Chapter 1261 : A Divine Hand Descends from Heaven

A young man swallowed hard, his fingers tightening around the Spirit Talisman [a talisman imbued with spiritual power] and Immortal Sword [a sword of legendary sharpness and power] in his grasp. Fear shone starkly in his eyes. Just as he was about to retreat in terror, a voice, gentle and calming, descended from the Firmament [the vault of heaven].

"Hold your positions. Do not panic."

As the words fell, the youth felt a wondrous, inexplicable power soothe his spirit, dissolving his fear into nothingness.

He lifted his gaze toward the boundless Firmament.

There, high upon the Nine Heavens Above [the highest celestial realm], stood several dozen figures of supreme majesty. These were the peerless Immortals and Deities who dwelled within the Nine Heavens [the nine celestial spheres]. Their mere presence, calm and unmoving, exuded an aura of transcendence, as if they existed beyond the very dust of the Mortal Dust [the mortal world].

At their forefront stood a figure clad in a White Robe as pure as snow. He stood in serene silence, then slowly extended a single hand.

"*Hum*."

Instantly, heaven and earth trembled. The very Void [the fabric of space itself] shook violently.

The endless sky darkened, plunging into shadow. Darkness enveloped the land. For millions of Li-lengths across the sea, the Sun and Moon [the celestial bodies of sun and moon] were blotted out, their light extinguished.

All living beings could only watch as, from the Nine Heavens Above, a colossal hand, vast enough to shroud the heavens and eclipse the sun, descended with world-shaking force, pressing down to suppress all beneath it. This chapter is provided by www . audio-novel.com. Support the original.

"Boom!"

With a deafening roar, the colossal hand swept across mountain ranges spanning tens of millions of Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters]. In its wake, all things crumbled into oblivion, and even the myriad Laws of the Dao [the fundamental principles governing reality] shattered completely.

When the chaos finally subsided, a vast swathe of the endless Beast Tide [a catastrophic wave of rampaging demonic beasts] had been utterly erased. Whether they were Nascent Soul [the stage where a cultivator's spirit forms an infant-like avatar] great demons or Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a high-level cultivator] primordial horrors, before that single palm strike, all were equal—reduced to nothing but drifting ashes of calamity.

The youth could not help but wear an expression of utter shock, stunned into a prolonged silence.

After a long while, he swallowed hard, his voice trembling as he spoke, "Right... with Them here, we have nothing to fear."

The youth murmured to himself, regaining a measure of confidence. Looking again at the boundless Beast Tide, it no longer seemed quite so terrifying.

"Is this... the power of Abyssal Daoist?"

At the distant horizon, behind the endless Beast Tide, dozens of Demon Immortal [a demonic being who has attained immortality] stood shoulder to shoulder.

The Su Wei Ancient Ancestor wore a look of solemnity for the first time, offering a rare, high appraisal: "With just this single lifetime's mastery of the Primordial Chaos Qi Grasping Hand [a divine ability to grasp and manipulate the energy of primordial chaos], this Abyssal Daoist is already peerless within the Ascension Immortal Realm [the realm of immortals who have ascended from the mortal world]. He is qualified to contend with us Half-Step Earth Immortal [cultivators who have taken half a step into the realm of Earth Immortals]."

"Indeed."

Aethelred Ao also nodded, his expression turning grave as he said, "That Eldrin, the Junior is merely at the Late Stage Immortal Ascension Realm [the final stage before ascending to true immortality], yet he already possesses such formidable bearing. If he is allowed to grow, he may very well succeed in opening the Ninefold Heavens [the ultimate achievement in foundation establishment, signifying supreme potential]."

"By then, I fear he will become a dire threat to the very core of our existence."

Hearing this, the Su Wei Ancient Ancestor fell into a heavy silence.

Even as a demon Clan Elder progenitor, he could not deny the prodigious talent of that Eldrin Chen.

Within the Western Qi Divine Abyss Sea [a vast and perilous sea in the immortal realm], hundreds upon hundreds of Immortal [beings who have ascended to immortality] have forged a Great Luo Foundation [the highest grade of foundational cultivation], yet fewer than ten have ever opened the Ninefold Heavens to become an Earth Immortal [an immortal whose power is rooted in the earthly realm].

Those capable of such a feat, provided they do not perish prematurely, are all destined to break through to the Half-Step Heaven Immortal Realm [a transitional state between Earth Immortal and true Heaven Immortal].

Take, for example, the Lord of the Western Abyss Dragon Palace, or the Divine Lord Ye Ruins; both are peerless geniuses who cultivated three types of Dao Fruit [the condensed essence of one's comprehension of the Dao, the core of an immortal's power] and opened the Ninefold Heavens. Their talent and brilliance have shone across countless ages.

Even Heavenly Immortal Paragon [supreme beings among Heaven Immortals] have marveled at them, believing that existences like the Lord of the Western Abyss Dragon Palace, who have opened the Ninefold Heavens, possess a sliver of a chance to cultivate three types of Innate Dao Fruit [Dao Fruit born from one's innate nature, representing the purest form of Dao comprehension].

And three Innate Dao Fruit—that signifies a top-tier Celestial Immortal Aptitude [the innate potential to reach the pinnacle of celestial immortality].

Generally speaking, those capable of breaking through to the Heaven Immortal Realm [the realm of true celestial immortals] were all prodigious talents during their time in the Earth Immortal Realm. Most of them had successfully cultivated two types of Innate Dao Fruit.

Yet even among Heavenly Immortal Paragon [the supreme realm of immortal cultivation], exceedingly few have ever cultivated three types of Innate Dao Fruit [the ultimate, heaven-defying fruits of one's cultivation path].

This path is one of immense hardship. However, should one succeed in traversing it, they would rank among the very pinnacle of Heaven Immortal [immortals who have ascended to the heavenly realm], their innate talent and combat prowess far surpassing other Heaven Immortal of the same realm.

From this, one can glimpse the truly heaven-defying genius of an existence capable of opening nine heavenly layers. To call such a foundation Great Luo [the primordial, foundational state of the cosmos] Deep-Seated Foundation [a foundation of unimaginable depth and stability] is no exaggeration.

At present, Eldrin Chen has not even cultivated a single World-Opening Dao Fruit [a Dao Fruit representing the power to cleave open a new world]. He remains far from matching the likes of Lord of the Western Abyss Dragon Palace or Divine Lord Ye Ruins, yet he faintly possesses a bearing of that same caliber.

Contemplating this, Su Wei Ancient Ancestor spoke, "To cultivate three World-Opening Dao Fruit is no simple feat. And to open nine heavenly layers..."

"...requires four eighth-rank World-Opening Spiritual Root [spiritual roots of a quality capable of supporting world-creation]. Gathering such treasures is a trial of ten thousand hardships." Find this and other novels at audio–novel.com.

"Nevertheless, this individual's talent is indeed extraordinary. He must be eradicated early to quell a future calamity."

"Well said." Aethelred Ao nodded in agreement, then continued, "The Formation [a powerful defensive or offensive array] laid down by this Abyssal Daoist [a Daoist title referencing the profound abyss] is indeed formidable. Let us first wear down the formation's power with a Beast Tide [a massive, overwhelming assault by demonic beasts], then we shall strike to shatter the array and claim his life."

Simultaneously, far beyond in the distant Void [the empty space between worlds], two figures lay concealed within the fabric of heaven and earth. The leader was none other than Duskfall Ancient Ancestor, the other being Setting Sun Daoist.

Watching the impending battle unfold, Setting Sun Ancient Ancestor could not help but remark, "With Su Wei Ancient Ancestor and Thousand Dragons Lake joining forces, if this Abyssal Sea is breached, the Black Dragon World-Suppressing Cauldron [a mighty cauldron artifact capable of suppressing worlds] will likely fall into the hands of the Demonic Tribe [a powerful faction of demons]."

"No rush."

Duskfall Ancient Ancestor shook his head, his expression calm as he gazed upon the Starry Sky Grand Formation [a grand defensive array that harnesses the power of the stars] of the Abyssal Sea Region.

Only after a long while did he speak gravely, "The Formation [a complex magical defensive structure] laid down by Eldrin, the Junior is indeed quite extraordinary. The few Half-Step Earth Immortal [cultivators who have nearly ascended to the Earth Immortal realm] dispatched from Su Wei Sea and Thousand Dragons Lake alone likely cannot breach it."

"Let us return and continue marshaling our forces. We can wait until the Abyssal Sea Region and Su Wei Sea have exhausted each other in battle before we make our move. It will not be too late then."

With those words, Duskfall Ancient Ancestor turned away without a backward glance, flying resolutely towards the Setting Sun Sea.

At the same moment, high upon the Firmament [the highest layer of the heavens], Eldrin Chen slowly withdrew his hand.

Though he had annihilated countless millions of the Demonic Tribe with a single blow, under the influence of the world's calamitous aura, the endless tide of Demonic Beast [monstrous creatures tainted by demonic energy] continued to surge forward in a suicidal charge.

That strike had been solely to steady the defenders' morale. Eldrin Chen did not expend his Mana [the spiritual energy used to power magical arts] to act again, instead allowing the endless horde of Demonic Beast to crash against the defenses.

Above the Abyssal Sea Region, the countless cultivators finally began to react.

Simultaneously, within the Zhou Heavenly Stars Grand Formation [a legendary formation that channels the power of the celestial constellations], tens of thousands of Formation Eye [the core nodes that power and control a magical formation] Spirit Island [islands rich in spiritual energy] began to activate. Upon each Spirit Island, a Formation stirred to life.

Each island, propelled by the power of millions upon millions of cultivators, erupted with dazzling rays of immortal light.

Immediately after, all twenty-eight Immortal Island blazed with a blinding radiance.

In that instant, countless beams of light shot skyward, weaving together high in the boundless Firmament [the highest vault of heaven] before converging into a single, translucent barrier of stellar energy. This vast shield enveloped the entire Abyssal Sea Region.

"The Zhou Heavenly Stars Grand Formation [a grand defensive formation harnessing the power of the celestial stars] is complete!"

Eldrin Chen murmured softly, a glint of confidence appearing in his eyes as he observed the fully manifested Zhou Heavenly Stars Grand Formation.

This Zhou Heavenly Stars Grand Formation was profoundly mystical, its power forged from the combined might of tens of thousands of Spirit Island [islands imbued with potent spiritual energy] of Fifth Rank [a high tier of spiritual power] and above.

It drew upon the very essence of the Abyssal Sea, channeled the boundless Stellar Power [the raw energy of the stars], and was anchored by billions of cultivators and twenty-eight Immortal [beings who have transcended mortality] serving as formation masters. The resulting power was nothing short of awe-inspiring.

To challenge the Zhou Heavenly Stars Grand Formation was, in essence, to stand against the combined might of the entire Abyssal Sea Region and the infinite Nine Heavens Stellar Power [the stellar energy from the highest celestial realms].

Though the oncoming Beast Tide [a massive, overwhelming wave of demonic beasts] seemed endless, breaching the Zhou Heavenly Stars Grand Formation remained a near-impossible feat.

This proved true. As the Zhou Heavenly Stars Grand Formation solidified, its boundless energy shield descended like an inverted bowl of Glaze [a name, likely referencing a character or concept], encasing the whole of the Abyssal Sea Region. The complete novel can be found at audio—novel.com.