Chapter 1153 : The Path-Forging Pill's Legacy

"Cultivating a single Path Fruit ultimately limits one's foundation."

"I shall leave one Dragon-Phoenix Path-Forging Pill behind. Whether he can achieve something will depend on his own Creation [the innate potential and fortune of a cultivator]."

As this thought flashed through his mind, Eldrin Chen left behind one Dragon-Phoenix Path-Forging Pill and then vanished from within the Great Mystery Hall.

After his departure, Jiang Venus also sensed something. He arrived in the great hall, gazed at the treasures [enchanted artifacts of great power] floating in the void, and finally sighed, saying:

"A person of such noble character as Returning Abyss Path Master [a title for a master of the Returning Abyss cultivation path] is likely a rarity, perhaps not seen even once in several million years of the Purple Seal Realm's history."

Eldrin Chen journeyed westward, paying no further heed to the judgments of others.

Now that the Ancient Stellar Furnace [a legendary artifact for refining and forging] had been successfully consecrated, and the matter of the world's ascension required no more of his attention, he wandered the heavens and the earth, settling the Karma [the spiritual cause and effect governing fate] for those who had perished in times past.

Over tens of thousands of years within the Purple Seal Realm, countless ancient legacies had fallen. Many had vanished utterly, while others still had inheritors living in the world.

For these ancient holy lands, Eldrin Chen offered what aid he could within his power.

As he traversed the world, several more individuals within the Purple Seal Realm attained immortality. Kunpeng Demon Sage and Heaven Abandoned Lin and others successively weathered the Immortal Ascension Heavenly Thunder Tribulation [the cataclysmic heavenly trial required to ascend to immortality].

After the seven individuals successively attained the Ascendant Immortal [the final major stage before true immortality] realm, Eldrin Chen realized the time for the third and final sermon had arrived.

"The final sermon,"

Eldrin Chen murmured to himself, a flicker of poignant reflection passing through his heart.

Time had flowed like a swift river. Unbeknownst to him, over three centuries had passed since his return to the Purple Seal Realm [a lower cultivation world], and more than eight centuries since he had departed the Vast Azure Immortal Domain [a higher realm of immortals].

Following this sermon, he intended to commence the grand ritual of the Heaven and Earth Ascension [a supreme technique to elevate an entire world's spiritual rank]. He would then await and transcend his Great Tribulation [a cultivator's ultimate heavenly trial] before finally returning to the Immortal Domain [the realm of true immortals].

Upon returning to Green Chariot Mountain, Eldrin Chen found the immortal peak already teeming with life. The cultivators who had come to listen to the Dao [the fundamental truth and path of cultivation] had been waiting for a long time.

Understanding this was the final opportunity to hear the Dao, the gathered crowd far exceeded the numbers of previous occasions.

Eldrin Chen seated himself upon the manifested Verdant Lotus [a sacred lotus platform symbolizing purity and enlightenment]. His gaze swept over the multitude of living beings who had come to listen, and then he began to speak, his voice calm and profound.

"During the first sermon, I spoke of the Path of Cultivation [the fundamental journey of refining one's body and spirit]."

"In the second, I imparted unto you the Way to Immortal Ascension [the methods and insights needed to transcend mortality]."

"For this third sermon, I shall expound upon the Great Path of the Great Encompassing [the supreme cultivation method that leads to the foundational realm of the Great Encompassing]."

Eldrin Chen's gaze was solemn and profound as he began to elucidate the path to forging the Great Encompassing Foundation [the ultimate, most perfect foundational cultivation realm].

As his words flowed, expressions of bitter realization dawned upon the faces of the assembled multitude. Many had heard of the Great Encompassing Foundation, but only upon truly comprehending the Great Path of the Great Encompassing did they grasp just how distant and unattainable this path truly was.

Even the most supreme prodigies lacked the requisite temperament and resolve to set foot upon this road.

"To achieve the Great Encompassing Foundation, one must possess supreme talent, profound wisdom, and monumental fortune. Without all three, the path is but a mirage," he stated, his voice carrying the weight of immutable truth.

"If this path proves impassable for you, consider a secondary route. Endeavor to cultivate the Dual Path Fruits [a cultivation realm where one masters two complementary Dao paths]. Success there can also forge a Celestial Immortal Foundation [a foundational realm of exceptional purity and strength, a step below the Great Encompassing]."

Eldrin Chen spoke earnestly, his words measured and laden with sincere guidance.

Having said his piece, he glanced at the sky and rose to his feet. "This third sermon concludes here."

"I shall preach no more. Cultivate diligently, and may we meet again in the Immortal Realm [the higher realm where true Immortals reside]."

"We respectfully bid farewell to the Immortal [a being who has ascended to immortality]!"

The assembled multitude, upon hearing these words, promptly prostrated themselves to respectfully bid farewell.

The Verdant Lotus blazed with radiant light and vanished into nothingness, taking Eldrin Chen with it.

Simultaneously, an ethereal voice drifted forth once more: "In descending to this mortal realm, I have brought with me three thousand Spiritual Treasure [enchanted artifacts of significant power] and a million Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation]."

"Those mundane objects are of no further use to me. I have placed them all upon the Guest Greeting Peak ahead."

"Each of you may take one. What manner of Immortal Artifact [a supreme-grade magical treasure] you obtain shall depend entirely upon your own fortune and destiny."

"Boom—"

In that instant, every Primordial Spirit Path Lord [a cultivator who has mastered their Primordial Spirit and comprehended a Path] present was stirred to excitement.

The various Path Lord [a cultivator who has comprehended a Path] and True Lord [a cultivator who has formed their True Primordial Spirit] revealed expressions of wild joy, soaring into the air with frantic haste as they charged towards the location of the Guest Greeting Peak.

Among the thirty-six Demigod [a cultivator who has transcended mortality but not yet achieved full divinity], Jiang Venus was the first to arrive. He glanced at the Guest-Welcoming Cliff and only then noticed that, at some unknown time, an enormous boulder had been placed before it.

Upon that massive stone rested a countless multitude of shimmering spiritual lights.

"Whoosh—"

In that very instant, dozens of radiant treasures shot into the sky from atop the giant rock. Astonishingly, they were all exceedingly rare Near-Immortal Treasures [treasures of immense power, just a step below true Immortal-grade artifacts], with most even being Heavenly Extraterrestrial Rarities [spiritual objects of celestial origin, formed from the essence of stars and cosmic phenomena].

Jiang Venus reacted with lightning speed, his hand sweeping out to gather a dazzling sword radiance, only to realize it was a strand of blazing white sword fiend energy.

"A Heavenly Extraterrestrial Rarities [spiritual object of celestial origin, formed from the essence of stars and cosmic phenomena]... the Venus Metallic Gold Sword Fiend."

In that Eldrin moment, Jiang Venus's face lit up with wild joy as he recognized the origin of this object.

The Venus Metallic Gold Sword Fiend [a rare and potent form of metallic sword energy, embodying the essence of the planet Venus] was an exceedingly rare Heavenly Extraterrestrial Rarities [spiritual object of celestial origin, formed from the essence of stars and cosmic phenomena]. It was a wondrous treasure that could only be nurtured within an Immortal-Grade Metal-Stone Vein [a vein of ore containing metal and stone of a quality fit for Immortal refinement], possessing the incredibly rare power of Slaughter [a divine ability focused on pure destruction and killing intent].

If this strand of sword fiend energy were fused into his Lifebound Immortal Sword [a cultivator's primary sword, bound to their life force and soul], it would greatly enhance the Immortal Sword's [a sword of Immortal grade] power and latent potential. In the future, it might even have a chance to evolve to the true Immortal-grade realm.

"A fine treasure indeed."

Ecstatic, Jiang Venus quickly turned his gaze to the other several dozen Heavenly Extraterrestrial Rarities [spiritual objects of celestial origin, formed from the essence of stars and cosmic phenomena].

The Immortal [a being who has ascended to immortality through cultivation] had decreed they could each take one treasure. He had claimed the one most suited to himself; the remaining items he could only covet with longing eyes.

These Heavenly Extraterrestrial Rarities [rare treasures born from the essence of the heavens and earth] are all priceless supreme treasures. Although they have not yet reached the level of Immortal Artifact [a divine weapon or tool forged by or for an immortal], they already far surpass anything of the Primordial Spirit Realm [the realm of cultivating one's spiritual core].

If one could obtain one or two that suit them, their chances of achieving immortality in the future would increase by ten or twenty percent.

However, the value of such supreme treasures is also divided into grades. Naturally, everyone desires the most powerful treasures that are also the most suitable for themselves.

At this moment, the various Demigod Patriarch [powerful cultivators who have transcended mortality but not yet fully ascended to immortality] had already charged forward. The first to arrive were Thalion Lu, Support Revive Chen, Mysterious Verdant Robe, and others.

That Thalion Chen possessed power that could startle immortals. His Four Symbols Power [the combined divine power of the Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise] surged forth, engulfing everything and sweeping away an ancient-looking formation diagram.

"A Heavenly Extraterrestrial Rarity—the Myriad Heavens Four Symbols Diagram!"

The instant he stored the treasure diagram, Thalion Chen revealed an expression of ecstatic joy.

He possessed the Four Symbols Divine Body [a legendary physique attuned to the four celestial beasts], and had forged the Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise into four Immortal Sword [swords imbued with immortal power]. With these, he had roamed the world for years, finding few who could rival him.

And this Myriad Heavens Four Symbols Diagram was exceptionally compatible with his four Lifebound Immortal Sword [swords forged with and bound to one's life essence]. If he used this diagram as the foundation to lay down the Myriad Heavens Four Symbols Sword Formation [a sword formation harnessing the power of the four symbols across the myriad heavens]...

...its unleashed power would likely be enough to overturn the very foundations of heaven and earth, its might perhaps not inferior to that of a Supreme Immortal Treasure [the pinnacle of immortal-crafted artifacts].

Support Revive Chen was the third to charge forward. With swift hands and keen eyes, he acted, sweeping a massive cauldron into his grasp.

That great cauldron was wreathed in three types of supreme Yang energies [the active, masculine principle of the cosmos]. It was the Heavenly Extraterrestrial Rarities known as the 'Triple Sun Heaven-Suppressing Furnace' [a legendary furnace forged from the essence of three celestial suns]. Not only did it rank among the top ten most valuable of all Heavenly Extraterrestrial Rarities [rare materials of celestial origin], it was also the treasures most suited to him.

The Mysterious Verdant Robe was a dragon egg formed from a wisp of the origin essence of the Supple Wood Azure Dragon [a divine dragon of wood and life]. It was also a body of Pure-Blooded True Dragon lineage. Having received the inheritance of the Black Tortoise Patriarch, it now made its move, snatching a dragon-patterned turtle shell from amidst the crowd. This was none other than the Heavenly Extraterrestrial Rarities known as the 'Dragon Turtle Mysterious Armor' [an armor forged from the primordial shell of a divine dragon-turtle].

In the span of a single breath, all thirty-six Immortal [beings who have ascended to immortality through cultivation] had secured their share of treasures.

Those with good fortune obtained Heavenly Extraterrestrial Rarities, while those less fortunate still received a Near-Immortal Treasures [artifacts of immense power, just a step below true immortal artifacts]. Without exception, their harvests were bountiful, filling their hands to overflowing.

Among these various treasures, the Heavenly Extraterrestrial Rarities were the most precious. Although these Heavenly Extraterrestrial Rarities had not yet reached the realm of Immortal Artifact [divine tools wielded by true immortals], they had already transcended the level of Near-Immortal Treasures.