Chapter 1136 : The Star Deity's Final Gambit

Behold, billions of starlights converged into a Stellar Grand Bell [a divine bell forged from the essence of stars], which descended to suppress Skywind the Daoist.

In that desperate moment, Skywind the Daoist forcefully activated his Gale Wind Divine Body [a physique blessed with the power of tempestuous winds] to barely withstand the blow. He was sent flying backward, blood spraying from his mouth.

The Stellar Grand Bell possessed immeasurable might, imbued with a rule power that suppressed all things. It continued its descent, seeking to crush Skywind the Daoist into nothingness within the void.

Fortunately, Eldrin Chen acted swiftly, channeling the Yin-Yang Dual Pole Pearl [a treasure pearl embodying the dual forces of Yin and Yang]. Instantly, the Yin-Yang Treasure Pearl intertwined, radiating billions of strands of Yin and Yang Dual Qi [the primordial energies of darkness and light]. At the critical juncture, it shielded Skywind the Daoist and blocked the assault of the Stellar Grand Bell.

"Alas!"

As everything settled, a sigh echoed through the void.

Eldrin Chen looked up and saw the wisp of Remnant Soul [a fragment of a soul that remains after death] belonging to the Nine Heavens Star Deity descend. After uttering a sigh of regret, it dissipated into motes of starlight, utterly annihilated.

"*Cough*—"

Skywind the Daoist spat out a mouthful of rebellious blood [blood forced upward by internal injury]. Gazing in horror at the Nine Heavens Star Deity's complete dissolution, he exclaimed with dread, "What ruthless scheming from this Nine Heavens Star Deity! To lay such a deadly trap even in death."

"Indeed," Eldrin Chen agreed solemnly. "The methods of this Star Deity were truly merciless." Original publication: audio novel.com - The source of this chapter.

Eldrin Chen also sighed, finally comprehending the machinations of the Outer Realm Star Deity [a powerful deity from the celestial realms].

That Nine Heavens Immortal Deities [a group of powerful celestial beings], on the brink of death, was still capable of unleashing a fourth World-Opening Divine Ability [a supreme technique of immense power]. Originally, he was confident he could slay Hemlock the Ancient Ancestor with it, yet he deliberately refrained.

He intentionally targeted a single individual, firing three consecutive Divine Ability [powerful supernatural techniques] to grievously wound Hemlock the Ancient Ancestor, then concealed the final strike within the Ancient Bell of the Starry Cosmos [an ancient, powerful enchanted artifact].

He had calculated long ago that Frost Malignancy Elder Demon would never let Hemlock the Elder Demon escape. This last blow was specifically reserved for Frost Malignancy Ancient Ancestor.

As he had foreseen, after Frost Malignancy Elder Demon slew Hemlock the Ancient Ancestor, he would come to claim the Ancient Bell of the Starry Cosmos.

At that moment, the final hidden Divine Ability within the Ancient Bell of the Starry Cosmos would be triggered. Caught off guard, Frost Malignancy Elder Demon would most likely be annihilated on the spot.

Yet, what he could never have anticipated was that Frost Malignancy Elder Demon would be slain by Eldrin Chen and Skywind the Daoist, causing the two of them to trigger the hidden attack instead.

Thinking of this, Skywind the Daoist was overcome with profound dread.

Had his Gale Wind Divine Body [a powerful, wind-attuned physical constitution] not reached perfection, granting him a physical defense surpassing even a High Grade Immortal Treasure [a top-tier enchanted artifact], an ordinary cultivator at the Ninth Level of Ascension to Immortality [the peak stage before true immortality] would have been obliterated in an instant by such a surprise assault.

And had it not been for the protective aura of Eldrin Chen's Yin-Yang Dual Pole Pearl [a magical treasure embodying the balance of opposing forces], he would likely have been slain or at least suffered catastrophic, life-threatening injuries.

At this thought, Skywind the Daoist [a cultivator of the Daoist path], his spirit still unsettled, bowed to Eldrin Chen and said, "Had it not been for Fellow Daoist [a respectful term for a fellow cultivator] intervening this time, this old man would surely have suffered grievous wounds."

"This humble Daoist offers his thanks."

"There is no need for such formalities."

Eldrin Chen shook his head, then spoke, "If you, Fellow Daoist, had not triggered the Ancient Bell of the Starry Cosmos [a powerful enchanted artifact] first, allowing me to act, I fear I might not have had time to activate the Yin-Yang Dual Pole Pearl [a defensive treasure harnessing opposing forces]."

"One could even say I should thank you for bearing a tribulation in my stead."

Even as he spoke these words, Eldrin Chen reminded myself inwardly that from now on, he must act with utmost caution. The final moments of any endeavor were the most critical; a single moment of negligence could turn triumph into tragedy, causing one to stumble at the very threshold of success.

With this resolve, Eldrin Chen continued channeling the Yin-Yang Dual Pole Pearl for protection and said, "Let us proceed carefully. Our first priority is to fully subdue the Ancient Bell of the Starry Cosmos."

"Agreed."

After that final counterattack, no further resistance emanated from the Ancient Bell of the Starry Cosmos. It was clear the Nine Heavens Star Deity [a celestial being of great power] had exhausted his hidden contingencies.

Once the Ancient Bell of the Starry Cosmos was fully refined and under control, Eldrin Chen watched as Skywind the Daoist swallowed a Healing Pill [a medicinal elixir for recovery]. He then inquired, "How severe are your injuries, Fellow Daoist?"

Skywind the Daoist replied, "My Immortal Physique [a cultivator's body refined to a near-immortal state] is perfected. Killing me is no easy feat; this wound is not fatal."

Seeing this, Eldrin Chen nodded, then turned his gaze to the shattered Sacred Mountain and said, "With the Star Spirit Lineage's Sacred Mountain destroyed, the treasures within have scattered to the winds."

"To prevent them from being lost forever, we must act swiftly and recover as many as we can."

"Agreed."

Skywind the Daoist nodded, immediately setting aside his recovery to join Eldrin Chen in scouring the heavens and earth for the scattered treasures.

The two of them labored for three full months, recovering roughly half of the artifacts lost to the world, before finally reconvening before the ruins of the Sacred Mountain. Continue reading this story at audio-novel . com.

Gazing at the devastated site, Skywind the Immortal produced the treasures he had found, his expression complex. "This Verdant Spirit Ancient Star [an ancient celestial ruin] truly lives up to its name as an ancient relic. It indeed held many preserved Ancient Immortal Scripture [esoteric cultivation manuals from antiquity]."

"A pity these Ancient Immortal Scripture legacies are too ancient. By now, most are incomplete, and many were lost in this great battle."

At this point, Skywind the Daoist produced a pile of ancient texts but shook his head with a sigh. "This old man also failed to find that particular manual on cultivating the Jade Marrow Golden Bamboo Shoot [a rare spiritual plant with jade-like marrow and golden shoots]."

Eldrin Chen merely smiled faintly, retrieving a scroll of ancient text. "Do not despair, Fellow Daoist [a respectful term for a fellow cultivator]. See what this is!"

"This is..."

Skywind the Daoist took the ancient scripture and looked at it, unable to suppress a look of ecstatic joy.

Upon the ancient scripture, he saw a line of large characters: "The Supreme Unity Golden Bamboo Cultivation Method, Upper Scroll".

Skywind the Daoist carefully picked up the ancient tome and began to read. After a long while, he exclaimed with wild delight, "The Supreme Unity Golden Bamboo, the Supreme Unity Golden Bamboo!"

"This Jade Marrow Golden Bamboo Shoot is actually a seedling of the Supreme Unity Golden Bamboo!"

Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod, a smile finally gracing his features.

Having Ascending to Immortality [reached the Immortal Realm] for many years now, Eldrin Chen's experience had grown vast, and he naturally understood the significance of the Supreme Unity Golden Bamboo.

The Supreme Unity Golden Bamboo was a Ninth Rank Immortal Treasures [artifacts of immense power used by Immortals] of astonishing, almost incalculable value, a supreme treasure even for a Heavenly Immortal Paragon [a pinnacle expert within the Heavenly Immortal realm].

This material possessed an edge rivaling that of 'Refined Supreme Gold' [a legendary metal of ultimate sharpness], coupled with the resilience of the Nine Heavens Immortal Bamboo [a mythical bamboo said to grow in the highest heavens], making it the premier Immortal Material [raw materials used to forge Immortal artifacts] for crafting an Immortal Sword [a sword wielded by Immortals].

Even mighty beings at the Heaven Immortal [a high rank within the Immortal cultivation hierarchy] level would scour the realms seeking the Supreme Unity Golden Bamboo, to use as the primary material for forging a Ninth Rank Supreme Immortal Sword [a sword of the highest grade attainable for an Immortal].

The scroll before him, the Supreme Unity Golden Bamboo Cultivation Method, contained the first half of the method for nurturing the Supreme Unity Golden Bamboo.

According to its records, once the Mystic Jade Golden Bamboo was cultivated to its absolute limit, it would undergo a metamorphosis into an immortal shoot.

That shoot was the Jade Marrow Golden Bamboo Shoot, a supreme treasure for cultivating an Immortal Physique [a perfect, immortal body]. However, if allowed to grow to its ultimate state, it would transform into an eighth-rank Jade Marrow Golden Bamboo.

That Jade Marrow Golden Bamboo, upon reaching its pinnacle, would then revert into a quasi-ninth-rank Supreme Unity Golden Bamboo Shoot.

Once the Supreme Unity Golden Bamboo Shoot matured, it would finally become the ninth-rank Supreme Unity Golden Bamboo.

The method before him was merely the first half of the Supreme Unity Golden Bamboo Cultivation Method, detailing the process for advancing the Mystic Jade Golden Bamboo into the Jade Marrow Golden Bamboo Shoot, along with techniques to accelerate the shoot's maturation.

The second half, conversely, recorded the method for promoting the Jade Marrow Golden Bamboo into the Supreme Unity Golden Bamboo.

"It is actually the cultivation method for the Supreme Unity Golden Bamboo... a pity only the first half remains."

After finishing his perusal of the Supreme Unity Golden Bamboo cultivation method, Skywind the Daoist let out a sigh, shaking his head in regret.

The second half of the Supreme Unity Golden Bamboo Cultivation Method was far too precious. Even for the Ancient Demon Race Celestial Court, it represented one of their true Deep-Seated Foundation [core, foundational secrets]. A mere place like the Verdant Spirit Ancient Star naturally had no right to possess such a legacy.

The reason why Verdant Spirit Ancient Star possesses the first half of the Supreme Unity Golden Bamboo Cultivation Method is that in the ancient times, Verdant Spirit Ancient Star was one of the production sites where the Demon Race Celestial Court cultivated the Jade Marrow Golden Bamboo. This content originates from audio~novel.com. Please respect copyright.