Chapter 1576 : A Bloody Path Through Demonic Rain
Understanding the gravity of the situation, everyone's brows furrowed slightly.
They knew in their hearts that this was a nearly unsolvable deadlock. The souls of these Demonic Path Patriarch were all under the control of the Demon Sovereign [a supreme ruler of demonic forces]. Unless they were slain, it would be impossible to breach the grand formation and prevent the Demon Sovereign from achieving his apotheosis.
Yet, if they were all exterminated, it would only hasten the Demon Sovereign's breakthrough. It was a dilemma with no good outcome.
"If that's the case, then we carve a path straight through them."
After a moment's contemplation, Eldrin Chen's gaze turned icy cold.
With a flick of his sleeve, he activated the Celestial Abyss Twin Swords, causing them to merge instantly into a single, blindingly radiant sword energy. It swept through the Six Harmonies formation, cleaving a bloody path through hundreds of Demonic Path Earth Immortal [cultivators who have attained the Earth Immortal realm, a high level of power].
In that instant, demons fell like rain. The entire Heavenly Demon Star System trembled under the might of the Sky-Severance Sword Union technique.
"Perish."
Simultaneously, Violet Mystery Path Master, Blazeflame Divine Spirit, and Vajra Saint unleashed their full power. With a thunderous crash, they finally shattered the Three Demons Slaying Immortals Formation [a powerful demonic formation], breaking both the formation diagram and the three Immortal Sword [swords of immortal grade] that powered it.
Witnessing this, Xuan Yu Immortal's eyes shone with admiration as he praised, "Masterful technique."
In this battle, the combat prowess displayed by Eldrin Chen and his allies far exceeded the expectations of Xuan Yu Immortal and Vajra Saint.
Whether it was the Celestial Abyss Twin Swords wielded by Eldrin Chen, the Southern Brightness Solar Fire unleashed by the Blazeflame Divine Spirit, or the Kui Ox Heavenly Drum commanded by Violet Mystery Path Master, each exhibited a power of Slaughter comparable to that of a Dual Primordial Unity Foundation cultivator.
Such formidable strength also took the Demon Sovereign by surprise, shattering his meticulously laid plans in an astonishingly short span of time.
Having now breached the grand killing formation and shattered the countless legions of the Fiend Race Army, the group finally seized a fleeting yet crucial moment of opportunity.
Witnessing Eldrin Chen command his Celestial Abyss Twin Swords to cleave through the void, severing hundreds of colossal Ancient Star in succession, he forcibly annihilated many of the critical Formation Eye [the core nodes that power a formation] of the Heavenly Demon Star System Grand Formation, finally creating the opening Xuan Yu Immortal had been waiting for.
Seizing the moment, Xuan Yu Immortal unleashed the full might of his Nine Heavens Milky Way Star Sand Sword, sending the Myriad Demons Bell [a demonic bell artifact of immense power] flying with a single, earth-shattering blow.
Seeing this, Vajra Saint, Violet Mystery Path Master, and the others joined the assault in rapid succession, their combined efforts finally and completely shattering the grand formation protecting the Demonic River System.
"It is done…"
With the grand formation broken, the group advanced, swiftly cutting a path of destruction to the very heart of the Demonic River System.
It was at this very moment that Eldrin Chen slowly lowered his gaze, sensing over eight hundred strands of Pure Light of Merit [a luminous manifestation of accumulated virtuous karma] swirling and settling behind him, their radiance now faintly tinged with a profound violet hue.
After many years of cultivation, Eldrin Chen had already condensed three hundred strands of Pure Light of Merit [a manifestation of accumulated virtuous karma and meritorious deeds].
In this recent battle, he had consecutively slain nine cultivators at the Earth Immortal Great Perfection [the pinnacle stage of the Earth Immortal realm] and dozens more Demonic Cultivator [cultivators who follow unorthodox, often malevolent, paths] at the Earth Immortal Realm [a major realm of cultivation above the Primordial Spirit realm], acquiring over five hundred additional strands of Pure Light of Merit in one fell swoop.
"A total of eight hundred and eighty-seven strands of Pure Light of Merit," Eldrin Chen murmured softly, his gaze turning contemplative. "The distance to condensing the Merit Violet Light [a higher, more potent form of karmic light] does not seem far now."
His eyes then shifted, focusing intently on the Central Black Hole [a supermassive gravitational singularity] deep within the Heavenly Demon Star System [a star system under demonic influence].
At this moment, outside the Central Black Hole, only a single desolate Earth Vein [a terrestrial energy ley line] drifted in the void. Coiled upon it was a colossal dragon.
The ancient dragon was bound from head to tail by heavy Chains, its form radiating boundless killing intent. Its eyes burned with a deep, bloody crimson hue.
"A Primordial Era Desolate Dragon [a legendary dragon species from the dawn of time, known for its ferocity and desolate power]," someone uttered.
Vajra Saint [a Buddhist saint renowned for his diamond-like indestructibility], observing the scene, spoke with grave solemnity, "Amitabha. That Demon Sovereign [a supreme ruler among demonic beings] actually nurtured a Primordial Era Desolate Dragon as a guardian for his path. I fear we may face considerable trouble today."
The others also frowned slightly. Primordial Era Desolate Dragon were famed for the peerless strength and resilience of their physical forms.
The one before them had even reached the Primordial Unity Realm [a realm signifying the initial unification of one's foundational energies]. With its physical power alone, it could likely rend apart World-Opening [a realm denoting the power to create or destroy minor worlds] existences. Dealing with such a creature promised to be exceedingly difficult.
Xuan Yu Path Master understood this as well. With a grave expression, he immediately declared, "Do not concern yourselves with him. Our priority is to breach the grand formation and prevent the Demon Sovereign from achieving his breakthrough."
"Understood—"
Upon hearing this, everyone immediately took action. One supreme Divine Ability [a powerful supernatural technique cultivated by immortals] after another was unleashed, hurtling towards the space beyond the Central Black Hole.
At that very moment, the Primordial Era Desolate Dragon [an ancient dragon from the dawn of time] roared. Accompanied by the clanking of immense chains, it coiled and surged skyward. Its Immortality [a divine ability named 'Immortality'] tail, colossal beyond measure, swept horizontally across the starry expanse, piercing through countless millions of Li-lengths of the Starry River.
In that instant, the heavens filled with exploding Stellar [celestial bodies or star-like energies]. They transformed into an energy of Oblivion [the concept of utter annihilation] that obliterated all things, lashing out in all directions to meet the attacks of the assembled experts.
"Wretched beast, how dare you?!"
Witnessing the Primordial Era Desolate Dragon display its might, the Vajra Saint [a Buddhist saint of indestructible diamond-like body] widened his eyes in fury. He manifested billions of Arhat Golden Body [golden bodies of enlightened Buddhist sages], raising a palm to intercept this world-shaking strike.
The others, seeing this, also launched their own successive counterattacks.
Although the Primordial Era Desolate Dragon possessed an invincible physical form, facing five opponents alone was far beyond its capacity. It was sent reeling backward by the combined assault.
Yet, the Primordial Era Desolate Dragon's obstruction seemed to have bought the Demon Sovereign [a sovereign ruler among demons] a few precious moments.
In the boundless void, the black hole, having devoured the endless essence and souls of countless Demonic Cultivator [practitioners who cultivate using demonic or unorthodox methods], finally underwent a startling metamorphosis.
"BOOM—"
A thunderous roar echoed as the all-consuming black hole surged violently upward, vanishing into the infinite dimensional layers of the void.
"This is…"
Witnessing this, the expressions of the assembled figures shifted dramatically.
Violet Mystery Path Master [a powerful cultivator specializing in profound and mysterious arts] frowned, his voice turning cold as he declared, "He intends to propel the Heaven and Earth Ascension [a supreme divine ability to elevate one's inner world] to its ultimate form, transforming it into a complete Great Universe [a self-contained cosmos or universe]."
"We absolutely cannot allow him to succeed."
Xuan Yu Path Master [a path master known for his profound and feather-light techniques] wore an icy expression. Without hesitation, he was the first to tear through the fabric of space, chasing the fading trail of the black hole and disappearing into the depths of the Universe.
Simultaneously, Eldrin Chen and the others showed no delay. They too shot forward, pursuing the vanishing anomaly through the endless void.
"HUM—"
In that fleeting moment, Eldrin Chen followed the black hole and arrived within the Endless Dimensional Space.
When he regained his senses, he found himself at a hazy dimensional locus. Deep within this Dimensional Void, a vast and boundless Gloomy Ancient Realm drifted and floated.
At the heart of that Gloomy Ancient Realm, a figure akin to a black hole stood at the center of heaven and earth, watching everything unfold with an impassive expression.
Eldrin Chen's heart sank, his face etched with extreme gravity. "The Demon Sovereign," he said, his voice heavy, "He intends to initiate the Heaven and Earth Ascension [a supreme art to elevate a world to a higher plane of existence]."
"We absolutely cannot allow him to succeed."
Violet Mystery Path Master's expression darkened, an immeasurable killing intent rising within him.
Blazeflame Divine Spirit also nodded. Gripping the Blazeflame Heavenly Lantern, she stepped forward, her gaze profound and distant. "If that is the case," she declared, her voice echoing with resolve, "then we shall become the shattering Great Tribulation [a cataclysmic trial of heavenly punishment] that ends his ambition."
"Wait."
But in that very instant, Xuan Yu Immortal moved to block her path.
His countenance remained utterly calm. "The act of transforming a world into a cosmos is irreversible," he stated, his words carrying the weight of immutable law. "Success brings life; failure brings only annihilation."
"Even if such a Demonic Cultivator succeeds, they will undoubtedly perform a blood sacrifice upon the Universe to exchange for more Innate Energy [the primordial, foundational energy of creation]."
"Let us wait a moment. If he fails, he will naturally perish. If he succeeds, we can strike at the critical moment when he is condensing the Heaven Earth Profound Yellow [the primordial essence of heaven and earth] into Innate Energy [the primordial, foundational energy of creation]. It will not be too late then."
Upon hearing this, the expressions of the group shifted slightly.
Eldrin Chen understood. This Xuan Yu Immortal coveted the Innate Energy [the primordial, foundational energy of creation] and intended to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat at the crucial moment. He planned to slay the Demon Sovereign [a supreme ruler among demonic beings] just as it was breaking through, before it could fully refine the Innate Energy.
Strictly speaking, Xuan Yu Immortal's plan was quite risky. However, a newly ascended Celestial Immortal [an immortal who has transcended mortality and ascended to the celestial realm] who had not yet refined its Innate Energy [the primordial, foundational energy of creation] was at its most vulnerable state, making it the easiest target to deal with.
After all, without refining the Innate Energy [the primordial, foundational energy of creation], one could not truly be said to have taken that final, definitive step.