Chapter 426 : Clash of Dragons and Divine Thunder

After transforming into a flood dragon, this fiend's magic power and combat prowess surged dramatically. Even without the Demon-Subduing Supreme Treasure in hand, its strength had already approached that of an existence like Crimson Flame True Lord.

At least until its magic power was exhausted, the combat prowess of the Blue Flood Dragon Demon King was not necessarily weaker than that of Crimson Flame True Lord.

"Roar—"

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

Exquisite Jiang's pupils contracted slightly. This blue flood dragon was, after all, a False Infant Soul Realm creature, its magic power slightly surpassing her own.

Although the two Demon-Subduing Supreme Treasure possessed immense power, this place was, after all, the Demonic Cultivator's Forbidden Land. A prolonged battle would be difficult to sustain.

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

"Clang—"

In the blink of an eye, Eldrin Chen launched a fierce assault. First, he unleashed the Two Polarities Divine Thunder towards the Demonic Ape Demon King, then in the next instant, he summoned the Sky-Severance Sword Union, aiming directly for the head of the Lord of Demon Cave.

With Eldrin Chen's current cultivation level, the power he could unleash with the Great God Ability was already comparable to a full-force strike from a False Infant Soul Realm Cultivator. Naturally, the two powerful Demonic Cultivator had to respond with their full might. The complete novel can be found at audio~novel.com.

Simultaneously, Exquisite Jiang activated the Three Treasures Glazed Spirit Enhancement Art [a secret art that temporarily and drastically amplifies one's spiritual power], instantly elevating her magical power to ninety percent of an Infant Soul Cultivator's [a cultivator who has condensed their nascent soul, a major milestone].

Such vast and potent magical power greatly augmented Exquisite Jiang's strength. With a flick of her wrist, she summoned the Heavenly Ruins Immortal-Slaying Sword [a legendary sword famed for its power to slay even immortals]; its blade rang out with a clear *clang* as it cleaved towards Obsidian Flame Old Demon. In the same motion, she deployed the Four Symbols Formation Flags [a set of enchanted banners that can trap enemies within a powerful formation], ensnaring Deng Old Demon within their confines.

The two Golden Core [the stage where a cultivator forms a solidified golden core of power] Demonic Cultivator [cultivators who use demonic or unorthodox methods] from Demonic Ape Mountain, Blood Ape and Black Ape, saw this and attempted to rush forward to break the siege, but their efforts were utterly futile.

Amplified by the Three Treasures Glazed Armor [a powerful defensive treasure], Exquisite Jiang's magical power had become extraordinarily formidable. A casual strike from her now carried enough force to severely injure a Golden Core Late Stage [a cultivator in the advanced phase of the Golden Core realm] cultivator, let alone with the assistance of the numerous other Human Race Golden Core cultivators who joined the fray.

The Obsidian Flame Old Demon, whose physical body had not yet fully reformed, was pitifully outmatched. In just a few exchanges, Exquisite Jiang severed his head.

Though Old Ghost Deng relied on his Golden Core Perfection [the pinnacle stage of the Golden Core realm] cultivation to hold his own against the Four Symbols True Spirits [manifestations of the four celestial beasts with immense power], he found it utterly impossible to achieve a Heaven-Defying Fate Alteration [a miraculous reversal of a seemingly doomed situation].

Unwilling to waste time, Exquisite Jiang summoned the Supple Wood Divine Light [a divine ability that restrains and binds with the essence of supple wood]. Its radiance enveloped him, allowing the Four Symbols True Spirits to inflict grievous wounds. Then, with another resonant *clang*, the Heavenly Ruins Immortal-Slaying Sword swept down and took his head.

The remaining Lord of Demon Cave and Demonic Ape Demon King, sensing the dire turn, sought to flee. However, Exquisite Jiang's killing intent was resolute. She directly channeled and unleashed the Void Five Tribulations Divine Light [a devastating divine light that embodies the power of five heavenly tribulations] towards them.

With Exquisite Jiang's current level of magical power, the might of this Void Five Tribulations Divine Light strike approached the full-force blow of a Great God Ability [a supreme technique of immense destructive power] unleashed by an Infant Soul Cultivator.

Although the Demonic Ape Demon King possessed strength comparable to Golden Core Perfection, survival was impossible. On the spot, both he and his Golden Core were utterly obliterated, reduced to drifting ash.

Witnessing Exquisite Jiang unleash her divine might, consecutively slaying four Golden Core Late Stage and even a Perfected Demonic Cultivator, the Lord of Demon Cave was terrified to the core, his courage utterly shattered.

The Lord of Demon Cave desperately tried to flee, but his efforts were in vain. Trapped by the combined assault of the Human Race Golden Core cultivators, he lasted no more than ten exchanges before Eldrin Chen severed his head from his shoulders.

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

"Humans!"

As the tide of battle turned dramatically, the Blue Flood Dragon Demon King could no longer afford to focus on suppressing the two Demon-Subduing Supreme Treasure.

Its gaze locked onto Exquisite Jiang with a chill that seeped into its very bones. It had never imagined Exquisite Jiang to be so formidable, nor that she would possess a Demon-Subduing Supreme Treasure of her own.

Amplified by the Three Treasures Glazed Armor, her combat power now approached that of an Infant Soul True Lord. The sole distinction lay in the Infant Soul True Lord's more profound and arcane spiritual energy [the refined life force cultivated by immortals], which allowed them to unleash Divine Ability [supreme supernatural techniques] and wield magical treasure [enchanted artifacts] with far less expenditure.

With Exquisite Jiang's current level of spiritual energy, a full-powered strike of the Void Five Tribulations Divine Light would consume half her reserves. An Infant Soul True Lord, in contrast, would expend a mere fifth for the same feat.

This was already a testament to Exquisite Jiang's exceptional power. An ordinary Golden Core Perfection cultivator would drain eighty percent of their spiritual energy with a single, full-force activation of the Void Five Tribulations Divine Light, and the resulting Divine Ability would pale in comparison to hers.

Furthermore, if an Infant Soul cultivator had integrated an Innate Divine Ability [a divine technique born from one's innate constitution], the spiritual energy cost would plummet by another seventy percent. This staggering disparity granted Infant Soul Cultivator an overwhelming advantage in sustained combat.

Therefore, if Exquisite Jiang were to truly engage in a prolonged battle with an Infant Soul True Lord [a cultivator whose nascent soul has fully formed], by the time her spiritual energy was exhausted, the Infant Soul True Lord would likely still retain five or six tenths of their reserves.

Nevertheless, until her energy was depleted, Exquisite Jiang's combat prowess approached that of an Infant Soul True Lord.

The Blue Flood Dragon Demon King understood clearly that even if he transformed into his flood dragon form, he would struggle to overcome such a formidable opponent.

With this realization, the Blue Flood Dragon Demon King had no desire to prolong the entanglement. He broke free from the two Demon-Subduing Supreme Treasure [artifacts of supreme power designed to suppress demonic beings] and turned to flee into the depths of the void.

Before departing, he sneered coldly, "Today, I have witnessed the Three Treasures Glazed Armor. It truly lives up to its legend as a Demon-Subduing Supreme Treasure passed down from the Immortal Realm [the realm of true immortals]. I shall return to test you all once I have broken through to the Demon Emperor [the emperor-level realm for demonic beings]."

"There is no need to pursue." Visit audio-novel . com to enjoy the complete series.

As the azure flood dragon retreated and some Golden Core True Person [cultivators who have formed a golden core] wished to give chase, Eldrin Chen ultimately stopped them.

Exquisite Jiang let out a sigh and shook her head. "That beast has fully transformed into a flood dragon," she said, "becoming a true calamity."

"Even a genuine Infant Soul True Lord might not be able to completely slay it."

Eldrin Chen also wore a grave expression. A flood dragon at the False Infant Soul Realm [a pseudo-realm approximating the power of a nascent soul] already possessed strength nearing that of a practitioner of the Mortal Path Infant Soul [a specific cultivation method for the nascent soul stage].

If it were to break through to the Infant Soul Realm [the stage where a cultivator's nascent soul is formed], even if it only achieved a Earthly Path Infant Soul [a type of nascent soul foundation tied to earthly energies], it would be enough to strike fear into the heart of Chu Nation.

In truth, a flood dragon at the False Infant Soul Realm [a pseudo-stage just below the true Infant Soul Realm] was already immensely powerful. This time, had it not been for the Three Treasures Glazed Armor [a legendary armor forged from three supreme treasures] advancing in rank and 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 Demonic Fiendish Energy [a malevolent, corrupting energy emanating from demonic sources], they would ultimately be forced to retreat from Demonic Ape Mountain.

Unfortunately for their foes, the might of the Three Treasures Glazed Armor combined with Exquisite Jiang's formidable strength elevated her power to a level nearly rivaling a true Infant Soul cultivator.

Such overwhelming power allowed Exquisite Jiang to cut down three powerful Demonic Cultivator [practitioners who use demonic or unorthodox methods] as easily as slicing through melons and vegetables. This outcome far exceeded their enemies' expectations, completely shattering their morale and breaking their formation.

The Blue Flood Dragon Demon King, though mighty, found itself standing alone against an unstoppable tide. With no support, it had no choice but to withdraw from Demonic Ape Mountain.

After purging the Demonic Cultivator from Demonic Ape Mountain, Exquisite Jiang took a deep, steadying breath. Seizing the moment while the residual energy of the Three Treasures Glazed Armor still flowed within her, she flew deep into the heart of Demonic Ape Mountain with the intent to forcibly suppress the Demonic Spring [a fount of concentrated demonic energy].

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

"Now," she commanded.

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

The Heaven's Vault Mirror [a divine mirror capable of sealing and refining demonic forces] and the Vault Heaven Immortal Sword [a celestial sword of immense purifying power] followed closely behind, also unleashing their demon-refining radiance, continuously purifying the Demonic Spring [a fount of concentrated demonic energy].

Beside them, Eldrin Chen and the others also took action, assisting Exquisite Jiang and her companions in refining this Demonic Spring. With such a formidable combined force, it took merely half a Shichen-time [one Shichen-time equals two hours] to shatter the Demonic Spring and begin processing the Stellar Fragment [a rare, condensed fragment of celestial star essence] within it.

Exquisite Jiang grasped the Stellar Fragment firmly, her face alight with joy as she stored it away. She spoke directly, "This Stellar Fragment is of great use to me. For the spoils from this Demonic Ape Mountain [a mountain stronghold of demonic ape tribes], our Heavenly Ruins Alliance [an alliance of cultivators dedicated to exploring ancient ruins] will claim nothing."

"We will give it all to your Firmament Sword Sect [a renowned sword cultivation sect]. What do you say?" Visit audio—novel.com to enjoy the complete series.