Chapter 1657 : Annihilation

Meanwhile, deep within the Western Qi Divine Abyss Sea, various major powers reacted differently to the matter.

Within the 10 1000 Spirits Blessed Realm, the Ancient 1 of Myriad Spirits was engaged in a game of Go with a black-robed Daoist. Each stone placed upon the board carried lethal intent, every move a calculated step toward annihilation.

The Myriad Spirits Ancestor fell silent for a moment, then spoke with an impassive expression, "I never expected you would intervene in the affairs of these juniors."

The black-robed Daoist shook his head, his expression serene as he said, "2 superior-grade cave heavens within the Xī Qì Shén Yuān Hǎi (Mystical Realm) are already sufficient. There should not be a third."

At this point, the black-robed Taoist asked again, "You don't seem concerned?" The Myriad Spirits Ancestor nodded and replied, "They cannot kill him yet."

"Oh?" The black-robed Daoist was momentarily taken aback, then shook his head. "I cannot fathom how he could possibly defy the heavens and alter his fate."

With a faint smile, the Ancestor of Myriad Spirits said, "As the Fourth Supreme Elder of the Divine Abyss Cave Heaven, your intervention in the affairs of a junior human prodigy has already entangled you in karma. It is only fitting that the Divine Abyss Cave Heaven should face this tribulation."

The black-robed man’s expression turned stern, his gaze chilling slightly as he said, "Are you threatening me?" "What if I am?"

The Myriad Spirits Ancestor spoke in an even tone, his gaze profound as he cast a deep look at the black-robed Daoist.

The black-robed Daoist took a deep breath and offered no further reply, merely stating coldly, "The First Holy Son is but a single step away from establishing the foundation of the 3 Taiyi."

"His path is set, and none in the Western Azure Divine Abyss Sea can kill him now." "Oh, is that so?"

The Venerable Myriad Spirits responded with a noncommittal smile, sidestepping the question entirely. "The path ahead is long and treacherous. You must temper your spirit and hone your resolve—only then may you glimpse the threshold of true immortality." He paused, his gaze drifting toward the distant, mist-shrouded peaks as if peering through the veil of time itself. "Countless cultivators have embarked upon this journey, yet only a handful have ever grasped the essence of the Heavenly Dao. Some fell to inner demons, others to tribulations... and many more simply vanished into the endless river of years." From his sleeve, he produced a jade slip shimmering with latent energy. "This contains the foundational principles of the 9 Revolutions Nirvana Sutra(Cultivation Method). Master it, and you may withstand the first heavenly tribulation. But remember—" his voice lowered, carrying the weight of millennia, "every step upon this path demands a price. Are you prepared to pay it?"

The battle within the 8 Trigrams Grand Formation persisted for a full 3 100 years.

3 centuries of desperate gambles, 3 centuries of life-and-death battles—only when the dust finally settled did the 100 Seas of the Eternal Abyss grow calm once more. Defying all expectations, after the final confrontation, not a single 1 of the 17 Half-Step Celestial Immortals emerged alive.

"How is this possible?"

Discovering that all 17 Half-Step Celestial Immortals had perished, someone cried out in shock, their face etched with disbelief.

Beyond the grand formation, countless immortals from various major factions spared no expense in their efforts. After repeated calculations, they concluded that all 17 Half-Step Celestial Immortals had fallen.

"Impossible! How could all 17 half-step Celestial Immortals have fallen in the Return Abyss blessed realm?"

Everyone was utterly astounded, until a few obscure imprints emerged from the formation shortly after.

An immortal from the Divine Abyss Grotto-Heaven received the message, his expression shifting complexly as he declared, "Our hidden agent has sent word that our esteemed seniors have been far too careless." "The Void-Return Immortal Alliance has deployed a ninth-grade Taiyi Slaughter Formation, coordinated with 5 Half-Step Celestial Immortals and the Void-Return Daoist himself. Their combined combat power rivals that of 17 Half-Step Celestial Immortals."

The intelligence agent from the Western Qi Grotto-heaven also nodded, his expression grim as he said, "Our undercover operatives have sent word that the Abyssal Sanctuary Immortal Alliance has now been placed under complete lockdown."

The Earth Immortals of the ninth tier from the Chen Immortal Clan (Organization) seemed to have all vanished without a trace. Even those at the half-step Celestial Immortal realm were all wounded, and not a single soul could be seen.

"If my predictions are correct, although the Abyssal Return Immortal Alliance emerged victorious from this battle, it must have been a pyrrhic victory. Their Earth Immortals of the ninth level have nearly been wiped out, and a significant number of Quasi-Celestial Immortals should have fallen as well."

The others also nodded in agreement upon hearing this.

Within the Eldrin Alliance, most of the sleeper agents planted by various major factions held only low-level positions. A handful managed to rise to mid-level ranks, yet none could ever penetrate the inner circle.

These individuals had no access to the core secrets of the Abyssal Return Immortal Alliance, able to provide only limited information.

However, based on the limited information available, they had largely deduced the outcome following the great war of the Guixu Immortal Alliance.

After all, in their eyes, the Half-Step Celestial Immortals of the major factions possessed earth-shattering power. Even if the Abyssal Return Immortal Alliance managed to secure victory after 3 100 years of continuous warfare, it would undoubtedly be an excruciatingly pyrrhic triumph.

This point seemed to validate their speculations, judging from Eldrin’s earlier, gruesomely bloody battle. Soon, intelligence regarding the great battle, along with their conjectures, was relayed outward.

Various major factions received the news 1 after another, each displaying vastly different attitudes. "Worthless fools! You can't even handle a single Returning Abyss Immortal Alliance."

In the Thalion Sea, the First Holy Son of the Divine Abyss Cave Heaven gazed calmly at the intelligence in his hand, his eyes involuntarily turning frosty as he spoke.

Beside the First Holy Son, a woman of peerless beauty took the intelligence report. After a moment’s perusal, her gaze deepened slightly as she remarked, “The Second Holy Son’s strength is such that few among those with dual Taiyi foundations can rival him.”

"Even he was defeated. It seems the 8 Trigrams Grand Formation truly is extraordinary."

This woman was of extraordinary status—she was none other than Qingyao, the foremost of the 3 Holy Maidens of the Divine Abyss Grotto-Heaven, her strength nearly on par with the Second Holy Son. After reviewing the intelligence, she could not help but inquire, "What do you intend to do about the matter concerning the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss?"

The First Holy Son did not answer immediately. His gaze swept beyond the Thalion Sea, where countless treasure ships stood like a mighty forest, and innumerable divine clansmen ceaselessly assaulted the Thalion Sea.

After a brief moment of contemplation, he spoke, "We have been at war with the Western Mist Realm for 3 100 years. Unless they withdraw their forces, we cannot spare the strength to eliminate the Returning Abyss Sea."

Saintess Qingyao shook her head, her gaze turning frosty as she said, "The Number 1 Divine Maiden of the Western Mist Cave Heaven follows the Path of Water Element, while the Second Divine Son walks the Path of Wood Element. They are our fated enemies—they will never give up."

The First Holy Son nodded, a flicker of emotion stirring in the depths of his gaze.

The First Divine Maiden of the Western Qi Grotto-Heaven possessed a foundation comparable to an Eighth-Level Earth Immortal, while he himself rivaled an 8-Tribulation Earth Immortal. For either of them, obtaining the other’s essence would enable the cultivation of a perfected Triple Taiyi foundation.

The Saintess Qingyao and the Second Divine Son of Western Qi were no exception; both had reached the Seventh Tribulation Earth Immortal realm. Should they obtain each other’s Dao Source, their chances of cultivating the 3 Primordial Unity Foundations would likewise increase by 10 to 20 percent.

Thus, with the aid of rare treasures such as the Innate Taiyi Elixir, it would be sufficient to attempt a breakthrough. For this reason, the 2 of them had absolutely no grounds to abandon their efforts.

In contrast, while the Returning Abyss Immortal Alliance was powerful, it lacked any existence comparable to an 8-Calamity Earth Immortal, failing to truly capture their genuine interest.

After much deliberation, the First Holy Son finally spoke, "That Eldrin possesses extraordinary talent. If he's truly allowed to mature, I fear he may become a grave threat to us."

"Though I cannot take action myself, I believe there is 1 who can deal with him."

Saintess Qingyao’s eyes flickered slightly at his words. "You mean...?" she began. "Let the Western Abyss Dragon King pass," the First Holy Son affirmed with a nod. A faint smile graced Saintess Qingyao’s lips as she understood.

In her view, though the Abyssal Return Immortal Alliance had emerged victorious, it was a pyrrhic victory achieved at a devastating cost.

Even if Eldrin had broken through to the Half-Step Celestial Immortal realm, deploying the Western Abyss Dragon King—a mighty Celestial Immortal—against him would be like using a divine blade to slaughter a chicken, leaving no room for uncertainty.