Chapter 1273 : Veil of Stars and Thunder

Upon hearing these words, the assembled Immortals [beings who have attained immortality through cultivation] all experienced a subtle shift in their expressions, with many revealing looks of hesitation.

Seeing the situation turning unfavorable, Pyros the Daoist immediately sneered coldly, "The Great Tribulation [a cataclysmic cosmic calamity] has erupted. We are all Tribulation-Bearer [those destined to face and endure the Great Tribulation]; what distinction of clan or lineage remains now?"

"Today, we come bearing overwhelming momentum to annihilate you Immortals of the Abyssal Sea Region. Every Immortal seated here can transcend one Great Tribulation, and in the future, breaking through to the Earth Immortal [a high realm of immortality] realm may not be impossible."

"Is that so?" Lyra Jiang let out a cold laugh and declared, "In my view, those destined to achieve the Dao are likely only from your own Setting Sun Immortal Sect."

"As for the rest, I fear they are merely pawns pushed ahead of your vanguard, cannon fodder to be expended against our Abyssal Sea Region forces."

Having said this, Lyra Jiang addressed the gathered Immortals, "Honored ones, you must be cautious. Do not become mere cannon fodder in another's hand, lest you blindly meet your calamitous fate."

"Enough, you sorceress! Cease your glib tongue!"

Pyros the Daoist's expression darkened slightly. With a flick of his sleeve, he unleashed his Divine Ability [a supreme supernatural power], the Solar Flame Divine Thunder. Yet, even such a Great Vehicle Divine Ability [a divine ability of the highest order] could not breach the Zhou Heavenly Stars Grand Formation.

Behold, Lyra Jiang soared into the air, beginning to activate the Zhou Heavenly Stars Grand Formation to converge myriad rays of light. Then, with an icy countenance, she issued a warning: "You are all beings who have attained the Dao. The truth of my words, you must surely discern within your hearts." Her voice fell silent. No longer speaking, Lyra Jiang watched as the Zhou Heavenly Stars Grand Formation erupted with dazzling Immortal radiance. A boundless river of stellar Sword Qi [sword energy] surged forth like a Long River, sweeping across heaven and earth.

Beneath this torrential Sword Qi Long River, tens of thousands of cultivators nurtured over countless years within the Setting Sun Blessed Land were utterly annihilated in an instant. More than ten thousand Treasure Ship [enchanted vessels] shattered and disintegrated in the blink of an eye. For the best reading experience, visit audio—novel.com.

It must be mentioned that the Setting Sun Blessed Land truly lives up to its status as an Earth Immortal Blessed Land [a realm of profound spiritual energy and stability, often the foundation of a powerful immortal lineage]. Its Deep-Seated Foundation [the accumulated spiritual heritage, resources, and stability of a power] far surpasses that of the Su Wei Sea region.

The sheer number of Immortal [beings who have ascended to immortality through cultivation] participating in this battle alone was several times that of the Su Wei Sea, exceeding one hundred individuals.

And this was despite the fact that within the Setting Sun Sea, many Immortal Clan [powerful families whose members have achieved immortality] heard they were attacking the Human Race stronghold of the Abyssal Sea and chose not to follow the Setting Sun Blessed Land into war. Had the full force of the Setting Sun Sea been gathered, they likely could have mustered over two hundred Immortal.

Even so, the gathering of over one hundred Immortal represented a force of staggering, awe-inspiring power.

Had it not been for the fact that among these Immortal, many were unwilling to risk their lives for the Setting Sun Immortal Sect, harbored some sympathy for the Abyssal Sea Region, and thus held back during their assaults, the battle would have been far more arduous.

Of course, there were also those who fought desperately, seeking to earn Merit Points [a metaphysical currency representing virtuous deeds and contributions] to secure greater opportunities for advancement during their own Great Tribulation [the cataclysmic heavenly trials faced by cultivators at major breakthroughs].

Against such individuals, Lyra Jiang and her allies showed no mercy. They slew seven Late Stage Immortal Ascension Realm [cultivators at the advanced stage of the Immortal Ascension realm] in succession, including one Pinnacle Immortal [an immortal at the very peak of the Immortal Ascension realm] at the Ninth Level of Ascension to Immortality. This act of making an example of them finally instilled genuine fear among the assembled immortals.

After centuries of such grueling warfare, the expendable forces attached to the Setting Sun Immortal Sect were nearly depleted, and the remaining Immortal began to go through the motions without truly exerting themselves.

"Ancient Ancestor, should we deploy that artifact...?"

Witnessing this, Pyros the Daoist returned to the side of Duskfall Ancient Ancestor and spoke.

Duskfall Ancient Ancestor shook his head, his expression placid as he stated, "Let the disciples go forth." "But this..."

Pyros the Daoist's countenance shifted slightly. Sending the sect's disciples to assault the Zhou Heavenly Stars Grand Formation was akin to using mortal strength to shake the vast heavens and earth; it could never breach the formation. Its sole purpose would be to deplete the Zhou Heavenly Stars Grand Formation's power.

These disciples were all followers of the Setting Sun Blessed Land, among them descendants of their own bloodline. Watching these people march to their deaths was something he could not bear in his heart.

Setting Sun Ancient Ancestor seemed to perceive his inner turmoil and shook his head slightly. "The Sect has nurtured these disciples for tens of thousands of years. Now is the time for them to repay that debt."

"To die for our Setting Sun Immortal Sect is the greatest glory of their lives." Hearing this, Pyros the Daoist understood that the will of the two Ancient Ancestors was immovable.

A trace of regret stirred within him. Given his status, he was privy to certain secrets.

Hidden within the Setting Sun Immortal Sect was a supreme Heavy Treasures [a weapon of immense power and significance], which could be used to counter the Zhou Heavenly Stars Grand Formation. It would be far more effective than the combined efforts of several hundred Immortals.

Alas, that Heavy Treasures was incomplete and, despite repairs, still possessed a fatal flaw. The two Ancient Ancestors would not tolerate the slightest damage to that treasure and were unwilling to bring it forth until the final, desperate moment.

With this thought,

he sighed inwardly, then rose and turned his gaze to the assembled forces of the Setting Sun Blessed Land, giving a slight wave of his hand.

Upon witnessing this, the expressions of the Setting Sun Immortal Sect [a powerful immortal sect] immortals all shifted slightly, yet they all began to advance forward nonetheless.

In that instant, the Seventy-Six Immortals of Dusk Sun [the seventy-six core immortals of the Setting Sun Sect] moved forth in unison. Furthermore, millions of Treasure Ship [massive enchanted vessels] carried tens of millions of Dao Soldiers [elite cultivator-soldiers] and billions upon billions of Setting Sun disciples as they surged into the heart of the Abyssal Sea Region [a vast and perilous oceanic domain].

The great battle erupted forthwith. Countless disciples from the Setting Sun Blessed Land [the sacred realm of the Setting Sun Sect] swarmed in like a tide. Innumerable Spirit Talisman [enchanted paper charms], Spiritual Treasure [powerful magical artifacts], Divine Ability [supernatural techniques], and secret arts bombarded the Zhou Heavenly Stars Grand Formation [a grand defensive array named for the Zhou Heavenly Stars], relentlessly depleting its formidable power.

The Abyssal Sea Region naturally did not remain passive in its defense. In that moment, countless cultivators engaged the enemy from behind the Formation [defensive array], trading blows across the barrier. Moreover, the Zhou Heavenly Stars Grand Formation unleashed torrents of Nine Heavens Stellar Fire [a celestial fire of immense destructive power], incinerating untold millions of Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] of the sea.

Within the crucible of such a brutal and protracted conflict, another three hundred years slipped by in the blink of an eye.

Bolstered by the Ancient Bell of the Starry Cosmos [an ancient bell artifact of cosmic power], the Zhou Heavenly Stars Grand Formation saw its offensive might, defensive resilience, and capacity to gather the light of the Heavenly Circuit Stars [a constellation of potent astral bodies] increase by no less than fifty percent. The story continues at audio-novel-dot-com.

This fifty percent enhancement represented a qualitative leap. Even as the entire Blessed Land [sacred realm] assailed it without cease, the Zhou Heavenly Stars Grand Formation remained unbreachable. The assault could only whittle away at the reserves of Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy] and Immortal Source [a source of pure immortal energy] stockpiled within the formation's core.

Watching as ten Ten Sixty-Year Cycles [a sixty-year cycle, a unit of time] passed and the Zhou Heavenly Stars Grand Formation stood as firm and unyielding as a great mountain, the Setting Sun Ancient Ancestor [the primordial founder of the Setting Sun Sect] could finally restrain himself no longer.

He turned to the Duskfall Ancient Ancestor [another ancient progenitor], gave a slight bow, and spoke: "The Su Wei Sea [a rival sea region] has besieged them for one thousand years, and our own Setting Sun Blessed Land has pressed the attack for another six hundred. By this reckoning, the spiritual energy reserves of this Setting Sun Sea [the sea region under attack] should be more than half depleted."

"Now, with the Zhou Heavenly Stars Grand Formation running low on energy, the power of the Formation must be greatly diminished. This is our optimal moment to shatter the array in one decisive stroke."

Duskfall Ancient Ancestor gave a slight nod, understanding that they truly could not afford to delay any longer.

Now, the power of the Setting Sun Blessed Land had been nearly halved, making it difficult to muster their strongest offensive. Dragging things out like this, even for tens of thousands of years, would likely fail to breach the Zhou Heavenly Stars Grand Formation.

While continuing to stall would gradually weaken the Zhou Heavenly Stars Grand Formation of the Abyssal Sea Region, by their calculations, Abyssal Daoist should be nearing the end of digesting his recent gains. He would likely emerge from seclusion within a few centuries, so further delay was not an option.

With this thought, Duskfall Ancient Ancestor declared, "Since that is the case, let us summon Him forth." A resonant hum filled the air.

As his words faded, a deep, mournful horn call echoed from the boundless sea in the distance.

All eyes lifted to see an Ancient Vessel of immense antiquity, its hull scarred with countless blade marks and axe blows, sailing towards them from afar.

It was a great ship, its entire form a deep, obsidian black. It stood between sky and sea, moving with a silent, stately grace. Yet, its passage seemed to cleave through the Boundless Chaos itself, exuding an aura of the most profound, primordial antiquity. Find thousands of chapters at www . audio-novel.com.