Chapter 270 : The Sovereign Bell's Ascendant Toll

Gazing upon the golden Earth-Fortress Sovereign Bell before him, Eldrin Chen felt a surge of delight.

With this Earth-Fortress Sovereign Bell now in his possession, his defensive capabilities would ascend to a new level. Combined with his Solar True Aegis [a defensive technique manifesting a shield of pure solar energy], he should be able to withstand the coordinated assault of multiple cultivators of his own realm.

After all, aided by the Flood Water Azure Lotus Platform, his reserves of spiritual power far surpassed those of ordinary cultivators at his stage.

Furthermore, the Earth-Fortress Sovereign Bell was not merely a formidable shield; it possessed potent suppression and offensive properties. It served as an excellent tool for both pinning down powerful foes and delivering crushing blows.

Its sonic attacks were particularly effective against groups. Once its tolling reverberated, lower-realm cultivators and Demonic Beasts [monstrous creatures that absorb spiritual energy, often hostile to humans] could be shaken to the point of vomiting blood and perishing on the spot.

"The defensive power of this Earth-Fortress Sovereign Bell is extraordinary. It should be capable of weathering a Treasure Heavenly Thunder Tribulation [a trial of heavenly lightning a magical treasure must endure to ascend in rank]," Eldrin Chen mused, his eyes glinting with a new resolve.

A flicker of determination passed through his gaze as the idea of elevating the treasure's rank took root in his mind.

However, before he could act on this impulse, a message arrived from the Cerulean Peaks Range, reaching Green Sun Mountain and temporarily interrupting his plans.

At Green Sun Mountain, within Lyra Jiang's Cultivation Cave [a secluded abode enhanced for meditation and spiritual practice], the news was delivered.

The message found its way to Lyra Jiang's Cultivation Cave. For the best reading experience, visit audio_novel.com.

Eldrin Chen, Elara Lin, and four or five others each took their seats, their expressions grave as they looked at Lyra Jiang.

Among those present, aside from Eldrin Chen, all were disciples of Lyra Jiang. She did not have many disciples; those Eldrin Chen was relatively familiar with were Su Mingwei, Elara Lin, and Liu Seraphina.

Beyond these few, most of her other disciples had already passed away in meditation.

The sole Purple Mansion [the third major realm of cultivation, where one forms a spiritual mansion within] cultivator present who was not her direct disciple was a woman named Qin Lysandra, who was a disciple of Elara Lin.

Observing Lyra Jiang's solemn expression, Eldrin Chen's eyes narrowed slightly as he asked, "Is the news from the Vast and Boundless Marsh [a vast and treacherous marshland region] true?"

"Taicang the Venerable paid a visit yesterday. It can no longer be doubted."

Lyra Jiang replied, a flash of sharpness passing through her eyes, her tone deceptively calm.

It turned out that not long ago, the sect master of the Verdant Immortal Sect from the Vast and Boundless Marsh, Taicang the Venerable himself, had come to the Chu Kingdom. He had visited the Firmament Sword Sect, the Violet Abyss Sect, and the Heaven's Ruin Alliance in succession.

The purpose of Taicang the Venerable's journey was to invite the Three Great Sects [the three most powerful sects in the Chu Kingdom] to jointly assault the Demon Cave Cavern.

Elara Lin's face was etched with deep concern as she could not help but ask, "With the Beast Tide Calamity [a periodic invasion of monstrous beasts] imminent, why would the Verdant Immortal Sect invite us to attack the Demon Cave Cavern at this very moment?"

"That Demon Cave Cavern committed a heinous act, thoroughly enraging the Verdant Immortal Sect."

Lyra Jiang let out a sigh and began to recount the tale with calm composure.

It turned out that not long ago, Yan Morgrim had recovered from his injuries and broken through to the Golden Core realm [the third major stage of cultivation where one forms a solidified golden core of spiritual energy].

Upon his breakthrough, this demon immediately sought to cultivate the Great Divine Ability known as the Blood Demon Clone [a powerful and sinister technique to create a duplicate of oneself using blood and demonic energy]. Having suffered at the hands of Lyra Jiang and the Chu Kingdom before, and with his aura now marked by the Firmament Immortal Sword, he dared not set his sights on Chu Kingdom again.

Instead, he turned his gaze upon the Verdant Immortal Sect, which also resided within the Cerulean Peaks Range. Now, the Verdant Immortal Sect had been established in the Cerulean Peaks Range for several centuries. Generation after generation of its cultivators had taken wives and concubines, establishing eight or nine cities of varying sizes deep within the mountain range.

Most of these cities were located in relatively flat terrain where mortals could eke out a living. However, the unique topography of the Cerulean Peaks Range meant no single city could support a vast population, hence they were divided into those eight or nine settlements.

The mortal populations of these cities combined numbered in the hundreds of millions. They were the very foundation upon which the Verdant Immortal Sect's legacy was built. It was precisely because of these mortals that the sect had been able to produce three Golden Core True Person [cultivators who have achieved the Golden Core realm].

This time, after Yan Morgrim's breakthrough, the power of the Demon Cave Cavern swelled dramatically, and they cast covetous eyes upon the Verdant Immortal Sect.

Led by Yan Morgrim and three other elder demons, tens of thousands of Demonic Cultivator launched a surprise assault on three of the cities. These three cities were somewhat smaller and lacked a Golden Core True Person stationed for defense. Faced with the siege by tens of thousands of cultivators and Golden Core-realm elder demons, they stood no chance of holding out.

Although the Verdant Immortal Sect possessed Golden Core True Person reinforcements, they only managed to save one of the cities in time.

Two cities were bathed in blood within a single night, with over twenty million mortals offered in a horrific blood sacrifice. Such an atrocity, so utterly devoid of humanity, ignited the full fury of the Golden Core True Person [a cultivator who has formed a Golden Core, a major milestone] from the Verdant Immortal Sect.

To avenge this wrong, the sect master of the Verdant Immortal Sect, Taicang the Venerable himself, came to the Chu Kingdom. He demanded that the three great immortal sects of Chu Kingdom join forces to utterly eradicate this scourge.

"These Demonic Cultivator [practitioners who use malevolent, often blood-based arts to accelerate their cultivation]..."

After hearing the account, Eldrin Chen's gaze turned icy, his killing intent beginning to seethe.

The others were equally shocked. Su Mingwei could not help but ask, "Master, should we intervene?"

"Of course we intervene." Published by audio—novel.com. All rights reserved.

"And we must intervene with our full strength."

Lyra Jiang stated calmly. If they did not lend their aid now...

...then later, when the Demon Cave Cavern picked off the Verdant Immortal Sect's cities one by one and devoured vast quantities of Human Race flesh and blood, its power would surely swell tremendously.

By then, without the Verdant Immortal Sect to contain it, the Demon Cave Cavern would inevitably become a festering threat right at their doorstep. The trouble would then belong to the Chu Kingdom.

Eldrin Chen also nodded, his tone calm as he stated, "If we do not aid them now, who will come to our aid when we face hardship in the future?"

Since both had spoken, the matter was thus settled.

One decree after another was issued from the World's-End Sound-Transmission Mirror [a magical artifact capable of transmitting messages across vast distances], reaching the major Purple Mansion Immortal Clan [powerful cultivation families whose patriarchs have reached the Purple Mansion Realm] within the Heaven's Ruin Alliance.

For this assault on the Demon Cave Cavern [a cavernous stronghold of demonic cultivators], it was decided that the main force would consist only of cultivators at the Foundation Establishment [the second major stage of cultivation, where one builds a stable foundation for their Dao] realm and above. As for the Qi Refinement Cultivators [cultivators in the initial stage, refining their vital energy], a force of ten thousand would suffice to power the Heaven-Devouring Serpent Treasure Boat [a large, ship-like magical treasure].

To commit their full strength to the campaign, nearly half the forces were mobilized from the hundreds of Foundation Establishment Immortal Clan [cultivation families whose strength is anchored by Foundation Establishment cultivators] and over a dozen Purple Mansion Immortal Clan under the banner of the Heaven's Ruin Alliance.

More than twenty Purple Mansion Cultivator [powerful cultivators who have opened their Purple Mansion, the third major realm] were dispatched, and over three hundred Foundation Establishment Cultivator were mustered.

To prevent the Demonic Cultivator [cultivators who follow unorthodox, often malevolent paths] from escaping the Demon Cave Cavern and attacking them from behind, Lyra Jiang immediately summoned the Green Sun Treasure Boat. She then transported Eldrin Chen, the other Purple Mansion cultivators, and the Foundation Establishment Cultivator to the Cerulean Peaks Range.

By that time, the Firmament Sword Sect and the Verdant Immortal Sect had already taken action. Nearly a hundred Purple Mansion Cultivator and four Golden Core Ancestor [cultivators who have formed a Golden Core, the fourth major realm] had surrounded the Demon Cave Cavern, sealing it tight.

Unlike the Heaven's Ruin Alliance and the Violet Abyss Sect, which needed to guard against Demonic Beast [monstrous beasts that have absorbed spiritual energy and gained power] incursions, these two sects were long-standing mortal enemies of the Demon Cave Cavern. They had essentially emptied their strongholds for this fight.

The Verdant Immortal Sect had left only one Golden Core Ancestor behind to guard their Spirit Mountain [a mountain rich in spiritual energy] and watch for the Black Eagle Demon King. Their sect master, Taicang the Venerable, and their Second Elder, Taiqing the True Person, had both arrived outside the Demon Cave Cavern.

Their sect possessed over sixty Purple Mansion cultivators [cultivators who have opened their Purple Mansion, the third major realm], and for this battle, a full forty of them had come.

The sect master of the Firmament Sword Sect, Zhang the True Person, and the elder Lin the True Person had also arrived here, bringing with them several dozen of their own Purple Mansion cultivators.

When Eldrin Chen arrived outside the Demon Cave Cavern, he saw four Golden Core True Persons [cultivators who have formed a Golden Core, the fourth major realm] and several False Core cultivators [cultivators who have formed an inferior, unstable pseudo-core] gathered together upon a Pavilion Magical Treasure [an enchanted artifact shaped like a small pavilion] floating in the sky.

Upon seeing Lyra Jiang, one of them called out, "Fellow Daoist Lyra [a respectful term for a cultivator of similar attainment], Fellow Daoist Chen, please join us for a discussion."

Eldrin Chen's eyes flickered in recognition; the speaker was the Zhang Sect Master of the Firmament Sword Sect.

Eldrin had met this man once before during the previous encirclement campaign against Zhang Vorgath. This Zhang the True Person possessed cultivation at the late Golden Core stage, making him the foremost powerhouse in the Chu Kingdom.

Moreover, with his level of mana, he could, albeit with great difficulty, unleash a fraction of the Firmament Sword's true might, rendering his combat prowess truly formidable.

"Greetings, fellow Daoists."

Lyra Jiang led Eldrin Chen forward, offering the assembled experts a calm and composed greeting. Read, share, and discuss at audio–novel.com.