Chapter 2158 : Chaos in the Primordial Realms

Eldrin Chen [the protagonist, a powerful cultivator] nodded, then spoke, "You all should continue your secluded cultivation until your cultivation bases are completely consolidated before emerging."

With those words, Eldrin Chen once again departed from the Primordial Chaos Secret Realm [a hidden realm of primordial energy].

However, upon leaving the Primordial Chaos Secret Realm this time, Eldrin Chen adopted a new strategy. He ceased targeting the lairs of half-step Limitless Powerhouse [cultivators on the verge of the Limitless realm].

Instead, he began launching surprise attacks on the strongholds of various Supreme [a title for powerful cultivators] under the command of the Netherworld [the realm of the dead and darkness] faction. Furthermore, his targets were chosen at random.

Sometimes he would assault the lairs of ordinary Path Union [cultivators who have unified their cultivation path] cultivators; other times, he would strike the homes of top-tier Path Union experts. On occasion, he would consecutively breach several nearby Middle Grade Primordial Domain [medium-sized realms of primordial origin], while at other times he would traverse vast distances to launch an attack.

This complete lack of pattern immediately threw Netherworld Imperial Scion [a high-ranking prince of the Netherworld] and his allies into disarray.

Their forces were insufficient to garrison so many Primordial Domain [realms of primordial origin]. Relying on just one or two Half-Step Limitless cultivators to intercept him was utterly futile; they stood no chance of capturing Eldrin Chen.

Yet, if they dispatched a larger force to encircle and pursue him, not only was success uncertain, but even if they could capture him, it would cause the collapse of their frontline war effort, leading to the total failure of their grand plan.

"BANG—"

On this day, Netherworld Imperial Scion finally lost his composure. He summoned the more than twenty Half-Step Limitless cultivators under his command and, in a fit of rage, slammed the table and roared, "Ah! How can there be such an infuriatingly cunning person?"

"To be a Limitless Powerhouse on the cusp of true transcendence, yet to lack the courage for a direct confrontation with us, instead skulking in the rear to sow endless chaos—this is a true disgrace to our kind."

The assembled Half-Step Limitless cultivators present all wore grim, silent expressions, yet a trace of frantic helplessness flickered in their eyes.

The relentless guerrilla strikes by Eldrin Chen had plunged their rear lines into a state of constant fear; the Supreme-ranked forces they had conscripted had lost all heart for the ongoing campaign.

If this situation persisted, how could they possibly continue to wage this war?

The crux of their dilemma was their utter inability to hinder Eldrin Chen. He wielded a top-grade Chaos Spiritual Artifact [a primordial artifact of immense power] imbued with Spatial Attribute [the property of manipulating space], allowing him to come and go as he pleased.

Even defensive formations powerful enough to withstand an assault from a Half-Step Limitless were as insubstantial as mist to him.

Under these circumstances, the only way to trap him would be to lay an ambush and then counter his Polarity Void Mirror [a mirror artifact that manipulates the polarity of void] with another Upper Grade Chaos Spiritual Treasure [a supreme-grade primordial treasure] possessing a Spatial Attribute. Only then would they have a chance to surround and slay him.

Yet, it was painfully clear that Eldrin Chen had ceased attacking the strongholds of the Half-Step Limitless, denying them the perfect opportunity to strike.

At this thought, unwilling resentment twisted the faces of the Half-Step Limitless present. The Netherworld Imperial Scion [a prince of the underworld realms], his eyes glinting with cold light, spoke through gritted teeth, "Esteemed colleagues, does anyone have a plan to capture that damned little thief?"

A heavy silence fell upon the assembly. After a long moment, the Nether Mastiff Ancient Progenitor [an ancient progenitor of the Nether Mastiff lineage] broke the quiet, his voice grave. "That man is exceedingly cautious. Knowing we have laid traps, he will grant us no opening."

"In my view, we should feign abandoning the pursuit of him and redeploy our main force to the front lines to continue the assault on the Seven Domains Alliance."

Upon hearing this, the others were momentarily taken aback.

The Ancient Progenitor of Purgatory's expression shifted slightly, and he could not help but speak up: "But if we do that, this individual will undoubtedly turn to raiding our strongholds once more."

"Precisely. We will then lure him into attacking a Half-Step Limitless stronghold."

The Nether Mastiff Ancient Progenitor spoke, his expression turning cold as he continued: "To suppress this person, we do not necessarily require a great number of Half-Step Limitless experts."

"If the Netherworld Imperial Scion personally takes action, wielding an Upper Grade Chaos Spiritual Treasure of the Spatial Attribute [a treasure imbued with the power to manipulate space], and is assisted by two other Half-Step Limitless experts, that should be sufficient to subdue him."

Hearing this plan, the group felt a stirring of interest.

However, the Violet Void Supreme pondered for a moment before speaking: "If we leave three of our number behind, it will surely alert him to our trap."

"That is not difficult to resolve."

The Nether Mastiff Ancient Progenitor offered a faint smile and elaborated: "My Nether Mastiff Clan possesses a secret innate mystical art that can manifest an avatar indistinguishable from one's true self."

"Although this avatar possesses only one-tenth of the original's power, as long as it does not engage in combat, outsiders cannot discern its true nature. It even possesses a subtle ability to conceal the workings of the Celestial Mechanism [the fundamental cosmic laws governing fate and destiny]."

"With our avatars appearing on the battlefield, we should be able to deceive that little thief."

Upon hearing this, everyone present nodded in agreement.

Netherworld Imperial Scion could not help but smile faintly before speaking. "This sovereign also possesses a supreme mystical art that can separate an avatar possessing eighty percent of my true strength."

"I believe such an avatar will be sufficient to evade the perception of those individuals."

"..."

In the following days, the powerful experts under Netherworld Sovereign's command advanced toward the core of the battlefield, continuing their assault on the Seven Domains Alliance.

To make the performance utterly convincing, they even abandoned several Primordial Domain [ancient, foundational realms of immense spiritual power]. They ordered the defending Path Union Supreme [a supreme cultivator who has unified their cultivation path] to take their treasures to the front lines, leaving behind empty, hollowed-out Primordial Domain for Eldrin Chen.

Eldrin Chen swept through numerous Primordial Domain, only to find he had gained almost nothing. A cold, mocking smile touched his lips.

"So, unable to block me, they've simply taken their treasures to the front lines?"

Eldrin Chen murmured inwardly, then took stock of his treasures, discovering that the number of Chaos Rare Treasure [a primordial treasure of immense rarity and power] in his possession had already reached tens of thousands.

The sheer quantity of these treasures, combined with his previous harvests from the Nether Mastiff Primordial Domain [the ancestral realm of the Nether Mastiff lineage], already amounted to several times the legacy left within the Desolate Heaven Ancient Hall [an ancient hall of profound desolation].

"Such vast foundational resources will sustain my cultivation for a considerable time," he concluded.

With this thought, Eldrin Chen decided to return directly to the Primordial Chaos Secret Realm [a hidden realm suffused with the essence of primordial chaos].

He suspected the Nether Mastiff Lineage [the clan of the Nether Mastiff demonic beasts] might still be lying in ambush for him. His plan was to hide within the Primordial Chaos Secret Realm for a period.

Upon his return to the Primordial Chaos Secret Realm, Eldrin Chen distributed the majority of these treasures to Imperial Sovereign Jiang and the others.

The Supreme Immortal Liquid Pool [a pool of supreme-grade immortal elixir] might seem inexhaustible, but after supplying the group's cultivation to the pinnacle of the Supreme Realm [the supreme cultivation stage], what remained was actually not much.

According to Eldrin Chen's estimation, relying solely on these remaining resources would be insufficient for them to cultivate a third Supreme Immortal Treasury [a supreme-grade art for forging an immortal treasury within the body] and break through to the half-step Limitless Realm [a realm approaching the boundless and limitless].

The resources Eldrin Chen had seized this time would only allow one or two among them to cultivate the final three Chaos Immortal Treasury [an immortal treasury forged from chaos essence]. It was still far from enough for anyone to truly break through to Half-Step Limitless.

The difficulty of breaking through the third Supreme Immortal Treasury was even greater. Relying on the Lesser Limitless Immortal Pill [a pill that grants a glimpse of the limitless realm] alone would likely prove inadequate. Unless Eldrin Chen could retrieve the Chaos Cauldron [a legendary cauldron born from primordial chaos] and utilize its power, aiding their breakthrough would be nearly impossible.

In truth, for Eldrin Chen to once again fuse his myriad foundations and step into a higher realm, it would be best to first retrieve the Chaos Cauldron [a supreme treasure of primordial chaos].

"It is time to reclaim the Chaos Cauldron," he murmured to himself.

A quiet thought stirred within Eldrin Chen. He had a distinct feeling that after the Chaos Cauldron was sent flying, it had become trapped in some remote corner of existence, awaiting his approach to be freed.

Yet, within the vast expanse of the Chaos [the primordial state before creation], there were few places potent enough to imprison a Chaos Supreme Treasure.

"My cultivation is still insufficient. If I could achieve the Path Union Primordial Spirit [a profound state where one's spiritual core unites with the Great Path], perhaps then I could divine the cauldron's location," he pondered.

Eldrin Chen let the thought drift, then gently reined it in, storing it away for later contemplation.

In the time that followed, he secluded himself once more within the Primordial Chaos Secret Realm, delving deeper into the mysteries of his own foundations and the profound truths of his Great Path [the supreme cultivation art he follows].

After several thousand Kalpa Tribulation [immense cosmic cycles], his comprehension of the Great Path had refined further. The paths of Primordial Solar [the essence of the primal sun], Profound Darkness [the essence of absolute shadow], Source Earth [the essence of the primordial earth], Mixed Metal [the art of alloyed metals], and Life itself—all had gestated and birthed their third Chaos Divine Form [a divine manifestation born of chaos].

The reason for this rapid advancement was clear. Over these years, the teachings of the Sacrificial Self Path [a cultivation art centered on self-transcendence] had spread throughout the entire Seven Domains Alliance, and these five Great Path had consequently accelerated their own process of perfection.

By now, within the boundless Chaos, the number of beings who had ascended to the rank of Chaos Heavenly Emperor [a sovereign title for a supreme ruler of chaos] via the Sacrificial Self Path had surpassed eight hundred.

Among them, only around two hundred were direct disciples of Eldrin Chen's lineage. The rest were primarily Great Emperor and Sage Ascendant cultivators from the Seven Domains Alliance who had reached an impasse in their original paths and had converted to cultivate the Sacrificial Self Path.

Eldrin Chen believed that as the number of these Chaos Heavenly Emperor steadily increased, the Sacrificial Self Path would inevitably spread beyond the confines of the Seven Domains Alliance, initiating a further snowball effect of exponential growth.

This was because, in the initial stages of establishing a new path in any region, a vast number of Great Emperor and even Sage Ascendant cultivators would specialize in the Sacrificial Self Path.

Even if these individuals had to enter Reincarnation [the cycle of death and rebirth] to start anew, their profound foundations from past lives, combined with their exclusive focus on the Sacrificial Self Path, meant their chances of ultimately reaching the Heavenly Emperor Realm were far from negligible.

The widespread dissemination of the Sacrificial Self Path also significantly enhanced Eldrin Chen's Great Path Divine Form [the supreme divine manifestation of his cultivation path].

Currently, the Sacrificial Self Path had given birth to sixty-eight distinct Great Path Divine Form. However, further progress was becoming increasingly arduous with each new addition.

To attain eighty-one Great Path Divine Form—the threshold for a single, heaven-defying leap into the Sovereign realm—would still require traversing a long and arduous path.

Of course, the Sacrificial Self Path was, after all, merely an Innate Great Path [a foundational, heaven-born cultivation method]. Its direct enhancement to Eldrin Chen's personal power was not overwhelmingly substantial.

Nevertheless, the advancement of his Chaos Limitless Great Path [a supreme divine ability born from primordial chaos] provided a modest boost to Eldrin Chen's overall strength, increasing it by approximately half a tenth from its previous baseline.

It was a case of advancing one step further upon an already towering peak.

The combat power of a Half-Formed Combat Power [a fraction, specifically one-twentieth, of a cultivator's full power] at the Half-Step Limitless level is already something not to be taken lightly.

After consolidating his cultivation base, Eldrin Chen wasted no more time. He departed directly from the Primordial Chaos Secret Realm and headed towards the Depths of Chaos.

This time, he first conducted a thorough reconnaissance, confirming once more that Netherworld Imperial Scion and the others were still at the front lines.

"Could they have given up?"

Eldrin Chen's brow furrowed slightly. He then performed a lengthy series of divinatory calculations with his fingers before finally making a firm decision.

In his divination, the Celestial Mechanism [the underlying principles and patterns of fate and the cosmos] seemed to be obscured by some force, yet he did not sense the handiwork of a Sovereign-level entity.

As long as no Chaos Sovereign intervened, Eldrin Chen harbored no fear whatsoever. With his current defensive capabilities, an ordinary Half-Step Limitless cultivator could hardly harm him.

Even if Netherworld Imperial Scion were to arrive wielding an Upper Grade Chaos Spiritual Treasure, Eldrin possessed the means to protect himself. If their numbers were not overwhelming, he even had the potential to turn the tables and eliminate them.

Given the current circumstances, it was unlikely he would encounter a large group of powerful enemies, even if he walked into an ambush.

"Even if they have some trick up their sleeve, this venture is worth the risk."

Eldrin Chen [the protagonist, a powerful cultivator] stroked the Gale Wind God-Slaying Gourd at his waist, his resolve finally solidifying within.

Thereafter, Eldrin Chen traversed the Chaos [the primordial, formless void between realms] relentlessly, swiftly locking onto a new target.

"The Primordial Era Nether Turtle Nest."

On this day, Eldrin Chen arrived at the periphery of a vast Outside the Chaos Lair [the area surrounding a pocket of stable reality within the Chaos], a flicker of solemn gravity passing through his gaze.

The Primordial Era Nether Turtle Nest was a large-scale Middle Grade Chaos Lair [a medium-sized stable domain within the Chaos]. Its master, the Primordial Era Nether Turtle Progenitor, was a Path Union Supreme [a supreme expert who has unified their cultivation path] at the Half-Step Limitless [a realm just shy of the theoretical peak of limitless power] level.

This being had walked the path of Fleshly Body Sanctification [a cultivation art focused on refining the physical body to an indestructible state] but had fallen into the dark Demonic Path [a corrupt and malevolent cultivation methodology]. He had once nearly been suppressed by disciples of a Nine Revolutions Sovereign [a cultivator who has attained supreme mastery over a fundamental law or concept], only to be saved in the end by the Netherworld Sovereign [a supreme ruler of the underworld] and became one of his lackeys.

"Legends say this Primordial Era [an ancient epoch at the dawn of creation] Nether Turtle possessed immense wealth. I wonder how many treasures remain within its nest."

Eldrin Chen murmured to himself, then turned his gaze upon the Primordial Era Nether Turtle Nest. After a careful inspection, he confirmed that Within the Chaos Lair [inside the stable domain], there was indeed no aura belonging to a Half-Step Limitless level existence.

Without further delay, Eldrin Chen activated the Polarity Void Mirror [a mystical mirror capable of manipulating spatial polarity] and instantly phased into the Primordial Era Nether Turtle Nest.

He acted immediately. In a flurry of motion, he subdued and annihilated the three Supreme [a title prefix denoting supreme mastery] experts residing within the nest, along with several dozen Heavenly Emperor [a title for a powerful ruler who commands a heavenly domain] level cultivators.

After thoroughly plundering the treasures and dismantling the Chaos Grand Formation, he prepared to depart the battlefield.

Yet, at that very moment, Eldrin Chen suddenly sensed three immensely powerful auras swiftly approaching from the Depths of Chaos.

They closed in from multiple directions, intending to completely seal off Eldrin Chen's escape routes.

It turned out that Netherworld Imperial Scion and his companions, to avoid detection, had deliberately concealed themselves outside the Primordial Era Nether Turtle Nest, only moving in after he was fully ensnared within the formation.

Their delayed arrival was also a precaution; they had maintained a considerable distance to prevent their presence from being sensed.

"A trap, as expected,"

Eldrin Chen's eyes flickered with understanding, and he immediately sought to tear through the void to make his escape.

But in that instant, the Netherworld Imperial Scion let out a cold laugh. "Too late for realization now."

"*Hummm—*"

As his words faded, the Chaos [the primordial, formless state before creation] itself seemed to churn. A colossal Chaos treasure vase, vast enough to blot out the heavens, materialized and shot forth, clashing violently with Eldrin Chen's Polarity Void Mirror.

In that instant, the residual shockwaves from the two supreme treasures shook the heavens and earth, churning the surrounding Chaos Void [a primordial, formless expanse beyond the normal cosmos] into utter disarray.

"It seems tearing through the void to escape is not an option,"

Eldrin Chen [the protagonist, a powerful cultivator] furrowed his brow slightly, his hand tightening around the Chaos Heaven Halberd [a legendary polearm of immense power]. He then cast his gaze upon the three Mortal Path [a formidable cultivation technique] experts closing in for the kill. "Do you three truly believe you can hold me here?"

"You are merely a Half-Step Limitless [a cultivator on the cusp of the supreme Limitless Realm]. Do you dare defy the heavens?"

The Primordial Ancestor of Nether Mastiff [an ancient and formidable demonic progenitor] sneered coldly, gripping a dark, ancient blade. "With the Netherworld Imperial Scion [a prince of the Netherworld] taking action personally, even a Peak Half-Step Limitless [the pinnacle of the Half-Step Limitless Realm] can be suppressed and slain."

Eldrin Chen's eyes flickered, his gaze returning to the Netherworld Imperial Scion. A sliver of icy intent surfaced within their depths.

In the days when Nameless [a legendary, unnamed master] roamed the Chaos [the primordial state of existence before order], even without summoning the Chaos Cauldron [a mythical cauldron of immense power], the Netherworld Sovereign [the ruler of the Netherworld] could not withstand a hundred exchanges against him.

Now, a mere Netherworld Imperial Scion dared to be so arrogant. Truly, it was a case of a tiger brought low being bullied by dogs.

"Enough. I shall settle accounts with them one by one in due time."

With these thoughts flashing through his mind, Eldrin Chen took a decisive step and fled directly towards the Depths of Chaos [the innermost, most perilous regions of the primordial Chaos].

Yet at that very moment, a sword light of peerless might cleaved through the void, forcing Eldrin Chen to wield the Chaos Heaven Halberd to parry the blow.

"Did I permit you to leave?"

Clad in black imperial robes, the Netherworld Imperial Scion strode forward with calm composure, a Netherworld Nether Emperor Sword in hand. A thread of killing intent emanated from his handsome, pale face with its crimson lips and white teeth.

"Regardless of your identity or which Sovereign you serve, you shall not depart from this place today!"

As his words fell, the Netherworld Imperial Scion commanded his imperial sword in a sweeping slash. The overwhelming Celestial Slaughter intent [a profound and lethal killing aura] was so sharp it sent a chill to the very core of Eldrin Chen's brow.

This Netherworld Nether Emperor Sword was an Upper Grade Chaos Spiritual Treasure [a supreme-grade artifact born from primordial chaos], a rare weapon indeed capable of posing a genuine threat to Eldrin Chen.

Realizing this, Eldrin Chen pushed all his foundational power to its absolute limit. He channeled the Chaos Heaven Halberd to meet the assault head-on in a cataclysmic collision. Yet, he found himself being forced back step by step.

It was clear. This Netherworld Imperial Scion had received the full nurturing of the Netherworld Sovereign. He had already forged a Chaos Sovereign Foundation [a supreme cultivation base rooted in primordial chaos], his strength far surpassing that of any ordinary Half-Step Limitless cultivator.

Although Eldrin Chen's power was formidable in its own right, he was ultimately at a disadvantage in terms of cultivation realm, placing him a notch below his opponent.

Fortunately, relying on his own formidable defenses and the power of the Returning Abyss Seal, he could at least ensure his own safety remained unbreached.

"Such formidable physical defense! Could you be a disciple of the Nine Revolutions Ancestral Court?"

Seeing how difficult it was to swiftly defeat Eldrin Chen, a chill ran through Netherworld Imperial Scion. His expression turned profoundly grave.

A person's reputation is like the shadow of a great tree. Even his father, the Netherworld Sovereign, held immense wariness towards the legendary figure known as the Nine Revolutions Path Ancestor.

"Wait... this is not the Nine Revolutions Heavenly Art."

After observing for a moment longer, Netherworld Imperial Scion let out a sigh of relief, then sneered coldly. "As long as you are not a direct lineage disciple of the Nine Revolutions Ancestral Court, even if you were the direct scion of a Sovereign, this lord would still dare to slay you."

With those words, Netherworld Imperial Scion fully unleashed the power of the Netherworld Nether Emperor Sword, sending wave after wave of annihilating strikes towards Eldrin Chen.

Simultaneously, the two Ancient Progenitors of the Nether Mastiff Clan closed in from the flanks, seeking to create an opening for Netherworld Imperial Scion to deliver a crippling blow to Eldrin Chen.

"This is becoming troublesome,"

murmured Eldrin Chen, a slight frown creasing his brow as he parried the relentless assaults of the three powerful foes, all the while searching for a chance to turn the tide.

After thousands of such exchanges, he finally spotted a gap in their encirclement. Seizing the moment, he executed a Flight Escape and shot towards the opening.

"A perfect opportunity."

Seeing Eldrin Chen expose his back, the Netherworld Imperial Scion instantly revealed a cold, sneering smile. With all his might, he summoned forth the Netherworld Nether Emperor Sword and slashed it towards Eldrin Chen.

Simultaneously, the two Ancient Progenitor of the Nether Mastiff Clan also unleashed their full power. Sparing no cost, they employed every means at their disposal to seal off Eldrin Chen's escape routes.

In that fleeting moment, all three adversaries committed their entire strength without reservation, determined to keep Eldrin Chen there at any cost.

"Now!"

And in that very same instant, Eldrin Chen's eyes suddenly blazed with light. He chose to endure a direct strike from the Netherworld Imperial Scion's sword, paying the price of a significant injury, to unleash a dark, unearthly treasure gourd.

The gourd spun with a sinister light, then spat forth a blade radiance of ultimate Slaughter. This devastating light shot towards the Netherworld's Second Ancestor.

The blade radiance moved with impossible speed, erupting in a dazzling, soul-shaking brilliance. Its power was supreme, a sight to stun the ages, cleaving through even the sealed and desolate Space-Time.

The Nether Mastiff Clan's Second Ancestor was already fully committed to his attack, with no strength left to evade. He could only desperately activate his defensive measures.

Alas, it was a futile effort. In but a heartbeat, the stunning blade radiance pierced straight through the brow of the Second Ancestor of Nether Mastiff.

"Pfft—"

A crisp sound echoed, and Second Ancestor of Nether Mastiff froze in place. His physical body appeared intact, with only a trace of blood at the center of his brow, yet the light had already faded from his pupils.

As an Upper Grade Chaos Spiritual Treasure most adept in Slaughter, the Gale Wind Immortal-Slaying Gourd at its peak power was potent enough to severely injure a Limitless Sovereign.

With Eldrin Chen's current cultivation base, he could only unleash a fraction of its might, yet it was more than sufficient to slay a Half-Step Limitless with ease.

Had he not been wary of the Netherworld Imperial Scion's potential protective measures and wished to avoid alerting the Netherworld Sovereign, that single strike might have been enough to severely wound or even kill the Netherworld Imperial Scion.

"Hum—"

Returning to the matter at hand, after slaying the Second Ancestor of Nether Mastiff, Eldrin Chen swiftly collected the remains. Then, gritting his teeth against the pain from the wound on his back, he fought his way out of the encirclement.

Once he had broken through the surrounding forces, he utilized the Returning Abyss Pearl to make his escape, finally shaking off his pursuers and returning to the safety of the Primordial Chaos Secret Realm.

"Husband!"

Seeing Eldrin Chen return wounded, Nyssa Qu's face paled with alarm. She hurriedly fed him a healing elixir [a pill refined with spiritual herbs to mend injuries and restore vitality].

"It is of no consequence. This level of injury does not yet constitute a grave wound for me."

Eldrin Chen stabilized his injuries, then channeled the Great Path of Life [a profound cultivation path focused on vitality and healing] to continuously mend his wounds. Only after his injuries had mostly recovered did he speak, his complexion still somewhat pale:

"The might of an Upper Grade Chaos Spiritual Treasure [a supreme artifact born from primordial chaos, of the highest grade] is truly Extraordinary. Fortunately, he could only unleash a fraction of its power."