Chapter 1290 : A Conspiracy in the Returning Abyss

As the words fell, Sun Consort [one of the three legendary consorts of the sun] cast a subtle glance towards the assembled immortals nearby.

Eldrin Chen felt a slight weight settle in his heart, grasping the gravity of the situation.

He swept his gaze over the gathered immortals, a quiet sigh escaping him before he spoke. "All of you present are fellow cultivators I have walked the path with for many years. In this time of the Great Tribulation [a cataclysmic cosmic cycle of destruction and renewal], our fates are intertwined—our glory shared, our ruin mutual."

"Rest assured, they would never divulge this information."

Sun Consort nodded, then continued, "While that may be true, the Great Tribulation stretches on without end. The day you are forced to unleash your full power, this secret will inevitably come to light."

"I understand."

Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod, a furrow deepening between his brows.

He pondered in silence for a long moment before finally speaking, his voice low and distant. "That Nether Grand Austerity [a powerful, ancient entity] schemes to plunder the Path Source [the foundational essence or origin of one's cultivation path] of others. Little does he know that *his* Path Source is precisely what I urgently require."

"I move in the shadows while he stands in the light. Why should I not be the one to lay a trap for him?"

The immortals were taken aback by his words. Exquisite Jiang seemed to grasp his intent, her expression turning thoughtful. "You mean to say...?" Discover more cultivation stories at audio–novel.com.

Eldrin Chen offered a faint smile and spoke with calm assurance, "Within the Returning Abyss Sea Region [a vast and treacherous sea realm], I hold every geographical advantage. Nether Grand Austerity [a powerful demonic cultivator] has no confidence in his ability to breach the Cosmic Stellar Formation [a grand defensive array that harnesses the power of the stars]."

"Furthermore, Thousand Dragon Lake [a powerful demonic force] is currently besieging the Verdant Stream Ancient Sect [an ancient and venerable cultivation sect]. Their five True Dragon [supreme draconic beings] Patriarch [clan leaders of immense power] cannot spare the strength to divert their attention elsewhere. That is why they have not moved against me."

"But what if I were to leave the Returning Abyss Sea Region, and march openly to attack the Heavenly Demon Sea [a sea domain ruled by powerful heavenly demons]?"

Upon hearing this, the expressions of the others shifted subtly.

After a moment of contemplation, Moon Consort [a powerful immortal consort] spoke, "We slew four True Dragon of the Half-Step Earth Immortal Realm [a realm just below that of a full Earth Immortal]. On the surface, you possess the combat power of a Seven Tribulations Immortal [an immortal who has survived seven heavenly tribulations]. Once you fully mature, you will undoubtedly become a dire threat in their eyes."

"Therefore, whether for vengeance, to eliminate a future calamity, or to seize the Path Source [the condensed essence of one's cultivation path, released upon death during a tribulation] you would leave behind after succumbing to a tribulation, they will not let this opportunity pass."

At this point, Moon Consort's expression turned grave. "But if that is the case, the force they mobilize will likely be formidable, not something to be taken lightly."

Eldrin Chen nodded, his face thoughtful as he calculated. "Our apparent Half-Step Earth Immortal combatants number seven: myself, the three celestial maidens of Sun and Moon [a celestial domain], Verdant Consort [a powerful immortal consort], Exquisite [a powerful immortal], and Fellow Daoist Heaven Wind [a fellow cultivator known as Heaven Wind]."

"Among our group, Immortal Maiden Sun Consort [the Sun Consort Immortal Maiden] is on the verge of a breakthrough to the Earth Immortal [a major immortal realm]. I myself possess combat power at that level. Exquisite, Verdant Consort, and Fellow Daoist Heaven Wind all surpass the strength of a typical Six Tribulations Half-Step Earth Immortal [a Half-Step Earth Immortal who has survived six tribulations]."

"Thousand Dragon Lake is currently tied down besieging the Verdant Stream Ancient Sect. It is unlikely they can spare such a force to deal with us alone. Therefore, they will most likely ally with other factions of the Demon Race [the collective race of demonic beings], ultimately gathering a force sufficient to surround and annihilate us."

"Therefore, we must prepare on two fronts."

Eldrin Chen elaborated, his expression grave. "First, we feign weakness. Exquisite, Verdant Consort, and I will openly lead our forces to attack the Heavenly Demon Sea. You will remain hidden, waiting for the moment to strike."

"Second, we must unite the other Immortals. We should contact the Human Race Half-Step Earth Immortal [a cultivator halfway to becoming an Earth Immortal] in the surrounding regions and lay an ambush for them within the Heavenly Demon Sea."

"If we gather enough forces, it will be sufficient to surround and annihilate them."

Upon hearing this, Verdant Consort nodded slightly. She held complete trust in Eldrin Chen. Ever since the conflicts against the Fiend Race [demonic cultivators who embrace corruption and slaughter] in the Purple Seal Realm, Eldrin Chen had repeatedly demonstrated astonishing prowess during several great calamities.

It could be said that whether in tactics or strategy, Eldrin Chen's methods were impeccable. He had inflicted severe damage upon the Fiend Race time and again, foiling their schemes and devastating their Fiend Race Army.

Yet, considering the inherent peril, Verdant Consort sighed. "We use ourselves as bait to lure the allied demons of Thousand Dragon Lake into ambushing us, only for us to then rally the Immortals and ambush them in turn."

"In this way, this battle is likely to escalate into a major confrontation."

"That is precisely the goal—to force a major confrontation."

Eldrin Chen declared resolutely. Gazing toward the distant Heavenly Demon Sea, his expression turned profoundly solemn. "Currently, the calamitous aura over the Flowing Stream Hundred Seas is surging. The Celestial Prison Clan and Thousand Dragon Lake, along with other Demon Race [a race of sentient beings with bestial origins and potent innate powers] Blessed Land [a land imbued with potent spiritual energy, often serving as a cultivation base], have joined forces. Their combined strength far surpasses that of our Human Race."

"If we cannot annihilate a significant number of the Demon Race's powerhouses, given the strength of the Verdant Stream Ancient Sect and the Flowing Fire Star Palace, it will be impossible to withstand the joint siege of the Celestial Prison Clan and the Demon Race. Defeat would likely be only a matter of time."

"Once the Celestial Prison Clan and Thousand Dragon Lake breach those two Blessed Land, the momentum of the Demon Race and the Celestial Prison Clan will become unstoppable. Even if you and I manage to survive for a time, we would likely be unable to escape eventual defeat and destruction."

"It would be far better to seize this chance to scheme against them, to fight a single battle that breaks the Demon Race's very bones. Perhaps then we can breathe life back into this dead-end game."

As he spoke to this point, a glint of battle intent ignited in Eldrin Chen's eyes. "The Great Tribulation is perilous, yet it is also the very crucible where Opportunity and Fortune are forged."

"Whether we can survive the Great Tribulation and seize the Opportunity and Fortune to achieve our Path depends not only on our individual combat prowess, but also on our planning and stratagems."

"Otherwise, even with heaven-defying talent, once the Celestial Prison Clan's momentum becomes an unstoppable tide, you and I would find it difficult to defy the heavens before such overwhelming force." Enjoyed this chapter? Read more at @udio-novel.com.

"In the end, we would only meet our doom in confusion, our lifetime of cultivation becoming mere nourishment for another's path to ascension."

The assembled Immortals listened, each nodding in solemn agreement.

Sun Consort's eyes shone with particular brilliance; Eldrin Chen's strategic vision and grasp of the greater situation had struck a chord within her.

After a moment of contemplation, she spoke. "Within the Flowing Stream Hundred Seas, this humble one still holds some small influence and is acquainted with a few Human Race Half-Step Earth Immortal cultivators. Among them, several count as close friends."

"I shall dispatch several letters. Barring unforeseen circumstances, I should be able to invite a few Half-Step Earth Immortal [cultivators who have half-stepped into the Earth Immortal realm] to come."

Moon Consort and Star Consort also nodded in agreement. The Moon Consort spoke, "My sister, the Moon Goddess, is the Dao-companion of the Great Mystery Divine Spirit. I have heard that the Great Mystery Patriarch has also entered this tribulation."

"Although the Great Mystery Patriarch hails from a Divine Clan [a clan of divine beings], now that the Celestial Prison Clan and the Demon Race have stirred up this Great Tribulation [a cataclysmic era of fate and conflict], seeking to establish two Supreme Grotto-Heaven [paramount paradisiacal realms], I doubt his Divine Spirit Lineage [lineage of divine spirits] will stand idly by."

"If I invite him, his presence might be enough to tip the scales of the battle."

With everyone offering their suggestions, they unconsciously selected several dozen reliable candidates before they knew it.

Among these several dozen reliable Immortal [beings who have attained immortality], the weakest in cultivation were all at the Ascendant Immortal 9th Tier [the ninth tier of the Ascendant Immortal realm]. Among them were seven or eight Half-Step Earth Immortal [cultivators who have half-stepped into the Earth Immortal realm], and even two Earth Immortal Patriarch [patriarchs who have fully ascended to the Earth Immortal realm].

"Approximately seven or eight Half-Step Earth Immortal [cultivators who have half-stepped into the Earth Immortal realm], and two Earth Immortal Patriarch [patriarchs who have fully ascended to the Earth Immortal realm]."

"Adding to our existing force of seven Half-Step Earth Immortal [cultivators who have half-stepped into the Earth Immortal realm] and two combatants with Earth Immortal [Earth Immortal realm] strength..."

Eldrin Chen calculated silently, falling into deep thought.

Currently, within the Returning Abyss Sea Region, aside from the three Immortal Maidens of Sun and Moon and Stars, Verdant Consort, Exquisite, Heaven Wind, and Eldrin Chen himself, there were actually two other combatants with Half-Step Earth Immortal [half-step Earth Immortal realm] strength.

After this period of secluded cultivation, both Kael Chen and Eastern Sovereign Energy Abyss Chen had broken through to the Ascendant Immortal 8th Tier. [the eighth level of the Ascendant Immortal realm, a high stage of immortal cultivation]

Any cultivator with Great Encompassing Potential [a supreme innate constitution granting vast potential] who had attained the Three Path Fruits [a cultivation realm where one has condensed three distinct Path Fruits, representing mastery over three major cultivation paths] was guaranteed to possess combat power equivalent to a Half-Step Earth Immortal. [a cultivator whose power approaches but has not fully reached the Earth Immortal realm]

Although, lacking Supreme-Grade Immortal Treasure [the highest grade of immortal artifacts, possessing immense power], the two of them had only barely touched the threshold of the Half-Step Earth Immortal realm.

Yet, once they advanced further and their cultivation broke through to the Ascendant Immortal 9th Tier, their greatly augmented spiritual power would firmly establish their strength within the Half-Step Earth Immortal tier.

By then, if Eldrin Chen lent them a few more Supreme-Grade Immortal Treasure, their combat prowess, while likely still falling short of Verdant Consort and Exquisite Jiang, would probably reach the level of four Five Tribulations Immortal. [an immortal who has survived five heavenly tribulations, denoting significant power and seniority]

Contemplating this, Eldrin Chen nodded and declared, "With at least fourteen or fifteen combatants of Half-Step Earth Immortal caliber, supplemented by four full Earth Immortal [immortals who have fully ascended to the Earth Immortal realm, a major power milestone], this battle is one we can fight." This content originates from audio-novel dot com. Please respect copyright.