Chapter 1478 : Ancient Spirits and Starlit Formations

As Eldrin Chen recounted the tale in measured tones, the assembly gradually gained a foundational understanding of this grand Formation [a complex magical array or defensive structure].

Then, Eldrin Chen continued his analysis, gazing at the countless Formation Eye [a key node or focal point of a magical formation] scattered across the periphery. "The outer formation is composed of countless millions of stars," he declared, "yet they cannot directly channel the energy of these celestial bodies."

"Thus, through the Formation, they layer and converge the energy of those myriad stars, tier upon tier, until it is ultimately unified and gathered by four central Formation Eye."

At this point, Eldrin Chen fixed his gaze upon those four pivotal stars. "The Tengshe [a mythical winged serpent], the Great Roc [a colossal bird of legend], the Dragon Turtle [a hybrid beast of dragon and turtle], and the Kui Ox [a one-legged bull demon]—these are the four Ancient True Spirit Beasts [primordial spiritual entities of immense power] that were born at the dawn of this Minor Universe [a self-contained pocket dimension or cosmos]."

"The four stars before us are the manifested power of the four Ancient True Spirit Domains [the primordial territories ruled by True Spirit Beasts] within the Yang Plane Microcosm [the Yang realm, counterpart to the Yin realm]. They are also the crucial linchpins of the outer formation's Formation Eye."

"Once we breach them, the power of the countless peripheral stars can no longer converge, and the outer defenses will crumble of their own accord." Upon hearing this, the group fell into contemplative silence.

Kael Chen pondered for a moment before inquiring, "These four Ancient True Spirit Domains are manifestations of power from the Yang Realm Ancient Domains. Bolstered by the Formation, they should be capable of summoning forth four True Spirit Phantoms [spectral projections of the True Spirit Beasts]."

"Although the strength of these phantoms pales in comparison to the true bodies of the four True Spirit [the primordial spiritual entities themselves] in the Yang Realm, and is only comparable to a Late Stage Earth Immortal [a high-level immortal cultivator], their combined force could rival a single Earth Immortal Great Perfection [a cultivator at the peak of the Earth Immortal realm]."

"The most critical issue," Kael continued, "is that the threats within this Formation extend far beyond this. The Three Thousand Ghost Cities [a vast necropolis of spectral settlements] in the central region and the core area's Abyssal Sea Abode of Bliss [a paradisiacal yet perilous realm within the Abyssal Sea] will both be formidable adversaries."

Eldrin Chen nodded in agreement. Their previous assault had caught this Yin Plane Microcosm [the Yin realm, counterpart to the Yang realm] off guard. Now, forewarned and prepared, the forces they would face upon striking again had grown exponentially. For uninterrupted reading, go to (audio-novel.com).

Within this Yin Plane Microcosm [a small, self-contained universe dominated by Yin energy and the underworld], at its zenith, there were over one thousand Eighth Rank Ghost Progenitor [powerful ghost cultivators at the eighth rank of the Earth Immortal realm] and one hundred thousand Seventh Rank Ghost Immortal [ghost cultivators at the seventh rank, equivalent to the Immortal Ascension realm]. Now, the Yin Plane Microcosm has suffered an Earthly Dao Collapse [a catastrophic collapse of its foundational natural laws], and less than one-tenth of its former powerhouses remain. Yet, there are still at least eight thousand Ghost Immortal [ghost cultivators at the Immortal Ascension realm] and nearly one hundred Earth Immortal Realm Ghost Progenitor [ghost cultivators who have reached the Earth Immortal realm].

Of course, this Minor Universe [a small, self-contained cosmos] differs from the outside world. Its inhabitants have never been exposed to legacies from beyond its borders and have not cultivated the Heaven-Opening Method [a supreme foundational cultivation art that opens the path to higher realms]. Consequently, the powerhouses of this Minor Universe are significantly weaker than their counterparts from the greater cosmos.

An Earth Immortal Progenitor [an Earth Immortal realm powerhouse] from the Azure Firmament Immortal Domain [the Celestial Azure Firmament Immortal Domain] could likely fight Fighting One Against Two [engage in combat against two opponents simultaneously] when facing Earth Immortal [Earth Immortal realm cultivators] from the Yang Plane Microcosm [a small, self-contained universe dominated by Yang energy].

Furthermore, an Eighth Rank [the eighth rank, typically of the Earth Immortal realm] early-stage Ghost Progenitor from the Yin Plane Microcosm is even weaker, with actual combat prowess roughly at the level of a Half-Step Earth Immortal [a cultivator on the verge of breaking through to the Earth Immortal realm].

As for those Ghost Progenitor at the Earth Immortal Nine Layers [the ninth and final layer of the Earth Immortal realm], their true combat strength barely scratches the threshold of a Late Stage Earth Immortal [an Earth Immortal in the late stages of their realm]. This is precisely why Eldrin Chen was able to use the Gale God-Slaying Gourd [a divine gourd treasure capable of slaying deities with gale-force power] to instantly annihilate an Earth Immortal Great Perfection [an Earth Immortal who has reached the pinnacle of their realm] Ghost Progenitor back then.

Regardless, these eight thousand Ghost Immortal and nearly one hundred Ghost Progenitor, combined with the power of this Netherworld Annihilation Array [a grand formation designed for the annihilation of the underworld], will undoubtedly be a formidable force to contend with.

After careful consideration, Eldrin Chen finally spoke: "Within the central region's Three Thousand Ghost Cities [a collective of three thousand ghostly citadels], the combat power of three thousand Ghost Immortal can be elevated to that of Great Perfection Ghost Immortal [Ghost Immortals who have reached the pinnacle of their realm]. Their strength would be roughly comparable to three thousand Late Stage Immortal Ascension Realm [cultivators in the late stages of the Immortal Ascension realm]."

"However, their opponents' mastery of Formation [the art of creating and manipulating magical arrays] is insufficient. Although the Ghost Immortal bolstered by the Formation are powerful, they cannot venture too far from the Three Thousand Ghost Cities. Thus, they cannot pose a significant threat to us."

"What we truly must face are the five thousand Ghost Immortal of the Yin Plane Microcosm, the four spectral projections of the True Spirit [a primordial spiritual entity] behemoths, the nearly one hundred Earth Immortal Ghost Progenitor [Earth Immortal realm Ghost Progenitors], and that Abyssal Sea Pearl [a legendary pearl containing the power of the abyssal sea]."

Lyra Jiang also pondered briefly before speaking: "As long as we withstand the pressure and destroy the four core Formation Eye [the central nodes that power a magical array], the outer grand formation should collapse on its own."

Hearing their words, the assembled group exchanged uncertain glances.

Nyssa Qu pondered for a moment before inquiring, "Then how should we arrange our forces?"

Eldrin Chen did not hesitate and stated directly, "Within my Earth Immortal World [a self-contained reality cultivated by an Earth Immortal], there are over three hundred Divine Spirits [powerful spiritual entities born from the world's laws], capable of resisting attacks from some Ghost Immortal [a type of immortal whose power is tied to the Yin Plane]."

Seeing this, Lyra Jiang immediately added, "My Earth Immortal World also holds close to three hundred Divine Spirits." Upon hearing this, the others began reporting the numbers of Divine Spirits within their own cultivated worlds.

After a tally, it was found that Verdant Consort could dispatch two hundred and fifty, while each of the other Immortals who had opened a Ninefold Heavens [a specific, high-tier structure for an immortal's inner world] could send out roughly two hundred Divine Spirits.

Thus, from eleven Earth Immortal [a powerful immortal realm cultivator], they discovered they could muster a total of two thousand six hundred Ascension Immortal Realm [the foundational realm for true immortals] Divine Spirits.

"Two thousand six hundred Divine Spirits, plus the three hundred who came with us, gives us close to three thousand Ascendant Immortal [equivalent to Ascension Immortal Realm] combatants,"

Eldrin Chen calculated roughly before speaking. "Generally, an Immortal can contend against two or three Ghost Immortal of the same realm on their own, and the Ghost Immortal of this Yin Plane Microcosm [a small, Yin-aligned pocket dimension] are even weaker."

"By that reckoning, three thousand one hundred immortal-tier combatants should be more than sufficient to handle over five thousand of them." Hearing this, the assembled Immortals nodded slightly in agreement.

However, Ancient Ruins Yin Lord voiced a concern with some hesitation, "The Divine Spirits nurtured within our inner worlds are manifestations of the Laws of the Dao [the fundamental principles of reality], the Rule [governing edicts], and the Primordial Source [the foundational, generative energy of a world]. The fall of even one would deplete a portion of that world's Primordial Source."

"If a great number perish, the cost to restore them would likely be considerable."

Eldrin Chen shook his head, then sighed, "And what of the peril faced by the Immortals [powerful beings who have ascended beyond mortality] who followed us here, should they fall in battle?"

"After they fall, we can expend Primordial Source [the foundational, life-giving energy of a world] to aid their Reincarnation [the cycle of rebirth] within this world. As long as we conquer this Minor Universe, all the lost world's Primordial Source can be replenished."

Hearing this, everyone nodded slightly in agreement.

Restoring a world's Primordial Source requires a vast expenditure of energy. By their estimation, for every ten Ascension Immortal Realm Divine Spirits [powerful spiritual entities born from an Earth Immortal's inner world] who perish, a single vial of Galaxy Star-Sand Pill would be needed for recovery.

Should a hundred fall, the amount of Primordial Source required for restoration would be enough to purchase a High Grade Heaven-Opening Treasure [a supreme-grade artifact capable of wondrous feats]. Furthermore, the combat power of Divine Spirits from an Earth Immortal World [the miniature cosmos within an Earth Immortal] often pales in comparison to that of the Earth Immortal Progenitor [the cultivator who is the master of that inner world] themself. Join our community of readers at @udio-novel.com.

Taking Eldrin Chen's Earth Immortal World as an example: setting aside its dozen or so Imperial Lords [titles for supreme rulers], if the combined might of its three hundred Divine Spirits were unleashed, Eldrin Chen could annihilate them all within ten moves if he fought without regard for Mana [spiritual energy used to power techniques] expenditure.

Even if three thousand Divine Spirits surrounded him, Eldrin Chen could single-handedly rout them all, likely without suffering significant injury—though his Mana reserves would be severely depleted.

Thus, the vast majority of Earth Immortals [cultivators who have forged their own inner world, a major realm of power] are extremely reluctant to let the Divine Spirits within their Earth Immortal World venture out to fight.

Moreover, if a situation arises where I cannot defeat the foe, releasing the Divine Spirits from my inner world is unlikely to turn the tide. Of course, given the current stalemate where we cannot claim absolute superiority, Eldrin Chen had no choice but to resort to this desperate measure to achieve a decisive breakthrough.

This was not the time to be overly cautious. As long as they captured this Minor Universe, all the fallen Divine Spirits could be resurrected by them.

The expenditure of Heaven and Earth Origin Power [the primordial creative energy of the cosmos], compared to their potential gains, would likely be but a drop in the ocean. Original English translation available at audio-novel . com.