Chapter 1711 : The Celestial Shield's Last Stand

The Ethereal Void Mountain Range [a vast and mystical mountain range shrouded in ethereal energies] stood defiant, its Formless Shadow Grand Formation [a grand defensive formation woven from shadows and void essence] spanning the heavens like a celestial shield.

Countless Human Race [the collective term for humanity in this cultivation world] cultivators, an innumerable host of Heaven's Chosen [prodigies blessed by fate and talent] prodigies, poured their power into the grand formation, straining to hold back the relentless assault of the Demon and God Races [the allied forces of demonic and divine beings].

Beyond the mountain range, a sea of billions upon billions of Demonic Beast [beasts corrupted by demonic energy or born of it] ceaselessly battered the defensive barrier. An endless tide of Tribulation Qi [a chaotic, destructive energy associated with heavenly tribulations and calamities] drowned the vast, desolate Void [the empty space between realms, often associated with profound cultivation arts].

The battle had raged to such an extent that innumerable Low-Rank Demonic Beast [the weakest tiers of demonic beasts] had already been reduced to ashes. Even many Demon Immortal [demonic beings who have ascended to an immortal-like state] and Divine Spirits [spiritual entities of divine origin or power] at the Ascension Immortal Realm [a high cultivation realm signifying ascension to immortality] were but insignificant motes of dust in this cataclysmic tribulation.

Their minds eroded by the all-pervading Tribulation Qi, their Soul Spirits [the core spiritual consciousness of a being] no longer under their own control, they mindlessly hurled themselves against the formation. Their assaults failed to raise even the slightest ripple; their sole purpose now was to deplete the Immortal Spirit Qi [a pure, potent spiritual energy used by immortals], the Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy], and the Immortal Source [the foundational source energy of immortality] reserves within the Ethereal Void Mountain Range.

Beneath the Slaughter Formation [a formation designed purely for mass annihilation] woven by the twenty-four Innate Treasure [treasures born of heaven and earth, possessing innate, profound power] anchoring the Ethereal Void Mountain Range, even a Half-Step Celestial Immortal [a cultivator on the very cusp of achieving true celestial immortality] would be turned to dust upon attempting to force their way through.

This relentless onslaught continued for several Millennium [a period of one thousand years]. The slaughter grew so intense that the vast Ethereal Void Mountain Range seethed with boiling Baleful Qi [a malevolent, killing intent-laden energy born from mass death and suffering]. No one could tally how many Demon Immortal and Divine Spirits had fallen, yet the Ethereal Void Mountain Range showed no sign of being breached.

Then, on this day, Verdant Sun Imperial Son arrived, leading a contingent of the Divine Race [a powerful race of divine beings]. Gazing upon the formidable Ethereal Void Mountain Range before him, he frowned slightly.

After observing for a long while, he finally spoke. "The Ethereal Void Grotto-Heaven [a blessed realm or pocket dimension within the Ethereal Void Mountain Range] possesses a Deep-Seated Foundation [an exceptionally profound and stable foundational power]. Valerius and his people have used the various heavenly formation diagrams as their cornerstone to erect the Twenty-Four Heavens Grand Formation [a supreme formation harnessing the power of twenty-four celestial domains] across this mountain range."

"Such an innate Slaughter Formation draws upon the very field and ley lines of the Ethereal Void Mountain Range as its catalyst, refining and channeling the power of the Twenty-Four Heavens. Its source of power is virtually inexhaustible." Access the full story on audi0-n0vel.c0m.

"Your plan to deplete the Formation's power by throwing Low-Rank Demonic Tribe [lesser demonic races] at it is utterly futile."

From amidst the Demonic Tribe [the collective demonic forces], several figures emerged one after another.

Leading them were Solaris, the Golden Crow and the Five-Colored Immortal Phoenix. The Five-Colored Immortal Phoenix gave a slight nod and spoke, "We are well aware of that. However, relying solely on the strength of our Demonic Tribe, even if we breach the Formation, we cannot defeat the Human Race."

"Now that you have arrived, we can finally plot the annihilation of the Human Race."

Verdant Sun Imperial Son nodded in agreement and then inquired, "Do you possess any treasure capable of breaking formations?"

"I possess one Low Grade Innate Treasure [a primordial treasure of the lowest grade]—the 'Heaven-Rending Divine Talisman'."

Zhu Yan Imperial Son spoke, his expression calm and composed.

The Heaven-Rending Divine Talisman is a treasure specialized in sundering boundaries. A single Low Grade Innate Treasure of this type possesses power sufficient to annihilate an entire Minor Universe [a small, self-contained cosmos].

If deployed to break a formation, it would be more than capable of shattering a Formation erected by a Late Heaven Immortal Realm [a cultivator who has reached the late stage of the Heaven Immortal realm] expert.

However, such a treasure is a single-use Innate Treasure. Once activated, it is akin to discarding a strand of Innate Qi [primordial life-force energy], which is why it remains one of Zhu Yan Imperial Son's most closely guarded trump cards.

"Relying solely on the Heaven-Rending Divine Talisman, I fear it will not be sufficient."

The Five-Colored Immortal Phoenix spoke, then retrieved a five-colored immortal stone and said, "This Five-Colored Heaven-Suppressing Stone of mine possesses the wondrous ability to suppress the formations of all heavens. It is enough to suppress this Formation by twenty percent of its power."

Verdant Sun Imperial Son glanced at it, a subtle flicker of light passing through his gaze.

This Five-Colored Heaven-Suppressing Stone was a special Mid-Grade Innate Treasure. It could serve as the cosmos-stabilizing treasure of a Cosmos, possessing the wondrous functions of suppressing a Cosmos and stabilizing its starry Ronan.

However, generally only those at the Early Celestial Immortal Realm could activate such a treasure. That the Five-Colored Immortal Phoenix could wield it at her current realm was not only due to the exceptional quality of her Mana [the spiritual energy cultivated by immortals], but also because her attributes were perfectly aligned with this Five-Colored Heaven-Suppressing Stone.

At that moment, Solaris, the Golden Crow spoke up, "This time, I have brought the Imperial Crow Ancient Ship. It is equipped with a Ninth Rank High Grade Taiyi Annihilation Cannon."

"If this World-Ending Cannon is activated at full power, its force rivals a full-strength strike from a Late Heaven Immortal Realm cultivator."

Seeing this, Verdant Sun Imperial Son nodded slightly. "With the Five-Colored Heaven-Suppressing Stone and the World-Ending Cannon to suppress it, augmented by the Heaven-Rending Divine Talisman, it should be sufficient to breach the vast majority of Ninth Rank Innate Grand Formation formations in the world."

"But this Twenty-Four Heavens Grand Formation is reputed to be unbreakable except by a Great Perfection Celestial Immortal Realm. It stands as one of the most supreme Ninth Rank Formation formations within the Immortal Domain."

"With only these three forces, we can merely suppress the grand formation for a short time. We cannot completely breach this Mountain Guardian Grand Formation."

Upon hearing this, the expressions of those present darkened slightly, their faces growing solemn.

The Nine-Tailed Celestial Fox then turned its gaze towards Verdant Sun Imperial Son and inquired, "Since you have come here, Fellow Daoist, I presume you have also made preparations."

Verdant Sun Imperial Son nodded in affirmation. With a flick of his sleeve, he produced a dazzling Divine Pearl [a precious orb imbued with divine power].

Zhu Yan Imperial Son took a glance and could not help but exclaim, "A Primordial Chaos Thunder Pearl [a supreme treasure forged from the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation of Primordial Chaos]?"

The others, upon hearing this, underwent a drastic change in countenance, their faces revealing expressions of utter shock and disbelief.

The origins of this Primordial Chaos Thunder Pearl were extraordinary. It was a supreme treasure refined by an Ancient Immortal Great Power [an immensely powerful being from antiquity] when they broke through to the Great Luo [a supreme realm of cultivation] realm, harnessing and condensing the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation [a cataclysmic trial of heavenly lightning] from the Primordial Chaos [the formless, primordial state before creation]. Its destructive power was utterly terrifying, potent enough to annihilate even an Ancient Immortal Great Power. Find this and other novels at audio-novel . com.

For Verdant Sun Imperial Son to produce one now instantly caused the complexions of all present to pale.

Noticing their reactions, Verdant Sun Imperial Son quickly shook his head and clarified, "This is merely a lesser Primordial Chaos Thunder Pearl. When our Ancient Progenitor [the primordial founder of our lineage], the Green Sun Ancient Deity, was breaking through the Third Heavenly Pass, he drew upon the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation from the Primordial Chaos to temper his body."

"At that time, the Ancient Progenitor gathered a portion of the residual power from the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation and refined it into this pearl. Its power is only comparable to that of the Late Heaven Immortal Realm [a high but not ultimate stage of immortal cultivation]."

Hearing this explanation, everyone present let out a collective sigh of relief.

Upon careful reflection, this outcome was within expectations. A true Primordial Chaos Thunder Pearl [a legendary artifact born from the primordial chaos, capable of unleashing world-shattering thunder] is at least a tenth-rank Great Luo [the Great Luo Realm, a supreme state of cultivation] treasure. Although its power is astonishingly great, it requires at least the Great Perfection Celestial Immortal Realm [the pinnacle stage of the Celestial Immortal Realm] to be barely able to activate it.

Thinking of this, Zhu Yan Imperial Son spoke: "With this Primordial Chaos Thunder Pearl, we should be able to blast open the Twenty-Four Heavens Grand Formation [a grand defensive formation said to embody the power of twenty-four celestial layers] and prevent its power from recovering for a short time."

The Five-Colored Immortal Phoenix [a mythical phoenix beast whose feathers shimmer with five sacred colors] nodded. She performed a series of calculations with her fingers, then spoke with immense gravity: "However, relying solely on these treasures, we can at most suppress the Twenty-Four Heavens Grand Formation for three days."

"If within those three days we cannot inflict severe damage upon the Human Race, once the Formation [a powerful array or defensive barrier] recovers, we will have to flee for our lives."

Solaris, the Golden Crow [an Imperial Son of the Golden Crow lineage, embodying solar power] frowned slightly, contemplating as he said: "With the combined strength of our allied Demon and God Races [the collective forces of the demonic and divine races], unleashing our full power for three days, even if we cannot annihilate the Human Race entirely, we should still be able to slay several Forbidden Realm [cultivators who have reached the legendary Forbidden Realm]."

"Yet the Human Race is truly extraordinary. If the Abyssal Daoist [a Daoist title meaning 'One Who Walks the Abyssal Path'] recovers from his injuries, then at best we might inflict casualties of thirty to forty percent upon them."

"Thirty to forty percent?"

Beside them, the seven or eight Forbidden Imperial Son [heirs of immense power from the demon and god races] from the Demon and God Races all fell into deep thought.

If they could not utterly exterminate the Human Race, but merely cripple them severely, then once the Formation recovered, this Great Tribulation [a cataclysmic event ordained by fate or heavenly law] would likely descend into a protracted stalemate.

"That Abyssal Daoist and the Ethereal Void Holy Son [a Holy Son from the Ethereal Void lineage] are among the most dazzling Heaven's Chosen [individuals blessed by heaven with exceptional talent and destiny] the Human Race of the Azure Firmament Immortal Domain [the Vast Azure Immortal Domain, a realm of cultivation] has produced in ten Calamity Tribulation [cycles of great calamity and tribulation]. If we fail to eradicate them now, they will undoubtedly become a calamity of heaven-shaking proportions in the future."

"Especially that Abyssal Daoist [a title for a powerful cultivator who has attained profound mastery over the Abyssal Dao]. He is currently in seclusion, striving to re-cultivate his Flawless Dao Fruit [the pinnacle state of a cultivator's core, representing a flawless foundation for ascension]. If he truly succeeds, I fear neither you nor I may be his match."

Solaris, the Golden Crow spoke slowly, his expression grave as he declared, "Therefore, even at a certain cost, we must fight this battle to its decisive conclusion."

"Great minds think alike."

Verdant Sun Imperial Son nodded, a smile gracing his features as he clapped his hands in agreement.

With that said, he turned his gaze towards the depths of the Void [a profound cultivation art or state of emptiness] and called out, "Fellow Daoist Sun, please come forth." Immerse yourself in the complete world at audio-novel.com (official site).