Chapter 49 : The March of Heavenly Ruins

After speaking, her tone softened slightly, and she weighed her words carefully before continuing, "You need not be so concerned."

"Since our master has decided to take action, it means he has sufficient confidence for this battle."

"Moreover, our master has already declared that after this battle concludes, contributions will be rewarded. Those who fall in battle will receive compensation, and those who distinguish themselves will be granted rewards. If you achieve notable feats, even a Foundation Establishment Pill [a precious pill that aids in breaking through to the Foundation Establishment realm] could be bestowed as a prize."

After she finished speaking, Eldrin Chen and the Old Patriarch exchanged a glance, their faces immediately lighting up with delight.

Patriarch Jiang had always been fair and just. Since he had made such a declaration, the two naturally began to entertain certain hopes.

Launching a war against the Demon Race [a race of malevolent beings that cultivate demonic arts] was not a matter to be undertaken lightly. Heavenly Ruins Mountain had been preparing for a long time. Even after Eldrin Chen and the others arrived at Heavenly Ruins Mountain, they still waited for two full months before the campaign began.

For this single battle, Heavenly Ruins Mountain had essentially emptied its stronghold. Not only had Patriarch Jiang mobilized fifteen of his seventeen disciples who had reached the Foundation Establishment [the second major realm of cultivation, where one solidifies their spiritual foundation] stage, but he had also conscripted every single Foundation Establishment Cultivator within the territory of Heavenly Ruins Mountain.

Including outsiders like Eldrin Chen, the number of cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Stage alone had swelled to fifty-three. Furthermore, they had conscripted over six thousand cultivators at the Vital Essence Refinement [the first major realm of cultivation, focused on refining the body's vital energy] stage.

To bolster their combat strength, Heavenly Ruins Mountain organized these cultivators into units. Every hundred men formed a squad, led by a single Foundation Establishment Cultivator who would command the formation. Each squad was also issued a set of Formation Flag [enchanted flags used to channel and amplify group power into a coordinated attack or defense].

Eldrin Chen was also issued a set of Formation Flag and tasked with leading a squad of over one hundred Vital Essence Refinement cultivators. He discovered that when the group channeled their power through these Formation Flag, they could unleash a Western Pole True Flame [a potent divine flame technique], its unleashed might sufficient to contend with a Foundation Establishment Late Stage [the advanced phase of the Foundation Establishment realm] demon beast. Find this and other novels at audio-novel*com.

"These Vital Essence Refinement cultivators possess such varied cultivation bases and disparate spiritual energies from their different arts, yet they can jointly activate such an astonishing formation."

"It is said that Patriarch Jiang excels in Alchemy, Formations, Artifacts, Talismans [the four great auxiliary arts of cultivation: pill refining, formation setting, artifact forging, and talisman crafting]. Seeing this today, the reputation is truly well-deserved."

Standing beside Eldrin Chen, Eternal Profound Chen could not help but exclaim in awe at this set of Formation Flag [flags used as nodes to establish a magical formation]. As a Second Rank High-Grade formation master, he acknowledged himself to be far inferior to Patriarch Jiang.

Dire Wolf Mountain lay seventy thousand Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] northwest of Heavenly Ruins Mountain. The journey of several thousand cultivators was a grand and imposing spectacle.

To avoid premature detection by the Demon Race, Patriarch Jiang also deployed a third-rank mid-grade silk artifact, conjuring a fog spanning ten Li-lengths to conceal the group's movements.

Even traveling at such speed, it still took over three months before they finally arrived at the foot of Dire Wolf Mountain.

"So this is Dire Wolf Mountain?"

With the great battle imminent, Eldrin Chen gazed upon the vast mountain range ahead, a subtle pressure settling in his heart.

True to its name, the Demon Race entrenched upon Dire Wolf Mountain was the demonic wolf tribe. The strength of the Wolf Demonic Tribe was formidable, boasting not just two Violet Sanctum Demonic Wolf [demonic beasts at the Violet Sanctum cultivation realm], but led by the Purple-Spotted Wolf King, a powerful demonic beast at the Violet Sanctum Late Stage.

It could be said the Wolf Demonic Tribe was one of the key arms of the Heavenly Python Demon King. If not eradicated, they would undoubtedly become a dire threat to Heavenly Ruins Mountain thirty years hence.

"Three Violet Sanctum Demon Wolf Venerables. For Patriarch Jiang to face all three alone, I fear this will be a bitter struggle," Old Patriarch said gravely, standing beside Eldrin Chen. "When the battle commences, do not stray from the formation's protection, and stay close to me."

"I will," Eldrin Chen nodded in agreement.

As the confrontation on the other side was about to erupt, Patriarch Jiang finally emerged from the veil of mist and clouds.

Eldrin Chen looked over. The first glance was startlingly beautiful; a closer look revealed a peerless elegance; and after a few moments, it became difficult to look away.

She was clad in a flowing white gown with wide sleeves, standing there in serene stillness. A faint, hazy sword light enveloped her form, and an aura of sharp, intimidating energy made one hesitant to meet her gaze directly.

"That is the legendary Sword Intent Body Protection. It is said that a Fourth Rank Lifebound Immortal Sword can achieve unity of body and blade, existing as one with its wielder," Old Patriarch explained.

"Anyone attempting to strike such a Sword Cultivator would instantly provoke an automatic counterattack from the Lifebound Immortal Sword within them, capable of slaying foes from a thousand Li-lengths away. It is both an impeccable defense and a peerless offense, granting unmatched combat prowess."

"However, Patriarch Jiang is only at the Violet Sanctum Peak Stage. I do not know what method she employed to break through the inherent limitations of a Life-Bound Magical Artifact and elevate her Heavenly Ruins Immortal-Slaying Sword to the Fourth Rank Golden Core Realm."

As he spoke, a flicker of envy shone in Old Patriarch's eyes. A Fourth Rank Lifebound Immortal Sword! Its power was sufficient to give even a Golden Core True Person pause, yet its spiritual energy consumption was only thirty percent that of a standard magical artifact of the same rank.

It was precisely for this reason that Path Master Jiang's demand for Five Elements Essence [a refined spiritual essence containing the power of the five elements] was so immense. An ordinary Third Rank Superior Grade Life-Bound Magical Artifact would never require the expenditure of twenty thousand Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy] annually to purchase Five Elements Essence for its ritual refinement.

It was precisely because of this that Exquisite Jiang [the female cultivator Jiang Linglong] earned the title of the foremost Violet Sanctum [the third major cultivation stage] expert in Chu Nation. Over the past two centuries, she had slain more than ten Violet Sanctum adversaries. One could say she had carved a bloody path through the ranks of human, demon, and fiend Violet Sanctum cultivators alike, forging a reputation of awe-inspiring might through sheer slaughter.

Other female cultivators at the Violet Sanctum level were addressed with titles like 'Immortal Maiden' or 'Senior.' Yet, Exquisite Jiang was called Path Master Jiang or Patriarch Jiang—a title earned not through courtesy, but carved from the skulls of her foes.

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen [the protagonist Chen Nianzhi] quickly suppressed a flicker of agitation in his heart, silently reciting to himself: "Enough. All love at first sight is merely desire sparked by beauty."

"Hmm."

In the distant sky, Exquisite Jiang's eyes shifted slightly, her gaze settling on Eldrin Chen. For a moment, she seemed to pause, a trace of surprise flashing within her.

Beside her, Elara Lin [Lin Qianshu] followed her gaze. A flicker of astonishment passed through her pupils as she spoke. Join our community of readers at www . audio-novel.com.

"He has already reached the Foundation Establishment [the second major cultivation stage] realm. Judging by his bone age, he is barely past twenty years old, yet he has achieved Self-Achieved Foundation Establishment [Foundation Establishment without external aids]. In the future, he will likely walk the same path as us."

"Master's vision is truly sharp, to spot such a promising seedling with a single glance."

"You misunderstand."

Exquisite Jiang shook her head, her expression utterly serious. "I merely thought he was quite handsome."

"Hmm, his bearing is also quite decent."

Elara Lin: "…"

With battle imminent, it was no time for levity.

Withdrawing her gaze, Exquisite Jiang did not bother with lengthy motivational speeches, simply declaring in a straightforward manner.

"This battle must be swift and decisive. Should anyone be found shirking their duty or acting deceitfully, do not blame me for settling accounts later."

"Begin."

Exquisite Jiang was known for her fairness, yet her personality was sharp and unyielding. The cultivators both respected and feared her, and thus none dared to slack off.

Gathering together, a force of over six thousand cultivators launched a sudden assault on Dire Wolf Mountain, quickly catching the Wolf Demonic Tribe off guard.

Within a mere two Shichen-time [one Shichen-time equals two hours], the Wolf Demonic Tribe was forced into a steady retreat, eventually being cornered within the Third Rank Superior Grade Spiritual Vein atop Dire Wolf Mountain.

By this time, however, the Violet Sanctum Demon Race on Dire Wolf Mountain had rallied and began organizing the demonic beasts for a counterattack.

Within the Great Wasteland [a vast, untamed wilderness], the number of demonic beasts was beyond counting. After the Beast Tide [a periodic, massive surge of demonic beasts], the Demon Race [a collective term for demonic beasts and monsters] near Dire Wolf Mountain had proliferated for nearly seventy years. The first-rank demonic beasts they had accumulated numbered not in the thousands, but in the tens of thousands.

Facing this endless tide of beasts, the cultivators soon felt the weight of immense pressure.

"Activate the Formation Flag [a flag used to channel energy and control a defensive or offensive formation] together! No one is to shirk their duty!"

At this critical juncture, Eldrin Chen [the protagonist, a young clan leader], who was presiding over the Formation Flag, shouted loudly.

Over a hundred cultivators joined forces to channel their power into the Formation Flag. It unleashed wave after wave of the Western Pole True Flame [a divine flame technique of immense purifying power], forcing the vanguard of the Demon Race to retreat step by step under its scorching onslaught. Your portal to cultivation novels: audio_novel.com.