Chapter 422 : A Sinister Curse Unveiled

In accordance with the final wishes of Varen Wei, his funeral rites were conducted with austere simplicity.

However, upon hearing that Eldrin Chen himself was attending to pay respects, a considerable number of Purple Mansion Cultivator [cultivators who have established their spiritual core within the Purple Mansion realm] from across the Chu Kingdom arrived bearing gifts, their intent clearly to make an appearance before Eldrin Chen.

He paid such gestures little mind. After Varen Wei's cremation, Eldrin Chen did not linger. He departed from Heavenly Peak Mountain that very day.

Upon returning to Spirit Isle Lake, Eldrin Chen presented the pitch-black demonic box to Lyra Jiang. A cold smile touched his lips as he said, "These Demonic Cultivator [practitioners who harness malevolent and corrupt energies for power] have already set their sights upon me."

"The Demonic Malignancy Entangling Thread Curse?"

Lyra Jiang's pupils contracted sharply, a flash of keen, lethal intent passing through her eyes.

The Demonic Malignancy Entangling Thread Curse [a sinister technique that binds a victim with ethereal threads of corrupt energy, slowly draining their vitality and cultivation] is a notoriously fearsome Demonic Path Divine Ability [a powerful supernatural art practiced by demonic cultivators] of the Demonic Path [the collective practices and factions aligned with demonic cultivation]. This Divine Ability [a supreme supernatural art surpassing ordinary spells] can be enacted in three distinct ways.

The first method is to forcibly unleash it during direct combat with an enemy. This application yields the lowest potency, equivalent only to an elementary-grade Divine Ability.

The second method involves using a medium connected to the intended target—such as flesh, blood, skin, or personal garments—to enact the Divine Ability.

This approach significantly amplifies the power of the Demonic Malignancy Entangling Thread Curse. There are historical accounts of Golden Core, Late Stage [cultivators at an advanced stage within the Golden Core realm] Demonic Cultivator successfully ambushing formidable foes at the Golden Core Great Perfection [the pinnacle stage of the Golden Core realm] using this very means. Official source: audio–novel.com. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.

He performed the ritual for Forty-Nine Days [a period of forty-nine days], tormenting his foe with the Demonic Malignancy Entangling Thread Curse [a sinister curse that binds the victim with threads of demonic energy] for the entire duration. In the end, he drove his enemy to the brink, their lifeblood nearly exhausted, allowing him to deliver the final blow with ease.

The third method involved a cursed medium. A Demonic Cultivator [a practitioner of demonic arts] would expend immense resources to craft a physical vessel for the Demonic Malignancy Entangling Thread Curse. If a cultivator touched this object without proper defenses, the curse would invade their body.

A curse activated in this manner was exceedingly difficult to purge. Unless the caster was slain, it would embed itself like a festering parasite within the cultivator's hidden meridians. Once it erupted, it would ensnare the victim in Demonic Fiend Qi [corrupt, malevolent spiritual energy], leading to a gruesome demise.

This final method was typically used by high-ranking Demonic Cultivator to control their subordinates and was seldom effective for ambushing enemies.

Eldrin Chen guarded his personal belongings meticulously, leaving the Demonic Cultivator no opportunity to acquire them. Thus, they were forced to resort to the third approach.

Yet getting close to Eldrin Chen was no simple feat. Any ordinary Demonic Cultivator, or even a Righteous Path Cultivator [a cultivator who follows the orthodox, virtuous path] under demonic control, would be detected by his keen senses the moment they approached.

The Chen Immortal Clan had never ceased its triennial purges of Demonic Cultivator infiltrators among its mortal and cultivator ranks for centuries.

In desperation, the Demonic Cultivator devised a vile scheme. They sought to use a close friend like Varen Wei as a conduit to secretly plant the Demonic Malignancy Entangling Thread Curse upon Eldrin Chen.

However, Varen Wei proved far more resolute than they had anticipated. His defiance caused the meticulously crafted cursed medium, for which they had paid a heavy price, to fall directly into Eldrin Chen's hands.

After understanding the chain of events, Lyra Jiang said with a shudder of relief, "It is fortunate Varen Wei did not betray your trust. Otherwise, you would have faced grave peril."

"It is of no consequence."

Eldrin Chen shook his head and spoke calmly, "I am protected by my Lifebound Immortal Sword [a cultivator's primary weapon, bound to their soul]. Common Divine Ability [a powerful supernatural technique] curses and spells cannot harm me. Furthermore, various Thunder Art Divine Ability [divine abilities harnessing the power of thunder] and Solar True Aegis [a defensive technique of pure solar energy] possess properties that counter Demonic Path Divine Ability [supernatural techniques derived from demonic cultivation]."

"As long as it is not a Nascent Soul Cultivators [a cultivator who has formed their primordial spirit, a major power] who is activating this Demonic Malignancy Entangling Thread Curse [a sinister curse that binds the victim with threads of demonic energy], then I am more than capable of enduring it."

Hearing this, Lyra Jiang also nodded. A sharp glint flashed in her eyes. "Within the vicinity of Ji Continent, the ones capable of activating such a Divine Ability would be the Demonic Cultivator [practitioners who use malevolent and often sacrificial methods to gain power] from the Ridge of the Black Fiend."

"Yet, according to Varen Wei's account, those who acted this time came from Demonic Ape Mountain. Does this not seem somewhat anomalous?"

"That is what puzzles me as well," Eldrin Chen agreed with a nod. He channeled his Solar True Flame [a pure flame of solar essence] to incinerate the medium of the Demonic Malignancy Entangling Thread Curse, then added, "But now I understand."

"The one who acted now is likely the Blackfire True Person who fled in defeat from our hands before."

And indeed, that was the case. Previously, that Blackfire True Person had been deceived by Eldrin Chen and Lyra Jiang, and in the ensuing battle, his physical body was slain.

Later, fearing reprisal from the Black Malignancy Ancient Ancestor, the fiend fled to Demonic Ape Mountain seeking refuge. There, he used the power of the Demonic Spring [a wellspring of concentrated demonic energy] within the mountain to suppress the Demonic Malignancy Entangling Thread Curse festering within him, barely clinging to a wretched existence.

The Golden Core Demonic Cultivator [demonic cultivators who have formed a golden core, a condensed source of power] of Demonic Ape Mountain, seeing this disciple of a Nascent Soul master arrive at their doorstep, took note of Blackfire True Person's capabilities.

After conferring, they devised a sinister scheme. Several Golden Core Elder Demon joined forces, intending to use the power of the Demonic Ape Mountain and its Demonic Spring to secretly plant the Demonic Malignancy Entangling Thread Curse upon Eldrin Chen.

Their reason for this was simple: the meteoric rise of Eldrin Chen over the years had increasingly filled the Demonic Cultivator [practitioners of malevolent arts that harness demonic power] with a deep-seated dread.

Though the Nascent Soul [the realm where a cultivator's spirit forms an independent infant soul] level Demonic Monsters dared not tear the final veil of hostility for fear of the Ji Clan's power, the Demonic Ape Mountain bordering the Chu Kingdom was growing restless.

Setting aside the Demon-Subduing Supreme Treasure, Lyra Jiang's current strength already approached half that of a Nascent Soul True Lord. If Eldrin Chen were to break through to the Golden Core, Late Stage, then the doom of Demonic Ape Mountain would surely be at hand.

After much deliberation, the Golden Core Demonic Cultivator of Demonic Ape Mountain resolved to strike first against Eldrin Chen, using the Demonic Malignancy Entangling Thread Curse to ambush him from the shadows.

By their calculations, even if the Demonic Malignancy Entangling Thread Curse failed to kill him, it would grievously wound Eldrin Chen, forcing him to spend at least one Jiazi-time [a sixty-year cycle] to dispel the curse and leaving him little focus for his cultivation. This chapter appears courtesy of audio–novel.com.

What they never anticipated was that Varen Wei, while outwardly agreeing, would secretly turn around and deliver the Demonic Cultivator's treacherous plot directly into the hands of Eldrin Chen.

Unbeknownst to Eldrin Chen, to force Varen Wei's compliance, Demonic Ape Mountain had also covertly seized control of Varen Wei's direct grandson.

Yet, in the end, Varen Wei never mentioned this. His grandson was merely a Foundation Establishment Cultivator [one who has solidified their cultivation base into a stable foundation]; given the ruthless nature of the Demonic Cultivator, there was no chance the young man would emerge alive. Speaking of it would only have sown needless anguish.

This outcome was partly due to the Demonic Cultivator's insufficient strength—they lacked the means to covertly control the entire Wei Clan, and they knew they could not escape the vigilant eyes of Eldrin Chen or the surveillance of the Heaven's Ruin Alliance. Otherwise, they likely would have held the entire Wei Clan hostage.

After clarifying the cause and effect, Eldrin Chen spoke: "Since their ambush at Demonic Ape Mountain has failed, they will likely bear a grudge against the Wei Clan. The entire Wei Immortal Clan will be in grave danger."

"Since Demonic Ape Mountain dares to act so brazenly, it is time we moved against them."

Lyra Jiang also nodded, then pondered and said, "However, the Glazed Armor of the Three Treasures requires one final year for its ascension. It is now at the most critical juncture; I cannot easily leave my post."

"It is not an insurmountable problem," Eldrin Chen contemplated before continuing. "Let the clan and the Heaven's Ruin Alliance lead forces to first encircle Demonic Ape Mountain. I, along with Qian the True Person, will request the Mirror of the Vast Heaven and the Firmament Immortal Sword to stand guard outside the mountain."

"Then, we will mobilize the elite forces of Chu Kingdom to launch the assault. Once the Glazed Armor of the Three Treasures completes its ascension, you can bring it to reinforce me."

Hearing his plan, Lyra Jiang nodded in agreement. "That seems to be the only viable course of action."

Having settled on the strategy, Eldrin Chen traveled to Green Sun Mountain that very night and successfully petitioned for the Mirror of the Vast Heaven to be released.

He then proceeded to the Firmament Sword Sect to seek out Qian the Sect Master. Slaying demons and vanquishing evil is the paramount duty of all cultivators of the Human Race, and Qian the Sect Master understood the critical importance of this battle.

Taking up the Firmament Immortal Sword, he followed Eldrin Chen and set off immediately, flying towards Demonic Ape Mountain. This content originates from audio-novel dot com. Please respect copyright.