Chapter 124 : Clash of Divine Thunder and Sword

With these thoughts swirling in his mind, Eldrin Chen resolved to unleash every means at his disposal to shatter the deadlock.

Above his head, the Ninefold Resonance Bell unfurled a radiant curtain of light, parrying Bright Distance Wei's relentless assaults. Seizing the moment, Eldrin summoned forth the Solar Fire Returning Abyss Sword and unleashed a cleaving strike, sending Senior Brother Yan's Lifebound Magical Treasure, the Heaven Net Blade, flying through the air.

"BOOM—"

A deafening explosion echoed as Eldrin Chen seized the opening. He channeled both the Blazing Heaven Sword and the Metallic Gold Divine Thunder techniques, directing their combined fury towards Senior Brother Yan. His intent was clear: eliminate the weaker foe first.

With spiritual power rivaling a Foundation Establishment 9th Tier cultivator fueling these twin offensive divine abilities, Senior Brother Yan found himself utterly overwhelmed despite exhausting his defenses. Desperation filled his voice as he cried out to Bright Distance Wei for aid.

"Senior Brother, save me!"

"Do not panic!"

Bright Distance Wei responded swiftly. He commanded a flying sword and a luminous orb—both Second Rank High-Grade Magical Treasure—in a relentless barrage against the Ninefold Resonance Bell, causing the protective bell's radiance to shudder violently. Simultaneously, he raised a hand and activated the Blazing Third Fire Divine Thunder Net.

Upon the divine thunder net, one hundred and eight first-rank divine thunderbolts coalesced and merged, transforming into three Second Rank High-Grade Blazing Third Fire Divine Thunder bolts.

The air cracked with a triple peal of thunder as the net unleashed its three concentrated bolts of divine fire, which exploded forth with devastating force. Experience the full epic at (audio-novel.com).

Two of the divine thunderbolts intercepted Eldrin Chen's Golden Light Blazing Fire Sword and Metallic Gold Divine Thunder, while the final one crashed directly onto the Ninefold Resonance Bell. The impact caused the bell's protective light barrier to tremble violently.

Fortunately, the Ninefold Resonance Bell proved its worth. Forged with a massive amount of Mystic Iron Essence, its defensive power was among the very pinnacle of defensive magical treasure [enchanted artifacts used by cultivators]. It managed to withstand the combined assault of two other magical treasure and the Blazing Third Fire Divine Thunder.

It was in that precise moment that Eldrin Chen's eyes snapped open. With a swift motion, he unleashed his true trump card.

"*Screech—*"

A sharp sword cry pierced the air. A blade-light, wreathed in black-golden crackling flames, blossomed forth and shot straight towards Bright Distance Wei.

The instant Bright Distance Wei saw this sword-light, his face contorted in terror, and a cry of alarm escaped his lips.

"The Thunderbolt Blazing Fire Sword!"

The eighteen-zhang-length [one Zhang-length equals three point three three meters] sword-aura chased the stars and overtook the moon, resembling a Black Dragon baring its fangs and claws. It crossed a hundred zhang-length of empty space in an instant, arriving before Bright Distance Wei.

The attack caught him completely off guard. Relying on his Second Rank High-Grade defensive magical treasure and the Vajra Seal [an indestructible seal technique], Bright Distance Wei had thought himself impregnable. He never anticipated Eldrin Chen would suddenly produce such a lethal weapon.

In his frantic haste, he could only throw out several Second Rank protective talismans, hoping to buy a mere moment's respite. Alas, it was utterly futile.

In a single clash, the Thunderbolt Blazing Fire Sword cleaved through all obstacles. Bright Distance Wei had only managed to activate a single talisman before his defensive magical treasure [an enchanted artifact used by cultivators] was sundered, and he himself was bisected on the spot.

"If only my Green Sun True Flame Talisman were still here..."

This thought of bitter regret flashed through Bright Distance Wei's mind in his final moment.

Had he not been so careless, had he kept the three Blazing Third Fire Divine Thunder [a powerful divine thunder technique] charges of his Life-Bound Magical Artifact [a magical treasure bound to its user's life force], he might have been able to slightly blunt the edge of the Thunderbolt Blazing Fire Sword and preserve his life for a counterattack.

Pitifully, this man's full strength never had a chance to manifest. He was slain by a single ambush, the full potential of his pills, magical treasure [enchanted artifacts used by cultivators], and spirit talismans left untapped.

"Senior Brother Wei!"

Witnessing Bright Distance Wei's instant demise, Senior Brother Yan let out a cry of stunned disbelief.

He reacted immediately, summoning his own magical treasure to flee. Yet, how could his speed possibly match that of the Thunderbolt Blazing Fire Sword?

Eldrin Chen channeled his power into the Thunderbolt Blazing Fire Sword once more. The obsidian-gold sword energy surged forth again, traversing a thousand Zhang-lengths [one Zhang-length equals three point three three meters] of void in an instant to cut down Senior Brother Yan where he stood.

After those two strikes, Eldrin Chen nearly collapsed to the ground. Though the Thunderbolt Blazing Fire Sword's power was indeed Extraordinary, each activation consumed a staggering two-tenths of his True Essence [the refined spiritual energy cultivated within a practitioner's body].

With merely two strikes, he had drained four-tenths of his True Essence [the refined energy cultivated within a practitioner's body], leaving him with a palpable sense of weakness spreading through his limbs.

"Huff—"

Eldrin Chen swallowed a Restoration Pill [a pill that rapidly restores expended spiritual energy] to recover a portion of his True Essence, a flicker of lingering fear crossing his features.

That Bright Distance Wei's True Essence had been seventy to eighty percent more profound than his own, his strength verging on the threshold of the Violet Sanctum Realm [the third major realm of cultivation]. Had it not been for the surprise attack with the Thunderbolt Blazing Fire Sword catching his opponent off guard, victory would have been far from certain.

Even with the advantage of surprise, the battle had consumed eighty to ninety percent of his True Essence, draining him almost to the dregs of his power.

"His True Essence was exceptionally profound, clearly indicating he had attempted a Violet Sanctum breakthrough more than once. Coupled with wielding the Verdant Sun Sect's signature Life-Bound Magical Artifact [a magical treasure bound to a cultivator's life force, granting unique power], he likely possessed a formidable background." For uninterrupted reading, go to audio-novel.com.

"It seems remaining here is unwise."

Eldrin Chen collected the two men's Storage Bag [a spatial pouch for storing items] and treasures. With a flicker of flame, he reduced the corpses to ashes, scattering them to the winds across the vast Great Wasteland before hastening his flight toward Heavenly Ruins Mountain.

A deep unease gripped his heart. He feared Bright Distance Wei had powerful backers, feared the Verdant Sun Sect would trace his identity. At this moment, the only place that offered a semblance of safety was Heavenly Ruins Mountain.

For safety's sake, he even summoned the Seven Stars Demon-Slaying Ship. Covering twenty thousand Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] a day, he traversed eighty to ninety thousand Li-length of the Great Wasteland in a mere four or five days. Crossing the Desolate Sun Mountain Range, he finally reached the foothills of Heavenly Ruins Mountain.

Upon arriving at Heavenly Ruins Mountain, he did not linger. He went straight to the entrance of Exquisite Jiang's cultivation abode.

"What is it?"

The moment Exquisite Jiang saw him, a smile touched the corners of her eyes. Yet, sensing his unsettled demeanor, her expression shifted to one of concern as she inquired.

Eldrin Chen steadied his breathing and produced the Storage Bag [a spatial pouch used by cultivators] belonging to Bright Distance Wei and his companion. With a trace of unease, he confessed,

"I fear I may have stirred up serious trouble."

"This person was likely a descendant of Double Sun Wei, a Violet Sanctum [the third major realm of cultivation] elder from the Verdant Sun Sect."

After listening to his account, Exquisite Jiang replied with a reassuring smile.

She took Bright Distance Wei's Storage Bag and effortlessly dispelled the restrictive seal upon it. From within the bag, she retrieved an unremarkable small wooden token. Holding it up, she said calmly,

"There. The matter is settled."

"Huh?"

Eldrin Chen was momentarily stunned, his mind still reeling from the unease that gripped him.

Exquisite Jiang watched his bewildered expression, finding even his startled look rather charming. She couldn't help but let out a soft, tinkling laugh before speaking, holding up the tablet in her hand.

"This is a Soul-Tracking Life Tablet [a mystical tablet used to track the location of a linked object or person]. It can be used to locate a Storage Bag [a spatial pouch used by cultivators to store items]. It comes in a pair, a master and a subordinate piece. They can locate each other even across hundreds of thousands of Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters]. Typically, only major sects issue these to their most important members."

"Once the Verdant Sun Sect discovered that Bright Distance Wei's Soul Lamp [a lamp whose flame extinguishes upon the death of its linked individual] had gone out, they would have swiftly used this Soul-Tracking Life Tablet to pinpoint the enemy's location."

"You fled to Heavenly Ruins Mountain aboard the Seven Stars Demon-Slaying Ship, a speed rivaling that of a Violet Sanctum Cultivator [a cultivator who has opened their Violet Sanctum, the third major realm]. The Verdant Sun Sect most likely already assumed you were a Violet Sanctum expert from my Heavenly Ruins Mountain. Now, with this Soul-Tracking Life Tablet in my possession, that assumption is all but confirmed."

After listening to her explanation, Eldrin Chen pondered for a moment, a trace of worry still lingering. "Won't you face trouble for having taken this Soul-Tracking Life Tablet?" he asked, his voice laced with concern.

"Are you worried about me?"

Exquisite Jiang's eyes sparkled, a wave of amusement dancing within their bright depths. The intensity of her gaze made Eldrin Chen feel somewhat flustered.

Observing his discomfited state, the corner of her mouth lifted in a slight, knowing smile before she continued.

"Set your mind at ease. That Double Sun Wei couldn't even defeat one of my disciples. He wouldn't dare cause trouble for me if he had ten times the courage."

"Moreover, this individual harbors old grievances with your Chen Clan as well. Your enmity with him is not a case of picking the wrong foe."

Eldrin Chen's expression shifted subtly, and he couldn't help but ask, "What do you mean by that?" Dive deeper into the Dao at AUDIO-NOVEL.COM.