Chapter 50 : Clash of Beasts and Blades

Seeing the formidable formation of the Human Race cultivators, the Violet Sanctum Demonic Wolf atop the mountain could no longer remain idle. With a furious roar, the Purple-Spotted Wolf King led two other Violet Sanctum Demonic Beast charging down the slope.

Close behind them, over a hundred Second Rank demon wolves surged into the air, pouncing towards the cultivators' defensive formation.

"Hold back the Second Rank wolves!"

With those words, Exquisite Jiang transformed into a streak of sword light that shot skyward. She alone met the charge of the three Violet Sanctum Demonic Wolf, and astonishingly, she quickly gained the upper hand in the clash.

Below, the others channeled their power into the Formation Flag [a flag used to anchor and control a defensive or offensive array], engaging the horde of Foundation Establishment demon wolves. Though the beasts were legion, the cultivators, bolstered by the formation's power, initially held a strong defensive advantage.

*Clang!*

Eldrin Chen directed the Formation Flag, unleashing a torrent of Western Pole True Flame [a divine flame of pure yang essence] that sent a Second Rank demon wolf reeling, coughing blood. Seizing the moment, he summoned his Mingxu Sword [the Sword of Ethereal Clarity] and sent it slicing through the air.

The sword's radiance was truly Extraordinary. With another resonant *clang*, it cleaved through the Second Rank Low-Grade demon wolf, ending its life.

"Not bad."

Finally having slain a Second Rank demon wolf, a faint smile touched Eldrin Chen's lips. This was tangible merit, solid contribution to the campaign. The complete novel can be found at *audio-novel.com*.

Not far away, the Old Patriarch unleashed the Solar Fire Soul-Burning Formation Flags [a set of enchanted banners that form a fiery formation to trap and burn the souls of enemies], instantly encircling one of the Second Rank Mid-Grade demon wolves. Once the beast's spiritual energy [the vital power cultivated by immortals and demons] was exhausted, with a sharp *clang*, he summoned his Crimson Flame Spirit Blade [a magical sword imbued with the essence of crimson flames] and severed the wolf's head.

Eternal Profound Chen recalled his Lifebound Magical Treasure [a powerful artifact bonded to a cultivator's life force, growing with their strength], letting out a slight sigh of relief as he smiled. "It seems this battle will not be too difficult."

"Truly unexpected that Patriarch Jiang possesses such formidable power."

The battle within the Heavenly Vault [a vast, open sky realm often used for aerial combat] raged on. Exquisite Jiang single-handedly engaged three Violet Sanctum Demonic Wolf [powerful wolf demons that have reached the Violet Sanctum cultivation stage] and still held the overwhelming advantage, having even destroyed one of the demon wolves' Third Rank Magical Artifact [a high-grade enchanted weapon or tool].

At that very moment, thunderous rumbles rolled from the distant void as seventy or eighty azure Great Roc [gigantic, mythical birds of prey] came soaring into view.

"Disaster! Those are the Thunderclap Great Roc from Thunderclap Valley!"

"How can this be?"

Someone could not help but cry out in alarm, causing the complexions of everyone present to drain of color.

The Thunderclap Great Roc are an exceptionally powerful lineage within the Demon Race [a collective term for sentient, often malevolent, beast-like beings that cultivate demonic arts]. Though their numbers are few, their bloodline heritage is potent; they naturally reach the Foundation Establishment Stage [the stage where a cultivator solidifies their spiritual foundation] upon reaching adulthood.

This particular flock from Thunderclap Valley, aside from nearly one hundred Second Rank Thunderclap Great Roc, also boasts three Great Demons [powerful, sentient demonic beings] who have attained the Violet Sanctum Realm [a high cultivation stage where one opens a mystical violet energy center within their body].

At this moment, over a hundred Thunderclap Great Roc had arrived. It could be said this lineage had mobilized its entire force.

"There is a traitor among us."

Eldrin Chen's pupils also contracted sharply, this thought flashing through his mind in an instant.

Thunderclap Valley was located fifty thousand Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] away. Logically, even if they had received the news, they could not have reinforced this quickly.

Therefore, there was only one possibility: someone had taken advantage of the war preparations at Heavenly Ruins Mountain to secretly send a message ahead of time, passing information to the Demon Race.

"Damn it!"

A cold glint flashed in Elara Lin's eyes, a murderous aura radiating from her in an instant. She had clearly deduced the same.

However, this was not the time for contemplation. She immediately summoned a golden bracelet magical treasure [an enchanted artifact used by cultivators] and hurled it towards the Violet Sanctum Early Stage demon wolf.

Originally, she was here to oversee the battle, a hidden trump card meant to be revealed later to catch the demon beasts off guard.

But now, ambushed by the Demon Race, she had no choice but to reveal herself early. Before the Demonic Roc clan could fully close in, she aimed to seize the advantage.

Her sudden strike indeed caught the opponent off guard. That golden bracelet was a mid-grade third-rank magical treasure [an enchanted artifact used by cultivators] forged by Exquisite Jiang from Heavenly Water Adamantine, and its power was quite formidable.

The demon wolf, caught in a moment of haste with no room to evade, could only spew forth its Inner Pill [the condensed core of a demon beast's cultivation] to block the golden bracelet. However, since Elara Lin had made her move, she had naturally prepared for all contingencies.

With a lift of her hand, she invoked the divine ability Ice Jade Condensing Light Mantra. This Ice Jade Condensing Light Mantra is a special ice-attribute divine ability, one that can only be performed by cultivators possessing an Ice Spiritual Root.

Upon its activation, a white radiance soared into the air and shone down, pinning the demon wolf's Inner Pill firmly in the void.

Seizing this opportunity, she urged the golden bracelet to descend, securely locking onto this third-rank Inner Pill and retrieving it into her Storage Bag [a spatial pouch for storing items].

Having achieved a gain with her very first move, Elara Lin let out a sigh of relief. She then summoned her Lifebound Immortal Sword [a cultivator's primary sword, bound to their life force], the Frost Soul Coldlight Sword, and soared into the air to deliver a sweeping slash. Continue your cultivation journey at audio-novel.com (official site).

She had broken through to the Violet Sanctum [the third major realm of cultivation, where one forms a spiritual core] nearly sixty years prior and was now a cultivator at the third layer of Violet Sanctum. She held a slight edge over the Violet Sanctum Demonic Wolf [a demon wolf of equivalent power to a Violet Sanctum cultivator], and her magical treasures and artifacts were also superior.

In a one-on-one duel, this Violet Sanctum Demonic Wolf was originally no match for her. Moreover, having lost its Inner Pill, the demon wolf's magical power was diminished by more than half, leaving it naturally suppressed and beaten back.

In less than ten breaths' time [a very brief moment], the Violet Sanctum Demonic Wolf had already sustained significant injuries, clearly suffering a major setback.

However, those mere ten breaths were all the time she had. In moments, the Thunderclap Great Roc [a powerful avian demon beast known for its speed and thunderous attacks] clan had already closed in upon them.

Instantly, two Violet Sanctum Mid Stage Great Roc birds charged forward to besiege Exquisite Jiang, for she was currently unleashing her full might and had already grievously wounded the Violet Sanctum Mid Stage demonic wolf.

Violet Sanctum Demonic Beast possess intelligence nearing that of ordinary humans. They understood clearly that if they did not intervene now, Exquisite Jiang would likely slay it and decisively shatter the current stalemate.

The remaining Violet Sanctum Early Stage Demonic Roc then led the flock of Second Rank Thunderclap Great Roc straight towards Elara Lin, clearly intending to first eliminate this unexpected Violet Sanctum Cultivator before joining the assault on Exquisite Jiang.

"This is bad!"

Facing the combined assault of two demonic beasts of equal rank and nearly a hundred Second Rank Demonic Roc, not even a Violet Sanctum Cultivator could withstand it.

Elara Lin's expression changed abruptly. She immediately shouted, "Hold back these Second Rank demonic beasts!"

Relying solely on the forces of Heavenly Ruins Mountain, bolstered by their defensive formations, they could still gain the upper hand against Dire Wolf Mountain. However, adding the Thunderclap Great Roc clan from Thunderclap Valley to the fray made the battle exceedingly difficult.

Yet at this critical juncture, everyone understood: if they failed to help the two Violet Sanctum Patriarch stabilize the situation, the Patriarchs might still escape, but they, these Foundation Establishment and Vital Essence Refinement cultivators, would likely find it impossible to evade the pursuit of the Violet Sanctum Demonic Beast.

With no other choice, they desperately channeled their power into the formations, striving to block the advance of the nearly hundred Second Rank Demonic Roc and engaging them in a desperate, life-or-death struggle.

Yet, under the combined onslaught of the Wolf Demonic Tribe and the demonic Roc Clan, the pressure on the defenders became palpable. Formations began to fall one after another, the cultivators within them slaughtered by the Demon Race, resulting in grievous casualties.

At the critical moment, Old Patriarch and several other Foundation Establishment Late Stage cultivators stepped forward. Each of them held off multiple Foundation Establishment demon beasts, barely managing to stall the enemy's advance.

Even so, it was not enough. The number of Second Rank demon beasts was simply overwhelming, approaching two hundred creatures at the Foundation Establishment Stage.

Coupled with the frenzied assault of tens of thousands of First Rank demon beasts, even with the power of their formation, the defenders were being forced into a steady retreat.

"Die!"

Old Patriarch channeled his Crimson Flame Spirit Blade to cleave through the Second Rank Demonic Roc before him. He then raised his eyes to survey the battlefield.

Seeing the situation deteriorate, his hair and beard whipped wildly as he soared into the sky with a mighty leap, roaring with a voice that shook the heavens.

"Fall back, all of you! Leave this to me!"

He unfurled his Solar Fire Soul-Burning Formation Flags. A deluge of Solar Fire [a divine flame of pure yang energy] engulfed the Heavenly Vault, encircling more than thirty Foundation Establishment Demonic Roc within its blazing domain.

Within the Solar Fire Soul-Burning Grand Formation, with his defensive magical treasure, an ancient bronze pagoda, hovering above his head, he faced thirty Foundation Establishment Stage demon beasts alone. For a time, their furious attacks could not breach the Impenetrable [unbreakable] formation. Visit audio-novel . com to enjoy the complete series.