Chapter 1572 : The Three Realms of Sword Mastery

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

Instead of retreating, he advanced, his fingers moving with a flicker to gently pinch.

"*Ting—*"

With a soft, clear sound, and under the incredulous gazes of all present, Eldrin Chen firmly caught the Sea of Blood Spirit-Slaying Sword between his two fingers.

Between his fingers, the blindingly brilliant crimson sword energy continuously sought to corrode everything, yet it was firmly suppressed by a halo of Immortality and Indestructibility Chaos radiance.

The once-overwhelming crimson sword aura, aimed at a point three inches from Eldrin Chen's brow, seemed separated by the distance between heaven and sea, unable to advance a single step further.

Yet Eldrin Chen's expression remained unchanged. He gazed coolly at the Starry Sky Fiend Race and spoke, his voice icy.

"The art of sword control is divided into three tiers: superior, middle, and inferior."

"The inferior tier controls the sword with energy [the vital force cultivated by martial artists and mages]; the middle tier controls it with spirit [the conscious mind or soul]; the superior Sword Path achieves unity of heart and sword."

"These three Sword Path all involve the wielder controlling the sword, constituting a majestic Great Path. Transcending any of them can lead one directly to the zenith of the Great Path."

"And to use the Art of Human Subjugation with a sword, you are not even worthy of the Sword Path [the true way of the sword]; you are merely a sword slave."

"*Clang—*"

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

Then, with a sweep of his sleeve, he firmly drew the Blood Demon Soul-Slaying Sword back into his grasp. With a mighty cleave, he split the Starry Sky Fiend Race [a race of malevolent beings from the starry void] cultivator at the Earth Immortal Great Perfection [the pinnacle stage of the Earth Immortal realm] realm clean in two.

"*Agh—*"

Following a single agonized scream, that Starry Sky Fiend Race cultivator was slain by the Blood Demon Soul-Slaying Sword, his very soul essence drawn into the wicked blade.

The remaining two Earth Immortal Great Perfection evil Fiend Race [demonic beings] witnesses, seeing this, immediately sought to flee in panic. Yet, Eldrin Chen extinguished them both with two more swift sword strikes.

"Your divine might is awe-inspiring, Fellow Daoist."

Watching Eldrin Chen slay three Earth Immortal Great Perfection evil Fiend Race, the onlookers all revealed expressions of joy.

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

"Hmmmm—" [a deep, resonant hum]

Following the resonant hum, the Blood Demon Soul-Slaying Sword [a demonic blade that severs souls] erupted with a blinding crimson radiance, violently breaking free from Eldrin Chen's grasp.

Immediately after, it transformed into a streak of bloody 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 falling strangely silent. At the far edge of the starry expanse, three phantom projections of demonic swords erupted, their Fiendish Energy [the corrupt, malevolent energy cultivated by demons] piercing the heavens. Accompanying them was a dazzling formation diagram that unfurled, releasing boundless Fiendish Energy.

Drawn by the power of this formation diagram, the Blood Demon Soul-Slaying Sword's speed instantly multiplied. It tore completely free from Eldrin Chen's restraint and vanished into the distant horizon.

"This is..."

Seeing this spectacle, Lord of the Great Wasteland Path Palace could not help but feel a tremor in his heart as he spoke.

Eldrin Chen's expression remained placid. He used the Primordial Solar Heavenly Flame [a supreme celestial flame of pure yang essence] to reduce all remnants of the Demonic Path [the heretical cultivation methods practiced by demons] to dust. Then, he slowly refined the more than two hundred newly acquired strands of Pure Light of Merit [a luminous manifestation of accumulated virtuous karma and good deeds] upon his person, finally letting out a soft sigh of relief.

Sensing the now more than three hundred strands of Pure Light of Merit gathered upon him, Eldrin Chen's eyes flickered with thought. "The Blood Demon Soul-Slaying Sword, the Heavenly Demon Immortal-Slaying Sword [a sword forged to slay immortals], the Inner Demon Spirit-Annihilating Sword [a sword that extinguishes the inner demonic spirit], and a mysterious formation diagram," he mused aloud.

"If my deduction is correct, this is none other than the legendary 'Three Demons Immortal-Slaying Sword Formation' [a supreme demonic sword formation said to be capable of slaying even true immortals]."

"It seems that behind these vile Fiend Race [demonic cultivators and their kin], the existence they revere as the Demon Sovereign [a supreme ruler among demons] is, at the very least, a Half-Step Celestial Immortal [a being on the very threshold of ascending to true celestial immortality]."

Upon hearing this, the faces of all present paled with profound shock.

The Lord of the Great Wasteland Path Palace even retreated three steps in alarm before summoning forth the remnant soul of an Earth Immortal Great Perfection [an Earth Immortal who has reached the pinnacle of their realm] and began to perform a soul-searching secret art.

A short while later, the group gradually understood the origins of this Starry Sky Fiend Race [a faction of demons that haunts the depths of space].

It turned out this Starry Sky Fiend Race was a branch of the Starry Sky Fiend Race, and the Sovereign [a supreme ruler, a title for the highest echelons of power] at its source was the master of a Demon Nest [a lair or stronghold of powerful demons] whose might shook the Depths of the Starry Sky [the vast, empty regions between star systems].

That Demon Sovereign of the starry void commanded fear across tens of millions of light-years, a name of terrible renown even within the deep abyss of this Universe.

This Demonic Cultivator [a cultivator who follows a path of demonic arts] had already reached the Half-Step Celestial Immortal Realm and had been secluding himself within that realm for many years, standing but a single step away from the Ninth Rank Heavenly Demon [the ninth and highest rank of Heavenly Demons, beings of immense demonic power].

Now, the Demon Sovereign of the starry void was on the verge of breaking through the Half-Step Celestial Immortal Realm, but dared not recklessly charge into the Celestial Immortal Realm [the realm of true celestial beings] because the energy within his Demon Nest was insufficient.

Thus, he had ordered the various Fiend Race under his command to venture into the Depths of the Starry Sky to refine vast quantities of Stellar [pertaining to stars and celestial bodies] and world essences, to serve as the energy required for his breakthrough.

The Starry Sky Fiend Race's assault on the Frontier Star System was precisely to refine the entire Myriad Stellar [the countless stars and celestial bodies] of the Frontier Star System, intending to use it as the nourishment for the Demon Sovereign of the starry void's ascension.

"This Demon Sovereign [a title for a powerful ruler of demonic beings] possesses truly audacious courage."

After understanding the reason behind the Starry Sky Fiend Race's [a powerful race of celestial fiends] actions, Eldrin Chen could not help but frown slightly, a crease forming between his brows.

One must understand that the Starry Sky Great Universe [the vast, primary cosmos] was fundamentally different from a Small Universe [a smaller, self-contained pocket dimension]. When Eldrin Chen and the others had previously entered a Small Universe to refine Galaxy Star Sand Pill [a potent elixir condensed from the essence of stars],

it was because that Small Universe was on the verge of Oblivion [complete annihilation and return to nothingness]. Even the Heavenly Path Will [the conscious will or laws of the cosmos] there teetered on the brink of Oblivion, with everything destined to cease existing. Therefore, refining the Stellar [stellar essence; the fundamental energy of stars] within that Small Universe did not incur any karmic burden.

However, within this Starry Sky Great Universe, anyone who dared to refine vast quantities of Stellar to create Galaxy Star Sand Pill would inevitably have to bear boundless karmic retribution.

For this Demon Sovereign to dare such an act, even if his nature as a member of the Fiend Race [a race inherently less susceptible to karmic consequences] made him fearless of such burdens, would likely summon immeasurable calamity and tribulation upon himself.

Contemplating this, Eldrin Chen let out a soft sigh before speaking. "It seems that in our descent to this lower realm, we have unwittingly become obstacles on the Demon Sovereign's path to ascension."

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

One Patriarch [a venerable elder or clan leader] at the Early-stage Earth Immortal [the initial stage of the Earth Immortal realm] level, witnessing their concern, offered a bitter smile. "A Great Tribulation [a cataclysmic heavenly trial] of this magnitude, one that accompanies the breakthrough to the Celestial Immortal [Celestial Immortal realm] level... without strength equivalent to a Late Stage Earth Immortal [the advanced stage of the Earth Immortal realm], rashly intervening would be nothing but seeking one's own demise."

"Our cultivation is too feeble. I fear we can offer no assistance."

Even a being at the Late Stage Earth Immortal [the third major stage of Earth Immortal cultivation] shook his head repeatedly, cupping his hands towards Eldrin Chen and saying, "Indeed, indeed. With our level of strength, interfering in the Path-Blocking Great Tribulation [a cataclysmic heavenly trial that blocks a cultivator's path to a higher realm] of a Demon Sovereign [a supreme ruler among demonic cultivators] is far too perilous."

"This time, we must still ask you, Seniors, to take action and pacify this source of calamity for the Frontier Star Domain."

Having said this, the two immediately flew off towards the Depths of the Starry Sky.

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

Even the Lord of the Great Wasteland Path Palace let out a bitter laugh, cupping his hands towards Eldrin Chen. "To be frank," he said, "this Great Wasteland Path Palace is supported by this old Daoist alone."

"If any misfortune were to befall me, I fear the Great Wasteland Path Palace would never recover from the blow."

At this point, he glanced at Eldrin Chen. "That Demon Sovereign," he continued, "since he possesses the qualifications to assault the Celestial Immortal Realm [the realm of true celestial beings, above Earth Immortal], must be a top-tier fiend with a Dual Primordial Unity Foundation [an exceptionally rare and powerful dual-element foundational cultivation base]."

"In my view, unless one possesses combat power rivaling a Half-Step Celestial Immortal [one who has partially transcended the Earth Immortal realm but not fully ascended], Fellow Daoist, it would be best not to rashly involve yourself."

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

Seeing this, the Lord of the Great Wasteland Path Palace also transformed into a streak of light and vanished into the vastness of the Depths of the Starry Sky.

After the others had departed, only the eleven Immortals of the Returning Abyss Immortal Alliance remained on the spot.

Verdant Consort turned her gaze to Eldrin Chen and inquired, "Should we intervene in this Path-Obstructing Tribulation [a major heavenly tribulation that blocks a cultivator's path to ascension] of the Demon Sovereign?"

Eldrin Chen did not answer immediately. After a long moment of contemplation, he finally spoke. "That Demon Sovereign has plagued the Depths of the Starry Sky for many years, a veritable parasite upon the Universe."

"If he were to successfully break through to the realm of a Heavenly Demon, I fear the starry void for hundreds of millions of light-years around would be plunged into boundless calamity."