Chapter 1572 : The Sword Dao's Three Tiers

Facing the strike from the Starry Sky Demon Race wielding the Blood Demon Soul-Slaying Sword, Eldrin Chen remained utterly unperturbed from beginning to end.

Instead of retreating, he advanced, his fingers moving with a flicker. "Clink."

With a soft metallic ring, to the astonishment of all onlookers, Eldrin Chen firmly caught the Blood Sea Soul-Slaughtering Sword between two fingers.

Between Eldrin Chen's fingers, the blindingly brilliant crimson Sword Qi [a concentrated energy blade projected from a sword] ceaselessly sought to corrupt everything, yet it was firmly suppressed by a radiance of indestructible, unending Primordial Chaos [the formless, primordial state before the creation of the cosmos].

The once-overbearing crimson sword energy halted a mere three inches from Eldrin Chen's glabella [the space between the eyebrows], as if separated by the vast distance between heaven and sea, utterly incapable of advancing another step.

Yet Eldrin Chen's expression remained unchanged. He gazed calmly at the Starry Sky Demon Race, his eyes cold as he spoke.

"The art of Sword Flight [controlling a sword to fly and attack from a distance] is divided into three tiers: superior, middle, and inferior."

"The inferior tier uses Qi [the vital energy that flows through all living things] to Sword Flight; the middle tier uses spirit [one's spiritual consciousness] to Sword Flight; while the superior tier of the Sword Dao [the Way of the Sword] achieves unity of heart and sword."

"These three paths of the Sword Dao all involve the cultivator wielding the sword—they are considered noble and orthodox paths of the Great Dao [the fundamental principle or ultimate truth of cultivation]. Transcending any of them can lead one directly to the pinnacle of the Great Dao.

"But to be wielded by the sword, to be its slave—that does not even deserve to be called the Sword Dao. It is merely the state of a sword slave." This chapter is part of a larger work available at audio–novel.com.

"Clang!"

As the words of Eldrin Chen fell, he flicked his finger, sending the Blood Demon Soul-Slaying Sword [a malevolent blade that devours souls] flying away with a resonant tremor.

With a sweep of his sleeve, he then firmly drew the Blood Demon Soul-Slaying Sword back into his grasp. In one fluid motion, he brought it down in a mighty cleaving strike, sundering the Earth Immortal Great Perfection [the pinnacle stage of the Earth Immortal realm] cultivator of the Starry Sky Demon Race cleanly in two.

"Agh!"

A single, agonized shriek echoed, and the Starry Sky Demon Race expert was utterly consumed by the Blood Demon Soul-Slaying Sword, its very Divine Soul [the immortal spiritual core of a high-level cultivator] drawn into the fell blade's depths.

The remaining two Earth Immortal Great Perfection Demon Race experts, witnessing this, immediately sought to flee in panic. Yet, they were both extinguished by two more swift strikes from Eldrin Chen.

"Such divine might, Fellow Daoist [a respectful term for a fellow cultivator]."

Seeing Eldrin Chen dispatch three Earth Immortal Great Perfection Demon Race experts, all present revealed expressions of joy and relief.

Yet, Eldrin Chen himself showed no such delight. A faint frown creased his brow as his calm gaze settled upon the Blood Demon Soul-Slaying Sword now held in his hand.

"Hmm..."

But then, a resonant hum echoed as the Blood Demon Soul-Slaying Sword erupted with a blinding sanguine radiance, violently breaking free from Eldrin Chen's grasp.

Immediately after, it transformed into a streak of blood-colored sword energy and shot away, fleeing deep into the Void.

Witnessing this, Eldrin Chen swept his sleeve, intending to suppress it with a palm strike. Yet, he found the Void growing strangely still. At the far end of the starry expanse, three phantom sword silhouettes, their Baleful Qi [a malevolent, destructive energy] piercing the heavens, manifested. Accompanying them was a dazzling formation diagram that unfurled, releasing boundless Baleful Qi.

Guided by this formation diagram, the Blood Demon Soul-Slaying Sword's speed surged explosively. It tore completely free from Eldrin Chen's restraint and vanished into the distant horizon.

"This is..."

Seeing this scene, Lord of the Great Wilderness Dao Palace could not help but feel a tremor in his heart as he spoke.

Eldrin Chen's expression remained placid. He used the Pure Yang Celestial Flame to reduce the various Demonic Path [the path of demonic cultivation] artifacts to dust. Then, he slowly refined the more than two hundred newly acquired strands of Merit's Pure Radiance [a luminous manifestation of accumulated virtuous karma] upon his person. Only then did he let out a soft sigh of relief.

Sensing the now more than three hundred strands of Merit's Pure Radiance adorning him, Eldrin Chen's eyes flickered with thought. "The Blood Demon Soul-Slaying Sword, the Heavenly Demon's Immortal-Slaying Sword, the Heart Demon God-Destroying Sword, and a mysterious formation diagram," he mused aloud.

"If my deduction is correct, this is the legendary Three Fiends' Immortal-Slaughtering Sword Formation [a supreme demonic sword formation said to be capable of slaying even immortals]."

"It seems the mastermind behind these Demon Race, the one revered as the Demon Sovereign, is at the very least a Half-Step Celestial Immortal [a cultivator who has nearly ascended to the realm of a true celestial immortal]."

Upon hearing this, everyone's expressions shifted dramatically, their faces paling with shock.

The Lord of the Great Wilderness Dao Palace even retreated three steps in astonishment, then summoned a Remnant Soul [the lingering spiritual consciousness of a deceased cultivator] of an Earth Immortal Great Perfection cultivator and began to perform a soul-searching secret art.

A moment later, the group gradually understood the origins of this Starry Sky Demon Race [a branch of the cosmic demon race, known for traversing the void between stars].

It turned out this Starry Sky Demon Race was a branch of the cosmic Demon Race, its ultimate master being a Demon Nest [a demonic stronghold or lair] Sovereign who commanded awe deep within the starry expanse.

That cosmic Demon Sovereign held dominion over tens of millions of light-years, a name that resonated with fear and power in the profound depths of this Cosmos.

This Demonic Cultivator had reached the Half-Step Celestial Immortal Realm and had been secluding himself in cultivation within that realm for many years, standing just A Step Away from the Ninth Rank Heaven Demon realm. Join our community of readers at audio - novel . com.

Now, the cosmic Demon Sovereign was on the verge of breaking through the Half-Step Celestial Immortal Realm, but dared not rashly attempt the Heaven Immortal Realm breakthrough due to insufficient energy within his Demon Nest.

Thus, he had ordered the various Demon Race factions under his command to venture into the deep cosmos, refining the Primordial Source [the foundational, life-giving essence of a world or star] of countless stars and worlds to serve as the energy required for his ascension.

The Starry Sky Demon Race assault on the Frontier Star System was precisely to refine the billions of stars within that entire system, transforming them into nourishment for the cosmic Demon Sovereign's promotion.

"Such audacity from this Demon Sovereign," someone uttered, their voice laced with disbelief and fury.

Having understood the reason behind the Starry Sky Demon Race's actions, Eldrin Chen could not help but frown slightly.

It must be understood that the Starry Sky Great Universe was not comparable to a Minor Universe. Back when Eldrin Chen and the others entered a Minor Universe to refine the Galaxy Star-Sand Pill.

It was because that Minor Universe was on the verge of destruction, its Heavenly Dao Will [the conscious will of the Heavenly Dao, the cosmic order] teetering on the brink of annihilation, with everything destined to cease to exist. Therefore, refining the stars within that Minor Universe did not incur any Karmic Burden [the metaphysical weight of cause and effect from one's actions].

But within this Starry Sky Great Universe, anyone who dared to refine a multitude of stars to create Galaxy Star-Sand Pill would inevitably have to bear a Boundless Karmic Sin [an immeasurable accumulation of negative karma from grievous acts].

For this Demon Sovereign to dare such an act, even if the Demon Race feared not the Karmic Burden settling upon them, it would likely summon boundless calamity and tribulation.

Contemplating this, Eldrin Chen let out a sigh and spoke, "It seems that in our descent to this lower realm, we have unwittingly become the Demon Sovereign's path-obstructors."

Upon hearing these words, everyone present furrowed their brows slightly.

An Ancient Ancestor at the Early Stage Earth Immortal realm, witnessing this, could not help but offer a bitter smile. "A Path Completion Great Tribulation [the ultimate heavenly trial faced when nearing the completion of one's cultivation path] of Celestial Immortal Level magnitude... without the strength of a Late Stage Earth Immortal, recklessly intervening would be nothing but seeking one's own death."

"Our cultivation is too feeble; I fear we cannot be of assistance."

Even an existence at the Late Stage Earth Immortal realm shook his head repeatedly. Cupping his hands towards Eldrin Chen, he said, "Indeed, indeed. With our level of power, to meddle in the Demon Sovereign's Dao-Obstructing Great Tribulation [a catastrophic heavenly tribulation triggered by actions that obstruct the cosmic Dao] would be far too perilous an endeavor."

"This time, we must still ask the esteemed seniors to take action and pacify this calamity for the Frontier Star Domain." Having said this, the two immediately flew towards the depths of the starry void.

Seeing this, the others also found various excuses to take their leave.

Even the Lord of the Great Wilderness Dao Palace gave a bitter laugh, cupping his hands towards Eldrin Chen and saying, "To be frank, this Great Wilderness Dao Palace is supported by this old Daoist alone."

"If any mishap were to befall me, I fear the Great Wilderness Dao Palace would be crippled beyond recovery."

At this point, he glanced at Eldrin Chen and said, "That Demon Sovereign, since he has the qualifications to attempt a breakthrough into the Heaven Immortal Realm [the realm of celestial immortals], must be a top-tier fiend with a Dual Taiyi Foundation [a supremely profound and stable cultivation foundation]."

"In my opinion, without the combat power of a Half-Step Celestial Immortal [a cultivator on the very threshold of the Celestial Immortal realm], it would be best for Fellow Daoist [a respectful term for a fellow cultivator] not to rashly intervene."

Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod, his expression calm as he replied, "Thank you for the reminder, Fellow Daoist. I understand the situation."

Seeing this, the Lord of the Great Wilderness Dao Palace also transformed into a streak of light and vanished into the deep starry expanse.

After everyone departed, only the eleven Immortal [beings who have transcended mortality and attained immortality] of the Abyssal Immortal Alliance remained. Verdant Consort looked towards Eldrin Chen and inquired, "Should we intervene in this Demon Sovereign's tribulation of obstructed enlightenment?"

Eldrin Chen did not answer immediately. After a long moment of contemplation, he said, "That Demon Sovereign has plagued the depths of the starry void for many years; he is a parasite within the Cosmos."

"If he were to break through to the Heaven-Demon [a supreme rank among demonic cultivators, representing a being of immense power and malevolence] realm, I fear the surrounding starry void spanning hundreds of millions of light-years would be plunged into boundless calamity." The complete novel can be found at audio-novel-dot-com.