Chapter 148 : Clash of Innate Divine Abilities

Although the Golden-Horned Savage Ox possessed profound cultivation, its mana reserves were surprisingly shallow. The war spear it wielded, while forged from extraordinary materials, was crudely crafted, barely reaching the level of a Third Rank [the third major stage of cultivation] magical treasure.

The Magnetic Treasure Bracer [a magical bracelet that disrupts metallic treasures] specialized in countering such weapons. With a mere flash of silver light, it forcibly wrenched the Azure-Gold War Spear from the beast's grasp.

Seeing the Golden-Horned Savage Ox's rescue attempt fail, the Crimson Flame Serpent's pupils narrowed with a cold glint. It forcefully pressed its assault against Xu Darius's blockade, then, with a gaping maw, performed a terrifying suction that spanned over a thousand Zhang-lengths [one Zhang-length equals three point three three meters] of empty space, attempting to swallow Eldrin Chen whole.

"The Heaven-Devouring Serpent Art [a powerful innate ability of serpentine demons]!"

Old Patriarch's pupils contracted sharply as he recognized this formidable divine ability. The Heaven-Devouring Serpent Art was the signature Innate Divine Ability [a power born with a creature, not learned] of the Celestial Python Lake lineage.

The might of this technique was truly dreadful. Even a Purple Mansion Cultivator [a cultivator at the third major realm] of equal rank, if caught off guard and swallowed, would be refined into nothing but ash within its belly.

Yet, facing such a divine ability, the Old Patriarch was not without countermeasures.

With a swift motion, he raised his hand and unleashed the Triple Treasure Crimson-Gold True Essence [a potent true essence energy]. The seven Formation Flags [flags used to anchor and power formations] shot forth, enveloping the void. Their formation power stabilized the very fabric of heaven and earth for thousands of Zhang-lengths, astonishingly rendering the Crimson Flame Serpent's Innate Divine Ability utterly ineffective.

"*Clang!*"

However, in that brief moment of delay, the Six-Winged Golden Butterfly regained its composure. It desperately channeled its Golden Wing Divine Radiance [a defensive radiance emitted from its wings] to parry the two Third Rank Immortal Sword [swords of immense power] wielded by Eldrin Chen, then beat its wings furiously, fleeing into the distance. This novel is serialized on site: audio-novel.com. Visit for updates.

Seeing it on the verge of escape, how could the people on the treasure boat stand idly by? Over a dozen Foundation Establishment Cultivator [cultivators who have established their foundational cultivation base] attacked together. In an instant, dozens of magical treasures and divine abilities rained down like a tempest.

As the saying goes, two fists are no match for four hands. The Six-Winged Golden Butterfly was not a Demonic Beast [a beast that has cultivated spiritual energy, often with monstrous abilities] renowned for its physical prowess, and now it was grievously wounded. Faced with the frenzied assault of over a dozen Foundation Establishment Cultivator, it was beaten until its blood sprayed in all directions.

In its panic, it turned to flee, only to be met head-on by a cyan treasure pearl. The blow shattered its bones and tendons, sending it hurtling backwards through the air.

It turned out that after using the Crimson-Gold Banner of the Three Treasures to block the divine ability of the Crimson Flame Serpent, the Old Patriarch had seized the moment to unleash the Third Rank Treasure [a treasure of significant power, corresponding to the Purple Mansion cultivation realm] First Wood Verdant Spirit Pearl.

The strike was swift, ruthless, and precise, nearly pulverizing the Six-Winged Golden Butterfly's physical form. It was a bitter lesson for the creature on the perils of being overwhelmed by sheer numbers.

"*Clang—*"

At the same moment, the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss sliced through the air with a metallic shriek, cleaving the tumbling Six-Winged Golden Butterfly clean in two.

Having achieved this feat, Eldrin Chen felt his limbs tremble with exertion. He swiftly flew back onto the treasure boat and swallowed a Purple Aura Pill [a pill that aids in the recovery of spiritual energy and vitality].

Even though his True Essence [the refined spiritual energy within a cultivator's body] had been tempered and condensed by the feedback from his Lifebound Immortal Sword [a sword forged with a cultivator's essence, growing in power with them], fully activating a Third Rank Low Grade [a grade of power suitable for early Purple Mansion realm cultivators] magical tool still consumed nearly one-tenth of his True Essence.

In this battle, he had slain two Purple Mansion Demonic Beast [demonic beasts possessing power equivalent to the Purple Mansion cultivation realm] in succession. The repeated activation of his Third Rank Magical Treasure [a treasure of significant power, corresponding to the Purple Mansion cultivation realm], despite consuming several Recovery Pill [pills that restore a cultivator's energy] during the fight, had drained his True Essence to the point where barely five percent now remained.

After both Old Patriarch and Eldrin Chen ingested the Purple Aura Pill [a high-grade elixir that rapidly restores spiritual energy and vitality], they soon felt their meridians brimming with renewed vigor, their True Essence [the refined spiritual energy cultivated by adepts] nearly restored to its peak state.

Meanwhile, the battle raging across the heavens had escalated into a white-hot frenzy.

The Golden-Horned Savage Ox and the Crimson Flame Serpent, witnessing the fall of their two Purple Mansion [a major realm of cultivation above Foundation Establishment] allies, were already contemplating retreat. Yet, the Purple-Spotted Wolf King [a powerful demonic wolf king with distinctive purple markings], driven to madness, blocked the escape of the two Purple Mansion Demonic Beast.

Its gaze, cold and venomous, fixed upon Eldrin Chen, a hatred that ran bone-deep.

"You two, keep them occupied!"

"I will pay any price to slay him first before we withdraw."

The Purple-Spotted Wolf King issued the command via divine sense. It then unleashed a divine ability to parry Yang the Ancient Ancestor's Thunderbolt Blazing Fire Sword, while simultaneously commanding a Third Rank Middle Grade Flying Sword [a sword controlled by will and spiritual energy for flight and combat] to intercept several of Xavier Xu's divine abilities and magical treasures.

Then, with the Third Rank High Grade defensive treasure, the 'Purple-Gold Heavenly Aegis Canopy' [a protective canopy forged from purple-gold, radiating a formidable defensive aura], hovering above its head, it charged recklessly toward Eldrin Chen.

"We cannot let it succeed!"

Yang the Ancient Ancestor cried out, hastily summoning his Mountain-Cleaving Soul-Severing Axe to strike. The blow landed upon the Purple-Spotted Wolf King's 'Purple-Gold Heavenly Aegis Canopy', causing its radiant glow to shudder violently and dim by more than forty percent.

The Beast Tide Calamity [a periodic, devastating invasion by monstrous beasts] was no trivial matter. The others spoke of shared peril—if the lips are gone, the teeth will feel the cold. Naturally, they would not stand by and allow the Purple-Spotted Wolf King to slay Eldrin Chen.

With a cold snort, Xavier Xu [the ancient ancestor of the Xu Clan], heedless of his severely depleted mana, drew forth the ultimate heirloom of the Xu Clan—the 'Heavenly Gold Fire Dragon Shears'.

"Roar—"

A draconic roar echoed as Xavier Xu raised his hand and summoned this supreme magical treasure, famed throughout the Chu Kingdom for its might.

Taking stock of the entire Chu Kingdom, the century of peace accumulated since the last Beast Tide Calamity had resulted in roughly one hundred and thirty Purple Mansion Cultivator [powerful cultivators who have opened their spiritual core, the Purple Mansion] across its nine provinces, combining the forces of the Purple Mansion Immortal Clan [powerful clans led by Purple Mansion cultivators] and the Three Great Sects.

Among them, those at the Purple Palace, Late Stage numbered about fifteen or sixteen. The total number of Third Rank High Grade [a classification denoting the power level of a magical treasure or cultivation resource] magical treasures, both currently existing and historically left behind, in the Chu Kingdom was just over forty. This chapter is part of a larger work available at audio . novel . com.

Among these treasures, the Heavenly Gold Fire Dragon Shears ranked within the top ten, a testament to its formidable power.

Now, Xavier Xu poured all his remaining power into the Heavenly Gold Fire Dragon Shears, causing it to transform into two fiery dragons that soared into the sky and descended in a deadly scissoring motion towards the Purple-Spotted Wolf King.

The Purple-Spotted Wolf King wore a grave expression, yet it gritted its fangs and lunged with undiminished killing intent towards Eldrin Chen, clearly resolved to endure injury if necessary to eliminate this deadly scourge.

The truth was, Eldrin Chen had drawn too much hatred from the demonic beasts. A mere Foundation Establishment Cultivator [a cultivator who has solidified their spiritual foundation], he had dared to slay two Purple Mansion [the realm above Foundation Establishment] beings right before its eyes.

Although the Purple Mansion Demonic Wolf had only just stepped into the Purple Mansion realm, and the Six-Winged Golden Butterfly had perished under a siege, this was still enough to leave him utterly astonished.

Such methods were far too swift and terrifying. Searching across the entire Chu Kingdom, one would be hard-pressed to find a peer. Perhaps he could even stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the prodigies born within those Nascent Soul Immortal Clans. This thought planted a seed of deep apprehension within the heart of the Purple-Spotted Wolf King.

"To possess such power before even entering the Purple Mansion realm... if you were to break through to the Purple Mansion realm, you would inevitably become a great calamity."

"Today, you must be eradicated!"

Killing intent boiling over, the Purple-Spotted Wolf King forcefully channeled his Purple-Gold Heavenly Aegis Canopy and surged forward with unstoppable momentum towards Eldrin Chen.

The fire dragon roared. The Heavenly Gold Fire Dragon Shears slammed into the Purple-Gold Heavenly Aegis Canopy with overwhelming force. With a deafening *clang*, the defensive light barrier shattered. However, having breached the Defensive Magical Tool, the treasure's power was finally spent.

Forcing down a surge of rebellious blood, the Purple-Spotted Wolf King finally closed to an optimal distance. His gaze sharpened as he fixed it on Eldrin Chen, and with a sudden motion, he spat forth a beam of violet-radiant light aimed directly at his target.

"Beware! It is the Violet Radiance God-Slaying Curse!"

The moment that radiance appeared, everyone present paled with horror, a flicker of grim resignation crossing their faces.

The Purple-Spotted Wolf King had fought through injury to break the encirclement, all for the singular purpose of slaying Eldrin Chen. His opening move was a soul-hunting, life-severing divine ability.

At this moment, both Yang Yuanhe and Xu Darius were entangled. With merely the strength of the Old Patriarch and Eldrin Chen, it was impossible to withstand a divine ability personally unleashed by this Purple Mansion, Late Stage Demonic Beast [a creature that has cultivated demonic power].

"Alas—"

Seeing that the Purple-Spotted Wolf King had already locked onto him, Eldrin Chen let out a sigh.

He raised his hand and flicked his wrist, sending a White Jade Treasure Bracelet soaring into the void. The bracelet, crafted from flawless, translucent jade, erupted with a dazzling immortal radiance, ultimately transforming into a beam of supremely brilliant sword light that slashed forth.

What a sword it was! The moment it appeared, it illuminated the void for hundreds of Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters], sweeping the clouds from the sky in an instant.

The void fell into silence, save for that single streak of sword light ascending. Its pure white sword aura was utterly unstoppable, cleaving through the air with irresistible might as it met the Purple-Spotted Wolf King head-on. Read, share, and discuss at audio~novel.com.