Chapter 683 A Last Stand

7 days later, the treasure ship fleet sailed toward the Sea of the White Tiger Star Palace.

Kael stood silently in place, his gaze fixed on the departing crowd, his expression calm and solemn.

For this battle, the forces were nearly deployed in full strength. However, to guard against the scattered demon tribes threatening the formation anchor of the Vermilion Bird Islands, a contingent of Nascent Soul True Monarchs and troops were left behind.

Among them were Kael and Chen Ethan, who would be tasked with guarding several of the Star Constellation Formation Anchors.

Watching Eldrin and the others depart, Kael did not linger long at Zhen Water Island before soaring toward Star Sun Island.

After flying for millions of miles, Kael suddenly furrowed his brow slightly as he passed a desolate island. His luminous aura abruptly halted, pausing before the spirit mountain.

There, upon the desolate island, a pitch-black demonic sword hovered and drifted above the barren land.

The sword was entirely crystalline and translucent, with dark mists swirling within its depths, while an indestructible sword intent coiled around it.

“Heavenly Demon's Immortal-Slaying Sword (Magic Treasure)。”

In an instant, Kael recognized the origin of this sword.

It turned out that after the Heavenly Demon's Immortal-Slaying Sword (Magic Treasure) broke through the encirclement, it ultimately exhausted its spiritual energy and plummeted onto this desolate island.

At the very moment Kael discovered the Heavenly Demon's Immortal-Slaying Sword (Magic Treasure), its blade radiance surged violently and instantly transformed into a streak of black energy that shot between his eyebrows.

"Ha ha ha!"

In the blink of an eye, Kael (Person Name) heard an eerie laughter echoing within his Sea of Consciousness.

A wisp of remnant soul flew out from the sword, its voice tinged with ecstasy as it declared, "Heaven has not abandoned me! To think I would encounter 1 who has formed a Heavenly Dao Nascent Soul."

Soul-Seizing Transmigration Art.

The newcomer turned out to be a wisp of residual soul belonging to Demon Lord Galos. With overwhelming killing intent, he lunged toward Kael (Person Name)'s nascent soul, preparing to unleash a supreme demonic art—Soul Seizure Reincarnation.

Faced with such a sinister soul-transference technique employed by the Demon Lord Galo, Kael remained utterly unperturbed, allowing the demon lord's soul to surge directly into his own Nascent Soul.

"What is going on here?"

The demonic soul of Lord Galos had just surged between Kael (Person Name)'s brows when he abruptly sensed something amiss.

Kael's Nascent Soul suddenly split into a 100 million streams of consciousness. Countless thoughts inundated him completely, leaving him as insignificant and unreachable as a lone boat adrift in the vast ocean.

In the blink of an eye, the remnant soul of Demon Lord Jialuo panicked. A look of terror flashed across his face as he exclaimed in utter astonishment, "Who are you? Are you human or ghost?"

Kael watched him quietly, his expression unchanging as he observed in silence.

Within his Nascent Soul resided 4 100 80 million thoughts. Through their combined power, his soul had grown several degrees stronger than even those at the Half-Step Primordial Spirit (Cultivation Realm).

Lord Garo was but a wisp of lingering will, and to even think of seizing control through supernatural means was nothing short of a fool’s delusion.

When the billions of thoughts within Kael's divine soul had gradually devoured the last remnants of the Demon Lord Galo's consciousness, merging them completely into his own spiritual essence, only then did he speak with detached calm.

"I am myself, and you are also me. You shall be 1 of my 4 100 80 million thoughts."

"Bzzz—"

The sword gleam trembled slightly as the Heavenly Demon's Immortal-Slaying Sword (Magic Treasure) detected something amiss, attempting to flee from Kael's (Person Name) sea of consciousness.

Yet Kael’s brow twitched almost imperceptibly as a wisp of power from the Demon Lord of Garoa surged within his nascent soul, intertwining with the Heavenly Demon's Immortal-Slaying Sword.

Sensing the power of Demon Lord Jialuo, the radiance of the Heavenly Demon's Immortal-Slaying Sword (Magic Treasure) faintly trembled before gradually dimming.

At that very moment, Kael (Person Name) seized the opportunity to gradually erode the demonic sword with his spiritual energy, refining this pure Yin demonic treasure that once belonged to Demon Lord Galos.

Eldrin remained unaware of Kael's chance encounter with the Heavenly Demon's Immortal-Slaying Sword.

The great army journeyed onward for over a month, finally traversing thousands of 10-1000-mile territories to arrive beyond the White Tiger Domain.

Meanwhile, aboard the treasure ship, Eldrin and other cultivators with late-stage Nascent Soul strength had gathered together, each revealing solemn expressions.

Elder Xuanxu set down the letter in his hand, his face etched with deep concern as he spoke, "Our fellow cultivators of the Azure Dragon Star Palace have been utterly routed. I fear this battle may take an unforeseen turn."

"What am I to do now?"

All those present wore grave expressions, with many showing hints of despair.

Eldrin’s expression was also 1 of profound sorrow. The retreat of the Azure Dragon Star Palace struck everyone like a devastating blow, weighing on their hearts like an immense boulder.

Because according to the battle plan they had agreed upon with Daoist Jiuyuan, in 3 days he would force the 4 Nascent Souls of the demonic race into a decisive confrontation.

As planned, Lu Jiuyuan would mobilize the power of 3 celestial spirits—the Azure Dragon, White Tiger, and Vermilion Bird—to engage in a decisive battle against the 4 Demon Clan Dao Lords.

Meanwhile, the forces of the White Tiger Star Palace and the 3 Veins Ancient Domain launched coordinated assaults, trapping 1 or 2 demonic cultivators at the Nascent Soul stage from both front and rear. So long as they could keep the 2 Nascent Soul demonic cultivators pinned down, they would create an opening for Dao Lord Jiuyuan to eliminate the extraterrestrial demon.

But now that all the anchor points of the Azure Dragon Star Palace Formation had been breached, the loss of the Azure Dragon Star Spirit's assistance meant they were effectively missing a combat force equivalent to a Nascent Soul cultivator.

In battles of this level, a single Nascent Soul combatant proved more effective than hundreds of Golden Core True Monarchs. This demonstrated how devastating the collapse of the Azure Dragon Star Palace Archipelago had been to their war efforts.

At this thought, everyone’s hearts began to waver. The Mysterious Void Taoist couldn’t help but speak up, “Brother Eldrin, should we continue this battle or not?”

"Attack!" Eldrin declared resolutely, his gaze cold and unwavering. "If we succeed in this battle, we can all return alive. But should we be defeated, it could lead to the collapse of the entire situation."

"This is our only chance. We must fight on, no matter the cost."

Hearing this, everyone’s hearts trembled with dread, for whether this battle ended in victory or defeat, it would inevitably exact a bloody toll.

Yet they understood that Eldrin spoke true—in this battle, they truly could retreat no further.

The master of Feather Flight Pavilion nodded, his gaze resolute as he declared, "Should any among us fall in battle, I trust all will extend some care to their descendants."

"Brother Feiyu."

Elder Voidwalker’s heart trembled. He cast a glance at Featherflight Daoist before gritting his teeth and declaring, “My remaining lifespan dwindles. The time has come to stake everything.”

"However, should this old man fall in battle, I hope you will watch over my family."

"Rest assured." The Master of Feiyun Pavilion nodded, then laughed heartily, "Should I fall in battle, I'll trouble you, Eldrin (Person Name), to collect my remains."

Seeing that both Half-Step Primordial Spirit (Cultivation Realm) experts had cast aside all regard for life and death, the crowd regained their fighting spirit, resolved to stake everything on this final battle to determine the victor.

"Good, then let us fight. Together, we shall test our mettle by slaughtering a Nascent Soul!"

Seeing everyone’s fighting spirit burning fiercely, Eldrin also smiled and said.

He rarely produced a jar of spirit wine, pouring a cup for everyone before declaring, "I drink this toast to fortify your resolve. We must slay the demonic fiends in this battle!"

Chapter 1 The biting cold wind howled through the mountain pass, carrying with it the scent of blood and decay. A young man in tattered blue robes knelt amidst the snow, his breathing ragged. Before him lay the corpses of 3 cultivators, their blood staining the pure white snow crimson. "Just a dozen or so Low-Grade Spirit Stones, and you would resort to such treachery?" Lin Feng (Person Name) muttered through gritted teeth, clutching a small pouch containing exactly 12,350 spirit stones. His spiritual energy was nearly depleted after the desperate battle. Suddenly, the ancient bronze pendant at his chest grew warm, emitting a faint golden glow. A majestic voice echoed directly in his mind: "The Heavenly Dao System has been activated. Host detected: Lin Feng. Cultivation Base: Third Layer of Qi Refining." Lin Feng's eyes widened in disbelief. For thousands of years, countless cultivators had sought the legendary Heavenly Dao, yet here it was, choosing a mere outer disciple like him. "Mission: Survive the night in the Frozen Soul Valley. Reward: 100,000 cultivation points and the Profound Ice Scripture (Cultivation Method)." A bitter smile touched Lin Feng's lips. The Frozen Soul Valley was notorious for its deadly chill that could freeze even a cultivator's soul. But with pursuers closing in and no other options... "1 100 years," he whispered, thinking of the destruction of his clan. "1 100 years I've waited for this chance." He rose unsteadily, his gaze firm. Activating the last of his spiritual energy, he formed a hand seal. The Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss (Magic Treasure) materialized before him, its crimson blade radiating warmth against the encroaching cold. "Come then," he declared to the gathering storm. "Let us see what trials the Heavenly Dao has in store."