Chapter 839 : A Desperate Stand at the Star Palace

It must be understood that among those present, the ones guarding the Azure Dragon Star Palace were only Mingyuan the Daoist, Separated Flame Daoist, and Dao Lord Nine Abysses—just three of them.

Adding the four from the White Tiger Star Palace and the two from the Vermilion Bird Star Palace—Maris, Harlan, and the two Dao Lord—that brought the total to only eight Nascent Soul Dao Lord.

Even if one counted Eldrin Chen, Lyra Jiang, Yvonne the Violet Consort, Lila, and Lyra Jiang's Second Nascent Soul, that still amounted to only thirteen combatants at the Nascent Soul [the spiritual core of a cultivator, equivalent to the Primordial Spirit realm] level.

Facing nineteen opponents with only thirteen of their own, the odds of victory in this battle seemed far from certain.

Seeing the apprehension on their faces, Eldrin Chen offered a reassuring smile. "There is no need for concern," he said. "Though our forces appear outnumbered, the path to victory is not yet closed to us."

"While we are fewer in number, both Brother Mingyuan and I are not to be measured by the standard of ordinary cultivators at the Early Nascent Soul stage."

"Furthermore, with the Star Constellation Grand Formation capable of summoning three Four Symbols True Spirits [divine manifestations of the Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise], a complete triumph in this battle is far from impossible."

As they were speaking, a stream of light from the Heaven's Secrets Path [a mystical technique for divination and communication] arrived, landing in Eldrin Chen's hand.

After reading its contents, Eldrin Chen's eyes flickered slightly. He drew a deep breath before speaking. "The White Tiger Star Palace has also fallen."

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The expressions of everyone present shifted dramatically. It turned out that not long after Eldrin Chen and the others had departed, nineteen Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon [powerful demons from beyond this realm] had surrounded the White Tiger Star Palace.

Without a Nascent Soul Dao Lord [a supreme cultivator at the Nascent Soul realm] to anchor its defenses, how could the White Tiger Star Palace withstand the assault of nineteen Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon? Naturally, it was breached with ease.

Seeing this, Mingyuan the Daoist drew a deep breath and said, "The next target of the Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon will likely be the Vermilion Bird Star Palace. Should we dispatch reinforcements?"

"That will not be necessary."

Eldrin Chen shook his head and continued, "They refuse to engage us directly, choosing instead to weaken our Formation [a powerful defensive or offensive array]. It seems the mastermind among these Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon is a cunning and ruthless individual."

"Following this strategy of theirs, dividing our forces would play right into their hands, allowing them to pick us off one by one. Yet, if we commit our full strength, we risk losing this Azure Dragon Star Palace."

At this point, Eldrin Chen took another deep breath. "Since dividing our forces is unwise, and not dividing them is also problematic, we shall remain here at the Azure Dragon Star Palace to recover our Mana [spiritual energy or cultivation power] and await the Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon's assault."

"They are in a hurry to dismantle the Zhou Heavenly Stars Grand Formation [the Great Formation of the Zhou Heavenly Stars]. As the final Formation Eye [a critical node powering a formation] in the outer archipelago chain, they cannot afford to ignore this Azure Dragon Star Palace."

Mingyuan the Daoist nodded, then sighed. "It seems we have no other choice."

Seeing that everyone agreed with his assessment, Eldrin Chen spoke again. "Fortunately, the Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon are too focused on breaking the grand formation to pursue our scattered forces. The losses suffered by the Various Great Immortal Clans [the collective of major immortal cultivation clans] are not yet catastrophic."

"Issue the command: have the Various Great Immortal Clans withdraw from the outer islands to regroup their strength. Should we succeed in routing the Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon [demonic beings from beyond this realm] army, they may return to restore the Star Archipelago."

"Agreed!"

Someone immediately nodded and dispatched hundreds of Communication Spirit Talisman [enchanted slips used for long-distance messaging].

After handling these matters, Eldrin Chen cast a glance at the Demon Race Army encircling the Azure Dragon Star Palace Archipelago, then spoke:

"While those Heaven-Demon [powerful, high-ranking demons] are absent, let us first cleanse the battlefield of the demonic horde, lest they become a hindrance when the true battle commences."

"Very well. I have endured their presence long enough,"

Dao Lord Nine Abysses declared, and was the first to surge forth, launching an assault upon the Demon Race Army.

The others did not stand idly by. Over a dozen powerhouses at the Nascent Soul Dao Lord [a supreme realm of cultivation where one's soul takes nascent form] level struck in unison, and before long, the Demon Race Army was purged.

Thus, time flowed swiftly by. In the blink of an eye, more than ten days had passed.

As Eldrin Chen had anticipated, the Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon [demonic beings from beyond this realm], upon breaching the White Tiger Star Palace Archipelago, immediately turned their forces toward the Vermilion Bird Star Palace Archipelago.

Facing a Vermilion Bird Star Palace that had been abandoned, the Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon [powerful demons from beyond this realm] captured it without expending even a breath of effort.

Immediately after, they mustered the Demon Race Army and began their advance towards the Vermilion Bird Star Palace Archipelago.

On this day, upon the vast expanse of the Eastern Sea, nineteen Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon sat facing one another.

At their head was a woman. Clad in a long black dress, her figure was full and alluring, yet a pink demonic mark adorned the center of her brow.

At this moment, the contending Heaven-Demon [a high-ranking class of demon] all turned their gazes towards the leading figure, each revealing a measure of respect.

Even the Heaven-Demon with wind and thunder wings sprouting from its back had a gleam in its eyes and could not help but speak: "The Saintess's methods are truly masterful. Were it not for your strategy, how could we have broken through three Star Palace Archipelago in succession and achieved such a great victory?" Support the author by reading on audio novel.com.

The one addressed as the Saintess stood upon the Treasure Ship, casually waving her hand before stating: "According to the decree of the Demon God Majesty [a supreme title for a demonic sovereign], the primary objective of this battle is to slay that whelp Eldrin, the Abyss, with breaching the Zhou Heavenly Stars Grand Formation being secondary."

"Remember this: once the battle commences, disregard all else. You must besiege and slay that Abyssal Daoist at any cost."

"We obey!"

At the command of the Heaven-Demon, they surged forth into the sky, charging directly towards the Azure Dragon Star Palace.

"Boom—"

The great battle erupted in an instant. From the outset, over a dozen Extraterrestrial Demon God charged into the Azure Dragon Star Palace, aiming to shatter the celestial star formation in one fell swoop.

The Human Race Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] cultivators would naturally not allow them to succeed. Not only did they join forces to counterattack, but they also summoned the true spirit of the Azure Dragon, clashing fiercely with the Demon Race Primordial Spirit.

"Slay them!"

Amidst the chaotic melee, Eldrin Chen was the first to strike. He unleashed the Primordial Grasping Hand, sweeping across the battlefield to confront a powerful foe. In the blink of an eye, he grievously wounded a newly ascended Heaven-Demon.

Yet, at that very moment, the Heaven-Demon exchanged a glance. With chilling synchronicity, they launched a coordinated assault, all converging their attacks upon Eldrin Chen.

Sensing the peril, the human cultivators desperately tried to intercept. They managed to hold back fourteen of the demons, but five still broke through the defensive line and surged forward.

"Hmph—"

Surrounded and besieged, Eldrin Chen showed not a trace of fear. He manifested the Primordial True Aegis, a shimmering barrier of energy that withstood the relentless onslaught from the Outer Realm attackers.

This Primordial True Aegis was a formidable defensive art. Its power, though considered a tier below the supreme Pure Yang Divine Ability, was nonetheless comparable to the Great Vehicle Divine Ability—a technique typically only mastered by cultivators at the Primordial Spirit, Late Stage.

When propelled by Eldrin Chen's Primordial Chaos Mana [a supreme form of spiritual energy born from the primordial chaos], its power was amplified synergistically. The five Nascent Soul Celestial Demon [powerful demons who have reached the Nascent Soul cultivation stage] unleashed several attacks in succession, yet they were unable to breach his Protective True Aura [a defensive barrier formed from refined spiritual energy].

Even so, Eldrin Chen felt the drain on his Mana [the refined spiritual energy used to power divine abilities] was immense.

He surveyed the surroundings; everyone else was unable to offer support. Though Lyra Jiang and the others possessed peerless talent, they had not yet broken through the barrier of the Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator, a higher stage of existence]. In a prolonged battle, their Mana would likely prove insufficient.

Furthermore, Mingyuan the Daoist's opponent was the Demon Race Saintess, whose strength was on par with a Primordial Spirit, Mid Stage cultivator. She had forced Mingyuan the Daoist into a position where he could not extricate himself.

"It seems it still falls to myself!"

In the span of a lightning flash, a decision crystallized in Eldrin Chen's heart. He would force a breakthrough, shattering the deadlock with overwhelming force and beheading the foe before him in one decisive stroke.

Witness then, as Eldrin Chen used his Primordial True Aegis [an ancient and supreme defensive technique] to withstand the encirclement of the demonic horde. He then summoned forth the Primordial Grasping Hand [a giant spectral hand formed from primordial energy], forcing two of the Heaven-Demon [a powerful class of celestial-born demons] to devote their full strength to resisting it.

Next, he used his Primordial Chaos Mana to transform it into 'Primordial Chaos Pure Yang Fire' [a supreme flame born from the fusion of primordial chaos and pure yang energy]. A cataclysmic tide of Pure Yang Flame [a sacred flame embodying the ultimate masculine, creative principle] swept out in all directions, its glorious, blazing majesty scouring heaven and earth.

This fire was the bane of Demonic Cultivator [cultivators who use unorthodox, often malevolent methods]. Unleashed with Eldrin Chen's current level of Mana, it incinerated two Pure Yin Demonic Treasure [enchanted artifacts forged with concentrated Yin energy, often used by demons] in the blink of an eye, forcing the two Nascent Soul Celestial Demon into a desperate, retreating fight.

"*Clang—*"

Immediately following, a deafening *clang* resounded as the Heavenly Separated Twin Swords merged once more, cleaving a Nascent Soul Celestial Demon in twain on the spot.

To withstand the combined assault of five demonic foes and still manage to slay one with a single sword stroke—such impeccable timing and ferocious prowess was truly awe-inspiring.

The remaining four demons, witnessing this, felt a chill of terror crawl up their spines. In that moment, their attacks grew hesitant and restrained, none daring to commit their full strength. Access the full story on audio‑novel.com.