Chapter 682 Counting the Spoils, The Final Battle

Excellent!

Everyone nodded and immediately charged into the battlefield beneath their feet.

With the addition of several Half-Step Primordial Spirits (Cultivation Realm) and the presence of 2 pure yang spiritual treasures, the outcome of the ensuing war was naturally beyond doubt.

The demonic forces soon fell into utter defeat. Leading the human army, the group launched continuous counterattacks, pursuing the enemy for 3 days and 3 nights until the demonic legion was completely annihilated.

After this battle, the demonic armies within the archipelago of the Vermilion Bird Star Palace were nearly annihilated. Only a single Half-Step Primordial Spirit (Cultivation Realm) expert, along with a handful of demonic cultivators who had seized the opportunity to flee early, managed to escape.

After a brief cleanup of the battlefield, everyone convened an impromptu debriefing session on Zhen Water Island.

In the grand hall, Elder Xuanxu (Person Name) cast a glance at Eldrin (Person Name) and spoke directly, "This decisive victory was achieved entirely thanks to Fellow Daoist Chen’s (Person Name) meticulous strategy and decisive intervention."

"It can be said that the foremost merit in this battle undoubtedly belongs to Fellow Daoist Chen."

"You flatter me, Fellow Daoist." Eldrin waved his hand dismissively with a light laugh. "Had it not been for Daoist Dinghai's and Senior Haoran's Pure Yang Spirit Treasure, and without your precious talisman, Brother Xuanxu, we could never have achieved such an outcome in this battle."

Hearing this, everyone nodded in agreement, each face breaking into faint smiles.

Magnus the Virtuous Lord also smiled faintly, then let out a sigh and said, "Though we achieved a decisive victory in this battle, the casualties were truly devastating. Alas."

Eldrin's heart gave a faint twitch upon hearing this.

This battle was the most monumental conflict he had ever experienced. Though they emerged victorious, the price paid was immense after a grueling day and night of fierce combat.

Although the exact statistics have yet to be fully compiled, it is estimated that no less than 20 percent of the cultivators perished in battle. Among the survivors, scarcely any remained unscathed, with nearly every 1 bearing wounds.

At this thought, Eldrin spoke: "Fortunately, our stock of healing elixirs remains relatively ample. I've already ordered the troops to rest and recover from their injuries as quickly as possible."

Everyone nodded in agreement, and Magnus the Virtuous Lord (Person Name) continued, "Not long ago, news arrived from the Azure Dragon Starry Sky Archipelago stating they had been assaulted by the main forces of the demon race, with 2 key array eyes already breached."

"What shall we do now? Should we dispatch troops to reinforce the Azure Dragon Star Palace Archipelago?"

The others instinctively turned their gaze toward Eldrin. After this battle, they had developed immense trust in his strategic command and naturally sought his counsel.

Seeing this, Eldrin fell into a brief contemplation before saying, "According to the current intelligence, the Azure Dragon Star Palace Archipelago faces no fewer enemies than we do—if not more."

"After our great battle, everyone is physically and mentally exhausted, and the spirit energy of our treasure ship is critically depleted. Even if we were to reinforce the Azure Dragon Star Archipelago now, I fear it would hardly alter the course of the war."

"Moreover, the main forces of the demonic army in the Black Tortoise Domain have most likely concluded their campaign. Given their proximity to the Azure Dragon Star Palace Archipelago, they are certain to join forces with them."

"At this moment, if we go, I fear we won't save them but end up trapped ourselves."

Hearing this, everyone present exchanged uncertain glances.

Eldrin's conjecture was indeed correct. After the Black Tortoise Star Palace Archipelago had conquered numerous immortal clans of the Far North Ice Plains, they would inevitably assault the remaining Vermilion Bird and Azure Dragon Star Palaces.

For once these 2 Star Palaces were eradicated, the remaining Lu Jiuyuan and the White Tiger Star Palace Archipelago would surely be unable to withstand the assault of the 4 Primordial Spirits from the demon race.

Moreover, with the loss of the 3 Star Palace Archipelagos as their protective barrier, the human army of the Southern Wilderness cultivation world stationed at the White Tiger Star Palace Archipelagos was bound to fall into disarray, and a full-scale rout was likely imminent.

The cultivators of the Vermilion Bird Archipelago possessed formidable strength, having just shattered the demonic legion under Lord Galo's command. The main demonic forces stationed at the White Tiger Star Palace Archipelago would certainly not recklessly risk an assault.

As expected, they would surely attack the nearest Azure Dragon Star Palace Archipelago first. After crushing the human forces of the Azure Dragon Star Palace, they would then turn their attention to the Vermilion Bird Star Palace Archipelago.

After thoroughly comprehending the meridians, everyone's expressions shifted slightly. Ivy the Verdant Fairy (Person Name) couldn't refrain from speaking: "If we don't rescue the fellow cultivators of the Azure Dragon Star Palace, then what should we do?"

Eldrin gazed at the map before him, remaining silent for a long while before finally drawing a circle around the location marked as the White Tiger Star Palace.

Then he took a deep breath and declared with unwavering determination, "While the demonic forces are attacking the Azure Dragon Star Archipelago, we shall march upon the White Tiger Domain."

"This..."

Everyone’s expressions shifted dramatically. The master of the Featherflight Pavilion could not suppress his astonishment as he exclaimed, "You intend to besiege a demonic path Nascent Soul!"

Everyone present could no longer remain seated. 1 by 1, they rose to their feet, expressions of disbelief etched across their faces.

Yet Eldrin remained unmoved. He merely gazed at the map and remarked indifferently, "The White Tiger Domain only has 4 newly-ascended demonic cultivators at the Nascent Soul realm, with not a single demonic treasure ship or fleet in sight."

"We can combine the forces of the Southern Barrens cultivation world, totaling nearly 6 100 Nascent Soul cultivators, along with a 100 million-strong army of cultivators, to assist Daoist Jiuyuan in besieging those 4 Demon Race Spirit Gods."

Upon hearing this, everyone fell silent, each 1 stunned by Eldrin's bold idea.

What kind of existence is the Nascent Soul Realm? Such supreme beings are considered peerless overlords in this world, where the possibility of being overwhelmed and slain by low-level cultivators is virtually nonexistent.

This was not a gap that could be bridged by sheer numbers. Even if there were hundreds of millions of cultivators, facing a Soul Formation cultivator, they would only possess the ability to form defensive formations to protect themselves—utterly unqualified to surround and eliminate such an existence.

Yet mobilizing 600 Nascent Soul cultivators and 300 fifth-grade treasure ships to besiege a Spirit Severing sovereign—this was an event unprecedented in all recorded history.

Seeing that no 1 spoke, Eldrin said, "Although the demonic cultivators' Primordial Spirits are all Heavenly Demons of the Primordial Spirit realm, they are all newly ascended Primordial Spirit demonic cultivators from the past 1 1000 years."

"With Senior Lu Jiuyuan and the 3 great star spirits—White Tiger, Azure Dragon, and Vermilion Bird—we never feared them to begin with."

"If we join forces as well, we might just create an opening for Senior Lu Jiuyuan to slay 1 or 2 Nascent Soul demonic cultivators."

At this point, Eldrin took a deep breath and calmly stated, "This is our final chance. Once the demonic clans breach the 2 great stellar palaces—Azure Dragon and Vermilion Bird—there will be no opportunity left to turn the tide."

"This…"

The crowd remained silent for a long while, until finally Magnus the Virtuous Lord spoke up, "Eldrin’s analysis is not without reason. The demonic army’s momentum is far too overwhelming—there is no way we can hold the Vermilion Bird Star Palace."

"Only by slaying 1 or 2 Primordial Spirit Demons can we possibly secure victory in this battle."

The others were somewhat swayed by his words. Maris the Sea Steader (Person Name) spoke up, "If we stake our lives, we might be able to restrain 1 of the Outer Realm Demons."

"Rather than watching the situation deteriorate before our eyes, it would be better to take the gamble."

With the 2 most powerful figures present—Maris the Sea Steader and Magnus the Virtuous Lord—both endorsing the plan, the remaining wavering individuals gritted their teeth and agreed to Eldrin’s proposed strategy.

Seeing this, Eldrin said, "In that case, let us rest for 7 days. Use this time to recover properly, after which we shall dispatch troops to the White Tiger Islands."