Chapter 443 : Stellar Swords and Setting Suns

He activated his Divine Ability [a powerful innate or cultivated supernatural power] for protection, only to realize it was the Setting Sun Treasure Wheel [a powerful enchanted artifact shaped like a wheel, embodying the power of the setting sun] that had caught up to him.

Without a moment to spare for thought, he instantly turned and fled southward, but the Moonlight Treasure Wheel [a powerful enchanted artifact shaped like a wheel, embodying the power of moonlight] had already positioned itself in his path, forcing him back with its formidable presence.

"Damnation," he cursed.

Astrael's gaze turned icy. Even without a True Lord [a cultivator who has reached the Nascent Soul Realm] to wield it, a Demon-Subduing Supreme Treasure [a pinnacle-grade magical artifact specifically designed to suppress and vanquish demonic forces] operating at full power was still troublesome enough to give him pause.

Had it not been for Lyra Jiang and Eldrin Chen, he was confident he could have outlasted the two supreme treasures until their energy was depleted. But under the present circumstances, he was afforded no such opportunity.

"I cannot let this drag on," he resolved.

With that thought, Astrael soared skyward, summoning forth his lifebound Divine Ability—'Six Realms Stellar Sword' [a divine ability that manifests six swords of stellar energy, each corresponding to a star of the Southern Dipper].

This Six Realms Stellar Sword Divine Ability was Astrael's signature technique, born from his profound contemplation of the Southern Dipper Six Stars [a constellation of six stars in the southern sky, significant in Daoist astrology].

Inspired by the six celestial bodies—Celestial Treasury Star, Celestial Beam Star, Celestial Pivot Star, Celestial Harmony Star, Celestial Minister Star, and Seven Killings Star—he had forged six distinct Stellar Sword Aura [a concentrated, blade-like projection of stellar energy].

In years past, Astrael had even relied on this Divine Ability to slay several Golden Core Cultivator [a cultivator who has formed a Golden Core, the condensed essence of their cultivation]. Now, having broken through to the Nascent Soul [the spiritual embryo formed within a Golden Core cultivator, representing a higher state of being] realm, his first act had been to integrate this formidable offensive Divine Ability into his very Nascent Soul. This chapter is provided by audi novel.com. Support the original.

Once this Divine Ability merged into his Nascent Soul [the spiritual core of a cultivator, representing a major breakthrough in cultivation] and became his lifebound Divine Ability, its grade had already ascended by a full major realm, reaching the domain of a Great Divine Ability [a supreme-level divine ability, vastly more powerful than ordinary ones].

Now, the moment Astrael made his move, he unleashed the Six Realms Stellar Sword [a divine ability manifesting six stellar swords representing different realms], revealing his greatest trump card from the very outset.

To utterly shatter the encirclement, he did not hesitate to expend his Nascent Soul Qi [the pure, foundational life-force energy of a Nascent Soul cultivator], pushing his mana output to a full fifty percent.

"You insignificant cultivators dare to offend a True Lord [a title for a Nascent Soul realm expert]? Then face this lord's wrath!"

With a long roar, Astrael soared into the air, six stellar heaven-swords orbiting his form. Their dazzling, brilliant radiance illuminated the distant reaches of the Firmament, casting a layer of blue-white light over vast swathes of the Flaming Prison Sea of Fire.

As he channeled his mana and unleashed them, the six stellar heaven-swords shot forth in rapid succession, aiming directly for Eldrin Chen.

"Not good!"

Eldrin Chen hastily retreated, summoning the Triad Divine Thunder [a divine thunder art harnessing the power of Heaven, Earth, and Man] to counter the assault.

Even though his mana purity, refined by the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss, was nearly on par with that of a Nascent Soul True Lord, the Triad Divine Thunder was still shattered in a single clash.

"My mana reserves are still insufficiently vast."

Eldrin Chen's gaze turned icy. Just as he was about to channel his Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss to block this Great Divine Ability [a supreme and powerful supernatural technique], he saw Lyra Jiang's Heaven's Ruin Immortal-Slaying Sword slash forward with a resonant *clang*, intercepting the six stellar celestial swords.

In that very instant, the Celestial Maiden seized the opportunity. While unleashing a Divine Ability [a supernatural technique] to force Lyra Jiang into a full defensive posture, she attempted to dash past the opening.

Yet, after advancing barely a hundred paces, she found a series of Formation Flags [enchanted banners used to anchor and power magical arrays] descending, sealing the very void around her.

"The Taiyi Heaven-Sealing Formation [the Primordial Unity Heaven-Sealing Array], and the Four Symbols Flag Formation [the Four Celestial Beasts Banner Array]."

Astrael's pupils contracted slightly. Two sets of supreme-grade Formation Flags activated simultaneously were more than enough to hold him for a few crucial moments.

The situation was perilous. He dared not linger. Disregarding the immense strain on his spiritual power, he once again mustered his mana and summoned forth the stellar celestial swords.

This Lifebound Grand Divine Ability [a supreme supernatural technique intrinsically linked to a cultivator's life force] truly lived up to its reputation as one of the greatest trump cards of Nascent Soul Cultivators [practitioners who have formed their Primordial Spirit]. With a single strike from his six swords, he shattered both Formation [magical arrays] and the four Golden Core, Late Stage [cultivators at the late stage of the Golden Core realm] spirit avatars guarding them.

The Four Symbols Flag Formation lost two of its banners outright, while the Taiyi Heaven-Sealing Formation was grievously wounded.

"Now!"

Yet, in that same fleeting moment, Eldrin Chen's eyes blazed open. He transformed into a streak of dazzling sword-light.

"Body and Sword Unification!"

"Disaster."

Witnessing Eldrin Chen execute Body and Sword Unification, transforming into a violet dragon-like immortal sword that slashed towards him, Astrael found his previous move committed and could only hastily activate his protective Divine Ability to resist.

Alas, against Eldrin Chen's all-out strike, his Divine Ability was instantly torn asunder, his entire physical body cleaved open by the sword. With his fleshly form destroyed, Astrael's Nascent Soul [the spiritual core of a high-level cultivator] still sought to flee. But a raging Separated Flame [a potent, soul-scorching spiritual fire] swept forth, igniting his Nascent Soul in its inferno.

"Aaaargh—!"

Astrael's Nascent Soul shrieked in agony. A cultivator's Nascent Soul is exceedingly fragile, and the lethal Separated Flame wielded by the Demon-Subduing Immortal Sword possessed boundless destructive power. Once tainted by that Separated Flame, his fate was sealed. For more chapters, visit audio-novel dot com for the complete novel.

Screaming, he flew for several thousand Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] before the Separated Flame finally consumed his Nascent Soul, reducing it utterly to ashes of tribulation.

In his final moments, Astrael's heart was filled with resentment and bitter regret. He had cultivated for a thousand years, committing every manner of atrocity upon his path. To obtain the Nine Heavens Star Fragment [a fragment of celestial essence from the highest heavens], he had even betrayed his closest confidant.

Sometimes he would wake from nightmares, but each time he convinced himself anew: anyone standing in his way was a hindrance to his Dao [the fundamental principle or path].

Even a dear friend—if their death could pave a single stone upon his road, it was a price worth paying.

At the final moment, he felt no regret, only resentment and unwillingness. He hated that his death was so ignominious, so utterly stifling.

If only he had waited another century, allowing his cultivation to solidify and his Lifebound Spiritual Treasure [a cultivator's most intimately connected and powerful artifact] to be reforged, he would never have been reduced to this wretched state.

"Hah—"

Watching Astrael fall, Eldrin Chen released a breath he hadn't realized he was holding, a profound wave of relief washing over him.

Wait a moment, securing the attendance record... Two of the formation flags of the Four Symbols Flag Formation [a powerful defensive formation based on the four celestial beasts] were instantly destroyed, and the Taiyi Heaven-Sealing Formation [a supreme formation designed to isolate and seal a region] suffered grievous damage.

"Now is the time."

Yet, in that very instant, Eldrin Chen's pupils dilated sharply. His form dissolved into a single, blinding streak of sword radiance.

"Body and Sword Unification!"

"Disaster!"

As Eldrin Chen executed Body and Sword Unification [a supreme sword technique where the cultivator's body and spirit merge with their sword], transforming into a violet dragon-like immortal sword that cleaved through the air, Astrael found his previous move spent, his momentum exhausted. He could only frantically muster a protective Divine Ability [a powerful innate or cultivated supernatural technique] in a desperate, last-ditch defense.

Alas, facing the full-force strike unleashed by Eldrin Chen, his Divine Ability was instantly torn asunder, his entire physical form cleaved open by the sword. After his body was destroyed, Astrael's Nascent Soul [the spiritual core of a cultivator, housing their consciousness and cultivation base] still sought to flee. Yet, the raging Separated Flame [a potent, soul-scorching spiritual fire] swept forth, igniting and consuming his Nascent Soul as well.

"Aaaargh—!"

Astrael's Nascent Soul shrieked in agony. A cultivator's Nascent Soul is exceedingly fragile, and the slaying Separated Flame of the Demon-Subduing Immortal Sword [a sword forged for vanquishing demons] possessed boundless destructive power. Once tainted by that Separated Flame, his fate was sealed, plunging him irrevocably onto a path of utter ruin.

Screaming, he flew for several thousand Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters], but in the end, the Separated Flame devoured his Nascent Soul, utterly incinerating it into ashes of tribulation.

In his final moments, Astrael's heart overflowed with resentment and bitter unwillingness. For a millennium, he had cultivated arduously, committing every manner of heinous act in his pursuit of the Dao. To obtain the Nine Heavens [a celestial realm] Star Fragment [a fragment of stellar essence], he had even betrayed and schemed against his own closest friend and confidant.

At times, he would awaken from nightmares, but each time he roused, he would steel his conviction: anyone who stood in the path of his cultivation was a hindrance to his Dao.

Even his dearest friend—if their death could pave a single stone upon his road to power—was a worthy sacrifice.

At life's end, he felt no remorse, only hatred and frustration. He raged against the ignominy of his death.

If only he had another century—time to consolidate his cultivation, to reforge his Lifebound Spiritual Treasure [a treasure bound to one's life and soul]—he would never have met such an end.

"Haaa..."

Witnessing the fall of Astrael, Eldrin Chen released a heavy sigh of relief.

If only he could wait another century—time enough for his cultivation to solidify and for him to reforge his Lifebound Spiritual Treasure—then he would never again be forced into such a desperate corner. The complete novel can be found at audio - novel . com.