Chapter 922 : Gathering of the Nascent Souls

With the great calamity approaching, Eldrin Chen did not linger long within the Tribulation Thunder Sea.

He journeyed deep into the Eastern Sea, arriving not long after at the Zhou Tian Star Archipelago Sea.

At this time, less than thirty years remained until the appointed Millennium. The various Dao Lord of the Human Race had already gathered at the Cosmic Star Archipelago.

Upon his arrival, Eldrin Chen found countless cultivators garrisoned across the myriad islands.

Clearly, the Human Race armies dared not be careless. Although the Extraterrestrial Demon God's forces had suffered grievous losses among its Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] ranks, it was, after all, a True Demon [a supreme demonic entity] from the Nine Heavens. They naturally had to remain on high alert.

"You have come,"

Seeing Eldrin Chen arrive, Lyra Jiang was the first to step forward to greet him, unable to hold back her question.

Eldrin Chen nodded, dispensing with excessive pleasantries. He immediately summoned the Human Race Dao Lord to assemble within the Grand Hall.

Once all the Nascent Soul Dao Lord [cultivators who have reached the Nascent Soul realm and are addressed as Dao Lords] had gathered, a subtle shift passed through Eldrin Chen's eyes, and he let out a slow, relieved breath.

During the Demonic Abyss Cataclysm a Millennium ago, the Human Race had suffered devastating losses. At the conflict's most brutal peak, their numbers of Nascent Soul Dao Lord had dwindled to little more than thirty. For uninterrupted reading, go to audio-novel dot com.

Now that a Millennium [a period of one thousand years] has passed, the strength of the Purple Realm [the central continent of this cultivation world] has recovered considerably. Many Nascent Soul Dao Lord [powerful cultivators who have transcended mortality and formed a Nascent Soul] who had undergone their Reincarnation Tribulation [a perilous trial where a cultivator's soul is reborn to shed past karma] have returned. Combined, the various clans have also seen the emergence of more than twenty new Nascent Soul Dao Lord.

Among these newly ascended Nascent Soul Dao Lord, aside from Eldrin Chen and his Dao Companions from earlier years, most are rising talents from the Human, Demonic Monsters [a collective term for powerful, intelligent demonic beasts], and Monster races who have reached the Primordial Spirit Realm [the realm beyond Nascent Soul, where one's spiritual essence is fully solidified].

Among Eldrin Chen's old friends alone, figures like Qingci the Recluse, Nine Rivers Daoist, Ivy the Verdant Enchantress, and Lilith, Mistress of Desire have all achieved this breakthrough.

From Eldrin Chen's disciples and clan descendants, individuals such as Ethan Chen, Alistair Lu, Lana Gu, and Caspian Chen have successively broken through to the Primordial Spirit Realm over these past several hundred years.

However, Sylas Ye [a talented swordsman], blessed with transcendent talent, sought to comprehend a third Secret Power [a profound and unique law or ability grasped by a cultivator] while still in the Nascent Soul Realm, and thus was not in a hurry to advance to Primordial Spirit Realm.

Adding in other rising stars of the Purple Realm like Taibai Jiang, Xuan Qingyi, and Peng the Roc Scion, the Purple Realm now boasts close to one hundred Nascent Soul Dao Lord.

For this campaign, the Human, Demonic Monsters, and Monster races of the Purple Realm have united, fielding a force of over eighty Nascent Soul Dao Lord, further bolstered by the Demi-Immortal [a cultivator who has transcended the Primordial Spirit Realm, standing on the threshold of true immortality] level combat power of Eldrin Chen himself.

Though this force still cannot compare to the realm's strength at its zenith, it represents the recovery of more than half its former might.

Contemplating this, Eldrin Chen let out a slight, subconscious sigh of relief. A subtle movement flickered between his brows before he spoke, "How goes the situation?"

"Proceeding smoothly enough."

Lord of the Southern Sea Glazed Palace spoke, his expression turning grave. "However, after years of warfare, the Cosmic Star Archipelago has suffered greatly. More than one-third of its thirty thousand islands have been destroyed."

"Furthermore, the Formation [a structured arrangement of energy nodes and conduits for defense or other purposes] on those islands were shattered long ago. We lack the strength to re-establish the Cosmic Starry Sky Grand Formation. If the Extraterrestrial Demon God [a powerful demonic entity from beyond this realm] were to launch an assault with immortal-level means, regardless of cost, I fear we would be hard-pressed to withstand it."

Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen's brow furrowed deeply.

The Cosmic Starry Sky Grand Formation was a true Immortal Rank Formation, possessing the power to contend with immortal and demonic beings. For several Millennium [a grand cosmological cycle of one thousand years], it had been the key reason the Human Race could resist the Extraterrestrial Demon God and defend the Purple Realm.

Although the Extraterrestrial Demon God likely lacked the capacity to launch another large-scale invasion like the one before the last Millennium, it was, after all, an entity of immortal-demonic rank. It might very well possess other methods.

Without the Cosmic Starry Sky Grand Formation to serve as a counterbalance, how could they possibly withstand an attack if the Extraterrestrial Demon God paid a steep price to employ immortal-level means?

Contemplating this, Eldrin Chen took a deep breath and declared, "Though the Cosmic Starry Sky Grand Formation was destroyed, the majority of the Cosmic Star Archipelago remains intact."

"This venerable one will reconfigure the Formation layout. Even if it cannot unleash its peak might, it should still be able to impose some restraint upon the Extraterrestrial Demon God."

As he spoke, Eldrin Chen turned his gaze towards the direction of the Demon Abyss Heavenly Scar [a profound and terrifying rift in reality, a gateway or wound left by demonic forces], his expression growing solemn and pensive.

After a long silence, he drew another sharp breath, then shook his head with firm resolve. "Throughout the tens of thousands of years of this great war, the Extraterrestrial Demon God has expended several supreme Demonic Treasure [powerful artifacts forged or wielded by demonic beings] of immortal-demonic rank."

"During the great battle a Millennium ago, his Second Nascent Soul and Eastern Sovereign's Physical Body were trapped by us, and he was forced to expend an exceedingly precious Immortal Rank Treasure Talisman."

"I believe that even if the cultivation base of the Extraterrestrial Demon God [a powerful demonic entity from beyond this realm] is astonishing, he has ultimately not broken through to the Earth Immortal Realm [the realm of an Earth Immortal, a being of immense power]. Therefore, the number of Immortal Rank Demonic Treasure [powerful enchanted artifacts forged by demons] in his possession must be limited."

Hearing this, the others shook their heads with wry smiles. If the Extraterrestrial Demon God had truly broken through to the Earth Immortal Realm, he could have simply used a 'World-Cleaving Treasure' to sunder the heavens and earth directly. There would have been no need for a war spanning tens of thousands of years.

As long as he had not attained that breakthrough, Immortal Rank treasures would undoubtedly remain extremely precious and vital assets to him. After tens of millennia of warfare, his reserves were likely nearly depleted.

Considering this, Dorian Ji nodded and spoke, "As long as the Extraterrestrial Demon God is not willing to expend his Immortal Rank supreme treasures at any cost, we should still be able to withstand this battle."

"That is good to hear." Find thousands of chapters at audio . novel . com.

Eldrin Chen felt a measure of reassurance settle within him. He then spoke, "I must trouble you all to lend me your strength. With thirty years remaining, we must work swiftly to fully repair and perfect the grand formation of the Cosmic Star Archipelago."

Meanwhile, deep within the Endless Void, in the starry expanse beyond the Purple Realm.

This nameless stretch of void was an untamed, primordial place in the deepest reaches of the cosmos.

This void was immeasurably vast. Even between the closest of the Great Thousand Worlds, they were separated by countless billions upon billions of Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] of empty space.

Even a Ancient Ancestor of the Half-Immortal Realm [the realm just below true immortality] might spend several Millennium [a period of one thousand years] and still fail to reach The Other Shore [a metaphorical destination representing enlightenment or a higher plane] and find a Great Thousand World [a vast, stable world of immense scale and spiritual richness].

Logically, unless one were a carefree Immortal [a being who has achieved immortality and can traverse the cosmos] whose spirit could roam the Boundless Starry Sky [the infinite expanse of the cosmos], no one should be able to traverse these billions upon billions of Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] of boundless starry void to reach even the nearest Great Thousand World.

Yet at this very moment, in the starry expanse not far from the Purple Realm [a specific celestial realm], a colossal black abyss lay sprawled across the void.

Countless stars and meteors swirled like rain around this black chasm, while a vast tide of black Demonic Qi [malevolent spiritual energy cultivated by demons] shrouded the starry sky, resembling a hellish abyss adrift in the cosmic depths.

The Calamity Demonic Abyss stretched for countless billions of Li-lengths, a dark scar upon the Nine Heavens [the nine celestial realms] that lay like a Ronan across this stretch of the Boundless Starry Sky. It was, in the eyes of the surrounding Great Thousand World, the most terrifying land of calamity.

For several hundred thousand years, the Calamity Demonic Abyss had entrenched itself here, wreaking horrific devastation upon the surrounding void.

Later, a Nine Heavens Immortal [an immortal from the highest celestial realm] descended from one of the neighboring Great Thousand World, forcing the master of the Calamity Demonic Abyss to sign a pact of peace. Only then did tranquility return to this starry expanse.

Yet this peace was shattered tens of thousands of years ago.

"Fate lies here. Opportunity lies here."

Deep within the Calamity Demonic Abyss, a tall, slender figure clad in black robes stood motionless. Gazing upon a blood pool before him, a flicker of recollection passed through his eyes.

The Calamity Demon God [a being of immense destructive power] possesses an extraordinary origin. It was originally an Innate Divine Spirit [a primordial being born of heaven and earth with the potential for divinity] gestating in the depths of the starry void. By all rights, upon its birth, it should have ascended directly to godhood or immortality.

Alas, due to a calamitous event, it was tainted by demonic blood while still in its embryonic state. Consequently, it failed to achieve its destined status as an Innate Divine Spirit, instead descending into the fate of a lesser, acquired Demon God [a powerful demonic entity]. This tragic turn greatly diminished its foundational strength and latent potential. This chapter is part of a larger work available at (audio-novel.com).