Chapter 325 : Clash of Cores and Blades

"Disaster! She has broken through to the Golden Core Mid Stage [the fourth major realm of cultivation, representing a solidified core of spiritual power]."

The expressions of the human and the demon shifted abruptly. They had believed that by joining forces, they could suppress Exquisite Jiang and perhaps even slay her. Yet now, their combined efforts had instead placed them at a disadvantage.

On another front, the Golden Lion Mastiff, the Deng Clan Golden Core Elder, were locked in a chaotic melee with Xavier Xu and Elara Lin.

That True Person Great Defense, with his profound and vigorous spiritual power, sought immediately to subdue the Golden Core Mid Stage Savage Ox Demon King.

As soon as Heaven Leviathan Deng spotted Eldrin Chen on the battlefield, a look of savage glee crossed his face. "You wretch! You are truly here. Today, I shall cut you down to avenge my grandson!"

His face contorted with malice. With a sweeping motion of his hand, he summoned forth a Fourth-Rank Magical Treasure [a powerful enchanted artifact], which soared into the air and cleaved directly towards Eldrin Chen.

This treasure was named the Heaven's Edge God-Slaying Blade, Heaven Leviathan Deng's own Lifebound Magical Treasure [a magical treasure intimately connected to its wielder's life force]. Its grade was as high as Fourth Rank Mid-Grade. In his view, dealing with Eldrin Chen, who was merely at the Violet Sanctum 9th Tier [the ninth and final stage of the third major cultivation realm], would be effortless.

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

"*Whoosh—*"

A beam of light flashed from the mirror. In an instant, the radiance of that Fourth Rank Mid-Grade magical treasure was utterly extinguished, and it was drawn into the depths of the Polarity Void Mirror. Original publication: audio-novel[dot]com - The source of this chapter.

"Ah, my treasured blade!"

Watching his Lifebound Magical Treasure [a cultivator's personally bonded and nurtured magical weapon] being seized, Heaven Leviathan Deng cried out in alarm, his face paling. He immediately unleashed his Divine Ability [a supreme supernatural technique], 'Heavenly Heart Void-Slashing Blade'.

Seeing it was a Metal-attributed Divine Ability, Eldrin Chen raised his hand and sent the mirror's radiance swirling forth once more. The light enveloped the technique, grinding it into nothingness before it could manifest.

Then, with a flick of his wrist, he summoned the Celestial Abyss Twin Swords. Across the vast expanse of void, he sent two devastating sword beams slicing towards Heaven Leviathan Deng.

With his signature Divine Ability countered and his Lifebound Magical Treasure suppressed, Heaven Leviathan Deng faced the onslaught of two Fourth Rank Mid-Grade [a specific tier of power and refinement] Immortal Sword [a sword of immortal quality]. Desperate, he was forced to deploy his final trump card: the 'Purple-Gold Glazed Armor'.

This Purple-Gold Glazed Armor was a legacy treasure of the Deng Clan, one of only three Fourth Rank Superior Grade Magical Treasure [the highest grade within the Fourth Rank] in their entire clan, renowned as a top-tier defensive artifact.

"Still Metal-attributed?"

Eldrin Chen took a closer look and couldn't help but smile.

He directed another surge of mirror light. This time, while it failed to wrest the armor away, the radiant beam struck the Purple-Gold Glazed Armor with such force that its protective glow dimmed by half.

Almost simultaneously, the magical treasure [an enchanted artifact used by cultivators] activated its Innate [a natural, inherent quality] Divine Ability, 'Polarity Primordial Magnetism Annihilation Divine Radiance', launching a counterattack.

Divine light-type Divine Ability [supernatural powers] are most effective at countering defensive magical treasure [enchanted artifacts]. The Polarity Primordial Magnetism Divine Light is particularly the bane of metal-attributed magical treasure, and it actually managed to strike the Purple-Gold Glazed Armor down from the sky.

"Bloody hell!"

Heaven Leviathan Deng nearly choked on his own breath, his mind reeling with fury.

In his panic, he could only muster a few Divine Ability and a single Fourth Rank Low-Grade magical treasure in a desperate attempt to hold his ground. But without his Lifebound Magical Treasure [a cultivator's soul-bound artifact] and his trump cards, how could he possibly contend with Eldrin Chen?

After a mere dozen or so exchanges, he was already forced into a perilous position, beaten back step by step under the relentless assault of the Celestial Abyss Twin Swords.

Eldrin Chen channeled the Jade Spirit Eye, guiding the twin swords with effortless grace. He perceived flaws in his opponent's defense everywhere, dismantling his resistance with ease.

It was only then that he realized the ocular Divine Ability Eldrin Chen was employing was none other than the hereditary technique of his own Deng Clan, a revelation that twisted his gut with fresh rage.

"Now."

Seizing the moment of his opponent's myriad openings, Eldrin Chen unleashed his ultimate weapon: the Two Polarities Divine Thunder.

This Two Polarities Divine Thunder descended with majestic, sky-churning power. A single, devastating strike shattered Heaven Leviathan Deng's physical body, leaving only his Golden Core [the condensed core of a cultivator's power] to fly out in retreat.

Under normal circumstances, his Golden Core [the solidified spiritual core of a mid-level cultivator] might have had a chance to flee. But here, trapped within the dual blockade of the Primordial Unity Heaven-Sealing Formation and the Cultivable Earth Kun Origin Disk, he found all avenues of escape utterly sealed.

The Heavenly River Positive Water Sword [a divine sword technique manifesting as a river of pure, yang-aligned water] swept forth with a resonant *shing*, cleaving his Inner Pill [the condensed spiritual core within a Golden Core cultivator's dantian] cleanly in two.

"Tiankun!"

The two Golden Core cultivators of the Deng Clan were locked in fierce combat when they suddenly sensed that something was terribly amiss.

They could never have imagined that in barely a dozen exchanges, Heaven Leviathan Deng, a cultivator at the Golden Core Mid Stage, would be slain by Eldrin Chen.

"He concealed his true cultivation base." Immerse yourself in the complete world at audio-novel.com (official site).

"Damnable!"

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

The battle had turned against them. Logic dictated a swift retreat, yet they found themselves ironically imprisoned by their own Primordial Unity Heaven-Sealing Formation and the Cultivable Earth Kun Origin Disk.

As cultivators of the Golden Core Late Stage, given time, they could have breached the Formation [a structured arrangement of energy nodes and patterns used for defense, attack, or other effects]. But under the relentless pressure from the formidable foe, Exquisite Jiang, they had no time to break through two layers of such defenses.

It is said that Eldrin Chen swallowed several elixirs [spiritual pills used to restore energy and vitality] to replenish his mana, then activated the Celestial Abyss Twin Swords to resume the battle.

This time, his target was the Golden Lion Mastiff. Elara Lin and Xavier Xu had broken through to the Golden Core realm [the third major stage of cultivation where one forms a solidified core of spiritual power] relatively recently and were already at a disadvantage against two opponents at the Golden Core Early Stage.

Seeing him charge over, the Golden Lion Mastiff felt its courage shatter, its very liver and gall [a Chinese idiom for extreme fear] trembling. It immediately tried to disengage and fight a battle of attrition.

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

After exchanging barely a dozen moves, it was already beaten back, spitting blood, a massive wound torn open across its physical body.

"Disaster!"

The Deng Clan Patriarch's expression changed drastically. He hurriedly shouted, "Lion King, if we don't use our trump cards today, I fear we will both perish here!"

"Agreed! Go all out!"

The Earth Lion Demon King roared and summoned its Lifebound Magical Treasure [a magical artifact bound to a cultivator's life force, growing in power with them], the 'Vajra Lion-Dragon Seal', to block the Heavenly Ruins Immortal-Slaying Sword.

The Deng Clan Patriarch also summoned his Lifebound Magical Treasure, the 'Crimson-Gold Glazed Armor', to parry Exquisite Jiang's assault. Then, across the void, he hurled a Fourth-Rank Magical Treasure [a powerful enchanted artifact of the fourth tier] directly at Eldrin Chen.

That treasure was named the Vast Cold Azure Void Vase [a mystical vessel capable of trapping and dissolving even powerful cultivators], and it was also one of the Deng Clan's foundational assets for safeguarding their lineage. Even a Golden Core Cultivator [a cultivator who has condensed their spiritual energy into a solid golden core] caught within it would find their flesh and bones utterly eroded, with no hope of escape.

"A formidable magical treasure [an enchanted artifact used by cultivators]," Eldrin Chen acknowledged.

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

He immediately summoned the Bulwark Earth Sovereign Bell [a bell-shaped treasure that stabilizes the fundamental forces of earth, fire, water, and wind] to anchor the chaotic energies and block the vase's suction. Then, drawing deeply upon his reserves of spiritual power, he unleashed the Two Polarities Divine Thunder [a divine lightning technique born from the clash of opposing primordial forces] directly at the oncoming artifact.

"BOOM—"

Though potent, the Vast Cold Azure Void Vase dared not attempt to absorb the destructive power of the Two Polarities Divine Thunder. It swiftly retracted its Divine Ability [a supreme technique powered by divine energy] to form a defensive barrier against the strike.

The result of the collision was devastating. The vase was struck by the divine thunder, its radiant glow instantly dimming as it suffered a grievous wound and plummeted from the sky.

"My treasure!"

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

"To consecutively unleash such Great God Ability [a supreme technique of divine magnitude]... how can this man possess such a vast and profound reservoir of spiritual power?"

He hastily stowed away the Vast Cold Azure Void Vase [a mystical vessel capable of containing and manipulating profound cold and void energies], unable to suppress a glance towards Eldrin Chen, a flicker of astonishment crossing his thoughts.

Alas, before he could ponder further, Eldrin Chen—having toppled the Vast Cold Azure Void Vase—had already unleashed the Celestial Abyss Twin Swords [a pair of divine blades resonating with celestial and abyssal power] in a fierce assault.

The Golden Lion Mastiff [a majestic, lion-like demonic hound with a golden mane] was utterly outmatched by Eldrin Chen and could only turn to flee. Yet, Xavier Xu on the other flank would never permit its escape.

Seizing the moment, Xavier Xu summoned his Lifebound Magical Treasure [a treasure bound to its master's life force and soul] and struck, sending the Golden Lion Mastiff hurtling backwards through the air.

Capitalizing on the opening, Eldrin Chen conjured a streak of black sword light—none other than the Thousand Demons Demon-Slaying Sword [a legendary blade forged to vanquish legions of demons]—which descended from the heavens and cleanly severed the head of the Golden Lion Mastiff.

"Aaaargh—!"

The Golden Lion Mastiff let out a final, agonized cry. Had it been beheaded by an ordinary Immortal Sword [a sword wielded by immortal beings], it might have clung to life. But it had the misfortune of facing the Thousand Demons Demon-Slaying Sword.

With a resonant hum, the Thousand Demons Demon-Slaying Sword drew the beast's soul essence into its blade, where it was ultimately devoured by the sword's spirit, the Black Flood Dragon [a powerful draconic entity bound within the sword]. Access the full story on https://audio-novel.com.