Chapter 2116 : The Path of Sacrificial Self

"Bypass the shackles of bloodline?"

Nyssa Qu murmured softly, then inquired, "My lord, are you suggesting I convert to the Sacrificial Self Path [a profound and perilous cultivation method where one sacrifices their entire foundation to forge a new, supreme self]?"

Eldrin Chen gave a slow nod. "Such is the nature of the Sacrificial Self Path," he explained. "The more formidable one's original foundation, the greater the potential and power of the Sacrificial Self Physique [the ultimate body forged through the Sacrificial Self Path] they cultivate."

"You possess a Chaos Foundation [a legendary spiritual root of immense potential]. If you sacrifice everything to embrace the Sacrificial Self Path, your latent power and strength are certain to undergo a monumental transformation. The likelihood of you reaching the Path Union Realm [a supreme cultivation realm where one's path merges with the cosmos] should be significant."

Exquisite Jiang nodded in agreement, yet a shadow of concern crossed her features. "However," she cautioned, "cultivating the Sacrificial Self Path is fraught with peril. The greater one's power, the more formidable the dangers encountered during the process."

"With Nyssa's current level of cultivation, venturing down this path would be far too reckless."

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen nodded again, his expression growing solemn.

The primary challenge of the Sacrificial Self Path lies in the act of sacrifice itself—offering one's entire cultivation foundation as fuel to forge an invincible new self.

Yet, the process of Sacrificial Self is shrouded in unpredictable and lethal dangers. A single misstep leads to certain annihilation. Furthermore, the more powerful the cultivator, the lower their chance of successfully completing the Sacrificial Self ritual.

For those at the Great Emperor [a pinnacle realm of immense power] or the Sage Ascendant level, attempting to directly embark on the Sacrificial Self Path carries a success rate that approaches zero.

Fortunately, the likelihood of Sacrificial Self [a profound cultivation art that involves sacrificing one's own cultivation foundation to achieve a higher state] can also be increased through the use of certain external aids.

For instance, in the past, Eldrin Chen utilized the power of the Innate Supreme Treasure Creation Cauldron [a legendary cauldron capable of forging supreme treasures] to assist several dozen of his Ancient Immortal Great Power [cultivators who have reached the Ancient Immortal realm] in completing their cultivation of the Sacrificial Self.

If one could rediscover the Heaven and Earth Cauldron [a divine cauldron associated with the creation of heaven and earth] and restore the divine might of the Heaven and Earth Creation Cauldron [the perfected form of the Heaven and Earth Cauldron], it might also be possible to help even Great Emperor [a supreme cultivation realm] and Sage Ascendant Realm [a realm transcending even Great Emperors] powerhouses sever their entire cultivation foundation to complete the Sacrificial Self.

Of course, if one could employ the Chaos Cauldron [the primordial cauldron born from Chaos], the effect would likely be far more potent.

As a supreme Chaos Supreme Treasure [a treasure of the highest order born from primordial Chaos], the Chaos Cauldron possesses boundless and miraculous uses, its efficacy surpassing that of the Heaven and Earth Creation Cauldron by an incalculable degree.

The so-called Heaven and Earth Creation Cauldron was, in truth, merely a Middle Grade Chaos Spiritual Treasure [a high-tier treasure forged from Chaos materials] crafted by Nameless in imitation of the Chaos Cauldron, using two portions of Chaos Spiritual Treasure [raw materials imbued with primordial Chaos energy] as its core components.

It is a pity, however, that the Chaos Cauldron was sent flying by a strike from the Blade of Oblivion [a weapon of ultimate annihilation]. Had Eldrin Chen intervened at that moment, he would have had at least a fifty percent chance of successfully retrieving it.

Yet, to do so would have been tantamount to snatching the Chaos Cauldron right from under the nose of Oblivion Sovereign [a sovereign entity representing ultimate destruction], inevitably alerting him to the anomaly.

To prevent Oblivion Sovereign from detecting anything amiss, Eldrin Chen chose not to reclaim the Chaos Cauldron, instead allowing it to vanish into the depths of the Boundless Chaos [the infinite, formless primordial expanse].

"Without the Chaos Cauldron, if we can use the Heaven and Earth Creation Cauldron as our foundation and harness the power of the Primordial Domain [a realm of ancient, foundational power] to deploy the Chaos, Heaven and Earth, Creation Grand Formation [a grand formation channeling the powers of Chaos, Heaven, and Earth], it should be sufficient to assist Nyssa and the others in completing the Sacrificial Self."

Eldrin Chen murmured inwardly, a contemplative expression gracing his features.

In the past, the Heaven and Earth Cauldron [a legendary artifact of immense power] was banished by the Ancient One of Heaven and Earth [a primordial being of great age and power] and vanished into the Vast and Boundless Chaos [the formless, primordial expanse from which all creation emerged].

Later, Eldrin Chen attempted multiple times to use the Creation Cauldron [a supreme treasure with the power to sense and locate other artifacts] to pinpoint the location of the Heaven and Earth Cauldron, only to find it perpetually shrouded in a dense mist of obscuration. This veil of mystery consistently thwarted his efforts to ascertain the cauldron's precise whereabouts.

Fortunately, as Eldrin Chen's cultivation deepened, he began to perceive faint clues. He deduced that the Heaven and Earth Cauldron was likely concealed within a Primordial Chaos Secret Realm [a hidden pocket dimension born from and existing within the primordial chaos], its Celestial Mechanism [the fundamental laws and workings of the cosmos] being actively shielded by the secret realm's own innate power, which was what blocked his divinations.

However, such concealment has its limits. Eldrin Chen estimated that once his cultivation in the Soul Path [a profound cultivation art focused on refining and empowering the soul] advanced to the Heavenly Emperor Realm [a supreme realm of power, one step below the legendary Path Ancestors],

he would possess the formidable soul cultivation required. Coupled with the might of the Great Deduction Polarity Stars Path [a supreme art of fate-reading and celestial calculation] and the innate resonance of the Creation Cauldron, pinpointing the Heaven and Earth Cauldron's location should no longer pose a significant challenge.

"The Soul Path Heavenly Emperor Realm is no longer a distant prospect," he concluded silently.

Eldrin Chen allowed these thoughts to drift for a moment before firmly reining them in.

He turned his gaze to his companions, his dao companions, and spoke, "My counsel is this: we must first solidify our foundations in every aspect. Only after our cultivation reaches its absolute peak should we consider transitioning to the Sacrificial Self Path [a legendary and demanding cultivation path that requires immense sacrifice and self-refinement]."

Upon hearing his words, the others fell into brief, thoughtful silence, quickly grasping the wisdom behind Eldrin Chen's proposed course of action.

Currently, most of them have specialized in the Path of Path Mastery [a profound cultivation art focused on mastering the fundamental laws of the universe], while also cultivating the Soul Path Heavenly Emperor [the path of refining one's soul to achieve a sovereign state akin to a Heavenly Emperor] as a secondary pursuit.

Among them, only Exquisite Jiang and Verdant Consort cultivate all three Paths to Heaven [the ultimate cultivation paths leading to ascension]: Fleshly Body Sanctification [the art of tempering the physical body to an indestructible state], the Primordial Chaos Great Path [the supreme Dao of the primordial, undifferentiated chaos], and the Soul Path Heavenly Emperor.

Conventionally, this is the clearest choice, for when one's Great Path [one's primary and supreme cultivation method] reigns supreme, specializing in a single path is considered optimal.

However, if one were to solely cultivate the Sacrificial Self Path [a unique cultivation art where the practitioner sacrifices their current self to forge a new, transcendent being], then specializing in just one path would hold no meaning whatsoever.

The Sacrificial Self Path operates on a principle where the more profound and numerous one's foundational pillars are, the more transcendent the 'new self' forged through the sacrificial rite will become.

Therefore, moving forward, they must strive to perfect their foundations—their physical bodies, their Spiritual Treasure [powerful enchanted artifacts], their divine abilities, their Path Fruit [the tangible fruits of one's cultivation representing mastery over a specific Dao]—cultivating them to a state where no further improvement is possible.

Understanding this, Violet Consort Yan remarked with a smile, "Cultivating multiple Great Paths simultaneously presents a difficulty of staggering magnitude, likely demanding tens or even hundreds of times the time and effort."

"Yet, with the accelerated Space-Time [the flow of time and space, which can be manipulated in certain realms] within the Returning Abyss Grotto-Heaven [a mystical realm where time flows differently], this might indeed be our most advantageous path."

Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod of agreement and began contemplating the future paths for his several Dao-companions.

Among his Dao-companions, Exquisite Jiang possessed foundations of heaven-defying profundity, while Verdant Consort's potential pointed directly toward the Path Union Supreme Realm [the ultimate realm where one's cultivated Paths merge into a singular, supreme existence]. For the foreseeable future, neither would likely embark on cultivating the Sacrificial Self Path.

Violet Consort Yan and Lila, inheritors of the Immortal Sage Path Lineage, have already stepped into the realm of Invincible Great Emperor with their Great Path cultivation. Furthermore, after many years of practicing the Soul-Splitting Profound Art, their Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] cultivation has also reached the Great Emperor Realm.

Next, they only need to supplement their physical body, Path Fruit [the condensed essence of one's cultivation path], and other foundational aspects. Once all their foundations reach the peak of the Great Emperor realm, they can then sacrifice everything to convert to cultivating the Sacrificial Self Path [a profound cultivation method that involves sacrificing one's current self to forge a new, more powerful existence].

The same holds true for Liana Imperial Lord. Although her foundational potential is slightly inferior to Lila and Violet Consort Yan, she is, after all, a prodigy who has cultivated several True Spirit Foundation [foundational arts that forge a cultivator's spirit with unparalleled purity and strength].

Once she cultivates all her foundations to their limits and then specializes in the Sacrificial Self Path, she may potentially reach even greater heights.

Only Nyssa Qu stands at a different juncture. Her inherent potential is nearing its limit, and she may become one who transitions to the Sacrificial Self Path.

Understanding this, Eldrin Chen pondered for a moment before speaking. "Nyssa's foundation lies in her Nine-Colored Immortal Clam [a mythical clam spirit-body of extraordinary rarity and power] physique, which simultaneously possesses the nine powers of the Five Elements [the fundamental forces of Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth], the Three Anomalies [the rare and potent forces of Wind, Thunder, and Ice], and Extreme Yin."

"This should remain her core. To further enhance her latent potential, the path forward can be divided into three main steps."

Upon hearing this, Nyssa Qu's eyes brightened slightly, a flicker of eager inquiry appearing within them.

Seeing her reaction, Eldrin Chen continued. "First, cultivate these nine powers to their absolute zenith, mastering the Nine True Spirit Divine Forms [a supreme divine ability manifesting nine perfect spiritual avatars] to step into the pinnacle of the Sage Ascendant Realm."

"Second, reforge the Nine Severities Spirit-Slaying Swords [a set of nine legendary swords], cultivating them into nine Innate Supreme Treasure [magical treasures of the highest order, born from primordial chaos]."

Upon hearing this, everyone present was momentarily taken aback.

Back then, in order to help Nyssa Qu cultivate her Innate Lifebound Supreme Treasure [a supreme magical artifact intrinsically bound to its wielder's life force], Eldrin Chen had already merged the Nine Severities Spirit-Slaying Swords [a set of nine swords renowned for severing spirits] into one, forging a single Innate Supreme Treasure [a supreme artifact born of innate laws] killing sword.

Now, however, there was a need to reforge the Nine Severities Spirit-Slaying Swords. Did this not mean all the effort expended back then had been in vain?

Seeing their confusion, Eldrin Chen continued, "At that time, Nyssa's foundation was insufficient. Had the nine swords remained separate, it would have been impossible for her to cultivate an Innate Supreme Treasure. That is why I fused them into one entity."

"In hindsight, this seemingly haphazard act has, by chance, opened a path for the Nine Severities Spirit-Slaying Swords to potentially transform into nine separate Innate Supreme Treasure."

At this point, Eldrin Chen smiled and said, "The bottleneck for the Nine Severities Spirit-Slaying Swords has now been broken. If we can obtain the Heaven and Earth Creation Cauldron [a legendary cauldron said to possess the power of creation], we can separate them back into nine individual swords."

"Then, by infusing them with various Immortal Metal [divine-grade metals used in crafting immortal artifacts] and divine materials, we can cultivate them into nine Innate Supreme Treasure Immortal Sword [swords of immortal grade]."

"At that time, the Nine Severities Spirit-Slaying Swords would be able to merge and separate at will. They could unite to form the Nine Extremities Slaughter Sword [a supreme sword technique of slaughter], or disperse to create the Nine Extremities Sword Formation [a lethal sword formation] to annihilate hordes of enemies. They would become a truly formidable treasure of Slaughter [the Dao of Slaughter]."

Understanding this, a wave of delight washed over the hearts of those present.

Feeling a surge of excitement, Nyssa Qu could not help but grasp Eldrin Chen's arm and ask, "Husband, if that is the case, when can we retrieve the Heaven and Earth Cauldron?"

"Soon."

Eldrin Chen spoke slowly, then said thoughtfully after a moment of contemplation: "Once I cultivate the Chaos Primordial Spirit [the ultimate spiritual core born from primordial chaos], I will begin the search to retrieve the Heaven and Earth Cauldron [a legendary cauldron said to contain the power to refine heaven and earth]."

"..."

Having arranged the future cultivation plans for his Dao companions, Eldrin Chen embarked on a period of secluded cultivation.

In the years that followed, Eldrin Chen focused exclusively on cultivating the Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] through the Great Path [a supreme cultivation method]. He aimed to leverage the accelerated flow of time within his cultivation chamber to swiftly accumulate the necessary foundation for his Primordial Spirit advancement.

However, this time, Eldrin Chen had not been in seclusion for long before he was abruptly interrupted by a piece of news.

Upon seeing the message, Eldrin Chen immediately emerged from his Seclusion Chamber [a specially prepared chamber for undisturbed cultivation] and summoned a group of Immortal [beings who have transcended mortality through cultivation] to the Returning Abyss Immortal Hall [the main hall of Eldrin Chen's immortal domain].

Upon arriving in the great hall, Eldrin Chen swept his gaze across the room. He found several dozen Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [a high-tier immortal whose power encompasses all] and even Primordial One Imperial Lord [a supreme ruler who has returned to the primordial unity] bound and restrained within.

"Profound Darkness Great Emperor, Profound Desolation Great Emperor, Heaven's Deduction Saint Emperor, Heaven's Prison Sage Ascendant…"

Looking at the assembled figures before him, Eldrin Chen could not help but frown slightly, a crease forming between his brows.

Beside him, Verdant Peak observed this and spoke, "Master, these individuals were all your enemies from the past, and some were your Great Path Rival [a rival whose destiny is deeply intertwined with one's own on the path of cultivation]."

"They were captured personally by Tai Nie Divine Sovereign and Primordial God of Boundless Cosmos among others, and delivered to you, venerable Master, for your judgment."

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen felt a wave of disorientation wash over him.

These people were his Great Path Rival, and there were also enemies like Heaven's Deduction Saint Emperor among them. Many had attained the Great Emperor Realm [a supreme realm of power and authority].

In the past, many of them had been formidable adversaries whom Eldrin Chen could scarcely look up to. Now, before Eldrin Chen had even uttered a word, they had been delivered to his doorstep.

Originally, upon discovering that Eldrin Chen had stepped into the Heavenly Emperor Realm [the realm of a Heavenly Sovereign], these individuals had sought to flee. However, Tai Nie Divine Sovereign and Primordial God of Boundless Cosmos, along with several other Heavenly Emperor [titles for supreme sovereigns], had personally intervened, capturing them one by one.

Understanding this, Eldrin Chen could not help but sigh softly within his heart.

In the end, within this Chaos [the primordial, formless state from which all existence emerged], strength was the ultimate arbiter. Had Eldrin Chen been merely an ordinary Heavenly Emperor Realm, these Divine Sovereign would likely have protected Heaven's Deduction Saint Emperor and the others.

But once Eldrin Chen's combat prowess had reached the Half-Step Path Union [a transcendent state bordering on the unification of all paths], they realized they could no longer shield these subordinates by their own power.

Under such circumstances, rather than offending Eldrin Chen for the sake of their followers, it was wiser to seize this opportunity to curry favor.

As for Heaven's Deduction Saint Emperor and the others, they were merely the price paid by Primordial God of Boundless Cosmos and his ilk to curry favor.

With this thought in mind, Eldrin Chen could not help but let out a soft sigh before speaking. "All of you, rise."

Upon hearing this, Ye Verdant Peak immediately untied these individuals.

After everyone had stood up, the Heaven's Deduction Saint Emperor turned his gaze towards Eldrin Chen and spoke with a bitter smile. "I prided myself on being able to scheme against all, yet I never imagined my myriad machinations would ensnare a Path Ancestor."

"Today's outcome is entirely the fruit of my own folly. I shall bear whatever punishment the Path Ancestor decrees."

Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod, then spoke calmly. "Then your sentence shall be the Eternal Tribulation of Samsara. You may return only when you have comprehended the Tribulation [the profound trial of reincarnation]."

As his words fell, Eldrin Chen activated the Great Deduction Polarity Stars Path [a supreme art of cosmic calculation and fate manipulation], extracted the Heaven's Deduction Saint Emperor's soul essence, and cast it into the boundless Reincarnation [the endless cycle of death and rebirth].

Witnessing this, everyone present instantly wore expressions of terror and despair.

An Eternal Tribulation Curse [a malediction of perpetual reincarnative suffering] executed with the power of a Heavenly Emperor [a sovereign ruler of a heavenly domain] was something the Heaven's Deduction Saint Emperor, with his level of cultivation, might never comprehend and escape. It was clear Eldrin Chen was not a man of gentle mercy.

And indeed, this was true. Eldrin Chen had never put stock in foolish notions of repaying malice with virtue.

If one repays grievance with virtue, then with what shall one repay virtue?

Mercy shown to an enemy is a sin committed against those by one's side.

The suffering that Lingering Ye endured in the past, the Tribulation [a divine calamity or trial] that befell Obsidian Abyss Heavenly Emperor, Eldrin Chen shall settle each and every one of them today.

As these thoughts stirred within him, Eldrin Chen struck repeatedly, severing the cultivation bases of several great foes and casting them into the Eternal Tribulation Reincarnation [a cycle of perpetual tribulation and rebirth from which escape is nearly impossible], making transcendence all but impossible.

"Hiss—"

Witnessing this scene, many of the Great Path Rival [those whose destinies are in direct opposition on the Great Path] present were overcome with boundless terror.

They all turned their gazes toward Eldrin Chen, their faces etched with utter despair.

Yet, contrary to expectations, as Eldrin Chen looked upon these Great Path Rival, the killing intent within him had strangely faded.

He offered a faint smile and spoke with calm finality, "The Great Path Contention [the relentless struggle for supremacy on the Great Path of cultivation] permits only advancement, never retreat."

"Your cultivation of the Great Path [the supreme and fundamental Dao of cultivation] conflicts with my own, yet beyond that, we bear no personal enmity. I have no intention of pursuing total annihilation."

"Very well. You may all return to your cultivation, and even contemplate and refine the Primordial Solar [the supreme state of pure yang energy], Profound Darkness [the profound principle of ultimate yin], Mixed Metal [the art of blending metallic essences], and other such Great Path [supreme cultivation methods]."

Upon hearing this, everyone present was momentarily stunned, clearly not grasping the meaning behind Eldrin Chen's words.

Seeing this, Eldrin Chen continued, "Your Great Path Authority [the authority to wield a supreme cultivation method] shall be taken by me in the future. However, your contributions to the Great Path Authority will also be remembered in my heart."

"In the future, if I fully master the Great Path Authority, you may continue to cultivate the Great Path, and even anchor your Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] within it, preserving your current Path Fruit [the fruit of one's cultivation path] and cultivation level."

"Moreover, if you can refine and perfect the Great Path, you may receive various opportunities bestowed by me, even including the qualification to cultivate within the Returning Abyss Heaven [a legendary realm of profound mysteries]."

Hearing this, the assembled crowd instantly erupted into expressions of ecstatic joy.

In truth, not all who attain Path Mastery [mastery over a cultivation path] are ruthless individuals. For example, the Human Race's Purple Tenuity Great Emperor cultivates upon the foundation of the Purple Tenuity Great Path [the supreme path of the Purple Tenuity constellation].

Logically, Purple Tenuity Divine Sovereign could have seized control of Purple Tenuity Great Emperor's Great Path. Yet, he has never opposed Purple Tenuity Great Emperor, even permitting his Primordial Spirit to be anchored within the Purple Tenuity Great Path.

Under such circumstances, the only distinction between Purple Tenuity Great Emperor and other Great Emperor [powerful cultivators at the peak of the Great Emperor realm] is that when wielding Great Path Authority, he must seek permission from Purple Tenuity Divine Sovereign.

If Purple Tenuity Divine Sovereign withholds his consent, Purple Tenuity Great Emperor would lose the power of the Great Path Authority, causing his strength to plummet by eighty or ninety percent.

Yet it must be admitted that figures like the Purple Tenuity Great Emperor [the Great Emperor embodying the Purple Tenuity Star] are, in fact, far safer for it.

Since there is no Great Path Authority [the supreme authority over a fundamental cosmic principle], there is no possibility of having that authority wrested away.

While he could never break through to the Heavenly Emperor Realm [the realm of a Heavenly Emperor, a supreme sovereign], he posed no threat whatsoever to the Purple Tenuity Divine Sovereign [the Divine Sovereign of the Purple Tenuity Star]. Therefore, as long as the Purple Tenuity Divine Sovereign did not move against him, he could essentially maintain his cultivation at the Great Emperor Realm [the realm of a Great Emperor].

Now it seems Eldrin Chen is similar to the Purple Tenuity Divine Sovereign; he does not resist Great Path Rival [a destined rival who cultivates the same Great Path] who cultivate the Primordial Solar Heavenly Flame [the Heavenly Flame of the Primordial Sun] and other such Great Path [fundamental cosmic principles or supreme cultivation arts].

In his eyes, the only Great Path Rival worthy of wariness were those few Chaos Heavenly Emperor [Heavenly Emperors of Primordial Chaos] who also cultivated this path. The rest posed no threat and could, in fact, aid in the deduction and refinement of the Great Path.

He was quite willing for these individuals to refine the Primordial Solar Heavenly Flame and other such Great Path. Even if he would ultimately contend for the full authority over them, he was still content to allow them a place within that domain.

With this understanding, the gathered Great Encompassing [Great Encompassing realm cultivators] and Imperial Lord [Imperial Lords] present could not help but reveal expressions of wild joy.

After all, now that the Great Path Authority was being cultivated by Eldrin Chen, a Heavenly Emperor [a Heavenly Emperor], there was no chance they could wrest such a Great Path from his grasp.

If Eldrin Chen could come to command the Great Path, securing a position under his banner would be a fine outcome indeed.

For even after the Primordial Chaos Great Path [the Great Path of Primordial Chaos] was mastered, it did not mean others could no longer cultivate it as a secondary path.

However, without the permission of a Path Mastery [a cultivator who has mastered a Great Path] practitioner, these individuals cannot mobilize the power of Great Path Authority [the supreme authority granted by mastering a fundamental cosmic principle]. Consequently, their strength is considerably weaker compared to ordinary peers of the same Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [the pinnacle realm of immortality, signifying a perfected golden core] realm.

Although such individuals cannot wield Great Path Authority, they are no longer in danger of losing it and cannot be utterly annihilated by a Great Path Rival [a destined rival who contends for mastery over the same Great Path].

Viewed in this light, for those Immortal [beings who have achieved immortality through cultivation] who do not seek further ascension but desire only Longevity [eternal life and freedom from worldly concerns] and carefree existence, this outcome is not without its merits.

Most importantly, it seems Eldrin Chen would offer considerable rewards to those who contribute to perfecting his Great Path [his unique and supreme cultivation methodology], which brought them a measure of solace.

Understanding this, the several dozen Great Encompassing Immortal Lord [lords who have attained the Great Encompassing realm of immortality] and Primordial One Imperial Lord [imperial lords who have reached the Primordial One realm] present felt a surge of relief. They prostrated themselves and then bowed deeply, declaring in unison, "We offer our profound gratitude for your mercy, Imperial Lord [a title for a supreme ruler among cultivators]."

"Henceforth, we pledge to devote ourselves wholeheartedly to perfecting the Great Path and to assist the Imperial Lord in ascending to the peerless Supreme Realm [the ultimate, transcendent state of cultivation]."

Eldrin Chen smiled faintly and waved his sleeve. "Cultivate diligently. If you can contribute even a single brick or tile to the edifice of my cultivation path, this lord will not treat you poorly."

With those words, Eldrin Chen said no more.

He departed the great hall and returned to the Chaos Grotto-Heaven [a personal paradise realm born from primordial chaos] to continue his cultivation of the Primordial Spirit [the foundational spiritual core of a high-level cultivator].

Time holds no sway within the mountains, yet a millennium passes in the mortal world.

With the support of a three hundredfold acceleration in Space-Time flow, Eldrin Chen's cultivation in the Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] realm advanced with astonishing speed.

After merely several dozen Kalpa Tribulation [immense cosmic cycles] had passed in the outside world, his Primordial Spirit cultivation had already reached its absolute peak.

"My foundation in the Primordial Spirit realm has reached the pinnacle of the Sage Ascendant [a realm just below the Immortal Sage] domain," he declared.

On this day, Eldrin Chen murmured softly to himself. Sensing the profound state of his Primordial Spirit, a gentle smile touched his lips.

He then turned his senses inward to the Primordial Spirit Tower [a divine ability manifesting as a spiritual tower]. Within the Primordial Spirit Immortal Pagoda [a magical treasure in the form of an immortal pagoda], the Nine Great True Spirit Divine Abilities [a set of nine supreme divine abilities] shone with interwoven radiance, their combined essence faintly coalescing into a supreme Immortal Pagoda [a pagoda-shaped immortal treasure] of near-Chaos Tier [the primordial chaos grade, the highest tier] quality.

Within the Primordial Spirit Tower, the nine Divine Ability True Form [the true, perfected forms of divine abilities] ebbed and flowed, each one brimming with ultimate power, saturating the Primordial Spirit Tower with strength to its very limits.

"The Primordial Spirit Tower has also reached its zenith," he concluded.

As his thoughts drifted, Eldrin Chen recalled the method for breaking through the Primordial Spirit Pagoda.

The so-called Primordial Spirit Path Attainment Art [a supreme cultivation art for the Primordial Spirit realm] involved cultivating one's Primordial Spirit to its absolute peak, then refining the Primordial Spirit Pagoda to perfection. Following this, one would refine Chaos Genesis Energy [the primordial energy of creation] to fundamentally transform the foundation of the Primordial Spirit.

At that moment, by merging the Primordial Spirit Tower with the Primordial Spirit itself, one could achieve the supreme and peerless Soul Path Heavenly Emperor Realm [the Heavenly Emperor realm of the Soul Path].

However, Eldrin Chen possessed an extraordinary foundation. His Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] had long surpassed its limits, having completed the cultivation of a Major Limit-Breaker [one who has shattered the conventional boundaries of a cultivation realm]. The bottleneck to the Heavenly Emperor's Domain [the supreme realm of a Heavenly Emperor] had already been shattered long ago.

Under such circumstances, Eldrin Chen did not need to refine any Chaos Genesis Energy [the primordial energy from which all creation springs]. He merely needed to give a gentle push to ascend into that supreme Soul Path Heavenly Emperor's Domain.