Chapter 367 Narrow Path Encounter

Aside from Elara (Person Name) who remained to guard the sect and the Old Patriarch who was in seclusion to mend his Golden Core, the other 4 Golden Core cultivators of the Sky Ruins Alliance had all arrived at this place.

Upon closer count, the number of Golden Core Elders in this battle had actually reached 10, approaching the peak strength of the Chu Kingdom before the Demon Abyss Cataclysm 4 100 years ago.

By this calculation alone, the forces engaged in this battle were more than twice as powerful as those from a 100 years ago.

The 10 Golden Core Elders took their seats. After assessing their strength, Freya (Person Name) remarked, "With our current power far surpassing what it was in the past, dealing with the Devil's Abyss Cave should require significantly less trouble this time."

"We shall deploy the formation with the Cyan Array Disk, then mobilize the 2 war treasure ships of the Sky Ruins Alliance to launch a direct assault and breach our way in."

Eldrin also nodded in agreement. Although the defenses of the Demon Cave were formidable, the overall strength of the Chu Kingdom's cultivation world had far surpassed what it had been 1 100 years prior, following a series of major victories.

The strength of the Heavenly Ruins Alliance alone had surged by more than double. Setting aside Golden Core True Masters, the number of Purple Mansion cultivators had also increased from the previous 30 or 40 to over 60 now.

Other major factions also sent significant reinforcements, so the number of Foundation Establishment cultivators participating in this battle had exceeded 1,000, with 127 Purple Mansion cultivators joining as well.

With such overwhelming power, they had also summoned 2 supreme demon-subduing treasures—the Firmament Immortal Sword and the Mirror of the Vast Heaven (Magic Treasure). Moreover, the even more formidable Freya (Person Name) personally presided over the operation. Taking down the Demonic Abyss Cave should hardly be an unexpected challenge.

Grand Elder Taiwu nodded beside him, yet added, "The Demon Lord of Black Eagle Ridge has already broken through to the Golden Core, Late Stage (Cultivation Realm). We still need someone to keep him in check."

"This matter is easily handled."

Lyra's eyes flickered slightly as she said calmly, "Before this battle, I had someone negotiate with the Yan Kingdom's Yuan Clan Immortal Family. The 3 True Lords of Yan Kingdom's cultivation world will keep him occupied."

"Once this battle concludes, we'll simply make a detour and eliminate him."

"That makes things much easier."

Taiwu Zhenren's face lit up with joy. The Cangqing Sect had long regarded Black Eagle Ridge as a thorn in their side for thousands of years.

However, the Black Eagle Ridge possessed speed that was unparalleled among those of the same realm. Even when besieged by Golden Core, Late Stage (Cultivation Realm) cultivators, they could easily escape unscathed.

For over a 1000 years, the Verdant Azure Immortal Sect had found no way to deal with it. Only a top-tier Golden Core cultivator like Lyra could possess any certainty of slaying it.

After finalizing their strategy, they decided to strike at the Demonic Abyss Cave. Grandmaster Taiwu personally deployed the Cyanwood Formation Disk, while nearly 100,000 cultivators joined forces to suppress the demonic energy within the cave using Refining Demonic True Flame.

Then Eldrin and Lyra personally activated the 2 war treasure ships, expending over 100,000 spirit stones without hesitation to unleash 12 consecutive strikes of the 7 Stars Demon-Slaying Sword Qi.

Such immense power was nearly equivalent to a Golden Core Great Perfection cultivator unleashing 12 full-strength strikes. Even the Demonic Fiend Qi (Spiritual Root) barrier surrounding the Devil's Cave could not withstand it, tearing open a breach.

"Let's begin."

Freya’s (Person Name) eyes narrowed sharply as she soared into the Devil’s Cave. Eldrin (Person Name) and the others swiftly followed behind.

No sooner had Eldrin stepped into the Demonic Abyss Cave than he casually summoned a Bing Fire Divine Thunder. In the blink of an eye, the magnificent divine lightning erupted, sweeping away waves of demonic energy and reducing countless demonic cultivators to ashes on the spot.

After completing all this, Eldrin watched as everyone followed him in and said, "The Demonic Fiend Qi will invade your bodies, so we must end this battle swiftly."

"If we cannot secure the Demonic Spring within 2 hours, then the Foundation Establishment cultivators may retreat after that time."

"We understand."

Seeing everyone nod, Freya declared, “We’ll split into 3 groups. Make it quick and decisive.”

Everyone nodded, then led their teams into the Devil's Abyss Cave according to the planned strategy.

This battle unfolded across 3 routes: 1 led by the Celestial Ruins Alliance, another jointly commanded by the Violet Abyss Sect, Verdant Azure Immortal Gate, and Vaulting Sky Sword Sect, while Freya (Person Name) spearheaded the third contingent alone.

Thus, with a Demon-Subduing Supreme Treasure guarding each path, a repeat of the ambush from 1 100 years ago would be impossible.

Eldrin and Lyra fought their way along the left path, cutting down demonic cultivators who retreated in disarray. After charging over 300,000 li, they finally encountered formidable foes.

The arrivals turned out to be Old Devil Yan and the Demonic Cave Master. The moment their eyes fell upon Eldrin and his companion, a glint of wariness and cold hostility flashed within them.

Damn it, how could it be them on this road?

The 2 demons stared with furious gazes. The Heavenly Ruins Alliance boasted no less than 4 Golden Core experts, including Eldrin and Lyra, both at the Golden Core, Late Stage—a force formidable enough to overwhelm them.

At this thought, the Eldrin couldn't help but ask the Cave Master of the Demon Abyss, "What should we do?"

"Fight our way out."

The Cave Master of the Demon Cavern gritted his teeth and said, "This is different from 1 100 years ago. The 1 coming this time is Freya (Person Name)."

Freya (Person Name) possessed a superior Golden Core, with spiritual power reaching 80 to 90 percent of a Nascent Soul True Monarch's capacity. Wielding a demon-refining supreme treasure in her hand, her combat prowess was virtually equivalent to that of a Nascent Soul True Monarch in all but name.

This level of power was simply beyond his ability to resist; there was no way they could hold the Devil's Cave.

Their only way out was to take advantage of Freya (Person Name) attacking the demons to escape through the entrance of the demon cave.

The group split into 3 separate paths. With merely a 10 percent chance of encountering Freya (Person Name), he truly hadn't crossed paths with her this time. Yet unexpectedly, he came upon Lyra (Person Name).

Just to escape with his life, even knowing full well how formidable Lyra was, he had no choice but to steel himself and confront her.

"Let's begin."

When humans and demons meet, there is naturally nothing to discuss.

Lyra was the first to charge forward, summoning her immortal sword artifact to relentlessly assail the Cave Lord of the Demon Abyss.

Meanwhile, Eldrin soared into the heavens, the Twin Celestial Parting Swords in his hands weaving through the air with unstoppable force, pressing the Elder Demon Yan so fiercely he could scarcely catch his breath.

Old Fiend Yan had already been at the Golden Core stage for 1 100 and 50 years, yet his physical body was destroyed by Eldrin back then, costing him a full 60 years of cultivation.

Now his cultivation had only just reached the second level of the Golden Core stage, and his spiritual power was naturally far inferior to Eldrin's. For a time, he was forced into continuous retreat.

Moreover, trapped in the Demonic Abyss Cave all these years without access to the flesh and blood essence of mortals, Elder Yan the Demonic had been unable to cultivate a new Blood Demon Seed to replace the 1 destroyed. Thus, he now retained only 2 Blood Demon Seed clones.

In such circumstances, how could he possibly be a match for Eldrin? Before those 2 False Core Realm blood fiends could even unleash their ferocity, Eldrin dispatched them with 2 swift strokes of his sword.

Blood Demon Child.

Witnessing the destruction of the Blood Fiend Seed, Elder Yan let out a startled cry.

Realizing the grave danger, he hastily cried out, "Elder Cang, if you don’t act now, I fear none of us will escape today!"

"Heh heh heh!"

The Elder of Taicang let out a sinister cackle, summoning a pitch-black demon sword that sliced through the air toward its target.

In that great battle of yesteryear, both the Lord of the Demonic Abyss and Elder Yan met their demise, their physical forms utterly destroyed. Only the Ancient Taicang Demon managed to preserve his mortal vessel.

Although he had been severely wounded back then, he recovered after a brief period of recuperation.

At that moment, he desired to devour the Golden Cores of the Devil's Cavern Master and Elder Yan, yet the 2 demons joined forces—drawing upon the Demonic Spring and their centuries of accumulated power within the Devil's Cavern—to hold him at bay.