Chapter 922 : Gathering of the Path Lords

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

He journeyed deep into the Eastern Sea, and before long arrived in the waters of the Cosmic Stellar Archipelago.

By this time, less than thirty years remained until the thousand-year deadline. The various Path Lord [powerful cultivators who have comprehended their own unique Path] of the Human Race had already gathered at the Cosmic Stellar Archipelago.

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

Clearly, the Human Race Path Lord were taking no chances. Although the Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator, a high cultivation realm] forces under the Outer Realm Demon God had suffered grievous losses, their master was, after all, a True Demon [a powerful, pure-blooded demon] from the Nine Heavens. It was only prudent to remain vigilant.

"You have arrived," a voice greeted him.

Seeing Eldrin Chen arrive, Exquisite Jiang was the first to step forward to meet him, unable to hold back her words.

Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod, forgoing lengthy pleasantries. He immediately convened a gathering of the Human Race Path Lord within the Great Hall.

Once all the Primordial Spirit Path Lord [Path Lords who have reached the Primordial Spirit realm] had assembled, Eldrin Chen surveyed them, a subtle sense of relief easing the tension in his gaze.

During the Demonic Abyss Cataclysm a thousand years prior, the Human Race had suffered devastating losses. At the conflict's most dire point, their numbers of Primordial Spirit Path Lord had dwindled to a mere thirty or so. For more chapters, visit audio_novel.com for the complete novel.

Now, a millennium has passed, and the strength of Purple Seal Realm has recovered considerably. Many Primordial Spirit Path Lord who had undergone Reincarnation [the process of being reborn into a new life] have returned, and across all the clans, more than twenty new Primordial Spirit Path Lord [cultivators who have reached the Primordial Spirit stage and comprehended their own Path] have ascended.

Among these newly ascended Primordial Spirit Path Lord, aside from Eldrin Chen and his Dao Companions from earlier years, most are the rising talents of the Human, Demon, and Fiend races who have reached the Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core cultivation stage] realm.

Among Eldrin Chen's old friends alone, there are figures like Recluse of Verdant Verse, Nine Rivers Path Master, Immortal Maiden Ivy, and Immortal Maiden Six Desires.

From among Eldrin Chen's disciples and clan descendants, individuals such as Ethan Chen, Literature Abyss Lu, Withering Liana Gu, and Support Revive Chen have all successively broken through to the Primordial Spirit Realm [the cultivation stage of the spiritual core] over the past several centuries.

However, Alistair Ye, blessed with transcendent talent, sought to comprehend a third Arcane Power [a profound supernatural ability derived from understanding cosmic principles] while still in the Infant Soul Realm [the nascent soul cultivation stage], and thus was in no hurry to break through to Primordial Spirit Realm.

Adding in other rising stars of Purple Seal Realm like Jiang Venus, Xuan Qingyi, and Kunpeng Child, the realm now boasts close to one hundred Primordial Spirit Path Lord.

For this campaign, the united Human, Demon, and Fiend races of Purple Seal Realm have mustered over eighty Primordial Spirit Path Lord, bolstered further by the Demigod [a cultivator who has transcended mortality but not yet achieved full divinity] level combat power of Eldrin Chen himself.

Though it still cannot compare to the realm's peak strength in its heyday, this represents the recovery of more than half its former might.

Thinking of this, Eldrin Chen let out a slight sigh of relief. A faint movement flickered between his brows, and he spoke, "How goes the situation?"

"Proceeding smoothly enough."

The Master of Southern Sea Glazed Palace spoke, his expression turning grave. "However, after years of war, the Cosmic Stellar Archipelago has suffered greatly. Over one-third of its more than 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 was shattered long ago, and we lack the power to re-establish the Heavenly Starry Sky Grand Formation. If the Outer Realm Demon God [a powerful demonic entity from beyond this world] were to attack with their full might, employing immortal-level methods regardless of cost, I fear we would be hard-pressed to withstand it."

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

The Heavenly Starry Sky Grand Formation was a true Immortal Rank Formation [a defensive or offensive array of power capable of rivaling immortal beings], possessing the power to contend with immortal and demonic entities. For thousands of years, it had been the key reason the Human Race could resist the Outer Realm Demon God and protect the Purple Seal Realm.

Although it was unlikely the Outer Realm Demon God could launch another large-scale assault like the one a millennium ago, they were, after all, beings of immortal and demonic rank. It was not impossible they possessed other, more subtle methods.

Without the Heavenly Starry Sky Grand Formation to restrain them, how could they possibly resist if the Outer Realm Demon God paid a terrible price and struck with immortal-level power?

Contemplating this, Eldrin Chen took a deep breath. "Although the Heavenly Starry Sky Grand Formation was destroyed, the majority of the Cosmic Stellar Archipelago remains intact," he stated.

"I will personally oversee the realignment of the Formation layout. Even if we cannot restore its peak might, it should still serve to somewhat restrain the Outer Realm Demon God."

As he spoke, Eldrin Chen turned his gaze towards the direction of the Demonic Abyss Heavenly Scar, his expression growing solemn and heavy.

After a long silence, he drew another sharp breath and shook his head with firm resolve. "Throughout the tens of thousands of years of this great war, the Outer Realm Demon God has expended several supreme Demonic Treasure [powerful artifacts forged with demonic energy] of immortal and demonic rank."

"During the great war a millennium ago, his Second Primordial Spirit [a cultivator's second, independently cultivated spiritual core] and his Eastern Sovereign's Physical Body [the physical vessel of the Eastern Sovereign, a being of immense power] were trapped by us, and he was forced to expend a precious, peerless Immortal Rank Treasure Talisman [a talisman of celestial-grade power]."

"I believe that even if the Outer Realm Demon God [a powerful demonic entity from beyond this universe] possesses astonishing cultivation, he ultimately has not yet broken through to the Earth Immortal Realm [the realm of an Earth Immortal, a major milestone in cultivation]. Therefore, the number of Immortal Rank Demonic Treasures [celestial-grade enchanted artifacts wielded by demons] in his possession must surely be limited."

Hearing this, the others shook their heads with wry smiles. If the Outer Realm Demon God had truly broken through to the Earth Immortal Realm, he could have simply used a 'World-Opening Treasure' [a legendary artifact capable of cleaving a new world from the primordial chaos] to split open a new realm. There would have been no need for a war spanning tens of thousands of years.

As long as he has not attained the Earth Immortal Realm, then Immortal Rank Treasures [artifacts of celestial power] must be extremely precious and vital assets to him. After fighting for tens of thousands of years, his reserves are likely nearly depleted.

Considering this, Dorian Ji nodded and spoke, "As long as the Outer Realm Demon God is not willing to recklessly expend his Immortal Rank Supreme Treasures [the pinnacle of celestial-grade artifacts], we should still be able to withstand this battle."

"That is good to hear." For more chapters, visit audio-novel dot com for the complete novel.

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 Stellar Archipelago [a vast, star-spanning defensive array]."

"..."

Meanwhile, in the depths of the boundless void, in the starry expanse beyond the Purple Seal Realm [a specific celestial realm].

This stretch of void was Nameless, an untamed, primordial region deep within the Universe [the vast cosmos].

This void was immeasurably vast. Even between the closest of the Great Thousand World [the great material worlds that dot the cosmos], there lay an unfathomable expanse of billions upon billions of Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] of empty space.

Even a Demigod Realm [the realm just below true Immortality] Patriarch [a venerable leader of a clan or sect], spending thousands of years, might never reach the other shore and find another Great Thousand World.

Logically, unless one was a carefree Immortal [a being who has transcended mortality] whose spirit could roam the Boundless Starry Sky [the infinite cosmos], no one should have been able to cross these billions of Li-lengths of boundless starry void to arrive at another Great Thousand World.

Yet at this moment, in the starry sky not far from the Purple Seal Realm [a specific Great Thousand World], there lay a colossal black abyss.

Myriad Stellar [relating to stars and celestial bodies] meteorites swirled like rain around a black chasm, while billowing black demonic energy shrouded the stars, resembling a hellish abyss drifting in the Depths of the Starry Sky.

The Catastrophe Demonic Abyss [the Abyss of Catastrophic Demons] stretched for untold billions of Li-lengths, a black river from the Nine Heavens [the highest celestial realms] lying across this stretch of the Boundless Starry Sky. It was the most terrifying land of calamity in the eyes of the surrounding Great Thousand World.

For hundreds of thousands of years, the Catastrophe Demonic Abyss had entrenched itself here, wreaking horrific devastation upon this region of the void.

Later, from among the surrounding Great Thousand World, a Nine Heavens Celestial Immortal [a powerful Immortal from the highest heavens] descended. This Immortal forced the master of the Catastrophe Demonic Abyss to sign a pact, finally restoring peace to this starry expanse.

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

"The Mandate of Heaven lies here. The opportunity lies here."

Deep within the Catastrophe Demonic Abyss [a place of profound and ancient evil], a tall and slender figure clad in black robes stood motionless. His gaze was fixed upon a Blood Pool [a pool of coagulated demonic blood, often used in dark rituals] before him, and a look of profound recollection flickered across his features.

The Catastrophe Demon God [a deity born from calamity and ruin] possessed an extraordinary origin. He was originally an Innate Divine Spirit [a primordial god born directly from the fabric of the cosmos, possessing immense innate power] conceived within the Depths of the Starry Sky [the primordial void between stars]. By all rights, upon his birth, he should have ascended directly to divine or immortal status.

Yet, tragically, due to a sudden calamity, he was tainted by Demonic Blood [the corrupting essence of fiends and demons] while still in his embryonic state. Thus, he failed to achieve his destined form as an Innate Divine Spirit. Instead, he was relegated to the fate of a Postnatal Demon God [a demonic deity whose power was acquired after birth, rather than being innate], his foundational potential and future prospects drastically diminished. Experience the full epic at audio–novel.com.