Chapter 675 : The Unyielding Sword's Resolve

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

"Only a series 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."

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

For those devoid of fighting spirit, once a battle turns bitter, their first instinct would be self-preservation, each fleeing for their own life. Who would remember the greater cause of the Human Race when faced with a crumbling front? The collapse would be as swift as a landslide.

Even the few who might fight for the Human Race would likely meet only a heroic, yet futile, end.

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

Therefore, the only path is to concentrate superior force, defeat the enemy, and secure victory after victory. Only with this unstoppable, soaring momentum can a formidable foe be truly vanquished.

Considering this, Exquisite Jiang voiced her concern, "Aren't you afraid of encountering hidden demonic Clan Patriarch power?"

"If we truly encounter demonic Clan Patriarch power..."

Eldrin Chen took a deep breath, his gaze turning icy and resolute. "Then even if it means expending the power of Senior Azure Abyss, we will crush them in one fell swoop." Join our community of readers at audio~novel.com.

"That seems to be the only way."

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

However, the Azure Abyss Sword was a Primordial Solar Spiritual Treasure [a supreme-grade enchanted artifact of immense power] that could shake the heavens and earth. Once unleashed at full force, it possessed the might to slay demons and vanquish fiends.

Unfortunately, the power accumulated within the sword was only sufficient for three full-force strikes. Once its potency 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, Exquisite Jiang spoke again, "Why not use the Star Observation Tower [a mystical tower for celestial divination] to perform a divination? Let us gauge the fortune or peril of this impending battle."

"Very well."

Eldrin Chen nodded in agreement, also feeling it prudent to employ the Star Observation Tower for such a prognostication.

The two of them summoned the Star Observation Tower. Eldrin Chen seated himself upon the Stellar Enlightenment Platform [a platform for celestial meditation and enlightenment] and activated the Great Deduction Star Plate [a star-charting plate for profound calculations] using his Great God Ability [a supreme mystical technique], the 'Great Deduction Heavenly Art' [the Heavenly Art of Grand Deduction].

Behold! Upon the star plate, nine resplendent streams of Stellar [celestial or star-based energy] energy spiraled upwards, intertwining with the Big Dipper constellation in the Heavenly Vault [the celestial dome, the sky]. One profound celestial omen after another took shape and transformed in an endless, mysterious dance.

In that very instant, Eldrin Chen glimpsed a wondrous vision. He saw a translucent, Glazed 'Nine Heavens Precious Mirror' [a precious mirror of the Nine Heavens] locked in a silent confrontation with a deep, obsidian-black jade slip.

"You dare interfere, little thing?"

A sudden, eerie laugh echoed. The deep black jade slip shot forth with overwhelming force, aiming to annihilate Eldrin Chen.

In that same instant, another voice rang out, "You dare be distracted while facing me?"

"BOOM—"

In a flash, the treasure mirror erupted with Glazed radiance, clashing spectacularly against the jade slip. The impact hurled Eldrin Chen out of the illusory realm.

In that final moment, Eldrin Chen glimpsed a sliver of the profound mysteries within the Celestial Mechanism [the grand, pre-ordained workings of the cosmos]. He saw a brilliant Stellar [a star representing destiny or a powerful entity] in the eastern sky, now dim and flickering, on the verge of falling.

"Husband."

Exquisite Jiang's face paled. She swiftly caught Eldrin Chen, her expression etched with deep concern.

Eldrin Chen's pupils contracted sharply as he snapped back to reality, his features still shadowed by lingering fear.

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

"No."

Eldrin Chen shook his head, unable to suppress a deep intake of breath before recounting all he had seen and heard to Exquisite Jiang.

A tremor ran through Exquisite Jiang's heart, and only then did she speak. "It was my oversight. How could a battle of such magnitude not involve a clash of Celestial Mechanism Path [the mystical art of manipulating cosmic patterns and heavenly laws]?"

"That treasure mirror must be the Heaven Observation Mirror [a legendary artifact capable of observing and influencing celestial phenomena]. It was locked in a stalemate with the Outer Realm Heavenly Demon's Celestial Mechanism Supreme Treasure [a supreme artifact of the Celestial Mechanism Path], completely disrupting the Celestial Mechanism [the fundamental cosmic order and patterns]."

Eldrin Chen nodded, a trace of lingering fear in his voice. "Just now, had it not been for the Heaven Observation Mirror's protection, 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 fright. Eldrin Chen spoke again, "When that Demonic Path [the cultivation arts aligned with demonic and destructive forces] Celestial Mechanism Supreme Treasure struck at me, it inadvertently leaked a wisp of its Celestial Mechanism essence." Join our community of readers at audio - novel . com.

"Observing the changes in the stellar signs, the eastern Azure Dragon [one of the Four Symbols, a celestial guardian representing the east and spring] constellation grows dim and faint. I fear its fall is not far off."

"The eastern Azure Dragon... could it be referring solely to the Azure Dragon Star Palace Archipelago [the celestial domain and its associated territories governed by the Azure Dragon constellation]?" Exquisite Jiang's expression shifted dramatically. She rose swiftly to her feet. "We must notify them immediately, so they can prepare defenses."

"That seems the only course." Eldrin Chen shook his head, then spoke with renewed resolve. "Since the Azure Dragon Star Palace faces such dire peril, the pressure upon our own Vermilion Bird Star Palace [the celestial domain governed by the Vermilion Bird constellation, representing the south and summer] must be somewhat lighter."

"Our most urgent task is to first vanquish the powerful foes within the Vermilion Bird Star Palace. Once our forces are united, then we can make further plans."

"..."

Eldrin Chen rested for merely a single day. Early the next morning, he assembled the group and set off towards the Extended Net region.

Several days later, not far from the Spirit Island of the Extended Net constellation, over a dozen Fifth Rank Treasure Ship gathered together. Their presence was concealed by a cloud-veiling magical treasure [an enchanted artifact used by cultivators].

The various Infant Soul True Lord [powerful cultivators who have formed their Infant Soul] all wore grave expressions as they stared into the void ahead, seemingly waiting for something.

Soon, a cultivator flew over and announced from a distance, "The great battle has commenced. It has now descended into a fierce and protracted struggle."

Upon hearing this, everyone's hearts stirred, and they couldn't help but glance at Eldrin Chen.

Long before mobilizing their forces, they had made an agreement with Nine Rivers Path Master and other fellow cultivators. The plan was for the forces in the Extended Net region to take the initiative and launch an attack to pin down the main Fiend Race Army [the demonic horde]. Then, Eldrin Chen and his allies would strike from behind, catching the Fiend Race [the demonic race] in a pincer movement.

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

Sensing the resolve in everyone's eyes, Eldrin Chen drew his longsword. With unwavering determination, he declared, "Fellow Daoists, when the nest is overturned, no egg remains unbroken. Let us fight with all our might to seize a sliver of hope for our Human Race."

"Slay! Slay! Slay!"

As his words fell, Eldrin Chen took the lead, unleashing the Celestial Abyss Twin Swords and charging forth to battle.

In that instant, several dozen True Lord [powerful cultivators at the True Lord realm] surged forward in unison. One after another, Treasure Ship [massive enchanted warships] thundered into the fray.

Tens of thousands of Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] away, the allied forces of the Human Race were locked in fierce combat against the Demonic Blood [a powerful demonic force] within the Extended Net region. Twenty Human Race Treasure Ship clashed with the demonic horde, the battle hanging in a precarious stalemate.

As Eldrin Chen had surmised, the demonic forces here were indeed a mere bluff. They possessed only a dozen or so Treasure Ship, and their combined number of Infant Soul [cultivators at the Infant Soul realm] from the Fiend Race [the collective term for demonic and monstrous beings] amounted to a mere twenty-some individuals.

The Extended Net region was garrisoned by Mysterious Void Path Master [a Daoist title meaning "Master of the Mysterious Void"], a Half-Step Primordial Spirit [a cultivator on the cusp of the Primordial Spirit realm] whose presence alone made its defenses far stronger than these Fiend Race forces. This was not to mention the reinforcements from Star Sun Island, which included Eldrin Chen and his companions.

Now, caught in a sudden pincer attack from front and rear, the Fiend Race Army crumbled. Within the brief span of half a Shichen-time [one Shichen-time equals two hours], several Infant Soul Fiend Race cultivators were slain, sending the demonic army into a panicked rout.

The pursuit raged for a full day and night. By the end, the majority of the Infant Soul Fiend Race commanders had been encircled and eliminated. The siege upon the Extended Net Star Constellation Formation Eye [a key defensive node in the star formation] was finally broken. For uninterrupted reading, go to audio-novel`com.