Chapter 665 : A Fleet's Respite on Spirit Isles

When Eldrin Chen and the others boarded the Magnificent Treasure Ship, they found the various True Lord [a title for high-level cultivators] gathering one after another.

Seeing this, he understood in his heart that this summons from Magnus the Virtuous was likely to discuss matters of great importance.

Sure enough, once all thirty-eight True Lord had assembled, Magnus the Virtuous spoke: "Esteemed colleagues, after more than a year of this long journey, the spiritual energy reserves within our Treasure Ship [a large vessel powered by cultivation arts] are running low. It is time we made port for rest and resupply."

Among those present, several were veteran True Lord who had experienced one or two prior Demonic Abyss Cataclysms [great calamities involving demonic incursions].

For instance, the Tianlu Sect Master nodded and said, "Indeed it is. But where shall we go to replenish our stores this time?"

"By convention, every Fifth Rank Spirit Mountain [a mountain peak imbued with potent natural energy] within the Eastern Sea Cultivation World is obligated to provide us with spiritual energy,"

Magnus the Virtuous stated, then added, "However, we have eighteen War Treasure Boats [battle-ready enchanted vessels]. A single Fifth Rank Spirit Vein [a concentrated flow of spiritual energy within the earth] could never hope to fully recharge the Essence Gathering Formations [magical arrays that concentrate ambient energy] of all our Treasure Ships."

"Therefore, I plan to divide you among three nearby Spirit Islands [islands rich in spiritual energy] for recuperation. We shall regroup and depart three months hence."

As he spoke, Magnus the Virtuous waved his hand, scattering a shower of spiritual light that materialized into a map spanning millions of Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] around them.

Eldrin Chen glanced at it and noted that among these three Fifth Rank Spirit Islands, one was Nine Rivers Island, and it happened to be the closest to their current position. Join our community of readers at audio–novel.com.

Thus, with a faint smile, he spoke, "The lord of Nine Rivers Island is a dear friend of mine. This time, our Chen Clan shall rest and recuperate at Nine Rivers Island."

"Very well."

Hearing his words, the others naturally had no objections.

Although over a dozen Nascent Soul Immortal Clan were present, the Chen Clan lineage boasted seven True Lord [powerful cultivators at the Golden Core realm], their strength second only to Magnus the Virtuous and surpassing even the Tianlu Sect by a margin. Their voice carried weight far beyond that of an ordinary Nascent Soul Immortal Clan.

Magnus the Virtuous also nodded, stating, "Then it is settled. Let us rest and regroup in three months' time."

The eighteen Treasure Ship [massive enchanted vessels] scattered to the winds. Eldrin Chen and his companions set course for Nine Rivers Island. The Treasure Ship traversed a million Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] each day, arriving at the shores of Nine Rivers Island after a mere three days.

No sooner had they arrived than Nine Rivers Daoist [a powerful cultivator and lord of Nine Rivers Island] flew out from the Spirit Island [an island rich in spiritual energy] to greet them. "Fellow Daoists [a respectful term cultivators use for each other] from the Eastern Wilderness, you have journeyed far. Your efforts are appreciated."

"Brother Nine Rivers, it has been many years. I trust you have been well."

Emerging from the Treasure Ship, Eldrin Chen smiled and clasped his hands in a respectful salute towards the Nine Rivers Daoist.

"So it is Brother Eldrin, the Abyss!" The Nine Rivers Daoist's face lit up with pleasant surprise, tinged with a hint of wistfulness. "A mere few centuries have passed, yet your cultivation has already surpassed this old man's. It truly puts me to shame."

"Fellow Daoist [a respectful term for a cultivator on the same path], there is no need for discouragement. Had your physical body not been destroyed in that battle, you might well have already broken through to the Nascent Soul, Mid Stage [the middle stage of the Nascent Soul realm, where the cultivator's soul essence takes a more solidified form]."

Eldrin Chen said this in conversation with Nine Rivers True Person [a cultivator known as the Nine Rivers True Person], recalling the battle in the Boulder Sea Region over three hundred years prior. In that conflict, Nine Rivers True Person had been grievously wounded by a Divine Ability [a supreme supernatural technique] from the Blood God Lineage [a demonic sect that cultivates blood-based arts] and was forced to abandon his physical form. He later entered a Nirvana Pool [a mystical pool with the power to regenerate a cultivator's body] to reconstruct his Dao Body [a body perfectly attuned to the cultivator's chosen Dao path].

Now, after more than three centuries, Nine Rivers True Person had only recently fully restored his physical body, a delay that had cost him a significant amount of cultivation time.

"Fellow Daoist, there is no need to console me. With my foundation as a Mortal Dao Nascent Soul [a Nascent Soul cultivator who ascended via the path of mortal cultivation, typically considered to have a weaker foundation than those who used rare treasures]..."

"Ah, let us speak no more of it."

Nine Rivers True Person sighed, then composed himself and said, "I have prepared a banquet on the island today to welcome you and wash away the dust of your journey. I hope you will not decline."

The group disembarked onto Nine Rivers Island, where Nine Rivers True Person personally accompanied them. With several True Lord [a title for a cultivator who has reached the Nascent Soul realm] gathered together, it could indeed be considered a notable occasion.

During the feast, however, Eldrin Chen's thoughts were preoccupied with the matter of the Demonic Abyss Cataclysm [a great calamity involving the eruption of demonic energy from an abyssal rift]. Seizing an opportunity, he said, "As newcomers, we are not yet clear on the situation. Fellow Daoist, as an elder of the Eastern Sea Immortal Alliance [a major coalition of righteous sects and clans in the Eastern Sea region], you must have some information regarding this cataclysm."

"We hope Fellow Daoist can share some details with us, so that we may be better prepared."

Upon hearing this, a look of solemnity settled over Nine Rivers True Person's features.

After a moment of contemplation, his expression grew tense as he spoke, "This battle is fraught with peril. I implore you, Brother, to take utmost care and proceed with caution."

"If the situation truly proves insurmountable, you must also have a plan for retreat."

As Nine Rivers the Daoist [a powerful cultivator] recounted the tale, a look of solemn gravity settled upon Eldrin Chen's features.

During the Demonic Abyss Cataclysm [a great war against demonic forces] that occurred over a Millennium [one thousand years] ago, the Human Race suffered the fall of several Nascent Soul Dao Lord [powerful cultivators at the Nascent Soul stage who have comprehended profound Dao principles], and the number of cultivators below the Nascent Soul [a high cultivation realm where one forms an infant soul] realm who perished was beyond count.

Fortunately, in the Millennium since, Dorian Ji and Xuan Yue the Celestial Alchemist within the Eastern Wastelands successively broke through to the Primordial Spirit Realm [a realm beyond Nascent Soul, where one's spiritual essence becomes primordial], and new Nascent Soul Dao Lord also emerged in places like the Central Ancestral Domain, thus filling the void left from that era.

However, among the Nascent Soul Dao Lord who fell a Millennium ago, Jiang the Demon-Slayer was a titanic figure at the Primordial Spirit, Late Stage, whose prowess could not be matched by one or two newly ascended Primordial Spirit. Therefore, the pressure facing the Human Race in this coming conflict was even greater than it had been seven Millennium prior. Original English translation available at https://audio-novel.com.

The Eastern Wastelands were in a somewhat better position, having recovered much of their strength over the Millennium. Yet, the Eastern Sea Cultivation World had suffered crippling losses a Millennium ago, with too many of the Human Race's Heaven's Chosen [exceptionally gifted cultivators favored by destiny] perishing.

Now, even after a Millennium of recuperation, the Eastern Sea Cultivation World possessed fewer than a thousand Nascent Soul True Lord [a title for powerful Nascent Soul stage cultivators]. This strength amounted to less than one-third of that held by the Eastern Barrens Cultivation World.

According to the thinking among some high-ranking Nascent Soul Dao Lord within the Purple Realm [a major cultivation realm or domain], if necessary, they could even consider abandoning the Eastern Sea Cultivation World to avoid incurring even greater losses in this war.

After Nine Rivers the Daoist finished speaking, a complex mix of emotions stirred within Eldrin Chen's heart.

To be fair, if they abandoned the Eastern Sea Cultivation World [the vast, spirit-rich maritime realm east of the continent], the Chen Clan could preserve its strength in this coming conflict.

However, once the Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon [demonic entities from beyond this world] gained a foothold in the Purple Realm [a higher-dimensional plane of existence] and secured the resources and supplies of the Eastern Sea Cultivation World, the entire Eastern Wastelands [the vast, spirit-poor eastern frontier] would be the next to face the Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon directly within a Millennium.

The Three Veins Ancient Domain [an ancient, spirit vein-rich territory] lies on the periphery of the Eastern Wastelands, separated from the Eastern Sea Cultivation World only by the Star Lake Ancient Domain [a domain famed for its star-reflecting lakes]. By that time, the Chen Clan would also be plunged into a war lasting over a Millennium.

A Righteous-Demonic Great War [a cataclysmic war between righteous cultivators and demonic forces] is like a grinder of flesh and blood. In a conflict spanning several Millennium, a great number of True Lord [powerful cultivators at the Golden Core realm] would inevitably fall. When that time came, could Eldrin Chen protect those close to him?

Could it even trigger a total collapse, causing the Eastern Domain Great Wilderness Cultivation World [the cultivation world of the eastern wilderness] to also fall completely, allowing the Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon to once again advance to the gates of the Central Ancestral Domain [the sacred, ancestral heartland of the human cultivation world]?

Eldrin Chen fell silent within his heart. He leaned more towards repelling the enemy beyond the borders of the Eastern Barrens Cultivation World [another name for the Eastern Wastelands cultivation world]. Only then could the Eastern Barrens Cultivation World gain sufficient time to recuperate and rebuild, and the Chen Clan have enough opportunity to grow.

Seeing the expression on Eldrin Chen's face, Nine Rivers the Daoist understood his thoughts. After a moment of contemplation, he said, "Hear my counsel, worthy brother. The tide of this war is not something you or I can steer. We must simply do our utmost."

"Thank you for the reminder, Brother. Eldrin understands."

Eldrin Chen pondered silently for a moment and could not help but sigh.

A war of this magnitude is a contest between the entire Purple Realm and the Extraterrestrial Demon God [a supreme rank among the Extraterrestrial Demons], not something an ordinary cultivator can intervene in.

Even the Pure Yang Dao Lord [a supreme cultivator of the purest Yang energy], whose name shakes the heavens, and the Demon Progenitor himself are but mere pieces on the board. They can only influence the tide of battle to a certain degree, unable to decisively determine the ultimate victory or defeat for either side. Official source: audio-novel*com. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.