Chapter 1428 : Confrontation at the Netherworld Heart

Eldrin Chen [the protagonist, a powerful cultivator] pondered briefly before speaking. "With our combined strength, if we jointly deploy the Primordial Solar Heavenly Flame Grand Formation [a powerful defensive and offensive formation], we need not fear even if several dozen Earth Immortal Ghost Ancestor [powerful ghost cultivators who have attained the Earth Immortal realm] attack us together."

"The true trouble lies with those few cultivators at the Earth Immortal Great Perfection [the pinnacle stage of the Earth Immortal realm], and that Netherworld Supreme Treasure Nether Sea Pearl [a supreme-grade treasure from the Netherworld, the Nether Sea Pearl]."

Ancient Ruins Nether Lord [a powerful Nether Lord allied with Eldrin Chen] nodded and said, "Then let us launch a surprise attack and see if we can seize that Nether Sea Pearl."

"Very well."

Eldrin Chen gave a nod of agreement. He immediately activated the Polarity Void Mirror [a magical mirror that conceals auras and manipulates space] to shroud their group's presence. They traveled swiftly, arriving at the very heart of the Netherworld Lunar Court [the central palace complex of the Netherworld's lunar faction].

There lay an island of staggering grandeur—the Netherworld Island. It floated upon the Netherworld Star Sea [a sea of stars within the Netherworld], drawing in boundless streams of Netherworld Energy [the dark, yin-aligned spiritual energy native to the Netherworld]. The island seemed to be gathering this power, as if brewing something momentous within its depths.

"This is the place,"

Eldrin Chen murmured. In that moment, his senses pierced the veil of the Netherworld Island, clearly detecting a single Netherworld Ghost Cultivator [a cultivator who practices ghostly arts in the Netherworld] deep in meditation within. This cultivator's aura pulsed with the power of the Earth Immortal Great Perfection realm.

Exchanging a glance with his companions, Eldrin Chen spoke the command without hesitation. "Now!"

In a flash, all eleven Earth Immortal Patriarch [patriarch-level cultivators of the Earth Immortal realm] struck simultaneously. Dozens of World-Opening Treasure [powerful treasures capable of sundering worlds] descended upon the island in a cataclysmic barrage. Among them were several devastatingly potent High-Grade World-Opening Treasure [the highest tier of World-Opening Treasures].

With these eleven individuals joining forces, even an Earth Immortal Great Perfection [the pinnacle of the Earth Immortal realm] Immortal would likely be severely wounded in an instant if caught off guard.

Yet, in that very moment, the majestic Netherworld Island erupted with boundless light of the Netherworld [the realm of ghosts and spirits].

A dark and ancient Ancient Pearl soared into the sky. Like a black hole, it distorted the endless void, managing to block every single attack.

"This is bad."

Seeing this, Eldrin Chen felt his heart lurch, a sudden sense of foreboding washing over him.

It turned out that in that instant, the Netherworld Supreme Treasure Nether Sea Pearl [a supreme treasure of the Netherworld] had awakened on its own, shielding its master from the combined assault.

Realizing this, he spoke decisively: "Deploy the formation."

In a flash, the group stepped into the Primordial Solar Heavenly Flame Grand Formation [a grand formation of primordial solar fire]. Each of them brandished their Formation Flag [flags used to control formations], channeling their power to activate the grand array.

Instantly, a torrent of Primordial Solar Heavenly Flame [primordial fire of the heavens] surged downward, engulfing the Netherworld Island below in its searing embrace.

The Primordial Solar Heavenly Flame was, by its nature, a heavenly Supreme Solar Fire [the supreme fire of the sun], the ultimate bane of Ghost Cultivator [cultivators who harness ghostly or yin energy] and Demonic Treasure [treasures imbued with demonic or yin energy]. Now, amplified by the combined efforts of ten Earth Immortal [cultivators at the Earth Immortal realm] channeling the Formation [a structured array of power], its might was potent enough to threaten even a Half-Step Celestial Immortal Realm [a cultivator halfway to the Celestial Immortal realm] Ghost Cultivator.

Yet, the Nether Sea Pearl [a legendary orb of profound nether energies] proved worthy of its title as a Netherworld Supreme Treasure [a treasure of the highest order from the underworld realms]. It manifested like a miniature black hole, enveloping the space in an instant. Despite being subjected to the endless, searing onslaught of the Primordial Solar Heavenly Flame [the primordial, yang-aligned heavenly fire of the sun], its defenses showed not the slightest sign of being breached.

"Who are you?"

Seeing the Nether Sea Pearl remain unbroken, a figure clad in a Netherworld Nether Emperor Robe [the regal robes of a Nether Emperor] emerged from the Netherworld Island [an isle adrift in the nether seas].

He cast a glance over the assembled group, his eyes gleaming with a cold, netherworldly light [a chilling, underworldly glow]. While channeling his spiritual power to reinforce the Nether Sea Pearl, he spoke with icy detachment, "The Solar Realm [the domain of the primordial sun] has long severed ties with the Lunar Domain [the realm of the primordial moon]. How dare you still covet the Nether Sea Pearl?"

"Today, I shall ensure none of you return from whence you came."

With those words, he flicked his sleeve, unleashing a boundless Netherworld Long River [a river of nether energy, cold and profound] that surged forth like a tidal wave, seeking to extinguish the Primordial Solar Heavenly Flame.

To the astonishment of all present, when the Netherworld Long River clashed with the Primordial Solar Heavenly Flame, it showed no sign of being at a disadvantage.

"Trouble,"

murmured Eldrin Chen, a slight frown creasing his brow as he recognized the origin of this Netherworld Long River.

This technique was known as the Profound Darkness True Water [the True Water of Profound Darkness], an essence formed from the ultimate, bone-chilling waters of the endless Netherworld [the vast and shadowy underworld]. It was the yin-aligned counterpart, equally famed, to Eldrin Chen's yang-aligned Primordial Solar Heavenly Flame.

Among the five elemental laws of cultivation that Eldrin Chen practiced, the law of water was embodied in this Profound Darkness True Water [a profound and potent water-based divine ability].

Yet, this alone was not what truly astonished Eldrin Chen. What genuinely took him aback was that this individual, relying solely on his own power to activate the Nether Sea Pearl [a powerful magical treasure of the Nether Sea] and confront the entire group, had not immediately been forced onto the defensive.

Such profound and vast spiritual power [the foundational energy cultivated by practitioners] exceeded everyone's imagination.

"An existence who has opened at least the Seventh Heaven [the seventh of the nine foundational cultivation heavens, representing immense power]," Eldrin Chen thought, his heart growing heavy with apprehension.

A sense of being trapped, of having mounted a tiger he could not easily dismount, settled upon Eldrin Chen.

Even with their combined strength channeling the Formation [a coordinated battle array or formation art], suppressing this Netherworld Ghost Ancestor would be difficult to achieve swiftly.

And now, trapped within the Netherworld Small Universe [a pocket dimension or realm within the Netherworld], every moment of delay turned the tide of battle further against them.

Indeed, as the great battle erupted, dozens of nearby Earth Immortal Ghost Ancestor [powerful Netherworld beings at the Earth Immortal realm] swiftly reacted.

Several dozen Earth Immortal [cultivators who have ascended to a terrestrial immortal state] rushed to reinforce the fray, including two beings at the Ninth Level Earth Immortal [the pinnacle of the Earth Immortal realm]. From the distant void, yet more Netherworld Ghost Immortal [immortal-level ghosts or specters from the Netherworld] were closing in.

"It seems we underestimated their numbers," Eldrin Chen murmured, the gravity of their situation dawning upon him.

Seeing the situation turn dire, Eldrin Chen immediately spoke up, "Fall back first."

As his words fell, the group prepared to disengage and retreat.

However, the Ghost Ancestors [powerful spectral cultivators] of the Netherworld Lunar Court were unwilling to let them escape. Dozens of Ghost Ancestors struck out one after another to block their path, while a great number of Ghost Immortals [lesser spectral cultivators] swarmed to surround them.

Most critically, someone had brought a Spatial Supreme Treasure [a supreme artifact capable of manipulating space] and sought to seal off their escape route.

Witnessing this, Eldrin Chen's brow furrowed deeply. Although, for the moment, they remained undefeated thanks to the Primordial Solar Grand Formation [a powerful defensive formation harnessing solar energy],

they were fighting on hostile ground. If the Netherworld Ghost Immortals continued to receive reinforcements, once their spiritual energy was exhausted, they would likely perish here.

Thinking this, a cold glint flashed in Eldrin Chen's eyes. He immediately drew a precious gourd from his sleeve.

"*Whoosh—*"

The gourd trembled slightly and instantly released a dazzling blade of light. With a single rotation of that radiant edge, a Netherworld Ghost Ancestor at the Ninth Level Earth Immortal realm [the pinnacle of the Earth Immortal stage] had his Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] utterly extinguished on the spot.

"*Agh—*"

A Ghost Ancestor [a powerful spectral being who has cultivated to the Earth Immortal realm] at the Earth Immortal Great Perfection [the pinnacle stage of the Earth Immortal cultivation realm] was slain in an instant, tearing a gaping hole in the encircling formation.

Seizing the opportunity, Eldrin Chen unleashed his Five-Colored Divine Light [a divine ability that manifests as a five-colored radiance capable of capturing objects] to seize the treasures from the fallen foe's grasp. He then led the group in a desperate charge through the breach, fleeing deep into the boundless void.

The sudden death of a peer at the Earth Immortal Great Perfection [the pinnacle stage of the Earth Immortal cultivation realm] sent a shockwave of fear through the remaining Netherworld Ghost Ancestor [powerful spectral lords of the underworld]. Stunned into inaction, they could only watch as their quarry vanished into the depths of the void.

"..."

After carving a path through the endless void, Eldrin Chen utilized the Polarity Void Mirror [a magical treasure that manipulates spatial polarity for swift travel] to spirit his companions away. They soon found themselves back within the familiar confines of the Vast Azure Netherworld [a specific region or domain within the broader underworld].

Only after using his Primordial Energy Heaven-Escaping Pearl [a defensive divine ability that forms a protective barrier of primordial energy] to seal the spatial rift did the Ancient Ruins Nether Lord [a Nether Lord associated with ancient ruins] dare to voice his lingering fear. "Today's events... I underestimated them," he admitted, a tremor in his voice.

"Had you not slain one of their number with such terrifying swiftness, Fellow Daoist, and cowed the other Netherworld Ghost Ancestor [powerful spectral lords of the underworld], our return would have been far more difficult, if not impossible."

Eldrin Chen shook his head, a wry, bitter smile touching his lips. "And I overestimated myself," he confessed.

A collective sigh of understanding passed through the group. The battle had been a stark lesson. A Netherworld Small Universe [a self-contained, miniature cosmos within the Netherworld, often the domain of a powerful entity], even one with its Heavenly Path [the foundational cosmic laws or cultivation principles governing a realm] shattered and its power diminished to less than a tenth, was not a foe to be taken lightly.

With their current strength, confronting such an entity remained a venture fraught with peril and far beyond their means.

Considering this, Energy Abyss Chen spoke, "Ordinary Earth Immortal Ghost Ancestor [a powerful spectral cultivator who has attained the Earth Immortal realm] can still be handled by relying on our Primordial Solar Heavenly Flame Grand Formation [a mighty defensive formation channeling the power of the primordial sun]."

"However, with the defensive Netherworld Supreme Treasure Nether Sea Pearl [a supreme treasure from the Netherworld, said to contain the essence of a dark sea] in their possession, they are invincible from the outset. As long as we cannot breach the Nether Sea Pearl, we have no means to subdue them."

Heaven Abyss Path Master nodded gravely, his expression solemn. "After today's battle, they will certainly be on guard against us."

"The next time we try to gain the upper hand will likely not be so easy."