Chapter 682 : Sun-Forged Victory and Fiendish Rout

"Excellent!"

Everyone nodded and then surged forward into the battlefield beneath their feet.

With the addition of several Half-Step Primordial Spirit cultivators and the presence of two Primordial Solar Spiritual Treasure [powerful artifacts forged with the essence of the primordial sun], the outcome of the ensuing battle held no suspense.

The Fiend Race [a race of malevolent cultivators who harness demonic energies] swiftly fell into a rout. Leading the Human Race army, the cultivators pressed their counterattack relentlessly, pursuing the enemy for three days and three nights until the Fiend Race Army was utterly annihilated.

After this battle, the Fiend Race Army within the Vermilion Bird Star Palace Archipelago was nearly wiped out. Only a single Half-Step Primordial Spirit commander, who had sensed the danger early, managed to escape with a handful of Demonic Cultivator [cultivators who practice forbidden, demonic arts].

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

Inside the Great Hall, Mysterious Void Path Master [a title for a master of the Dao Path of Mystery and Void] glanced at Eldrin Chen and stated directly, "The reason for such a decisive victory in this battle rests entirely on Fellow Daoist Chen's strategy and his decisive intervention."

"It can be said that the foremost credit for this triumph undoubtedly belongs to Fellow Daoist Chen."

"You flatter me, Fellow Daoist," Eldrin Chen replied with a wave of his hand and a smile. "Without the Primordial Solar Spiritual Treasure wielded by Elder Brother Sea-Calmer and Senior Vast Righteousness, and without your precious talisman, Brother Mystery Void, such an outcome would likely have been impossible to achieve."

Upon hearing this, everyone nodded in agreement, each face breaking into smiles of satisfaction. Discover more cultivation stories at audio-novel . com.

The Vast Righteousness True Lord also smiled, then sighed and said, "Although this battle was a great victory, the casualties were also extremely heavy. Alas."

Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen felt a slight pang in his heart.

This was the most monumental battle he had ever experienced. While they had won the war, they had paid a tremendous price during the day and night of bitter, relentless fighting.

Although the final tally was not yet complete, it was estimated that no less than twenty percent of the cultivators had perished. Those who survived were almost all wounded, with scarcely anyone emerging unscathed.

Thinking of this, Eldrin Chen spoke, "Fortunately, our reserves of healing elixirs [pills that restore health and vitality] are still relatively ample. I have already ordered the army to rest and recuperate, to recover from their injuries as swiftly as possible."

The others nodded. The Vast Righteousness True Lord then continued, "Not long ago, word came from the Azure Dragon Starry Sky Archipelago. They reported being attacked by the demonic Clan Patriarch's forces, and two of their Formation Eye [key nodes that power and stabilize a defensive formation] have already been breached."

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

Upon hearing this, the others all turned their gazes toward Eldrin Chen. After this battle, their trust in his strategic command had soared to great heights, and they naturally wished to hear his counsel.

Seeing this, Eldrin Chen pondered for a moment before speaking. "Based on the current intelligence, the enemy facing the Azure Dragon Star Palace Archipelago is at least as numerous, if not more so, than what we faced."

"After this great battle, everyone is exhausted, body and soul. The spiritual energy [the vital energy that flows through all living things and the world] reserves of our Treasure Ship [a large, enchanted vessel used for transport and warfare] are also critically depleted. Even if we were to rush to the aid of the Azure Dragon Star Palace Archipelago now, I fear we would be unable to turn the tide of battle."

"Moreover, the main force of the Fiend Race Army from the Black Tortoise Domain has likely concluded their campaign. They are very close to the Azure Dragon Star Palace Archipelago and will certainly join forces with them."

"If we go there now, we might not only fail to rescue them but also end up trapped ourselves."

Upon hearing this, everyone present exchanged uneasy glances.

Eldrin Chen's deduction was indeed correct. After conquering the many Immortal Clan sects of the Far North Icy Plains, the forces from the Black Tortoise Star Palace Archipelago would inevitably turn their sights on the remaining Vermilion Bird Star Palace and Azure Dragon Star Palace.

Once those two Star Palaces fell, the remaining forces at Nine Abyss Lu and the White Tiger Star Palace Archipelago would certainly be unable to withstand the assault from the four Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator, representing a high level of power] experts of the Fiend Race.

Furthermore, with the loss of three Star Palace Archipelago s as defensive bulwarks, the morale of the Human Race armies in the Southern Desolation Cultivation World centered on the White Tiger Star Palace Archipelago would surely collapse, likely leading to a complete rout.

The defenders of the Vermilion Bird Archipelago were powerful, having just shattered a Fiend Race army group under the Garuda Demon Monarch. The demonic Clan Patriarch s from the White Tiger Star Palace Archipelago would not dare to attack them recklessly.

As expected, they would surely attack the nearest Azure Dragon Star Palace Archipelago first. After crushing the Human Race forces in the Azure Dragon Star Region, they would then turn to deal with the defenders of the Vermilion Bird Star Region Archipelago.

Having grasped the strategic situation, everyone's expressions turned grave. Immortal Maiden Ivy could not help but ask, "If we do not aid our fellow Daoists at the Azure Dragon Star Palace, then what should we do?"

Eldrin Chen stared at the map before him, remaining silent for a long while. Finally, he drew a circle around the location marked for the White Tiger Star Palace.

Then he took a deep breath, his gaze resolute as he declared, "While the Fiend Race forces are attacking the Azure Dragon Star Palace Archipelago, we shall mobilize our troops against the White Tiger Domain."

"This..."

The expressions of everyone present shifted dramatically. Master of Featherflight Pavilion could not contain his shock and exclaimed, "You intend to besiege a Demonic Path Primordial Spirit [a supreme cultivator whose spirit has transcended mortal form]!"

No one could remain seated. They all rose to their feet, faces etched with disbelief.

Yet Eldrin Chen remained unmoved. He merely looked at the map and stated calmly, "That White Tiger Domain harbors only four newly ascended Demonic Cultivator Primordial Spirit [supreme cultivators who have transcended mortal form]. It possesses not a single Fiend Race Treasure Ship [a massive, enchanted vessel used for warfare and transport] nor any supporting fleet."

"We can combine the forces of the Southern Desolation Cultivation World, totaling nearly six hundred Infant Soul Cultivator [cultivators whose nascent soul has formed within their dantian], along with an army of hundreds of millions of cultivators, to assist Nine Abyss Path Lord in besieging those four Fiend Race Primordial Spirit [supreme cultivators who have transcended mortal form]." Join our community of readers at *audio-novel.com*.

Upon hearing this, the assembly fell into a heavy silence, each person stunned by the sheer audacity of Eldrin Chen's plan.

What manner of existence was a Primordial Spirit Realm [the realm of a supreme cultivator whose spirit has transcended]? Such a supreme being was considered a peerless overlord across the world; the very notion of them being overwhelmed and slain by lower-realm cultivators was almost unthinkable.

This was not a gap that mere numbers could bridge. Even an army of hundreds of millions of cultivators, facing a Primordial Spirit Cultivator [a supreme cultivator whose spirit has transcended], would only have the capacity to form defensive formations for self-preservation. They would possess no qualification to surround and slay such an entity.

Yet, to gather six hundred Infant Soul [cultivators whose nascent soul has formed] and three hundred Fifth Rank Treasure Ship [powerful enchanted warships of the fifth rank] to besiege a Primordial Spirit [a supreme cultivator whose spirit has transcended mortal form]... such an event was unprecedented in all of recorded history.

Seeing that no one else spoke, Eldrin Chen broke the silence. "Although these Demonic Cultivator are at the Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] realm, they are all newly ascended Primordial Spirit Demonic Cultivator from the last thousand years."

"With Senior Nine Abyss Lu, plus the three great star spirits—White Tiger, Azure Dragon, and Vermilion Bird—we are not inherently outmatched."

"If we add our strength to theirs, we might be able to create an opening for Senior Nine Abyss Lu to slay one or two of those Primordial Spirit Demonic Cultivator."

At this point, Eldrin Chen took a deep breath and spoke with calm resolve. "This is also our final chance. Once the Fiend Race breaches the Azure Dragon and Vermilion Bird Star Palaces, any hope of turning the tide will be lost."

"This..."

The group fell into a long silence. Finally, Vast Righteousness True Lord was the one to break it. "Eldrin's analysis is sound. The Fiend Race's military force is simply too overwhelming for us to hold the Vermilion Bird Star Palace."

"Only by slaying one or two Primordial Spirit experts from the Fiend Race can we possibly secure victory in this battle."

The others were also somewhat persuaded. Sea-Calmer Path Master said, "If the few of us risk our lives to strike, we might be able to pin down one Outer Realm Heavenly Demon."

"Rather than watch the situation deteriorate before our eyes, it is better to gamble everything on one desperate move."

With the two strongest present, Sea-Calmer Path Master and Vast Righteousness True Lord, having made their decision, the others who were wavering gritted their teeth and agreed to Eldrin Chen's battle plan.

Seeing this, Eldrin Chen spoke, "Since that is the case, let us all rest and recuperate for seven days. Use this time to recover fully, and then we shall dispatch our forces to the White Tiger Archipelago." Dive deeper into the Dao at audio-novel.com (official site).