Chapter 297 : Clash of Golden Core and Crimson Gaze

After all, it had only just entered the Golden Core [the third major stage of cultivation, where one's spiritual energy condenses into a solid, golden-hued core] realm. For this battle, the group had come prepared with Fourth-Rank Magical Treasure [powerful enchanted artifacts of the fourth rank]. Not only did Elara Lin wield the Ink Snow Immortal Sword, but Xavier Xu also held the Green Sun Demon-Warding Shuttle [a magical shuttle imbued with verdant solar energy, effective at repelling demonic forces], which had been lent to him by Exquisite Jiang.

"This is bad," the demon king thought, its heart sinking.

Seeing that it could not shake off Eldrin Chen, the Black Flood Dragon Demon King [a powerful demonic entity in the form of a black flood dragon] felt a growing sense of dread.

Realizing the battle could not be prolonged, the Black Flood Dragon Demon King's gaze turned icy. A dazzling crimson light erupted from its eyes, shooting towards Eldrin Chen. It sought to turn defense into offense, hoping to slay this formidable foe.

"BOOM—"

Eldrin Chen snorted coldly, his expression unchanging. He activated the Bulwark Earth Sovereign Bell [a defensive treasure in the form of a bell, embodying the unyielding stability of the earth], summoning a radiant barrier to block the attack.

However, the Crimson Pupil Demon Gaze [a divine ability that manifests as a piercing beam of crimson light from the eyes] was a light-based Divine Ability [a supernatural power or technique mastered through cultivation], particularly effective at piercing through protective auras and defensive treasures. It managed to bore a hole through the light barrier conjured by the Bulwark Earth Sovereign Bell.

At the critical moment, Eldrin Chen invoked the Solar True Aegis [a defensive technique that manifests a shield of pure solar essence], evaporating the crimson beam into wisps of smoke.

Seeing the demon's continued audacity, Eldrin Chen held back no longer. He summoned the Crimson Sun Void-Burning Furnace [a magical furnace capable of releasing flames that can burn even the void itself] and unleashed a torrent of Crimson Sun True Flame [a supreme flame of pure solar essence], intent on incinerating the creature into ashes.

Facing this onslaught, the Black Flood Dragon Demon King let out a cold laugh. "Hahaha! You dare use such a treasure against me? Are you here to deliver it as a gift?" Discover more cultivation stories at site: audio-novel.com.

As his words fell, he opened his mouth and activated the Heavenly Python Devours Heaven Art [a divine ability that mimics a celestial serpent's power to consume the heavens], intending to swallow the Crimson Sun Void-Burning Furnace [a magical furnace that burns with the essence of a crimson sun] into his belly.

This Divine Ability [a supreme supernatural power cultivated by immortals] would likely lead to a stalemate against the swift and razor-sharp Celestial Abyss Twin Swords [a pair of divine swords embodying celestial and abyssal forces]. However, it was the perfect counter for the slower-moving Crimson Sun Void-Burning Furnace.

Witness the Black Flood Dragon Demon King [a demonic sovereign in the form of a colossal black flood dragon] open its maw to devour the heavens! Like a Black Dragon [a powerful draconic demon] swallowing the sun, it gulped down the Crimson Sun Void-Burning Furnace, which blazed like a scarlet celestial orb, into its gullet.

Just as the Black Flood Dragon Demon King suppressed the Crimson Sun Void-Burning Furnace, a dazzling light suddenly erupted from the eyes of Eldrin Chen.

"Now!"

Seizing the moment the Black Flood Dragon Demon King was occupied suppressing the furnace, Eldrin Chen drained the last vestiges of spiritual power from the Positive Water Verdant Lotus Throne [a throne carved from a spiritual lotus that stores positive water energy], restoring his own reserves to full capacity.

Then he struck with his full might. For the first time in years, the Celestial Abyss Twin Swords merged their power once more. Roughly seventy to eighty percent of his internal energy was siphoned away, pouring into the twin swords and transforming into a blinding white sword energy that shot skyward for a cleaving strike.

Even separated by nearly one hundred Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters], the Black Flood Dragon Demon King felt a chilling prick between its shoulders, a primal terror surging within its heart.

Caught off-guard by the sudden assault and locked onto by the sword energy of the Sky-Severance Sword Union [a supreme sword technique that severs the very sky], the Black Flood Dragon Demon King found its defensive means utterly exhausted.

In that instant, it finally understood the despair felt by the Heavenly Python Demon King [a demon king in the form of a celestial python] of old. To be slain head-on by a mere Violet Sanctum Cultivator [a cultivator at the Violet Sanctum realm, the third major stage] was a humiliation destined to become legend for a Golden Core Demon King [a demon king possessing a solidified Golden Core, the fourth major cultivation stage].

"Clang—!"

In that life-or-death instant, it could only sacrifice its Demon Core [the condensed life essence and power core of a demonic beast] to block. Yet, in a mere moment, the Demon Core was cleaved in two.

The Celestial Abyss Twin Swords [a pair of legendary swords] continued their descent with undiminished force. With another metallic clang, they pierced the vital seventh-inch point of the Black Flood Dragon Demon King [a powerful draconic demon lord], slaying it in the void.

"Roar—!"

Witnessing the Black Flood Dragon Demon King being slain, its corpse plummeting to the earth, the Golden Lion Mastiff [a fierce lion-dog hybrid demon] let out a roar tinged with primal fear.

In that instant, it dared not linger. It spat out its Inner Pill [the refined energy core of a high-level cultivator or demonic beast] to unleash a desperate surge of power, breaking through the encirclement of the four Pseudo-Core Realm [a cultivation stage just below the Golden Core Realm] experts.

Eldrin Chen did not pursue the fleeing Golden Lion Mastiff. His face pale, he swallowed a Purple Essence Pill [a high-grade pill for restoring spiritual energy] and then collected the Black Flood Dragon's Inner Pill.

Although this battle had ended with the slaying of the Black Flood Dragon Demon King, consecutively activating his trump cards twice had drained his spiritual energy reserves tremendously.

Now, the energy within his meridians was more than half depleted. Continuing to fight would risk damaging his very cultivation foundation.

"A pity about this Inner Pill," he murmured.

Gazing at the Black Flood Dragon's Inner Pill [the condensed life essence core of a powerful demonic beast], Eldrin Chen's face twisted with a pained expression.

The Black Flood Dragon's Inner Pill had been cleaved in two. The Creation [the primordial life-giving energy] within it had already begun to dissipate. If it was not refined into a Golden Core Formation Pill [a supreme elixir that aids in forming a Golden Core] within three years, it would be utterly wasted.

In truth, even if a Golden Core Formation Pill could be forged within that time, the success rate would likely be one or two pills lower than usual.

"There was no other way," he sighed. "Slaying the Black Flood Dragon Demon King demanded every ounce of my strength. I had no capacity left for restraint."

"To have secured this harvest is already a considerable success."

Pushing these thoughts aside, Eldrin Chen approached the colossal form of the Black Flood Dragon Demon King. He drew forth the Thousand Demons Demon-Slaying Sword and began the process of refining the Black Flood Dragon's Dragon Soul [the spiritual essence of a dragon, a potent material for enchanting weapons]. This chapter is provided by audio-novel dot com. Support the original.

From the serpentine Dragon Flesh, a dark, coiling Dragon Soul emerged, writhing and swirling. It was drawn inexorably into the blade of the Thousand Demons Demon-Slaying Sword, where it transformed into a Black Dragon sword spirit.

"Roar—!"

As the Sword Embryo [the nascent spiritual core of a magical sword] took its first breath, a draconic roar echoed forth. The Thousand Demons Demon-Slaying Sword erupted with a killing aura so intense it seemed a Black Dragon-turned-Immortal Sword was roaring its defiance at the heavens.

With the Thousand Demons Demon-Slaying Sword successfully forged, Eldrin Chen ran his fingers over the blade with profound satisfaction.

A group of people approached. Xavier Xu gazed at the sword and couldn't help but offer congratulations: "Congratulations, Fellow Daoist Chen. You have gained another Immortal Sword of the Fourth Rank [a powerful enchanted sword wielded by high-level cultivators]."

Eldrin Chen was also quite pleased. He retrieved the Crimson Sun Void-Burning Furnace [a powerful magical furnace] from the carcass of the Black Flood Dragon Demon King and addressed the assembled group.

"Let us first return to Heavenly Ruins Mountain with the body of this Demon King [a powerful demonic ruler]."

Because the Demon King's body was far too massive to fit into any Storage Bag [a spatial artifact for holding items], they had no choice but to pool their magical power and physically transport it back to Heavenly Ruins Mountain.

Not long after their return to Heavenly Ruins Mountain, Exquisite Jiang also arrived back at the mountain, carrying the remains of the Crimson Scorpion Demon King in her possession.

Having slain two Demon King in succession, the group swiftly convened a brief meeting to capitalize on the moment.

Exquisite Jiang looked at the assembly, a glimmer of satisfaction in her eyes. "This Beast Tide [a massive invasion by demonic beasts] can now be considered concluded," she declared.

"Indeed."

Slaying two Demon King was a rare and monumental victory not seen for centuries.

Now, with the Demon Race forces at Heavenly Ruins Mountain utterly routed, they had used the momentum of their great triumph to hunt down and eliminate numerous Violet Sanctum Demonic Beast [powerful demonic beasts equivalent to the Violet Sanctum cultivation stage].

Everyone was ecstatic, yet a flicker of doubt crossed their faces as they asked, "You have come to Heavenly Ruins Mountain, but then what of the situation at Scorching Sun Mountain...?"

Seeing their perplexed expressions, Eldrin Chen and Exquisite Jiang exchanged a glance, both breaking into knowing smiles.

There was no need for secrecy. Eldrin Chen explained with a smile, "Before this battle commenced, Exquisite and I had already agreed to concentrate our forces and fight together, aiming for a decisive victory in a single engagement."

"Therefore, from the very beginning, Exquisite Jiang was not at Scorching Sun Mountain at all. Instead, she was concealed within the Spirit Pool Cave Abode here at Heavenly Ruins Mountain."

"As for how we managed to deceive the Earth Lion Demon King..." Exquisite Jiang also smiled, her expression serene as she continued, "That is because the one at Scorching Sun Mountain was merely one of my External Incarnation [a powerful technique to create a separate, autonomous body]."

It turned out that after her breakthrough to the Golden Core [the third major realm of cultivation, where one forms a solid golden spiritual core] realm, Exquisite Jiang had cultivated a special type of Lifebound Magical Treasure [a magical artifact bound to a cultivator's life force and soul]—the technique for creating an External Incarnation.

Using the Water Essence Treasure Pearl [a precious pearl containing the pure essence of water] as its core, she had forged an incarnation at the Golden Core Realm. This incarnation also served as her fifth Lifebound Magical Treasure.

That incarnation could only utilize a few water-attribute Divine Ability [supernatural powers and techniques mastered by cultivators] inscribed within the Lifebound Magical Treasure, and its combat prowess was considered ordinary for its realm.

However, thanks to the feedback from her Supreme Lunar Immortal Body [a legendary physique attuned to the power of the moon], the incarnation's cultivation stage was actually one major realm higher than Exquisite Jiang's true self, having reached the Golden Core Mid Stage.

By employing this External Incarnation she had kept hidden for years, Exquisite Jiang successfully deceived the Earth Lion Demon King. This allowed her more powerful true self to come to Heavenly Ruins Mountain, where she concentrated eighty to ninety percent of the mountain's high-end combat power, shattering the stalemate of the battle in one decisive move.

In truth, the forces the Demon Race had gathered at Heavenly Ruins Mountain were not weak. Unfortunately, their strongest combatant, the Earth Lion Demon King, was locked in a standoff with the Exquisite Jiang's Dharma Body [a powerful spiritual projection of one's cultivation base] at Scorching Sun Mountain. In the end, they had been caught completely off guard and overwhelmed. Your portal to cultivation novels: http://www . audio-novel.com.