Chapter 425 : The Weight of a Golden Core Promise

He was older than Grand Granary Old Demon by some years and had been more favored by the previous sect master of the Verdant Azure Immortal Sect. Unfortunately, his pursuit of forging a Middle-Tier Golden Core [the third and most common grade of the solidified spiritual core formed at the Golden Core stage] had ruined everything.

"Without the Sun-Returning Tribulation-Dispelling Pill [a legendary elixir said to restore vitality and dispel cultivation calamities], perhaps Silas would also have walked this path, ultimately finding his lifespan insufficient to advance further."

Eldrin Chen's thoughts flickered, but in the end, he shook his head. In this world, there were no 'what ifs.' Success was simply success.

Silas Chen forged his Middle-Tier Golden Core at two hundred and eighty years of age. This firmly marked him as possessing the innate talent for the Infant Soul [the Primordial Spirit stage] realm. In the future, he would have at least a thirty to forty percent chance of breaking through to Infant Soul.

Suppressing the sigh in his heart, Eldrin Chen looked at True Person Great Defense and said, "Set your mind at ease. As long as I remain in this world, the Verdant Azure Immortal Sect will naturally receive some measure of care."

"My thanks."

True Person Great Defense offered a slight smile, a breath of relief escaping him. With nearly two centuries of friendship between them, he felt he understood Eldrin Chen well enough.

This was a peerless prodigy with a genuine chance of reaching the Infant Soul realm. His mere promise of occasional oversight would be enough to ensure the Verdant Azure Immortal Sect never faced the threat of extinction.

After Eldrin Chen and Exquisite Jiang arrived, they personally assisted True Person Great Defense in deploying the defensive Formation [a complex arrangement of energy channels and nodes used for defense, attack, or cultivation].

Not long after, the Azure Verdancy Formation Disk [a disc-shaped artifact used to anchor and power a formation] was fully activated. The gathered Golden Core Cultivators convened for their final preparations before the battle. Read, share, and discuss at audio-novel dot com.

Exquisite Jiang surveyed the assembly and spoke first. "Esteemed allies, according to our intelligence, there are at least five Golden Core-level Demonic Cultivator [cultivators who have embraced demonic arts for power] within the Demonic Ape Mountain."

"Among them, three are the Demonic Ape Demon King and the two Demon King of the Blood Ape and Black Ape from the Demonic Chariot Tribe. They have all fully descended into the Demonic Path [a corrupt cultivation path that draws power from malevolent sources]. The Demonic Ape Demon King is particularly formidable; his current cultivation has reached the Golden Core Perfection [the pinnacle stage of the Golden Core realm]."

A shadow of gravity fell upon the group. The Demonic Ape Demon King had already been at the Golden Core Late Stage over a century ago. Now, having embraced demonic power, his advancement had been meteoric, transforming him into a truly formidable adversary.

Exquisite Jiang paused briefly before continuing. "Beyond the Demonic Ape Demon King, I suspect the disciple of the Black Fiend Patriarch, Black Fire True Person, and also the Lord of Demon Cave are likely hiding within the Demonic Ape Mountain as well."

"Is that truly the case?"

Upon hearing this, Sect Master Qian of the Firmament Sword Sect could not help but show a flicker of concern on his face.

Both Black Fire True Person and the Lord of Demon Cave were cultivators at the Golden Core Late Stage. Black Fire True Person, in particular, had reached Golden Core Perfection. Given his cultivation base and prowess, even those present felt a sense of trepidation.

Eldrin Chen's expression remained placid as he spoke. "There is no need for undue concern. The Lord of Demon Cave has had his physical body destroyed twice within the last century. Even if he has reconstructed it now, it is impossible for him to have broken through to Golden Core Perfection."

"Furthermore, approximately thirty-eight years ago, the Obsidian Flame Old Demon had his physical form shattered by my wife and myself. It is likely his reconstruction is not yet fully complete."

Hearing his words, the gathered experts collectively released a breath they had been holding, the tension in the room easing slightly.

The Obsidian Flame Old Demon possessed extraordinary methods, yet in less than forty years, the physical body he had reconstructed was likely still quite frail. His current strength was estimated to be only at the level of the Golden Core 7th Tier.

The gap between the Golden Core 7th Tier and Golden Core Perfection was still vast. True Person Qian, having recently broken through to the Golden Core 7th Tier, felt that even two of him combined could only barely contend with a cultivator at Golden Core Perfection.

Seeing the group's fighting spirit rise, Eldrin Chen spoke again, "Five Golden CoreDemonic Cultivator—their power cannot be underestimated. To avoid a repeat of the calamity at the Demon Cave years ago, I urge everyone to exert their full strength in this battle."

"We understand."

The group nodded in agreement and immediately began their assault on Demonic Ape Mountain.

Tens of thousands of cultivators joined forces, utilizing the power of the Azure Verdancy Formation Disk to activate a grand Formation [a structured arrangement of energy for defense or attack]. They relentlessly compressed the Demonic Fiendish Energy Barrier [a protective shield of demonic and fiendish energies] surrounding the mountain.

After the Formation had pressed down for three days, Exquisite Jiang and Eldrin Chen, along with the others, personally activated the War Treasure Ship. They unleashed the Barrier-Breaking Divine Ability [a powerful technique designed to shatter defensive barriers] mounted on the Treasure Ship and commenced the final assault on the Demonic Fiendish Energy Barrier.

The Heavenly Ruins Alliance now possessed a full four fourth-rank War Treasure Ship. Under their combined, full-powered assault, over twenty strikes of the Seven Stars Demon-Slaying Sword Aura [a sword technique that channels the power of seven stars to slay demons] were unleashed, finally managing to forcibly breach the Demonic Fiendish Energy Barrier.

"Now!"

Seeing the Demonic Fiendish Energy Barrier shattered, Exquisite Jiang gave the order and was the first to charge inside. Eldrin Chen followed close behind, and the remaining dozen or so Golden Core Cultivator also surged into the breach.

"Clang—"

No sooner had Eldrin Chen's feet touched the ground than he sensed a brilliant sword light cleaving towards him. Raising his hand, he summoned a divine thunderbolt, forcing the incoming Immortal Sword back.

Only after this did Eldrin Chen survey his surroundings, discovering that the one who had attacked him was none other than Old Ghost Deng.

"So it's you?"

Eldrin Chen's gaze turned icy. He had not expected that after nearly a century, this Old Ghost Deng had not yet exhausted his lifespan and had even managed to reconstruct his physical body.

At this moment, Old Ghost Deng's eyes were filled with a frigid killing intent. Back then, after Eldrin Chen had destroyed his physical form, left with no other path, he had resolutely joined the ranks of Demonic Ape Mountain. The complete novel can be found at audio-novel dot com.

Thereafter, he converted to the Demonic Path, selling his Life Soul [the core essence of one's life and destiny] to an Outer Realm Demon God. This bargain granted him an additional Sixty-Year Cycle [a conventional unit of sixty years] of lifespan and allowed him to use the power of the Demonic Spring to rebuild his fleshly vessel.

Bolstered by the gifts from the Demon God obtained through selling his soul, Old Ghost Deng's cultivation had finally advanced a step further, reaching the realm of Golden Core Perfection. It seemed he even had one chance left to attempt a breakthrough to Infant Soul.

As the saying goes, when enemies meet, their eyes blaze with fury. Old Ghost Deng's gaze was saturated with a maddened killing intent. He bared his teeth in a savage grin and said, "Indeed, it is this old man. Today, the Karma [the cosmic principle of cause and effect governing all actions] between us shall be settled."

With those words, Old Ghost Deng transformed into a crimson blur and lunged forward.

Simultaneously, Black Fire True Person [a powerful cultivator known for his mastery of dark flames], the Lord of Demon Cave [the ruler of a cavernous domain infested with demons], and the Demonic Ape Demon King [a savage simian monarch of monstrous strength] all unleashed their might. With overwhelming, world-shaking power, they converged to besiege Eldrin Chen.

"How dare you!"

From the side, Exquisite Jiang soared into the heavens. She summoned the Heavenly Ruins Immortal-Slaying Sword [a legendary blade forged to vanquish celestial beings] and joined Eldrin Chen in facing the onslaught.

The great battle erupted into a white-hot frenzy from the very start. A tide of Demonic Cultivator [practitioners who harness corrupt and malevolent energies] clashed violently with the Human Race [the collective term for righteous human cultivators] forces. For a time, neither side could gain a decisive upper hand.

"The Demonic Fiendish Energy [a thick, corrupting miasma born of demonic essence] here is overwhelming. We cannot afford a protracted fight," declared Sect Master Qian, his expression grave as he maneuvered the Vault Heaven Immortal Sword [a divine sword capable of piercing the firmament] to parry a fierce assault. "This old man will go and suppress the Demonic Spring [a fount of pure, concentrated demonic power]."

Exquisite Jiang gave a firm nod. "Senior, please lend him your aid as well," she urged.

"*Hummmm—*"

In that instant, the very fabric of space seemed to congeal and grow heavy.

Dazzling, pristine white light flooded heaven and earth. An ethereal, mirror-like treasure materialized in the sky and shot like a comet toward the heart of Demonic Ape Mountain [a mountain range ruled by savage ape demons].

At that very moment, an aura of terrifying, unparalleled might erupted from the depths of Demonic Ape Mountain. Sect Master Qian, clutching the Vault Heaven Immortal Sword, was sent reeling back, blood spraying from his mouth.

"Who is it?"

Eldrin Chen's gaze turned grave. Only then did he discover that from the depths of Demonic Ape Mountain, a sapphire-blue serpent-dragon was soaring into the sky. It flew forth with an unparalleled, awe-inspiring presence, claws bared and fangs exposed.

It was a serpent-dragon of immense and formidable aura. A pair of Dragon Horn crowned its head, and its scales shimmered with a frigid, metallic light. Each scale seemed forged from glacial blue-gold, radiating an astonishing, bone-chilling cold.

"It's him!"

The pupils of the group constricted as they recognized the origin of this fearsome beast.

There is a difference between a flood serpent and a true serpent-dragon. For instance, the former Black Flood Dragon Demon King was merely a malevolent flood serpent, not a genuine serpent-dragon.

The Blue Flood Dragon Demon King had originally been a peak-level Demon King at the False Infant Soul Realm. In the mere span of thirty-some years, it had actually transformed into a true serpent-dragon body. This level of innate talent was in no way inferior to that of a Human Race cultivator possessing a Superior-Tier Golden Core. This content originates from audio—novel.com. Please respect copyright.