Chapter 203 : Clash of Divine Light and Demon Core

To retrieve the Dragon Transformation Blade without interference would likely require exerting one's full power.

Acting on this thought, the Heavenly Python Demon King risked expelling its internal Demon Core [the condensed essence of a demon's power] and forcefully hurled it at the Six Harmonies and Eight Desolations Cauldron, hoping to free the Dragon Transformation Blade from its predicament.

The power of a Demon Core is immense; a direct hit would surely allow the Dragon Transformation Blade to break free, granting the Heavenly Python Demon King a sliver of hope for escape.

Exquisite Jiang naturally would not let it succeed. She immediately activated her trump card. A beam of five-colored light descended from the heavens, striking the Heavenly Python Demon King's Inner Pill [a demonic equivalent to a cultivator's core] with such force that its radiance was utterly extinguished, sending it plummeting from the sky.

"The Void Five Tribulations Divine Light?"

The moment it saw that five-colored radiance, the Heavenly Python Demon King's heart sank. It recognized the origin of this divine ability, and a look of utter despair crossed its features.

The Void Five Tribulations Divine Light is a supreme Great God Ability [a rare and powerful class of divine arts], far beyond comparison with ordinary divine abilities.

In this world, divine abilities are broadly categorized into three tiers: common divine abilities, Great God Ability, and peerless divine abilities.

Common divine abilities are the most widespread, with varying degrees of power. For instance, over ninety-nine percent of the divine abilities practiced by the Chen Clan, such as the Blazing Heaven Sword, Five Elements Divine Thunder, and Supple Wood Divine Light, fall into this ordinary category.

Great God Ability, however, are exceedingly rare. Generally, only Infant Soul Cultivator [a high cultivation realm] and a select few top-tier Golden Core Cultivator [a mid-level cultivation realm] possess the capability to master them. For the best reading experience, visit www . audio-novel.com.

Once such a divine ability is successfully cultivated, it is sufficient to dominate a region. Even Infant Soul Cultivator [cultivators who have condensed their nascent soul, a core of spiritual energy] would regard it as their ultimate trump card.

As for Supreme Divine Abilities, they are but legends. It is said that within the entire Purple Seal Realm [a specific cultivation world or plane of existence], Supreme Divine Abilities are exceedingly rare. Only Primordial Spirit Path Lord [cultivators who have formed their Primordial Spirit, the spiritual core of a being] and a select few of the most elite Infant Soul True Lord [a title for powerful cultivators at the Infant Soul stage] can successfully refine them.

And this Void Five Tribulations Divine Light is one such pinnacle Great God Ability [a classification for immensely powerful divine arts], a technique that can truly be called a rarity in the world.

The Void Five Tribulations Divine Light is exceptionally domineering. Only cultivators with Five Spiritual Roots [a rare and balanced spiritual aptitude encompassing all five elemental affinities] can master it. Exquisite Jiang was not a cultivator with Five Spiritual Roots, so she employed a special method to practice it.

She used a certain secret art and a precious treasure as substitutes, allowing her to cultivate this Great God Ability in advance. The price was that she could not use any other divine ability until this one was fully mastered.

Now that Exquisite Jiang had perfected the Void Five Tribulations Divine Light, her very first move unleashed a world-shaking, peerless divine might.

The onlookers saw only a single beam of Five-Colored Divine Light [a radiant light imbued with the power of the five elements] descend from the heavens. It carried the annihilating power of the five tribulations—metal, wood, water, fire, and earth—to assail its foe. The mere shockwave from the attack cleaved the entire lake for a hundred Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters].

Although the Demon Core [the condensed energy core of a demonic beast] of the Heavenly Python Demon King [a powerful serpentine demon ruler] was formidable, it proved utterly futile against such a strike.

With but a single blow, the Demon Core of the Heavenly Python Demon King suffered a grievous wound and was sent crashing down, utterly defeated.

"Aaaargh—!"

Severely wounded in its Demon Core [the core of a demon's power and life force], the Heavenly Python Demon King [a powerful serpentine demon ruler] coughed up blood on the spot, nearly falling into unconsciousness.

To survive that single blow, it had not only sustained grievous injuries but also expended over half of its already depleted mana reserves. The power of its magical treasures and divine abilities plummeted drastically. Even its defensive Art of Divine Subjugation [a mystical technique for subduing divine forces] and the Profound Mystery Heaven Aura [a profound and mysterious protective aura] could barely be maintained.

Exquisite Jiang was also greatly depleted. Though the Void Five Tribulations Divine Light [a divine light capable of unleashing five heavenly tribulations] was devastatingly powerful, a single use drained eighty percent of her True Essence [the refined, foundational energy of a cultivator].

Fortunately, the Positive Water Verdant Lotus Throne [a spiritual lotus throne that channels positive water energy] within her was rapidly replenishing her mana, averting any risk of severe foundational damage.

"*Clang!*"

Seizing the moment, Exquisite Jiang struck again, channeling the Heavenly Ruins Immortal-Slaying Sword [a sword famed for slaying immortals amidst heavenly ruins] and the Supple Wood Divine Light [a divine light embodying the vitality of supple wood] to shatter the Dragon Transformation Blade [a blade capable of transforming into a dragon's might].

Then, the group joined forces in a frenzied assault on the Heavenly Python Demon King. In mere moments, they breached the demon king's defensive Art of Divine Subjugation.

Stripped of the protection from its divine abilities and magical treasures, the Heavenly Python Demon King's formidable physical body was no match for Immortal Sword [a sword forged from immortal-grade metals] treasures, each painstakingly refined over months from high-grade immortal metals.

It struggled for three full hours, but covered in wounds, it was finally pierced through its vital seventh-inch point by the Heavenly Ruins Immortal-Slaying Sword wielded by Exquisite Jiang, meeting its end within the waters of Heavenly Python Lake [a lake named for the celestial python].

With the demise of this notoriously fierce Demon King [a powerful ruler among demonic beings], the group finally allowed themselves a sigh of relief.

Working together, they lifted the hundreds of Zhang-lengths [one Zhang-length equals three point three three meters] long skeleton of the Demon King and dragged it all the way to a small island within the inner lake.

After returning to the inner lake, the group discovered a Fourth Rank Low-Grade Spiritual Vein [a vein of earth that gathers and emits spiritual energy] on a small island at the lake's heart.

Exquisite Jiang led the others in a thorough search of the island, finding three Fourth Rank Spirit Herbs [plants imbued with potent spiritual energy] and twenty-one Third Rank ones.

Those three fourth-rank Spirit Herbs were all exceptionally precious: the 'Heavenly Heart Flower', the Dragon Blood Fruit, and the Sun and Moon Grass.

All three were Fourth Rank Low-Grade treasures. The Heavenly Heart Flower was the most crucial supplementary ingredient for refining the Golden Core Formation Pill [a legendary pill that aids in forming a Golden Core], while the Dragon Blood Fruit could purify a demon beast's bloodline—clearly planted by the Heavenly Python Demon King for itself.

The final herb, the Sun and Moon Grass, greatly nourished one's vital essence and was said to be a supplementary ingredient for the Fourth Rank Superior Grade Longevity Pill [a pill that extends one's lifespan], making it incredibly valuable as well. Dive deeper into the Dao at audio-novel.com (official site).

Upon obtaining the Heavenly Heart Flower, Exquisite Jiang couldn't help but glance at Eldrin Chen. According to the Golden Core Formation Pill recipe, combining the Heavenly Heart Flower with the Heavenly Python Demon King's Inner Pill [the condensed energy core of a powerful demon beast] was sufficient to refine an entire cauldron of Golden Core Formation Pills.

Although she had no personal need for a treasure like the Golden Core Formation Pill, its value was at least one to two million Spirit Stones [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation]—enough to purchase a Fourth-Rank Magical Treasure [an enchanted artifact of significant power].

"I originally intended to give the Demon King Inner Pill to Violet Consort Yan as her reward,"

"But now, with the Heavenly Heart Flower, we can refine a batch of Golden Core Formation Pills. I'll simply exchange one of those pills with him instead."

Exquisite Jiang said with a smile, then retrieved a jade box and carefully placed the Heavenly Heart Flower inside.

This jade box was a precious Third-Rank treasure, capable of preserving the medicinal efficacy of a Spirit Herb for an additional one hundred years, making it an exceptionally valuable artifact.

However, such specialized treasures were exceedingly rare, and using them for items below the Fourth-Rank was considered a terrible waste. Exquisite Jiang had only procured one or two specifically because she knew they would be attacking Heavenly Python Mountain.

The remaining twenty-one Third-Rank Spirit Herbs were also of immense value. Exquisite Jiang gathered them, intending to distribute them after everything was settled.

After collecting the Spirit Herbs, the group had already located the Fourth-Rank Positive Water Earth Vein in a nearby inland lake.

Upon hearing news of the Fourth-Rank Positive Water Earth Vein, Exquisite Jiang immediately led everyone over.

"A Fourth-Rank Water Vein?"

Within a relatively shallow Shellfish Farm [an area cultivated for harvesting spiritual shellfish], the group gazed excitedly at the entrance to the Positive Water Earth Vein.

Without a word, Exquisite Jiang was the first to step into the Earth Vein. This Positive Water Earth Vein had been occupied by the Heavenly Python Demon King for many years, and any Positive Water Demon Spirits [malevolent spiritual beings born from concentrated demonic energy] within had long since been purged by it.

Therefore, when Eldrin Chen and the others entered, they encountered no trouble, proceeding directly to the source of the Earth Vein. There, they discovered a great many treasures.

"Positive Water Crystal [a crystalized essence of pure water energy], Heavenly Lake Treasure Gold [a precious metal refined within celestial lakes], Clear Spirit True Water [a pure, spirit-nourishing liquid]…"

As they surveyed the treasures within the source of the Water Vein [a subterranean channel of concentrated water spiritual energy] before them, Eldrin Chen and the others could not contain their elation.

This Positive Water Earth Vein [a major spiritual land node aligned with the positive water element] truly did not disappoint. Just the Positive Water Crystal numbered seven, and the various other third-rank treasures added up to more than a dozen items.

One must remember, this was an Earth Vein [a major spiritual land node] that had already been exploited. The forces under the Heavenly Python Demon King had been consuming the treasures of this Water Vein for years. That so many remained was a testament to the immense value of a Fourth Rank Earth Vein [a spiritual land node of the fourth rank, a rare and powerful resource].

"Something is amiss."

After a moment of closer inspection, Exquisite Jiang furrowed her brow.

Within the source of this Earth Vein, she had not found the fourth-rank Water Essence Treasure Pearl [a precious pearl condensed from the purest essence of water] she sought. The complete novel can be found at audio‑novel.com.