Chapter 842 : Guardians of the Three Enclosures

As Riverlord Chang recounted the tale, Eldrin Chen gradually came to understand the situation within the Inner Archipelago.

Compared to the outer islands, the Inner Archipelago constituted the first line of defense for the Purple Realm against the Extraterrestrial Demonic Fiend.

This defensive line was further divided into the Sun and Moon Twin Islands, the Five Luminaries Star Palaces, and this Three Enclosures Archipelago.

Among these various Spirit Island, the Sun and Moon Twin Islands served as the core. The Sun Island was garrisoned by the Separated Flame Palace, while the Moon Island was defended by the Drifting Snow Pavilion; both lineages possessed mighty figures at the Ninth Layer Nascent Soul realm.

However, as the master of the Drifting Snow Pavilion had entered the Eight Trigrams Grand Formation, the one presiding over the Moon Island's Formation had been replaced by the master of the Horizon Sea Pavilion, who was also at the Ninth Layer Nascent Soul realm.

Beyond this, each of the Five Luminaries Spirit Islands was guarded by at least one Nascent Soul Dao Lord, and then came this Three Enclosures Archipelago.

The Three Enclosures Archipelago was even more crucial than the Five Luminaries Spirit Islands, second only to the Sun and Moon Twin Islands. It was divided into three archipelagos of star-like islands: the Supreme Tenuity Enclosure, the Purple Tenuity Enclosure, and this Celestial Market Enclosure.

Among these Three Enclosures, the Supreme Tenuity Enclosure was garrisoned by the Central Continent Dao Lord Sacred Land known as the 'Supreme Profound Hall'. The Master of the Supreme Profound Hall, whose cultivation had reached the Ninth Layer Nascent Soul realm, was no weaker than the masters of the Separated Flame Palace or the Horizon Sea Pavilion.

The Purple Tenuity Enclosure was defended by the Dao Palace Sacred Land. As the Master of the Dao Palace was now presiding over the Eight Trigrams Grand Formation, the guardian of the Purple Tenuity Enclosure had also been replaced by 'Taiyuan the Daoist', another cultivator at the Ninth Layer Nascent Soul realm.

Finally, the Celestial Market Enclosure, lacking a Ninth Layer Nascent Soul guardian, was temporarily held by two cultivators at the Primordial Spirit, Late Stage realm: Riverlord Chang and the Star Palace Master. Experience the full epic at audio~novel.com.

"Lord of the Separated Flame Palace, Master of the Horizon Sea Pavilion, Master of the Supreme Profound Hall, and Taiyuan the Daoist."

"Four supreme Ancient Ancestors at the Nascent Soul Great Perfection [the pinnacle stage of the Nascent Soul realm], over a dozen great powers at the Late-stage Nascent Soul [the advanced stage of the Nascent Soul realm], plus eighty other Nascent Soul Realm [the realm where a cultivator's spiritual core undergoes a fundamental transformation, forming an independent nascent soul] powerhouses. This was the strength assembled before our arrival."

Eldrin Chen murmured to himself, a look of astonishment coloring his features.

Since the last Demonic Abyss Cataclysm [a great calamity involving the invasion of demonic forces from the abyss], even after a Millennium [a period of one thousand years] of recuperation, the number of Nascent Soul cultivators [cultivators who have reached the Nascent Soul realm] today barely exceeds one hundred and fifty. Based on this foundation, the proportion of Late-stage Nascent Soul [the advanced stage of the Nascent Soul realm] powerhouses is surprisingly high.

And this count does not even include the nine supreme powerhouses who have entered the grand formation. If they were added, the number of Late-stage Nascent Soul [the advanced stage of the Nascent Soul realm] experts within the Purple Realm [a major realm in the cultivation world] would likely surpass twenty-five.

This number is truly staggering. Consider that the invading Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demons [powerful demons originating from beyond this world] number close to two hundred, yet they possess only a little over ten Late-stage Nascent Soul [the advanced stage of the Nascent Soul realm] experts, and likely only three at the Nascent Soul Great Perfection [the pinnacle stage of the Nascent Soul realm].

Upon reflection, this seems only natural. The Purple Realm [a major realm in the cultivation world] produces an average of around twenty newly advanced Nascent Soul [the realm where a cultivator's spiritual core undergoes a fundamental transformation] per Millennium [a period of one thousand years], amounting to over two hundred in ten thousand years.

However, having endured tens of thousands of years of Demonic Abyss Cataclysm [a great calamity involving the invasion of demonic forces from the abyss], in the face of such terrifying tribulations, Nascent Soul Dao Lords [a title for a powerful master of the Dao at the Nascent Soul realm] with slightly inferior skill face a greater likelihood of falling. Only those Nascent Soul [the realm where a cultivator's spiritual core undergoes a fundamental transformation] cultivators of more exceptional talent and greater power have a higher chance of survival.

Coupled with the tempering effect of war on Nascent Soul Dao Lords [a title for a powerful master of the Dao at the Nascent Soul realm], this relentless process of refining the essence and discarding the dross, as time flows ceaselessly, naturally results in the high-level cultivators of the Purple Realm [a major realm in the cultivation world] growing ever more formidable.

Take the Horizon Sea Pavilion for example. It has only recently restored its number of Nascent Soul Dao Lords [a title for a powerful master of the Dao at the Nascent Soul realm] to three. Yet, the Master of the Horizon Sea Pavilion attained the Dao over ten thousand years ago. Six or seven Nascent Soul [the realm where a cultivator's spiritual core undergoes a fundamental transformation] cultivators from the Pavilion have achieved the Dao after him, but all fell in battle during the cataclysms. Only he has survived to this day.

In addition to these Human Race [the collective term for humanity in this cultivation world] powerhouses, Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator, representing a high level of cultivation] beings such as Black Dragon [a powerful dragon-type demonic beast] and other Demonic Monsters [a general term for monstrous beings of demonic origin] had also arrived at the inner perimeter of the battlefield. In the previous clashes, they had contributed their strength, repelling several assaults by the Demonic Monsters Primordial Spirit forces.

Considering this, Eldrin Chen felt his resolve solidify. He then spoke, "With esteemed seniors like yourselves guarding the Inner Archipelago [the core island chain under human defense] and the bolstering power of its Formation [a mystical defensive or offensive array], it should be impregnable, utterly secure."

"With our combined might, we indeed stand a significant chance of holding back the advance of the Demon Race Army [the organized military forces of the demonic races]."

The Star Palace Master nodded slightly. After a moment of contemplation, he shook his head and said, "However, this is the greatest calamity in three Millennium [a period of one thousand years]. I fear the Extraterrestrial Demon God [a supreme demonic entity from beyond this world] may have some hidden stratagem in reserve."

"That is my concern as well."

Riverlord Chang gave a firm nod. He raised a hand, weaving a Restrictive Formation [a mystical array designed to block sound, scrying, or intrusion] within the Grand Hall [the main council hall]. His expression turned grave as he declared, "The time has come. With the great war upon us, I shall conceal nothing. Not long ago, the Lord of the Separated Flame Hall [a major human sect] and I, among others, deliberated. We plan to take action to seal the Demon Abyss Heavenly Scar [the colossal rift torn open by the Extraterrestrial Demon God]."

"Seal the Demon Abyss Heavenly Scar?"

Upon hearing this, everyone present paled, their faces etched with shock and disbelief.

That Demon Abyss Heavenly Scar had been torn open by the raw, heaven-shaking, earth-rending power of the Extraterrestrial Demon God itself. How could mere mortals hope to interfere with such a cataclysmic fusion of immortal and demonic forces?

Unexpectedly, the Star Palace Master also nodded in affirmation. His expression remained calm as he explained, "In years past, when the Demon Abyss Heavenly Scar opened, we truly had no confidence in our ability to close such a Heavenly Scar [a rift or wound in the fabric of the world]."

"However, this time, the Extraterrestrial Demon God tore open the Heavenly Scar twenty years ahead of schedule. The price paid and the power expended far exceed those of a Millennium ago. Furthermore, the Heaven and Earth Will [the conscious will of the world itself] of the Purple Realm is not at its weakest moment now. Therefore, there truly exists a sliver of possibility to seal the Demon Abyss Heavenly Scar."

The Star Palace Master elaborated, stating that the clash between the Extraterrestrial Demon God and the Heaven and Earth Law [the fundamental laws governing the natural world] of the Purple Realm is currently at its peak.

If they were to strike now against the sky-shrouding giant hand of the Extraterrestrial Demon God, their attack could very well become the final straw that breaks the camel's back, completely suppressing that Extraterrestrial Demon God.

"Now is our best opportunity. If we miss this chance, as the Heaven and Earth Will of the Purple Realm gradually weakens, we will lose all certainty of ever being able to seal the Demon Abyss Heavenly Scar."

Having said this, the Star Palace Master turned his gaze to the assembled crowd and declared, "Thus, we require your aid. Help us breach the blockade of the Extraterrestrial Demon God and seal that Demonic Abyss ahead of schedule."

"For us, this is perhaps our only chance." Original English translation available at https://audio-novel.com.

Riverlord Chang also nodded, his expression grave as he added, "Once the Demon Abyss Heavenly Scar is sealed, the Outer RealmDemon Race Army will be cut off from reinforcements of spiritual energy and demonic creatures, with no path of retreat. They will become like duckweed without roots."

"At that time, we need only trap them within the Cosmic Starry Sky Grand Formation and wait for their Mana [the spiritual energy used to power techniques and spells] to be utterly exhausted. We would have a full Millennium to slowly eradicate them, one by one."

Hearing this, the assembly was filled with both astonishment and hope.

They were astonished by the sheer audacity and immense danger of the plan, yet hopeful because its success would mean trapping the Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon to their doom within the Cosmic Starry Sky Grand Formation.

If we can slay these nearly two hundred Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon [powerful demons from beyond this realm], the forces under the Extraterrestrial Demon God [the supreme ruler of the invading demonic hordes] will suffer a crippling blow. It would take them at least five Millennium [a span of one thousand years] to muster an offensive of this scale again.

"Success in this battle could secure five Millennium of peace for the Purple Realm [a vast and prosperous cultivation continent]."

"Even when Jiang the Sovereign Emperor [a legendary human emperor of antiquity] reclaimed the Eastern Wilderness and the Eastern Sea, the total number of Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon he slew was scarcely greater than this."

The assembled cultivators exchanged glances, their hearts a turbulent mix of exhilaration and trepidation.

Mingyuan the Daoist immediately clasped his hands in salute and inquired, "For such a monumental endeavor, we are naturally willing to lend our strength. But what, precisely, would you have us do?"

Riverlord Chang stroked his long beard and stated plainly, "You shall guard the Celestial Market Enclosure [a celestial fortress and trading hub] for us, and activate its Formation [a powerful array of magical defenses and amplifiers] to aid our cause."

"How can that be?" Eldrin Chen's expression shifted, concern etching his features. "Sealing the Demon Abyss Heavenly Scar [a catastrophic rift torn into reality, spewing forth demonic legions] must be an immensely perilous task. Why not let us assist you directly?"

"There is no need," Riverlord Chang shook his head, then continued, "Given your current strength, venturing with us to close the Demon Abyss Heavenly Scar carries far too great a risk of annihilation."

"You possess vast futures ahead of you. Remain here at the Celestial Market Enclosure, command the Formation, and buy us time by holding back any Nascent Soul Celestial Demon [demonic beings whose power rivals that of a human Nascent Soul cultivator] that might pursue us. That will be aid enough."

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