Chapter 890 Suppressing the Hatred

The master of the Endless Sky Pavilion passed into seclusion, and the mantle of overseeing humanity's affairs fell squarely upon Eldrin's shoulders.

Instead of returning immediately to the Eastern Wastelands (Location), he once again summoned the various Nascent Soul Dao Lords (Cultivation Rank) within the Tianya Haige (Sect/Site) for further deliberation.

In the grand hall of the Endless Sky Pavilion, numerous Dao Lords had gathered, each with a grave expression as subtle killing intent simmered beneath the surface.

A Dao Lord from the Central Ancestral Domain erupted in fury, his eyes blazing with killing intent as he declared, "The master of the Endless Sky Pavilion has fallen. Such a grave injustice cannot go unavenged."

"I propose we join forces to besiege the Vast Murky Marsh and slay the Black Dragon Demon Ancestor in 1 fell swoop."

Eldrin sat upright in the master seat, observing the righteous indignation burning in everyone's eyes. A faint sense of solace warmed his heart—at least he still had these fellow cultivators who shared his convictions.

At this thought, he waved his hand to signal the others to halt and said, "That vast marsh has been fortified by the Black Dragon Demon Ancestor for tens of thousands of years. It is now impregnable."

"If we exert our full strength, we might breach the Vast Marshes, but we would inevitably suffer mutual devastation, and I fear we still may not succeed in slaying that Black Dragon."

Eldrin spoke in a measured tone, analyzing the situation before them.

Though humanity currently holds the upper hand, they are far from invincible.

In the current Violet Realm, there remain 20-some Primordial Spirit demons—each a force to be reckoned with.

Not to mention the enemies such as the Black Lotus Demonic Womb and the Blood Demon Patriarch, all of whom were at the Primordial Spirit, Late Stage (Cultivation Realm).

Under such circumstances, even if they were to strike at the Black Dragon, they would be unable to launch an all-out assault.

Without a Ninth-Level Soul Projection cultivator as the main force, slaying this Great Perfection Soul Projection Black Dragon would be as difficult as scaling the heavens.

Most importantly, the group lacked the power to completely suppress the Black Dragon. Should the beast launch a desperate final assault, multiple Nascent Soul Dao Lords could perish.

It was precisely for this reason that, despite Eldrin's burning desire to flay the Black Dragon Demon Ancestor alive and tear out its sinews, he had no choice but to suppress the craving in his heart.

For a starved camel is still bigger than a horse, should he be gravely wounded by the Black Dragon’s desperate assault and rendered unable to act for hundreds of years, the prosperous tide of humanity might well be reversed in a single day.

If he were alone, he would undoubtedly find a way to slay the Black Dragon. But behind him stood the entire human race—he could not lead them all into such peril.

"Just a few more years. Once I break through to Primordial Spirit, Mid Stage, I will hunt down that Black Dragon Demon Ancestor until he finds no path to heaven nor earth to hide."

Suppressing the killing intent in his heart, Eldrin followed the others in saying, "Though we currently hold the advantage, we are surrounded by enemies on multiple fronts. It would be wiser for us to recuperate and build up our strength."

"With the Abyssal Cataclysm still 8 100 years away, what we lack most is time to mature. We mustn't confront him prematurely."

"But it is the grudge of the Master of the Endless Skies Pavilion."

Caelum the Wavestrider (Person Name) said with an icy expression, clearly wishing he could strike down the black dragon right then and there.

Beside them, Lyra (Person Name) also let out a soft sigh before remarking, "What a pity that when the Demigod Ancestor (Cultivation Realm) still walked among us, he never managed to slay that black dragon."

"The circumstances back then were different."

Eldrin shook his head and sighed, "Although the human race of the Violet Realm was immensely powerful in the past, they still needed the assistance of the realm's demons and monsters to fend off the extraterrestrial demons."

"That black dragon is the paramount powerhouse among the demon race. Once slain, it would surely send tremors through the very souls of both demon and monster clans."

Hearing this, everyone couldn't help but nod in agreement.

In the past, the Black Dragon had remained relatively subdued, having secluded itself within the vast marshlands for tens of thousands of years without emerging. It had even forged the Great Vow of Samsara with the human race.

Had that black dragon been slain then, not only would the Kunpeng Demon Sage, the Mysterious Turtle Patriarch, and even the 5 Poisons Patriarch—all primordial spirit demons—have been unable to sit idly by, let alone the dozens of other primordial spirit demons from the former Purple Realm.

Moreover, the Black Dragon was, after all, 1 of the 10 supreme powerhouses of the Violet Realm. None but a Demigod Ancestor (Cultivation Realm) could ever hope to slay it.

Moreover, he had operated within the vast marshlands for tens of thousands of years, laying down countless hidden contingencies and formations. While these measures might not necessarily hold back a Demigod Ancestor (Cultivation Realm), they were sufficient to provide early warnings and ensure his escape.

Once he escaped the Vast Marsh, the Boundless Purple Realm was vast and wide—capturing him again would be no easy task.

Thinking of all this, the group felt a slight heaviness in their hearts, their expressions tinged with reluctance.

Seeing this, Eldrin (Person Name) pondered for a moment before saying, "Though the Black Dragon is troublesome, it remains but a lone foe—hardly comparable to the existential threat posed by the Outer Realm Demonic Gods."

"Fellow cultivators, devote yourselves to diligent practice. In a few years, when our cultivation advances another step further, we shall surely behead that wretch to avenge today's humiliation."

After the conclusion of this grand assembly, the crowd dispersed 1 after another.

Eldrin did not linger, tearing through the void all the way to the Eastern Wastelands, and soon returned to the Myriad Ruins Continent.

He did not immediately return to Spirit Lake Continent. Instead, he arrived at the edge of the Vast Murky Marsh, gazing upon it with an expressionless face, his countenance chillingly cold.

Lyra strode forward and stood shoulder-to-shoulder with him, gazing upon the vast misty marshes. After a long silence, she finally spoke, "Still unable to slay the Black Dragon this time. How utterly galling."

"It's not that we cannot take action, but the certainty of slaying it is low, and we may lose several Dao Lords. The price is far too great."

Qing Ji approached and shook her head, saying, "Moreover, since my husband has chosen not to intervene, he must have his own considerations."

The 3 women, upon hearing this, still turned their gaze toward Eldrin, awaiting his response.

Eldrin remained silent, his gaze fixed upon the vast marshlands for a long while before he finally turned and said, "Given the Black Dragon's power, slaying it within these boundless wetlands would be nigh impossible."

Moreover, the current Black Dragon was undoubtedly on high alert; the slightest sign of trouble would likely send it fleeing into the wind.

At this point, Eldrin paused briefly before continuing, "We need to create a suitable opportunity to lure the snake out of its hole—only then will we have some certainty of completely eliminating it."

"Before that day arrives, I must devote myself to cultivation—swiftly advancing my cultivation base and strength."

As the words faded, Eldrin returned to within the Spirit Lake Continent.

In the days that followed, he began to immerse himself in cultivating various techniques and divine abilities, and life returned to its former tranquility.

Meanwhile, far away in the Star Archipelago, news of the demon clan's crushing defeat reached these shores.

The 3-eyed divine demon, stripped of its former arrogance, entered the grand hall with an expression of utmost solemnity.

"You have come."

In the grand hall, a graceful figure stood in serene silence. Upon his arrival, she spoke with tranquil composure.

The figure cloaked in black was none other than the Saintess of the Extraterrestrial Demon Tribe. She fixed her gaze upon the 3-Eyed Demon, a chilling sharpness gleaming between her brows as she spoke, "You dare return after such a crushing defeat in this battle?"

Saintess.

The 3-Eyed Heavenly Demon’s pupils contracted. He immediately cupped his hands and said, “This defeat was not due to any fault of mine. It is simply that the Guixu brat was far too powerful—even I could not fend off so many adversaries alone.”

"Enough!"

The Saintess of the Demon Clan immediately rebuked, a flicker of killing intent flashing in her pupils.

The crushing defeat in this battle was directly linked to the 3-Eyed Celestial Demon as the commander. Had the Outer Realm Celestial Demons not suffered devastating losses, she would have gladly imprisoned the 3-Eyed Celestial Demon within the Refining Demon Pagoda for a 1000 years of suppression.

Yet she knew full well in her heart that several Ninth-Level Nascent Soul demons had now fallen in battle, while the 9 Serenities Demon Sovereign remained secluded in healing.

Chapter 1 The biting northern wind swept across the mountain range, howling like countless vengeful spirits. Snowflakes swirled in the air, blanketing the jagged peaks in a layer of pristine white. At the summit of the highest mountain, a solitary figure sat cross-legged upon a protruding cliff, motionless as if carved from stone. Lin Feng's robes fluttered violently in the gust, yet not a single snowflake dared land upon him. A faint, shimmering barrier enveloped his form, repelling both the bitter cold and the falling snow. "1 100 years," he murmured, his voice barely a whisper yet carrying an inexplicable weight. "1 100 years of seclusion, and finally, I've reached the peak of the Foundation Establishment realm." He slowly opened his eyes, 2 beams of piercing light shooting forth like unsheathed swords. The snow around him instantly vaporized, creating a circular void in the swirling storm. A faint, almost imperceptible smile touched his lips. After a century of arduous cultivation, countless battles, and numerous near-death experiences, he had finally reached this pivotal moment. The next step was to attempt the Golden Core Formation. His gaze swept across the vast, snow-covered landscape below. Somewhere in these mountains, he knew, were others like him—cultivators seeking enlightenment and power in isolation. Some were allies; most were rivals. In the world of cultivation, strength was the only true currency. From his storage ring, he retrieved a small, exquisitely carved jade bottle. Removing the stopper, a rich, herbal aroma immediately permeated the air, so potent that the falling snow seemed to hesitate around him. "3 Foundation Establishment Pills," he whispered, his eyes fixed on the 3 crystalline pills glowing with a soft, golden light within the bottle. "Enough to increase my chances of forming a Golden Core by 30 percent." Each of these pills was priceless, capable of sparking wars among sects. He had obtained them after venturing into a perilous ancient ruin, nearly losing his life in the process. Now, they were his key to ascending to the next realm. He took a deep breath, steadying his mind and circulating his spiritual energy. The Qi within his dantian surged, flowing through his meridians like a great river. The time had come. Suddenly, his expression shifted. His spiritual sense had detected something—a powerful aura approaching rapidly from the east. At least 10 cultivators, all at the late Foundation Establishment stage, were heading directly toward his location. He quickly stored the jade bottle, his eyes narrowing. "The Profound Heaven Sect," he coldly uttered. He recognized their distinctive spiritual signatures. It seemed his prolonged seclusion had not gone unnoticed. A sharp, whistling sound pierced the air as a flying sword, glowing with green light, shot toward him like a viper striking its prey. Lin Feng didn't move. With a mere thought, his own magical treasure, the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss, materialized before him. It erupted in crimson flames, meeting the green sword in a shower of sparks. The clash of spiritual energy sent shockwaves through the mountain, triggering minor avalanches on distant slopes. "Lin Feng!" a thunderous voice boomed. "Surrender the Foundation Establishment Pills, and we may grant you a swift death!" 10 figures clad in white robes emblazoned with the Profound Heaven Sect's insignia descended, surrounding his position. Their leader, a tall man with a cruel scar running down his left cheek, glared at him with undisguised greed. Lin Feng rose slowly, the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss hovering protectively beside him. A cold smile finally graced his lips. "Elder Ming," he said, his voice deceptively calm. "You've come a long way to deliver your cores to me." Elder Ming's face contorted in rage. "Arrogant fool! Do you truly believe you can withstand all 10 of us?" "20-3," Lin Feng corrected softly. Confusion flickered in the elder's eyes. "What?" "20-3," Lin Feng repeated, his gaze sweeping across the surrounding cultivators. "That is the number of Profound Heaven Sect disciples I have slain since our feud began. It seems today I will add 10 more to that count." A deadly silence fell, broken only by the relentless howl of the wind. The falling snow seemed to grow heavier, as if heaven itself were holding its breath. The battle for ascension had begun.