Chapter 838 Sudden Turn for the Worse

At this point, he paused deliberately, his gaze sweeping over the group before continuing: "First, we must reinforce the other Star Palace Archipelagos and unite the peripheral Nascent Soul Dao Lords to crush the Outer Realm Demons."

"If we rout the Outer Domain's eldritch demons, we can then unite the power of all Outer Domain Nascent Soul cultivators and devise a strategy to lend our inner circle comrades a helping hand."

"Second, promptly arrange personnel to swiftly repair the various islands and restore the damaged formation eyes, thereby enhancing the power of the Zhou Heavenly Star Formation."

Listening to Eldrin's analysis, everyone nodded repeatedly.

Currently, the number of Nascent Soul Dao Lords in the Violet Realm falls short of the Outer Demons. They can only rely on defensive formations to hold their ground, making it difficult to overcome the enemy through sheer strength.

Under such circumstances, the only way to defeat a formidable foe was to unite all forces that could be united and attempt to establish numerical superiority in localized engagements.

Only in this way could they gradually divide the forces of the Outer Demons and ultimately influence the tide of the battlefield.

"So it is settled."

Understanding Eldrin's meaning, Lyra spoke up, "Let us go reinforce the other Star Palace Archipelagos, while having those below the Nascent Soul realm focus on restoring the Vermilion Bird Star Palace Archipelagos."

"Then let us depart."

Eldrin nodded decisively and immediately led the group soaring through the skies, heading straight for the White Tiger Constellation Archipelago.

Guarding the White Tiger Star Palace Archipelago were 4 Primordial Spirit, Early Stage cultivators from the Eastern Sea cultivation realm and Eastern Wastelands (Location). Among them, 3 were familiar acquaintances of Eldrin (Person Name).

The 4 individuals were Yan Zi Ji, Yao Xi Xian Zi, Huan Tian Ji, and Freya (Person Name).

Among the 4, Fairy Yaoxi was the first to achieve Primordial Spirit breakthrough and already possessed a Pure Yang Spiritual Treasure, the 'Yaoxi Silk'. Freya (Person Name) followed closely, also wielding a Pure Yang Spiritual Treasure, the 'Demon-Refining Bracer of the 9 Firmaments (Magic Treasure)'.

Huantian Ji and Yan Ziji had the shortest breakthrough time, not even possessing a single Pure Yang Spiritual Treasure in their hands.

Outside the White Tiger Star Palace, 5 Outer Realm Demons were also launching an assault. Facing the guardianship of 4 defenders, these 5 Outer Realm Demons made excruciatingly slow progress.

However, the 5 Outer Demons paid it no mind. Their objective was to keep the several Nascent Soul Dao Lords of the White Tiger Star Palace occupied, ensuring that breakthroughs could be swiftly achieved on the other battlefields.

Now that Eldrin and the others were charging in, the 5 fiends didn’t even spare them a glance and immediately made the decisive choice to withdraw.

"He's quite the swift runner."

Seeing the 5 Outer Demons flee, everyone felt a surge of joy in their hearts.

However, Eldrin’s expression grew increasingly somber. With a grave countenance, he watched the 5 Outer Demons depart, his brow deeply furrowed as he murmured:

"These Heavenly Demons have caught on and won't give us the chance to defeat them 1 by 1. It seems we're still in for a fierce battle."

Upon hearing this, the expressions of the several individuals shifted slightly.

Taking a deep breath, Fairy Yaoxi spoke solemnly, "Regardless of circumstances, we shall devote our full strength to confront this Demonic Abyss Calamity. Combined, the 4 Great Star Palaces can muster 17 Soul Manifestation realm combatants."

"Now that you have slain 4 Outer Realm Fiends, even if they were to gather and wage a bitter war, we should have no fear of them."

"Indeed." Huantian Ji nodded, a faint smile gracing his lips. "As cultivators, why should we fear a battle?"

"Whoosh—"

Yet at that moment, a streak of light came flying through the distant void.

Eldrin took hold of the flowing light. After a brief glance, his expression grew increasingly grave.

Seeing this, Qing Ji couldn't help but ask, "What's wrong?"

"The Xuanwu Star Palace is no more."

Eldrin (Person Name) took a deep breath and handed the spiritual talisman to the group.

Not long before, the 4 Outer Fiends including the Twin-Winged Celestial Demon had joined forces with another demon army, laying siege to the Archipelago of the Black Tortoise Constellation with a full 11 Soul-Projection Celestial Demons.

This battle inflicted heavy losses upon the Qian Clan of the Dao Lord Sanctum, guardians of the Black Tortoise Star Palace Islands, claiming the lives of 3 Qian Clan Soul Projection Dao Lords and 1 rogue cultivator of the same realm.

Among the 4, 2 from the Qian Clan fell in battle on the spot, 1 managed to escape with his physical body destroyed, while the loose cultivator's primordial spirit, the Celestial Evasion Wanderer (Cultivator Title), fled without even engaging in combat.

The Qian Clan was 1 of the Primordial Soul immortal families of Central Province, yet their lineage possessed only these 3 Primordial Soul Dao Lords. Regrettably, lacking a Primordial Spirit, Mid Stage expert to anchor their legacy, they were assigned to garrison the Black Tortoise Star Palace.

However, after this battle, the Qian Clan's 3 Nascent Soul Dao Lords suffered 2 deaths and 1 severe injury, and it was highly likely they would never recover from this devastating blow.

At this thought, everyone grew extremely anxious. Huantian Ji couldn’t help but ask, “The Black Tortoise Star Palace is protected by the Grand Stellar Array—how could it have fallen so quickly?”

"Most likely a Tier 6, Superior-Grade Array-Breaking Talisman, or an extremely precious single-use spiritual object."

Haoran Daojun (Person Name) closed his eyes and couldn't help but take a deep breath as he said.

As the situation took a sharp turn for the worse, Maris the Sea Steader (Person Name) couldn’t suppress the unease in his heart and finally spoke up, “Brother Guixu, what should we do now? The decision rests with you.”

Eldrin took a deep breath, pondered for a moment, then declared resolutely, "It was well within our expectations that the Outer Demons would stop at nothing to breach the Xuanwu Star Palace."

"Otherwise, when we join forces, they will lose all advantage if we engage in battle again."

Contemplating the tribulations of war, Eldrin took a deep breath and declared, "Our immediate priority is to join forces with our fellow cultivators from the Azure Dragon Star Palace, lest the Celestial Demons pick us off 1 by 1."

Everyone nodded in agreement upon hearing this, and Lyra said, "Then let us head to the Azure Dragon Star Palace."

Once the decision was made, Eldrin acted decisively, leading the group toward the Azure Dragon Star Palace.

When they finally arrived at the Azure Dragon Star Palace, they discovered the extraterrestrial demon army had already surrounded the Vermilion Bird Star Palace.

Fortunately, I arrived just in time. After the battle at the Black Tortoise Star Palace, the Outer Realm Demon God needed some recuperation and hadn't yet managed to strike at the Azure Dragon Star Palace.

The group fought their way through the demonic treasure ship fleet and entered the Azure Dragon Star Palace, where they encountered the Dao Lord of Primordial Spirit guarding this place.

Just as it had been a millennium ago, the Azure Dragon Star Palace remained under the guardianship of the Southern Ridge Cultivation Realm.

However, unlike the last time, this Azure Dragon Star Palace was not only guarded by Lu Jiuyuan (Person Name), but also accompanied by Daoist Li Huo (Person Name) and Daoist Ming Yuan (Person Name).

Especially that Daoist Mingyuan, who was a chosen seedling meticulously cultivated by the Dao Palace Holy Land. Though he had only recently formed his Nascent Soul, his combat prowess rivaled even those at the Primordial Spirit, Mid Stage (Cultivation Realm).

Relying solely on this individual's own power, he was worth at least 2 or 3 Primordial Spirit, Early Stage (Cultivation Realm).

"Eldrin, you've finally arrived!"

As Eldrin spoke, Daoist Li Fire let out a heavy sigh of relief, grasping his arm and saying, "In the current situation, how to proceed must rely on your decision."

"Brother Li Fire, do not be hasty."

Eldrin nodded slightly. After gathering everyone and waiting for them to be seated, he began, "To know your enemy and yourself is the key to victory in every battle. Let us calculate the comparative strength of both sides."

"Very well."

Daoist Mingyuan nodded and said, "According to our current intelligence, among the primordial spirits that emerged from the inner region, there are a total of 20-3 individuals."

"Now that 4 fellow cultivators have been slain, only 19 Primordial Spirit Dao Lords remain."

Upon hearing this, everyone's expressions shifted slightly, a faint unease stirring within their hearts.

Chapter 1 The biting northern wind swept across the mountain ridge like countless icy blades. Lin Feng tightened his worn deerskin coat, his fingertips already numb from the cold as he continued digging for spirit roots in the frozen soil. "Still stubbornly holding on?" A mocking voice came from behind. "A mere mortal like you, digging for spirit roots in this blizzard—do you really think you'll stumble upon some great opportunity?" Lin Feng didn't turn around, recognizing the voice as belonging to Wang Hu, an outer sect disciple of the nearby Clear Void Sect. He simply tightened his grip on the iron pick in his hand. "Look at you, a foundationless mortal who's failed the spiritual root test 13 times." Wang Hu stepped forward, the snow crunching beneath his boots. "Even if you dug up a century-old ginseng, what use would it be? You think you can join our Clear Void Sect? Stop dreaming!" Lin Feng finally straightened up, his calm gaze meeting Wang Hu's arrogant eyes. "They say heaven's way provides a thread of hope for all living beings." Wang Hu burst into laughter, the sound echoing through the snowy valley. "Hope? In this cultivation world, spiritual roots determine everything! You have none—you're nothing but an ant!" Just as Wang Hu finished speaking, Lin Feng's pick struck something hard. A faint blue light emanated from beneath the frozen soil, accompanied by a strange warmth. Wang Hu's laughter abruptly ceased, his eyes widening in disbelief. "This... this is impossible!" Wang Hu stammered, "That's clearly the glow of a top-grade spirit herb! How could a mere mortal like you..." Lin Feng ignored him, carefully brushing away the snow and soil. A jade slip engraved with ancient characters lay quietly in the frozen earth, its surface shimmering with a soft blue light. "The Primordial Chaos Art (Cultivation Method)?" Wang Hu's voice trembled with greed. "Hand it over! A treasure like this isn't meant for a mortal like you!" A cold gleam flashed in Lin Feng's eyes. "Heaven's way provides a thread of hope—this is my chance." Wang Hu immediately formed hand seals, preparing to cast a spell. But before he could complete them, the jade slip suddenly erupted with dazzling light, enveloping Lin Feng completely. Countless ancient characters swirled around him like fireflies, then vanished into his brow. "You... you've obtained the inheritance!" Wang Hu stared in shock, then sneered, "So what? Without spiritual roots, you still can't cultivate!" Lin Feng closed his eyes, feeling the ancient cultivation method flowing through his veins. When he opened them again, his gaze was as deep as the starry sky. "Who says 1 must have spiritual roots to tread the path of cultivation?" A golden light began to gather at his fingertips, forming mysterious symbols in the air. The surrounding spiritual energy churned violently, as if paying homage to a king returning to his throne. Wang Hu stared dumbfounded, his voice barely a whisper: "The Primeval Body... the legendary Primeval Body that can cultivate without spiritual roots..." The snow fell heavier, but Lin Feng no longer felt the cold. A faint golden glow shimmered around him, melting the snow within a 3-foot radius. "A 100 years of searching in the dust, never knowing I was the 1 spoken of in legends." He looked at his palms, a faint smile gracing his lips. "The path of cultivation has never depended on spiritual roots, but on the heart."