Chapter 139 : Frost Serpent's Divine Assault

Seeing its initial strike had failed, the Frost Serpent [a powerful serpentine demonic beast that commands ice and frost] widened its pupils, unleashing two beams of soul-numbing, bone-chilling divine radiance directly towards them.

"Frost-Soul Severing Divine Light [a divine ability that directly attacks and severs the spiritual soul of a cultivator]!"

"Quickly, activate the Six Realms Divine Protection Formation [a powerful defensive formation that shields against spiritual and physical attacks]!"

Eldrin Chen shouted. A curtain of light immediately expanded from the treasure boat, blocking the Frost-Soul Severing Divine Light.

This Frost-Soul Severing Divine Light was the Frost Serpent's Innate Divine Ability [a powerful ability inherent to certain demonic beasts or cultivators]. This divine ability specialized in wounding a cultivator's spiritual soul. Once struck, a cultivator would often perish from severe spiritual trauma; even a Purple Mansion Cultivator [a cultivator who has established their Purple Mansion, the third major realm] would suffer grievous injury.

Fortunately, Kael Chen and the others reacted swiftly, directly activating the treasure boat's Defensive Formation [a protective array or barrier] and warding off this divine ability.

They were not ones to merely endure attacks passively. Eldrin Chen immediately summoned forth the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss [a magical flying sword imbued with the power of Separated Flame], slashing directly at the Frost Serpent and forcing it to deploy its seven Frost Immortal Sword [enchanted flying swords of ice and frost] to continuously parry and entangle.

Simultaneously, the Old Patriarch once again channeled power into the Crimson-Gold Banner of the Three Treasures [a banner-type magical treasure], unleashing its attached divine ability: 'Crimson-Gold God-Slaying Sword Aura [a devastating sword aura technique capable of slaying divine beings]'.

This divine ability was a mutated form of a Demonic Tribe [a collective term for tribes or factions of demonic beasts and beings] lifebound ability. Now, fueled by the Old Patriarch's cultivation and amplified by the formation's power, it transformed into a crimson-gold sword aura that soared into the sky and cleaved downward. Its force was in no way inferior to a full-powered strike from a Purple Mansion Cultivator.

The Frost Serpent's gaze sharpened. Lacking a Third Rank Magical Treasure [a magical treasure of the third rank, suitable for Purple Mansion cultivators] to block with, it had no choice but to expel its Inner Core [the condensed spiritual core of a demonic beast, containing its essence and power] to meet the attack. This chapter appears courtesy of audio-novel-dot-com.

With a deafening roar, the Demonic Core [the condensed energy core of a powerful demonic beast] collided with the Crimson-Gold God-Slaying Sword Aura [a divine sword technique capable of slaying deities]. The resulting shockwave tore hundreds of Zhang-length [one Zhang-length equals three point three three meters] of fissures across the earth.

After the clash, the radiance of the Demonic Core dimmed by a fifth, clearly having sustained minor damage.

With its Demonic Core wounded, the beast swallowed the core back into its belly, no longer daring to recklessly deploy this trump card of its own.

The Frost Serpent [a powerful serpentine demonic beast with control over ice] narrowed its eyes and unleashed its divine ability, 'Frost-Soul Severing Divine Light' [a beam of soul-severing frost light]. Realizing it could not breach the guardian formation of the treasure boat quickly, it shifted its target towards the Old Patriarch.

Yet Chen Thalion merely sneered. With a wave of his hand, he channeled power into the Crimson-Gold Banner of the Three Treasures [a powerful banner treasure] and unleashed its third divine ability.

"Glazed Diamond Barrier."

A barrier of shimmering, diamond-like golden light materialized, shielding the Old Patriarch and effortlessly blocking this Demonic Tribe Innate Divine Ability [a powerful ability inherent to a demonic creature].

After all, it was merely a Purple Mansion Initial Stage Demonic Beast [a demonic beast at the initial stage of the Purple Mansion cultivation realm], lacking a signature magical tool. Having consecutively unleashed its Innate Divine Ability, its Inner Core [another term for a demonic core], and its other tools, the Frost Serpent had already expended over thirty percent of its mana.

Seeing its initial, most potent assaults fail to subdue its foes, the Frost Serpent realized the extraordinary strength of these two opponents. Each was likely a match for it in single combat; facing them both spelled almost certain doom.

Yet it did not panic. With a furious roar, it summoned over a dozen Second Rank Demonic Beast [demonic beasts equivalent to the Foundation Establishment realm] to break from their own skirmishes and swarm towards this battlefield.

Fortunately, the seven or eight human Foundation Establishment Cultivator [a cultivator who has built their foundational cultivation base] aboard the treasure boat were not idle. They consecutively unleashed their magical treasure [an enchanted artifact used by cultivators] to intercept the Demonic Beast [a beast infused with demonic or monstrous energy].

Kael Chen and the Chen Clan Cultivators further activated the Solar Divine Flame Formation [a formation that channels the power of the solar divine flame], driving the Separated Flame Heart-Locking Spike [a spike weapon imbued with the power of the Separated Flame] down upon their foes, slaying a Second Rank Middle Grade [a grade denoting the power level of an item or creature] Demonic Beast on the spot.

Seizing this opportunity, Eldrin Chen and the Old Patriarch showed no mercy, relentlessly launching their magical treasure and divine abilities in a continuous assault against the Frost Serpent [a serpentine demonic beast wielding frost powers].

The Frost Serpent proved truly formidable. Even as Eldrin Chen and the Old Patriarch repeatedly unleashed the Blazing Heaven Sword [a divine ability that manifests a sword of blazing heavenly fire] and attacked with Second Rank High Grade Magical Tool [a high-quality enchanted artifact] and other means, the beast countered each strike with a different spell.

As the battle wore on, it finally manifested a defensive divine ability, blocking the duo's myriad assaults.

This ability was named the 'Frost Profound Armor Shield' [a divine ability that forms a shield of profound frost armor]. It transformed into a shield of mysterious ice radiance to protect its caster. For a time, none of their several divine techniques could breach it; even the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss [a magical sword imbued with the Li Fire of the Returning Abyss] struggled to pierce its defense.

Seeing that he could not immediately break through its guard, Eldrin Chen gritted his teeth and swallowed a Essence Burst Pill [a pill that temporarily surges one's true essence].

During his time at the Foundation Establishment, Mid Stage [the middle phase of the Foundation Establishment realm], a single Essence Burst Pill could increase his True Essence [the refined energy cultivated by a practitioner] by fifty percent. Now that he had broken through to the Foundation Establishment, Late Stage [the late phase of the Foundation Establishment realm], the pill's efficacy had greatly diminished, but it could still boost his True Essence by thirty percent.

Currently, Eldrin Chen's True Essence was not the slightest bit weaker than the Old Patriarch's. Having now consumed the Essence Burst Pill, he seemed to instantly surpass a certain threshold, his energy even faintly hinting at characteristics rivaling true Mana [the higher-order spiritual power used by more advanced cultivators].

Witness then, as Eldrin Chen once more summoned forth the Separated Flame Immortal Return Sword [a sword that channels the Separated Flame for an immortal's returning strike] and brought it down. In that fleeting moment, he delivered nine consecutive slashes, finally chiseling a breach in the Frost Profound Armor Shield.

"A perfect opening!"

Old Patriarch's eyes flashed with renewed vigor. He once again channeled energy into the seven Formation Flags of the Three Treasures Crimson-Gold, unleashing a brilliant Crimson-Gold God-Slaying Sword Aura that cleaved downward.

Chen Thalion's timing was impeccable. The Crimson-Gold God-Slaying Sword Aura struck true, its metallic shriek heralding a breach in the defenses. It pierced through, carving a grievous wound into the Frost Serpent's scaled flesh.

"Hssss—!"

Struck by this devastating blow, the Purple Palace Demon Python let out a pained hiss. Its defensive technique shattered, it could only turn in a mixture of shock and fury, fleeing desperately in another direction.

Meanwhile, Eldrin Chen's gaze sharpened. As if guided by pure combat instinct, his hand rose. He summoned his divine ability, hurling a bolt of Metallic Essence Divine Thunder towards the beast's path. Discover more cultivation stories at audio-novel[dot]com.

A deafening roar echoed, a flash of lightning splitting the sky as if prescient. It struck with unerring precision, not just blocking the Purple Palace Demon Python's escape route, but landing squarely upon the seven-inch vital spot [a critical weak point on a serpent's body, analogous to the heart] of the Frost Serpent.

The demonic python, its mana already depleted and reeling from the previous divine ability strike, now suffered a crippling blow to its core. Its chance for flight was severed, its body seizing in a momentary paralysis.

A mere instant—but Eldrin Chen seized that single breath of opportunity. He guided a sapphire-hued sword aura in a decisive arc, cleanly severing the head of the Frost Serpent from its body.

With the foe slain, both Old Patriarch and Eldrin Chen let out a sigh of relief. While the battle's description might sound straightforward, it had consumed over half of their reserves of True Essence [the refined spiritual energy cultivated by a practitioner].

Though they had slain the Purple Palace Demon Roc, the pair had no time to rest. They hastily swallowed two Recovery Pill [a pill that restores spiritual energy and vitality] and charged directly towards the Azure Flame Fox.

Seeing the two cultivators bearing down upon it, the Azure Flame Fox revealed a look of fear. It was already no match for Xu Darius alone; now that its opponent had two helpers with Purple Mansion [a major cultivation stage beyond Foundation Establishment] level combat power, how could it possibly prevail?

In its panic, it immediately activated its Third Rank Magical Treasure [a powerful enchanted artifact], the First Wood Verdant Spirit Pearl, hurling it at Xu Darius before turning to flee for its life.

Yet Xu Darius would not let it have its way. He summoned his Lifebound Magical Treasure [a magical treasure bonded to a cultivator's life force], the Void-Refining Earth-Fortress Cauldron, unleashing the divine ability 'Void-Refining Divine Flame' to ensnare the First Wood Verdant Spirit Pearl. With his other hand, he commanded a Third Rank Low Grade [a specific grade within the Purple Mansion realm] Flying Sword [a sword controlled by spiritual will for flight and combat] to slash towards the fox.

Cornered by the flying sword and with its signature treasure restrained, the Azure Flame Fox could only unleash its innate divine ability, 'Azure Flame Foxfire'. Waves of azure foxfire erupted, blocking the Third Rank Flying Sword, as the beast continued its desperate flight, heedless of all else.

Seeing the demon fox still attempting to escape, Xu Darius frowned, a flicker of irritation crossing his brow. He raised his hand and unleashed a bolt of Earth-Fortress Divine Thunder [a powerful thunder technique rooted in earth-element energy].

Yet the Azure Flame Fox proved remarkably resourceful. At this critical moment, it still had a trick remaining. In an instant, it split into three illusory azure fox phantoms, deftly evading the Earth-Fortress Divine Thunder and scattering in three different directions to flee.

"The Azure Fox Illusionary Shadow Travel Art?"

"So this is the famed escape technique of the Azure Flame Fox tribe?"

"Hmph—"

Xu Darius let out a cold snort, a flicker of icy indifference flashing within his pupils. This chapter appears courtesy of audio-novel dot com.