Chapter 684 Miserable, Desperate, Unmatched

3 days later, the army marched westward, arriving at the edge of the battlefield before they even realized it.

When Eldrin charged into the battlefield, he found the great war of 9 Heavens Above had already erupted in full force.

A Vermilion Bird True Spirit that blotted out the skies, a White Tiger True Spirit overflowing with murderous aura, and the 3 supreme combat powers of 9 Abysses Dao Lord had already joined the fray, locked in a bloody battle against 4 Outer Realm Demons.

"Form the array! Lend the Dao Lord our strength!"

Above the fleet, Eldrin directed the crowd to activate the 10 1000 Immortals Demon-Suppressing Grand Formation, intending to lend Daoist Jiuyuan a helping hand.

Watching the 10 1000 Immortals Demon-Suppressing Grand Formation (Formation) surge toward him, a horned Outer Realm Demon sneered coldly, his voice dripping with boundless killing intent. "A swarm of ants dares to intervene in a battle of Nascent Souls?"

"Overestimating your own strength."

The Eldritch Fiend let out a cold sneer, raising his hand to summon a massive obsidian halberd that came crashing down.

With but a single strike, the formation that had converged the magical power of countless cultivators was utterly shattered, transforming into boundless shockwaves that erupted in all directions.

Not only that, but the aftershock of this halberd strike actually pierced through several Grade-5 treasure ships, reducing them to ashes of calamity.

"Brother Daoxian!"

"Husband..."

In the blink of an eye, Eldrin scanned his surroundings.

Amidst the wreckage of the shattered treasure ship, from Nascent Soul great cultivators down to Qi Refining minor practitioners, almost none survived.

Moreover, over 30 percent of the cultivators powering the 10 1000 Immortals Demon-Suppressing Grand Formation (Formation) instantly perished, their very bodies dissolving into clouds of crimson mist.

This was the first time Eldrin had ever witnessed such brutal warfare. With merely a casual strike from a single encounter, countless tragedies had unfolded before his eyes—families torn apart, and even entire clans utterly annihilated.

"Ah, kill, kill, kill!"

A Golden Core Elder went mad, charging toward that eldritch fiend from beyond the heavens with boundless hatred. Yet before he could even get within a 1000 miles of the abyssal creature, a wisp of killing intent had already shredded him into tribulation ashes.

For a low-level cultivator to oppose a supreme expert at the Nascent Soul realm was akin to an ant challenging a near-immortal being. Even sacrificing their lives, the Ji Clan could only deplete an insignificant wisp of their opponent's power.

The demon lord saw the crowd still daring to charge forward and couldn't help but sneer coldly, "A swarm of ants—you have provoked my wrath."

The Celestial Demon sneered and brandished his spear, like an enraged deity provoked by mere ants, poised to obliterate the anthill with a single strike.

Whether 1 practiced Qi Refinement or formed a Golden Core, they were all equal before this strike. Even a Nascent Soul True Lord was merely a slightly larger insect.

As the Celestial Halberd swept across the sky, 7 or 8 treasure ships capable of unleashing combat power at the late Nascent Soul stage were shattered in succession, and 1 Nascent Soul True Lord after another was pulverized into fragments.

Everyone present was stunned, never expecting the battle to unfold this way.

The disparity between the 2 sides was as vast as an unbridgeable chasm. Even a Half-Step Primordial Spirit (Cultivation Realm) was merely a slightly larger child in comparison, making it nearly impossible to defy the heavens and slay a deity.

"Ah—"

A piercing shriek echoed as Eldrin witnessed the treasured vessel of the Sky Abode Sect explode into fragments. The sect master, whose cultivation had reached the late Nascent Soul stage, summoned the Earthfire Crystal Sword of the Returning Abyss in desperate resistance. Yet in the blink of an eye, both man and blade were pulverized into ashes of calamity, vanquished where they stood.

Only a wisp of remnant soul managed to escape, unexpectedly having performed the Nirvana Reincarnation Art to undergo rebirth.

"Brother Tianlu."

Eldrin's eyes were bloodshot, his gaze wild with madness as he roared, "Everyone, strike now!"

The speed at which the Eldritch Abyssal Deity struck was simply too fast—so fast that before anyone could react, they had already suffered devastating losses.

In that instant, everyone ceased holding back their secrets. Magnus the Virtuous Lord’s Sword of Vast Righteousness, Maris the Sea Steader’s Divine Sea-Calming Pearl, and the Flying Feather Pavilion Master’s 5 Directions Treasure Banner—1 supreme treasure after another—were unleashed toward the Outer Realm Demons.

Yet that Eldritch Abomination showed no fear, gathering the supreme power of the demonic path within itself. The demonic treasure it unleashed was unstoppable,

The Primordial Spirit Demonic Cultivator took action personally. With but a single spear in hand, he stood alone against foes from all directions, emanating an aura of invincibility the moment he struck.

They watched as the obsidian-gold halberd sent the Sword of Vast Radiance flying, then swept aside the Sea-Calming Pearls in a single motion. Without losing momentum, it arced toward the 5 Directional Treasure Banners, cleaving through them with brutal force—splintering 1 of the sacred banners in a single, shattering blow.

"Pfft—"

1-fifth of his Life-Bound Magical Treasure was destroyed. The Pavilion Master of Feiyu was sent flying, blood spraying from his mouth as he suffered an unprecedented heavy blow.

Yet the Outer Demon refused to relent. Gathering its power once more, it launched a sweeping assault aimed directly at the Pavilion Master of Feiyun Pavilion, clearly intending to strike her down.

At this critical moment of life and death, the master of the Mysterious Void Pavilion unleashed the Violet Heaven Divine Thunder Talisman. Yet, in the blink of an eye, a demonic mark between the Heavenly Demon's brows split open, releasing a sinister light that instantly obliterated Master Xuanxu.

Profound Mystery Taoist

Witnessing Elder Xuanxu fall in battle, Eldrin’s face paled with despair. He sought to seize the fleeting moment and deliver a fatal blow to his opponent.

Yet the opponent's movements were so swift they bordered on the intangible. Even if he poured all his spiritual power and divine sense into unleashing the Qingxu Sword, he had no confidence he could so much as graze his foe.

Maris the Sea Steader (Person Name) turned deathly pale, his face etched with despair as he uttered hoarsely, "The 9 Netherworlds Immortal-Slaying Demon Pupil... it belongs to the 9 Netherworlds Demon Dragon Emperor."

Everyone’s hearts trembled violently. The 9 Nether Demon Dragon King had risen to fame 2 1000 years ago, and even back then, he was already the foremost Golden Core expert among the demon race. Now that he had broken through to the Nascent Soul realm, how could they possibly be a match for him?

In truth, those capable of reaching the Divine Soul realm were unparalleled geniuses rarely seen in this world. Even the handful who achieved it through the Earth Path Golden Core foundation possessed astonishingly exceptional qualities.

Such an existence was never weaker than them even before the breakthrough—how could they possibly rival it after its ascension? Moreover, the 9 Nether Demon Dragon King, even among Early Stage Primordial Spirit (Cultivation Realm) practitioners, was likely a rare and formidable force.

From the very outset, this great battle was doomed to fail, for they had gravely underestimated the power of a Nascent Soul Paragon.

"Human prodigies, today shall mark your utter annihilation!"

The 9 Netherwyrm Emperor roared with maniacal laughter, his Celestial Halberd sweeping forth with an indomitable aura to strike down his formidable foe.

This was a mid-grade Pure Yin demonic treasure, capable of sweeping through all formidable foes the moment it was unleashed. Even supreme Pure Yang spiritual treasures like the Noble Heaven Sword and the Sea-Calming Pearl proved no match against it.

With an overwhelming force, he once again struck at the Featherflight Pavilion Master, clearly intending to eliminate his opponents 1 by 1.

At the critical moment, Eldrin could only grit his teeth and summon the Green Abyss Sword. With a metallic ring, it swept forth with overwhelming killing intent, aimed directly at the figure wielding the Black Gold Demon Halberd who sought to rescue the master of the Featherflight Pavilion.

Yet at the very first encounter, the Green Abyss Sword (Magic Treasure) was sent flying backward from the blow. The residual force swept past Eldrin (Person Name), actually causing him to cough up blood and stagger back several 1000 miles, suffering a terrifying grievous injury.

This was only because Eldrin had cultivated the 5 Thunders Body Tempering Art for many years, granting him physical strength that surpassed even a Half-Step Primordial Spirit expert. An ordinary Nascent Soul, Mid Stage cultivator would likely have been reduced to a cloud of blood mist by the backlash.

With a single strike that split the Green Abyss Sword (Magic Treasure), the remaining force of the Heaven Piercer proved unstoppable, instantly tearing the Featherflight Pavilion Master into fragments.

Fortunately, the master of Feathered Wings Pavilion possessed numerous treasures, and among them was a life-saving ultimate treasure—a Life-Substitution Puppet. At the critical moment, it blocked this fatal strike for him, teleporting his Nascent Soul into the void countless tens of thousands of miles away.

And at this moment, the void fell into complete silence.

Everyone was stunned by this battle, as an unprecedented sense of despair and the notion of invincibility surged into their hearts.

Chapter 1 The biting cold wind howled through the mountain pass, carrying with it the scent of frost and decay. A lone figure stood atop the cliff, his white robes fluttering like a crane's wings in the turbulent air. This was Li Ming, once the most promising young master of the Azure Cloud Sect, now a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator who had fallen from grace. "1 100 years," he murmured, his voice barely audible above the wind. "1 100 years since my spiritual roots were severed." His gaze fell upon the ancient text in his hand - the "9 Revolutions Profound Art". It was the only legacy left by his master, a cultivation method no 1 in the sect could comprehend, written in long-forgotten characters that seemed to dance across the parchment. Suddenly, a sharp voice cut through the wind. "Well, if it isn't our former genius!" 3 figures emerged from the mist, their blue sect robes embroidered with silver clouds. The leader, Zhang Yan, sneered as he approached. "Still clinging to that worthless scripture, senior brother? Why don't you be sensible and hand over your remaining spirit stones? A cripple like you has no use for them anyway." Li Ming's knuckles turned white as he gripped the ancient text. "These 5,000 spirit stones were given to me by the sect leader himself. I won't surrender them to you." Zhang Yan's eyes narrowed. "Then we'll take them by force!" The 3 cultivators formed a triangle around Li Ming, their hands weaving intricate seals. The air crackled with gathering energy as they prepared to unleash their techniques. But Li Ming stood unmoved, his eyes closed as if in meditation. Just as Zhang Yan was about to release his Wind Blade technique, Li Ming's eyes snapped open, glowing with an unearthly silver light. The ancient text in his hand began to emit a soft hum, the characters lifting from the parchment to orbit around him like swirling stars. "You sought to bully the weak," Li Ming's voice echoed with newfound power, "but you never imagined I've comprehended the first revolution of the profound art." A tremendous pressure descended upon the mountain pass, causing the very rocks to tremble. Zhang Yan and his companions stared in horror as Li Ming's cultivation level began to climb before their eyes - from Foundation Establishment to Core Formation, and still rising. "This... this is impossible!" Zhang Yan stammered, his face pale. "Your dantian was destroyed! You shouldn't be able to cultivate!" Li Ming raised a hand, and the orbiting characters coalesced into a brilliant sphere of light. "The 9 Revolutions Profound Art operates on principles beyond your comprehension. It doesn't require spiritual roots or even a dantian. It cultivates the very essence of heaven and earth itself." With a gentle push, the sphere of light expanded, enveloping the 3 bullies in its radiant embrace. When the light faded, they lay unconscious on the ground, their cultivation temporarily sealed. Li Ming glanced at them briefly before turning his gaze toward the distant peaks where the Azure Cloud Sect's main hall stood. "The path of cultivation is long and fraught with challenges," he whispered to the wind. "But I have found my own way now." With that, he stepped off the cliff, not falling but floating gently on the currents of spiritual energy that now answered his call. The journey of a 1000 miles begins with a single step, and his had just begun.