Chapter 664 : Eternal Farewells and Demonic Rifts

Therefore, for each Demonic Abyss Cataclysm [the great war against the demonic invasion from the Abyssal Rift], even accounting for only a decade spent on travel, rest, and the actual battle, the entire campaign would require at least a full thirty years.

If the Extraterrestrial Demon God [the supreme demonic entities from beyond this realm] were to spare no cost to force open the Demonic Abyss [the great rift connecting to the demonic realms] for several decades, then this war could stretch on for more than one Jiazi-time [a cycle of sixty years].

For Qi Refinement [the first major stage of cultivation, focusing on refining one's vital energy] and Foundation Establishment Cultivator [cultivators who have solidified their foundation for the path ahead], how many sixty-year cycles does a single lifetime hold?

Thus, for the cultivators parting ways here, if they could not advance their cultivation during this great tribulation, this farewell would be a final, eternal separation.

Ethan Chen was reluctant to dwell on this somber topic. After a long silence, he said, "I heard you encountered a great fortune, comprehending a Great Divine Ability [a supreme cultivation technique of immense power], and even obtained a Spiritual Treasure [a sentient artifact of legendary power] by chance."

"Why not join forces with me in this battle and try to slay a Nascent Soul [the stage where a cultivator forms their immortal infant soul] Heavenly Demon together?"

"Oh?" Soren the Heart-Seer's eyes flickered. After a long moment, however, he shook his head with a bitter laugh. "You... even when asking for help, you do it with such unshakeable confidence."

At the peak of Spirit Mountain, Eldrin Chen watched the cultivators continuously boarding the ships with an impassive expression, then picked up a ledger to glance through its contents.

The ledger recorded the military forces and supplies mobilized for this campaign under the banner of the Chen Clan.

For this war, the Chen Clan had mobilized almost its entire strength. They had conscripted one million two hundred thousand cultivators in total, stockpiled over one billion three hundred million Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy], and amassed various supplies—including Spirit Rice [a grain infused with spiritual energy], Spirit Talisman [enchanted paper slips that unleash pre-stored spells], Magical Treasure [enchanted artifacts used by cultivators], and Formation Flags [flags used to set up and power defensive or offensive arrays]—with a total value exceeding another one billion Spirit Stone. This chapter is provided by audio–novel.com. Support the original.

Among these, aside from the Nascent Soul True Lord [a cultivator who has reached the Nascent Soul realm, a major stage of power], there were a full three hundred and seventy-four Golden Core Cultivators [cultivators who have formed a Golden Core, the core of their spiritual power]. Of these three hundred and seventy-three individuals, the Chen Clan's own Golden Core Cultivators numbered one hundred and three.

Unbeknownst to many, it had already been over three hundred years since the Chen Clan ascended to become an Nascent Soul Immortal Clan [a clan powerful enough to have Nascent Soul realm cultivators as its pillars].

The clan had developed swiftly over these years. During the bloody battle against the Purple Jade Demon Emperor [a powerful demonic ruler] in The Vast Sea, the Chen Clan had possessed merely thirty-some Golden Core Cultivators.

Now, after more than two centuries, the number of Golden Core True Persons [an honorific title for a Golden Core realm cultivator] within the Chen Clan had swelled to one hundred and twenty-nine—a several-fold increase.

However, the Chen Clan's rise was relatively recent. Aside from a handful of elders like Ethan Chen, most others had advanced within the last two or three centuries, with the eldest among them being only around five hundred years old.

Their cultivation and resources mostly placed them at the Golden Core, Mid Stage [the middle phase of the Golden Core realm], or they had just recently broken through to the Golden Core Seventh Layer [the seventh layer of the Golden Core realm]. Only a few had reached the eighth layer of Golden Core. They were still likely one or two Jiazi-time [a cycle of sixty years] away from approaching the Nascent Soul Threshold [the barrier to the Nascent Soul realm] of the Demonic Path [the path of demonic cultivation].

After briefly reviewing the ledger, Eldrin Chen turned to Lior Chen beside him and inquired, "What is the situation over at The Vast Sea?"

Lior Chen replied, "They have nearly all boarded the ships. The final batch should be assembled within three days."

Eldrin Chen gave a nod, his gaze shifting to the distant Firmament [the vault of heaven]. There, in the boundless void, over a dozen vessels were flying towards the Azure Lotus Continent.

They were the Treasure Ships [massive enchanted vessels] from Yvonne Nation. After disembarking, Yvonne the Violet Consort sought out the group directly. "For the battle at the Demonic Abyss [a chasm of demonic energy], I'll need to hitch a ride with you all," she said. "I'll be in your debt."

"Between you and me, there is no need for such formalities."

Lyra Jiang said with a smile. Yvonne the Violet Consort did not possess a Fifth Rank War Treasure Boat [a massive, fortress-like vessel designed for large-scale warfare], and thus had no means to launch a campaign spanning hundreds of millions of Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] across the mountains and rivers. She could only travel by hitching a ride on their Treasure Ship [a general term for large, enchanted vessels used for long-distance travel or war].

In fact, it was not just Yvonne the Violet Consort. Zixu the Daoist, Lingxu the Ethereal Immortal, Ancestor Mo, and others had all communicated with Eldrin Chen, intending to board the Chen Clan's Treasure Ship to travel to the End of the Demonic Abyss [a fabled and perilous location at the edge of the demonic realms] for the coming battle.

Including the cultivators from these several branches, the Chen Clan's War Treasure Boat would be loaded with a full two million cultivators, all heading to the Eastern Sea Cultivation World [a vast and powerful cultivation realm centered around the eastern seas] for war.

Fortunately, the Chen Clan had also forged the Golden Rhino Treasure Ship [a powerful, newly constructed treasure ship]. Otherwise, the Crimson Flood Dragon War Junk [a specific, dragon-themed war vessel] alone would not have been able to hold so many people. They would have had to use the Eastern Desolation Immortal Alliance's War Treasure Boat, which certainly would not have been as convenient as using a familiar Treasure Ship.

Eldrin Chen waited for half a month. Once everyone had boarded the Treasure Ship and all the Nascent Soul True Lord [powerful cultivators who have formed their Nascent Soul, the embryonic form of their immortal spirit] had gathered, he finally activated the Crimson Flood Dragon War Junk and set course for the Heaven's Spine Mountains [a legendary mountain range said to be the backbone of the heavens].

They were not setting out alone on this campaign. Besides the few from Eldrin Chen's own faction, over a dozen Nascent Soul powers from the vicinity—including the Celestial Star Sect, the Tianlu Sect, and even the Desolate Continent—were to assemble at the Heaven's Spine Mountains.

Upon arriving at the Heaven's Spine Mountains, Eldrin Chen saw that the mountain peaks were already gathered with over a dozen Fifth Rank War Treasure Boat, most hailing from various Nascent Soul powers.

The reason so many powers were gathering at Virtuous Peak [a specific peak within the Heaven's Spine Mountains] was primarily due to the influence of Magnus the Virtuous.

By now, the Ji Clan had long since departed for the Eastern Sea Cultivation World to oversee the grand strategy. As one of the paramount powerhouses of the Three Veins Ancient Domain [a powerful and ancient cultivation region], Magnus the Virtuous naturally served as the core figure for over a dozen surrounding great continents.

After exchanging greetings with the various True Lord, Eldrin Chen sought out Magnus the Virtuous.

"Your timing is impeccable," Magnus said as Eldrin approached.

Seeing his arrival, Magnus the Virtuous handed Eldrin Chen a sealed missive.

Eldrin Chen opened it, and a look of understanding dawned on his face. The document was a deployment order from the Eastern Desolation Immortal Alliance, urging Magnus the Virtuous to lead his assembled forces to the Eastern Sea Cultivation World with all haste.

Setting the letter down, Eldrin Chen inquired, "Since the army is now fully mustered, it is indeed time to consider our departure."

"Indeed," Magnus affirmed. Your portal to cultivation novels: audio - novel . com.

Magnus the Virtuous gave a solemn nod, pausing in thought before speaking. "The Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon [demonic entities from beyond this realm] are no trivial foe. In the coming battle, stay close to my flank. Do not, under any circumstances, act independently."

"Understood," Eldrin replied, his expression turning grave.

Eldrin Chen nodded once more, a mantle of caution settling upon him.

Approximately half a month later, the fleet of Treasure Ship [enchanted vessels used for long-distance travel by cultivators] made its final resupply at the Heaven's Spine Mountains. There, they drew upon the mountain range's abundant spiritual energy to fully recharge the ships' reserves before setting course for the Eastern Barrens Cultivation World.

A total of eighteen War Treasure Boat [massive enchanted vessels used for warfare and long-distance travel], bearing an incomparably majestic aura, soared towards the Eastern Sea Cultivation World [a vast realm of cultivation bordering the eastern ocean].

A Fifth Rank War Treasure Boat [a top-tier magical vessel of immense power] could traverse a million Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] in a single day. Such a clan-stabilizing heavy artifact possessed peerless might, advancing unhindered on its path. Even when crossing territories of the Demonic Monsters [a collective term for monstrous, demonic beings], it passed directly over them, and not a single Demonic Monsters dared to stand in its way.

After flying for over two years, the group finally crossed the Star Lake Ancient Domain [an ancient, star-reflecting lake region] and arrived at the Eastern Sea Cultivation World.

On this day, the Treasure Ship [a general term for a valuable magical vessel] flew over the Eastern Sea, and a group of True Lord [a high cultivation realm, often equivalent to Golden Core] gathered together, gazing with anxious unease at the boundless ocean in the distance.

This was Thalion Chen's first time in the Eastern Sea Cultivation World, and he was somewhat unaccustomed to the vast emptiness here. He couldn't help but ask, "How much farther until we reach the front of the Demonic Abyss [a chasm or fissure from which demonic energy and beings emerge]?"

Eldrin Chen, having been here once before, shook his head and said, "We are still far off. We have just arrived at the Inshore Cultivation World [the coastal regions of the cultivation world]. The Distant Sea [the deep, far-off reaches of the ocean] is still hundreds of millions of Li-length away."

"And the location of the Demonic Abyss lies at the very edge of the Distant Sea Cultivation World [the cultivation world of the distant seas]. I fear it will take several more years to get there."

"So distant?"

Lila was taken aback, frowning as she said, "The spiritual energy reserves stored on the Crimson Flood Dragon War Junk [a specific type of powerful war vessel] are already running low. If this continues, I fear they won't last much longer."

"In a few days, we will find a place to replenish the spiritual energy," came the reply.

As Eldrin Chen spoke thus, he saw Verdant Jade True Lord [a powerful cultivator lord] approach.

Upon seeing Eldrin Chen, the Verdant Jade True Lord smiled and said, "Esteemed Fellow Daoist [a respectful term for fellow cultivators], Master requests your presence." Published by audio-novel-dot-com. All rights reserved.