Chapter 51 : The Patriarch's Stand

With the Separated Flame Soul-Burning Formation and the Second Rank High Grade Defensive Magical Tool, the Old Patriarch single-handedly held back nearly half of the Thunder Demonic Roc flock, his contribution rivaling that of a full Purple Mansion Cultivator [a cultivator who has opened the third major energy center, the Purple Mansion].

This instantly stabilized the battlefield. The cultivators of Celestial Ruins Mountain regained their footing, and the immediate threat of a rout was averted.

While channeling the formation's power to repel the demonic beasts, Eldrin Chen swept his gaze across the field. Though a stalemate had been achieved, he knew it could not last.

"How do we break this deadlock?"

His eyes, heavy with concern, scanned the surroundings as he pondered a solution.

"The Clan Patriarch is holding back dozens of Second Rank Demonic Beast [demonic beasts equivalent to the Foundation Establishment realm] with the Separated Flame Soul-Burning Formation and the ancient bronze pagoda, but his reserves of True Essence [the refined spiritual energy of a Foundation Establishment cultivator] are finite. He cannot hold for long."

"Furthermore, there are simply too many Second Rank Demonic Beast. Even if I unleash all my hidden cards and manage to slay a few, it would not be enough to swiftly turn the tide."

With this thought, he lifted his gaze towards Lyra Jiang in the sky.

The peerless beauty danced across the firmament upon her Heaven's Ruin Immortal-Slaying Sword, a solitary force contending with four Purple Mansion Demonic Beast. Each of her foes was at least at the Purple Palace, Mid Stage [the middle stage of the Purple Mansion realm], yet she held her ground without yielding an inch.

"No good," he concluded. "Against mid to late-stage Purple Mansion [the third major cultivation realm] demonic beasts, even my full strength would likely fail to leave a scratch." Immerse yourself in the complete world at audio-novel dot com.

"Then, to break this deadlock, the only way is..."

A thought flashed through his mind, and his gaze shifted to another battlefield.

Elara Lin was wielding several Purple Mansion Magical Tool [enchanted artifacts suitable for cultivators at the Purple Mansion Realm], holding her own against two Purple Mansion Demonic Beast [powerful beasts that have reached the Purple Mansion cultivation stage]. While she was not at a disadvantage, she would find it difficult to slay her opponents quickly.

"You will do."

Eldrin Chen fixed his gaze upon that Purple Mansion Demonic Wolf, a flicker of killing intent passing through his eyes.

After all, this demon wolf was a Purple Mansion Great Demon [a formidable demonic beast of the Purple Mansion Realm]. Under normal circumstances, he wouldn't even have a chance to flee. But now, with its Demonic Core [the condensed energy core of a demonic beast] dislodged and bearing significant injuries, it presented the only opportunity he could possibly influence.

No sooner thought than done. He decisively retrieved a Talisman [a pre-charmed slip of paper or artifact that releases a stored spell] and channeled his True Essence [refined spiritual energy] to activate it. This precious talisman was the most valuable heirloom of the Chen Clan—the Talisman of the Blazing Heaven Sword.

The Talisman of the Blazing Heaven Sword was left behind by a former Clan Patriarch of the Chen Clan Sixty Years Ago. That Patriarch was a Clan Elder from the Dao Generation. His cultivation had reached the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection [the pinnacle of the Foundation Establishment stage], and he was merely half a step away from breaking through to the Purple Mansion Realm [the stage where a cultivator forms a spiritual mansion within their dantian].

At the peak of his power, he paid a great price to inscribe his signature divine ability into this talisman. Its power was in no way inferior to his own full-force strike, making it a genuine threat even to a Purple Mansion Great Demon.

Most crucially, Eldrin Chen possessed a depth of True Essence comparable to a Foundation Establishment, Mid Stage cultivator, and his energy was exceptionally sharp and penetrating. This made him perfectly compatible with the Talisman, allowing him to unleash its full, devastating potential.

"Clang—"

A golden sword radiance, resplendent as the sun itself, soared into the heavens. It cleaved through the void with a peerless, devastating edge.

At this critical moment, Eldrin Chen suddenly activated the Talisman of the Blazing Heaven Sword [a powerful talisman that unleashes a single, devastating sword strike] in a surprise attack, catching the Purple Mansion Demonic Wolf completely off guard.

In that life-or-death instant, the demonic beast tried to channel its mana to evade. However, Elara Lin was no easy opponent. With keen perception, she seized the opening perfectly, harmonizing her actions with his. She instantly invoked the Frost Jade Radiance-Solidifying Mantra [an esoteric chant that freezes space and solidifies light], immobilizing the wolf for a fleeting moment.

In a duel to the death, a single moment's mistake is often enough to decide the outcome, let alone being frozen solid by a peerless technique from a cultivator of equal realm.

That single moment was all it took. The golden sword radiance, manifested from the Blazing Heaven Sword [a supreme sword technique of fiery and celestial power], slashed through the void. It tore a grievous, gaping wound across the demonic wolf's flank.

Struck by this sudden, devastating blow, the wolf let out a piercing shriek. Agony paralyzed its entire body, rendering it temporarily combat-ineffective.

Elara Lin acted with ruthless decisiveness. Her Frost Soul Chilling Radiance Sword [a magical sword imbued with soul-numbing frost] transformed into a streak of icy light, shooting through the air to sever the wolf's head.

The other Purple Palace Demon Roc naturally would not let her succeed. It first summoned its third-rank magical tool, the Roc-Slaying Blade [a formidable flying blade], hurling it towards Elara Lin. Simultaneously, it spat forth its inner demonic core [the condensed essence of a demonic beast's power], aiming to smash the Frost Soul Chilling Radiance Sword.

Yet, Elara Lin did not even flinch. Although her most proficient magical tool, the golden bracelet, was occupied restraining the demonic core, as a direct disciple of Lyra Jiang, she was far from lacking in third-rank magical treasures.

She first activated her defensive magical treasure, the Frost Soul Spirit Pearl [a spirit pearl imbued with the essence of frost], which descended a curtain of light to block the Roc-Slaying Blade [a blade renowned for its power to slay roc-type demonic beasts]. Then, she summoned her third-rank magical tool, the Weak Water Long Silk [a long, flowing silk ribbon enchanted with the properties of 'weak water' that can entangle and subdue], to ensnare the demonic roc's inner core, successfully parrying the Purple Palace Demon Roc's dual-pronged assault.

In that fleeting moment of obstruction, the Frost Soul Chilling Radiance Sword [a sword that emanates a soul-chilling, radiant cold] soared through the air and descended, pinning the Purple Mansion Demonic Wolf [a powerful wolf demon of the Purple Mansion realm] in the void, ending its life.

"Brilliant!"

Working in perfect tandem, their well-coordinated ambush had slain a Purple Mansion Demonic Wolf, instantly turning the tide of the battle.

The remaining Purple Palace Demon Roc was already slightly inferior in cultivation base to Elara Lin, and now it stood no chance against her whatsoever.

Witnessing Elara Lin consecutively deploy the Weak Water Long Silk and the Frost Soul Chilling Radiance Sword, she launched a relentless offensive against the Purple Palace Demon Roc, driving it back step by step. For the best reading experience, visit audio-novel .c om.

Seeing it could hold out no longer, the demonic roc spat forth its inner core once more to entangle with Elara Lin, hoping to buy time until the second-rank demonic rocs could breach the Separated Flame Soul-Burning Formation [a formation that uses separated flames to burn the souls of its targets] and come to its aid.

Observing this, Elara Lin let out another cold laugh. "Daring to manifest your inner core in a duel against me alone?"

"Swish!"

With a radiant smile, she channeled the Frost Jade Spirit-Concentrating Mantra [an auxiliary mystical technique that focuses and solidifies spiritual energy, often manifesting as a frosty light]. This auxiliary mystical technique proved its worth yet again. A streak of white light sliced across the sky, instantly immobilizing the inner core.

Then, with a flick of her long sleeve, she unleashed a streak of golden light. The Demonic Core [the condensed essence of a demonic beast's cultivation], having lost its master after the demon wolf's demise, offered no resistance. Thus, this formidable golden bracelet was finally free to act.

As the sole Third Rank Middle Grade [a classification for magical tools, indicating significant power] magical tool in Elara Lin's possession, the golden bracelet proved its worth once more, successfully ensnaring the Purple Palace Demon Roc's Demonic Core.

Seeing its core captured, the Purple Palace Demon Roc sensed grave peril. Yet, the Demonic Core was tied to its lifelong cultivation; losing it would make reclaiming that power in the future an almost impossible feat.

Driven by this thought, its fear was cast aside. It could only continue its assault on Elara Lin with the Roc-Slaying Blade while pouring all its remaining mana into an attempt to retrieve the precious Demonic Core.

Unlike the Purple Mansion Demonic Wolf, which had been caught off-guard by Elara Lin's ambush and lost its core in the initial clash, the roc was putting up a desperate fight.

The Purple Palace Demon Roc now strained with its dying breath to resist through its Demonic Core. This inner core, a treasure that concentrated over half of the demonic roc's mana, forcefully pushed back with a surge of power. For a moment, even the golden bracelet could not subdue it, and a stalemate ensued.

Witnessing this from afar, Eldrin Chen decisively drew forth his Second Rank High Grade Magical Tool, the Violet Radiance Mirror.

With the Talisman of the Blazing Heaven Sword expended, this precious Second Rank High Grade Magical Tool became his only means to intervene in a battle at the Purple Mansion [a major cultivation stage where one forms a spiritual palace within] level.

His True Essence [the refined spiritual energy of a cultivator] was profoundly dense and sharp, far surpassing others of his realm. Channeling it into the Violet Radiance Mirror, he managed to unleash a full seventy percent of the mirror's latent power.

At his command, a beam of violet radiance shot forth from the mirror's surface, enveloping the Demonic Beast Inner Core in its otherworldly glow.

This mirror's radiance possessed the wondrous ability to ensnare magical tools and congeal True Essence [the refined spiritual energy cultivated by adepts]. As it now enveloped the inner core, it caused the flow of power within the Demonic Core [the condensed spiritual essence and life force of a powerful demonic beast] to feel slightly sluggish and constrained.

Under normal circumstances, the demonic roc could have easily shattered this restraint with a mere surge of power from its Demonic Core. Yet, currently suppressed by the golden bracelet and the Frost Jade Spirit-Concentrating Mantra [an esoteric chant that focuses and solidifies spiritual energy using frost-jade principles], this seemingly insignificant Second Rank High Grade Magical Tool became the final straw that broke the camel's back.

"*Hummm—*"

With a crisp *clink*, the golden bracelet completely locked onto the Demonic Core, and was then swiftly retrieved by Elara Lin.

Seeing its Demonic Core seized, the Purple Palace Demon Roc [a powerful avian demonic beast of the Purple Mansion realm] lost all will to fight. It turned and beat its wings, desperate to flee.

Alas, escape was no longer an option. Elara Lin consecutively unleashed two third-rank magical treasures—the Weak Water Long Silk [a long, flowing silk ribbon imbued with the properties of the legendary 'Weak Water,' known for its suppressive and binding qualities] and the Frost Soul Chilling Radiance Sword—launching a relentless assault. Discover more cultivation stories at audio-novel dot com.