Chapter 1274 : The Lingering Sun's Return

"Is that... an eighth-rank World-Opening Ancient Ship [a legendary vessel capable of traversing the primordial chaos between worlds]?"

Gazing at the Treasure Ship, Exquisite Jiang's expression shifted subtly, a flicker of awe crossing her features.

Sun Consort's face also paled dramatically. She drew a sharp breath and said, "That is the Lingering Sun Heavenly Ark [the Celestial Ark of the Lingering Sun]. Legends said it was destroyed nearly ten million years ago. To think it still exists in this world."

As Sun Consort recounted its tale, the assembled immortals understood the origins of this ancient vessel.

This Lingering Sun Heavenly Ark was once the treasure of the Zhang Immortal Clan, the previous masters of the Lingering Sun Blessed Land. In that era, the Zhang Clan of Lingering Sun boasted seven Earth Immortal [immortals anchored to the mortal world] within their clan. Their Clan Patriarch was a powerhouse at the Ninth Level Earth Immortal realm, making them the undisputed hegemon of the Flowing Stream Hundred Seas.

Alas, during the Path Tribulation [a cataclysmic heavenly trial] nine million years ago, the Zhang Clan Patriarch failed in his attempt to break through to the Half-Step Celestial Immortal realm and fell to a powerful enemy. The Zhang Immortal Clan never recovered from that blow. It was rumored that the Lingering Sun Heavenly Ark itself was shattered by a mighty expert from the Demon Race.

Who could have imagined that after nearly ten million years, this Lingering Sun Heavenly Ark would reappear in the world?

At this thought, despair tinged the faces of the immortals. An eighth-rank World-Opening Ancient Ship—how terrifying its power must be.

Such a primordial vessel required the spine of an eighth-rank World-Opening Ancient Beast [a titanic creature born in the chaos before creation] to serve as its Dragon Bone [central keel], fused with countless Immortal Artifact-grade Spiritual Object [materials imbued with profound spiritual essence] to be forged.

The resources consumed were tenfold that of a typical Immortal Artifact of the same rank. Thus, even a low-grade World-Opening Ancient Ship was worth at least ten times a Low-Grade World-Opening Treasure, rivaling the value of a High-Grade World-Opening Treasure. Your portal to cultivation novels: www . audio-novel.com.

And having consumed such vast resources, its power was truly staggering.

Furthermore, this artifact was specifically refined to counter the Mountain Protection Formation [a defensive array that protects a mountain or territory] of an Earth Immortal Blessed Land [a territory imbued with profound earth energy, suitable for Earth Immortal cultivation]. Once activated for an assault, its power would likely be sufficient to threaten even an eighth-rank grand Formation [a complex arrangement of energy channels and nodes used for defense, attack, or cultivation].

The Cosmic Stellar Formation [a grand formation that harnesses the power of stars and constellations] of the Returning Abyss Sea Region was not a single eighth-rank Formation; it was an amalgamation of hundreds of millions of immortal-grade and spirit-grade arrays.

With these countless arrays converging, further empowered by the Ancient Starry Firmament Bell [an ancient bell artifact that commands the celestial bodies] which governed the stars, the combined might it unleashed reached the level of an eighth-rank formation.

Even an Earth Immortal [a cultivator who has merged their spirit with the earth, achieving a profound level of power] in the mid or late stages would find it impossible to easily shatter the Cosmic Stellar Formation.

Yet, whether it could withstand the assault of this eighth-rank World-Opening Ancient Ship [an ancient vessel of immense power, said to be capable of cleaving open worlds] was a question that filled the hearts of all present with profound uncertainty.

At this thought, a sense of despair began to seep into the hearts of the assembled immortals.

"Wait."

Suddenly, Exquisite Jiang keenly perceived something and could not help but speak out: "If the enemy possesses an eighth-rank World-Opening Ancient Ship, why did they not deploy the ancient vessel to breach our formation from the very beginning?"

The immortals were momentarily taken aback by her words, and expressions of puzzlement appeared on their faces.

Logically speaking, with the power of an eighth-rank World-Opening Ancient Ship, it should have been absolutely impossible for the Cosmic Stellar Formation to withstand it. Yet, the other side would rather watch countless disciples and followers perish than intervene, clearly indicating they must be apprehensive about something.

With this thought, Immortal Maiden Sun Consort's eyes emitted a golden light as she activated her innate Divine Ability—the Great Sun God's Gaze—to scrutinize that ancient vessel. She indeed detected its peculiarities.

"It truly is a half-destroyed relic."

A moment later, Sun Consort withdrew her gaze, a flicker of delight in her heart as she spoke.

It turned out this ancient ship had indeed been nearly destroyed in the past. Over forty percent of its hull had been shattered by a powerful foe wielding a World-Opening Giant Axe, and the internal formation patterns and Rule Power had suffered immense damage.

After the Lingering Sun Blessed Land acquired it, they had been continuously repairing this World-Opening Ancient Ship.

Unfortunately, constrained by the insufficient artifact-forging skill of the Lingering Sun Patriarch and the lack of adequate precious materials, the restoration of this World-Opening Ancient Ship had always progressed with difficulty.

To this day, although that forty percent of the hull had been patched up, the Immortal Artifact-grade divine materials used were all one grade inferior, and the internal formation patterns and rules were far from the perfection of its prime.

"The hull is incomplete; even after repairs, it remains imperfect. This ship's offensive power should only be eighty percent of its peak."

"Moreover, the repaired forty percent of the hull cannot bear the power of the protective grand formation. Therefore, the eighth-rank immortal formation guarding the ancient ship has not been restored; they are currently using a Supreme-Grade Immortal Formation as a replacement."

Sun Consort spoke in a measured tone, then stated, "The power of the Supreme-Grade Immortal Formation alone is insufficient to protect an Eighth-Rank ancient vessel."

"Moreover, in my judgment, the four-tenths of the Treasure Ship's hull that have been repaired are far too fragile. Should the Treasure Ship suffer a heavy blow, they would be the first to crack."

Upon hearing this, the assembled immortals felt a flicker of hope. Eastern Sovereign's eyes glinted slightly as he inquired, "Then how should we breach it?"

At these words, Sun Consort's expression grew slightly solemn.

After a moment of contemplation, she spoke, "The Lingering Sun Patriarch is aware of this ancient ship's weakness. He will certainly not allow us to damage it easily."

"Furthermore, the ancient ship is still protected by the Supreme-Grade Immortal Formation. Without power at the World-Opening Grade level, it is likely impervious to harm." Join our community of readers at audio-novel*com.

"We must seize the opportune moment, gather our World-Opening Treasure and all our most potent techniques, and strike simultaneously. Only then might we have a chance to break this deadlock..."

Hearing this, Exquisite Jiang's countenance could not help but shift slightly.

Understanding the gravity of the situation, she could no longer afford to conceal the Black Dragon Suppressing World Cauldron. With a sigh, she said, "Hold them off for a moment. I must retrieve a paramount treasure."

With those words, Exquisite Jiang swiftly flew into the depths of the Returning Abyss Blessed Land.

She retrieved the Black Dragon Suppressing World Cauldron [a legendary cauldron artifact of immense power]. Before departing, she cast one last glance towards the heart of the Blessed Land [a realm of concentrated spiritual energy and natural laws], where Eldrin Chen remained in secluded cultivation. A soft sigh escaped her lips.

"My husband, with this Blessed Land [a realm of concentrated spiritual energy and natural laws] concealing the Celestial Mechanism [the workings of fate and heavenly secrets], you will surely survive until the end of the Great Tribulation [a cataclysmic era of heavenly ordained calamity]."

"But if the Cosmic Stellar Formation [a grand defensive array harnessing the power of stars] is breached, and I, your humble consort, fail to withstand the tribulation... then we shall meet again only in our next lives."

Exquisite Jiang sighed. Leaving her Second Primordial Spirit [a powerful spiritual clone or avatar] to guard Eldrin Chen, she turned and flew towards the expanse beyond the Abyss of the Returning Abyss [a vast and perilous sea region].

"..."

"BOOM—"

At that very moment, beyond the Returning Abyss Sea Region, the great battle had already commenced.

The Lingering Sun Blessed Land [a powerful Blessed Land] arrived, riding upon an ancient eighth-rank warship, its opening salvo shaking the very heavens with its might.

The Lingering Sun Heavenly Ark [the celestial ship of the Lingering Sun Blessed Land] unleashed a blinding divine radiance—the eighth-rank Divine Ability [a supreme supernatural power] known as 'World-Sundering Light of the Lingering Sun' [a devastating beam of solar energy capable of cleaving worlds]. Its heaven-shaking, earth-trembling power crashed against the Cosmic Stellar Formation [a grand defensive array harnessing the power of stars], producing a resonant, ancient bell toll that echoed through the cosmos.

The Ancient Starry Firmament Bell [a primordial bell artifact embodying the starry heavens] stood firm within the Nine Heavens Above [the highest celestial realms], effortlessly neutralizing the force of this eighth-rank World-Opening Heavenly God Ability [a divine power of creation-level potency].

Yet even the power of the Ancient Starry Firmament Bell [a legendary bell capable of shaking the cosmos] was being drained at an alarming rate against such a World-Ferrying Ancient Ark [a primordial vessel capable of traversing the void between worlds].

In that moment, countless cultivators maintaining the Formation [a complex array or formation that channels power] perished. Across the various Immortal Path [nodes or ley lines of power] of the entire Cosmic Stellar Formation [a grand defensive array drawing power from the stars], the spiritual energy [the vital energy that flows through all living things], already significantly depleted, was instantly consumed by nearly half once more.

"Quickly, add more Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy]! Replenish the Immortal Source [a wellspring of pure, condensed spiritual energy] at once!"

Upon the numerous Immortal Isles [floating islands imbued with spiritual energy] and Spirit Island [islands rich in spiritual energy], cultivators opened their Storage Bag [a spatial artifact for holding items] and poured tens of thousands of Spirit Stones, and even Immortal Source [a wellspring of pure, condensed spiritual energy], into the Spirit Pond [a pool that gathers spiritual energy] and Immortal Spring [a spring of immortal-grade spiritual water], desperately trying to restore the power source of the Formation [a complex array or formation that channels power].

At the Formation Eye [the core control node of a formation], those presiding over the Formation [a complex array or formation that channels power] wore expressions of mingled terror and resolve. They had no choice but to step forward, replacing those who had fallen or been grievously wounded.

"BOOM—"

Simultaneously, from the distant void, the World-Opening Ancient Ship [an ancient vessel of immense destructive power] unleashed another attack. A World-Opening [a realm of power capable of sundering worlds] grade killing array slammed into the Cosmic Stellar Formation [a grand defensive array drawing power from the stars], causing the entire defensive barrier to shudder violently.

Such earth-shattering displays of World-Opening Power [power on a scale that can sunder creation] carried world-shaking might with every blow. With each impact, an untold number of cultivators perished from the backlash.

"We cannot continue to fight like this."

After withstanding nine consecutive assaults, even the mighty Cosmic Stellar Formation [a grand defensive array drawing power from the stars] had suffered severe damage. Sun Consort herself could not help but show a flicker of concern on her face.

Seeing Exquisite Jiang [the renowned female cultivator] soar through the air towards them, she wasted no time on lengthy greetings. A tacit understanding passed between them, and she immediately commanded, "Everyone, strike now!" This content originates from audio-novel dot com. Please respect copyright.