Chapter 2090 : Ancestor of the Great Kettle Way

The Primordial Divine Emperor let out a faint sigh, then said with a bitter smile, "What happened back then is already done. There’s simply no way we can be of 1 heart anymore."

At this point, a bitter smile emerged on the Primordial Divine Emperor's face, tinged with a hint of regret.

To be fair, as the first Primordial Divine Emperor of the Primal Immortal Realm, he was indeed qualified to alter the course of events in the Primordial Genesis Domain.

In the primordial era of the Primal Chaos Domain, he was the first to break through to the Chaos Celestial Emperor realm.

If he had not been the first to seize the Primordial Chaos Primordial Qi and established the rule against contending for it, the 3 Extremes Primordial Domain would most likely be united as 1 today.

In that case, the Primordial Domain would not only significantly enhance its power, but also avoid being nearly annihilated in the ancient war against the Outer Realms.

Yet a united Primordial Realm could never be breached by the likes of the Obsidian Emperor, who had merely taken half a step into the Dao Unification realm.

Alas, in ages past, the Primordial Divine Emperor Eldrin, driven by jealousy and fear of the Ancient Primordial Ape's innate talent and potential, made his move to seize the Chaos Primordial Qi that belonged to the Ancient Primordial Ape.

From that day onward, it was as if Pandora's box had been shattered.

Apart from the 3 Divine Sovereigns—Taiyin, Taiyang, and Ziwei—who shared close ties with him, the Primordial Chaos Qi of all other Heaven-ordained Divine Sovereigns had been plundered.

"Cause of the past, fruit of the present."

"The current predicament was all set in motion by this old man."

The Primordial Divine Sovereign spoke slowly, a bitter smile gracing his lips as he said.

Everyone present fell into a contemplative silence upon hearing this.

The Grand Turbid Divine Emperor and the Daoist of the Abyssal Depths, among others, offered no comment.

To be fair, if I were in the position of the Primordial Divine Emperor, I might not have been able to resist seizing the Primordial Chaos Qi.

Even for Eldrin (Person Name), had not all his cultivation resources over the years been wrested from the grasp of formidable foes?

At this thought, Eldrin steered the conversation away, a slight frown creasing his brow. "But this time, our complete break with the demon race was unexpectedly thwarted at the last moment by the Chi Yan lineage."

"I fear that once the great war commences, the 3 Great Emperor Monsters of the demon race may betray us again, stabbing us in the back."

"Alas."

The Primordial Dao Ancestor let out a faint sigh before speaking, "I understand this as well, yet in the end, our strength remains insufficient."

Upon hearing this, everyone fell into a pensive silence.

The Great Abyss Immortal Sage heaved a sigh before speaking, "As things stand now, it seems we can only take 1 step and see what comes next."

Upon hearing this, Eldrin could not help but show a helpless expression.

Though he knew full well that aligning with the Sun Celestial Emperor would eventually invite immense trouble, he currently had no other recourse.

After all, the foundations of the Human Immortal Court lie within the 3 Primordial Domains, as do those of the Divine Race and the 100 Immortal Clans. They could never abandon the 3 Primordial Domains.

Although Eldrin had the Primordial Ancient Realm as his contingency, its rank was insufficient—it could not even be considered a minor primordial domain, utterly incapable of sustaining the cultivation of the Chaos Heavenly Emperor.

Eldrin could not relocate everyone to the Great Barren Ancient Realm. As the current master of the Celestial Court, it was unthinkable for him to abandon the human race's Celestial Court and depart.

So he could only take 1 step at a time, and unless the situation reached a point of no return, he could not abandon the Tri-Primordial Realm.

"Alas."

In the end, Eldrin could only heave a sigh, finally comprehending the meaning behind the words of the Primordial Dao Ancestor.

In the end, it all came down to insufficient strength. Had they possessed enough power—with even a single Half-Step Unity Realm expert or a true Unity Sovereign presiding—how could they have tolerated the Eldrin lineage’s insolence?

"I must enhance my strength as quickly as possible?"

Eldrin's thoughts flickered, his desire to enhance his strength growing ever more urgent.

Seeing this, the Primordial Divine Emperor suppressed his thoughts and spoke instead, "At this critical juncture, there's no point in us considering anything else."

"For us, the immediate priority remains preparing to defend against the Northern Abyss anomalies, while simultaneously strengthening our vigilance against the demon tribes and figures like Chi Yang Fen Jin."

"In my opinion, it would be better to..."

Next, the Primordial Divine Emperor deliberated with the various Heavenly Emperors on strategies to counter the demon race and figures like Chi Yan Fen Jin.

After listening for a while, Eldrin (Person Name) lost all interest in further discussion.

He understood that everything else was illusory; the most pressing matter now was to enhance his strength.

After the meeting concluded, Eldrin bid farewell to the assembly and personally escorted the Undying Heavenly Emperor beyond the boundaries of the Tri-Polar Primordial Realm.

Before parting, the Eternal Celestial Emperor looked at Eldrin (Person Name), patted his shoulder, and said, "What's done is done. There's no need to dwell on it further."

"When the situation truly becomes irredeemable, you must come to the Eternal Primordial Realm and the Great Desolate Ancient World."

"Although my methods are not the strongest, they should be more than sufficient to ensure your safety."

A warmth blossomed in Eldrin’s (Person Name) heart, and he couldn’t help but smile as he replied, “Then I must thank you, Senior. If that day truly comes, I’m afraid I’ll have to bring my entire family along to seek refuge.”

"Ha ha ha!"

The Undying Heavenly Emperor laughed heartily, grasping Eldrin's hand as he said, "Devote yourself to your cultivation. When the Heavenly Crucible Secret Realm opens, this old man will personally escort you to the ancient ruins."

"Then I thank you."

Eldrin (Person Name) cupped his hands in salute, finally revealing a rare trace of a smile.

After bidding farewell to the Eternal Celestial Emperor, Eldrin returned to the Primordial Immortal Realm.

Upon returning to the Primordial Immortal Realm, Eldrin received an invitation from the Primordial Dao Ancestor at the earliest opportunity.

Without hesitation, he arrived directly at the Primordial Ancestral Court, where he encountered the Primordial Dao Ancestor and the Abyssal Immortal Sage within 1 of its courtyards.

2 supreme Dao Ancestor Immortals sat beneath an ancient tree. The Taiyuan Immortal Sage smiled upon seeing Eldrin and beckoned, "Come. We have been waiting for you for quite some time."

Eldrin stepped forward, then bowed deeply to the 2 figures and said, "The Returning Abyss pays his respects to you 2 elders."

"There's no need for such formality."

The Primordial Dao Ancestor promptly helped Eldrin (Person Name) to his feet, then carefully observed him for a moment.

A moment later, a glimmer of "as expected" flashed in his pupils before he finally spoke: "I can see your physical foundation is extraordinary. It appears you're not far from achieving sainthood through bodily cultivation."

"Not at all, I still have a long way to go."

Eldrin (Person Name) spoke slowly, his tone exceedingly humble.

The Primordial Dao Ancestor nodded slightly, then suddenly spoke, "During the Primeval Era, I once encountered someone bearing an uncanny resemblance to you."

"Bears a striking resemblance to me?"

Eldrin was momentarily taken aback, unable to suppress his astonishment as he asked.

Taishi Daozu (Person Name) nodded thoughtfully. After a long silence, he finally spoke, "Back in the primordial era of antiquity, I once journeyed to the Primordial Domain of Immortal Cosmos in pursuit of the Dao for my cultivation path."

At that time, a senior master held a discourse for the 9 Immortal Sages of the Primordial Realm of Immortal Cosmos, thus I was fortunate enough to attend as an observer.

At this point, Grand Ancestor Taishi's voice paused briefly as he looked at Eldrin and said, "That senior bears a striking resemblance to you."

"Similar to me?"

Eldrin's heart jolted with sudden clarity, a flicker of astonishment flashing across his expression.

After a long while, Eldrin couldn't help but ask, "Could it be that Senior believes me to be the reincarnation of that esteemed 1?"

"Whether it is or isn't, I cannot say."

The Primordial Dao Ancestor spoke slowly, then suddenly declared, "Your soul aura bears a striking resemblance to his, yet seems profoundly different."

"But I believe you must be connected to him in some way. Perhaps 1 day, when the truth is revealed, you will understand the entire chain of cause and effect."

Hearing this, Eldrin (Person Name) fell into silence, momentarily at a loss for words.

After a long silence, he suddenly spoke up and asked, "Honored Senior, have you ever seen the Violet Immortal Lord?"

"Zi?" The Primordial Dao Ancestor's gaze flickered slightly, then he nodded. "We have met."

Seeing this, Eldrin couldn't help but ask, "Then, Senior, do you believe there is any connection between him and me?"

"Unspeakable, unspeakable."

The Primordial Dao Ancestor shook his head repeatedly, speaking with an air of profound mystery: "As for Zi's origins, I have merely glimpsed the tip of the iceberg, with only a faint thread of speculation to speak of."

"If my conjecture holds true, the origins of that purple light are truly wondrous beyond words."

"If I were to reveal it to you, it might cause unforeseeable repercussions in the temporal continuum. Thus, this secret must be uncovered by your own hand."

Upon hearing this, Eldrin (Person Name) couldn't help but show a look of astonishment.

What kind of secret, once revealed to him now, could exert an indescribable influence upon the past?

Could he, in his present state, truly influence the past across the river of time?

You must understand, in the era where Zi existed, he hadn't even been born yet. How could he possibly influence the past timeline?

If he could alter the already transpired past, wouldn't everything descend into chaos?

However, the Primordial Dao Ancestor had already ceased responding. No matter how curious he felt, Eldrin knew it was inappropriate to press further.

At this thought, Eldrin withdrew his focus and inquired, “May I ask, Senior, where have you been all these years since leaving the 100 Domains of Chiyang?”

The Primordial Dao Ancestor smiled faintly, stroking his long beard as he spoke, "This old 1 has traversed over 10 billion miles of desolate paths to journey unto the distant Alliance of 7 Realms."

"7 Domains Alliance?"

Eldrin (Person Name) froze momentarily, a flicker of astonishment crossing his features as he couldn't resist asking, "According to legends, there exists a 7 Realms Alliance comprised of 7 half-step Infinity Realm experts?"

The Primordial Patriarch of the Great Beginning gave a slight nod before speaking, "The 7 Realms Alliance's ability to contend against the Supreme Ruler of the Infinite is no mere facade—their strength runs far deeper than it appears."

That chaotic domain was composed of over a 1000 primordial realms, not only incomparably prosperous but also far more lenient in its environmental conditions.

"Much more lenient?"

Eldrin's eyes flickered slightly, a trace of bewilderment unconsciously surfacing in his gaze.

The Primordial Dao Ancestor nodded and said, "Within the 7 Domains Alliance, not only will no 1 obstruct your path when breaking through to become a Soul Dao Celestial Emperor, but you can also acquire many rare resources."

"My breakthrough this time was only possible because I acquired many rare resources there."

At this point, Primordial Dao Ancestor spoke with a hint of envy, "The path of soul cultivation there is far more refined, possessing even unique treasures unseen anywhere else that can enhance 1’s chances of breaking through to become a Soul Dao Celestial Emperor."

"The only drawback is that it's simply far too expensive."

Eldrin and the Supreme Abyss Immortal Saint couldn't help but reveal bitter smiles upon hearing this.

Taishì Dàozǔ possessed 30-6 layers of Chaos Merit Golden Light shielding his form—a man who could stumble upon Primordial Chaos Qi even while wandering through the primordial void.

Such a figure still found the resources rather expensive, which showed just how precious those truly unique treasures were.

Mentioning the 7 Domains Alliance, a faint smile surfaced on the face of the Primordial Dao Ancestor. "The 7 Domains Alliance is vast and boundless, with a cultivation environment far surpassing this place," he remarked.

"I wonder when our 100 Domains of Chiyang will advance to such heights."

Taiyuan Immortal Sage could not help but shake his head and spoke with a bitter smile, "It would take the emergence of a Wuji Dominus to even stand a chance."

Peerless Sovereign.

The Primordial Dao Ancestor could not help but reveal a bitter smile. What kind of figure was the Wuji Overlord?

Since the dawn of chaos, newly ascended Chaos Heavenly Emperors have been countless, yet aside from the primordial pioneers, those who came after have found it nearly impossible to reach that realm.

Even the Primordial Dao Ancestor, for all his pride in a talent rarely seen throughout the ages, dared claim no more than the potential to attain the realm of Unity with the Supreme Dao. As for the Chaos Overlord, it was a prospect beyond even his wildest contemplation.

At this point, he lost all desire for further casual conversation.

Seeing this, Eldrin (Person Name) pondered briefly before speaking, "I intend to win over the faction of the Primordial Realm of Taihu. Do you believe this endeavor is feasible, Senior?"

Speaking thus, Eldrin slowly began to explain his and the Black Abyss Sage’s thoughts to the Primordial Dao Ancestor.

After hearing his thoughts, the Primeval Dao Ancestor gave a slight nod. "The Taihu lineage has always remained neutral. With your Chaos Spiritual Treasure embryo, this is a rare opportunity to win them over."

"If we can win them over, we'll gain several more allies."

Taiyuan Immortal Sage also nodded, a faint smile gracing his lips as he remarked, "The spiritual treasure enlightenment method of Grand Gourd Dao Ancestor holds little value for fully-formed Chaos spiritual treasures."

"On the contrary, an unformed Chaos Spiritual Treasure embryo is the optimal choice for cultivating the Spiritual Treasure Ascension Method."

The Grand Elder of the Taiji Dao had always regarded such a Chaos Spiritual Treasure embryo with utmost importance, even nurturing it as though it were his own bloodline.

"If you hand over the Chaos Spiritual Treasure Embryo to him, you might not only obtain a treasure worth a fortune, but also earn a significant favor from him."

Hearing this, Eldrin (Person Name) felt a slight sense of relief in his heart, then spoke: "In that case, I shall personally journey to the Primordial Realm of Taihu."

"Very well." The Primordial Dao Ancestor nodded, yet before parting he added, "Keep this journey as discreet as possible. Do not let the 3 from the Demon Clan and the Blazing Zenith lineage know of it."

"I understand."

Eldrin nodded, a glimmer of comprehension dawning in his eyes.

He understood the intent of the Primordial Dao Ancestor—to conceal this connection, which might yield unforeseen advantages at a critical juncture.

With this thought in mind, Eldrin bid farewell to the 2 Great Daozu Immortal Saints and returned to the Celestial Court.

After returning to the Celestial Court, Eldrin immediately announced his seclusion for cultivation.

Then, utilizing the Nameless Space within the Abyssal Pearl, he traversed into the vast primordial chaos. Concealing his aura, he finally arrived beyond the boundaries of the Primordial Taihu Domain.

Upon arriving at this place, Eldrin did not enter directly. Instead, he sent a letter to an old friend of his.

Soon after, a dazzling streak of purple light soared out from the Primordial Realm of Taihu.

The newcomer was enveloped in soaring sword intent, with overwhelming chaotic sword radiance coiling around him. This was none other than the contemporary Imperial Scion of the Primordial Taihu Domain—Ziyao Jianji (Person Name).

The Violet Radiance Sword stealthily concealed its aura and arrived within the primordial chaos, swiftly locating a nest amidst the disorder.

"Old friend of the Abyss, you are after all a Patriarch who founded your own Dao Path. Must you really meet me in such a clandestine manner?"

After the Amethyst Radiance Sword arrived at the Chaos Nest, its gaze fell upon Eldrin (Person Name) who was concealing his aura not far away. With a trace of bewilderment, it inquired,

Eldrin shook his head, then spoke with a light laugh, "I summoned you here for a matter of grave importance. To avoid arousing suspicion, the fewer who know of this, the better."

The Violetglory Sword Extremity was taken aback for a fleeting moment before speaking with considerable gravity, "What matter could be of such importance?"

Eldrin did not reply, but with utmost solemnity, drew from his sleeve a small wind chime engraved with divine phoenix patterns.

"This is..."

The moment he saw the little bell, a subtle shift crossed Sword Extremity Ziyao's expression.

Forged from the embryonic form of a Chaos Spiritual Artifact, the Amethyst Radiance Sword inherently recognized the profound significance of this wind chime and understood its immeasurable value.

For the Primordial Realm of the Great Pot, a fully-formed Chaos Spiritual Treasure was far less significant than such an embryonic form of Chaos Spiritual Treasure.

For a fully-formed Chaos Numinous Treasure loses its malleability, making it exceedingly difficult to embark on the path of proving the Dao through spiritual treasures. Even if 1 cultivates to become a Chaos Heavenly Emperor, further advancement often remains nearly unattainable.

On the contrary, such a Chaos Spiritual Treasure embryo, precisely because it has not fully taken form, possesses boundless potential once it embarks on the path of cultivation through spiritual treasure enlightenment.

His Ziyao Sword Extreme was precisely such an existence. As a nascent Chaos Spiritual Treasure, Ziyao Sword Extreme had cultivated for merely over 1 1000 kalpas, yet its cultivation had already ascended to the Quasi-Sage Realm.

At this rate, the Violet Heaven Sword Art would break through the Chaos Heavenly Emperor Realm within, at most, 1 1000 kalpas.

Moreover, due to his innate Chaos Root Constitution, he would encounter no bottlenecks when breaking through to the Chaos Heavenly Emperor realm.

His Violetstar Sword Pole was like this, and naturally, this little bell was no exception.

At this thought, Ziyao Jianji could hardly contain his excitement and couldn't resist asking, "Are you truly giving this Chaos Spiritual Treasure embryo to our Primordial Taihu Realm lineage?"

Eldrin nodded slightly and said, "This Chaos Spiritual Treasure embryo is named the '10 1000 Phoenix Bell.' Once entrusted to the Grand Pot Ancestor for nurturing, it will inevitably transform into a new Chaos Heavenly Emperor."

"This matter is of great importance, so I wish to speak personally with Patriarch Taihu."

"Agreed." The Violet Abyssal Sword nodded. "I shall personally inform our master. I believe the venerable 1 would be willing to take in this junior sister."

As he spoke, Ziyao Jianji could hardly contain his excitement. He immediately retreated into the Primordial Realm of Taihu to deliver this news to the Dao Ancestor of Taihu.

Before long, when the Violetglory Sword returned once more, it was accompanied by a peerless beauty draped in violet—Seraphina Qu (Person Name).

Greetings, Elder Taihu.

A faint glimmer flickered in Eldrin's eyes as he immediately cupped his hands and spoke.

The peerless beauty was none other than the Ancestral Daoist of the Great Pot. She cast a glance at Eldrin (Person Name) and inquired directly, "Might I ask where the 10-1000 Phoenix Bell is?"

Eldrin did not reply, directly retrieving the 10 1000 Phoenix Bell.

The peerless beauty glanced over and couldn't help but feel a flicker of fondness. With a gentle smile, she remarked, "This Myriad Phoenix Bell is most suitable for cultivating the method of proving 1's Dao through spiritual treasures."

"Hand her over to me, and you may name any price."

Eldrin's heart settled, a trace of solemnity gracing his expression.

This Ancestor Taihu was an extremely enigmatic figure, the most low-key Dao Ancestor among the 7 Domains of the Southern Abyss, whose true strength had always remained shrouded in mystery.

But at this moment, Eldrin felt that Patriarch Taihu was profoundly unfathomable, likely the most enigmatic and deeply concealed Chaos Heavenly Emperor among the 7 Domains of Southern Abyss.

Although Heavenly Emperors who attained the Dao through numinous treasures were often slightly weaker than peers of the same realm, the Ancestral Daoist of the Great Pot was no ordinary being.

Imagine, all 5 of her core disciples, with her guidance, had stepped into the realm of the Chaos Heavenly Emperor.

As the founding ancestor who pioneered the path of proving the Dao through Numinous Treasures, how utterly terrifying must her own strength be?

Chapter 1 The biting mountain wind whipped across the cliffside, carrying with it the scent of pine and damp earth. A solitary figure sat cross-legged upon a smooth, weathered boulder, his dark robes barely stirring. This was Li Chen, a young man who had once been the most promising outer sect disciple of the Verdant Peak Sect. 1 100 years had passed since his meridians were shattered during a botched raid on a demonic cultivator's enclave. The once-celebrated prodigy was now relegated to menial tasks, his cultivation base stagnant at the third layer of Qi Condensation. A bitter smile touched his lips as he recalled the sneers and pitying glances from his former peers. 'So this is my fate? To wither away in obscurity, forgotten by all?' The thought was a constant, gnawing worm in his heart. Suddenly, a faint, ethereal glow emanated from the simple storage pouch at his waist. Puzzled, Li Chen reached inside, his fingers brushing against a cold, smooth object he didn't recognize. He withdrew it. It was a jade slip, ancient and cracked, yet pulsing with a profound, mysterious energy. It was not 1 of the meager possessions he owned. How did it get there? Driven by a mixture of desperation and curiosity, he pressed the jade slip to his forehead, channeling the barest trickle of his fragile spiritual sense into it. A flood of information, vast and alien, slammed into his consciousness. Strange, intricate diagrams of energy circulation, profound meditative verses, and esoteric concepts he could barely comprehend swirled within his mind. At the core of this knowledge was a name: the Primordial Chaos Genesis Mantra. This was no ordinary cultivation method. It spoke of forging a foundation not from purified spiritual energy alone, but by harmonizing and refining the chaotic, primordial forces that predated heaven and earth itself. It was a path of immense power and, undoubtedly, unimaginable risk. His heart hammered against his ribs. This was either a heaven-sent opportunity or a meticulously laid trap. To attempt such an unorthodox technique with his damaged foundations was madness. But to continue his current existence was a slow, agonizing death of the spirit. Gritting his teeth, resolve hardening in his eyes, Li Chen made his choice. He would walk this new path, even if it led to his utter destruction. He began, following the bizarre circulation route described in the mantra. Instead of drawing solely from the ambient spiritual energy, he felt something else—a wild, untamed, and ancient power seeping from the very air, the earth, and the stones around him. It was chaotic and violent, tearing through his fragile meridians like shards of glass. Agony, white-hot and searing, eclipsed all thought. Blood seeped from the corners of his mouth, his body trembling uncontrollably. Just as he felt his consciousness was about to be ripped apart, the tarnished bronze pendant hanging against his chest—a memento from his long-deceased mother—emitted a warm, soothing glow. The chaotic energy, calmed and guided by this gentle radiance, began to slowly, miraculously, repair his shattered meridians, weaving them back together stronger and more resilient than before. Hours later, Li Chen opened his eyes. A layer of black, viscous impurity coated his skin, the accumulated toxins of a 100 years of stagnant cultivation expelled in a single night. He felt… light. Powerful. Taking a deep breath, he focused inward. The third layer of Qi Condensation was gone. He had directly broken through to the fifth layer! Tears of disbelief and overwhelming joy welled in his eyes, quickly wiped away. This was not an end, but a beginning. The Primordial Chaos Genesis Mantra and the mysterious pendant were secrets that could get him killed if revealed. He looked towards the distant, towering peaks of the inner sect, where the sect master and the true elites resided. A new, fierce determination burned within him. 'The path of immortality is long and fraught with peril. But I, Li Chen, have taken my first true step.'