Chapter 1333 : The Heaven-Sundering Talisman's Gambit

"Heaven-Sundering Divine Talisman [a supreme-grade talisman of immense power capable of temporarily breaching formidable formations]!"

The moment he saw this object, Lord of Thousand Dragon Lake's expression shifted slightly, and he immediately spoke with a flicker in his gaze.

Blaze Lord of the Celestial Prison gave a slight nod, then began to explain. "This item was originally prepared to deal with the Verdant Stream Ancient Sect. However, at that time, the pressure they exerted upon us was not great, so I never had cause to use it."

As he narrated, the assembly understood the origin of this treasure.

It turned out this Heaven-Sundering Divine Talisman was an exceptionally unique World Creation Treasure Talisman [a supreme-grade talisman of immense power]. It possessed the ability to temporarily breach the Mountain Guardian Grand Formation [a powerful defensive array], allowing them to force their way into the heart of the Zhou Heavenly Stars Grand Formation [a grand stellar defensive array].

However, this talisman was a single-use Treasure Talisman. Once activated, it was equivalent to sacrificing a World-Opening Treasure [a treasure of profound power capable of affecting reality itself]. This was why Blaze Lord of the Celestial Prison had held it in reserve until now.

Most crucially, employing this artifact was akin to wielding a double-edged sword.

While it could temporarily rupture the Formation [a structured arrangement of energy for defense or attack], it could not completely dismantle the grand array. It merely tore open a temporary breach.

If they failed to utterly crush the defenders within the array before that breach sealed itself, they risked being trapped and annihilated within.

Now, Blaze Lord of the Celestial Prison produced it, declaring, "This talisman can create an entry point from outside the Zhou Heavenly Stars Grand Formation, allowing us to plunge into the heart of the battle." Experience the full epic at audio-novel.com.

"However, that entrance can only be sustained for three days. If we cannot shatter the grand formation within that time, we risk becoming trapped within."

Upon hearing this, Grand Frost Ice Drake spoke with grave seriousness: "Once we charge into the Zhou Heavenly Stars Grand Formation, we will be suppressed by the Mountain Guardian Grand Formation, and our combat power will be diminished by several degrees."

"If we cannot swiftly defeat the enemy, the danger of perishing within becomes all too real."

Blaze Lord of the Celestial Prison nodded, his expression calm as he stated, "Indeed. Therefore, my counsel, erring on the side of caution, is to first go and reinforce the Flowing Fire Star Palace."

Upon hearing these words, Lord of Thousand Dragon Lake fell into a heavy silence.

Blaze Lord of the Celestial Prison was not of the Demonic Tribe; their fundamental stances were, in truth, diametrically opposed.

As an Elder of the Celestial Prison Race, this Blaze Lord of the Celestial Prison naturally hoped they would abandon the assault on the Abyssal Sea Region and instead aid the Flowing Fire Star Palace.

Were it not for the Eight Calamity Dao Source of Qingxuan the Daoist—the reason the Celestial Prison Race had struck a deal with them in the first place—Blaze Lord of the Celestial Prison would not even be present on this battlefield.

But Thousand Dragons Lake was different. They harbored a Life and Death vendetta against Eldrin Chen. If they failed to eradicate Eldrin Chen, once the Great Tribulation concluded, Thousand Dragons Lake would likely find themselves utterly powerless against him.

By then, with Eldrin Chen's cultivation advancing further, perhaps even reaching the Late Stage Earth Immortal in the future, the fate awaiting Thousand Dragons Lake was all too predictable.

"This Abyssal Daoist [a title for a formidable cultivator associated with profound and often perilous Dao paths], absolutely cannot be allowed to live."

Lord of Thousand Dragon Lake murmured inwardly, finally speaking aloud: "We shall choose the second method. The two of us joining forces—two Late Stage Earth Immortals [powerful cultivators who have reached the advanced stage of the Earth Immortal realm] encircling and killing a single Half-Step Earth Immortal [a cultivator on the cusp of the Earth Immortal realm but not yet fully ascended]—I refuse to believe that Abyssal Daoist can survive."

Blaze Lord of the Celestial Prison [a powerful figure from the Celestial Prison Race] frowned slightly, a flicker of displeasure in his heart.

Yet at that moment, the nearby Jaxian stepped forward and declared, "I can agree to your terms. However, after this battle, that Abyssal Daoist's Dao Source [the condensed essence of a cultivator's Dao path and cultivation base] must belong to me."

"This..."

Upon hearing this, Blaze Lord of the Celestial Prison was momentarily taken aback and immediately abandoned any further thought of persuasion.

He understood clearly in his heart: this Jaxian coveted Eldrin Chen's Ten Calamity Dao Source [a Dao Source forged through surviving ten great heavenly tribulations, of immense power], desiring to use it to take the final step and assail that Forbidden Realm [a legendary and nearly unattainable state of cultivation].

To be fair, a single Ten Calamity Dao Source might very well have the potential to forge a Ten Calamity Immortal [an Immortal who has successfully weathered ten heavenly tribulations].

If Jaxian were to set foot in that realm, he would become one of the strongest Heaven's Chosen [prodigies blessed by heaven with exceptional talent and fortune] in the history of the Celestial Prison Race within the Azure Firmament Immortal Domain [a vast and prestigious realm in the immortal world], with over a fifty percent certainty of eventually ascending to Heaven Immortal [a supreme rank among Immortals].

Consider this: the current Patriarch of the Celestial Prison Clan, a Five Calamity Half-Step Celestial Immortal [a Half-Step Celestial Immortal who has survived five tribulations] who has lived for over forty million years, a former Ninth Tribulation Immortal [an Immortal who endured nine heavenly tribulations], and one who opened an Eight-Layered Heaven and Earth [an internal world with eight layers, signifying profound cultivation], possesses only a twenty percent chance of success in his own attempt to break through to Heaven Immortal.

With this thought, Blaze Lord of the Celestial Prison spoke, "Since that is the case, I grant you a century to recuperate and reorganize. Once those hundred years have passed and our Mana [the core spiritual power of a cultivator] is fully restored, I shall personally shatter the Zhou Heavenly Stars Grand Formation."

Even as strategies were being debated within Thousand Dragons Lake, two figures were observing this vast and imposing battlefield from the depths of the Endless Void.

One was a scholarly man clad in black robes, the other a Daoist priest in traditional garb.

The aura emanating from both was profoundly powerful. The Daoist priest's presence was deep and fathomless like an abyss, while the scholarly gentleman was wreathed in Pure Yang Qi [the purest, most potent form of masculine spiritual energy], yet also had wisps of Netherworld Qi [the cold, deathly energy of the underworld] drifting about him, resembling a Netherworld Imperial Lord [a sovereign ruler of the underworld realms].

At this moment, the Daoist priest gazed at the armies of Thousand Dragons Lake, then looked towards the Abyssal Sea Region, his eyes holding a glint of approval. "For Abyssal Daoist to ally with the Verdant Stream Ancient Sect and the master of the Glazed Blessed Land and actually repel the forces of Dry Dragon Lake and the Blaze Lord of the Celestial Prison... he truly possesses considerable skill."

The scholarly man nodded slightly, his expression calm as he spoke. "If the Abyssal Abode of Bliss were not formidable, the two of us would not be standing here today." The complete novel can be found at audio . novel . com.

He continued, "Tens of thousands of years ago, that Abyssal Daoist once procured for me the Resurrection Herb [a legendary herb said to restore life or reverse severe spiritual damage]."

"In a sense, his contribution played a part in my recent breakthrough to the Nine Calamities Realm [a pinnacle realm where one has survived nine heavenly tribulations] and the reversal of my Pure Yang Constitution [an innate spiritual physique of extreme yang purity]."

Had Eldrin Chen been present, he would have instantly recognized this man's origins.

For this scholarly gentleman was none other than the Ancient Ruins Yin Lord from the Netherworld Realm, the former Netherworld Ghost Immortal [an immortal who cultivates through ghostly or underworld paths] of the Eight Calamity Realm.

Now, he had actually, without anyone noticing, broken through the Nine Calamities Realm [the ninth and penultimate stage of the Earth Immortal tribulation trials] in one fell swoop, reversing his constitution to attain the Pure Yang Constitution [a supreme physical constitution of pure, unadulterated Yang energy]. His combat prowess was now in no way inferior to that of an ordinary Ninth Tribulation Immortal [an Earth Immortal who has survived nine heavenly tribulations].

The other individual was the renowned Rogue Cultivator [a cultivator not affiliated with any major sect or clan] from the Flowing Stream Hundred Seas, Sky Abyss Daoist.

This lord had attained the Dao [reached the Earth Immortal realm] for merely several hundred thousand years. Yet, even before this current Great Tribulation [a cataclysmic era of conflict and heavenly retribution], he was already an Eight Calamities Immortal Foundation [an Earth Immortal who has survived eight heavenly tribulations]. Now, he had somehow, at some unknown time, stepped into the Nine Calamities Realm, revealing the extraordinary nature of his methods.

Having listened to Ancient Ruins Yin Lord's words, the Sky Abyss Daoist now spoke with a faint smile, "Qingxuan the Old Daoist, Netherus, and Jaxian, among others, all have the backing of an Earth Immortal Blessed Land [a territory imbued with immense spiritual energy, suitable for Earth Immortal cultivation]. Their cultivation journeys have been smooth sailing."

"But for Rogue Cultivator like you and me, without background or patronage, we must plan meticulously and with utmost caution even for meager cultivation resources."

"For us to prove our Great Dao [the ultimate path and principle of cultivation one seeks to embody], we must not only scheme for resources but also seek like-minded Fellow Daoist [a respectful term for a cultivator walking a similar path] to support each other."

Upon hearing this, the Ancient Ruins Yin Lord nodded slightly with a smile. "This Abyssal Daoist [a title referring to Eldrin Chen, the Abyssal Emperor] possesses extraordinary talent and aptitude. In the future, he may well establish a Supreme Grotto-Heaven [a pinnacle-level independent pocket realm or paradise for cultivation]."

"We can befriend him, offering mutual support. If one day we can together prove the Celestial Immortal Great Dao [the supreme path leading to the Celestial Immortal realm], it would indeed become a fine tale."

Speaking of this, both men nodded slightly in agreement.

The Sky Abyss Daoist pondered for a moment before speaking. "When shall we make our move?" "There is no rush."

Ancient Ruins Yin Lord offered a faint smile before speaking, "We are anxious, but Thousand Dragons Lake and Blaze Lord of the Celestial Prison will be even more so. When one is desperate, mistakes are made. Even an Earth Immortal [a cultivator who has ascended to the terrestrial immortal realm] might be driven to take reckless risks."

"At present, it is likely they cannot breach the Zhou Heavenly Stars Grand Formation [a powerful defensive array based on celestial star patterns] within three Millennium [a period of one thousand years]. The only way to shatter it swiftly is to employ a perilous stratagem."

"For now, we need only wait with patience. We wait for them to make that desperate move, and we wait for the perfect moment to strike." Find this and other novels at http://www . audio-novel.com.