Chapter 276 Sword Slays Golden Core

The Heavenly Firmament Immortal Sword, peerless in its sharpness, transformed into a dazzling blade aura as it slashed toward the Golden Core Ancestors of the Demon Cave Abyss.

But at that very moment, from the demonic spring within the forbidden grounds of the demonic cultivators, erupted a terrifying murderous aura that enveloped and locked onto the sword, temporarily restraining it.

This demonic cultivation forbidden land truly lives up to its name. The demonic spring's power actually made it temporarily difficult for even the Refining Demonic Supreme Treasure to break free.

Not good.

Seeing the 2 supreme treasures being restrained, everyone's hearts sank.

Just then, the Cave Master of the Demon Abyss and the Ancient Demon of Taicang let out cold sneers, leading countless demonic cultivators to swarm forth in a coordinated assault.

A great battle was imminent. Elder Zhang, suppressing the injuries within his body, confronted the Lord of the Demon Cave. Both bore severe wounds, yet for the moment, they managed to stabilize the situation.

Lyra soared into the sky astride her immortal sword, launching an assault against the Ancient Demon of Taicang. Meanwhile, the Spirit Enchantress engaged the Blood-Robed Ancient Demon in fierce combat.

Yet at that very moment, the Elder Demon Yan seized the opportunity to advance, joining the assault against the Spirit Enchantress.

"We cannot let this fiend succeed."

Eldrin's expression shifted slightly. It had been barely over 60 years since the Spirit Enchantress attained her Golden Core, and her cultivation was merely at the second layer of the Golden Core realm. In a place like the Devil's Abyss Cave, if she were to be surrounded, there would be grave danger of her falling.

At this thought, he glanced at the several companions beside him, his expression turning grave as he spoke.

"Let us strike swiftly, lest the old demon succeed in his scheme."

Eldrin's voice fell as he summoned the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss, striking toward the Blood-Robed Ancient Demon.

The elder in blood-red robes let out a cold laugh, and 3 figures emerged from him—they were none other than the Blood Fiend Clones.

"Be careful."

Eldrin's expression shifted slightly as he engaged the blood shadow in combat, realizing that each of Elder Yan's Blood Fiend Spawns possessed combat prowess comparable to a False Core cultivator.

In the blink of an eye, among the 6 False Core combatants, Fairy Mugung and Elara (Person Name) along with Eldrin (Person Name) were all pinned down.

Seeing Spirit Maiden Immortal in dire peril, Chen Changxuan took over Eldrin’s opponent and said, “Go assist Spirit Maiden Immortal at once.”

Eldrin gave a slight nod, channeling his energy into the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss as he swung it toward the Elder Demon Yan.

This Elder Yan, having cultivated the Blood Demon Grand Method, possessed survival skills of the highest order. Yet, having broken through to the Golden Core realm too recently, he could only face Eldrin with genuine seriousness now that the aid of the Blood Demon Seed was gone.

With a flick of his hand, he summoned his lifebound demonic treasure, unleashing 7 fiendish apparitions that lunged forward like ravenous shadows.

The 7 fiendish souls within this 7 Souls Demon Banner possessed extraordinary power, each 1 equivalent to Purple Palace, Late Stage (Cultivation Realm). Even a False Core cultivator, if simultaneously overwhelmed by all 7, would have their soul devoured and perish.

Eldrin, however, remained unshaken in the face of danger. Only when the 7 Soul Demon Banner lunged within striking range did he unleash his Solar True Aura divine power.

Boom—

In but an instant, Eldrin was enveloped by a brilliant golden radiance.

At this moment, he resembled a golden sun suspended in the sky, its divine radiance illuminating a 100-mile expanse as countless streams of Dark Fiend Qi (Spiritual Root) vaporized into wisps of azure smoke.

"Damn, it's the Pure Yang Divine Art."

Old Fiend Yan let out a startled cry, desperately trying to retract his demonic treasure, but it was already too late.

7 Purple Palace, Late Stage (Cultivation Realm) fiends merely lacked physical bodies. Such fiends were most vulnerable to pure-yang divine spells and techniques, suffering not merely several times more damage.

In the blink of an eye, 3 fiends instantly turned to ashes, while 3 of the remaining 4 let out piercing screams, suffering unprecedented devastation.

Only 1 of them was positioned slightly farther away, and its injuries could barely be considered serious.

"My precious treasure."

Witnessing his life-bound treasure—the very foundation of his sect—being damaged, Elder Yan let out a pained roar. With a face twisted in fury, he viciously summoned a fourth-order demon artifact and hurled it forward.

However, at this moment, Xavier and Patriarch Fang rushed to reinforce them, summoning a fourth-order magic treasure to confront Old Demon Yan.

The 3 of them joined forces against the Elder Fiend Yan, managing to hold their ground for the time being.

In the blink of an eye, half an hour of fierce combat had passed, and the stalemate between them grew increasingly dire.

After taking a pill, the Old Clan Leader felt that prolonged battle in the Devil's Cave would likely lead to their annihilation.

And so, he decisively summoned the 7 Stars of Taibai Pearls, enveloping all 3 Bloodfiend Avatars in 1 fell swoop as he declared with utter composure.

"I will hold off these 3 Blood Fiend Avatars. Go assist Eldrin in defeating the Demon Lord Yan."

"This..."

Elara and Fairy Hibiscus glanced at him, sensing a tragic determination in his demeanor, as if he were resolved to face death.

However, at this critical juncture of the great battle, neither could spare more words. They summoned their fourth-tier magic treasures and launched an assault against Elder Yan.

Surrounded by 5 False Core cultivators, the Eldrin Fiend found himself at a disadvantage after all. With each opponent wielding a fourth-tier magic treasure, their combat prowess had surged by a significant margin.

The 5 of them joining forces wielded a total of 6 fourth-tier magical treasures, enough to suppress an ordinary Golden Core, Early Stage (Cultivation Realm) cultivator.

Yan the Demonic Elder’s natal magic treasure was half-destroyed, his 3 Blood Demon Avatars were desperately held at bay by the Patriarch, and relying solely on a single fourth-tier demonic sword was hardly enough to defy the heavens.

Some demonic cultivators sought to intervene, but were intercepted by Kael (Person Name), Chen Ethan (Person Name), and other human Zifu cultivators.

The number of Golden Core and Foundation Establishment cultivators from the human side far surpassed that of the demonic practitioners. Even with the hordes of low-level demonic cultivators creating distractions, it was more than enough to keep them suppressed.

Boom—

After half a moment of fierce combat, Eldrin finally seized an opening. He summoned the Crimson Sun Void-Immolating Crucible, instantly enveloping the obsidian demonic sword in its incandescent embrace to be purified by flames.

He then summoned the Magnetic Treasure Mirror to immobilize this fourth-tier immortal sword, neutralizing Old Demon Yan's second trump card.

Seeing that both of his fourth-rank treasures were either half-destroyed or firmly locked down, the Eldrin finally began to show signs of retreat.

Yet the crowd naturally had no intention of letting her leave. Elara’s (Person Name) Mo Xue Immortal Sword, Xavier’s (Person Name) Green Sun Demon-Repealing Shuttle, and Wood Hibiscus Fairy’s Golden Sun Heart Lamp were unleashed in succession, shattering the Elder Demon Yan’s protective energy and reducing his flesh to a bloody, mangled pulp.

Seizing the opening, Eldrin summoned the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss and swung. With a metallic clang, Old Demon Yan's head was severed from his body.

Though beheaded, the Vile Elder Yan had not yet met his end. A black golden core soared from his body, attempting to flee into the distance.

But Eldrin had long been waiting. The formless sword pierced through with the most insidious strike, cleaving Old Demon Yan's golden core in 2.

Boom—

At that moment, the formation formed by the Taibai Star Pearl exploded, and the old clan leader was sent flying through the air, coughing up blood.

The divine sense of Old Demon Yan was reincarnated within the Blood Demon Seed. He cast a sinister glare at Eldrin before fleeing into the distance.

Before leaving, he spat out in shame and fury, "You coward, ambushing me with a formless sword—what kind of sword cultivator are you?"

"Next time we meet, 1 sword strike will behead you!"

Eldrin said coldly, not giving chase. The blood demon rebirth technique of this fiend was truly astonishing, making it exceedingly difficult to completely eradicate him.

With his golden core destroyed, Blood Fiend Child now possessed only False Core Realm (Cultivation Realm) cultivation. To rebuild his cultivation back to the Golden Core Realm would require at least 1 cycle of 60 years.

Catching the old patriarch in his arms, Eldrin finally realized that Chen Changxuan had suffered severe depletion of his vital essence. Having exhausted all his magical power, he had now been invaded by the Demonic Fiend Qi.

"Ahem—"

He hastily fed him a pill, and only then did Chen Changxuan regain a trace of composure.

He coughed weakly and murmured, "I'm fine... I won't die yet."

Suffering such a grievous injury, an ordinary person would require at least 60 years of recuperation. Fortunately, the Old Patriarch cultivated the Solar Flare Sutra—a method supremely effective in suppressing Demonic Fiend Qi (Spiritual Root). Even so, it would still take him 20 years to fully recover from his wounds.

Eldrin's heart ached unbearably, yet in this critical moment of battle, he could spare no further concern. He entrusted Chen Changxuan to Kael, then with crimson eyes, charged toward the Blood-Robed Ancient Demon.

Chapter 1: The Reborn Eldrin The biting cold seeped deep into the bones. Eldrin (Person Name) struggled to open his eyes, his vision blurred by a haze of crimson. The pungent scent of blood assaulted his nostrils, mingling with the damp, earthy smell of the forest floor. Every breath sent sharp pains shooting through his chest. "Am I... still alive?" he murmured hoarsely, his voice barely a whisper. Memories flooded his mind—the ambush at the Soul Severing Cliff, the betrayal by his closest brother, the chilling laughter echoing through the mountains as he fell into the abyss... He had been the youngest Soul Emperor in the history of the Azure Cloud Continent, a prodigy who had reached the pinnacle of cultivation at merely 20-8. Yet in a single night, everything was torn away from him. Eldrin attempted to move, but his body refused to obey. His meridians were completely shattered, his dantian destroyed. The formidable cultivation that had once made him invincible was now utterly gone. Just as despair began to consume him, a strange warmth suddenly bloomed in his chest. A mysterious black jade pendant, a family heirloom he had always worn, began to emit a faint glow. "Could this be..." Eldrin's eyes widened in realization. Before he could complete the thought, a tremendous surge of energy erupted from the pendant. His consciousness was dragged into a vast, starry space. Within this mysterious realm, ancient characters floated in the air, forming a bizarre cultivation technique—the Heavenly Demon Scripture (Cultivation Method). Eldrin took a deep breath. This was his chance at rebirth, his opportunity for vengeance. He began guiding the energy according to the scripture's instructions. The spiritual energy of heaven and earth converged toward him, forming visible vortexes. The shattered meridians within his body started to slowly reconnect under the influence of this strange power. Time passed unknowingly. When Eldrin opened his eyes again, night had fallen. The stars shone brightly overhead, their light reflecting in his now clear and profound gaze. He had reached the first level of the Body Refining Realm. Although this was far from his previous cultivation level, it was enough to set him on the path once more. More importantly, the Heavenly Demon Scripture was far more profound than any cultivation method he had encountered before. Eldrin stood up, his body now light and agile. The grave injuries that should have taken years to heal had miraculously recovered by over 30 percent in just 1 night. He needed to find a safe place to continue his cultivation and recover his strength. The nearby Blackwater City (Place Name) would be his first destination. After walking for about 6 hours, Eldrin finally arrived at the city gates as dawn broke. The city was already bustling with activity, cultivators and mortals mingling in the streets. He first found a clothing store and spent his last 3 spirit stones to purchase a clean blue robe. Then he headed toward the largest pharmacy in the city—the 100 Herb Hall (Shop Name). "Esteemed customer, how may I assist you?" a young attendant greeted him politely, though a hint of disdain flickered in his eyes when he noticed Eldrin's apparent poverty. Eldrin spoke calmly, "I need to sell some medicinal herbs." He produced a Blood Ginseng (Medicinal Herb) from his pouch. Although it was only 50 years old, its quality was exceptional, glowing with a vibrant crimson hue and emanating rich spiritual energy. The attendant's expression shifted immediately. "Please wait a moment, I'll fetch our appraiser." Soon, an elderly man with white hair emerged. After carefully examining the ginseng, his eyes lit up. "This is a premium Blood Ginseng! Young master, we can offer you 1,500 spirit stones for it." Eldrin nodded. This price was fair. After completing the transaction, he was about to leave when he noticed a commotion at the entrance. A young girl rushed in, her face pale with anxiety. "Is Master Physician Liu here? My father's old injury has flared up again!" The elderly appraiser shook his head with a sigh. "Master Physician Liu has gone to gather herbs in the mountains. I'm afraid he won't be back for at least 3 days." Tears welled up in the girl's eyes. "What should I do? The physicians in the city all say they can't treat my father's condition..." Eldrin observed the girl quietly. Her father was clearly suffering from damaged meridians, a condition ordinary physicians would indeed be helpless against. But for him, who had once stood at the pinnacle of the Soul Emperor realm, it was a simple matter. "Take me to see your father," Eldrin suddenly spoke. "I might be able to help." The girl looked at him in surprise. "You... you know medicine?" "A little," Eldrin replied with a faint smile. Under the girl's guidance, Eldrin arrived at a modest courtyard in the western part of the city. Inside a simple room, a middle-aged man lay on a bed, his face deathly pale, his breathing weak and irregular. Eldrin examined him briefly, then took out the silver needles he had just purchased. His hands moved with fluid grace as the needles precisely targeted several key acupoints. This was the Soul Emperor-level technique—the 9 Revolutions Soul Returning Needle Method (Medical Technique). Although his current cultivation was limited, treating meridian damage was more than sufficient. After about 15 minutes, Eldrin withdrew the needles. The middle-aged man's complexion had noticeably improved, and his breathing had steadied. The girl was overjoyed and immediately knelt to express her gratitude. "Thank you for saving my father's life! This humble girl, Lian Xi (Person Name), is forever in your debt!" Eldrin helped her up. "There's no need for such formalities." Lian Xi insisted on giving him a small, exquisite wooden box. "This is a family heirloom. Although we don't know what it is, please accept it as a token of our gratitude." Eldrin initially declined, but when his fingers touched the box, the black jade pendant at his chest suddenly grew warm. He realized this object was extraordinary. After returning to the inn, Eldrin carefully opened the wooden box. Inside lay a pitch-black iron piece, its surface covered in mysterious patterns that seemed to pulse with a strange rhythm. When Eldrin touched it, the iron piece suddenly transformed into a stream of light and merged into his body. A new cultivation method appeared in his mind—the Divine Soul Forging Art (Cultivation Method). This was actually a long-lost soul cultivation technique! Just as Eldrin was marveling at his fortune, 3 powerful auras suddenly descended outside his room. "Eldrin! Come out and face your death!" The voices were filled with murderous intent. They had found him.