Chapter 273 : The Corrupting Shadow's Grasp

Moreover, Eldrin Chen sensed that within this environment, the Shadow Demon Demonic Fiendish Energy [a malevolent, corrupting energy emanating from shadow demons] was constantly attempting to invade their meridians [the energy channels within a cultivator's body]. If this battle dragged on for too long, there was a danger of this baleful energy [a type of corrupting, negative spiritual energy] seeping into their bodies, potentially contaminating their internal spiritual power [the cultivated energy used to perform supernatural feats].

Under such conditions, a Foundation Establishment Cultivator [a cultivator who has solidified their foundation for further advancement] would find their True Essence [the refined, foundational spiritual energy of a cultivator] contaminated within a mere two hours [one Shichen-time]. A Violet Sanctum Cultivator [a cultivator who has opened their third spiritual sea] could likely only endure for about six hours [three Shichen-time], and even a Golden Core True Person [a master cultivator who has condensed a golden spiritual core] would probably not last more than a few days before succumbing to corruption.

Once one's True Essence or spiritual power became contaminated, it would pose a significant problem. The longer this Shadow Demon Demonic Fiendish Energy festered within a cultivator, the more difficult it would be to purge, even carrying the risk of driving them into demonic possession [a state where a cultivator loses control to malevolent forces].

If a Foundation Establishment Cultivator remained here for six hours [three Shichen-time], they would likely need to spend an entire Sixty-Year Cycle [one Jiazi-time] in the future to fully cleanse the Demonic Fiendish Energy [a general term for corrupting energy from demonic sources] from their system.

True Person Zhang [a title for a Golden Core realm master] also perceived the peril. With a grave expression, he declared loudly, "Everyone, we must conclude this swiftly. Regardless of the outcome, we must withdraw within six hours [three Shichen-time]."

The nearly one thousand Foundation Establishment Cultivator present all wore bitter expressions upon hearing this. Remaining here for six hours [three Shichen-time] would severely hinder their future Path [the lifelong journey and philosophy of cultivation].

Seeing their morale waver, Exquisite Jiang frowned, realizing she needed to ignite their fighting spirit. Thus, she announced, "Any Foundation Establishment Cultivator who fights here for four hours [two Shichen-time], or earns one thousand Merits [a metaphysical currency representing virtuous deeds and good karma], may withdraw."

With just a few words from the two Patriarch [a title for a senior, powerful leader], the rules were amended, and the assembled Foundation Establishment Cultivator collectively sighed in relief.

While earning one thousand Merits was challenging, it was not impossible. Slaying a single Foundation Establishment Demonic Cultivator [a cultivator who uses malevolent, forbidden methods], or one hundred Vital Essence Refinement [the initial stage of cultivation] Demonic Cultivator would suffice.

Even if that proved too difficult, enduring for four hours [two Shichen-time], while still dangerous, would allow the Demonic Fiendish Energy to be purged within twenty years, a far more manageable prospect. Published by https://audio-novel.com. All rights reserved.

Swiftly steadying the army's morale, Exquisite Jiang continued, "The demonic fiends number only three Golden Core [the third major realm of cultivation, where one's spiritual energy condenses into a solid golden core] cultivators. Their strength is inferior to ours; they can only contend with us by relying on the power of the Demonic Spring [a sinister spiritual spring that radiates demonic energy]."

"Let us charge swiftly into the heart of the Demonic Spring and utterly crush the Demonic Cultivator [cultivators who use demonic and unorthodox methods to gain power] in a single decisive strike."

This Demon Cave [a cavern complex inhabited by demonic beings] is a labyrinth of interconnected passages, with three distinct tunnels leading to the Demonic Spring.

Pressed for time, and to maximize the slaughter of the Demonic Cultivator while preventing them from evading and delaying within the Demon Cave, the several Patriarch [a title for a powerful clan or sect leader] divided into three groups. Each led several hundred cultivators down one of the paths to launch their assault.

Among them, Exquisite Jiang and Immortal Maiden Spirit Consort took one path, leading the cultivators of the Heavenly Ruins Alliance and the Purple Abyss Sect to charge down the leftmost tunnel.

Patriarch Zhang, being the most powerful and wielding the Firmament Sword [a legendary divine sword], directly led the forces of the Firmament Sword Sect to charge straight down the central path.

Grand Granary True Person [a title for a cultivator who has attained the True Person realm] joined forces with True Person Taiqing, leading the cultivators of the Verdant Azure Immortal Sect to attack from the right path.

The strength of all three forces was formidable. Even if the three old demons of the Demon Cave threw their full might against one path, it would not be in danger of immediate collapse.

As long as one force broke through to the core of the Demon Cave where the Demonic Spring lay, and suppressed it with the Demon-Subduing Supreme Treasure [a supreme-grade magical artifact specifically designed to suppress demonic forces], the Demonic Cultivator in this battle would be doomed to utter defeat.

For that Nether Spring was the very source of the Demonic Fiendish Energy [a malevolent and corrupting form of spiritual energy] within the Demon Cave. If it could be suppressed for even a short time, the Demonic Cultivator would lose the empowering augmentation of the Demonic Fiendish Energy.

By that time, everyone would have recovered their peak strength, and True Person Zhang would be able to activate the Firmament Sword [a legendary divine sword] to slay the Golden Core [the third major stage of cultivation, where one forms a solidified golden core of spiritual power] old demon.

Returning to the main narrative, Exquisite Jiang took the lead at the front. Her Heavenly Ruins Immortal-Slaying Sword [a sword renowned for its power against immortal beings] unleashed wave after wave of sword energy that shrieked through the void, directly cutting down one Demonic Cultivator [practitioners who use dark, corruptive methods to gain power] after another.

How could those Vital Essence Refinement [the first stage of cultivation, refining the body's vital energy] and Foundation Establishment [the second stage, establishing a stable foundation for the core] Demonic Cultivators possibly withstand a Golden Core True Person [an honorific title for a cultivator who has reached the Golden Core realm]? They could only flee for their lives, desperately using the terrain to their advantage.

Eldrin Chen and the Border Province Violet Sanctum [the fourth major cultivation stage, where one opens a mystical violet palace within the dantian] cultivators followed closely behind. His Solar Fire Returning Abyss Sword [a sword imbued with the essence of solar flames] was originally a Primordial Solar Immortal Sword [a sword of ancient, pure solar power], and its might had increased tremendously after advancing to the fourth rank.

He merged his body with his sword, transforming into a streak of sword energy that howled forward, blazing a path with raging Solar Fire [a divine ability that harnesses the purifying flames of the sun]. Whether they were Vital Essence Refinement or Foundation Establishment Demonic Cultivators, any in his path were slain with a single, decisive strike.

The allied force pressed forward for one Ke-time [one Ke-time equals fifteen minutes], advancing several hundred Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] deep into the Demon Cave [a cavernous stronghold of demonic cultivators], before finally encountering organized resistance from the main Demonic Cultivator army.

Clearly, the several Golden Core old demons would not idly watch them charge into the Demonic Spring [a corrupted spiritual spring at the heart of the demonic lair]. They intended to use the complex labyrinth of the Demon Cave to delay and wear down the invaders.

Yan Old Demon and the others understood perfectly: if they could delay for three Shichen-time [one Shichen-time equals two hours], the Foundation Establishment Cultivators would be forced to retreat, and even the Violet Sanctum Cultivators would find it difficult to hold out much longer.

At that point, with only a few Golden Core Cultivators remaining, facing the disadvantageous terrain, the hidden defenses of the Demon Cave, and the encirclement and assault of tens of thousands of Demonic Cultivators, they would likely have no choice but to withdraw.

"Trouble! It's the Lord of Demon Cave [the supreme ruler of the demonic cavern stronghold]!"

Eldrin Chen gazed at the cultivator blocking the path ahead, his expression involuntarily tightening with caution.

That Lord of Demon Cave possessed cultivation at the Golden Core 7th Tier level. Within the confines of the Demon Cave, the power he could unleash was even comparable to a Golden Core 8th Tier cultivator.

Now, leading several dozen Violet Sanctum cultivators to block the way forward, his intent was clear: to crush the forces led by Exquisite Jiang.

"Be careful,"

Exquisite Jiang whispered a warning, then summoned her Heavenly Ruins Immortal-Slaying Sword and launched her assault. Immortal Maiden Spirit Consort followed closely behind, the two joining forces to besiege the Lord of Demon Cave.

Eldrin Chen felt a pang of worry in his heart, yet he understood he could hardly intervene in a battle at the Golden Core Late Stage level. Find this and other novels at AUDIO-NOVEL.COM.

With his current cultivation base and his two Fourth-Rank Magical Treasure [powerful enchanted artifacts], his combat strength was barely equivalent to a large fraction of a Golden Core Cultivator. Before a Golden Core Late Stage opponent, a single misstep could mean the danger of perishing.

Fortunately, Exquisite Jiang had recently broken through to the Golden Core 3rd Tier. Her spiritual power [the energy cultivated by practitioners] now rivaled that of a Golden Core 6th Tier cultivator. Coupled with her Green Sun Demon-Suppressing Pagoda and Heaven's Vault Mirror, she should be more than capable of handling the Lord of Demon Cave.

Suppressing his thoughts, Eldrin Chen exchanged a glance with Xavier Xu and the others beside him. A flicker of inexplicable amusement passed through their eyes.

That Lord of Demon Cave believed their group to be the weakest. Little did he know, the strength of their contingent was, in fact, three parts stronger.

The Heavenly Ruins Alliance had gained three new Pseudo-Core Realm Cultivators. Combined with the formidable combat prowess of Eldrin Chen and the Old Patriarch, and with the Purple Abyss Sect also contributing one Pseudo-Core Realm Cultivator, their combined strength now posed a considerable threat.

With the combined might of six Pseudo-Core Realm combatants, their force was now barely sufficient to contend with one or two cultivators at the Golden Core Early Stage.

At the forefront, Eldrin Chen charged ahead, leading the group into the fray where they clashed with the vast horde of Demonic Cultivators.

The moment the battle commenced, the momentum of the Demonic Cultivators faltered. Eldrin Chen, his body and sword merged into one, carved a path through the enemy ranks. His Solar Fire Returning Abyss Sword came down with devastating force, instantly cutting down over a dozen Foundation Establishment Demonic Cultivators.

"Trouble! He has achieved Body-Sword Unity [a state where the cultivator's physical form and their sword become one, greatly enhancing their power]!"

"And he cultivates the Primordial Solar arts [a cultivation method harnessing the pure, yang energy of the sun, anathema to demonic forces]!"

Several Violet Sanctum Demonic Cultivators were struck with dread. The newcomer wielded a fourth-rank Immortal Sword—a Primordial Solar Immortal Sword at that, the very bane of their kind. This filled them with profound apprehension.

The leader, a Demonic Cultivator at the Violet Sanctum Late Stage, stepped forward with a grave expression and shouted, "He is no Golden Core Cultivator! Even with a fourth-rank Immortal Sword, he cannot sustain its power for long!"

"Rather than let him slaughter us at will, we should take advantage of his isolated charge! Join forces, exhaust the sword's power, and surround him!"

The group of Violet Sanctum Demonic Cultivators found the logic sound. They immediately rallied a large number of their brethren and surged forward to close in for the kill.

Only one figure remained unmoved, subtly retreating half a step. This person was none other than Hong Old Demon.

In the state where man and sword become one, only the Immortal Sword is seen, not the man. Yet, as the saying goes, a man's reputation is like the shadow of a great tree.

The Solar Fire Returning Abyss Sword had shaken the very foundations of Chu Nation. Even before its ascension to the fourth rank, it was a supreme Immortal Sword ranked within the top ten of the Divine Arms Ranking. Although Hong Old Demon had never once crossed blades directly with Eldrin Chen, to see the sword was to know the man. With a single glance, he recognized exactly who had arrived. This chapter appears courtesy of audio-novel dot com.