Chapter 2173 : Echoes of Fallen Sovereigns

Upon hearing this, the expressions of everyone present turned incomparably grave.

It must be understood that the ordained fates for the positions of Chaos Sovereign [the supreme rulers of a primordial chaos era] are finite. Within a single Chaos Epoch [a grand cosmological cycle spanning billions of years], at most a little over three thousand can be born. Yet here, the number of fallen Chaos Sovereign likely reached tens of millions, a notion that struck them as utterly inconceivable.

"These fallen powerhouses did not originate from a single Chaos Epoch,"

Eldrin Chen spoke slowly, a deep solemnity etching itself upon his brow.

He casually picked up a shattered weapon beside him and immediately discerned that the formation patterns inscribed within, its forging method, and even the nature of the power it contained were vastly different from those of the current epoch.

Moreover, the residual energies within these broken weapons differed drastically from one another.

This further solidified Eldrin Chen's conviction that these Chaos Sovereign were not powerhouses from the same era.

A single Chaos Epoch can produce, at most, a little over three thousand Chaos Sovereign. For this place to hold the corpses of tens of millions, it must have accumulated over the span of three thousand such Chaos Epoch.

This represented an unfathomably vast stretch of time. Even when viewed from the height of Eldrin Chen's current cultivation, it felt utterly bewildering.

What astonished Eldrin Chen the most was that within the bodies of these fallen powerhouses, there still raged traces of an Oblivion-like force [a power of absolute annihilation and erasure], among which he sensed several disturbingly familiar auras.

"Oblivion [the primordial force of absolute annihilation and unmaking], World-Extinction, and another power, indescribable and nameless..."

Eldrin Chen murmured softly, then spoke aloud: "They were slain by Oblivion and World-Extinction, and in the end, they perished under a force of supreme, transcendent power."

"Who, by their own hand, could have annihilated the Chaos Sovereigns [the supreme rulers of primordial chaos] time and again, across three thousand Chaos Epochs [cosmic cycles of primordial chaos]?"

Carrying this profound doubt, Eldrin Chen continued his advance. The further he walked, the stranger the sensation that grew within him.

This Transcendent World [a realm beyond the ordinary cosmos], spoken of as a treasure trove, felt more like an ineffable, nameless graveyard.

It entombed the mighty ones from across three thousand Chaos Epochs, those who had transcended their own epoch, who wandered between them. It was, in truth, the greatest necropolis of all ages.

As he ventured deeper, a gradual understanding dawned upon Eldrin Chen.

These Chaos Sovereigns from before the three thousand opportunities had come to this forsaken mausoleum to evade the Tribulation [a cataclysmic heavenly trial] of the Chaos Returning Abyss [the event where all primordial chaos collapses back into the void].

Alas, the Tribulation of the Chaos Returning Abyss was inescapable. In the end, they could not cheat fate, and one by one, they met their demise, laid to rest within this final tomb.

With this realization weighing on him, Eldrin Chen walked on in solitary contemplation. Unaware of the passage of time, he arrived at the very heart of the Transcendent World.

And upon the very heart of this vast land Central, a figure of immense stature sat cross-legged in meditation.

His mere presence, seated there, made him the axis of heaven and earth, an indescribable, monumental aura suppressing the Eight Desolations. None could bear to look upon him directly.

Only Eldrin Chen withstood the pressure. He stepped forward calmly until he stood before the figure, a slight frown creasing his brow.

It was a man of heroic and imposing bearing. Coiled behind him was a Space-Time Wheel [a legendary artifact capable of manipulating the flow of time and space], and his cultivation had reached an ineffable, supreme realm.

Yet, his body was riddled with wounds. Most grievously, a sword scar pierced straight through the center of his brow, having utterly extinguished his life force.

"A Chaos Supreme Treasure [a treasure born from the primordial chaos, of the highest order]—the Space-Time Wheel. A fallen powerhouse of the Half-Step Primordial Chaos Stage [a realm bordering the legendary state of Primordial Chaos]."

Eldrin Chen's pupils contracted sharply in an instant, his face revealing profound shock.

This was an invincible powerhouse from an era before the current one. He had cultivated the Space-Time Limitless Great Path [a supreme cultivation art mastering the mysteries of time and space], and in life, his power had reached the Half-Step Primordial Chaos Realm.

It was crucial to understand: this was not a false or incomplete Half-Step Primordial Chaos, but a genuine, fully-realized powerhouse of the Half-Step Primordial Chaos Stage.

Having cultivated to his present level, Eldrin Chen had already glimpsed the path ahead.

It turns out that by cultivating three perfected Limitless Great Path and perfectly mastering and fusing their powers together, one's cultivation can step into the pseudo-Half-Step Primordial Chaos Realm.

Furthermore, the three Great Path of Oblivion [the concept of utter annihilation], World-Extinction, and Returning Abyss can also, with the blessing of the Heavenly Mandate when the Era's Tribulation arrives, break through to the pseudo-Half-Step Primordial Chaos Realm.

Yet this remains merely a pseudo-Half-Step Primordial Chaos. To transcend a true Half-Step Primordial Chaos Realm, one must surpass the Chaos Epoch [a grand cosmic cycle], survive the Tribulation of the Chaos Epoch Returning Abyss, and break free from the shackles of the boundless River of Space-Time [the metaphysical flow of time and space].

The chance of accomplishing this step is virtually zero.

The fallen Half-Step Primordial Chaos powerhouse before them was clearly a true Half-Step Primordial Chaos.

But such a mighty being, having already transcended the constraints of the Chaos Epoch, should theoretically have achieved complete Indestructibility [the state of being unkillable and eternal]. Why then did he perish here, beyond the River of Space-Time?

"A Half-Step Primordial Chaos cultivator who practiced the Space-Time Great Path [the supreme art of space and time], opened this Transcendent World to guide countless Chaos Sovereign here, yet in the end, he fell to some unimaginably powerful foe."

Eldrin Chen murmured inwardly, then reached out to touch the Chaos Supreme Treasure [a treasure of the highest order born from primordial chaos] before him, the Space-Time Wheel.

Yet in that very instant, the Space-Time Wheel trembled violently, shedding a beam of light that entered the man's body.

Thereafter, the man looked at Eldrin Chen, a faint smile gracing his features as he spoke.

"You have come."

"You knew I would come?"

Eldrin Chen's heart quivered. After confirming this figure was but a wisp of a remnant thought, he finally spoke and inquired.

The man nodded slightly, then began to speak: "I once wielded the Space-Time Great Path [the supreme law governing time and space], transcending beyond the bounds of three thousand Chaos Epoch [a cosmic cycle of creation and dissolution]. From that vantage, I gazed upon the entirety of the Chaos Epoch, and only a handful of beings ascended beyond my sight."

"And you, the Returning Abyss Path Ancestor, are one of them."

Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod, then asked, "It seems you have been waiting for me for a long time."

"I forged this Transcendent World [a realm beyond the ordinary laws of reality] for the sole purpose of this meeting with you."

The man spoke calmly, his gaze turning beyond the Transcendent World with profound apprehension. "In ancient lore, it is said that at the moment of The End [the final terminus of all existence] for the three thousand Chaos Epoch, an unparalleled opportunity to break through to the Primordial Chaos Realm [the legendary realm of primordial chaos preceding all creation] will manifest."

"A pity. Others have already seized the initiative, and they have reached an accord amongst themselves."

"Both you and I are latecomers. The threads of Destiny [the predetermined course of fate] are already held firmly in the hands of others. To transcend this web is a path fraught with ten thousand difficulties. Therefore, what is needed is Heaven-Defying Fate Alteration [the power to defy heaven's will and rewrite one's own destiny]."

Eldrin Chen's gaze flickered subtly before he spoke, "Back then, when my Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] split, did it have something to do with you as well?"

"I was not the mastermind."

The man shook his head, then stated calmly, "They wished to grind down the Chaos Epoch [a grand cosmological era] they resided in, and you also sought to seize the moment for Heaven-Defying Fate Alteration [a supreme art of rewriting destiny]. I merely went with the flow."

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen felt the puzzles of the past gradually come into focus.

So it turned out that his original path of cultivation had not been as tumultuous and grand as it was now. He had simply cultivated all the way to the Half-Step Primordial Chaos Realm [a transcendent state bordering on the primordial chaos], transcending that particular Chaos Epoch.

Unfortunately, certain forerunners had toyed with Destiny [the predetermined course of fate], seizing control of his own Destiny, intending to strangle him in the cradle.

To erase him, those individuals were willing to grind down that entire Chaos Epoch, to re-forge this third-thousandth Chaos Epoch.

For at that time, the Chaos Epoch had not yet been completely annihilated. Eldrin Chen had not yet fully stepped beyond the Chaos Epoch, remaining merely a pseudo Half-Step Primordial Chaos Realm cultivator.

Since they could not kill Eldrin Chen directly, by erasing that Chaos Epoch from its very roots, Eldrin Chen would naturally cease to exist as well.

To protect that Chaos Epoch, Eldrin Chen waged a great war against them. At the most critical juncture, this Jareth the Space-Time Path Ancestor [a supreme title for a master of time and space] intervened, aiding Eldrin Chen in safeguarding that Chaos Epoch, and even further altering the former Destiny.

Indeed, even the Destiny [the predetermined course of events for a being or realm] of Jareth the Space-Time Path Ancestor was controlled by others. He forcibly shattered his Destiny to transcend beyond the Chaos Epoch [the primordial era of formless chaos before creation], yet in the end, he could not prevail against overwhelming numbers and fell.

At the moment of his final meditation, Jareth the Space-Time Path Ancestor used the last vestiges of his power to shatter the balance between both sides, allowing Eldrin Chen to alter everything that had once been.

Thus, this Chaos Epoch did not vanish; instead, it caused Eldrin Chen to grow even more formidable.

"So that is how it is,"

Eldrin Chen murmured softly, his gaze finally settling on Jareth the Space-Time Path Ancestor. "If one day I truly manage to tread upon that ultimate step, I will surely aid in your revival and return."

Jareth the Space-Time Path Ancestor smiled, then spoke with serene calm. "A true Half-Step Primordial Chaos [a cultivator who has nearly transcended the primordial state of chaos itself] transcends the Path, transcends matter, and even transcends Indestructibility [the state of being utterly unbreakable and eternal]. So long as a single soul remembers my name, I shall eventually awaken and return."

"Remember this: my name is 'Huántiān'."

As his final words faded, the remnant consciousness of Huántiān finally dissipated, leaving behind only a withered husk.

Eldrin Chen gazed calmly at the remains of Jareth the Space-Time Path Ancestor, a complex and inscrutable emotion flickering in his eyes.

A true Half-Step Primordial Chaos powerhouse transcends the Dao, transcends substance, and even transcends the Chaos Epoch itself. They exist outside the River of Space-Time [the conceptual flow of time and space] and all other things.

Eldrin Chen even harbored some doubt—had this Cosmos Heaven's Punishment truly perished completely, or had he been cast adrift, wandering beyond the endless Chaos Epoch [a grand cosmic cycle spanning billions of years]?

Or perhaps, the Cosmos Heaven's Punishment of the three thousand Chaos Epoch had fallen, yet the one existing beyond those three thousand epochs remained intact and whole in the world.

After all, the ability to revive simply by being remembered felt more like leaving behind a Path Marker [a metaphysical anchor point for one's consciousness or will], a beacon to guide his wandering consciousness back from the vastness beyond the three thousand Chaos Epoch.

"Enough, no need to dwell on it further."

Eldrin Chen's thoughts settled, and he then summoned the Space-Time Wheel [a supreme artifact capable of manipulating the fabric of space and time] into his hand.

Gazing at the Space-Time Wheel, Eldrin Chen felt another flicker of astonishment. He realized this treasure felt profoundly different from the Chaos Cauldron [a supreme cauldron forged from primordial chaos].

It imparted a sense of greater solidity, of true and eternal Indestructibility [the state of being utterly unbreakable and everlasting].

In contrast, whether it was the Chaos Cauldron or the Chaos Bell [a supreme bell forged from primordial chaos], they both seemed more like pseudo-Half-Step Primordial Chaos [a flawed or incomplete state approaching the Primordial Chaos realm], as if they had not truly transcended the confines of this Chaos Epoch.

"Even among Chaos Supreme Treasure [artifacts of supreme power forged from primordial chaos], there exists a distinction between the genuine and the false."

Eldrin Chen murmured this thought inwardly, then shook his head slightly.

He gradually came to understand that for the Chaos Supreme Treasure [a treasure of the highest order within a Chaos Epoch] to advance further, it must transcend this Chaos Epoch [a grand cosmic cycle encompassing the birth and death of a universe] and endure the Tribulation [a cataclysmic event marking the end of an era] of the epoch's destruction to achieve true Immortality [a state of eternal existence beyond the cycles of creation and annihilation].

The Space-Time Wheel [a legendary artifact capable of manipulating the fabric of space and time] had already transcended the confines of the Chaos Epoch, likely surpassing the Chaos Tier [the pinnacle realm attainable within a single Chaos Epoch]. It was more fitting to call it a quasi-Primordial Chaos Supreme Treasure [a treasure that exists beyond and predates the very concept of Chaos Epochs].

With this thought, he stored the Space-Time Wheel away and began to wander, exploring the vast expanse of this Transcendent World [a realm existing outside the normal flow of time and the cycles of Chaos Epochs].

By now, Eldrin Chen had realized that this Transcendent World was once the Path-Field [a sacred cultivation ground or personal domain of a supreme expert] of the long-lost Cosmos Heaven's Punishment.

Back then, Cosmos Heaven's Punishment had already transcended the opportunities and limitations of the Chaos [the foundational state of primordial disorder from which all things emerge]. Thus, he had opened this Transcendent World, intending for his disciples and followers to survive the Epochal Great Tribulation [the ultimate calamity that destroys a Chaos Epoch] within it.

Alas, with the fall of Cosmos Heaven's Punishment, this place gradually became the final destination for the denizens of three thousand Chaos Epoch.

Whenever a Chaos Epoch faced its end, countless Chaos Sovereign [rulers who have reached the apex of power within a Chaos Epoch] would come here to face their tribulation. Yet, in the end, they could not escape the Tribulation, and were all slain upon this ground.

"To transcend a Chaos Epoch, hiding is not the answer. One must possess sufficient strength to truly exist beyond its boundaries."

Such thoughts swirled in Eldrin Chen's mind before he finally shook his head.

Next, he attempted to take away some of the treasures [objects imbued with spiritual power], only to find that the blood and bones of these pre-Chaos Epoch powerhouses had long lost their vital essence and profound mysteries.

Moreover, any power that does not belong to this Chaos Epoch [the primordial era of formless chaos before the creation of the cosmos] fundamentally cannot be brought back into it.

Therefore, without further delay, he simply strolled out of the Transcendent World [a realm beyond the constraints of ordinary reality] and returned to the heart of the Chaos Epoch.

Once back within the Chaos Epoch, Eldrin Chen entered a period of secluded cultivation. In his spare time, he devoted immense effort to guiding his disciples and followers.

After several tens of millions of Kalpa Tribulation [immense cosmic cycles spanning billions of years], Eldrin Chen achieved perfect completion in his Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator], his physical body, and his cultivation of the Great Path [the supreme Dao]. His true self's power stepped into the pseudo-Half-Step Primordial Chaos Realm [a state bordering the realm of primordial chaos].

In the vast eons that followed, Eldrin Chen began to concurrently cultivate other Great Path. He focused his primary energy on propagating the teachings of the Primordial Spirit, the Sacrificial Self Path [a profound cultivation method centered on self-sacrifice and transcendence], and the Immortal Path [the classical path to immortality].

During this process, the cultivation of Eldrin Chen's disciples and followers began to advance by leaps and bounds.

With Eldrin Chen's support, the six direct disciples of Nameless successively broke through to the ChaosSovereign Realm [the realm of Chaos Sovereigns, masters of primordial power].

Exquisite Jiang and Verdant Consort, supported by Eldrin Chen, transitioned to cultivating the Sacrificial Self Path with a foundation of Peerless Supreme [a peerless and supreme foundational realm]. They ascended almost instantly, stepping directly into the Sovereign Realm.

Among them, Exquisite Jiang, who cultivated the Limitless Immortal Domain [an art creating boundless immortal realms], the Limitless Immortal Treasury [an art manifesting an infinite treasury of immortal treasures], and the Great Path of Chaos Pure Lunar [the supreme path of the primordial chaos moon], even gained the potential to reach the Half-Step Primordial Chaos Realm.

Imperial Sovereign Jiang, Nyssa Qu, Energy Abyss Chen, Ethan Chen, Liana, Lila, Violet Consort Yan, and others all, with the full support of Eldrin Chen, stepped into the Sovereign Realm.

The Ten Direct Disciples of the Sacrificial Self Path [a profound cultivation method focused on self-transcendence and sacrifice], along with the five direct children of Eldrin Chen, have all stepped into the Chaos Sovereign Realm [the pinnacle realm of power within the Primordial Chaos].

These individuals all cultivate both the Limitless Immortal Treasury [an art focused on boundless internal energy reserves] and the Limitless Immortal Domain [an art focused on expanding one's spiritual dominion], possessing a sliver of potential to reach the Sovereign [the ultimate sovereign realm].

Those who have mastered either the Limitless Immortal Treasury or the Limitless Immortal Domain alone number in the hundreds.

As the Sacrificial Self Path continues to spread, the number of its cultivators within the Chaos [the formless, primordial state of existence] grows ever larger.

By the time half of this Chaos Epoch [a grand cosmic cycle within the Primordial Chaos] had passed, the Chaos Sovereign [a sovereign who has mastered the power of Primordial Chaos] under Eldrin Chen's Sacrificial Self Path had exceeded two thousand, and the three thousand slots for Chaos Sovereign were already filled.

Yet, to everyone's surprise, in the ensuing ages, the birth of new Chaos Sovereign continued to accelerate.

This was because the Limitless Immortal Treasury and Limitless Immortal Domain of the Sacrificial Self Path were special; they did not occupy slots on the Limitless Great Path [the ultimate cultivation path]. Advancement required only sufficient talent, latent potential, and a steady supply of Primordial Chaos Violet Aura [the supreme, foundational energy of creation].

And Eldrin Chen possessed the Primordial Chaos Scripture [a supreme scripture of creation], which could endlessly produce Primordial Chaos Genesis Essence [the condensed essence of primordial creation], perfectly resolving these two deficiencies.

As the number of Chaos Sovereign swelled and the authority of the Sacrificial Self Path grew ever more potent, Eldrin Chen's Reincarnation Body [an avatar body formed through reincarnation] ultimately used the Sacrificial Self Path to step into the pseudo-Half-Step Primordial Chaos Realm [a transcendent state bordering on the true Primordial Chaos Realm].

Even the path of the Primordial Spirit [the foundational spiritual core of a cultivator] began its own ascent toward the Half-Step Primordial Chaos Realm.

"So, the opportunity to prove the Primordial Chaos [the ultimate, formless state of existence before creation] has been in my hands all along," Eldrin Chen murmured softly, a veil of profound realization settling over his heart.

Eldrin Chen whispered these words slowly, a subtle haze of understanding coalescing within the depths of his spirit.

The Primordial Chaos Violet Aura [the supreme, foundational energy of creation] possesses the effect of Heaven-Defying Fate Alteration [a divine ability capable of rewriting destiny itself]. As the wielder of the Primordial Chaos Scripture [the supreme scripture detailing the laws of primordial chaos], Eldrin Chen had long since obtained the key to stepping into the Primordial Chaos Realm [the ultimate cultivation realm representing the origin of all things].

Carrying this profound sentiment, Eldrin Chen continued to refine and perfect his foundational cultivation. He once again fused the five great paths of Primordial Solar [the path of the primordial sun], Profound Darkness [the path of profound darkness], Source Earth [the path of the source earth], Mixed Metal [the path of mixed metal], and Life, all under the overarching framework of the Limitless Great Path [the boundless great path]. Through this fusion, he successfully cultivated his second Half-Step Primordial Chaos Foundation [a foundational state halfway to achieving the Primordial Chaos Realm].

Thus, the years flowed by like a serene river. When the number of Sacrificial Self Path [a profound cultivation art centered on self-sacrifice and transcendence] Chaos Sovereign [the sovereigns who have mastered the power of chaos] surpassed thirty thousand, Eldrin Chen discovered that the Sacrificial Self Path had reached the absolute pinnacle of the Half-Step Primordial Chaos [the peak state just before full Primordial Chaos]. It was impossible to advance any further.