Chapter 1690 : Heavenly Halberd's Judgment

Eldrin Chen's killing intent surged to the heavens. After leveling the Blood Dragon Ancient Temple, he turned and journeyed eastward.

Within this Great Desert Celestial Sands Domain, there existed four great Buddhist Grotto-Heaven. Besides the Literary Heart Ancient Temple and the Blood Dragon Ancient Temple, there were also the Vajra Ancient Temple and the Celestial Melody Pure Land.

Among those who had acted against Xander Chen, aside from the Blood Dragon Ancient Temple, the other two major Grotto-Heaven were also culprits. Naturally, they could not be spared.

Eldrin Chen traveled eastward without pause, arriving at the Celestial Melody Pure Land not long after.

However, by this time, the Celestial Melody Pure Land had already received word. Several figures of majestic and boundless presence stood upon the Firmament [the highest heavens]. They were a Vajra Arhat [an indestructible enlightened being in Buddhism], a female Bodhisattva [an enlightened being who vows to save all sentient beings] clad in an Immortal Robe, and a Daoist priest wearing a Daoist robe.

These three stood upon the Firmament, their divine light illuminating the myriad heavens. Merely by standing there, they exuded an aura that transcended the mortal realm.

Even so, upon seeing Eldrin Chen, the Celestial Melody Bodhisattva could not help but adopt a grave expression. "We have long heard of Fellow Daoist Eldrin's great name," she said. "What brings you to our Celestial Melody Pure Land today?"

Eldrin Chen did not answer immediately. Instead, he looked past the three and asked, "Are you the Celestial Melody Bodhisattva, the Golden Dawn Arhat, and the Elder from the Celestial Xuan Ancient Sect?"

Upon hearing this, the three exchanged glances.

The Daoist from the Celestial Xuan Ancient Sect stepped forward, his countenance calm. "Indeed, it is the three of us," he stated. Original English translation available at audio-novel dot com.

"Then we have not come to the wrong place,"

Eldrin Chen spoke, his Chaos Heaven Halberd cleaving down with overwhelming force towards the Celestial Xuan Ancient Sect Elder.

"Audacious!"

As Eldrin Chen's attack, devoid of any Dao Preaching [the act of explaining or debating the profound principles of cultivation] or reason, descended upon him, the Celestial Xuan Ancient Sect Elder's expression shifted repeatedly.

With a flick of his sleeve, he summoned forth a string of ancient starry beads, manifesting the profound mysteries of the starry heavens in an attempt to block Eldrin Chen's strike.

Yet the Chaos Heaven Halberd possessed peerless might. Empowered by Eldrin Chen's wrathful blow, the Innate Starry Ancient Beads [an ancient magical treasure formed from the essence of primordial stars] could not withstand it, shattering into fragments on the spot.

"Outrageous!"

Shocked and enraged, the Celestial Xuan Ancient Sect Elder hastily called out to the others beside him, "Join forces and subdue him!"

Unwilling to be tainted by Karmic Burden [the metaphysical weight of cause and effect from one's actions], Celestial Melody Bodhisattva spoke with a trace of irrepressible compassion, "Patron, I already know why you seek us."

"The reason your son attracted this calamitous tribulation lies entirely in his excessive slaughter. He killed the destined Buddha's Child [a highly enlightened individual believed to be a future Buddha] of the Blood Dragon Ancient Temple, thereby drawing this killing tribulation upon himself. For this, you cannot blame us."

"Now that the Blood Dragon Ancient Temple [a powerful demonic sect] has been destroyed, the cycle of vengeance must end. If you, Benefactor, are willing to let bygones be bygones, we are prepared to offer compensation."

"Hmph—"

Eldrin Chen sneered coldly. The Chaos Heaven Halberd [a divine weapon of immense power] in his hand erupted with the divine edge of Primordial Chaos [the primordial state before creation], cleaving through the boundless power of Dao Principles [the fundamental laws of the universe] as he charged directly at the group.

He showed no mercy, his eyes icy as he declared, "When you encircled and hunted my son, your faces were not so contrite."

"If I do not exterminate every last one of you today, how can blood debts ever be repaid with blood?"

With those words, his supreme divine might surged forth, a devastating wave aimed at slaughtering them all.

Simultaneously, Lyra Jiang, Verdant Consort, and over ten Half-Step Celestial Immortal [cultivators on the very cusp of ascending to true immortality] from the Chen Clan had already sealed off the entire expanse of Void [the empty space between realms], cutting off all retreat for the three foes.

Seeing this, Golden Dawn Arhat [a powerful Buddhist monk] wore an expression of profound chill, his face radiating boundless cold light.

Yet he did not strike immediately. Instead, he looked towards the Firmament [the highest heavens] and proclaimed, "Let the Heavenly Dao [the supreme, impartial Way of Heaven] bear witness! Today, it is not we who obstruct the Protagonist of the Dao Tribulation [the one destined to undergo the Heavenly Dao's trial]. He is the one who initiates conflict. The fault lies not with us, and thus even the Heavenly Dao should not punish us."

"Rumble…"

Upon the Firmament [the highest, boundless expanse of the heavens], the Void [a profound cultivation art of emptiness] thunder blazed with searing heat as it surged upward.

The Heavenly Dao Will [the collective consciousness and intent of the Heavenly Dao, the cosmic order] seemed to observe all, yet surprisingly acquiesced to the actions of these few individuals.

Witnessing this, the Golden Dawn Arhat turned his gaze towards Eldrin Chen, a vicious sneer twisting his features as he declared, "We were reluctant to strike against the Protagonist of the Dao Tribulation [the central figure destined to undergo the Dao Tribulation], merely wishing to avoid staining ourselves with the Dao Tribulation [a cataclysmic heavenly trial] Karmic Burden [the metaphysical weight of cause and effect]."

"Yet you have initiated conflict against us. Now, even the Heavenly Dao [the supreme, impersonal governing principle of the cosmos] offers no partiality. You have truly sought your own demise."

"To slay the likes of you, what need is there to borrow Heavenly Dao Power [power derived from the authority of the Heavenly Dao]?"

Eldrin Chen spoke with serene indifference. With a flick of his sleeve, he soared into the sky. In his hand, a cataclysmic surge of Sword Qi [sword energy, a manifestation of a swordsman's will and cultivation] swept across the vast void, directly enveloping the three adversaries. For uninterrupted reading, go to audio . novel . com.

Simultaneously, Lila, Yvonne the Violet Consort, and Lyra Jiang also advanced, carrying boundless killing intent, positioning themselves against the three powerful foes.

The Golden Dawn Arhat had initially believed a group of Half-Step Celestial Immortals [cultivators at the peak stage just below the Celestial Immortal realm] posed negligible threat. Yet, from the very first clash, he sensed something was profoundly amiss.

The combat prowess of the group was astonishingly formidable. Lyra Jiang alone was sufficient to suppress the Celestial Melody Bodhisattva. The Golden Body Arhat [an Arhat who has cultivated an indestructible golden body], besieged by familiar foes, realized each one possessed strength capable of challenging him.

Particularly the Qiyuan Chen before him, who charged forth wielding the Heaven's Halberd. His Indestructible Golden Body [a legendary physique renowned for its near-unbreakable resilience] possessed a power that seemed impervious to myriad calamities. Even the Arhat's own Innate Arhat Golden Body [the innate, perfected golden body of an Arhat] felt subtly outmatched.

In truth, Eldrin Chen did not hold these three formidable foes in particularly high regard.

Among them, Golden Dawn Arhat possessed a cultivation base of merely the First Heaven Celestial Immortal realm, while Celestial Melody Bodhisattva's strength also halted at the second level of the Heaven Immortal realm.

Only the Guardian Elder of the Celestial Xuan Ancient Sect possessed notable power, with cultivation at the third level of the Celestial Immortal Realm, yet he was still no match for Eldrin Chen.

Sealed within the Void [a state of absolute emptiness and isolation] by the Yin-Yang Void Realm, the battle lasted little more than a hundred exchanges before the Golden Dawn Arhat was utterly annihilated within that Void.

Celestial Melody Bodhisattva endured for another hundred exchanges or so, yet she too fell beneath the combined assault of the group.

Only the Guardian Elder of the Celestial Xuan Ancient Sect possessed the strength of Valerius. Wielding an Innate Ancient Talisman [a primordial charm of immense power], he managed to tear through the Yin-Yang Void Realm and fled deep into the Endless Void.

Before his departure, that Guardian Elder of the Celestial Xuan Ancient Sect left behind a venomous threat: "Your son slew Jareth, the Dao Scion of Stars, the direct disciple of Celestial Jade. He was the youngest son of Xuanxing the Ancient Immortal."

"Even if you hide within the Azure Firmament Immortal Domain, once the Hundred Calamities Rebirth Opportunity [a cosmic cycle of tribulation and renewal] concludes, you will inevitably meet your doom."

Faced with the vicious words of the Guardian Elder of the Celestial Xuan Ancient Sect, Eldrin Chen remained as calm and unshaken as ever, yet the killing intent within his gaze grew denser and more profound.

Watching the Celestial Xuan Ancient Sect Elder escape, Lila burned with the desire to give chase, but she was held back by Lyra Jiang.

She glanced at Eldrin Chen and could not help but inquire, "Have you divined any trace of Xander?"

"No."

Eldrin Chen shook his head and sighed, "Within the Dao Tribulation, the Heavenly Secrets [the art of divining celestial fate] are in chaos. Even a Great Luo Immortal Lord [an Immortal Lord of the highest order] can no longer calculate them. I, too, am unable to locate where Xander is."

"Fortunately, his Soul Lamp [a magical lamp whose flame reflects the state of a person's soul] has merely dimmed, not extinguished completely. This suggests there is still hope for a turn of events."

Upon hearing this, Verdant Consort's expression shifted slightly. She took a deep breath and asked, "Then, should we dispatch people to search for him?"

"It would be futile. Since he is fleeing for his life, he will certainly leave no trace behind."

Eldrin Chen spoke, then shook his head and said, "We proceed according to the plan. Have people begin preparations to deploy the Five Elements Celestial Domain Grand Formation within the realm of the Fivefold Heaven [a higher cultivation realm]."

From this battle, Eldrin Chen had once again seized two Innate Treasure [treasures born of natural law, possessing immense power]: the 'Celestial Melody Marvelous Lamp' and the 'Vajra Ancient Alms Bowl'.

Not counting purely special Auxiliary Immortal Treasure [treasures with supportive rather than offensive functions] like the Enlightenment Meditation Mat or the Primordial Qi Vase of Heaven and Earth, nor the personal Lifebound Magical Treasures [treasures cultivated within a cultivator's body] of Eldrin Chen, Lyra Jiang, Verdant Consort, and others...

...the Chen Immortal Clan now possessed nine Innate Treasure that could be used to set up formations.

The remaining seven treasures were, respectively, the Primordial Chaos Qi Pearl [a mystical pearl containing the primordial energy of chaos], the Yin-Yang Union Gourd [a gourd that harmonizes the opposing forces of Yin and Yang], along with the Coiled Dragon Ancient Pearl [an ancient pearl imbued with the essence of a coiled dragon], the Counter-Scale Ancient Sword [an ancient sword forged to pierce dragon scales], the Innate Violet Flame Sword [a sword born with the power of violet celestial flames], the Innate Gale Ancient Gourd [an ancient gourd containing an innate, tempestuous wind], and the Ancient Gale Gourd [a gourd that commands ancient, howling winds]—these seven treasures. Read, share, and discuss at audio - novel . com.