Chapter 46 : The Blazing Sun's Retribution

Simultaneously, Eldrin Chen from the outside world guided the sword embryo to pivot. Its radiant light carved a dazzling arc across the heavens, and with a resounding *clang*, it severed the head of Daylight Wonder Zuo.

This young Foundation Establishment Cultivator, merely in his sixties with over a century of lifespan remaining, was thus utterly slain. Not even an Infant Soul True Lord could have brought him back from such a fate.

Witnessing the death of Daylight Wonder Zuo, Zhang Old Demon finally revealed a look of terror. All will to fight vanished, and he decisively severed three of his own fingers to unleash the Blood Escape Technique [a forbidden art that consumes one's lifeblood for a burst of extreme speed] and flee for his life.

The Blood Escape Technique was exceedingly swift. Eight years prior, this demon had used it to ambush and breach the Blazing Sun Heavenly Flame Formation [a defensive formation of intense solar fire], slaying seven Clan Elder of the Chen Clan.

Back then, the Old Patriarch, consumed by hatred, had unleashed the Blazing Heaven Sword [a sword technique of searing heavenly fire]. It was by relying on this very escape art that the demon had managed to save his own skin from Eternal Profound Chen.

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

However, after flying barely a hundred Zhang-lengths [one Zhang-length equals three point three three meters], the old demon flew headlong into a sea of blazing solar Heavenly Flame [a pure, potent flame of celestial origin]. A piercing, agonized shriek tore from his throat as the Blood Escape Technique was forcibly broken. He crashed heavily to the ground.

It turned out that the Third Elder and his five companions, disregarding their own injuries, had forcefully reactivated the Blazing Sun Heavenly Flame Formation. The Zhang Old Demon had flown straight into their trap, a moth drawn to the flame.

"Spare me! Have mercy!"

"This old one entered that Demon Cave [a cavern infested with malevolent demonic entities] only out of dire necessity!" This chapter appears courtesy of site: audio-novel.com.

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

Eldrin Chen lifted his gaze and saw that the demon had lost an arm, all his fingers were gone, and his fleshly body was so badly burned it was unrecognizable, emitting a nauseating stench of charred flesh.

With such grievous wounds, even if Zhang Old Demon survived, the Heavenly Flame [a potent, purifying spiritual fire] that had invaded his meridians would torment him day and night, condemning him to a life of perpetual agony.

"When you ambushed our Patriarch, when you slaughtered seven of our Clan Elder [senior members of a cultivation clan], when you demanded the blood sacrifice of three thousand mortals from Pingyuan Town for your Sacrificial Self [a demonic art that uses the life force of others], when you sought to use the bloodline of one hundred thousand of my Chen Clan descendants to refine your Blood-Transforming Demon Saber [a demonic blade forged through blood sacrifice]..."

"Did you ever imagine this day would come?"

"You broke the Blazing Sun Heavenly Flame Formation [a defensive formation of intense solar fire] and slew seven of our elders. Now, you meet your end by that very same formation. Such is the wheel of Karma [the cosmic principle of cause and effect], an inescapable retribution."

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

Though described at length, all this transpired in the blink of an eye.

From the death of Daylight Wonder Zuo to the slaying of Zhang Old Demon, it all happened within the span of a few breaths. By the time the remaining few snapped out of their shock, it was already too late.

At this life-or-death juncture, the remaining enemies frantically summoned their magical instruments, hoping to seize the chance as they entered the formation to kill Eternal Profound Chen.

The Old Patriarch possessed a wealth of combat experience, and within the Solar Fire Soul-Burning Formation [a formation that channels solar fire to burn the souls of enemies], he moved with the ease of a fish in water, his power surging dramatically. How could they possibly hope to slay him?

In the span of a mere few breaths, Eldrin Chen concluded his own battle and charged over directly.

Upon entering the formation, Eldrin Chen immediately sought out Peaceful Harmony Lin, helping the Old Patriarch shoulder a portion of the pressure.

That Peaceful Harmony Lin was already struggling against the surging Solar Fire [a divine ability that conjures the purifying flames of the sun] within the formation. Now, facing the onslaught from Eldrin Chen, he found himself in dire straits. He could only desperately maintain his defensive magical treasure while simultaneously driving his two other artifacts to engage Eldrin Chen in a frantic duel.

Meanwhile, Eternal Profound Chen recovered from the spiritual drain of activating the Blazing Heaven Sword [a sword technique that unleashes heaven-scorching flames]. His gaze turned icy as it fell upon Bright Void Zuo and Hong Old Demon, his mind calculating who should be the target of his next strike.

Between these two, Hong Old Demon possessed profound cultivation and powerful Demonic Treasure [magical artifacts forged with demonic energy], yet he was utterly suppressed by the Solar Fire Soul-Burning Formation, able to muster only sixty to seventy percent of his true strength.

Especially after his signature treasure, the Black Blood Sack [a sack that stores and unleashes corrosive black blood], was destroyed, the demon dared not bring out another Demonic Treasure. He could only rely on a Blacklight Spellblade [a blade that emits a light-devouring darkness] and a golden orb artifact to face his foes.

Bright Void Zuo's cultivation was slightly weaker, but his array of artifacts was more varied. This patriarch of the Zuo Clan had exhausted the Clan Treasury [the vault where a clan stores its wealth and resources] for this great battle, actually purchasing two Second Rank High-Grade [a classification for high-quality artifacts suitable for Foundation Establishment cultivators] artifacts.

Besides the ancient bronze-colored defensive pagoda, he also wielded a violet treasure mirror. This mirror could project streams of amethyst light.

This mirror-light could pierce through the protective barriers of defensive artifacts and even dislodge a cultivator's own treasures. Furthermore, once a cultivator was enveloped by its radiance, their internal True Essence [the refined spiritual energy cultivated within a practitioner's body] would become sluggish and difficult to circulate, causing their combat power to plummet rapidly.

Alas, Bright Void Zuo's cultivation was insufficient. He could only unleash seventy percent of the treasure's power, unable to pierce through the surging Solar Fire [a divine flame with the essence of the sun] of the Solar Fire Soul-Burning Formation [a formation that conjures soul-scorching solar flames]. Thus, he posed no threat to the Old Patriarch.

Eternal Profound Chen cast a glance at Bright Void Zuo, a flicker of killing intent flashing in his eyes.

"This cur has fought until now. The talismans on his person have likely been exhausted by the Solar Fire Soul-Burning Formation. Moreover, he has repeatedly activated a Second Rank High-Grade Magical Treasure [a powerful enchanted artifact], depleting his spiritual power. Now, bereft of his defensive artifact, he is ripe for a single, fatal strike."

"As for that Hong Old Demon, though seemingly suppressed to the brink of death, he is, after all, a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage [an advanced stage of foundational cultivation]. A single blow from me may not be enough to finish him."

"It is better to first behead Bright Void Zuo, then use the Solar Fire Soul-Burning Formation Flags [the array flags that power the soul-burning formation] to slowly refine this demon to death."

No sooner thought than done. The Old Patriarch once again channeled the Blazing Heaven Sword [a sword technique that manifests a blade of celestial fire]. The onlookers saw only a dazzling sword radiance soar into the sky before clanging down upon Bright Void Zuo with lethal intent. Official source: audio_novel.com. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.

"Disaster!"

Seeing the Solar Heavenly Flame Sword [a sword imbued with heavenly solar fire] descending upon him, Bright Void Zuo's heart sank like a stone.

He desperately mustered his Purple Treasure Mirror [a mirror-type magical treasure with a purple hue] and Mingxu Sword [a sword named 'Bright Void'] 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 flickered, Bright Void Zuo was cleaved in two by a single sword stroke.

"BOOM—"

In that very instant, Hong Old Demon seized a sliver of life-saving opportunity.

He forcibly detonated several of his Demonic Treasure in succession, blasting open a corner of the Solar Fire Soul-Burning Formation [a formation that uses solar fire to scorch the soul]. Then, he executed the Blood Escape Technique [a forbidden technique that consumes one's lifeblood for a burst of extreme speed] and shot into the sky, vanishing over the horizon in the blink of an eye.

"Eternal Profound Chen, I have experienced the power of your Solar Fire Soul-Burning Formation today," his voice echoed back, laced with venom.

"But this grudge, I shall remember!"

"How decisive," Eternal Profound Chen remarked coldly, watching Hong Old Demon flee.

The old demon's timing had been impeccable. Had Eternal Profound Chen not been channeling most of his energy into the Blazing Heaven Sword [a divine sword technique that unleashes heavenly flames] at that moment, even a slight delay would have trapped the fiend within the formation, turning him into a turtle in a jar.

Seeing Hong Old Demon escape, despair washed over Peaceful Harmony Lin. He turned to Eternal Profound Chen, pleading for mercy.

"Senior Chen, please spare me! I was forced into this by the old demon! I beg you, show mercy!"

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

"Do you remember? Back on Heavenly Ruins Mountain, I even shared tea with you."

"Such poor bearing in the face of life and death." Eternal Profound Chen shook his head and sighed. "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 Solar Fire [a divine flame technique] swept over. Peaceful Harmony Lin lasted less than a quarter of an hour before being reduced to ashes of calamity.

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 chaotic melee, over a dozen cultivators from the caravan had seized the opportunity to snatch 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. A few, terrified, returned the stolen Five Elements Essence, but some stubborn fools were still fleeing for their lives.

After a quick sweep of the battlefield, Eldrin Chen and the Old Patriarch split up. They soared through the skies on their swords, searching for the escapees. Within the span of an hour, they had hunted them all down, executing them directly amidst the Great Wasteland.

For cultivators daring enough to rob a caravan, even if they were clansmen of the Six Great Clans, the two showed no mercy. This was a shared rule among the Six Great Clans. Even if the Fang Clan learned of it, they would have nothing to say. Experience the full epic at audio-novel . com.