Chapter 107 : The Hunt for the Violet Roc

"The strength of the Violet Sanctum Demonic Roc is truly formidable; we may not be able to subdue it."

Upon hearing this, the Old Patriarch pondered for a moment before advising cautiously, "It would be difficult for you alone to confront the Violet Sanctum Demonic Roc. Therefore, your primary objective should be 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, then mounted his flying sword and departed from Pingyang City. The Solar Fire Returning Abyss Sword could traverse ten thousand Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] in a single day. In merely two days, Eldrin Chen entered the Hundred-Thousand-Mile Great Wasteland and began his search for the Violet Sanctum Demonic Roc.

This search lasted for over three months. The Violet Sanctum Demonic Roc seemed to have vanished like a stone sinking into the sea, disappearing within the vast expanse of the ten-thousand-mile Great Wasteland. Despite dozens of Foundation Establishment Cultivator from Border Province and Heavenly Ruins Mountain scouring the area, they found no trace of the demonic beast.

"Could it be that the Demonic Roc has already fled the Hundred-Thousand-Mile Great Wasteland?"

A sense of disappointment settled in Eldrin Chen's heart. High-tier demonic beasts had become exceedingly difficult to slay, possessing formidable combat prowess and exceptional escape abilities.

A Violet Sanctum Early Stage Demonic Roc could fly twenty to thirty thousand Li-lengths in a day. The so-called Hundred-Thousand-Mile Great Wasteland was a distance it could escape in mere days. Now, after three months, there had been ample time for the Violet Sanctum Demonic Roc to have fled multiple times over.

As time dragged on, hope dwindled. Most understood that the Violet Sanctum Demonic Roc was likely beyond their reach. Thus, the major Immortal Clan of Border Province had little choice but to reluctantly abandon the search. Your portal to cultivation novels: audio-novel.com.

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

Failing to locate the Violet Sanctum Demonic Roc, Eldrin Chen prepared to ride his flying sword towards Yu County. Suddenly, his sword-light faltered slightly, coming to a halt in the empty void.

"Judging by this location, we're not far from the cave abode left behind by Senior Yang."

"Over twenty years have passed. With the family's strength having grown significantly, perhaps we can now dispatch some personnel to secure that Spiritual Vein [a concentrated vein of earth energy that nourishes cultivation]."

With this thought in mind, Eldrin Chen steered his flying sword towards the cave abode of Celebrating Origin Yang.

After all, that cave abode sat upon a Second Rank Spiritual Vein. If a Formation [a mystical array or defensive barrier] were set up and one or two cultivators at the Vital Essence Refinement Late Stage [the late stage of refining one's foundational life energy] were stationed there to cultivate Spiritual Field [fields nourished by spiritual energy for growing rare herbs], it could potentially bring the family 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-light more than a hundred Li-length in advance.

Proceeding on foot for several dozen Li-length, he frowned slightly, sensing something amiss. While low-level demonic beasts were not uncommon within the Hundred-Thousand-Mile Great Wasteland, finding not a single one here was truly unusual.

"Could it be that..."

Eldrin Chen's gaze sharpened. He immediately concealed his aura and advanced slowly, finally coming to a stop twenty Li-length away from the Ancient Cultivator's Cave Abode.

"Violet Sanctum Demonic Roc [a powerful demonic bird at the Violet Sanctum cultivation realm], so this is where you've been hiding."

Suppressing the excitement in his heart, his gaze remained fixed intently on the Ancient Cultivator's Cave Abode [a secluded dwelling place left behind by a cultivator of ancient times].

Eldrin Chen did not venture closer to investigate, for a Violet Sanctum Early Stage [the initial phase of the Violet Sanctum realm] demonic beast's spiritual sense could envelop the area within 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 detected by the Violet Sanctum Demonic Beast [a general term for powerful beasts at the Violet Sanctum realm]. Yet, even from this distance, it was enough.

The Violet Sanctum Demonic Roc was likely inside the cave abode at this moment, using the Spirit Spring [a natural spring imbued with concentrated spiritual energy] to heal its wounds. Its injuries were more severe than imagined, so grave that it could no longer completely conceal its own aura.

At the very least, faint traces of its presence were leaking out for twenty Li-lengths in every direction, scaring away all the lower-tier demonic beasts.

"A Violet Sanctum Demonic Beast possesses terrifying power. We must return and make thorough preparations before coming back to slay this creature."

Forcing down the excitement within him, Eldrin Chen quietly retreated beyond a hundred Li-lengths, then soared back to Pingyang City on his flying sword. Upon returning to Pingyang City, he immediately reported the situation to the Old Patriarch.

The Old Patriarch was overjoyed. He promptly summoned Lior Chen and Seraphina Chen back, informed them of the Demonic Roc's whereabouts, and then declared:

"It would rather hide and heal within the Hundred-Thousand-Mile Great Wasteland [a vast, dangerous wilderness spanning hundreds of thousands of miles] than attempt to slip away in secret. This indicates the Demonic Roc's injuries must be exceedingly severe; otherwise, it likely wouldn't dare linger in the Hundred-Thousand-Mile Great Wasteland."

"For our Chen Clan, this is a heaven-sent opportunity. Even if it requires paying a certain price, we must slay that Violet Sanctum Demonic Roc."

Seraphina Chen was also stirred with excitement, her face flushing crimson as she asked, "Granduncle, how do you plan to deal with that Thunderclap Great Roc?"

The Old Patriarch calculated for a moment, then stroked his beard and said, "Thanks to the aid of Eldrin's Spiritual Peach, this old man broke through to the ninth layer of Foundation Establishment last year."

"Now, with the Solar Fire Soul-Burning Formation and my full arsenal of magical treasure [enchanted artifacts used by cultivators] and divine abilities, my strength should be comparable to nearly half a cultivator at the Violet Sanctum 1st Tier. Eldrin, wielding the Solar Fire Returning Abyss Sword, is no less formidable than I am."

"That Thunderclap Demonic Roc is merely at the Violet Sanctum 1st Tier and likely lacks any decent magical treasure. 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, "Very well. Over the years, the clan has forged three sets of Blazing Sun Heavenly Flame Formation Flags. I shall refine and merge them into a single Solar Trueflame Formation." Continue reading this story at @udio-novel.com.

"When the time comes, Lior and Seraphina, you two Foundation Establishment cultivators will lead the formation. Bring eighteen cultivators at the ninth layer of Vital Essence Refinement. The combined power you unleash should rival that of two or three great cultivators at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage."

Action followed words. That very night, Eldrin Chen and the Old Patriarch began the urgent task of refining the Formation Flag.

Fortunately, the Blazing Sun Heavenly Flame Formation was originally crafted in imitation of the Solar Trueflame Formation, making the current modifications not overly difficult.

The pair remelted the eighteen Blazing Fire Banners to serve as key secondary Formation Eye [the core focal points that stabilize and power a formation]. They also retrieved two Second Rank Mid-Grademagical treasure to act as the crucial Formation Artifact [the primary artifact that anchors and directs a formation's power].

The two Second Rank Formation Artifact [an artifact specifically designed to serve as a core component of a formation] were the Green Ape Pearl and the Barrier-Breaking Heart-Lock Spike. The Green Ape Pearl was a magical treasure [an enchanted artifact used by cultivators] that Eldrin Chen had phased out of his own use.

Currently, Eldrin Chen possessed four Second Rank High-Grade Magical Treasure artifacts. This particular item held little further utility for him, making it more suitable to repurpose as a Formation Artifact.

The Barrier-Breaking Heart-Lock Spike, on the other hand, was the famed magical treasure of White Hope Lin, considered a fine piece among Second Rank Mid-Grade artifacts. After Eldrin Chen slew its former owner, this treasure fell into the hands of the Chen Clan.

To make this treasure compatible with the Solar Fire Soul-Burning Formation [a formation that harnesses the purifying and destructive power of solar flames], 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 Solar Fire Essence [a refined spiritual essence embodying the power of the sun], transforming it into the Solar Fire Heart-Locking Spike.

Once converted into the Solar Fire Heart-Locking Spike, this artifact could serve as the Slaughter [the primary offensive component] Formation Artifact for the Solar Fire Soul-Burning Formation, its destructive power enhanced even further.

However, the violent infusion of Five Elements Essence [a refined spiritual essence containing the power of the five elements], which compressed a process requiring half a month into half a day, damaged the artifact's fundamental material. Consequently, the Solar Fire Heart-Locking Spike could only be activated ten more times.

After those ten activations, the treasure would be unable to withstand the power channeled through the Formation [a structured arrangement of energy nodes and artifacts used to channel and amplify power] and shatter into fragments.

Yet, for everyone present, if it meant slaying the Violet Sanctum Demonic Roc, sacrificing a single Second Rank Mid-Grade magical treasure was acceptable—even the loss of several Second Rank High-Grade Magical Treasure artifacts would not have been deemed too high a price.

With the magical treasure refined, Lior Chen urgently gathered eighteen cultivators at the Vital Essence Refinement 9th Tier. Without alerting anyone, they quietly departed from Green Chariot Mountain. Enjoyed this chapter? Read more at audio-novel . com.