Chapter 323 : Alliance of the Golden Core

To ensure they could unleash sufficient combat power, the Heavenly Ruins Alliance had even prepared over ten thousand Formation Flag [enchanted banners used to anchor and power magical arrays]. If nine Violet Sanctum Cultivator [cultivators at the Violet Sanctum realm] were to act as the array's core masters, they could deploy the Myriad Arts Demon Refining Grand Formation [a grand formation designed to refine and purge demonic entities].

Once ten thousand cultivators at the Vital Essence Refinement Late Stage [the late stage of refining one's vital life force] channeled their power into these Formation Flag, the resulting force could rival that of a Golden Core Late Stage [a cultivator at the late stage of the Golden Core realm].

Although this type of Formation [a structured magical array] had significant limitations, it was quite effective for defending against assaults from high-level cultivators or for besieging Mountain Protection Formation [defensive arrays that shield a mountain or sect].

Beyond the main army, the core combatants for this battle were the four Golden Core Patriarch [patriarchs who have attained the Golden Core realm]: Exquisite Jiang, Eldrin Chen, Elara Lin, and Xavier Xu.

Particularly Exquisite Jiang and Eldrin Chen. Wielding his Celestial Abyss Twin Swords [a pair of legendary swords] and his formidable Divine Ability [a supreme supernatural power or technique], Eldrin Chen possessed strength sufficient to contend with a Golden Core Late Stage cultivator.

As for Exquisite Jiang, after her breakthrough to the Golden Core Mid Stage, her spiritual power and Divine Ability had surged dramatically. It was likely that even two or three ordinary Golden Core Late Stage cultivators combined would struggle to be her match, not to mention their side also possessed two fourth-rank War Treasure Ship [massive, magically fortified warships].

After calculating the balance of forces, Eldrin Chen estimated their chances of victory in this battle to be eight or nine out of ten.

Thus, he put away the scroll and said with a smile, "Since all preparations are complete, it is time to set out."

"Dispatch personnel for one final inspection. Tomorrow, we march on Earth Lion Ridge."

"Understood." Find this and other novels at http://www . audio-novel.com.

The group of Violet Sanctum Cultivator [cultivators who have opened their Violet Sanctum, the third major cultivation realm] nodded in acknowledgment before withdrawing from the hall.

After the others had departed, only Eldrin Chen and Exquisite Jiang remained within the grand chamber.

The two sat facing each other. Eldrin Chen prepared a cup of tea for Exquisite Jiang before speaking. "Have Purple Abyss Sect and Qi Nation been notified?"

"All arrangements have been made,"

Exquisite Jiang replied, accepting the teacup with a serene smile.

This assault on Earth Lion Ridge differed from their previous campaigns against Heavenly Python Lake. Their first strike on the lake had been a swift, elite raid to slay the Heavenly Python Demon King. The second had exploited the chaos of a Beast Tide [a massive, coordinated surge of demonic beasts].

Because Earth Lion Ridge was protected by a Mountain Protection Formation [a powerful defensive array anchored to the terrain], breaching it required mustering a full army—a mobilization impossible to conceal from the nearby Demon King [a title for powerful demonic beast rulers, equivalent to a Golden Core realm cultivator].

Once the attack commenced, the neighboring Demon King, understanding the principle that "when the lips are gone, the teeth feel the cold" [a state of mutual dependence], would undoubtedly send forces in support.

Although Crimson Scorpion Ridge was currently leaderless, the rulers of Demonic Ape Mountain and the Azure Sparrow Demon King to the north of Earth Lion Ridge would not stand idly by. To counter this, nearby Human Race powers needed to provide a strategic counterbalance.

Thus, Exquisite Jiang had already informed Qi Nation and Purple Abyss Sect. Purple Abyss Sect would keep watch over Demonic Ape Mountain, while Qi Nation would apply pressure on the Demon Race [the collective term for demonic beasts and other monstrous beings].

"Since the arrangements are settled, my mind is at ease."

Eldrin Chen let out a sigh of relief. For this battle, they had long made thorough preparations and left multiple contingencies. As long as the surrounding Demon Race forces did not all come to reinforce, they possessed ample means to handle the situation.

"..."

At dawn the next day, one treasure ship after another soared forth from Green Sun Mountain, heading towards Earth Lion Ridge along the Solar Province.

The distance from Green Sun Mountain to Earth Lion Ridge was over eight hundred thousand Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters]. For a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, this was an immense journey.

For a cultivator at the Vital Essence Refinement Late Stage, even traveling day and night without regard for spiritual energy depletion would take three to four years to cover. Factoring in rest stops and energy recovery along the way, it would likely require at least five or six years.

Although the Treasure Ship were extremely swift, crossing such a vast distance still required a significant amount of time.

Fortunately, along the journey, no Demon Race forces dared to obstruct such a massive fleet. After spending close to three months, the group finally arrived before Earth Lion Ridge.

"So this is Earth Lion Ridge?"

Eldrin Chen gazed at the majestic mountain range before him, a glimmer of light flashing in his eyes.

This was his first time arriving at Earth Lion Ridge, yet he could not help but marvel at this mountain range.

Earth Lion Ridge, also known as Lion's Brow Ridge, spans a territory of over seven hundred thousand Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters], making it one of the most expansive mountain ranges in this region.

Within the bounds of Lion's Brow Ridge lies an Earth-attributed Earth Vein of Fourth Rank Superior Grade quality, alongside a Spiritual Vein of Fourth Rank Mid-Grade grade. In terms of resource abundance, it surpasses even Heavenly Python Lake.

Over the centuries, Lion's Brow Ridge has changed hands several times. The surrounding Golden Core-level Demon Race powers have almost all clashed over control of this ridge, meaning significant internal conflicts have always simmered beneath the surface.

The reason the Earth Lion Demon King was able to seize Lion's Brow Ridge in the first place traces back to three hundred years ago, before the campaign against the Demonic Abyss. At the peak of Chu Nation's power, to eliminate future threats, they eradicated the previous Demon King who ruled the ridge.

That former ruler of Lion's Brow Ridge possessed cultivation at the Golden Core Late Stage. However, the Chu Nation of three centuries ago had accumulated a millennium of foundational strength and heritage, boasting over a dozen Golden Core Cultivator. In the ensuing battle, they naturally slaughtered the Demon Race forces of Lion's Brow Ridge to the last. This chapter is provided by www . audio-novel.com. Support the original.

Yet, that conflict proved too devastating. Of the Chu Nation Cultivation World's Golden Core Cultivator, only six or seven returned, and many of those survivors passed away not long after.

It can be said that the rapid rise of the current Earth Lion Demon King, who advanced to the Golden Core Late Stage within a mere two centuries, owes much to the abundant resources of Lion's Brow Ridge.

"Deploy the formation."

Upon reaching Lion's Brow Ridge, Path Abyss Xu and the other eight Violet Sanctum Cultivator led over ten thousand Vital Essence Refinement cultivators off the Treasure Ship.

They immediately deployed their Formation Flag [a flag used to anchor and control a formation], beginning to drain the energy of the Mountain Protection Formation [a defensive array that shields a mountain stronghold] guarding Earth Lion Ridge.

Meanwhile, from the decks of several Treasure Ship [large, enchanted vessels used for transport and warfare], a multitude of cultivators channeled their power into the ships' embedded Formation [a structured arrangement of energy for specific effects], activating offensive arrays to bombard Earth Lion Ridge.

The Mountain Protection Formation protecting Earth Lion Ridge was known as the Heavenly Demon Calamity Passage Formation. It had been painstakingly commissioned by the Earth Lion Demon King at great cost, laid down by a Fourth-Rank Formation Master from Azure Wave Lake. This formidable array was powered by two core Formation Artifact [artifacts specifically designed to anchor and empower a formation].

One was the Heavenly Demon Blade, a weapon that drew upon the power of the Bulwark Earth Vein [a powerful terrestrial energy leyline] beneath the ridge. At its peak, it could unleash six blade projections, each strike possessing force comparable to a Golden Core Late Stage [the advanced phase of the Golden Core cultivation stage] expert.

The other was a Fourth Rank Mid-Grade magical treasure [an enchanted artifact used by cultivators] named the 'Calamity Passage Mystic Pearl'. This treasure was originally the Lifebound Magical Treasure [a treasure intimately connected to a cultivator's life force] of a former Grand Elder of the Firmament Sword Sect. It possessed a powerful defensive Art of Divine Subjugation [a supreme mystical technique] known as 'Calamity Passage Mystic Aura'.

The defensive barrier currently enveloping Earth Lion Ridge was precisely this 'Calamity Passage Mystic Aura' technique, manifested by the Calamity Passage Mystic Pearl.

Bolstered by the Fourth Rank Earth Vein [a high-grade terrestrial energy source], as long as the Spiritual Vein [a vein of concentrated spiritual energy within the earth] did not suffer catastrophic depletion, this Divine Ability [a supreme technique born from profound cultivation] could be sustained indefinitely, repelling the relentless assaults.

The Human Race forces besieged the ridge for half a month, only to confirm the formidable resilience of the Calamity Passage Mystic Aura. Even the combined might of tens of thousands of cultivators channeling their grand formation and the continuous bombardment from Third-Rank Treasure Ship failed to breach its defenses.

On this day, the forces paused to regroup. The several Patriarch [a title for a clan or sect leader] gathered for a private council.

Eldrin Chen surveyed the assembly, his expression calm. "We have assaulted for half a month," he stated, "yet the Mountain Protection Formation of Earth Lion Ridge shows no sign of weakening. It appears it could hold for more than three months."

"What do you all think we should do? Should we pay any price to forcefully activate the Treasure Ship and break the formation, or should we continue to deplete its spiritual energy [the vital energy that flows through all living things] until it is exhausted?"

The expressions of the several individuals nearby were all grave. If this kind of war were to drag on for a long time, the consumption of Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy] and other supplies would simply be too immense. Support the author by reading on audio-novel`com.