Chapter 108 : A Perilous Pact with the Beast

This time, the Chen Clan had essentially emptied its nest. To prevent information leaks and their own stronghold being attacked, even these eighteen high-ranking clan members did not know their mission's objective.

To achieve a swift victory, Eldrin Chen and the other three Foundation Establishment Cultivator disregarded the immense drain on their True Essence. Each of them, flying on their swords, carried four or five cultivators as they sped towards the Hundred-Thousand-Mile Great Wasteland.

After a journey of merely four or five days, the group arrived at a point three hundred Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] from the Ancient Cultivator's Cave Abode.

Only after they descended from their sword glows did the Old Patriarch reveal the purpose of their journey. Upon learning they were to confront a Violet Sanctum Demonic Beast, a shiver of fear ran through the group.

Eternal Remembrance Chen trembled visibly, his face etched with worry. "Old Granduncle," he said, "a Violet Sanctum Demonic Beast could snuff us out with a single breath. With our level of cultivation, isn't joining this fight just seeking our own deaths?"

"Set your minds at ease. The Clan Leader and I will be the vanguard in this battle."

Eldrin Chen spoke up, pausing briefly before continuing, "Your task is simply to activate the Formation Flag and provide Vital Energy [the foundational life-force energy cultivated by practitioners] support for Uncle Lior and Seraphina. That is all."

Sixteenth Granduncle Eternal Land Chen gave Eternal Remembrance Chen a light tap on the head, his tone stern. "All these years, the clan has provided you with resources and stipends precisely for a day like this, when you must fight for the family's sake. Do you intend to flee instead?"

"Of course not," Eternal Remembrance Chen replied, rubbing his head with an awkward smile. "I merely fear a pointless sacrifice."

The others offered strained smiles. If Eternal Land Chen, now ninety-seven winters old, dared to stand and fight, none of them would dream of retreating. Join our community of readers at audio-novel .c om.

After all, with the protection of a Formation [a structured arrangement of energy nodes and flows used for defense, offense, or cultivation], as long as the Formation remained Impenetrable [a state of being utterly unbreachable], they would be relatively safe.

Seeing a flicker of fighting spirit ignite within the group, Lior Chen let out a sigh of relief. He distributed the Formation Flag [a flag used as a focal point to control and power a formation] and had everyone practice and coordinate their movements.

The clan cultivators were all familiar with drilling the Blazing Sun Heavenly Flame Formation [a powerful fire-element formation], so they quickly grasped the intricacies of the closely related Solar Trueflame Formation [a formation that channels and focuses pure solar fire].

The group did not advance rashly that night. Instead, they rested where they were, recovering their True Essence [the refined, potent energy cultivated within a practitioner's core] before finally setting out towards the cave abode of Celebrating Origin Yang.

They proceeded with utmost caution, moving in stealth. Perhaps due to its severe injuries, the Thunderclap Demonic Roc [a monstrous bird demon that commands thunder] had suffered significant damage to its spiritual sense, allowing the group to close within five Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] before it finally detected them.

"BOOM—"

A deafening roar echoed as the Thunderclap Demonic Roc burst through the wall of the Ancient Cultivator's Cave Abode [the secluded dwelling place of a cultivator from ages past] and shot out from the mountainside, fleeing into the distance.

Fortunately, the group was fully prepared. Old Patriarch was the first to strike. His Crimson Flame Spirit Blade [a sentient magical blade imbued with crimson flame] transformed into a blade-light over eight Zhang-lengths [one Zhang-length equals three point three three meters] long, cleaving through the sky towards the beast.

As the Lifebound Magical Treasure [a magical artifact bound to a cultivator's life force and soul, growing in power with them] of a ninth-level Foundation Establishment [the second major realm of cultivation, where one solidifies their spiritual foundation] cultivator, the power of this Crimson Flame Spirit Blade surpassed that of ordinary magical treasures of the same rank by at least thirty percent. It was more than capable of injuring a Violet Sanctum Demonic Beast [a demonic beast whose power is equivalent to the Violet Sanctum realm].

The Thunderclap Demonic Roc did not dare to meet the attack head-on. Instead, it beat its wings fiercely, banking sharply in an attempt to escape from another direction.

Yet a brilliant azure sword light soared into the sky, directly blocking the path of the Violet Sanctum Demonic Roc. As a superior Lifebound Immortal Sword, the Solar Fire Returning Abyss Sword possessed power thirty percent greater than the Crimson Flame Spirit Blade, even possessing the capability to inflict serious injury upon the Thunderclap Demonic Roc.

With the Solar Fire Returning Abyss Sword ahead and the Crimson Flame Spirit Blade behind, the Thunderclap Demonic Roc had no time left to change course. It could only unleash a Thunderclap spell [a lightning-based magical attack] in retaliation.

After all, it was a Violet Sanctum Demonic Beast. Although the spell it invoked was merely an innate magical ability and not a true divine ability [a supreme cultivation technique], its power was far from ordinary. A serpent of lightning descended, actually managing to block the Solar Fire Returning Abyss Sword.

Seeing the Solar Fire Ascension Sword halted, the Violet Sanctum Demonic Roc beat its wings once more to flee. Eldrin Chen narrowed his eyes and channeled the Metallic Gold Divine Thunder to strike down from above.

"Boom—"

A deafening Thunderclap echoed as the Metallic Gold Divine Thunder transformed into a Nine HeavensThunderclap that crashed down. The Primordial Solar Divine Thunder divine ability possessed an innate, unparalleled swiftness, leaving even the Violet Sanctum Demonic Roc with no chance to evade.

Now, Eldrin Chen's spiritual energy [the vital power cultivated by practitioners] was profound and sharp, not inferior to that of an Foundation Establishment 8th Tier cultivator. The power he could unleash with this divine ability was already sufficient to threaten a Violet Sanctum Demonic Beast.

The Violet Sanctum Demonic Roc, already dragging its grievous wounds, naturally dared not take this blow with its fleshly body. With no other choice, it could only expand its protective energy barrier to block the strike, then continue beating its wings to charge forward, fleeing further into the distant void.

"Don't let it escape!"

Seeing the Demonic Roc still attempting to flee, Eternal Profound Chen could not help but shout urgently. The Violet Sanctum Demonic Roc deliberately avoided him, a Foundation Establishment Peak Stage cultivator, making it difficult even for him to close the distance in pursuit.

Fortunately, at this moment, Third Elder and the others finally caught up. Lior Chen activated the Solar Trueflame Formation [a powerful formation that channels solar fire] and unleashed the Solar Fire Heart-Locking Spike [a magical spike imbued with concentrated solar fire].

This Solar Fire Heart-Locking Spike concentrated the power of the Solar Trueflame Formation, its might truly astonishing. It was actually fifty percent more powerful than Eldrin Chen's Solar Fire Returning Abyss Sword [a sword infused with solar fire and abyssal energy].

It erupted with a dazzling, conical radiance spanning twelve to thirteen Zhang-lengths [one Zhang-length equals three point three three meters], shooting straight towards the Violet Sanctum Demonic Roc [a powerful demonic bird], leaving the beast with no room to evade.

The strike caught the Violet Sanctum Demonic Roc completely off guard. Though it managed to block most of the attack's force with its protective energy barrier, it was still sent reeling backward by the Solar Fire Heart-Locking Spike for a hundred Zhang-lengths, finally forcing it to a halt.

Furthermore, after successively blocking the Metallic Gold Divine Thunder [a divine thunder technique of metallic gold energy] and the Solar Fire Heart-Locking Spike, its protective barrier had been shattered. For a short time, at least, the effectiveness of that defensive art was greatly diminished.

Seizing the opportunity, the group closed in. Only then did everyone notice a massive wound on the Violet Sanctum Demonic Roc's abdomen, within which a pale golden flame flickered and burned. Visit audio-novel . com to enjoy the complete series.

"There's still residual Western Pole Metallic Gold Flame [a potent spiritual flame from the Western Pole]. It was wounded by the Golden Lion Mastiff's Western Pole Metallic Gold Flame divine ability," someone observed.

"No wonder it chose to flee rather than face us in a direct confrontation."

Eldrin Chen glanced at the Demonic Roc's injury, and the realization flashed through his mind in an instant.

The Western Pole Metallic Gold Flame was the innate divine ability of the Golden Lion Mastiff. This technique was exceptionally potent. Once it grievously wounded a foe, the flame would seep into their wounds and meridians, relentlessly scorching their flesh and blood day and night, making it exceedingly difficult to purge.

Even with its formidable Violet Sanctum Demonic Roc cultivation, the creature had been rendered utterly feeble by the relentless day-and-night tempering of this True Flame. Not only had its strength diminished by five or six tenths, but it also endured perpetual agony.

"Screech—"

It was, after all, a Violet Sanctum Demonic Beast. Even grievously wounded, it possessed its own dignity. As the group closed in, a cold glint flashed in the Violet Sanctum Demonic Roc's eyes. Resolving to suppress its injuries, it decided to end the battle swiftly.

It abruptly opened its maw and spat forth a sword radiance entwined with Thunderclap, which soared into the air and slashed towards Eldrin Chen.

"Beware! It's the Thunderbolt Blazing Fire Sword!"

Well-traveled and knowledgeable, the Old Patriarch immediately paled with shock.

The origin of this Thunderbolt Blazing Fire Sword was indeed astonishing. It was the unique Lifebound Magical Treasure [a magical artifact forged with a portion of its wielder's soul and life force] of the Yang Clan, a Violet Sanctum Immortal Clan from Ling County. A century ago, the Yang Clan's Violet Sanctum Patriarch, Eternal Hut Yang, had refined this very Lifebound Immortal Sword and had relied upon it to dominate Border Province.

Eighty-five years prior, when the Beast Tide [a catastrophic surge of demonic beasts] erupted, even the Verdant Sun Sect lost two of its Violet Sanctum Patriarch. The Violet Sanctum Immortal Clan of the Green Sun Two Provinces also suffered heavy casualties. Naturally, the neglected backwater that was Border Province could not have emerged unscathed.

That very Patriarch, Eternal Hut Yang, had fallen in the Beast Tide. Thus, this Thunderbolt Blazing Fire Sword was lost. No one had imagined it would end up in the hands of the Thunderclap Great Roc tribe. Join our community of readers at audio–novel.com.