Chapter 671 : A Siege of Spirit Islands

Eldrin Chen had every reason for caution. The Spirit Islands [landmasses rich in spiritual energy] within the Star Moon Island sector all served as Formation Eyes [critical nodes in a defensive or offensive array] for Star Sun Island. A fourth-rank Spirit Island possessed formidable defenses; even a Fifth Rank Treasure Ship [a powerful enchanted vessel] would require two full days of bombardment to breach its protections.

Two days were more than enough time for Eldrin Chen to rally reinforcements and arrive.

For the enemy to have shattered three such Spirit Islands simultaneously, leaving no time for a relief force to be summoned, they likely possessed at least a dozen or more Fifth Rank Treasure Ships.

Eternal Profound Chen's expression turned grave. He drew a deep breath and stated, "The enemy must have at least twenty or more Fifth Rank Treasure Ships. Moreover, they are systematically eliminating the Spirit Islands along their path. Their intent is clear: to dismantle the Formation Eyes of Star Sun Island, one by one."

Seeing this, Exquisite Jiang drew a sharp breath and said, "It seems the Fiend Race [a race of malevolent cultivators or demons] truly intends to draw our main force away, creating an opening to breach a primary Formation Eye."

"Fortunately, we did not divert too many of our forces to reinforce Chariot Water Island [an island named after the Chariot constellation]. Otherwise, we might not have been able to withstand this assault."

The Old Patriarch nodded in agreement. "Then how should we fight this battle?" he asked.

"Since the Fiend Race seeks to capture our Star Sun Island, they must possess substantial strength," Eldrin Chen mused for a moment. "We should stall for time, wait for our allied forces to gather, and then seek an opportunity for a decisive engagement."

"This will also give us a chance to properly assess their strength before committing."

Once the decision was made, Eldrin Chen immediately issued orders to the seven Fifth Rank Spirit Islands [high-grade spiritual landmasses] under the command of Star Sun Island. He then personally flew to the front lines to gather intelligence. Published by audio_novel.com. All rights reserved.

With the Polarity Void Mirror in hand, his ability to escape was Force Extreme [a state of immense power and speed], and with the Star Observation Tower concealing his aura and warding off divination, he had little fear of being trapped by the Outer Realm Heavenly Demon [demonic beings from beyond this world].

Merely three days later, Eldrin Chen returned to Star Sun Island, his expression grave as he addressed the gathered cultivators. "This Fiend Race [a race of malevolent demons] force belongs to the Six-Winged Demon [a powerful demonic lineage] clan. They possess twenty-three Fifth Rank Treasure Ship [powerful enchanted vessels], and their ranks include forty-six Heavenly Demon [powerful demons] at or above the Infant Soul [the Primordial Spirit cultivation realm] level."

"Among them are five at the Infant Soul Late Stage [the late stage of the Primordial Spirit realm]. Their strength is not to be underestimated."

Upon hearing this, everyone's expressions shifted. The entire Star Sun Island region had only slightly over thirty Infant Soul Cultivator [Primordial Spirit realm cultivators] who held the title of True Lord [a title for powerful Primordial Spirit cultivators].

As for True Lord at the Infant Soul Late Stage, currently there were only two: the Heavenly Reed Sect Master and the Desolate Heaven Sect Master. Even counting Eldrin Chen and Exquisite Jiang, that made a mere four.

Facing an enemy whose overall strength was at least one-third greater was enough to decisively tilt the scales of battle.

Considering this, Kael Chen glanced around the assembly and spoke plainly. "In these past few days, we have already lost thirty-seven Spirit Island [islands rich in spiritual energy]. If we do not deploy forces to confront them, we can only watch helplessly as the Spirit Island are captured one by one."

The Heavenly Reed Sect Master wore a solemn expression. After a moment of contemplation, he said, "My Earthfire Profound Crystal Sword [a sword forged from a rare crystal imbued with earth and fire energies] has been deployed to anchor a defensive Formation [a magical array or formation]. To sally forth and intercept them now would likely lead to a disadvantageous engagement."

A heavy silence fell upon the group. The Outer Realm Heavenly Demon forces were formidable. Engaging them in open battle beyond the protection of the Spirit Island would be akin to throwing an egg against a stone.

Yet, to do nothing meant watching island after Spirit Island fall, until eventually, the enemy would lay siege to Star Sun Island itself.

With this thought in mind, Eldrin Chen spoke up and asked, "Can the surrounding Spirit Island [islands rich in spiritual energy] of the star mansions spare any forces for support?"

The Heavenly Path Sect Master shook his head and said, "I contacted Nine Rivers Path Master not long ago. The Extended Net Archipelago where he is stationed has also been attacked by the Fiend Race [a race of malevolent beings]. However, the scale of the enemy force is still unclear, so he dares not act rashly."

"Then we can only stall for time."

Kael Chen stated. The tactic of delay meant fortifying themselves within the Spirit Island [islands rich in spiritual energy] and waiting for a more opportune moment.

The Star Sun Archipelago comprises over seven hundred islands. If the Fiend Race [a race of malevolent beings] does not divide its forces, it would likely take them several years to conquer them one by one. Yet, if they *do* split their army, that might present an opportunity for us.

However, dragging things out like this would result in a pyrrhic victory even if we won. For every fourth-rank Spirit Island [islands rich in spiritual energy] that falls, we would lose at least several thousand cultivators, with perhaps none surviving.

Contemplating this, Eldrin Chen pondered for a moment before speaking. "On Star Sun Island, we have laid down a quasi-Primordial Spirit [a high spiritual cultivation stage] level Formation [a structured array for defense or attack] using the Dual Polarity Treasure Lotus [a magical lotus artifact embodying dual polarities] and the Earthfire Profound Crystal Sword [a crystal ore imbued with earth and fire energies]. Its defensive and offensive capabilities are exceptionally powerful."

"Why not temporarily abandon those fourth-rank Spirit Island [islands rich in spiritual energy]? Let us concentrate our forces, fortify Star Sun Island, and engage the Fiend Race [a race of malevolent beings] in a decisive battle here?"

Everyone present was slightly taken aback, not expecting Eldrin Chen to propose such a course of action.

Seeing their expressions, Eldrin Chen continued, "A prolonged defense is bound to fail. Even if we buy time, it will drain our strength immensely. It is better to clench our hand into a fist, gather our superior forces, and strike the enemy when they least expect it."

The Heavenly Reed Sect Master hesitated, unable to suppress his doubts as he inquired, "To abandon several hundred Spirit Island... would the price not be too great?"

Eldrin Chen shook his head, then spoke with a faint smile, "If you cling to land and lose your people, you lose both land and people. If you preserve your people even at the cost of land, you will regain both."

"Do they not wish to pluck our subsidiary Spirit Island one by one, then breach a single Star Constellation Formation Eye?"

Eldrin Chen spoke calmly, a sudden flash of killing intent gleaming in his eyes. "Then I shall let them come and test the defenses of this Star Sun Island. Let us see whether Star Sun Island falls, or they are the ones who break their heads against its walls."

There was one thing Eldrin Chen left unsaid: he was a man who refused to entrust his Destiny [the predetermined course of one's life and cultivation journey] into the hands of others.

The situation at Chariot Water Island remained unclear, and the Spirit Island belonging to the other major star palaces might not hold either. If those other stellar Spirit Island were to collapse, the blow to morale and to the integrity of the Star Constellation Grand Formation would be devastating. Published by audio-novel.com (official site). All rights reserved.

Rather than be gradually consumed piece by piece, it was better to shatter the stalemate swiftly, to seek an opportunity to concentrate their forces, outnumber the enemy at a decisive point, and turn the tide of the war.

Knowing Eldrin Chen's character well, Exquisite Jiang spoke up, "Although losing the support of several hundred Spirit Island would weaken the Formation [a structured arrangement of energy nodes and flows used for defense, attack, or cultivation] power of Star Sun Island by thirty to forty percent..."

"...we possess the Two Principles Earthfire Sword Formation. Combined with the Star Constellation Grand Formation, we may truly have a chance at victory."

Seeing that Eldrin Chen and Exquisite Jiang had settled on this strategy, the Heavenly Reed Sect Master declared, "If that is the case, then we shall summon the Desolate Heaven Sect Master and the others. Let us prepare for a great battle at any moment."

After making the decision, Eldrin Chen issued the command. Cultivators stationed at the various Spirit Island [islands rich in spiritual energy] were ordered to abandon their posts and begin converging on Star Sun Island.

Thanks to Eldrin Chen's earlier directive, the number of cultivators garrisoned on each Fourth-Rank Spirit Island was not large. Consequently, the relocation proceeded with astonishing speed.

With only a few thousand cultivators per Spirit Island, a single Fifth Rank Treasure Ship [a massive enchanted vessel] could evacuate the personnel from dozens of islands in a single day. In less than ten days, every Spirit Island was emptied of its defenders.

To concentrate their forces further, Eldrin Chen even recalled the garrisons from the Spirit Island overseen by the Desolate Heaven Sect and over a dozen other major continent-spanning Immortal Clan [powerful cultivation families], relocating them all to Star Sun Island.

In a short time, Star Sun Island became a gathering point for eighteen Fifth Rank Treasure Ship, amassing a force of over twenty million Human Race cultivators. Among them were no fewer than thirty-seven Infant Soul True Lord [powerful cultivators at the Nascent Soul stage].

While this assembled strength was still slightly inferior to that of the Six-Winged Demon Clan, when combined with the formidable defensive Formation [a powerful array of magical barriers and traps] of Star Sun Island, their overall power could be said to be on equal footing.

When news of this reached the Six-Winged Demon Clan, their clan leader sneered coldly. "The Human Race fools commanding Star Sun Island are utter incompetents. To abandon hundreds of Spirit Island... they have handed me a victory of monumental proportions on a silver platter." Read the full novel exclusively on audio - novel . com.