Chapter 1574 : Confrontation at the Heavenly Demon Star

Of course, there are also exceedingly rare beings who can cultivate to the Celestial Immortal Realm [the realm of a true celestial being, transcending mortality].

Those who attain the Celestial Immortal Realm possess world-shaking power. Even the Heavenly Court [the celestial bureaucracy governing the heavens] finds capturing them extremely difficult, and their emergence often brings boundless calamity to the starry skies.

As for the Great Encompassing Ancient Demon [a primordial demon of the Great Encompassing Realm] that exists beyond the Heavenly Demon, such beings have already transcended the Starry Sky Great Universe [the vast cosmos of stars and realms] and even the Three Thousand Immortal Domains [the legendary three thousand immortal worlds]. Most have long since retreated into the Depths of Chaos [the primordial, formless void beyond creation] and generally do not appear within the boundless Great Universe.

Returning to the main thread, after Eldrin Chen had largely ascertained the strength of the Fiend Race [the race of demons and malevolent beings] within the Heavenly Demon Star System, Violet Mystery Path Master and Blazeflame Divine Lord finally descended to the mortal realm. They found Eldrin Chen at the fringes of the Heavenly Demon Star System.

"What is the situation?"

Upon arrival, the Violet Mystery Path Master immediately inquired.

Seeing the two arrive, Eldrin Chen felt a slight sense of relief. Preventing a Heavenly Demon from achieving its Dao was no trivial matter. Without the aid of Violet Mystery and Blazeflame Divine Lord, Eldrin Chen had little confidence in success.

Now, with their assistance, Eldrin Chen felt a surge of confidence. He promptly informed them of the forces within the Heavenly Demon Star System.

"This Heavenly Demon Star System... is not to be underestimated."

After listening, Blazeflame Divine Lord could not help but frown slightly, his brow furrowing.

Eldrin Chen also gave a slight nod. Within this Heavenly Demon Star Domain [a star system dominated by demonic cultivators], aside from the unfathomably profound Demon Sovereign [the supreme ruler of the demonic forces], his command also extended over the Hundred Demonic Path Clans [a coalition of one hundred powerful demonic clans].

Among these Hundred Demonic Path Clans, there were collectively over three hundred Earth Immortal Patriarch [powerful cultivators who have attained the Earth Immortal realm], and even eighteen beings who had reached the Earth Immortal Great Perfection [the pinnacle stage of the Earth Immortal realm]. Their combined strength was truly not to be underestimated.

More importantly, within this Heavenly Demon Star System, there existed a Star System Grand Formation [a massive, system-spanning defensive array] they had meticulously maintained for tens of millions of years. An ordinary Half-Step Celestial Immortal [a cultivator on the very cusp of ascending to the Celestial Immortal realm] would find it impossible to breach.

To confront the Heavenly Demon Star System head-on, one would require a force of no fewer than five Half-Step Celestial Immortal to have any hope of breaking through its defenses.

Understanding this clearly, Eldrin Chen pondered for a moment before speaking, his gaze sharpening. "Do not worry. Although the strength of this Demonic River System [a neighboring star system under demonic influence] is Extraordinary, we do not necessarily have to face the full might of the Heavenly Demon Star System all at once."

"We simply need to strike at the Heavenly Demon Star System while the Demon Sovereign is secluded, attempting his breakthrough to the Celestial Immortal [a supreme immortal realm]. We eliminate his guardians, sever his path of ascension, and force him to abandon his attempt."

Upon hearing this, Violet Mystery Path Master [a senior cultivator of the Violet Mystery lineage] gave a slow, thoughtful nod.

If they were to face the Heavenly Demon Star System without the Demon Sovereign present to command its defenses, the three of them joining forces would stand a significant chance of success.

After all, each of the three possessed formidable power. Each wielded a Primordial Unity Immortal Weapon [a supreme treasure forged at the Primordial Unity realm, capable of suppressing destiny] to anchor their Fortune [the metaphysical concept of luck, destiny, and karmic fortune]. Individually, each could contend against two or three opponents who had laid a Single Primordial Unity Foundation [a specific, foundational cultivation method for the Primordial Unity realm].

With this in mind, Violet Mystery Path Master spoke. "Then we shall bide our time and wait for the moment the Demon Sovereign begins his breakthrough."

"Hmm."

Eldrin Chen gave a nod and settled in to wait amidst the starry expanse.

In the time that followed, Eldrin Chen perceived two obscure figures arriving from beyond the Heavenly Demon Star System.

"Two suspected Half-Step Celestial Immortal [cultivators who have nearly ascended to the Celestial Immortal realm]?"

Eldrin Chen murmured inwardly, a flicker of movement passing through his eyes.

The auras of two suspected Half-Step Celestial Immortal bolstered his confidence considerably.

At that very moment, a violent radiance erupted from within the Heavenly Demon Star System, its core seeming to unleash a black hole that voraciously devoured the energies of the Boundless Starry Sky.

"It has begun."

A voice spoke from the depths of the void.

Then, a figure emerged, stepping forth into the space between the stars.

The figure, clad in a Stellar Path Robe [a robe woven from the essence of starlight and cosmic paths] and holding a starry feather fan, gazed calmly into the depths of the void and spoke.

"My fellow cultivators, if we do not act now, when shall we?"

"So it is the Xuan Yu Star Lord. It has truly been a long time since we last met."

As the words of the Xuan Yu Star Lord faded, a Vajra Saint [an enlightened Buddhist saint with an indestructible diamond-like body] clad in kasaya robes stepped forth from the void.

"What formidable physical cultivation."

Eldrin Chen's brow furrowed slightly. Among these two Half-Step Celestial Immortal [cultivators who have nearly ascended to the Celestial Immortal realm], the Vajra Saint appeared to be a Buddhist Sect [a monastic order dedicated to Buddhist cultivation] Vajra who had achieved enlightenment through body refinement, possessing the demon-subduing power of a diamond warrior.

As for the Xuan Yu Star Lord, he was even more inscrutable, seemingly a top-tier Half-Step Celestial Immortal who had established a Dual Primordial Unity Foundation [a supreme cultivation foundation forged from the perfect fusion of two primordial energies].

Seeing this, the Violet Mystery Path Master immediately sent a voice transmission to Eldrin Chen: "The Xuan Yu Star Lord and the Vajra Saint likely are not natives of the Vast Azure Immortal Domain."

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen felt a slight sense of relief. As long as they were not from the Vast Azure Immortal Domain, the risk of their true identities being exposed was minimal.

With this thought, Eldrin Chen spoke up: "Let us still proceed with caution. We should conceal our auras using the Heaven-Deceiving Secret Art [a profound art that masks one's presence and cultivation from heavenly detection]."

With those words, the group concealed their auras and stepped forth from the void.

Seeing their emergence, both Xuan Yu Star Lord and the Vajra Saint paused slightly.

The Xuan Yu Star Lord offered a faint smile, his gaze calm as he spoke, "Your auras seem quite unfamiliar, likely not Immortal [a being who has ascended to immortality] from the surrounding starfields."

Violet Mystery Path Master's eyes flickered slightly as he replied with composure, "This Demon Sovereign [a title for a supreme ruler among demons], in his bid to break through to the Celestial Immortal Realm [the realm of a true celestial immortal], has unleashed boundless calamity upon the lower realms."

"We, who ascended long ago, have descended precisely for this Demon-Slayer [a title for one who specializes in slaying demons]."

"So that is the way of it."

The Vajra Saint [a Buddhist saint of indestructible diamond-like body] nodded slightly before speaking, "Your compassion is profound, noble benefactors. With your aid, we may finally have the means to eradicate this festering blight upon the starry void for these many years."

From this brief exchange, Eldrin Chen finally understood—these two were peerless powerhouses reigning over the starry expanse spanning billions of light-years around them.

Of the two, the Xuan Yu Star Lord was the master of the Xuan Yu Ancient Star, one of the Cosmic Stellar [a term for the great, ancient stars that anchor the cosmos].

The Vajra Saint was likewise a guardian Vajra Saint of the Putuo Ancient Temple, a Buddhist Sect [a religious order following the teachings of the Buddha] located in the Depths of the Starry Sky. Both were counted among the Sovereign [a supreme cultivation realm denoting absolute mastery] of this celestial domain.

For many years, the two of them had battled the Demon Sovereign [a title for a supreme ruler of demonic beings], yet a decisive victory had always eluded them. Seizing the opportunity presented by his imminent Great Tribulation [a catastrophic heavenly trial faced during a major breakthrough in cultivation], they now intended to utterly annihilate him.

At this moment, seeing the arrival of two additional helpers at the Half-Step Celestial Immortal Realm [a cultivation stage just below that of a true Celestial Immortal], a measure of reassurance settled in the hearts of both.

Xuan Yu Star Lord cast a glance towards the Heavenly Demon Star System [a vast celestial domain ruled by demonic powers] and spoke with a faint smile, "Fellow Daoists, the Demon Sovereign's breakthrough is imminent. We must not let this chance slip through our fingers."

With those words, Xuan Yu Star Lord flicked his sleeve and summoned forth his Stellar Feather Fan [a powerful fan artifact crafted from celestial feathers].

That Stellar Feather Fan was a Stellar World-Opening Supreme Treasure [a supreme-grade artifact of stellar origin, powerful enough to aid in shaping worlds]. With a single sweep, it manifested billions of Stellar Heavenly Feathers [projections of immense, feather-like stellar energies] that descended like a cosmic avalanche, firmly suppressing the entire Heavenly Demon Star System.

Yet, formidable as it was, how could the power of a single World-Opening Supreme Treasure hope to fully suppress the vast and intricate Heavenly Demon Star System Grand Formation [the immense protective formation enveloping the Heavenly Demon Star System]?

The Vajra Saint [a Buddhist saint renowned for an indestructible body], the Violet Mystery Path Master, and the Blazeflame Divine Spirit [a divine spirit embodying blazing flames] also joined the assault. They unleashed treasures like the Buddhist Sect Golden Wheel [a golden wheel, a symbolic and potent Buddhist artifact], the Violet Heaven Divine Thunder Sword [a sword technique that summons violet heavenly thunder], and the Blazeflame Heavenly Lantern [a heavenly lantern radiating blazeflame], all World-Opening Supreme Treasure-grade artifacts, bombarding the Mountain Protection Formation [a defensive formation typically protecting a mountain or sect].

Eldrin Chen and the others also launched their attacks. Xuan Yu Star Lord and the Vajra Saint went a step further, summoning over twenty World-Opening Ancient Ship [ancient, ship-shaped artifacts of immense power] with a wave of their hands. More than one hundred Earth Immortal Patriarch [patriarchs who have attained the Earth Immortal realm] joined the fray, their combined might relentlessly hammering against the Stellar Grand Formation [a grand defensive formation of stellar power].

Even with such force, attempting to breach a River System Grand Formation [a grand formation protecting an entire river system of stars] through sheer manpower alone was still woefully insufficient.

It was not that they *could not* breach it, but rather that they could not do so within the short window of time available to them.

If they cannot break through the grand formation of the Heavenly Demon Star System before their Demon Sovereign [a title for a supreme ruler among demons] makes a breakthrough, I fear it will be they who suffer the consequences.

Considering this, the Vajra Saint [a title for an Arhat, an enlightened being in Buddhism] said with a slightly cold expression, "At this pace, I fear we will not make it in time."