Chapter 386 : Cauldron of Captured Shadows

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Although that Demonic Cultivator possessed cultivation at the Golden Core, Mid Stage, he was caught off guard by the ambush from the two and found it difficult to defend himself in the sudden chaos. On the spot, half of his physical body was severed by a single sword strike.

This individual still wished to flee for his life, but alas, the Six Realms and Eight Desolations Cauldron in Lyra Jiang's hand descended with a crushing force, capturing him within the cauldron in a single move.

"Hold off on killing him for now."

Eldrin Chen called out loudly. Hearing this, Lyra Jiang understood his intent and spared the captive's life.

Seeing the foe suppressed within the cauldron, Eldrin Chen let out a sigh of relief and said, "This Demonic Cultivator laid such a hidden trap; there must be the shadow of a Nascent Soul [the spiritual core formed after the Golden Core stage, representing a cultivator's immortal foundation] fiend behind him."

"And this demon is merely at the Golden Core, Mid Stage. Logically, he shouldn't possess the capability to set up a formation on behalf of a Nascent Soul Demonic Cultivator."

Lyra Jiang's eyes sharpened, and she stated, "It seems the one who laid the formation was not this demon, but rather someone else entirely."

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

Eldrin Chen nodded in agreement and retrieved a Soul-Seizing Talisman [a mystical talisman designed to capture or interrogate a being's soul or consciousness]. This content originates from site: audio-novel.com. Please respect copyright.

The Soul-Seizing Talisman [a talisman capable of forcibly extracting a cultivator's memories] can seize the spiritual soul memories of a cultivator. However, this talisman is far too domineering and insidious. Once one's spiritual soul is seized by it, their consciousness will collapse and all memories will be lost.

In truth, when dealing with such Demonic Cultivator [practitioners who use malevolent and forbidden arts], there was naturally no need to stand on ceremony. They directly employed the Soul-Seizing Talisman.

After the demon's memories were drawn into the talisman and the two of them examined them, Eldrin Chen revealed a grave expression.

It turned out this demon was named Lin Malachi, one of the disciples of the Black Malignancy Ancient Ancestor.

"I never imagined that the Black Malignancy Elder Demon had such a contingency plan in place."

"Had we not discovered it, he might very well have escaped with his life."

Lyra Jiang also spoke with solemnity. It appeared the Black Malignancy Ancient Ancestor had been scheming within the Demonic Flame Ridge for many years.

Although the Black Malignancy Ancient Ancestor had been trapped within the Ridge of the Black Fiend all these years, he had dispatched disciples to establish two hidden contingencies at this location.

Among these two hidden contingencies, besides the 'Demonic Flame Thunder-Gathering Formation' [a formation that gathers demonic flame and thunder energy] before them, there was also a 'Netherworld Void-Traversing Formation' [a formation that traverses the void through the netherworld].

That Netherworld Void-Traversing Formation was an extremely unique Teleportation Formation [a magical array for instantaneous travel over vast distances] method. It could leverage the power of the demonic flames here to secretly bypass Ji Clan True Lord and draw the Black Malignancy Ancient Ancestor over.

Over these years, the chief disciple of Black Malignancy Ancient Ancestor had been hiding within Demonic Flame Ridge, secretly preparing a Formation [a structured arrangement of energy channels and runes used to create specific magical effects] for his master, intending to facilitate Black Malignancy Ancient Ancestor's arrival in the future.

Considering this, Eldrin Chen spoke with a tone of shock, "If Black Malignancy Ancient Ancestor successfully evades the notice of Ji Clan True Lord, wouldn't he be able to launch a covert, fatal ambush in the future, precisely when Ji Clan Patriarch is attempting his breakthrough to the Nascent Soul Realm [the realm of cultivation where one forms a spiritual infant from their Primordial Spirit]?"

"That would indeed introduce a perilous variable."

Lyra Jiang's gaze also turned grave. The sheer variety of methods employed by the demonic fiends of this tribulation was truly chilling.

With this thought, she couldn't help but remark, "It is fortunate you did not slay that demon. Had you done so, Black Malignancy Ancient Ancestor would certainly have been alerted, and we would have thoroughly frightened our quarry."

"Indeed. However, the methods of a Nascent Soul Demonic Cultivator are extraordinary. I fear we cannot conceal our actions for long."

Eldrin Chen stated with profound gravity. That Black Malignancy Ancient Ancestor was a peak Demonic Cultivator [a cultivator who follows a path of power derived from malevolent and destructive energies] at the Nascent Soul Late Stage, whose capabilities were nearly impossible to fathom. One could never be too cautious when dealing with such an entity.

With this conviction, Eldrin Chen declared, "We must act swiftly and decisively. We need to quietly dismantle the Netherworld Void-Traversing Formation [a formation designed to bridge the gap between the mortal world and the Netherworld] prepared by Black Malignancy Ancient Ancestor."

"Otherwise, once Black Malignancy Ancient Ancestor senses something amiss, our window for action will have closed."

"Agreed."

Lyra Jiang nodded, then pondered for a moment before saying, "However, within the Netherworld Void-Traversing Formation, the great disciple of the Black Malignancy Ancient Ancestor, Blackfire True Person, is stationed."

"This Demonic Cultivator has already reached the Golden Core Great Perfection realm. Dealing with him will likely not be easy."

"It shouldn't be too difficult, either."

Eldrin Chen said with a faint smile, "We can impersonate this fiend and lure Blackfire True Person out."

After all, this was the harsh environment of the Demonic Flame Ridge. The treasures used here often deteriorated quickly, requiring constant maintenance to sustain the operation of the Formation.

According to the memories extracted from the Soul-Seizing Talisman, the Demonic Flame Thunder-Gathering Formation would suffer wear and tear every few decades, necessitating repairs by Blackfire True Person. Experience the full epic at audio–novel.com.

It had become almost a routine for this Elder Demon Lin to periodically invite Blackfire True Person to mend the Formation.

With this in mind, Eldrin Chen retrieved a black Treasure Talisman from Elder Demon Lin's Storage Bag and said, "This Demonic Malignancy Communication Talisman is the communication tool between Elder Demon Lin and Blackfire True Person. We can use it to trick him into coming out."

"That is a sound plan."

Lyra Jiang nodded in agreement. The two decided to use the Demonic Malignancy Communication Talisman to draw Blackfire True Person out.

This Demonic Malignancy Communication Talisman [a talisman used for communication, infused with malevolent energy] was crafted from the skin of a Purple Mansion Cultivator [a cultivator who has reached the third major realm of cultivation], a method both exceptionally vicious and cruel. Were it not for the necessity of luring out Blackfire True Person, they would have been loath to employ such a sinister object.

After activating the Demonic Malignancy Communication Talisman, the pair did not simply wait idly for Blackfire True Person's arrival.

They ascended to the mountain peak and located the Demonic Flame Yin Thunder Pearl [a powerful orb of condensed demonic flame and yin thunder] that was still coalescing at the heart of the Formation [a structured arrangement of energy channels and artifacts used to channel power].

At the core of the Formation, a black-red sphere pulsed with crimson-black lightning, radiating a power that seemed poised to tear the very fabric of space.

"This thunder pearl has already reached the lower grade of the Fifth Rank [a classification denoting immense power, equivalent to the Nascent Soul stage],"

"If it continues to gather power, it might even advance to the middle grade, or potentially reach the upper grade of the Fifth Rank."

Eldrin Chen's pupils contracted sharply, and he could not help but exclaim in awe.

Of course, for this thunder pearl to reach the middle Fifth Rank would likely require another three centuries of energy convergence. To attain the upper grade would not only demand the passage of A Millennium Has Passed [a period of one thousand years], but also require Black Malignancy Ancient Ancestor to personally conduct the necessary rites for it to succeed.

To avoid alerting Black Malignancy Ancient Ancestor, the two did not immediately retrieve the pearl. Instead, they began the work of taking control of the local Formation.

With the Soul-Seizing Talisman [a talisman capable of capturing and controlling spiritual essences] in their possession, gaining control over this Formation was not a difficult task for them.

It was during this process that Eldrin Chen discovered that most of the Formation mechanisms here employed exceptionally vile methods characteristic of Demonic Cultivator [practitioners who cultivate using dark, often sacrificial arts].

Merely the seven Formation Flags were woven from the hair of millions of mortals, a truly unspeakable and cruel act.

"To set up this Formation, the Demonic Cultivator likely slaughtered more than one Golden Core Immortal Clan [a clan whose patriarch has reached the Golden Core Realm]."

After inspecting the Formation, a flicker of killing intent flashed uncontrollably in Lyra Jiang's pupils.

To inflict such vicious methods upon their own kind, the Demonic Cultivator of this realm truly had extinguished all humanity, unworthy of being called human.

Eldrin Chen's gaze was equally icy as he stated coldly, "In all the world, Demonic Cultivator are more deserving of death than even the Demonic Tribe [tribes of sentient demonic beasts]."

Killing intent radiated from them both, further solidifying their resolve to thwart the hidden schemes of Black Malignancy Ancient Ancestor and slay Blackfire True Person.

Thus, half a month passed in a rush. Then, a figure wreathed in black flames soared through the sky, calling out from a distance across the void.

"Junior Brother Lin, what issue has arisen with the Formation this time?"

Within the black miasma, there was a slight pause. Eldrin Chen, mimicking the voice of Lin the Ancient Eccentric, replied, "Senior Brother Blackfire, one of the Formation Flags was consumed by demonic flames and needs to be replenished."

"Oh."

Blackfire True Person was about to step into the Formation when his foot paused mid-stride.

As a high-level cultivator, Blackfire True Person had sensed the anomaly. His gaze sharpened, fixing upon Eldrin Chen atop the mountain peak.

"Who are you, truly?"

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