Chapter 1354 : A Shift in the Pattern
Eldrin actually supported this as well.
However, considering the risks involved, Eldrin still said, "Leave the various great demon clans of Liuchuan Baihai to you. I will go outside the Flowing Fire Star Palace to investigate the movements of the Sky Prison Clan."
"Very well."
Upon hearing this, the Ancient Ruins Yin Sovereign nodded slightly and said.
Everyone knew in their hearts that within the current 100 Seas of Flowing Rivers, the true formidable adversaries all lay beyond the Flowing Fire Star Palace.
Apart from the Flowing Fire Star Palace, the remaining demonic forces, while not weak, no longer posed any significant threat to the inhabitants of the Returning Abyss Sea.
Their only concern was that the Heaven Prison Clan might strike against them while they were sweeping through the White Sea.
It must be understood that the strength of the Tianyu Clan was unfathomable. Even disregarding their dozens of Earth Immortal ancestors, the power of the Tianyu Clan Leader alone was sufficient to annihilate the entire Abyssal Return Immortal Alliance.
Thus, the success of sweeping through the Flowing Rivers and 100 Seas truly hinged on keeping a close watch on the Celestial Prison Clan.
Eldrin, who possessed the Mirror of Yin, Yang, and Void, could traverse the void with effortless freedom, making him the ideal candidate to monitor the Sky Prison Clan.
Having grasped this reasoning, everyone naturally had no objections.
Seeing this, Eldrin said, "Then you all should prepare the troops for battle. I will head beyond the Flowing Fire Star Palace to assess the current state of the conflict there."
Without delay, Eldrin immediately flew toward the Sea of Returning Abyss.
He traversed the boundless sea and unknowingly arrived outside the Flowing Fire Star Palace. Yet the moment he reached its periphery, he sensed something was amiss.
Logically speaking, the Flowing Fire Star Palace should have been completely besieged by the Eldrin, yet at this moment, not a single Eldrin could be seen outside its perimeter.
Numerous human cultivators were continuously channeling their powers, seemingly engaged in repairing the Flaming Star Palace's Mountain Guardian Array.
Even beyond the Flowing Fire Star Palace, numerous cultivators were scavenging for spoils of war. "Something’s wrong."
"Could it be that the Celestial Prison Clan has withdrawn its troops?"
Eldrin murmured inwardly, a flicker of astonishment crossing his features.
After observing repeatedly and confirming that there were no Sky Prison clansmen outside the Flowing Fire Star Palace, he finally concealed his aura and stepped out.
He found a middle-aged cultivator who was gathering spoils and immediately inquired, "Young friend, might I ask why the Celestial Prison Clan has vanished from beyond the Flaming Star Palace?"
The middle-aged cultivator, whose cultivation base was merely at the Nascent Soul realm, could not discern Eldrin’s level of power. He promptly spoke with deference, “Esteemed senior, are you an immortal who has come to lend us aid?”
"Hmm."
Eldrin remained silent, tacitly acknowledging the statement.
The middle-aged cultivator’s face lit up with excitement as he exclaimed, “3 months ago, the Sky Prison Clan was relentlessly assaulting our mountain-protecting formation, yet for some unknown reason, they abruptly withdrew.”
"The immortals of Star Palace couldn’t be certain whether the Sky Prison Clan was scheming. Only after 3 months did they permit our departure, claiming the Sky Prison Clan’s forces had already withdrawn."
Eldrin nodded, asked a few general questions, and only stepped forward to release his aura after confirming that the Heaven Prison Clan had truly retreated with their forces.
As he unleashed his aura, it quickly drew the attention of the Flowing Fire Star Palace.
Before long, 3 figures emerged from the Flowing Fire Star Palace.
Eldrin cast a glance and realized all 3 were Earth Immortal realm patriarchs. The leader, a voluptuous and graceful female cultivator, had reached the sixth layer of Earth Immortal cultivation.
The woman smiled upon seeing Eldrin and said, "Are you, perhaps, Fellow Daoist of the Returning Abyss?" "Indeed, it is I."
Eldrin (Person Name) gave a slight nod and courteously exchanged greetings with the several individuals.
Perhaps aware of Eldrin’s formidable reputation, the Flowing Fire Star Palace did not dare show any neglect. They promptly escorted Eldrin to the Guest Reception Island.
On the Welcoming Island, the group sat facing each other. After a round of introductions, Eldrin had gained a general understanding of everyone's identities.
Before him stood 3 individuals: the Grand Elder, Fifth Elder, and Seventh Elder of the Flowing Fire Star Palace.
The Grand Elder was none other than that Earth Immortal of the sixth realm—a female celestial who bore the Daoist title Flowing Blaze Immortal. Having opened 6 layers of celestial realms, she stood among the most formidable experts in the present-day Flowing Blaze Star Palace. At this moment, Flowing Blaze Immortal appeared exceptionally courteous, her enchanting eyes resting upon Eldrin (Person Name) as she remarked with a smile, "I have heard that you, Fellow Daoist, slew the master of 1000 Dragon Lake and single-handedly annihilated their entire forces in 1 battle."
"Such a feat is truly rare throughout the ages. This humble 1 is deeply impressed."
"You flatter me. This victory was only possible with the assistance of fellow Daoists—it is by no means my accomplishment alone."
Eldrin spoke courteously, unwilling to dwell on the matter, and inquired, "I've heard that the Sky Prison Clan has withdrawn their troops. I wonder if this is true?"
"If you had not come today, I had intended to inform you of this matter."
Hearing his inquiry, Flowing Flame Fairy began to explain, "Some time ago, the Tianyu Clan has already withdrawn their troops." Upon hearing this, Eldrin felt a subtle heaviness in his heart and promptly asked, "Do you know where the Tianyu Clan has gone now?"
"They have gone to the Sea of Ye Ruins to reinforce the Western Abyss Dragon Palace."
Flameflow Fairy immediately began to speak, recounting the entire story in a measured tone. As her words unfolded, Eldrin gradually came to understand the chain of events.
The reason the Sky Prison tribe withdrew their forces was due to a turning point in the war between the Western Abyss Dragon Palace and the Ye Xu Divine Sea.
The conflict between the Lord of the Western Abyss Dragon Palace and Divine Lord Ye Xu stood at the very heart of the great cataclysm in the Sea of Western Qi and Divine Abyss.
Among the races of humans, demons, and celestials, a full 5 Half-Step Celestial Immortals were locked in fierce contention there.
The Sky Prison Clan and the Western Abyss Dragon Palace joined forces to unleash this great calamity, originally intending to first breach the Flowing Fire Star Palace before lending the Western Abyss Dragon Palace a hand.
Yet they could never have imagined that the war in Liuchuan Baihai remained persistently unfavorable.
In this battle, the 1000 Dragon Lake served as the greatest ally of the Celestial Prison Clan. Yet unexpectedly, in the Heavenly Demon Sea, hundreds of immortals from the 1000 Dragon Lake were lured and slain by the Return to Ruins Immortal Alliance.
Thereafter, the entire 1000 Dragon Lake met its demise in the Abyssal Ruins Sea. Following this battle, the Celestial Prison Clan lost their greatest ally, causing their assaults on the Flowing Fire Star Palace to remain perpetually unsuccessful.
This in itself was not a major issue. Given another few 1000 years, the Tianyu Clan, relying on the power of several Creation Ancient Ships, were still confident they could breach the Zhou Heaven Star Formation and completely obliterate the Flowing Fire Star Palace.
Yet the current battle situation allowed no such luxury of time.
Not long before, during the great war between the Western Abyss Dragon Palace and the Divine Clan, the Profound Heart Deity (Divine Being) had finally broken the stalemate. In the midst of the battle, the Profound Heart Deity unleashed a trump card obtained from the Western Qi Grotto-Heaven—an exceedingly precious ninth-rank ancient talisman.
Relying on this trump card, the Profound Heart Deity shattered the great formation of the demon race, slaying 3 top-tier Earth Immortals at the 9th level and 7 at the 8th level in a single decisive strike.
After this battle, the tide of war in the Divine Abyssal Sea of Western Qi turned dramatically. The 2 Half-Step Celestial Immortals from the Western Abyss Dragon Palace found themselves besieged, retreating from several sea territories within merely a few years.
Among the fallen top-tier Earth Immortals were 2 elders from the Tianyu Clan.
Under such circumstances, continuing the fight would likely lead to the complete collapse of the Western Abyss Dragon Palace. Naturally, the Lord of the Sky Prison Tribe dared not prolong the fierce battle against the Flowing Fire Star Palace.
Thus, almost overnight, the Heaven Prison Clan Lord led an army of over 10,000 to reinforce the Western Abyss Dragon Palace.