Chapter 2018 : Innate Human Soul Book

Chapter 2019 Innate Human Soul Scripture's 5 1000 Words "Exactly so."

The High Priest elder nodded, his expression turning grave as he said, "We were only able to survive this Desolation Calamity thanks to your assistance, Fellow Daoist."

"Given this kindness, we have no wish to conceal anything from you. I presume Fellow Daoist must have some questions in mind—you may freely inquire of us."

Eldrin gave a slight nod, his expression turning solemn as he inquired, "I wish to know—how did you withstand the corrosive power of the Barren Sea?"

"To be perfectly honest, that was achieved through the power of the Sacred Tome," the High Priest spoke, his expression turning profoundly grave.

“The Sacred Tome?” A faint glimmer stirred in Eldrin’s eyes.

"Hmm, it is the scripture you saw earlier."

The High Priest nodded slowly and said, "After the Great Wilderness Primordial Domain's rank fell back then, it gradually became difficult to resist the corrosive power of the Abyssal Sea."

Tens of thousands of kalpas ago, the Chaotic Desolate Sea ceaselessly eroded the Great Desolate Ancient Realm, plunging all living things into lifelessness under the power of desolation.

"But to be perfectly honest, the 9 of us are now on the verge of exhaustion. Only with a new High Priest can the power of the Sacred Tome be fully unleashed."

High Priest...

Eldrin (Person Name) finally understood why that Primordial Chaos Ancient Vessel had been able to withstand the erosion of the Annihilation Force all those years ago.

As his thoughts wavered, the High Priest spoke frankly, "To be honest, if this continues, I'm afraid we won't be able to hold on much longer."

To unleash the power of that Primordial Chaos Treasure, they had no choice but to overdraft their Primordial Spirit power.

Over time, the primordial spirits of these sacrificial offerings gradually withered away during the process of activating the Primordial Chaos Treasure, thus bringing them to the brink of annihilation.

The High Priest noticed Eldrin's unusual behavior and couldn't help but inquire with some puzzlement.

Later, due to a great calamity, the Chaos Tri-Soul Tome split into 3 parts, transforming into the Heaven, Earth, and Mortal Soul Treasures—3 Primordial Chaos Treasures.

At this point, the High Priest's expression shifted slightly as he continued, "However, though the Sacred Tome possesses boundless power, the cost to unleash its might is astronomical."

"You can activate it without sacrificing your soul essence?"

As the words faded, the elder high priest led Eldrin toward the rear of the sacred hall.

"With my current cultivation level, if I only unleash partial power when activating such a treasure, the cost should be considerably reduced."

At this thought, Eldrin paused briefly before carefully saying, “If I may be so bold, could you allow me to witness the Sacred Tome?”

The assembled priests fell into a heavy silence upon hearing this. After a long pause, the elderly High Priest finally spoke, "The Sacred Tome concerns the very survival of our Great Barren wasteland descendants. By tradition, you should never have been permitted to approach it."

Legend has it that in the primordial dawn of creation, when the 3 Extremes Primal Realm I inhabit first took form, it gave birth to a supreme Chaos Spiritual Artifact known as the Tome of Trilateral Chaos Souls.

Had it been Eldrin (Person Name) who channeled it, with his soul cultivation rivaling that of a mid-stage Chaos Origin Emperor, merely unleashing a fraction of its power would have, at worst, left his soul spirit languid and depleted.

"Innate Human Soul Scripture!"

The High Priest elder nodded, then spoke solemnly, "Our Great Wilderness Sanctum exists for the sole purpose of enshrining the Sacred Tome."

Hearing this, Eldrin (Person Name) slightly furrowed his brow.

These priests, whose cultivation levels were at most at the early stage of the Primordial Chaos Emperor, should have been fundamentally incapable of activating an Innate Supreme Treasure in principle....

Eldrin’s heart trembled. With the obstruction of the Chaos Sea gone, he finally saw the ancient book’s name clearly.

Eldrin paused thoughtfully for a moment, then ultimately revealed the origins of the Innate Soul Tome to the 9 Grand Sacrificers.

"If my guess is correct, this Innate Human Soul Book before us is none other than the lost Chaotic Human Soul Book among the 3 Soul Books."

"Fellow Daoist, do you recognize this object?"

At this thought, Eldrin (Person Name) pondered briefly before speaking, "If I am not mistaken, that sacred tome of yours is a Connate Cardinal Treasure."

"However, I am not of this realm, and I fear I cannot remain here for long. It would be best to select another worthy candidate for the position of High Priest."

Upon hearing this, the 9 high priests immediately revealed expressions of pleasant surprise.

"Not only must 1 cultivate the Great Luo Primordial Spirit, but 1 must also sacrifice the power of their own Primordial Spirit."

In that moment, he came to understand—the priests before him had likely overdrawn their spiritual souls and primordial essence to activate that innate supreme treasure.

Its scriptures could expel the power of desolation, shielding the Great Barren Ancient Realm from erosion by the barren wastes. They could even be imprinted upon jade stones, transforming them into divine rocks capable of resisting the Barren Sea.

Upon the ancient book's cover, a line of golden characters shimmered—The Tome of Human Souls.

They had assumed that while Eldrin’s physical strength was formidable, his soul cultivation must be comparatively weaker. Never did they expect that his soul cultivation would prove to be so profoundly powerful.

Just as we were on the verge of despair, an ancient tome came flying from the depths of the Chaotic Barren Sea.

Eldrin's brow furrowed slightly, a trace of surprise flickering in his eyes.

"Since you are able to activate the Sacred Tome, Fellow Daoist, please follow me."

Eldrin followed the 9 high priests and soon arrived at the center of the sacred hall.

In the center of the sacred hall, upon a simple stone platform, an ancient golden sutra drifted in gentle undulation, radiating wave after wave of gilded sacred texts.

Eldrin had anticipated this long ago. The power of a Primordial Supreme Treasure was far too immense; generally, only those at the late-stage Chaos Emperor realm or beyond could even begin to wield it.

"This is..."

"Might our honored guest be willing to become the next High Priest of the Great Barren Ancient Realm?"

The High Priest of the Great Wilderness Shrine is the highest authority in the Ancient Great Wilderness Realm, and can even wield a portion of the Sacred Tome's power...

Upon hearing this, the High Priest’s face involuntarily trembled violently.

His heart sank, and he couldn't help but speak out: "Fellow Daoist, this book is the only hope for our Great Barren Ancient Realm. We absolutely cannot afford to lose it."

Eldrin (Person Name) nodded upon hearing this, but did not speak immediately.

After a long moment of contemplation, he finally spoke, "If 1 day I can spare the Great Barren Ancient Realm from corruption, would I be permitted to take this treasure?"

The 9 high priests exchanged uncertain glances upon hearing this.

The high priest took a deep breath and said, "Fellow Daoist, if you truly have a way to claim this treasure, you may take it."

"But without the Sacred Tome, how are we to fend off those Tribes of the Abyss?"

Eldrin nodded upon hearing this. That was indeed a problem.

The reason the Great Desolate Ancient Realm had endured until now was the power of the Human Soul Codex, which proved exceptionally effective in restraining those Chaos Desolate Races.

Without the Book of Human Souls, the few 100 Great Luo Golden Immortals of the Great Desolate Ancient Realm, along with a half-crippled Primordial Chaos Emperor, would have long been utterly annihilated, with no place to bury their remains….

At this thought, he pondered briefly before speaking, "There is no urgency in this matter. Once I have recovered from my injuries, I may attempt to eradicate the surrounding Chaos Barbarians for you."

"Moreover, should the day ever come when I must depart, I shall leave behind sufficient means for you to ensure your own protection."

The Elder High Priest finally breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this, the tension draining from his previously rigid posture.

He had already prepared for the worst—if Eldrin truly attempted to seize the Sacred Tome by force, he would not hesitate to activate the grand formation and eliminate Eldrin at any cost.

Since Eldrin had no other plans, he finally breathed a slight sigh of relief.

However, the High Priest remained only half-convinced by Eldrin's claim that the Primordial Wildlands could be spared from corruption.

Seeing this, Eldrin smiled faintly. To avoid arousing suspicion among the 9 Great Sacrificers, he refrained from mentioning his desire to study the Tome of Human Souls.

After a moment's contemplation, he handed the perfected Great Wilderness Body Refining Art to the high priest and said with a gentle smile, "This is the Great Wilderness Body Refining Art I refined during my leisure hours."

"I believe I may be of some use to you."

With those words, Eldrin departed from the sanctuary and returned to his own residence.

After Eldrin (Person Name) departed, the 9 high priests still felt uneasy in their hearts. 1 priest couldn't help but sigh, "Who knows whether revealing the Sacred Tome this time will bring fortune or calamity."

The Elder High Priest shook his head and said calmly, "Even with his injuries not yet fully healed, his strength is already this extraordinary. If he truly harbors ill intentions, I'm afraid any resistance from us would be futile."

"And we too are at death's door—this may be our only chance."

As he spoke, the High Priest casually opened the Eldrin-perfected Great Wilderness Body Refining Art.

At first, he hadn't held much hope, assuming that the perfected Great Wilderness Body Refining Art by Eldrin was merely a casually modified version.

After all, the Great Wilderness Body Refining Art had been refined over hundreds of thousands of kalpas, reaching a state where no further improvement was possible.

Yet after merely watching for a short while, the High Priest found himself utterly transfixed.

His face paled slightly, a look of utter astonishment flashing across his features as he murmured, "How is this possible?"

"What's wrong?"

The several high priests present all showed a hint of confusion upon hearing this, but the Elder Archpriest directly tossed the scripture to them.

They each took a scripture to examine, and all of them revealed expressions of ecstatic delight.

"He actually reduced the fatality rate of cultivating the Great Barren Body Refining Art by a full tenfold—how is that even possible?"

The 9 high priests were utterly astounded, exchanging looks of disbelief.

The High Priest let out a wry chuckle before speaking. "He willingly bestowed this cultivation method upon us, yet we’ve measured the stature of a great soul by the yardstick of our own pettiness."

The assembled priests all offered wry smiles, a trace of awe stirring within their hearts.

1 of the priests couldn't resist glancing at the scripture before exclaiming, "To possess such profound comprehension—could it be that our cultivation methods are truly so inadequate?"

All the priests present fell into a hushed silence, clearly shaken by Eldrin’s methods.

In truth, to Eldrin's discerning eyes, the Great Wilderness Body Refinement Art was indeed crude and unrefined. Yet within the 7 domains of the Southern Abyss, this method could undoubtedly be considered an inheritance that made 1's eyes brighten.

The sole flaw of this method lay in the fact that the Primordial Desolate Domain had never produced a Chaos Heavenly Emperor, thus its perspective was considerably narrower.

By comparison, Eldrin's current comprehension was even more formidable than that of many Chaos Celestial Emperors. What he deemed a crude technique might not truly be a superficial method.

After all, the methods created by Eldrin—whether it was the Chaos Heavenly Scripture, the Path of Self-Refinement, or even the Soul Cultivation Art—were all ancient scriptures at the level of a Demi-Saint or even a Celestial Emperor.

Throughout the 7 domains of the Southern Abyss, the cultivation techniques that could catch Eldrin's eye were truly few and far between—limited to those rare and revered Celestial Emperor Ancient Scriptures.

Under such circumstances, though the Great Wilderness Body Refinement Art was crude, Eldrin had praised it as an ingenious concept with considerable merit.

To get back to the main story, after Eldrin (Person Name) left the sanctuary, he returned directly to his residence.

Returning to his residence, Eldrin first took stock of his gains from the battle. In this confrontation, he had slain over a 100 Great Luo Realm Desolate Beings and 2 Desolate Emperor-level entities.

Eldrin collected all the relics left by the extinct Emperor Barren Tribe. As for the treasures from the fallen Great Luo Barren Tribe members, they had already been delivered to Eldrin’s residence by A’man and the others.

Eldrin took stock of the spoils and discovered that the captured Feral Tribe physical bodies and innate spiritual treasures combined amounted to over 2 100 items in total.

These treasures were of no use to Eldrin. He intended to refine them into precious elixirs in the future, keeping them at hand to be allocated as circumstances warranted.

The legacy bestowed by the Emperor of the Desolate Clan was sparse—merely 2 Primordial Chaos Physiques and 2 nascent embryos of Connate Cardinal Treasures.

Among the 2 supreme treasure embryos, the Axe of the Barbarian Bull Emperor was a 2-Rune Innate Supreme Treasure Embryo, while the Trident of the Trident Emperor was merely a 1-Rune Innate Supreme Treasure Embryo. To Eldrin (Person Name), they held little practical value.

He stored these treasures away and then began his seclusion, refining the Chaos Divine Liquid to heal his wounds and delve into deeper cultivation. In his spare time, he forged the seized materials into Great Luo Immortal Pills and Primordial Chaos Immortal Pills.

Thus time flew by, and before anyone knew it, a kalpa had passed.

On this day, Eldrin slowly exhaled after refining another drop of Primordial Chaos Divine Liquid, the pallor of his complexion finally giving way to full, healthy color.

"The Great Dao divine forms were completely devoured, and my injuries have finally healed."

Eldrin murmured softly, sensing the power within his body, and discovered that his combat strength had already returned to its peak.

He slowly exhaled a breath and extended his divine sense into the Abyssal Return Furnace, a faint smile flickering in his eyes.

"Having absorbed the Great Dao Divine Forms, the Dao patterns within the Abyssal Refining Furnace have gradually perfected, appearing on the verge of evolving into the true Abyssal Dao."

Eldrin murmured inwardly, then his eyes flickered slightly as his figure vanished from the spot.

When he appeared once more, Eldrin had already arrived within the nameless space where the Pearl of Returning Abyss resided.

Within the Nameless Space, several peerless treasures drifted in eternal suspension.

Among them were a white immortal cauldron wreathed in the Dao of Heaven and Earth, and a precious vase emanating the aura of primordial chaos and void.

And at the center between the 2 treasures lay a precious pearl entwined with the boundless Great Dao of the Returning Abyss.

Eldrin swept his gaze over the Cauldron of Creation and the Chaos Void-Refining Vase, giving a slight nod of approval. The Cauldron of Creation responded with a faint resonance, yet the Void-Refining Vase remained deep in slumber.

Among these 2 treasures, the Cauldron of Creation was a Primordial Chaos Treasure. With Eldrin's current cultivation level, he could barely unleash 10 percent of its power.

The Chaos Void-Refining Vial was a Chaos Spiritual Treasure, yet its artifact spirit seemed to have fallen into a deep slumber. Only a cultivator at the Great Emperor Realm or above could barely manage to activate it…

Even with Eldrin's profound foundation, he would likely need to reach the late stage of Chaos Emperor before he could refine it.

However, the Abyss Pearl was a companion treasure, making its activation significantly less demanding.

With this thought in mind, Eldrin turned his attention to the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss, and a faint glimmer of joy surfaced in his heart.

There, the Void Pearl drifted in gentle undulation upon the void, ceaselessly drawing in and expelling the breath of nothingness and oblivion from all directions.

This caused a flicker of light to gleam in Eldrin's eyes, and he couldn't help but ask, "You've finally awakened. How do you feel now?"

"I have successfully advanced. I will not fall into slumber for a long time to come."

The Abyssal Pearl replied calmly, yet a rare trace of joy arose within Eldrin's heart.

It turned out that after Eldrin stepped into the Chaotic Barren Sea, the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss devoured a surge of desolate power and fell into a deep slumber.

It was precisely because of his own deep slumber that Eldrin was unable to enter the nameless space to recover from his injuries.

Fortunately, this period of slumber had greatly elevated the grade of the Abyssal Pearl. It had now stepped into the realm of a Connate Supreme Treasure.

At this thought, Eldrin could not help but speak out: "How do you feel?"

"This breakthrough has greatly enhanced my power. With your current cultivation level, you should be able to unleash about 30 percent of its might."

At this point, the Abyssal Pearl spoke up, "Once you reach the middle stage of the Primordial Chaos Emperor realm, you should be able to unleash its full power."

Eldrin (Person Name) couldn't help but nod in agreement. Even if 1 could only unleash 30 percent of a Primordial Chaos Treasure's power, it would likely be sufficient to suppress a seventh-level Chaos Origin Emperor.

If he could unleash its full power, Eldrin would likely possess the means to protect himself even when facing a Great Emperor.

With this thought in mind, Eldrin inquired, "As you are now, can you assist me in mastering the Great Dao of Returning Abyss?"

The Pearl of Returning Abyss remained silent, its glow quivering faintly before releasing a divine chain of the Great Dao that merged into the space between Eldrin’s eyebrows.

"Contemplate it carefully."

Eldrin did not dare to slack off, immediately devoting his full concentration to comprehending the power of the Abyssal Dao.

As 1 of the ultimate Daos within the primordial chaos, the Dao of Returning Abyss leads directly to the half-step Hongmeng realm.

Such a supreme and unparalleled foe has already transcended the Chaos Dao, surpassing even the Primordial Dao in its awe and terror—perhaps it could truly be considered the genuine Primordial Hongmeng Dao.

Even with Eldrin's innate comprehension, he had spent all these years attempting to grasp the Great Dao of the Returning Abyss, yet its true essence remained elusive to him.

Time, Space, Chaos, Primordial, Void Return, Annihilation, Destiny, Tribulation, Karma—these supreme avenues of the Primordial Chaos. Mastering but 1 could lead directly to the Third Realm of Chaos, or even grant a glimpse into the boundless Hongmeng Realm.

However, this Great Dao was too difficult to comprehend. Throughout the 7 domains of the Southern Abyss, none had ever been heard to grasp even a single trace of its essence.

Even the various Chaos Heavenly Emperors had failed to comprehend the slightest fragment of such a Great Dao.

The Primordial Phoenix and the Candle Dragon were said to have comprehended the Great Dao of Space and Time, yet these were merely single branches of the 2 Great Daos.

They have yet to even comprehend the true Dao of Time and the Dao of Space, let alone merge these 2 great Daos into the Dao of Time-Space.

Now, having obtained the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss, a treasure of the primordial grade, and witnessing its complete divine manifestation of the Great Dao of Returning Abyss, such an opportunity could truly be called unparalleled since time immemorial.

Eldrin dared not waste a single moment, immediately immersing his entire being in comprehending the power of the Great Dao within.

Thus time flew by in a rush, and in the blink of an eye, tens of millions of years had passed. It was not until this very day that Eldrin (Person Name) slowly awoke from his deep contemplation, finally revealing a trace of dazed confusion in his expression.

"So this is the Way of the Returning Abyss."

Eldrin spoke slowly, and with a sweep of his sleeve, a divine pattern of the Great Path of the Returning Abyss gradually materialized. After continuously intertwining and merging, it ultimately transformed into a Great Path Divine Chain.

The Abyssal Pearl quivered faintly, and after a long pause, it spoke, "Your comprehension may be far more astonishing than you ever anticipated."

"Is this truly the enhancement from the Primordial Purple Qi? Could the Primordial Purple Qi really be this heaven-defying?"

The Abyssal Pearl was somewhat skeptical, finding it almost unbelievable for a moment.

Because Eldrin had comprehended a single divine chain of the Abyssal Dao, it had only taken him a few tens of millions of years—a feat that could rival even the Abyssal Pearl, the very embodiment of the Dao itself.

Eldrin did not reply, merely smiling as he said, "Having gained insight into the Grand Dao of the Returning Abyss this time, my sixth True Spirit Divine Rune, along with the ninth Innate Divine Ability, may finally be perfected."

(End of Chapter)

Chapter 1 The biting mountain wind whipped across the cliffside, carrying with it the scent of pine and damp earth. Lin Chen gritted his teeth, his knuckles white as he gripped the rough stone ledge. Below him, a sea of clouds churned, obscuring the treacherous depths of the ravine. He had been climbing for what felt like an eternity, his body pushed to its absolute limit. His mind drifted back to the events of 3 days prior—the humiliating defeat at the hands of his arrogant cousin in the clan's annual sparring tournament, the mocking laughter that had echoed through the training grounds, the cold dismissal in his uncle's eyes. That single, crushing loss had cost him his monthly allocation of 1,000 spirit stones and, more painfully, any remaining shred of respect within the Lin family. "Without sufficient resources, my cultivation will stagnate forever at the 3rd level of the Body Refinement stage," he muttered to the wind, his voice a raw whisper. "I cannot, I will not, accept that fate." This forbidden peak, shrouded in legend and peril, was his only hope. Ancient texts spoke of a long-lost cave of a powerful cultivator hidden somewhere on its face, a place rumored to hold untold opportunities. It was a desperate gamble, 1 that had claimed the lives of countless others over the centuries. But for Lin Chen, a youth with a dantian considered mediocre at best, desperation was a familiar companion. Just as his strength was about to give out, his fingers, numb and bleeding, brushed against something unnaturally smooth amidst the coarse granite. His heart hammered against his ribs. He hauled himself over a final outcropping and there it was: a narrow fissure in the cliff face, almost perfectly concealed by a curtain of thick, ancient vines. Pushing the vegetation aside, he slipped into the darkness. The air within was still, cold, and heavy with the weight of countless years. Fumbling in his pouch, he pulled out a dim Luminous Pearl. Its faint glow revealed a small, square chamber carved directly into the mountain's heart. The room was bare save for a simple stone platform in the center. Upon the platform sat a single, pristine object: a jade slip, its surface shimmering with a soft, internal light. With trembling hands, Lin Chen reached out. The moment his fingers made contact with the cool jade, a torrent of information flooded his mind—complex cultivation methods, profound insights into the Dao of the sword, and the poignant, fragmented memories of the cave's former occupant, a cultivator who had styled himself the Lonely Sword Sage. He saw glimpses of a life lived in pursuit of the pinnacle of the sword path, of epic battles against demonic beasts, of a lonely existence dedicated solely to cultivation. He felt the Sage's profound loneliness, his unwavering resolve, and his ultimate failure to breach the final bottleneck, leading to his peaceful dissipation into the heavens right here in this very cave. When the torrent subsided, Lin Chen stood panting, his mind reeling. The jade slip contained the Sage's life's work—a complete inheritance known as the "9 Celestial Swords of the Aurora" cultivation art. "This... this is beyond anything the Lin Family possesses," he breathed, awe-struck. "This is a path to immortality itself." According to the inheritance, the first step involved using a unique method to temper his body and cleanse his meridians, a process requiring immense spiritual energy. The Sage's memories indicated he had left a final reserve of energy sealed within the stone platform for his successor. Following the intricate instructions burned into his mind, Lin Chen placed his palms on specific, barely perceptible formations etched onto the platform's surface. He channeled the faint trickle of qi he possessed into the grooves. A low hum filled the chamber. The formations glowed with a brilliant blue light, and a powerful, pure stream of spiritual energy surged from the platform, coursing directly into his body. It was like a dam had broken within him. He felt his clogged and narrow meridians being scoured open, the impurities of his flesh being burned away in the relentless, pure flow. The pain was excruciating, a fire that seared through every fiber of his being. He screamed, but no sound escaped his lips, stolen by the roaring energy. He felt his cultivation base, long stagnant at the 3rd level of Body Refinement, shatter its confines. The 4th level... the 5th level... The spiritual energy showed no signs of abating. It continued to rampage through him, expanding his dantian, refining his very essence. He broke through to the 6th level, a realm he had only dreamed of attaining in his wildest fantasies. When the last vestiges of energy finally settled, Lin Chen collapsed to his knees, his body sheathed in a layer of black, viscous residue—the expelled impurities. But he felt... incredible. Lighter, stronger, and more clear-headed than ever before. His senses were acutely sharpened; he could hear the faint scuttling of a beetle outside the cave entrance and feel the subtle flow of spiritual energy in the air around him. He had jumped 3 whole levels in a single, violent session. He looked at his hands, no longer those of a weak and disregarded clansman, but tools capable of wielding immense power. A fierce, newfound determination blazed in his eyes. "Lonely Sword Sage," he whispered into the silent cave, his voice now steady and firm. "I will not waste your legacy. I will walk the path you could not complete. The Lin Family... the entire cultivation world... they will all remember the name Lin Chen." He rose to his feet, his gaze turning towards the cave entrance, towards the world that had cast him aside. A storm was coming, and he would be at its very center.