Chapter 1428 : First Defeat

Eldrin pondered briefly before declaring, "With our combined strength, working in unison to deploy the Pure Yang Celestial Flame Formation, we would fear nothing even if several dozen Earth Immortals and Ghost Ancestors were to assault us together."

"The real trouble lies with those few Earth Immortals at the Great Perfection stage, and that Nether Sea Pearl—the supreme treasure of the Netherworld."

The Ancient Ruins Yin Sovereign gave a nod and spoke, "Then we shall launch a surprise attack and see if we can seize that Abyssal Sea Pearl." "Very well."

Eldrin nodded and immediately activated the Yin Yang Void Mirror to conceal their auras, leading the group all the way to the very heart of this Netherdark Abyssal Court.

It was an incomparably magnificent Netherworld Island, situated upon the Netherstar Sea, drawing in boundless nether qi as if brewing something momentous.

"This is the place."

Eldrin murmured under his breath, sensing with crystalline clarity the presence of a Netherghost Cultivator at the Earth Immortal (Cultivation Realm) great perfection stage cultivating deep within the Netherworld Island.

He exchanged a glance with the assembly and declared without hesitation, "Strike now!"

In the blink of an eye, all 11 Earth Immortal Elders struck simultaneously. Dozens of World-Sundering Treasures descended in a relentless barrage, among which were numerous high-grade World-Sundering Treasures of terrifying destructive power.

With 11 of them joining forces, even a Perfected Earth Immortal would likely be grievously wounded if caught off guard. Yet at that very moment, boundless Netherlight suddenly blossomed from the majestic Netherworld Island.

But then, an ancient dark pearl soared into the sky. Like a black hole, it twisted the endless void and actually blocked all the attacks.

"Not good."

Seeing this, Eldrin’s heart sank, and he immediately sensed that something was amiss.

In that fleeting moment, the Nethersea Pearl—a supreme Netherrealm treasure—had awakened of its own accord, shielding its master from the combined assault. Realizing this in an instant, he declared decisively: "Deploy the formation."

In the blink of an eye, the group stepped into the Great Pure Yang Celestial Fire Formation, each brandishing their formation flags to activate the array. Instantly, boundless Pure Yang Celestial Fire surged downward, engulfing the Netherworld Island below in roaring flames.

The Pure Yang Celestial Flame was inherently the ultimate yang fire of the heavens, most effective in suppressing ghost cultivators and demonic treasures. Now, amplified by the joint efforts of 10 Earth Immortals activating the formation, its power was sufficient to pose a threat even to a ghost cultivator at the half-step Celestial Immortal realm.

Yet the Abyssal Pearl proved worthy of its title as a supreme treasure of the Netherworld. Like a black hole enveloping the void, it remained utterly impervious despite being ceaselessly scorched by endless streams of primordial Yang flames.

"Who are you people?"

Seeing that the Abyssal Pearl remained unbreached, a figure clad in the Robe of the Nether Emperor emerged from the depths of the Netherworld Island.

He cast a glance at the crowd, a trace of eerie cold light flickering in his eyes. While channeling his spiritual power to empower the Abyssal Pearl, he spoke with icy detachment, "The Yang Realm has long been severed from the Nether Domain. How dare you still covet the Abyssal Pearl?"

"This Sovereign shall ensure none of you return alive today."

As the words fell, with a flick of his sleeve, he unleashed an endless Nether River that surged forth, seeking to extinguish the Pure Yang Heavenly Flame.

To everyone’s astonishment, the Netherworld River did not seem to be at a disadvantage when clashing with the Pure Yang Heavenly Flame. "This is bad."

Eldrin (Person Name) furrowed his brow slightly, recognizing the origins of this Netherworld River.

This Netherworld Long River, known as the Profound Abyssal True Water, is the ultimate frigid water of the boundless nether realm. It stands as the polar counterpart—1 yin, 1 yang—to Eldrin's (Person Name) Pure Yang Celestial Fire, both equally renowned across the heavens.

Among the 5 rules cultivated by Eldrin (Person Name), the water attribute rule was this Profound Abyssal True Water.

Yet that alone was not enough to astonish Eldrin. What truly took him by surprise was how this individual, relying solely on his own power to activate the Abyssal Pearl against so many opponents, had not immediately been forced into a disadvantage.

Such majestic magical power had surpassed everyone's imagination. "This is an existence who has opened at least 7 heavenly layers."

Eldrin's heart grew heavy with apprehension; he was beginning to feel trapped in a dilemma with no easy way out.

With their strength driving the formation, even if they could suppress this Nether Ghost Ancestor, accomplishing it in a short time would be extremely difficult. Yet now, trapped within the Yin Universe, the longer they delayed, the more the battle would turn against them.

Indeed, as the great battle erupted, many nearby Earth Immortals and Ghost Ancestors quickly became aware of the disturbance.

Dozens of Earth Immortals arrived in swift succession, among them 2 cultivators at the Ninth Heaven of Earth Immortal realm. From the distant void, even more Netherghost Immortals were closing in.

"It seems we have underestimated them."

Seeing the situation turning dire, Eldrin immediately spoke up, "Fall back for now."

As the words fell, the crowd immediately prepared to withdraw.

Yet the Ghost Ancestors of the Nether Yin Court refused to let them escape. Dozens of Ghost Ancestors took turns launching assaults against them, while countless ghost immortals swarmed in to surround them.

Most crucially, someone had brought spatial treasures intending to seal off everyone's escape routes.

Witnessing this scene, Eldrin furrowed his brow deeply. Though the Pure Yang Grand Formation had temporarily secured their foothold, keeping them from immediate defeat...

However, fighting on enemy territory meant that if the Netherghost Immortal continued to send reinforcements, they would likely perish here once their magical power was depleted.

Thinking of this, a cold glint flashed in Eldrin's eyes as he immediately retrieved a treasure gourd from his sleeve. *Whoosh*

But as the treasure gourd trembled slightly, it instantly released a dazzling blade light. With a single rotation of that luminous arc, a Netherghost Ancestor at the ninth level of Earth Immortal realm had his primordial spirit utterly annihilated on the spot.

"Ah—"

A Ghost Ancestor at the Earth Immortal Perfection stage was instantly slain, tearing a breach in the encirclement in the blink of an eye.

Seizing the opportunity, Eldrin used the 5-Colored Divine Light to seize the treasure from the opponent's grasp. Then, leading his companions, he fought his way out and fled deep into the endless void.

And with a single Earth Immortal at the Great Perfection realm slain right before their eyes, the remaining Netherghost Patriarchs dared not act recklessly, allowing them to charge unimpeded into the depths of the void.

After cutting a bloody path through the endless void, Eldrin swiftly led the group back to the Qingcang Netherworld with the aid of the Yin-Yang Void Mirror.

The Nether Lord of the Ancient Ruins sealed the fissure with his Primordial Breath Sky-Swallowing Pearl, then remarked with belated trepidation, "Today's events prove I underestimated them."

"If not for your swift execution of 1 enemy today, which intimidated those Netherghost Patriarchs, I'm afraid we wouldn't have returned so easily." Eldrin shook his head with a bitter smile and said, "I overestimated myself as well."

Everyone present heaved a sigh as well. From today’s battle, it was clear that even a miniature underworld cosmos—1 with its Heavenly Dao shattered and its power reduced to less than 10 percent—was not an opponent to be taken lightly.

Given their current strength, it would still be far too difficult for them to put up a fight.

At this thought, Chen Qiyuan (Person Name) said, "Against ordinary Earth Immortals and Ghost Ancestors, we can still manage with the Pure Yang Heavenly Fire Formation (Formation)."

"But with the Nethersea Pearl—a supreme treasure of the Netherworld—in their possession, they stood invincible from the very start. Unless we shatter the Nethersea Pearl, we can do nothing to harm them."

Elder Tianyuan nodded, his expression grave as he said, "After today’s battle, they will undoubtedly be on guard against us." "It will not be so easy to succeed next time."