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 Patriarchs and twenty thousand cultivators, a defensive force that could hardly be called weak.

Yet, this very arrangement would scatter their forces, creating the peril of being defeated piecemeal.

With this thought, Eldrin Chen shook his head and spoke plainly, "A prolonged defense inevitably leads to failure. While this deployment may seem to provide ample strength for each Spirit Island, "

"should the Fiend Race concentrate their superior forces to assault any single island, each one risks being overwhelmed one by one. By then, with our forces dispersed, rallying them for a counterattack would be a formidable challenge."

"That is a valid point," the Heavenly Reed Sect Master nodded in agreement. After a moment of contemplation, he asked, "What arrangement do you propose?"

Eldrin Chen pondered briefly before replying, "What if we station five thousand cultivators and one Golden Core Patriarch on each Spirit Island? We could then use Treasure Ships to rapidly mobilize reinforcements to any threatened island. This allows us to concentrate our superior strength to annihilate the Fiend Race forces."

Exquisite 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," they concluded.

Once the strategy was agreed upon, Eldrin Chen immediately began deploying troops to garrison the various Spirit Island. By the time all arrangements were finalized, three full months had passed. Original publication: audio-novel.com - The source of this chapter.

On this day, Eldrin Chen finally found a moment of respite. He sought out the Heavenly Reed Sect Master and stated, "Elder Brother, Star Sun Island serves as a crucial [a key node that anchors and powers a larger defensive or offensive array]. I fear that relying solely on the Formation [a structured arrangement of energy channels and power sources used for defense, attack, or cultivation] upon the island may prove insufficient to withstand an assault by the Extraterrestrial Evil Demons."

"What is your meaning?"

The Heavenly Reed Sect Master's mind stirred, and in the span of a lightning flash, he had already surmised Eldrin Chen's intent.

Sure enough, Eldrin Chen gave a nod before speaking. "I wish to borrow your Earthfire Profound Crystal Sword to establish an additional Formation as a precaution."

"This..."

The Heavenly Reed Sect Master hesitated. The Earthfire Profound Crystal Sword was a Quasi-Primordial Solar Supreme Treasure [a near-peerless enchanted artifact of immense power, just below the legendary Primordial Solar grade]. Even a half-step Primordial Spirit Cultivator [a cultivator who has partially transcended the mortal coil, forming the core of their immortal spirit] would covet such an item.

With this treasure in hand, the Heavenly Reed Sect Master's combat prowess was not inferior to a Great Perfection of Infant Soul [the pinnacle stage of the Infant Soul realm, where the nascent soul is fully formed and stable]. Yet, without it, he would be, at best, an ordinary Infant Soul Late Stage cultivator.

Seeing the Heavenly Reed Sect Master's reluctance, Eldrin Chen simply produced a resplendent, lotus-shaped treasure.

"A Quasi-Primordial Solar Spiritual Treasure?"

The Heavenly Reed Sect Master's heart quaked. He could not suppress a gasp of astonishment.

Eldrin Chen gave a nod before speaking. "With the power of your Earthfire Profound Crystal Sword, combined with my Dual Polarity Treasure Lotus, we will undoubtedly be able to establish an exceptionally formidable Formation [a complex arrangement of energy channels and nodes used for defense, attack, or cultivation]."

"At that point, even a Half-Step Primordial Spirit [a cultivator whose spiritual core has begun its final transformation but is not yet complete] level Heavenly Demon would find it impossible to breach the Star Sun Island we are defending."

Seeing Eldrin Chen produce the Dual Polarity Treasure Lotus, the Heavenly Reed Sect Master could not help but draw in a sharp breath.

After a moment of contemplation, he nodded and said, "Since Brother Eldrin has brought forth such a precious treasure, this old man naturally would not be so ungrateful. This Earthfire Profound Crystal Sword shall remain with you to establish the Formation."

"My thanks."

A faint smile touched Eldrin Chen's lips as he finally allowed himself to relax.

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

This formation was named the Two Principles Earthfire Sword Formation. Empowered by the Fifth Rank High-Grade Spiritual Vein [a powerful, high-quality ley line of concentrated spiritual energy], both the Earthfire Profound Crystal Sword and the Dual Polarity Treasure Lotus could unleash their full potential.

When activated by a cultivator at the Infant Soul True Lord [a master who has formed their nascent spiritual avatar] realm, this formation's power was nearly equivalent to that of a Half-Step Primordial Spirit cultivator with exceptionally profound reserves of spiritual energy. It could continuously deploy the might of two Quasi-Primordial Solar Spiritual Treasure [artifacts approaching the legendary power of treasures forged at the dawn of creation] to engage powerful foes, making it an extraordinarily potent defense.

Contemplating the formidable capabilities of this formation, a measure of reassurance settled within Eldrin Chen's heart.

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

"A wise course," the other agreed.

The Heavenly Reed Sect Master [the leader of the Heavenly Reed Sect] nodded with a faint smile. "I shall also enter seclusion. Any increase in our strength, however slight, improves our chances of survival."

The eruption of the Demonic Abyss Cataclysm follows a fixed cycle. Though the Outer Realm Demon God [a supreme demonic entity from beyond this world] is immensely powerful, the notion that it could single-handedly conquer a glorious world like ours is pure delusion.

The Purple Seal Realm [this world, named for its foundational purple seal] is no minor realm. Among the myriad spiritual worlds, it stands as a formidable power, its defenses far beyond what the raw force of an Outer Realm Demon God could directly overcome.

Only once every thousand years or so, when the grand cycle of the Purple Seal Realm's Path Principles [the fundamental laws and energies governing cultivation and the world itself] develops a flaw, can the Outer Realm Demon God seize the chance to tear a World-Opening [a realm of power where cultivators can begin to affect the world's fabric] rift. Through this breach, it projects its power into our world, corrupting the world's will with tainted demonic essence. Find this and other novels at audio-novel .c om.

Even if only a small territory is corrupted, it can form a legendary Demonic Cultivator [practitioners who use demonic or corrupt methods] Forbidden Land [a region tainted by demonic energy, hostile to normal life], becoming a festering wound upon the world.

Furthermore, once a vast swath of land is occupied by the Outer Realm Heavenly Demon [powerful demonic beings serving the Outer Realm Demon God], those Fiend Race [a general term for demonic and malevolent races] will continuously perform blood sacrifices of the Human Race. This generates a baleful aura that further pollutes the heavens and earth of the Purple Seal Realm.

As more and more territory falls to corruption, the will of the Purple Seal Realm grows progressively weaker. Once it is weakened to its absolute limit, it can no longer bar the entry of the Outer Realm Demon God, allowing the demon god to finally descend and harvest this world entirely.

Several millennia ago, the Purple Seal Realm was in an extremely weakened state, teetering on the brink of failing to repel the Outer Realm Demon God's incursion.

However, later, Imperial Sovereign Jiang [the paramount sovereign of the Jiang lineage] waged war against the demons, annihilating over ninety-five percent of the Demonic Cultivator [practitioners who cultivate using malevolent and corrupt methods] strongholds and Forbidden Land [places tainted by profound evil or danger]. This great cleansing purged the boundless miasma and foul energies from the world, allowing the will of heaven and earth within the Purple Seal Realm [a specific cultivation realm or world] to recover most of its former vigor.

Returning to the main point, since the Demonic Abyss Cataclysm [a prophesied catastrophic event involving a demonic abyss] could not erupt for the time being, Eldrin Chen naturally thought to seize this opportunity to cultivate his Great God Ability [a supreme-level divine technique].

Since his breakthrough to the Infant Soul Mid Stage [the middle phase of the Infant Soul cultivation stage], Eldrin Chen's comprehension of Divine Ability [powerful supernatural techniques born from profound Dao comprehension] had grown increasingly profound.

Not long before, he had completely unraveled the mysteries of the Trinity Divine Thunder [a divine thunder technique of triple harmony]. Augmented by the Five Elements Grand Cycle [a grand formation based on the cycle of the five fundamental elements], this Divine Ability had already reached the tier of a Quasi-Primordial Solar Divine Ability [a divine ability approaching the legendary level of Primordial Solar techniques].

Once he cultivated it to the Great Perfection Realm [the pinnacle mastery level of a technique or realm], Eldrin Chen would possess another trump card, its power likely not inferior to his Sky-Severance Sword Union [a supreme sword technique capable of severing the heavens].

Now, with this rare moment of respite, Eldrin Chen began to absorb Five Elements Essence [a refined spiritual essence containing the power of the five fundamental elements: Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth], aiming to master this ultimate technique before the Demonic Abyss Cataclysm arrived.

Time flowed swiftly. In the blink of an eye, three years passed. On this day, Eldrin Chen emerged from his seclusion, a faint smile gracing his features.

"Husband, it seems you have succeeded?"

Exquisite Jiang had been guarding the entrance to the Seclusion Chamber [a chamber specifically designed for closed-door cultivation]. Seeing Eldrin's expression, she could not help but ask with delight.

"Mmm," Eldrin Chen nodded, then said with a smile, "With your Triad Divine Radiance [a divine ability of triple radiant brilliance] at the Great Perfection Realm, combined with my Trinity Divine Thunder, even a Demonic Cultivator at the Great Perfection of Infant Soul [the peak of the Infant Soul stage] would suffer greatly from a single misstep."

In these years, Eldrin Chen had been busy with external affairs, while Exquisite Jiang devoted herself wholeheartedly to secluded cultivation. Her mastery of the Triad Divine Radiance [a supreme divine ability that harnesses the combined power of sun, moon, and stars] had actually progressed a step faster than Eldrin Chen's, reaching the Great Perfection Realm [the pinnacle stage of a cultivation art or divine ability].

Thinking of this, Eldrin Chen smiled faintly. "With our combat power increased by another fraction from this seclusion, our chances of weathering the demonic tribulation have grown somewhat greater."

"BOOM—RUMBLE—"

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

The expressions of everyone present changed drastically. They soared into the high sky, only to see that, tens of millions of Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] away at the edge of the heavens, that hideous scar known as the Heavenly Scar [a permanent, unstable spatial rift in the sky] was being torn open bit by bit.

Vast Righteousness True Lord ascended into the sky. Upon witnessing this scene, he drew a deep, shuddering breath.

"The great calamity... has arrived!" This novel is serialized on audio-novel-dot-com. Visit for updates.