Chapter 110 : Mercy in the Wilderness

As the demonic roc was about to vanish from sight, the hearts of the group sank, and a wave of disappointment washed over them.

Just as despair was about to claim them, a mournful shriek pierced the air. The Thunderclap Lightning Flash Escape [a high-speed escape technique that mimics lightning and thunder] divine ability abruptly failed. The creature plummeted from the sky, crashing heavily into the earth of the Great Wilderness.

Eldrin Chen's face lit up with elation. He swiftly rode his sword forward, only to find the Purple Palace Demon Roc [a powerful third-rank demonic beast of the roc lineage] drenched in blood. From its wounds, tendrils of Western Pole Metallic Essence Flame [a potent, sharp, and corrosive flame born from metallic essence] erupted, ceaselessly consuming its flesh.

It became clear. During the fierce battle, the demonic roc had repeatedly forced the activation of its magical treasures and divine abilities. Finally, it could no longer suppress its internal injuries and suffered a catastrophic backlash.

"Screech—"

In its final moments, a plea flickered in the roc's pupils. Its gaze, filled with a silent entreaty, fell upon Eldrin Chen.

Now powerless to resist, even if Eldrin Chen did not strike, the beast—its Lifebound Essence Blood [the vital blood essence bound to a cultivator's or spirit beast's life force] depleted and its mana exhausted—would perish under the agonizing refinement of the Western Pole Metallic Essence Flame.

That process would be excruciating and drawn-out. Thus, its current plea was for Eldrin Chen to grant it a swift and merciful end.

"Hymn—"

A clear sword hymn resonated. With a composed expression, Eldrin Chen channeled his power into the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss [a flying sword imbued with the power of Separated Flame] and delivered the final blow, ending the Thunder Roc's life upon the vast earth. For uninterrupted reading, go to audio_novel.com.

Within the Great Wilderness [a vast and untamed region], humans and demonic beasts stand in irreconcilable opposition. The demonic tribes view humanity as prey, and a Purple Mansion Great Demon [a powerful demonic beast of the Purple Mansion Realm] presented with the chance to devour ordinary mortals would never let such an opportunity slip away.

If this demon were not slain today, perhaps hundreds of thousands of mortals would become its bloody feast tomorrow. As a human cultivator, Eldrin Chen could not possibly show it the slightest mercy.

After slaying the Purple Palace Demon Roc [a powerful roc-type demonic beast of the Purple Mansion Realm] and extracting its inner core, the Old Patriarch and the other members of the Chen Clan temporarily suppressed their internal injuries and approached, their faces alight with wild joy.

Chen Thalion gazed at the inner core in Eldrin Chen's hand, unable to contain his elation, and spoke with fervent excitement.

"Eldrin, this victory and such a bountiful harvest are owed largely to you."

"It was not my effort alone."

Eldrin Chen also wore a look of joy, but spoke earnestly: "This battle relied on everyone's efforts. Had any one of us been missing, we likely could not have slain this beast. The credit is not mine alone."

"Indeed," the Old Patriarch nodded, a trace of lingering fear in his voice. "Who could have foreseen that this creature possessed the Thunderbolt Blazing Fire Sword [a magical sword imbued with the power of thunder and blazing fire]?"

As he spoke, the Old Patriarch handed the Thunderbolt Blazing Fire Sword to Eldrin Chen. "Your Purple Sun Furnace [a treasure furnace forged with Purple Sun True Flame] was half-destroyed in this fight. Even if repaired, its potency will likely be diminished by thirty or forty percent."

"But with this Thunderbolt Blazing Fire Sword, the loss of a mere Purple Sun Furnace is of little consequence."

Eldrin Chen did not decline. With the Separated Flame Soul-Burning Formation and the two Second Rank High Grade Magical Treasures to manage, the Old Patriarch had no remaining strength to wield this treasure. Within the clan, only he possessed the capability to activate the Thunderbolt Blazing Fire Sword.

Taking the Thunderbolt Blazing Fire Sword with great fondness, Eldrin Chen felt a surge of excitement. A single Third Rank Low Grade Magical Treasure typically started at a value of thirty thousand Spirit Stones [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy], and this was a Flying Sword [a sword that can be controlled to fly and attack from a distance], the most prized category of all.

With this sword in hand, he now possessed a decisive trump card. Once unleashed, he doubted even a Second Rank High Grade Defensive Magical Tool [an enchanted artifact designed for protection] could withstand its strike.

As he caressed the Thunderbolt Blazing Fire Sword, the Old Patriarch pondered for a moment before offering a reminder. "Unless absolutely necessary, do not reveal this sword lightly."

"Understood. I am aware of the implications."

Eldrin Chen nodded, his expression turning grave.

This Thunderbolt Blazing Fire Sword was once the Lifebound Immortal Sword [a cultivator's personally bonded and most powerful sword] of the founding ancestor of the Yang Clan of Ling County. Now that it had fallen into his hands, it was uncertain whether the Yang Immortal Clan would not seek to reclaim it if they learned of its whereabouts.

Stowing the Thunderbolt Blazing Fire Sword away, Eldrin Chen turned to the Old Patriarch, unable to suppress his concern as he asked,

"How is your injury?"

"It is of little consequence," the Old Patriarch shook his head, offering reassurance. "Although the Separated Flame Soul-Burning Formation was breached, this old man has already reached the ninth layer of the Foundation Establishment realm [the second major stage of cultivation, where one solidifies their spiritual foundation]. An injury of this scale will not harm my foundational cultivation."

"After returning, I will need only one or two years of recuperation to restore my peak condition."

Eldrin Chen let out a sigh of relief and smiled faintly. "That puts my mind at ease."

After resting for a short while, the group began to dismember the Purple Palace Demon Roc.

The flesh, blood, and hide of the Thunder Roc were contaminated with lingering traces of the Western Pole Metallic Essence Flame and would be refined into Tribulation Ash, rendering them unusable.

Eldrin Chen could only extract the creature's bones, intending to take them, along with the demonic roc's inner core, to Celestial Ruins Mountain. The inner core could be entrusted to Lyra Jiang to refine into a Foundation Establishment Pill [a precious pill that aids in breaking through to the Foundation Establishment realm]. The bones of this Demonic Beast retained traces of Innate Formation Runes [natural, inborn patterns that channel spiritual power], and perhaps they could be forged into a magical treasure.

After processing the bones, the group rested briefly within the Ancient Cultivator's Cave for three days. Once their injuries had stabilized, they finally took to their flying swords and returned to Yu County. Dive deeper into the Dao at audi0-n0vel.c0m.

From departure to return, this entire campaign had taken a mere eleven days. It concluded so swiftly that even the cultivators within the clan had scarcely registered their absence.

In such a short span, even if any hidden adversaries had noticed something amiss, there would have been no time to send word. Thus, no unexpected incidents occurred within the clan.

Upon returning to Pingyang City, the Old Patriarch immediately entered seclusion to heal his wounds. Eldrin Chen also did not depart for Celestial Ruins Mountain right away.

He first returned to Spirit Isle Lake and entered seclusion for one month. Only after the lingering aftereffects of using the Essence Burst Pill [a potent pill that temporarily boosts power at a cost] had completely faded did he finally set out from Spirit Isle Lake.

This time, he brought along the inner core and bones of the Purple Palace Demon Roc [a powerful third-rank demonic bird]. In a mere dozen or so days, he arrived at Celestial Ruins Mountain.

Without further delay, he went directly to the Heaven's Ruin Pavilion. Upon seeing him, Liu Seraphina smiled faintly and said, "I did not expect us to meet again after only a few short months. What brings you here this time?"

"To be frank, I have come hoping to see Senior Jiang,"

Eldrin Chen stated his purpose directly, forgoing excessive pleasantries.

Hearing him mention Lyra Jiang, a trace of an inscrutable smile flickered in Liu Seraphina's eyes as she nodded.

"My Master said long ago that if you sought her, you could be taken directly to her Cultivation Cave [a secluded abode for meditation and cultivation]," she said.

"Follow me."

Eldrin Chen was momentarily taken aback but quickly composed himself, following Liu Seraphina as they flew towards the summit of Celestial Ruins Mountain.

The two arrived before the Spirit Pool Cave Abode [a cave dwelling nourished by a spiritual spring] on Celestial Ruins Mountain. Liu Seraphina bowed respectfully before the Cultivation Cave entrance and announced,

"Master, your disciple has brought Eldrin Chen of Verdant Chariot Mountain seeking an audience."

As her words fell, Eldrin Chen felt a strand of divine sense sweep over him. It lingered upon his form for a brief moment before withdrawing.

"Let him enter."

Eldrin Chen stepped forward alone, entering the Spirit Pool Cave Abode. This was not his first time crossing its threshold, yet today, the Spirit Pool Cave Abode felt profoundly different.

Tendrils of white mist enshrouded the interior, so dense that Eldrin Chen's spiritual sense could not pierce beyond three Chi-lengths [one Chi-length equals one third of a meter] around him.

He had taken a dozen or so steps when he suddenly halted, his gaze turning to one of startled disbelief. From within the mist-veiled Spirit Pool [a pool of concentrated spiritual energy], a hazy, indistinct figure emerged, stepping forth.

Though the mist obscured clear sight, Eldrin Chen caught a fleeting, hazy glimpse: a waist slender as a willow, yet a figure lush and alluring. That single, ephemeral glance revealed a beauty of celestial grace and peerless enchantment—a breathtaking union of a goddess from the highest heavens and a legendary seductress. Truly, she was a natural-born paragon of allure, rare in all the world.

Lyra Jiang emerged from her bath in the Spirit Pool, a simple white gown now draping her exquisite form. She walked out from the heart of the mist.

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