Chapter 724 : A Pact Forged in Shadows

With this thought in mind, Eldrin Chen pondered for a moment before speaking, "To avoid being caught between two fronts when we establish our new continent, perhaps we should first deal a crippling blow to one of the opposing forces."

"That is a sound strategy," Lyra Jiang nodded in agreement, then asked, "But which one should we target first?"

After a brief moment of consideration, Eldrin Chen stated, "The Green Flood Dragon Demon Emperor is formidable, and with the Azure Jade Heaven-Measuring Ruler in his possession, we would be at a disadvantage in a direct confrontation."

"It would be wiser to first target the Golden-Winged Great Peng Demon Emperor. There is a greater chance we could successfully surround and hunt him down."

Hearing this, Lingxu the Ethereal Immortal also nodded. "That reasoning holds merit. The Fellow Daoist from Celestial Dawn Continent and Celestial Star Continent would surely lend their full strength if they knew we were moving against the Golden-Winged Roc Demon Race."

"Furthermore, the Green Flood Dragon Demon Emperor harbors a deep-seated hatred for the Golden-Winged Great Peng Demon Emperor. If he learns we are attacking the Great Peng, he is more likely to add stones to a drowning man than to offer aid."

"Then it is settled," Eldrin Chen affirmed with a nod and a smile. "I will arrange for letters to be sent to the Fellow Daoist of Celestial Dawn Continent and Celestial Star Continent, requesting their assistance in this endeavor."

"After this battle is concluded, we shall turn our focus to the preparations for establishing the new continent."

To prevent any leaks of their plans, Eldrin Chen dispatched Kael Chen personally to journey to both Celestial Dawn Continent and Celestial Star Continent. His mission was to confer with the several Nascent Soul-level powers in those regions.

Good news arrived swiftly. The dominant power of Celestial Star Continent, upon hearing that the forces of Ji Continent were preparing to strike, immediately agreed in full accord. They decided to commit their entire strength, pledging to dispatch three True Lord to participate in the coming conflict. Read, share, and discuss at *audio-novel.com*.

And the Celestial Dawn Continent was also willing to provide a sum of money as resource support for the group.

After receiving the news, Eldrin Chen addressed the others, saying, "The three major powers of the Celestial Dawn Continent have each indicated a willingness to offer one Nascent Soul Formation Pill as remuneration."

"One Nascent Soul Formation Pill from each? They are truly treating us like beggars."

Upon hearing this, Qingci the Recluse could not help but let out a derisive laugh.

Originally, the Celestial Dawn Continent was more powerful than the Celestial Star Continent, boasting three Nascent Soul Immortal Clan and eight True Lord.

However, over the past two centuries, the Golden-Winged Great Peng Demon Emperor had slain four of their True Lord. The remaining four seemed thoroughly cowed, willing only to provide material support.

Yet this material aid was pitifully meager, which explained Qingci the Recluse's scornful reaction.

"There's no helping it. Their own situation is dire,"

Eldrin Chen shook his head and said. He understood the plight of the Celestial Dawn Continent quite well. In recent years, the continent had lost two Fifth Rank Spirit Vein and vast swathes of territory. The treasuries of the three great Nascent Soul Immortal Clan were nearly depleted.

Eldrin Chen did not particularly value such paltry resources, nor did he wish to jeopardize greater gains by haggling with the Celestial Dawn Continent. Thus, he agreed to the arrangement.

"With the addition of the three Fellow Daoists from the Celestial Star Sect, we hold an overwhelming advantage against the Golden-Winged Great Peng Demon Emperor. The time to act is upon us."

"Indeed. But what is our strategy?"

Yvonne the Violet Consort spoke, then turned her gaze toward Eldrin Chen.

It was clear that after the battle of the Demonic Abyss Cataclysm [the great calamity of the Demonic Abyss], everyone placed considerable trust in Eldrin Chen's strategic command.

Noticing the collective focus upon him, Eldrin Chen unfurled a map and began, "The Golden-Winged Roc tribe currently boasts six Demon Emperors and occupies four Spirit Mountains [mountains imbued with potent spiritual energy]."

"Among them, Golden Wing Peak, Earth Tremor Valley, and Blazing Fire Island are each sustained by only a Fifth Rank Low GradeSpirit Vein [a vein of earth that channels spiritual energy], with a single Demon Emperor guarding each location."

"The core territory of the Golden-Winged Great Peng Demon Emperor is the Divine Bird Peak. Not only is its Spirit Vein of the lofty Fifth Rank High Grade grade, but it is also defended by three Demon Emperors."

Having laid out the strength and terrain of the Golden-Winged Great Peng Demon Emperor, Eldrin Chen drew a deep breath. "Assaulting a Demonic Tribe's Spirit Mountain is no simple task. It is a protracted, draining endeavor with little reward for the effort."

"Even if we muster our full strength to breach one of these Spirit Mountains, it would only alert the Golden-Winged Great Peng Demon Emperor to our intentions."

"Therefore, my plan is this: we shall lie in ambush outside Golden Wing Peak. First, the Fellow Daoists from the Celestial Star Continent will launch a sudden, concentrated assault on Golden Wing Peak, drawing the Golden-Winged Demon Emperor out to its aid."

Upon hearing this, everyone's eyes brightened slightly, and they all felt that Eldrin Chen's plan was excellent.

Lingxu the Ethereal Immortal smiled faintly and could not help but remark, "The other three Spirit Mountains are one matter, but that Divine Bird Peak possesses a Fifth Rank High Grade Spirit Vein and a Mountain Guardian Grand Formation. Without mobilizing a great army, breaching it would require the joint effort of at least three Half-Step Primordial Spirit Ancient Ancestors."

"By employing Fellow Daoist's [a respectful term for a fellow cultivator] strategy of besieging a point to strike at reinforcements, we can significantly increase our chances of victory."

The others nodded in agreement. However, Yvonne the Violet Consort still cautioned, "That Golden-Winged Roc is, after all, a Half-Step Nascent Soul Realm Demon Emperor [a ruler among demonic beasts], and its speed is renowned as one of the ultimate swiftnesses under heaven. To slay it, we must make additional preparations."

"I have heard that the Feathered Pavilion possesses a Spiritual Treasure [an enchanted artifact of great power] named the Feather-Falling Divine Light Mirror, specifically designed to counter avian Demon Emperors. We should try to borrow it."

"Then I shall make the journey," Find this and other novels at audio-novel .c om.

Eldrin Chen stated. That Feather-Falling Divine Light Mirror was a Quasi-Pure Yang Spiritual Treasure [a treasure approaching the pinnacle of Yang-aligned spiritual artifacts] and one of the Feathered Pavilion's sect-protecting treasures. An ordinary person likely lacked the standing to successfully borrow such an item.

Acting without delay, Eldrin Chen utilized a Teleportation Formation [a magical array for instantaneous travel] that very day to reach the Ji Continent. He sought out the Feathered Pavilion and requested an audience with the Feathered Pavilion Master.

Given Eldrin Chen's current status and position, even a Half-Step Primordial Spirit cultivator would treat him as an equal. The Feathered Pavilion naturally dared not show any neglect. The Feathered Pavilion Master, whose physical body had been destroyed years prior and had not yet fully reconstituted, received Eldrin through an avatar [a spiritual projection].

Upon seeing Eldrin Chen, the avatar smiled and said, "Brother Eldrin, the Abyss, what brings you to my Abyssal Ruins Mountain today?"

"To speak truthfully, brother, this humble one has come today with a request to make of you."

Eldrin Chen said, and proceeded to explain the situation to the Feathered Pavilion Master.

Upon hearing this, the Feathered Pavilion Master let out a hearty laugh and clasped his hands together, smiling. "The Feather-Falling Divine Light Mirror of our Feathered Pavilion is a legacy treasure left behind by the Azure Simurgh Demon Progenitor of old. It specifically counters all avian-kind of the Demonic Tribe and is the natural bane of the Golden-Winged Great Peng Demon Emperor."

"You have come to the right person to borrow this artifact."

So saying, the Feathered Pavilion Master handed a crystalline Treasure Mirror to Eldrin Chen.

Seeing the Feathered Pavilion Master act with such forthrightness, Eldrin Chen was instead taken aback and felt deeply honored. A Quasi-Pure Yang Spiritual Treasure of this caliber is simply impossible to borrow without the deepest of connections. He had steeled himself to pay a steep price, never expecting the Feathered Pavilion Master to be so magnanimous.

Noticing his expression, the Feathered Pavilion Master offered a faint smile, then his countenance turned solemn. "Brother Eldrin, the Abyss, to be candid, in another hundred years, the moment for my Heavenly Soul [the celestial component of a cultivator's tripartite soul] to return to its rightful place will arrive."

"The moment for the Heavenly Soul to return!"

Eldrin Chen's expression shifted slightly as he instantly understood the reason behind the Feathered Pavilion Master's actions.

The so-called moment for the Heavenly Soul to return refers to the time when it draws closest to the cultivator. For a Half-Step Primordial Spirit cultivator, this represents their best opportunity to achieve a breakthrough into the Primordial Spirit realm.

When a cultivator attempts a breakthrough at this time, the probability of success increases by approximately ten percent. Conversely, the further the Heavenly Soul [a celestial entity representing one's ultimate spiritual potential] drifts away, the greater the difficulty becomes to draw it down, and the success rate diminishes significantly.

Such opportunities are rare, occurring as infrequently as once every two or three hundred years, or even once in a Millennium. Naturally, the Feathered Pavilion Master was unwilling to let this chance slip by.

The reason the Feathered Pavilion Master agreed so readily was to request Eldrin Chen's assistance in safeguarding myself during the critical breakthrough process. Continue reading this story at audio-novel dot com.