Chapter 1334 : The Ancient Bell's Warning

After the ceasefire, the Abyssal Immortal Alliance dedicated itself fully to recuperation and reorganization, while the Demonic Tribe likewise marshaled its forces for the coming war.

Both sides seized this rare respite to heal their wounds and restore their combat strength.

Thus, a century slipped by in the blink of an eye. During these hundred years, the Mana [the spiritual power reserves of cultivators] on both sides had largely recovered.

Save for a few Immortal [beings who have ascended to a higher state of existence through cultivation] who had suffered grievous wounds, the injuries of most on both fronts had been mended, sustained by a steady supply of Healing Pill.

On this day, Eldrin Chen stood atop the Firmament [the highest celestial platform], presiding over the Zhou Heavenly Stars Grand Formation. His gaze sharpened as he observed the distant Demonic Tribe armies beginning to mass, their murderous intent directed toward the Abyssal Sea Region.

"Boom—"

Witnessing this, Eldrin Chen immediately channeled his power into the Ancient Bell of the Starry Cosmos.

In that instant, the Ancient Bell of the Starry Cosmos tolled nine times in succession. Across the vast expanse of the Cosmic Star Archipelago, countless cultivators heard the clarion call. Their expressions turning grave, they surged toward their designated Formation Eye [the core nodes that power a grand formation], hastening to maintain the operation of the myriad defensive Formation [magical arrays or barriers].

The Immortal who had been in seclusion emerged from their retreats without delay. They flew to take command atop the various Immortal Island, anchoring the grand formations, while the remaining forces assembled at the periphery of the defensive lines.

Combatants of Earth Immortal [a powerful rank among immortal cultivators] caliber, such as Solara and Lyra Jiang, flew to Eldrin Chen's side. Gazing at the Demonic Tribe horde advancing in the distance, Lyra Jiang asked with profound gravity etched upon her features: Dive deeper into the Dao at @udio-novel.com.

"If Thousand Dragons Lake does not withdraw its forces, does it truly believe it can breach the Zhou Heavenly Stars Grand Formation within a single Millennium?" "It is difficult to say."

Patriarch of the Verdant Stream Ancient Sect shook his head, his expression turning grave as he spoke: "The Demonic Tribe has gauged our strength. Since they dare to launch this assault, they certainly do not intend to merely waste their time."

"This battle will likely be perilous beyond measure, perhaps the most brutal conflict we have yet faced."

Eldrin Chen's brow furrowed slightly. He understood clearly in his heart that with them tying down the Earth Immortal Progenitor, the remaining forces of Thousand Dragons Lake stood no chance of breaching the Zhou Heavenly Stars Grand Formation through a frontal assault within a single Millennium. If they could not shatter the formation within that span, then for Thousand Dragons Lake to continue fighting would be nothing but a waste of time and Deep-Seated Foundation [the accumulated spiritual essence and potential of a cultivator or force].

"Could it be... does Thousand Dragons Lake still hold some hidden card?" Eldrin Chen murmured to himself, then shook his head sharply.

If Thousand Dragons Lake truly possessed such a trump card, one capable of directly breaking the Zhou Heavenly Stars Grand Formation, they would not have held it back until now.

As this thought crystallized, Eldrin Chen's brow creased once more. "Unless..."

"Disaster! They intend to take a perilous gambit!"

Eldrin Chen's countenance shifted dramatically, etched with profound gravity.

Hearing this, the others also grasped the implication, and their faces likewise changed.

In the past, during the great war against the Su Wei Sea, Aethelred Ao and the other former Dry Dragon Lake Half-Step Earth Immortals [cultivators who have partially transcended mortality but not fully ascended to Earth Immortal status], in their haste to breach the formation, directly pierced through the Zhou Heavenly Stars Grand Formation with the Triad Wonder Pearls, intending to slaughter the cultivators trapped within by sheer force.

This tactic was exceedingly reckless and aggressive, for once one is ensnared within a formation, they become like a turtle in a jar, with little chance of escape.

However, if the power of those entering the formation far surpasses the strength of those inside, they can annihilate the defenders outright before the formation's entrapment effects fully manifest, bypassing the need for a tedious and meticulous siege-breaking effort.

Currently, the Thousand Dragons Lake faction boasts a staggering force: two Late Stage Earth Immortals [powerful cultivators at the pinnacle of the Earth Immortal realm], six Earth Immortal Progenitors [venerable founders who have attained the Earth Immortal realm], over a dozen Half-Step Earth Immortals, and five hundred Immortals [cultivators who have achieved the foundational Immortal realm].

Should they risk a direct assault into our formations, the strength of the Abyssal Immortal Alliance might very well prove insufficient to withstand them. Contemplating this, the assembled leaders exchanged uneasy glances, their expressions growing increasingly grim.

Witnessing their concern, Eldrin Chen drew a deep breath and addressed the Patriarch of the Verdant Stream Ancient Sect: "If the Demonic Tribe truly dares to employ such a perilous gambit, then you and I shall become the linchpins of this battle."

"If the two of us can hold the line against the Blaze Lord of the Celestial Prison and the Lord of Thousand Dragon Lake, then perhaps victory remains within our grasp."

"But if we falter, or worse, fall before them, then all is surely lost."

The Patriarch of the Verdant Stream Ancient Sect responded with a bitter smile. "With my strength at the Earth Immortal Sixth Layer, expecting me to hold back a Seventh Level Earth Immortal is asking far too much of this old man."

"However, if you were to have the Three Enclosures Immortal-Burial Formation, the Four Symbols Immortal-Trapping Formation, and the Yin-Yang Immortal-Severing Formation all lend their power to reinforce my position, then perhaps I could temporarily withstand a Seventh Level Earth Immortal."

Hearing this, the assembled immortals fell into a contemplative silence. If that were the case, would Eldrin Chen not have to face a Seventh Level Earth Immortal [a cultivator who has ascended to the seventh stage of the Earth Immortal realm] alone, without relying on any external aid?

For a Half-Step Earth Immortal [a cultivator on the cusp of becoming a full Earth Immortal] to confront a Seventh Level Earth Immortal single-handedly and unaided was a feat bordering on the impossible.

"Alas!"

Eldrin Chen let out a sigh, his heart inclined to refuse.

Yet he understood clearly that the strength of the Second Supreme Elder of the Verdant Stream Ancient Sect truly could not match his own.

If that elder were to face a Seventh Level Earth Immortal alone without the support of a Formation [a structured arrangement of power used for defense or attack], he would likely be slain within a hundred exchanges. Continue reading this story at audio novel.com.

In contrast, Eldrin Chen, protected by his Primordial Chaos True Aura [a supreme defensive technique born from the primordial energies of creation], could at least contend with a Late Stage Earth Immortal [an Earth Immortal in the final stages of that realm] until his Mana [the spiritual energy cultivated and wielded by practitioners] was exhausted.

Thus, no matter how perilous this battle promised to be, Eldrin Chen had no choice but to step forward and bear the burden.

"So be it. I shall strive with all my might."

Eldrin Chen finally spoke, accepting the commitment to face a Seventh Level Earth Immortal alone.

Just as the group had finalized their strategy, the Demonic Tribe Treasure Ship from beyond the horizon arrived at the periphery of the Abyssal Sea Region.

They encircled the Cosmic Star Archipelago and began a relentless bombardment with the Treasure Ship, creating the appearance of a protracted siege.

After several days of such fighting, the Lord of Thousand Dragon Lake could no longer remain patient. He exchanged a glance with the Blaze Lord of the Celestial Prison. "Now!"

In that instant, the Blaze Lord of the Celestial Prison unleashed the Heaven-Sundering Divine Talisman, forcibly tearing a breach through the grand formation of the Heavenly Circuit Stars.

Seeing the breach open, the Lord of Thousand Dragon Lake charged through first, single-handedly holding the entrance to cover the advance of the Demonic Tribe immortals.

Witnessing this, Eldrin Chen simultaneously summoned the Primordial Chaos Qi Grasping Hand to suppress the foe and shouted the command, "World-Ending Cannon!"

"BOOM—"

Instantly, Qiyuan Chen, Stella, Luna, the Consort, and others who had long been prepared, unleashed the World-Ending Cannon.

Each blast from this World-Ending Cannon possessed power comparable to a full-force strike from a Late Stage Earth Immortal. The simultaneous discharge from three such colossal cannons utterly inundated the entrance.

Even the Lord of Thousand Dragon Lake dared not face it head-on and immediately withdrew.

In that very instant, the World-Ending Cannon [a weapon of cataclysmic power capable of ending worlds] inundated the narrow entrance, sweeping away the Demon Immortal [a powerful demonic being who has attained immortality] who had been filing in one after another.

In that single moment, over one hundred Demon Immortal and True Dragon [a supreme dragon of immense power and ancient lineage], along with three Demonic Tribe Half-Step Earth Immortal [a demonic cultivator on the very cusp of attaining the Earth Immortal realm], were utterly annihilated beneath those three blasts. Countless rays of Dao-dissolution light [the radiant manifestation of a cultivator's Dao path disintegrating upon death] drowned the entire sea region.

Even a single Earth Immortal Progenitor [an ancient, foundational figure who has attained the Earth Immortal realm] suffered unprecedented, grievous wounds, half of its World-Opening True Body [a divine body forged with the power to cleave apart primordial chaos and open worlds] blasted into nothingness.

"Ah! You all deserve death!"

Witnessing the loss of over a hundred Immortal [a being who has transcended mortality and attained immortality] before the grand battle had even truly begun, the Lord of Thousand Dragon Lake revealed a countenance of unparalleled fury.

He exerted his full power, holding back Eldrin Chen's Primordial Chaos Qi Grasping Hand [a divine ability that manifests a giant hand capable of grasping and manipulating the primordial chaos energy of creation], then summoned forth a superior-grade World-Opening Treasure [a treasure of immense power used in the primordial act of world creation] to strike horizontally.

Simultaneously, the Blaze Lord of the Celestial Prison also strode forward, his Celestial Prison War Halberd [a halberd imbued with the oppressive, imprisoning power of the heavens] thrusting forth with god-slaying radiance. Its terrifying, piercing edge aimed straight for Eldrin Chen's chest. Official source: audio–novel.com. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.