Chapter 596 : The Grand Formation's Forge

"Since everyone has assembled, we should prepare to act."

Vast Righteousness True Lord [a title for a powerful and righteous cultivator] spoke calmly, then turned to the Mortal Path [a specific cultivation method] cultivators and asked, "How is the refinement of your Formation Flag [a flag used as a component in setting up a formation] progressing?"

"I have over seven thousand flags prepared, a very sufficient number."

Eldrin Chen replied. The Formation Flag mentioned by Vast Righteousness True Lord were intended for setting up a Myriad Immortals Demon-Subduing Grand Formation [a grand formation designed to subdue demons by harnessing the power of many cultivators].

This Myriad Immortals Demon-Subduing Grand Formation originated from the Eastern Sea Cultivation World [a major cultivation region]. It is said to be one of the signature Formation [a structured arrangement of energy and objects to produce specific effects] used by the Human Race [the collective of human cultivators] to combat demonic beings.

This formation could gather the power of countless cultivators, channeling their spiritual energy into a single, devastatingly potent force.

To deploy the Myriad Immortals Demon-Subduing Grand Formation required ten thousand Second Rank [a specific grade of power] Formation Flag. Each Second Rank flag required the combined effort of one Foundation Establishment [the second major stage of cultivation] cultivator and one hundred Vital Essence Refinement [the first major stage of cultivation] cultivators to activate.

If activated by ten thousand Foundation Establishment cultivators and one million Vital Essence Refinement cultivators, it could significantly suppress the protective miasma of the Demonic Fiendish Energy Ridge [a demonic mountain range], allowing the high-ranking cultivators to focus their efforts on breaching the ridge itself.

Hearing that Eldrin Chen had brought over seven thousand flags, the others nodded in approval. The representatives from the major Golden Core Immortal Clan [powerful clans whose patriarchs have reached the Golden Core realm] of the Six Kingdoms of Ji Continent [a continent divided into six kingdoms] promptly replied with deference, "We have also brought a sufficient number of Formation Flag."

After tallying their resources, they discovered they had brought over fourteen thousand Formation Flag, more than enough to deploy the Myriad Immortals Demon-Subduing Grand Formation. Continue your cultivation journey at audio-novel . com.

Seeing that the Formation Flag [a flag used as a core component to set up a formation] were sufficient, Vast Righteousness True Lord spoke again: "To deploy the Myriad Immortals Demon-Subduing Grand Formation [a grand formation designed to suppress and vanquish demonic forces], we also need a Fifth Rank Formation Master [a master of the fifth rank in the art of formations] to preside over the Formation [a structured arrangement of energy and objects to create specific effects]. Is there a suitable candidate among you?"

The various True Lord [a title for a cultivator who has reached the True Lord realm] exchanged glances. Finally, Eternal Profound Chen stepped forward and said, "Leave this Formation to this old man. You all focus on dealing with the Black Fiend Demon Ridge [a mountain ridge infested with dark, fiendish demons]."

"Very well."

Eldrin Chen nodded. Although his and Exquisite Jiang's mastery of Formation was even higher, for the two of them to personally preside over the Formation would be an excessive use of their talents.

Having decided to act, the group wasted no time. After a mere three days of rest and preparation, they launched their assault on the Black Fiend Demon Ridge.

A million cultivators gathered as one, channeling their combined power to activate the Myriad Immortals Demon-Subduing Grand Formation. In that moment, countless dazzling rays of five-colored light converged into a single, overwhelming force, clashing violently against the protective barrier of fiendish energy surrounding the Black Fiend Demon Ridge.

Under the immense pressure of this power, the sinister glow emanating from the Black Fiend Demon Ridge visibly dimmed, the entire ridge seeming to tremble on the verge of collapse.

At that very instant, a pitch-black Demonic Banner [a banner imbued with demonic power] unfurled, piercing through the void. It anchored vast quantities of Demonic Fiendish Energy [a malevolent, corrupting energy associated with demons and fiends], forcefully holding back the divine might of the Myriad Immortals Demon-Subduing Grand Formation.

"It's the Black Fiend Demonic Banner [the specific demonic banner associated with the Black Fiend lineage]," Vast Righteousness True Lord muttered, his brow furrowed. His expression turned grave as he commanded, "Deploy the Treasure Ship [a large, fortified vessel used for transport and combat by cultivators]!"

That Black Fiend Demonic Banner was a Superior Grade Demonic Treasure [a top-tier enchanted artifact of demonic origin]. Using such an object as a Formation Artifact [a treasure specifically designed to anchor and power a defensive or offensive array] unleashed a truly formidable power. Even a True Lord [a title for a cultivator at the Infant Soul Realm] who had reached the Great Perfection of Infant Soul [the pinnacle stage of the Infant Soul Realm] would find it exceedingly difficult to breach its defenses.

Fortunately, in this battle, the allied forces were fighting with their full might. The power unleashed by the Myriad Immortals Demon-Subduing Grand Formation [a grand defensive array renowned for its power against demonic forces] was not one whit inferior to a Fifth Rank High-Grade Formation [a powerful defensive or offensive magical array]. Thus, they stood utterly unafraid of the Demonic Spring [a location saturated with demonic energy] that was being reinforced by the Black Fiend Demonic Banner.

The only concern was the finite nature of the cultivators' spiritual power. Although they had stockpiled vast quantities of Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy] and other resources, it could not compare to the seemingly endless stream of baleful energy [a corrupt and malevolent form of spiritual energy] emanating from the Demonic Spring.

The only solution was to apply even greater force, to shatter the protective miasma [a poisonous, energy-saturated fog] surrounding the Black Fiend Demon Ridge [a mountain range stronghold of demonic cultivators] as swiftly as possible. Only by doing so could they minimize their own losses.

Thus, nearly two hundred fourth-rank War Treasure Ship [massive, magically fortified vessels designed for warfare] advanced. The spiritual energy stored within these Treasure Ship [a general term for magically enhanced ships] began to converge rapidly, and intricate arrays of magical runes flared to life across their decks.

While War Treasure Ship were cumbersome and posed little direct threat to agile Golden Core Cultivator [cultivators who have condensed their spiritual power into a Golden Core], the Formation mounted upon these Treasure Ship were incredibly potent.

Among these two hundred War Treasure Ship, even the weakest could unleash a strike comparable to the full-force attack of a Golden Core Late Stage [a cultivator in the advanced phase of the Golden Core Realm] expert. The most powerful among them, the Fourth Rank Superior Grade War Treasure Ship [the highest quality of fourth-rank magical vessels], could deliver a blow possessing seventy percent of the power of an Infant Soul True Lord [a cultivator who has nurtured their Golden Core into an Infant Soul].

When these two hundred War Treasure Ship unleashed their full might in a coordinated volley, the barrage of Divine Ability [powerful supernatural techniques mastered by high-level cultivators] they released was fearsome enough to give even an Infant Soul Late Stage [a cultivator in the advanced phase of the Infant Soul Realm] expert pause.

After three successive, synchronized barrages from the Treasure Ship' attack Formation, their stored spiritual energy was more than half depleted. Finally, the protective miasma shrouding the Black Fiend Demon Ridge began to waver and tremble, on the verge of collapse.

Yet, the Demonic Fiendish Energy Ridge [a name for the Black Fiend Demon Ridge emphasizing its corrupted energy] truly lived up to its reputation as a Forbidden Land [a perilous, energy-saturated region often controlled by powerful beings] of the Demonic Cultivator [practitioners who use corrupt and often violent methods to cultivate power]. Despite such a sustained assault, its defenses stubbornly refused to fully give way.

Yet, Eldrin Chen's brow twitched slightly. He then spoke, "It is not enough. Use Spirit Stones [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy] to power the Formation [a structured array for channeling energy] once more."

"This..."

The expressions of the assembled cultivators shifted subtly. Once a Fourth-Rank War Treasure Ship [a massive, magically fortified vessel designed for warfare] exhausts its ambient spiritual energy, a single full-powered activation requires one hundred thousand Spirit Stones. With nearly two hundred of these War Treasure Ships before them, a single coordinated volley would consume twenty to thirty million Spirit Stones.

However, seeing Eldrin Chen's resolute determination, none dared to contradict him. They could only continue to channel energy and unleash attacks from their Treasure Ships.

Six more successive volleys were unleashed from the Treasure Ships, consuming close to two hundred million Spirit Stones in total. The faces of the cultivators paled. Such relentless expenditure in such a short span had already depleted over half of the Spirit Stones they had stockpiled for the war.

Yet, under this frenzied assault, the miasmic fog grew increasingly thin and tenuous, pressed to the brink of collapse by the Myriad Immortals Demon-Subduing Grand Formation [a legendary formation designed to suppress and purify demonic forces].

Clearly, the Demonic Fiendish Energy [a malevolent, corrupting energy emanating from demonic sources] within the Demonic Spring [a fount of concentrated demonic energy] had also been severely depleted and could not recover its potency in the short term. The story continues at audio–novel.com.

Seeing this, Vast Righteousness True Lord declared in a resonant voice, "The Demonic Fiendish Energy within the Demonic Spring is temporarily spent. Let us strike now!"

As his words fell, he activated an ancient scroll that unfurled for three thousand Zhang-lengths [one Zhang-length equals three point three three meters]. It radiated an boundless aura of Vast Righteousness [an immense, purifying energy aligned with cosmic order and virtue] to suppress the demonic forces below.

This treasure was named the Vast Righteousness Ancient Scroll [an ancient artifact imbued with the power of cosmic virtue], one of the three Lifebound Spiritual Treasures [a magical artifact intimately connected to its owner's life force and cultivation] of Vast Righteousness True Lord, and its grade had already reached the Fifth Rank High-Grade [a high tier within the fifth rank of magical treasure classification].

Moreover, this treasure was supremely effective at countering the Demonic Fiendish Energy [a malevolent, corrupting energy cultivated by demonic practitioners], momentarily suppressing the Black Fiend Demonic Banner [a powerful demonic banner artifact] and causing it to tremble violently.

"You little whelps! If you don't exert yourselves now, are you just going to wait for them to breach the Formation [a defensive or offensive energy array] and slaughter you all?"

At that moment, Black Fiend Patriarch could no longer remain idle. He channeled the power of the Demonic Path Formation to resist Vast Righteousness True Lord while simultaneously calling upon his subordinate Demonic Cultivator [practitioners who follow demonic cultivation arts].

Seeing the situation turn dire, those Demonic Cultivator had no choice but to continuously expend their own spiritual power, substituting for the Demonic Spring [a spring or source of demonic energy] to fuel the Formation, hoping to hold back the Myriad Immortals Demon-Subduing Grand Formation [a grand formation designed to suppress demons].

As the Demonic Fiendish Energy began to stabilize its footing under the resistance of these Demonic Cultivator, Eldrin Chen and his allies naturally could not stand idly by.

Thus, the twelve True Lord [a high cultivation realm] unleashed a relentless barrage of Spiritual Treasure [powerful enchanted artifacts] and Divine Ability [supernatural techniques mastered through cultivation], pounding the Demonic Fiendish Energy until it trembled violently once more.

"It's still not enough."

Seeing the battle fall into a stalemate, a grave expression settled on Eldrin Chen's face. If this dragged on, allowing the Demonic Spring to recover, the battle would surely descend into a grueling struggle.

With this thought, he raised his voice in a commanding shout, "Do not hold back, fellow cultivators! Unleash whatever hidden techniques you possess!"

As his words echoed, the Chen Clan True Lord led by example. One after another, Fifth Rank Spirit Talisman [powerful inscribed talismans of the fifth rank] were hurled relentlessly at the Black Fiend Demon Ridge [the demonic stronghold], their wielders disregarding the immense cost.

This amounted to a full seventeen Fifth Rank Spirit Talisman [powerful enchanted scrolls of the fifth rank], among which several were of a grade as high as Fifth Rank Mid-Grade [the middle tier of the fifth rank].

Seven of these Fifth Rank Mid-Grade spirit talismans were crafted from the hide of the Greenjade Demon Emperor and inscribed with Eldrin Chen's Innate Divine Ability [a powerful technique one is born with], the Water-Fire Divine Thunder [a devastating thunder technique born from the clash of opposing water and fire energies]. Their power had already brushed against the threshold of the Infant Soul Late Stage [the advanced phase of the Infant Soul cultivation realm].

It could be said that regardless of victory or defeat in this battle, the treasured reserves of spirit talismans hoarded by the Chen Clan would be nearly depleted. Original English translation available at audio‑novel.com.