Chapter 676 : Allies Gather for the Final Stand

After this victory, Mysterious Void Path Master [a title for a senior cultivator specializing in esoteric void techniques] showed a hint of delight and said to Eldrin Chen with a smile, "Had it not been for your aid, Fellow Daoist, we would likely still be locked in bitter combat, and many of them might have escaped."

"It was our duty to assist,"

Eldrin Chen replied, looking at Mysterious Void Path Master. His expression then turned grave as he continued, "Of the seven Star Constellation Formation Eye [key astral nodes of a grand defensive formation] of the Vermilion Bird Star Palace, Chariot Water Island is currently besieged. Among the remaining six islands, the crises at Zhang Moon Island and our own Star Sun Island have now been resolved."

"That leaves the Fiend Race [a race of malevolent demonic beings] forces within the domains of the four remaining astral mansions—Wings Mansion, Willow Mansion, Ghost Mansion, and Well Mansion—to be routed. Only then can we concentrate our forces to annihilate the Fiend Race at Chariot Water Island."

Mysterious Void Path Master nodded in agreement. "From today's battle, it seems the forces beyond our Spirit Island [islands rich in spiritual energy] were merely a bluff."

"Upon learning this, the Master of Featherflight Pavilion [the leader of the Featherflight Pavilion] has prepared to strike and break the siege at Well Mansion. Meanwhile, the Heaven's Profound Sect [a prominent cultivation sect] is now ready to confront the great enemy at the Ghost Mansion astral Spirit Island."

Everyone present nodded upon hearing this. Exquisite Jiang then spoke, "The Heaven's Profound Sect is the foremost Infant Soul Sect [a sect whose patriarch has reached the Infant Soul cultivation stage] in the Eastern Region Great Wasteland. Moreover, the Master of Featherflight Pavilion is a Great Power who has reached the Half-Step Primordial Spirit [a cultivation stage halfway to the Primordial Spirit realm]. It is highly likely they can defeat these formidable foes."

"In that case, our targets are the enemies in the Wings Mansion and Willow Mansion regions."

Mysterious Void Path Master also inclined his head, his gaze settling on Eldrin Chen. "Then let us act swiftly and decisively. We shall divide our forces to aid the Fellow Daoists in those two regions and crush the major enemies stationed at those astral Spirit Island."

Eldrin Chen nodded in acknowledgment. The person in charge of the Wings Mansion region, Sea-Calmer Path Master [a title for a cultivator known for pacifying turbulent seas], had already gone to Chariot Water Island, and the Human Race forces in the Willow Mansion region lacked a Half-Step Primordial Spirit expert to hold the line. These two areas indeed required their support to guarantee a complete victory. Continue reading this story at audio-novel dot com.

With this thought, Eldrin Chen spoke, "I shall depart immediately to reinforce Winged Fire Island. I must trouble you, Pavilion Master, to proceed to . Once the great battle is concluded, we shall reunite our forces."

"Very well."

Mysterious Void Path Master [a title for a senior cultivator who has mastered profound and esoteric arts] nodded, agreeing to Eldrin Chen's plan.

Considering that speed is paramount in warfare, and to prevent the demonic forces from reacting in time, the group did not pause to rest and instead hastened towards Winged Fire Island.

Thus, before long, they arrived in the region of Winged Fire Island. The Fiend Race [a race of malevolent beings that cultivate demonic arts] forces in this territory were merely putting on a show of strength; in total, they possessed only seven Demonic Ship [warships powered by demonic energy].

As soon as Eldrin Chen and his companions arrived, they utterly shattered the Fiend Race forces. Not a single one of the Fiend Race cultivators aboard the seven Demonic Ship—including nine Fiend RaceTrue Lord [a powerful cultivator who has attained the True Lord realm]—managed to escape.

After crushing the Fiend Race at Winged Fire Island, Eldrin Chen soon received good news. Mysterious Void Path Master, having led his troops to , coordinated an attack from within and without, routing the [a large military force composed of Fiend Race cultivators].

Furthermore, the Featherflight Pavilion [a major human cultivation sect] forces in the Well Domain had also achieved a great victory against a formidable enemy. The Master of Featherflight Pavilion single-handedly slew thirteen Infant Soul [the cultivation realm where one's nascent soul is formed] Fiend Race cultivators, including three great demonic leaders at the Infant Soul Late Stage.

Upon receiving this news, everyone's faces lit up with joy. Eternal Profound Chen also smiled, stroking his beard as he said, "In this campaign, we have successively defeated powerful foes. The scale of our victory is truly unprecedented. Eldrin deserves the foremost credit."

"Indeed, indeed."

The Desolate Heaven Sect Master also wore a faint smile, adding his voice in agreement.

However, Eldrin Chen furrowed his brow and immediately asked, "Has there been any news from the Ghost Mansion region?"

"Not yet," Lior Chen replied, pausing briefly before continuing with a hint of uncertainty. "The Ghost Mansion area is under the jurisdiction of the Heaven's Profound Sect Master. Surely nothing could have happened there?"

Eldrin Chen's expression shifted dramatically. "Alert Mysterious Void Path Master and the others," he urged, his voice tense. "Then proceed at full speed to the Star Archipelago within the Ghost Mansion region."

Once again forgoing any rest, the Treasure Ship [a large, enchanted vessel used for long-distance travel] hurtled toward the Ghost Mansion region. Midway through the journey, Lior Chen rushed over to the group, breathless and wearing a grave expression.

"The latest battle report," he announced. "Not long ago, the Heaven's Profound Sect launched an assault on the Fiend Race [a race of malevolent, demonic beings] with over thirty Treasure Ship."

"Unexpectedly, the Fiend Race proved formidable, possessing a Half-Step Primordial Spirit Realm [a cultivator on the cusp of achieving a Primordial Spirit] Flame Demon [a type of demon attuned to fire]. They utterly routed the sect's forces."

Upon hearing this, the group hastily took the Communication Talisman [a magical artifact for transmitting messages over long distances]. After a quick glance, their faces all paled with alarm.

The reason was clear. As the foremost Immortal Clan [a powerful clan of cultivators] in the Eastern Region Great Wasteland, the Heaven's Profound Sect had long been locked in a feud of mutual annihilation with the Outer Realm Fiend Race [Fiends originating from beyond this world]. The Flame Demon Race were their most bitter enemies.

Now, with the Heaven's Profound Sect lacking a Half-Step Primordial Spirit great power to anchor their defenses, the Flame Demon Race had seen their opportunity and seized it.

In this battle, the Flame Demon Race dispatched a formidable force of forty-seven Flame Demons [fiendish beings wreathed in eternal fire]. Among them, the most powerful possessed cultivation at the Half-Step Primordial Spirit Realm [a state just shy of forming one's spiritual core].

Such a potent Flame Demon launching a surprise attack proved devastating. Within a few clashes, it slew the new sect master of the Heaven's Profound Sect, Sect Master Hong, triggering a complete and utter rout of the sect's forces.

When the dust settled, the Heaven's Profound Sect had lost over twenty of its True Lords [powerful cultivators at the Golden Core stage]. The casualties among lower-ranked cultivators were beyond counting. Only thirteen True Lords managed to flee back to the Spirit Island.

This catastrophic defeat sent shockwaves through the remaining commanders. All eyes among the gathered True Lords turned towards Eldrin Chen.

The Heavenly Reed Sect Master could no longer contain his anxiety. "Brother Eldrin," he implored, "we look to you for guidance."

Eldrin Chen did not answer immediately. Instead, he turned to Lior Chen and asked, "What is the status of the forces from the other domains?" Read, share, and discuss at audio-novel . com.

"They are already converging on the Ghost Mansion region," Lior replied.

Lior Chen then channeled his spiritual energy, conjuring a luminous map that displayed the deployment of the surrounding Human Race armies.

Thanks to the early warnings dispatched by Eldrin Chen, the forces led by Mystery Void True Lord were expected to reach the Ghost Mansion area in two days. The contingent from the Featherflight Pavilion would arrive in three.

After a moment of careful study, Eldrin Chen let out a measured breath, his expression easing. "Honored colleagues," he declared, his voice steadying the room. "We now command thirty-seven Treasure Ships [massive, enchanted vessels of war] and seventy-three True Lords. There is no need to fear this Flame Demon Race host."

"Once we rendezvous with Mysterious Void Path Master and his forces, it will be sufficient to utterly annihilate the Fiend Race within the Ghost Mansion region."

As Eldrin Chen explained the situation calmly and in detail, the assembled group finally felt a measure of reassurance settle in their hearts.

Currently, the forces from Star Sun Island had already combined with those from Winged Fire Island. Their combined strength now boasted a full eight Infant Soul Late Stage combatants, supported by an army numbering in the tens of millions.

As long as this force remained united as one, even the Flame Demon Race, who possessed a Half-Step Primordial Spirit expert, would find it impossible to overcome them.

They merely needed to wait for the arrival of the two Half-Step Primordial Spirit experts, Mysterious Void Path Master and the Master of Featherflight Pavilion, along with their troops. Once the forces from all five Star Constellation Formation Eye strongholds converged, they would have the potential to completely eradicate the Flame Demon Race within the Ghost Mansion region.

After finishing his briefing, Eldrin Chen issued his orders: "Inform the Master of Featherflight Pavilion and Mysterious Void Path Master of the situation. Request that they assemble with us just beyond Ghost Metal Island."

"…"

"BOOM—"

Beyond Ghost Metal Island, a fleet of Fiend Race Treasure Ship [enchanted warships used by cultivators] continuously bombarded the Star Constellation Grand Formation [a grand defensive array patterned after the stars], unleashing a storm of violent collisions.

Aboard one of the leading Demonic Ship [a powerful, malevolently enchanted vessel], the Lord of Flame Demons stood with his hands clasped behind his back, silently observing the spectacle. A profound and calculating darkness smoldered deep within his gaze.

"Patriarch."

At that very moment, a Flame Demon True Lord approached and whispered, "Now that the Six-Winged Demon Clan and several other Fiend Race forces have been annihilated, it is likely the Human Race army is already advancing to attack. Is it not too risky for us to remain here?"

"That useless fool, the Six-Winged Demon Sovereign."

The Lord of Flame Demons's gaze turned icy as he pondered and said, "If we can breach this Formation Eye, the power of the Vermilion Bird Star Spirit will diminish by one-seventh. This is a matter concerning the great war between our Fiend Race Sacred Venerable and the Human Race Primordial Spirit [the highest spiritual core and cultivation stage of a human cultivator]."

"Now that Heaven's Profound Sect has suffered heavy losses, it is the perfect opportunity to capture Ghost Metal Island. How can we simply abandon it?"

Hearing this, the Flame Demon True Lord nearby dared not advise further and could only order his subordinates to intensify their assault on the Formation [a structured arrangement of energy nodes and flows used for defense, offense, or cultivation]. Join our community of readers at audio novel.com.