Chapter 2083 : Mysterious Heaven Ruins

Hearing the words of the Undying Elder, Eldrin gave a slight nod.

Since Elder Bumie's strength was no weaker than these 3 individuals, Eldrin no longer feared confronting them within the ruins.

Boom—

At that very moment, violent rumbles echoed from the depths of chaos.

Everyone hurriedly looked up and saw that within the vast chaos, an invisible Void Gate had abruptly opened, transforming into a churning vortex that separated the 2 realms.

"The Profound Heaven Ruins have opened."

The Black Abyss Emperor spoke, a flicker of pleasant surprise gleaming in his eyes.

At the same time, the 3 invincible Paragons—the Primeval Ape-Demon (Mythical Beast), the Blazing Heart Incinerator (Sacred Flame), and the Mistveil Saintess (Saint)—soared through the void and vanished directly into the chaotic vortex.

Eldrin exchanged a glance with the Undying Elder before speaking, "Let us enter as well."

"Very well."

The Eternal Elder nodded and immediately took the lead, stepping into the secret realm.

The 3 of them walked side by side, soon stepping into the secret realm and emerging onto a vast plaza.

Eldrin scanned his surroundings and saw 10 towering platforms materialize in the void. Their surfaces were carved with supreme formation patterns of the Chaos level, suggesting this was an arena of combat.

The Elder of Immortality, being quite experienced in such matters, spoke directly, "These 10 towering platforms are known as the Chaos Battle Stages, forged personally by the Supreme Unity Dao Lord. They are capable of withstanding combat at the Chaos level."

"The first trial of the Xuantian Ruins tests our combat prowess."

"To pass this first trial, we must conquer 1 of the elevated platforms before proceeding to the second stage."

A faint twitch appeared between Eldrin's brows. Though there were over 1 100 Quasi-Saints present, only 10 slots were available to pass the first trial. This demonstrated just how arduous the tests of the Profound Heaven Relic truly were.

You must understand, those who dared to participate in the Mystic Heaven Relic trials were almost all top-tier Demi-Saints who had cultivated 9 divine forms.

"It seems this battle is destined to be a grueling contest."

Eldrin murmured inwardly as he watched the Blazing Central Incinerator stride directly into the heavens, stepping onto the first elevated platform.

The other Demi-Sages exchanged glances, yet none stepped onto the first platform—a silent acknowledgment of Chiyang Fenjin's formidable prowess.

The Primeval Demon Ape and the Mistveil Saintess, seeing this, promptly claimed the second and third platforms respectively. The rest of the crowd acknowledged their claims without contest, making no move to challenge for the platforms.

The Eternal Elder patted Eldrin on the shoulder before ascending the fourth platform.

At this point, no 1 else stepped forward to contest the platforms, clearly acknowledging that these 4 had the right to occupy the elevated stages.

At this point, 4 of the 10 elevated platforms already had their masters. Over a 100 quasi-saints on the scene instinctively turned their gaze toward the remaining 6 platforms.

"It seems the remaining 6 slots are far more difficult to secure than 1 might have imagined."

Eldrin murmured inwardly. After exchanging a glance with the Black Abyss Emperor, he directly ascended the eighth and ninth platforms.

As soon as Eldrin (Person Name) set foot on the eighth elevated platform, a peerless Demi-Saint charged forth to confront him.

"So it is the Patriarch of the Returning Abyss. This old man pays his respects."

The newcomer had fiery red hair and had once crossed paths with Eldrin at the artifact exchange convention of the Primordial Chiyang Realm.

He first cupped his hands in a salute toward Eldrin, then instantly mounted a battle steed gripping a celestial halberd, descending upon Eldrin with crushing force.

"Perfect timing."

Eldrin smiled faintly, yet with a flick of his sleeve, he unleashed a flick of his finger that sent the celestial halberd flying through the air, even blasting the quasi-saint staggering backward.

This time, to intimidate the host of enemies, Eldrin had employed nearly 70 percent of his strength, defeating his opponent almost in the blink of an eye.

"Pfft—"

After an instant defeat, the red-haired Demi-saint was left half-kneeling on the ground, blood trickling from his lips as a look of shock and terror surfaced on his face.

He cast an incredulous glance at Eldrin, then rose to his feet and cupped his hands in a salute. "I never imagined Fellow Daoist of the Returning Abyss has already stepped into the realm of the Invincible Paragon. It was presumptuous of me."

As the words faded, the red-haired Demi-saint directly departed from the elevated platform, vanishing within the grand hall.

The rest of the crowd present couldn't help but show traces of apprehension upon witnessing this, and even a hint of resignation crept into their expressions.

In the past, when the Mysterious Heaven Ruins opened, it was rare for experts who dared to challenge the Celestial Emperor to appear. In those days, even top-tier Demi-Saints stood a chance of passing the first trial.

Yet this time, 4 invincible powerhouses had come to challenge the Celestial Emperor. The difficulty of securing a spot for a top-tier Demi-Saint had likely increased by more than tenfold.

With this thought in mind, many Demi-Sages abandoned their pursuit of Eldrin's position and turned their attention elsewhere.

Only 1 figure, the Sub-Sage of Boundless Unity, stepped forward and ascended the platform.

A powerfully built man stood there, holding a massive Chaos Axe in his hand. He strode through the void like a primordial deity emerging to cleave heaven and earth.

Stepping onto the elevated platform, he spoke with serene composure, "I am Pan Huang(Person Name), and I shall be your opponent."

As the words fell, Pan Huang rode his giant axe through the void, the 9 True Spirit Avatars coalescing around a single strike aimed to cleave Eldrin in 2.

Seeing his opponent striking down with overwhelming force, Eldrin immediately channeled his energy into the Chaos Heavenly Halberd to block the attack.

Yet he discovered that the force behind this strike had surpassed the limits of a Demi-saint, violently numbing Eldrin’s (Person Name) hand with the shock of impact.

"What formidable power."

Eldrin (Person Name) took a deep breath. This Pan Huang was clearly a physical cultivator who excelled in strength-based sanctification, with all 9 of his divine forms embodying the Great Dao of Power almost entirely.

Thus, the power unleashed by these 9 divine forms nearly surpassed a certain extreme, even approaching 70 to 80 percent of the level of the Chaos Heavenly Emperor.

"With such innate talent, once the 9 divine forms merge into 1, in terms of pure power alone, they would likely surpass even the Chaos Celestial Emperor."

Eldrin murmured inwardly, realizing that Pan Huang was similar to the Undying Old Man—both were powerhouses who had cultivated their strengths to an extreme specialization.

The Undying Elder excelled in defense—in terms of defensive prowess and vitality alone, he even surpassed the Chaos Celestial Emperor. Once this Panhuang achieved the Sole True Form, his power would likewise transcend that of the Chaos Celestial Emperor.

However, such momentary opponents often possess significant weaknesses.

For instance, the Ancient Elder of Indestructibility possessed heaven-defying defensive capabilities but lacked sufficient offensive means, whereas this Panhuang wielded overwhelmingly powerful attacks, yet his personal defense was merely on par with that of an ordinary Quasi-Sage.

Such a lopsided contender might trouble others, but Eldrin, who had cultivated the Ruins Divine Rune, remained utterly unfazed.

In but a flick of his sleeve, Eldrin harnessed the divine patterns of the Returning Abyss to absorb all of Panhuang’s damage. Then, with overwhelming force, he summoned the Chaos Heavenly Halberd and launched a fierce assault with invincible combat prowess.

After trading over 8,000 blows in relentless succession, Pan Huang finally reached his limit. His body cracked like fractured jade mid-combat, sustaining near-irreversible wounds.

"I have been defeated."

After suffering consecutive defeats, Pan Huang revealed a bitter smile, his heart filled with boundless unwillingness.

Eldrin (Person Name) gave a slight nod and said calmly, "Your Path of Absolute Strength holds limitless potential."

"But you have failed to cultivate the Singular Divine Form. Although the 9 Great Divine Forms are immensely powerful, they remain scattered and ununified, unable to coalesce into a single force—thus harboring a fatal flaw."

"Your physical defense was never strong to begin with, and coupled with this fatal weakness, it wouldn’t be difficult for me to defeat you by confronting you head-on with my full power."

"So that's how it is."

Pan Huang spoke, then said with a bitter smile, "I understand this as well, but my power is too immense, making it difficult to coalesce into a unified whole."

"Every time I attempt to cultivate the True Singular Form, I feel as though my physical body is on the verge of complete disintegration, thus I dare not make that final attempt."

Eldrin (Person Name) pondered briefly before speaking, "The path of physical sanctification has always been supremely domineering. 1 must face certain death to be reborn before achieving a breakthrough."

"Your Power Manifestation is the most domineering among all dominances, making its breakthrough far more arduous."

"In my view, if you wish to cultivate the Singular Divine Form, you must subject yourself to sufficient pressure. Only by pushing through life-and-death extremes might you grasp that single thread of success."

Pan Huang seemed to gain sudden enlightenment. He immediately cupped his hands and said, "Many thanks for the reminder, fellow Daoist."

Eldrin closed his eyes without another word.

Seeing that even Pan Huang was no match for him, the others no longer contested the eighth platform where Eldrin (Person Name) stood.

Not long after, the Black Abyss Emperor also stood firmly upon the ninth elevated platform with an invincible demeanor.

As time flowed on, the final 4 grand platforms gradually saw their victors emerge, from which strode forth 4 supremely powerful, undefeatable Paragons.

Thus, upon each of the 10 grand platforms, a chosen prodigy had successfully passed this first trial.

At that very moment, a translucent figure emerged from the void.

With a flick of His sleeve, He sent those who failed to claim the platform out of the arena, then gazed upon the 10 invincible quasi-sages before Him.

"You have all passed this first trial."

"The next trial, Chapter 2, shall test your innate aptitude. Should you possess the potential to become a Dao-Unification Supreme, you shall naturally pass through this gate."

As the words faded, the ethereal figure led the crowd before a grand hall.

But within the great hall, an ancient Chaos Mirror drifted in suspension, appearing to be a Chaos Spiritual Treasure of astonishing value.

"This is the Chaos Spiritual Treasure—the Profound Heaven Mirror."

The Undying Elder spoke, explaining to Eldrin and the Black Abyss Emperor, "The Profound Heaven Mirror possesses boundless mysteries. It can detect an individual’s foundational potential and even glimpse a fragment of their future."

"In other words, once illuminated by the Profound Heaven Mirror, he can deduce what level of achievements you and I might attain in the future?"

Eldrin’s expression shifted slightly, and he couldn’t help but ask, “If it can glimpse the threads of 1’s future fate, does that mean our destinies have long been set in stone?”

"Not necessarily."

The Undying Elder shook his head and spoke, "Destiny ebbs and flows unpredictably. Each of us faces countless possibilities in the future."

"He can peer into multiple possible futures for me. If in even 1 of those potential futures, we manage to break through to the Unity Dao Supreme realm, it would count as validation of our innate talent."

At this point, Elder Bumie let out a bitter smile and said, "It's rather embarrassing to admit. I've come here 3 times in total, undergoing the Profound Heaven Mirror's visions of the future on each occasion, yet not once did I find a possibility to break through to the realm of Unity Supreme."

Upon hearing this, Eldrin (Person Name) could not help but flicker his gaze slightly.

The future observed by the Mystic Heaven Mirror is but 1 of countless possibilities.

In other words, according to the observations of the Xuantian Mirror, the likelihood of that potential candidate achieving a breakthrough to become a Unity Supreme was exceedingly slim.

For every choice and decision made by the powerful is enough to alter their own destiny, and even that of tens of thousands of others.

Among tens of thousands of possible futures, even if there exists 1 where he becomes a Harmony Path Supreme, that future remains nonexistent in the present spacetime.

To achieve the prophesied future, 1 must seize every serendipitous opportunity and make the correct choice at every juncture that shapes destiny—a feat more arduous than scaling the heavens.

"Test once more."

The Undying Elder spoke slowly, then added with a light laugh, "Since my rebirth, I've sensed a shift in my destined fate."

"I myself cannot tell whether this is for good or ill. Perhaps It has already altered my fate."

With these words, Elder Bumie cast his gaze across the grand hall, quietly awaiting as the assembly utilized the Mystic Heaven Mirror to deduce their latent potential for the future.

Soon, Chi Yan Fen Jin was the first to step forward. He allowed the Profound Heaven Mirror to illuminate his form, quietly awaiting the future the treasure mirror would unveil for him.

After a long while, the Profound Heaven Mirror's light quivered faintly. Countless threads of karma and runes of temporal dao cycled through its surface, ultimately manifesting innumerable possibilities.

In the end, the Ultimate Blazing Inferno was sent flying backward from the impact, landing outside the grand hall.

The ethereal figure couldn't help but cast a glance at the Blazing Heart Incinerator, then murmured thoughtfully, "Blazing Heart Incinerator—unqualified to tread the Realm of Chaos!"

"Impossible!"

Blazeheart Ember’s expression shifted to 1 of utter disbelief as he exclaimed in astonishment, “I am a direct descendant of a Unity Dao Supreme, blessed with the potential to attain Unity Dao Supremacy! How could I fail to reach the peerless Chaos Realm?”

"Impossible, this must be a miscalculation by the Ancient Mirror."

"The Profound Heaven Mirror could never be wrong."

The ethereal figure slowly spoke, its tone icy as it declared, "The Profound Heaven Mirror has divined 13,764 possible futures that belong to you."

"In every future, you meet an untimely end, slain by the same hand."

"No, I refuse to believe it!"

Chi Yang Ashen Ember’s face contorted with disbelief as he roared in towering rage, “I am the direct descendant of the Supreme Ancestor! Who dares kill me? Who would even dare lay a hand on me?”

"And I have cultivated a True Spirit Body—who could ever truly kill me?"

"Preposterous! Utterly preposterous! How dare you remnants of a fallen realm claim to have seen through my destined future?"

Chi Yang Fenjin was utterly enraged, nearly overturning the table in his fury. Yet with a mere flick of the sleeve from the ethereal figure, he was forcibly expelled from the Mysterious Heaven Relic.

With this interlude, the others all exchanged uncertain glances.

The Primeval Ape Demon pondered briefly, then became the second to step before the Mystic Heaven Mirror.

The ancient mirror trembled slightly, casting a hazy luminescence that enveloped the Primordial Demon Ape. After what seemed an eternity, the radiance gradually dissipated.

The illusory figure took a glance and could not help but exclaim in astonishment, "Thy future holds 106,000 possibilities."

"Among these, in 3 1000 7 100 possibilities, 1 may attain the realm of the Primordial Celestial Emperor. What is truly remarkable is that there are 10 futures where 1 can reach the supreme state of Unity with the Dao."

"Though the odds of reaching the realm of Unity and becoming a Paramount Sovereign were merely 1 in 10 1000, this could still be considered exceptionally rare and precious."

"You have passed this second trial."

The Primeval Demon Ape couldn't help but exhale sharply. The possibilities of breaking through to become a Primal Chaos Celestial Emperor exceeded 3,000.

In other words, as long as he chose prudently and avoided missteps at critical junctures, his chances of attaining the Dao as the Chaos Heavenly Emperor should be considerable.

Upon witnessing this, Saintess Cangyan immediately stepped into it, and soon after, the Profound Heaven Mirror calculated the future.

Compared to the Ancient Demon Ape, the Misty Maiden Sage also possessed a sliver of possibility to attain enlightenment and merge with the supreme Dao. However, this hope was in fact exceedingly slim—merely 1 in tens of thousands.

At this moment, Eldrin had already grasped the general picture.

Without cultivating a soul of the Chaos Realm, the possibility of future breakthrough to the Unity Sovereign would be exceedingly slim.

Witnessing this, the Unending Elder became the fourth to step into the grand hall.

As the light of the Mysterious Heaven Mirror continuously shifted, countless possible futures of the Undying Elder gradually emerged. Finally, with a faint tremor, the mirror withdrew all visions and returned to stillness.

Only then did the Immortal Elder turn his gaze to the ethereal figure, unable to resist inquiring, "Esteemed Senior, has this humble 1's destiny been altered?"

The illusory figure did not reply, instead studying him with astonishment. Unconsciously pondering, it thought, "How could the threads of His destiny shift so drastically? Could it be He has gained the favor of some Chaos Sovereign?"

As his mind reeled, the ethereal figure involuntarily drew a sharp breath.

Considering the terrifying secrets involved, the ethereal figure refrained from speaking plainly and merely stated, "Your destiny has undergone significant changes. There is now a thread of possibility for you to step into the realm of Dao Union."

"Very well, I shall grant you a spot this time as well."

Eldrin exchanged a glance with the Black Abyss Emperor, then rose and bowed to the Undying Elder with congratulations. "My felicitations, Elder. With your imminent breakthrough into the Dao Unification realm, your future prospects appear truly boundless."

"You flatter me."

The Elder of Immortality smiled faintly, then said with a bitter expression, "Even if there remains a sliver of hope, the odds are but 1 in 10 1000."

Eldrin smiled faintly, sensing vaguely that the possibility of Elder Bumie's future breakthrough might very well exceed 1 in 10 1000.

He turned his head, his gaze falling upon the Black Abyss Emperor, and then spoke: "It would be better for Your Majesty to take the test first."

"Very well."

Black Abyss Emperor nodded and immediately strode into the grand hall.

As the radiance of the Mystic Heaven Mirror shone upon him, the Black Abyss Emperor emitted an unprecedented aura this time, his presence even surpassing that of the Undying Elder, while a trace of astonishing phenomena manifested around him.

"This is..."

The ethereal figure revealed a look of astonishment, swiftly turning his gaze toward the Black Abyss Emperor. Unable to contain his exhilaration, he exclaimed, "The 9 Revolutions Heavenly Art—and you’ve actually manifested the ultimate divine pattern, Chaos!"

Should he forge a unique divine form upon this foundation, he would earn the right to become a nominal disciple of that exalted 1—and in time, perhaps even ascend to the status of a true inheritor of their legacy.

The illusory figure quickly suppressed the excitement within, thinking this to himself, then turned to gaze at the Black Abyss Emperor and declared, "Your aptitude ranks among the top 10 in all the countless kalpas that have passed."

"Remain here and await the third trial."

As he spoke thus, the ethereal figure drew Emperor Black Abyss aside privately.

Seeing this, Eldrin (Person Name) did not immediately step forward to test his aptitude, instead allowing several other Wuji Demi-Saints (Cultivation Rank) to proceed first.

The reason for this was that Eldrin possessed astonishing potential, and with the Primordial Chaos Scripture obscuring his fate, it was highly likely to trigger unforeseeable variables.

In such circumstances, the fewer who know, the better.

Seeing this, the other 4 Great Primordial Sub-Sages immediately stepped forward to undergo the test. Unfortunately, none of them showed any potential to break through to the Dao-Unification Supreme in the foreseeable future.

After the crowd had been escorted away, Eldrin finally stepped into the ancient hall.

The moment he stepped onto the ancient hall, the Profound Heaven Mirror emanated a hazy glow, casting its light directly toward Eldrin.

Boom—

At that very instant, the vast hall trembled violently, and even the Xuantian Ancient Mirror seemed to shudder with intense tremors.

"Not good."

The illusory figure’s heart skipped a beat. Hastily, he swept Eldrin (Person Name) out and spoke without preamble, “Thou, too, possess the makings of a Dao-Unification Supreme. Follow me to the third trial.”

As his words fell, he immediately led everyone to the location of Level 3.

At the same moment, the Xuantian Ancient Mirror emitted a series of cracking sounds, and a web of fissures began to spread across its surface.

The illusory figure arrived before the Xuantian Ancient Mirror and immediately seized the fractured artifact, his eyes revealing incomparable astonishment.

"The Profound Heaven Mirror Shatters, the Form of Boundless Perfection."

"No, this is likely a genuine Primordial Chaos Sovereign of Destiny."

Chapter 1 The biting mountain wind whipped across the cliffside, carrying with it the scent of pine and damp earth. Lin Chen gritted his teeth, his knuckles white as he gripped the rough stone ledge. Below him, a sea of clouds churned, obscuring the treacherous depths of the ravine. He had been climbing for what felt like an eternity, his body pushed to its absolute limit. His mind, however, was elsewhere, replaying the events of the past few days. The ambush. The betrayal. The cold, mocking laughter of his former senior brother, Eldrin (Person Name), as he snatched away the Spirit-Gathering Pendant (Magic Treasure). All for a mere 5,000 spirit stones. A fortune to most outer sect disciples, but a paltry sum compared to the value of true loyalty. A bitter smile touched his lips. "For thousands of years, the path of cultivation has been paved with such treachery," he muttered to the uncaring wind. "And I was a fool to believe I was an exception." He forced his aching muscles to move, hauling himself onto a narrow, hidden ledge. This was his destination, a place mentioned only in fragmented, decaying scrolls. The rumored secluded cultivation ground of Patriarch Azure Void, who had vanished without a trace nearly 1 100 years ago. Pushing aside a thick curtain of vines, Lin Chen revealed a small, dark opening in the cliff face. He took a deep breath, steeling himself, and stepped inside. The air within the cave was still and cool, thick with the accumulated dust of decades. Moonlight, filtering through a crack in the ceiling, illuminated a simple stone chamber. In the center sat a skeletal figure in the lotus position, robed in tattered silks that disintegrated at the slightest disturbance. This was the patriarch. Before the skeleton, on a simple stone pedestal, lay 2 items. A small, unadorned jade slip, and a long, slender sword. The sword's blade was a deep, smoky grey, like twilight given form. Along its length, faint crimson runes pulsed with a dim, inner light. Lin Chen's breath caught in his throat. He recognized it from the descriptions. This was the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss (Magic Treasure). With a trembling hand, he reached for the jade slip. As his fingers brushed against its cool surface, a flood of information surged into his consciousness—the complete cultivation manual of the Azure Void Art, along with the patriarch's final memories and insights. He saw glimpses of epic battles against demonic beasts, of secluded meditation for dozens of years at a time, of the agonizing tribulation lightning that ultimately failed to shatter the patriarch's spirit, but instead refined it in his final moments. Hours passed, or perhaps days. When Lin Chen finally opened his eyes, they held a new depth, a sharpness that hadn't been there before. The foundational teachings of the Azure Void Art were now etched into his very soul. He stood and bowed deeply to the seated skeleton. "I accept your legacy, Patriarch. Your will shall not fade from this world." His gaze then fell upon the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss (Magic Treasure). As he wrapped his fingers around the hilt, a surge of immense, yet perfectly controlled, spiritual power flowed into him. The crimson runes blazed to life, casting dancing shadows across the cave walls. The sword felt like an extension of his own arm, its power resonating with the nascent Azure Void energy circulating within his dantian. A cold fire ignited in Lin Chen's heart, burning away the last vestiges of his past naivety. He had nothing left. No sect, no friends, no resources. All he had was this cave, a legacy of vengeance, and a sword that thirsted for retribution. He looked towards the cave entrance, towards the world that had cast him out. His voice was low, steady, and carried the weight of an unbreakable oath. "Eldrin (Person Name), the Jianghu (World of Cultivators) is vast. We will meet again. And next time, it will not be my spirit stones you seek to take, but my mercy—which you shall find is far more scarce." He tightened his grip on the sword. The journey of the Abyssal Returnee had begun.