Chapter 232 : The Demon-Slaying Treasure Ship

The second Formation is the Seven Stars Demon-Beheading Sword Formation. To activate this formation, it requires the combined efforts of seven Violet Sanctum cultivators, forty-nine Foundation Establishment cultivators, and four thousand nine hundred Vital Essence Refinement cultivators.

Once activated, its power rivals a full-force strike from a Golden Core Peak Stage cultivator, not the slightest bit inferior to the Profound Mystery Heaven Aura.

The third Formation is the Crimson Pupil Demon Gaze. While its power does not match the previous two formations, it can be activated by just over a thousand cultivators led by a single Violet Sanctum cultivator. Its force barely equals an attack from a Golden Core Cultivator, but its advantage lies in the ability to be unleashed repeatedly.

It is a pity that the most powerful technique of the Heavenly Python Demon King, the Heavenly Python Devouring Heaven Art, was not preserved. Otherwise, the might of this vessel would have been enhanced by another thirty percent.

The final formation, rooted in Path Principles, is the Essence Gathering Formation. This is the core of the treasure ship and the source of its energy.

Beyond these, there are various other auxiliary formations such as the Levitation Formation and the Flight Formation, but they are only at the level of Third Rank Formation.

It must be said that such a massive treasure ship is truly a weapon of war. This vessel can carry over ten thousand cultivators at once and traverse thirty thousand Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] in a single day, making it an absolute asset on a grand battlefield.

Of course, this type of large Treasure Ship is also a voracious consumer of resources. Even when fully charged by a Fourth-Rank Spiritual Vein, its stored energy is often only sufficient for one full-powered engagement.

If fueled by Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy, used as currency and for cultivation], each activation of the Seven Stars Demon-Beheading Sword Formation consumes one hundred thousand stones. Firing it twice is equivalent to discarding a Third Rank Superior Grademagical treasure [an enchanted artifact used by cultivators], highlighting the exorbitant cost of its operation.

To transport the cultivators from Yu County, Exquisite Jiang piloted the Treasure Ship over, landing it before Green Chariot Mountain. Your portal to cultivation novels: audio~novel.com.

"Quickly board the Treasure Ship [a large, enchanted vessel used for transport by cultivators]."

Eldrin Chen cast a glance at the Chen Clan cultivators behind him and issued the command.

As soon as his words fell, he soared onto the Treasure Ship, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Exquisite Jiang as they watched the Chen Clan cultivators boarding below.

"How are the preparations?"

"I have already made five trips. The personnel have all been transported to Qing Province. This is the final shipload."

Exquisite Jiang replied with a smile. The Heavenly Python Treasure Ship [a specific, powerful type of treasure ship] could transport over ten thousand cultivators in a single journey. In just five trips, it had delivered fifty thousand individuals.

Coupled with the cultivators already in Qing Province, the forces for this campaign were nearly assembled.

Over a thousand Chen Clan cultivators swiftly boarded the Treasure Ship. The cultivators on deck activated the ship's Formation [an array of magical symbols and energy channels that powers the vessel], and the Treasure Ship began its flight towards Qing Province.

With the speed of a Fourth Rank Low-Grade [a specific tier of magical artifact quality] large treasure ark, it traversed over two hundred thousand Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] in merely seven or eight days, arriving at the territory of the Verdant Sun Sect.

At the foot of Green Sun Mountain, Eldrin Chen beheld the encampment of the assembled cultivator army.

At this moment, the great encampment had gathered a full seventy to eighty thousand cultivators, with over three hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivator alone. It could be said the three provinces had committed their full strength.

To thoroughly uproot the malignant tumor that was the Verdant Sun Sect, many Immortal Clan had dispatched nearly their entire forces, leaving only a single Foundation Establishment cultivator to guard their homes. The group aboard Eldrin Chen's vessel represented the final wave of reinforcements to arrive.

Upon reaching the encampment, Exquisite Jiang summoned the various Violet Sanctum Cultivator to the Treasure Ship for a council.

After the customary greetings were exchanged, Exquisite Jiang's gaze swept over the assembly. "Esteemed colleagues," she inquired, "what is the current situation with the Verdant Sun Sect?"

Beside her, Xavier Xu spoke with a grave expression. "Currently, the Verdant Sun Sect is entrenched at Green Sun Mountain, seemingly prepared to make a desperate last stand."

"Do they truly possess such resolve?"

Eldrin Chen frowned, finding it hard to believe that someone of Double Sun Wei's character would have the determination to fight to the death for his sect.

Patriarch Qian shook his head. As a Violet Sanctum Cultivator from Qing Province, he understood the Verdant Sun Sect best. "That Patriarch Mo and Patriarch Liu grew up within the Verdant Sun Sect since childhood," he explained. "Their loyalty to Patriarch Xu specifically may not be absolute."

"However, they hold centuries of sentiment for the Verdant Sun Sect itself. With those two now in command, it's likely that any others harboring thoughts of escape would find it difficult to act on them."

Exquisite Jiang's brow furrowed slightly. She then asked, "And what of Origin Source Mountain and Dawn Valley? What is their current status?"

Eldrin Chen's eyes flickered slightly. Both Origin Source Mountain and Dawn Valley possessed Third Rank Superior Grade Spiritual Vein [a vein of earth that concentrates and emits spiritual energy], each underpinned by a Third Rank Superior Grade Earth Vein [a terrestrial energy ley line].

Because the Formation [a structured array that channels energy for defense or attack] protecting these two Spiritual Vein were so potent, the Verdant Sun Sect was unwilling to relinquish them, hoping to use these strongholds to bleed the strength of the various clans.

Patriarch Qian had come prepared. Hearing this, he replied, "Double Sun Wei is stationed at Origin Source Mountain, and Mordecai Lin holds Dawn Valley."

"Before we assault Green Sun Mountain, these two Earth Vein must be uprooted."

"Otherwise, we risk being attacked from both front and rear, and they might even breach the Clan Path-Field [the spiritual farmland and core territory of a cultivation clan] of the clans in our rear."

Exquisite Jiang's eyes shifted slightly, her expression remaining placid as she spoke. Discover more cultivation stories at audio-novel . com.

Eldrin Chen frowned upon hearing this. Both men were entangled in Karma [the cosmic principle of cause and effect governing actions and their consequences] with the Chen Clan. Mordecai Lin had once used his position to pressure them, and the Lin Clan had ultimately been destroyed by the Chen Clan.

However, that man had not sought further trouble with the Chen Clan afterwards, showing he understood his place.

But Double Sun Wei was different. He had not only been responsible for the death of the Chen Clan's former patriarch but had also forced the clan's hundred cultivators to their doom. Adding the debt of a slain son to this, a final reckoning between the two was inevitable.

With this thought, Eldrin Chen resolved to volunteer. "For Origin Source Mountain," he declared, "I will lead the Violet Sanctum [the third major stage of cultivation, where one forms a spiritual core palace] and Foundation Establishment Cultivator [the second major stage of cultivation, solidifying one's spiritual foundation] experts from Border Province."

Exquisite Jiang [the Immortal Maiden of Exquisite Jade] glanced at him and handed over a Third Rank Superior Grade Formation-Breaking Treasure Talisman [a powerful talisman designed to disrupt defensive arrays]. "Be careful," she advised.

Eldrin Chen [the Sword Immortal of the Returning Abyss] gave a firm nod and stored the precious talisman away.

The defensive Formation [a complex arrangement of energy channels and nodes for protection or attack] guarding Origin Source Mountain was of Extraordinary [remarkable, surpassing the ordinary] power. It was likely that even an average Pseudo-Core Realm Cultivator [a cultivator at the peak of the Violet Sanctum realm, possessing power approaching the Golden Core stage] would struggle to breach it.

For this assault, Eldrin Chen and Xavier Xu [the True Lord of Primordial Sun] would lead the charge. They were accompanied by six Violet Sanctum [the third major cultivation realm, where one opens the mystical Violet Palace within] level combatants from Border Province, along with several dozen Foundation Establishment Cultivator [the second major cultivation realm, where one solidifies their spiritual foundation]. Their resolve was to take Origin Source Mountain in a single, decisive strike.

Meanwhile, Patriarch Qian and Patriarch Fang had gone to Dawn Valley, determined to capture that location in one fell swoop.

As for Exquisite Jiang, she remained with the main force besieging Green Sun Mountain. This served a dual purpose: to prevent the Violet Sanctum Cultivator forces of the Verdant Sun Sect from sallying forth in full strength, and to guard against a sudden attack from Patriarch Xu.

It is said that when Eldrin Chen led his contingent to the foot of Origin Source Mountain, they found the mountain eerily deserted. Double Sun Wei had already vanished without a trace.

Frowning, Eldrin Chen ascended to the peak, where he found Rising Brightness Qian busily ransacking the remaining supplies.

This man was a Violet Sanctum Late Stage [the advanced phase of the Violet Sanctum realm] cultivator from the Qian Clan. He had only broken through to this stage a year prior, after consuming a Violet Aura Cloud-Vein Pill [a high-grade elixir that aids in opening the Violet Palace's energy channels].

Seeing him loot the supplies with no signs of a recent battle, Eldrin Chen could not help but ask, "What happened here?"

"Fellow Daoist Qian, you were tasked with encircling Origin Source Mountain. What of Double Sun Wei now?"

"Ah, it's Fellow Daoist Chen! Come, come, take a look at the treasures I've seized."

As Eldrin Chen approached, Rising Brightness Qian said with a smile.

Eldrin Chen furrowed his brow. Xavier Xu at his side spoke up, "Fellow Daoist Qian, military affairs take precedence."

"He asked you a question."

Rising Brightness Qian offered an awkward smile and quickly replied, "That Double Sun Wei fled without a fight. His speed was such that even I could not catch up."

A cold glint flashed in Eldrin Chen's eyes. He turned and led the group to inspect the Underground Fire Vein beneath the mountain.

After a while, Kael Chen approached from the side, leaning in to whisper to the others.

"Double Sun Wei fled three shichen-time [a period of two hours] ago."

"Rising Brightness Qian was unwilling to risk his life against Double Sun Wei. He exchanged a few blows and then let him go."

Only then did the crowd comprehend the situation. Double Sun Wei possessed cultivation at the Violet Sanctum 6th Tier [the sixth level of the Violet Sanctum realm] and wielded a Third Rank Superior Grade Magical Treasure [a top-tier enchanted artifact of the third rank].

Yet, Rising Brightness Qian was unwilling to risk severe injury in a bloody battle against him. After merely a few exchanges, he actually allowed Double Sun Wei to depart.

Hearing that Double Sun Wei had been let go so easily, cold glints flashed in everyone's eyes, and a simmering anger rose within their hearts.

Letting the tiger return to the mountain today meant Double Sun Wei would undoubtedly cause trouble for them in the future. Meanwhile, the Qian Clan had instead earned a favor from Double Sun Wei.

"This Rising Brightness Qian..."

Eldrin Chen cast a glance toward the mountain peak, his expression calm as he spoke:

"Do any of you possess tracking methods capable of locating Double Sun Wei's trail?" Official source: *audio-novel.com*. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.