Chapter 668 : A Fragmented Defense Forged

"Two million, then?"

Eldrin Chen's eyes flickered slightly. By that calculation, a single Fourth Rank Spirit Island would be garrisoned by three Golden Core [the third major stage of cultivation, where one forms a solidified golden core of spiritual power] cultivators and twenty thousand other cultivators. Its defensive capabilities could indeed be considered formidable.

However, this would also disperse their forces, creating the risk of being defeated piecemeal.

With this thought, Eldrin Chen shook his head and spoke plainly: "A purely defensive posture invites eventual defeat. While this arrangement makes each Spirit Island [a floating landmass rich in spiritual energy] seem well-defended,"

"if the demonic horde concentrates its superior forces to attack a single Spirit Island, these islands risk being picked off one by one. By then, our own forces would be scattered, making it difficult to regroup and mount a counter-offensive."

"A valid point," Tianlu Sect Master nodded in agreement, pondering for a moment before asking, "What is your proposed arrangement?"

Eldrin Chen considered briefly, then stated: "Why not station five thousand cultivators and one Golden Core cultivator on each Spirit Island to hold the line? We can then use Treasure Ship [massive enchanted vessels capable of rapid long-distance travel] to mobilize reinforcements and swiftly support any threatened island. This allows us to concentrate our superior strength to annihilate the demonic forces."

Lyra Jiang also nodded in approval. "These Spirit Island are densely clustered. The farthest is no more than a million Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] away. A Treasure Ship could reach it within a single day."

"Then it is settled."

With the strategy confirmed, Eldrin Chen immediately began deploying forces to garrison the various Spirit Island. By the time he had fully organized the defenses, three months had passed. This chapter is part of a larger work available at audio—novel.com.

On this day, Eldrin Chen finally found a moment of respite. He sought out Tianlu Sect Master and stated, "Brother Daoist, Star Sun Island serves as a crucial Formation Eye. I fear the defensive Formation array currently emplaced upon it may prove insufficient to withstand an assault by the Extraterrestrial Demonic Fiend."

"What is your meaning?"

Tianlu Sect Master's mind stirred, and in a flash of insight, he grasped the likely intent behind Eldrin Chen's words.

Sure enough, Eldrin Chen gave a nod and spoke plainly, "I wish to borrow your Earthfire Mysterious Crystal Sword to establish an additional Formation array as a contingency measure."

"This..."

Tianlu Sect Master hesitated. The Earthfire Mysterious Crystal Sword was a Quasi-Pure Yang Supreme Treasure [a near-perfect treasure of the highest Yang purity, immensely powerful], an artifact that would stir the covetous hearts of even Half-Step Primordial Spirit [cultivators who have nearly attained the Primordial Spirit realm] cultivators.

With this treasure in hand, Tianlu Sect Master's combat prowess rivaled that of a Nascent Soul Great Perfection [a cultivator at the absolute peak of the Nascent Soul realm] expert. Without it, his strength would likely regress to that of an ordinary Nascent Soul Late Stage cultivator.

Seeing Tianlu Sect Master's reluctance, Eldrin Chen decisively produced a resplendent Treasure Lotus [a spiritual lotus of immense value, often used in crafting supreme treasures].

"A Quasi-Pure Yang Spiritual Treasure?"

Tianlu Sect Master's heart quaked. He could not suppress a startled exclamation.

Eldrin Chen gave a nod before speaking. "With the might of your Earthfire Mysterious Crystal Sword, Brother, combined with my Dual Polarity Treasure Lotus, we can undoubtedly establish an exceptionally formidable Formation [a structured array that channels energy for defense or attack]."

"At that point, not even a Half-Step Primordial Spirit [a cultivator whose spiritual core has partially transcended to the next major realm] level Heavenly Demon [a powerful entity of chaotic, destructive energy] could hope to breach the Star Sun Island we are tasked to defend."

Witnessing Eldrin Chen produce the Dual Polarity Treasure Lotus, Tianlu Sect Master could not help but draw a sharp, inward breath.

After a moment of contemplation, he nodded in agreement. "Since Brother Eldrin, the Abyss has brought forth such a precious treasure, this old man would be a fool not to recognize your sincerity. This Earthfire Mysterious Crystal Sword shall remain with you to arrange the Formation."

"My thanks."

A faint smile touched Eldrin Chen's lips, and he released a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.

After several months of concerted effort, the group finally succeeded in establishing a complete Formation.

This array was named the Two Extremities Earthfire Sword Formation. Bolstered by the power of a Fifth Rank High Grade Spirit Vein [a high-quality natural conduit of spiritual energy], both the Earthfire Mysterious Crystal Sword and the Dual Polarity Treasure Lotus could unleash their full potential within it.

When powered by a cultivator at the Nascent Soul True Lord [a master who has formed a nascent soul, a spiritual infant within the dantian] realm, this Formation became virtually equivalent to a Half-Step Primordial Spirit cultivator possessing profoundly deep Mana [spiritual energy or life force]. It could continuously deploy two Quasi-Pure Yang Spiritual Treasure [treasures imbued with energy approaching the pure Yang state, extremely potent against Yin and demonic forces] to engage powerful foes, rendering it an exceptionally powerful defense.

Contemplating the formidable capabilities of this Formation, Eldrin Chen felt a measure of reassurance settle within his heart.

After a moment of contemplation, he spoke, "There are still three years until the Demonic Abyss Cataclysm [a periodic, world-shaking invasion by demonic forces]. Since the Formation [a complex array or magical diagram used for defense, attack, or cultivation] has been fully deployed, I should seize this opportunity to cultivate and see if I can master a Divine Ability [a supreme supernatural power or technique]."

"Very well."

Tianlu Sect Master nodded with a slight smile. "I shall also enter seclusion. Any increase in our strength, however slight, improves our chances of survival."

The outbreak of the Demonic Abyss Cataclysm follows a set cycle. Though the Extraterrestrial Demon God [a supreme demonic entity from beyond this world] is immensely powerful, it is sheer folly to believe it can single-handedly conquer a glorious world.

The Purple Realm [this world, named for its dominant spiritual hue] is no minor realm; among the myriad spirit worlds, it ranks as a powerful one. It is not a force the Extraterrestrial Demon God can directly overwhelm.

Only once every Millennium or so, when the grand cycle of the Purple Realm's laws develops a flaw, can the Extraterrestrial Demon God seize the chance to tear open a rift in the heavens. It then projects myself power into this world, corrupting the World's Will with tainted demonic spawn. Find this and other novels at audio-novel . com.

Even if only a small territory is corrupted, it can form a legendary Demonic Cultivator Forbidden Land [a region permanently twisted by demonic energy, hostile to orthodox cultivation], becoming a festering blight upon the world.

Furthermore, once vast swathes of land are occupied by the Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon [a powerful class of demonic beings from beyond], those demonic tribes will continuously perform blood sacrifices of the Human Race, generating Baleful Qi [a malignant, corrupting spiritual energy] to further pollute the heavens and earth of the Purple Realm.

As the corrupted territories expand, the Heaven and Earth Will [the collective consciousness and natural order of the world] of the Purple Realm grows progressively weaker. Once it is weakened to its extreme limit, it can no longer bar the entry of the Extraterrestrial Demon God, allowing the demon god to fully harvest this world.

Several Millennium ago, the Purple Realm was in a state of profound weakness, teetering on the brink of failing to repel the Extraterrestrial Demon God's incursion.

It was only later, when Jiang the Sovereign Emperor [the supreme ruler of the Jiang Empire] vanquished the demons, that over ninety-five percent of the Demonic Cultivator Forbidden Land [lands corrupted and ruled by demonic cultivators] across the world were laid to ruin. This act purified the boundless Baleful Qi [malevolent spiritual energy born from slaughter and resentment] and foul miasma tainting the world, allowing the Heaven and Earth Will [the collective consciousness and destiny of the world itself] of the Purple Realm [a major realm in the cultivation world] to recover for the most part.

Returning to the main point, since the Demonic Abyss Cataclysm [a prophesied, catastrophic eruption of demonic energy from a great abyss] could not erupt for the time being, Eldrin Chen naturally thought to seize this opportunity to cultivate a Great Divine Ability [a supreme and immensely powerful cultivation technique].

Ever since his breakthrough to the Nascent Soul, Mid Stage [the middle stage of the Nascent Soul realm, where one's spiritual infant matures], Eldrin Chen's comprehension of Divine Ability [powerful supernatural techniques] had grown increasingly profound.

Not long before, he had completely unraveled the mysteries of the Triad Divine Thunder [a divine ability that harnesses the power of three types of heavenly thunder]. Augmented by the Five Elements Grand Cycle [a divine ability that creates a perfect cycle of the five elemental forces], this technique's grade had already reached that of a Quasi-Pure Yang Divine Ability [a divine ability approaching the purity and power of the supreme Yang energy].

Once he cultivated it to the Great Perfection Realm [the pinnacle mastery stage of a technique or realm], Eldrin Chen would possess another trump card, its power likely not inferior to the Heavenly Separated Twin Swords Union [a legendary sword technique where two separated blades unite with celestial force].

Now that he had finally gained a few moments of respite, Eldrin Chen began to absorb Five Elements Essence [a refined spiritual essence containing the power of the five elements], aiming to master this ultimate technique before the Demonic Abyss Cataclysm arrived.

Time flowed by in the blink of an eye. In what seemed like a moment, three years had passed. On this day, Eldrin Chen emerged from his seclusion, a faint smile gracing his features.

"Husband, it seems you have succeeded?"

Lyra Jiang had been guarding outside the Seclusion Chamber [a specially prepared chamber for closed-door cultivation]. Seeing Eldrin Chen's expression, she could not help but ask with delight.

"Mm." Eldrin Chen nodded, then said with a smile, "With your Triad Divine Radiance [a divine ability that manifests three types of sacred light] at the Great Perfection Realm, combined with my Triad Divine Thunder, even a Nascent Soul Great Perfection [the pinnacle stage of the Nascent Soul realm] Demonic Cultivator [a cultivator who follows a demonic path] would suffer greatly from a single moment of carelessness."

In these years, Eldrin Chen was busy with external affairs, while Lyra Jiang devoted herself wholeheartedly to secluded cultivation. Her Triad Divine Radiance actually reached the Great Perfection Realm one step faster than Eldrin Chen's own techniques.

Thinking of this, Eldrin Chen smiled faintly and said, "With our combat power increased by another third from this seclusion, our chances of surviving the Demonic Tribulation have grown slightly greater."

"BOOM—"

Just as they were conversing, a deafening roar suddenly erupted from the distant horizon.

Everyone's expressions changed drastically. They soared into the high sky and saw, at the horizon millions of Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] away, that hideous celestial scar being torn open bit by bit.

Magnus the Virtuous ascended into the heavens. After witnessing this scene, he drew a deep breath.

"The great calamity... has arrived!" This chapter is part of a larger work available at https://audio-novel.com.