Chapter 1338 : A Sovereign's Heartless Departure

"That is not your concern."

Blaze Lord of the Celestial Prison spoke with detached indifference, his voice cold. "Had it not been for Jaxian, I would never have wished to risk participating in this battle. Now that Jaxian has fallen in combat, This Sovereign [a formal and powerful self-referential title used by high-level cultivators] has no reason to remain here."

"Whether we can annihilate the Flowing Fire Star Palace is pivotal to whether the Clan Lord can achieve a breakthrough into the Heaven Immortal Realm [the realm of celestial immortals, a pinnacle stage of cultivation]."

"As for avenging Jaxian, it will not be too late once the Clan Lord steps into the Heaven Immortal Realm."

Uttering these heartless words, Blaze Lord of the Celestial Prison cast a final glance across the battlefield. Then, relying on the protection of his Bodyguard Supreme Treasure [a supreme-grade defensive artifact], the Nine Heavens Flame God Armor, he fought his way out of the fray.

To this, the Patriarch of the Verdant Stream Ancient Sect offered no resistance. Instead, he opened a passage for him, allowing his exit from the Zhou Heavenly Stars Grand Formation [a grand defensive array harnessing the power of celestial stars].

"It is done!"

Watching Blaze Lord of the Celestial Prison depart, Eldrin Chen felt a subtle wave of relief wash over him.

Although letting Blaze Lord of the Celestial Prison escape was regrettable, a Late Stage Earth Immortal [a cultivator at the advanced stage of the Earth Immortal realm] fighting with the desperation of a cornered beast would have been a truly terrifying force to reckon with.

Furthermore, the Demonic Tribe still numbered their Immortal [cultivators who have ascended to an immortal state] in the hundreds. If a fight to the death had truly ensued, more than half of the Immortal within the Immortal Alliance would likely have perished. Continue reading this story at audio-novel-dot-com.

Facing the counterattacks of two Late Stage Earth Immortal [cultivators who have reached the late stage of the Earth Immortal realm], even with the aid of the Formation [a structured array that channels and amplifies power], it is likely that few among the present Human Race Earth Immortal [human cultivators of the Earth Immortal realm] combatants would ultimately survive.

Aside from Eldrin Chen, who was protected by his Primordial Unity Qi [a supreme defensive divine ability], no one could guarantee myself would certainly live through this. "Wicked dragon, prepare to meet your end!"

Now that Eldrin Chen's open stratagem had compelled Blaze Lord of the Celestial Prison to withdraw, the Patriarch of the Verdant Stream Ancient Sect finally had his hands free.

The grudge of a sect's annihilation was a vendetta sworn under different heavens.

With his hands now free, the Patriarch of the Verdant Stream Ancient Sect immediately activated three peerless Slaughter Formation [formations designed for mass annihilation] and also summoned forth the Verdant Stream Ancient Sword, joining Eldrin Chen in encircling and assaulting the Lord of Thousand Dragon Lake.

At this moment, the objective for Eldrin Chen and his ally was no longer merely to withstand the Lord of Thousand Dragon Lake's attacks, but to prevent his escape.

With the two of them joining forces, bolstered further by the Zhou Heavenly Stars Grand Formation [a grand formation that harnesses the power of the celestial stars], the Lord of Thousand Dragon Lake was firmly and utterly trapped.

While he was unable to break free, Lyra Jiang and the other Ninth Tribulation Immortal [immortals who have survived nine heavenly tribulations] had already begun swiftly turning the tide of battle.

Under their relentless, coordinated assault, the two Earth Immortal Progenitor [progenitor-level beings of the Earth Immortal realm], the Five-Clawed Golden Dragon and the Grand Frost Ice Drake, were soon surrounded and slain within the Void [a profound state or technique related to emptiness and spatial manipulation].

Having exterminated the Demon Race Earth Immortal [Earth Immortal realm cultivators of the demon race], and seeing the Lord of Thousand Dragon Lake still held fast by the duo, the others felt a slight sense of relief settle in their hearts.

Lyra Jiang did not waste a moment. She immediately spoke, her voice cutting through the chaos: "Slay the Demon Immortal [powerful demon cultivators who have attained immortality] first. We shall encircle and eliminate the Lord of Thousand Dragon Lake last."

"Agreed."

Sky Abyss Daoist gave a curt nod. In that instant, he summoned forth his Sky Abyss Sword and surged towards the host of Demon Immortal.

At this moment, Dry Dragon Lake still held four hundred Demon Immortal True Dragon [ancient and powerful dragon-type demon beasts]. Among them were over ten beings at the Half-Step Earth Immortal [a realm just shy of becoming a true Earth Immortal] level. United, their combined strength should, in theory, have allowed them to contend with one or even two Early Stage Earth Immortal.

However, the number of Earth Immortal [cultivators who have transcended mortality and attained profound power tied to the earth] level combatants now free to act was far greater than merely two.

In terms of Middle Stage Earth Immortal power alone, there were three: Sky Abyss Daoist, Lyra Jiang, and Ancient Ruins Yin Lord.

Those with one foot already in the Middle Stage Earth Immortal realm included Solara and Verdant Consort. Furthermore, Earth Immortal-level combat power was bolstered by the Two Supreme Elders of the Verdant Stream Ancient Sect, as well as Earth Spring Ancient Ancestor and Skywind the Daoist.

With eight such Earth Immortal-tier forces joining hands, they could at least put up a fight against a Late Stage Earth Immortal Ancient Ancestor. To use such might to deal with a mere horde of Demon Immortal was akin to employing a battle-axe to slaughter a chicken—utter overkill.

The great battle lasted scarcely half a day before they had slaughtered the multitude of Demon Immortal True Dragon to the last. "Ah, my children!"

Witnessing the complete annihilation of the Thousand Dragons Lake Demon Immortal, the Lord of Thousand Dragon Lake could not hold back his tears of anguish.

Although he had contemplated the possibility long before entering this tribulation, that the Dry Dragon Lake Blessed Land [a realm of concentrated spiritual energy and fortune] might see its lineage extinguished amidst the great calamity.

Yet he could never have fathomed that this magnificent, boundless Blessed Land, which at its zenith had housed over a thousand True Dragon [a supreme draconic species of immense power], would see its entire True Dragon lineage utterly annihilated within a mere corner of the Abyssal Sea Region.

"Ah! You all deserve death!"

Striking out with bitter hatred, the Lord of Thousand Dragon Lake unleashed his Yin-Yang Annihilation Treasure Vase, Profound Yin Heaven-Slaying Sword, and Profound Yang Heaven-Entombing Saber simultaneously, their combined force nearly cleaving the very firmament asunder.

Yet even such earth-shaking, heaven-rending power has its limits. In the end, he found himself powerless to reverse the tide. The Four Symbols Immortal-Trapping Formation, the Three Talents Immortal-Entombing Formation, and the Yin-Yang Immortal-Severing Formation [a formation harnessing opposing forces to trap and destroy immortal beings] were all activated. Bolstered by seven Supreme Grade Immortal Treasure Formation [enchanted artifacts serving as formation cores], each strike from these formations rivaled the full-force assault of an Early Stage Earth Immortal Ancient Ancestor.

Empowered infinitely by the endless Formation arrays, the Solar Pearl and Lunar Wheel—two World-Opening Treasure [primordial artifacts of creation-level power]—unleashed blows equivalent to the full might of a Middle Stage Earth Immortal. The story continues at audio-novel.com.

Furthermore, the boundless pressure of the Zhou Heavenly Stars Grand Formation bore down upon him. Now, with the fall of the demon horde, the entire weight of the grand formation pressed upon him alone.

The Lord of Thousand Dragon Lake fought while bearing the pressure of the entire Zhou Heavenly Stars Grand Formation, as if carrying the weight of the entire billion-*zhang* Abyssal Sea Region upon his shoulders in battle.

He felt as if every strike of myself was launched into a torrent of Boundless Chaos, its force dissipating before fully manifesting, weakened by over thirty to forty percent.

As the fierce battle raged on, his heart grew heavier with each passing moment.

At this moment, witnessing the three Ninth Tribulation Immortal [cultivators who have survived nine heavenly tribulations]—Lyra Jiang and the others—along with the five Earth Immortal [powerful cultivators who have merged with a world's origin] led by Solara closing in for a joint assault, he felt the immense pressure mounting unbearably.

"Ah! I refuse to accept this fate!"

Amidst the grueling and desperate battle, an expression of profound resentment twisted the features of the Lord of Thousand Dragon Lake.

As an Earth Immortal Progenitor [an ancient and supremely powerful Earth Immortal] who had lived for over ten million years, the combat prowess of the Lord of Thousand Dragon Lake could truly be described as earth-shattering. Even within the vast expanse of the Western Qi Divine Abyss Sea, his name commanded awe and fear across entire regions.

He possessed absolute confidence that he could withstand the Zhou Heavenly Stars Grand Formation [a grand stellar defensive array] alone, contesting the very will of heaven and earth across the entire Abyssal Sea Region. At the very least, that formidable formation could not slay him.

Even if Eldrin Chen and the Patriarch of the Verdant Stream Ancient Sect joined forces against him, he was certain that with his own profound and boundless World-Opening Power [a divine ability of immense, world-sundering force], he could utterly defeat them both.

He would not have feared a siege by three Ninth Tribulation Immortal leading five Earth Immortal Progenitor; he even believed he could break their ranks and defeat them one by one.

Each of these three forces was equivalent to a Late Stage Earth Immortal [a cultivator at the pinnacle of the Earth Immortal realm], yet he harbored no trepidation towards any of them.

But now, he was forced to contend not only with the entire Zhou Heavenly Stars Grand Formation, but also with two formidable adversaries—Eldrin Chen and the Patriarch of the Verdant Stream Ancient Sect. On top of that, he was besieged by three Ninth Tribulation Immortal supported by several Earth Immortal.

This finally pushed him to his absolute limit. Desperately trying to force his way out, he realized he could neither breach the Zhou Heavenly Stars Grand Formation nor shake off the relentless encirclement of his foes.

"Blaze Lord of the Celestial Prison [a powerful lord of the Celestial Prison Clan], how dare you flee from the battlefield!"

Seeing no path to break through the encirclement, the Lord of Thousand Dragon Lake [the sovereign ruler of the Thousand Dragon Lake domain] was consumed by towering rage.

Had the two Late Stage Earth Immortal [cultivators at the advanced stage of the Earth Immortal realm] joined forces, even if all the Demon Immortal [immortal-level demonic cultivators] were slain, they would certainly have possessed the strength to put up a fight.

Yet, Blaze Lord of the Celestial Prison had been deliberately allowed to escape by Eldrin Chen's open stratagem, ultimately pushing him into a hopeless situation. "You think killing me will be so easy?"

At this Life and Death [a moment of utmost peril between life and death] juncture, the Lord of Thousand Dragon Lake roared with fury.

He activated his Lifebound Divine Ability [a supreme ability intrinsically linked to one's life force], the "Unbreakable Yin-Yang Seal [a divine seal embodying the indestructible principles of Yin and Yang]," to shield his body. Simultaneously, he used the Yin-Yang Annihilation Treasure Vase [a mystical vase capable of unleashing the annihilating power of Yin and Yang] to hold back the grand formation's assault. Then, with a surge of power, he unleashed the Profound Yin Heaven-Slaying Sword [a sword imbued with the profound, slaying power of Yin] and the Profound Yang Heaven-Entombing Saber [a saber charged with the profound, entombing power of Yang], cleaving through the air with all his might.

In that instant, boundless saber radiance and Sword Qi [condensed, lethal energy shaped like a sword's edge] swept across the heavens and earth, seeking to carve a bloody path to freedom. Visit audio . novel . com to enjoy the complete series.