Chapter 1333 : The Sundering Talisman's Gambit

"The Heaven-Sundering Heavenly God Talisman [a supreme talisman capable of temporarily sundering even the most formidable defensive formations]!"

The moment he laid eyes on this object, Lord of Thousand Dragon Lake's expression shifted subtly, a flicker of recognition passing through his gaze as he spoke.

Blaze Lord of Heaven's Prison gave a slight nod before explaining, "This treasure was originally prepared to deal with the Verdant Stream Ancient Sect. However, the pressure they exerted at the time was not overwhelming, so I held it in reserve."

As his words unfolded, the assembly grasped the origin of this precious artifact.

It was revealed that the Heaven-Sundering Heavenly God Talisman was an exceptionally rare type of World-Opening [the realm of cultivators who have opened their own minor world] grade talisman. Its power could briefly tear open a Mountain Protection Formation [a powerful defensive array that shields a mountain or sect], allowing its users to breach and engage the enemy within the Cosmic Stellar Formation [a grand defensive array that harnesses the power of stars and cosmos].

However, this talisman was a single-use treasure; employing it was equivalent to sacrificing a World-Opening Treasure [a magical artifact of the World-Opening realm]. This was the primary reason Blaze Lord of Heaven's Prison had refrained from using it until now.

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

While it could temporarily breach a Formation [a structured arrangement of energy nodes and patterns used for defense, attack, or cultivation], it could not permanently dismantle the grand array. It merely forced open a temporary gap.

If they failed to completely overwhelm the defenders within the formation before that gap sealed shut, they risked being trapped and annihilated inside.

Now, Blaze Lord of Heaven's Prison produced the talisman and declared, "This talisman can create an entry point from outside the Cosmic Stellar Formation, allowing us to plunge into the heart of the battle." This content originates from audi0-n0vel.c0m. Please respect copyright.

"However, that entrance can only be sustained for three days. If we cannot break the grand formation within that time, we are very likely to become trapped within it."

Upon hearing this, Frigid Ice Chi Dragon spoke with grave seriousness: "Once we charge into the Cosmic Stellar Formation, we will be suppressed by the Mountain Protection Formation, and our combat power will be diminished by several degrees for no good reason."

"If we cannot defeat the enemy swiftly, the danger of being cut down inside becomes all too real."

Blaze Lord of Heaven's Prison nodded, his expression calm as he stated, "Indeed. Therefore, my suggestion, conservatively speaking, is that we should first go to reinforce the Flowing Fire Star Palace."

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

The Blaze Lord of Heaven's Prison was not of the Demon Race; the positions from which they stood were fundamentally different.

As an Elder of the Celestial Prison Clan, this Blaze Lord of Heaven's Prison naturally hoped they would abandon the assault on the Returning Abyss Sea Region and instead go to aid the Flowing Fire Star Palace.

If not for the Eight Tribulation Path Source belonging to the Verdant Mystery Path Master, which had led to a prior transaction with the Celestial Prison Clan, the Blaze Lord of Heaven's Prison would not even have appeared on this battlefield.

But Thousand Dragon Lake was different. They held a mortal grudge against Eldrin Chen. If they failed to eliminate Eldrin Chen, once the Great Tribulation concluded, Thousand Dragon 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 Dragon Lake was all too predictable.

"This Returning Abyss Path Master [a title for a master of the profound and abyssal path], must not be allowed to live."

The Lord of Thousand Dragon Lake [a title for the ruler of a lake domain inhabited by many dragons] murmured to himself, finally speaking aloud: "We shall choose the second method. The two of us shall join forces. With two Late Stage Earth Immortals [cultivators at the advanced stage of the Earth Immortal realm] encircling and slaying a single Half-Step Earth Immortal [a cultivator who has half-ascended to the Earth Immortal realm], I refuse to believe that Returning Abyss Path Master can survive."

The Blaze Lord of Heaven's Prison [a title for a powerful lord associated with celestial prison and flame] frowned slightly, a flicker of displeasure in his heart.

At that moment, however, the Heaven's Prison Child [a title for a scion of the celestial prison lineage] stepped forward and declared, "I can agree to this. But after this battle, the Path Source [the condensed origin and foundation of a cultivator's chosen path] of that Returning Abyss Path Master must belong to me."

"This..."

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

He understood clearly in his heart: this Heaven's Prison Child coveted Eldrin Chen's Ten Tribulations Path Source [a Path Source forged through surviving ten heavenly tribulations, a treasure of immense potential], wishing to use it to take the final step and charge into that Forbidden Domain [a legendary and perilous realm of cultivation few dare to tread].

To be fair, a single Ten Tribulations Path Source might truly have the potential to forge a Ten Tribulations Immortal [an immortal who has survived ten heavenly calamities].

If the Heaven's Prison Child were to set foot in that domain, he would become one of the strongest prodigies in the history of the Celestial Prison Clan [a powerful clan associated with celestial prisons] within the Vast Azure Immortal Domain [a vast and renowned domain of immortals], and his chances of later ascending to become a Celestial Immortal [an immortal who has ascended to a celestial state of being] would exceed fifty percent.

Consider this: the current Celestial Prison Clan Patriarch [the ancestral leader of the Celestial Prison Clan], a Five Tribulations Half-Step Celestial Immortal [one who has half-ascended to Celestial Immortality after surviving five tribulations] who has lived for over forty million years, a former Nine Tribulations Immortal [an immortal who survived nine heavenly calamities], and one who opened the Eighth Heaven and Earth [the eighth layer of heaven and earth within his internal cultivation world]—even his chance of successfully impacting the Celestial Immortal realm is merely twenty percent.

Having considered this, Blaze Lord of Heaven's Prison [a powerful lord of the Celestial Prison Clan] spoke, "Since that is the case, I grant you a century to recuperate and reorganize."

"After these hundred years, when our magical power is fully restored, I shall personally shatter the Cosmic Stellar Formation [a grand defensive formation that harnesses the power of stars]."

"…"

While strategies were being debated at Thousand Dragon Lake, two figures observed this majestic battlefield from the boundless void.

One was a Refined Man clad in black robes, the other a Daoist priest in traditional robes.

Both exuded formidable auras. The Daoist priest's presence was as deep as an abyss, while the Refined Man was enveloped in Primordial Solar Energy [the pure, radiant energy of the primordial sun], yet wisps of Netherworld Energy [the cold, deathly energy of the underworld] drifted around him, making him resemble a Netherworld Nether Emperor Imperial Lord [a sovereign ruler of the underworld realms]. Official source: (audio-novel.com). Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.

At this moment, the Daoist priest gazed at the armies of Thousand Dragon Lake and then at the Returning Abyss Sea Region, a glint of approval in his eyes. "For Returning Abyss Path Master [the master of the Returning Abyss Path] to join forces with the Verdant Stream Ancient Sect and the masters of Glazed Blessed Land [a sacred land renowned for its crystalline beauty] and actually repel the forces of Thousand Dragon Lake and Blaze Lord of Heaven's Prison... they truly possess considerable skill."

The Refined Man gave a slight nod, his expression calm as he stated, "If the Returning Abyss Blessed Land [the sacred land governed by the Returning Abyss Path Master] were not formidable, you and I would not have come here today."

Continuing, the Refined Man added, "Tens of thousands of years ago, that Returning Abyss Path Master once procured for me the Soul-Returning Herb [a legendary herb capable of mending a damaged soul]."

"In that sense, he shares some credit for my recent breakthrough to the Nine Tribulations Realm [the pinnacle realm of an immortal, having survived nine heavenly tribulations] and the reversal of my constitution into a Primordial Solar [a legendary physique embodying the essence of the primordial sun] body."

If Eldrin Chen were present, he would undoubtedly recognize the origins of this individual.

This Refined Man was none other than the Ancient Ruins Nether Lord from the Netherworld [the underworld realm of spirits and the dead], a former Netherworld Ghost Immortal [a powerful ghost who has attained immortality] of the Eight Tribulations Realm.

Now, he had unknowingly broken through to the Nine Tribulations Realm and reversed his constitution into a Primordial Solar [a body of pure, primordial solar essence], his combat prowess rivaling that of any ordinary Nine Tribulations Immortal.

The other figure was the renowned rogue cultivator Heaven Abyss Path Master, famous throughout the Flowing Stream Hundred Seas.

He had established his path a mere few hundred thousand years ago. Yet, even before this Great Tribulation [a cataclysmic era of immense strife and upheaval], his foundation was already that of an Eight Tribulations Immortal. Now, he had somehow stepped into the Nine Tribulations Realm, a testament to his extraordinary capabilities.

After hearing the Ancient Ruins Nether Lord's words, Heaven Abyss Path Master smiled and spoke, "Cultivators like Old Path Master Verdant Mystery, Nether Grand Austerity, and Heaven's Prison Child have the backing of Earth Immortal Blessed Land [a land blessed with immense spiritual energy, suitable for Earth Immortal cultivation]. Their cultivation journeys are smooth sailing."

"But for rogue cultivators like us, without background or patronage, even securing meager cultivation resources requires meticulous planning and utmost caution."

"To prove our Great Path [the ultimate Dao or cultivation method one pursues], we must not only scheme for resources but also seek like-minded fellow Daoists to support one another."

The Ancient Ruins Nether Lord nodded with a faint smile. "This Returning Abyss Path Master possesses truly Extraordinary talent and aptitude. In the future, he may well establish a Supreme Grotto-Heaven [a supreme, self-contained paradise realm for cultivation]."

"We can befriend him, offering mutual support. If one day we can all prove our Celestial Immortal Great Path [the path leading to the realm of Celestial Immortals], it would make for a fine tale indeed."

Speaking of this, both of them gave a slight nod of understanding.

The Heaven Abyss Path Master pondered for a moment before speaking. "When shall we make our move?"

"There is no need for haste."

The Ancient Ruins Nether Lord smiled faintly and replied, "If we are anxious, Thousand Dragon Lake and the Blaze Lord of Heaven's Prison will be even more so. When a person grows anxious, they make mistakes. Even an Earth Immortal [a powerful immortal whose power is anchored to the mortal world] might be driven to take reckless risks."

"At present, it is unlikely they can breach the Cosmic Stellar Formation [a grand defensive array harnessing the power of stars] within three thousand years. The only way to shatter it swiftly is to employ a perilous, unconventional strategy."

"For now, we need only wait patiently. We wait for them to take that desperate gamble, and we wait for the perfect moment to strike." This chapter is part of a larger work available at audio-novel`com.