Chapter 1339 : The Siege of the Dragon Lord

"He is a cornered beast fighting desperately; there is no need to clash head-on with him to the death!"

Seeing the Lord of Thousand Dragon Lake [the sovereign of a vast lake domain inhabited by myriad dragons] go berserk, Eldrin Chen immediately spoke up to warn the others.

He gathered everyone close, shielding them with his Primordial One Energy True Aura [a supreme defensive technique that manifests a protective aura of unified primordial energy], and together they unleashed their various Immortal Treasure [powerful enchanted artifacts wielded by immortals] and divine abilities, engaging the foe in a relentless, grinding battle.

Yet, the more they fought, the more their hearts chilled. The Lord of Thousand Dragon Lake's magical power seemed nearly boundless.

Even with the group attacking in relentless waves, depleting their own reserves time and again, they could never push him to the brink of exhaustion.

With no other choice, Eldrin Chen and the others rotated positions. Using the power of their formation to shoulder the brunt of the Lord of Thousand Dragon Lake's assault, they took turns harrying him, ceaselessly draining his stamina and magical energy.

The rest of the group would then retreat, using Immortal Pill [elixirs of immense potency that can rapidly restore an immortal's power] and Immortal Source [a concentrated source of pure spiritual energy used for recovery] to replenish their depleted reserves. Only when their power was mostly restored would they step forward to relieve their comrades in the grueling fight.

This siege-like battle dragged on astonishingly—for over thirty long years. It was only after three full decades that a turning point finally emerged.

The Lord of Thousand Dragon Lake had opened his Sixfold Heaven [the sixth of the celestial heavens within a cultivator's internal world, a profound realm of power], and his cultivation had reached the Seventh Level Earth Immortal [the seventh tier of the Earth Immortal realm, denoting immense foundational strength]. The reservoir of World-Opening Power [the primordial force used to create and sustain an internal world] he could contain was truly vast and majestic.

Yet even such a reservoir had its limits.

No matter how vast the primordial energy and power contained within an Earth Immortal World [a world cultivated and sustained by an Earth Immortal], it ultimately cannot compare to a Supreme Grotto-Heaven [a supreme, self-contained paradise realm]. When measured against the Returning Abyss Sea Region [the vast and perilous Sea of Returning Abyss], which stretches for billions upon billions of Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters], it still has its limits.

The Returning Abyss Sea Region stretches boundlessly, with countless islands rising and sinking within its depths. Many of these islands are vaster than an entire Great Thousand World [a major world within the cosmic hierarchy].

Yet, even those immortal isles spanning hundreds of millions of Li-lengths are but insignificant specks when viewed against the entirety of the Returning Abyss Sea Region.

Such a monumental sea holds power beyond measure. Once mobilized by the force of a formation, this power becomes nearly inexhaustible.

Confronting this limitless might of the Cosmic Stellar Formation [a grand formation harnessing the power of stars and cosmos] single-handedly, the Lord of Thousand Dragon Lake [the sovereign ruler of the Thousand Dragon Lake domain] ultimately reached the point where his own lamp of life was flickering, its oil nearly spent.

After thirty years of relentless warfare, under the constant attrition by his foes, his mana had been utterly depleted. Even the World's Origin [the foundational life-force and essence of a world] within him was mostly consumed, bringing his inner world to the brink of total collapse.

The Imperial Lord [a sovereign lord among cultivators] and Divine Spirits [powerful spiritual beings born from a world's essence], nurtured within the Earth Immortal World, had long since been slain in the great battle. Now, the entire realm was fracturing, skies and earth rending asunder, enduring a cataclysm of world-ending proportions.

"I rage against this fate!"

At death's door, the Lord of Thousand Dragon Lake's eyes burned crimson with fury.

Summoning his final vestiges of strength, heedless of the impending Oblivion [complete annihilation and erasure from existence] of his Earth Immortal World, he channeled all that remained into the Primal Shadow Heaven-Slaying Sword [a divine sword of profound shadow capable of slaying heavens] and the Primal Radiance Heaven-Entombing Blade [a radiant blade of primal light that can entomb celestial realms], unleashing a final, desperate strike towards Eldrin Chen.

"Let us perish together!"

This final, desperate strike represented the most powerful attack of Lord of Thousand Dragon Lake's entire life. Its world-sundering force crashed against the Primordial One Energy True Aura [a supreme defensive technique that manifests as an impenetrable barrier of unified primordial energy], managing to cleave a web of hairline fractures across its surface.

Yet, that was the absolute limit of its power.

Chaotic light swirled across the Primordial One Energy True Aura, and in the blink of an eye, every single crack was completely mended.

"BOOM—"

Having failed to shatter the Primordial One Energy True Aura, Lord of Thousand Dragon Lake had truly reached the brink of death.

The inner world within him was beginning to collapse. His World-Opening True Body [a divine physique forged during the creation of one's inner world] and his soul were already disintegrating into Oblivion [the state of utter non-existence and dissolution] under the force of the crumbling heavens and earth.

As an Earth Immortal [a cultivator who has opened an inner world, achieving a major milestone in immortality] fell, a Path-Dissolving Radiance [a celestial phenomenon marking the death of a powerful immortal, where their cultivated path dissolves into light] scattered across the firmament. Within that radiance, the faint, crumbling image of a world could be glimpsed.

Through that fading world, the onlookers vaguely saw four heaven-obscuring Celestial Pillar [mythical pillars that support the heavens within an immortal's inner world] toppling over. Furthermore, three towering World-Opening Spiritual Root [primordial spiritual trees that serve as the foundational anchors of an inner world] could be seen taking root amidst the ruins.

"The Four Extremities Celestial Pillars and World-Opening Spiritual Roots?"

Eldrin Chen's expression shifted subtly, and he immediately unleashed his full power.

In that fleeting instant, the Primordial One Energy Grasping Hand [a divine ability that manifests a giant hand of pure primordial energy] plunged into the world on the verge of Oblivion [the state of complete annihilation and return to primordial chaos], seizing three World-Opening Spiritual Root [primordial spiritual plants that contain the foundational energies for creating a new world] from its grasp.

Seeing this, Exquisite Jiang and the other two Nine Tribulations Immortal [immortals who have survived nine heavenly tribulations] also acted swiftly, each managing to retrieve one Four Extremities Celestial Pillars [spiritual roots representing the four cardinal pillars that stabilize heaven and earth] from the chaos.

The remaining immortals either lacked the strength to wrest treasures from the Oblivion-bound heavens and earth, or were in no condition to act, missing their chance. They could only watch helplessly as the final Four Extremities Celestial Pillars toppled and vanished into the turbulent void along with the disintegrating world.

"It's over!"

As the great battle concluded, Eldrin Chen let out a soft sigh of relief.

Although the Earth Immortal World [a world created and sustained by an Earth Immortal cultivator] of the Lord of Thousand Dragon Lake had fallen into Oblivion, leaving many treasures beyond reach, he had managed to salvage the three most crucial World-Opening Spiritual Root. His primary objective was thus fulfilled.

With this thought, Eldrin Chen glanced at the assembled group and said with a faint smile, "Let us first annihilate the remaining Thousand Dragon Lake army outside. Afterward, we can have the battlefield cleared and then discuss the division of our spoils."

Hearing his words, smiles touched the faces of the gathered immortals.

By this point in the conflict, the outcome was beyond doubt. Though numerous, the Demon Race [a race of malevolent beings that cultivate demonic arts] forces on the periphery were powerless to turn the tide.

The Earth Immortal [powerful cultivators who have attained a profound connection with the earthly realm] led their fellow Immortal [beings who have transcended mortality through cultivation] in a fierce charge. Before long, the vast demonic army of Thousand Dragon Lake [a formidable demon territory] was utterly annihilated.

Once the great battle concluded, they busied themselves with the meticulous task of scouring the battlefield.

However, the spoils of this victory were so immense that it took them over a year to fully tally the results.

After the accounting was complete, Eldrin Chen immediately summoned all the Immortals to the Green Chariot Mountain Great Hall [the grand assembly hall of their stronghold].

Within the great hall, Eldrin Chen did not immediately proceed to distribute the gains. Instead, he first looked towards Heaven Abyss Path Master and Ancient Ruins Nether Lord and said, "Our complete victory in this battle owes much to the aid of you two Fellow Daoists."

"Otherwise, our chances of success likely would not have exceeded forty percent."

Upon hearing this, Heaven Abyss Path Master smiled faintly and replied, "As fellow members of the Human Race, it was only right for us to lend our strength."

"Moreover, to be frank, we also had our own objectives in joining this fight."

Eldrin Chen nodded in understanding, then spoke plainly, "Is it for the World-Opening Spiritual Root [a legendary spiritual treasure of immense power, said to possess the essence of primordial creation]?"

"Precisely so."

Heaven Abyss Path Master [a master of the Heavenly Abyss cultivation path] nodded, then shook his head with a bitter smile and said, "We rogue cultivators have no backing. To gather the World-Opening Spiritual Root [a legendary spiritual root said to possess the power to initiate a new world] is a task of immense difficulty."

"I have schemed for hundreds of thousands of years, and even with the gains from this tribulation, I am still short by two stalks."

Upon hearing this, Ancient Ruins Nether Lord [a powerful lord ruling over the ancient ruins of the netherworld] also gave a slight nod of agreement.

He turned his gaze to Eldrin Chen and said calmly, "I lack not for the World-Opening Spiritual Root. My purpose in coming is simply to forge a friendship with you."

As he spoke, Ancient Ruins Nether Lord handed several Soul-Gathering Pearl [a mystical pearl capable of gathering and preserving fragmented souls] to Eldrin Chen and continued, "The souls of these old friends of yours have now been restored. It is time I returned them to your care."

"Is it truly so?"

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen immediately revealed a look of joyous surprise and hastily accepted the Soul-Gathering Pearl.

Within these several Soul-Gathering Pearl resided the soul essences of Vast Righteousness Path Master [a master renowned for his immense virtue and righteous cultivation path], Long River Path Lord [a lord who commands the cultivation path of the eternal river], and Silas Chen.

In ages past, Eldrin Chen had brought the remnant souls of these three to Ancient Ruins Nether Lord, beseeching him to restore them. Now, after tens of thousands of years, their recovery was finally complete.

Seeing their souls fully restored, Eldrin Chen said with heartfelt joy, "For such a great kindness, words of thanks are insufficient. Know that Returning Abyss [the name of Eldrin Chen's domain or stronghold] shall repay this debt in full measure in time to come."

"Your sincerity is what matters."

Ancient Ruins Nether Lord offered a faint smile but said nothing more.

He wished to befriend Eldrin Chen, but the friendship of noble men is as light as water; such matters need not be forced. By supporting each other on the long path of cultivation, they would naturally become close friends in time.

Seeing this, Eldrin Chen produced three ledgers from his sleeve and spoke.

"These three ledgers: the first records our spoils of battle. The second details each person's Merits [a metaphysical 'currency' representing good karma or virtuous deeds]. And the third..."

Eldrin Chen fell silent for a moment, then sighed heavily.

"This is the roster of the fallen Immortal [a being who has transcended mortality through cultivation]."