Chapter 781 : A Heavenly Root's Perilous Ascent

"Since that is the case, let it be settled thus."

Eldrin Chen nodded, agreeing to leave the Positive Water Immortal Pear for Violet Consort Yan.

Violet Consort Yan was a cultivator with a Heavenly Spiritual Root [the highest grade of innate talent for cultivation] and had inherited the legacy of Violet Cosmos Path Lord. Her cultivation progress had always been astonishingly swift, and she had now reached the Infant Soul 9th Tier [the ninth and final stage of the Infant Soul realm], a step ahead of even Lila.

It was foreseeable that with the aid of this Positive Water Immortal Pear [a spiritual fruit of immense yang and water essence], she would very likely advance to the Half-Step Primordial Spirit Realm [a transitional state just before the Primordial Spirit realm] within a century.

And if she succeeded in breaking through in one attempt, she would become a Half-Step Primordial Spirit at the remarkably young age of around one thousand seven hundred years. Achieving this realm at such a youthful point in her lifespan would smooth her future Path [the journey of cultivation and enlightenment].

Unfortunately, as a cultivator with a Heavenly Spiritual Root, her foundation in spiritual power was slightly weaker. Overcoming the Primordial Spirit Heavenly Thunder Tribulation [the heavenly thunder tribulation required to ascend to the Primordial Spirit realm] would likely pose a significant challenge for her.

Eldrin Chen did not dwell on it further. He glanced at Exquisite Jiang and asked, "How is your progress on comprehending your third Arcane Power [a profound and powerful supernatural ability], my lady?"

"I only succeeded in comprehending it recently. It seems the chances of grasping a fifth Arcane Power before reaching the Primordial Spirit [the realm of the spiritual core] are not great."

Exquisite Jiang shook her head, a trace of solemnity knitting her brow as she spoke.

The deeper her cultivation progressed, the more she understood the profound difficulty of comprehending Arcane Power. Read the full novel exclusively on audio—novel.com.

Given her innate talent and intellect, mastering three distinct Five Elements Arcane Power [profound supernatural abilities derived from the fundamental forces of nature] was already an immense challenge. To comprehend a fourth Arcane Power would likely require at least another three hundred years.

As for cultivating a fifth Arcane Power, the time needed would undoubtedly be measured in millennia.

This should not be mistaken for a lack of aptitude. In truth, Exquisite Jiang's talent is considered extraordinarily rare and remarkable.

Surveying the entire Purple Seal Realm, Primordial Spirit Great Power [cultivators who have ascended to the Primordial Spirit realm] who have mastered three Arcane Power can be counted on one hand. Even a mighty figure like Long River Path Lord, a Primordial Spirit 6th Tier [sixth-tier Primordial Spirit realm] powerhouse who has walked the path for over eight thousand years, has only comprehended two Arcane Power: Long River and Setting Sun.

While cultivators at the Primordial Spirit [Primordial Spirit realm] possess vastly greater spiritual power, which also means facing greater resistance when attempting to grasp new Arcane Power, the sheer disparity in their achievements remains starkly evident.

The fact that Exquisite Jiang has already grasped three Arcane Power at her current realm speaks to a talent so profound it is scarcely seen across the ages. One might speculate that even the legendary Imperial Sovereign Jiang in his prime would have been her equal.

The reason her progress seems less rapid is not due to any shortcoming on her part, but rather because Eldrin Chen's own intellect and comprehension are simply too monstrously exceptional.

As Eldrin Chen has progressed further along his cultivation journey, he has grown increasingly aware of the extraordinary nature of his own innate gifts and talents.

In his earlier years, focused solely on mastering Divine Ability [supernatural techniques] and cultivation arts without touching upon the more esoteric realms of Arcane Power, Path Principles [the fundamental laws governing reality], or the Great Path [the supreme Dao], the true extent of this disparity was not fully apparent.

Now, however, as he begins to delve into the mysteries of Arcane Power, he realizes he possesses an almost preternatural, peerless aptitude for comprehending such profound and arcane truths of heaven and earth.

Cultivators like him are born for the path of cultivation, possessing astonishing comprehension towards Arcane Power [profound supernatural abilities derived from understanding the fundamental laws of reality]. In the future, their grasp of Path Principles Comprehension [the comprehension of fundamental cosmic principles] and even the Great Path [the supreme, all-encompassing Dao] will likely meet with unparalleled success.

The deeper one cultivates, the closer one comes to perceiving the ultimate truths of heaven and earth, to touching the Path Principles [fundamental laws governing existence] and the Great Path. It is at this stage that a talent unprecedented since antiquity can truly manifest.

From what Eldrin Chen knows, individuals like Exquisite Jiang and Verdant Consort could only comprehend one or two Arcane Power most suitable for themselves when they delved into such mysteries. They had virtually no room for choice.

In stark contrast, when he contemplated Arcane Power, it was as if he were immersed in an ocean of possibilities. One supreme Arcane Power after another, each a direct conduit to the Great Path, appeared before him, allowing him to freely choose which to comprehend.

The distinctions between these Arcane Power are not apparent in the early stages. However, the deeper one cultivates, the more evident the gap in their potential becomes.

For instance, the two Arcane Power of Long River Path Lord—Long River and Setting Sun—can at most lead to the comprehension of Path Principles. Their path ends at the realms of Earth Immortal [an immortal whose power is rooted in and sustains a world] or Celestial Immortal [a heavenly immortal who transcends mortal realms].

Primordial Solar Flame [the primal flame of pure yang, a fundamental force of creation], Profound Darkness Water [the profound water of ultimate darkness, representing the abyssal and formless], Primordial One Gold, and Myriad Things Earth [the nurturing earth from which all things spring]—these kinds of Arcane Power, when cultivated to their zenith, are all supreme authorities that peer directly into the Great Path. Ultimately, one can use them as a foundation to comprehend the Great Path itself.

Legend states that comprehending Path Principles allows one to become an immortal. Using Path Principles to open up a world enables one to become an Earth Immortal Patriarch. Fully mastering and wielding Path Principles allows one to ascend as a Celestial Immortal Great Power [a formidable celestial immortal].

Yet, only by comprehending the true power of the Great Path does one cross the threshold into the realm of the Great Encompassing Golden Immortal [the Golden Immortal, a sovereign who encompasses a great cosmic principle].

This distinction is vast and profound. The deeper one's cultivation reaches, the clearer one understands the chasm in potential and power it represents.

Eldrin Chen's current cultivation level and breadth of vision were still somewhat lacking; his understanding of the realms within the Immortal [a being who has transcended mortality through cultivation] realm was not yet extensive.

Yet, he had an indistinct feeling that in the matter of comprehending Arcane Power [profound, law-based supernatural abilities], within the recorded ancient history of the Purple Seal Realm, there likely was no one who could stand as his equal.

Thinking of how Exquisite Jiang had now fallen behind him in comprehending Arcane Power, Eldrin Chen spoke after a moment of contemplation, "My lady, there is no need for haste. Your lifespan [the natural longevity granted by cultivation] remains long."

"If you cannot grasp a fifth Path Principles [fundamental truths or laws of the Dao that form the basis of cultivation arts] before reaching the Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator, a major realm of power] realm, you can simply wait a few more years."

"We can discuss this again in the future."

Exquisite Jiang shook her head. Her cultivation was on the verge of breaking through to the Infant Soul 8th Tier [the eighth minor stage within the Infant Soul realm], and within ten Sixty-Year Cycle [a cycle of sixty years, often used to measure longer periods in cultivation] she would be ready to assault the Primordial Spirit Realm. Discover more cultivation stories at audio-novel .c om.

But if she delayed for more years within the Infant Soul Stage, she feared the gap between her and Eldrin Chen would widen.

Seeing this, Eldrin Chen said no more on the matter. Instead, he stated, "By my reckoning, in a few more years, it will be the optimal time for Senior Vast Righteousness to guide and receive the Heaven Soul [a celestial soul or destiny, often a key component in advanced cultivation or tribulations]."

"I intend to visit Vast Righteousness Peak to inquire about Senior Vast Righteousness's plans."

"Very well, you should go then."

Exquisite Jiang and the others also nodded in agreement. Vast Righteousness True Lord had refined the Primordial Solar Immortal Sword and now possessed the Primordial Spirit Pill [a supreme elixir for advancing one's spiritual core]. His chances of breaking through to the Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core realm, a major milestone in a cultivator's journey] were already more than seventy percent.

Now that they had encountered the once-in-several-centuries opportunity of the Heaven Soul Return [a celestial phenomenon where the heavens align, greatly aiding spiritual ascension], it was indeed the perfect time to attempt the Primordial Spirit breakthrough.

Eldrin Chen did not delay. He immediately took a Teleportation Formation to Vast Righteousness Peak and sought out Vast Righteousness True Lord, who was in secluded cultivation.

Seeing his visit, Vast Righteousness True Lord smiled and said, "Your timing is perfect. I was planning to seek you out in a few days."

"Is the True Lord [a title for a powerful cultivator] preparing to attempt the Primordial Spirit breakthrough?"

"Precisely!"

Vast Righteousness True Lord nodded, his expression turning solemn. "Seventeen years from now presents my best chance for the Heaven Soul Return. I intend to seize that moment to ascend to the Primordial Spirit Realm."

"That is an excellent opportunity."

Eldrin Chen nodded as well. With four hundred years remaining until the Demonic Abyss Cataclysm [a prophesied great calamity], if Vast Righteousness True Lord succeeded in his breakthrough now, he would have ample time to consolidate his cultivation. Furthermore, he could elevate the Vast Righteousness Heaven Sword to a higher grade.

Considering this, Eldrin Chen said, "As the current leader of the Immortal Alliance, I will speak with Sea-Calmer and Brother Featherflight. If necessary, they will stand guard and intercept any Primordial Spirit Demons [powerful demons of the Primordial Spirit realm] that might interfere."

"Then it seems the External Tribulation [a trial of heavenly lightning and calamities faced during a major cultivation breakthrough] holds little threat for my breakthrough this time."

Vast Righteousness True Lord smiled upon hearing this. His breakthrough had indeed coincided with the most opportune moment.

With Eldrin Chen at the helm of the Three Veins Immortal Alliance, he could mobilize all nine Sword-Holding Elder [elite guardians of the alliance who wield authority and power] to protect his path. Without strength at the Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core realm, a major stage of cultivation] level, no one would possess the capability to obstruct his ascension.

Furthermore, within the Eastern Barrens Domain, the Human Race now held overwhelming dominance. Faced with the looming threat of the Demonic Abyss Cataclysm [a cataclysmic event involving demonic incursions from a great abyss], the various Path Lord Sacred Land [holy lands ruled by powerful cultivators known as Path Lords] would also offer covert support for his breakthrough to Primordial Spirit.

Moreover, he was not a figure like Eldrin Chen, a Great Encompassing Infant Soul [a supreme level within the Infant Soul stage, just below Primordial Spirit]. Therefore, his Tribulation would not be overwhelmingly terrifying. Thus, his chances of successfully breaking through to Primordial Spirit this time were indeed quite favorable.

Thinking of this, both men couldn't help but reveal smiles. Eldrin Chen then spoke again, "For this breakthrough, let us proceed to the Gu Yuan Mountain Range. The spiritual energy there is more abundant."

"Very well."

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