Chapter 2092 : Skyforge Ruins, Abyssal Heaven
Unable to master the Dream Cycle Technique, Eldrin had no choice but to set the matter aside for the time being.
In the years that followed, Eldrin began to immerse himself in focused cultivation, while the situation across the 7 Domains of the Southern Abyss started to shift and transform.
First, the 3 great powerhouses of the Chi Yang lineage began deploying forces within the Third-Level Primal Domain, even scheming to infiltrate the Demon Clan's Celestial Court.
In the primordial wilderness, those who had mastered the 9 Great Chaos Ancestral Veins were already experiencing meteoric breakthroughs in their cultivation.
Though they were still a considerable distance from reaching the Sage Realm, their cultivation had nevertheless advanced by leaps and bounds.
At this rate, Eldrin estimated these individuals would successively break through to the Quasi-Sage Realm within the next 1 1000 kalpas.
Yet for the time being, they still found it difficult to achieve this crucial breakthrough.
Overall, the 7 domains of the Southern Abyss remained in a state of tranquility. All major powers were quietly amassing their strength, making final preparations for the War of the Heavenly Abyss.
Thus time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, nearly 3 100 kalpas had passed.
"It's about time."
On this day, above the Celestial Court's Heavenly Center, within the Peach Blossom Garden where the peaches of immortality bloomed in full splendor.
Eldrin sat facing the Black Abyss Sage, his expression growing solemn as he scanned the intelligence report in his hand. "The situation is more troubling than we anticipated," he began, his voice laced with measured gravity.
The Eldrin ahead gave a slight nod. By his calculations, the Heavenly Crucible Realm would emerge before long—this represented an extraordinary opportunity for all of them.
At this thought, a trace of solemnity surfaced in Dark Abyss Demi-Saint’s expression as he gazed toward the Heavenly Abyss and said:
"The Abyss is about to calm. If our predictions are correct, the Outer Realm will be able to launch the Chaos War after 3 100 kalpas."
Eldrin nodded slightly before speaking, "Therefore, this time we must seize the opportunity to find a breakthrough chance within the Sky Crucible Secret Realm."
The Dark Abyss Demi-Saint nodded slightly, a glint of resolve flashing in his eyes.
At that very moment, several figures of overwhelming aura descended upon the Celestial Court—the 4 primordial powerhouses: Taiyuan Immortal Sage, Taishi Dao Ancestor, Taihuo Divine Emperor, and Immortal Emperor Bumie.
There was 1 other, the Ancient Spirit Sovereign of the 100 Races of the Immortal Spirits.
At this moment, the 5 of them arrived within the Peach Orchard. The Taiyuan Immortal Saint glanced at the 2 and remarked with a light laugh, "The Heavenly Furnace Secret Realm is about to open. I never expected you'd still have such leisurely refinement."
The Black Abyss Demi-Saint and Eldrin (Person Name) promptly rose to their feet, cupping their hands in salute toward the 4 figures. Eldrin (Person Name) remarked with a gentle smile, "No matter what lies ahead, we need only strive with our utmost effort."
"So it shall be."
The Primordial Dao Ancestor nodded slightly before speaking, "The matter of the Heavenly Crucible Grotto-Heaven is of grave importance. For all Quasi-Sages, this represents a singular opportunity to attain the Dao."
"Throughout this journey, you must remember to proceed with utmost caution."
Both of them nodded, and Sublime Ancestor Black Abyss immediately responded, "We shall abide by the Patriarch's teachings."
Everyone nodded upon hearing this. Then, the Primordial Dao Ancestor spoke, "For this journey to the Sky Crucible Grotto-Heaven, the old man and Daoist Immortal Bu Mie shall personally escort you there."
Eldrin and the Black Abyss Demi-Saint were instantly overcome with ecstatic delight upon hearing this.
Compared to the Mysterious Heaven Relic, the Heavenly Furnace Grotto-Heaven is a half-step Wuji-level relic that has preserved considerable heritage, including treasures capable of captivating even Harmony Path Supreme Elders.
Moreover, the Sky Crucible Grotto-Heaven was rather unique. This lineage placed greater emphasis on fortune and serendipity, so even an ordinary Demi-Sage who entered might very well obtain astonishing opportunities.
Hence, every time the Heavenly Crucible Cave Realm opened, it would attract a great number of Demi-Sages.
However, precisely because of this, once the Heavenly Crucible Grotto-Heaven opens, those fortunate few who emerge often become the target of all.
Especially for those without the backing of a figure like the Chaos Heavenly Emperor, this could very well invite immense trouble.
Thus, the Undying Heavenly Emperor himself would personally escort Eldrin to the Shattered Realm's Celestial Crucible Cavern.
But the fact that the Primordial Chaos Dao Ancestor would personally escort them there was truly beyond Eldrin’s expectations.
At this thought, Eldrin felt both pleasantly surprised and concerned. He couldn’t help but ask, “Since you’re personally escorting us, what about the 7 Domains of the Southern Abyss…”
"Nothing serious."
The Primordial Dao Ancestor shook his head, then said with a gentle smile, "Each opening of the Heavenly Crucible Grotto-Heaven is a great opportunity for all 1 100 Domains of the Blazing Center."
"Not only us, but the various Heavenly Emperors from the 7 Domains of Southern Abyss and 6 Domains of Northern Abyss will also bring their subordinate Quasi-Saints along. Thus, we need not expend excessive efforts on garrison duties."
Hearing this, Eldrin (Person Name) let out a subtle sigh of relief and chose not to speak further.
Seeing this, the Immortal Emperor of Unending Destruction also smiled and said, "With this old man and Fellow Daoist Taishi protecting you on this journey, your safety should be assured."
"Time is of the essence. Let us depart at once."
Eldrin nodded and immediately followed the 2 Great Emperors as they departed.
This time, in addition to Eldrin and the Black Abyss Emperor, the Primordial Spirit Emperor would also join them in pursuing the opportunities within the Celestial Crucible Grotto-Heaven.
And as soon as they left the Primordial Immortal Domain, they were joined by the Divine Clan’s Celestial Desolation Quasi-Emperor and the Primordial Divine Emperor. It was clear that the Divine Clan, too, was unwilling to let go of this opportunity.
Thus, the party of 7 journeyed ceaselessly through the vast and chaotic primordial sea. Only after traversing over 20 kalpas did they finally arrive beyond the Heavenly Furnace Celestial Grotto.
At this moment, there was still some time before the opening of the Heavenly Furnace Secret Realm, yet numerous powerful experts had already gathered outside its entrance.
Surveying the 8 Desolates and 6 Realms, Eldrin discovered that within this vast expanse of chaotic seas, over 3,000 Quasi-Sage Patriarchs had already gathered. Even existences at the level of Celestial Emperors numbered over a 100.
"What a lively scene."
Eldrin murmured softly, a trace of solemnity coloring his expression.
1 must understand, across the 7 domains of the Southern Abyss, there were merely 20 to 30 Quasi-Saints in total. Yet here, thousands of Quasi-Saints had gathered, leaving Eldrin utterly astounded.
Among these Demi-Saints, there were many supreme beings who had stepped into the Wuji Demi-Saint realm, with over 30 individuals even having cultivated the forms of the 9 True Spirit Divinities.
Those who have cultivated the unique Divine Form—Eldrin had encountered a full 12 of them. Each was an invincible existence whose combat prowess could startle even immortals.
The Blazing Central 100 Domains were vast and boundless. Even the most exceptional talents, rare even within the 7 domains of the Southern Abyss, might struggle to forge a renowned reputation across the entirety of the Blazing Central 100 Domains.
The Dark Abyss Paragon murmured slowly, revealing a trace of solemnity for the first time.
Eldrin also nodded slightly. Amid the crowd, he spotted the Primordial Demon Ape, as well as other peerless prodigies like Chi Yang the Infinite and Cang Yan the Female Sage.
What surprised Eldrin the most was the Sun Celestial Emperor, or more precisely, the 10 great Imperial Sons standing beside him.
Their cultivation base.
Eldrin (Person Name) froze for a fleeting moment, a trace of astonishment flickering across his expression.
It turned out that among the 10 great imperial sons of the Solar Celestial Emperor, their cultivation had unknowingly advanced to such an extent that, aside from Lingxiao Imperial Son, all the others had actually stepped into the Quasi-Saint Realm.
"Wait, this doesn't seem to be the true Half-Saint Realm."
Eldrin murmured softly, a flicker of surprise crossing his expression.
The Primordial Dao Ancestor at the side cast a glance and remarked with notable surprise, "Pseudo-Saint Realm—why would he choose this path?"
"Pseudo-Saint?"
Eldrin (Person Name) froze for a fleeting moment before instantly realizing his intuition had been correct.
It turned out that among the 10 Great Imperial Sons of the Solar Celestial Emperor, aside from the eldest son, Lingxiao Imperial Son, the cultivation of all the others had stagnated at the Pseudo-Saint Realm, rather than the true Quasi-Saint Realm.
The so-called Pseudo-Saint realm refers to a quasi-saint who achieves breakthrough by exhausting their innate potential and supplementing it with special methods to nurture the Great Dao.
Such a pseudo-saint possesses power roughly equivalent to the eighth level of a quasi-saint. Strictly speaking, they may rival a quasi-saint, yet they cannot be considered a true 1.
Most critically, a False Saint is forged by consuming 1's latent potential; once 1 breaks through to the False Saint Realm, there remains no possibility of advancing any further.
At this thought, Eldrin couldn’t help but ask with considerable astonishment, “Each of the Sun Celestial Emperor’s 10 Great Imperial Sons possesses unparalleled natural talent.”
Having also obtained the fortune of the Chaos Ancestral Vein, he cultivated 6 True Spiritual Roots (Spiritual Root) foundations, each hailed as existences at the level of the Invincible Great Emperor.
"But why squander your potential by merely breaking through to the pseudo-saint realm?"
The Primordial Dao Ancestor also found it somewhat peculiar, yet he spoke with utmost solemnity, "The 10 Imperial Sons of the Solar Celestial Emperor have always been shrouded in profound mystery from the very beginning—they bear no resemblance to beings he personally conceived."
"Now that the 9 Great Imperial Sons have exhausted their potential merely to break through to the Pseudo-Saint realm, there are likely only 2 possibilities."
2 possibilities?
Eldrin was rather astonished, instinctively exchanging a glance with the Black Abyss Emperor.
The Primordial Dao Ancestor nodded, his expression turning grave as he said, "Between these 2 possibilities, the first is that the Sun Heavenly Emperor used some extraordinary treasure to separate a portion of his own bloodline and nurture it into existence."
"The second possibility is that the Sun Celestial Emperor obtained some kind of peerless treasure, using it as a foundation to nurture the 9 Imperial Sons."
The Elder of Immortality possessed exceedingly high standards. He suddenly spoke up, "There is a third possibility—that he has obtained both an anomalous treasure and a rare, peerless marvel of the world."
Then, with the aid of an extraordinary treasure, he severed part of his own bloodline and infused it into 10 peerless rarities, ultimately giving birth to these 10 Imperial Sons.
Upon hearing this, Eldrin suddenly felt a surge of clarity.
No wonder the Solar Celestial Emperor was able to consecutively nurture 10 peerless and invincible Imperial Sons within a mere 1 1000 kalpas.
It is known that the higher a celestial being's cultivation base, the more difficult it becomes to conceive a bloodline descendant.
At the Chaos Emperor realm, it often takes hundreds of thousands of kalpas to potentially conceive a single descendant.
By all conventional reasoning, the probability of the Sun Celestial Emperor consecutively siring 10 Imperial Sons was virtually 0.
However, if these 10 invincible Emperor Sons were born from the essence blood of the Sun Heavenly Emperor fused with some kind of Chaos Marvel, it would seem much easier to explain.
At this thought, Eldrin spoke: "It seems the Sun Emperor's 10 Great Imperial Sons might be more accurately called his 10 Great Split Souls."
"It's different."
The Black Abyss Emperor shook his head and spoke, "These 10 great Imperial Sons have inherited the bloodline of the Sun Heavenly Emperor, yet they did not inherit his divine soul. Each is a distinct individual."
"However, the potential of the Heavenly Emperor's bloodline has its limits. Even with a Chaos Treasure serving as the vessel for gestation, reaching the Great Emperor Realm should be the ultimate boundary."
"The reason the 9 Great Imperial Progenies consumed their potential to break through to the Quasi-Saint Realm is likely because they were shackled by their own foundations, making it difficult for them to advance any further."
Eldrin nodded upon hearing this.
Similar to the Soul Division Art, offspring born from divided bloodlines can often retain only a small portion of their paternal potential.
Moreover, such offspring often possess various defects, and whether in aptitude or potential, they are far inferior to children conceived and nurtured within the womb.
Logically speaking, even descendants with such Heavenly Emperor bloodline would find it nearly impossible to reach the level of the Primordial Chaos Emperor.
Otherwise, the Heavenly Emperor could have depleted his origin essence, divided it into hundreds of millions of droplets of vital blood, and nurtured countless bloodline descendants.
The Solar Celestial Emperor likely employed some Chaos Marvel as the foundation to enhance the innate talents of these bloodline descendants. However, once fused with the Chaos Marvel, they often lost their potential for further refinement.
The potential ceiling of those Chaos Treasures inherently capped the growth limits of the 10 Great Imperial Scions, rendering it impossible for them to advance any further.
Only in this way could it explain why the 10 Great Progeny had sacrificed their potential to break through to the Quasi-Saint Realm.
For their potential had reached its absolute limit—that of the Invincible Great Emperor—making it impossible for them to set foot in the Quasi-Saint Realm.
After comprehending all of this, Eldrin felt no joy.
He always felt something was amiss, then spoke with considerable gravity, "Although the 9 Pseudo-Saints are not weak combatants, I suspect the Sun Emperor's ambitions extend far beyond this."
The Primordial Dao Ancestor nodded, then cast a glance at the Crown Prince of Lingxiao. With a grave expression in his eyes, he remarked, "There is something peculiar about this Crown Prince of Lingxiao. It seems he has yet to merge with the Chaos Marvel."
"Therefore, compared to the others, this Lingxiao Imperial Son appears more malleable, possessing the potential to possibly ascend beyond the Quasi-Sage realm."
Upon hearing this, Eldrin could not help but feel a flicker of astonishment.
Among the 10 great imperial sons of the former Solar Celestial Emperor, Lingxiao Imperial Son was considered to possess the poorest potential and aptitude. Many had assumed he would be the most feeble of them all.
However, it now appears that Imperial Son Lingxiao possesses even greater potential for growth, likely the most crucial piece in Sun Emperor's grand scheme.
"He is raising gu."
Suddenly, Eldrin felt his scalp go numb.
He had a feeling that the other 9 Imperial Scions among the 10 Great Imperial Scions were likely mere foils to Eldrin (Person Name).
Their bloodlines were intrinsically linked by fate, and even their souls seemed to share an extraordinary resonance, holding the potential to merge with 1 another.
Among the 10 Great Imperial Sons, only Lingxiao Imperial Son possessed the potential to advance further. Thus, the unspoken purpose behind the existence of the other 9 Great Imperial Sons became silently self-evident.
"They... are all sacrifices belonging to Crown Prince Lingxiao."
Eldrin’s thoughts flickered rapidly. Unconsciously, he exchanged a glance with the Black Abyss Demigod, a trace of apprehension flashing in his eyes.
If his speculation proved true, then this Eldrin of the Celestial Zenith would likely become the most formidable presence—a peerless adversary who might stand against them for ages to come.
"It seems we must still exercise caution regarding this Eldrin, Your Highness."
Eldrin murmured softly, a trace of solemnity coloring his expression.
Beside him, the Dark Abyss Demi-Saint also nodded, then suddenly remarked with keen interest, “The Heavenly Crucible Secret Realm might just be the perfect opportunity for this Eldrin to ascend to the heavens in a single step.”
Upon hearing this, Eldrin felt a faint stir in his heart. Legend had it that within the Heavenly Furnace Secret Realm existed an incredibly heaven-defying opportunity known as the Refining Immortal Heaven.
Within this realm, the chances of successfully merging the 9 divine spirit forms are greatly enhanced, and it may also prove immensely beneficial for someone in the situation of Eldrin (Person Name).
At this thought, Eldrin's brow furrowed slightly, but he quickly suppressed the notion.
What others did was none of his concern.
He need only continuously surpass himself, ceaselessly shatter his own limits, and he would become unmatched across heaven and earth.
Thus, Eldrin said no more and quietly awaited the opening of the Sky Cauldron Grotto-Heaven.
Time thus slipped swiftly by, and before anyone realized it, tens of millions of years had passed.
Until this day, the chaos ahead was torn asunder, an indescribable exit forcibly ripped open.
The Heavenly Crucible Grotto-Heaven has opened.
Eldrin’s thoughts flickered, and in an instant, thousands of quasi-saints soared into the sky, swiftly stepping into the Heavenly Crucible Grotto-Heaven.
Seeing this, the Primordial Dao Ancestor also spoke, "You may set off now. We shall await your return here."
"My gratitude to you, esteemed seniors."
Eldrin cupped his hands toward the several great Celestial Emperors in gratitude, then strode directly into the Heavenly Crucible Grotto-Heaven.
The Black Abyss Demi-Saint, the Barren Wasteland Quasi-Emperor, and the Ancient Spirit Sovereign swiftly followed suit, immediately stepping into the vast expanse of primordial chaos.
Eldrin had just landed when his brow furrowed slightly, a trace of astonishment flashing across his face.
He lifted his head and surveyed his surroundings, finding himself adrift in a boundless expanse of darkness—a vast, lightless ocean brimming with terrifyingly dense black waters.
"Here lies the Abyssal Heavens," the Dark Abyss Demi-Saint spoke slowly, his tone immediately growing solemn as he began to explain.
In the golden age of the Celestial Crucible Grotto-Heaven, they once fused and refined 9 great Chaos Nests using 9 mid-grade Chaos Spiritual Treasures as foundation, ultimately forming the 9-Layered Heavenly Domains.
"The 9 Heavens contain the power of 9 Supreme Unity Sovereigns, capable of imposing immense suppression even upon the Chaos Heavenly Emperor. It is the ultimate training ground for disciples of the Sky Crucible Grotto-Heaven."
The Heaven-Waste Quasi-Emperor had also visited this place and remarked with palpable envy, "Later, the Heavenly Crucible Grotto-Heaven faced calamity, with 5 of its 9 celestial layers shattered to oblivion."
"Only the Soul-Interring Heaven, Dao-Forging Heaven, Immortal-Refining Heaven, and this Abyssal Sinking Heaven remain in existence, having merged to form this legacy realm of the Heavenly Crucible."
Upon hearing this, Eldrin (Person Name) felt a sudden tremor in his heart.
Using 9 mid-grade Chaos Spiritual Treasures as the foundation, combined with the power of 9 Chaos Nests, he forged 9 supreme grotto-heavens. Such profound accumulation was truly beyond comprehension.
You must understand, once 1's cultivation reaches the Demi-Saint realm, it becomes nearly impossible to find places that can truly temper 1's abilities.
This place, however, allows 1 to continue tempering oneself through external forces, perhaps enabling even a Great Emperor or Demi-Saint to break through their own limits.
At this thought, Eldrin couldn't help but exclaim with immense admiration, "To possess such a cultivation sanctuary—how truly glorious the former Heavenly Crucible Grotto-Heaven must have been!"
Everyone nodded in agreement upon hearing this.
The Ancient Spirit Emperor sighed softly before speaking, "Within these 4 Great Celestial Domains, it is not merely a cultivation paradise of the Chaos Realm."
"And there is even a supreme opportunity, though I fear it is beyond my reach."
Eldrin nodded faintly, a glimmer of comprehension dawning within him.
As a supreme Chaos Cave Heaven, the Abyssal Zenith Heaven could inhale and exhale primordial chaos essence, giving birth to vast quantities of chaos wonders and even chaos spiritual treasures—it could even nurture the Primordial Chaos Genesis Qi itself.
However, to seek such a treasure, 1 must venture into the deepest reaches of the Abyssal Depths.
The Abyssal Heaven was filled with chaotic heavy water, where every single droplet weighed as much as hundreds of millions of Tianlun—the standard unit of weight in the Primordial Chaos Desolate Sea.
Generally speaking, a standard Heavenly Wheel is forged from an immense quantity of Daluo Divine Iron, its weight comparable to a great universe spanning over 1 100 billion light-years.
Chapter 1 The biting northern wind swept across the mountain peaks, carrying with it flurries of snow that danced in the air. Lin Xuan stood at the edge of the cliff, his white robes fluttering violently in the gale. His gaze was fixed upon the distant horizon, where the last rays of the setting sun were being devoured by the encroaching darkness. "1 100 years," he murmured to himself, his voice barely audible above the howling wind. "1 100 years of cultivation, and I'm still trapped at the ninth level of Qi Refining." His fingers unconsciously traced the simple storage pouch at his waist. Within it lay his entire worldly possessions: 3,200 spirit stones, a dozen or so Foundation Establishment Pills, and the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss (Magic Treasure) that his master had bestowed upon him before passing away. Suddenly, a brilliant streak of light pierced through the gathering clouds, descending toward the mountain peak with astonishing speed. Lin Xuan's eyes narrowed. That was no ordinary phenomenon—someone was undergoing a tribulation. The air crackled with energy as lightning bolts crisscrossed the sky. He could feel the spiritual pressure even from this distance, causing the snow around him to evaporate into mist. "Fellow Daoist, are you also here to witness Senior Martial Brother Zhao's attempt at Core Formation?" A clear voice sounded from behind. Lin Xuan turned to see a young woman in azure robes approaching. Her footsteps left no trace in the snow, evidence of her profound cultivation base. "Core Formation..." Lin Xuan's voice held a tinge of bitterness. "Countless cultivators have spent thousands of years pursuing this very goal, yet how many truly succeed?" The woman smiled faintly. "They say Senior Martial Brother Zhao obtained a Heaven and Earth Nurturing Pill (Elixir) from the secret realm. With such fortune, his chances should be good." Before Lin Xuan could respond, the sky suddenly darkened. 9 massive bolts of purple lightning converged into a single, terrifying pillar of energy that struck down toward the mountain peak with world-shattering force. The resulting shockwave sent trees and rocks flying in all directions. Lin Xuan quickly formed a hand seal, creating a golden barrier that shielded both himself and the woman from the debris. When the light finally faded, only a charred crater remained where the mountain peak had been. The woman sighed softly. "Another failure. This makes the 20-some Core Formation attempts in our sect that have ended in tragedy." Lin Xuan remained silent, his knuckles white as he clenched his fists. The path of cultivation was truly fraught with countless dangers, where a single misstep could lead to complete annihilation. Just as he was about to take his leave, a faint glow caught his eye from within the newly formed crater. Something was shimmering amidst the ashes of what should have been complete destruction. His heart skipped a beat. Could it be that Senior Martial Brother Zhao had left something behind? "Fellow Daoist," Lin Xuan said, turning to the woman, "I just remembered there's something I need to attend to. I must take my leave." Without waiting for her response, he leaped from the cliff, his figure disappearing into the swirling snow as he made his way toward the crater. If there was even the slightest chance that a Core Formation cultivator's legacy remained... The howling wind seemed to carry whispers of ancient times, as if countless predecessors were sighing at his recklessness. But Lin Xuan had made his decision. In the world of cultivation, opportunities had to be seized, no matter the risk.