Chapter 1451 : Shadows Within the Sect

"Within Lunar Crow Mountain [the mountain stronghold of the Lunar Crow Sect], there are a total of seven evil-aligned Earth Immortal [powerful cultivators who have transcended mortality and merged with the earth's spiritual veins]. Aside from Lunar Crow Patriarch [the master of the Lunar Crow Sect], who is 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 [the Earth Immortal realm]."

"Judging by the current situation, they likely do not yet know that Lunar Crow Patriarch [the master of the Lunar Crow Sect] has perished."

Observing that Lunar Crow Mountain [the mountain stronghold of the Lunar Crow Sect] showed no signs of heightened alert, Eldrin Chen finally let out a sigh of relief and spoke.

Cultivators of the evil and Demonic Path [the path of cultivation that embraces demonic and destructive energies] are different from righteous Immortal [cultivators who follow the orthodox path of immortality]. The relationships among them are often fraught with schemes and treachery.

The other six evil-aligned Earth Immortal [powerful cultivators] of Lunar Crow Mountain [the Lunar Crow Sect's mountain stronghold], though they share the same sect as Lunar Crow Patriarch [their former master], harbor no trust whatsoever for one another.

To avoid falling victim to the schemes of others, Lunar Crow Patriarch [the master of the Lunar Crow Sect] would never have left his Soul Lamp [a magical lamp linked to its owner's life force, extinguishing upon their death] within Lunar Crow Mountain [his sect's stronghold].

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

Hearing this, everyone's brows furrowed slightly. This Lunar Crow Mountain Blessed Land [a place of immense natural spiritual power and fortune] was an Upper Grade Blessed Land [a Blessed Land of the highest quality and potency].

With the power of such a Blessed Land [a place of immense natural spiritual power] combined with the strength of a Late Stage Earth Immortal [an Earth Immortal nearing the peak of their power] fueling it, the Mountain Protection Formation [the defensive array] of Lunar Crow Mountain [the Lunar Crow Sect's stronghold] would likely be impervious even to an Earth Immortal Great Perfection [a cultivator at the absolute peak of the Earth Immortal realm].

Relying solely on their own strength, breaching the Mountain Protection Formation [defensive array] of Lunar Crow Mountain [the Lunar Crow Sect's mountain stronghold] would still be a formidable challenge.

Eldrin Chen pondered for a moment before speaking. "Since a direct assault cannot breach it, we have no choice but to rely on the Void Treasure [a treasure capable of manipulating space] to infiltrate the formation and risk a battle from within," he concluded.

"If we can catch them off guard and assassinate that Seventh Level Earth Immortal [a powerful cultivator at the seventh stage of the Earth Immortal realm] old freak first, we might be able to 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," she acknowledged.

Currently, within Lunar Crow Mountain, there were no World-Opening Treasures [powerful artifacts capable of creating or stabilizing pocket dimensions] possessing a Spatial Attribute [an innate affinity for spatial manipulation]. Such treasures posed little threat to Eldrin Chen, who possessed a Spatial Spiritual Treasure [a spiritual-grade artifact with spatial properties].

This was not his first time infiltrating a high-grade Blessed Land [a land rich in spiritual energy and natural treasures]. With practiced ease, Eldrin Chen utilized the Polarity Void Mirror [a mirror artifact that manipulates the polarity of void energy] to slip inside, arriving deep within Lunar Crow Mountain without raising any alarm.

Upon reaching the core region of Lunar Crow Mountain, the group did not strike immediately. They spent several days discreetly mapping out the secluded cultivation chambers of the mountain's few Earth Immortal Patriarchs [venerable elders at the Earth Immortal realm] and pinpointing the heart of the defensive Formation [a structured array of energy used for defense, attack, or cultivation].

Once their reconnaissance was complete, Eldrin Chen handed the Heaven-Piercing Shuttle [a divine ability or artifact manifesting as a shuttle capable of piercing through defenses] to Exquisite Jiang with careful instructions. "We will launch a surprise attack on that Seventh Level Earth Immortal Heretical Cultivator [a cultivator who follows unorthodox, often malevolent, paths]. You, holding the Heaven-Piercing Shuttle, will conceal yourself near the formation's core."

"The moment we make our move, the formation's guardians will surely react. That is when you must strike from your hidden position."

Exquisite Jiang accepted the Heaven-Piercing Shuttle with utmost solemnity. "Understood. Leave this task to me," she affirmed.

With the plan thus conveyed, Eldrin Chen gave a final nod, offering no further words.

He led the group to the secluded cultivation chamber of the Heretical Cultivator [a cultivator who follows unorthodox, often forbidden, paths] at Lunar Crow Mountain. After exchanging a glance with his companions, they struck in unison.

"BOOM—"

In that instant, a storm of supreme Divine Ability [a powerful supernatural technique] treasures erupted—the Seven Extremities Spirit-Slaying Sword, the Primal Radiance Heaven-Entombing Blade, the Infernal Prison War Halberd—all converging upon the secluded Demonic Cultivator [a practitioner of malevolent, demonic arts].

"Disaster!"

The sudden ambush caught the Demonic Cultivator completely off guard.

In a frantic scramble, he summoned a Demonic Treasure [an artifact imbued with demonic power] to shield himself. Barely weathering the initial onslaught, he then transformed into a streak of Escape Radiance [a radiant light technique used for rapid flight] 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 demon's Demonic Treasure, cleaving his physical body clean in two.

"GURK—"

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

To ensure a decisive first strike, Eldrin Chen had activated the Gale Wind God-Slaying Gourd. With a single, devastating blow, he had crippled the demonic fiend.

However, the combat prowess of Demonic Cultivator [practitioners who cultivate using demonic or unorthodox methods] is indeed extraordinary. In the past, Eldrin Chen's Gale Wind God-Slaying Gourd [a magical vessel that unleashes a gale capable of slaying deities] managed to unexpectedly annihilate a Ninth Level Earth Immortal [a cultivator at the ninth and final stage of the Earth Immortal realm] Ghost Cultivator [a cultivator who has forsaken their physical body to pursue a purely spiritual path] in a single strike. Yet, it failed to achieve a kill against this Seventh Level Earth Immortal [a cultivator at the seventh stage of the Earth Immortal realm] Demonic Cultivator.

While this is partly because Ghost Cultivator lack physical bodies, making their Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core and true essence of a cultivator] exceptionally fragile, it still clearly demonstrates the formidable strength of Demonic Cultivator.

Returning to the battle, after severely wounding the demonic fiend with that strike, Eldrin Chen immediately summoned the Primordial One Energy Grasping Hand [a divine technique that manifests a giant hand of pure primordial energy to seize and crush its target]. He firmly suppressed the demon within his palm, unleashing a torrential wave of Primordial Solar Heavenly Flame [a supreme yang-aligned heavenly fire of immense purity and destructive power] to utterly annihilate it.

Simultaneously, the Earth Immortal demon presiding over the Formation [a complex array or formation used for defense, attack, or cultivation] at Lunar Crow Mountain reacted instantly. He activated the grand formation, summoning countless spectral Lunar Crow [demonic crows associated with lunar and yin energy] that descended from the Nine Heavens [the highest layers of the sky or celestial realms] in an attempt to suppress Eldrin Chen and his companions.

The four Earth Immortal Patriarch of Lunar Crow Mountain were jolted from their Seclusion Chamber [a specially prepared chamber for deep, undisturbed meditation or cultivation] and rushed to the scene, intent on rescuing the Seventh Level Earth Immortal demon.

Yet, in that very instant, Exquisite Jiang made her move. Seizing the moment the presiding demon was focused on the formation, she unleashed the Great Five Elements Pure Lunar Divine Thunder [a supreme divine thunder technique harmonizing the five elements with pure lunar energy].

In a flash, boundless divine thunderbolts hammered into the demon, blasting him away, blood spraying from his mouth as he was sent flying.

For a Late Stage Earth Immortal [a cultivator at the advanced phase of the Earth Immortal realm] to ambush a Middle Stage Earth Immortal [a cultivator at the intermediate phase of the Earth Immortal realm]—in the span of a single exchange, the demon was grievously wounded, his combat power drastically diminished.

"Disaster!"

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

Then, Eldrin Chen's Primordial One Energy Grasping Hand [a divine technique that manifests a giant hand of pure energy] clenched fiercely. The boundless Primordial Solar Heavenly Flame [a supreme yang-aligned celestial fire] instantly incinerated the Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] and Demonic Embryo [a nascent demonic entity cultivated within a fiend] of the fiend held within its grasp.

Without pause, Eldrin Chen struck again. With a mere flick of his sleeve, the Great Five Elements Primordial Solar Divine Thunder [a supreme thunder technique fusing the power of the five elements and primordial sun] erupted across the heavens, instantly reducing an Early-stage Earth Immortal [the first major stage of the Earth Immortal realm] fiend to ashes.

The remaining three Demonic Cultivator [practitioners of demonic arts] were intercepted by Verdant Consort, Nyssa Qu, Kael Chen, and Energy Abyss Chen.

Seeing this, Eldrin Chen wasted no time. He activated the Polarity Void Mirror [a magical treasure capable of sealing space] to lock down the entire Lunar Crow Mountain.

Of Lunar Crow Mountain's six Earth Immortal Patriarch [patriarchs who have attained the Earth Immortal realm], one Seventh Level Earth Immortal [an Earth Immortal at the seventh minor stage] had been ambushed and slain, another Fifth Level Earth Immortal [an Earth Immortal at the fifth minor stage] guarding the Formation [a structured array of power, often for defense or attack] had been grievously wounded by Exquisite Jiang, and now one more had been instantly executed by Eldrin Chen. The remaining three were no longer a significant threat.

Wielding the Great Five Elements Primordial Solar Divine Thunder and Primordial Solar Heavenly Flame, Eldrin Chen posed a threat to the Demonic Cultivator comparable to a Ninth Level Earth Immortal [an Earth Immortal at the peak, ninth minor stage].

Kael Chen's Demon Monarch [a supreme demonic constitution] and Buddha Path Fruit [a cultivation attainment on the Buddhist path], along with Energy Abyss Chen's Solar Rule [a divine ability commanding solar power], exerted immense suppressive force against the Demonic Cultivator. As they pressed their assault, the remaining Earth Immortal Patriarch were utterly powerless to resist.

Within mere dozens of exchanges, the three Demonic Cultivator were all slain. The final fiend, who had been maintaining the grand formation, found his situation hopeless.

Although he managed to activate the formation, barely trapping Eldrin Chen, their strongest combatant, the others swiftly intervened. In moments, he was cut down by Exquisite Jiang.

"Mission accomplished."

In a single battle, six Demonic PathEarth Immortal [powerful demonic cultivators who have attained the Earth Immortal realm] were slain. Eldrin Chen and his allies immediately unleashed their power, sweeping across Lunar Crow Mountain with boundless Primordial Solar Heavenly Flame [a supreme, purifying flame of the primordial sun].

After the great conflagration, countless Demonic Cultivator [practitioners of demonic arts] were reduced to ashes scattered by the Heavenly Tribulation [divine retribution lightning]. An immense amount of Pure Light of Merit [radiant energy representing accumulated virtuous deeds and good karma] descended upon the group.

When the dust had finally settled, Eldrin Chen tallied the gains. The destruction of Lunar Crow Mountain had yielded a total of thirty-four strands of Pure Light of Merit for them all.

Of these, Eldrin Chen received twelve strands, Exquisite Jiang received ten, and the remaining twelve were divided among the four others—Verdant Consort, Nyssa Qu, Kael Chen, and Energy Abyss Chen—each obtaining roughly three strands.

"To think," mused Eldrin, "that the fall of a mighty stronghold like Lunar Crow Mountain, with its six Earth Immortal old demons and hundreds of True Demon [demons of pure lineage and formidable power], yielded only the equivalent of thirty to forty percent of the Karmic Sin Light [a malevolent aura representing accumulated evil deeds and negative karma] that once clung to Lunar Crow Patriarch alone."