Chapter 385 The Dark Hand of Demonic Cultivators

As Lyra recounted the tale, a wave of astonishment flashed through Eldrin's heart.

The higher 1's cultivation realm, the more difficult it becomes to challenge those beyond 1's level. Eldrin had long understood the might of a Primordial Spirit Dao Lord, yet he never imagined that even a single Supreme Treasure of Pure Yang could possess such devastating power.

As if understanding Eldrin’s astonishment, Lyra nodded calmly and said:

That Refining Immortal Furnace was a supreme-grade Supreme Treasure of Pure Yang (Magic Treasure), having slain not merely 1 but multiple Outer Realm Demons at the Nascent Soul realm. Among all Supreme Treasures of Pure Yang (Magic Treasure) within the Violet Realm, it could firmly rank within the top 10.

Eldrin nodded in approval at last. This Supreme Treasure of Pure Yang must possess extraordinary qualities, for it dared to bear the title "Immortal-Refining Crucible"—a testament to its supreme audacity capable of refining even celestials and demons.

Gazing at the Demonflame Mountains, Lyra (Person Name) smiled faintly. "They say a 1000 years ago, the flames in these Demon Ape Mountains could even refine Golden Core True Masters. Yet now, they've weakened enough for Golden Core True Masters to traverse them safely."

"It seems that in another 1 or 2 1000 years, the demonic flames here will gradually extinguish. By then, even Foundation Establishment and Purple Mansion cultivators will be able to cross over and reach Tianxing Continent."

"The demonic flames of the Netherfire Ridge are extraordinary; we must still proceed with caution."

Eldrin (Person Name) also nodded, and the 2 began to venture deeper into the Demon Flame Ridge.

The terrain of the Demon Flame Ridge was treacherous, with raging Mo Flames surging everywhere. Above the heavens, Demonic Fiend Qi (Spiritual Root) demonic fires billowed upward, forming a Demonic Fiend Qi (Spiritual Root) astral cloud that had yet to dissipate even after 3 1000 years.

The difficulty of traversing directly across was immense, so the 2 could only steer the Green Sun Treasure Boat sideways at a moderate altitude.

Yet, under the interference of the demonic flames, their flight speed slowed considerably, and their spiritual energy consumption increased dramatically.

In this treacherous land, the 2 flew for a full month before finally traversing most of the Demon Flame Ridge.

"In a few days' time, we shall traverse the Demon Flame Ridge."

"This journey has truly been arduous."

Eldrin spoke, feeling a slight sense of relief.

The environment of the Demonic Flame Ridge was exceedingly harsh; those with cultivation below the Golden Core realm simply lacked the capability to traverse it.

Though both of them possessed profound cultivation, they had to constantly channel their spiritual energy to resist the demonic flames in such an environment—an extremely draining endeavor for their mental focus.

"Wrong."

Suddenly, Eldrin frowned.

Lyra also rose to her feet, exchanging a grave look with Eldrin. "These formation patterns appear to be demonic cultivation arrays," she stated with solemn intensity.

In that very instant, they sensed the power of formation patterns—but how could such energy exist within the Demonflame Peaks?

Both were high-level formation masters, so they immediately sensed something unusual.

"Let's go take a look first."

Eldrin spoke softly, then concealed his form and flew out in stealth.

Before long, they followed the flow of the formation patterns and arrived atop a mountain range engulfed in flames.

The 2 of them observed along this mountain range for a long while, until finally Eldrin’s expression turned grave, and he couldn’t help but speak up.

I observe these array patterns gathering the power of boundless demonic flames. Once this condensed force erupts, I fear it would be enough to shake heaven and earth—perhaps even capable of threatening a Nascent Soul True Monarch.

Lyra nodded. With her cultivation base comparable to a Pseudo Infant, she still felt a lethal threat from the power concentrated at the core of this formation.

The 2 of them deduced the formation's layout by analyzing the mountain ranges and terrain. Finally, Eldrin furrowed his brow and said, "The foundation of this formation relies on blood sacrifice—this is undoubtedly the work of a demonic cultivator."

"Which fiend dares to set up such a sinister formation here, and for what purpose?"

The 2 of them fell into deep contemplation for a long while, their minds beginning to deduce the identity of the 1 who had set up the formation.

To set up such a formation must be the work of a Nascent Soul level expert. With the Ji Clan presiding over Jizhou, the surrounding demonic cultivators have almost all been forced into submission.

The Black Fiend Ridge was nearly annihilated once every 1000 years without fail. The current Black Fiend Patriarch had only taken residence there some hundreds of years ago.

Even so, Black Fiend Ancestor (Person Name) was still cornered by the Ji Clan (Person Name) within the Ridge of the Black Fiend (Location), utterly incapable of extricating himself.

Under such circumstances, it was nearly impossible to find a Nascent Soul demonic cultivator capable of coming here to set up an array.

Lyra's eyes flickered slightly before she suddenly remarked, "Wait—it doesn’t necessarily have to be arranged by a Nascent Soul demonic cultivator."

The Nascent Soul demonic cultivator could fully refine the formation, lay down various contingency measures, and then have the Golden Core demonic cultivator deploy it in his stead.

Hearing her words, Eldrin breathed a sigh of relief, though this would still require at least a Golden Core, Late Stage demonic cultivator to accomplish.

However, as long as it wasn't a Nascent Soul demonic cultivator, they were more than capable of handling the situation. Moreover, Golden Core cultivators lacked sufficient cultivation base, and any formation they set up as substitutes would inevitably contain fatal flaws.

At this thought, Eldrin spoke: "This demonic array gathers the power of demonic flames here, likely to refine the Demonic Flame Yin Thunder Pearl."

"This Thunder Pearl's power rivals a single strike from a Nascent Soul cultivator. If used in a surprise attack, it could even severely injure an Infant Principle True Lord."

"That must be it." After another round of deductions, Lyra spoke after a long while, "Judging by the residual energy of the formation, this array must have been established for a full 3 100 years."

"The gathered Demonic Flame Yin Lightning Bead should be nearing completion. The day of its forging is almost upon us."

Eldrin nodded calmly and said, "Let us deduce the formation's flaws and see if we can seize the demonic cultivator's centuries of arduous cultivation for ourselves."

"Good."

Lyra also nodded in agreement, for the importance of the Fifth-Rank Thunder Pearl went without saying.

If they could obtain 1, their means of self-preservation would be greatly enhanced, even causing a Nascent Soul True Monarch to feel slightly wary.

He then resumed deducing the formation, laboring for 4 or 5 months straight. Yet, despite his efforts, he frustratingly found no flaws in the array.

As the power of the Demonic Flame Yin Thunder Pearl grew increasingly formidable, a trace of urgency flickered across their faces.

Suddenly, a faint glimmer lit up Eldrin's eyes. "I have a way."

"What method?" A glimmer of delight surfaced in Lyra's (Person Name) eyes.

Eldrin (Person Name) smiled and said, "After all, this formation was crafted by a Nascent Soul stage demonic cultivator. With our current cultivation level, finding its flaws is far too difficult."

"However, since it wasn't personally arranged by an Eldrin (Person Name) cultivator, they actually had little understanding of this mountain range's overarching spiritual currents."

"Thus, we can identify flaws through the lay of the land."

"An excellent plan."

A look of delight flashed across Lyra's face before she began deducing the path along the mountain's contours.

The 2 spent half a month before they finally uncovered a flaw in the mountain's formation. Following the terrain's hidden veins, they excavated upward from the depths of the earth until they discovered a hollow cavity, ultimately ascending through it.

Once inside the formation, the 2 concealed their auras and began ascending toward the mountain peak.

"Who goes there?"

Suddenly, a startled figure appeared atop the mountain peak—a Golden Core demonic cultivator in black robes, his face etched with utter astonishment. He could never have imagined why 2 cultivators had abruptly emerged within the formation.

Lyra immediately took action, summoning the Tianxu Immortal-Slaying Sword to strike forth.

The man summoned a demonic treasure to block the attack and attempted to retreat hastily. Yet, with a resonant clang, the Celestial Severance Twin Swords had already descended upon him.

At the critical moment, he summoned a ‘Black Gold Blood Cauldron (Magic Treasure)’ to defend himself. Unfortunately, Eldrin (Person Name) raised his hand and summoned the Magnetism Treasure Mirror (Magic Treasure), which swiftly drew the cauldron into its depths with a whoosh.

"Oh no—"

Chapter 1 The biting cold wind howled through the mountain pass, carrying with it the scent of blood and decay. A lone figure stood amidst the swirling snow, his black robes tattered and stained crimson. In his hand, the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss (Magic Treasure) glowed with a faint, dying light. "Xiao Yan (Person Name), hand over the Ancient Jade Pendant (Magical Artifact), and I might grant you a swift death!" a voice boomed from the shadows. Xiao Yan coughed, a trickle of blood escaping the corner of his lips. His dantian was nearly depleted, with less than 1,000 strands of spiritual energy remaining. Yet, his eyes burned with defiance. "Dream on, Eldrin (Person Name). This jade was entrusted to me by my master. I would rather shatter it than let it fall into the hands of your Blood Soul Sect (Sect Name)." He had been on the run for 3 months, ever since the fall of the Cloud Soaring Sect (Sect Name). Countless comrades had fallen. Over a 100 elders sacrificed themselves to buy him these precious moments to escape. Now, cornered at the edge of the Icy Soul Abyss (Forbidden Area), there was nowhere left to run. Eldrin emerged from the swirling snow, his face contorted in a cruel smile. "Stubborn till the end. Very well." He raised his hand, and a vortex of dark energy began to form. "I will extract your soul and refine it for 10 1000 years!" Xiao Yan's mind raced. The cultivation method he practiced, the 9 Revolutions Nirvana Manual (Cultivation Method), was stuck at the peak of the 5th Layer. If only he could break through to the 6th Layer... but that required the Nirvana Pill (Elixir), an elixir requiring 72,000-year-old Icy Soul Grass (Heavenly Material) and 108,000-year-old Sun Flame Lotus (Heavenly Material) as primary ingredients—items as rare as phoenix feathers. He gripped the Ancient Jade Pendant tighter. It was warm against his palm, a stark contrast to the freezing cold. Suddenly, a memory surfaced—his master's final words, whispered with his last breath: "When hope seems lost, remember the true meaning of 'Nirvana'." Nirvana... Rebirth from destruction... A strange calm descended upon him. He closed his eyes, ignoring the gathering storm of Eldrin's attack. He began to reverse the flow of his spiritual energy, a suicidal move that would detonate his dantian and meridians. "What are you doing?!" Eldrin sensed the violent energy fluctuation and his expression changed drastically. "You madman! Stop!" But it was too late. A blinding white light erupted from Xiao Yan's body, swallowing the darkness, the snow, and Eldrin's horrified scream. 1 100 years had passed. In a remote mountain village, a young man who shared the name Xiao Yan awoke from a deep slumber, his eyes holding the profound depth of 1 who had lived for millennia. A genius remembers the address of this website in 1 second: m.zibibi