Chapter 1263 : The Endless Tide of Tribulation

The tide of Demon Beasts [monstrous creatures born of demonic energy] was boundless, and the Great Tribulation [a cataclysmic era of conflict and upheaval] stretched on without end.

Under the relentless onslaught of this endless beast tide, a millennium passed in the blink of an eye.

Throughout these thousand years, the ceaseless tide battered the Vast Sea, an unending war that, for the entire Returning Abyss Sea Region, was a conflict of unprecedented scale.

Many Violet Sanctum [the third major realm of cultivation, where one forms a spiritual core within the body], Golden Core [the fourth major realm, where the spiritual core solidifies into a golden dan], and even Infant Soul Cultivator [the fifth major realm, where the golden core gestates a nascent spiritual soul] were born into this Great Tribulation. From the very moment they stepped onto the path of cultivation, they were participants in its crucible.

Some struggled to cross the river of this Great Tribulation; others cultivated within its fires. Yet others rose from its ashes, ascending all the way to the realm of Primordial Spirit Path Lord [the sixth major realm, where the nascent soul matures into a primordial spirit capable of projecting from the body].

Far more, however, fell within the Tribulation [a trial or calamity, often used to describe the Great Tribulation itself], their lives extinguished before even a single millennium had passed.

The Mortal Realm [the world of ordinary humans and low-level cultivators] witnessed seas change into mulberry fields. Generations of low-level cultivators came and went. For many practitioners at the Foundation Establishment [the second major realm, solidifying one's foundation for cultivation], Violet Sanctum, and even Golden Core Realm levels, the Great Tribulation had become a mundane fact of life.

They had been born into the endless Demon BeastsGreat Tribulation. Taking shifts to reinforce the Cosmic Stellar Formation [a grand defensive array that draws power from the stars] was the most common task in their lives outside of cultivation itself.

Until this day, when a change finally began to stir.

"The beast tide... it seems noticeably thinner than in years past." The story continues at audio-novel`com.

At the edge of the Cosmic Stellar Formation, a Verdant-robed Youth murmured to himself, his expression turning grave and contemplative.

This Verdant-robed Youth was named Verdant Mystery Path Master. He was that timid young cultivator from the time the Great Tribulation [a cataclysmic conflict between major powers] first erupted.

Now, a thousand years had passed in the blink of an eye. Throughout the Great Tribulation, he had repeatedly distinguished himself in battle, not only tempering his own cultivation path but also earning multiple commendations from the Immortal Alliance [a grand coalition of immortal sects and clans].

Unbeknownst to him, his cultivation had advanced all the way to the Primordial Spirit Realm [the realm where one's spiritual core solidifies into an independent entity], and he had become a Primordial Solar Path Lord [a title for a powerful cultivator who has mastered the path of the primordial sun] presiding over a Spirit Island.

Although the tide of beasts still seemed endless before him, as someone who had witnessed the millennium-long war against the beast tides firsthand, he could clearly sense that their numbers were thinning.

With this thought, Verdant Mystery Path Master's eyes flickered as he spoke, "It seems... the opportunity for a counterattack is approaching."

Having spoken, Verdant Mystery Path Master lifted his gaze towards the Nine Heavens [the highest layers of the sky, often associated with celestial realms], where a majestic, unmoving figure stood.

"It is almost time."

High above in the Nine Heavens Above, Eldrin Chen stood with an expression of profound calm.

Throughout the millennium-long war, he had unleashed the Cosmic Stellar Sword Aura Long River [a supreme sword technique that manifests a river of stellar sword energy] on three separate occasions. Countless cultivators of the Human Race had also fought day and night in a relentless, grinding war against the Demon Race.

Unbeknownst to all, the Demon Beast tide unleashed by Patriarch Suwei had already suffered grievous losses.

By now, the surviving Demon Beast tribes numbered less than thirty percent of their strength at the war's outset, with many lineages having been utterly annihilated in the great conflict.

Such devastating casualties were enough to cripple Suwei Sea for generations; it would likely take tens of thousands of years for its foundational strength to recover.

And if the remaining Demon Beast tribes were to perish here in the Returning Abyss Sea Region, Suwei Sea would suffer a blow to its very foundations, requiring over a hundred thousand years to possibly regain its former stature.

Contemplating this, Eldrin Chen turned his gaze towards the boundless Demon Race horde in the distance, a slight furrow forming between his brows.

He watched as that endless sea of Demon Race gathered once more, coalescing into another vast tide that surged towards the depths of the Returning Abyss Sea Region.

Witnessing this, Exquisite Jiang remarked with serene composure, "It appears they are truly making their final, desperate gamble."

"Indeed,"

Eldrin Chen nodded in agreement before adding, "After this, Patriarch Suwei will likely have no choice but to reveal his true intentions to us, dagger drawn from its sheath."

As he spoke, Eldrin Chen observed the boundless beast tide sweeping across the heavens, advancing relentlessly into the vast, churning depths of the Returning Abyss Sea Region.

This time, it was not merely an endless tide of beasts that came. Numerous Demon Immortal [powerful demonic cultivators who have attained immortality] also gathered a great number of Treasure Ship [massive enchanted vessels used for transport and warfare], which soared through the skies, carrying countless Demon Race [the collective term for demonkind] Path Soldiers [elite demonic warriors] who charged forward to kill.

Regarding this, Eldrin Chen paid it no mind. After a millennium of battle, he had gained a profound understanding of the might of the Cosmic Stellar Formation [a grand defensive formation that harnesses the power of the stars].

Relying solely on these Treasure Ship and the beast tide, the Suwei Sea [a vast demon-infested sea region] forces simply could not breach the Cosmic Stellar Formation. Their only purpose was to deplete the reserves of spiritual energy and resources like Immortal Source [a concentrated source of pure immortal energy] stockpiled within the Returning Abyss Sea Region [the sea region defended by Eldrin Chen].

Without the slightest hesitation, Eldrin Chen once again gathered the boundless power of the Stellar [pertaining to the stars and celestial bodies], summoning for the fourth time an endless Long River [a metaphorical river] of Stellar sword energy.

As the boundless river of Stellar sword energy coalesced, in an instant, a countless multitude of Stellar sword energies drowned out everything.

Whether it was Sixth Rank [a powerful grade of artifact] Treasure Ship or Primordial Spirit [a high cultivation realm where one's spiritual core manifests] great demons, facing this inexhaustible tide of Stellar sword energy was akin to defying the heavens themselves. In the blink of an eye, they were reduced to dust, utterly annihilated within the Boundless Sea Region [the vast oceanic battlefield]. Access the full story on audio–novel.com.

By the time calm returned, the hundreds of millions of Demon Race had suffered over half their number slain. The survivors began a frantic retreat, fleeing for their lives toward the rear.

To this, Patriarch Suwei [the patriarch of the Suwei Sea demon forces] paid no heed.

After a thousand years of warfare, he had thoroughly discerned the activation conditions for the Cosmic Stellar [the stellar power harnessed by the formation] sword energy. He immediately declared, "Once this Cosmic Stellar Sword Aura Long River [the Divine Ability of summoning a river of stellar sword energy] is unleashed, it cannot be activated again for three hundred years."

"Now is the best opportunity to break the formation. It is time to witness the methods of your Dragon Clan [the powerful race of dragons]."

Bright Ao gave a slight nod, his expression calm as he spoke, "This formation is indeed Extraordinary, yet the reserve of spiritual energy [the vital force used for cultivation] stored within it must now be more than half depleted."

"For this very purpose, I, from Thousand Dragon Lake, have brought a treasure specifically designed to breach formations, sufficient to suppress it temporarily."

As his words fell, Bright Ao looked towards Nine Heavens Above and clasped his hands in salute, saying, "I beseech the three Patriarch to act."

"Roar—"

No sooner had his voice faded than a draconic roar echoed between heaven and earth.

From the horizon, three Nine Heavens True Dragon [supreme dragon beings of immense power] coiled into the sky, their forms vast enough to blot out the sun.

With gaping maws, each expelled a dazzlingly brilliant pearl, one imbued with the Rule Power [the fundamental laws governing reality] of the Firmament, another of the Netherworld, and the third of Mortal Dust.

"The Triad Wonder Pearls!"

Patriarch Suwei glanced at them, his countenance shifting slightly with recognition.

The Triad Wonder Pearls were the Lifebound Immortal Treasure [a treasure fused with its wielder's life force] of the Lord of Western Abyss Dragon Palace. Each pearl contained the Rule Power of Heaven, Earth, and Man respectively; when combined, they transformed into a single set—the 'Triad Wonder Formation'.

That Lord of Western Abyss Dragon Palace [the sovereign ruler of the dragon palace in the Western Abyss] has trodden the path for many years, and it was with these Triad Wonder Pearls [a legendary set of three enchanted pearls] that he carved out his formidable reputation, hailed as one of the beings in the Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea [the vast and profound sea of the Western Essence] most likely to break through to the Celestial Immortal [the realm of a true celestial being] realm.

From this, one can see just how astonishing a supreme treasure this set of Triad Wonder Pearls truly is.

The set of Triad Wonder Pearls before them now was clearly not the original Supreme-grade World-Opening Treasure [a treasure of the highest grade, capable of aiding in the creation of a new world] 'Triad Wonder Pearls', but rather a replica forged by the Thousand Dragon Lake [a sacred lake domain inhabited by a multitude of dragons], its grade merely at the level of a Supreme-Grade Immortal Treasure [the pinnacle grade of immortal artifacts].

Even so, such an Immortal Treasure [an artifact imbued with immortal power] possessed immense might. Behold, the three dazzling pearls intertwined and spiraled, ultimately transforming into a world-shaking immortal formation that descended with crushing force, slamming into the Cosmic Stellar Formation [a grand defensive array that harnesses the power of stars and cosmos].

"BOOM—"

In that instant, the heavens and earth roared, and all color drained from creation.

Driven by the combined power of three Half-Step Earth Immortal [cultivators who have nearly ascended to the Earth Immortal realm], the Triad Wonder Pearls unleashed power that had reached the World-Opening [the realm of power capable of initiating the creation of a new world] domain, actually blasting a breach through the Cosmic Stellar Formation.

In that moment, countless Human Race [the collective of human cultivators] cultivators were sent reeling, blood spraying from their mouths as they perished within the Tribulation [the catastrophic backlash of the formation's power] from the violent backlash.

"Hmm?"

Witnessing the Formation [the structured magical array] being breached, Eldrin Chen's pupils contracted slightly.

With the aid of Moon Consort, Star Consort, and Sun Consort, he was confident he could restore the Cosmic Stellar Formation in an exceedingly short span of time.

Yet at this moment, Eldrin Chen perceived this as an opportunity. Exchanging a glance with the assembled immortals, he halted his efforts to repair the Cosmic Stellar Formation. Enjoyed this chapter? Read more at audio~novel.com.