Chapter 399 : The Azure-Gold Glazed Revelation

"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 azure-gold crystalline armor that shimmered with a sapphire light, forming a protective barrier around 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 the artifact's true origin dawned upon him.

The Seven Treasures Glazed Armor was a legendary Immortal Treasure from the Immortal Realm. In ages past, an unknown Immortal had studied its forging method and derived from it the techniques to create seven distinct variants of Glazed Armor.

If one could gather three supreme-grade magical treasures of the Single Treasure Glazed Armor type, they could be fused and refined into a single, far more powerful artifact—the Demon-Subduing Supreme Treasure known as the Three Treasures Glazed Armor.

Now it was clear. With the Azure-Gold Glazed Armor in Hugo Huo's possession, it was no wonder he had incurred the wrath of the Deng Immortal Clan in the past. And it explained why, even now, he was willing to risk everything to oppose Eldrin Chen. Dive deeper into the Dao at @udio-novel.com.

"A single Three Treasures Glazed Armor [a legendary defensive artifact forged from three supreme treasures], its value stirs even my heart with profound desire."

Eldrin Chen stated calmly. Demon-Subduing Supreme Treasure [a supreme-grade artifact of immense power capable of subduing demons] were exceedingly rare across the entire nation. Even if he had known Hugo Huo possessed the Azure-Gold Glazed Armor [a powerful defensive armor forged from azure and gold], he might well have sought a way to claim it for himself.

Hugo Huo originally had only a four-tenths chance of surviving the Infant Soul Heavenly Thunder Tribulation [a cataclysmic heavenly trial required to advance to the Infant Soul realm]. However, with the Three Treasures Glazed Armor [a legendary defensive artifact forged from three supreme treasures], that single Demon-Subduing Supreme Treasure [a supreme-grade artifact of immense power capable of subduing demons], his chances of successfully weathering the Infant Soul Heavenly Thunder Tribulation [a cataclysmic heavenly trial required to advance to the Infant Soul realm] would soar to ninety-nine out of one hundred.

Faced with such a supreme treasure, it was no wonder Hugo Huo had risked incurring their mortal enmity and resorted to such a deadly scheme against them.

With this realization, Eldrin Chen's gaze turned icy cold. "Your feud with the Deng Clan was genuine, and you have concealed this Azure-Gold Glazed Armor [a powerful defensive armor forged from azure and gold] for many years. No wonder I was deceived by your ruse."

"So it seems," he continued, "your conflict with the Deng Clan all those years ago was also over the Crimson-Gold Glazed Armor [a powerful defensive armor forged from crimson and gold] and the Purple-Gold Glazed Armor [a powerful defensive armor forged from purple and gold]."

"Precisely so."

Hugo Huo nodded, his expression unperturbed. "The Deng Clan has been passed down for over a thousand years. They possess some measure of true heritage."

"Back then, for the sake of the Purple-Gold Glazed Armor [a powerful defensive armor forged from purple and gold], I once clashed with Old Ghost Deng. That man possessed considerable skill; he actually managed to hold me at bay by relying on his Mountain Protection Formation [a powerful defensive array that shields an entire mountain]."

"Later, he broke through to the Golden Core Late Stage [the late stage of the Golden Core realm] and even forged a top-grade Crimson-Gold Glazed Armor [a powerful defensive armor forged from crimson and gold]. I found myself powerless against him and could only return to my clan to focus on advancing my own cultivation."

"But by the time I emerged from seclusion after my breakthrough into the False Infant Soul Realm [a pseudo-realm just below the true Infant Soul stage], I discovered the Deng Clan had already been annihilated by you. I had no confidence in defeating you all and was contemplating how to ambush you on Ji Continent. I never imagined you would deliver yourselves to my doorstep."

"So we were already part of your scheme from the very beginning."

Exquisite Jiang's gaze turned icy, and she suddenly sneered, "Now."

During the conversation, the attack Exquisite Jiang had been preparing for so long was finally unleashed.

High above in the Heavenly Vault, a torrent of boundless, resplendent light descended from the Nine Heavens. Its power pierced through hundreds of Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters], as if intending to shatter the very mountains and rivers beneath it.

"It's the Void Five Tribulations Divine Light [a supreme divine technique capable of invoking the power of five heavenly tribulations]!"

Hugo Huo's expression shifted dramatically. Reputation precedes power. This full-force strike from Exquisite Jiang had reached seventy to eighty percent of the might of a true Infant Soul Cultivator [a master who has formed their nascent soul, a core of spiritual consciousness].

However, he was prepared. Five Golden Core Patriarch [powerful cultivators who have condensed a golden core of spiritual energy], leading a host of other cultivators, activated a set of Formation Flag [enchanted banners used to anchor and power magical arrays]. Together, they conjured a towering curtain of light to block the attack.

This radiant barrier was known as the 'Impenetrable Glazed Adamantine Shield' [an immensely powerful defensive array formation]. It was an extraordinarily potent defensive Formation [a structured arrangement of energy channels and power sources for magical effects]. Driven by nearly a thousand Foundation Establishment [cultivators who have solidified their spiritual foundation] and over a hundred Violet Sanctum [masters who have opened their third spiritual eye, the Violet Palace], it actually managed to withstand this world-shaking Great God Ability [a divine technique of legendary power].

Yet, after enduring that single blow, the Formation's power was depleted by more than half. Dozens of Foundation Establishment cultivators and several Violet Sanctum masters immediately perished, their bodies and spirits ravaged by the violent backlash of energy.

"Hmph—"

At the same moment, Eldrin Chen activated the Bulwark Earth Sovereign Bell to shield them both, then summoned forth the Celestial Abyss Twin Swords and slashed out, aiming to shatter the Four Symbols Formation Flags.

Hugo Huo was well-prepared. With a surge of spiritual energy, he activated his Lifebound Magical Treasure Formation Flag. Instantly, four spectral guardian spirits descended.

They were none other than the Azure Dragon, the White Tiger, the Vermilion Bird, and the Black Tortoise—the legendary Four Divine Spirits [the four celestial beasts representing the cardinal directions]. Each of these spirits possessed power comparable to a Golden Core Late Stage cultivator. Their combined forces intertwined, unleashing a might that actually surpassed that of a Golden Core Perfection expert by a significant margin.

Seeing that the Celestial Abyss Twin Swords alone could not handle this, Exquisite Jiang raised her hand and summoned the Cultivable Earth Kun Origin Disk. A torrent of intricate formation patterns erupted, enveloping the surrounding space with effects of suppression, sealing, and defense.

The formation patterns emanating from this treasure clashed directly with the power of Hugo Huo's Lifebound Magical Treasure Formation Flag. While it couldn't completely suppress the set of Formation Flags, it succeeded in reducing the potency of Hugo Huo's Four Symbols Formation Flags by a full thirty percent. Enjoyed this chapter? Read more at audio-novel . com.

With that done, Exquisite Jiang's Lifebound Avatar [a powerful spiritual projection of one's cultivated self] materialized from her brow. She then unleashed both the Cauldron of the Eight Desolations and Six Harmonies and the Heavenly Ruins Immortal-Slaying Sword, joining forces with Eldrin Chen to surround and attack Hugo Huo.

Though Hugo Huo was formidably strong, facing two such powerful adversaries simultaneously proved more than he could handle.

For Eldrin Chen and Exquisite Jiang were no ordinary Golden Core cultivators. Not only was their Force Extreme [the foundational power of a cultivator's cultivation base] exceptionally potent, but they also possessed a greater number of Lifebound Magical Treasures [treasures refined with one's life essence, granting unparalleled control and power], each one astonishingly powerful.

It had to be admitted: a cultivator's combat prowess ultimately hinged on whose Divine Abilities [profound supernatural techniques] and whose magical treasures [enchanted artifacts used by cultivators] were superior.

Of course, spiritual power [the cultivated energy that fuels all supernatural arts] is the very source of all strength, the fundamental foundation for activating any magical treasure or Divine Ability. Without a deep and robust reserve of spiritual power, even the mightiest magical treasures and most profound Divine Abilities would be impossible to wield, let alone employ in combat against others.

Under such circumstances, the immense value of a Lifebound Magical Treasure, which consumes only thirty percent of one's spiritual power, is beyond question.

"Clan Patriarch, we shall aid you!"

At that moment, however, the five Golden Core Cultivators from the Huo Clan closed in, intending to lend Hugo Huo their strength.

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

"Understood."

Exquisite Jiang responded. She summoned her Divine Ability and magical treasure to block Hugo Huo, seizing the moment to swallow a fourth-rank elixir [a high-grade spiritual pill] to replenish her spiritual power.

Meanwhile, Eldrin Chen unleashed the Celestial Abyss Twin Swords, launching a sweeping slash towards the five Golden Core cultivators.

"Beware!"

Understanding the terror Eldrin Chen represented, the five Golden Core cultivators hastily summoned their own flying swords and magical treasures to intercept the attack.

The two leaders were at the Golden Core Mid Stage [the fifth major stage of cultivation, where one's spiritual power condenses into a solid golden core], while the remaining three were all at the Golden Core Early Stage [the initial phase of the Golden Core realm]. With their combined strength, they could put up a decent fight against even a Golden Core Perfection [the pinnacle stage of the Golden Core realm] cultivator.

Facing all five alone, Eldrin Chen [the protagonist, a powerful cultivator from the Chen family] relentlessly pressed his attack, wielding the Celestial Abyss Twin Swords [a pair of powerful immortal swords] and unleashing bursts of Five Elements Divine Thunder [a supreme thunder technique harnessing the power of the five fundamental elements]. Astonishingly, he had the five opponents completely on the defensive, leaving them gasping for breath.

Although the five Golden Core [the fifth major stage of cultivation] cultivators also possessed several magical treasure [enchanted artifacts used by cultivators], Eldrin Chen's single Magnetic Treasure Mirror [a mirror-type treasure that emits primordial magnetic light] neutralized the majority of their Fourth-Rank, low-to-mid grade magical treasure.

"We cannot continue fighting like this,"

declared an elderly Golden Core Mid Stage cultivator from the Huo Clan [a prominent cultivation clan], his expression grave. While using his Divine Ability [a supernatural power or technique derived from cultivation] to engage Eldrin Chen, he suddenly raised his hand and released a flash of silvery light.

The light resolved into a silvery bracelet. It erupted with a dazzling Primordial Magnetic Divine Light [a supreme magnetic force capable of restraining metallic treasures], instantly ensnaring the Celestial Abyss Twin Swords.

"A Primordial Magnetic Treasure Bracelet [a treasure bracelet imbued with primordial magnetic power]!"

"Trouble!"

Eldrin Chen's face paled. Immortal Sword [a general term for swords used by immortal cultivators] were particularly vulnerable to suppression by magnetic magical treasure. To his dismay, his opponents had produced a Fourth Rank Superior Grade [a high-quality treasure corresponding to the Nascent Soul realm] Primordial Magnetic Treasure Bracelet.

For years, he had roamed the world unchallenged, the Primordial Magnetism Power [the power of primordial magnetism] of his Polarity Void Mirror [a mirror treasure that manipulates magnetic polarity] claiming countless victories. He never imagined he would one day find himself on the receiving end of such a counter.

The Celestial Abyss Twin Swords were Eldrin Chen's most proficient weapons. If both Immortal Swords were to be forged into the cauldron, not only would Eldrin Chen lose two of his primary Slaughter Immortal Swords, but even his ultimate trump card, the Sky-Severance Sword Union, would become unusable. For more chapters, visit audi0-n0vel.c0m for the complete novel.