Chapter 386 Fifth-Rank Thunder Pearl (Magic Treasure)

Chapter 1 The biting cold wind swept across the mountain peaks, carrying with it the scent of frost and decay. Lin Feng tightened his worn robe, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon where the first rays of dawn began to pierce through the darkness. "Finally, after 1 100 years of seclusion," he murmured, his voice barely a whisper, "the Foundation Establishment stage is within reach." His fingers traced the intricate patterns on the Jade Pendant of Clarity (Magic Treasure) that hung from his neck. The artifact hummed with spiritual energy, a constant reminder of the path he had chosen. Suddenly, a sharp voice cut through the silence. "Lin Feng! The sect leader demands your presence immediately!" Turning, Lin Feng saw Elder Ming (Person Name) standing at the entrance of the cave, his expression stern. The elder's robes, embroidered with silver threads that shimmered in the dim light, marked his high status within the Soaring Clouds Sect (Sect Name). "What is the matter, Elder?" Lin Feng asked, bowing slightly. "The Demon Faction has attacked the northern border," Elder Ming said, his voice grave. "Over a 100 disciples have fallen, and nearly a 1000 more are injured. The sect leader has decreed that all cultivators above the Qi Refinement stage must report for duty." Lin Feng's heart sank. The northern border was protected by the Ancient Barrier Formation (Formation Name), a relic from the time of the founding ancestors. If it had been breached... "How is this possible?" he asked. "The barrier was said to be impenetrable." Elder Ming's eyes narrowed. "There is a traitor among us. Someone has revealed the formation's weakness to the enemy." As they spoke, a sudden tremor shook the mountain. From the east, a brilliant streak of light approached, resolving into the form of a majestic sword that hovered in the air before them. "The Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss (Magic Treasure)," Elder Ming breathed, his eyes wide with awe. "The patriarch has awakened." The sword pulsed with crimson energy, its surface covered in ancient runes that glowed with inner fire. It was said that the weapon contained the soul of a phoenix, granting its wielder power over life and death. Lin Feng felt the spiritual pressure emanating from the artifact, so intense that it forced him to his knees. This was the power of the Nascent Soul stage, a realm he could only dream of reaching. "Rise, disciple." The voice came not from the sword, but from within his mind. It was deep and resonant, filled with the wisdom of countless years. "The path ahead is fraught with danger, but you carry within you the bloodline of the Azure Dragon (Bloodline Name). Do not forget your destiny." Before Lin Feng could respond, the sword shot upward, disappearing into the clouds. The spiritual pressure vanished, leaving behind only the memory of its overwhelming presence. Elder Ming helped him to his feet. "It seems the patriarch has taken an interest in you. This is both a great honor and a terrible burden." Lin Feng nodded, his mind racing. The bloodline of the Azure Dragon - he had thought it merely a legend, a story told to children. But if it were true... "Come," Elder Ming said, pulling a small pouch from his sleeve. "Take these 32,000 spirit stones and this bottle of Marrow Cleansing Pills (Elixir). You will need them for what is to come." Lin Feng accepted the items, his fingers trembling slightly. The spirit stones felt warm to the touch, their energy coursing through his veins. The pills, contained in a jade vial, emitted a faint herbal scent that cleared his mind. "Thank you, Elder," he said, bowing deeply. "Do not thank me yet," Elder Ming replied. "The road ahead will test you in ways you cannot imagine. The heavenly tribulation awaits all who seek to defy the natural order." As they descended the mountain path, Lin Feng glanced back at the cave that had been his home for the past century. Countless memories flooded his mind - the endless cycles of meditation, the failed attempts at breakthrough, the moments of despair and triumph. Now, everything was about to change. The peace that had lasted for thousands of years was crumbling, and he would be caught in the storm that followed. But deep within, a spark of determination ignited. He would face whatever challenges came his way. He would protect those who needed protection. And he would uncover the truth about his heritage, no matter what dangers lay in wait. The first rays of sunlight broke over the horizon, painting the sky in shades of gold and crimson. It was a new day, and the beginning of a new chapter in his journey toward immortality.

Although the demonic cultivator's cultivation had reached Golden Core, Mid Stage (Cultivation Realm), he struggled to defend against the duo's ambush in that hurried moment. Half his physical body was severed on the spot by a single sword strike.

The man attempted to flee, but alas, the Hexagonal Cauldron of 8 Desolates in Lyra's hand descended with crushing force. With a single move, she sealed him within the cauldron.

"Hold off on killing for now."

Eldrin declared in a resonant voice. Hearing this, Lyra felt a stir in her heart and spared the man's life.

Trapped within the cauldron at last, Eldrin breathed a sigh of relief. "For this demonic cultivator to lay such an insidious trap," he remarked, "there must be a Nascent Soul demonic elder lurking behind the scenes."

Yet this demon was merely at the Golden Core, Mid Stage (Cultivation Realm), and by all reasoning, should not possess the capability to set up the formation in place of a Nascent Soul demon cultivator.

Lyra’s eyes sharpened as she declared, “It seems the 1 who set up the formation was not this demon, but someone else entirely.”

"Let's see if we can extract any information from this demon."

Eldrin gave a slight nod and produced a Soul-Snaring Talisman.

The Soul-Snatching Talisman could extract a cultivator’s spiritual soul and memories. However, this talisman was far too domineering and insidious—once it seized 1’s spiritual soul, the victim’s consciousness would collapse, and all memories would be lost.

Dealing with these demonic cultivators naturally required no courtesy, so they directly employed the Soul-Snatching Talisman.

After extracting the demon's memories into the talisman, the 2 investigated its contents, and Eldrin's expression turned grave.

It turned out that this demon was named Lin Mingshan, 1 of the disciples of the Black Fiend Ancestor.

"I never imagined that the Black Fiend Old Demon would have such a hidden card up his sleeve."

"If we hadn't discovered him, he might have truly managed to escape with his life."

Lyra (Person Name) also spoke with grave solemnity, "So the Black Fiend Ancestor has been laying his schemes in the Demon Flame Mountains for many years."

Over the years, although the Black Fiend Ancestor (Person Name) had been trapped within the Ridge of the Black Fiend (Location), he dispatched his disciples to lay 2 hidden schemes in this place.

Among these 2 hidden traps, aside from the current 'Demonic Flame Thunder Gathering Array', there was also a 'Netherworld Void Crossing Array'.

The Netherworld Void-Crossing Array was an exceptionally unique teleportation formation. It could harness the demonic flame energy of this place to covertly bypass the Elders of the Ji Clan and draw the Black Fiend Ancestor through.

All these years, the eldest disciple of the Black Fiend Ancestor had been hiding within the Demon Flame Ridge, secretly laying down arrays for his master, intending to 1 day summon the Black Fiend Ancestor to this realm.

At this thought, Eldrin exclaimed in shock, "If Patriarch Black Fiend successfully deceives the Ji Clan's True Monarch, wouldn't he be able to launch a covert ambush and deliver a fatal strike when the Ji Clan Leader attempts his Spirit Soul breakthrough?"

"This indeed adds further variables to the equation."

Lyra’s gaze also turned grave. The methods employed by the demons of this tribulation were truly horrifying in their variety.

At this thought, she couldn't help but remark, "Fortunately, you didn't slay this demon. Otherwise, the Black Fiend Ancestor would surely have been alerted, and we would have completely tipped our hand."

"Hmm, but the Nascent Soul stage demonic cultivator possesses extraordinary methods. I'm afraid we won't be able to conceal this for much longer."

With a grave expression, Eldrin (Person Name) said, "That Patriarch Black Fiend is a top-tier demonic cultivator at the late Nascent Soul stage. His methods are utterly unfathomable—1 can never be too cautious when facing such an existence."

At this thought, Eldrin said, "We must end this swiftly and dismantle the Nethervoid Crossing Array of the Black Fiend Ancestor without a trace."

"Otherwise, by the time Patriarch Black Fiend senses something amiss, it will be too late for us to act."

"Very well."

Lyra nodded, yet she pondered for a moment before adding, "However, within the Nethervoid Crossing Array, the Blackfire Taoist—eldest disciple of the Black Fiend Ancestor—stands guard."

"His demonic cultivation has already reached the Great Perfection of the Golden Core Realm. I'm afraid dealing with him won't be easy."

"It's not particularly difficult."

Eldrin (Person Name) smiled faintly and said, "We can impersonate this demonic scourge to lure out the swindler Blackflame True Monarch."

After all, this was the harsh environment of the Demon Flame Ridge, where treasures deteriorated rapidly and required constant maintenance to sustain the operation of the formation.

According to the memories extracted from the Soul-Snatching Talisman, the Demonic Flame Thunder Gathering Array would suffer depletion every few decades, requiring the Black Flame True Master to mend the formation.

At regular intervals, the Old Fiend Lin would invite the Black Flame True Master to repair the formation, a practice that had become almost customary.

At this thought, Eldrin retrieved a black treasure talisman from the Elder Demon Lin’s storage pouch and declared, “This Demonic Fiend Qi (Spiritual Root) communication talisman was Elder Demon Lin’s means of contacting Black Flame True Person. We shall use it to lure him out.”

"That is indeed a brilliant approach."

Lyra nodded. The 2 decided to use the Demonic Fiend Qi transmission talisman to lure out the Blackflame True Master.

This Demonic Fiend Qi (Spiritual Root) message talisman was crafted from the skin of a Purple Mansion cultivator, an exceptionally vicious and cruel practice. Were it not for luring out Black Flame Realist (Person Name), they would never have resorted to using such a sinister object.

The 2 activated the Demonic Fiend Qi (Spiritual Root) transmission talisman, then did not idly await Black Flame True Master's arrival.

They reached the mountain peak and found the Demonflame Yin Thunder Pearl coalescing at the core of the formation.

At the heart of the formation, a black-red sphere crackled with crimson-black lightning, emanating a power that seemed poised to tear through the fabric of space.

"This Thunder Pearl has already reached the lower-grade of the fifth tier."

"If it continues to mature, it might reach mid-grade Rank 5, or possibly even high-grade Rank 5."

Eldrin's pupils trembled with shock as he couldn't help but exclaim in awe.

Of course, for this Thunder Pearl to reach mid-grade Fifth Rank, it would likely require another 3 100 years of accumulated energy. Should 1 aspire to elevate it to high-grade Fifth Rank, not only would it demand the passage of A Millennium Has Passed (Time & Distance), but it would also require the personal ritual conduction by the Black Fiend Patriarch to achieve success.

To avoid alerting the Black Fiend Patriarch, the 2 refrained from immediately retrieving the thunder pearl and instead began working to gain control over the formation array in the area.

With the Soulsnatcher Talisman in their possession, the 2 found it quite effortless to control this formation.

It was during this process that Eldrin discovered most of the formations here employed extremely vicious demonic cultivation methods.

The mere 7 formation flags were woven from the hair of 10 million mortals—truly an act of unspeakable cruelty and malice.

"To set up this formation, the demonic cultivators must have slaughtered no fewer than 1 Golden Core immortal clan."

After inspecting the formation, Lyra (Person Name) couldn't suppress the flicker of killing intent in her pupils.

To employ such vicious methods against 1's own kin, the demonic cultivators of this realm are truly devoid of humanity, unworthy of being called human.

Eldrin's gaze was equally icy as he stated coldly, "In this world, demonic cultivators are even more deserving of death than the demonic races."

Both of them radiated palpable killing intent, their resolve hardening to thwart the Eldritch Abyss Ancestor's hidden schemes and eliminate the Blackflame True Person.

Thus, half a month passed in the blink of an eye. A figure wreathed in black flames soared into the heavens, calling out from across the distant void.

"Junior Brother Lin, what mishap has occurred with the formation array this time?"

Within the black mist, Eldrin paused briefly, then imitating the voice of the Elder Demon Lin, declared, "Senior Brother Blackfire, 1 of the array banners has been scorched by the demonic flames and must be replenished."

"Oh."

Blackfire True Person was about to step into the formation when he suddenly paused mid-stride.

As expected of a high-level cultivator, the Blackflame True Immortal actually sensed something amiss. His gaze shifted toward Eldrin (Person Name) standing atop the mountain peak.

"Who are you?"

"Let's begin."