Chapter 369 : The Demon's Final Stand

The group exchanged uneasy glances. To slay one's own wife to prove one's Dao [the fundamental principle or path in Chinese philosophy]... they had never imagined Taicang the Venerable could be so ruthless and cruel.

Even at his final extremity, Taicang the Elder Demon remained utterly deranged. A savage grin twisted his features. "What does a mere Dao companion matter," he snarled, "if it allows me to break through to the Nascent Soul [the stage where a cultivator forms an independent spiritual entity] realm?"

"If you must blame someone, blame her for standing in my path."

"Yan Morgrim has fallen completely into demonhood," someone said, voice heavy. "He has lost all trace of his humanity."

With an expression colder than ice, Qian the Sect Master spoke. In the same motion, he summoned a supreme-grade immortal sword and brought it down in a slash brimming with boundless killing intent.

Faced with nine Golden Core True Person [cultivators who have formed a solid golden core of spiritual energy], among them powerhouses like Lyra Jiang and Eldrin Chen, even a False Nascent Soul Cultivator [one who has reached a pseudo-stage just below the true Nascent Soul realm] would likely turn and flee. How much more so Taicang the Elder Demon, who was merely at the Golden Core Eighth Layer.

After only a few moments, Yan Morgrim was slain, his physical body and Golden Core [the solidified core of spiritual energy formed in the dantian] alike refined into nothing but tribulation ash.

After another dozen or so exchanges under the relentless assault, Taicang the Elder Demon was forced into a steady retreat and finally suffered a grievous wound.

Then, Lyra Jiang unleashed her divine might. She channeled the Divine Light of the Five Void Tribulations [a powerful cultivation art that harnesses the power of five types of void tribulations], and its overwhelming radiance descended, shattering the elder demon's body into five separate pieces.

Even with his physical form destroyed, Taicang the Elder Demon sought to flee. But Elara Lin seized the opportunity. She invoked the Frost Jade Radiance-Solidifying Mantra [a mystical chant that freezes and immobilizes with jade-like radiance], pinning the old demon's Golden Core firmly within the void, leaving him utterly trapped. Read, share, and discuss at audio_novel.com.

Eldrin Chen seized the moment to unleash his Divine Ability [innate or cultivated supernatural powers], the Solar True Flame [a supreme flame of pure solar essence]. An endless torrent of True Flame [a potent, purified spiritual fire] cascaded down, incinerating Taicang the Elder Demon's Golden Core [the solidified core of spiritual power formed at the Golden Core Realm] into ashes of tribulation.

"Senior Brother Sect Master, I have avenged you."

After slaying his foe, Qian the Sect Master was overcome, tears streaming down his aged face as he choked back a sob, his body trembling with emotion.

The battle a century ago had been too tragic. The Zhang Sect Master of the Firmament Sword Sect had sacrificed his own flesh and bloodline in a blood ritual, enabling the others to escape with their lives.

All of this was because of Taicang the Elder Demon. It could be said that the hatred everyone felt for this traitor far exceeded even their loathing for the Lord of the Demon Cave Cavern.

This was precisely why Eldrin Chen had chosen to let the Lord of the Demon Cave Cavern escape, focusing instead on ensuring this betrayer met his end.

Now, with the traitor slain and a century-old vendetta finally settled, Eldrin Chen and the others were filled with complex emotions—a profound sense of closure and a clarity of spirit that felt like a weight lifted.

It was at this very moment that the battle raging upon the Firmament [the vast, high heavens] was drawing to its inevitable conclusion.

Besieged by three Demon-Subduing Supreme Treasure [artifacts of supreme power designed to vanquish demonic forces], and having lost its connection to the endless supply of Demonic Qi [the corrupt spiritual energy cultivated by demonic practitioners], the Seven Malignancy Demon Skulls [a powerful demonic artifact formed from seven malevolent skulls] could hold out no longer.

The mirror-light of the Mirror of the Vast Heaven [a divine mirror capable of illuminating and restraining all things] pinned the Seven Malignancy Demon Skulls in place. The Demon-Refining Bracer of the Nine Firmaments [a powerful bracer that suppresses and refines demonic energy] suppressed its myriad Divine Ability, allowing the most lethally offensive of the three, the Firmament Immortal Sword, to finally strike with unrestrained fury.

One after another, resplendent sword radiances descended, striking the seven Demonic Skull until they were riddled with cracks. Ultimately, this Demonic Treasure shattered under the overwhelming mirror-light of the Mirror of the Vast Heaven, disintegrating into countless fragments.

"BOOM—"

The destruction of a Fifth Rank Demonic Treasure unleashed a torrent of devastating power.

Under normal circumstances, this would have been enough to flatten the land for a thousand Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] in all directions. Fortunately, three Demon-Subduing Supreme Treasure were suppressing the area, and the gathered Golden Core Cultivator had raised their Magical Treasure in defense. This prevented any casualties among the participating cultivators.

Once the Seven Malignancy Demon Skulls were destroyed, Eldrin Chen immediately spoke up. "The Lord of the Demon Cave Cavern has escaped. He is likely being hindered by the formation runes right now. We should focus on hunting him down before dealing with anything else."

"Agreed."

The group nodded in succession and swiftly charged outwards.

By the time they emerged, the battle outside had already concluded.

Lior Chen, who had been overseeing the grand formation from the outside, glanced at Eldrin Chen. "The Lord of the Demon Cave Cavern managed to escape," he reported.

Eldrin Chen frowned. The Formation laid down with the Verdant Formation Plate, powered by the mana of a hundred thousand cultivators, should have been formidable. In theory, not even a False Nascent Soul Cultivator should have been able to break free so quickly.

As Lior Chen recounted the events, Eldrin Chen quickly understood the reason why the Lord of the Demon Cave Cavern had managed to escape.

It turned out the Lord of the Demon Cave Cavern possessed a Supreme Grade Needle-Type Demonic Treasure [a pinnacle-grade demonic artifact shaped like a needle]. He unleashed this demonic needle and, within a mere three seconds, pierced a tiny hole through the Formation [a structured arrangement of energy used for defense or attack].

However, the hole punctured in the Formation was far too small for his physical body to pass through. Therefore, the Lord of the Demon Cave Cavern abandoned his fleshly form entirely. His Golden Core [the condensed essence of a cultivator's power, representing the Golden Core realm] alone slipped through the breach and fled.

Upon hearing this, everyone exchanged glances, astonished. None had anticipated the Lord of the Demon Cave Cavern possessing such a trick, a move truly impossible to guard against.

"As for this Lord of the Demon Cave Cavern, we need not worry about him in the future."

The Qian the Elder [an elder of the Qian Clan] nearby spoke up, "That fiend has less than a century of lifespan remaining. Setting aside the fact his physical body is now utterly destroyed, even if he found a Nirvana Pill [a legendary pill capable of rebirth or profound restoration], it would still require a full Jiazi-time [a sixty-year cycle] to reconstruct a new body. Henceforth, he poses negligible threat." Original English translation available at audio-novel`com.

Eldrin Chen nodded in agreement. Gazing at the Demon Cave Cavern, he declared, "Now that the high-ranking Demonic Cultivator [practitioners who use malevolent and often sacrificial methods to gain power] within this Demon Cave Cavern have all been slain, the time is ripe to sweep it clean in one final campaign."

"It is only fitting," the others concurred.

Smiles graced their faces. One by one, they charged back into the depths of the Demon Cave Cavern, resolved to eradicate once and for all the source of the Demonic Calamity [a cataclysmic event caused by demonic forces] plaguing the Chu Kingdom.

With no Golden Core-level Demonic Cultivator left to command them, the remaining demonic practitioners were no longer a cause for concern.

The group once again split into three paths, and this time, they could finally unleash their full might to slaughter the Demonic Cultivator [practitioners who use sinister and often blood-based cultivation methods] without restraint.

Eldrin Chen and Lyra Jiang pressed deep into the heart of the Demon Cave Cavern, when suddenly, Eldrin's eyes flickered with recognition. He fixed his gaze on a figure lurking in a shadowed corner amidst the crowd and spoke.

"Turn around. Let me see your face."

The figure's step faltered for a mere instant. Pretending not to have heard, it began to slip away into the distance.

In that moment, a streak of sword light cleaved through the air, aimed directly at the retreating shadow. Startled, the figure instantly transformed into a streak of black escape light, fleeing into the cavern's depths.

Only then did the others realize with a shock that hidden among them had been a powerful Demonic Cultivator of the Purple Palace, Mid Stage [a significant stage of power within the Purple Mansion cultivation realm].

"Hong Morgrim, you cannot escape."

Eldrin Chen uttered the words with calm finality. With a flick of his finger, a surge of energy struck the fleeing figure, sending it crashing to the ground.

The figure's form solidified, revealing Hong Morgrim lying broken and gasping on the cavern floor. He looked up at Eldrin Chen, his face a mask of sheer terror.

Seeing the fear in Hong Morgrim's expression, a sigh echoed within Eldrin Chen's heart. His own legend had begun with his very first battle after reaching the Foundation Establishment [the realm where a cultivator solidifies their spiritual foundation], a reputation for fearsome prowess forged in fire and blood.

Of the five Foundation Establishment [the second major stage of cultivation] cultivators from back then, it was this Hong Morgrim who managed to escape. Over the years, nearly all cultivators of that generation perished. Who could have imagined that not only did Hong Morgrim survive to this day, but he had also cultivated to the Purple Mansion Sixth Layer [the sixth level of the third major cultivation realm].

Yet, this was his end. Though this demon had escaped death numerous times, and this time even used a profound art to conceal his aura, attempting to flee amidst the crowd, he could not evade the discerning gaze of Eldrin Chen.

"Atone for the mortals you have blood-sacrificed over these years."

Suppressing his thoughts, Eldrin Chen raised his hand and unleashed a sword strike. Thus, Hong Morgrim, who had roamed the world for over three hundred years, was finally slain within the Demon Cave Cavern.

After the elder demon was slain, the cultivators at the Purple Mansion [the third major cultivation realm] level and above within the Demon Cave Cavern were nearly exterminated. Eldrin Chen ordered the numerous Purple Mansion cultivators to lead teams, each with over a dozen Foundation Establishment Cultivator [cultivators at the Foundation Establishment realm], to begin scouring the caverns for any remaining Demonic Cultivator [cultivators who follow a dark, power-hungry path].

This battle was one of total annihilation, aimed at eradicating the very soil that could nurture Demonic Cultivator within the Chu Kingdom for the next six hundred years.

As the cultivators dispersed to hunt down the Demonic Cultivator, Eldrin Chen and several Golden Core Cultivator [cultivators at the fourth major cultivation realm] proceeded to the heart of the Demon Cave Cavern.

Within the vast subterranean cavern, Eldrin Chen saw Yvonne the Violet Consort unleashing her Magical Treasure [an enchanted artifact used by cultivators], continuously suppressing the Demonic Spring.

Gazing at the Demonic Spring before them, Lyra Jiang immediately spoke. "The Demonic Spring is the core of this Demonic Cultivator Forbidden Land [a place of power for demonic cultivators]. It is said to have been forged by an Extraterrestrial Demon God [a malevolent entity from beyond this world] refining a Star Fragment [a piece of celestial matter imbued with potent energy].