Chapter 262 : Clash of Golden Cores

"Slay them."

A group of cultivators stormed onto Scorching Sun Mountain, catching the Demon Race completely off guard from the very first moment.

Eldrin Chen soared through the air on his sword, the Heavenly River Positive Water Sword swelling with the wind, transforming into a hundred-zhang-length [one Zhang-length equals three point three three meters] sword radiance that cleaved directly towards the nearest Violet Sanctum Demonic Beast.

Witnessing the hundred-zhang-length sword radiance descending upon it, that demonic beast felt a chill of terror. It could only retreat explosively while simultaneously unleashing its Divine Ability [a powerful supernatural technique] to resist.

The others also acted swiftly, intercepting a great number of Foundation Establishment and Violet Sanctum Immortal Clan demonic beasts in the void.

In an instant, more than fifty Violet Sanctum [the third major cultivation realm] entities from both sides clashed with seven to eight hundred Foundation Establishment [the second major cultivation realm] cultivators, erupting into a fierce and chaotic melee across the sky.

"This is bad."

The Azure-Maned Lion King felt its heart sink, a flash of imminent danger crossing its mind.

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

In the span of a single breath [a very brief moment], it summoned a massive war blade, which shot forth like a verdant streak of light. This chapter is part of a larger work available at https://audio-novel.com.

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

In that instant, Exquisite Jiang's eyes narrowed sharply. She instantly merged her body with her sword, transforming into a dazzling streak of sword light that shot in pursuit.

Watching the two Golden Core Cultivator [cultivators who have condensed a Golden Core, the core of their cultivation] depart, Eldrin Chen felt no worry. Exquisite Jiang was now at the Golden Core 2nd Tier [the second minor stage within the Golden Core realm]. Compared to ordinary cultivators at the Lower-Tier Golden Core [the initial stage of the Golden Core realm], her spiritual power [the refined energy cultivated by practitioners] was potent enough to rival that of a Golden Core 5th Tier [the fifth minor stage within the Golden Core realm] cultivator.

Although the Azure-Maned Lion King had broken through to the Golden Core realm over eighty years prior, its cultivation had only just advanced to the Golden Core 2nd Tier. It stood no chance of being her match.

These thoughts flashed through his mind, but Eldrin Chen's movements did not slow. He channeled his power into the Celestial Abyss Twin Swords, their blades weaving a deadly dance that forced the Violet Sanctum Mid Stage [the middle phase of the Violet Sanctum realm, a stage below Golden Core] demon mastiff into a steady retreat.

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

"A superior-grade Immortal Sword [a powerful, enchanted sword used by high-level cultivators]!"

Eldrin Chen's heart tightened. He hastily summoned the Purple Blood Pagoda [a defensive magical treasure shaped like a pagoda] to block the strike.

A thunderous crash echoed as the impact sent him staggering back several Zhang-lengths [one Zhang-length equals three point three three meters]. The protective glow of the Purple Blood Pagoda visibly dimmed.

Only then did he look up to see his attacker—a green-furred demon mastiff.

"It is the Verdant Lion Mastiff."

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

The Verdant Lion Mastiff was one of the right-hand lieutenants of the Earth Lion Demon King. This creature, along with the lineage of the Golden Lion Mastiff, were both rare variants of the Mastiff Demon Race.

Such demonic beasts were analogous to cultivators with a Variant Spiritual Root within the Human Race; they were innately blessed with a twenty percent greater chance of a successful breakthrough when advancing to the Golden Core realm.

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

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

During the brief, chaotic battle moments before, the Verdant Lion Mastiff had already demonstrated its terrifying power, slaying a Violet Sanctum Cultivator from the Heavenly Ruins Alliance in an astonishingly short time.

"Be careful."

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

Eldrin Chen calmly faced the Verdant Lion Mastiff with his flying sword. Beside him, Kael Chen and Lior Chen moved to intercept his previous opponents.

Three combatants of Violet Sanctum Late Stage [the seventh major cultivation stage] surged forth to meet them, each one a formidable foe in their own right.

That Xavier Xu had broken through to Violet Sanctum Late Stage over thirty years prior; his cultivation had already reached the Violet Sanctum 8th Tier [the eighth minor tier within the Violet Sanctum stage], and he wielded three Clan-Suppressing Supreme Treasure [powerful artifacts used to protect and represent a clan's strength].

He was seen activating his defensive magical treasure while simultaneously summoning his Lifebound Magical Treasure [a treasure intimately connected to a cultivator's life force] and the Golden Fire Dragon Shears to engage the enemy, forcing the Verdant Lion Mastiff to treat him with serious regard.

That Patriarch Fang had broken through to the Violet Sanctum 9th Tier [the pinnacle tier of the Violet Sanctum stage] a few years earlier, and his spiritual energy reserves were several degrees more potent than Xavier Xu's.

In truth, aside from Exquisite Jiang, the individual within the Heavenly Ruins Alliance with the most profound spiritual energy currently was Patriarch Qian. That Patriarch Qian had failed in his second attempt to impact the Golden Core [the eighth major cultivation stage] a few years prior but had finally managed to ascend to the Pseudo-Core Realm [a transitional state between Violet Sanctum and Golden Core].

However, he was now four hundred and ninety-seven years old. Even with the aid of various life-extending methods, he had but a few years of life remaining. Read, share, and discuss at audio~novel.com.

With his Vitality [the foundational life force of a living being] having withered to such an extent, this elder who had shaken the Chu Nation for centuries no longer possessed the strength to enter battle. He could only await the arrival of Death in stillness.

Such is the life of a cultivator. If one cannot break through to a higher realm before their allotted lifespan is exhausted, they will most likely meet their end through peaceful meditation [a common term for a cultivator's death from old age].

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

As the trio besieged the Verdant Lion Mastiff, over fifty exchanges flashed by in the blink of an eye. The Verdant Lion Mastiff proved itself worthy of its reputation as a rare variant demonic beast of the Pseudo-Core Realm. Even under the relentless assault of three opponents, it never once fell into a disadvantageous position.

However, although the Verdant Lion Mastiff was formidable, the other Violet Sanctum Demonic Beast [demonic beasts at the Violet Sanctum realm] ultimately could not hold out any longer.

The Human Race Violet Sanctum Cultivator [cultivators at the Violet Sanctum realm] were already slightly stronger than their Demon Race Violet Sanctum [demonic beast] counterparts. Moreover, the gathered human Violet Sanctum cultivators now outnumbered the demonic beasts by roughly ten individuals.

Under the relentless assault from the group, Violet Sanctum Demonic Beasts began to fall one after another.

A powerhouse like Old Patriarch, whose combat prowess was at the Violet Sanctum Late Stage, unleashed his full might. He summoned the Venus Stellar Pearl [a magical treasure composed of seven stellar pearls], and in an instant, the Polarity Dual Energy [the opposing forces of Yin and Yang] swirled within the seven pearls, unleashing the Divine Ability [a supreme supernatural technique] known as 'Polarity Annihilation Vase Energy' [the Vase-Energy of Polarity Annihilation].

A torrent of boundless Polarity Dual Energy cascaded down, instantly suppressing five or six Violet Sanctum Demonic Beast [demonic beasts at the Violet Sanctum realm], forcing them to cower.

Seizing this opportunity, the cultivators struck in quick succession, slaying those several Violet Sanctum Demonic Beasts. With several Violet Sanctum Great Monster [powerful demonic beasts at the Violet Sanctum realm] now dead, the remaining demonic beasts finally broke and routed.

Of the twenty Violet Sanctum Demonic Beasts, only a handful managed to flee at the head of the retreat, directly causing the complete collapse of the demonic beast forces.

"ROAR—"

Witnessing the Demon Race forces retreat in defeat, the Verdant Lion Mastiff let out a furious roar of rage.

Its eyes swept over the group with a cold glare before it turned to break out of the encirclement. Yet, Eldrin Chen seized the precise moment. The Celestial Abyss Twin Swords [a pair of divine swords] shot forth simultaneously, and he raised his hand to unleash several bolts of divine thunder, forcing the 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."

Upon hearing this, the cultivators swiftly converged, employing their various arts to block the Verdant Lion Mastiff's path.

This aberrant demon beast posed too great a threat. Given another few decades or a century, this creature might truly break through to the Golden Core Realm [the third major stage of cultivation, where one's spiritual power condenses into a solid golden core], becoming a grave menace to the Human Race.

Compared to a Demon King [a demonic cultivator or beast that has reached the Golden Core Realm] of the Golden Core Realm, letting a dozen or so other greater demons escape was of little consequence.

Faced with the encirclement of several dozen high-level cultivators, even the formidable Verdant Lion Mastiff felt a surge of panic.

As the saying goes, even a master can be overwhelmed by a mob. The combined assault of thirty Violet Sanctum Cultivator [cultivators at the third major stage, where the dantian expands into a violet-hued spiritual sea] would give pause to a greater demon at the Golden Core Early Stage, let alone one merely at the Pseudo-Core Realm [a transitional state between Violet Sanctum and Golden Core, where a nascent core begins to form].

Seeing the dire situation, the Verdant Lion Mastiff spat forth a mouthful of its vital essence blood, activating a powerful Escape Technique Divine Ability [a mystical art focused solely on rapid flight or evasion].

Fortunately, as seasoned high-level cultivators, they were not without their own methods. Elara Lin was the first to act, unleashing her Divine Ability [a powerful supernatural technique born from profound comprehension of a cultivation art], the Ice Jade Condensing Light Mantra.

The Ice Jade Condensing Light Mantra struck the creature's fleeing light, causing the radiance of its Escape Technique Divine Ability to dim drastically, slowing its speed by thirty to forty percent.

Seizing this golden opportunity, Xavier Xu and Patriarch Fang followed close behind, releasing the Bulwark Earth Divine Thunder and the Supple Wood Divine Light. Their combined force shattered the Verdant Lion Mastiff's Escape Technique Divine Ability completely.

The Verdant Lion Mastiff [a powerful lion-like demonic beast] wielded several Third Rank Superior Grade Magical Treasures [exceptionally powerful enchanted artifacts] against its attackers, attempting to conduct a fighting retreat. Yet, besieged by dozens of Violet Sanctum [a powerful human cultivation sect] cultivators, it was utterly overwhelmed. For uninterrupted reading, go to audio—novel.com.