Chapter 46 : Blazing Vengeance and Shattered Escape

Simultaneously, Eldrin Chen in the outside world guided the sword embryo to pivot. The sword radiance carved a dazzling arc across the heavens and, with a resonant *clang*, severed the head of Zuo Zhouqi.

This young Foundation Establishment Cultivator [a practitioner who has solidified their foundational cultivation base], merely in his sixties with over a century of lifespan remaining, was thus utterly slain. Not even a Nascent Soul True Lord [a cultivator whose primordial spirit has matured into an independent entity] could bring him back.

Witnessing the death of Zuo Zhouqi, Zhang Vorgath finally revealed a look of terror. All will to fight deserted him. Without hesitation, he snapped three of his own fingers and unleashed the Blood Escape Technique [a forbidden art that consumes life essence for immense speed] to flee for his life.

The Blood Escape Technique was exceedingly swift. Eight years prior, this demon had used it to breach the Blazing Solar Skyfire Formation [a defensive array channeling the power of the sun and skyfire] in a surprise attack, slaying seven of the Chen Clan's Clan Elder.

Back then, the Old Patriarch had unleashed the Blazing Heaven Sword [a supreme sword technique embodying celestial flame] in bitter hatred, yet the demon had relied on this very technique to escape with his life from Chen Thalion's grasp.

Now, as the technique was employed once more, Eldrin Chen realized he could not close the distance in pursuit.

However, the elder demon had flown no more than a hundred zhang-lengths [one Zhang-length equals three point three three meters] when he collided headlong with a wall of Blazing Solar Skyfire. A piercing shriek tore from his throat as the Blood Escape Technique was shattered, and he crashed heavily to the earth.

It was the Third Elder and his five companions. Disregarding their injuries, they had forcibly activated the Blazing Solar Skyfire Formation, causing Zhang Vorgath to fly straight into a trap of his own making.

"Spare me! Have mercy!"

"This old one's entry into the Demon Cave Cavern was merely a matter of dire necessity!" Access the full story on audio-novel*com.

At the brink of death, the old demon revealed a look of terror. Gazing at Eldrin Chen, he pleaded for mercy repeatedly.

Eldrin Chen lifted his eyes and saw that the demon had lost an arm, all its fingers were gone, and its flesh was so badly burned it was unrecognizable, emitting a sickening, charred stench.

With such grievous wounds, even if Zhang Vorgath survived, the Blazing Solar Skyfire [a purifying celestial fire of extreme yang nature] that had invaded his meridians would torment him day and night, condemning him to a life of perpetual agony.

"When you ambushed the Clan Patriarch and slaughtered seven of our Clan Elders, when you ordered the blood sacrifice of three thousand mortals from our Chen Clan's Pingyuan Town, when you sought to use the hundred thousand blood descendants of my clan to refine your Blood-Transmuting Demon Blade..."

"Did you ever imagine this day would come?"

"You broke the Blazing Solar Skyfire Formation and slew seven of our Clan Elders. Now, you meet your end by that same Blazing Solar Skyfire Formation. Such is the wheel of karma, where retribution is inescapable."

Eldrin Chen let out a sigh. The sword embryo transformed into a streak of sword light that descended, cleaving Zhang Vorgath in two.

Though the telling is slow, all this transpired in the blink of an eye.

From the death of Zuo Zhouqi to the slaying of Zhang Vorgath, it all happened within the span of a few breaths. By the time the remaining few reacted from their shock, it was already too late.

In this life-or-death moment, the remaining foes each summoned their magical tools, seeking to seize the chance as they entered the formation to kill Chen Thalion.

Yet the Old Patriarch [the venerable leader of the Chen Clan] possessed profound combat experience, and within the Separated Flame Soul-Burning Formation [a powerful formation that harnesses soul-scorching flames], his power surged like a fish in water. How could they possibly hope to slay him?

In the span of mere breaths, Eldrin Chen had resolved his own battle and charged over directly.

Upon entering the formation, Eldrin Chen immediately sought out Lin Taihe, relieving a portion of the pressure on the Old Patriarch.

That Lin Taihe, already struggling against the formation's raging Separated Flame [a mystical flame capable of searing both body and soul], now faced the onslaught of Eldrin Chen. He was instantly overwhelmed, forced to maintain his defensive magical tool with one hand while desperately commanding his two other artifacts to duel Eldrin Chen.

Meanwhile, Chen Thalion recovered from the spiritual drain of wielding the Blazing Heaven Sword [a supreme sword technique that channels heavenly fire]. His gaze turned icy as it fell upon Zuo Mingxu and Hong Morgrim, his mind calculating who should receive his next strike.

Between these two, Hong Morgrim possessed deeper cultivation and a formidable Demonic Treasure [a powerful artifact forged with malevolent energy], yet he was utterly stifled by the Separated Flame Soul-Burning Formation, able to muster only six or seven-tenths of his true strength.

Especially after his signature treasure, the Black Blood Canopy [a defensive canopy woven from cursed black blood], was destroyed, the demon dared not deploy another Demonic Treasure. He could only rely on a single Black Radiance Law Blade [a sinister blade emitting dark light] and a Golden Sphere Magical Tool [a golden orb artifact] to face his foes.

Zuo Mingxu's cultivation was slightly weaker, but his arsenal was versatile. This Clan Patriarch of the Zuo Clan had exhausted the Clan Treasury [the clan's repository of wealth and resources] for this campaign, somehow acquiring two Second Rank High Grade [a classification denoting high quality for artifacts of the second tier] magical tools.

Besides the ancient bronze defensive pagoda, he possessed a violet treasure mirror that could project streams of amethyst light.

This mirror-radiance could pierce the protective barriers of magical tools and even wrest control of a cultivator's artifacts. Furthermore, any cultivator ensnared by its glow would find their internal True Essence [the refined spiritual energy cultivated within a practitioner's body] turning sluggish and difficult to circulate, causing their combat prowess to plummet precipitously.

Alas, Zuo Mingxu's cultivation was insufficient; he could only unleash seventy percent of the treasure's power. Its light could not pierce the surging Separated Flame [a mystical fire that separates and burns the soul] of the Separated Flame Soul-Burning Formation, and thus posed no threat to the Old Patriarch.

Chen Thalion cast a glance at Zuo Mingxu, a flicker of killing intent flashing in his eyes.

"This cur has fought until now; his Spirit Talisman [enchanted paper slips that store and release spiritual energy] are likely exhausted by the Separated Flame Soul-Burning Formation. Moreover, he has repeatedly activated Second Rank High Grade magical tools, depleting his mana. With his defensive treasures gone, he is ripe for a single, fatal strike."

"As for that Hong Morgrim, though seemingly cornered, he is, after all, a cultivator of the Foundation Establishment, Late Stage. A single blow from me may not finish him."

"It is better to first slay Zuo Mingxu, then use the Separated Flame Soul-Burning Formation Flags to slowly refine this demon to death."

No sooner thought than done. The Old Patriarch once more channeled the Blazing Heaven Sword. The onlookers saw only a dazzling sword radiance soar into the sky before clanging down upon Zuo Mingxu. The story continues at site: audio-novel.com.

"Disaster!"

Seeing the Blazing Solar Skyfire Sword descending upon him, Zuo Mingxu's heart sank.

He desperately mustered his Violet Treasure Mirror and Mingxu Sword to block, but they were instantly sent flying. The sword light, brilliant as the sun, continued its unstoppable descent.

"My life ends here!"

As his final thought flashed through his mind, Zuo Mingxu was cleaved in two by the sword strike.

"BOOM—"

And in that very instant, Hong Morgrim seized a sliver of a chance for survival.

He forcibly self-destructed several of his Demonic Treasure in succession, blasting open a corner of the Separated Flame Soul-Burning Formation [a powerful formation that uses separated flame energy to incinerate souls]. Then, he executed the Blood Escape Technique [a forbidden technique that uses one's own lifeblood to achieve a burst of extreme speed] and shot into the sky, vanishing beyond the horizon in the blink of an eye.

"Chen Thalion, I have experienced the power of your Separated Flame Soul-Burning Formation today,"

"But I will remember this debt of vengeance!"

"How decisive."

Watching Hong Morgrim escape, Chen Thalion remarked with a cold sneer.

The timing of the old demon's escape was impeccable. Had Chen Thalion not been devoting most of his focus to channeling the Blazing Heaven Sword [a supreme sword technique that manifests a blade of scorching celestial fire] at that moment, even a slight delay would have trapped the fiend within the Separated Flame Soul-Burning Formation, turning him into a turtle in a jar.

Seeing Hong Morgrim flee, Lin Taihe's face twisted in despair. He turned to Chen Thalion and begged for mercy.

"Fellow Daoist Chen, for the sake of our past acquaintance, spare my life."

"Do you remember? That year at Celestial Ruins Mountain, I even treated you to tea."

"Such poor composure at the brink of life and death." Chen Thalion shook his head and sighed, saying, "No wonder you were stuck at the Foundation Establishment, Early Stage for over thirty years before your breakthrough."

As his words fell, a torrent of Separated Flame [a mystical flame capable of burning both matter and spirit] swept over. Lin Taihe held out for less than a quarter of an hour before being reduced to ashes.

After the battle concluded, both of them had expended a significant amount of their spiritual power, yet it was not yet time to rest.

During the chaos of the melee, over a dozen cultivators from the caravan had seized the opportunity to snatch the Five Elements Essence [a refined spiritual essence containing the power of the five elements], and some had already fled dozens of Li-lengths away.

The two of them slaying four Foundation Establishment Cultivator had thoroughly intimidated the crowd. Several were so frightened they returned the Five Elements Essence, but a few stubborn individuals were still fleeing for their lives.

After a brief sweep of the battlefield, Eldrin Chen and the Old Patriarch split up. They soared through the skies on their swords, searching for those escapees. It took them the span of One Shichen to hunt them all down, executing them directly within the heart of the Great Wilderness [a vast, untamed, and perilous expanse of wilderness].

For cultivators daring enough to plunder a caravan, even if they were members of the six great clans, the two showed no mercy. This was a shared rule among the six families; the opposing clan, upon learning of it, would have no grounds for complaint. For more chapters, visit audio - novel . com for the complete novel.