Chapter 262 : Sword Aura Over Scorched Sun

"Slay them."

A group of cultivators stormed onto Scorched Sun Mountain [a major mountain range within the demonic beast territory], catching the Demonic Tribe [a collective term for intelligent, powerful demonic beasts] completely off guard from the very first moment.

Eldrin Chen soared through the air on his flying sword, the Heavenly River Flood Water Sword [a powerful magical sword imbued with the essence of a celestial river] swelling with the wind into a hundred-zhang-length [approximately three hundred and thirty-three meters] sword aura that cleaved directly towards the nearest Purple Mansion Demonic Beast [a demonic beast whose power is equivalent to a human cultivator's Purple Mansion Realm].

That Demonic Beast [a monstrous creature that absorbs spiritual energy, often hostile to humans], seeing the hundred-zhang-length sword aura descending upon it, felt its scalp instantly prickle with fear. It could only frantically retreat while unleashing its own divine abilities to resist.

The others also sprang into action, intercepting a large number of Foundation Establishment [the second major realm of cultivation, where a cultivator's foundation is solidified] and Purple Mansion Immortal Clan [a powerful clan led by at least one Purple Mansion Realm cultivator] Demonic Beast in mid-air.

In an instant, nearly a hundred entities from both sides—Purple Mansion [the third major realm of cultivation, where the cultivator's spiritual core is housed in a 'Purple Mansion' within the dantian] realm cultivators and demonic beasts, along with seven or eight Foundation Establishment realm experts—clashed together, erupting into a fierce and chaotic melee across the sky.

"This is bad."

The Verdant-Maned Lion King [the powerful ruler of the Verdant-Maned Lion demonic beast tribe] felt its heart lurch, a flash of crisis instinct shooting through its mind.

It had long heard of the formidable strength of Lyra Jiang, and naturally had no desire to face her in single combat.

In the space of a single breath [a very brief moment], it had already summoned a massive war blade, which transformed into a streak of verdant light and shot forth. Access the full story on *audio-novel.com*.

"Where do you think you're fleeing to?"

In that instant, Lyra Jiang's eyes flashed with sharp intent. She immediately merged her body with her sword, transforming into a single, dazzling streak of sword radiance that shot forth in pursuit.

Watching as the two Golden Core Cultivator [cultivators who have formed a solidified core of spiritual power] swiftly departed, Eldrin Chen felt no worry. Lyra Jiang was now at the Golden Core Second Layer [the second stage of the Golden Core realm]. Compared to ordinary cultivators with an Inferior Golden Core [a lower-quality, less potent Golden Core], her spiritual power [the refined energy cultivated by practitioners] was potent enough to rival someone at the Golden Core, 5th Tier.

Although the Verdant-Maned Lion King had broken through to the Golden Core realm more than eighty years prior, its cultivation had only just advanced to the Golden Core Second Layer a few days ago. It stood no chance of being her match.

These thoughts flashed through his mind, but Eldrin Chen's movements did not slow. He saw him channel his spiritual power into the Heavenly Separated Twin Swords, making them weave and slash through the air with overwhelming force, driving the Purple Mansion Mid Stage Demonic Mastiff [a powerful demonic beast at the mid-stage of the Purple Mansion realm] back step by step.

Just as Eldrin Chen was about to unleash his might and finish the beast, a verdant sword aura [a sharp, condensed energy projection from a sword] shot through the air towards him.

"A superior-grade immortal sword [a top-tier enchanted blade of exceptional power]," he realized.

Eldrin Chen's heart tightened. He swiftly summoned the Purple Blood Pagoda to intercept the blow.

A deafening crash echoed. The force of the single strike sent him stumbling back several Zhang-lengths [one Zhang-length equals three point three three meters], and the protective light barrier of the Purple Blood Pagoda visibly dimmed.

Only then did he look up to see his attacker: a massive, azure-furred demonic mastiff.

"It is the Verdant Lion Mastiff."

Eldrin Chen's eyes narrowed slightly as he recognized the origins of this demonic beast.

The Verdant Lion Mastiff was one of the right-hand commanders of the Earth Lion Demon King. This beast, along with the Golden Lion Mastiff lineage, were both rare variants of the Demonic Mastiff Tribe.

Such Demonic Beast were akin to Human Race cultivators possessing an Anomalous Spiritual Root; they were innately blessed with a twenty percent greater chance of success when attempting a breakthrough to the Golden Core realm.

Decades ago, when Eldrin Chen and Varen Wei ventured deep into the Ink-Wash Ridge in search of treasures, they were ultimately pursued by this very beast all the way to the Scorching Sun Ridge.

Now, more than seventy years later, after devouring millions of mortals from Scorching Sun County, the Verdant Lion Mastiff's cultivation had advanced significantly. It had actually stepped into the False Core Realm.

In the brief chaos of the battle moments before, the Verdant Lion Mastiff had unleashed its terrifying might, slaying a Purple Mansion Cultivator from the Heaven's Ruin Alliance in an astonishingly short time.

"Be careful."

Witnessing the Verdant Lion Mastiff's display of power, Fang the Ancient Ancestor and Xavier Xu in the sky above were the first to rush to provide support.

Eldrin Chen calmly maneuvered his flying sword to face the Verdant Lion Mastiff head-on. Beside him, Kael Chen and Lior Chen moved in unison, engaging his previous opponents.

Three Purple Palace, Late Stage combatants surged forth to meet them, each a formidable foe in their own right.

That Xavier Xu had broken through to the Purple Palace, Late Stage over thirty years prior; his cultivation had already reached the Purple Mansion Eighth Layer, and he wielded three Clan-Suppressing Supreme Treasure in his hands.

He was seen deploying his Defensive Magical Treasure [a protective enchanted artifact], summoning his Life-Bound Magical Treasure [a magical treasure bonded to one's life force] and his Heavenly Gold Fire Dragon Shears to engage the enemy, forcing the Verdant Lion Mastiff to treat him with genuine seriousness.

That Fang the Ancient Ancestor had broken through to the Purple Mansion Ninth Layer realm a few years earlier; his mana reserves were several degrees more potent than even Xavier Xu's.

In truth, aside from Lyra Jiang, the cultivator within the Heaven's Ruin Alliance with the most profound mana currently was Qian the Ancient Ancestor. Having failed in his second attempt to impact the Golden Core realm [the stage of forming a solidified golden spiritual core] in recent years, he had finally advanced to the False Core Realm [a pseudo-core state, weaker than a true Golden Core].

However, he was now four hundred and ninety-seven years old. Even with various life-extending methods, he had but a few years left to live. This novel is serialized on AUDIO-NOVEL.COM. Visit for updates.

With his life force and blood essence having declined to such an extent, this elder who had shaken the Chu Kingdom for centuries no longer possessed the strength to enter battle again. He could only await death's arrival in silence.

Such is the life of a cultivator. If one cannot break through to the next realm before their lifespan is exhausted, the outcome is most often a quiet end through meditation-induced passing.

It is merely that higher-level cultivators possess more methods and can generally live longer lifespans.

As the three besieged the Verdant Lion Mastiff, over fifty exchanges flashed by in an instant. The Verdant Lion Mastiff proved itself worthy of being an exotic Demonic Beast [a monster that cultivates and possesses spiritual power] at the False Core Realm level. Even under the relentless assault of three opponents, it never once fell into a disadvantageous position.

However, though the Verdant Lion Mastiff was formidable, the other Purple Mansion Demonic Beast [demonic beasts at the Purple Mansion cultivation realm] ultimately could not hold their ground.

The Human Race Purple Mansion Cultivator [cultivators at the Purple Mansion realm] were inherently slightly stronger than their Demonic Tribe counterparts, and furthermore, the assembled human Purple Mansion Cultivator outnumbered the demonic ones by roughly ten individuals.

Under the relentless assault of the group, Purple Mansion Demonic Beast began to fall one after another.

A powerhouse like Old Patriarch, whose strength was at the Purple Palace, Late Stage [the late stage of the Purple Mansion realm], unleashed his full might. He summoned the White Metal Star Pearl, and in an instant, the dual energies of Yin and Yang [the complementary cosmic forces of darkness and light] swirled within the seven treasure pearls, unleashing the divine ability 'Yin-Yang Annihilation Vapor' [a vapor that annihilates through the clash of Yin and Yang forces].

A torrent of boundless Yin and Yang energy cascaded down, momentarily suppressing five or six of the Purple Mansion Demonic Beast, rendering them unable to lift their heads.

Seizing this opportunity, the cultivators struck in unison, swiftly dispatching those several Purple Mansion Demonic Beast. With multiple Purple Mansion Great Demon [powerful Purple Mansion realm demons] slain in succession, the remaining Demonic Beast forces finally broke and scattered in rout.

Of the original twenty Purple Mansion Demonic Beast, only a handful managed to flee at the forefront, their flight triggering the complete collapse of the Demonic Beast ranks.

"ROAR—"

Witnessing the Demonic Tribe's defeat, the Verdant Lion Mastiff let out a furious, earth-shaking roar.

Its eyes swept over the assembled cultivators with a cold, murderous glare before it turned to carve a path of escape. Yet, Eldrin Chen seized the precise moment. His Heavenly Separated Twin Swords shot forth in unison, and with a raised hand, he unleashed several bolts of divine thunder, forcing the great beast back into the fray.

Seeing it attempt to flee, Xavier Xu called out with grave solemnity, "Let the others go if we must, but the Verdant Lion Mastiff must not escape."

Hearing this, the cultivators swiftly converged, unleashing a barrage of techniques to block the Verdant Lion Mastiff's path.

The threat posed by this aberrant Demonic Beast was far too great. Given another few decades or a century, the beast might truly break through to the Golden Core realm, becoming a grave menace to the Human Race.

Compared to a Golden Core Realm Demon King, letting a dozen or so other great demons escape was a trivial matter.

As dozens of high-level cultivators closed in for the assault, even the formidable Verdant Lion Mastiff, with its profound mana, began to show signs of panic.

As the saying goes, even a master can be felled by a chaotic flurry of blows. The combined assault of thirty Purple Mansion Cultivator would give pause to a great demon in the Golden Core, Early Stage, let alone one merely at the False Core Realm.

Seeing the situation turn dire, the Verdant Lion Mastiff spat forth a mouthful of its lifebound essence blood, activating a formidable Escape Art Divine Ability [a mystical technique for rapid flight or evasion].

Fortunately, as seasoned high-level cultivators, each had their own methods to counter such moves. Elara Lin was the first to act, unleashing her divine ability, the Frost Jade Radiance-Solidifying Mantra [a mystical incantation that congeals radiance into a frost-jade-like restraint].

The Frost Jade Radiance-Solidifying Mantra struck the beast's escape radiance, causing its luminous aura to dim drastically and its speed to plummet by thirty to forty percent.

Seizing this perfect opportunity, Xavier Xu and Fang the Ancient Ancestor followed closely, releasing the Earth-Fortress Divine Thunder [a divine thunder technique embodying the unyielding power of earth] and the First Wood Divine Radiance [a radiant beam of primal wood essence]. Their combined force shattered the Verdant Lion Mastiff's Escape Art Divine Ability completely.

The Verdant Lion Mastiff [a powerful, lion-like demonic beast] commanded several Third Rank High Grade Magical Treasures [exceptionally powerful enchanted artifacts] against its foes, striving to fight a tactical retreat. Yet, even this formidable creature was struggling against impossible odds, besieged and overwhelmed by the relentless assault of dozens of Human Race [the collective term for humanity] cultivators at the Purple Mansion [the third major stage of cultivation, where one forms a spiritual core within the body] stage. This chapter is provided by audio-novel[dot]com. Support the original.