Chapter 325 : Clash of Golden Cores

"Disaster! She has broken through to the Golden Core, Mid Stage!"

The expressions of the human and the demonic beast shifted abruptly. They had believed their combined strength could barely suppress Lyra Jiang, yet now, even fighting together, they found themselves at a disadvantage.

Elsewhere, the Golden Lion Mastiff, the Golden Core elder of the Deng Clan, were locked in a chaotic melee with Xavier Xu and Elara Lin.

That Qian the Elder, with his profound and vigorous mana, sought immediately to subdue the Savage Ox Demon King, who was at the Golden Core, Mid Stage.

As soon as Deng Skylark spotted Eldrin Chen on the battlefield, a savage glee twisted his features. "You wretch! You are truly here! Today, I shall slay you to avenge my grandson!"

His face contorted with malice. With a sweeping motion of his hand, he summoned a Fourth Rank Magical Treasure into the air, directing it to cleave down upon Eldrin Chen.

This treasure was named the Heaven's Edge God-Slaying Blade, Deng Skylark's own Life-Bound Magical Treasure [a magical artifact bound to its wielder's life force and soul], its grade reaching a formidable Fourth Rank Middle Grade. In his view, dealing with Eldrin Chen, who was merely at the Purple Mansion Ninth Layer, would be effortless.

Yet, facing this onslaught, Eldrin Chen merely raised his hand and unleashed the Mirror of Yin, Yang, and Void.

"*Whoosh—*"

A radiant beam swept from the mirror. In an instant, the Magical Treasure of Fourth Rank Middle Grade was stripped of all its luster and drawn into the depths of the Mirror of Yin, Yang, and Void. Support the author by reading on audio_novel.com.

"Ah, my treasured blade!"

Watching his Life-Bound Magical Treasure [a cultivator's personally forged and soul-bound enchanted artifact] being thoroughly suppressed, Deng Skylark cried out in alarm. He then unleashed his divine ability, 'Heavenly Heart Void-Severing Blade' [a supreme cutting technique that targets the spiritual core].

Seeing it was a metal-attribute divine ability, Eldrin Chen raised his hand and once more channeled the mirror's radiance. With a sweeping motion, he ground the technique into nothingness.

Then, he lifted his hand and summoned forth the Heavenly Separated Twin Swords [a pair of immortal swords imbued with the power of separation and heavenly fire]. Across the vast expanse of the void, he sent them slashing towards Deng Skylark.

With his signature divine ability countered and his Life-Bound Magical Treasure suppressed by his opponent, Deng Skylark watched helplessly as the two Fourth Rank Middle Grade [a classification for high-tier magical treasures] immortal swords descended upon him. He had no choice but to deploy his final trump card: the 'Purple-Gold Glazed Armor' [a legendary suit of armor forged from purple-gold and tempered with glazed spiritual techniques].

This Purple-Gold Glazed Armor was a legacy treasure of the Deng Clan, one of only three Fourth Rank High Grade Magical Treasure [the pinnacle grade for treasures below the Nascent Soul realm] in their possession, and a first-rate defensive supreme treasure.

"Still metal-attribute?"

Eldrin Chen took a closer look and couldn't help but feel a surge of satisfaction.

He channeled the mirror's radiance once more. This time, although he failed to completely subdue the armor, the sweeping light still struck the Purple-Gold Glazed Armor, dimming its glow by half.

Almost simultaneously, the innate divine ability of this Magical Treasure [a general term for powerful enchanted artifacts], 'Yin-Yang Magnetic Annihilation Divine Radiance' [a devastating beam of light that harnesses opposing magnetic forces to annihilate matter and spirit], shot forth towards him.

Divine radiance-type divine abilities are most effective at countering Defensive Magical Treasure [enchanted artifacts designed for protection], and the Yin-Yang Magnetic Divine Radiance [a beam of light that disrupts and annihilates metallic energies] is the bane of metal-attribute Magical Treasure [enchanted artifacts used by cultivators]. It actually managed to strike the Purple-Gold Glazed Armor [a suit of ornate, incredibly durable armor] from the sky.

"Bloody hell!"

Deng Skylark nearly choked on his breath, his mind reeling with fury.

In his panic, he could only muster a few divine abilities and a single Fourth Rank Low Grade Magical Treasure [a powerful enchanted artifact, though of the lowest tier within the fourth rank] to offer a feeble resistance. But without his Life-Bound Magical Treasure [a magical treasure fused with one's very life essence and soul] and his trump cards, how could he possibly contend with Eldrin Chen?

After merely a dozen or so exchanges, he was already forced into a perilous position, beaten back step by step under the relentless assault of the Heavenly Separated Twin Swords [a pair of immortal swords imbued with the power of separated flame].

Eldrin Chen activated his Jade Spirit Eye [a mystical ocular technique that grants profound insight into spiritual flows and weaknesses], guiding the twin swords with effortless grace. To his enhanced perception, his opponent seemed riddled with openings, allowing him to effortlessly press the attack, leaving the other with no chance to retaliate.

It was only at this moment that he realized the ocular divine ability Eldrin Chen was employing was none other than the heirloom technique of his own Deng Clan. This revelation made his stomach churn with even greater fury.

"Now."

Seeing his opponent's defenses in complete disarray, Eldrin Chen seized the moment to unleash his ultimate trump card: the Dual Polarity Divine Thunder [a cataclysmic thunder art born from the fusion of opposing elemental forces].

The Dual Polarity Divine Thunder descended with majestic, overwhelming force, its power churning the clouds as it struck horizontally. The single, devastating blow shattered Deng Skylark's physical body into fragments, leaving only his Golden Core [the condensed, crystalline core of a Golden Core realm cultivator, housing their life essence and power] to fly out from the wreckage.

Under ordinary circumstances, his Golden Core [the condensed spiritual core of a high-level cultivator] might have had a chance to flee. However, trapped within the dual blockade of the Taiyi Heaven-Sealing Formation [a powerful formation designed to seal off an area from the heavens] and the Earth-Fortress Earth Origin Disk [a treasure that stabilizes and controls earth-element energies], he found all avenues of escape utterly severed.

The Heavenly River Flood Water Sword [a sword imbued with the vast, crushing power of a celestial river] swept forth with a resonant *clang*, cleaving his Inner Core [the condensed spiritual core of a high-level cultivator or demonic beast] cleanly in two.

"Skylark!"

The two Golden Core [cultivators who have condensed a spiritual core] of the Deng Clan were locked in fierce combat when they suddenly sensed the drastic shift in the battle's tide.

They could never have imagined that in the mere span of a dozen breaths, Deng Skylark, a cultivator of Golden Core, Mid Stage [the middle phase of the Golden Core realm] strength, would be slain by Eldrin Chen.

"He concealed his true cultivation level." Find thousands of chapters at audio-novel.com.

"Damnation!"

The Deng Clan Patriarch [the ruling elder of the Deng Clan] wore a mask of bitter fury. Compared to the others, Eldrin Chen, who possessed combat power rivaling the Golden Core, Late Stage [the late phase of the Golden Core realm], was the most unpredictable and dangerous variable.

The battle had turned dire. Logic dictated a swift retreat, yet they found themselves ironically trapped by their own Taiyi Heaven-Sealing Formation and Earth-Fortress Earth Origin Disk.

As cultivators of the Golden Core, Late Stage, given time, they could have breached the Formation [a structured arrangement of energy used for defense, attack, or other mystical purposes]. But under the relentless pressure of a formidable foe like Lyra Jiang, they had no opportunity to break through two layers of such formidable defenses consecutively.

It is said that Eldrin Chen consumed several Pill [a medicinal pellet refined from spiritual herbs] to restore his mana, then urged his Heavenly Separated Twin Swords [a pair of immortal swords imbued with the power of Separated Flame] into action once more.

This time, his target was the Golden Lion Mastiff [a powerful demonic beast with a lion's mane and golden fur]. Elara Lin and Xavier Xu had broken through to the Golden Core [the third major realm of cultivation where one forms a solidified core of spiritual power] relatively recently. Facing two opponents at the Golden Core, Early Stage [the initial phase of the Golden Core realm], they had already fallen into a disadvantage.

Seeing him charge forth, the Golden Lion Mastiff felt its very liver and gall bladder shatter with terror. It immediately sought to evade and engage in a protracted struggle.

Under normal circumstances, it might have been able to tangle with him for a while. Unfortunately, within the confines of this space spanning merely a few hundred Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters], defying the heavens was nigh impossible.

After clashing for little more than a dozen exchanges, it was beaten back, coughing blood, its flesh carved open by a grievous wound.

"Disaster!"

The Deng Clan Patriarch [the leader of the Deng Immortal Clan] paled dramatically. He hurriedly cried out, "Lion King, if we do not unveil our trump cards today, I fear we shall both perish here!"

"Agreed! Unleash everything!"

The Earth Lion Demon King [a powerful earth-attribute demon king with a lion's form] roared and summoned its Life-Bound Magical Treasure [a magical artifact bound to a cultivator's life force and soul], the 'Diamond Lion-Dragon Seal' [a powerful seal treasure], to block the Heaven's Ruin Immortal-Slaying Sword [a legendary immortal-slaying sword].

The Deng Clan Patriarch also manifested his Life-Bound Magical Treasure, the 'Crimson-Gold Glazed Armor' [a suit of formidable defensive armor], parrying Lyra Jiang's assault. Then, across the void, he hurled a Fourth Rank Magical Treasure [a magical treasure of the fourth rank, suitable for Golden Core cultivators] directly at Eldrin Chen.

That treasure was named the 'Vast Cold Ethereal Void Vase' [a mystical vase capable of trapping and dissolving even powerful cultivators], and it was one of the Deng Clan's Deep-Seated Foundation [a clan's most vital and powerful assets]. Even a Golden Core Cultivator [a cultivator who has formed a Golden Core, a highly advanced stage of cultivation] ensnared within it would find their flesh and bones utterly dissolved, with no hope of escape.

"A formidable Magical Treasure [an enchanted artifact used by cultivators]," Eldrin Chen acknowledged inwardly.

Seeing the treasure hurtling towards him, Eldrin Chen knew he could not afford to meet it head-on.

He summoned forth the Earth-Fortress Sovereign Bell [a mighty bell treasure that stabilizes the fundamental forces of earth, fire, water, and wind], using it to anchor the chaotic energies and block the vase's devouring pull. Then, drawing deeply upon his reserves of spiritual power, he unleashed the Dual Polarity Divine Thunder [a divine thunder art born from the fusion of Yin and Yang forces] directly at the oncoming vessel.

"BOOM—"

Though potent, the Vast Cold Ethereal Void Vase dared not attempt to absorb the cataclysmic Dual Polarity Divine Thunder. It swiftly retracted its devouring power to form a defensive barrier against the blast.

The result was devastating. Struck by the divine thunder, the treasure's radiance dimmed drastically. It shuddered violently, grievously wounded, and plummeted from the sky.

"My treasure!"

Witnessing his prized artifact damaged, Deng Clan Patriarch cried out in pained dismay.

"To unleash such Great Divine Ability [a supreme and immensely powerful supernatural technique] in rapid succession... How can this man possess such profound and boundless reserves of spiritual power?"

He swiftly retrieved the Vast Cold Ethereal Void Vase [a mystical vase capable of containing and manipulating profound cold and ethereal energies], unable to suppress a flicker of astonishment as he glanced towards Eldrin Chen.

Alas, before he could ponder further, Eldrin Chen, having just toppled the Vast Cold Ethereal Void Vase, had already unleashed the Heavenly Separated Twin Swords [a pair of divine swords imbued with the power of separation and heavenly might] in a fierce assault.

The Golden Lion Mastiff [a majestic but ferocious beast with the mane of a lion and the body of a mastiff] was utterly outmatched by Eldrin Chen and could only turn to flee. However, Xavier Xu on the other flank would never permit its escape.

Seizing the moment, Xavier Xu summoned his Lifebound Magical Treasure [a magical artifact bonded to its user's life force and soul], striking the Golden Lion Mastiff with such force that it was sent tumbling backwards through the air.

Capitalizing on the opening, Eldrin Chen conjured a streak of black sword radiance—none other than the Thousand-Demon Slaying Sword [an immortal sword famed for its efficacy against demonic beings]. It soared and cleaved down, severing the head of the Golden Lion Mastiff in one clean stroke.

"Aaargh—!"

The Golden Lion Mastiff let out a final, agonized cry. Had it been a common immortal sword, losing its head might not have been fatal, but it had the misfortune of facing the Thousand-Demon Slaying Sword.

With a resonant hum, the Thousand-Demon Slaying Sword drew the beast's spirit soul into its blade, where it was ultimately devoured by the sword's Black Flood Dragon [a powerful draconic spirit] treasure spirit. Join our community of readers at audio-novel .c om.