Chapter 385 : The Flames of Demonic Ape Mountain

As Exquisite Jiang recounted the tale, a sense of profound awe stirred within Eldrin Chen's heart.

The higher one's cultivation realm, the more difficult it becomes to challenge those above it. Eldrin Chen had long understood the formidable power of a Primordial Spirit Path Lord, yet he had never imagined that a single Primordial Solar Supreme Treasure could possess such terrifying might.

Seeming to sense Eldrin Chen's astonishment, Exquisite Jiang spoke calmly:

"That Immortal Refining Furnace is a supreme-grade Primordial Solar Supreme Treasure. It has slain not one, but multiple Outer Realm Heavenly Demon [powerful demons from beyond this world] of the Primordial Spirit Realm. Among all the Primordial Solar Supreme Treasure within the Purple Seal Realm, it ranks easily within the top ten."

Eldrin Chen nodded in understanding. Such a Primordial Solar Supreme Treasure must indeed possess extraordinary qualities. To dare bear the name Immortal Refining Furnace spoke of an indomitable spirit, one bold enough to refine even immortals and demons.

Gazing at Demonic Flame Mountain, Exquisite Jiang offered a faint smile. "It is said that a millennium ago, the flames within this Demonic Ape Mountain could incinerate even a Golden Core True Person. Now, they have weakened enough for a Golden Core True Person to traverse the area."

"It seems in another one or two thousand years, these demonic flames will gradually extinguish. By then, even Violet Sanctum and Foundation Establishment Cultivator cultivators will be able to cross and reach the Heavenly Star Continent."

"The demonic flames of the Demonic Flame Ridge are no ordinary fire. We must proceed with caution."

Eldrin Chen nodded in agreement, and the two began their advance deep into the heart of the Demonic Flame Ridge.

The terrain of the Demonic Flame Ridge was treacherous, a labyrinth of raging demonic fire. Above, Demonic Fiendish Energy [a malevolent, corrupting energy] and demonic flames surged skyward, coalescing into a vast Demonic Fiendish Energy Cloud [a dense cloud of demonic energy] that, even after three thousand years, showed no sign of dissipating. Continue reading this story at audio-novel . com.

Attempting a direct crossing was immensely difficult. The two could only navigate at a moderate altitude, urging the Green Sun Treasure Ark to proceed laterally.

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

Within this forbidden land, the pair flew for a full month before finally traversing the greater part of the Demonic Flame Ridge.

"In a few more days, we will have crossed the Demonic Flame Ridge entirely."

"This journey has truly been arduous."

Eldrin Chen spoke, feeling a slight sense of relief.

The environment of the Demonic Flame Ridge was exceedingly harsh; cultivators below the Golden Core Realm [the third major stage of cultivation where one forms a solidified spiritual core] simply lacked the capability to cross it.

Although the two of them possessed profound spiritual energy, in such an environment they needed to constantly channel their power to resist the demonic flames, a task that was extremely taxing on both mind and spirit.

"Wait."

Suddenly, Eldrin Chen furrowed his brow.

Exquisite Jiang also rose to her feet, meeting Eldrin Chen's gaze. Her expression was grave as she stated, "Judging by the formation patterns, they appear to be of the Demonic Path [a cultivation path that harnesses malevolent and corrupt energies]."

In that very instant, they had sensed a surge of power from a formation array. Yet, how could such power exist within the Demonic Flame Ridge [a mountain range saturated with demonic fire]?

As high-level Formation Masters [practitioners skilled in the art of creating and manipulating magical arrays], they immediately recognized the anomaly.

"Let us investigate first,"

Eldrin Chen said, then quietly concealed his presence and flew out.

Before long, following the trail of the formation's energy, they arrived atop a mountain range shrouded in billowing flames.

They observed the terrain of this mountain for a long while. Finally, a look of deep concern settled on Eldrin Chen's face, and he could not help but voice his thoughts.

"I perceive that this formation gathers boundless demonic flame energy. The power concentrated here, once unleashed, would be enough to shake heaven and earth. It might even pose a threat to an Infant Soul True Lord [a cultivator who has formed their nascent soul, a core of immense spiritual power]."

Exquisite Jiang nodded in agreement. With her mana, comparable to that of the False Infant Soul Realm [a pseudo-realm just below the true Infant Soul stage], she too felt a lethal threat emanating from the power converging at the heart of this Formation.

Following the lay of the land, the two deduced the formation's workings. Eventually, Eldrin Chen furrowed his brow and declared, "The foundation of this Formation was laid using a blood sacrifice ritual. This is undoubtedly the work of a Demonic Cultivator [a cultivator who practices forbidden arts, often involving sacrifice and corruption]."

"Which fiend dares to lay such a vile Formation [a structured arrangement of energy for specific purposes] here, and to what end?"

The two of them pondered for a long while, their minds beginning to deduce the identity of the one who had set the formation.

To lay a formation of this caliber was undoubtedly the work of an Infant Soul [the stage where a cultivator's nascent soul is formed] level expert. With the Ji Clan [a powerful cultivation clan] overseeing Ji Continent [a continent], the surrounding Demonic Cultivator [cultivators who use unorthodox, often malevolent methods] had almost all been subdued.

That Black Fiend Ridge [a mountain range known for demonic activity] was practically cleansed every thousand years or so, and the most recent Black Fiend Patriarch [a powerful demonic cultivator] had only arrived within the last few centuries.

Even so, the Black Fiend Patriarch was still being contained by the Ji Clan within the Black Fiend Demon Ridge [another name for the Black Fiend Ridge], utterly unable to break free.

Under such circumstances, finding an Infant Soul level Demonic Cultivator with the capability to come here and lay a formation was nearly impossible. This chapter appears courtesy of audio-novel-dot-com.

Exquisite Jiang [a female cultivator known for her beauty and intellect] blinked thoughtfully, then suddenly spoke. "Wait, that's not necessarily true. It wouldn't have to be an Infant Soul Demonic Cultivator who laid it."

"An Infant Soul Demonic Cultivator could have crafted the Formation and prepared all the contingencies, then had a Golden Core [the stage where a cultivator forms a golden core] level Demonic Cultivator carry out the actual placement."

Hearing this, Eldrin Chen [the protagonist, a cultivator] felt a wave of relief. While this would still require at least a Golden Core Late Stage [the advanced phase of the Golden Core realm] Demonic Cultivator to accomplish...

...as long as it wasn't an Infant Soul Demonic Cultivator, they could handle it. Moreover, a Golden Core Cultivator [a cultivator at the Golden Core stage] would lack the necessary cultivation base to flawlessly execute such a formation, inevitably leaving fatal flaws in its construction.

With this thought, Eldrin Chen spoke, "This demonic formation gathers the power of demonic flames, likely to refine a Demonic Flame Lunar Thunder Pearl [a powerful thunder pearl forged from demonic fire and lunar energy]."

"The might of such a thunder pearl rivals a single strike from an Infant Soul [a cultivator who has condensed their nascent soul] expert. Used in an ambush, it could even severely injure an Infant Soul True Lord [a powerful master of the Infant Soul realm]."

"That should be it." Exquisite Jiang performed another divination. After a long moment, she said, "Judging by the energy this Formation [a structured array that channels and manipulates energy] has accumulated, it must have been established for a full three hundred years."

"The Demonic Flame Lunar Thunder Pearl it is gathering power for is likely nearing completion. The day of its final forging cannot be far off."

Eldrin Chen nodded calmly. "Let us analyze the formation, find its flaw, and see if we can claim the fruits of the Demonic Cultivator [a practitioner of unorthodox, often malevolent, cultivation arts]'s centuries of labor for ourselves."

"Agreed."

Exquisite Jiang also nodded. The significance of a Fifth Rank Thunder Pearl [a thunder-attributed magical treasure of the fifth rank, denoting immense power] needed no elaboration.

If they could obtain one, their means of self-preservation would be vastly enhanced, enough to give even an Infant Soul True Lord pause for thought.

Thus, they continued their meticulous analysis of the Formation. They toiled for four or five months, yet frustratingly, they could find no exploitable flaw in its structure.

As the aura emanating from the Demonic Flame Lunar Thunder Pearl grew ever more potent, a trace of anxiety began to color their expressions.

Suddenly, a glimmer of insight flashed within Eldrin Chen's eyes. "I have a way," he declared.

"What way?" Exquisite Jiang's eyes lit up with a spark of hope.

A smile spread across Eldrin Chen's face. "This Formation was, after all, crafted by an Infant Soul [the third major stage of cultivation where the nascent soul forms] Demonic Cultivator [a cultivator who uses unorthodox, often malevolent methods]. For cultivators of our current realm to find its flaw is exceedingly difficult."

"However," he continued, "it was not personally laid down by the Infant Soul Demonic Cultivator. Their understanding of this mountain range's spiritual topography [the flow and convergence of spiritual energy within a landscape] is actually quite superficial."

"Therefore, we can seek its weakness within the very lay of the land itself."

"An excellent plan."

Delight evident on her features, Exquisite Jiang immediately began to trace and deduce the patterns of the mountain's spiritual veins.

For half a month, the two of them labored. Finally, they pinpointed a flaw in the terrain's spiritual configuration. Following this hidden fault line deep within the earth, they excavated upwards, discovering a hollow passage that led them to the surface within the Formation's perimeter.

Once inside the Formation, they immediately suppressed their auras [the distinctive spiritual signature emitted by a cultivator] and began their cautious ascent towards the mountain peak.

"Who goes there?" a voice suddenly challenged from the shadows.

Suddenly, a chorus of startled exclamations erupted from the mountain peak. A black-robed Golden Core Demonic Cultivator stared in utter disbelief, completely baffled as to how two cultivators had abruptly materialized from within the Formation [a mystical array or barrier].

Exquisite Jiang acted first, unleashing the Heavenly Ruins Immortal-Slaying Sword in a sweeping slash towards the foe.

The man hastily summoned a Demonic Treasure [an artifact forged with demonic energy] to block the strike, then attempted to retreat in a frantic burst of speed. Alas, the Celestial Abyss Twin Swords had already sung through the air with a metallic *shing*, their blades converging upon him.

In this moment of dire peril, he conjured forth a 'Black Gold Blood Cauldron' [a cauldron forged of black gold, likely used for blood-related demonic arts] in a desperate attempt to parry the attack. But Eldrin Chen merely raised a hand, summoning the Magnetic Treasure Mirror [a mystical mirror with the power to attract and absorb treasures]. With a soft *whoosh*, the cauldron was instantly drawn into the mirror's depths.

"Damnation—!" Original publication: audio_novel.com - The source of this chapter.