Chapter 885 : A Mortal Heart's Burden

"Wait until three hundred years later, when Heaven Abandoned Path Lord recovers, then come back to reclaim Eastern Region Great Wasteland."

"Foolish!"

Upon hearing this, Master of the Horizon Pavilion could not help but adopt a stern expression and said, "This old man can wait three hundred years, but can the hundreds of millions of living beings of the Human Race in the Eastern Sea Cultivation World wait another three hundred years?"

"Is this old man alone more important, or are the hundreds of millions of living beings in the Eastern Sea Cultivation World more important?"

The old senior's tone was unusually severe, sounding as if he were frustrated by the failure to live up to expectations.

His expression was incomparably solemn as he stared intently at Eldrin Chen and said, "Right now, the Fiend Race lacks a Primordial Spirit 9th Tier [the ninth and highest level of the Primordial Spirit cultivation stage] cultivator. This is our best opportunity to act."

"Do you know that if, because of this old man's condition, we miss this rare chance, I would die with my eyes wide open, unable to rest in peace?"

"Senior!"

Eldrin Chen's eyes reddened. It seemed as if a thousand words swirled in his heart, yet they remained trapped there, unspeakable.

He could only stand there silently, quietly gripping Master of the Horizon Pavilion's hand, wordless. For the best reading experience, visit audio-novel.com.

Witnessing his stubborn demeanor, the Master of the Horizon Pavilion could not help but sigh inwardly.

His tone softened as he fixed his gaze firmly upon Eldrin Chen and said, "You, whose nature appears sharp and decisive, are in truth far too bound by sentiment."

"Your [the core conviction and spiritual foundation of a cultivator] is that of a mortal heart. To cultivate the [the ultimate principle and goal of cultivation] with such a heart is to be fated to experience the myriad Karma within the Mortal Dust [the secular world of human affairs and attachments] and to bear its inherent suffering."

At this point, the Master of the Horizon Pavilion sighed and said, "This is the nature of your , yet it is also your greatest vulnerability. Perhaps one day, it will lead you into a [a profound trial or crisis faced during cultivation]."

"I would rather you could cast aside that mortal heart, forge a will of iron and stone, and find the resolve to sever the countless threads of Karma."

"Cast aside my mortal heart?" Eldrin Chen felt a moment of confusion, but his voice quickly grew firm. "If I were to abandon my humanity, what would be the point of attaining [the state of becoming an immortal being]?"

"The 'me' at that time would no longer be the 'me' of today. What meaning would my ascension hold then?"

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen smiled and replied, "Senior says I possess a mortal heart, yet you yourself are willing to sacrifice your lesser self for the greater good of countless living beings. Are you not also a man of the Mortal Dust?"

"In this lifetime, the heaviest burden to bear is responsibility. Since we possess the capability and cannot forsake our mortal hearts to cultivate in solitude, perhaps this is simply the Destiny we were born to shoulder."

"..."

Upon departing from the Horizon Pavilion [a legendary pavilion said to exist at the edge of the world], Eldrin Chen stood atop it for a long while. Finally, he offered a deep bow towards the pavilion before turning his path towards the Eastern Region Great Wasteland.

After returning to the Eastern Region Great Wasteland, Eldrin Chen did not enter seclusion again. Instead, he began mobilizing the major Immortal Clan [powerful clans with deep cultivation legacies] within the wasteland, preparing their forces for war.

He also sent messages to the Central Ancestral Domain and other regions, demanding that their great Immortal Clan coordinate their efforts to jointly recapture the Eastern Sea Cultivation World.

Thus, time flowed on, and a full ten years passed in the blink of an eye.

On this day, within the Star Lake Ancient Domain, thousands of Treasure Ship [massive vessels powered by spiritual energy and used for long-distance travel and warfare] gathered. Countless cultivators assembled, the fire of battle blazing fiercely in every gaze.

For this campaign, the Human Race had pooled the strength of multiple domains. Though not as formidable as during the Demonic Abyss Cataclysm two centuries prior, it still constituted a campaign of immense scale.

Eldrin Chen stood firm in the void, observing the sky-obscuring fleet of Treasure Ship before him. The battle-ardor within his heart surged ever higher.

He exchanged a glance with the several Path Lord [powerful cultivators who have mastered a profound cultivation path] beside him. Then, the sound of war-horns erupted. The mighty armada began to advance, crossing the Dragon-Slaying Mountain Range and heading towards the Eastern Sea Cultivation World.

The Human Race had come prepared. Nearly twenty Primordial Spirit Path Lord [Path Lords who have cultivated their Primordial Spirit, the spiritual core of a being] had answered the call, commanding legions of cultivators beyond count. The Eastern Sea Fiend Race [a race of malevolent beings from the outer realms], meanwhile, still had to guard against threats from Dorian, the Horizon Pavilion, and several Great Sage [powerful demonic sovereigns] territories of the Demon Race. They simply could not muster their full strength to resist.

The overwhelming armada broke through all resistance like a sharp blade, driving deep into the heart of the Eastern Sea Cultivation World. The Outer Realm Fiend Race began to retreat, one defeat following another.

Simultaneously, within the two Great Sage territories of the Human Race in the Eastern Sea Cultivation World, the Primordial Spirit Demon Ancestor [powerful demonic beings with Primordial Spirit cultivation] also launched their counter-offensive against the Fiend Race [a race of malevolent cultivators].

Utterly incapable of mounting a defense, the fiends immediately crumbled like a collapsing mountain, plunging into a full-scale rout.

This great war raged for seventeen years. Eldrin Chen led his grand army in an unstoppable advance, ultimately encircling the Outer Realm Heavenly Demon [demons originating from realms beyond this world] within the Heavenly Demon Sea Region.

The Heavenly Demon Sea Region was once the domain seized by the ancient Kaya Heavenly Demon. Now occupied by the Outer Realm Heavenly Demon, it had been fortified over several centuries, transforming into a second stronghold for these interlopers.

This region, along with the Cosmic Stellar Archipelago, was firmly under the control of the Outer Realm Fiend Race [the fiendish counterpart to the Outer Realm Demons]. The two locations formed a pincer, representing one of the most critical threats to the Human Race.

"Esteemed colleagues, what is your counsel on this matter?" The story continues at audio‑novel.com.

Deep within the Heavenly Demon Sea Region, over ten Outer Realm Demon God [powerful demonic entities of god-like stature] had gathered, each wearing expressions of profound gravity.

The two leaders among them were both at the Primordial Spirit Late Stage. One wore black robes, with a single, mystically potent Heavenly Eye [a divine third eye granting supernatural perception] marking his brow.

The other was an exceedingly alluring woman. Clad in diaphanous pink gauze, her aura seemed saintly and elegant, yet a closer look revealed a subtle, wanton undertone to her demeanor.

Of these two, the former belonged to the Three-Eyed Divine Clan [a rare clan said to have been born from the depths of the cosmos, possessing innate power]. It was said this lineage was birthed from the Depths of the Starry Sky [the profound and distant reaches of the cosmos]. Members were born with cultivation at the Primordial Spirit Realm, making them exceedingly rare Innate Being [beings born with immense innate power and cultivation]. The reason for their fall into the Demonic Path [a corrupt and malevolent cultivation methodology] remained unknown.

The woman was a powerful figure from the Desire Demon Tribe. This lineage was born with the Desire Demon Constitution [a demonic physique specializing in charm and life-force absorption arts], and they cultivated the path of seduction and life-force absorption. Although her personal combat strength was not overwhelming, she was accompanied by several formidable protectors.

Among them, three were even former Primordial Spirit Path Lord [a master of the Primordial Spirit cultivation stage] from the Purple Seal Realm. Clearly, they had all been seduced by this demoness and fallen into the Demonic Path [the heretical cultivation path of demons].

However, at this moment, whether it was the Desire Demon Primordial Spirit or the Heavenly Demon from the Three-Eyed Divine Clan, their expressions were uniformly grave.

The Three-Eyed Divine Clan member wore an extremely grim expression, his gaze heavy as he looked at the assembled Mortal Path [the orthodox cultivation path of humanity] cultivators. "The Purple Seal Primordial Spirit [a cultivator who has reached the Primordial Spirit stage] advances with overwhelming force. Furthermore, the Icy Glaze Demon Ancestor, the Returning Abyss Path Master, and the Immortal Refining Furnace—these three possess combat power that has reached the peak of the Primordial Spirit Late Stage."

"With our current strength, a head-on confrontation would likely end disastrously for us."

"Indeed," another voice chimed in, filled with dread. "That Returning Abyss Path Master even wields a Void Spiritual Treasure [a treasure of immense power capable of manipulating space]. He even slew Garuda the Heavenly Demon."

At the mention of Eldrin Chen, the complexions of the demons visibly paled.

The Desire Demon Primordial Spirit trembled slightly, her beautiful eyes flickering with fear. "Perhaps... perhaps we should abandon the Heavenly Demon Sea Region and retreat to the safety of the Stellar Archipelago?" she suggested, her voice unsteady.

"Impossible!"

A Primordial Spirit Heavenly Demon [a Heavenly Demon at the Primordial Spirit stage] immediately shook his head, his voice urgent. "The great Nine Nether Abyssal Demon Venerable requires a massive blood sacrifice of the Human Race to swiftly recover from his injuries. We cannot retreat."

"If we abandon the Heavenly Demon Sea Region and the Nine Nether Abyssal Demon Venerable holds us accountable, who among us could withstand his wrath?"

The Three-Eyed Divine Clan Heavenly Demon nodded in agreement and spoke, "If we can procure sufficient blood sacrifices [living beings offered to fuel demonic cultivation], the Nine Nether Abyssal Demon Venerable could recover his strength sooner than Heaven Abandoned Lin."

"Should the Demon Venerable recover earlier, he could potentially turn the tide of this war, seek out and slay Heaven Abandoned Lin, and then who could possibly stand in our way?"

Upon hearing this, the expressions of the assembled demons shifted uneasily. One Primordial Spirit Heavenly Demon [a demonic cultivator whose spiritual core has reached the Primordial Spirit stage] spoke up, "But if we engage in a desperate battle with Returning Abyss Path Master, our forces will likely suffer grievous losses."

"There is no need for concern."

The Three-Eyed Divine Clan strategist spoke with calculated confidence, "If we can hold our ground for a time, the Blood Demon Patriarch and the Black Dragon Demon Ancestor will surely not remain idle."

"That Black Dragon covets ascension to immortality [transcending mortality to become a true immortal being]; he will not stand by and watch us be crushed by the Human Race." Find this and other novels at audio-novel*com.