Chapter 1225 : Ancient Bell's Cleaving Strike

The single strike from the World-Opening Ancient Bell [a legendary bell said to have the power to cleave open primordial worlds] possessed force sufficient to cleave open an ancient realm. The terrifying might with which it came crashing down was utterly awe-inspiring.

It descended like an ancient bell tolling the World-Opening [the mythical event of separating heaven and earth to create the world], suppressing with immense weight. It forcefully slammed into the Black Serpent [a massive, powerful serpentine demon beast], sending the creature reeling backwards and wrenching it free from the Water Vein Blessed Land [a blessed land formed around a potent underground water spiritual vein] it had been coiled around.

Once separated from the Water Vein Blessed Land, the Boundless Black Serpent [a title emphasizing the immense size and power of this particular Black Serpent] was left exposed, its vital weak point—the spot seven-tenths down its body—now laid bare.

In that fleeting moment, the assembled cultivators seized the opportunity. The Celestial Abyss Twin Swords [a pair of divine swords], the Crimson-Azure Twin Dragon Swords [twin swords embodying the essence of crimson and azure dragons], and even the Crimson Dragon Sky-Scorching Sword [a mighty sword infused with the power of a crimson dragon] were unleashed in succession. Their combined assault tore viciously into the exposed weak point of the Black Serpent, rending flesh and sending gore flying.

Yet, even such a ferocious onslaught was insufficient to completely pierce through its monstrous flesh and deliver the killing blow to the Black Serpent.

"ROAR—!"

Agonized by the wound, the Black Serpent let out a pained, earth-shaking roar. It desperately tried to shield its vital spot while twisting its massive body to charge back toward the sanctuary of the Water Vein Blessed Land.

The cultivators, of course, had no intention of letting it retreat. Six Stars Immortal and the others channeled their power into the Heavenly Dragon Demon-Subduing Sword Formation [a powerful sword formation designed to suppress and slay demonic dragons], its countless sword energies continuously grinding and slicing at the serpent.

Eldrin Chen acted decisively, unleashing the Five-Colored Divine Light [a divine ability that manifests as a radiant, five-colored light capable of sealing and restraining]. The light cascaded down, and in an instant, it solidified around the Black Serpent like ethereal chains woven from the essence of the Five Colors [representing the five fundamental elements or phases: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth].

Although the binding of the Five-Colored Divine Light lasted for but a mere heartbeat, in the context of this life-and-death battle, that fleeting moment was more than enough to be fatal. Continue your cultivation journey at audio-novel.com (official site).

"BOOM—"

With a deafening crack of thunder, Eldrin Chen seized the fleeting moment to unleash the Great Five Elements Primordial Solar Divine Thunder.

This Great Five Elements Primordial Solar Divine Thunder was a supreme-level Great Vehicle Divine Ability. Empowered by the Primordial One Limitless Path Principles, its destructive force rivaled even that of a World-Opening Heavenly God Ability.

It struck the Black Serpent squarely at its vital point [the metaphorical "seven-inch" spot, a creature's weakest point], blasting a charred, gaping wound clean through its scales.

In that instant, heaven and earth trembled and roared.

Mortally wounded, the Black Serpent violently broke free from the Five-Colored Divine Light. Surging forth with boundless, baleful aura, it sent the various Immortal Treasure flying through the air.

Having repelled the assault of Immortal Treasure and Divine Ability, the Black Serpent erupted into a berserk frenzy. Abandoning all defense, it charged with overwhelming, sky-scorching malice, intent on slaughtering everyone before it.

"CRASH—"

In the blink of an eye, the seven Heavenly Dragon Demon-Subduing Sword were shattered. The eight Immortal forming the main array coughed blood and were sent flying backwards.

Exquisite Jiang and Verdant Consort also had blood trickling from the corners of their mouths. Their Crimson Dragon Sky-Scorching Sword and Crimson-Azure Twin Dragon Swords had been damaged, causing the two to suffer significant backlash.

Fortunately, Eldrin Chen activated the Polarity Dual Poles Pearl to protect the group, so none of them perished because of it.

"Wretched fiend, how dare you act so savagely!"

Witnessing the Black Serpent's rampant ferocity, Heaven Wind Path Master made his move once more.

He spat out a mouthful of his vital origin blood, pushing the Ancient Starry Firmament Bell to its absolute limit for a second time.

It could be seen that the Ancient Starry Firmament Bell began to spin with incredible speed, transforming in an instant into a boundless, immeasurably vast ancient bell. Its size was not merely tens of thousands of Zhang-lengths [one Zhang-length equals three point three three meters] but was grander than even a primordial world.

Even the Boundless Black Serpent, stretching for millions of Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters], seemed slightly inferior in comparison.

"SUPPRESS—"

Once the Ancient Starry Firmament Bell had expanded to its peak, Heaven Wind Path Master issued another command. The Ancient Starry Firmament Bell descended with a world-shaking crash.

Faced with the threat of the Ancient Starry Firmament Bell, the Black Serpent roared and surged upward like an ancient World-Opening primordial beast in a fury, each of its strikes seemingly capable of cleaving the savage heavens and earth asunder.

Yet, even so, when this ancient colossal serpent clashed with a World-Opening Treasure, it still found itself subtly at a disadvantage, its flesh and blood sent flying by the tremors of the impact.

"Everyone, do not hesitate, strike now!"

Seeing that he had momentarily suppressed the Black Serpent, Heaven Wind Path Master's face flushed crimson with strain.

Although the power of a World-Opening Treasure was immense, the consumption of spiritual energy required to activate it was equally tremendous.

With Heaven Wind Path Master's cultivation at the Ascendant Immortal 9th Tier, even exhausting all his spiritual energy would be insufficient to unleash its ultimate might.

Fortunately, during the great battle where they slew the Crimson Dragon Patriarch, Heaven Wind Path Master had obtained a Dragon Pearl of Supreme-Grade Immortal Artifact grade. Using it, he had refined a supreme auxiliary Immortal Treasure known as the 'True Dragon External Elixir'.

It was only by drawing upon the power of the True Dragon External Elixir that he could fully wield the strength of this World-Opening Celestial Immortal Treasure. Original English translation available at https://audio-novel.com.

Yet even so, when he first struck and sent the Black Serpent flying, Heaven Wind Path Master had already expended over half his spiritual energy. Now, the Immortal Essence [the purest form of energy used by immortals] within the External Elixir was also running low.

For this second strike, he had been forced to supplement the lacking Immortal Essence by burning his own Vital Essence Blood [a cultivator's life force and foundational energy, costly to expend], barely managing to unleash the attack.

Now locked in this contest of strength with the Black Serpent, the longer it dragged on, the greater the toll on him would be. Naturally, he dared not delay.

Eldrin Chen understood this perfectly. Without the slightest hesitation, he once again summoned the Five-Colored Divine Thunder. The cataclysmic bolt descended, crashing squarely onto the seven-inch vital point of the Black Serpent.

Verdant Consort and Exquisite Jiang also struck at the same moment. They channeled the Crimson-Azure Twin Dragon Swords into a unified strike, while the Crimson Dragon Sky-Scorching Sword plunged deep into the body of the Boundless Black Serpent.

"ROAR—"

With several Immortal Sword piercing its flesh, the Boundless Black Serpent roared in fury and thrashed violently. Yet, the Ancient Starry Firmament Bell continued its relentless suppression, pinning the colossal beast and denying it any chance of escape.

Seizing the moment, Eldrin Chen unleashed the full power of the Celestial Abyss Twin Swords, merging them into a single, blindingly brilliant Immortal Sword that shot forth like a shooting star, striking the serpent precisely at its seven-inch vital point [a critical weak spot on a serpent's body, analogous to the heart].

The sheer, unyielding sharpness of this final sword strike proved to be the proverbial last straw that broke the camel's back. It pierced completely through the Black Serpent's vital point, skewering its heart with devastating finality.

"Fall back, now!"

The moment the serpent's heart was pierced, Eldrin Chen immediately signaled for a retreat, leading his companions swiftly away from the mortally wounded beast.

As they withdrew, the Black Serpent erupted in its death throes, summoning a cataclysmic burst of power from its very core. With a final, earth-shattering convulsion, it managed to violently hurl the Ancient Starry Firmament Bell away.

"*Cough*—"

Struck by the violent backlash from his magical treasure being repelled, Heaven Wind Path Master coughed up a mouthful of blood and was sent flying backward, utterly drained and grievously wounded.

Eldrin Chen caught him and swiftly fed him a Healing Immortal Pill [a potent pill that mends severe injuries and restores vitality], his voice laced with concern as he asked, "Brother Heaven Wind, how badly are you wounded?"

"Cough! Cough!"

Heaven Wind Immortal coughed twice, a bitter smile on his face. "It's nothing critical. I've just lost a great deal of my vital essence [the foundational life force of a cultivator]. I'm afraid it will take tens of thousands of years of recuperation to recover."

"Alas!"

Eldrin Chen sighed, saying no more, and turned his gaze toward the Boundless Black Serpent.

They saw that after being struck by the Ancient Starry Firmament Bell [an ancient bell capable of suppressing vast areas with the weight of the cosmos], the serpent was now thrashing violently in the void. Waves of indescribable, immense power erupted from it, punching pockets of vacuum into the surrounding sea of Primordial Heavy Water [an ancient, incredibly dense and potent form of water].

Yet, witnessing this spectacle, the group couldn't help but reveal faint smiles.

The Black Serpent's vital core at its seventh-inch point [a mythical weak point, akin to the heart] had been pierced. It could no longer control its own power. What seemed like boundless, terrifying strength erupting from it now was merely its death throes.

There was little left for them to do. They merely needed to wait patiently for the Black Serpent to exhaust its remaining strength, and then they could deliver the final blow.

Thinking this, Eldrin Chen said with a smile, "This victory is owed to you, Fellow Daoist. Without your Ancient Starry Firmament Bell to pin it down, we might not have been able to slay this beast."

"You flatter me too much," Eldrin Chen replied modestly.

Heaven Wind Immortal's complexion had regained a touch of color, and he spoke with a hint of joy in his smile. "Though the Ancient Starry Firmament Bell [a legendary bell capable of shaking the heavens and suppressing demons] is mighty, unless an Earth Immortal Patriarch [a supreme cultivator who has transcended mortality and attained earthly immortality] personally channels its power, my own cultivation base alone could never have suppressed it to the point of death."

"That we managed to slay it in this battle was primarily due to your Immortal Sword [a divine weapon forged by immortals] and your formidable Divine Ability [a supreme supernatural power attained through cultivation]."

Watching the Black Serpent [a colossal, malevolent serpent demon] writhe in its death throes, the assembled immortals did not press their attack further. Instead, they began consuming Immortal Pills [elixirs refined by immortals to restore energy and heal wounds] to replenish their depleted Immortal Essence [the foundational energy of an immortal, the source of their power] and tend to their injuries. The complete novel can be found at audio novel.com.