Chapter 666 : Fleet of Destiny

Although he held the Green Abyss Sword in his hand, relying solely on a single Pure Yang Immortal Sword meant he was, at best, a minor pawn on the board. To intervene in a clash between Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] experts would be to risk utter annihilation, let alone influence the tide of the war itself.

This sense of powerlessness left Eldrin Chen in heavy silence, yet the strand of Sword Intent [a conceptual sharpness and will focused through the sword] contained within his heart grew ever more keen and piercing.

"We shall do our utmost," he resolved.

Time flowed on, and three months passed in a blink. On this day, the cultivators finished their preparations. Once the Treasure Boat [a large vessel powered by spiritual energy] was fully replenished with spiritual energy, they set course to converge upon the predetermined territory.

When the fleet of eighteen War Treasure Boat [a militarized variant of the Treasure Boat] had reassembled, Magnus the Virtuous gave the order to continue their advance toward the Distant Sea Cultivation World.

The Eastern Sea Cultivation World was vast beyond measure, its domain even more expansive than the Eastern Barrens Cultivation World. The Treasure Ship [synonymous with Treasure Boat] flew onward toward the Distant Sea Cultivation World for over five years before finally nearing the fringes of that distant realm.

"Three million Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] ahead lies the outer periphery of the Demonic Abyss. That is where we shall rendezvous with our Fellow Daoist [a respectful term for fellow cultivators] from the Three Veins Ancient Domain," Magnus the Virtuous announced.

On this day, within the Grand Hall of the flagship, Magnus the Virtuous gathered with the assembled cultivators. He studied a map as he spoke.

The battle for the Demonic Abyss was a matter of grave consequence. Throughout their journey, scarcely any Demonic Monsters dared to bar their path at such a time. Yet, as they drew ever closer to the battlefield, a solemn, weighty atmosphere settled upon them all.

The Treasure Ship pressed forward, soon arriving at the outer edges of the Demonic Abyss. Even from a distance of tens of millions of Li-lengths, they could perceive a scar upon the heavens at the world's horizon—a fissure in the fabric of reality itself. Dive deeper into the Dao at audio-novel[dot]com.

It was a hideous, blackened scar, stretching across the heavens and earth for countless tens of thousands of Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters]. Streams of black Demonic Qi [malevolent spiritual energy] continuously seeped from the fissure, relentlessly corrupting and eroding the wound in the world itself.

And surrounding that celestial scar, one could faintly discern a constellation of scattered Spirit Island [islands rich in spiritual energy], arrayed like stars on a chessboard, encircling the rift in creation.

"What is that?"

Seeing such a sight for the first time, Lila could not help but exclaim in astonishment.

"That is the Cosmic Star Islands."

Tianlu Sect Master began to speak, recounting the tale of these Cosmic Star Islands.

This Cosmic Star Islands is composed of thirty-six thousand Spirit Island. It was cultivated by mobilizing the entire strength of the Purple Realm [a major realm in the cultivation world], a grand undertaking initiated by Jiang the Sovereign Emperor before his ascension to immortality.

Each of these Spirit Island is at least a Fourth Rank Spirit Island, and among them, a full three hundred and sixty-five are Fifth Rank Spirit Island.

Not only that, but Jiang the Sovereign Emperor, seizing the very essence of the sun and moon, joined forces with dozens of Human Race Dao Lord [powerful human cultivators who have comprehended a profound Dao] from the Purple Realm. Together, they channeled the Lunar and Solar Power [the primordial energies of the moon and sun] to descend upon the core of the Cosmic Star Islands, elevating two Ancestral Vein [the most potent and foundational spiritual energy arteries of a realm] there.

Furthermore, they transplanted the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Root [a legendary plant of immense spiritual power] known as the 'Lesser Fusang Tree' and the 'Moon Spirit Divine Tree'. These nurtured two of the Spirit Island to develop Spirit Vein [geological formations that concentrate and emit spiritual energy] of the Sixth Rank Nascent Soul Realm [a high stage of cultivation where one forms a spiritual infant within the body].

And these thirty thousand plus Spirit Island [a landmass imbued with spiritual energy] are merely Formation Eye [a key node that powers a larger magical formation]. They can activate the Zhou Heavenly Stars Grand Formation [a legendary defensive formation of immense power], which is said to be unbreakable except by the Nine Heavens Immortal Demons [a race of supremely powerful celestial demons].

For the Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon [demonic entities originating from beyond this world] to invade the Purple Realm [a major realm of the human cultivators], they must first breach the Formation [the collective defensive magical array] of the Cosmic Star Islands [a vast archipelago of spirit islands arranged like stars]. Otherwise, even if a small number occasionally slip through the gaps into the Purple Realm, they pose little significant threat to the Human Race.

Just as the group was awestruck by the sight before them, a streak of light flew over from the distant starry void. From afar, a voice called out, "Are you the esteemed Fellow Daoist [a respectful term for fellow cultivators] from the Three Veins Ancient Domain [an ancient and powerful human territory]?"

"Indeed, we are,"

Magnus the Virtuous replied calmly.

The newcomer's expression brightened with delight upon hearing this. He smiled and said, "Your timing is perfect. The Sage Lord has been awaiting your arrival."

Hearing this, the various True Lord [a title for cultivators who have reached the Golden Core realm] promptly disembarked from the Treasure Boat [a flying vessel enchanted for travel] and flew towards a magnificent Spirit Island ahead. Within its resplendent Grand Hall, Eldrin Chen beheld Dorian, the Sage Lord, whom he had not seen for many years.

Dorian Ji cast a glance at Eldrin Chen, giving a slight nod of acknowledgment. Then he declared, "This old one must still take up his post at Mars Island [a key defensive island]. Since our forces are nearly assembled, let us proceed with the arrangements."

"We shall obey the Sage Lord's command,"

the assembly responded in unison, their expressions turning solemn and grave.

Dorian Ji swept his sleeve, manifesting a radiant Ethereal Map. "This Zhou Heavenly Stars Grand Formation is composed of over thirty thousand Spirit Islands," he declared. "Among them, the crucial Formation Eyes are three hundred and sixty-five Fifth Rank Spirit Islands."

"These Spirit Islands are further divided into regions: the Three Enclosures, the Twenty-Eight Lunar Mansions, and the Five Luminaries."

As Dorian Ji explained, Eldrin Chen grasped the general structure of the vast Zhou Heavenly Stars Grand Formation.

Within this grand formation, the Three Enclosures were the regions of the Purple Tenuity Enclosure, the Supreme Tenuity Enclosure, and the Celestial Market Enclosure. The Twenty-Eight Lunar Mansions corresponded to the four celestial palaces: the Vermilion Bird [the mythical crimson avian of the south], the White Tiger [the legendary white tiger of the west], the Black Tortoise [the mystical black tortoise-snake hybrid of the north], and the Azure Dragon [the celestial azure dragon of the east].

The Five Luminaries corresponded to the stars of Venus, Jupiter, Mercury, Mars, and Saturn, representing the five elements of Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth.

Each Spirit Island corresponded to a fragment of the Nine Heavens Star Fragment [a celestial ore imbued with stellar essence]. The islands of the Three Enclosures and the Five Luminaries served as key Formation Eyes [the core nodes that power and stabilize a formation], each personally garrisoned by a Nascent Soul Immortal Clan [a powerful clan led by a Nascent Soul realm cultivator] with their main forces. The Sun and Moon Twin Islands were perpetually guarded by a rotation of multiple Dao Lord [a title for a supreme expert who has comprehended a profound Dao]. Published by audio–novel.com. All rights reserved.

Dorian Ji was to be stationed at the crucial Mars Island, a single island that the strength of the Ji Clan alone was sufficient to garrison.

With the Ji Clan redeployed, the forces from the Three Veins Ancient Domain would naturally be unable to shoulder the weighty responsibility of defending the Three Enclosures. Their assignment was likely to be one of the slightly less critical Four Celestial Palaces.

Indeed, this was the case. The core Sixth RankSun and Moon Twin Islands were overseen by forces from the Central Ancestral Domain. The most crucial of the Three Enclosures, the Purple Tenuity Enclosure, was defended by the Star Palace alongside forces from the Seven Stars Ancient Domain and the Star Lake Ancient Domain.

The Long River Sacred Land led the forces of the Long River Ancient Domain in guarding the Supreme Tenuity Enclosure. As for the Three Veins Ancient Domain, their assignment was, as expected, among the Spirit Islands of the Four Celestial Palaces.

As expected, after Dorian Ji finished explaining the situation, he spoke, "Our responsibility from the Three Veins Ancient Domain is the Vermilion Bird Star Palace [the celestial domain governed by the Vermilion Bird constellation]."

"I have already delineated the territories each of you is to guard. Proceed to your posts."

As he spoke, Dorian Ji handed a Jade Slip [a slab of jade used to store information through spiritual sense] to the group.

Eldrin Chen glanced at the Jade Slip, and a trace of gravity settled between his brows.

The Vermilion Bird [a mythical beast, one of the Four Symbols, representing the south and the element of fire] starry expanse contained forty-seven primary stars, corresponding to forty-seven Fifth Rank Spirit Islands [islands imbued with potent spiritual energy, suitable for high-level cultivation]. These were further divided into seven regions: the Well, the Ghost, the Willow, the Star, the Spread, the Wings, and the Chariot.

These were also known as the seven stellar mansions: the Well Mansion Timber Hyena, the Ghost Mansion Metal Goat, the Willow Mansion Earth River Deer, the Star Mansion Sun Horse, the Spread Mansion Moon Deer, the Wings Mansion Fire Snake, and the Chariot Mansion Water Earthworm.

Each of these seven territories contained several Fifth Rank Spirit Islands, and guarding each island required the strength of one or several powerful Immortal Clans [clans whose members pursue immortality through cultivation].

Among them, the Feathered Pavilion would be responsible for the Well Domain. The Celestial Profound Sect Master would take charge of the Ghost Domain. The Half-Step Primordial Spirit [a cultivator on the verge of achieving the Primordial Spirit realm] Xuanxu the Daoist was assigned to the Spread Mansion Moon Deer region, while Maris the Sea Steader would primarily oversee the Wings Mansion Fire Snake Domain.

As for Eldrin Chen and the other Fellow Daoists [a respectful term for cultivators sharing the same path], they were assigned to the Star Domain, also called the Star and Moon Horse Region. A total of seven Fifth Rank Spirit Islands served as its bastions.

The strength of the Chen Clan alone was insufficient to garrison all seven Spirit Islands. Therefore, Dorian Ji simply grouped Magnus the Virtuous, the Tianlu Sect, and the other Fellow Daoists together and assigned them to this region as well.

Within the Star and Moon Horse Region [a vast celestial territory], there were thirty-eight True Lord [powerful cultivators at the Golden Core realm] stationed to guard it. Though this number was somewhat fewer than in other regions, the presence of Magnus the Virtuous and several other combatants with strength rivaling the Nascent Soul Late Stage [the advanced phase of the Nascent Soul realm] rendered its overall power exceptionally formidable.

After Dorian Ji had departed, Magnus the Virtuous once again gathered the assembly and declared, "This old man is tasked with overseeing the broader strategy for this starry domain. Let us now deliberate and decide upon the personnel to garrison the various Spirit Island [islands rich in spiritual energy]." For the best reading experience, visit audio-novel*com.