Chapter 157 : The City's Last Stand

"No, the spiritual energy [the vital energy that flows through all living things and the environment] from a Second Rank Low-Grade Spiritual Vein [a natural conduit of concentrated spiritual energy] is insufficient. We cannot hold the defense like this."

The Third Elder's expression shifted abruptly. Without hesitation, he retrieved three thousand Spirit Stones [minerals that store and radiate spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation] from his Storage Bag [a spatial artifact for storing items].

Before the Beast Tide [a periodic, massive assault by demonic beasts], considering that Pingyang City lacked sufficient spiritual energy to unleash the full power of its Formation [a structured array that channels energy for defense or attack], the clan had specifically allocated a large sum of Spirit Stones to the Third Elder for this very purpose.

Now, that preparation finally proved its worth. Thousands of Spirit Stones turned to dust in an instant, flooding Pingyang City with a surge of spiritual energy. The Formation's power reached its peak, finally managing to block the assault of the Blood-Transforming Demon Saber [a demonic blade that feeds on and transforms blood].

Seeing that the Formation remained Impenetrable [an ability or state of being utterly unbreachable] for the moment, the Hong Old Demon said with a dark expression, "We cannot afford to drag this out. If you have any hidden cards, now is the time to play them."

Ink Achievement Lin's face paled slightly, yet he was prepared. With a raised hand, he produced three crimson-white treasure talismans.

These talismans were Third Rank Superior Grade Metallic Gold Divine Thunder Talismans [powerful talismans that summon divine thunder imbued with the essence of metallic gold]. Ink Achievement Lin had specifically purchased them from the Verdant Sun Sect at a staggering cost of over ten thousand Spirit Stones—a blow that had shaken the foundations of the Lin Clan.

As he activated the three talismans, they transformed into three bolts of divine thunder that shot skyward before crashing down upon Pingyang City with devastating force.

Witnessing the three thunderbolts descend, Lior Chen's expression tightened. He immediately raised his hands to activate the Blazing Third Fire Divine Thunder Net [a divine ability that manifests a net of blazing fire and thunder].

After being refined into a Formation Artifact [an artifact designed to power or anchor a formation], this Blazing Third Fire Divine Thunder Net could unleash a sequence of nine divine thunderbolts. However, with his cultivation at the Foundation Establishment Mid Stage [the middle phase of the Foundation Establishment realm], Lior Chen could only muster the spiritual power to command three bolts simultaneously—his absolute limit. Support the author by reading on audi0-n0vel.c0m.

He channeled three bolts of Blazing Third Fire Divine Thunder [a divine thunder technique imbued with the power of the third-grade heavenly fire] to intercept three bolts of Metallic Gold Divine Thunder [a divine thunder technique forged from metallic gold essence]. The six thunderous strikes collided with a deafening roar, unleashing a massive shockwave before dissipating into nothingness.

"How can there be a Blazing Third Fire Divine Thunder Net [a net formed from the Blazing Third Fire Divine Thunder technique]?"

Ink Achievement Lin was greatly taken aback. He then saw Lior Chen unleash another volley of Blazing Third Fire Divine Thunder [a divine thunder technique imbued with the power of the third-grade heavenly fire] towards him.

This time, Lior Chen consecutively channeled six bolts of divine thunder, aiming them directly at the Blood-Transforming Demon Saber [a demonic saber that feeds on and transforms blood].

The Primordial Solar Divine Thunder [a divine thunder technique of pure yang, the primal solar essence] was inherently the bane of Demonic Cultivator [practitioners who cultivate using demonic or unorthodox methods]. Six consecutive strikes proved difficult for the two to withstand. The demonic saber was dimmed and significantly damaged, while the two cultivators themselves suffered serious injuries.

However, as their cultivation bases surpassed the Foundation Establishment 9th Tier [the ninth and highest level of the Foundation Establishment realm], they managed to avoid fatal casualties. Instead, they retained enough strength to continue assaulting the defensive formation.

Fortunately, after being struck by the Blazing Third Fire Divine Thunder [a divine thunder technique imbued with the power of the third-grade heavenly fire], their magical treasures and divine abilities were considerably impaired, drastically reducing their offensive capabilities. They could no longer breach the Formation [a structured arrangement of energy nodes and patterns used for defense, attack, or cultivation] in a short time.

"Nine consecutive divine thunder strikes. This formation has exhausted its offensive capabilities."

"Moreover, its spiritual energy reserves are severely depleted. If we persist for most of a day, we can break this Formation [a structured arrangement of energy nodes and patterns used for defense, attack, or cultivation]."

After enduring the nine thunderbolts, fearing that Hong Old Demon might retreat, Ink Achievement Lin spoke loudly to bolster his ally's resolve.

Unable to breach the Formation [a defensive array powered by spiritual energy] by force, the two could only relentlessly wear down its power. In the blink of an eye, half a day had passed.

As dusk began to fall and the Formation's potency was visibly diminished by more than half, a streak of light shot towards them from the distance.

"Audacious fiends! How dare you!"

The newcomer was none other than Starry River Meng. While still far off, he raised his hand and summoned his Life-Bound Magical Artifact [a magical treasure bound to a cultivator's life force], then immediately unleashed a Second Rank High-Grade [a classification for powerful talismans] treasure talisman towards them.

"How did he arrive so quickly?"

Ink Achievement Lin's heart sank. Both of them were seriously wounded, and their prolonged assault on the Formation had drained over half of their True Essence [the refined spiritual energy cultivated within a practitioner's body].

Now, with the Formation still unbroken and Starry River Meng, a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage [an advanced stage of the second major cultivation realm], arriving on the scene, they stood little chance against the combined might of Starry River Meng and Lior Chen.

Meanwhile, Hong Old Demon sensed the dire turn of events even more keenly. His Lifebound Magical Treasure, the Blood-Transforming Demon Saber [a demonic blade that feeds on and transforms blood], was damaged. Knowing that continuing the fight would bring no advantage, he decisively abandoned Ink Achievement Lin and fled outright.

It was clear that Hong Old Demon had planned his escape from the very beginning, lacking the resolute will to fight to the end that Ink Achievement Lin possessed.

"Hong Old Demon!"

Witnessing Hong Old Demon abandon him and flee for his life, Ink Achievement Lin could not suppress a roar of fury before he too prepared to make his escape.

Yet before he could react, Lior Chen had already surged forth to intercept him. With the second-rank superior defensive Treasure Seal hovering above the Third Elder's head, Lior Chen unleashed his Lifebound Immortal Sword in a cleaving arc towards Ink Achievement Lin, forcing him back into the fray.

That moment's delay spelled the difference between life and death. With his spiritual energy [the vital power cultivated by practitioners] depleted by seventy to eighty percent and bearing significant injuries, Ink Achievement Lin found himself besieged by the two cultivators. He held out for merely one Ke-time [one Ke-time equals fifteen minutes] before his strength was utterly spent, like a lamp whose oil has run dry.

In the end, his energy exhausted, he was slain by Starry River Meng on the banks of Pingyang City.

"…"

Meanwhile, upon receiving the news, Eldrin Chen immediately returned to Pingyang City with the Old Patriarch. Official source: audio-novel . com. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.

The journey took them only three days, but upon arriving at Pingyang City, they discovered the conflict had already been quelled.

And within those same three days, another event shook Yu County to its core. The Lin Immortal Clan [a clan of cultivators bearing the Lin surname], having conspired with a tiger, ultimately reaped the consequences of their folly.

After his escape, Hong Old Demon went directly to Lin City, the stronghold of the Lin Immortal Clan. There, he performed a horrific blood sacrifice, claiming the lives of the several hundred thousand souls residing within the city.

It was revealed that Hong Old Demon had long harbored treacherous designs against the Lin Clan. He had secretly dispatched his disciples to infiltrate Lin City, coordinating with them from within to assault the city's defenses.

The guardian of Lin City, Ink Respect Lin, found himself attacked from both within and without. It was only then he discovered the Soul Lamp [a magical lamp linked to the life force of a clan's patriarch] of his clan leader had been extinguished. In a panic, he abandoned Lin City and fled for his life alone.

The last Foundation Establishment Early Stage [the second major realm of cultivation, where one solidifies their spiritual foundation] cultivator of the Lin Immortal Clan desperately rushed to reinforce Lin City. Upon arrival, however, he found the city had already fallen. Hundreds of thousands of mortals had been slaughtered by Hong Old Demon.

Blinded by rage, he threw himself at Hong Old Demon in a desperate fight, only to be slain by the Blood-Transforming Demon Saber [a demonic blade that feeds on and transforms the blood of its victims].

From that moment, the Lin Clan was virtually annihilated, with only Ink Respect Lin managing to escape Lin City.

Fearing retribution from their great enemy, the Chen Immortal Clan, this man returned to Verdant Ink Mountain, gathered all the remaining wealth of the Lin Clan, and fled alone, abandoning his clan. His destination remains unknown, clearly intending to live as a rogue cultivator [an unaffiliated cultivator without sect or clan ties].

With their enemy's clan destroyed and Hong Old Demon nowhere to be found, Eldrin Chen had no choice but to let the matter rest.

After some discussion, the two decided that the Old Patriarch would continue to hold Pingyang City, while Eldrin Chen would return to Heavenly Ruins Mountain.

Now that the Beast Tide [a periodic, massive onslaught of demonic beasts] at Heavenly Ruins Mountain had ended, Exquisite Jiang was preparing to refine Foundation Establishment Pill [a precious elixir that aids cultivators in breaking through to the Foundation Establishment realm]. She required the assistance of alchemists like Eldrin Chen to help process materials, saving her precious time when she began the actual pill refinement.

Upon returning to Heavenly Ruins Mountain, Eldrin Chen went straight to the Alchemy Chamber and began assisting Exquisite Jiang in refining the Foundation Establishment Pill.

Their recent campaign had been a resounding victory. The battle in Yu County had claimed three Violet Sanctum [the third major realm of cultivation, where one opens their mystical inner sanctum] experts from the Demon Race. The clash in Feng County added another five Demon Race Violet Sanctum cultivators to the tally. Finally, the expedition to Heavenly Ruins Mountain resulted in the slaying of three Violet Sanctum members from the Golden-Horned Savage Bull tribe.

Including the two slain during the raid on Scorching Sun Mountain, by this count, the group had eliminated thirteen Demon Race Violet Sanctum [the third major realm of cultivation, where one forms a Violet Palace within the dantian] cultivators. Adding the seven Demon Race Violet Sanctum cultivators that Exquisite Jiang had slain before and after, this battle had astonishingly claimed a total of twenty Demon Race Violet Sanctum experts.

A full twenty Violet Sanctum Demon Core [the crystallized core of power formed within a Violet Sanctum realm demonic beast or cultivator], plus the Demon Core [the condensed essence of a demonic beast's cultivation] from the Purple-Spotted Wolf King which could be divided to refine two separate batches of pills—this meant the Heavenly Ruins Mountain alchemy operation would initiate a total of twenty-one separate pill refinement cycles at once.

To refine these twenty-one batches of Foundation Establishment Pill [a precious elixir that aids cultivators in solidifying their foundation and advancing to the Foundation Establishment realm], not only did Exquisite Jiang personally oversee the process, but she was also assisted by six or seven Second Rank High-Grade [a classification for high-quality pills or materials of the second tier] alchemists, including Eldrin Chen, Tea Rose Su, and Declaring Brightness Mu.

Working together, the group could complete one refinement cycle in a mere five days. Yet, it still took them three and a half months to finish refining all twenty-one batches of the Foundation Establishment Pill. Read, share, and discuss at audio-novel*com.