Chapter 107 : The Demon Roc's Vanishing Trail

"The strength of a Purple Mansion Demonic Beast is truly terrifying; we may not be able to subdue it."

Upon hearing this, Old Patriarch pondered for a moment before advising cautiously, "Alone, you would struggle to contend with a Purple Palace Demon Roc. Therefore, your primary objective on this journey is reconnaissance. Proceed with utmost caution."

"Should you encounter the demonic roc, do not engage. Return to the clan first, and we shall deliberate on a course of action together."

"Understood."

Eldrin Chen nodded in agreement. Mounting his sword, he departed from Pingyang City. The Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss could traverse ten thousand Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] in a single day. In merely two days, Eldrin Chen had entered the Hundred-Thousand-Mile Wilderness and began his search for the Purple Palace Demon Roc.

This search lasted for over three months. The Purple Palace Demon Roc seemed to have vanished like a stone sinking into the sea, disappearing within the hundred-thousand-mile expanse of the Great Wilderness. Despite dozens of Foundation Establishment Cultivator from Bianzhou and Celestial Ruins Mountain scouring the lands, not a single trace of the creature could be found.

"Could it be that the demonic roc has already fled the Hundred-Thousand-Mile Wilderness?"

Eldrin Chen felt a pang of disappointment. High-rank demonic beasts had become exceedingly difficult to slay, possessing formidable combat prowess and exceptional escape abilities.

A Purple Palace, Early Stage demonic roc could fly twenty to thirty thousand Li-lengths in a day. The vast Hundred-Thousand-Mile Wilderness was but a journey of a few days for such a creature. With three months having passed, the Purple Palace Demon Roc had ample time to escape multiple times over.

As time dragged on, hope dwindled. Most understood that the Purple Palace Demon Roc was likely beyond their reach. Thus, the major immortal clans of Bianzhou could only reluctantly abandon their search. Official source: audio-novel-dot-com. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.

"What a pity. Such a monumental opportunity, yet it slipped through our fingers just like that."

Unable to locate the Purple Mansion Demonic Roc, Eldrin Chen prepared to ride his Flying Sword back towards Yu County. Suddenly, his sword radiance faltered slightly, coming to a halt amidst the void.

"Judging by this location, it's not far from the Cultivation Cave left behind by Senior Alistair."

"Over twenty years have passed. With the clan's strength greatly increased now, perhaps we can dispatch some hands to secure that Spirit Vein [a natural conduit of spiritual energy within the earth]."

With this thought in mind, Eldrin Chen steered his Flying Sword towards Yang Alistair's Cultivation Cave.

After all, that Cultivation Cave sat upon a Second Rank Spirit Vein. If a formation were set up and one or two Qi Refinement, Late Stage cultivators were stationed there to cultivate Spirit Farmland, it could potentially bring the clan another substantial source of income.

After flying for several thousand Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters], his eyes flickered with caution. He descended with his sword radiance well over one hundred Li-length in advance.

Proceeding on foot for several dozen Li-length, he frowned slightly, sensing something amiss. While low-level Demonic Beast [beasts infused with or capable of channeling spiritual energy, often hostile] were not uncommon within the Hundred-Thousand-Mile Wilderness, to encounter not a single one here was truly unusual.

"Could it be that..."

Eldrin Chen's gaze sharpened. He immediately concealed his aura and advanced with utmost stealth, finally halting his steps twenty Li-length away from the Ancient Cultivator's Cave.

"Purple Palace Demon Roc [a powerful avian demonic beast of the Purple Mansion realm], so this is where you have been hiding."

Suppressing the excitement in his heart, his gaze remained fixed intently upon that Ancient Cultivator's Cave.

Eldrin Chen did not venture closer to observe, for a Purple Mansion, Early Stage Demonic Beast [a monster that cultivates demonic arts] could sense its surroundings for a radius of ten Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters]. If he came within that ten-Li perimeter, he would undoubtedly be discovered by the Purple Mansion Demonic Beast. Yet, even from this distance, it was enough.

The Purple Palace Demon Roc was likely inside the Cultivation Cave [a secluded dwelling used for cultivation], using the Spirit Spring [a spring imbued with spiritual energy] to heal its wounds. Its injuries were more severe than imagined, so grave that it could no longer fully conceal its aura.

For at least twenty Li-lengths around, faint traces of its presence leaked out, scaring away the lower-tier Demonic Beast.

"A Purple Mansion Demonic Beast is fearsomely powerful. We must return and make thorough preparations before coming back to slay this demon."

Quelling the excitement within, Eldrin Chen quietly retreated for a hundred Li-lengths before mounting his flying sword and returning to Pingyang City. Upon his return, he immediately reported the situation to the Old Patriarch.

The Old Patriarch was overjoyed. He promptly summoned Lior Chen and Chen Seraphina, informed them of the demonic roc, and then declared:

"It would rather hide and heal within the Hundred-Thousand-Mile Wilderness than attempt a stealthy escape. This suggests the roc's injuries are exceedingly severe; otherwise, it likely would not dare to linger in the Hundred-Thousand-Mile Wilderness."

"For our Chen Clan, this is a heaven-sent opportunity. Even if it requires a significant price, we must slay that Purple Palace Demon Roc."

Chen Seraphina was also quite excited, her face flushing red as she asked, "Granduncle, how do you plan to deal with that Thunder Roc?"

The Old Patriarch calculated for a moment, then stroked his beard and said, "Thanks to the aid of Eldrin's Spirit Peach [a fruit imbued with spiritual energy], this old man broke through to the Foundation Establishment [the second major realm of cultivation] ninth layer last year."

"Now, with the Separated Flame Soul-Burning Formation [a powerful defensive and offensive array] and my full arsenal of magical treasures and divine abilities, my combat power should be nearly equivalent to half a Purple Mansion First Layer [the third major realm of cultivation] cultivator. Eldrin, with the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss [a powerful lifebound sword] in hand, is no less formidable than I am."

"That Thunder Demonic Roc is merely at the Purple Mansion First Layer and likely lacks any suitable magical tools. Now, gravely wounded, logic dictates that with the two of us joining forces, we should have a sixty percent chance of victory."

"However, to guard against any unforeseen circumstances, we must commit our full strength."

He paused in thought, then continued, "Here is my plan. Over the years, the clan has forged three sets of Blazing Solar Skyfire Formation Flags [powerful array flags that channel solar fire]. I will reforge and combine them into a single Solar Divine Flame Formation [a grand formation of concentrated solar power]." Support the author by reading on audio—novel.com.

"When the time comes, Lior and Seraphina, you two Foundation Establishment cultivators will lead the formation. With eighteen Qi Refinement ninth layer cultivators supporting you, the power unleashed should rival that of two or three Foundation Establishment, Late Stage [advanced Foundation Establishment realm] Grand Cultivators."

Action followed words. That very night, Eldrin Chen and the Old Patriarch began the urgent task of reforging the Formation Flags [the physical flags used to anchor and power an array].

Fortunately, the Blazing Solar Skyfire Formation was originally modeled after the Solar Divine Flame Formation, making the conversion process less daunting.

The pair remelted the eighteen Blazing Fire Banner [banners enchanted with blazing fire] to serve as key secondary formation nodes. They then retrieved two Second Rank Middle Grade Magical Tool [a mid-grade magical weapon of the second rank] to act as the core formation instruments.

The two Second Rank formation tools were the Green Ape Pearl and the Barrier-Breaking Heart-Locking Spike. The Green Ape Pearl was a magical treasure that Eldrin Chen had phased out of his own use.

Now, Eldrin Chen possessed four Second Rank High Grade magical tools. This particular item held little utility for him anymore, so it was far better to repurpose it as a formation tool.

The Barrier-Breaking Heart-Locking Spike was the famed magical treasure of Lysander Lin, considered a fine piece even among Second Rank Middle Grade magical treasures. After Eldrin Chen slew him, this treasure fell into the hands of the Chen Clan.

To make this treasure compatible with the Separated Flame Soul-Burning Formation, the Old Patriarch disregarded the toll it would take on the artifact's lifespan. Within a mere half-day, he forcibly infused it with a massive amount of Separated Flame Qi [the spiritual energy of the Separated Flame, one of the Five Elements], transforming it into the Separated Flame Heart-Locking Spike.

Once transformed into the Separated Flame Heart-Locking Spike, this treasure could serve as the offensive core of the Separated Flame Soul-Burning Formation, its destructive power enhanced by several degrees.

However, the violent infusion of Five Elements Essence [a refined spiritual essence containing the power of the five elements], which compressed a process meant to take half a month into half a day, had damaged the artifact's fundamental structure. Henceforth, it could only be activated ten times.

After the tenth activation, the treasure would be unable to withstand the formation's power and shatter into fragments.

Yet, for the group, if it meant slaying the Purple Mansion Demonic Roc, the loss of one Second Rank Middle Grade magical tool—or even several Second Rank High Grade magical tools—was an acceptable price.

Once the tools were ready, Lior Chen urgently gathered eighteen cultivators of the ninth layer of Qi Refinement [the final stage of the Qi Refinement realm]. Without alerting anyone, they quietly departed from Green Chariot Mountain.

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