Chapter 675 : The Unbreakable Battle Will

Eldrin Chen shook his head and said, "I have observed that since the fall of the Black Tortoise Star Palace, their morale has utterly collapsed. Troops in such a state, if forced into battle, would surely suffer a catastrophic rout at the first sign of adversity."

"Only a string of decisive victories can help them reclaim their fighting spirit. You must understand that the presence or absence of the will to fight has a profound impact on the outcome of any conflict."

Lyra Jiang nodded, finally grasping Eldrin Chen's reasoning.

For those devoid of fighting spirit, once a battle turns bitter, self-preservation becomes their sole concern. Each would flee for their life first, who would remember the greater cause of the Human Race [the collective of humanity in this cultivation world] when a rout cascades like a collapsing mountain?

Even if a few fought on for the sake of the Human Race, they would likely meet only a heroic, yet futile, end.

As for those who flee, in the chaos of a rout, flight often hastens death's arrival, and few would manage to escape with their lives.

Therefore, only by concentrating superior force to defeat the foe, by securing victory after victory, can one carry forward with an unstoppable, soaring battle intent to overcome a powerful enemy.

Considering this, Lyra Jiang voiced her concern, "Aren't you afraid of encountering hidden demonic Clan Lord [a powerful leader of a demonic clan or faction] forces?"

"If we truly encounter demonic Clan Lord forces..."

Eldrin Chen drew a deep breath, his gaze turning icy and resolute. "Then even if it means expending the power of Senior Qingyuan, we will crush them in one fell swoop." Published by AUDIO-NOVEL.COM. All rights reserved.

"That seems to be the only way."

Lyra Jiang let out a sigh, understanding in her heart that this was indeed the only choice.

However, the Green Abyss Sword was a Pure Yang Spiritual Treasure [a supreme-grade magical treasure imbued with the purest Yang energy] renowned for shaking the heavens and earth. Once unleashed at full power, it was potent enough to slay demons and vanquish fiends.

Unfortunately, the power accumulated within the sword was only sufficient for three full-force strikes. Once its might was depleted, it would require many years to recover. Therefore, Eldrin Chen dared not wield it lightly except in moments of absolute necessity.

Suppressing her thoughts, Lyra Jiang spoke again, "Why not use the Star-Gazing Tower [a mystical tower used for celestial divination and fate-reading] to perform a divination? Let us gauge the fortune of this impending battle."

"Very well."

Eldrin Chen nodded in agreement, also feeling it prudent to employ the Star-Gazing Tower for a prediction.

The two summoned the Star-Gazing Tower. Eldrin Chen seated himself upon the Stellar Enlightenment Platform [a platform that enhances connection to celestial energies] and activated the Astral Computator of the Great Deduction [a complex astrological instrument for fate calculation] using the Great Divine Ability [a supreme mystical technique] known as the 'Great Derivation Heaven Art' [the Art of Heavenly Great Deduction].

Behold, upon the star chart, nine resplendent stellar bodies spiraled upwards, intertwining with the Northern Dipper Seven Stars [the seven stars of the Big Dipper constellation, significant in celestial divination] in the Firmament [the vault of heaven]. Countless profound and mysterious astral patterns continuously shifted and took form.

In that very instant, Eldrin Chen glimpsed a wondrous vision. He saw a translucent, crystalline 'Nine Heavens Treasure Mirror' [a legendary mirror of immense power] locked in a standoff with a deep, obsidian-black Jade Slip [a jade tablet used for recording information or techniques].

"You little thing, you dare interfere?"

A sudden, eerie cackle echoed. The deep black Jade Slip shot sideways with overwhelming force, aiming to annihilate Eldrin Chen.

At that very moment, another voice rang out, "You dare be distracted while facing me?"

"BOOM—"

Instantly, the Treasure Mirror erupted with a crystalline radiance, clashing spectacularly against the Jade Slip. The impact hurled Eldrin Chen free from the illusionary realm.

In that final instant, Eldrin Chen glimpsed a sliver of profound mystery within the Heavenly Secrets. He saw a brilliant star in the eastern sky dimming, teetering on the brink of falling.

"Husband!"

Lyra Jiang's face paled. She rushed to support Eldrin Chen, her expression etched with deep concern.

Eldrin Chen's pupils contracted sharply as he snapped back to reality, a lingering trace of fear still shadowing his features.

Seeing his expression, Lyra Jiang felt an inexplicable tremor in her heart. She couldn't help but ask, "What did you see? Does this battle hold some great peril?"

"No."

Eldrin Chen shook his head, unable to suppress a deep intake of breath, and recounted everything he had seen and heard to Lyra Jiang.

A tremor ran through Lyra Jiang's heart before she spoke. "It was my oversight. How could a battle of such magnitude not involve clashes within the Heavenly Secrets [the art of divining fate and celestial patterns]?"

"That Treasure Mirror must be the Heaven-Gazing Mirror. It is locked in a stalemate with the Heavenly Secrets supreme treasure of the Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon [demonic beings from beyond this world], completely scrambling the Heavenly Secrets."

Eldrin Chen nodded, a lingering fear in his voice. "Had it not been for the Heaven-Gazing Mirror's protection earlier, I fear even if I had returned alive, I would have suffered grievous wounds."

The two of them took a moment to steady their nerves from the shock. Eldrin Chen spoke again, "When that Demonic Path [the collective forces of demonic cultivators] Heavenly Secrets supreme treasure acted against me, it inadvertently leaked a sliver of Heavenly Secrets." This chapter is provided by @udio-novel.com. Support the original.

"Observing the shifts in the celestial constellations, I saw the eastern Azure Dragon [a celestial beast representing the east] dim and flicker, its light fading. Its fall cannot be far off."

"The eastern Azure Dragon... could it be the Azure Dragon Star Palace Archipelago?" Lyra Jiang's expression changed drastically. She stood up swiftly. "We must warn them immediately, so they can prepare defenses."

"That seems to be the only course," Eldrin Chen agreed, shaking his head before his tone turned resolute. "Since the Azure Dragon Star Palace faces such dire peril, the pressure on our own Vermilion Bird Star Palace [a celestial palace representing the south] must be somewhat lighter."

"Our most urgent task is to first pacify the powerful enemies within the Vermilion Bird Star Palace. Once we consolidate our forces there, we can then make further plans."

Eldrin Chen rested for merely a single day. At dawn the very next morning, he assembled the group and set off towards the region of the Spread Mansion Moon Deer [a powerful celestial formation or divine beast].

Several days later, in a place not far from the Spread Mansion Moon Deer and the Star Constellation Spirit Island, over a dozen Fifth Rank Treasure Boat [powerful enchanted vessels] converged. Their presence was concealed by a cloud-formation Magical Treasure [an artifact that manipulates weather and visibility].

The gathered Nascent Soul True Lord [powerful cultivators at the Nascent Soul stage] all wore grave expressions as they stared into the void ahead, seemingly awaiting a signal.

Soon, a cultivator flew over and announced from a distance, "The great battle has commenced. The forces are now locked in a fierce and protracted struggle."

Upon hearing this, everyone's hearts stirred, and their gazes instinctively turned towards Eldrin Chen.

Long before mobilizing their forces, they had made arrangements with Nine Rivers Daoist and other Fellow Daoist [a respectful term for fellow cultivators]. The plan was for the forces in the Spread Mansion Moon Deer region to launch a preemptive strike, pinning down the main demonic army. Then, Eldrin Chen and his contingent would strike from the rear, crushing the demons in a pincer movement.

Now that Nine Rivers Daoist had acted according to plan, it was their turn to execute the flanking assault.

Sensing the collective resolve, Eldrin Chen drew his longsword. With unwavering determination, he declared, "Honored Fellow Daoist, remember: when the nest is overturned, no egg remains whole. Let us fight with all our might, to seize a sliver of hope for our Human Race."

"Slay them! Slay them all!"

As his words faded, Eldrin Chen took the lead. He summoned the Heavenly Separated Twin Swords [a legendary pair of divine blades] and surged forward to meet the enemy.

In that instant, several dozen True Lord [powerful cultivators at the True Lord realm] surged forth simultaneously, and one after another, Treasure Ship [massive enchanted warships] thundered out to join the fray.

Tens of thousands of Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] away, the Human Race allied forces in the Spread Mansion Moon Deer [the 'Spread Mansion Moon Deer' celestial region] sector were locked in a bloody battle against the Demonic Monsters [demonic hordes]. Twenty Human Race Treasure Ship clashed with the Demonic Monsters, the situation deadlocked in a fierce stalemate.

As Eldrin Chen had surmised, the Demonic Monsters here were indeed a feint, a mere show of force. They possessed little more than a dozen Treasure Ship, and their combined Nascent Soul [cultivators who have formed a Nascent Soul, a powerful spiritual infant] demonic cultivators numbered only around twenty.

The Spread Mansion Moon Deer sector was garrisoned by Xuanxu the Daoist, a Half-Step Primordial Spirit [a cultivator on the cusp of achieving a Primordial Spirit, the highest spiritual form] powerhouse, making the Human Race forces inherently far stronger than these demons. This was not to mention the reinforcements from Star Sun Island led by Eldrin Chen and others.

Now, caught in a sudden pincer attack from front and rear, the demonic army began to crumble. Within the brief span of half a Shichen-time [one Shichen-time equals two hours], several Nascent Soul demons had already fallen in battle, sending the horde into a panicked rout.

The pursuit lasted a full day and night. The allies harried the fleeing Nascent Soul demons, encircling and slaying the majority of them, finally lifting the siege of the Spread Mansion Moon Deer Stellar Formation Node [the 'Spread Mansion Moon Deer' stellar formation node]. Join our community of readers at audi0-n0vel.c0m.