Chapter 2165 : The Primogenitor's Forbidden Path

The Demonic Path [a heretical cultivation path that often involves sacrifice and corruption] pioneered by the Myriad Demons Primogenitor is not merely a method of cultivation; it is also a means to steal the fruits [the accumulated power and enlightenment] of others who walk the Mortal Path [the orthodox path of cultivation followed by most immortals].

To propagate his Demonic Path, he created the Inner Demon Art [a technique that plants seeds of corruption within a cultivator's mind]. Practitioners of the Immortal Path [the path of righteous cultivation] who show the slightest lapse in vigilance can be eroded by these Inner Demon [demonic thoughts and desires born from within], forever falling into the clutches of the Demonic Path.

Furthermore, his Demonic Path was specifically designed to counter the Immortal Path. Those on the Immortal Path face almost no restrictions when switching to cultivate the Demonic Path, making the act of poaching disciples frighteningly efficient.

Additionally, the Outer Realm Heavenly Demon [powerful demons from beyond this realm] of the Demonic Path can, during a cultivator's heavenly tribulation, use the Inner Demon Tribulation [a tribulation that attacks the cultivator's inner demons and mental fortitude] method to devour the Infant Soul [the nascent soul formed during a key breakthrough] and Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core and true essence of a cultivator] power of Immortal Path practitioners—another tactic aimed squarely at them.

It can be said that without the Demonic Path pioneered by the Myriad Demons Primogenitor, the road of the Immortal Path might have flourished far more abundantly.

"Disciples of that old ghost, the Myriad Demons Primogenitor,"

Eldrin Chen's pupils turned icy, but he suppressed the surge of killing intent deep within his heart.

Now was not the time to strike. Yet, if an opportunity presented itself, he would not hesitate to eliminate these demonic whelps of the Demonic Path.

"Enough. Cease this squabbling."

At that very moment, Yin Imperial Sovereign suddenly spoke, his voice calm yet carrying immense weight. Gazing at the Primordial Divine Mountain [a mythical mountain of immense spiritual power and ancient origins] before them, a slight tremor passed between his brows. "Upon that Primordial Divine Mountain," he declared, "lies an opportunity to set foot upon the realm of the Sovereign [the pinnacle realm of cultivation, representing ultimate authority and power]."

"There are even rumors that the Chaos Bell rests upon the very summit of this mountain."

"Our most urgent task now is to find a way to ascend the Primordial Divine Mountain."

Upon hearing this, the hearts of all present stirred with a flicker of pleasant surprise, and a trace of covetousness surfaced in their expressions.

Eldrin Chen also withdrew his thoughts and lifted his gaze towards the Primordial Divine Mountain, a hint of solemnity appearing between his brows.

This Primordial Divine Mountain was suffused with Chaos Limitless Path Patterns and protected by an exceedingly formidable Suppression Grand Formation. Ascending the divine peak would be no simple feat.

After all, this involved a departed Mandate of Heaven Sovereign. Even the Chaos Sovereign standing behind them could not divine whether hidden perils lay within.

It was precisely for this reason that, despite over two hundred Half-Step Limitless cultivators gathered here, not a single one dared to be the first to act as a target.

Furthermore, the Primordial Divine Mountain was enveloped by an intangible field, a protective membrane akin to a primordial sac, barring all from entry.

Now, as everyone gazed upon the Primordial Divine Mountain, their expressions were uniformly grave.

After a moment of contemplation, the Weeping Blood Demon Venerable spoke: "If we join forces, we should be able to breach a gap in the field at the mountain's base and enter the Primordial Divine Mountain."

"However, I expect no one to hold back any strength."

Upon hearing this, everyone present nodded in agreement.

World-Ending Child let out a derisive laugh, then gripping his World-Ending Spear, declared, "I shall lead the way for you all."

As his words fell, World-Ending Child instantly made his move, driving the World-Ending Spear in a sweeping strike against the Primordial Divine Mountain. A violent collision erupted with the mountain's protective membrane of spatial force.

The others showed not the slightest hesitation, instantly unleashing their trump cards to bombard the periphery of the Primordial Divine Mountain.

Eldrin Chen, Nyssa Qu, and the others also joined the assault, though they only displayed combat power at the ordinary Half-Step Limitless level.

Even Eldrin Chen only revealed strength at the Peak Half-Step Limitless tier.

In truth, it was not just Eldrin Chen who was holding back. Many of the Half-Step Limitless cultivators present subtly restrained a portion of their power, not exposing their full capabilities.

"It seems the rankings on the Supreme Ranking List may not reflect one's true strength,"

Eldrin Chen mused inwardly, sensing that the power of many present was likely far more profound than they let on.

This outcome, however, was within expectations. After all, the disparity between Peerless Supreme [the pinnacle realm of cultivation, representing supreme power] is inherently minimal. The three strongest among the Peerless Supreme could, at most, defeat a combined force of two or three ordinary Peerless Supreme.

If the timing and methods were precise, and their coordination sufficiently seamless, two ordinary Peerless Supreme might very well stand a chance against the mightiest Peerless Supreme.

Of course, this classification of strength among Peerless Supreme absolutely did not include the present Eldrin Chen, for he had already transcended the Peerless Supreme realm, stepping into the entirely new Quasi-Sovereign Domain [a self-defined realm beyond the established pinnacle, bordering on true sovereignty].

This was a realm he had demarcated for himself alone; within the entire Chaos [the primordial, formless state from which all existence emerged], he was likely the sole individual to have attained it.

"BOOM—"

Just as Eldrin Chen's thoughts drifted, the combined, full-force assault of over two hundred Half-Step Limitless [cultivators on the very threshold of the Limitless realm] finally pierced the membranous barrier at the edge of the Primordial Divine Mountain [a mythical mountain born from the dawn of creation], tearing open a breach within it.

In that instant, everyone present surged forward, their forms blurring as they charged into the Primordial Divine Mountain.

"ARGH—"

And at that very moment, a sharp cry of agony suddenly erupted from within the crowd.

World-Ending Child [a being whose title signifies the end of worlds] had been the first to cross the threshold into the Oblivion Divine Mountain [a counterpart or corrupted reflection of the Primordial Divine Mountain, steeped in annihilating power]. Joining forces with Oblivion True King [a sovereign of absolute destruction], they ambushed a Half-Step Limitless cultivator from the Neutral Faction [a faction unaligned with major powers], grievously wounding him and sending him plummeting from the sky in a single, devastating strike.

Not only them, but other major powers were also taking action to eliminate their competitors, specifically targeting those rogue cultivators traveling alone.

Clearly, after the opening of the Primordial Divine Mountain, these factions were ready to burn the bridge once they had crossed the river, unwilling to let others share in the spoils.

Thinking of this, Eldrin Chen furrowed his brow slightly and then looked at the group of Mortal Path cultivators beside him. "Stay close," he instructed.

Hearing this, the prodigies of the Seven Domains Alliance and Nyssa Qu and the others all nodded with grave expressions.

At the same moment, Eldrin Chen passed through the opened membrane and stepped onto the foothills of the Primordial Divine Mountain.

"Hmph—"

The instant he set foot on the divine mountain, Eldrin Chen felt an overwhelming pressure descend upon him. It was as if an entire Chaos Ancient Domain were pressing down, causing his steps to falter for a moment.

Simultaneously, a surge of immense Celestial Slaughter aura [a baleful, slaughterous energy] swept towards him, aiming to suppress Eldrin Chen directly.

"Clang—"

Eldrin Chen raised his hand, deflecting the assailant's full-force strike. He then used the Bulwark Earth Sovereign Bell to shield his companions. Beside him, Cang Ancestor immediately soared into the air, wielding the Nine Tribulations Sword of the Ancient Ruins, and clashed with the attacker in a world-shaking collision.

The Old Man of Celestial Stele [a mysterious entity bound to an ancient, damaged stele] then summoned his shattered monument to descend before the group, its massive form intercepting a barrage of incoming attacks.

Only then did Eldrin Chen look up to see a host of peerless powerhouses launching their assault. This force included the Neutral Faction [a coalition of powers claiming non-alignment] and Weeping Blood Demon Venerable [a formidable demonic cultivator], along with over one hundred other formidable experts.

Fortunately, Eldrin Chen and his companions were no weaklings themselves. For the moment, they managed to hold their ground without suffering any significant losses.

Seeing their fierce assault falter, Weeping Blood Demon Venerable and the others abruptly ceased their attack. They continued their ascent up the divine mountain, turning their fury instead upon the other heroes attempting to pass through the breach.

"Do not linger here!"

Eldrin Chen immediately led his group forward. Once they had moved away from the contested entrance, he glanced back to see fierce battles erupting continuously within the opening.

Those who had entered first, capitalizing on the unstable footing of the latecomers, relentlessly pressed their attacks downward, striving to force their rivals back down the slopes of the divine mountain.

As time flowed on and the mountain's protective membrane finally healed over, Eldrin Chen observed that only around one hundred and eighty individuals had managed to remain.

While Eldrin Chen's faction had remained relatively intact, five or six of his Half-Step Limitless [cultivators on the cusp of the Limitless Realm] experts had been a fraction too slow and were now barred outside.

"Those who remain are all formidable," he noted. "More than half are powerhouses at the Peak Half-Step Limitless [the pinnacle stage just before the Limitless Realm] or above."

As the embryonic membrane sealed shut, the Hong Ancestor standing nearby slowly spoke, a grave light flickering in his eyes.

Eldrin Chen remained composed, his voice calm as he replied, "There is no need for concern. We shall simply proceed with caution."

With that, Eldrin Chen settled his mind and began his ascent up the slopes of the Primordial Divine Mountain.

By now, the various major powers had ceased their conflicts and were all focused on climbing the Primordial Divine Mountain.

During the climb, Eldrin Chen perceived the mountain's immense and majestic aura. An invisible pressure bore down upon them all, forcing them to expend their spiritual power [the vital energy cultivated by practitioners] relentlessly just to resist its weight.

Eldrin Chen fared well enough, but the ordinary Half-Step Limitless cultivators struggled. Given the rate of their depletion, even if they managed to reach the summit of the Primordial Divine Mountain, they would have exhausted a vast portion of their power.

How much combat strength would they retain by then?

"This works to our advantage,"

Eldrin Chen thought to himself, then glanced at Nyssa Qu and the others. All nine gave a slight, understanding nod.

The Sacrificial Self Path granted its practitioners an Inner Immortal Domain, a Supreme Immortal Domain that stored a reservoir of spiritual power. This reserve started at ten times that of other Supreme cultivators of the same realm.

If they were to achieve the perfected state of the Supreme Immortal Domain [the ultimate stage of a supreme cultivation art], Eldrin Chen estimated their spiritual power reserves would be more than ten times that of an ordinary Peerless Supreme [a cultivator at the pinnacle of the Supreme Realm].

At this moment, they had only reached the Mahayana Immortal Domain [the Great Vehicle stage of the Immortal Domain art], yet the scale of spiritual power stored within it was already at least three times greater than that of a typical Peerless Supreme.

From this perspective, Nyssa Qu and the others possessed a significant advantage for this mountain ascent.

"Conserving our strength and reaching the summit swiftly is the key."

Eldrin Chen transmitted this thought to his companions, then began his climb up the slopes of the Primordial Divine Mountain [the Mountain of Primordial Divinity].

The Primordial Divine Mountain was covered in peerless Rare Treasure [spiritual materials of exceptional rarity] seldom seen in the outside world, including not only Limitless Grass [a legendary herb] but even Upper Grade Chaos Rare Treasure [rare treasures of the highest Chaos grade].

They gathered a considerable number as they ascended, but upon reaching the mountainside, Eldrin Chen's gaze suddenly sharpened, drawn to a cliff face not far away.

There, upon a massive boulder, a dazzling Primordial Chaos Exotic Flower [a miraculous flower born from Primordial Chaos] had taken root.

"The Limitless Flower."

In that instant, elation surged through the group. Eldrin Chen stepped forward, approaching the Limitless Flower.

Just as he was about to pluck the Limitless Flower, a dazzling blade radiance slashed over from the distance, aiming directly for the center of Eldrin Chen's brow.

With a flick of his sleeve, Eldrin Chen deflected the blade strike and swiftly collected the Limitless Flower.

Lifting his gaze towards the source of the blade light, he saw a man clad in black armor approaching. A boundless aura of Celestial Slaughter [a plant imbued with a terrifying aura of heavenly slaughter] emanated from his pupils.

"Purgatory Supreme."

Eldrin Chen murmured inwardly, instantly recognizing the man's origins.

Purgatory Supreme was the direct descendant of the Lord of Purgatory, and the Purgatory Sovereign was one of the most powerful Sovereign [a supreme ruler among cultivators] within the Path-Hindering Conservative Faction. His cultivation was but a single step away from the Paramount Sovereign realm, and his strength ranked within the top twenty even among Chaos Sovereign [Sovereigns who have mastered the power of primordial chaos].

As the direct heir of the Lord of Purgatory, Purgatory Supreme's power was naturally not to be underestimated.

Now, Purgatory Supreme strode forward, his expression calm as he looked at Eldrin Chen and said, "Hand over the Limitless Flower, and I shall let bygones be bygones."

Simultaneously, several Half-Step Limitless [cultivators on the verge of the Limitless Realm] from behind Purgatory Supreme also stepped forward. Even Celestial Roc Supreme and Weeping Blood Demon Venerable approached.

Facing them, Eldrin Chen's gaze remained tranquil. He merely inquired, "Are you all truly determined to fight?"

Weeping Blood Demon Venerable [a powerful and malevolent demonic cultivator] stepped forward, his expression icy as he spoke. "The value of the Limitless Flower [a legendary herb said to grant boundless potential] is known to all of you, and you understand how precious it truly is."

"If you do not hand it over, I will not spare any of you today."

At that moment, the Supreme [a title denoting the highest echelon of power] from both the Neutral Faction and the Path-Hindering Conservative Faction closed in. Even World-Ending Child and others from the Path-Obstructing Faction turned their gaze, a glint of battle intent seeming to flicker in their eyes.

It was clear that Weeping Blood Demon Venerable and his ilk were bullying Eldrin Chen and the other rogue cultivators for their perceived weakness, seeking to seize this Limitless Flower.

For figures like World-Ending Child, if the opportunity presented itself, eliminating these weaker cultivators would be a favorable move.

The reason they had not yet acted was likely due to uncertainty about the stance of Nine Revolutions Holy Land and the others.

After all, this place held the key to a breakthrough into the Sovereign [the ultimate realm of cultivation, representing supreme mastery] realm, as well as the opportunity presented by the Chaos Bell, a Chaos Supreme Treasure [a primordial artifact of immense, world-shaping power]. Any one of them could become a rival.

Yet, the predatory gazes of these two major factions placed Eldrin Chen in a difficult position.

To stand against these two powers, he and Nyssa Qu would have to reveal their full strength to have any chance of victory.

And once their true power was exposed, they would inevitably become the target of all. At that point, the powerful figures of the Path-Guarding Faction, such as Nine Revolutions Path Ancestor, would undoubtedly view them as the greatest threat.

However, if they did not reveal their true strength, even facing Weeping Blood Demon Venerable and the others alone, they would likely find themselves at an absolute disadvantage.

"At this moment, we cannot reveal our strength."

After a moment of contemplation, Eldrin Chen made his decision. He retrieved the Limitless Flower and hurled it towards the forces of the radical faction, led by World-Ending Child.

"Seeking death."

Witnessing Eldrin Chen decisively abandon the Limitless Flower, Purgatory Supreme and the others were taken by surprise. They immediately surged forward to seize the Limitless Flower.

As the key ingredient for a breakthrough to the Limitless Sovereign realm, the Limitless Flower was a peerless Rare Treasure rarely seen even in the Chaos. It was several times more precious than even an Upper Grade Chaos Spiritual Treasure.

Now, with the Limitless Flower within reach, how could World-Ending Child possibly let it go?

He instantly reached out to snatch the Limitless Flower, only to feel a surge of supreme divine power wash over him, engaging him in a startling contest of strength.

Glancing over, he saw it was Oblivion True King who was vying with him for the prize.

"Oblivion True King, do you dare oppose me?"

"Such a peerless Rare Treasure [an object of immense spiritual value and rarity] naturally belongs to the strongest."

Oblivion True King spoke, for he too would not yield the Limitless Flower [a legendary herb said to grant boundless potential] without a contest.

"Hand over the Limitless Flower."

At the same moment, Weeping Blood Demon Venerable strode forward. With a flick of his sleeve, he unleashed a tide of Chaos [the primordial, formless state before creation] divine power, clashing head-on with the two scions of the Sovereign [a supreme cultivation realm] lineages.

In an instant, several Peerless Supreme [cultivators who have reached the pinnacle of power] present began vying fiercely for the Limitless Flower.

Watching the others scramble for the Limitless Flower, the members of the Seven Domains Alliance [a powerful coalition of seven major realms] could not help but show a flicker of unwillingness and regret on their faces.

Jade Flute Path Ancestor wore a deeply regretful expression. "Are we to abandon such a treasure [a spiritually potent artifact or resource] just like this?" he could not help but ask.

"Though the Limitless Flower is a treasure rarely seen in this world, sacrificing it to deplete their strength is a worthy trade."

Eldrin Chen spoke calmly, his demeanor one of acceptance.

He still possessed three more Limitless Flower in his possession. Thus, for him, relinquishing one was not a crippling loss.

He had abandoned the Limitless Flower [a legendary herb said to grant limitless potential] with the original intention of concealing his true strength. After all, as they continued to ascend the Primordial Divine Mountain [the primordial mountain at the heart of creation], everyone's spiritual energy reserves were being depleted more and more severely, which only amplified the advantage held by the Chen Immortal Clan and the others.

The reason he had tossed it to World-Ending Child and his group was to use it as a price to instigate internal conflict and attrition among the major factions.

However, that a single Limitless Flower could plunge the three great powers into such utter chaos and all-out war far exceeded Eldrin Chen's expectations.

Yet, upon deeper reflection, it seemed this outcome was not entirely unforeseen.

The Limitless Flower was a rarity in the world. Each bloom required the perfect convergence of celestial timing, geographical advantage, and human destiny, coupled with nine strands of Primordial Chaos Genesis Essence [the primordial energy from which all creation springs], to be nurtured into existence.

That Eldrin Chen possessed a Limitless Flower was primarily due to the legacy of the Nameless Path Ancestor [the founder of a forgotten cultivation path], specifically the three Limitless Flower seedlings left behind in that inheritance.

Yet, seedlings alone were insufficient. The true reason he had managed to cultivate three full Limitless Flower was chiefly because Eldrin Chen did not lack for Primordial Chaos Genesis Essence.

The Limitless Flower was born only in minuscule quantities within Primordial Chaos Secret Realm [realms born from the primordial chaos], or within the largest of such realms.

However, the Primordial Chaos Violet Aura [a supreme-grade energy of primordial chaos] within even large Primordial Chaos Secret Realm was finite. Only the very first batch of Primordial Chaos Secret Realm that had broken away from the main Primordial Chaos Secret Realm at the dawn of time had any chance of giving birth to one or two Limitless Flower.

From the Primordial Chaos Unfolding [the event that shaped the cosmos from primordial chaos] until the present day, the Limitless Flower had become increasingly rare. Even the most eminent Chaos Sovereign [a supreme cultivator who commands primordial chaos] might not possess more than a few specimens in their treasured collections.

Moreover, this flower can enhance the cultivation base of a Limitless Sovereign [a supreme cultivator who has transcended all worldly limitations], making it a rare and precious treasure even for beings of that exalted realm.

Although all present are direct descendants of Sovereign [supreme cultivators], it is doubtful any of them are truly worthy of partaking in the Limitless Flower.

Furthermore, the various factions do not serve the same Sovereign, and each harbors its own ulterior motives. It seems only natural that conflict would erupt over the Limitless Flower.

"Ignore them. We continue our ascent."

Eldrin Chen murmured inwardly, then resumed his steady, unhurried climb up the mountain path.

The conflict below did not last long. Perhaps realizing they could not afford to deplete their spiritual energy reserves excessively, the opposing sides called a temporary halt to hostilities after a brief but fierce exchange.

In the end, that single Limitless Flower fell into the hands of Oblivion True King. However, the gazes of Weeping Blood Demon Venerable and Purgatory Supreme, among others, now held a flicker of deep-seated resentment towards him.

Even World-Ending Child and several Peerless Supreme [cultivators who have reached the pinnacle of power below the Sovereign realm] from the radical faction regarded Oblivion True King with a palpable chill in their eyes.

In response, Oblivion True King offered a cold, mocking smile, subtly increasing the distance between himself and the others.

Witnessing this, a faint, sardonic smile touched Eldrin Chen's lips. He turned to his companion on the Mortal Path [a profound cultivation art focused on comprehending the mortal world] and remarked, "Though precious, the Limitless Flower is also a burning-hot potato, too dangerous to hold comfortably."

"Should an opportunity arise, that Oblivion True King [a title for a powerful entity of destruction] will undoubtedly become the target of all, and perhaps meet his doom because of it."

Having said his piece, Eldrin Chen spoke no more. Instead, he led the group on a detour up the mountain.

This time, he deliberately put distance between himself and the others. Shrouded by the mists of Primordial Chaos [the formless, primordial state before creation] that filled the heavens and earth, he was unlikely to be discovered by the other major powers.

He then took out the Treasure-Seeking Rat [a mystical rodent with an innate ability to locate valuables] and addressed it, "Squeak-squeak, guide me to find treasures."

"Squeak, squeak, squeak."

The Treasure-Seeking Rat let out a series of chirps and then began guiding Eldrin Chen in a continuous search for treasures.

Under the rodent's guidance, they once again gathered a significant quantity of Chaos Rare Treasure [rare materials born from the energies of primordial chaos]. Unfortunately, they found no more Limitless Flower [a legendary herb said to grant boundless potential] after that.

They continued their meticulous search. After passing the mountain's midpoint, Eldrin Chen suddenly sensed a fierce chase erupting ahead.

Several figures radiating powerful auras fled across the sky, pursued by several dozen others in hot pursuit.

Among those fleeing for their lives, the leader clutched a dazzling Limitless Divine Medicine [a supreme-grade medicinal herb of legendary potency]. However, they were too far away to clearly discern what specific divine herb it was.

Yet regardless of its specific type, any Limitless Divine Medicine [a legendary pill said to grant boundless potential] is considered a supreme treasure for those at the Half-Step Limitless [the penultimate stage before achieving true Limitless power] realm.

"Limitless Divine Medicine,"

Upon witnessing this, the Old Man of Celestial Stele [a sentient ancient monument with vast knowledge] had a sudden change in expression, his mind instantly filled with thoughts of seizing it. However, he was restrained by Eldrin Chen.

Eldrin Chen merely shook his head and spoke with calm authority, "Until the very end, none can know who the final victor will be. For now, it is wiser for us to conserve our strength."