Chapter 1277 : The Formation's Final Stand

This Earth Fiend Immortal-Suppressing Formation [a grand formation that channels the power of earth's malevolent energies to suppress immortal beings], condensed with the combined might of seventy-two Immortal [beings who have ascended to immortality], unleashed a Nine Nether Abyssal Profound Fiend [a profound and sinister power drawn from the deepest nether abysses] that was utterly staggering in its intensity.

Even with the assembled Half-Step Earth Immortal [cultivators who have nearly attained the Earth Immortal realm] present, each channeling their World-Opening Treasure [legendary artifacts of immense power capable of shaping worlds], they found it exceedingly difficult to breach such a world-shaking immortal Formation [a structured arrangement of power, often for defense or attack].

Not only that, as the immortals of the Lingering Sun Blessed Land [a sacred realm bathed in the light of the setting sun] continuously fueled the Formation [a structured arrangement of power, often for defense or attack], its enveloping power was constantly compressing, shrinking the space in which the defenders could survive.

The immortals retreated step by step, only realizing belatedly that they had been driven back and trapped within the confines of the Celestial Sand Sea Region [a vast, desolate region of shifting celestial sands].

Beyond lay the locations of the Three Enclosures [three celestial enclosures or fortifications], the Polarity [the fundamental principle of opposing yet complementary forces, like yin and yang], and the Four Symbols Immortal Islands [four sacred isles representing celestial beasts]. If they retreated further, these four core Immortal Isles [islands imbued with immortal energy] would be lost, stripping them of their final bastion of support.

"We can retreat no further."

Seeing there was nowhere left to fall back to, Sun Consort gritted her teeth and declared, summoning forth her Great Sun Heavenly Wheel [a divine wheel embodying the power of the great sun] to make a desperate stand.

Lingering Sun Patriarch merely let out a cold sneer. With a flick of his sleeve, his Lifebound Supreme Treasure [a treasure bound to one's life essence and soul], the Lingering Sun Heaven-Suppressing Pagoda [a pagoda that harnesses the waning sun's power to suppress the heavens], descended to suppress her. Driven by World-Opening Power [a primordial force capable of cleaving open new worlds], it actually managed to dim the radiance of the Great Sun Heavenly Wheel.

"Bong—"

Another resonant bell toll echoed as the Ancient Starry Firmament Bell [an ancient bell forged from the essence of the starry firmament] descended like a falling star, adding its immense pressure to the fray. Immerse yourself in the complete world at audi novel.com.

"A mere group of Half-Step Earth Immortals [cultivators who have partially ascended beyond the mortal realm but have not fully become Earth Immortals], wielding three World-Opening Treasures [legendary artifacts of immense power capable of shaping nascent worlds], dare to think they can slay a true Earth Immortal [an immortal whose power is rooted in and commands the very essence of the earth]?"

Facing such an assault, Lingering Sun Patriarch sneered coldly.

His words halted abruptly, his expression turning fiercely solemn as he rose to his full height.

In that moment, Lingering Sun Patriarch strode forward. Clad in imperial robes and a crown of crimson-gold, grasping the ancient World-Opening [pertaining to the primordial act of creation] pagoda, he resembled a primordial deity of creation patrolling the heavens, intent on suppressing all Celestial Immortals [immortals who have ascended to dwell among the stars] and demons.

"Do you not know that I am the progenitor of the World-Opening immortals, the very Divine Spirit [a primordial being of immense spiritual power, often associated with natural forces] of creation itself?"

As his words fell, Lingering Sun Patriarch flicked his sleeve, manifesting a colossal hand that blotted out the sky as it pressed down to suppress them.

Instantly, heaven and earth trembled. Boundless shockwaves swept across the firmament, their majestic power shattering everything in their path and sending the Ancient Starry Firmament Bell hurtling away.

"*Cough*—"

Heaven Wind Path Master [a master of the Dao Path associated with celestial winds] was sent flying, blood spraying from his mouth, his injuries growing ever more severe.

Yet, compared to the despair that now gripped his heart, these wounds were but a trivial matter.

In that very moment, a profound silence fell upon the assembled immortals, and a tide of utter despair flooded the Returning Abyss Sea Region [a vast and treacherous expanse of the celestial seas].

And it was precisely at this juncture that the seventy-two Immortal [beings who have transcended mortality through cultivation] presiding over the Earthly Fiend Immortal-Trapping Formation [a grand formation designed to ensnare and suppress fiendish immortals], along with the formation itself, plunged completely into the heart of the Celestial Sand Sea Region [a region of the heavens known for its shifting, star-like sands].

"Now!"

"BOOM—"

In a flash, the very fabric of heaven and earth trembled with a blinding radiance.

From within the Celestial Sand Sea Region, the three Immortal Isles [floating paradises of immortal beings]—Supreme Subtlety, Purple Tenuity, and Celestial Market—erupted with a world-shaking Immortal Radiance [a divine light of immense power].

Three dazzling, miraculous pearls shot into the sky, their light enveloping and sealing the entire Celestial Sand Sea Region, trapping even the mighty Earthly Fiend Immortal-Trapping Formation within its bounds.

"The Three Enclosures Grand Formation and the Triad Wonder Pearls?"

The immortals from the Lingering Sun Sea [a sea region bathed in perpetual twilight] witnessed this spectacle, their faces paling with alarm.

Some among the Immortal recognized the origins of this Formation [a structured arrangement of power, often for defense or attack] and the Triad Wonder Pearls [three divine pearls that stabilize seas and form grand formations]. They could sense the formation's suppressive power severing the Earthly Fiend Immortal-Trapping Formation from the ambient spiritual energy of heaven and earth, diminishing its might by more than thirty percent.

"There is no need for panic."

Perceiving the Three Enclosures Grand Formation in an instant, Lingering Sun Patriarch's expression turned grave with solemnity.

He raised his head to gaze above the Heavenly Vault, where he saw a figure clad in pristine white robes stepping through the void. Behind this figure trailed the severely damaged Lingering Sun Heavenly Ark.

That Lingering Sun Heavenly Ark had been locked in fierce combat for over six hundred years, its internal energy reserves long since depleted. Faced with Eldrin Chen's ambush, it was critically wounded in the span of a single clash.

Eldrin Chen paid no further heed to the crippled ark. Its combat power was now negligible; the Crimson Dragon and Soaring Serpent, two high-grade ancient vessels, were more than sufficient to finish it off.

His three-thousand strands of hair flowed loosely about his shoulders as he approached, white robes billowing, sword in hand. His gaze was calm as he addressed Lingering Sun Patriarch. Official source: www . audio-novel.com. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.

"I am Returning Abyss. I invite you, honored one, to face your tribulation."

"Hahaha!"

In response to Eldrin Chen's invitation, Lingering Sun Patriarch erupted into wild, mocking laughter.

His laughter ceased abruptly, his face hardening into an expression of boundless, icy detachment. "Do you have any idea who I am?" he demanded, his voice cold and imperious.

"I am the Creator of the Crippled Heaven Great World, a World-Creating Divine Spirit who forged the world during the World-Opening."

"You think you can make this old man face his tribulation? You, a mere, feeble Immortal?"

"Let this old man witness what methods you possess."

As his words fell, the Lingering Sun Patriarch took a sudden, forceful step forward and immediately unleashed his World-Opening Heavenly God Ability, the Lingering Sun Moon-Veiling Hand.

Eldrin Chen shifted his footing slightly, merely bringing a single palm down in a cleaving strike. His Primordial One Energy Grasping Hand transformed into the 'Primordial One Energy World-Opening Palm' and descended with world-sundering force.

In that fleeting moment, two peerless Divine Ability [supreme supernatural techniques] collided. As they intersected, boundless currents of energy erupted and swept outwards. Rule Power [the fundamental power of cosmic laws] exploded forth, unleashing an infinite shockwave that ravaged mountains and rivers across millions of Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters]. The resulting turbulence even caused the Earthly Fiend Immortal-Trapping Formation to tremble violently.

At this moment, all the assembled Immortals wore expressions of shock and fear. This was merely a probing exchange between the two combatants, yet it resembled a duel between two World-Creating Divine Spirit [primordial deities who shaped existence] from the dawn of the World-Opening [the primordial event of creation].

Even a Nine Heavens Celestial Immortal Spirit [a spirit-being of the highest celestial realms], if it drew too close, would be grievously wounded by the residual shockwaves, its Immortal Body [the indestructible physical form of an Immortal] shattered by the terrifying World-Opening Rule [the fundamental laws wielded during creation].

"A strike comparable to that of a Seven Tribulations Immortal!"

After just that brief, fleeting exchange, the Lingering Sun Patriarch had already perceived the Extraordinary [peerless and formidable] nature of Eldrin Chen.

His heart gave a slight jolt of alarm. He could not help but cast a deep, searching look at Eldrin Chen. His expression grew even more solemn as he spoke, "To simultaneously command three distinct Rule Power [the fundamental laws that govern reality, harnessed by supreme cultivators]... You truly are a great calamity."

"If I were to allow you to grow further, you would surely become the Great Tribulation [a cataclysmic, world-shaking calamity] of my Lingering Sun Blessed Land. Today, no matter the cost, this old man will not permit you to leave this place alive."

As his words faded, Lingering Sun Patriarch struck once more. The majestic Lingering Sun Heaven-Suppressing Pagoda [a towering pagoda artifact imbued with the power to suppress the heavens] descended with crushing force.

Seeing this, Sun Consort prepared to activate the Great Sun Heavenly Wheel [a divine wheel artifact radiating solar power] to assist. However, Eldrin Chen stopped her, saying, "I can handle this one alone. You must first break the formation array, then come to my aid!"

"Cauldron, to me!"

With that command, Eldrin Chen gave a mighty shout.

A thunderous boom echoed through the air as the Black Dragon Suppressing World Cauldron [a massive cauldron artifact engraved with a black dragon, capable of suppressing worlds] flew from Exquisite Jiang's grasp and landed firmly in Eldrin Chen's hands.

Then, with boundless divine might, the cauldron descended. Its impact actually caused the mighty Lingering Sun Heaven-Suppressing Pagoda to shudder visibly.

"Such formidable power from the Black Dragon Suppressing World Cauldron!"

Lingering Sun Patriarch's heart clenched with shock, yet a flicker of avaricious delight also crossed his features.

This Dragon's Might Black Gold Cauldron [a powerful cauldron forged from black gold imbued with draconic power] was merely a Low-Grade World-Opening Treasure [a treasure of the lowest tier capable of opening or stabilizing a minor world], yet its might already surpassed his Lifebound Supreme Treasure [a cultivator's most powerful treasure, bound to their life force], the Lingering Sun [a region or force associated with the setting sun] World-Suppressing Pagoda, revealing the profound power of this artifact.

Thinking of this, his desire for the Black Dragon Suppressing World Cauldron [a mighty cauldron artifact capable of suppressing the world with black dragon power] grew even more intense. He immediately channeled his energy to command the Lingering Sun Heavenly Wheel [a celestial wheel treasure embodying the power of the lingering sun] to press down and suppress it.

Just as the two of them were locked in their magical duel, the remaining combatants had already fully engaged one another.

The seventy-two Immortals of the Lingering Sun Blessed Land [a blessed land associated with the power of the lingering sunset] activated the Earth Fiend Grand Formation [a grand defensive and offensive formation harnessing earthly fiendish energies], forcing the Immortals from the Returning Abyss Sea Region [a sea region named for its abyssal, returning currents] into a steady retreat.

However, in the battles at the Half-Step Earth Immortal [a cultivator who has partially transcended the mortal realm but not fully ascended to Earth Immortal status] level, they held an absolute advantage. Sun Consort, Star Consort, Heaven Wind Path Master [a master of the Heavenly Wind cultivation path], Exquisite Jiang, and Verdant Consort were all combatants of Half-Step Earth Immortal caliber.

The Lingering Sun Sea [the sea associated with the Lingering Sun region] possessed only two combatants of Half-Step Earth Immortal strength: one was the Setting Sun Patriarch, and the other was Lingering Sun Child.

Lingering Sun Child had cultivated arduously for over two million years, breaking through to Half-Step Earth Immortal three thousand years prior. Although he possessed the Supreme-Grade Immortal Treasure [a treasure of the highest grade available to Immortals] known as the Myriad Miles Lingering Sun Pearl [a pearl capable of projecting the power of the lingering sun across vast distances], his strength was considered the weakest among the Earth Immortal [a fully ascended immortal whose power is rooted in the earth].

The Setting Sun Patriarch, however, possessed truly formidable Force Extreme [a state where one's cultivated power or force has reached an extreme pinnacle]. He wielded five Supreme-Grade Immortal Treasure and commanded an avatar of a True Dragon [a primordial and immensely powerful dragon species] that had reached the Half-Step Earth Immortal Realm. His power ranked among the very top even within the tier of Six Tribulations Half-Step Earth Immortal [a Half-Step Earth Immortal who has survived six heavenly tribulations]. Published by audio-novel.com (official site). All rights reserved.