Chapter 2129 : The Puppet Escapes with the Immortal Ore

In the blink of an eye, the expressions of all the assembled heroes shifted dramatically, their faces paling as they whirled around in unison, their eyes filled with terror.

The ultimate ruthlessness displayed by the 2 Supreme Venerables truly surpassed all expectations of those present, causing the assembled heroes to reveal expressions of profound apprehension.

Eldrin (Person Name) remained poised high above the heavens, lost in contemplation for a long moment, yet ultimately refrained from taking action.

Both the Blazeheart Supreme and the Azurefall Supreme were no newly ascended sovereigns—they stood as venerable and formidable powers among the celestial venerables.

With his current strength, if he were to reveal all his trump cards, he might barely possess the qualifications to contend with the 2 of them—yet he would likely remain at an absolute disadvantage.

Most importantly, if all parties were watching like tigers eyeing their prey, even if he revealed his trump card, his chances of obtaining the Path Integration Flower would likely remain slim. Instead, he would become the target of public criticism.

"Esteemed guests."

With a single strike that annihilated 2 supreme experts, the Blaze Zenith Sovereign swept his gaze across the surroundings before calmly declaring, “The Dao-Unity Flower is something I am determined to obtain. Do not entertain any futile delusions.”

"Hmph—"

The Azure Sky Supremacy did not speak, yet his sweeping glare alone sent the surrounding Celestial Emperors scattering in all directions.

All the Celestial Emperors present felt deeply unwilling in their hearts. These Half-Step Dao Fusion cultivators had come to the Primordial Heaven Ancient Palace largely for the sake of the Dao Fusion Flower.

This Flower of Dao Union is 1 of the greatest opportunities within the Primordial Heaven Ancient Temple. In previous openings of the temple, Supremes rarely attended, so typically these Half-Step Dao Union experts would contend amongst themselves for it.

The most recent breakthrough into the Harmony Path realm was achieved by the Solar Sovereign, who obtained the Blossom of Convergence over a million kalpas ago and succeeded in his ascension.

But this time, 2 Great Unity Sovereigns had arrived at once, drastically diminishing their hopes of obtaining the Unity Flower. Naturally, they were filled with immense resentment.

"Damn it!"

The 9 Dragons Nest Lord and the others tightened their grips on their weapons, a surge of overwhelming battle intent flashing in their pupils before gradually fading away.

With nearly a 100 Half-Step Unity experts present, their combined strength could indeed rival—even suppress—the 2 Supreme Elders.

Yet the Flower of Dao Union was but a single blossom—how could it possibly unite them in alliance?

也就在这个时候，炽央至尊身旁的磐极天帝开口说道：“诸位道友，合道花只有一株，但是此地仙珍灵果却还有不少。”

"Withdraw now, and you may yet have a chance to obtain immortal herbs and spirit fruits."

As the words of the Firmament Extreme Emperor faded, the expressions of all those present shifted subtly.

Within this immortal herb garden, there truly were numerous rare immortal herbs and treasures. Although the first arrivals—Emperor Panji and his companions—had gathered a considerable amount, vast quantities still remained.

With this thought in mind, a dozen or so figures immediately soared into the air, scattering in all directions to gather celestial treasures and spiritual herbs.

Upon hearing this, the other Heavenly Emperors' expressions shifted subtly. Though fully aware that Heavenly Emperor Panji was employing a divide-and-conquer strategy, they abandoned any further thoughts of contention.

Since there was only 1 Unity Dao Blossom and 2 Great Supremes vying for it, their chances of obtaining it were slim.

Yet the realm abounds with mystical herbs and rare treasures. Should they squander their time trapped here while others forge ahead, none would remain for their taking.

With this thought in mind, the Celestial Emperors soared into the air, scattering in all directions toward the Immortal Herb Garden.

"Let us depart as well."

Eldrin did not hesitate either, immediately relinquishing his claim on this Harmony Dao Flower.

As they were still far from the Realm of Unity, their immediate priority was to swiftly gather cultivation resources.

It must be admitted that within the immortal herb garden, rare celestial herbs and miraculous medicines were nearly countless.

These celestial herbs varied in grade, with the lowest being at the Great Luo level, and many even reaching the pinnacle of Primordial Unity or even Chaos level.

A group of cultivators continued scouring the Celestial Herb Garden, discovering that Great Luo Immortal Herbs grew in clusters like common weeds, while Primordial Chaos Herbs also thrived in dense patches.

After just a brief search, Eldrin had gathered as many as several 1000 Great Luo Immortal Herbs, and there was no shortage of divine medicines at the Chaos Origin Treasure level among them.

Without so much as a thorough search, Eldrin soon arrived at a herb garden. To his astonishment, however, the garden was enveloped in deathly stillness, with only a grove of withered ancient trees standing there.

"This is..."

Gazing upon these ancient trees, Eldrin couldn't help but pause in mild astonishment.

Beside them, Lyra (Person Name) furrowed her brow slightly and couldn't help but remark, "A Soulwood of Mortal Ascension, yet it has withered away."

Upon hearing this, everyone present let out a soft sigh. The Human Soul Sacred Tree was 1 of the 3 Soul Ancient Trees, also known as the ‘Life Soul Ancient Tree’ or the ‘Spirit Soul Sacred Tree’.

This tree possesses profound and mysterious wonders, offering immense enhancement to a cultivator's life soul, ranking foremost among the 3 Soul Ancient Trees.

Alas, ever since the destruction of the 3 Souls Ancient Tree, the Human Soul Ancient Tree had also fallen under a curse, vanishing completely from the mortal realm.

The Ancient Heaven Temple lineage had once cultivated vast groves of Soul-Human Trees here. Who could have imagined they would now be completely withered?

"Even such a super formation cannot protect the Human Soul Divine Tree?"

Eldrin (Person Name) pondered inwardly, then with a flick of his sleeve, summoned a seed from the ancient Soulwood of Humanity.

This seed appeared to be the most well-preserved, yet unfortunately, its vitality had already been completely extinguished, leaving not the slightest possibility of successful cultivation.

"If my Dao of Life were to reach the state of Chaos, could it fully revive this seed?"

Eldrin's thoughts wavered, yet in the end he still stored the seed away.

Having completed all this, Eldrin did not hesitate in the slightest. He turned and strode deeper into the medicine garden.

In the days that followed, they continued to explore the herb garden, acquiring a vast quantity of immortal treasures and divine herbs.

Among them were over 70 divine herbs of the Chaos Wonder tier, and as many as 13 immortal herbs and spirit fruits of the Chaos Spiritual Treasure tier.

"With these celestial treasures and divine herbs, it seems my soul cultivation and magical power can also make some progress."

Eldrin’s thoughts drifted restlessly when he suddenly sensed an overwhelming surge of murderous intent emanating from the void. He lifted his gaze toward the depths of the emptiness.

At the heart of the herb garden, the 2 Celestial Emperors had finally settled their contest. With a single flourish of his blade, the Azure Heavens Sovereign sent the Blazing Zenith Sovereign staggering backward, ultimately seizing the Dao-Unity Flower.

Then, she took Kael (Person Name) and broke away from the crowd, charging into the third level of the Primordial Heaven Ancient Palace.

"Let's go, we're heading to the next level as well."

Without the slightest hesitation, Eldrin (Person Name) immediately led the group charging toward the third level.

Many other Heavenly Emperors followed suit, 1 after another heading toward the third level of the Primordial Heaven Ancient Hall.

After repeated plundering, the treasures in the Second Layer had grown scarce. Having thoroughly combed through the immortal herb garden, they could no longer find anything to stir their hearts.

Rather than wasting time here, it would be better to explore the more precious resources on the third level.

Chapter 3 Now, Eldrin led the party through continuous spatial ruptures, and before long, they arrived at the third level of the Primordial Heaven Ancient Palace.

The instant Eldrin stepped into the third layer, he immediately sensed the extraordinary nature of this place.

The number of immortal palaces on the third level was already sparse, totaling merely a dozen or so in all.

This demonstrates that within the former Primordial Heaven Ancient Temple lineage, half-step Dao Fusion cultivators were considered core combat strength.

These ancient halls spanned across the boundless void, transforming into a colossal formation that suppressed the 4 directions. At their very center lay a magnificent primordial chaos ancestral vein.

That Chaos Ancestral Vein was supremely majestic, resembling a 9-aperture chaos nest formed by countless coiling chaos true dragons.

Chaos 9 Dragon Nest.

Witnessing this scene, a flicker of surprise crossed Seraphina Qu's brow.

Eldrin, however, shook his head. With his discerning eyes, he could naturally perceive the anomaly and remarked, "This is not the Chaos 9 Dragons' Nest, but rather a Chaos 9 Dragons Immortal Gold Vein."

"As expected, this is a supreme blessed land forged by the Heaven-Sovereign of the Barren Skies, who sought out 9 Chaos Nests and combined them with 9 Chaos Immortal Gold source veins."

Sure enough, the Primordial Dao Ancestor nodded immediately upon hearing this and said, "This Chaotic 9 Dragons Vein was indeed artificially forged."

As the Primordial Dao Ancestor recounted the tale, everyone soon understood the origins of the Chaos 9 Dragon Vein.

It turned out that when the Primordial Ancient Hall was constructed in the Primordial Ancient Lands, it was divided into 6 tiers precisely to nurture various resources.

Its first level is the Primordial Ancestral Pool, which serves as the power source of the entire Ancient Desolate Heaven Palace and the birthplace where the Primordial Chaos Beginning Qi is nurtured.

Yet the treasures born of the Chaos Sea were by no means limited to Primordial Chaos Primordial Qi and Innate Primordial Qi alone—they also encompassed countless unique attributes of special origins and substances.

Thereupon, the Path of Primordial Heaven channeled the converted vitality and primordial essence into the second-layer immortal herb garden to nurture rare spiritual herbs and celestial treasures.

Meanwhile, metallic substances and vital essences were channeled into the third layer's 9 Dragons Immortal Gold Vein, nurturing various types of celestial treasures and spirit ores.

Boom—

Just as the Primordial Dao Ancestor was explaining the Chaos 9 Dragon Vein to the assembly, a world-shaking confrontation suddenly erupted ahead.

At the end of the boundless void, 2 Supreme Elders were engaged in a cataclysmic battle against an indescribable existence. The shockwaves of their clash swept through the vast primordial chaos.

"That is..."

Eldrin (Person Name) furrowed his brow slightly, noticing that across from the 2 Supreme Elders stood an extraordinary being whose cultivation level was profoundly intimidating.

Within it surged endless supreme Great Daos, its form seemingly forged from immortal gold, yet utterly distinct from any living being—for this entity appeared to possess no soul whatsoever.

"A puppet at the Merged Dao realm, or rather, a unique life form."

Eldrin (Person Name) murmured softly, revealing the origins of that extraordinary being.

The Primordial Dao Ancestor observed for a moment before speaking, "Among the 13 Supreme Rulers of the Primordial Heaven Ancient Temple, legend tells of 1 known as the Celestial Puppet Supreme."

He attained the Supreme Realm through the Dao of Puppetry, and legend has it that not only did his strength reach the pinnacle of the Dao Unity Realm, but he also commanded 2 puppets of the Supreme Realm.

"As expected, this puppet before us must be 1 of the 2 Supreme Puppets."

Chen Ethan (Person Name) froze momentarily before asking, "Can the path of puppetry also lead 1 to the supreme realm?"

"Across the myriad heavens and infinite paths, each holds boundless possibilities, all leading directly to the realm of the limitless. It has always been the cultivator who embodies true strength, never the Great Dao itself."

Eldrin, however, remained utterly composed before speaking calmly.

His words were no empty boast. Possessing all of Nameless's memories, Eldrin (Person Name) knew many secrets unknown to the world.

In his early years of wandering the nameless chaos, he had once witnessed a prodigy of his generation who advanced the art of talismanic inscriptions from the foundational laws all the way to the half-step realm of the Infinite.

His cultivation base thus soared continuously, long having reached the half-step Sovereign realm. Were it not for the obstruction of the Infinite Sovereign, this individual would likely have already broken through to the Sovereign realm.

And this individual, whose Daoist title was 'Luo', was also 1 of the 7 Great Disciples of Nameless. The path of talisman creation he pioneered had made immense contributions to the Dao of Immortality.

In truth, each of the 7 previously unknown disciples possessed unique talents, and every 1 of them was a peerless prodigy.

Today, the most prominent disciplines among the myriad arts of cultivation—Alchemy, Formations, Artifact-crafting, Talismans, Puppetry, Beast-taming, and Celestial Divination—were all pioneered by these 7 core disciples.

It was precisely for this reason that they had made immense contributions to both the Heavenly Dao and the Primordial Chaos, thus earning the boundless providence of the Heavenly Dao. Each of them possessed a sliver of potential to ascend directly to the rank of Dominator.

"Could it be that this Celestial Puppet Supreme, who cultivates the path of puppetry, is a disciple of Old Fifth's lineage?"

Eldrin's thoughts stirred, a ripple of emotion surfacing in his gaze. "If this is truly the case, then perhaps there is a sliver of opportunity to gain control over this Celestial Puppet."

With these thoughts swirling in his mind, a pensive expression flickered across Eldrin's face.

The reason Eldrin had this thought was because puppets lacked souls, being forged from the interweaving of supreme dao and divine immortal metals. Thus, every creator would inevitably leave a backdoor in their making.

Moreover, such backdoors were often not singular, but existed in multiple tiers. The higher the tier, the greater the control over the puppet.

As the Patriarch of the Immortal Path and the progenitor of 'Luo', Nameless naturally knew the backdoor methods of the puppet arts—methods that granted an exceptionally high degree of control.

Even if it wasn't the lowest-level authority, it couldn't compete with the Eldrin (Person Name) for control over this puppet.

However, with the Celestial Puppet Supreme 1 already fallen, the possibility of gaining control over this supreme puppet should be extremely high.

At this thought, Eldrin immediately attempted to activate the backdoor access of this Celestial Puppet.

After a period of channeling, the Celestial Puppet indeed showed a response, its authority silently transferring into Eldrin's (Person Name) control.

It is done.

The moment he obtained the authority over this Celestial Puppet, Eldrin felt a subtle sense of reassurance settle within his heart.

With this Supreme-grade puppet, his strength had silently surged by nearly half again. Should he encounter any further predicaments, he would have more than enough means to ensure his own safety.

"Retreat—"

With this thought, Eldrin (Person Name) immediately activated the Supreme Puppet, withdrawing it from the battle against the Azure Fall Supreme and causing it to vanish into the boundless void.

The 2 Supreme Elders were locked in fierce combat with the puppet when they suddenly realized their opponent had fled, leaving them momentarily disoriented.

As far as they knew, this Celestial Puppet served as the ultimate trial guarding the Primordial 9 Dragon Spirit Vein, having always remained 1 of the most formidable challenges in the third layer.

According to the conventions of previous years, clearing this trial was extremely difficult. They had prepared for an arduous battle, yet to their surprise, the Heaven Puppet now retreated without a fight.

At this thought, the 2 Supreme Elders exchanged a glance, both revealing a trace of astonishment.

Of course, avoiding a fight with the Celestial Puppet was for the best. After all, this Supreme Puppet possessed an indestructible body of eternal resilience. Even if the 2 of them joined forces, they could only suppress it—there was no possibility of achieving a decisive victory.

At this thought, both Supreme Venerables and the numerous Heavenly Emperors present flew toward the Chaotic 9 Dragon Spirit Vein.

They fought their way to the Chaos 9 Dragon Vein, ready to launch an all-out assault, when dozens of figures suddenly emerged from the mineral deposits.

With that Supreme Celestial Puppet at the core, a full 30-6 puppets of the Celestial Emperor level soared into the air, suddenly flying toward the fourth level of the Primordial Heaven Ancient Hall.

"Strange, why are these Sky Puppets retreating without a fight?"

Everyone present was somewhat puzzled, yet no 1 made a move to stop him—after all, it spared them the trouble of a bitter battle.

At that very moment, Supreme Chi Yang swept the mine vein with his divine sense, his expression abruptly shifting dramatically as he exclaimed.

"Damn it, the puppet escaped with the immortal ore!"

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. "Just a little further," he whispered to himself, the words snatched away by the gale. "The legacy of the Fallen Star Sage must be within reach." His robes, once fine but now tattered and stained with dirt and sweat, flapped wildly around his frame. He was a young man of 20-some years, yet his eyes held a depth and resolve that belied his age. For 3 years, he had pursued this single goal, this faint whisper of hope in a world that had shown him little kindness. With a final, grunting heave, he pulled himself over the precipice and collapsed onto a small, surprisingly level platform. His chest heaved as he gulped down the thin, cold air. As his vision cleared, he saw it—a narrow fissure in the cliff face, almost completely hidden by thick, ancient vines. Pushing aside the vegetation, Lin Chen slipped inside. The air within the cave was still and carried a faint, metallic tang. The darkness was absolute at first, but as his eyes adjusted, he saw a soft, ethereal glow emanating from deeper within. He ventured cautiously forward, the silence broken only by the sound of his own breathing and the soft scuff of his boots on stone. The tunnel opened into a vast cavern, and there, in the center, seated upon a simple stone dais, was a skeletal figure clad in robes that had somehow withstood the ravages of time. A simple spatial ring adorned 1 bony finger. Lin Chen approached slowly, his heart hammering against his ribs. He knelt before the skeleton and bowed his head respectfully. "Junior Lin Chen pays respects to the esteemed Fallen Star Sage," he intoned, his voice echoing softly in the vast space. As if in response to his words, a wisp of silvery light drifted from the skeleton's forehead and hovered before him. It pulsed with a gentle, inviting radiance. Lin Chen did not hesitate. This was the Sage's final legacy, a fragment of his soul and knowledge preserved through profound means. He reached out, and the light flowed into his brow. A torrent of information flooded his mind—profound cultivation insights, memories of epic battles, the intricate formulas for countless elixirs, and the complete method of the [Fallen Star Heavenly Tome (Cultivation Art)]. It was overwhelming, dizzying. Among the flood of knowledge, 1 piece of information stood out with crystal clarity. The Fallen Star Sage had not perished from natural causes or failed cultivation. He had been betrayed and mortally wounded by his most trusted disciple and his own sworn brother, who had coveted his supreme cultivation art and his most prized treasure. A cold fury, not his own yet now inextricably part of him, ignited within Lin Chen's chest. He saw the betrayal play out in his mind's eye—the poisoned cup, the hidden blade, the mocking laughter that echoed in this very cavern. The Sage's final moments were filled with a bitter regret and a burning desire for vengeance. The silvery light within his mind coalesced, and a faint, spectral voice, laden with immense weariness and unresolved hatred, whispered directly into his soul. *"My successor... you who have inherited my legacy... my final wish... my deepest regret... lies with those traitors..."* *"Zhao Feng (Person Name)... my 'beloved' disciple... and Xuan Ji (Person Name), my 'sworn brother'..."* *"They schemed for my [Fallen Star Heavenly Tome (Cultivation Art)] and my [Stellar Severance Blade (Magic Treasure)]..."* *"They must... pay..."* The voice faded, its final word a venomous hiss that seemed to seep into the very marrow of Lin Chen's bones. The immense pressure of the legacy and the searing hatred within it finally became too much. Darkness swarmed at the edges of his vision, and he slumped to the cold stone floor, unconscious. When he awoke, an unknown amount of time later, the cavern was unchanged. The skeleton still sat in silent vigil. But Lin Chen was different. The chaotic torrent of knowledge had settled, organized within his consciousness. His spiritual sense felt sharper, his perception of the world around him more acute. He stood up, his movements steady and sure. He walked to the skeleton and carefully removed the spatial ring. A mere drop of blood was enough to bind it to him. His consciousness probed its interior, and his breath hitched. The space within was vast. Neatly arranged along 1 side were gleaming piles of spirit stones. His mind quickly tallied them: over 50,000 Low-Grade Spirit Stones, nearly 8,000 Mid-Grade Spirit Stones, and even a small, breathtaking pile of 132 High-Grade Spirit Stones. It was a fortune beyond the dreams of most cultivators. Elsewhere, jade slips containing various techniques and cultivation notes were stacked neatly. Several jade bottles contained precious pills, their names and effects now known to him from the inherited memories. And then there was the weapon. Floating in a dedicated space within the ring was a single, sleek blade. It was about 3 feet long, forged from a metal that resembled condensed starlight, shimmering with a cold, sharp light. Along its spine, tiny, intricate formations seemed to swirl like miniature galaxies. This was the Stellar Severance Blade, a high-grade magic treasure that had been the envy of an era. Lin Chen willed it into his hand. The grip was perfectly balanced, and as his spiritual power tentatively flowed into it, the blade hummed softly, as if awakening from a long slumber. Stars seemed to glitter faintly along its edge. He looked from the blade in his hand to the silent skeleton on the dais. A profound sense of purpose settled over him. He had received an unimaginable inheritance. With it came an equally unimaginable debt. He knelt 1 last time, kowtowing deeply 3 times. "Senior," Lin Chen vowed, his voice low and steady, resonating with conviction in the silent cavern. "Your legacy will not end here. The path you walked, I shall continue. And your vengeance... I will take it as my own. Zhao Feng and Xuan Ji... they will answer for their betrayal." Rising to his feet, he stored the Stellar Severance Blade and took 1 final look around the cavern that had changed his destiny. Then, he turned and walked out into the sunlight, his figure straight, his gaze fixed on the horizon. The journey of a 1000 miles was beginning with a single, decisive step, fueled by a mighty legacy and a solemn oath written in blood and treachery.