Chapter 369 : A Demonic Heart's Final Stand

The group exchanged uneasy glances. To slay one's own wife to prove one's path—they had never imagined the Grand Granary True Person could be so ruthless and cruel.

Even at his final moment, the Grand Granary Old Demon remained utterly deranged. A savage grin twisted his features. "If it means breaking through to the Infant Soul [the nascent soul stage of cultivation], what does a mere Dao Companion matter?"

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

"The Grand Granary Old Demon has fallen completely into demonic madness. He has lost all trace of humanity,"

Sect Master Qian declared, his expression icy. He summoned a supreme-grade Immortal Sword [a sword of immortal quality] and unleashed a slash brimming with boundless killing intent.

Facing the combined assault of nine Golden Core True Person [cultivators at the Golden Core stage], including powerhouses like Exquisite Jiang and Eldrin Chen, even a False Infant Soul Realm Cultivator [a cultivator at the pseudo-Infant Soul stage] would likely turn and flee. How much more so the Grand Granary Old Demon, who was merely at the eighth layer of the Golden Core [the Golden Core cultivation stage].

In mere moments, the Yan Old Demon was slain, his physical body and Golden Core refined into nothing but ashes of calamity.

After another dozen or so exchanges, the Grand Granary Old Demon, overwhelmed by the relentless siege, finally suffered a grievous wound.

Then, Exquisite Jiang unleashed her divine might. Channeling the Void Five Tribulations Divine Light [a divine light technique embodying five heavenly tribulations], she struck with overwhelming force, shattering his physical form into five separate pieces.

Even with his body destroyed, the Grand Granary Old Demon sought to flee. But Immortal Maiden Spirit Consort seized the moment. She invoked a divine ability—the 'Heavenly River Spirit-Binding Curse' [a curse that binds the spirit using the power of the Heavenly River]—and anchored the old demon's Golden Core firmly within the void, leaving him utterly trapped. Your portal to cultivation novels: audio novel.com.

Eldrin Chen seized the moment to unleash his Divine Ability [a supreme supernatural power cultivated by immortals], the Solar True Flame [a divine flame embodying the essence of the sun]. An endless torrent of True Flame [a pure, high-level spiritual fire] cascaded down, incinerating Grand Granary Old Demon until his Golden Core [the solidified core of spiritual power formed at the Golden Core stage] was reduced to ashes of tribulation.

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

After slaying his foe, Sect Master Qian was overcome with emotion. Tears streamed down his aged face, and his voice trembled with barely contained sobs.

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

All of this was because of Grand Granary Old Demon. It could be said that the hatred everyone felt for this traitor far surpassed even their loathing for the Lord of Demon Cave.

This was precisely why Eldrin Chen had chosen to let the Lord of Demon Cave 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 reflection and sentiment, coupled with a feeling of clarity and resolution settling within their hearts.

It was at this very moment that the battle upon the Heavenly Vault [a celestial platform or battlefield] was drawing to its conclusion.

Besieged by three Demon-Subduing Supreme Treasure [peerless artifacts specifically forged to vanquish demonic forces], and deprived of the ceaseless stream of demonic energy that had sustained it, the Seven Fiend Demon Skulls [a demonic artifact formed from seven fiendish skulls] could hold out no longer.

The mirror-light of the Heaven's Vault Mirror pinned the Seven Fiend Demon Skulls in place. The Nine Heavens Demon-Subduing Bracelet suppressed its myriad Divine Ability [a supreme supernatural power cultivated by immortals]. Finally unshackled, the Vault Heaven Immortal Sword, the most potent weapon of Slaughter [a divine ability focused on pure destruction], was free to strike with unrestrained fury.

One after another, dazzling sword beams cleaved down, striking the seven demonic skulls until they were riddled with cracks. Ultimately, this Demonic Treasure [an artifact forged with demonic energy] shattered under the overwhelming mirror light of the Heaven's Vault Mirror, disintegrating into countless fragments that scattered into the void.

"Boom—"

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

Under normal circumstances, such a blast would have leveled everything within a thousand Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters]. Fortunately, three Demon-Subduing Supreme Treasure [supreme artifacts specifically designed to suppress demonic forces] were present to suppress the explosion. Furthermore, the assembled Golden Core Cultivator [cultivators who have condensed their spiritual energy into a stable Golden Core] swiftly deployed their own magical treasure [enchanted artifacts used by cultivators] for protection. Through their combined efforts, not a single participating cultivator suffered casualties.

Once the Seven Fiend Demon Skulls had been utterly destroyed, Eldrin Chen immediately urged, "The Lord of Demon Cave has escaped. He is likely being held back by the Formation [a structured array that channels energy for defense or attack] for now. Let us finish him before discussing anything else."

"Agreed."

The group nodded in unison 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 and reported, "The Lord of Demon Cave managed to break through."

Eldrin Chen frowned. A Formation powered by the Azure Verdancy Formation Disk and fueled by the spiritual energy of a hundred thousand cultivators should have been nearly impossible to breach so quickly. In theory, not even a False Infant Soul Realm Cultivator [a cultivator who has attempted but not fully succeeded in forming their Infant Soul, the nascent spiritual form beyond the Golden Core] should have been able to escape its confines in such a short time.

As Lior Chen recounted the events, Eldrin Chen quickly understood the reason why the Lord of Demon Cave [the ruler of the demonic cavern stronghold] had managed to escape.

It turned out that the Lord of Demon Cave possessed a supreme-grade needle-type Demonic Treasure [an artifact forged with demonic energy]. He summoned this demonic needle and, within a mere three seconds, pierced a tiny hole through the Formation [the defensive energy barrier].

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

Upon hearing this, everyone exchanged glances of astonishment. None had anticipated that the Lord of Demon Cave possessed such a cunning trick, a move truly impossible to guard against.

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

Sect Master Qian [the leader of the Qian Sect], who stood nearby, added, "That fiend has less than a century of lifespan remaining. Setting aside the fact his physical body is now utterly destroyed, even if he were to find a Nirvana Pill [a legendary pill capable of rebirth], it would require a full Sixty-Year Cycle [a complete cycle of sixty years] to reconstruct a new body. Henceforth, he poses little threat." For uninterrupted reading, go to (audio-novel.com).

Eldrin Chen nodded in agreement. His gaze turned towards the Demon Cave [the cavernous demonic lair]. "Now that the high-ranking Demonic Cultivator [practitioners who use demonic energy] within this Demon Cave have all been slain, it is time to sweep it clean in one final battle."

"It is only fitting," the others concurred.

Smiles of grim resolution spread across their faces. Without further delay, they once more charged into the depths of the Demon Cave, intent on eradicating the very source of the demonic scourge plaguing the Chu Nation [the nation of Chu] in a single, decisive campaign.

With no Golden Core-stage Demonic Cultivator left to command them, the remaining Demonic Cultivator were scarcely a concern.

The group once more split into three separate forces, and this time they could finally unleash their full might to slaughter the Demonic Cultivators without restraint.

Eldrin Chen and Exquisite Jiang pressed deeper into the Demon Cave, cutting a bloody swath through the enemy ranks. Suddenly, Eldrin's eyes narrowed slightly, and he spoke, his gaze fixed on a figure lurking in a shadowy corner amidst the throng of fleeing cultivators.

"Turn around. Let me see your face."

The figure's step faltered for a mere instant, then it pretended not to hear and began moving swiftly away into the gloom.

In that moment, a streak of sword light cleaved through the air, aimed directly at the retreating silhouette. Startled, the figure instantly transformed into a streak of black, evasive light, fleeing desperately into the distance.

Only then did the surrounding cultivators realize with a shock that hidden among them had been a powerful Demonic Cultivator of the Violet Sanctum Mid Stage.

"Hong Old Demon, you cannot escape."

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

The figure's disguise dissolved, revealing the true form of Hong Old Demon, who now lay sprawled and gasping on the cavern floor. He looked up at Eldrin Chen, his eyes wide with terror.

Seeing the expression on Hong Old Demon's face, a sigh echoed within Eldrin Chen's heart. His own legend had begun with his first major battle after reaching the Foundation Establishment realm, a reputation for fearsome prowess that had been forged and solidified with each subsequent conflict.

Back in the day, five Foundation Establishment cultivators, including this Hong Old Demon, managed to escape. Over the years, almost all cultivators of that generation perished. Who would have thought that not only did this Hong Old Demon survive to this day, but he had also cultivated to the Violet Sanctum 6th Tier.

Yet, this was his limit. Though this demon had escaped death several times, and this time even used a sophisticated technique to conceal his aura, attempting to flee amidst the crowd, he still could not evade the discerning eyes of Eldrin Chen.

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

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

After the old demon was slain, the cultivators at the Violet Sanctum level and above within the Demon Cave were nearly exterminated. Eldrin Chen ordered the numerous Violet Sanctum cultivators to lead teams, each with over a dozen Foundation Establishment Cultivator disciples, to begin scouring the Demon Cave for remaining Demonic Cultivator.

This battle aimed for total annihilation, to ensure that for the next six hundred years, the land of Chu Nation would be utterly devoid of any fertile ground for Demonic Cultivator to take root.

As the cultivators dispersed to hunt down the Demonic Cultivator, Eldrin Chen and several Golden Core Cultivator experts proceeded to the core of the Demon Cave.

Within the vast cavern, Eldrin Chen saw Freya Ji unleashing her magical treasure [an enchanted artifact used by cultivators], continuously suppressing the Demonic Spring.

Gazing at the Demonic Spring before them, Exquisite Jiang immediately explained, "The Demonic Spring is the core of this Demonic Cultivator Forbidden Land. It is said to have been forged by an Outer Realm Demon God [a powerful demonic entity from beyond this world] refining a Stellar Fragment [a fragment of a fallen star, rich in potent energy]."

"To completely resolve the threat of this Demon Cave, we must extract the Stellar Fragment from within this Demonic Spring." Original English translation available at *audio-novel.com*.