Chapter 295 : Flight of the Sword Sovereign

The ambusher was actually a Demon King of the Golden Core Realm. This Crimson Scorpion Demon King was the ruler of Crimson Scorpion Ridge, his cultivation having reached the Golden Core Mid Stage. His power was formidable indeed.

However, Crimson Scorpion Ridge was separated from Chu Nation by the Heavenly Python Lake. Historically, there had been friction and enmity between the Ridge and the Lake. It was unexpected that he had ventured here today.

"A Demon King as reinforcement. This complicates matters."

In the flash of a spark, Eldrin Chen's expression turned grave. He pivoted and fled, his body merging with his sword as he shot towards the distant sky.

Seeing his escape, how could the Black Dragon Demon King and the Crimson Scorpion Demon King let him have his way? They immediately unleashed their Divine Ability [profound supernatural techniques], magical treasures, and cultivation arts.

Yet Eldrin Chen faced them without fear. His Bulwark Earth Sovereign Bell intercepted the attacks from the two Demon King, while the speed of his sword-light did not diminish in the slightest as he flew into the distance.

A reckless Golden-Horned Savage Bull attempted to block his path. But with its mere Violet Sanctum Early Stage cultivation, standing before a fourth-rank Immortal Sword was nothing but a fool's errand, a quest for its own demise.

With a sharp *clang*, the sword-light flashed, cleaving the beast in two.

Eldrin Chen collected the Inner Pill [the condensed energy core of a demon beast], let out a long, triumphant laugh, and continued his flight unabated into the far reaches.

"How dare you!" This novel is serialized on audio - novel . com. Visit for updates.

Witnessing his brazen audacity, the Black Flood Dragon Demon King [a powerful demonic ruler of the serpentine kind] gave chase in a towering rage.

However, at this level of cultivation, without a specialized method to counter it, slaying Eldrin Chen while he was in a state of 'body and sword as one' [a profound swordsmanship technique where the cultivator's essence merges with their blade] was nearly impossible.

They had underestimated Eldrin Chen's capabilities, failing to foresee that someone who had not even reached the Pseudo-Core Realm [a transitional stage just below the Golden Core] could already possess combat power rivaling the Golden Core Realm [a major realm where a cultivator condenses their spiritual energy into a solid, golden core].

Thus, their pursuit stretched for over a hundred thousand Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters], all the way to the outskirts of Heavenly Ruins Mountain [a mountain range shrouded in ancient mystery], yet proved utterly futile. Only then, with bitter resentment, did they settle for blockading the mountain.

Upon returning to Heavenly Ruins Mountain, Eldrin Chen immediately gathered everyone. "This time, Crimson Scorpion Ridge [a demonic stronghold known for its venomous inhabitants] has intervened," he stated. "I fear this battle will bring unforeseen complications."

"Crimson Scorpion Ridge."

After hearing his account, solemn expressions settled upon the faces of all present.

The Old Patriarch [the venerable leader of the Chen Clan] also paled, a trace of lingering fear in his voice. "It is fortunate they misjudged your strength. In their haste to eliminate you, they forced the Crimson Scorpion Demon King [the sovereign ruler of the Crimson Scorpion Ridge] to reveal himself prematurely. Otherwise, that hidden trump card might have dealt us a severe blow."

"The Crimson Scorpion Demon King is a Demon King [a title for a demonic being equivalent to a human Golden Core cultivator] of the Golden Core Mid Stage [the middle phase of the Golden Core realm]," Path Abyss Xu shook his head, his expression grave. "Even with the current situation, dealing with him will likely prove troublesome for us."

"Do not worry," Eldrin Chen reassured them. "With our combined strength, bolstered by the Formation [a complex array that channels spiritual energy for defense or attack] of Heavenly Ruins Mountain, we are more than capable of containing both of their Demon King."

Eldrin Chen spoke with a calm, reassuring tone, yet a thread of unease still lingered in the hearts of those present.

Percival Pan could not help but rise to his feet, his expression grave. "What if the Golden Lion Mastiff comes as well?" he asked, his voice heavy with concern.

"The Heavenly Ruins Mountain possesses only a Third Rank Superior Grade Spiritual Vein [a natural conduit of spiritual energy]. It cannot unleash the full power of a Fourth-Rank Formation [a powerful defensive or offensive array]. With our current strength, we simply cannot withstand an assault from three Demon King-level beings."

Everyone seated was a Violet Sanctum Cultivator [a cultivator who has opened their Violet Palace, a core spiritual organ], yet even their hearts now drummed with apprehension.

Though the group was not weak, facing three Golden Core Demon King [demonic beasts that have condensed a Golden Core, a core of immense power] leading a horde of lower-tier demonic beasts was a prospect they likely could not endure.

The Old Patriarch [the venerable leader of the clan] also voiced his worry. "Could we request Patriarch Jiang to come and reinforce us?" he asked.

"I fear that is not possible,"

Eldrin Chen furrowed his brow, shaking his head with a sigh. "A century ago, the main reason for the collapse at Heavenly Python Lake was a miscalculation of our strength. In pursuit of a swift victory, they chose the risky tactic of dividing their forces."

"Now, the Earth Lion Demon King has its gaze fixed firmly on Exquisite. If she were to come to our aid, she would inevitably draw it here as well. That would only serve to expand the scope of the conflict."

After a moment of contemplation, he spoke again. "Very well. I will have Scorching Sun Mountain dispatch Elara Lin and Patriarch Fang to join us here."

"By then, we will have added two more Pseudo-Core Realm Cultivator [cultivators at a level just below the Golden Core Realm]. That should be enough to barely hold them off and last until the Beast Tide [a massive, periodic invasion of demonic beasts] ends."

Upon hearing this, everyone present sighed softly, their hearts silently accepting this decision as the only viable course.

While such a defensive strategy offered little hope of victory, it would at least stabilize the immediate situation and prevent catastrophic losses.

Soon after this council concluded, a significant redeployment of forces within the Heavenly Ruins Alliance [a coalition of human forces] swiftly took place.

Not long after, the two Pseudo-Core Realm [a cultivation level just below Golden Core] Patriarch [a title for a senior clan or sect leader] who had been garrisoning Scorching Sun Mountain, Elara Lin and Green Plum Fang, arrived at Heavenly Ruins Mountain with a contingent of ten Violet Sanctum Cultivator [cultivators at the Violet Sanctum Realm, the stage after Foundation Establishment] as reinforcements.

This redeployment stripped Scorching Sun Mountain of more than half its high-level defenders, leaving only Exquisite Jiang to face the forces from Earth Lion Ridge. Access the full story on audio-novel-dot-com.

The Earth Lion Demon King [a powerful, lion-like demon beast ruler] feared Exquisite Jiang's Great God Ability [a supreme-level divine technique] known as the Void Five Tribulations Divine Light [a divine light capable of invoking five heavenly tribulations]. Conversely, Exquisite Jiang alone found it nearly impossible to slay the Earth Lion Demon King amidst its vast army at Earth Lion Ridge.

Thus, a tense stalemate settled over Scorching Sun Mountain. Hordes of demon beasts gathered at its base, launching relentless assaults on the Formation [a structured arrangement of energy for defense or attack], draining the energy of the Mountain Protection Formation [a defensive array protecting the mountain]. Yet, the two Golden Core [the Golden Core Realm, a major milestone in cultivation] powerhouses refrained from risking a direct confrontation.

Compared to the standoff at Scorching Sun Mountain, the atmosphere at Heavenly Ruins Mountain was even more charged, like drawn bows and loaded crossbows.

As demon beast forces continued to mass, the arrival of Elara Lin and Patriarch Fang with reinforcements from Scorching Sun Mountain significantly bolstered the defensive capabilities of Heavenly Ruins Mountain.

Time flowed swiftly by, and in the blink of an eye, three months had passed. True to expectations, the Black Flood Dragon Demon King arrived at Heavenly Ruins Mountain with an army of several hundred thousand Demon Race troops.

After the forces from Heavenly Python Lake arrived, the Black Flood Dragon Demon King ordered the hundreds of thousands of demon beasts to encircle Heavenly Ruins Mountain. He then began using his low-tier demon beasts as cannon fodder to wear down the power of the defensive Formation.

The defensive Formation on Heavenly Ruins Mountain was known as the Celestial Dome Demon-Slaying Grand Formation. Its core was a single Fourth Rank Low-Grade magical treasure [an enchanted artifact used by cultivators].

This Formation Artifact was named the Celestial Dome Demon-Slaying Sword. The sword itself possessed a potent restraining effect against the Demon Race, and when amplified by the Formation, it was powerful enough to threaten or even severely injure a Golden Core Demon King.

Although the Black Flood Dragon Demon King and the Crimson Scorpion Demon King were formidable, they were unwilling to risk severe injury by clashing head-on with the Formation.

Furthermore, they needed to conserve a sufficient amount of their spiritual power [the vital energy cultivated and used by practitioners]. If they expended too much power or were grievously wounded by the Formation, then even if they breached the defenses, they might not gain the upper hand against Eldrin Chen and the four Pseudo-Core Realm combatants from the Human Race.

Under these circumstances, the Black Flood Dragon Demon King began driving hordes of low-tier demon beasts to act as cannon fodder, launching frenzied assaults against the Formation.

Using expendable troops to grind down the spiritual energy [the vital energy that flows through all living things and powers formations] of a Formation was a relatively protracted process.

Thus, the two sides fought for an entire month, and both began to feel the strain.

The Formation on Heavenly Ruins Mountain consumed a tremendous amount of resources; the spent Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy] alone exceeded five hundred thousand pieces.

To expend such a vast sum of Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy] merely to power a Formation [a structured arrangement of energy nodes and flows used for defense, attack, or cultivation] would be enough to make even a Golden Core Cultivator [a cultivator who has condensed their spiritual energy into a solid Golden Core] feel the strain deep in their bones, their heart aching with the loss.

Yet, a temporary expenditure is always a far better bargain than the permanent cost of death in battle.

Over this past month, the tens of thousands of cultivators from the Human Race [the collective term for human cultivators], sheltered by their Formation, had slain over two hundred thousand demon beasts. It was a blow that had truly shaken the demonic horde to its core.

Though low-tier demon beasts possess only rudimentary intelligence, they are not devoid of fear. Having reached this point, even the lash of a Golden Core Demon King [a demon beast of power equivalent to a human Golden Core cultivator] could not drive them forward to certain death any longer.

With the lesser beasts refusing to be mere fodder, the several Golden Core Demon King decided it was time to take the field themselves.

At this critical juncture, the Crimson Scorpion Demon King and the Black Flood Dragon Demon King descended from the void to join the fray. Even the Golden Lion Mastiff, who had lurked in the shadows, chose concealment no more. It unfurled its colossal form, spanning hundreds of Zhang-lengths [one Zhang-length equals three point three three meters], and with a single earth-shaking step, crushed a mountain peak beneath its paw as it advanced. This chapter is part of a larger work available at audio-novel`com.