Chapter 37 : The Ninefold Bell's Resonance

By the time they had slain the second wave of Verdant-striped Ape [a type of powerful, striped simian demon beast], they had finally drawn the attention of a Foundation Establishment [the second major realm of cultivation, where one solidifies their spiritual foundation] demon beast.

The sudden loss of over thirty Verdant-striped Ape could not go unnoticed. The Demon Ape [the powerful leader of the ape demon beasts] chieftain swiftly detected the anomaly and led its entire tribe in furious pursuit.

"Run!"

Seeing the Demon Ape charging forth with murderous rage boiling from its form, the group immediately spurred their Wind-Riding Arts [a basic movement technique] and fled toward the valley.

The valley lay a mere thirty Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] away. At their level of cultivation, they could cover that distance in the time it takes for two incense sticks to burn [a conventional short duration, roughly fifteen to thirty minutes].

Yet the Demon Ape was terrifyingly swift. The group had barely covered half the distance when the Foundation Establishment Demon Ape closed the gap. Consumed by towering fury, its eyes blazing crimson, it lunged at them with lethal intent.

The physical body of a Foundation Establishment demon beast was nearly as resilient as refined steel. If it closed the distance, any one of them would be torn asunder like parchment.

At this moment of life and death, Second Elder summoned forth the Ninefold Resonance Bell [a defensive magical treasure that emits protective sonic waves]. A shimmering curtain of light erupted from it, shielding the entire group.

"GONG—!"

A deafening metallic clang resounded as the Demon Ape crashed into the Ninefold Resonance Bell. The impact sent the beast hurtling backward for over a hundred meters. The story continues at AUDIO-NOVEL.COM.

Second Elder's face flushed slightly as he forced down a surge of rebellious blood [a term for blood that rises against the natural flow due to internal injury]. "Go, now!" he urged.

Without a second thought, the group seized the moment while the Demon Ape was still dazed and injured from the Ninefold Resonance Bell's toll. They sprinted toward the valley, putting distance between themselves and the demonic beast.

In the frantic chase, the Demon Ape closed the gap several times, only to be repelled each time by the resonant power of the Ninefold Resonance Bell. Finally, the cultivators reached the mouth of the valley.

"Inside, quickly!"

They rushed into the valley, successfully luring the Demon Ape in after them.

It was then they realized that the Foundation Establishment Demon Ape's incredible speed had left the pack of first-tier Demon Ape far behind, creating a significant gap.

"A perfect opportunity," one of them breathed.

Exchanging a determined glance, they immediately activated the Blazing Sun Heavenly Flame Formation [a formation that channels the power of the sun to unleash devastating flames]. The six Formation Flag in their hands flared to life, and in an instant, roaring flames erupted, transforming the entire valley into a Mortal Realm inferno.

To amplify the formation's power, they had earlier littered the valley floor with dry firewood. Now, these seemingly worthless materials added a full third to the formation's ferocity. The Foundation Establishment Demon Ape was engulfed, howling in agony as the searing flames licked at its hide.

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

Witnessing this, everyone's faces lit up with fervor. They channeled their energy into the Formation Flag [a flag used to control and power a formation], fueling the Blazing Sun Heavenly Flame Grand Formation to refine the Demon Ape [a powerful, ape-like demonic beast].

The might of this Second Rank Formation [a mid-tier magical formation] was boundless. The Heavenly Flame [a potent, otherworldly fire] it conjured seared the Foundation Establishment [the second major stage of cultivation] Demon Ape until it lost all sense of direction. Trapped within the formation, it thrashed about wildly, a pitiful and gruesome sight.

After they had burned it for roughly the time it takes to drink a cup of tea [a conventional short duration, roughly five to fifteen minutes], the main horde of Demon Ape arrived. Dozens of the beasts, hearing the agonized cries of their Patriarch [the clan leader or most senior member], cast all caution aside. They charged madly into the formation, desperate to rescue him, only to be consumed by the raging inferno of Heavenly Flame.

"These Demon Ape..."

Eldrin Chen's expression shifted slightly. They had underestimated the Foundation Establishment Demon Ape, and they had also underestimated the collective force of nearly a hundred Demon Ape.

Although the Blazing Sun Heavenly Flame Grand Formation was immensely powerful, incinerating so many demonic beasts at once came at a cost—it drained their own Vital Energy [the foundational life force and spiritual power cultivated by practitioners].

His reserves of Vital Energy were far deeper than an ordinary cultivator's, but the others were growing pale, clearly suffering significant depletion.

This was especially true for the Second Elder who was controlling the Ninefold Resonance Bell [a magical bell that amplifies and releases sonic force]. Having clashed directly with the Demon Ape several times using the bell, he had suffered backlash from the Ninefold Resonance Bell and sustained serious internal injuries.

Now, his face was as white as parchment, a clear sign that the excessive drain on his Vital Energy was aggravating his wounds.

Seeing the situation turning precarious, Eldrin Chen swiftly produced an Energy Recovery Pill [a pill that rapidly restores spiritual energy] and handed it to the Second Elder. "Take this, quickly," he urged.

"Energy Recovery Pill [a pill that restores a cultivator's expended spiritual energy]?"

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 cultivated by a practitioner] for a cultivator at the Vital Essence Refinement Late Stage [the final stage of refining one's vital life force energy], instantly replenishing Second Elder's Vital Energy [the foundational life force energy within a living being].

However, likely due to the severe backlash from forcefully clashing with the Demon Ape using the Ninefold Resonance Bell [a magical bell that unleashes powerful sonic waves], his complexion remained somewhat pale.

The great fire raged for nearly half a Shichen-time [one Shichen-time equals two hours]. After everyone consumed some elixirs and absorbed energy from some Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy], they finally managed to burn the Demon Ape to near annihilation.

"Press on! Now, aside from the Foundation Establishment [the realm where a cultivator establishes their foundational spiritual core] Demon Ape, only a few stragglers remain." For uninterrupted reading, go to https://audio-novel.com.

Seeing their substantial gains, expressions of joy appeared on everyone's faces.

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

The Blazing Sun Heavenly Flame Grand Formation [a grand formation that conjures celestial flames] shuddered violently. The Foundation Establishment Demon Ape at the heart of the flames spat out its Demonic Beast Inner Pill [the condensed spiritual core of a demonic beast, containing its essence], unleashing a torrent of demonic pill energy that slammed into the formation.

A Demonic Beast Inner Pill houses the condensed essence of the beast's entire being, tied to its very life. It is not used lightly, but once unleashed, its power is earth-shattering.

The demonic beast unleashed its Demon Core [the condensed essence of a demonic cultivator's power], its radiance momentarily eclipsing the blazing sun. With a single, devastating surge, it shattered the Blazing Sun Heavenly Flame Grand Formation into dissipating fragments.

However, after breaching the formation, the Demon Core dimmed significantly, its formidable energy clearly spent.

Seizing this moment, the Foundation Establishment Demon Ape [a powerful, ape-like demonic beast] erupted from the valley in a mighty leap, charging forth 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 Demon Ape has been tempered by the True Flame [a pure, potent spiritual flame], its spiritual energy is already exhausted. It now relies solely on its physical might to wreak havoc. This is our prime opportunity to slay it!"

At this critical juncture, the Second Elder shouted with authority. As his voice echoed, he summoned his signature magical treasure, the Red-Copper Demon-Piercing Shuttle.

Though this artifact was merely a first-rank, upper-grade treasure, its offensive power ranked among the finest. Yet, as it shot forward, it merely pierced a small hole in the Demon Ape's hide, failing to tear through the muscle beneath.

The magical treasures unleashed by the others inflicted only superficial wounds upon the beast. Even the upper-grade Spell Sword [an enchanted blade channeling spiritual energy] wielded by Verdant Grace Chen proved slightly lacking in force. When it struck the Demon Ape, the impact rang out with a metallic clang, scattering sparks into the air.

Witnessing this, Verdant Grace Chen could not suppress a look of stark terror.

"This demonic beast's entire body is like tempered steel and forged iron, even a top-grade magical artifact cannot harm it!" [a top-grade magical artifact is a powerful enchanted item used by cultivators]

"Be careful!"

In that very instant, the Demon Ape [a powerful, ape-like demonic creature] endured the pain and withstood the barrage of magical artifacts, lunging right before the group.

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

"Get behind me!"

As his words fell, he forcefully summoned the Ninefold Resonance Bell once more, transforming it into a vast, ethereal bell that shielded everyone before him.

Then the Foundation Establishment [the second major stage of cultivation, where one solidifies their spiritual foundation] Demon Ape pounced forward, crashing directly into the Ninefold Resonance Bell.

"BONG—"

A deafening crash erupted from the collision. 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 Ninefold Resonance Bell shattered with a thunderous roar. The Foundation Establishment Demon Ape, its momentum spent, was sent flying backward by the impact.

No matter how strong a physical body may be, its limits are inherent; it can never truly rival a magical artifact of the same tier, forged through a thousand hammer strikes and refined a hundred times within an alchemical furnace.

This Foundation Establishment [the second major stage of cultivation, where one builds a solid foundation for their future path] Demon Ape [a powerful, ape-like demonic beast], now bereft of its magical power, had foolishly dared to clash head-on with a Second Rank Magical Artifact [a powerful enchanted weapon corresponding to the Foundation Establishment realm]. It paid dearly for this arrogance, suffering several broken ribs from the impact.

"Now is the moment!"

"*Screech—*"

In that fleeting instant, Eldrin Chen seized the perfect opportunity to strike. He unleashed his Crimson Iron Saber Embryo [the nascent, unformed version of a powerful saber, brimming with potential], which transformed into a crimson arc of blade-light aimed directly at the Foundation Establishment Demon Ape's throat.

Yet, it was, after all, a Second Rank [a tier designation often corresponding to the Foundation Establishment realm] Demon Ape. At the critical moment, it twisted its body, evading the fatal blow. Still, Eldrin Chen's strike was true, severing one of the beast's arms.

With such a grievous wound, the Demon Ape let out a piercing shriek. For the first time, a flicker of fear appeared in its eyes. It turned and fled into the distance.

"We cannot let it escape!" Original English translation available at *audio-novel.com*.