Chapter 408 : A Timely Rescue Amidst Chaos

"Then let us act."

The White Serpent Demon King also let out a cold sneer, summoning a sky-churning tide of ferocious, baleful energy [a malevolent and destructive aura] as it prepared to pounce forward.

The moment the demons and monsters moved, the majority of the Human Race cultivators also began to act, scrambling to seize their prize.

Although a few of the more righteous Human Race cultivators were unwilling to strike at her, they were ultimately outnumbered by the demonic horde and forced into helpless inaction.

"The heart of man, the nature of demons!"

"Then let us perish together."

Silas Chen revealed a trace of a cold smile. She produced an ancient-looking command token [a medallion used to control formations or arrays], gritted her teeth, and prepared to activate the Formation [a complex arrangement of energy channels and nodes used for defense, attack, or other purposes].

And in that very instant, as if in a dream, she seemed to glimpse the figure she had longed for day and night.

Clad in robes white as snow, he transformed into a streak of light that landed before her, unfurling a resplendent Ancient Bell [a powerful defensive magical treasure shaped like a bell] that blocked the onslaught of the demons and monsters.

After accomplishing this, a voice, calm and composed, rang out: "Stand behind me!" Discover more cultivation stories at audio-novel dot com.

"Ah!"

Silas Chen jolted back to awareness, her face lighting up with joy as she reached out to grasp his sleeve.

However, after a glance towards Exquisite Jiang standing nearby, she subtly withdrew her jade-like fingers, lowering her head as she said, "Greetings, Uncle Eldrin, greetings, Immortal Maiden Exquisite."

Eldrin Chen gave an imperceptible nod, positioning himself protectively in front of Silas Chen before turning his gaze towards the assembly of powerful figures hovering in the void.

Within the void, the Great Roc Demon King [a powerful avian demon ruler], its initial strike blocked by the Bulwark Earth Sovereign Bell [a mighty defensive treasure], now hovered motionless, a look of grave seriousness etched upon its features.

"Your visage is unfamiliar, yet your cultivation is formidable," it rumbled, its voice echoing. "You are likely not a cultivator native to the Vast Sea [a vast and treacherous oceanic region], are you?"

Facing the Demon King's [a ruler among demonic beings] inquiry, Eldrin Chen remained impassive. He swept his calm gaze over the dozen or so Human Race [the collective of humankind] Golden Core [the third major stage of cultivation] experts present and spoke with measured clarity. "Esteemed fellow cultivators of the Human Race, should we not first unite to slay this demonic foe?"

"The legacy treasure of an Infant Soul [the fourth major stage of cultivation] expert is far too precious," one of the Golden Core Elder [an elder cultivator at the Golden Core stage] declared, his tone resolute and unyielding. "We find your request difficult to comply with."

"Unless," he continued, his eyes sharp, "you first hand over the legacy treasure in her possession to this old man."

Exquisite Jiang exchanged a look with Eldrin Chen, a flicker of helplessness passing between them. In territories overseen by an Infant Soul Immortal Clan [a powerful clan led by an Infant Soul stage expert], Human Race Golden Core cultivators would undoubtedly band together against a common demonic threat first. Here, however, greed for the treasure clearly outweighed that instinct for unity.

However, the Vast Sea was far too chaotic. While the Spirit Island Alliance held some authority, its influence over Golden Core Cultivator was rather limited.

"Since we cannot unite, then we must fight our way out,"

Exquisite Jiang stated calmly. While a dozen or so early to mid-stage Golden Core cultivators would be no match for them, the current situation involved forty to fifty Golden Core experts from the human, demon, and fiend races combined.

Among these Golden Core cultivators were even several powerful Golden Core Late Stage experts. Becoming the target of all their combined hostility made the prospect of defeating them exceedingly difficult.

Nevertheless, given their own formidable strength, they had a high degree of confidence in fighting their way out while protecting Silas Chen.

Just as Eldrin Chen summoned his Solar Fire Returning Abyss Sword and prepared to strike, a white-robed figure emerged from the depths of the distant void, striding forward.

Before the figure arrived, a voice carried across the distance: "Esteemed Elders, now is the opportune moment to confront the demons and fiends. We must not turn on each other."

"The Alliance Leader of the Glacier Alliance."

Upon hearing this, the dozen or so Human Race Golden Core cultivators all showed a measure of respect.

The Glacier Alliance Leader was a False Infant Soul Realm Cultivator who had forged a Superior-Tier Golden Core. Such an individual possessed at least a sixty to seventy percent chance of successfully breaking through to the Infant Soul realm, a prospect that commanded their utmost respect.

As expected, the moment the Glacier Alliance Leader arrived, the Demon Kings and the Golden Core Demonic Cultivators all revealed expressions of grave solemnity.

The White Serpent Demon King cast a frigid gaze and spoke with icy detachment, "Frigid Stream, you likely intend to use their strength to drive us demons away, only to then monopolize the Infant Soul legacy treasures for yourself, correct?"

"Hmph."

The Frostriver Path Master remained impassive, his expression calm as he glanced at Eldrin Chen and said, "Both of you possess considerable strength. Let us join forces to first slay these demons, and then decide the ownership of the Infant Soul legacy treasures."

"Attack!"

The prestige of this Glacier Alliance Leader was considerable. At his command, the assembled Human Race Golden Core Cultivators immediately took action, clashing with the demonic horde. This chapter is provided by audio~novel.com. Support the original.

Eldrin Chen and Exquisite Jiang exchanged a look, then casually summoned their Immortal Sword magical treasures [enchanted artifacts used by cultivators] to assault the Demon Race.

The demonic forces were formidable, their number of Demon Kings exceeding that of the Human Race. However, for this battle, the Human Race had the Glacier Alliance Leader, a False Infant Soul Realm Cultivator [a cultivator at the peak of the Golden Core Realm, possessing power approaching the Infant Soul Realm], as well as supreme Golden Core experts like Eldrin Chen and Exquisite Jiang. Thus, they harbored no fear of the demons.

The Frigid Stream True Person was a cultivator with a Water Spiritual Root [an innate affinity for the water element]. As a False Infant Soul Realm cultivator with a Superior-Tier Golden Core [a Golden Core of the highest quality], the depth of his spiritual power already approached seventy percent of that of a true Mortal Path Infant Soul cultivator.

Such profound spiritual power allowed him to refine twelve frigid streams into his body using his unique Divine Ability [a powerful supernatural technique], transforming them into twelve mother-and-child Immortal Swords of frost. Each sword possessed a formidable power equivalent to the fourth rank.

So many Immortal Sword [enchanted swords wielded by powerful cultivators]! An ordinary cultivator at the Golden Core Perfection [the pinnacle stage of the Golden Core realm] would find their spiritual power [the internal energy used for cultivation and spellcasting] drained after unleashing just a few such attacks.

Yet, he showed no fear of such depletion. With a single exhalation, twelve streaks of snow-white sword light erupted, weaving a deadly tapestry across the sky. Alone, he managed to suppress nine Golden Core [the third major realm of cultivation, where one forms a solid golden core of spiritual power] demonic beasts.

Meanwhile, Exquisite Jiang engaged seven Golden Core demonic beasts single-handedly. Among her foes were two at the Golden Core Late Stage [the advanced phase of the Golden Core realm], yet she pressed them all into a relentless retreat.

Though Eldrin Chen possessed slightly less spiritual power, his mastery of the Celestial Abyss Twin Swords allowed him to dance through the fray. He held his own against two Golden Core Late Stage Demon King [a title for a powerful demonic entity, often equivalent to a Golden Core realm cultivator]—the Great Roc and the White Serpent—and astonishingly, he gained the upper hand.

The battle raged for half a shichen-time [one Shichen-time equals two hours]. Just as the conflict reached a stalemate, Eldrin Chen seized the moment for a decisive, lethal strike.

In a flash, his eyes ignited with fierce light. He unleashed the Two Polarities Divine Thunder [a divine lightning technique harnessing the opposing forces of Yin and Yang], the blast forcing the Great Roc Demon King to cough blood and reel backwards. In that instant, the Thousand Demons Demon-Slaying Sword [a sword renowned for its potency against demonic beings] descended with a cleaving force.

Though the Great Roc Demon King was Extraordinary in strength, the Thousand Demons Demon-Slaying Sword was the bane of the Demon Race [the collective term for demonic beings and cultivators]. The sword's black-gold sword energy [sharpened spiritual power manifesting as a blade] coalesced into the form of a Dragon Soul [a powerful spiritual entity or manifestation], its mere presence momentarily paralyzing the Great Roc Demon King with awe.

That split-second of hesitation was all it took. The sword fell, cleaving the demon king asunder amidst the void.

"Aaaaargh—!"

The sight of a Golden Core Late Stage Demon King meeting such a bloody end sent a palpable shockwave of fear through the remaining Demon King and demonic cultivators on the battlefield.

Witnessing the Great Roc Demon King being slain, its Golden Core [the condensed essence of a Golden Core cultivator's power] swiftly pocketed by Eldrin Chen, and its demonic soul devoured by the Thousand Demons Demon-Slaying Sword, the remaining Golden Core Demon King could no longer hold their ground.

"It's the Thousand Demons Demon-Slaying Sword!"

The White Serpent Demon King roared in shock and fury, turning in a frantic scramble for its life.

The other Demon King were equally horrified and enraged. One bellowed, "That sword must be destroyed! If left unchecked, it will become a calamity for our Demon Race!"

The dread reputation of the Thousand Demons Demon-Slaying Sword was simply too great. Forged with the singular purpose of slaying demons and monsters, its power was overwhelmingly potent against their kind.

Even a mighty Demon King ranked among the top ten in the Vast Sea had its spirit frozen and was ended with a single stroke. The mere thought of it ascending to become a Demon-Subduing Supreme Treasure [a legendary-grade artifact of supreme power] was terrifying.

In the eyes of the demonic horde, this blade seemed to be tempered with the souls of the Human Race—a method of forging that defied the natural order and would surely incur immense Karma [the cosmic law of cause and effect] and karmic retribution.

As the Thousand Demons Demon-Slaying Sword wreaked its havoc, the pack of Golden Core Demon King abandoned their current foes and surged forward in a frenzied assault.

Eldrin Chen's gaze turned icy. With a flick of his sleeve, he hurled the Bulwark Earth Sovereign Bell forth. This peerless magical treasure [an enchanted artifact used by cultivators] was not only peerless in defense but also possessed a devastating, earth-shattering might.

The colossal bell descended with the force of a falling mountain, its impact so overwhelming that it cleanly cleaved a Golden Core Demon King in two, sundering its physical form. The story continues at audio-novel`com.