Chapter 1131 : Clash of Celestial Legions

"The war has begun."

Skywind the Daoist murmured. After exchanging a glance with Eldrin Chen, the two immediately sped towards the battlefield.

They flew across countless millions of Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] of mountains and rivers, finally arriving before a scene of carnage. There, before the shattered membrane of the world, the Star Spirit Race [a race of beings born from the essence of stars] and the Demon Race [a race of malevolent beings born from chaos and negative energies] were locked in a battle of unprecedented ferocity.

Legions upon legions of the Demon Race Army clashed with the Star Spirit Race. Vast, heaven-shrouding formations collided, while a sky full of starlight mingled and warred with endless streams of Baleful Qi [a malevolent and destructive form of spiritual energy].

At the heart of the battlefield, thirteen dazzlingly brilliant Nine Heavens Star Spirit [the highest echelon of the Star Spirit Race, possessing immense power] battled fiercely against seven True Demon [powerful, ancient demons of pure malevolence].

"The number of these Star Spirit [beings composed of stellar essence and spiritual energy] is considerably greater than what I encountered in my time,"

remarked Skywind the Daoist, his expression turning grave once more.

Back then, only seven Star Spirit had besieged him. Had there been thirteen, he might not have escaped at all.

However, his previous foray into the Verdant Spirit Ancient Star [an ancient celestial body imbued with potent life force] had been brief. Many of the Nine Heavens Star Spirit had been in seclusion at the time, so encountering few was to be expected.

Now, with thirteen Star Spirit deployed simultaneously—including three powerful ones at the Late Stage Immortal Ascension Realm [the final stage before transcending mortality to become an immortal]—their combined strength was formidable indeed. Read the full novel exclusively on audio~novel.com.

Yet even so, they found themselves at a disadvantage.

After all, although there were only seven True Demon [powerful beings of pure demonic origin], they possessed a full two powerful True Demon at the Ninth Level of Ascension to Immortality [the pinnacle stage just below true immortality].

The Hemlock the Elder Demon alone contended against three powerful Star Spirit [celestial beings born from stellar essence] at the Late Stage Immortal Ascension Realm, not only holding his ground but even gaining a slight upper hand.

The Frost Malignancy Elder Demon was even more ruthless in his methods. He fought six Nine Heavens Star Spirit [a specific, powerful lineage of Star Spirits] single-handedly, and after merely forty-some exchanges, the battle had already turned into a crushing domination.

After observing for a moment, Eldrin Chen sighed, "These Star Spirit possess singular Divine Ability [supernatural powers granted by divine or profound cultivation] and their combat experience is sorely lacking. It seems defeat is imminent."

"Ah—!"

As his words faded, the Frost Malignancy Elder Demon swept across the battlefield. He summoned a demonic spike that gathered the sky's chilling malevolence and unleashed it, impaling one of the Nine Heavens Star Spirit upon the void itself.

"Husband!"

Witnessing the Nine Heavens Star Spirit's death, a female Star Spirit let out a heart-wrenching cry. Casting all caution aside, she charged recklessly toward the Frost Malignancy Elder Demon.

Seeing this, the Frost Malignancy Elder Demon sneered coldly, "Overestimating your strength!"

As he spoke, Frost Malignancy Elder Demon summoned a gourd wreathed in icy miasma and instantly drew her into it.

This Frost Malignancy Gourd was extraordinarily potent. It was forged by Frost Malignancy Elder Demon using water drawn from the profound depths of the Netherworld [a realm of darkness and death]. It could freeze the flesh of an Immortal [a being who has transcended mortality] and dissolve the Divine Soul [the immortal spiritual core of a deity].

Not only was its grade as high as Immortal Rank High Grade, its power ranked among the pinnacle even amongst High Grade Immortal Treasure.

Now that the female cultivator's Star Spirit [a celestial spirit born from starlight] was drawn inside, she was instantly frozen into an ice sculpture, her life force utterly extinguished.

"Starlight Lament..."

Witnessing the fall of that female Star Spirit, the remaining Nine Heavens Star Spirit [a race of celestial spirits from the highest heavens] were overcome with despair.

Some Star Spirit still wished to fight on, but their leader, blocking an attack from Hemlock the Elder Demon, cried out urgently, "Fall back to the Sacred Mountain! Do not throw your lives away!"

Seeing this, the Star Spirit understood they were outmatched and could only retreat, their hearts heavy with despair.

Blood Spring Ancient Ancestor naturally would not let them escape so easily. He immediately gave the order, leading countless millions of the Demon Race [a race of malevolent supernatural beings] to encircle and trap them upon that battlefield.

Unable to break free, the Star Spirit Race had no choice but to make a painful sacrifice, leaving behind a significant number of Star Spirit to cover their retreat.

When this battle finally drew to a close, the Star Spirit Race had suffered losses exceeding thirty percent. Of the thirteen Nine Heavens Star Spirit, four had perished upon this battlefield, including one at the Late Stage Immortal Ascension Realm.

"Alas—"

From beginning to end, Eldrin Chen surveyed it all, unable to suppress a pang of sorrow for the fallen, a feeling akin to mourning the fox when the hare dies.

These beings of the Star Spirit Race were living souls, and in their war against the True Demon, there were tales both tragic and stirring.

Seeing this, Skywind the Daoist understood that Eldrin Chen's heart had been moved by compassion. He patted Eldrin's shoulder and said, "I know your thoughts, but I believe you, Fellow Daoist, should also understand."

"The commoner is not guilty; possessing the jade is his crime." Original publication: audi novel.com - The source of this chapter.

"An Earth Immortal-grade relic or a Blessed Land [a place of immense spiritual abundance and fortune], without an Earth Immortal Progenitor to guard it, can only bring disaster upon oneself."

"The Star Spirit Lineage lacked the requisite strength, yet occupied this magnificent Blessed Land. In the end, it was a path that invited calamity."

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen nodded in understanding; he naturally comprehended this truth.

Seeing his reaction, Skywind the Daoist spoke again, "In truth, you need not harbor such pity. Had the Star Spirit Lineage been of the Human Race, this old man would have intervened already."

"However, the Star Spirit Lineage [a race of beings born from the essence of starlight] are born without physical bodies. Before they break through to the Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] realm, they are confined to their place of origin, surviving solely on the nourishment of starlight."

"If they leave their place of origin, even a gust of wind could scatter their Divine Soul [the ethereal soul essence of a spirit being]. Do you know how they cultivate?"

Eldrin Chen's expression shifted slightly, and he could not help but ask, "You mean to say...?"

Skywind the Daoist nodded and then spoke: "The Human Race is born with a Dao Body [a physique innately attuned to the fundamental principles of existence], making it the constitution most harmonious with the Great Dao [the ultimate, underlying truth and order of the cosmos]. It is also the most ideal vessel for the Star Spirit Race."

"Therefore, before they cultivate to the Ascension to Immortality Realm [the realm of transcending mortality to become an immortal] and condense a body of starlight, most of them seize and possess the fleshly bodies of the Human Race to pursue their cultivation."

"I understand."

Eldrin Chen's expression hardened for a moment, but he ultimately reined in some of his chilling intent.

Seeing this, Skywind the Daoist spoke up: "Let us go. It is time to claim the Star Spirit Race's Sacred Mountain [a holy peak of immense spiritual significance]."

At the heart of the Verdant Spirit Ancient Star, mountain ranges coiled and intertwined like great dragons, guarding and venerating a single majestic, divine peak.

This was the Star Spirit Race's Sacred Mountain. At its summit stood a magnificent Grand Hall [a great ceremonial hall], its entire structure built from Starstone [a mystical ore infused with stellar essence], rendering it all the more grand and awe-inspiring.

Beneath the Sacred Mountain at this moment, countless Demon Race Treasure Ship [enchanted vessels used for warfare and transport] began to converge.

Yet, within the Grand Hall forged from Starstone [a mystical ore that glimmers with starlight] upon that same Sacred Mountain, a deathly silence had fallen.

After a long silence, the foremost figure, a man clad in starry veils, spoke with grave solemnity. "This battle has not only claimed the lives of four Elder [senior leaders of the sect], but even the Second Elder has perished amidst the tribulation."

"Now, with calamity upon us, we are left with only nine Elder. What counsel do you all have?"

Silence reigned once more within the Grand Hall. The assembled Star Spirit [celestial beings born from stellar essence] exchanged uneasy glances. Finally, an elder spoke. "The Sacred Mountain is protected by the Starry Cosmos Grand Formation [a grand defensive array that harnesses the power of the stars].

If we simply hold fast here, the Demon Race will eventually withdraw after a prolonged and fruitless siege."

"That will not work."

No sooner had the elder finished than another Star Spirit shook his head in dissent. "The Demon Race possesses two war Demonic Ship [massive, heavily armed demonic vessels]. They are uniquely suited to counter our Mountain Guardian Grand Formation [the primary defensive formation of the sacred mountain].

Furthermore, the Ancient Bell of the Starry Cosmos [a legendary bell artifact that commands cosmic power] has been damaged. I fear it too may fail to withstand the assault of those war Demonic Ship."

Upon hearing this, all the Star Spirit could do was reveal expressions of profound helplessness.

The leading Grand Elder took a deep breath and declared, "If that is the case, then we have no choice but to request the Star Lord to emerge from seclusion."

"The Star Lord!"

Upon hearing this, the gathered Star Spirit all had a golden light flash within their eyes.

That Grand Elder sighed and began to recount the tale: "In those bygone years, the Star Lord, in his quest to forge a path forward for our Star Spirit Race, forcibly attempted to open the heavens and break through to the Earth Immortal Realm [the realm of terrestrial immortals, a profound stage of cultivation]."

"Yet, our Star Spirit Race lacked the crucial heritage for such a breakthrough. Consequently, after he opened the heavens, the world collapsed back into Primordial Chaos [the primeval state of undifferentiated matter before creation], inflicting upon His Eminence a mortal wound."

"Now, he has been slumbering for a million years to heal his injuries. We know not to what extent his strength has truly been restored."

At this point, the Grand Elder shook his head and concluded, "Nevertheless, we stand at a juncture of life and death. We can afford no further hesitation. It is time to beseech the Star Lord to emerge from his mountain retreat." Your portal to cultivation novels: *audio-novel.com*.