Chapter 378 : Shattered Ridge, Sealed Fate

True Person Great Defense spoke no more, his expression grave as he waited.

As expected, not long after, a flash of light appeared atop Crimson Scorpion Ridge, clearly indicating a Demon King had departed via the Teleportation Formation.

Exquisite Jiang did not rush to act. She waited for the better part of an hour, judging the moment right, before finally activating the Six Heavens Black Prison Pagoda.

With Exquisite Jiang's cultivation power, comparable to the Golden Core Perfection realm, the might she could unleash with this treasure was sufficient to shatter any Fourth-Rank Formation.

A colossal pagoda, vast enough to blot out the heavens, descended from the sky. With a single strike, it shattered the protective Formation of Crimson Scorpion Ridge.

Immediately after, Violet Consort Yan soared into the air. Her 'Violet Cosmos Void Escape Mirror' transformed into a radiant brilliance that enveloped the heavens and earth, sealing off the surrounding space.

"Disaster!"

The 'Crimson Chain Demon King' left to guard Crimson Scorpion Ridge sensed the peril and instantly sought to summon a magical treasure [an enchanted artifact used by cultivators] to destroy the Teleportation Formation.

But it was already too late. In the space of a single breath, the Celestial Abyss Twin Swords merged within the Heavenly Vault. The combined power of these two supreme-grade magical treasures brushed against the threshold of the False Infant Soul Realm.

The Crimson Chain Demon King, merely at the Golden Core Early Stage, faced with such a world-shaking strike, had no time to unleash its fury before its head was severed. Only a single Demon Core [the condensed energy core of a powerful demonic beast] managed to escape. Find this and other novels at http://www . audio-novel.com.

"Where do you think you're fleeing?"

Without regard for the immense drain on his spiritual power [the vital energy cultivated by practitioners], Eldrin Chen swept his sleeve, drawing the Demon Core [the condensed essence of a powerful demonic beast] into its folds. He then summoned his flying sword to slay the Violet Sanctum Demonic Beast [demonic beasts of the Violet Sanctum realm] within the mountain, personally securing the Teleportation Formation [a mystical array for instantaneous travel over vast distances].

A group of Golden Core Cultivator [practitioners who have condensed their spiritual power into a Golden Core] followed closely behind, scattering and slaughtering the demonic beasts throughout the mountain.

With the Teleportation Formation under control, a look of satisfaction crossed Eldrin Chen's face. He glanced at the assembled group and declared,

"This Teleportation Formation can transport seven individuals at once. The first group shall consist of myself, Exquisite, Immortal Maiden Violet Consort, Sect Master Qian, True Person Great Defense, Immortal Maiden Spirit Consort, and the Old Granduncle—seven in total."

"Once we secure the Teleportation Formation on the other side, you are to follow immediately. Soaring Serpent Ling shall remain here to excavate the Teleportation Formation Disk [the core disk that anchors the teleportation array]."

"Leave this place to me."

Soaring Serpent Ling nodded in agreement. A Teleportation Formation Disk was immensely heavy, weighing as much as ten thousand jun [a unit of weight], and was intricately linked to both the Spirit Mountain [a mountain imbued with potent spiritual energy] and the Earth Vein [a subterranean channel of concentrated earth energy]. Even for a Golden Core True Person [a Golden Core realm master], extracting it intact would require considerable effort.

With the arrangements settled, Eldrin Chen consumed an elixir [a spiritual pill] to restore his depleted spiritual power. After recuperating from the expenditure required by the Sky-Severance Sword Union [a supreme sword technique capable of severing the heavens], he rose to his feet and stated, "There is no time to delay. We must act with decisive speed."

"Let us begin."

The seven of them stepped onto the Teleportation Formation [a magical array that allows instantaneous travel across vast distances]. In the blink of an eye, the world spun and twisted, and they found themselves on the other side of the void.

The moment they landed, Exquisite Jiang immediately activated the Cultivable Earth Kun Origin Disk [a powerful defensive treasure] to shield the Teleportation Formation, while Violet Consort Yan instantly used the Violet Cosmos Void Escape Mirror [a divine technique that stabilizes space] to anchor the surrounding void.

Eldrin Chen raised his hand and summoned the Celestial Abyss Twin Swords. Like a hot knife through butter, they cleaved through the surrounding Formation [a defensive or offensive magical array], and he swiftly dispatched the Violet Sanctum Demonic Beast [a powerful demonic creature] guarding the Guardian Formation [a protective array].

Acting in unison, the group quickly scattered and annihilated the remaining demonic beasts in the vicinity.

At this moment, Eldrin Chen surveyed his surroundings and realized the Teleportation Formation was situated amidst a vast, surging river. "We are in the Great Kun River," he stated.

"Stay vigilant," he cautioned.

Grim expressions settled on everyone's faces. The Great Kun River was a mighty waterway stretching for millions of Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters], home to five or six Fourth-Rank Spiritual Vein [a powerful ley line of spiritual energy]. Each of these veins was controlled by several Demon King [a powerful demonic ruler] clans.

Clearly, they had arrived at one of these Fourth-Rank Spiritual Vein.

Within mere moments, the Demon King residing on the Spirit Island [an island rich with spiritual energy] was alerted to their presence.

A black Demon Crocodile King surged forth, its voice a roar of fury. "How dare you!"

"You seek death."

Eldrin Chen's brow furrowed. The Celestial Abyss Twin Swords shot forth, crisscrossing the air and forcing his opponent into a frantic, scrambling retreat.

The Crocodile King still wished to flee, but facing a siege by twelve Golden Core True Person, even a False Infant Soul Realm Cultivator would have to run for their life, let alone a beast that was merely at the Golden Core Early Stage.

In just a few exchanges, the Crocodile King was surrounded and slain upon the Spirit Island. Exquisite Jiang collected its Demon Core [the condensed life essence of a demonic beast], then left the Recluse of Elegant Verse behind to retrieve the Teleportation Formation Disk before immediately heading for the next Spirit Mountain.

They had just arrived at the third Spirit Mountain and taken control of its defensive Formation [a structured array of energy used for defense, attack, or other mystical purposes] when a massive, azure-feathered eagle was seen soaring towards them from the sky.

"It's the Azure Eagle Demon King from Black Eagle Ridge!" This chapter appears courtesy of audio novel.com.

Eldrin Chen spoke as he channeled his energy, sending his Immortal Sword slashing through the air towards the beast.

Sensing the danger, the Azure Eagle Demon King spread its wings with a mighty flap and fled into the distance.

"Do not pursue!"

As the Azure Eagle Demon King made its escape, Exquisite Jiang called out, halting those who wished to give chase. "This is not the time for delays."

"Elder Brother Kael, you shall remain here."

Considering the Azure Eagle Demon King was no weak foe, Eldrin Chen decided to leave behind the formidable Kael Chen, who had forged a Superior-Tier Golden Core [the pinnacle foundation for a cultivator's future ascension].

The group continued their lightning-fast campaign, conquering six or seven Demon Race Spirit Mountain [mountains rich with spiritual energy] in an astonishingly short span, a move that completely blindsided the Demon Race.

With the main force of the Demon Race now fully committed to the Void Gem Mine Vein, perhaps lulled into a false sense of security regarding their rear positions, they had not even left a single Golden Core Demon King [a demonic beast equivalent to a Golden Core cultivator] to guard these mountains. Naturally, the group seized them with ease.

They managed to capture a total of nine Demon Race Spirit Mountain in succession. By the time they reached the tenth, Eldrin Chen noticed their ranks had thinned to just Exquisite Jiang, Violet Consort Yan, and Sect Master Qian.

No sooner had they secured control of the tenth Spirit Mountain than Sect Master Qian stroked his beard and laughed heartily. "To have routed the Demon Race from nine Spirit Mountain within half a shichen-time [one Shichen-time equals two hours]... This is a victory unseen for a millennium!"

"It seems these Teleportation Formation [magical arrays for instantaneous travel] are a double-edged sword," he mused. "They can deliver total victory, yet if countered, they can also lead to catastrophic losses in the blink of an eye."

Eldrin Chen's eyes glimmered with understanding as he offered a slight smile. "So, the intention of the Ji Clan is for the Six Kingdoms to cultivate six new Fourth-Rank Spiritual Vein [a high-grade source of ambient spiritual energy]."

"That way," he concluded, "even if one Spirit Mountain falls, it won't trigger an instantaneous chain reaction of collapse."

As they spoke, their gazes turned grave, fixing upon the final Teleportation Formation Disk [the physical anchor of a teleportation array].

Violet Consort Yan's eyes grew slightly solemn as she spoke, "Our current position is already eight hundred thousand Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] deep into the heartland of the Demon Race."

"Even returning from this distance would take at least half a year. Pushing further is fraught with peril, and the Demon Race has likely already reacted."

Exquisite Jiang pondered for a moment before stating, "Very well. Let us three attack one more stronghold. With our combined strength, even a dozen or so Golden Core Demon Kings would find it difficult to best us."

"Then let us act."

As he spoke, Eldrin Chen activated the Teleportation Formation.

A flash of light later, Eldrin Chen and his two companions instantly arrived at the destination of the Teleportation Formation.

The moment they materialized, his brow furrowed on instinct. Reacting reflexively, he summoned the Bulwark Earth Sovereign Bell.

Though this Lifebound Magical Treasure [a magical artifact bound to a cultivator's life force] had reached the pinnacle grade, it trembled violently under the assault, its radiance visibly dimming.

Fortunately, Exquisite Jiang's reflexes were equally swift. She immediately deployed the Cultivable Earth Kun Origin Disk [a disk-shaped treasure embodying the nurturing essence of the earth], shielding all three of them.

Only then did Eldrin Chen summon the Celestial Abyss Twin Swords, parrying several more incoming attacks in succession. Finally, he had a moment to survey their surroundings.

"The Black Eagle Demon King, the Azure Sparrow Demon King, the Savage Armor Demon King…" [These are titles for powerful demonic beasts that have reached the Golden Core realm of cultivation.]

Eldrin Chen scanned the surroundings, a chill running down his spine as he realized they were encircled by over a dozen Golden Core demon kings.

Far off in the void, several even more formidable demon kings clashed violently with a group of human Golden Core cultivators, their unleashed energies illuminating the darkness.