Chapter 1431 : The Final Primordial Pill

Upon hearing this, Nyssa Qu felt a slight tremor in her heart.

Over these years, Glazed Divine Lord [a title for a powerful cultivator] had traveled across the various regions of the Vast Azure Immortal Domain to help her refine the Seven Extremities Spirit-Slaying Sword, expending immense effort and care.

Now, seeing him grievously wounded because of the North Sea Mysterious Tortoise [a primordial tortoise demon beast from the northern seas], her heart was filled with even greater remorse.

"Do not worry. This level of injury is not severe. With some years of recuperation, I shall recover,"

Glazed Divine Lord said with a gentle smile, seeming to perceive her inner turmoil.

He handed the North Sea Mysterious Tortoise's Inner Pill [the condensed life essence core of a demon beast] to Nyssa Qu and continued, "With this Inner Pill, your Seven Extremities Spirit-Slaying Sword lacks only the Western Metal Primordial Tiger [the primordial tiger of western metal essence] to be fully forged."

"From what I know, that Western Metal Primordial Tiger roams within the Western Pole Heavenly Domain. To avoid falling into any traps, I cannot act until my wounds are healed. You must plan for this final Inner Pill yourselves."

Eldrin Chen nodded upon hearing this. "Of the seven Primordial Era Desolate Spirit [ancient desolate spirit beasts] Inner Pill, you, Senior, have helped us obtain four. Such grace, we shall never forget."

"Leave this last Inner Pill to us."

"Mm." Glazed Divine Lord gave a nod of affirmation. "Given your current strength, I am now quite at ease."

"However, when you depart, you must remember to keep your whereabouts secret to avoid falling prey to the schemes of others."

Eldrin Chen nodded, retrieving a pill from his sleeve. "This is a Soul-Returning Pill [a supreme healing elixir capable of mending severe spiritual and physical wounds] I refined in recent years. It should be of some use for your injuries, Senior."

"You are thoughtful."

Glazed Divine Lord glanced at it and gave an approving nod. The Soul-Returning Pill was a supreme healing treasure of the Eighth Rank High-Grade [a very high level of quality and potency for pills and artifacts], and it could indeed provide some benefit for her wounds.

Thus, she accepted the Soul-Returning Pill and said with a smile, "This pill is of immense value. What would you ask for in return?"

"You sustained these injuries while forging the sword for Nyssa. How could I have the face to exchange this for treasure?" Eldrin Chen shook his head. "Consider it merely a token of my respect, Junior."

Previously, within the Netherworld Small Universe [a pocket dimension suffused with yin and nether energies], Eldrin Chen had obtained a Soul-Returning Flower [a rare spiritual herb that is the primary ingredient for the Soul-Returning Pill]. The final alchemical batch had yielded two Precious Pill [a general term for high-grade elixirs]. Offering one to Glazed Divine Lord was, in Eldrin Chen's view, a way to repay a portion of the debt of gratitude.

Glazed Divine Lord did not elaborate further, simply smiling as she said, "I heard you require World-Opening Energy [a primal, chaotic energy used in the creation or expansion of small worlds and artifacts]. The Clan Treasury still holds some. Later, accompany Sun Consort to retrieve ten strands."

With those words, Glazed Divine Lord said no more, waving her hand to dismiss them from her cave abode.

"..."

With Glazed Blessed Land's stance being resolute, Eldrin Chen ultimately departed, taking ten strands of World-Opening Energy with him.

Upon returning to the Returning Abyss Blessed Land, Eldrin Chen informed Exquisite Jiang, Verdant Consort, and the others of the situation.

After hearing the account, their brows furrowed with concern. Exquisite Jiang could not help but ask, "Now that Glazed Divine Lord cannot act, might Master of Flowing Fire Star Palace seize this chance to move against us?"

"He likely will not," Eldrin Chen shook his head and stated. "The injuries of Master of Flowing Fire Star Palace are more severe than those of Glazed Divine Lord. At present, his combat power is reduced to, at most, fifty or sixty percent."

"With such diminished strength, even two or three cultivators at the Earth Immortal Great Perfection realm would likely be enough to handle him. He probably dares not act rashly."

Speaking to this point, Eldrin Chen's expression turned grave once more. "However, your point is valid. Although Flowing Fire Star Palace itself may not strike, they certainly will not let this opportunity to act against us slip by."

Upon hearing this, Verdant Consort frowned slightly. "If that is the case, then what of the Western Metal Primordial Tiger…?"

Eldrin Chen did not answer immediately. After a moment's pause, he said, "That Western Metal Primordial Tiger is one of the Primordial Era Desolate Spirit [ancient and powerful spiritual beasts from the dawn of time]. Its acquisition is crucial for Nyssa to successfully forge the Seven Extremities Spirit-Slaying Sword."

"Once Nyssa forges the Seven Extremities Spirit-Slaying Sword, her power will undoubtedly see a tremendous increase. This will also bolster our chances of successfully seizing the Netherworld Small Universe."

"Therefore, we cannot abandon our pursuit of the Western Metal Primordial Tiger."

At this point, Eldrin Chen pondered for a moment before continuing, "In a while, I will send people to gather intelligence on the Western Metal Primordial Tiger [a legendary beast embodying the essence of the Metal element]. Once we confirm its precise location, we will act."

"But..." Nyssa Qu voiced her concern, unable to hold back. "What if the Master of Flowing Fire Star Palace truly decides to take the risk and attack us?"

"Do not worry," Eldrin Chen shook his head, weighing his words carefully. "With my current strength, aided by all of you, we can hold our own even against a Ninth Level Earth Immortal [a cultivator at the peak of the ninth stage of the Earth Immortal realm]."

"Taking it a step further, even if a top-tier Earth Immortal Great Perfection [a cultivator who has reached the absolute pinnacle of the Earth Immortal realm] were to assault us, with the power of the Polarity Void Mirror [a supreme magical treasure capable of manipulating the void between Yin and Yang], few could stop me if I chose to retreat."

Hearing this, the others felt a measure of reassurance settle within them.

After a moment of consideration, Exquisite Jiang spoke up, "Then let us first gather intelligence. We can decide on action only after we have confirmed the Western Metal Primordial Tiger's location."

"Very well."

Once the decision was made, Eldrin Chen dispatched over a dozen of the clan's Immortal [beings who have transcended mortality through cultivation] into the Western Pole Heavenly Domain [one of the major celestial regions of the world] to seek news of the Western Metal Primordial Tiger.

With more than ten Immortal scouring the lands, it took merely three thousand years before they pinpointed where the Western Metal Primordial Tiger had been sighted.

"The Western Metal Great Mystery Mountain Range."

Gazing at the intelligence report in his hand, Eldrin Chen murmured inwardly, then relayed this news to Exquisite Jiang and the others.

After listening, Exquisite Jiang looked at the report in Eldrin Chen's hand, a slight frown creasing her brow as she spoke: "The Primordial Tiger residing within the Western Metal Great Mystery Mountain Range is likely not to be underestimated."

Nyssa Qu nodded in agreement, then added: "At least two Western Metal Primordial Tiger at the Late Stage Earth Immortal level, and their tracks are notoriously difficult to trace."

"Without a significant stroke of fortune, one could lie in wait for hundreds of thousands of years and still fail to find them."

Eldrin Chen took a deep breath and declared, "Regardless, the Western Metal Primordial Tiger is exceedingly rare and elusive. We cannot afford to miss this opportunity."

"We depart at first light tomorrow."

Early the next morning, Eldrin Chen set his course for the Western Pole Heavenly Domain.

As this expedition might keep them away from home for tens of thousands of years, Eldrin Chen departed with five companions: Exquisite Jiang, Verdant Consort, Nyssa Qu, Lila, and Violet Consort Yan.

The three Earth Immortals—Kael Chen, Ethan Chen, and Energy Abyss Chen—remained behind to safeguard the clan.

Thus, the party of six activated the Polarity Void Mirror and journeyed towards the Western Pole Heavenly Domain. After several years of travel, they finally arrived at the fringes of the Western Metal Great Mystery Mountain Range.

The Western Metal Great Mystery Mountain Range, one of the Thirty-Six Famous Mountains of the Western Pole Heavenly Domain, sprawled across the land with an immensity that defied comprehension, its vastness stretching for countless billions upon billions of Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters]. In sheer scale, it rivaled even the Flowing Stream Hundred Seas.

Within this boundless mountain range, dozens of Demon Race Blessed Land [a place of concentrated spiritual energy and natural blessings] held dominion. Among them, the Blessed Land belonging to the renowned White Tiger Clan, known as the 'Tiger's Roar Blessed Land', was particularly famed, its Sovereign [a supreme level of power] a legend whispered across the realms.

As Eldrin Chen stood before the majestic expanse of the Western Metal Great Mystery Mountain Range, memories of the intelligence he had gathered on the Western Pole Heavenly Domain surfaced in his mind.

From his knowledge, this Western Pole Heavenly Domain was anchored by three Supreme Grotto-Heaven [a transcendent realm of ultimate spiritual perfection], their power stabilizing the very Cosmos [the ordered universe and its fundamental principles].

These three Grotto-Heaven [a superior realm of profound spiritual energy and natural laws] were known as the 'White Tiger Grotto-Heaven', the 'Venus Grotto-Heaven', and the 'Radiant Gold Grotto-Heaven'.

Among these three peerless Grotto-Heaven, the White Tiger Grotto-Heaven stood preeminent. Forged by the might of the White Tiger Clan, it reigned supreme, the foremost of the three great realms.