Chapter 1451 : Shadows Over Yin Crow Mountain

"Within Yin Crow Mountain [a mountain stronghold of unorthodox cultivators], there are a total of seven unorthodox Earth Immortal [powerful cultivators who have transcended mortality and merged with the earth's spiritual veins]. Aside from Yin Crow Ancient Ancestor who was at the Earth Immortal Great Perfection [the pinnacle stage of the Earth Immortal realm], there is one Seventh Level Earth Immortal [an Earth Immortal at the seventh level of power], while the remaining five are all at the early or middle stages of Earth Immortal."

"Judging by the current situation, they likely do not yet know that Yin Crow Ancient Ancestor has perished."

Observing that Yin Crow Mountain showed no signs of being on alert, Eldrin Chen finally let out a sigh of relief and said.

Unorthodox Path [cultivators who follow ruthless and often self-serving methods] and Demonic Path [cultivators who draw power from malevolent sources] practitioners differ from righteous Immortal [cultivators who follow virtuous paths]; their relationships are often fraught with schemes and treachery.

The other six unorthodox Earth Immortal of Yin Crow Mountain, though they were fellow disciples under the same sect as Yin Crow Ancient Ancestor, shared no genuine trust amongst themselves.

To avoid falling victim to another's machinations, Yin Crow Ancient Ancestor would never have left his own Soul Lamp [a magical lamp linked to a cultivator's life force, which extinguishes upon their death] within Yin Crow Mountain.

Having reached this conclusion, Lyra Jiang also nodded, yet a slight frown creased her brow as she said, "Although they are unprepared, the Mountain Guardian Grand Formation [a powerful defensive array that protects a mountain stronghold] still guards the place. Breaking through it will not be easy for us."

Hearing this, everyone's brows furrowed slightly. This Yin Crow Mountain Blessed Land [a place of concentrated spiritual energy, ideal for cultivation] was a superior-grade Blessed Land.

The power of such a Blessed Land, combined with the strength of a Late Stage Earth Immortal [an Earth Immortal in the advanced phase of their power], to sustain Yin Crow Mountain's Mountain Guardian Grand Formation, would likely render it impervious even to an Earth Immortal Great Perfection.

Relying solely on their few members' strength to breach Yin Crow Mountain's Mountain Guardian Grand Formation still seemed a rather daunting task. The complete novel can be found at audio–novel.com.

Eldrin Chen pondered for a moment before speaking, "Since a forceful assault cannot breach it, we have no choice but to rely on a Void-attribute treasure to infiltrate the formation and risk a battle from within."

"If we can catch them off guard and assassinate that Seventh Level Earth Immortal [a cultivator who has reached the seventh stage of the Earth Immortal realm] ancient fiend by surprise, perhaps we can decide the outcome of this battle in a single stroke."

Nyssa Qu nodded in agreement. "That seems to be our only viable course of action."

Currently, within this Yin Crow Mountain, there were no World-Opening Treasure [a rare type of treasure capable of manipulating space] possessing spatial attributes. Therefore, Eldrin Chen with his Spatial Spiritual Treasure [a spiritual treasure that manipulates space] did not face a significant threat from them.

This was not his first time infiltrating a high-level Blessed Land [a region abundant with spiritual energy, often used for cultivation]. Yet, witnessing Eldrin Chen deftly navigate the depths of Yin Crow Mountain using the Yin-Yang Void Realm, they arrived at its heart almost imperceptibly.

After entering the core area of Yin Crow Mountain, the group did not strike immediately. They spent several days meticulously scouting, identifying the secluded cultivation chambers of the several Earth Immortal Progenitor [powerful cultivators at the Earth Immortal stage who are founders or leaders] residing there and pinpointing the core node of the grand Formation [a complex arrangement of energy channels and symbols used for defense, attack, or cultivation].

Once their reconnaissance was complete, Eldrin Chen handed the Heaven-Fleeing Shuttle to Lyra Jiang and instructed, "Shortly, we will launch a surprise attack on that Seventh Level Earth Immortal unorthodox cultivator. You, holding the Heaven-Fleeing Shuttle, will conceal yourself near the formation's core."

"The moment we make our move, the defenders at the formation core will surely react. That is when you must strike from ambush."

Lyra Jiang accepted the Heaven-Fleeing Shuttle, her expression grave and resolute. "Understood. Leave this task to me."

With this matter settled, Eldrin Chen gave a firm nod, offering no further words.

He led the group to the secluded cultivation chamber of the Yin Crow Mountain [a mountain range known for its sinister energies] unorthodox cultivator. After exchanging a glance with his companions, they struck in unison.

"BOOM—"

In that instant, a storm of Divine Ability [powerful supernatural techniques] treasures erupted—the Seven Ultimate Spirit-Slaying Sword, the Profound Yang Heaven-Entombing Saber, the Infernal Prison War Halberd—all converging upon the meditating Demonic Cultivator [a practitioner who draws power from malevolent and corrupt sources].

"Damn it!"

The sudden ambush caught the Demonic Cultivator completely off guard.

In a frantic scramble, he summoned a Demonic Treasure [an artifact forged and empowered by demonic energies] to shield himself. Barely weathering the initial onslaught, he transformed into a streak of Swiftflight Light [a high-speed movement technique] and shot towards the distance.

Yet, in that very same moment, a blade of light, blinding in its brilliance, shot forth. It pierced straight through the fiend's Demonic Treasure, cleaving his physical body in two with brutal force.

"GHAH—"

The Demonic Cultivator, grievously wounded, let out a piercing shriek. His combat prowess was instantly halved.

To secure a decisive victory from the outset, Eldrin Chen had activated the Gale God-Slaying Gourd [a legendary gourd treasure capable of unleashing devastating wind-based attacks]. With a single, devastating strike, he had crippled the demonic foe.

However, the combat prowess of Demonic Cultivator [practitioners of a dark, power-hungry cultivation path] is indeed extraordinary. In the past, Eldrin Chen's Gale God-Slaying Gourd [a legendary gourd that unleashes soul-rending gales] had once, with a single unexpected strike, annihilated an Earth Immortal Nine Layers [a cultivator at the ninth level of the Earth Immortal realm] Ghost Cultivator [a cultivator who has forsaken their physical body to pursue power as a spectral entity]. It was unexpected that it failed to slay this Seventh Level Earth Immortal [a cultivator at the seventh level of the Earth Immortal realm] Demonic Cultivator.

While this is related to the fact that Ghost Cultivator lack physical bodies, making their Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core and true essence of a cultivator] extremely fragile, it still clearly demonstrates that Demonic Cultivator are indeed formidably powerful.

Returning to the matter at hand, after grievously wounding this demonic fiend with one blow, Eldrin Chen immediately summoned his Primordial Chaos Qi Grasping Hand [a divine ability that manifests a giant hand of chaotic primordial energy]. He firmly suppressed the fiend within his palm, unleashing a torrential wave of Pure Yang Celestial Flame [a divine flame of pure yang energy, anathema to all things dark and corrupt] to utterly annihilate it.

Simultaneously, the Earth Immortal [a cultivator who has ascended to the realm of terrestrial immortality] demonic fiend presiding over the Formation [a complex array that channels and amplifies spiritual energy for defense or attack] of Yin Crow Mountain [a mountain stronghold shrouded in yin energy and inhabited by spectral crows] reacted instantly. He immediately activated the grand formation, summoning boundless Yin Crow [spectral crows born of concentrated yin and death energy] to descend from the Nine Heavens [the highest celestial realms] in an attempt to suppress Eldrin Chen and his companions.

The four Earth Immortal Progenitor [an Earth Immortal of great age and power, often the founder of a lineage] from Yin Crow Mountain were jolted from their Seclusion Chamber [a chamber used for deep, undisturbed meditation and cultivation]. They immediately charged forth, intent on rescuing that Seventh Level Earth Immortal demonic fiend.

Yet, in that very instant, Lyra Jiang made her move. Seizing the moment the fiend was activating the grand formation, she unleashed the Great Five Elements Pure Yin Divine Thunder [a supreme divine thunder technique harmonizing the five elements with pure yin power]. Original English translation available at audio-novel`com.

In a flash, boundless divine thunderbolts hammered into the fiend's body, sending him reeling through the air, coughing up blood.

For a cultivator with Late Stage Earth Immortal [the pinnacle stage of the Earth Immortal realm] combat power to ambush a Middle Stage Earth Immortal [the intermediate stage of the Earth Immortal realm], a single exchange was all it took. The fiend was already severely wounded, his combat power greatly diminished.

"Disaster!"

The remaining four fiends, witnessing this, immediately sought to disengage and flee for their lives. Alas, it was already too late.

Then, Eldrin Chen's Primordial Chaos Qi Grasping Hand clenched fiercely. The boundless Pure Yang Celestial Flame instantly annihilated the Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] and the Demon Embryo [a nascent demonic entity] held within the demonic fiend's grasp.

Immediately after, Eldrin Chen struck again. With a mere flick of his sleeve, the Grand Five Elements Pure Yang Divine Thunder surged across the heavens, instantly reducing a demonic fiend at the Early Stage Earth Immortal [the first major stage of the Earth Immortal realm] to ashes of calamity.

The remaining three Demonic Cultivator [practitioners who cultivate using demonic and unorthodox methods] were also intercepted by the quartet of Verdant Consort, Nyssa Qu, Kael Chen, and Qiyuan Chen.

Seeing this, Eldrin Chen did not hesitate for a moment. He activated the Yin-Yang Void Realm [a magical treasure that manipulates the void between Yin and Yang], sealing off the entire Yin Crow Mountain.

Of the six Earth Immortal Progenitor [a powerful Earth Immortal who has founded a lineage] on Yin Crow Mountain, one at the Seventh Level Earth Immortal [the seventh minor stage within the Earth Immortal realm] had been ambushed and slain, another Earth Immortal [a cultivator who has ascended to the realm of terrestrial immortality] of the fifth level guarding the Formation [a structured array of power, often for defense or amplification] had been grievously wounded by Lyra Jiang, and now another had been instantly suppressed and killed by Eldrin Chen. The remaining three were no longer a significant concern.

Wielding the Grand Five Elements Pure Yang Divine Thunder and the Pure Yang Celestial Flame, Eldrin Chen posed a threat to Demonic Cultivator no less than an Earth Immortal Nine Layers [an Earth Immortal at the ninth and pinnacle minor stage].

Kael Chen's Demon Monarch [a powerful demonic sovereign] and Buddha's Dao Fruit [the enlightened fruit of Buddhist cultivation], along with Qiyuan Chen's Solar Rule, exerted immense suppressive force upon the Demonic Cultivator. As they continued their assault, the remaining Earth Immortal Progenitor were left utterly powerless to resist.

In the span of mere dozens of exchanges, the three Demonic Cultivator were all slain by the group. The final fiend, the one presiding over the grand formation, was likewise beyond any hope of turning the tide.

Although he had activated the formation, barely managing to trap Eldrin Chen, their strongest combatant, the others swiftly joined the fray. In but a few moments, he was cut down by Lyra Jiang.

"The deed is done."

Having slain six Demonic Path Earth Immortal [powerful cultivators who have attained the Earth Immortal realm] in a single battle, Eldrin Chen immediately took action. He unleashed a boundless tide of Pure Yang Celestial Flame [a divine flame of pure Yang energy] that swept across Yin Crow Mountain [a mountain stronghold of the Yin Crow demonic lineage].

After the great conflagration, countless Demonic Cultivator [cultivators who follow demonic or unorthodox paths] were reduced to ashes scattered by the heavenly tribulation's wind. A vast radiance of Merit's Pure Radiance [a luminous manifestation of accumulated virtuous karma and merit] descended upon the assembled group.

When the aftermath settled completely, Eldrin Chen tallied the gains. He discovered that the eradication of Yin Crow Mountain had yielded a total of thirty-four strands of Merit's Pure Radiance for the group.

Of these, Eldrin Chen received twelve strands, Lyra Jiang received ten strands. The remaining twelve strands were divided among the other four: Verdant Consort, Nyssa Qu, Kael Chen, and Qiyuan Chen, each receiving approximately three strands.

"To think that the vast Yin Crow Mountain, with its six Earth Immortal elder demons and hundreds of True Demon [demons who have solidified their demonic nature and power], combined, only amounted to thirty or forty percent of the Karmic Malignancy Light [the visible aura of negative karma and evil deeds] carried by Yin Crow Ancient Ancestor alone," Eldrin Chen mused. For uninterrupted reading, go to audio-novel[dot]com.