Chapter 456 : The Wilderness Stands Firm

Simultaneously, at the Daoist Assembly Ground [a designated meeting place for cultivators] of the Firmament Sword Sect and the Violet Abyss Sect, the final Golden Core Cultivator [a cultivator who has formed a Golden Core, a solidified mass of spiritual energy] guarding the mountain gates also emerged.

Caleb Chen from Verdant Chariot Mountain and Silas Chen from Spirit Isle Lake also utilized the Teleportation Formation [a magical array for instantaneous travel across vast distances], arriving to reinforce Demonic Ape Mountain at the first possible moment.

Within the Hundred-Thousand-Mile Wilderness, Lior Chen was bidding farewell to Elara Chen. Before he departed, Elara Chen grasped his hand and said, "With the Demon Emperor [a supreme ruler among demonic beings] launching this assault, the coming battle promises to be perilous beyond measure. Let me accompany you."

"No."

Lior Chen shook his head resolutely, his expression firm. "Among the thirty-six cities of the Hundred-Thousand-Mile Wilderness reside tens of millions of our Chen Clan mortals. This land is the very foundation of our legacy; it must not be compromised."

"After I leave, you are the only one who can fully unleash the power of the Grand Formation [a powerful, large-scale defensive or offensive magical array] within the wilderness. Therefore, you must guard the Hundred-Thousand-Mile Wilderness well and await our news of victory."

Elara Chen's face paled slightly. She understood the paramount importance of the Hundred-Thousand-Mile Wilderness.

Wordlessly, she clenched her jaw. In the end, she could only nod through her tears, silently watching as he departed via the Teleportation Formation.

"…"

As cultivators from across the Chu Kingdom continued to arrive, the number of Human Race Golden Core Cultivator gathered at Demonic Ape Mountain swelled. Unnoticed, their ranks had already grown to twenty. Continue your cultivation journey at @udio-novel.com.

Simultaneously, beyond the borders of Demonic Ape Mountain, the Demonic Tribe of the Golden Rhino Lineage had laid a heavy siege upon the mountain stronghold, launching wave after wave of relentless assaults.

The two Demon Emperor did not immediately join the fray, but several dozen Golden Core Demon Kings descended from the heavens, beginning their assault on the Formation [a defensive or offensive array powered by spiritual energy] protecting Demonic Ape Mountain.

Although the Formation of Demonic Ape Mountain was formidable, bolstered by six or seven War Treasure Boats [large, enchanted vessels used for warfare and transport], it still struggled to withstand the sustained siege of several dozen Golden Core Cultivators [practitioners who have reached the Golden Core stage of cultivation].

Naturally unwilling to let the Formation be breached, Kael Chen soared forth, sword in hand. With a single, overwhelming strike, he forced back multiple Demon Kings.

"How presumptuous!"

Witnessing Kael Chen's display of divine might, a powerful Golden Core, Late Stage Demon King roared with fury. It surged into the sky, radiating a murderous aura, and met Kael Chen head-on.

At the same moment, the Old Patriarch also took flight. Having now stepped into the Golden Core, Late Stage, the seven White Metal Star Pearls [a set of magical pearls forged from white metal] in his hand erupted with dazzling immortal light, transforming into forty-nine Gengjin Sword Rays [sword beams imbued with the power of Gengjin Metal] that slashed through the air.

Each piece of this Formation Tool [a set of magical treasures designed to be used together in a formation] set had ascended to the rank of Supreme Grade Magical Treasure. While their individual power was not overwhelming, their combined might was extraordinary, rivaling even the thirteen Frostbitten Expanse Immortal Swords [a set of immortal swords named after the Frostbitten Expanse] of Alaric the True Person of the Vast Sea.

Now, the forty-nine Gengjin Sword Rays lashed out incessantly, forcing a group of Demon Kings into a steady retreat. Even seven Demon Kings joining forces could not gain the upper hand against him.

"Incredible power."

A Golden Core Great Perfection Golden Rhino Clan Demon King roared, wielding an Adamantine Iron Staff and smashing it down—it was actually a staff forged from Diamond Mysterious Iron, weighing as much as millions of Jin-weight [one Jin-weight equals zero point five kilograms].

Thalion Chen furrowed his brow. The White Metal Star Pearl was a superior group-combat Formation Tool, but against such thick-skinned and formidable top-tier Demon King from the Golden Rhino Lineage, it might not hold the advantage.

Fortunately, there were quite a few Golden Core Cultivator present. Qian the Sect Master of the Firmament Sword Sect and Elara Lin had both reached the Golden Core, Late Stage realm.

One Golden Core Cultivator after another made their move, barely managing to hold back the assault of the Demon King horde, yet the pressure they faced remained immense.

Eldrin Chen and Lyra Jiang stood atop the peak of the Spirit Mountain, their gazes grave as they watched the two distant Golden Rhinoceros Demon Emperor.

Beings of the Demon Emperor rank possessed extraordinary power. Even they had to proceed with utmost caution, making it difficult to spare any attention for the Golden Core Grade battlefield.

Meanwhile, the two Golden Rhinoceros Demon Emperor in the sky stood motionless.

The burly Demon Emperor stared at Demonic Ape Mountain for a long while before finally speaking, "I still cannot sense the aura of the Ji Clan True Lord. Could it be they truly intend to abandon the Chu Kingdom?"

"I doubt it," said the Female Demon Emperor from the Golden Rhino Lineage beside him, her eyes flickering with wariness. "That Ji Clan ranks among the top three supreme Nascent Soul Immortal Clan in the Eastern Wastelands, even overshadowing the Azure Wave Lake."

"Such a powerful Immortal Clan would not act so cowardly. I believe we must remain vigilant."

The Female Demon Emperor paused briefly, then continued with a faint smile, "However, regardless of their preparations, this battle will see us level the Chu Kingdom."

The burly Demon Emperor [a ruler among powerful demons] nodded in agreement. Beings of their realm either refrained from action entirely or, once they decided to move, would unleash earth-shattering force.

Since they had resolved to strike, they would certainly not be fighting alone and thus harbored no fear of the Ji Clan whatsoever.

With this thought, the burly Demon Emperor spoke with a cold sneer, "Then let us begin."

As the words fell, two Golden Rhinoceros Demon Emperor [powerful demonic beasts resembling rhinoceroses] stepped forth into the sky, their overwhelming golden aura blazing across the heavens as they advanced.

The burly Demon Emperor summoned a golden war spear. In an instant, it erupted with a dazzling golden divine light and shot downward, aiming directly for the Mountain Guardian Grand Formation [a powerful defensive array protecting a mountain stronghold]. Your portal to cultivation novels: audio-novel*com.

"Trouble! It's the Golden Rhino Divine Spear!"

Eldrin Chen's expression shifted slightly as he recognized the origin of this golden spear.

The Golden Rhino Divine Spear was the signature Magical Treasure [an enchanted artifact used by cultivators] of the burly Demon Emperor, and also his most prized Lifebound Spiritual Treasure [a magical treasure intimately connected to its owner's life force].

This treasure was forged from the golden horn atop a Golden Rhinoceros Demon Emperor's head. After being fused with Fifth Rank Western Pole Geng Metal [a rare, fifth-grade metal of extreme hardness and sharpness], it became a peerless Demon-Subduing Spiritual Treasure [a spiritual treasure specifically potent against demons].

Without a doubt, if that spear strike landed true, the entire Mountain Guardian Grand Formation of Demonic Ape Mountain would be shattered, and the thousand-Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] mountain range itself would be pierced through.

"We cannot let it succeed."

Lyra Jiang's eyes turned icy in an instant. She instantly executed Body and Sword Unification [a supreme sword technique where the cultivator's body and sword become one], transforming into a dazzling streak of sword light that soared into the sky. With a resonant *clang*, she deflected the Golden Rhino Divine Spear.

"What a formidable Immortal Sword [a sword of legendary, near-divine quality]."

The Golden Rhinoceros Demon Emperor's gaze instantly chilled. He immediately abandoned his assault on the Mountain Guardian Formation [a defensive formation that draws upon the power of a mountain range].

For him, the pressure exerted by Lyra Jiang was greater than that of the entire Chu Kingdom Cultivation World.

In that fleeting moment, both incarnations of the Golden Rhinoceros Demon Emperor attacked simultaneously. They unleashed their Magical Treasure [an enchanted artifact used by cultivators] and Divine Ability [a supernatural power or technique], their combined force sweeping horizontally towards Lyra Jiang.

Eldrin Chen naturally could not stand idly by while they besieged Lyra Jiang. He immediately summoned the Dual Polarity Divine Thunder [a divine thunder cultivation art harnessing the power of opposing polarities] and activated his Immortal Sword Magical Treasure to intercept the Female Demon Emperor.

"With your strength, you dare to block my path?"

The Female Demon Emperor let out a cold laugh. She summoned a golden Spiritual Treasure [a powerful enchanted artifact] Flying Sword [a sword that can be controlled telekinetically to fly and attack] and sent it slashing towards him.

This treasure, much like the Golden Rhino Divine Spear, was forged from her innate horn and refined with Fifth Rank Lunar Refined Gold [a rare metal refined under moonlight, possessing exceptional purity and spiritual conductivity].

Such artifacts possess extraordinary latent potential, harboring the power to ascend to the level of a Middle-Grade Demon-Subduing Supreme Treasure [a powerful enchanted artifact specifically designed to suppress and vanquish demonic entities]. However, their Formation Patterns [the mystical arrays and circuits inscribed upon a treasure that channel and amplify its power] were too rudimentary, preventing them from unleashing the ultimate might inherent in their exceptional materials.

The fact that this Lifebound Immortal Sword [a sword forged through a cultivator's life essence, sharing a profound symbiotic bond with its wielder] could attain the grade of a Spiritual Treasure [an artifact imbued with sentience and a powerful spirit] was primarily due to the innate Formation Patterns contained within the horn and its extraordinary material foundation.

As the Immortal Sword [a sword of celestial grade, wielded by powerful immortals] cleaved towards him, Eldrin Chen's gaze sharpened slightly. He had not yet fully discerned the Demon Emperor's [a sovereign ruler among demon-kind, possessing immense power] techniques, and this was not the optimal moment to reveal his Lifebound Spiritual Treasure [a sentient treasure bound to a cultivator's life and soul, their ultimate weapon].

With this thought, he could only call out urgently, "Senior, aid me!"

"*Hummm—*"

In that instant, the Mirror of the Vast Heaven erupted with boundless might. Soaring into the sky, it bathed the heavens and earth in a radiant, pristine light. A single, dazzling beam of mirror-light shot forth, illuminating the Female Demon Emperor directly. For uninterrupted reading, go to @udio-novel.com.