Chapter 399 : The Glazed Armor's Secret

"We bear no enmity with you."

As the group closed in, Eldrin Chen spoke with a tone of genuine puzzlement, "I am curious. Why would you go to such great lengths, incurring such a heavy cost, to make an enemy of us?"

"I suspected you would ask that."

Hugo Huo gave a slight nod. With a wave of his hand, he conjured a suit of deep azure, crystalline armor that shimmered with a sapphire light, enveloping and protecting his companions.

Only then did he turn his gaze fully upon Eldrin Chen, his expression calm as he stated, "Do you understand now?"

"The Azure-Gold Glazed Armor!"

Eldrin Chen's pupils contracted sharply as realization dawned, finally grasping the profound origin of this treasure.

The Seven Treasures Glazed Armor was a legendary, peerless treasure of the Immortal Realm. In ages past, an unknown immortal, inspired by its design, devised the methods to forge seven distinct variants of Glazed Armor.

If one could gather three suits of a single variant, each at the Supreme Grade Magical Treasure tier, they could be fused and refined into a single, far more powerful artifact—a Demon-Subduing Supreme Treasure known as the Glazed Armor of the Three Treasures.

Now that Hugo Huo possessed the Azure-Gold Glazed Armor, it was no wonder he had incurred the wrath of the Deng Immortal Clan in the past. It also explained his current, desperate willingness to oppose Eldrin Chen at any cost. This chapter is part of a larger work available at audio-novel.com (official site).

"A single suit of Glazed Armor of the Three Treasures [a legendary defensive treasure forged from three types of precious materials, offering immense protection], its value stirs even my heart profoundly."

Eldrin Chen said calmly. Demon-Subduing Supreme Treasure [artifacts of the highest grade, capable of subduing powerful demons and heavenly tribulations] were exceedingly rare across the entire kingdom. Even if he had known Hugo Huo possessed the Crimson-Gold Glazed Armor, he might well have sought a way to claim it for himself.

Hugo Huo originally had only a forty percent chance of surviving the Nascent Soul Heavenly Thunder Tribulation [the cataclysmic lightning tribulation one must endure to ascend to the Nascent Soul realm]. However, with the Glazed Armor of the Three Treasures—this supreme Demon-Subduing Supreme Treasure—in his possession, his odds of overcoming the tribulation would soar to ninety-nine out of one hundred.

Such a supreme treasure explained why Hugo Huo would risk incurring their mortal enmity and resort to such a deadly ambush.

With this realization, Eldrin Chen's gaze turned icy. "Your feud with the Deng Clan was genuine, and you have concealed this Crimson-Gold Glazed Armor for many years. No wonder I was deceived."

"So it seems," he continued, "your conflict with the Deng Clan all those years ago was also over the Crimson-Gold Glazed Armor and the Purple-Gold Glazed Armor [a variant of the legendary glazed armor, forged with purple-gold alloys]."

"Precisely."

Hugo Huo nodded, his expression unchanged. "The Deng Clan has been passed down for over a thousand years. They possess a certain Deep-Seated Foundation [profound and well-established resources, heritage, and strength accumulated over generations]."

"Back then, for the sake of the Purple-Gold Glazed Armor, I once clashed with Deng Morgrim. That man was no ordinary foe. Relying on his clan's Mountain Guardian Grand Formation [a powerful defensive array that harnesses the spiritual energy of a mountain to protect a territory], he managed to hold me at bay."

"Later, he broke through to the Golden Core, Late Stage and successfully forged that supreme-grade Crimson-Gold Glazed Armor. Finding myself powerless against him, I had no choice but to return to my clan to focus on advancing my own cultivation."

"But by the time I emerged from seclusion after breaking through to the False Nascent Soul Realm [a state where a cultivator has formed a nascent soul but it is not yet fully stable or complete], I discovered the Deng Clan had already been annihilated by you. I had no confidence in defeating you and was contemplating how to scheme against you in the Ji Continent [a vast continent within this cultivation world]. I never imagined you would deliver yourselves to my doorstep."

"So we were already ensnared in your plot long ago."

Lyra Jiang [a powerful female cultivator]'s gaze turned icy, and she suddenly sneered, "Now."

During the conversation, Lyra Jiang had been gathering her power, and the technique she had been preparing was finally unleashed.

Above the Firmament [the sky, the heavens], a vast, boundless radiance descended from the Nine Firmaments. Its power pierced through hundreds of Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters], as if intending to shatter the very mountains of this Ronan [a location named after a person] range and sink them into the earth.

"It's the Divine Light of the Five Void Tribulations [a legendary and devastating divine ability]!"

Hugo Huo [a cultivator] paled. Reputation precedes one like a tree's shadow. This full-force strike from Lyra Jiang had reached seventy to eighty percent of the power of a true Nascent Soul [a high-level cultivator whose primordial spirit has formed into an independent nascent soul] cultivator.

However, he had come prepared. Five Golden Core Ancestor [powerful cultivators who have formed a golden core, the foundation of their power] led a multitude of cultivators in activating a set of Formation Flags [enchanted banners used to channel power into formations], erecting a towering curtain of light to block the attack.

This towering light-curtain was named the 'Glazed Unbreakable Diamond Canopy' [a powerful defensive formation known for its incredible resilience], an exceedingly powerful Defensive Formation [a magical array designed primarily for protection]. Driven by nearly a thousand Foundation Establishment [cultivators who have solidified their cultivation foundation] and over a hundred Purple Mansion [cultivators who have opened their spiritual sea into a 'Purple Mansion' domain] cultivators, it actually managed to withstand this world-shaking Great Divine Ability [a supreme technique of immense power].

Yet, after enduring this single blow, the power of the Formation [the magical array] was largely depleted. Dozens of Foundation Establishment cultivators and several Purple Mansion cultivators immediately perished from the violent backlash.

"Hmph—"

Simultaneously, Eldrin Chen activated the Earth-Fortress Sovereign Bell [a powerful defensive bell imbued with the essence of the earth] to shield them both, then summoned the Heavenly Separated Twin Swords [a pair of divine swords embodying the power of separated celestial flames] to slash out, aiming to breach the Four Symbols Flag Formation [a formidable formation that channels the power of the four celestial beasts].

That Hugo Huo was well-prepared. He channeled his lifebound Formation Flags [a set of enchanted flags used to control and power formations], and in an instant, five spectral formation spirits descended.

They were none other than the Azure Dragon [the celestial beast of the east, representing wood and spring], the White Tiger [the celestial beast of the west, representing metal and autumn], the Vermilion Bird [the celestial beast of the south, representing fire and summer], and the Black Tortoise [the celestial beast of the north, representing water and winter]. Each of these four spirits possessed power comparable to a Golden Core, Late Stage [a cultivator in the advanced phase of the Golden Core realm] cultivator. Their combined forces, their spiritual essences merging, unleashed a combat prowess that actually surpassed that of a Golden Core Great Perfection [a cultivator at the absolute peak of the Golden Core realm] expert by a significant margin.

Seeing that the Heavenly Separated Twin Swords alone could not handle the onslaught, Lyra Jiang raised her hand and summoned the Earth-Fortress Earth Origin Disk [a mystical disk that harnesses the primordial power of the earth]. A torrent of formation rune power enveloped the void, possessing the triple effects of suppression, sealing, and defense.

The formation runes of this treasure clashed against Hugo Huo's lifebound Formation Flags. While it could not completely suppress the set of Formation Flags, it succeeded in reducing the potency of Hugo Huo's Four Symbols Flag Formation by thirty percent. Read, share, and discuss at audio_novel.com.

After accomplishing this, Lyra Jiang's lifebound incarnation descended from between her brows. She then summoned the Eight Desolations and Six Realms Cauldron [a mighty cauldron artifact] and the Heaven's Ruin Immortal-Slaying Sword [a legendary sword famed for slaying immortals], intending to join Eldrin Chen in surrounding and attacking Hugo Huo.

Although Hugo Huo was immensely powerful, facing two such formidable cultivators simultaneously proved more than he could withstand.

For Eldrin Chen and Lyra Jiang were no ordinary Golden Core [the third major realm of cultivation, where one forms a solidified golden core of power] cultivators. Not only was their spiritual essence exceptionally vast and potent, but they also possessed a greater number of Life-Bound Magical Treasure [a cultivator's personally forged and soul-linked enchanted artifact, growing in power with them], each one astonishingly powerful.

One had to admit, a cultivator's combat strength ultimately hinged on whose Divine Ability [a supreme technique or supernatural power mastered by a high-level cultivator] and Magical Treasure [an enchanted artifact used by cultivators, ranging from tools to supreme treasures] were more profound and formidable.

Of course, mana [the cultivated spiritual energy that fuels all mystical arts] is the source of power, the very foundation that drives all Magical Treasure and Divine Ability. Without profound and abundant mana, even the mightiest Magical Treasure or most potent Divine Ability would lie inert, utterly useless, let alone be wielded in combat against others.

In such circumstances, the advantage offered by a Life-Bound Magical Treasure, which consumes only thirty percent of the usual mana, is beyond question.

"Clan Lord, we shall aid you."

At that very moment, the five Golden Core Cultivator of the Huo Clan closed in, intending to lend Hugo Huo their strength.

Eldrin Chen's gaze sharpened. "Leave them to me," he declared.

"Very well."

Lyra Jiang responded. She summoned her Divine Ability and Magical Treasure to hold Hugo Huo at bay, seizing the moment to swallow a Fourth Rank Pill to restore her depleted mana.

Meanwhile, Eldrin Chen unleashed the Heavenly Separated Twin Swords, their blades sweeping towards the five Golden Core cultivators.

"Beware!"

Understanding the terror Eldrin Chen represented, the five Golden Core cultivators hastily countered, each summoning their own Flying Sword and Magical Treasure to meet the onslaught.

The two leaders were at the Golden Core, Mid Stage [the middle stage of the Golden Core cultivation realm], while the three below them were all at the Golden Core, Early Stage [the initial stage of the Golden Core cultivation realm]. With their combined strength, they could even put up a fight against a cultivator at the Golden Core Great Perfection [the pinnacle stage of the Golden Core realm].

Facing five opponents alone, Eldrin Chen unleashed the Heavenly Separated Twin Swords [a pair of legendary immortal swords] and the Five Elements Divine Thunder [a supreme divine ability harnessing the power of the five fundamental elements]. His relentless assault pressed the five foes until they could scarcely catch their breath.

Although the five Golden Core [Golden Core realm] cultivators possessed several Magical Treasure [enchanted artifacts of great power], Eldrin Chen single-handedly neutralized the majority of their Fourth Rank Low to Middle Grade [low to middle grade fourth rank] Magical Treasure with just one Magnetic Treasure Mirror [a mirror treasure that manipulates magnetic forces].

"We cannot continue fighting like this."

A Golden Core, Mid Stage elder from the Huo Clan [the Huo family, a prominent cultivation clan] spoke with a grave expression. While engaging Eldrin Chen with a Divine Ability [a supreme mystical technique], he suddenly raised his hand and unleashed a streak of silvery treasure light.

The light coalesced into a silvery bracer, which erupted with a dazzling magnetic divine radiance, instantly ensnaring the Heavenly Separated Twin Swords.

"A Magnetic Treasure Bracer [a bracer-type treasure that emits powerful magnetic forces]!"

"Trouble!"

Eldrin Chen's expression shifted. Immortal swords are particularly vulnerable to suppression by Magnetic Magical Treasure [magical treasures that utilize magnetic power]. Now, his opponents had produced a Fourth Rank High Grade [high-grade fourth rank] Magnetic Treasure Bracer.

For years, he had roamed the world, the magnetic power of his Mirror of Yin, Yang, and Void [a legendary mirror that manipulates the forces of Yin, Yang, and the Void] claiming glorious victories. He never imagined he would one day find himself on the receiving end of such a counter.

The Heavenly Separated Twin Swords were Eldrin Chen's most formidable technique. If the two immortal swords were to be destroyed, Eldrin Chen would not only lose two of his most lethal weapons, but his ultimate trump card—the combined power of the Heavenly Separated Twin Swords—would also become unusable. Support the author by reading on http://www . audio-novel.com.