Chapter 1243 : The Gathering Storm of Tribulation

Eldrin Chen spoke with a measured tone, a thread of melancholy woven into his words.

Compared to these Demon Immortal and Divine Spirits who had been renowned for countless years, he, having ascended a mere fifty thousand years ago, was considered young and inexperienced, naturally unable to match their stature.

Therefore, in this impending Great Tribulation, he could only serve as a supporting leaf amidst the storm, forced to navigate the turbulent currents of the Tribulation [the cataclysmic heavenly trial] by drifting with the flow.

Whether he could ultimately cross the Tribulation safely depended entirely on his own Fortune [destiny and luck] and Opportunity and Fortune [serendipitous encounters and fortune].

Contemplating this, Eldrin Chen sighed.

"The Great Tribulation approaches. It is time for us to make our preparations."

Upon hearing this, the assembled immortals nodded in agreement. Kael Chen immediately inquired, "If that is so, what should we do now?"

Eldrin Chen did not answer immediately. Instead, he asked, "Over these years, how has the refinement of the Cosmic Stellar Formation [a grand defensive array harnessing cosmic and stellar energies] within the Returning Abyss Sea progressed?"

"The Heavenly Starry Sky Grand Formation..."

The eyes of all the immortals present flickered with a subtle light at these words. Read the full novel exclusively on audio~novel.com.

Since Eldrin Chen took charge of the Returning Abyss Sea, he has mobilized the major Immortal Clan [powerful cultivation families] within the sea to perfect the Heavenly Starry Sky Grand Formation [a grand defensive array harnessing celestial power] for the region.

This monumental undertaking spans a vast area and has profound implications. Over ten thousand Immortal Clan [powerful cultivation families] from the Returning Abyss Sea have participated, and the project has been ongoing for tens of thousands of years.

The Formation [a complex magical array or formation], crafted over millennia by pooling the resources of an entire sea, is truly awe-inspiring. It encompasses over thirty thousand islands of varying sizes, with a full nine Immortal Isles [islands rich in immortal energy] serving as its Formation Eye [the core nodes that anchor and power the formation].

Upon hearing Eldrin Chen mention this, the Lord of the Path Palace stroked his long beard and explained, "Our Heavenly Starry Sky Grand Formation [a grand defensive array harnessing celestial power] is primarily centered on the Celestial Sand Sea Region, radiating its influence to the surrounding nine Immortal Isles [islands rich in immortal energy]."

"It comprises the Polarity Formation [an array balancing opposing forces], the Three Enclosures Grand Formation [a grand array based on the three celestial enclosures], the Four Symbols Formation [an array invoking the four celestial beasts], and also the Cosmic Myriad Stars Formation [an array channeling the power of countless stars]."

"The Polarity Formation [an array balancing opposing forces], with the Supreme Lunar and Solar Twin Islands as its core and two thousand Spirit Island [islands imbued with spiritual energy] serving as auxiliary Formation Eye [core nodes], has now been fully completed."

"The Three Enclosures Grand Formation [a grand array based on the three celestial enclosures], cultivated for tens of thousands of years, has long been perfected around the Three Enclosures Immortal Islands. Over three thousand auxiliary Spirit Island [islands imbued with spiritual energy] have also had their Formation [magical arrays] laid down."

"The four main arrays of the Four Symbols Immortal Islands are also complete, though the Formation Artifact [artifacts used to anchor formations] employed are all Mid-Grade Immortal Treasure [artifacts of moderate immortal power]. Furthermore, only a majority of the auxiliary Formation Eye [core nodes] have been finished."

"The remaining Cosmic Myriad Stars Formation [an array channeling the power of countless stars] still lacks a significant portion before completion."

As he spoke in detail, Eldrin Chen gradually came to understand the matter.

His brow furrowed slightly, and after a moment of contemplation, he spoke: "As one of the main Formation Eye [a crucial node that anchors and powers a formation] of the Heavenly Starry Sky Grand Formation, merely deploying a High-Grade Immortal Formation [a powerful defensive or offensive array laid by immortals] at the Four Symbols Immortal Islands likely won't suffice. We must replace the Formation Artifact [a magical treasure specifically designed to serve as the core or anchor of a formation] and thoroughly modify the grand formation itself."

"Furthermore, the thirty thousand Spirit Island [floating islands imbued with spiritual energy] that form the stellar array of the Heavenly Starry Sky Grand Formation are also integral to the formation's potency. Therefore, we must complete their deployment with all haste."

The assembled immortals nodded in agreement. After a brief moment of thought, the Black Tortoise Patriarch spoke: "With our current personnel, deploying these formations is feasible. However, such an endeavor will undoubtedly consume a staggering amount of resources."

"That is of no concern,"

Eldrin Chen shook his head and stated firmly, "The resources at our disposal are more than sufficient."

His words caused a ripple of surprise among the immortals. Establishing thirty thousand Spirit Island formations at once required a truly astronomical quantity of materials. They had not expected Eldrin Chen to be able to produce them so readily.

In contrast, Energy Abyss Chen and Kael Chen showed no surprise, having anticipated this. The treasures they had acquired from the depths of the Returning Abyss Blessed Land were simply too vast.

Whether it was the foundational-level Supreme-Grade Immortal Artifact [the highest grade of immortal weaponry and tools] or the more common Immortal Artifact [enchanted tools and weapons used by immortals] and Primordial Solar Spiritual Object [objects infused with the pure, ancient essence of the sun], their collective wealth rivaled the accumulated reserves of a major Blessed Land [a realm of exceptional spiritual richness] over a million years.

With such a monumental fortune at their command, funding the construction of thirty thousand Spirit Island was more than manageable; it was a task they could undertake with ease.

With the matter thus decided, a collective sigh of relief passed through the assembly of immortals.

This Heavenly Starry Sky Grand Formation [a grand defensive array that mimics the celestial firmament] is utterly astonishing. Not only does it utilize nine Immortal Isles [floating islands imbued with immortal energy] as its Formation Eye [the core nodes that power and control an array], but it is also formed by merging tens of thousands of lesser formations into one cohesive whole.

According to Eldrin Chen's calculations, if he personally presides over the array's activation and the more than twenty Immortal [beings who have ascended to immortality through cultivation] within the Immortal Alliance [a coalition of immortal forces] jointly channel their power into it, the defensive might unleashed would likely be sufficient to withstand assaults from a Late Stage Earth Immortal [a cultivator who has reached the advanced stage of the Earth Immortal realm] powerhouse.

"Once this Formation [a structured arrangement of energy channels and nodes used for defense, attack, or cultivation] is fully established, the Heaven and Earth Primordial Energy [the fundamental, chaotic energy that predates the cosmos] within the Returning Abyss Sea [a vast and mysterious sea region] will be consolidated into a single entity. Unless specifically targeted by the Heavenly Fiend Race [a powerful and malevolent race of celestial demons] and the Western Abyss Dragon Palace [the sovereign power of the dragon race in the Western Abyss], our defenses should be more than adequate."

"However, relying solely on the Formation means we are merely passively enduring attacks. Our means of counter-offensive are still insufficient."

With this thought, Eldrin Chen inquired further, "How is the progress on the construction of the several ancient warships?"

The one in charge of this matter was Blazing Phoenix [a title denoting a cultivator of great power, often associated with the phoenix]. Hearing Eldrin Chen's question, she replied, "The Soaring Serpent Ancient Ship [a massive, serpentine-shaped warship of ancient design] has been completed. The construction of the Crimson Dragon Warship [a powerful warship modeled after a crimson dragon] is only slightly over halfway done. We still lack a massive quantity of materials to finish it." Continue reading this story at audio novel.com.

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

Constructing an ancient warship was no simple task. Such vessels of war were true Clan-Suppressing Supreme Treasure [an artifact of supreme power, capable of safeguarding an entire clan or sect for generations].

The materials consumed for each warship were oceanic in scale, their value ten times that of a standard Immortal Treasure [a powerful artifact used by immortals] of the same rank.

As Eldrin Chen understood it, for a single Soaring Serpent Ancient Ship alone, the amount of Fifth Rank [a high grade of spiritual material] and Sixth Rank [an even higher grade of spiritual material] Spirit Wood [wood infused with spiritual energy, used in crafting and construction] consumed numbered over one million logs. The quantity of Fourth Rank [a mid-grade spiritual material] Spirit Wood used reached into the tens of millions.

So many precious pieces refined from Spirit Wood [a type of wood imbued with spiritual energy], each piece equivalent to a magical treasure [an enchanted artifact used by cultivators], a Spiritual Treasure [a powerful enchanted artifact], or even a Primordial Solar Spiritual Treasure [a supreme treasure of the highest solar grade].

Furthermore, within the Treasure Ship [a vessel of immense power and value], there were numerous immortal-grade components forged from Immortal Artifact [artifacts of celestial power]. Such a vast assembly of rare Spiritual Object [objects imbued with spiritual power] coalesced into a single awe-inspiring ancient vessel, its might truly staggering to behold.

A top-tier Seven Tribulations [having weathered seven heavenly tribulations] World-Ferrying Ancient Ark [an ark capable of traversing worlds] might lack the agility of a Half-Step Earth Immortal [a cultivator halfway to becoming an Earth Immortal], but its defensive capabilities and destructive power against Formation [magical arrays and defensive barriers] rivaled even those of an Earth Immortal Patriarch [a patriarch who has attained the Earth Immortal realm].

Thus, each additional top-tier Seventh Rank [of the seventh rank] World-Ferrying Ancient Ark [an ark capable of traversing worlds] significantly bolstered the clan's foundation, making them indispensable assets for the Chen Immortal Clan [the Chen Clan of Immortals].

"Insufficient Spiritual Object [objects imbued with spiritual power]?"

Eldrin Chen murmured softly to himself. After a moment of contemplation, he declared, "Exquisite and I still possess some spiritual rarities. Let us first allocate them to complete the construction of the Crimson Dragon Treasure Ship [the Treasure Ship of the Crimson Dragon]."

"Agreed."

Blazing Phoenix [the Daoist title 'Blazing Phoenix'] gave a nod, finalizing the decision.

Observing this, Eldrin Chen swept his gaze across the assembled elders and spoke once more, his voice grave. "This impending Great Tribulation [a cataclysmic heavenly trial] will be the first encounter for all present. Its dangers are profound and unpredictable."

"To weather this storm, we must unite our strength and act as one. I implore all esteemed Elder [senior members of the clan] to devote your utmost effort to perfecting the Heavenly Starry Sky Grand Formation [the Grand Formation of the Heavenly Starry Sky]."

The assembled immortals all nodded in agreement upon hearing this. Lord of the Path Palace spoke up immediately, saying, "In the past, when the Heavenly Starry Sky Grand Formation of the Purple Seal Realm was established, we participated in its deployment."

"Although the current Heavenly Starry Sky Grand Formation is hundreds and thousands of times more powerful, we ourselves are also far beyond what we were in those days."

"Alliance Leader, you may set your mind at ease. Leave this matter to us."

"Good."

Seeing this, Eldrin Chen could not help but smile faintly and set the matter aside.

With that, the council meeting concluded. Eldrin Chen saw off the various Immortal Alliance Elders and then returned to his abode.

Within the abode, Eldrin Chen, Exquisite Jiang, and Verdant Consort sat facing each other, while Lila and Violet Consort Yan also gathered nearby.

Before Eldrin Chen could even speak, Lila could no longer contain herself and eagerly asked, "How were the gains from this journey?" This novel is serialized on audio–novel.com. Visit for updates.