Chapter 2088 : Immortal Ascension, Primordial Return

Getting down to business, after entrusting the matter of guarding to Eldrin, the Undying Elder immediately began closed-door cultivation to break through his cultivation realm.

Compared to the former Daoist Taizhuo, the location marker of the Primordial Immortality Domain where the Undying Ancient 1 resided was exceedingly concealed, known to only a handful of individuals. As a result, its security was significantly enhanced.

This breakthrough of Elder Buli was considerably smoother; not even any powerful foes came to disrupt his Dao.

Thus, after approximately a dozen or so kalpas in seclusion, the Elder of Eternal Undying finally elevated his aura to its absolute peak, commencing his assault upon the realm of Chaos Heavenly Emperor.

He began his breakthrough.

Seeing this, Eldrin revealed a look of solemnity.

In the heart of the Primordial Immortal Domain, the disciples and descendants of the Eternal Venerable also revealed traces of concern upon witnessing this scene.

Breaking through to become a Primal Chaos Celestial Emperor was inherently immensely difficult. Even if 1 had mastered the 9 Great Divine Forms, the probability of ultimately achieving the breakthrough was actually no more than 50 percent.

However, the path of physical sanctification was even more domineering, drastically reducing the probability of breaking through to the Chaos Heavenly Emperor.

Even with the cultivation of a Unique Divine Form, the average success rate of a breakthrough is generally no more than 30% or so.

The Black Abyss Emperor, who stood nearby, spoke up upon witnessing this, "There is no need for concern. The Eternal Elder follows the Path of Eternal Defense in his cultivation — the way most adept at protection."

"With the additional aid of the Ascension Saint Pill, I believe his chances of breaking through far exceed those of ordinary individuals. The probability of success should be extremely high."

Eldrin also nodded in agreement. "If we're talking about those who have achieved sainthood through physical cultivation, their probability of breaking through to become a Chaos Heavenly Emperor likely doesn't exceed 30 percent."

In that case, the possibility of Elder Bulao successfully breaking through with his defensive Bulao Foundation should be no less than 50 percent.

Because the Indestructible True Form was tenacious and eternal, possessing extremely powerful defensive capabilities, its transformation into the Chaos Divine Form thus had a significantly higher success rate.

With the addition of the Ascension Elixir (Divine Pill) that could boost his breakthrough probability by 30 percent, Elder Immortal's chances of success had grown immensely—far surpassing what Patriarch Turbid Dao had achieved back in the day.

"This time, Elder Buming has encountered a great opportunity, destined to break through to the Chaos Heavenly Emperor realm."

Eldrin's thoughts flickered, and suddenly he heard a violent sound of the Primordial Chaos.

With a sound that could shatter heavens and split the firmament, the Undying Elder suddenly ascended into the skies.

Enveloped by the boundless chaos of the great Dao and embraced by the myriad laws of all heavens, he abruptly plunged into the ocean of the Chaos Great Dao.

It is done.

Seeing this, Eldrin felt a wave of relief wash over him.

As expected, the Eternal Elder drifted amidst the ocean of the Great Dao, allowing the boundless Chaos Great Dao to temper his physical form. In the end, amid the celebratory resonance of infinite Great Daos, he successfully forged the unique Chaos Divine Form.

"Congratulations, Fellow Daoist. Attaining the Chaos Realm is a truly joyous and commendable achievement."

"So it's my old friend Bumie, I never expected you to have completed your breakthrough as well."

"To achieve sainthood through physical cultivation—Brother Bumie's power shall surely shake the heavens. It seems the 100 Domains of Chiyang shall welcome another supreme Celestial Emperor."

After the Unaging Elder made his breakthrough, waves of flattering voices arose from the Chaos Dao Sea.

Across the many realms of Blazing Central Domain and even the Chaos Heavenly Emperors beyond its borders, all had sensed the anomaly in the Great Dao Sea, becoming aware of the Undying Elder's breakthrough.

Many Chaos Emperors sent their congratulations, seizing this opportunity to establish connections with the Undying Elder.

The Eternal Elder responded to everyone 1 by 1, then swiftly withdrew from the Sea of Great Dao and returned to the Primordial Realm of Eternity.

Seeing this, Eldrin couldn't help but say with a smile, "Congratulations, Senior. Having achieved the Chaos Realm this time, you can now stand peerless across the vast primordial chaos."

"Ha ha ha."

The Undying Elder chuckled heartily. As the saying goes, all beneath the Celestial Emperor are but ants. Though he had previously claimed to challenge the Celestial Emperor, he was ultimately not a true Chaos Celestial Emperor.

Now, his cultivation had reached the realm of Chaos Heavenly Emperor, and his strength ranked among the pinnacle even amidst his peers.

If so, having broken through to the Quasi-Sage Realm in cultivation would barely grant 1 the qualification to set foot across the entire Blazeheart 100 Domains.

Then, upon setting foot into the Chaos Celestial Emperor realm, 1 would secure a place of prominence within the 100 Domains of Blazing Zenith.

The Eternal Elder had now successfully broken through. As 1 of the foremost among the Chaos Heavenly Emperors, he would become a figure of renown throughout the Emberfire 100 Domains.

With this thought in mind, Emperor Bumie smiled gently and said, "Let us interact as peers. There is no need for such formalities."

Eldrin smiled faintly, yet did not dwell on the form of address.

He deftly shifted the topic, asking with a light laugh, "How do you feel the changes have been since this breakthrough, Senior?"

"Transformation…"

The Eternal Celestial Emperor pondered briefly before testing his newfound power. A faint smile graced his lips as he remarked, "Both my strength and methods have improved considerably."

"Yet the most dramatic transformation lies in my defensive capabilities."

As the Eternal Celestial Emperor spoke in a measured tone, Eldrin gradually came to understand the transformation in strength that had occurred after the Eternal Celestial Emperor’s breakthrough.

This breakthrough into the Chaos Realm had significantly enhanced the power and methods of the Eternal Celestial Emperor, bringing him to roughly the level of an ordinary Chaos Celestial Emperor.

However, his greatest improvement lay in his own defensive capabilities.

Before his breakthrough, the Indestructible Heavenly Emperor's physical defense was approximately 50 percent stronger than that of an ordinary Chaos Heavenly Emperor.

Now, after the breakthrough, the Indestructible Celestial Emperor's defensive power had multiplied severalfold over its original foundation.

Such a tremendous transformation greatly enhanced the Immortal Emperor of Indestructibility's physical defense, allowing him to fully step into the limits of the first realm of chaos.

In other words, the physical defense of Immortal Emperor Bumie at this moment should be comparable to that of an invincible powerhouse at the Half-Step Unity Realm.

Overall, the combat prowess of the Undying Celestial Emperor should be on par with that of the top-tier Chaos Celestial Emperors.

However, due to his overwhelmingly powerful defensive capabilities, even an invincible Heavenly Emperor at the half-step Dao Union realm found it exceedingly difficult to completely suppress the Undying Heavenly Emperor.

Although its offensive power was somewhat lacking, the Indestructible Heavenly Emperor's defense was overwhelmingly strong. Against ordinary Chaos Heavenly Emperors, it could completely focus on attacking without any need for defense, thereby gaining a significant advantage.

After understanding the true strength of the Undying Heavenly Emperor, Eldrin (Person Name) could not help but let out a sigh of relief.

With such a staunch ally by his side, Eldrin felt a greater sense of security upon returning to the 7 Domains of the Southern Abyss.

At this thought, Eldrin inquired further, "Now that you've broken through to the Chaos Heavenly Emperor realm, how do you plan to handle the upcoming Primordial Immortal Dominion?"

The Elder of Eternal Extinction's eyes flickered slightly as he instantly grasped Eldrin's (Person Name) meaning.

After breaking through to the Chaos Heavenly Emperor realm, 1 could harness the Primordial Domain to traverse the chaos and reach the distant shores beyond.

Thus, within the vast chaos, the primordial realms possessing the Chaos Heavenly Emperor would often gather together to jointly suppress a stretch of turbulent Chaotic Barren Sea.

For in the chaos, a lone Primordial Domain offered no guarantee of safety.

Even with a Chaos Heavenly Emperor presiding over it, this primordial realm would have little capacity for self-preservation when confronted with a Harmony Path Supreme or multiple Chaos Heavenly Emperors joining forces.

Thus, many primordial realms would gather together, not only to suppress the vast chaotic desolate sea, but also to enhance their collective resilience against risks.

Although the 7 domains of Nanyuan were often at odds, the Chaos Heavenly Emperors of each primal domain had forged an Eternal Covenant since time immemorial.

Although this pact imposed limited constraints, when faced with external threats, the Great Celestial Emperors of the 7 Domains of the Southern Abyss were required to join forces against their foes.

This was precisely the key reason why the 7 Domains of the Southern Abyss had managed to endure to this day, and even possessed a modicum of confidence when facing the Blazeheart lineage.

The Elder of Eternal Extinction also contemplated this point. After a moment of pensive silence, he replied with a trace of helplessness, "Had the Primordial Realm of Immortal Cosmos still existed, I might have joined the Domains of the Celestial Abyss."

"Alas, the current 7 Domains of Southern Abyss hold no close ties to me, so I remain hesitant about whether to join them."

Eldrin (Person Name) gave a slight nod, then suddenly spoke, "If you, fellow Daoist, do not wish to join the 7 Domains of the Southern Abyss, why not temporarily gather with the Great Desolate Ancient Realm?"

The Great Desolate Ancient Realm?

The Elder of Eternal Extinction pondered briefly before speaking, "The Great Desolate Ancient Realm is not far from us. This is indeed a sound plan."

At this point, Celestial Emperor Immortal Reign withdrew his thoughts and turned to Eldrin (Person Name), saying, "However, there is no urgency in this matter. Let me first escort you back to the 7 Domains of Southern Abyss."

"Very well."

Eldrin nodded slightly. Currently, there were still approximately 3 100 kalpas remaining until the Heavenly Furnace Grotto-Heaven manifested in the world.

He now intended to return to the Southern Abyss 7 Domains first, but news of his possession of the Chaos Void-Refining Vessel (Magic Treasure) had likely been exposed. Having the backing of the Eternal Celestial Emperor (Person Name) would undoubtedly be the optimal choice.

Thus, he did not decline and agreed to the Unbroken Celestial Emperor’s proposal to send him back.

Thus, in the days that followed, the Undying Ancient 1 merely spent some time consolidating his cultivation before setting out with Eldrin and the Black Abyss Demi-Saint toward the 7 Domains of the Southern Abyss.

After a long and arduous journey, countless kalpas had passed in the blink of an eye. When Eldrin finally returned to the 7 Domains of Southern Abyss, a faint smile graced his lips.

"After nearly a 100 kalpas away from our homeland, we have finally returned."

Gazing upon the 7 domains of the Southern Abyss before them, the trio felt a rare surge of joy, experiencing the profound satisfaction of returning home in glory.

This time upon returning to the 7 Domains of the Southern Abyss, the Undying Heavenly Emperor had stepped into the Heavenly Emperor Realm, the Dark Abyss Emperor's combat prowess approached the level of challenging a Heavenly Emperor, and Eldrin (Person Name) had also attained battle strength at the Heavenly Emperor tier.

Such a tremendous breakthrough had unknowingly brought about significant changes in the mindsets of the 3 individuals.

They exchanged a glance and shared a hearty laugh before striding toward the Primal Immortal Realm.

Before they had traveled much further, Elder Buxie’s brow furrowed slightly, and he spoke calmly, "Show yourselves, all of you."

A brief silence fell within the chaos, from which 2 figures soon emerged.

1 was enveloped in divine radiance that blotted out the heavens, while the other was wreathed in an aura of Demonic Fiend Qi (Spiritual Root)—both were Chaos Heavenly Emperors whose might shook the 100 realms of Chiyang.

Radiant Saint Emperor, Abyssal Nether Demon Emperor.

Looking at the 2 people before him, Eldrin slightly furrowed his brow, revealing a trace of astonishment.

These 2 individuals were none other than the Chaos Saint Emperor and the Chaos Demon Emperor from the Primordial Domain of Sacred Demons.

As 1 of the 7 Domains of the Southern Abyss, the Primordial Domain of Sacred Demons ranked in the middle in terms of strength, with the 2 Sacred Emperors being nearly equal in power.

Moreover, each of them possessed a Chaos Spiritual Treasure as their hidden trump card, making them among the most formidable figures even among the Chaos Heavenly Emperors.

"Fellow Daoist Unending, I never imagined you had already set foot upon the Heavenly Emperor's realm."

The Dark Mire Demon Emperor spoke, his tone carrying a hint of gravity, "We have come today to ask Fellow Daoist Guixu for a treasure."

"This matter is of no concern to you, Fellow Daoist. It would be best if you refrained from intervening."

The Undying Heavenly Emperor, however, smiled with a hint of mockery and said, "With just the 2 of you, you think you can seize the Chaos Void-Refining Bottle (Magic Treasure)?"

"And what of the 2 of us?"

At that very moment, a sound of void tearing echoed through the chaos.

Eldrin looked up to see the vast Chaos Sea torn asunder as 2 supreme figures strode through the rent heavens.

Both figures bore horns upon their heads. The former wielded a war halberd capable of tearing through the void, while the latter commanded 7 Void-wheels, clearly supreme experts who had mastered the path of void essence.

"Ancestral God of the Celestial Dome, Celestial Emperor of the Hunt."

Gazing upon the 2 powerful figures before him, a trace of solemnity flickered across Eldrin’s brow as his expression tightened.

The Primordial Zenith God was the progenitor of the Chaotic Zenith Realm, a primordial deity who excelled in the Dao of Space.

He wielded the Chaos Spiritual Artifact, Cosmic War Halberd (Magic Treasure), and his strength rivaled even that of the Primordial Divine Emperor. He stood among the foremost of the Chaos Heavenly Emperors, merely a step away from the pinnacle of the Heavenly Emperor realm.

By comparison, the Hunting Heaven Emperor was slightly weaker. As the direct descendant of the Primordial Chaos Ancestral God, his bloodline aptitude was exceptionally formidable.

However, having only recently broken through to the Chaos Heavenly Emperor realm, his strength was relatively ordinary among his peers, scarcely different from that of the Grand Turbidity Divine Emperor—at best, he held a slight advantage.

After grasping this point, Eldrin immediately felt considerable pressure.

With his thoughts swirling, he immediately spoke out, "I never expected you to join forces to seize the Chaos Void-Refining Bottle. I'm afraid it won't be that easy."

"Whether it's easy or not, I'm afraid the choice isn't yours to make."

As the words of the Primordial Chaos Ancestor faded, he directly harnessed the Cosmic Sky Halberd to cleave through the void, striking toward Eldrin with overwhelming force.

Eldrin was about to make his move when he saw the Undying Elder charge forth without hesitation, launching himself directly at the Primordial Zenith Ancestral God.

In an instant, the great battle was on the verge of erupting. The Undying Heavenly Emperor faced the multitude of heroes alone, yet displayed an aura that could sweep through mountains and rivers. He showed no trace of fear even when confronting the lethal assaults of the 4 Great Heavenly Emperors.

"This Unending Ancestor is a tough nut to crack; I fear we can't do anything to him."

Seeing that they could not subdue the Undying Celestial Emperor, the Primordial Zenith God could no longer hold back and declared, "I will keep him occupied. You all go and capture this Abyssal Return Daoist."

Instantly, the 3 Divine Sovereigns disengaged from their respective battles and converged upon Eldrin, their combined might descending like a celestial seal as they sought to utterly subdue him through coordinated suppression.

Who dares!

Meanwhile, several overwhelming auras erupted from the depths of chaos.

Eldrin raised his head toward the void's horizon, only to witness the Primordial Divine Sovereign, the Amethyst Emperor, the Abyssal Sage, and the Turbid Divinity Sovereign tearing through the fabric of space. They descended with unwavering resolve, ready to lend their power to his cause.

Unfortunately, they were intercepted by the 3 Great Emperor monsters of the demon race, making it momentarily impossible to break through the blockade of these formidable foes.

Fortunately, at the critical moment, Patriarch Haoxu tore through the void and arrived, charging straight into the heart of the battlefield.

"So what if a Dao Ancestor has arrived? With 3 against 1, the advantage is mine."

The Radiant Saint Emperor spoke, casting a glance at the Hunting Cosmos Celestial Emperor, who immediately understood and moved to intercept the Grand Emptiness Dao Ancestor.

Seizing this opportunity, the Celestial Emperor of Radiance and the Celestial Emperor of Profound Darkness joined forces, unleashing their might to suppress Eldrin.

Just as they were about to strike, fearing Eldrin might attempt to flee, the Netherblaze Demon Emperor threatened coldly, "The legacy left by the Dao Ancestor of the Immortal Realm is far too precious. With your level of cultivation, I doubt you can protect it."

"As long as you hand it over to us, I give you my word that not a single hair will be harmed on the heads of your family and friends."

"How dare you!"

Eldrin (Person Name) flew into a rage at once, immediately wanting to unleash his full power for a fight.

Yet in that very instant, a sound capable of shattering heavens and tearing asunder the cosmos erupted from the depths of chaos.

In an instant, a colossal hand shattered the void and descended. With a single clash, it sent the Netherblaze Demon Emperor reeling backward, coughing up blood.

"Who goes there?"

In but a single clash, he had been grievously wounded. The Netherblight Demon Emperor could not help but reveal a look of utter terror, his gaze shifting uncertainly toward the depths of the chaos as he exclaimed in shock and disbelief.

"It's me."

From the chaos emerged a serene voice. Through the turbulent void strode a Daoist priest, enveloped in 30-6 golden halos of karmic virtue, his robes flowing as he traversed the fabric of space itself.

The moment they laid eyes on this figure, the expressions of everyone present shifted repeatedly, for the newcomer was none other than the Primordial Dao Ancestor, who had departed from the 7 Domains of the Southern Abyss many years ago.

After so many years apart, the Great Dao cultivation of the Primordial Dao Ancestor seemed largely unchanged, yet the aura of his primordial spirit had become utterly incomparable to the past—it had ascended to an indescribable realm.

"Primordial Dao Ancestor, impossible... this simply cannot be."

The Netherblaze Demon Emperor wore an expression of disbelief. After scrutinizing the Primordial Dao Ancestor for a long while, he finally spoke in utter astonishment, "You've achieved the Soul Dao Heavenly Emperor Realm?"

"It seems you're not entirely foolish."

The Primordial Dao Ancestor smiled faintly, then swept his Dust Whip of Serenity (Magic Treasure) through the air. With a single motion, he ensnared the Netherblaze Demon Emperor (Person Name) and dragged him forward, before delivering another resounding slap across his face.

The force behind this slap contained the ultimate power of divine soul and the Great Dao, brutally sending the Netherfilth Demon Emperor hurtling through the air once more as he spat fresh blood, even knocking loose several of his teeth.

"Ah, the Sovereign must not be humiliated!"

Once again grievously wounded, the Nether Abyss Demon Emperor was driven to the brink of utter madness. He immediately unleashed his ultimate combat prowess, resolved to wage a life-or-death battle against the Primordial Dao Ancestor.

Taishi Daozu, however, shook his head, a faint chill flashing in his gaze as he said, "Are you truly so determined to seek death?"

In an instant, a 9-tiered Lyra Pagoda soared above the Primordial Dao Ancestor’s crown, its 9 supreme divine abilities radiating an eternal light.

Most terrifying of all, above the ninth-level pagoda, a Chaos Great Dao Sword hovered and drifted slowly, seemingly containing the power to annihilate the Chaos Heavenly Emperor.

"Hiss—"

The Netherblaze Demon Emperor drew a sharp, cold breath. He had a premonition that once this Sword of the Great Dao unleashed its power, amplified ninefold, it would be capable of unleashing force severe enough to grievously wound a Dao-Unification Supreme.

A mere Chaos Heavenly Emperor like him, if severely wounded by the Sword of the Great Dao, would likely not only have his physical form completely obliterated but also see his Primordial Treasure and primordial spirit shattered and grievously damaged.

By that time, it would likely take him at least several 100 1000 kalpas to recover.

And so it was. This Sword of the Great Dao possessed an extraordinary origin, for it was originally a True Spirit Divine Ability of the most formidable power.

After the Primordial Dao Ancestor attained the status of Soul Dao Celestial Emperor, he possessed an additional strand of Primordial Chaos Genesis Qi. Yet, he refrained from using it to cultivate a second Great Dao of Primordial Chaos.

Instead, he immediately merged into the Sword of the Great Dao, mastering this forbidden chaotic divine ability of slaughter.

The might of this divine power far surpassed that of the Chaos First Realm, enough to intimidate even beings of the Chaos Second Realm. It was the greatest hidden trump card in the hands of the Taishi Daozu.

With this thought in mind, the Netherblaze Demon Emperor immediately backed down, forcing an apologetic smile as he said, "I beg the Dao Ancestor to stay your hand at once. I was merely jesting."

"Is that so?"

The Primordial Dao Ancestor spoke with chilling indifference, flicking his sleeve with a sudden force that sent his opponent hurtling through the air, coughing up blood.

After completing all this, he finally turned to the group nearby and remarked, "Gentlemen, was this merely a jest?"

Upon hearing this, both the Radiant Saint Emperor and the Hunting Cosmos Celestial Emperor flickered with a trace of apprehension, not daring to utter another word.

Even the Primordial Supreme God revealed an expression of extreme gravity.

Without another word, he directly summoned the Cosmos Battle Halberd, tore through the void, and departed with the group.

Chapter 1 The wind howled through the desolate mountain pass, carrying with it the scent of decay and a faint, metallic tang of blood. A lone figure knelt amidst the rubble, his robes torn and stained. Lin Feng, his face pale as death, clutched a simple-looking bronze mirror in his hand. It was cold to the touch, yet a faint, almost imperceptible warmth seemed to pulse from its core. "For 3 1000 years..." he whispered, his voice hoarse. "The legacy of the Vanished Heaven Sect... it ends with me today." He could hear the triumphant shouts of his pursuers drawing nearer. The combined forces of the Soaring Sword Sect and the Profound Yin Valley had hunted him for months, ever since they discovered he was the last known disciple of a sect thought extinct for millennia. Their goal was the Heaven-Swallowing Art, a legendary cultivation method rumored to allow 1 to devour the very essence of heaven and earth. Lin Feng's spiritual power was nearly depleted. He had fought countless battles, escaping death by a hair's breadth more times than he could count. Now, cornered and with no escape route, a strange calm settled over him. He poured the last dregs of his qi into the bronze mirror. Suddenly, the world shifted. The jeers of his enemies, the howling wind, the very mountain beneath his feet—everything dissolved into a vortex of blinding light. A sensation of being torn apart, then violently reassembled, overwhelmed his senses. *** When Lin Feng's consciousness returned, he was lying on something soft and unfamiliar. The air smelled... clean, with a faint floral scent. He opened his eyes, blinking against the harsh, artificial light. He was in a small, rectangular room. The walls were a stark white, adorned with posters of people he didn't recognize. A strange, flat, black rectangle hung on 1 wall, and soft, plush creatures were scattered on a large, comfortable-looking platform. This was not the Azure Cloud Realm. Before he could process his surroundings, a torrent of foreign memories flooded his mind. A young man named Alex, living in a world without qi, without cultivation, a world of metal carriages that moved without beasts, glowing slabs that held vast libraries of information, and a society governed by strange, rigid rules. He stumbled to his feet and caught his reflection in a large, clear sheet of glass—a mirror far clearer than any polished bronze he had ever seen. The face staring back was young, perhaps 20-some years old, with features that were both familiar and alien. It was Alex's face, but Lin Feng's ancient soul resided within. "So, this is 'Earth'," he murmured, the foreign word feeling strange on his tongue. "A world devoid of spiritual energy... a mortal's paradise." A wry smile touched his lips. "And I, Lin Feng, last disciple of the Vanished Heaven Sect, have taken possession of this youth's body. A second chance... or a final, cruel joke?" His musings were interrupted by a sharp, insistent ringing. A small, flat device on a nearby table was lit up and vibrating. The memories supplied the word: 'phone'. He picked it up cautiously, mimicking the action he saw in Alex's memories. A voice, sharp and impatient, crackled from the device. "Alex! Where are you? Professor Davis's lecture started 10 minutes ago! If you miss another 1, you're definitely getting kicked out of his class!" Lin Feng, now Alex, looked at the phone, then at his new hands. A lecture? On what? The mundane histories and theories of this barren world? A profound sense of absurdity washed over him. He, a cultivator who had witnessed the rise and fall of dynasties over a 100 years, who had battled mighty Eldrin (Person Name) for the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss (Magic Treasure), was now concerned with the petty academic deadlines of a mortal. He ended the call, the action feeling instinctively rude but necessary. His priorities had shifted monumentally. Survival in this new world was the first step. Understanding its rules was the second. But his ultimate goal, the 1 that burned in his soul with the intensity of a 1000 suns, remained unchanged. He needed to find a way back. He needed to recover his strength. And he needed vengeance. Sitting cross-legged on the soft platform—the 'bed'—he closed his eyes and attempted to sense the spiritual energy of this world. He reached out with his spiritual sense, stretching it to its limits. Nothing. Or almost nothing. The ambient energy was thin, polluted, and utterly inert. It was like trying to drink from a cup filled with dust. Cultivation here would be impossibly slow, akin to trying to fill a vast ocean with a single drop of water at a time. Just as despair began to creep into his heart, a familiar, faint warmth pulsed from within him. It wasn't coming from the room, but from the depths of his own soul—the lingering connection to the bronze mirror that had brought him here. A flicker of hope ignited. Perhaps this world was not entirely barren. Perhaps the legacy of the Vanished Heaven Sect was not yet lost. The game had changed, but the player remained. And this player had the patience of 1 who had cultivated for nearly a 1000 years.