Chapter 595 : The Gathering of Immortal Clans

With a few brief exchanges, the plan was settled upon.

Soon, Lior Chen and the Old Patriarch began issuing conscription orders, mobilizing the Immortal Clan [powerful cultivation families] of the Vast Sea and Ji Continent to prepare their forces for war.

Mobilizing the cultivators of two great continents for war was no simple matter. Both the Vast Sea and Ji Continent lay millions of Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] from the Heavenly Ridge Mountain Range.

Even at the speed of a Fourth-Rank Treasure Ship, a round trip would take three full months.

Fortunately, after the battle in the Vast Sea thirty years prior, the Chen Clan had slain numerous Demon King [powerful demonic beings]. From their remains, they had forged over forty Fourth-Rank Treasure Ship.

Combined with the Treasure Ship [enchanted vessels] accumulated by the Chen Nation and the Vast Sea over the years, these War Treasure Ship [battle-ready enchanted vessels] now numbered a formidable ninety-seven.

In times of war, these War Treasure Ship became strategic assets. Eternal Profound Chen commandeered them outright, then demanded the various Immortal Clan contribute funds and personnel.

Eradicating the Demonic Cultivator [cultivators who use evil, soul-devouring methods] was a matter of grave importance. If left unchecked today, tomorrow these fiends might slaughter your entire clan to forge a single Demonic Treasure [an artifact powered by blood sacrifice and dark arts].

Faced with such a critical undertaking, the major Immortal Clan understood the stakes. Most cooperated fully.

Those who could, contributed warriors. Those unwilling to send fighters offered resources instead: lending their War Treasure Ship, Formation Flag [battle-formation banners], magical treasure [enchanted artifacts], Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy], even post-war reward materials. Every member of the Human Race was expected to contribute to the purge of the Demonic Cultivator. Continue reading this story at audio-novel dot com.

After a full year of relentless preparation, the Chen Immortal Clan had not only amassed supplies worth hundreds of millions of Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy], but had also mobilized over six hundred thousand cultivators.

The weakest among these six hundred thousand cultivators were at the Vital Essence Refinement Late Stage [the final phase of the foundational cultivation stage], with many being older veterans. It was clear they had all steeled their hearts, prepared to lay down their lives in the coming battle.

"Who knows how many will fall in this campaign," Eldrin Chen murmured, a shadow of sorrow crossing his features.

Seated upon the deck of the Greenjade Phoenix Feather Boat [a flying vessel crafted from phoenix feathers and green jade], Eldrin Chen gazed down at the nearly one hundred fourth-rank War Treasure Ship [specially enchanted vessels designed for large-scale warfare] below and could not help but sigh.

A Demonic Cultivator [practitioners who use dark, often sacrificial, methods to gain power] Forbidden Land [a territory corrupted by demonic energy and forbidden to righteous cultivators] was not so easily purged. The Black Fiend Demon Ridge [the Black Fiend Mountain Range, a stronghold of demonic cultivators] spanned millions of Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters], gathering Demonic Cultivator from across several great continents. Calling it a Demonic Cultivator kingdom would be no exaggeration.

While they had gathered supplies worth hundreds of millions of Spirit Stone, if the war went poorly, that fortune might not even suffice for compensation to the families of the fallen, let alone for rewarding the survivors.

Seeing his concern, Exquisite Jiang beside him quickly took his hand, offering comfort. "Do not worry. For this battle, the Feast Kingdom, the Ling Nation, and even dozens of Golden Core Immortal Clan [powerful clans whose patriarchs have reached the Golden Core realm] from the Six Kingdoms of Ji Continent have been summoned. Our combined strength is more than enough to suppress the Black Fiend Demon Ridge."

"The crucial factor now is whether Vast Righteousness True Lord can successfully slay the Black Fiend Old Demon."

Eldrin Chen nodded in agreement. The key to the Black Fiend Demon Ridge lay with the Black Fiend Patriarch. If that fiend could not be eradicated, the low-level Vital Essence Refinement [the foundational stage of cultivation] Demonic Cultivator would likely replenish their ranks within two or three centuries.

After all, the natural lifespan of a Vital Essence Refinement Demonic Cultivator was not long. Even if they were not slain in battle, a new generation would arise within a hundred years.

Not to mention that these Demonic Cultivator [practitioners who cultivate using demonic or unorthodox methods] routinely turn on and slaughter each other; using the blood and bones of their own sect brothers to refine Demonic Treasure [magical artifacts imbued with demonic power] is considered commonplace.

Furthermore, as long as Black Fiend Patriarch is eliminated and the Demonic Spring [a sinister spring that emits demonic energy] at Black Fiend Ridge is destroyed, then Black Fiend Demon Ridge will no longer possess the baleful aura required by Demonic Cultivator, and naturally, it will be unable to nurture any more of them.

Returning to the main topic, as the Treasure Ship [a large vessel used for transport and trade by cultivators] continued its journey, it unknowingly arrived at the Heavenly Ridge Mountain Range.

With the protection of the two Infant Soul True Lord [a title for cultivators who have reached the Infant Soul stage], Eldrin Chen and Exquisite Jiang, they encountered no attacks from demonic beasts along the way.

In truth, the sight of nearly one hundred Fourth-Rank Treasure Ship [powerful magical ships of the fourth rank] soaring through the sky was even more intimidating than a hundred Demon King [powerful demons at the Golden Core Late Stage] stage great demons; ordinary fiends simply dared not approach.

It was only after the Treasure Ship crossed over the Heavenly Ridge Mountain Range and reached the outskirts of Black Fiend Demon Ridge that Eldrin Chen encountered their reception party, led by Verdant Spirit True Lord.

Upon meeting Verdant Spirit True Lord, Eldrin Chen inquired, "What is the situation?"

Verdant Spirit True Lord replied, "We have already surrounded the Demonic Cultivator of Black Fiend Demon Ridge atop the demonic ridge. We were just waiting for your arrival."

Eldrin Chen nodded in understanding. The distance from Vast Sea was even greater, making their group the last to arrive.

Although Black Fiend Demon Ridge was said to span several million Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters], its Demonic Spring was comparable to a Fifth Rank High-Grade Spiritual Vein [a high-quality source of spiritual energy of the fifth rank]. Its actual sphere of influence was essentially confined to the core area within a radius of ten thousand Li-length.

Beyond the area affected by the Demonic Spring [a corrupted spiritual spring that emits demonic energy], the Demonic Fiendish Energy [a malevolent, corrupting spiritual energy] only scattered in minuscule amounts. Therefore, most Demonic Cultivator [cultivators who practice demonic arts] practiced their arts within the area shrouded by this Demonic Fiendish Energy.

Earlier, when the first wave of cultivators from the Six Kingdoms of Ji Continent arrived, they coordinated with Vast Righteousness True Lord and successfully trapped the majority of the Demonic Cultivator within the ten-thousand Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] expanse of the Black Fiend Demon Ridge.

Having reached this conclusion, Eldrin Chen declared, "Then let us depart swiftly and swiftly encircle the Black Fiend Demon Ridge."

A fourth-rank War Treasure Ship [a massive, enchanted vessel used for warfare and transport] could only travel two hundred thousand Li-length in a single day. After flying for more than ten days, they finally arrived at the Black Fiend Demon Ridge.

Upon meeting Vast Righteousness True Lord, Eldrin Chen saw that Violet Consort Yan, Freya Ji, and Ethereal Mistress Ling had all already gathered at this location.

Of course, the Chen Clan still contributed the most to this battle. Apart from Eldrin Chen and his two dao companions, Eternal Profound Chen and Elara Lin were also present. Furthermore, Quentin Qiu participated in the battle in his capacity as a guest elder of the Chen Clan. Official source: audi0-n0vel.c0m. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.

Adding in Vast Righteousness True Lord and his disciples, the number of Human Race True Lord [a high-level cultivator realm] participating in this battle had astonishingly reached twelve.

Naturally, the Chen Clan did not mobilize its entire force. Exquisite Jiang's Innate Primordial Embryo [a powerful, autonomous spiritual avatar] remained stationed on Immortal Apricot Island, ready to defend the various Spirit Mountain [mountains rich in spiritual energy] of the Chen Clan at any moment via the Teleportation Formation [a magical array for instantaneous travel].

With the cultivation base of her Second Primordial Embryo at the Infant Soul Mid Stage, activating the defensive Formation [a magical array or barrier], she could hold out for a considerable time even if the Violet Jade Demon Emperor attacked at full strength, long enough for Eldrin Chen to return and provide support.

As the gathered True Lord convened, Vast Righteousness True Lord smiled and said, "Now that you have arrived, we can finally begin planning the commencement of this battle."

"Mm." Eldrin Chen nodded, then inquired, "How many have arrived?"

Violet Consort Yan had arrived a step earlier and had already tallied the forces. She smiled and replied, "The Six Kingdoms of Ji Continent have sent five hundred thousand cultivators. Our Feast Kingdom and Ling Nation have fewer; combined, we've only brought forty thousand cultivators."

"Calculating it that way," Eldrin mused, "adding in the Human Race cultivators from the Heavenly Ridge Mountain Range, there should be over one million two hundred thousand cultivators assembled."

Eldrin Chen nodded again, a slight sense of reassurance settling within him.

One million two hundred thousand cultivators, and most were seasoned veterans with cultivation at the Vital Essence Refinement Late Stage. This force represented more than half the strength that could be mustered from both Ji Continent and the Vast Sea.

Although Black Fiend Ridge boasted of having millions of Demonic Cultivator, the actual number likely did not exceed two million. Furthermore, the cultivation levels of those Demonic Cultivator were uneven. In a true confrontation, they would certainly be no match for this one million two hundred thousand veteran Human Race cultivators.

"It's not that simple," Eldrin countered his own thought. "The Demonic Cultivator have the Demonic Spring to replenish their forces. The longer this drags on, the greater their advantage becomes. A complete victory is far from certain."

"It seems we must strive for a swift resolution, to breach the Demonic Fiendish Energy [a malevolent, corrupting energy field] as quickly as possible," he concluded silently.

Holding this thought, Eldrin Chen asked aloud, "Have any forces from the neighboring Heavenly Star Continent, or from Tianlu Continent, come to join the battle?"

"Very few." Verdant Spirit True Lord shook his head with a sigh. "The Heavenly Star Continent is caught between the pincers of the Great Roc Ridge and the Great Qian River Demon Emperor territories. They dare not divert troops for a distant campaign."

"The Tianlu Continent [a vast continent in the cultivation world] has fared even worse. The emergence of the Flame Demon Race [a race of demons born from and wielding fire] from within the Flaming Prison Sea of Fire [a vast, perpetually burning sea] has placed immense pressure on the Heavenly Reed Sect [a major cultivation sect]."

"Fortunately, the Ji Clan [a powerful cultivation clan] dispatched several True Lord [a high-ranking cultivator, equivalent to a Nascent Soul cultivator] to aid us. They are holding back the Immortal Crane Demon Emperor [a powerful demonic crane that has attained emperor-level strength] and the Soaring Serpent Demon Emperor [a powerful demonic serpent that has attained emperor-level strength], allowing us to concentrate our forces against the Black Fiend Demon Ridge [a mountain range infested with dark, fiendish demons]."

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen sighed, "If not for the pact I forged with the Violet Jade Demon Emperor [a powerful demon emperor], I doubt I could have mobilized all six hundred thousand cultivators from the Vast Sea [a vast ocean region] to come here." Published by audio-novel.com (official site). All rights reserved.