Chapter 983 : A Pact Forged in Shadows

Eldrin, the Abyssal Emperor spoke with a measured tone, "Even so, I fear it may not be enough."

Arachne, the Demon Venerable let out a cold, drawn-out hum before replying, "That ancient Heaven Immortal legacy is a treasure beyond measure. For you, Elder Brother, to seek to monopolize it entirely is an act of excessive greed."

Upon hearing this, Calamity Demon God's expression shifted subtly, his pupils turning icy as he said, "What is it you desire, then?"

"What I seek..."

Arachne, the Demon Venerable let his words hang for a moment before continuing with a cold laugh, "Once our task is accomplished, I demand three-tenths of the ancient Immortal Relic."

"Granted!"

Contrary to expectations, Calamity Demon God agreed without hesitation.

Rising to his full height, his face a mask of indifference, he declared, "However, should you fail to devote your utmost effort, do not blame me for disregarding the bonds of brotherhood."

"Naturally."

Arachne, the Demon Venerable gave a curt nod, then turned his gaze towards the Purple Realm. "From the aura emanating from the Purple Realm, it seems that individual is at a critical juncture in his cultivation. The present moment appears to be a most opportune time." Visit http://www . audio-novel.com to enjoy the complete series.

"There is no need for haste at this moment."

Calamity Demon God [a powerful entity representing calamity and destruction] shook his head, his expression calm as he spoke: "He has only recently entered seclusion for cultivation and has not yet fully descended into the depths of profound meditation. If we were to act now, we would surely startle him awake from his secluded state."

"It would be better to wait a while longer. We can make our move when his cultivation is on the cusp of completion; it will not be too late then."

"Brother, your scheme is most cunning." Arachne, the Demon God [a demon god associated with webs and entrapment] could not help but smile, nodding in agreement: "At that moment, his Great Dao [the supreme path of cultivation and enlightenment] will be nearly realized, placing him in a precarious position where he can neither advance nor retreat with ease."

"We two can then transform into his tribulation of death upon the path to enlightenment, effortlessly increasing our chances of destroying him."

Eldrin Chen, who was deep in secluded cultivation, was unaware that the Extraterrestrial Demon God [a demon god from beyond this realm] had already summoned reinforcements.

At this moment, he had buried myself within the Five Elements Earth Vein [a powerful terrestrial energy ley line attuned to the five fundamental elements], using its power to draw upon the world's Five Elements Qi [the spiritual energy of Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth] to continuously saturate and fortify his physical form. He was cultivating the legendary Primordial Indestructible Body [a physique of mythical resilience, said to be unbreakable since the dawn of creation],

He felt this session of cultivation was proceeding with exceptional smoothness. Not only was his physical body steadily progressing towards perfection, but he was also utilizing the power of the Eastern Sovereign Bell [a divine bell of immense power, symbolizing eastern sovereignty] to gain insights into the profound force known as the Law of Primordial Chaos Metal [the fundamental principle governing the metallic aspect of primordial chaos].

Thus, time flowed swiftly by, the years slipping away unnoticed. In the blink of an eye, several centuries had passed.

During this period, the demons of the Purple Realm [a vast and mystical cultivation realm] were subdued, and the myriad demonic beasts lay dormant. It could be called the most peaceful era the Purple Realm had witnessed in one hundred thousand years.

This was the location of the Violet Realm's Demonic Abyss Heaven Scar, a place that had also been remarkably tranquil and peaceful, showing no signs of unusual activity.

Until this very day, when the various Nascent Soul Dao Lord of the Purple Realm suddenly felt their hearts palpitate with dread, sensing an ominous premonition of impending catastrophe.

"*Clang—*"

And from that Demon Abyss Heavenly Scar, a heaven-shaking, earth-sundering metallic clangor suddenly erupted.

In that instant, the song of a sword resounded through the vast cosmos. A blade-light capable of rending the heavens and splitting the earth pierced through the void, tearing open the Heavenly Scar from an immeasurably distant realm.

That Arachne, the Demon God had struck with its full power. The force of its concentrated sword strike actually pierced through heaven and earth, wounding the Purple Realm's World Will.

"*Boom! Rumble!*"

Immediately after, the Calamity Demon God braced open the Heavenly Scar with one hand and, with a flick of its sleeve, sent a palm strike slashing down into the heart of the Purple Realm.

In mere moments, the vast Zhou Heavenly Stars Grand Formation was torn asunder. The sky-obscuring Demon God breached the defenses and charged in alone, killing its way directly toward the Eastern Wastelands.

This Calamity Demon God was actually withstanding the world's power of the Purple Realm, using its physical body to invade the realm itself, determined to personally suppress and slay Eldrin Chen.

"Hmmmm—" [a deep, resonant hum]

In that very instant, the Heaven and Earth Will [the sentient consciousness of the world itself] of the Purple Realm finally reacted.

Instantly, thunder roared and lightning flashed between heaven and earth. Billions of thunderbolts crashed down upon the Calamity Demon God, while endless Laws of the Dao [the fundamental principles that govern reality] coiled and lashed towards it.

Yet the Calamity Demon God showed not a shred of fear. With a single hand, it propped up the heavens, simultaneously resisting the Heaven and Earth Will of the Purple Realm while bathing in the torrential storm of Laws of the Dao and thunder, charging forward with unstoppable momentum.

"Demon God! Demon God!"

In that fleeting moment, a palpable sense of urgency radiated from the Heaven and Earth Will of the Purple Realm. Continue reading this story at audio . novel . com.

The Purple Realm was no ordinary Great Thousand World [a major world within the cosmos]. Had the Calamity Demon God ventured into the Purple Realm alone, the world's will was confident it could have utterly suppressed and sealed the fiend within its bounds.

At that time, the Extraterrestrial Demon God [a demon god from beyond this world], trapped and crushed by the very heavens and earth, would have been like a turtle in a jar—facing the very real peril of annihilation.

But now, with the Demonic Abyss exerting pressure from beyond the firmament and the power of heaven and earth being held in check by Arachne, the Demon God, the Purple Realm found it difficult to completely subdue the Calamity Demon God in a short span of time.

In this moment of dire crisis, the Heaven and Earth Will immediately sent out a summons across the land, calling upon the Dao Lord [a supreme master of the Dao] of the Purple Realm to lend their aid.

The Nascent Soul Dao Lord [powerful cultivators whose souls have ascended to a nascent, immortal state], sensing the fluctuations of heaven and earth, instantly became aware of the impending crisis.

In the very moment the Purple Realm's World Will [the collective consciousness and defensive instinct of the world itself] held back the Calamity Demon God, one Nascent Soul Dao Lord after another soared into the skies, charging with desperate fury towards the Eastern Wastelands.

Among these Demigod Ancestor [cultivators of immense power, half-step to divinity], the Master of the Dao Palace was the first to arrive at the Eastern Wilderness.

Seeing the Calamity Demon God gather the very power of heaven and earth to deliver a fatal blow to Eldrin Chen, the Master of the Dao Palace gritted his teeth and forcefully activated the Eight Trigrams Immortal Refining Formation [a supreme formation based on the eight trigrams, capable of refining even immortals] to block the Calamity Demon God.

In an instant, the Eight Trigrams Immortal Formation enveloped the void. Eight supreme forces flooded the heavens, the earth, and the mountains where Ronan stood, coalescing into a formidable Formation [a structured array of power, often used for defense, attack, or cultivation] that barred the path of the Calamity Demon God.

"An ant shaking the heavens, overestimating its own strength!"

Gazing coldly at the Master of the Dao Palace who stood defiantly before him, the Calamity Demon God spoke with disdain. Then, with a world-shattering roar, he threw a fist forward.

The chasm between immortal and mortal was as vast as that between cloud and mud. Moreover, the Calamity Demon God was a powerful Demon God [a supreme entity among demonic cultivators] who had traversed far along the immortal path.

Such a heaven-shaking Nine Heavens True Demon [a demonic entity of the highest order], even while single-handedly supporting the weight of the world, possessed a residual might capable of rending the skies and splitting the earth. With every gesture, Demonic Dao Law [the fundamental principles and edicts of the demonic path] followed in his wake, piercing through all that stood before him.

"*Cough*—"

In the span of a single breath, the Eight Trigrams Immortal Refining Formation shattered into nothingness, and the Master of the Dao Palace was instantly reduced to ashes by the tribulation's fury.

"Brother..."

In that instant, a sound of profound grief and anguish tore through the void.

The Human Race Dao Lords who arrived a step too late witnessed this scene, their faces turning ashen, despair etching itself upon their features.

Though the Master of the Dao Palace's cultivation, driving the Eight Trigrams Immortal Refining Formation, was far from matching the combined might of eight supreme Primordial Spirits, it was still a power in the mortal realm closest to that of a Quasi-Immortal. Yet, it could not withstand a single strike from the Demon God.

For a moment, utter despair washed over the assembled figures.

"Who dares stand in my way?"

The Extraterrestrial Demon God, having crushed the Master of the Dao Palace with overwhelming momentum, now single-handedly held back the very forces of heaven and earth. Bathed in a sea of Heavenly Thunder Tribulations, it advanced with a terrifying onslaught, its aura so oppressive that the gathered Human Race Dao Lords found themselves bereft of the courage to even raise a hand in opposition.

"Hahaha!"

Seeing this, the Calamity Demon God let loose a maniacal laugh. Its unstoppable assault, its momentum undiminished, crashed down towards the Five Elements Earth Vein.

This blow carried the power of gods and demons. If it had landed fully, it is likely the entire Myriad Ruins Continent would have been shattered and sunk. Eldrin Chen, who was cultivating within the Five Elements Ancestral Veins, would likely have been forced to end his seclusion prematurely.

If Eldrin Chen, in the depths of his secluded cultivation, were to take this strike completely unprepared, even if he survived, he would undoubtedly be forced to emerge early. The chance for his Primordial Indestructible Immortal Physique to reach perfection would likely be lost forever.

Yet, in that very instant, the void fell into absolute silence.

In a Ksana-time [an infinitesimal unit of time], the void itself seemed to freeze. A figure of peerless grace and bearing tore through the fabric of space, meeting the attack head-on with a single, decisive palm strike.

"BOOM—"

Heaven and earth trembled violently.

A blinding, deafening explosion erupted as the two titanic forces clashed. The terrifying power rent countless fissures in the void, and the Heaven and Earth Law [the fundamental laws governing the cosmos] churned into violent chaos.

When the tumult finally subsided, the Calamity Demon God found itself forced to a halt, its gaze fixed with utmost gravity upon the figure before it.

There, hovering in the air, stood Lyra Jiang, her expression icy as she stared down the demonic entity.

"Lunar Immortal Physique!"

After a moment of silence, Calamity Demon God spoke coldly, his tone tinged with a note of astonishment.

With his hands clasped behind his back and a serene expression, he stated, "Even within the Immortal Realm, the Lunar Physique is considered a top-tier Immortal Physique. Cultivated to its ultimate form, it can command the cosmic authority of the Great Yin [the primordial feminine, passive, and lunar principle of the universe]."

"To have forged such an Immortal Physique marks you as possessing peerless immortal grace. Were you not to perish prematurely, you would undoubtedly ascend to at least the late-stage Immortal realm in the future."

"A pity, then, that I am far beyond the measure of ordinary immortal-slaying fiends. Do not presume that merely because you have not yet attained immortality—even if you had already weathered the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation—you could ever hope to be my match!"

As his words fell, the Calamity Demon God mobilized a cataclysmic surge of Law Power [the power derived from comprehending and wielding a fundamental law of the cosmos]. With a mere flick of his sleeve, he unleashed a palm strike that sought to suppress all before him, simultaneously channeling the might of his Demon God physique and the profound Laws of the Dao [the fundamental principles governing reality] in a devastating horizontal assault.

Faced with such a world-shaking blow, even Lyra Jiang dared not be negligent. She forcefully activated her Lunar Immortal Physique, unleashing a power capable of rending heaven and splitting earth in a counter-strike that met the Calamity Demon God head-on.

Yet, in the fleeting instant of their collision, Lyra Jiang was sent hurtling backward, a trickle of blood escaping the corner of her lips.

Though her Lunar Immortal Physique had been forged, she had not yet undergone the final Nine Heavens Heavenly Tribulation [the supreme heavenly trial required to become a flawless immortal]. She was not yet one of the flawless, unblemished Nine Heavens Immortal Demons [a legendary rank of supreme demonic beings], and thus her power was still insufficient to truly contend with the Calamity Demon God.

At this moment, however, she knew with absolute clarity that she could not retreat. For if she fell back, no one else could stand against the Calamity Demon God.

Gritting her teeth, she marshaled her Mana [the refined spiritual energy used to power spells and techniques] once more, soaring into the air again. Relying on the formidable strength of her Lunar Immortal Physique, she charged forward to meet her foe.

"Overestimating your own strength!"

Calamity Demon God [a supreme entity of calamity and destruction] furrowed his brow and, with a surge of overwhelming power, once again unleashed a force to suppress Lyra Jiang.

In that fleeting moment, a battle of earth-shattering proportions erupted between them. One was a mortal with an Immortal Physique [a body constitution of legendary purity and power, said to befit an immortal], the other a Nine Nether Demon God [a supreme demonic entity from the deepest hells] whose might rivaled that of a Creation Realm Immortal [an immortal being who has attained the Creation Realm, a pinnacle of cultivation]. This clash could be called unprecedented in the Purple Realm [a vast and ancient cultivation world] for hundreds of thousands of years.

"*Cough*—"

Relying on his own supreme and boundless might, the Extraterrestrial Demon God [a demon god originating from beyond this world] unleashed eight consecutive full-power strikes, ultimately sending Lyra Jiang flying, grievously wounded.

"Damnation!"

Even as he saw Lyra Jiang severely injured, the Calamity Demon God wore an expression of extreme gravity.

During this battle, Arachne, the Demon God [a demon god associated with webs and entrapment] had torn open the Heavenly Scar [a profound rift in the fabric of the world] at an inopportune time, enduring unimaginable pressure.

Now, as the Purple Realm's World Will [the conscious will and defensive instinct of the Purple Realm world itself] gradually recovered, Arachne, the Demon God was nearing the limit of his endurance.

Once the Heaven and Earth Will [the combined will of heaven and earth, governing natural order] was sealed shut once more, the Calamity Demon God would be trapped within the Purple Realm. At that point, the realm would spare no cost to annihilate him, and he himself would face the peril of true annihilation.

With this thought, he turned his gaze toward Lyra Jiang and declared, "Tens of thousands of years ago, during the battle at Myriad Tribulations Thunder Mountain, I alone faced six Immortal Treasure [supreme enchanted artifacts of the Immortal Realm] and several dozen Demi-Immortal [cultivators who have ascended to the threshold of immortality]. Yet, I expended barely over ten moves."

"In the battle eight Millennium [a cycle of one thousand years] ago, when I suppressed and slew Qiyuan Chen, it required merely three moves from me."

"Now, you alone have withstood eight of my moves. This proves you far surpass that Qiyuan Chen, and indeed outshine those several dozen Demi-Immortal from that bygone era."

"Though I cannot slay that whelp Eldrin Chen, cutting down you today and severing one of his arms will suffice!"

As the words of the Calamity Demon God [a primordial deity of cataclysm and ruin] fell, he gathered the power of his vast Demonic Dao Law [the fundamental principles of the Demonic Path], resolved to unleash a final, desperate, fatal strike upon Lyra Jiang regardless of the cost.

The Calamity Demon God, with power enough to shake heaven and earth, unleashed a blow at full strength—one that even a true Immortal [a being who has ascended to immortality] would dare not face head-on. As it thundered down toward Lyra Jiang, it brought with it a sensation so overwhelming it felt like suffocation.

"*Clang—*"

Yet, in that very instant, two dazzling streaks of sword light shot across the void, striking directly toward the Calamity Demon God.

In a flash, the brilliant sword light swept past, carving two deep gashes upon the form of the Calamity Demon God.

"The Heavenly Separated Twin Swords!"

The Calamity Demon God roared, its Demon God strike crashing horizontally against the Heavenly Separated Twin Swords, sending the two Immortal Sword [divine blades wielded by powerful cultivators] flying back with a mournful shriek.

The residual force slammed Lyra Jiang into the bottomless Netherworld [a dark, underworld realm], yet it ultimately failed to slay her in time.

Bathed in endless Heavenly Thunder Tribulation [divine lightning punishment from the heavens], the Calamity Demon God had forced its hand against the power of heaven and earth. Having unleashed only nine all-out blows, it was now at the end of its strength, a spent arrow from a crossbow.

Its eyes blazing with fury, it cast one last glance at the grievously wounded Heavenly Separated Twin Swords, then surged toward the Demon Abyss Heavenly Scar [a celestial rift leading to the demonic abyss] with bitter regret, barely managing to fight its way out before the Heavenly Scar [the celestial rift] sealed shut.

"Hmmmm—"

After the Calamity Demon God retreated, the Heavenly Separated Twin Swords vanished from the world.

To protect Lyra Jiang, the swords had awakened of their own accord. Yet, without Eldrin Chen to wield them, the Immortal Sword could not unleash their full power. Though they had blocked the Calamity Demon God, their sword spirits [the sentient consciousness within a divine blade] were now severely wounded.

Emerging from the Heavenly Scar, the Calamity Demon God wore an expression of terrifying, icy calm.

"Where are the Three Demon Consorts, the Nine True Demon Scions, and the Heaven-Demon Army?" it bellowed.

At its roar, nearly one hundred Heaven-Demon [powerful demons from the celestial realms] surged forth from the void. At their head were nine figures whose cultivation had reached the Ninth Layer Nascent Soul [the pinnacle stage of the Nascent Soul realm].

And those Three Demon Consorts were none other than the concubines of the Calamity Demon God, their cultivation having reached the lofty Half-Immortal Realm.

Among these Heaven-Demon, the Nine True Demon Scions were the direct bloodline descendants of the Calamity Demon God, the Three Demon Consorts were his consorts, while the remainder were Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon he had nurtured over the course of three Millennium.

Seeing now that slaying Eldrin Chen was beyond reach, the Calamity Demon God could only settle for the next best course: to prevent Eldrin Chen from successfully cultivating the Primordial Chaos Indestructible Body.

His gaze fixed coldly upon the Purple Realm, he commanded, "You shall immediately invade the Purple Realm. Spare no cost, no sacrifice, to destroy the Five Elements Ancestral Veins."

"We obey!"

The assembled Heaven-Demon acknowledged the order, a vacant, dazed look clouding their pupils. Clearly, the Calamity Demon God, fearing their reluctance, had seized complete control of their Life Soul.

Watching the hundred-plus Heaven-Demon charge inward, Arachne, the Demon Venerable remarked with icy detachment, "These whelps alone may prove insufficient. I shall dispatch my seven Sword-Slaves as well to ensure the Five Elements Ancestral Veins are laid to ruin."

As Arachne, the Demon Venerable's words fell, seven figures clad in black robes surged into the heart of the Purple Realm.

The aura emanating from these seven was shockingly potent, far surpassing those under the Calamity Demon God's command. They were, in fact, seven Heaven-Demon of the Half-Immortal Realm.

Witnessing this, the Calamity Demon God gave a grim nod of approval. In his view, so long as Eldrin Chen's Dao-path was severed, preventing him from achieving a perfected physique, myself would hold Eldrin Chen firmly within my grasp.

Although it would likely be difficult to cross realms and slay him thereafter, he was confident he could strike when Eldrin Chen underwent his Heavenly Tribulation [the catastrophic trial of lightning and calamity faced by cultivators to ascend to higher realms].

Calamity Demon God [a supreme demonic entity embodying cosmic ruin] had a vague premonition: if Eldrin Chen's Immortal Physique [a legendary body constitution that grants immense power and longevity] advanced another step, he feared he would no longer have the certainty to kill Eldrin Chen.

"BOOM—"

Simultaneously, within the Purple Realm [a higher-dimensional plane of existence], hordes of Nascent Soul Celestial Demon [powerful demons possessing a nascent soul cultivation base] swarmed in, charging straight towards the Eastern Wastelands.

In that instant, the various Dao Lord [supreme masters who have comprehended a fundamental Dao principle] clashed with the Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon [demonic beings from beyond this world], and a brutal, large-scale battle erupted.

This was a war with no victor. The Heaven-Demon [a general term for powerful, otherworldly demons] under the command of the Extraterrestrial Demon God [a demonic deity from beyond the known cosmos] advanced in a mindless, frenzied state, utterly devoid of fear.

Ordinary Heaven-Demon were one thing; the Nascent Soul Dao Lord [Dao Lords at the Nascent Soul cultivation stage] within the Purple Realm could still manage them. However, the Three Demon Consorts [three consorts of a demon sovereign, each possessing immense power] and the Seven Sword Slaves [seven elite sword-wielding demonic enforcers] were Heaven-Demon of the Half-Immortal Realm [a realm bordering true immortality], and their strength was terrifyingly formidable.

The number of Human RaceDemi-Immortal [human cultivators at the Half-Immortal stage] was already insufficient, let alone with the strongest among them, the Master of the Dao Palace, having already fallen.

Thus, from the very outset of this great battle, the human forces began to retreat step by step. Several Demi-ImmortalHeaven-Demon broke through the encirclement and surged into the heart of the Myriad Ruins Continent. This chapter is part of a larger work available at @udio-novel.com.