhelming numerical superiority. A full-scale clash, thirty against a hundred, was a battle they could not hope to win.

True, their ranks included Returning Abyss Path Ancestor, an Invincible Sage Ascendant whose prowess rivaled a Heavenly Emperor's. But the opposing side was not lacking in such peerless figures who could also challenge Heavenly Emperors.

The Outer Realm Demon Emperor commands ten Great God Generals. Each of these Divine Generals is a Limitless Sage Ascendant, and among them, three are said to rival even Heavenly Emperor [a supreme sovereign who rules over a heavenly domain]. Every single one is terrifyingly powerful.

With this thought, the various Sages of the Southern Abyss exchanged glances. Finally, the Heaven's Slaughter Sage Ascendant spoke: "Agreed!"

As the Sages of the Southern Abyss gave their consent, the Chaos Arena [a primordial battleground where cosmic laws are in flux] rose above the Heaven Abyss. Immediately, the ten Great God Generals, led by the Northern Abyss, surged onto it.

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

Each of the ten Great God Generals under the Outer Realm Demon Emperor possessed combat prowess that could startle even Sages.

Among them, the Primordial Era Demonic Ape stood at the Central position, clearly the strongest of the group. Flanking him were two peerless Sage Ascendant: a crimson-haired man and a violet-robed Sage Ascendant.

Eldrin Chen had heard whispers of these two.

The crimson-haired man was known as the Crimson Blood Demon Monarch. It was said he simultaneously mastered three Perfect Innate Great Path [supreme cultivation arts born from the fundamental laws of the cosmos]: the Crimson Flame, the Sea of Blood, and the Nether Spring Innate Great Path.

Among these three Great Path, the Crimson Flame Great Path possessed fifteen Great Path Divine Form [manifestations of a Great Path's ultimate power], making it a true Limitless Great Path [a Great Path of the highest order with immense potential].

The Sea of Blood and the Nether Spring Great Path [a Great Path embodying the power of dark, subterranean springs] each possessed seven Great Path Divine Form, which was by no means weak among the Perfect Innate Great Path.

The Crimson Blood Demon Monarch [a supreme ruler among demonic beings] cultivated three distinct Innate Great Path [fundamental cosmic laws or principles of cultivation] simultaneously, and had mastered each one completely. This made his power a veritable miracle even among the ranks of Sage Ascendant [cultivators who have ascended to a sage-like state, one step below a Heavenly Emperor].

As far as Eldrin Chen knew, the strength of the Crimson Blood Demon Monarch was sufficient to rival even a Heavenly Emperor [a supreme sovereign who has mastered a Heavenly Dao and rules over a vast domain], placing him among the very pinnacle of beings within the Path Mastery Sage Ascendant [the highest tier of Sage Ascendants who have fully mastered their chosen Paths].

If not for his desire to further perfect the Crimson Flame Great Path [the Great Dao of Crimson Flames], this Crimson Blood Demon Monarch would have long since broken through to the Heavenly Emperor's Domain [the realm and authority of a Heavenly Emperor].

The other violet-robed Sage Ascendant was named Violet Night Demon Venerable. This individual had also achieved the Sole Divine Form [a unique and supremely powerful divine manifestation], and his strength was not the least bit inferior to that of the Primordial Era Demonic Ape [an ancient and immensely powerful demonic ape from the dawn of time].

"It seems this battle will require more than a little effort," Eldrin murmured to himself.

As these thoughts flickered through Eldrin Chen's mind, a trace of solemnity surfaced, though it soon faded into calm resolve.

The Ten Great God [powerful deities, a rank below Sage Ascendants] Generals under the command of the Outer Realm Demon Emperor [the sovereign ruler of demons from beyond this realm] were indeed formidable. However, aside from the three whose power could challenge a Heavenly Emperor, the rest were of little concern.

Eldrin Chen felt a flicker of curiosity. Why, when the foreign sages held the strategic advantage and could overwhelm the sages of Southern Abyss [a profound and perilous abyssal region in the southern reaches] with sheer numbers, did they insist on this duel of only ten champions per side?

Could it truly be nothing more than the pride of these outer realm Sage Ascendant at work?

Just as these musings drifted through Eldrin Chen's thoughts, the Ten Great God Generals standing upon the Heavenly Vault [the celestial dome of the heavens] finally spoke.

One of the foreign Divine Generals pointed his war spear at the crowd and spoke with a calm expression, "You all from the Southern Abyss [the southernmost region of the primordial abyss], why do you hesitate to come forward and meet your deaths?"

The cultivators from the Southern Abyss all fell into a brief, contemplative silence. After a moment, a Sage Ascendant [a cultivator who has ascended to the peak of the Sage realm, one step below the Emperor realm] hailing from the Primordial Domain of Myriad Gods spoke up, "Fellow Daoists, allow this old man to be the first to test the mettle of the Northern Abyss Sages."

As his words faded, that Sage Ascendant soared into the air and alighted upon the Chaos Arena [a vast, ancient platform suspended within the primordial chaos, used for decisive battles].

Witnessing this, the Desolate Heaven Quasi-Emperor beside him remarked to Eldrin Chen, "The Violet Sun Sage Ascendant possesses considerable strength, even among his peers in the Sage Ascendant realm."

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

Eldrin Chen, however, shook his head and sighed. "Ten moves."

"What?"

The Desolate Heaven Quasi-Emperor was momentarily stunned, his mind struggling to process the words. Before he could react, a piercing cry of agony shattered the air.

In that instant, a majestic figure was sent hurtling backward through the void, crashing violently into the depths of the Vast and Boundless Chaos Desolation Sea [an endless, turbulent sea of primordial chaos and desolate energy].

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

"Alas—"

Eldrin Chen let out a soft sigh before speaking. "Even among Sage Ascendant [the pinnacle realm just below the Heavenly Emperors], there exist disparities. Before a Limitless Sage Ascendant [a Sage Ascendant who has transcended the conventional limits of their realm], even a Top-Tier Sage Ascendant [a Sage Ascendant at the very peak of their power] would find it difficult to confront them head-on."

"In a one-on-one encounter, escape would be the only viable option."

The assembled Sages fell into a heavy silence, yet there were still those who refused to believe it.

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

"Not to mention a mere Sage Ascendant, even if I were to stand before a Chaos Heavenly Emperor [a supreme sovereign ruling over primordial chaos], I would dare to draw my sword with all my might."

As his words fell, the Myriad Tribulations Divine Venerable directly stepped onto the platform. He summoned his Lifebound Supreme Treasure [a supreme magical artifact bound to its user's life and soul], the Myriad Tribulations Holy Sword, and unleashed a cleaving strike.

This Myriad Tribulations Divine Venerable lived up to his reputation as a peerless Sage Ascendant. His power far surpassed that of Violet Sun Sage Ascendant. The sword radiance from his hand stretched endlessly, an infinite tide of 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 and Boundless Chaos [the primordial, formless state before creation], a resonant hum of a sword suddenly arose. Following it, an indescribable blade of light cleaved downwards, its Immortality [a sword intent embodying the concept of eternal, unyielding existence] nearly severing the endless fabric of Space-Time [the fundamental continuum of reality].

"It's him."

Eldrin Chen felt a stir in his heart, instantly recognizing the origin of the swordsman who had struck.

This Mortal Path [a supreme cultivation method] was known as the 'Heaven-Severing Sword Saint' [a legendary sword technique]. Tens of thousands of Kalpa Tribulation [cosmic cycles of destruction and rebirth] ago, he had slain Great God Vast Azure with a single sword strike from across the Heaven Abyss [a chasm separating realms]. The residual force of that blow had even traveled down the River of Space-Time [the metaphysical flow of time and space] to slay Great God Vast Azure hundreds of times over.

"Aaaargh—!"

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

The Myriad Tribulations Divine Venerable [a title for a supreme being who has endured countless cosmic trials] tumbled from the emptiness, his face deathly pale, one of his arms severed and falling away.

"You dare to wield a sword?"