Chapter 275 : Blazing Thunder in the Demon Cave
"Make this quick."
Exquisite Jiang understood there was no time to waste. With a single command, she led the group charging deep into the Demon Cave.
"Stop them!"
Seeing their intent to suppress the Demonic Spring, the Lord of Demon Cave roared out the order.
The number of Demonic Cultivator within the Demon Cave was staggering. Tens of thousands of them had gathered here, and even this formidable group found the sheer mass of foes troublesome to deal with.
As their path forward was blocked, Exquisite Jiang raised her hand and unleashed the Blazing Third Fire Divine Thunder Net.
This Blazing Third Fire Divine Thunder Net was the Life-Bound Magical Artifact of the previous sect master of the Verdant Sun Sect, a treasure of the Fourth Rank Mid-Grade tier.
A weapon designed for mass combat, the divine thunder net was woven with thousands of Blazing Third Fire Divine Thunder. As Exquisite Jiang cast it forth, the net unfurled to cover an area spanning a hundred Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters].
"BOOM—"
A single strike. A dense, blinding storm of Blazing Third Fire Divine Thunder filled the subterranean world, the air cracking and roaring with the sound of countless Thunderclap. Dive deeper into the Dao at audi novel.com.
In that instant, countless Demonic Cultivators were blasted into scattered, mangled corpses across the ground. Tens of thousands of low-level Demonic Cultivators perished on the spot.
"*Clang—*"
Seeing Exquisite Jiang cleave open a path, Eldrin Chen merged his body with his sword, the Solar Fire Returning Abyss Sword driving forward with unstoppable momentum. Every demonic cultivator in its path met their end with a single strike.
The momentum of this sword was majestic and overwhelming, its sharp edge piercing through the darkness of the Demon Cave. It forcefully carved a tunnel hundreds of Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] deep into the Demon Cave.
Following closely behind, the others surged out, driving the Demonic Cultivators into a desperate retreat as they fought their way straight toward the depths of the Demon Cave.
"True Person Zhang, I am here to aid you!"
At that very moment, another thunderous explosion echoed through the caverns.
The Grand Granary True Person had fought his way out from another passage, driving a Blood-Robed Elder into a frantic flight before turning his blade directly toward the Lord of Demon Cave and Yan Old Demon.
Seeing the Grand Granary True Person emerge to assist, a flicker of relief crossed True Person Zhang's face.
He was about to speak when his expression shifted subtly into one of caution. "Grand Granary True Person," he asked warily, "where is your junior sister, Taiqing the Immortal Maiden?"
"You've noticed, but it's already too late."
Suddenly, Grand Granary True Person let out a sinister laugh and charged forward, wielding a Nether Abyss Demon Sword [a demonic blade steeped in the chilling power of the abyss].
The faces of the group paled with shock. Unbeknownst to them, Grand Granary True Person had secretly cultivated the Abyssal Demonic Fiendish Energy [a malevolent cultivation art that channels the corrupting power of the demonic abyss], his cultivation breaking through to the Golden Core Late Stage [the advanced stage of the Golden Core realm, where the cultivator's spiritual core is nearing its peak refinement].
In the blink of an eye, the situation reversed completely. Grand Granary True Person's sudden betrayal had caught everyone off guard.
"Ah—!"
Sect Master Zhang found himself besieged by four Golden Core [cultivators who have condensed their spiritual energy into a solid Golden Core] Demonic Cultivator [cultivators who follow unorthodox, often malevolent, paths of cultivation], two of whom were even at the Golden Core Late Stage. Caught completely unprepared, True Person Zhang was grievously wounded on the spot, one of his arms severed.
At the critical moment, the Vault Heaven Immortal Sword [a legendary sword said to possess the power to cleave the heavens] unleashed a sliver of its true might, shielding him and pulling him back from the brink.
By now, Exquisite Jiang and Immortal Maiden Spirit Consort wore expressions of grave solemnity. They swiftly turned to counterattack, desperately blocking the assault from the several Demonic Cultivator.
"What skillful maneuvering, esteemed one."
"Hahaha... *cough*..."
True Person Zhang let out a bitter, blood-flecked laugh, a crimson stain blooming on his lips as he coughed.
In this final moment, the truth finally dawned on him. He understood why Grand Granary True Person had been so adamant in pushing for the siege of the Demon Cave [a den of demonic cultivators]. It had all been a scheme from the very beginning.
Eldrin Chen and the others had also pieced together the sequence of events. The reason the cultivators of the Yan Kingdom's Immortal Realm [the cultivation world of the Yan Kingdom] had been unwilling to send reinforcements was, in fact, Grand Granary True Person's doing.
As for why the Demonic Ape Demon King of Demonic Ape Mountain had chosen this precise moment to succumb to demonic corruption, it was now glaringly obvious—it was a calculated move to tie down the power of the Purple Abyss Furnace [a powerful magical furnace].
This intricate plot implicated forces from Demonic Ape Mountain, the Demon Cave, and even Black Eagle Ridge. Such a far-reaching conspiracy could not have been orchestrated by the Demon Cave alone. The shadow of the Azure Flood Dragon Demon Emperor [a powerful dragon demon ruler] likely loomed behind it all.
Even if the Azure Flood Dragon Demon Emperor had not intervened personally, it was highly probable that a powerful subordinate within his ranks had masterminded the entire affair. Discover more cultivation stories at audi0-n0vel.c0m.
"One thing I do not understand,"
"How did you conceal your presence from the senses of the Heaven's Vault Mirror [a treasure that detects demonic energy] and the Firmament Sword [a divine demon-slaying sword]?"
Suppressing his grievous wounds, True Person Zhang fixed his gaze on Grand Granary True Person, his voice thick with unwillingness.
Supreme Demon-Subduing Treasures possess an extraordinarily keen sensitivity to demonic energy. Any ordinary Demonic Cultivator [a practitioner of demonic arts] approaching within ten thousand Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] would be instantly detected.
This Grand Granary True Person was a Demonic Cultivator at the late Golden Core Realm. Before the Heaven's Vault Mirror and the Firmament Sword, he was like a blazing furnace in the darkness—how could he possibly evade the senses of a Demon-Subduing Supreme Treasure [a treasure of the highest order, specifically designed to suppress and reveal demonic forces]?
Seeing his scheme succeed, the Grand Granary True Person, confident of victory, was in no hurry to act further.
Stroking his long beard, he spoke with a hint of pride, "For centuries, I have cultivated both the orthodox and the Demonic Path [the cultivation arts associated with demonic and malevolent forces]. I have never used demonic arts to harm others, so naturally, I carry no taint of resentment."
"For hundreds of years, I have used orthodox Daoist techniques to suppress the baleful aura of the Nether Abyss. Furthermore, the Demon Emperor [a supreme ruler among demon-kind] of Azure Wave Lake gifted me a supreme treasure to suppress my demonic energy. Naturally, this was sufficient to evade the detection of the Demon-Subduing Supreme Treasure."
Hearing this, everyone present understood the situation completely.
The mastermind behind this battle was likely the Azure Flood Dragon Demon Emperor. Azure Wave Lake dared not directly violate its pact to attack Chu Nation, so it used the hands of Demonic Cultivator to annihilate the Chu Nation Cultivation World [the collective realm of cultivators within the Chu Nation], thereby avoiding a direct confrontation with the Ji Clan.
"The methods of a Demon Emperor are truly formidable," someone murmured.
True Person Zhang let out a sigh, a flicker of defeat in his eyes.
This battle had gathered nearly half of Chu Nation's elite forces, along with two crucial Demon-Subduing Supreme Treasure. If they were all to perish within this Demon Cave [a cave or lair infested with demonic energy and creatures], the fall of Chu Nation to the Demonic Cultivator would become an almost certain fate.
"Heh, heh, heh, heh!" A sinister, grating laughter echoed.
The Lord of Demon Cave suddenly let out a cold, mocking laugh, his face twisting with malice as he spoke, "Do you think the mastermind behind this battle is merely the Azure Flood Dragon Demon Emperor?"
"Let me tell you the truth. This battle also has the backing of the Black Fiend Demon Ridge from the Heavenly Ridge Mountain Range."
"The Black Fiend Patriarch and the Demon Emperor [the supreme ruler of a demon race] have long promised that once the Chu Nation is destroyed, the two of us will receive treasures to aid in forming our Primordial Spirit."
"Demons and fiendish cultivators colluding, a joint scheme by a Demon Emperor and a Demon Monarch [a powerful demon lord]."
"Good, very good indeed. What an honor this is for the Chu Nation Cultivation World."
True Person Zhang [a cultivator who has attained the Golden Core realm] let out a long, ringing laugh. The sword intent within his Firmament Sword [a divine sword] surged and boiled, and a flicker of Indestructibility [an unyielding, eternal quality] killing intent flashed in his eyes.
Exquisite Jiang also stepped forward. Behind her, a pristine, illusory white treasure mirror rose into the air, emanating from the Path Void [a state of profound emptiness aligned with the Dao].
"Today, we shall see whether we raze your Demon Cave to the ground, or you succeed in trapping us here."
The great battle erupted in an instant, a cataclysmic clash of titans from the very first moment.
The Heaven's Vault Mirror [a divine mirror] pressed down upon heaven and earth, its holy, ethereal radiance illuminating the entire Demon Cave, as if intent on completely suppressing this Demonic Cultivator Forbidden Land [a perilous, forbidden territory].
Facing this surge of power, the four Golden Core Demonic Cultivator [cultivators who practice demonic arts] had their expressions shift repeatedly. However, having decided to act, they had naturally made ample preparations.
They saw the Grand Granary True Person embrace the void with his hands, summoning forth seven black skulls. Each one was wreathed in a billowing aura of black, fiendish demonic energy [a malevolent and corrupting form of spiritual power].
"It's the Seven Fiend Demon Skulls [a set of seven demonic skull artifacts]!"
The faces of the onlookers paled with horror as they recognized the origin of this treasure.
These Seven Fiend Demon Skulls were one of the signature magical treasures of the Black Fiend Patriarch. To forge them, he had slain seven Golden Core Late Stage cultivators and performed a blood sacrifice involving countless millions of mortals.
Once forged, this treasure reached the Fifth Rank [a high grade of power for artifacts], becoming a notorious demon-slaying Demonic Treasure [an artifact forged through demonic and bloody means] within the Eastern Region Great Wasteland.
The Heaven's Vault Mirror [a celestial mirror artifact], with its noble and pure nature, would not tolerate the audacity of a Demonic Treasure. Sensing the aura of the Seven Fiend Demon Skulls, its power surged violently, soaring through the air to suppress them.
"BOOM—"
An incomparably dazzling radiance flooded heaven and earth, pushing back the boundless dark fiendish energy as it clashed directly with the Seven Fiend Demon Skulls.
Eldrin Chen's expression turned grave. He realized the Heaven's Vault Mirror was subtly falling into a disadvantage. Although its power was peerless, within the Demon Cave [a cavern saturated with demonic energy], it had to constantly resist the endless Demonic Fiendish Energy [the pervasive corrupting energy of the demon cave], preventing it from unleashing its full might.
Realizing the situation had taken a dire turn, True Person Zhang cast a desperate glance toward the Vault Heaven Immortal Sword and cried out, "Patriarch! Lend me your power to slay this demon!"
*Clang—!* For uninterrupted reading, go to audio-novel.com.