Chapter 1328 : Race Against Time
After devouring the Qingchuan Ancient Sect, nearly every immortal of 1000 Dragon Lake obtained a Dao Origin, with almost every 1 of them having weathered a tribulation in essence.
The 1000 Dragon Lake lineage already had many True Dragons who had undergone 2 or even 3 heavenly tribulations. Now, after enduring 1 more tribulation, they would advance to the realm of 3 or even 4 tribulations.
And a 4 Calamity Immortal was almost guaranteed to step into the half-step Earth Immortal realm.
Under such circumstances, it wouldn't be surprising to see a dozen or so Half-Step Earth Immortals added in 1 breath—perhaps even several Earth Immortal Patriarchs, or even 1 or 2 Seventh Tribulation Transcendents.
Within the Verdant Stream Sect alone, the Dao Origins of that dozen or so Quasi-Terrestrial Immortals could potentially boost the power of 1000 Dragon Lake by an immense margin.
After all, most of the true dragons of 1000 Dragon Lake had lived for hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of years. Many among them had already weathered 2, or even 3, great tribulations.
Originally, the number of immortals on both sides was vastly disproportionate. The Abyssal Return Immortal Alliance had been counting on their recent consecutive gains and their higher average cultivation level to hold off the Dry Dragon Lake forces. But now, it seemed even that advantage in cultivation might not be as secure as they thought.
Although the Void Return Immortal Alliance had gained even more, with each immortal refining several Dao Origins on average—harvests equivalent to surviving 3 great tribulations—the immortals within the alliance had attained immortality far too recently.
Setting aside Immortal Sixstar and Immortal Tianyu, most of the other immortals had only ascended for a mere 50 or 60 1000 years—far too short a time to fully digest their gains.
"The gap is far too great. Even relying on the Mountain Protection Array, I fear we may not be able to hold."
Seeing that everyone was under too much pressure, Qing Ji immediately stepped forward and bolstered their morale, saying, “In the previous great battle with us, 1000 Dragon Lake successively lost 10 Half-Step Earth Immortals.”
On the battlefield of the Azure River Ancient Sect, 1000 Dragon Lake also lost several True Dragons at the Half-Step Earth Immortal realm.
"Although they have now obtained over a dozen supreme-grade Dao Origins, their number of Half-Step Earth Immortals has dwindled to merely a handful. Without sufficient Half-Step Earth Immortals, what use is there in having even countless supreme-grade Dao Origins?"
"I estimate their newly ascended Earth Immortals may not be as numerous as you presume. At most, I suspect only 1 or 2 additional Earth Immortals will emerge."
At this point, Qingji added, "Moreover, they are currently in seclusion to digest their gains. This means the pressure we face won't be too severe for the next several 100, or even a full 1000 years."
Hearing this, everyone breathed a sigh of relief.
Naji nodded thoughtfully and said, "I hope Fellow Daoist Guixu can advance further and emerge from seclusion soon to confront the great tribulation."
The immortals all fell silent upon hearing this. They needed someone to break the stalemate, yet Eldrin had chosen the most inopportune time to enter seclusion—a necessity he could not avoid.
For without the strength to break the stalemate, even if Eldrin did not enter seclusion, it would merely delay the inevitable defeat.
For now, the only thing they could do was buy as much time as possible—racing against the clock with 1000 Dragon Lake, stalling until the day Eldrin advanced further and stepped into the forbidden realm.
With that said, no 1 spoke further.
They began to continuously activate the Cycle of Celestial Stars Grand Formation, simultaneously draining the demonic forces' strength while awaiting the opportune moment for a counterattack.
In the days that followed, events unfolded exactly as they had anticipated. The demon clan merely continued to harness the power of the treasure ship, relentlessly draining the energy of the Zhou Heaven Star Formation, without ever launching a full-scale assault.
It was not until 3 100 years later that celestial demons began to join the battlefield 1 after another, continuously intensifying the pressure on the Great Zhou Heavenly Star Formation.
These newly-joined celestial dragons and demonic immortals possessed even greater power, with most having stepped into the Mid Ascension Realm, while a select few had reached the pinnacle of the Great Perfection Ascension Realm.
There were even a handful of Half-Step Earth Immortal experts who made their move. None of these individuals were recorded in the intelligence they had brought, clearly indicating they were newly ascended 4 Calamity True Dragons.
随着时间推移，妖族的妖仙开始逐渐增多，等到六百年的时间过去，围攻周天星辰大阵的妖仙已经超过了三百。
8 100 years had passed, and the number of besieging demon immortals had even surpassed 4 100.
This situation reached its absolute peak when 1 1000 years had passed, with over 5 100 demon immortals and true dragons joining the battlefield—more than half of them being existences at the late Ascension stage.
Over a dozen Half-Step Earth Immortals, along with 2 newly ascended Earth Immortals, joined forces with the 3 veteran Earth Immortal patriarchs of 1000 Dragon Lake, exerting immense pressure on the Zhou Heaven Star Formation.
Amidst the brutal and devastating battle, the Grand Array of the Zhou Heavenly Stars was already teetering on the verge of collapse. Countless spirit islands along the periphery had been utterly annihilated, and numerous cultivators had perished completely under the backlash of the formation's power. Even among the assembled Immortals, many had suffered severe injuries from the violent recoil.
"Steady now."
"Where is the Annihilation Cannon? Take out those high-grade treasure ships first."
Amidst the raging battle, Sun-Childe gazed at the relentless advance of the demonic horde and roared furiously. Beyond the seas of the Returning Abyss, countless demonic treasure ships assailed the Cosmic Star Formation without cease.
Among them were several immortal-grade supreme treasure ships, each forged from the bones of a Half-Step Earth Immortal dragon as their foundation. They charged recklessly at the forefront, exerting immense pressure on the grand formation.
"Boom"
As the Sun Princess’s voice faded, a deafening roar erupted. 3 blinding rays of apocalyptic light shot forth—2 were evaded, but 1 supreme-grade immortal-class treasure ship was instantly blasted to splinters.
Everyone turned to look and saw that it was Chen Yuan personally operating the Annihilation Cannon, which had blasted this supreme-grade immortal-class treasure ship to pieces with a single strike.
"Not bad."
Watching a treasure ship explode before their eyes, the crowd erupted in cheers, finally releasing a breath they had been holding.
Every single immortal-grade supreme treasure ship was an object of immeasurable value, each 1 more precious than a Heaven-Opening Treasure. Even with the profound heritage of 1000 Dragon Lake, they possessed only 4 such vessels.
A supreme-grade immortal vessel posed an even greater threat to the Cosmic Star Formation Array than 1 or 2 early-stage Earth Immortal Patriarchs.
At that moment, with 1 treasure ship blasted apart, the remaining vessels immediately lost formation and began retreating incessantly. "No retreat!"
High above in the firmament, the Master of the 1000 Dragon Lake witnessed this development, his expression instantly turning frosty as he declared.
“You have battled in the Abyssal Sea for a 1000 years, yet never once breached a single celestial island anchor point of the Zhou Heaven Star Formation. How much longer must this war continue?”
As the words fell, the master of 1000 Dragon Lake once again urged his army to press the assault relentlessly. Even he himself took action personally, aiming to break the grand formation in 1 vigorous push.
Seeing this, the Heavenly Prison Flame Lord immediately summoned his supreme Chaos-Opening Treasure and launched it toward the Cosmic Star Formation. With only 1 millennium remaining of the 5-1000-year deadline, he had no intention of prolonging the struggle any further. "Hold the line steadfastly, all of you."
Seeing 2 late-stage Earth Immortals make their move, the master of Qingchuan Ancient Sect’s expression shifted slightly.
While channeling the formation to command the Starry Void Ancient Bell in resisting the Heavenly Prison Flame Lord, he simultaneously summoned the Greenriver Ancient Sword, intending to engage the Master of 1000 Dragon Lake with every ounce of his strength in a desperate bid to alleviate the pressure on the grand formation.
Riji, Qingji, Skywind Daoist, Earthspring Patriarch, and other Earth Immortal-level combatants also joined the fray, unleashing their Heaven-Sundering Treasures to hold off the demonic Earth Immortals in an effort to alleviate the strain on the Zhou Heavenly Star Formation.
Yet even so, under the assault of the boundless demon army and 2 Earth Immortals at the late stage, the Zhou Heaven Star Formation grew increasingly dim.
"This way, I'm afraid we won't last another 5 100 years."
Qing Ji defended against the Earth Immortal of the demon race with all her might, her heart growing heavier by the moment. Her gaze drifted once more toward the Abyssal Chasm of the Returning Ruins.
"Husband, when will you emerge from seclusion?"