Chapter 1521 : A Swift Strike in the Starry Void

Simultaneously, the group traversed the Boundless Starry Sky [the vast, star-filled void between realms].

As they journeyed through the void, Eldrin Chen took stock of their recent gains, and an overwhelming tide of elation surged within him.

However, the time for dividing the spoils had not yet come. Eldrin Chen gazed beyond the Boundless Starry Sky and declared, "Our most urgent task is to refine the Dragon-Phoenix Ascension Pill [a legendary elixir said to grant a cultivator a breakthrough akin to a dragon and phoenix rising together], enabling Exquisite and the others to ascend to the Seventh Level Earth Immortal [the seventh major stage of the Earth Immortal cultivation realm]."

"We have already gathered one of the two primary ingredients for the Dragon-Phoenix Ascension Pill. The remaining component, the True Dragon Inner Pill [the crystallized core essence of a True Dragon], lies far away in the Crimson Dragon Star Domain."

"To prevent our enemies from reacting in time, we must strike the Ancient Crimson Dragon Star with lightning speed, seizing enough True Dragon Inner Pill before the news of the Ancient Immortal Phoenix Star's destruction spreads."

Hearing this, everyone nodded in solemn agreement.

Glazed Divine Lord pondered for a moment before speaking, "Yet our spiritual energy is significantly depleted. Would launching an immediate assault on the Ancient Crimson Dragon Star be too hasty?"

"This is our best opportunity,"

Eldrin Chen shook his head and countered, "Word of the Ancient Immortal Phoenix Star's fate has undoubtedly already spread. It won't be long before every major clan receives the tidings."

"By then, the great powers within this Small Universe [a self-contained, smaller dimensional realm] will have heightened their defenses, and their connections with their kin in the main Immortal Domain [the primary realm of the immortals] will have deepened."

"By the time we arrive, the difficulty of breaching the Crimson Dragon Star Domain will likely have increased manifold."

Violet Mystery Path Master also nodded in agreement and spoke, "The destruction of the Ancient Immortal Phoenix Star is an event significant enough to shake the entire Small Universe."

"If the intelligence apparatus of the Crimson Dragon Great Emperor is not utterly blind, they should receive word of it very soon."

Upon hearing this, Nyssa Qu gave a slight nod. "In that case," she said, "let us act immediately."

With their course decided, the group continued their journey toward the Crimson Dragon Star Domain, arriving within its bounds not long after.

Upon reaching the Crimson Dragon starry expanse, Eldrin Chen observed that the Crimson Dragon Star Domain differed from the Immortal Phoenix Star Domain.

He discovered that within the Crimson Dragon Star Domain, a significant number of Dragon Clan Great Sage were still dispersed throughout the domain.

"It seems the Dragon Clan within this Small Universe are even more confident than the Ice Phoenix clan,"

Eldrin Chen murmured softly as he gazed upon the Crimson Dragon Star Domain before them.

Violet Mystery Path Master nodded once more. "Their dispersal works to our advantage," he stated. "It presents us with the opportunity to defeat them one by one."

"Indeed."

Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod and immediately stepped into the Crimson Dragon Star Domain.

This time, their objective was clear: they had come for the Great Sage [a powerful demonic cultivator realm] of the True Dragon lineage. With such a focused goal, their actions were swift and decisive.

They divided their forces into three prongs, led respectively by Eldrin Chen, Violet Mystery Path Master, and Nyssa Qu. Each group charged into the Crimson Dragon Star Domain from a different direction.

Striking with the speed of lightning, they breached several crucial Stellar [a stellar fortress or stronghold] of the Dragon Clan in an astonishingly short time, slaying five of their Great Sage.

It was upon the death of the fifth True DragonGreat Sage that the Crimson Dragon Great Emperor was finally roused to fury.

"Wretched fiend, prepare to die!"

At that moment, Eldrin Chen had just slain a True DragonGreat Sage when a voice, trembling with wrath, echoed through the void.

Then he saw a crimson furnace rise into the heavens. This Dragon ClanGreat Emperor [a supreme ruler among demonic cultivators] descended, wielding his Imperial Weapon [a weapon of sovereign power], the Crimson Dragon Heaven-Refining Furnace [a magical treasure in the form of a furnace], intent on crushing Eldrin Chen in a single, devastating blow.

"You wish to kill me?"

"I fear it will not be so easy," Eldrin Chen spoke with a faint, measured tone. With a flick of his sleeve, he unleashed a Primordial Solar sword radiance, which clashed against the Crimson Dragon Heaven-Refining Furnace in a dazzling display of power.

After his breakthrough all those years ago, Eldrin Chen's combat prowess had already seen a significant leap. Yet, the gap between his strength and that of a Half-Step Celestial Immortal remained considerable.

The reason he now possessed the combat power of a Half-Step Celestial Immortal lay primarily with the Solar Fire Returning Abyss Sword.

During its ascension, nourished by the Acquired Primordial Chaos Source Essence, the Solar Fire Returning Abyss Sword had given birth to three Primordial Unity Path Patterns, transforming it into a supreme-grade World-Opening Supreme Treasure.

Such a world-shaking treasure, by merely merging its three Primordial Unity Path Patterns, could condense the Primordial Unity Path Principle and become the legendary Primordial Unity Immortal Weapon.

Even though it had not yet crossed that final threshold, its power already surpassed a single-pattern World-Opening Supreme Treasure by half, a testament to its terrifying might.

With this Lifebound Immortal Sword in hand, Eldrin Chen's offensive capabilities underwent a startling metamorphosis, now sufficient to contend with a Half-Step Celestial Immortal.

Coupled with the defensive power of his Primordial One Indestructibility Body, the present Eldrin Chen might not dare claim he could withstand opponents like Glazed Divine Lord, but against a foe like the former Master of Flowing Fire Star Palace, he would certainly hold his own.

In that moment, as he channeled the Solar Fire Returning Abyss Sword against the Crimson Dragon Great Emperor, he managed, for a time, to avoid being forced onto the back foot.

The clash of their powers illuminated the void, a testament to the newfound equilibrium he had achieved.

"Damnation!"

Seeing that he could not subdue Eldrin Chen, the Crimson Dragon Great Emperor's expression turned icy.

His gaze swept towards the Ancient Crimson Dragon Star above, and he immediately shouted, "Seventh Son, aid your father at once!"

"BOOM—"

As the Crimson Dragon Great Emperor's words fell, the Ancient Crimson Dragon Star trembled violently.

Immediately after, a dazzling golden figure strode forth, wielding an Immortal Iron Staff that cleaved through the air towards them.

"Trouble!"

Exquisite Jiang swiftly channeled her power into the Black Dragon Ancient Cauldron to block the strike. Yet, a numbing shock shot through her palms, and even the Black Dragon Ancient Cauldron was sent flying back by the impact.

Eldrin Chen hastily activated the Ancient Crimson Dragon Cauldron to intercept the golden figure's assault. Only then did he perceive the newcomer's extraordinary bearing. His aura seemed to belong to the Dragon Clan, yet it held a distinct quality that set it apart from a True Dragon.

"Bixi."

In an instant, Eldrin Chen deduced the origins of the newcomer and could not help but voice his astonishment.

The Crimson Dragon Great Emperor spoke with immense pride towards Bixi, his tone icy. "This is my seventh son, Bixi. He recently ascended to the Great Emperor Realm [the pinnacle realm of cultivation for demonic beasts, equivalent to a Half-Step Celestial Immortal], becoming the eleventh Great Emperor within this Universe."

"Two Great Emperor from a single lineage. To perish by our hands is an honor you should count yourselves fortunate to receive."

"Two Great Emperor..."

"Does that not equate to the combat power of two Half-Step Celestial Immortal [cultivators who have transcended the Earth Immortal realm but have not yet fully ascended to Celestial Immortality]?"

Eldrin Chen's heart sank slightly. He scrutinized the Bixi the Great Emperor once more and immediately sensed something amiss.

Although the Bixi the Great Emperor possessed a physique of terrifying might, the sense of threat he projected to Eldrin Chen paled in comparison to that of the Crimson Dragon Great Emperor.

The Crimson Dragon Great Emperor gave Eldrin Chen the impression of a being who could single-handedly defeat twelve or thirteen cultivators at the Earth Immortal Great Perfection [the absolute peak of the Earth Immortal realm]. He represented a fairly standard benchmark for Half-Step Celestial Immortal combat prowess.

However, the Bixi the Great Emperor felt different. Eldrin Chen estimated he could, at most, contend with eight Earth Immortal Great Perfection cultivators—a level roughly on par with the Blazeflame Divine Spirit.

"He possesses the foundational power of the Primordial Unity Realm [the foundational realm for Great Emperors, equivalent to the Primordial Unity stage for human cultivators]," Eldrin Chen mused inwardly. "But without having opened his own Earth Immortal World [a personal miniature world cultivated by Earth Immortals] and lacking the empowerment of Small Universe authority [the innate governance over a pocket dimension], his overall combat effectiveness seems diminished by a noticeable margin."

After roughly sensing the disparity in combat strength between the two sides, Eldrin Chen felt a slight sense of relief in his heart.

He was seen simultaneously activating the Ancient Crimson Dragon Cauldron and the Solar Fire Returning Abyss Sword to defend himself, all while fighting a retreating battle.

In the brief time this delay was created, Glazed Divine Lord and Violet Mystery Path Master had already torn through the void and arrived.

It was seen that Violet Mystery Path Master intercepted Bixi the Great Emperor, while Glazed Divine Lord launched an assault on Crimson Dragon Great Emperor, immediately suppressing the ferocious momentum of the two Dragon Clan Great Emperor.

Seeing this, Eldrin Chen, Exquisite Jiang, and the others immediately joined forces to surround and attack the two.