Chapter 2106 : Clash of Limitless Ascendants

"Incredibly powerful." [an expression of awe at the immense strength displayed]

Hearing this, the expressions of all the Sage Ascendant present changed drastically. [Sage Ascendant: a realm of cultivation denoting supreme mastery and power]

They could never have imagined that even with the strength of Myriad Tribulations Divine Venerable, he would be so utterly outmatched before the Heaven-Severing Sword Saint. [Heaven-Severing Sword Saint: a title for a supreme master of the sword capable of sundering the heavens]

"Among the ten Great God Generals under the command of the Outer Realm Demon Emperor, this Heaven-Severing Sword Saint ranks fourth. His power truly cannot be underestimated." [Great God: a cultivation realm representing a pinnacle of divine power; Outer Realm Demon Emperor: a sovereign ruler of demons from beyond the known world]

The Primordial Era Spirit Emperor spoke slowly, then turned his gaze towards Eldrin Chen and the Heaven's Slaughter Sage Ascendant. [Primordial Era Spirit Emperor: an ancient sovereign emperor of spirits from the dawn of time]

Within the Southern Abyss Seven Domains, those who could be considered Limitless Sage Ascendant were only Eldrin Chen and the Heaven's Slaughter Sage Ascendant. [Limitless Sage Ascendant: a Sage Ascendant who has reached a state of boundless, immeasurable power]

Among them, Eldrin Chen had cultivated the Sole Divine Form [a supreme divine transformation technique], his strength already reaching a level where he could contend with those in the Heavenly Emperor's Domain [the realm of a Heavenly Emperor, the supreme ruler of a celestial domain]. The Heaven's Slaughter Sage Ascendant had cultivated the Nine Great God Forms [a divine ability manifesting the forms of nine great deities], making his power quite formidable even among Limitless Sage Ascendant.

With this thought, the Primordial Era Spirit Emperor spoke, "It seems that to oppose the ten Great God Generals of the Outer Realm, we must ask you two to take action."

Without hesitation, the Heaven's Slaughter Sage Ascendant immediately stepped forward and ascended the platform.

Opposite him, the ten Great God Generals of the Outer Realm exchanged glances. Finally, one Limitless Sage Ascendant wielding a Heavenly Blade [a divine weapon of celestial sharpness] stepped forth and said, "Heaven's Slaughter Sage Ascendant, I have long heard of your esteemed name."

"Today, I, Heavenly Blade Sacred Venerable, shall test your mettle."

As the words fell, the two combatants stood firm within the Heaven Abyss [a profound and perilous cosmic void], erupting into a rare clash of supreme titans.

Eldrin Chen stood atop the Heaven Abyss, looking down upon this duel from a commanding height, yet a faint frown creased his brow.

He had to admit, this Heaven's Slaughter Sage Ascendant was worthy of his title as a Limitless Sage Ascendant [a supreme cultivator who has transcended mortal limits]. His mastery of the Heaven-Slaying Great Path [a supreme cultivation art focused on defying the heavens] and its ultimate Slaughter [a divine ability embodying pure annihilation] was peerless, and his combat prowess was formidable even among Limitless Sage Ascendant.

Yet, his opponent, the Heavenly Blade Sacred Venerable, was no weakling either. This one excelled in the ultimate Path of Slaughter [a cultivation art dedicated to the principle of absolute destruction], ranking seventh among the ten Great God [a powerful divine realm cultivator] generals.

A duel between two such supreme Limitless Sage Ascendant was destined to end in mutual devastation, even if a victor could be determined.

"*Clang!*"

As Eldrin Chen's thoughts drifted, the battle between the two had already escalated into a white-hot frenzy.

One cultivated the Path of Slaughter, the other the Heaven-Slaying Path. Both manifested the rare and formidable divine form of Slaughter, their offensive power standing at the pinnacle of their realm.

Precisely because of this, their confrontation was perilous in the extreme. The slightest misstep would bring about a decisive, and likely fatal, conclusion.

This confrontation lasted only tens of thousands of exchanges before a decisive victor emerged amidst a searing light of slaughter.

Within the Heaven Abyss [a profound and perilous chasm], the Heaven-Slaying Sage Ascendant was covered in blade scars, having lost an entire arm, while the Heavenly Blade Sacred Venerable [a title for a supreme master of the blade path] had been pierced through the center of his brow by a sword strike, leaving a nearly fatal wound.

"Hmph—"

Witnessing the defeat of the Heavenly Blade Sacred Venerable, the Heaven-Severing Sword Saint [a legendary sword and the title of its master] snorted coldly. With a sharp *shing*, he drew his blade and slashed towards the Heaven-Slaying Sage Ascendant.

By now, the Heaven-Slaying Sage Ascendant was grievously wounded and clearly had no strength left to resist. As the Heaven-Severing Sword Saint's strike descended, a trace of despair flickered in his eyes.

"*Clang!*—"

Yet, in that very instant, a streak of sword light shot from beyond the heavens. With a resonant *clang*, it collided with the Heaven-Severing Sword [the legendary sword itself], parrying the Heaven-Severing Sword Saint's lethal blow.

Following this, Eldrin Chen strode calmly through the void, materializing beside the wounded Heaven-Slaying Sage Ascendant.

"My thanks."

Seeing that Eldrin Chen had intervened, the Heaven-Slaying Sage Ascendant drew a deep breath and quickly rose to offer his gratitude.

Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod. He merely examined the injuries of Heaven's Slaughter Sage Ascendant before handing him a Healing Immortal Pill [a potent pill capable of mending severe wounds and restoring vitality]. "Your injuries are grave," he said. "Return and heal first."

Heaven's Slaughter Sage Ascendant gritted his teeth, forcibly regenerating his severed arm with great effort. "I can still fight," he insisted, his voice strained.

"Do not force yourself."

Eldrin Chen shook his head, his tone calm and measured. "You have already done your utmost by defeating a Limitless Sage Ascendant [a cultivator who has transcended the limits of mortality and attained a state of near-perfection]."

With those final words, Eldrin Chen allowed no further argument. With a flick of his sleeve, he sent Heaven's Slaughter Sage Ascendant away from the central battlefield.

Having done this, Eldrin Chen rose to his full height, his gaze serene as it swept over the assembled host of foreign powers before him.

"Returning Abyss Path Ancestor!"

At the same moment, Heaven-Severing Sword Saint [a title for a supreme master of the sword whose blade can sunder the heavens themselves] spoke, a torrent of boundless battle intent igniting within his eyes.

Eldrin Chen stood with his hands clasped behind his back, hovering in the air. He regarded Heaven-Severing Sword Saint with profound calm. "You are no match for me," he stated, his voice devoid of arrogance, merely stating a fact.

"Is that so?"

The gaze of the Heaven-Severing Sword Saint suddenly turned icy cold. An aura of boundless, razor-sharp sword intent manifested around him as he stared coldly at Eldrin Chen and said, "I have been wanting to witness the methods of the Returning Abyss Path Ancestor!"

"*Screech—*"

In that instant, the Heaven-Severing Sword Saint suddenly drew his sword and slashed fiercely towards Eldrin Chen.

In a flash, infinite sword-light transformed into myriads upon myriads of swords embodying Path Principles [the fundamental laws and truths of a cultivator's chosen Dao], becoming a sky-filling storm of sword rain that surged violently towards Eldrin Chen.

Facing such a strike, Eldrin Chen did not change his expression in the slightest. With merely a raised palm and a gentle press into the void, he captured that immensely powerful, endless sword rain, suspending it motionless in the air.

"So powerful!"

Witnessing this scene, the heroes from the outer realm [a term for lands or dimensions beyond the protagonist's known world] all had their expressions shift slightly, each revealing a trace of shock.

The Heaven-Severing Sword Saint was even more astounded, speaking with disbelief, "Your cultivation, sir, is profoundly formidable."

"Your Sword Path [the specific Dao or way of the sword practiced by a cultivator] is not bad, but a sword is not used in this manner."

Eldrin Chen spoke slowly, then suddenly flicked his sleeve with a tremor. The action dispersed the vast sword rain, revealing at its core the Heaven-Severing Sword.

Then, Eldrin Chen drew the Heaven-Severing Sword into his palm, where it thrashed and struggled in vain, utterly unable to escape his grasp.

"Observe closely. This is the true essence of the Sword Path [the profound and ultimate way of the sword]."

As his words fell, Eldrin Chen unleashed a single, devastating slash. In that instant, a blade of light, irresistible and absolute, cleaved through the heavens.

This strike transcended the limits of the Mortal Realm. It held no flourish, no ornate beauty—only a single, ultimate, and blindingly brilliant arc of sword light.

It seemed to surpass time and space itself, locking the Heaven-Severing Sword Saint firmly within the void. Then, with a sharp, resonant *clang*, the two forces crossed paths.

"*Pfft—*"

The void itself seemed to freeze. A moment later, the Heaven-Severing Sword Saint slowly knelt to the ground. The Indestructibility [the principle of unyielding, eternal vitality] that had once suffused its being had been utterly extinguished by that single, final stroke.

"*Hiss—*"

Witnessing this scene, the assembled saints and sages could not help but draw in sharp, collective breaths of shock.

Many found it difficult to believe, unable to fully comprehend the technique they had just witnessed, and unwilling to accept that the Heaven-Severing Sword Saint had met its end in such a manner.

Only the Primordial Era Demonic Ape wore a grave expression, speaking with utmost solemnity: "This is the purest of sword strikes, devoid of any technique or feint."

"What it possesses is the most fundamental Sword Intent [the conceptual will and essence of a swordsman's art]."

"It condenses the Great Path [the supreme principle of cultivation and existence], mana, Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a high-level cultivator], physical body, and all other forces into one, pouring them into this single strike. Thus, it unleashes an unstoppable, ultimate speed and power of attack."

Violet Night Demon Venerable also revealed a look of deep apprehension before saying with considerable gravity: "The Great Path [the supreme principle of cultivation and existence] returns to simplicity. So long as it is sufficiently fast, accurate, and ruthless, that constitutes the strongest Sword Path [the Dao or Way of the Sword]."

"The myriad paths of the Myriad Heavens [the countless realms and heavens of existence] ultimately converge. Is our own Dao not the same?"

Crimson Blood Demon Monarch spoke slowly, his tone laced with wariness: "Alone, none of us likely have the confidence to subdue him. Fortunately, we came prepared."

As his words fell, a surge of radiant light erupted across the Chaos Arena, followed by the manifestation of countless array patterns that sealed the surrounding void.

Eldrin Chen furrowed his brow slightly, his gaze sweeping the surroundings before settling into a cold, detached expression.

He saw Crimson Blood Demon Monarch standing poised in the air, speaking with calm assurance: "Returning Abyss Path Ancestor, you have finally taken the bait."

"All your intricate schemes were merely to lure me to this place?"

Eldrin Chen spoke slowly, a chilling glint flashing within his gaze.

In the distant void, the remaining eight Great God stood firm upon the Heavenly Vault, while nearly one hundred Northern AbyssSage Ascendant encircled Eldrin Chen, sealing him in an impenetrable ring.

Further out, the thirty-some Sage Ascendant from the Southern Abyss were blocked, utterly powerless to break through and offer aid.

In that moment, the truth finally dawned upon Eldrin Chen.

The challenge from the Northern Abyss was a ruse. The wager for a truce lasting one thousand Kalpa Tribulation was a lie. Their sole, true purpose was him—the one who dared to challenge a Heavenly Emperor.

"You've finally realized," the Crimson Blood Demon Monarch said slowly, a mocking sneer twisting his features. "But it's too late."

"The sages of the Southern Abyss Seven Domains may seem formidable, but in our eyes, apart from you, the rest are nothing but clay chickens and straw dogs."

"Once we subdue you, what threat do the other Southern AbyssSage Ascendant truly pose?"

"You—!"

On the other side, the sages of the Southern Abyss were nearly mad with fury. They knew that if Eldrin Chen were captured, the situation would collapse into utter chaos. Yet, they could find no way to shatter the blockade laid by the Northern Abyss sages.

Seeing this, Eldrin Chen could not help but let out a derisive laugh. "So this is the honor and trustworthiness of the Demonic Path cultivators from your Northern Abyss?" he said, his voice laced with scorn.

"Honor? Trust?"

Upon hearing this, the Crimson Blood Demon Monarch merely sneered coldly, offering no reply.

Instead, it was Violet Night Demon Venerable who rose to his feet. His expression turned grave as he looked at Eldrin Chen. "To speak plainly," he began, "our purpose in coming here today is, in fact, to extend an invitation for you, Path Ancestor, to join our ranks."

"Oh?"

A flicker of understanding passed through Eldrin Chen's eyes.

Sure enough, Violet Night Demon Venerable continued, "Your talent, Path Ancestor, possesses the foundational depth of a Path Union Supreme. Your future potential is truly boundless."

"Rather than pointlessly throwing your life away for the Southern Abyss Seven Domains, why not join our Northern Abyss? Follow our Demon Emperor and carve out a grand legacy of your own."

Eldrin Chen offered no answer, listening in silence.

Violet Night Demon Venerable gave a faint smile and pressed on. "Our Demon Emperor has decreed this: should you be willing to join our Northern Abyss Foreign Realm, you shall be named his sole Holy Scion."

"At that time, your esteemed position will be second only to the Demon Emperor's, becoming one of the true Sovereigns of our Northern Abyss Foreign Realm."

"The Sole Holy Scion?"

Eldrin Chen gave a light laugh, then spoke, "His Majesty the Demon Emperor's intentions are indeed gracious. However, I have grown accustomed to a life of unfettered freedom and fear I am unworthy of serving as His Majesty's Scion."

"Such insolence!"

Violet Night Demon Venerable was instantly enraged, his boundless killing intent boiling over as he declared, "You dare defy the Demon Emperor's decree?"

Eldrin Chen offered no reply. He merely stood firm, his Chaos Heaven Halberd gripped tightly, his combat power surging to its absolute peak.

Witnessing this, the Crimson Blood Demon Monarch sneered coldly, "Violet Night, there is no need for further words with one such as him. A person of his caliber possesses an unyielding pride; he will not submit so easily."

As he spoke, a bloody light flickered in the Crimson Blood Demon Monarch's eyes, his voice dripping with ultimate malice, "Only when I personally dismantle his bones, one by one, will he be utterly broken and submit."

"BOOM—"

The moment his words fell, the Crimson Blood Demon Monarch struck. He soared into the air, wielding his Crimson Blood Divine Spear, and thrust it directly towards Eldrin Chen.

Eldrin Chen casually flicked the Chaos Heaven Halberd to parry, sending the Crimson Blood Demon Monarch flying backward. He then spoke, "If your strength matched the sharpness of your tongue, I would surrender right now."

"You seek death!"

The Crimson Blood Demon Monarch's eyes turned icy. He immediately formed hand seals, and twelve Crimson Flame Formation Flag manifested around him, bearing down to suppress Eldrin Chen.

Witnessing this, Eldrin Chen furrowed his brow slightly. He promptly activated the Celestial Abyss Twin Swords to engage the enemy and spoke with grave seriousness.

"The Dutian Crimson Flame Formation Flags."

It turned out these twelve Formation Flag were an exceptionally powerful set of Formation Artifact [an enchanted artifact designed specifically for powering formations]. They were composed of twelve combined Innate Supreme Treasure [a supreme-grade treasure born from the primal chaos of heaven and earth], similar to the Nine Dragon Treasures Eldrin Chen had once seized.

Such Innate Formation Flag, when activated, possessed power far surpassing the realm of ordinary Innate Supreme Treasure, nearly rivaling half the might of a Chaos Spiritual Artifact [a spiritual artifact forged from primordial chaos essence].

Most crucially, when driven by the Crimson Blood Demon Monarch's Crimson Flame Great Path [a supreme cultivation art of the crimson flame], their power was amplified synergistically, even possessing the potential to threaten a Chaos Heavenly Emperor [a sovereign who has attained mastery over the primordial chaos].

In truth, as a Path Mastery Sage Ascendant [a sage who has ascended to the mastery of a Great Path], at least thirty percent of the Crimson Blood Demon Monarch's ability to rival a Chaos Heavenly Emperor stemmed from this very set of Dutian Crimson Flame Formation Flags.

Now, as the Crimson Blood Demon Monarch poured his full power into the Formation Artifact, twelve colossal Crimson Flame fire dragons materialized, coiling and circling through the air.

These twelve fire dragons, each a manifestation of the Great Path True Form [a supreme divine ability that allows one to embody the true form of a Great Path], coiled and writhed together, launching a crisscrossing, ferocious assault upon Eldrin Chen.

"This is somewhat troublesome."

Witnessing the rampant onslaught of the twelve fire dragons, a slight frown creased Eldrin Chen's brow.

If he unleashed his full power, he could certainly shatter this Dutian Crimson Flame Grand Formation [the Grand Formation of Crimson Flames Encompassing Heaven and Earth]. However, doing so would reveal his complete strength, likely drawing the attention of the Outer Realm Demon Emperor.

Yet, if he held back his full power, the first question Eldrin Chen had to consider was precisely how much strength to reveal in order to defeat this host of enemies.

"*Clang!*"

In that fleeting instant, a strategy began to crystallize in Eldrin Chen's mind.

With a sudden surge, Eldrin Chen shot into the air. He channeled his power into the Returning Abyss Seal, causing it to ascend and manifest its Innate Formation Artifact [a treasure with the innate ability to form powerful arrays] aspect—the Myriad Heavens and Worlds Diagram [a diagram depicting and containing the essence of countless realms].

In that very moment, the Returning Abyss Seal transformed, splitting into twelve separate Formation Artifact [artifacts specifically designed to create and control formations] that spread out, instantly suppressing the power of the Dutian Blazing Fire Formation Flags [the formation flags that anchor the Blazing Flames Encompassing Heaven and Earth formation].

Seizing the opportunity while the two sets of Formation Artifact were locked in struggle, Eldrin Chen broke through the formation's blockade and closed the distance, arriving directly before the Crimson Blood Demon Monarch [a high-ranking demon lord of the Crimson Blood lineage].

"Suppress—"

Caught off guard, the Crimson Blood Demon Monarch [a powerful demonic ruler] hurriedly maneuvered his Crimson Blood Divine Spear [a divine spear imbued with crimson blood energy] to block, yet he was instantly sent flying by Eldrin Chen.

As a Path Mastery [a cultivator who has mastered a fundamental cosmic principle] cultivator, the Crimson Blood Demon Monarch possessed formidable power, but close-quarters combat was his greatest weakness.

Now, with Eldrin Chen closing in, the Crimson Blood Demon Monarch suffered a grievous disadvantage. Within mere exchanges, his physical body shattered, sustaining devastating injuries.

"Agh...!"

"My forces, where are you? Aid me at once!"

After this crippling blow, the Crimson Blood Demon Monarch let out a pained cry, parrying Eldrin Chen's attacks while desperately calling for reinforcements.

The assembled saints [powerful cultivators] were momentarily stunned, then swiftly reacted. Violet Night Demon Venerable was the first to strike at Eldrin Chen, followed by the other several Great God [a high-level divine cultivator] commanders, who all joined the assault to surround Eldrin Chen.

Only the Primordial Era Demonic Ape [an ancient and immensely powerful demonic ape] remained aloof, watching the unfolding battle with a cold, detached gaze.

"Slay him—!"

Upon the Heavenly Vault, Eldrin Chen stood alone, a solitary peak towering above the multitude.

He single-handedly battled the two great beings who dared challenge a Heavenly Emperor—the Crimson Blood Demon Monarch and Violet Night Demon Venerable—alongside several invincible divine generals, yet throughout, he displayed an aura of peerless, unstoppable momentum.

In this battle, Eldrin Chen revealed merely seventy to eighty percent of his true strength, yet that was enough to reach eighty percent of the Chaos Heavenly Emperor's level, surpassing both Violet Night Demon Venerable and the Crimson Blood Demon Monarch by a significant margin.

Under normal circumstances, their combined forces would have been fully capable of resisting, even defeating, Eldrin Chen.

But now, the Crimson Blood Demon Monarch was grievously wounded, his power reduced to a mere sixty or seventy percent, rendering him incapable of posing a serious threat to Eldrin Chen.

At this moment, Eldrin Chen was seen sweeping through his foes alone, even resorting to trading wounds as he relentlessly pursued the Crimson Blood Demon Monarch.

The very formation array that had been meant to trap Eldrin Chen had now become the Crimson Blood Demon Monarch's greatest predicament.

Trapped within the confines of the array, escape was difficult for both. Eldrin Chen, heedless of cost, hunted with a madman's fervor. The Crimson Blood Demon Monarch, with nowhere to flee, was struck again and again, suffering devastating, crippling blows.

"Damnation!"

The sages from the outer realms unleashed their myriad divine abilities, striving to shackle Eldrin Chen's movements.

However, the Chaos Divine Form [a supreme divine ability that embodies primordial chaos] disregarded all seals and obstructions. Even as they continuously tried to hinder him, it was exceedingly difficult to stop Eldrin Chen from unleashing his full power.

"Boom…"

After being blasted apart yet again, the Crimson Blood Demon God [a powerful entity of the demonic race] could no longer contain himself. He turned a furious, livid gaze toward the Primordial Era Demonic Ape [an ancient and mighty demonic ape from the primordial times] and roared, "Demonic Ape, do you truly intend to stand idly by and do nothing?"

The Primordial Era Demonic Ape remained utterly calm, its expression cold and detached as it spoke indifferently, "Throughout my life, I have acted with honor and integrity. I have always disdained ganging up on an opponent of equal cultivation realm."

"When you all joined forces to besiege Varen Wei, I could still stand aside and watch. But there is absolutely no principle by which I would ever kick a man when he is down."

"Ah, you fool!"

The Crimson Blood Demon God was nearly driven mad with rage. He spoke with immense fury, "If you cause a delay in the Demon Emperor's grand undertaking, you will bear the full responsibility!"

The Primordial Era Demonic Ape was utterly unperturbed, its tone placid as it stated, "If you fail, I too shall step forward and fight him to the death. As for all consequences, I will shoulder them alone."

"Ah, you obtuse, ignorant fool! I should never have allied myself with the likes of you!"

As his words faded, the Crimson Blood Demon God let out another agonized shriek, forcibly blasted apart on the spot by Eldrin Chen's relentless assault.

"I send you to your final rest."

Eldrin Chen spoke with calm finality, then abruptly unleashed his Sole Divine Form technique, 'Pearl Within the Cauldron'. The technique drew the physical body of the Crimson Blood Demon God [a powerful entity of the demonic race] into the Great Cauldron [a legendary artifact].

The Chaos Great Cauldron then began to rotate slowly. Its power, combined with that of the Chaos Pearl, erupted continuously, ultimately grinding the Crimson Blood Demon God's physical form into nothingness.

Thus, a peerless prodigy of his generation, the Crimson Blood Demon God, met his end within this Heavenly Vault [a celestial realm]. Only a wisp of his remnant soul managed to flee into the Sea of the Great Path [the metaphysical ocean of the Dao]. Recovering from such a state would likely require tens of thousands of Kalpa Tribulation [immense cosmic cycles].

"He actually managed to slay a Sage Ascendant [a cultivator who has ascended to the threshold of sagehood]."

Witnessing this scene, all those present were utterly astounded.

The Violet Night Demon God drew a deep breath, then spoke, "To annihilate the Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] of a Sage Ascendant... Could this be the power of the Ultimate Divine Form?"

"To perish beneath the Ultimate Divine Form is an honor of sorts for him,"

Eldrin Chen said slowly, turning his gaze back towards the Violet Night Demon God. "With this battle today, my clan shall utterly bury your kind."

"Arrogant fool! Do you truly believe we are made of clay?"

A single Limitless Sage Ascendant [a supreme cultivator who has transcended the limits of the Sage Ascendant realm] spoke, his face contorted with boundless fury.

On the other side, Violet Night Demon God [a powerful entity from the demonic races] waved his hand. Instantly, nearly one hundred Sage Ascendant [cultivators who have ascended to the sage realm] from the outer realms surged forward, completely surrounding Eldrin Chen.

"No matter how formidable you are, Your Excellency, your strength must have its limits."

"Yet my Northern Abyss [a fabled and perilous region in the northern reaches] teems with prodigies. With a hundred sages joining forces, we can suppress even the Vast and Boundless Chaos [the primordial, formless expanse from which all creation emerged]. Who in this world could stand against us?"

At this moment, Violet Night Demon God's killing intent boiled over. He refused to believe that a full hundred sages working in concert could not slay a single cultivator who dared to challenge a Heavenly Emperor [a sovereign ruler whose power rivals the heavens themselves].

Even if Eldrin Chen had cultivated both the Sole Divine Form [a supreme divine transformation technique that embodies singular, unparalleled power] and the Chaos Divine Form [a divine transformation that harnesses the primordial power of chaos], placing him among the very pinnacle of those who challenge Heavenly Emperor, he still could not accept this outcome.

Eldrin Chen merely let out a cold laugh. His gaze swept dismissively over the hundred foreign sages before he spoke with utter calm, "In my eyes, the Northern Abyss Sages [the collective sages hailing from the Northern Abyss region] are nothing but clay chickens and straw dogs."