Chapter 487 : Heavenly Tribulation and the Demon's Fall

As the crowd murmured amongst themselves, the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation [a cataclysmic trial of heavenly lightning that tests a cultivator's foundation] in the sky finally began to wane.

As expected, the Bixia Demon Emperor [a powerful demonic beast resembling a giant turtle] relied on its formidable bloodline and carapace to successfully weather the Infant Soul Heavenly Thunder Tribulation [the heavenly tribulation marking the breakthrough to the Infant Soul Realm].

Its tortoise shell was extraordinary, having transformed into an object akin to a Lifebound Spiritual Treasure [a magical treasure intimately connected to its owner's life force], its defensive power rivaling the finest of lower-grade Demon-Subduing Supreme Treasure [a supreme-grade treasure specifically designed to suppress demonic beings].

Sheltered by this formidable carapace, it emerged not grievously wounded, though its spiritual energy and vital essence were severely depleted.

"Now!"

Seeing the Bixia Demon Emperor weakened and vulnerable, the cultivators aboard the treasure ship cast aside concealment. In an instant, a storm of divine abilities and magical treasures erupted towards their target.

However, a significant number of Demon Race [the collective term for demonic beings] had been stationed here to guard the Bixia Demon Emperor during its tribulation. A host of Demon King [a powerful demonic entity equivalent to a Golden Core cultivator] surged forward to intercept the assault.

Face River Lu watched the Demon King blocking their path, a slight frown creasing his brow. Yet, his resolve remained unshaken. "Ignore them," he commanded, his voice steady. "Press forward with all speed."

In that moment, the prepared Golden Core True Person [a cultivator who has formed a Golden Core, the condensed essence of their cultivation] provided covering fire. Their efforts created an opening, allowing the eleven Patriarch [a venerable title for a senior clan leader or powerful elder] at the Golden Core Late Stage [the advanced phase of the Golden Core Realm] to close in on the Bixia Demon Emperor.

"How dare you!"

As the group surged forward to attack, an enraged roar thundered from the heavens above.

It was the Boulder Demon Emperor, seated cross-legged upon the Heavenly Vault, who had manifested a massive, azure stone battle-axe and sent it cleaving down upon them.

"Beware! It is the Monolith Axe!"

The faces of the cultivators paled slightly. The Monolith Axe was the famed Spiritual Treasure [an enchanted artifact of great power] of the Boulder Demon Emperor. Forged from Fifth Rank Monolith Stone and fused with the essence of a colossal earth-attribute mineral vein, its weight surpassed that of a vast mountain range.

One could say its might was peerless in its sheer, overwhelming force. A direct blow from it was something even the Demon-Slaying Immortal Sword would likely not dare to meet head-on. For Golden Core True Person [cultivators at the Golden Core stage] like them, to be touched by it meant instant death, to be struck meant utter annihilation.

Just as panic began to spread, Face River Lu spoke up, his voice steadying the group. "Do not concern yourselves with the Boulder Demon Emperor. Our focus remains on the Bixia Demon Emperor."

Sure enough, a dazzling divine radiance erupted across the sky. The Nine Rivers True Lord had appeared, seemingly from nowhere, blocking the path at the horizon's edge. In his hand, he summoned a bracelet glowing with a Chaos-hued light.

"It is the Primordial One Gold Bracelet!"

A wave of relief washed over the cultivators. The Primordial One Gold Bracelet was the Lifebound Spiritual Treasure [a treasure intimately connected to its master's life force] of the Nine Rivers True Lord, and it perfectly countered the Monolith Axe.

With the Nine Rivers True Lord holding the Boulder Demon Emperor at bay, they all breathed a collective sigh of relief. Without further delay, they unleashed their flying swords and magical treasures, directing the full force of their assault towards the Bixia Demon Emperor.

Yet even under the siege of eleven cultivators at the Golden Core Late Stage, the Bixia Demon Emperor showed not a shred of fear. Transforming into human form, the tortoise shell atop his head flew out and unfurled a heavy, golden curtain of light.

The defensive power of this light curtain was peerless, actually rendering the combined assault of over a dozen supreme-grade [enchanted artifacts used by cultivators] utterly ineffective.

Seeing the situation turn unfavorable, Face River Lu frowned, his brow furrowing as he spoke with an icy gaze, "This beast's defenses are too formidable. Let us trap it with the Eight Trigrams Demon Refining Banner."

"Agreed."

The others nodded. Led by Face River Lu, eight Golden Core True Person [cultivators who have formed a Golden Core] joined forces, summoning the Eight Trigrams Demon Refining Banner to envelop the sky, successfully trapping the Bixia Demon Emperor within its confines.

This Eight Trigrams Demon Refining Banner was a trump card the Nine Rivers True Lord had accumulated over millennia. It could unleash eight types of Arcane Power [mystical energies derived from profound cultivation arts]: the Heaven Trigram, Earth Trigram, Water Trigram, Thunder Trigram, Mountain Trigram, Solar Fire, Lake Trigram, and Gale.

As the eight Golden Core True Person continuously channeled their power, a relentless barrage of Thunderclap, flames, Gale, and other Arcane Power rained down, causing the light of the Bixia Demon Emperor's tortoise shell to flicker and scatter wildly.

Seeing the Eight Trigrams Demon Refining Banner proving effective, Face River Lu said with delight, "This fiend is expending its spiritual energy [the vital energy cultivated by practitioners] at a tremendous rate. If we just press our advantage, we are certain to slay it here."

Watching this scene from the sky above, the Nine Rivers True Lord felt his heart settle, now believing they stood a significant chance of beheading the Bixia Demon Emperor in this battle.

With this thought, he said with a hint of a smile, "Unshakable Stone, it seems your descendant's Tribulation [a trial or calamity, often fatal, faced by cultivators] will be difficult to escape today."

"Is that so?"

Contrary to expectations, Boulder Demon Emperor remained exceptionally calm. He sneered coldly, "Old Freak Nine Rivers, you are unaware of the peril that has already befallen you."

"Disaster!"

The thought flashed through Nine Rivers True Lord's mind. In the blink of an eye, a dazzling streak of bloody light descended from the sky, carrying a sinister and malicious aura. It struck towards him, piercing clean through his shoulder.

As a seasoned True Lord [a high-ranking cultivator] who had cultivated for millennia, Nine Rivers True Lord managed to react despite being caught off guard. He hastily summoned a defensive magical treasure to block the attack and frantically retreated into the void in the distance.

After narrowly escaping the fatal blow, Nine Rivers True Lord suppressed his injuries, his spirit still reeling. Only then did he turn to look, discovering that what had ambushed him was a blood-red treasure nail.

"The Bloodthirsty Heart-Piercing Nail!"

Nine Rivers True Lord drew in a sharp, cold breath. The Bloodthirsty Heart-Piercing Nail was a Fifth Rank Demonic Treasure [a powerful, malevolent artifact]. Its forging process was exceptionally vile, requiring Nine Nether Abyssal Lunar Iron [a rare, yin-attributed metal from the deepest abyss] to form its core, which was then tempered by absorbing the essence and blood of countless members of the Human Race.

This treasure was profoundly sinister and evil. It possessed the ability to corrupt other magical treasures and mystical techniques, was particularly effective against protective auras and defensive artifacts, and could corrode both the physical body and the soul.

The Bloodthirsty Heart-Piercing Nail before him had already reached the Fifth Rank Mid-Grade [a high tier of power]. No wonder it had so easily pierced through his defensive Art of Divine Subjugation [a powerful protective technique] and his protective magical treasure, grievously wounding Nine Rivers True Lord with a single strike.

"You possess a modicum of discernment."

At that very moment, two figures stepped forth from the void.

One of the two was the Young Master of Forgetful River, clad in his Blood Robe, and the other was the black-robed elder who had remained utterly silent.

The Young Master of Forgetful River wore a cold sneer, his tone laced with mockery as he spoke, "This was prepared especially for you. How does it feel?"

"Pfft—"

The Nine Rivers True Lord spat out a mouthful of blood, a trace of despair coloring his expression.

Ambushed by the Bloodthirsty Heart-Piercing Nail [a vile, soul-corrupting enchanted spike], even a Peak True Lord at the Infant Soul Late Stage would suffer grievous wounds. He was merely a cultivator at the Infant Soul Early Stage, so how could he possibly suppress such an injury?

At this moment, he felt a vile, malicious energy [a corrupting spiritual force born of slaughter and resentment] polluting his spiritual power and soul within his body. It left him feeling unable to muster his strength, even inducing a heavy, drowsy sensation.

Forcing his spirit to focus, he looked at the black-robed figure beside the Young Master of Forgetful River and uttered a bitter laugh. "For a titan of the Demonic Path [a cultivation philosophy that embraces ruthless methods and often draws power from negative emotions] at the Infant Soul Mid Stage to resort to a cowardly ambush..."

Contrary to expectations, the black-robed old demon spoke. "Had I not ambushed you, and had you focused solely on fleeing, even I could not have stopped you."

"Well played, what a cunning scheme!"

Nine Rivers True Lord let out a bitter, mirthless laugh as the Infant Soul Essence [the condensed spiritual core of an Infant Soul cultivator] within him erupted violently.

In that moment, the Infant Soul Essence he had painstakingly accumulated over a millennium of years boiled over, astonishingly boosting his magical power by more than fifty percent.

He was originally a formidable True Lord at the Infant Soul 3rd Tier, and now, disregarding the severe depletion of his Infant Soul Essence, his explosive outburst temporarily suppressed the internal injuries and the corrupting blood miasma, unleashing power comparable to that of the Infant Soul Mid Stage.

"This is bad!"

On the battlefield below, Face River Lu, seeing the situation turn dire, urgently shouted, "Slay the Bixia Demon Emperor swiftly, then lend my master your aid!"

As he spoke, he could no longer afford to conserve his trump cards. With a sharp *clang*, he summoned the Metallic Gold Demon-Slaying Sword Talisman, transforming it into a dazzling sword radiance that soared into the sky, aiming to shatter the Bixia Demon Emperor's impenetrable shell.

"I've been waiting for you to expose a weakness."

And in that very instant, from amidst the crowd, the Blazing Fire True Person who wielded the Solar Fire Banner revealed a cold smirk.

Seizing the perfect moment, he suddenly retracted the Blazing Fire Banners and instead unleashed a supreme-grade magical treasure [a weapon or artifact of the highest quality below the Immortal Treasure level], sending it slashing forward.

In his frantic haste to rescue his master, Face River Lu had recklessly expended a vast amount of his spiritual power to activate a Fifth Rank Sword Talisman [a powerful, single-use artifact that unleashes a concentrated sword energy attack]. Now, as he watched Blazing Fire True Person launch a sudden, treacherous assault, a look of utter despair washed over his face.