Chapter 1599 : Confronting the Netherworld Horde

"Netherworld True Howler Clan."

Gazing at the distant pack of Netherworld Ancient Beasts, Eldrin Chen's expression could not help but turn grave.

The vast horde before them was a tribe of Netherworld Ferocious Beasts, numbering in the hundreds.

Eldrin Chen surveyed them and realized these Netherworld Ferocious Beasts fed on the boundless Netherworld Qi [the dark, yin energy of the underworld] and Malign Aura [the corrupt energy of slaughter and evil], making their strength exceptionally formidable.

"There are three at the Taiyi Realm, the rest are all at the Earth Immortal Realm."

Lyra Jiang spoke calmly, recognizing the origins of these ancient beasts.

Seeing this, Eldrin Chen spoke up: "I will seal the void with the Mirror of Yin, Yang, and Void. Kael, Lyra, Nyssa—you three hold back the horde. The rest of you, make it swift. Slay the three Taiyi Realm Netherworld True Roar."

"Understood."

With the strategy set, they moved in an instant.

As Eldrin Chen sealed heaven and earth with the Mirror of Yin, Yang, and Void, Qiyuan Chen, Ethan Chen, Yvonne the Violet Consort, Lila, and Verdant Consort immediately charged towards the three Netherworld True Roar.

In a single Ksana-time [an infinitesimal unit of time from Buddhist cosmology, less than a second], all four hundred and several dozen Netherworld True Howler sensed something amiss. With a surge of boundless, baleful aura, they charged forth as one.

The strength of these Netherworld True Howler was at least comparable to a Half-Step Earth Immortal, with many among them rivaling those at the Earth Immortal Great Perfection realm. With over four hundred of these beasts now joining the fray, they possessed the power to shift the very balance of the battlefield.

Fortunately, the allies had prepared for this. Lyra Jiang immediately activated the World-Opening Supreme Treasure, the Earthly Kun Origin Disc [a supreme treasure embodying the primordial essence of the Kun, the mythical giant fish or whale], manifesting a grand formation that blocked the advance of over one hundred Netherworld True Howler.

As one who had opened twelve layers of heaven [a measure of supreme foundational potential in cultivation], her power upon breaking through to the Half-Step Celestial Immortal realm had long since rivaled that of a cultivator with a dual Taiyi Foundation [a supreme cultivation foundation named after the primordial Taiyi deity].

Even while suppressing over a hundred True Howlers, she still had strength to spare. She channeled the Great Five Elements Pure Yin Divine Thunder [a divine thunder technique fusing the power of the five elements with pure Yin energy], unleashing a cataclysmic blast that utterly annihilated over twenty of the beasts, reducing them to ashes of the heavenly tribulation.

Kael Chen and Nyssa Qu were also masters of profound skill. Kael Chen activated the Three Demons Slaying Immortals Sword Formation, instantly ensnaring over a hundred of the ancient Netherworld beasts. Within moments, a significant number were pulverized into nothingness.

Nyssa Qu's Seven Extremities Spirit-Slaying Sword transformed into the endless, cascading Seven-Colored Sword Formation, its radiant blades sweeping through the horde and turning countless ancient beasts into dissipating motes of dust.

Witnessing this, Eldrin Chen knew the trio could hold the line against the Netherworld beasts. Without hesitation, he shot towards the heart of the conflict.

Among the three Taiyi Ancient Beast [ancient beasts named after the primordial Taiyi deity], two possessed combat power comparable to a single Taiyi Foundation. The leader, however, was a terror rivaling even a dual Taiyi Foundation existence.

In terms of raw power, any one of the five—Qiyuan Chen, Ethan Chen, Yvonne the Violet Consort, Lila, and Verdant Consort—was more than a match for the two beasts with single Taiyi Foundation strength. It was the alpha beast, the leader, that was beyond their ability to subdue alone.

However, as beings who had opened the Ninth Heaven [the ninth and highest tier of the foundational cultivation realm], they possessed the strength to put up a fight, even if they could not prevail.

At this moment, Verdant Consort [a powerful cultivator], who had opened the Tenth Heaven, intercepted the leader of the Netherworld True Roar [a ferocious beast from the underworld], while the other four were besieging two ancient beasts with a single Taiyi Foundation [the foundational cultivation stage named after the Primordial Unity].

It was clear the two ancient beasts with a single Taiyi Foundation were far from their match; within less than ten exchanges, they had already sustained significant injuries.

Eldrin Chen did not compete with them for opponents. Instead, he plunged into the heart of the battlefield, charging directly toward the leader of the Netherworld True Roar.

"ROAR—"

Seeing Eldrin Chen's approach, the Netherworld True Roar's eyes blazed with madness. It surged toward him, its aura thick with overwhelming killing intent.

Unfazed, Eldrin Chen raised his hand and pressed down with a single palm. The force of the blow sent the Netherworld True Roar hurtling backward.

After that initial strike, Eldrin Chen advanced, the Supreme Unity Refined Gold War Halberd [a legendary polearm forged from primordial gold] in his grasp. He channeled the Primordial Chaos Qi Grasping Hand [a divine technique to seize objects with chaotic energy], snatching the Netherworld True Roar back, and struck again, sending the beast reeling through the air, blood spraying from its wounds.

This time, the bones in the Netherworld True Roar's legs shattered, a clear sign it had suffered grievous harm.

"AOOO—"

The Netherworld True Roar [a primordial beast of the Netherworld] was crimson, its eyes brimming with boundless killing intent, and an overwhelming aura of baleful energy [a malevolent and destructive force] raged around its form.

In that moment, it was enraged, nearly berserk as it steadied itself and charged toward Eldrin Chen with murderous fury. "Boom—"

A deafening explosion erupted. Eldrin Chen, wielding the Taiyi Heavenly Halberd [a divine halberd of supreme unity], advanced once more, striking the beast and sending it flying through the air, blood spraying from its wounds.

"A Netherworld Ancient Beast with power comparable to a dual Taiyi Foundation [a supreme foundational stage in cultivation]... seems not so formidable after all?"

Eldrin Chen remarked calmly. While this Netherworld True Roar possessed considerable strength, enough to tear apart a Half-Step Celestial Immortal [a cultivator on the verge of ascending to the Celestial Immortal realm], its physical power ultimately could not match the Taiyi Primordial Chaos Indestructible Body [a legendary physique of unbreakable chaos].

More importantly, Eldrin Chen held the Supreme Unity War Halberd in hand.

Combined, these factors meant he could slay even a top-tier Half-Step Celestial Immortal, let alone a Netherworld Ancient Beast that lacked protective treasures and whose techniques fell short of its peers in that realm.

Witness Eldrin Chen as he struck relentlessly, each blow carrying the force of a collapsing sky, driving the Netherworld True Roar back step by step.

After little more than sixty exchanges, he used the Supreme Unity Refined Gold War Halberd to pin the Netherworld True Roar through the void, ending its life.

With the Netherworld True Roar slain, Eldrin Chen withdrew the Supreme Unity Refined Gold War Halberd, a faint smile finally appearing in his eyes.

He had gained a fairly clear understanding of his current strength. He estimated that, even without resorting to his trump card like the Innate Treasure, he should be able to defeat a Half-Step Celestial Immortal with a dual Taiyi Foundation within one hundred exchanges.

Even if his opponent possessed a formidable hidden card like a Primordial Immortal Weapon, three hundred exchanges should still be more than sufficient.

With this thought, Eldrin Chen surveyed the battlefield. He saw that the other two Netherworld True Roar had already been surrounded and slain by his four companions, and the hundreds of Netherworld True Howler had been routed and slaughtered.

Seeing this, Eldrin Chen collected the Netherworld True Roar's corpse and extracted the Netherworld Turbid Qi [a dense, impure spiritual energy from the underworld] from within its body. He found it contained two strands of Netherworld Turbid Qi, both of which were of the utmost purity.

Qiyuan Chen and the others also extracted the turbid qi from the other two ancient nether beasts. They discovered these also yielded two strands of Netherworld Turbid Qi each, though unfortunately, one of the strands was not perfectly pure. "Three strands of the purest Netherworld Turbid Qi, added to the one we obtained earlier, makes four strands in total," Qiyuan Chen remarked.

Gazing at the three strands of Netherworld Turbid Qi, Lila could not help but speak with delight.

Seeing this, Nyssa Qu inquired, "We possess three strands of Heaven's Pure Qi [a refined, pure spiritual energy from the heavens]. These four strands of Netherworld Turbid Qi are more than enough for an exchange. Should we return now?"

Ethan Chen, ever ambitious and possessing a character willing to take risks, immediately spoke up. "The purest Netherworld Turbid Qi is so precious. If we can obtain a few more strands, we might very well be able to trade for several more strands of Heaven's Pure Qi."

"And how could one ever have too many of the Yin-Yang Enlightenment Pill [a pill that aids in comprehending the fundamental principles of reality and mystical arts]? They assist us in comprehending Dao Principles [the fundamental laws of existence] and divine abilities!"

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen fell into a moment of silent contemplation.

The current Chen Immortal Clan is no ordinary Half-Step Celestial Immortal power. With nine mighty Half-Step Celestial Immortal within its ranks, this level of strength is sufficient to suppress beings with three Taiyi Foundation [the foundational cultivation base at the Taiyi Realm]. They should possess the capability to acquire more Netherworld Turbid Qi [a chaotic, impure spiritual energy from the depths of the underworld].

Considering this, Eldrin Chen spoke, "Let us observe a while longer. If the situation turns dire, we can simply escape using the Mirror of Yin, Yang, and Void."

Eldrin Chen's word was final. He then led the group deeper into the Netherworld [the underworld or a realm of death and shadow]. They fought their way into the profound depths of the void, and before long, they encountered another tribe of Ancient Nether Beasts [ancient monstrous creatures native to the Netherworld].

This tribe possessed only two Taiyi Realm ancient beasts, which were swiftly slain by the group. They obtained two more strands of Netherworld Turbid Qi, though unfortunately, only one of them was pure enough to be usable.

Their power was indeed formidable. As they pressed onward, they successively vanquished five more tribes of Ancient Nether Beasts.

Among these five tribes, there were a total of twelve Taiyi Realm Ancient Nether Beasts, with only one possessing a dual Taiyi Foundation.

They obtained a total of thirteen strands of Netherworld Turbid Qi from these encounters, but only eight met the standard of being supremely pure.

Adding these to the previous five strands, they had now acquired a total of thirteen strands of Netherworld Turbid Qi.