Chapter 1433 : The Forge of Demonic Swords

"This place, saturated with Fiendish Energy [a malevolent and corrupting form of spiritual power], would indeed be a favorable location for Demonic Cultivator [cultivators who harness demonic and fiendish energies] and Primordial Era Desolate Spirit [ancient, desolate spiritual entities or demonic beasts]."

Eldrin Chen spoke, a trace of solemn contemplation flashing between his brows.

Demonic Cultivator prefer to cultivate using Fiendish Energy, and most are individuals of wicked and aberrant temperament. Often, long before they break through to the Ascendant Immortal [a high immortal realm], their minds have already been corrupted by the Fiendish Energy and demonic miasma.

However, the rare few who can maintain their original consciousness can transform the Fiendish Energy and demonic miasma for their own use, cultivating immensely powerful Divine Ability [supernatural powers and techniques] and Demonic Treasure [magical artifacts forged with demonic energy].

Such Demonic Treasure are three parts more domineering in power compared to Immortal Treasure [magical artifacts of the orthodox immortal path] of the same rank. Their flaw is the potential to backfire upon the wielder, and they are also countered by Divine Ability and Immortal Treasure of the Primordial Solar [pure, radiant yang] attribute.

Exquisite Jiang's gaze flickered slightly before she nodded in agreement. "The Fiendish Energy here could indeed be used to cultivate the Celestial Abyss Twin Swords [a pair of divine swords] and the Heavenly Ruins Immortal-Slaying Sword [a sword art or blade technique]."

"Indeed."

Eldrin Chen nodded. At his current level of cultivation, he could naturally perceive this as well.

The fundamental principles of the Primordial Unity Condensing Malignance Art [a supreme art for condensing malign energies into primordial unity] were clearly devised by an Immortal Path [the orthodox path of immortal cultivation] Great Power Figure [a figure of immense cultivation power] who had comprehended the cultivation methods of the Demonic Path [the unorthodox demonic cultivation path]. It encompassed the strengths of both the Immortal Path and Demonic Path, making it a supreme arcane method of the Primordial Unity [a profound state of primordial oneness] realm.

As they conversed, the group continued deeper into the Blessed Land [a land blessed with abundant spiritual energy].

The deeper they ventured into the Blessed Land, the more intense the concentration of Fiendish Energy [a malevolent and corrupting form of spiritual power] they discovered.

By the time they reached the cavern's depths, Eldrin Chen found the Fiendish Energy here had solidified into a tangible substance. Even an Earth Immortal Patriarch could not linger for long; staying too long carried the peril of being corrupted by the invasive Fiendish Energy.

With no other choice, Eldrin Chen could only activate his Primordial One Energy [the foundational, harmonizing energy of creation], using it to neutralize the various strands of Fiendish Energy for the group, allowing them to press onward.

Finally, not long after, they seemed to pass through the cavern's end, emerging into a space of vast and immeasurable breadth.

It was a realm saturated with an intense concentration of Metallic Gold Killing Energy [a lethal, metallic, and sharp spiritual essence]. The overwhelming Fiendish Energy crisscrossed the void like countless sword energies clashing. An ordinary Primordial Spirit Path Lord would likely have their physical form and Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] utterly shredded in an instant.

Eldrin Chen dared not be negligent. With a sweep of his sleeve, he expanded a shield of Primordial One Energy to protect his companions.

Immediately after, he struck out with a palm strike, its force directed deep into the empty void.

"*Whoosh—*"

In that very instant, a wave of malignant baleful aura [a concentrated form of malevolent energy and killing intent] rushed to meet them.

The figure brimming with this malignance collided with Eldrin Chen and was instantly sent hurtling backward.

Eldrin Chen did not fare well either. He was forced back three consecutive steps, only to discover a terrifyingly potent surge of Fiendish Energy [a malevolent and corrosive form of spiritual power] wreaking havoc within his palm.

He refined and neutralized this invasive energy with his Primordial One Indestructibility Rule [a supreme law of unyielding durability], then lifted his gaze toward the profound depths of the boundless Earth Vein [a colossal subterranean channel of concentrated earth-element spiritual energy].

There, within the vast expanse of the Earth Vein, a monstrous white-furred tiger of immense and baleful presence heaved itself up from the very earth, its eyes blazing with boundless, murderous light as it fixed its gaze upon him.

"A Primordial Tiger [an ancient and powerful breed of tiger demon] with strength rivaling a Seventh Level Earth Immortal [a cultivator who has reached the seventh minor stage of the Earth Immortal realm],"

Eldrin Chen declared, his expression grave. "Stay alert. There is another one lying in ambush."

Hearing this, Exquisite Jiang and the others turned their wary attention toward the heart of the Earth Vein.

According to their intelligence, within the Western Metal Great Mystery Mountain Range, there were at least two Western Metal Primordial Tiger [a specific, metal-attuned subspecies of the Primordial Tiger] of Late Stage Earth Immortal [the advanced phase of the Earth Immortal realm] strength. One of them possessed cultivation even reaching the Eighth Level Earth Immortal [the eighth minor stage of the Earth Immortal realm].

The beast before them, at merely the Seventh Level Earth Immortal, was not the most formidable of the pair.

"ROAR—!"

Just as their hearts grew heavy with apprehension, they sensed the approach of another, even more overwhelming aura.

They looked up and saw a figure of immense power, a stark white silhouette, hurtling towards them from the depths of the void.

Eldrin Chen clashed with it once more, only to find its strength was not as formidable as anticipated. Instead, the force of Eldrin Chen's blow sent it reeling back through the air.

"This is..."

The group was momentarily stunned. Eldrin Chen looked up again, his gaze sharpening. The second Primordial Tiger was indeed at the Eighth Level Earth Immortal realm, but a grievous, gaping wound marred its formidable body, as if it had been pierced by some terrifying force.

Seeing this, Eldrin Chen immediately exchanged a glance with Exquisite Jiang.

Exquisite Jiang was equally astonished. "This Western Metal Primordial Tiger is gravely wounded," she said with surprise. "It seems to have been in a fierce battle not long ago."

"Who could have possibly inflicted such injury upon a Western Metal Primordial Tiger?"

As Eldrin Chen continued to engage the Western Metal Primordial Tiger, his astonishment only grew.

Ranked among the top ten of the Primordial Era Desolate Spirit, the Western Metal Primordial Tiger was born from the absorption of boundless Fiendish Energy [a malevolent and chaotic form of spiritual power]. Its combat prowess typically surpassed that of Immortal [a being who has ascended to immortality] of the same realm.

Before them were two Western Metal Primordial Tiger—one at the Seventh Level Earth Immortal realm and the other at the Eighth Level Earth Immortal realm. Fighting in concert, their combined strength would likely be enough to challenge a powerhouse at the Earth Immortal Great Perfection realm.

Not to mention, within this Golden Evil Blessed Land [a malevolent domain saturated with corrosive metallic energies], there was also the boundless augmentation of Golden Evil Qi [a corrosive and sharp metallic spiritual energy], enhancing their combat prowess by several degrees.

With such formidable power, even if Eldrin Chen led the five of them in a joint assault, they would have no certainty of completely annihilating them all.

Originally, Eldrin Chen's plan for this venture was to expend his trump card, the 'Great Annihilation Heavenly Dragon Talisman' [a talisman that summons a devastating draconic entity], to unleash a Late Stage Earth Immortal [a cultivator at the pinnacle of the Earth Immortal realm] Great Annihilation Heavenly Dragon [a celestial dragon of immense power] to join the encirclement and attack.

Coupled with the combined efforts of Exquisite Jiang and Verdant Consort and the other three, their strategy was to forcefully slay that Seventh Level Earth Immortal [an Earth Immortal at the seventh minor stage] Primordial Tiger [an ancient and powerful tiger demon] and then withdraw. Yet now, the strongest Western Metal Primordial Tiger [the leader of the metallic tigers] was severely wounded, a development that truly took them by surprise.

"To inflict such grievous wounds upon it, the assailant must have been at least at the Earth Immortal Great Perfection [the perfected, peak stage of the Earth Immortal realm],"

"However, the fact that they failed to finish it off indicates this person's strength has its limits. They might even have been seriously injured in the battle themselves."

Eldrin Chen spoke slowly, then decisively after a moment's pause. "This opportunity must not be lost. We slay these two Western Metal Primordial Tigers first, then decide our next move."

As his words fell, Eldrin Chen immediately charged towards the severely wounded Western Metal Primordial Tiger. Seeing this, Exquisite Jiang intercepted the other Seventh Level Earth Immortal Primordial Tiger.

The remaining four women also sprang into action. According to the original plan, they were all to assist Exquisite Jiang, utilizing the power of the Great Annihilation Heavenly Dragon Talisman to deal with that Seventh Level Earth Immortal Western Metal Primordial Tiger.

For to surround and kill a foe of equal rank, one needed at least triple the combat power to achieve complete suppression and eliminate them with minimal losses.

With the four women, Exquisite Jiang, and the combat power of the Great Annihilation Heavenly Dragon Talisman, their combined strength could roughly rival three and a half Earth Immortal cultivators who had opened the Sixfold Heaven. Only with such overwhelming force could the slaying of the Seventh Level Earth Immortal Western Metal Primordial Tiger be considered a near certainty.

Now, with the strongest Primordial Tiger severely wounded, the group seized the opportunity to switch their targets.

A full four beings, each with power comparable to a Sixth Level Earth Immortal, unleashed their might. They summoned four High-Grade World-Opening Treasure to aid them, immediately forcing the Western Metal Primordial Tiger into a desperate retreat.

At its peak, this Western Metal Primordial Tiger might have been a match for Eldrin Chen. But now, grievously injured, its strength was likely reduced to only fifty or sixty percent of its former glory.

Such diminished power was insufficient even to contend with Eldrin Chen alone, let alone withstand the combined assault from Verdant Consort, Nyssa Qu, and the others.

The fierce battle raged for over three hundred exchanges. In the end, Eldrin Chen impaled the Western Metal Primordial Tiger upon his Infernal Prison War Halberd, ending its life deep within the Earth Vein.

"It is done."

A surge of triumph filled Eldrin Chen. Without a word, he turned his focus toward the remaining Western Metal Primordial Tiger.

This Western Metal Primordial Tiger possessed formidable combat prowess, far more troublesome than an ordinary Seventh Level Earth Immortal. Yet, against the relentless siege of the group, it stood no chance.

Six combatants, each at least as powerful as a Sixth Level Earth Immortal, unleashed their full might. After mere hundreds of clashes, they utterly annihilated the beast, its form dissipating into the void.