Chapter 1324 : The Verdant Hope's Last Stand

"Cough, cough!"

The grey-robed elder wiped the corner of his mouth, revealing a bitter smile.

Most crucially, the Human Race's sole Ascendant Immortal 9th Tier cultivator had already suffered grievous wounds in the previous great battle.

At this thought, the gathered immortals turned their gaze towards a nearby Verdant-robed Youth, their eyes filled with hopeful anticipation.

This youth had arrived in the Crimson Sun Sea Region a mere ten thousand years ago, yet he had already slain six Demon Immortals of the Demon Race, advancing from the Ascendant Immortal 3rd Tier all the way to the Ascendant Immortal 7th Tier realm.

Most critically, his combat prowess rivaled that of a Ascendant Immortal 9th Tier cultivator, making him their greatest hope.

"If he could advance one more step, stepping into the domain of a Half-Step Earth Immortal..."

The immortals murmured inwardly, their gazes fixed on the youth with fervent expectation.

Sensing their collective hope, the Verdant-robed Youth inwardly sighed with a wry smile. "To contend with a Half-Step Earth Immortal," he said with a sigh, "I would need to at least break through to the Ascendant Immortal 9th Tier realm."

"But I only recently advanced to the Ascendant Immortal 7th Tier. To reach the Ascendant Immortal 9th Tier, even with the aid of a Superior Grade Path Source, would likely still require several thousand years." Continue your cultivation journey at audio-novel dot com.

"Leaving aside the fact that we do not possess a Superior Grade Path Source [a supreme treasure containing the purest essence of the Great Path], even if we did, we no longer have the time."

As his words fell, his gaze turned towards the expanse beyond the Immortal Isles.

Beyond the Immortal Isles, the surrounding sea was filled with countless Demon Race [a race of powerful, often malevolent, beings], layer upon layer, sealing the waters so tightly not a drop could leak through.

And in the Heavenly Vault [the firmament, the sky], dozens of Demon Immortal [immortals of the demonic path] stood poised, with three figures of Ascendant Immortal 9th Tier [the ninth and highest tier of the Ascendant Immortal realm] soaring among them. A figure like a divine fiend stood towering among them all.

"Black Fiend Demon Venerable,"

the Verdant-robed Youth murmured, his face turning pale.

Even with his heaven-defying talent and the legacy of Extraordinary, facing the siege of a Half-Step Earth Immortal [a cultivator who has taken half a step into the Earth Immortal realm] and three Ascendant Immortal 9th Tier left him with not a shred of hope for survival.

"I am the Chosen One of Tribulation, appointed by an Immortal from beyond the heavens. I inherited the Heaven-Bearing [a legendary artifact said to bear the weight of heaven] and the Great Path [the supreme cultivation method] from an external Immortal. I have roamed the world undefeated, slain True Demon [a supreme rank of demon] from the Nine Heavens [the nine celestial realms], purged the demonic spirits of the Primordial Era [the ancient epoch of creation], and single-handedly quelled a demonic calamity that stretched across countless ages."

"Yet, upon first arriving in the Immortal Domain [a realm of immortals], I never imagined I would face such a boundless Great Tribulation [a cataclysmic, world-shaking trial of fate]."

"If I had been given a million years, or even just a hundred thousand, how could it have come to this?"

The youth murmured inwardly, his thoughts drifting to the past, and a tinge of regret colored his expression.

He still remembered his youth, when the lofty Primordial Era Star Spirit [a celestial being born from the essence of stars] met with calamity and fell, becoming a Primordial Era demonic spirit [a malevolent entity corrupted by demonic energy].

At the same time, Demonic Cultivator [cultivators who use unorthodox and often cruel methods, drawing power from sources like blood, souls, or demonic energy] rose up everywhere across the land. Countless members of the Human Race perished at the hands of the Fiend Race [a race of malevolent beings, often synonymous with demons], becoming mere fuel for the cultivation of the Demonic Cultivator.

He had clawed his way out from mountains of corpses and a Sea of Blood. Then, a Five-Colored Immortal Light [a radiant, five-hued light of immense power] descended from beyond the heavens, transforming into a scripture that fell into his hands.

From that moment, he rose from obscurity. He inherited the methods of the Immortal and forged his own Heaven-Sundering Demon-Slaying Sword Path [a supreme sword cultivation art focused on cleaving the heavens and slaying demons]. He carved a path through the world, severing all evil demons, slaughtering the Primordial Era demonic spirits, quelling the great calamity, and ultimately achieving immortality, earning the title Demon-Slayer.

After attaining immortality, he remained in the mortal world for thirty thousand years. He established his legacy, the ancient sect of Returning Abyss, and utterly eradicated the Demonic Cultivator and the race of demonic spirits before finally ascending to the Nine Heavens Above [the highest realms of existence, often the domain of gods and supreme immortals].

He never imagined that so soon after his ascension, he would encounter such a terrifying Great Tribulation [a catastrophic, world-shaking trial or disaster], and now find himself in a situation bordering on utter despair.

With this thought, the Verdant-robed Youth gazed at the boundless horde of Demon Race [the collective term for demonic beings] upon the Heavenly Vault [the celestial dome of the sky] and sighed inwardly.

"If my master were here again, such a great calamity would surely be extinguished with a mere wave of his hand."

The youth whispered to himself, for he did not truly know what manner of being his master was.

However, within the Primordial One Heavenly Scripture he obtained, the simultaneous methods for cultivating the Immortal Body, the Path Principles, and the Path Fruit, along with the Immortal Ascension Art, represented the most powerful legacy he had ever encountered in his life.

Whether it was the Primordial One Indestructibility Body or the cultivation method for the Primordial One Limitless Path Principles, their power was beyond his imagination, providing him with unprecedented enlightenment.

Now, as the youth's cultivation deepened, he increasingly understood the terrifying nature of this ancient scroll.

This was a supreme heavenly scripture. Without such a peerless guide illuminating his path of cultivation, he would have certainly been unable to cultivate three Path Fruit and become the greatest prodigy in the history of Verdant Spirit Ancient Star.

"A pity. I, your disciple, have received the legacy and grace of my master, yet throughout my entire life, I have never had the chance to meet you in person."

The youth sighed, a flicker of regret passing through his eyes. Find this and other novels at audio–novel.com.

At that very moment, a violent roar erupted from the Heavenly Vault above. The Black Fiend Demon Venerable, who was at the Half-Step Earth Immortal Realm, could no longer restrain himself and finally made his move.

Under the relentless siege of the Demon Race army, the grand defensive formation was already teetering on the brink. With the Black Fiend Demon Venerable joining the assault, it finally gave way, torn asunder by sheer force.

Seeing this, the grey-robed elder at the Ascendant Immortal 9th Tier said with a bitter laugh, "Everyone, flee for your lives!"

"Not a single one of you will escape."

As the immortals prepared to flee for their lives, Black Fiend Demon Venerable spoke with chilling indifference.

There was no reason to abandon a Path Source [a primordial source of spiritual energy and enlightenment] already within their grasp. With a cold wave of his hand, he signaled his intent. Dozens of Demon Immortal [immortal-level demonic cultivators] understood immediately. They advanced, wielding Formation Flag [enchanted banners used to establish and power magical arrays] to completely seal off the escape routes of the assembled immortals.

Seeing this, the Verdant-robed Youth drew a dazzling Immortal Sword [a sword forged with immortal power] from his side. His voice rang out, firm and resonant, "At this juncture, I ask you all to join me in a final, desperate battle."

High upon the Heavenly Vault [the celestial dome of the sky], the Demon Race's newly ascended Ascendant Immortal 9th Tier [the ninth and highest tier of the Ascendant Immortal realm] Nine-Headed Hydra Dragon watched with a cold sneer. "Three hundred years ago," it hissed, "you severed three of my heads with that Profound Heaven Demon-Slaying Sword of yours."

"Today, I have come to settle that score and wash away my shame."

As its words faded, the Nine-Headed Hydra Dragon activated its Immortal Treasure [a powerful artifact forged with immortal techniques] with a derisive laugh. Soaring through the air, it launched a devastating strike toward the youth.

The Verdant-robed Youth met the attack with a scornful laugh. "You? Think you can wash away that shame?"

"*Clang—*"

His retort still hung in the air as the Heaven-Sundering Spirit-Slaying Sword in the youth's hand erupted with a world-shaking Immortal Radiance [a blinding, sacred light emanating from immortal power]. The strike that followed was like a World-Opening [a realm of power capable of cleaving apart worlds] blade descending, fully unleashing the might of a sword technique that could sever one lifetime from the next.

A single, resonant metallic clang echoed, followed immediately by a shriek of agony that tore through the void.

The Nine-Headed Hydra Dragon [a monstrous serpent with multiple regenerative heads] was sent reeling back, blood spraying, as yet another of its heads was severed by a single sword stroke.

Having broken the enemy's assault with his blade, the youth pressed forward relentlessly with his Peerless Immortal Sword [a legendary sword of unparalleled sharpness]. His stance was one of pure offense, utterly forsaking defense—a philosophy of unstoppable advance and irrevocable strikes. With this indomitable spirit, he hacked through all obstacles, forcing the hydra into a desperate retreat.

In merely three strokes, the youth had consecutively severed three of the Nine-Headed Hydra Dragon's heads. He sneered derisively, "Do not think your nine heads will save you. Even if you possessed ninety, or nine hundred heads, I would sever every last one!"

"Aaaargh—!"

Grievously wounded, the Nine-Headed Hydra Dragon fled in disbelief, its voice thick with terror as it cried out, "My allies! Aid me, swiftly!"

Seeing this, the two Ascendant Immortal 9th Tier [the ninth and penultimate stage of the Ascendant Immortal realm] Demon Immortal [an immortal who has ascended through demonic cultivation] immediately surged forward to join the fray, surrounding the youth.

Yet, all three Ascendant Immortal 9th Tier prized their own feathers too highly. Even fighting three against one, they faced the youth's all-out offensive, a style that completely disregarded defense. None dared to commit fully to a life-or-death struggle.

For a time, they actually found themselves unable to subdue this single youth.

"Worthless!"

High upon the Heavenly Vault [a celestial platform or observatory], Black Fiend Demon Venerable witnessed this scene. A cold, disdainful laugh escaped him, born of sheer frustration.

With a cold snort, he flicked his sleeve and unleashed a Tiger-Head Demon Blade [a demonic blade adorned with a roaring tiger's head] in a cleaving arc, aiming to sever the youth's life.

As the demonic blade descended, the youth let out a bitter laugh, a look of utter despair washing over his features.

Though his talent was peerless, facing the combined assault of three Ascendant Immortal 9th Tier [the ninth and penultimate stage of the Ascendant Immortal realm] alone had already pushed him to his absolute limit.

The three Ascendant Immortal 9th Tier had failed to subdue him thus far only because they feared injury and were unwilling to risk a life-or-death struggle.

Now, with the Half-Step Earth Immortal Patriarch [a patriarch who has taken half a step into the Earth Immortal realm] channeling a Supreme-Grade Immortal Treasure [a treasure of the highest grade within the Immortal Treasure classification] against him, this Sword Cultivator [a cultivator whose path and power are wholly focused on the sword, often forsaking defense for overwhelming offense], who relied solely on relentless attack, had no means to parry the blow.

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