Chapter 37 : Echoes of the Ninefold Bell

By the time they had slain the second wave of Verdant-Striped Ape, they finally drew the attention of the Foundation Establishment Demonic Beast.

The sudden loss of over thirty Verdant-Striped Ape did not go unnoticed for long. The Demonic Ape Chieftain swiftly detected the anomaly and led its horde in furious pursuit.

"Run! Now!"

As the enraged apes surged toward them with murderous intent, the cultivators immediately channeled their Wind Riding Technique and fled toward the valley.

The valley lay a mere thirty Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] away—a distance their cultivation could cover in less than two Ke-time [one Ke-time equals fifteen minutes].

Yet the demonic apes were preternaturally swift. The group had covered barely a dozen Li-lengths before the Foundation Establishment Demonic Ape closed the gap. Eyes blazing with crimson fury, the beast lunged at them with lethal force.

The physical might of a Foundation Establishment Demonic Beast rivaled tempered steel. To let it close within striking distance meant being torn asunder.

In that moment of mortal peril, the Second Elder summoned forth the Bell of Nine Echoes, unleashing a radiant barrier that enveloped the group.

"BONG—"

A deafening peal resounded as the ape collided with the Bell of Nine Echoes and was hurled back a full hundred meters. Your portal to cultivation novels: audio - novel . com.

Second Elder's face flushed a deep crimson as he forcibly swallowed back a surge of reverse blood. "Go, now!" he commanded, his voice strained.

Wasting no time, the group seized the moment while the demonic apes were disoriented and injured by the Bell of Nine Echoes [a magical bell whose tolls resonate with devastating spiritual force]. They sprinted towards the valley, putting precious distance between themselves and the beasts.

In a desperate chase, the apes closed the gap several times, only to be repelled each instance by the resonant power of the Bell of Nine Echoes. Finally, the cultivators reached the mouth of the valley.

"Inside, quickly!"

They dashed into the valley's confines, successfully luring the pursuing apes in after them.

It was then they realized the Foundation Establishment Demonic Ape [a powerful beast equivalent to a Foundation Establishment realm cultivator], with its terrifying speed, had outpaced the first-rank apes, leaving its lesser kin far behind.

"A perfect opportunity."

Exchanging a determined glance, they immediately activated the Blazing Solar Skyfire Formation [a potent fire-based trap formation]. The six Formation Flags [enchanted banners used to anchor and power a formation] in their hands flared to life. In an instant, roaring flames erupted, transforming the entire valley into a blazing inferno.

They had prepared well, having strewn the valley floor with dry timber. These ordinarily worthless logs now fed the conflagration, amplifying the formation's fury by a third. The Foundation Establishment Demonic Ape was engulfed, its agonized howls piercing the air.

"Press the attack! Burn it to ashes in one go!"

Witnessing this, everyone's faces lit up with fervor. They channeled their power into the Formation Flags to refine and smelt the demonic apes within the flames.

The might of this second-rank formation was boundless. It burned the Foundation Establishment Demonic Ape until it lost all sense of direction, thrashing wildly and pitifully within the fiery confines of the array.

They had been burning for roughly the time it takes to drink a cup of tea when the main force of apes arrived. Dozens of the beasts, hearing the agonized cries of their patriarch, cast all caution aside and charged madly into the inferno to rescue him, only to be consumed by the towering flames.

"These apes..."

Eldrin Chen's expression shifted slightly. They had underestimated the Foundation Establishment Demonic Ape, and they had underestimated the combined might of nearly a hundred demonic beasts.

Though the Blazing Solar Skyfire Grand Formation was immensely powerful, incinerating so many beasts at once was draining their own reserves of True Qi [the cultivated vital energy within a practitioner's body].

His own Qi reserves were profoundly deep, far surpassing the ordinary, but the others were growing pale, their faces a clear sign of significant depletion.

This was especially true for the Second Elder, who was controlling the Bell of Nine Echoes [a magical bell whose tolls can produce nine distinct, powerful sonic effects]. He had earlier clashed directly with the ape patriarch several times using the bell, suffering backlash from the treasure's power, and had already sustained serious internal injuries.

Now, his face was as white as parchment, a clear indication that his excessive Qi expenditure was aggravating his wounds.

Seeing the situation turning precarious, Eldrin Chen swiftly handed a Qi Restoration Pill [a pill that aids in the rapid recovery of expended spiritual energy] to the Second Elder. "Take this, quickly," he urged.

"Qi Restoration Pill [a pill that restores a cultivator's expended Qi]?"

Second Elder let out a slight sigh of relief, snatched the pill, and swallowed it.

This pill could restore seventy percent of the true essence [the refined spiritual energy within a cultivator's body] for a cultivator at the Qi Refinement, Late Stage, instantly replenishing Second Elder's Qi [the vital energy that flows through all living things].

However, it seemed the backlash from forcefully clashing with the demonic ape using the Bell of Nine Echoes [a magical treasure that emits powerful sonic waves] had been severe, leaving his complexion still somewhat pale.

The great fire raged for nearly half a Shichen-time [one Shichen-time equals two hours]. After everyone consumed some pills and absorbed energy from several Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy], they finally managed to burn away most of the demonic apes.

"Just a little more effort. Now, aside from the Foundation Establishment Demonic Ape, only a few stragglers remain." For uninterrupted reading, go to audio-novel[dot]com.

Seeing their substantial gains, expressions of joy spread across everyone's faces.

Yet, in that very instant, Eldrin Chen's expression changed drastically. "Beware!" he roared.

For the Blazing Solar Skyfire Grand Formation [a powerful formation that channels solar and fiery energies] shuddered violently. The Foundation Establishment Demonic Ape at the heart of the flames spat forth its Demonic Core [the condensed essence of a demonic beast's power], unleashing a torrent of Demonic Core force that slammed against the formation.

The Demonic Beast Inner Core [the condensed essence of a demonic beast's power] housed the very essence of its being, tied to its life and death. It was a treasure never used lightly, but once unleashed, its power could shatter stone and startle the heavens.

The demonic beast spat forth its Demonic Core [the condensed life-force and power core of a high-level demonic beast]. Its radiance momentarily eclipsed the Blazing Solar Skyfire Grand Formation [a powerful formation channeling the essence of solar fire], shattering the formation's structure in a single, devastating blow.

However, having expended its power to break the formation, the Demonic Core dimmed significantly, its formidable energy clearly drained.

Seizing this opportunity, the Foundation Establishment Demonic Ape [a powerful ape demon at the Foundation Establishment realm] surged upward with a mighty leap, crashing out of the valley and charging forward with savage, murderous intent.

Witnessing the beast's rampage, a tremor of fear ran through the hearts of the assembled cultivators.

"Do not hesitate!"

"The ape has been tempered by the true flames; its mana is already exhausted. It now relies solely on its physical might to wreak havoc. This is our prime chance to slay it!"

At this critical moment, the Second Elder shouted decisively. As his words fell, he summoned his signature magical tool, the Red-Copper Demon-Piercing Shuttle [a piercing projectile weapon forged from red copper, effective against demonic entities].

Though this tool was merely First Rank High Grade [a high-quality artifact at the first rank of power], its offensive power ranked among the finest. Yet, as it shot forth, it merely pierced a small hole in the demon ape's hide, failing to tear through the muscle beneath.

The magical tools unleashed by the others inflicted only superficial wounds. Even the high-grade Law Sword [a sword imbued with Daoist principles and power] wielded by Chen Elara, being slightly less potent, rang out with a metallic clang upon striking the ape's body, sending sparks flying.

Witnessing this, Chen Elara could not suppress a look of shock and dread.

"This demonic beast's body is like tempered steel and forged iron, even a First Rank High Grade Magical Tool cannot harm it!"

"Beware!"

In that very instant, the demonic ape endured the pain and the assault of their magical tools, lunging forward to close the distance before the cultivators.

At the critical moment, Second Elder stepped forward once more, shouting loudly:

"Behind me!"

As his words faded, he forcefully summoned the Bell of Nine Echoes once again, transforming it into a vast, ethereal bell that shielded the group.

Then the Foundation Establishment Demonic Ape crashed into it, its massive form colliding with the Bell of Nine Echoes.

"BONG—"

A deafening crash erupted from the impact. Second Elder could no longer suppress his injuries; a mouthful of rebellious blood sprayed forth, and he instantly collapsed to the ground.

The illusory great bell formed by the Bell of Nine Echoes shattered with a thunderous roar. The Foundation Establishment Demonic Ape, its momentum spent, was sent hurtling backwards from the collision.

No matter how strong the physical body, its limits are finite; it could never compare to a magical tool of the same rank, forged through a thousand hammerings and a hundred refinements within an artificer's furnace.

Having lost its mana, this Foundation Establishment Demonic Ape dared to clash head-on with a second-rank magical tool and paid dearly for it, suffering several broken ribs from the impact.

"Now!"

"*Clang!*—"

In that fleeting moment, Eldrin Chen seized the perfect opportunity to strike. He unleashed the Crimson Iron Blade Embryo, which transformed into a crimson blade radiance aimed directly at the Foundation Establishment Demonic Ape's throat.

Yet, it was, after all, a Second-Rank Demon Ape. At the critical moment, it twisted its body, evading the fatal blow, but one of its arms was still severed by Eldrin Chen's strike.

With such a grievous wound, the demonic ape let out a shriek of agony, a flicker of fear finally appearing in its eyes as it turned and fled into the distance.

"We cannot let it escape!" Immerse yourself in the complete world at audio-novel.com (official site).