Chapter 2148 : Layout and Planning

Eldrin rose calmly, sensing the Great Dao of Primordial Chaos surrounding him. A rare smile graced his lips.

After this breakthrough into the Unity Realm, he had forged a supreme Dao path. His cultivation in the Great Dao should have just reached the initial stage of the Dao Unification Sovereign realm.

His Great Dao of Primordial Chaos was forged from the fusion of 5 supreme Daos, thus granting him combat prowess far surpassing that of ordinary Dao-Unification Sovereigns.

After all, ordinary Unity Supremes typically forge their Supreme Dao by merging 3 Chaos Daos. Those who achieve a Chaos Supreme Dao by fusing 4 or more Daos are exceedingly rare.

The reason for this is that the more Dao Principles 1 possesses, the greater the mutual repulsion between them becomes, making the process of fusion and breakthrough exponentially more difficult.

Taking Eldrin (Person Name) as an example, had he directly stepped into the Supreme Realm through the Great Dao of Primordial Yang Celestial Fire, he would have had an overwhelming chance of breaking through even without the Path-Unity Pill.

And if 3 highly compatible Great Dao were used, a single Unity Pill would make the breakthrough virtually certain.

However, after transforming into the 5 Great Daos fused with the Chaos Wuji Dao, the efficacy of the Hedao Dan fell far short. Only the Minor Wuji Immortal Elixir could provide substantial assurance of a successful breakthrough.

Yet the enhancement brought about by the Chaos Supreme Dao, forged from the fusion of even more Chaos Great Daos, was naturally far more immense.

In such circumstances, Eldrin's Great Dao of Primordial Chaos, though merely having stepped into the realm of the Supreme Great Dao, had already rivaled the pinnacle of the supreme sovereigns.

Thinking of this, Eldrin attempted to wield the Great Dao of Primordial Chaos, using it to activate his divine abilities, fortify his physical form, and command the Chaos Spiritual Treasures.

It was discovered that whether it was divine abilities, physical body, or Chaos Spiritual Treasures, all had undergone tremendous enhancement under the support of the Great Dao of Chaos and Infinity.

"Excellent. In my current state, I should rank among the foremost even amidst the most supreme Confluence Dao Venerables."

Eldrin (Person Name) murmured inwardly, feeling a subtle sense of resolve settle within him.

If his previous combat prowess had only barely matched that of a top-tier Unity Venerable, allowing him to fight 5 newly-advanced Venerables at once, then now he should be capable of taking on 10 simultaneously.

Such a tremendous enhancement significantly bolstered Eldrin's ability to protect himself and substantially improved his overall safety.

Even if a Half-Step Wuji expert were to attack, he should still possess some ability to escape with his life.

Understanding this, Eldrin felt somewhat reassured. However, instead of immediately ending his seclusion, he returned to the meditation chamber to refine his primary cultivation technique.

With his profound cultivation foundation, he further deduced and perfected his Great Dao of Primordial Chaos, ultimately compiling 6 volumes of peerless ancient scriptures.

Among these 6 ancient scriptures, there were 5 volumes: the Pure Yang Emperor's Scripture, the Profound Abyss Emperor's Scripture, the Primordial Earth Emperor's Scripture, the Life Emperor's Scripture, and the Primordial Chaos Emperor's Scripture.

The sixth ancient scripture was titled the 'Scripture of Chaotic Infinity.' This text masterfully incorporated the strengths of the 5 imperial scriptures, standing as the foremost among the 6 peerless imperial scriptures.

These 6 supreme divine tomes, each encompassing all things and containing cultivation methods of 6 primordial Chaos Daos, could all lead directly to the realm of the Great Emperor.

These 6 ancient tomes were created by Eldrin to perfect the 5 great Daos of Pure Yang, Profound Abyss, Primordial Earth, Life, and Primordial Gold, intended to be passed down to cultivators across the 100 Domains of the Returning Abyss in the future.

From this day forth, any who cultivate these 6 ancient scrolls shall be considered the legacy successors of Eldrin, rightful disciples of the Returning Abyss lineage.

At this thought, Eldrin pondered for another moment before speaking with measured deliberation: "The Great Dao of Primordial Chaos possesses limitless potential, yet ascending to its supreme realm is exceptionally arduous. It requires continuous refinement and perfection."

"Yet relying solely on my own strength to deduce it to the Wuji (Boundless) realm remains an endeavor of 10 1000 hardships."

"Yet we must still set the pieces upon the board, guiding all living beings to cultivate this path."

Eldrin murmured inwardly, first dividing his soul into 3 1000 fragments, then sending these soul fragments into the cycle of reincarnation with 5 heavenly scrolls to cultivate in seclusion.

With his current cultivation base, the 3 1000 divided souls he had manifested were all endowed with remarkable aptitude, each possessing the potential of a Great Luo Golden Immortal. After undergoing 9 cycles of reincarnation, their innate talent could ascend directly to the realm of a Primordial Chaos Emperor.

Most crucially, the Dream Cycle Art consumed relatively little time, yielding a new harvest of divided souls at regular intervals. These soul fragments were among the most suitable candidates for perfecting the 5 great Daos.

Of course, the method of dream reincarnation ultimately has its limits. To think of perfecting all 5 Great Daos of Eldrin (Person Name) to the realm of infinity through this method would still be nothing but a pipe dream.

As the Primordial Limitless Great Dao, Pure Yang, Profound Abyss, Primordial Earth, Life, and Chaos Gold each possess a sliver of potential to tread the path of Chaos Limitless Great Dao.

In other words, by refining these 5 Great Daos to a certain realm, 1 could potentially attain the state of Chaos Sovereign through any single Dao alone.

Of course, this possibility was almost negligible, after all, there were far too few cultivators practicing these 5 Great Daos.

Among 10 1000 Great Luo Golden Immortals, scarcely 1 would choose to cultivate this path, making it nigh impossible to refine this Dao to the ultimate state of boundlessness.

In contrast, Eldrin’s Path of Self-Sacrifice served as an indispensable cultivation method. Practitioners who cultivated this path were as numerous as schools of fish crossing a river, and its refinement progressed at a pace not merely 10 1000, but even a 100 1000 times faster than that of these 5 great paths.

Once the Path of Self-Sacrifice spreads throughout the entire chaos, it will become indistinguishable from the Immortal Path. Its transformation into the Great Dao of Primordial Chaos will then be as natural as water flowing downhill.

Due to the superiority of this path, its potential and upper limit were far more formidable.

The 5 great paths of the Primordial Chaos Infinite Dao bore no comparison whatsoever to the Sacrificial Self Dao, making it nearly impossible for them to undergo metamorphosis into the Primordial Chaos Infinite Dao.

Under normal circumstances, it would have been impossible for Eldrin to set foot upon the realm of Dominance with his 5 supreme Daos.

At most, it is the Chaos Primordial Dao that integrates 5 Great Daos, offering a sliver of possibility to set foot in the realm of Dominance.

However, Eldrin (Person Name) sought far more than this, for he had once witnessed the might of the Primordial 5 Ultimates.

The unification of the 5 Primordial States allows 1 to transcend the Sovereign Realm and directly reach the Half-Step Primordial Chaos Realm, even offering a glimpse into the possibility of the Primordial Chaos Realm (Cultivation Realm).

The reason for this lies in the fact that the 5 Primordial Elements are all manifestations of the Great Dao of Primordial Chaos and Non-Duality. Once fused, they naturally transcend the boundaries of Non-Duality itself.

Eldrin murmured inwardly, his thoughts drifting to memories of Nameless, as certain conjectures began to crystallize in his mind.

In truth, as early as the primordial dawn of chaos, there should have emerged from that formless void a supreme being who had attained the half-step Primordial Chaos Realm (Cultivation Realm).

That figure was the master of the Primordial 5 Supreme Great Daos, the 9 Revolutions Dao Ancestor of the fleshly body sainthood lineage.

Yet for some unknown reason, the 9 Revolutions Dao Ancestor fell victim to an indescribable curse. The Primordial 5 Ultimate Great Daos were suppressed by an inexplicable force, each fragmented into 9 chaotic great daos that could no longer merge.

Otherwise, when that 9 Revolutions Dao Ancestor took form, he would have likely mastered 5 strands of the Primordial Chaos Infinite Dao and, seizing the opportunity at the dawn of chaos’s emergence, stepped into the Half-Step Primordial Purple Realm.

However, due to a curse, the 9 Revolutions Dao Ancestor was destined never to break through to the Chaos Sovereign Realm—even his comprehension of the Great Dao would be tainted by this curse.

Enraged, he severed all ties with the Primordial 5 Extremes Dao, embarking on the path of cultivation through pure physical refinement, ultimately ascending as the renowned 9 Revolutions Dao Ancestor.

"Someone is preventing the emergence of Half-Step Primordial Chaos from the void?"

Eldrin (Person Name) spoke slowly, lifting his head to gaze into the endless depths of chaos. In a fleeting moment, he seemed to catch a glimpse of those bygone years.

At that moment, he sensed his future self engaged in a fierce confrontation with an indescribably powerful being.

That being transcended the entire river of time, existing beyond this chaotic epoch. With but a turn of his palm, he could overturn all of existence, reducing a true ancient history into nothingness.

An unseen hand, transcending the Chaotic Epoch, perused this era as if turning the pages of a book.

The 9 Revolutions Dao Ancestor, 1 of the Half-Step Hongmeng beings ordained by destiny in this chaotic epoch, was likewise reduced to nothingness within his palm, forfeiting that sliver of opportunity to prove the Dao of Hongmeng.

Eldrin murmured inwardly, a profound and unimaginable dread creeping into his heart. Facing such a formidable foe in the future—could he truly harbor even the slightest chance of victory?

No, the future version of him had engaged in a game of wits with this individual, even forcing them to eradicate their past self. This clearly indicated that this person undoubtedly regarded him as a formidable adversary of unprecedented caliber.

Thinking of this, Eldrin breathed a faint sigh of relief.

Retracting his thoughts, Eldrin turned his gaze to the 5 ancient scrolls before him, sinking into contemplative silence.

His foundation was brimming with boundless potential, yet few possessed the promise to transcend beyond the realm of Sovereigns.

At present, the only ones that show a glimmer of such potential are the Path of Self-Sacrifice, the Great Dao of Returning to Ruin, and the Great Dao of Primordial Chaos.

Among the myriad other Great Daos, whether it be the Dao of Samsara, the Dao of Immortals, or even achieving sainthood through physical cultivation and attaining enlightenment via the primordial spirit, none have yet shown the possibility of transcending the realm of the Sovereign.

Meanwhile, the Path of Sacrifice need only be disseminated step by step, while the Path of the Returning Abyss must await the End of Chaos before that final step can be taken.

Thus, the most urgent priority for Eldrin was to devise a strategy to refine the Great Dao of Primordial Chaos.

"To transcend the Supreme Ruler realm through the Great Dao of Primordial Chaos, 1 must first cultivate the 5 cardinal paths—including Pure Yang and Profound Darkness—to the realm of Supreme Rulership."

Eldrin murmured inwardly, his gaze shifting between the 6 ancient scrolls before him and the Sacrificial Path cultivation method, falling into contemplative silence.

"If these 5 Great Daos of Chaos were integrated into the Path of Self-Offering, becoming 1 of its mandatory disciplines, could it accelerate the dissemination and refinement of these 5 Great Daos?"

Eldrin (Person Name) murmured inwardly before resolutely springing into action.

He began integrating the 5 Primordial Ancient Sutras into the Sacrificial Self Dao, swiftly uncovering a thread of insight.

He first established the method of the Pure Yang Heavenly Sun within the Inner Immortal Domain, building upon the foundation of the Great Dao of Pure Yang.

This method requires the meticulous cultivation of the Great Dao of Pure Yang Celestial Fire, condensing a radiant sun of pure yang within the inner immortal domain that illuminates all living beings.

This Great Sun of Pure Yang also possessed the effect of converting the Primordial Qi of Heaven and Earth, replacing the need for a World-Anchoring Supreme Treasure within the inner world.

Moreover, if the Pure Sun Great Yang were to merge with the 9 Heavens World-Suppressing Treasure, it would also double the might of the World-Suppressing Treasure.

In such circumstances, the purer and more potent the Path of Pure Yang cultivated, the greater the power of the World-Anchoring Supreme Treasure, and the more abundant the Primordial Qi between heaven and earth would become.

Apart from the Pure Yang Heavenly Sun, the other 4 Great Daos were also assimilated 1 by 1 by Eldrin into the Path of Self Sacrifice.

Among them, the Profound Abyss Dao sank into the 9 Nether, transforming into the rules of heaven and earth that permeated the cosmos, destined to become 1 of the foundational operational logics governing the Netherrealm within the inner world.

The Dao of Life intertwines throughout heaven and earth, becoming 1 of the foundational laws of the Inner Immortal Realm. It shall greatly enhance the growth rate and quality of countless spiritual herbs and plants across the world.

The Great Dao of the Primordial Source Earth had merged with the very land, ceaselessly drawing upon the primordial qi and fundamental essence between heaven and earth, continuously elevating the grade of the soil.

As his comprehension of the Great Dao of the Primordial Soil of All Things deepened, the mundane earth within his inner world transformed into spiritual fields, the spiritual fields evolved into immortal soil, and the immortal soil ascended to become the Primordial Soil of All Things—all achieved with effortless mastery.

And the final Mixed Gold Avenue had also integrated into the rules of heaven and earth, capable of both enhancing the sturdiness and strength of the Inner Immortal Domain and accelerating the gestation of all manner of rare treasures.

"Almost there."

After integrating the 5 Chaos Great Daos into the Path of Sacrificial Self, a rare smile finally graced Eldrin’s lips.

After integrating these 5 Chaos Great Daos, not only was the issue of too few cultivators practicing these paths resolved, but the refinement of the Sacrificial Dao also advanced by a major tier.

It can be said that the 2 complement each other, bringing immense benefits to both the Path of Self-Sacrifice and the 5 Great Daos.

Of course, only Eldrin was capable of this, for he was the Master of these 5 Chaos Daos, possessing absolute command over them.

Secondly, Eldrin was also the founder of the Path of Self-Offering, possessing absolute comprehension of its underlying principles. Only through such profound understanding could he integrate these 5 great daos into the very fabric of his path as cosmic laws.

Both conditions were indispensable. Without them, even if several Chaos Masters were to collaborate, they would never be able to perfectly integrate these elements.

After all, should the slightest misstep occur and the rules of heaven and earth fall out of balance, even the Inner Cosmos—let alone the Inner Immortal Realm—would collapse in the blink of an eye.

"The 5 great Daos have merged with the Sacrificial Self Dao, significantly increasing the cultivation difficulty. We must find a way to reduce the complexity of comprehending these 5 Daos."

Eldrin murmured inwardly, then proceeded to alter the Great Daos of Pure Yang, Profound Abyss, and others.

First, with the absolute mastery of a Path Lord, he altered the chaotic principles of these 5 Great Daos, reducing the difficulty of comprehending them to the absolute minimum.

Secondly, he altered the principles of the Chaos Dao, significantly increasing the number of innate spiritual treasures and Primordial Chaos wonders born from these 5 Chaos Daos. Moreover, he transformed them all into treasures suitable for cultivating the Inner Universe.

Third, Eldrin (Person Name) further modified the Path of Self-Sacrifice and the 5 great Daos, causing the inner world’s creation and ascension to abundantly nurture rare treasures aligned with these 5 attributes.

With these 3 Great Dao rules established, Eldrin had already affirmed the pivotal status of these 5 Great Daos within the Inner Immortal Realm and the Path of Self-Sacrifice—a foundation that could no longer be altered.

Even if a supreme emperor who cultivated the Great Dao of the Sun were to come, after switching to the Path of Self-Offering, the Pure Yang Heavenly Sun within his inner immortal domain would most likely not transform into the Primordial Sun.

Because the rules were not sufficiently compatible, and moreover, even after replacement, it would be impossible to nurture so many rare treasures aligned with the Inner Immortal Domain.

After all, the condition of having the Master of the Path personally alter the laws of the Great Dao to seamlessly integrate it with the Path of Sacrificial Self was far too demanding.

"With these 3 great rules, coupled with the perfect complementarity of the Sacrificial Dao and the 5 great Daos, the propagation of these 5 Daos should no longer pose a problem henceforth."

Eldrin murmured inwardly, then began to organize the newfound Path of Self-Offering. In the end, he compiled an unparalleled ancient scripture capable of reaching the very threshold of the Half-Step Unity Realm.

Then, he rose and made his way to the Hall of Returning Abyss, summoning all the Celestial Emperors from the lineage of Returning Abyss and the Path of Self-Sacrifice.

At this moment, Eldrin sat upright within the Hall of Returning Abyss, gazing at the nearly 1 100 Chaos Heavenly Emperors before him, and couldn't help but feel a trace of emotion wash over him.

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 1000-zhang abyss. "Just a bit more," he muttered to himself, the words swallowed by the howling gale. "The Heaven-Swallowing Cultivation Art must be within reach." His spiritual sense brushed against the cold rock, searching. For 3 days and nights, he had scaled this treacherous peak, his meager Qi reserves dwindling with each passing hour. The outer sect disciples had laughed when he declared his intention to seek the legendary manual. "A mere Qi Refining Stage third layer disciple, daring to venture into the Forbidden Peaks?" they had sneered. "He'll be back within a day, if he returns at all." But Lin Chen had persisted. The memory of his younger sister, her face pale against the rough cot, fueled his determination. The Darkfrost Poison was slowly consuming her meridians, and only the Heaven-Swallowing Cultivation Art possessed the purifying properties capable of saving her. Suddenly, his fingers brushed against something smooth and cool amidst the coarse granite. A hidden crevice, no wider than a finger, emanated a faint, pulsating energy. Heart hammering against his ribs, Lin Chen carefully pried it open. There, nestled within the stone, lay a jade slip so pure it seemed to drink the moonlight. Intricate patterns swirled across its surface, shimmering with a faint, otherworldly luminescence. This was it. The Heaven-Swallowing Cultivation Art jade slip. As his spiritual sense touched the slip, a torrent of information flooded his mind. Ancient, profound characters burned themselves into his consciousness, detailing the methods to devour worldly energy, to refine heaven and earth into 1's own dantian. It was far more complex, far more powerful than the basic cultivation manuals provided by the Cloud Sky Sect. A sharp, mocking laugh sliced through the wind. "Well, well. What do we have here?" Lin Chen's blood ran cold. He spun around, clutching the jade slip tightly. Standing on a nearby outcrop was Zhang Hu, a bulky inner sect disciple from the fifth peak. A cruel smile twisted his lips, and his hand rested casually on the hilt of his Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss (Magic Treasure). 2 other inner sect disciples flanked him, their expressions equally disdainful. "Hand over the jade slip, trash," Zhang Hu commanded, his voice dripping with contempt. "A treasure like that is far beyond the likes of you. It belongs to someone of true talent, someone like Young Master Eldrin (Person Name)." Lin Chen's mind raced. Zhang Hu was at least at the seventh layer of Qi Refining. A direct confrontation was suicide. But surrendering the manual meant condemning his sister to death. "This... this is something I found for my own use," Lin Chen said, forcing his voice to remain steady. "It is of no consequence to Senior Brother Zhang." "Your use?" Zhang Hu barked a laugh. "You think a dog like you deserves such fortune? This is a heaven-sent opportunity for me to present it to Young Master Eldrin. Now, hand it over, or I'll take it from your corpse and throw you into the ravine myself." The spiritual pressure from the 3 disciples intensified, pressing down on Lin Chen like a physical weight. He felt his knees buckle slightly. Desperation clawed at his throat. He couldn't fight them. He couldn't run. His gaze fell upon the churning sea of clouds below the cliff. The abyss was said to be bottomless, a place from which no cultivator had ever returned. It was certain death. But so was staying. A strange calm settled over him. If death was inevitable, he would choose its manner. He met Zhang Hu's arrogant stare. "You want it?" Lin Chen said, a faint, almost imperceptible smile touching his lips. "Then come and claim it from the depths of hell." Before the stunned disciples could react, Lin Chen took a deliberate step backward, off the edge of the cliff. The wind roared in his ears as he fell, the triumphant shouts from above quickly fading. The cold bit deep into his bones. He clutched the jade slip to his chest, a final, desperate act of defiance. *Is this it?* he thought, the world dissolving into a blur of grey mist and rushing air. *Is this the end?* Suddenly, the jade slip in his hand grew warm, then hot. The intricate patterns on its surface blazed with a blinding, golden light. The characters of the Heaven-Swallowing Cultivation Art, now seared into his mind, began to cycle on their own, faster and faster. An immense, terrifying suction force erupted from his body. The surrounding spiritual energy of heaven and earth, previously thin and placid, went berserk. It converged upon him like a vortex, a mad, roaring torrent of power that tore at his clothes and seared his skin. It was far more violent, far more potent than the gentle absorption described in the manual. This wasn't cultivation. This was devouring. Agony, unlike anything he had ever known, ripped through his meridians. They felt like they were being torn apart, flooded with raw, untamed power. He screamed, but no sound escaped the maelstrom. His consciousness began to fray at the edges, darkness creeping into his vision. The last thing he felt was the jade slip dissolving into a stream of molten light, merging directly with his dantian. Then, nothing. *** High upon the cliff, Zhang Hu stared down into the impenetrable clouds, his face a mask of fury and frustration. "Fool!" he spat. "He chose to destroy the treasure rather than hand it over!" "Senior Brother Zhang, what do we report to Young Master Eldrin?" 1 of the other disciples asked nervously. "We report nothing!" Zhang Hu snarled. "We never saw him. We never found anything. The trash took his secret to the grave. Let the abyss keep him." He cast 1 last, hateful glance downward before turning and leading his companions away. The mountain wind quickly erased all traces of their presence, leaving the cliffside as silent and forbidding as ever, holding its secrets close.