Chapter 1216 : A Bane Beyond the Five Elements

"Exactly so!"

The newcomer nodded, his expression calm as he began to speak.

This Celestial Prison Clan [a clan of cultivators born from the world's baleful energies] member was of an immensely imposing stature. Two demonic horns sprouted from his head, a pair of blood-red bat wings stretched from his back, and his hands gripped a massive, crimson war blade.

"I have been watching you for a long time."

"Your Five-Colored Divine Light [a divine ability that manifests the power of the five fundamental elements] encompasses the Five Elements [the five fundamental elements of Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth]. As long as a thing of this Mortal Dust [the mortal world] exists within the Five Elements, your light can overcome and capture it all."

"You also possess a pair of Immortal Sword [swords of immortal grade] whose Slaughter [power of annihilation] is peerless. Even if a Ascendant Immortal 9th Tier [a cultivator at the ninth and highest tier of the Ascendant Immortal realm] wielding a Supreme-Grade Immortal Treasure [the highest grade of immortal artifact] were to attack, they would likely be no match for you."

The Celestial Prison Clan member spoke slowly, his face a mask of absolute confidence. "A pity, then, that we of the Celestial Prison Clan are born from the world's baleful and sinister energies."

"The cultivation arts we practice, the divine weapons we forge—all are condensed from this karmic malice, existing outside the Five Elements. We are your natural bane!"

Eldrin Chen listened quietly, giving a slight nod of acknowledgment.

The Celestial Prison Clan member's words held truth. His Five-Colored Divine Light was supremely effective against anything within the Five Elements, yet against this Celestial Prison Clan foe, it was utterly useless. Read the full novel exclusively on audio–novel.com.

Without the trump card of the Five Elements Divine Light, facing a foe at the Ascendant Immortal 9th Tier level, this battle indeed held several more variables.

After all, Eldrin Chen currently had no other Supreme-Grade Immortal Treasure to protect him.

Even so, he spoke calmly, "I have long heard that the Celestial Prison Clan is one of the Hundred Immortal Spirit Races and stands as the leader among the six great Hundred Races Immortal Spirits of this Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea."

"I have long wished to witness your prowess. Today, I shall seek to learn from you."

"Then prepare to die!"

With a furious roar, the Celestial Prison Clan cultivator violently spread the pair of wings on his back. A tide of Heavenly Fiend aura [a malevolent energy associated with celestial calamity] swept across the Heavenly Vault, and in the blink of an eye, he had closed the distance to stand before Eldrin Chen.

"Such an overwhelming, baleful aura!"

Eldrin Chen felt a slight chill at the center of his brow. Lifting his gaze, he saw the crimson greatblade already descending in a cleaving arc towards him.

Despite the ferocious, murderous intent of the oncoming assault, Eldrin Chen stood utterly unmoved, a mountain against the storm.

The power of the Primordial One Limitless Path Principles surged around his body, a torrent of immense force converging into his physical form. He met the blood-red blade with a palm strike, yet felt a sharp, stinging pain pierce his hand.

He could feel it—strands of baleful energy [a corrupting, malevolent force] had already invaded his palm and were relentlessly corroding his Immortal Body.

"Hmph—"

Eldrin Chen let out a cold snort. Within his body, his Primordial One Limitless Dharma Power instantly transformed, surging forth as Primordial One Primordial Solar Flame [the purest, most primordial form of solar flame] that instantly refined and purified the invading baleful energy.

Then, with a flick of his wrist, he summoned the Solar Fire Returning Abyss Sword. The Primordial One Primordial Solar Flame converged upon it, coalescing into a mighty Primordial Solar Immortal Sword that cleaved downward with immense force, repelling the blood-colored greatsword.

Not stopping there, the residual power of the Solar Fire Returning Abyss Sword continued unabated, forcefully parting the sea of Heavenly Fiend [a race of beings born from the world's most malevolent energies] aura and slashing directly toward the brow of the Celestial Prison Clan member.

"The Path Principles of the Primordial Solar Heavenly Flame?"

The Celestial Prison Clan member roared, a mixture of shock and fury flashing in its eyes.

Beings of the Celestial Prison Clan were born from the world's most primal baleful energies, granting them power far surpassing that of ordinary Immortal of the same realm. Yet, this very nature made them exceptionally vulnerable to being countered by Divine Ability [supreme supernatural techniques] such as the Primordial Solar Heavenly Flame [the ultimate yang flame of creation and purification] and the Solar True Flame.

Now, witnessing the Primordial Solar Heavenly Flame sweeping across the Heavenly Vault [the celestial dome; the sky], this Celestial Prison Clan member could no longer remain passive.

"This one possesses extraordinary talent and cultivates the Primordial Solar Heavenly Flame, which counters our Celestial Prison Clan most severely. Should he break through to the Earth Immortal Realm, he would undoubtedly become a grave threat to our clan."

"Our clan's grand plan is imminent; sooner or later, we will tear off all pretense of cordiality with the Human Race. This person absolutely cannot be allowed to live!"

As this thought flashed through his mind, the Celestial Prison Clan cultivator's killing intent surged to a boil. The Blood Prison Heavenly Blade in his hand churned with a tide of Heavenly Fiend [a being born from the most malevolent and destructive karmic energies] aura, as if intending to cleave apart an entire Great Thousand World [a vast and complete world within the cosmos].

Witnessing the overwhelming, sky-piercing killing intent emanating from the Celestial Prison Clan member, Eldrin Chen felt a flicker of suspicion. This killing intent seemed far too resolute, too unyielding.

"Perhaps he has been driven mad by the baleful energies he wields, lost to the frenzy of battle. Or perhaps... he truly intends to kill me."

"Regardless of the reason, he is merely seeking his own demise."

Eldrin Chen's heart stirred decisively. Holding back no longer, he unleashed his treasures in unison: the Polarity Void Mirror, the Bulwark Earth Sovereign Bell, and the Celestial Abyss Twin Swords. Continue reading this story at audio‑novel.com.

With Eldrin Chen's current level of cultivation, even without deploying a Supreme-Grade Immortal Treasure [the pinnacle class of immortal artifacts], he could easily handle two or three ordinary opponents of similar rank attacking him together.

The Celestial Prison Clan was indeed Extraordinary. This clan was born from Heavenly Fiend Karmic Power [the most destructive and malevolent form of karmic energy], their bodies saturated with boundless, endless baleful aura. Their combat prowess far surpassed that of ordinary Demon Immortals or Divine Spirits of the same tier.

Among the Human Race, the Demon Race, and the Divine Spirits, only the most exceptional elites could stand as their equals. An average Immortal would most likely be defeated in a one-on-one confrontation.

If not for the extreme rarity of the Celestial Prison Clan and their current lack of a supreme power at the Celestial Immortal [a high-ranking immortal realm] level to serve as their pillar, it would be difficult to say who truly held sway over the Western Essence Divine Abyss Sea.

When two such peerless powerhouses clashed, they plunged into a pinnacle duel from the very first moment.

This was a true battle at the apex. Neither side relied on the power of a Supreme-Grade Immortal Treasure [a treasure of the highest known grade for immortals], instead showcasing the ultimate combat prowess possible within the Ascendant Immortal Realm [the final major stage of immortal cultivation before the legendary Great Encompassing Realm].

Eldrin Chen had never been defeated by a peer in all his years of cultivation, finding few rivals even within the Ascendant Immortal Realm. This Celestial Prison Clan [a mysterious clan said to be born from the world's calamitous energies] cultivator possessed a foundation two minor tiers higher, engaging Eldrin Chen from the vantage of the Ascendant Immortal 9th Tier [the ninth and penultimate tier of the Ascendant Immortal Realm]. Their clash lasted for over nine hundred exchanges.

"Not quite at the level of the Great Encompassing Foundation [the foundational stage of the legendary realm beyond Ascendant Immortal], but approaching it."

Only after those nine hundred-plus exchanges did Eldrin Chen finally gain a slight upper hand, affording him a rare moment to assess his opponent from the Celestial Prison Clan.

This realization stirred profound astonishment within him. If every member of the Celestial Prison Clan possessed such combat prowess, the latent potential of this lineage was almost unimaginable.

"No."

An instant later, Eldrin Chen's mind cooled into clarity.

These beings of the Celestial Prison Clan were manifestations of the world's baleful and calamitous energies; their very strength was drawn from the miasma and tribulation-qi [the energy of cosmic calamities and heavenly punishments] permeating heaven and earth.

It was only during the advent of a Great Tribulation [a cataclysmic era where cosmic order breaks down]—when the world's pure energies waned, boundless baleful forces erupted, and all creation descended into chaos—that new members of the Celestial Prison Clan could be conceived and born.

Beyond this, the strength of the Celestial Prison Clan also originates from the Heavenly Fiend Karmic Power [a malevolent cosmic energy born from slaughter and calamity]. For any member of the Celestial Prison Clan to advance in their cultivation, they must stir up this baleful energy, unleashing boundless killing tribulations to progress further.

For this Celestial Prison Clan cultivator before him to possess such formidable power, the scale of slaughter he must have wrought could not be insignificant.

"Indeed!"

"Then you deserve death all the more."

As these thoughts flashed through his mind, Eldrin Chen solidified his resolve to kill.

No longer holding back, he unleashed the full, overwhelming power of his Primordial One Limitless cultivation base. It surged through his entire being. With a single stride, he struck out horizontally, sending the Celestial Prison Clan cultivator reeling through the air, blood spraying from his wounds.

"Agh...!"

Sent flying in defeat, the Celestial Prison Clan cultivator wore a look of utter disbelief.

He could never have imagined that with his own profound foundation and a cultivation realm two full levels higher, he would still be defeated by Eldrin Chen.

This impossibility fueled the flames of his killing intent, making them burn all the more fiercely within his heart.

He forcibly suppressed the murderous intent in his heart and turned to leave the stone pillar, intending to settle accounts with Eldrin Chen another day.

But at that very moment, countless divine chains woven from Path Principles [the fundamental laws and truths of the cosmos that cultivators comprehend and wield] interlaced and descended from the void.

Eldrin Chen activated the Primordial Solar Heavenly Flame Path Principles [a supreme divine ability manifesting the purifying flames of the primordial sun], flooding the void. Layer upon layer of Path Principles chains sealed everything, completely cutting off his path of retreat.

The Primordial Solar Heavenly Flame Path Principles of the Sky-Touching Realm [a supreme cultivation realm where one's power begins to touch the heavens themselves] were the bane of the Celestial Prison Clan. Furthermore, they were a fusion that culminated in the Primordial One Limitless Path Principles [the supreme, boundless law of the primordial unity], their power far beyond what ordinary Path Principles Power could compare to. No matter how frantically he struggled and charged against them, it was utterly futile.

Eldrin Chen showed no mercy. He simply channeled the overwhelming Primordial Solar Heavenly Flame [the purifying flames of the primordial sun] to refine his foe, grinding away a protective spiritual radiance from a Celestial Stele [a mysterious stone tablet of celestial origin] within the enemy's body. Then, he summoned the Solar Fire Returning Abyss Sword [a divine sword imbued with the power of solar fire and the abyss] and brought it down in a decisive strike, utterly annihilating the enemy's Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core and true essence of a high-level cultivator]. Access the full story on audio-novel .c om.