Chapter 84 : Soul-Cleaving Gale Upon the Mountain

"Trouble! It's a third-rank Spirit Talisman [a powerful, single-use enchanted scroll]!"

The moment Lin Mordred produced the Talisman, the Old Patriarch's expression shifted dramatically.

He instantly channeled the Separated Flame Soul-Burning Formation to its maximum power. A deluge of Separated Flame [a potent, purified spiritual fire] transformed into a blazing inferno, engulfing the entire peak of Spiritual Apricot Mountain [a mountain named for its ancient spirit apricot trees].

"Cleave—!"

In that instant, Lin Mordred poured all his True Essence [refined spiritual energy] into the Talisman of the Gale Soul-Cleaving Sword [a talisman that unleashes a single, devastating sword strike imbued with soul-severing wind energy]. The onlookers saw only a formless, intangible, yet dazzlingly brilliant sword radiance ignite in the sky. With a resonant *shing*, it descended from the ninth heaven.

Wind has no form; clouds have no fixed shape.

This rare divine ability, which only cultivators with a Wind Spiritual Root [an innate affinity for wind-element spiritual energy] can master, manifested upon the mountaintop. Even before impact, it stirred the very winds and clouds of heaven and earth.

For a moment, it was as if a Purple Mansion Ancestor [a powerful cultivator of the Purple Mansion Realm] had personally unleashed this technique. The skies darkened, and a sound like the wailing of ghosts and howling of deities seemed to tear through the void.

A mere heartbeat later, the sword light fell upon the peak of the Spiritual Apricot Mountain. After a brief, deafening silence, a sound erupted as if the world itself were being cloven asunder.

This was no flawed artifact like the Earth-Fortress Divine Thunder Pearl [a treasure that can unleash a powerful earth-element thunderbolt], which could only unleash a fraction of its power. This strike was equivalent to a full-force divine ability unleashed by Mordecai Lin himself. Enjoyed this chapter? Read more at audio . novel . com.

Even drawing upon the combined power of the Spiritual Apricot Mountain and its Second Rank Low Grade Spirit Vein, the Separated Flame Soul-Burning Formation [a powerful defensive formation that channels soul-scorching flames] could not withstand a strike of such majestic, ocean-like grandeur.

Before this sword's radiance, the Separated Flame Soul-Burning Formation shattered instantly. The vast sea of fire was annihilated by the sword light, dissipating into wisps of smoke that vanished without a trace.

This single sword strike breached the Separated Flame Soul-Burning Formation, severely damaging the set of Formation Flags [the enchanted banners that anchor and power a formation]. It would require several years of careful nurturing to restore them. Furthermore, the Old Patriarch suffered a backlash, temporarily unable to suppress the raging True Qi [the refined energy cultivated within a practitioner's body], leaving him momentarily incapable of acting.

Not only that, but the Gale Soul-Severing Sword [a sword technique that harnesses gale-force winds to sever the soul], having cleaved through the Separated Flame [a potent, purified flame essence] and its soul-burning power, continued its relentless descent towards the two men with undiminished momentum.

Fortunately, the Separated Flame Soul-Burning Formation was extraordinarily potent. Although the Gale Soul-Severing Sword had breached the formation, its power had been depleted by more than eighty percent.

Though the Old Patriarch was temporarily incapacitated, Eldrin Chen stood ready. Seizing the moment, he summoned forth the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss [a magical sword imbued with abyssal flame] and the Purple Sun Furnace [a treasure furnace that radiates purple solar energy]. They clashed with the remaining sword radiance, ultimately dispersing it into nothingness.

After this was done, the Old Patriarch regained his breath, his face pale, a flicker of lingering fear in his eyes.

"It is fortunate we relied on the spirit vein to deploy the formation," he said, voice tinged with relief. "Otherwise, today's outcome might have been far grimmer."

As he spoke, he retrieved the Formation Flags. Gazing at the dimmed, spiritless Separated Flame Soul-Burning Formation Flags, a pang of heartache crossed his features.

In the span of mere breaths, the four Foundation Establishment Cultivator [practitioners who have solidified their foundation in the cultivation path] from the opposing Lin Clan seized their chance. Without hesitation, they unleashed their magical tools in a coordinated assault.

"Clang—"

Lin Mordred struck first, unleashing his magical treasure, the Thunderbolt Demon-Piercing Shuttle, towards the two. The attack erupted with the roar of wind and thunder, aimed directly at their vital points.

Though the Old Patriarch had lost the Separated Flame Soul-Burning Formation, he still possessed the Ancient Bronze Pagoda and the Crimson Flame Spirit Blade. Suppressing the internal backlash, he surged forward to engage Lin Mordred in combat.

Lin Morwen and the other two Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Lin Clan swiftly moved to encircle and attack, seeking to seize the opportunity to subdue Chen Thalion.

However, Eldrin Chen was no idle bystander. He summoned forth the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss. Its dazzling sword radiance cleaved through heaven and earth, and with his power alone, he held back the three Lin Clan Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Among the three Lin Clan Foundation Establishment cultivators, only Lin Morwen was at the Foundation Establishment Fifth Layer. The other two were merely in the Foundation Establishment, Early Stage.

The Violet-Robed Beauty possessed slightly higher cultivation, having been at the third layer of Foundation Establishment for many years, while the other was only at the Foundation Establishment Second Layer.

Yet, by joining forces, these three could barely contend with an ordinary Foundation Establishment Late Stage Cultivators opponent. For a time, they actually traded blows with Eldrin Chen in a fierce back-and-forth.

Eldrin Chen activated the Bell of Nine Echoes above his head and deployed both the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss and the Purple Sun Furnace. He clashed repeatedly with the trio, exchanging over a hundred moves in the blink of an eye.

"This is bad."

Amidst the clash of spells, Eldrin Chen noticed that Old Patriarch was being pushed to a disadvantage in his duel against Lin Mordred.

After all, Old Patriarch's cultivation was only at the seventh layer of the Foundation Establishment Realm. Facing Lin Mordred, who was at the ninth layer, his True Essence was clearly several degrees weaker.

Having lost the Separated Flame Soul-Burning Formation Flags, Old Patriarch's combat prowess had been nearly halved.

He possessed the Crimson Flame Spirit Blade and the Ancient Bronze Pagoda, and his Blazing Heaven Sword divine ability was also extraordinary. Against an ordinary Foundation Establishment Late Stage Cultivators cultivator, he would naturally hold a great advantage. However, Lin Mordred was no ordinary foe.

This Lin Clan Clan Patriarch was not only at the very peak of the Foundation Establishment Realm, but he also commanded three Second Rank High Grade Magical Tool treasures and wielded the divine ability Earth-Fortress Divine Thunder. Naturally, he completely suppressed Old Patriarch.

For now, Chen Thalion could still manage, but once his mana was exhausted, defeat would be his only path. This chapter appears courtesy of audio . novel . com.

"It seems I must be the one to break this deadlock," Eldrin Chen thought to himself.

With this resolve, his gaze locked fiercely onto the three opponents.

Among the three, Lin Morwen possessed the highest cultivation and was protected by a Second Rank Middle Grade defensive magical tool. Eliminating him swiftly would likely prove difficult.

With a surge of will, Eldrin Chen forcefully expanded the protective aura of the Bell of Nine Echoes. Simultaneously, he channeled his power into the Purple Sun Furnace, unleashing a torrent of the Purple Sun True Flame.

"Beware!"

As the Purple Sun True Flame [a potent, sun-like flame of immense purity and heat] descended, the expressions of the Lin Clan members all shifted slightly.

Lin Morwen was the first to react, unleashing a true talisman. With a flick of his wrist, a dazzling bolt of thunderous radiance erupted, aimed directly at Eldrin Chen.

"Earth-Fortress Divine Thunder [a powerful earth-attribute divine thunder technique]!"

Eldrin Chen's pupils contracted. He recalled that Lin Mordred was a Second Rank High Grade Talisman Master [a master of crafting magical talismans]. This Earth-Fortress Divine Thunder Talisman [a talisman sealing the Earth-Fortress Divine Thunder technique] was likely one where Lin Mordred had personally sealed his own divine ability within it.

Now, as the Earth-Fortress Divine Thunder struck, its power was nearly equivalent to Lin Mordred casting it himself. It shattered the violet-striped True Flame [a potent, refined flame technique] in an instant and sent the Purple Sun Furnace [a furnace treasure imbued with the essence of the purple sun] flying backward.

Having suffered this blow, the spiritual glow of the Purple Sun Furnace had dimmed considerably. It appeared it would require nurturing for the span of a month before it could be used again.

Yet, Eldrin Chen paid it no heed. Seizing the fleeting moment, he decisively unleashed a storm of countless stellar motes.

"Disaster! It's the Azure Descent Thousand-Star Needles [a magical treasure manifesting as countless needle-like projectiles of azure light]!"

The moment they saw the Azure Descent Thousand-Star Needles, the three Foundation Establishment [the second major realm of cultivation, where one solidifies their foundation] cultivators of the Lin Clan paled with terror.

Lin Morwen, being the farthest away and possessing the highest cultivation base among the three, reacted the swiftest. He barely managed to flee, relying on his defensive magical tool. The other two, however, lacked such speed.

The Violet-Robed Beauty managed to put some distance between them, but her protective magical tool and Mana Shield [a protective barrier formed from condensed mana] were pierced by the Azure Descent Thousand-Star Needles. Several of the needles embedded themselves in her body, inflicting grievous wounds on the spot.

The other cultivator, whose True Essence [the refined spiritual energy cultivated by a practitioner] was the weakest, had taken only a few steps before dozens of the starry needles pierced his flesh, riddling his body with holes. With a final, agonized scream, he plummeted from a height of several hundred Zhang-length [one Zhang-length equals three point three three meters], his bones shattered to dust upon impact, meeting an instant death.

A wave of profound shock washed over everyone present. Who could have imagined that this insidious magical tool, originating from the Lin Clan, would ultimately be turned against the Lin Clan itself?

"It's over,"

Lin Morwen, having narrowly escaped with his life, felt his heart plummet at the sight. His fear of Eldrin Chen deepened once more.

Even with their combined strength, the three of them had only been able to hold their own against Eldrin Chen. Now, one lay shattered on the ground, and another was severely wounded by the Thousand-Star Needles. To continue this fight would surely mean none of them would leave this place alive today.

With this thought, he could no longer concern himself with his comrades still locked in combat. Without a moment's hesitation, he summoned his flying sword and made his escape.

"Everyone! The tide has turned! Retreat to Verdant Ink Mountain with all haste!"

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