Chapter 426 : Clash of Dragons and Divine Thunder

After transforming into a flood dragon, this fiend's mana and combat power surged dramatically. Even without a Demon-Subduing Supreme Treasure [a supreme-grade artifact specifically designed to suppress demonic beings] in hand, its strength had already approached that of an existence like Ignatius the Blazing Lord.

At least until its mana was exhausted, the combat prowess of the Azure Flood Dragon Demon King was not necessarily inferior to that of Ignatius the Blazing Lord.

"Roar—"

As the dragon's roar echoed, the azure flood dragon coiled and rose, forcefully engaging two Demon-Subduing Supreme Treasure and even gaining a slight upper hand.

Lyra Jiang's pupils contracted slightly. This Azure Flood Dragon was, after all, a False Nascent Soul [a cultivator or being whose power approaches but has not fully solidified into the Nascent Soul realm] flood dragon; its mana pool slightly surpassed her own.

Although the two Demon-Subduing Supreme Treasure possessed immense power, this place was, after all, the Demonic Cultivator Forbidden Land [a territory saturated with demonic energy, hostile to righteous cultivators]. In a prolonged battle, sustaining their advantage would be difficult.

With this thought, Lyra Jiang exchanged a glance with Eldrin Chen.

"Clang—"

In the blink of an eye, Eldrin Chen launched a fierce assault. First, he unleashed the Dual Polarity Divine Thunder [a divine thunder technique harnessing opposing elemental forces] towards the Demonic Ape Demon King, then, in the same instant, summoned the Heavenly Separated Twin Swords Union [a supreme sword technique where two separated celestial blades reunite with devastating force], aiming directly for the skull of the Lord of the Demon Cave Cavern.

With Eldrin Chen's current cultivation, the might he could unleash with a Great Divine Ability [a supreme, signature technique of immense power] now rivaled the full-force strike of a False Nascent Soul Cultivator. Naturally, the two powerful Demonic Cultivator [practitioners who harness demonic or corrupt energies for power] had to respond with their complete focus. Find thousands of chapters at audio-novel.com.

Simultaneously, Lyra Jiang activated the Triple Treasure Glazed Spirit Augmentation Art [a secret art that temporarily and drastically amplifies one's spiritual power], instantly elevating her mana reserves to ninety percent of a typical Nascent Soul Cultivators [a cultivator who has formed their Nascent Soul, a spiritual infant that is the core of their power].

Such a vast surge of mana greatly augmented Lyra Jiang's combat prowess. With a flick of her wrist, she summoned the Heaven's Ruin Immortal-Slaying Sword [a legendary sword famed for its power to slay even celestial beings]; it rang out with a metallic *shing* as it cleaved towards Blackfire Elder Demon. In the same motion, she deployed the Four Symbols Flag Formation [a powerful defensive and restraining formation based on the four celestial beasts], ensnaring Deng Morgrim within its confines.

The two Golden Core Demonic Cultivator [demonic practitioners who have formed a Golden Core, a condensed sphere of immense power] from Demonic Ape Mountain, Blood Ape and Black Ape, seeing their comrades in peril, attempted to rush forward to break the siege. Their efforts, however, proved utterly futile.

Amplified by the Glazed Armor of the Three Treasures [a powerful defensive treasure that enhances the wearer's abilities], Lyra Jiang's mana had become overwhelmingly potent. A casual strike from her now carried enough force to grievously wound a Golden Core, Late Stage [a cultivator in the advanced phase of the Golden Core realm] expert. This was not even considering the support from the numerous Human Race Golden Core cultivators who surged forward to assist her.

The Blackfire Elder Demon, whose physical body had not yet fully reconstituted, stood little chance. In the span of mere exchanges, Lyra Jiang's blade flashed, severing his head from his shoulders.

Deng Morgrim, relying on his Golden Core Great Perfection [the pinnacle stage of the Golden Core realm, just half a step from Nascent Soul] cultivation, struggled alone against the four manifested celestial beasts of the formation. Yet, even his peak strength could not defy the inevitable tide of fate.

Unwilling to waste further time, Lyra Jiang summoned the First Wood Divine Radiance [a divine ability that manifests the pure, life-giving and restraining power of the Wood element]. Its emerald light enveloped Deng Morgrim, allowing the four celestial beasts to deliver a crushing blow. Then, with another resonant *clang*, the Heaven's Ruin Immortal-Slaying Sword descended, claiming his head.

The remaining foes, Lord of the Demon Cave Cavern and the Demonic Ape Demon King, sensing the turn of the tide, sought to flee. But Lyra Jiang's killing intent was firmly set. She directly channeled the Divine Light of the Five Void Tribulations [a supreme art that unleashes a devastating beam of light embodying five types of void tribulation energy] and unleashed it towards them.

With Lyra Jiang's current level of mana fueling it, the power of the Divine Light of the Five Void Tribulations approached the full-force strike of a Great Divine Ability [a supreme and uniquely powerful technique mastered by a cultivator] unleashed by a genuine Nascent Soul Cultivators.

Although the Demonic Ape Demon King possessed strength comparable to a Golden Core Great Perfection cultivator, survival was impossible. The devastating radiance struck him, reducing both his form and his Golden Core [the condensed core of a Golden Core cultivator's power and life essence] to motes of drifting ash.

Witnessing Lyra Jiang unleash her divine might, consecutively slaying four Golden Core, Late Stage and Great Perfection Demonic Cultivator, the Lord of the Demon Cave Cavern was terrified to the core, his courage utterly shattered.

The Lord of the Demon Cave Cavern desperately tried to flee, but his efforts proved futile. Under the combined assault of the Human Race Golden Core cultivators, he lasted no more than ten moves before his head was severed.

The remaining Black Ape and Blood Ape also found escape impossible. The former was slain by Taiwu the True Person, while the latter met its end as Kael Chen cleaved its head from its shoulders.

"Humans!"

Seeing the drastic turn in the battle's tide, the Azure Flood Dragon Demon King could no longer afford to focus on suppressing the two Demon-Subduing Supreme Treasure.

It fixed its gaze fiercely upon Lyra Jiang, a chill of dread creeping into its heart. It had never imagined Lyra Jiang to be so formidable, nor that she would possess a Demon-Subduing Supreme Treasure of her own.

Amplified by the Glazed Armor of the Three Treasures, her combat power now approached that of a Nascent Soul True Lord. The only distinction lay in the more profound and arcane nature of a True Lord's mana, which allowed them to wield Divine Ability and Magical Treasure with far less expenditure.

With her current mana reserves, a single activation of the Divine Light of the Five Void Tribulations would consume half of Lyra Jiang's power. A Nascent Soul True Lord, in contrast, would expend merely one-fifth for the same feat.

This was despite Lyra Jiang's exceptionally potent mana. An ordinary Golden Core Great Perfection cultivator would drain eighty percent of their power with a single, full-force activation of the Divine Light of the Five Void Tribulations, and the resulting Divine Ability would pale in comparison to hers.

Furthermore, if a Nascent Soul cultivator had integrated their lifebound Divine Ability, the mana cost for that ability would be reduced by an additional seventy percent. This staggering disparity granted Nascent Soul Cultivators an overwhelming advantage in prolonged combat.

Therefore, if Lyra Jiang [the cultivator known as Lyra Jiang] were to truly engage in a battle with a Nascent Soul True Lord [a cultivator who has reached the Nascent Soul Realm], by the time her mana was exhausted, the Nascent Soul True Lord would likely still retain fifty to sixty percent of their mana reserves.

Nevertheless, before her mana is depleted, Lyra Jiang's combat prowess approaches that of a Nascent Soul True Lord.

The Azure Flood Dragon Demon King [the Azure Flood Dragon, a powerful demonic beast king] understood clearly that even if he transformed into his flood dragon form, he would find it difficult to match such a formidable opponent.

With this thought, the Azure Flood Dragon Demon King was unwilling to prolong the entanglement. He broke free from the two Demon-Subduing Supreme Treasure [supreme treasures designed to subdue demons] and turned to fly into the depths of the void.

Before departing, he sneered coldly, "Today, I have witnessed this Glazed Armor of the Three Treasures [the legendary Glazed Armor of the Three Treasures]. It truly lives up to its reputation as a Demon-Subduing Supreme Treasure said to have descended from the Immortal Realm. In the future, after I break through to the Demon Emperor [the Demon Emperor realm], I shall return to test myself against you all."

"There is no need to pursue." This chapter appears courtesy of audio-novel . com.

As the azure flood dragon departed, some Golden Core True Person [cultivators of the Golden Core Realm] wished to give chase, but were ultimately stopped by Eldrin Chen [the cultivator Eldrin Chen].

Lyra Jiang sighed and shook her head, saying, "That beast has already transformed into a true flood dragon, becoming a genuine calamity."

"Even if a true Nascent Soul True Lord were to come, it is not certain they could completely slay it."

Eldrin Chen also wore a grave expression. A flood dragon at the False Nascent Soul [the False Nascent Soul realm] already possessed combat power approaching that of a Mortal Dao Nascent Soul [a cultivator who formed their Nascent Soul via the Mortal Dao path].

If it were to break through to the Nascent Soul [the stage where a cultivator's spirit forms a separate, powerful entity] realm, even if it only achieved an Earthly Dao Nascent Soul [a Nascent Soul formed by aligning with the Dao of the Earth, considered a lower grade], it would be enough to instill fear in the Chu Kingdom.

In truth, a flood dragon at the False Nascent Soul [a pseudo-Nascent Soul stage, powerful but not a true breakthrough] realm was already immensely formidable. This time, had it not been for the unexpected ascension of the Glazed Armor of the Three Treasures [a powerful defensive treasure forged from three precious materials], catching them off guard, it likely would have been a grueling battle.

And if the fight dragged on too long, with everyone unable to withstand the corrosive erosion of the Demonic Fiend Qi [the malevolent, corrupting energy emitted by powerful demons], they would ultimately be forced to retreat from Demonic Ape Mountain.

Yet, the combined might of the Glazed Armor of the Three Treasures and Lyra Jiang's formidable strength proved devastating. Her power surged to a level that nearly rivaled a true Nascent Soul cultivator.

With such overwhelming force, Lyra Jiang carved through the enemy ranks like a scythe through wheat, consecutively slaying three powerful Demonic Cultivator [cultivators who use demonic arts and energies]. This outcome far exceeded their adversaries' expectations, shattering their morale and breaking their formation completely.

The Azure Flood Dragon Demon King, though mighty, found itself standing alone against the tide. Unable to hold the line, it had no choice but to withdraw from Demonic Ape Mountain.

After sweeping the Demonic Cultivator from Demonic Ape Mountain, Lyra Jiang took a deep, steadying breath. Sensing the residual energy within the Glazed Armor of the Three Treasures had not yet faded, she flew deep into the heart of the mountain, intent on forcibly suppressing the Demonic Spring [a corrupted spiritual spring that serves as a source of demonic energy].

Eldrin Chen followed closely behind. Deep within the caverns of the Demon Cave Cavern, they finally located the pulsating, malevolent source—the Demonic Spring.

"Now," she commanded.

Gazing upon the Demonic Spring, Lyra Jiang immediately unleashed her Divine Ability [a supreme technique born from profound comprehension of the Dao] and Magical Treasure [an enchanted artifact used by cultivators], beginning the arduous task of suppressing the spring's baleful energies.

The Mirror of the Vast Heaven [a powerful magical artifact capable of reflecting vast energies] and the Firmament Immortal Sword [a legendary sword of immense power] followed closely behind, also unleashing their demon-subduing radiance, continuously refining the Demonic Spring [a corrupted font of spiritual energy].

Beside them, Eldrin Chen and the others also took action, assisting Lyra Jiang and her companions in refining this Demonic Spring. With such a formidable combined force, it took merely half a Shichen-time [a conventional time unit equal to two hours] to shatter the Demonic Spring and deal with the Star Fragment [a fragment of celestial essence] within it.

Lyra Jiang grasped the Star Fragment with evident delight, swiftly storing it away before speaking directly. "This Star Fragment is of great use to me. For the spoils from this Demonic Ape Mountain [a mountain stronghold of demonic apes] campaign, our Heaven's Ruin Alliance [a powerful alliance of cultivators] will claim no share."

"We shall cede it all to your Firmament Sword Sect [a renowned sect of sword cultivators]. What say you?" Read the full novel exclusively on site: audio-novel.com.