Chapter 454. Golden Rhinoceros Demon Emperor (Demon Beast)
Without concealing her innate immortal sword, she directly summoned the Heaven-Vault Slaying Immortal Sword to strike down the formidable foe.
Although the Great Kun River and Crimson Scorpion Ridge had gathered over a dozen demon kings, they were utterly crushed within an extremely short time, wailing in despair.
The battle lasted only half a day before Eldrin and Lyra had slain 8 Golden Core demon kings. The remaining high-level demonic beings scattered in complete disarray, while the lower-level ones lost all command structure.
In just half a day's time, the siege of Tianxu Lake was shattered, and the low-level demon clans on this battlefield could no longer pose a threat to them.
Taking advantage of the early hour, they ventured to the Earth Lion Ridge once more, joining forces with the Old Patriarch and others to assault the allied demon forces in the direction of the Savage Bull Ancient Plain.
This battle was swiftly concluded; in just a little over half a day, the demon tribes of Earth Lion Ridge had already been routed and slaughtered.
With 2 of the 3 fronts secured, Eldrin immediately diverted his path toward the Demon Ape Mountain. Upon arrival, he inquired of the stationed Kael and Patriarch Qian, "How far have the demon tribes from the Golden Rhino Ridge advanced?"
"According to the message received 3 days ago, they're merely tens of thousands of li away from us now," Elder Qian replied with a grave expression.
Lyra's brows furrowed slightly as she spoke, "Why is the most recent news from 3 days ago?"
"Because scouting the movements of the Golden Rhino Peaks is far too perilous." Kael shook his head, his expression calm as he stated, "We've dispatched 5 Grand Hall cultivators successively to gather intelligence, yet not a single 1 has returned alive."
and could only manage to send back a single message talisman just before his death.
"Merely scouting the periphery, how could even a Purple Mansion cultivator fail to survive?" The Old Clan Leader's pupils abruptly contracted as he uttered in barely concealed horror, "Could it be... a Demon Emperor has descended in person?"
Everyone's hearts were pounding with unease, their faces betraying traces of apprehension.
Seeing their uneasy expressions, Eldrin remarked, "The movements of a demon emperor-level powerhouse would certainly have long been under the Ji Clan’s surveillance."
"So you need not worry, for should the Demon Emperor attack, the Ji Clan would never stand idly by."
Hearing this, everyone felt a slight sense of relief.
Let the tall ones bear the weight of the collapsing heavens—as long as they didn’t have to face the Infant Soul Demon Emperor themselves, everything was manageable.
Getting back to the story, given the pressure the Demon Ape Mountain was facing, Eldrin and Lyra personally took charge of guarding this place.
They had waited in the Demon Ape Mountains for a full 7 or 8 days before the demon army from the Golden Rhino Ridge finally arrived from afar.
Eldrin stood firm atop the celestial firmament, activating his Dharma Eye to survey the demon army. He discovered the horde of demonic beasts numbered in the millions.
Even the mere aura of Golden Core (Cultivation Realm) practitioners numbered over 30 or 40, among which were even formidable demonic beings at the Golden Core, Late Stage (Cultivation Realm).
If that were all, Eldrin would have remained utterly unafraid. However, the most critical point was that among the demon tribe, 2 overwhelming auras blazed like celestial suns.
2 golden behemoths stood tall as if reaching thousands of feet, their forms resembling 2 majestic mountains from primordial times. With every step they took, it seemed capable of crushing ancient rivers and peaks beneath their weight.
"Could it truly be them?"
Among the crowd, Xavier (Person Name) wore a face drained of all color.
Even as a Golden Core cultivator, he felt an overwhelming sense of despair and powerlessness before this demon sovereign whose presence loomed like a mountain.
It was the Golden Rhinoceros Demon Emperor (Demon Beast) and his consort. Both had broken through to the Nascent Soul realm over 5 100 years ago, yet they remained at the Nascent Soul, Early Stage (Cultivation Realm) due to the inherently slow progression of demonic beasts' cultivation.
Lyra's expression turned grave. These 2 Eldrin (Person Name) possessed cultivation bases at the first level of Nascent Soul and the second level of late-stage Nascent Soul respectively. Either 1 would require their full strength to contend with.
Now that 2 Demon Emperors have arrived simultaneously, even if the entire Chu Kingdom were to unite, they would likely prove no match for them.
Eldrin exchanged a glance with her, then soared into the heavens. Channeling his magic, he amplified his voice and declared, "Your Excellency Golden Rhinoceros Demon Emperor, our Chu Kingdom lies beyond the Great Kun River from your Golden Rhinoceros Ridge—separated by a distance of several 100 1000 li. 1 might say there is no necessary conflict between us."
"Jizhou is currently at war with Bipo Lake. As esteemed Demon Monarchs, why should you entangle yourselves in another's conflict?"
"Haha..."
Before Eldrin could finish speaking, thunderous laughter echoed through the void.
The 2 colossal golden rhinos, enveloped in a sphere of golden light, ultimately transformed into 2 golden figures.
The leader, clad in golden scale armor, was a man of towering and robust stature, while the other was an elegant woman adorned with a golden scale at the center of her brow.
After demons break through to the Nascent Soul realm, they gain the ability to assume human form. The Golden Rhinoceros lineage’s Demon Emperor and his consort had now manifested their human-shaped venerable forms.
The burly demon emperor's eyes glowed with golden light as he gazed at Eldrin and Lyra, declaring, "This emperor knows of you 2—Eldrin, the Sword Immortal of Jizhou, and Lyra, the Celestial Maiden of Tianxu. Both of you possess the qualifications to form a supreme-grade Golden Core."
"This Emperor can sense your abundant vitality. Were I to slay you and devour your flesh, blood, and Golden Cores, perhaps my cultivation could advance yet another level."
"Keep the perfect attendance streak alive. Are they really the ones?"
Among the crowd, Xavier (Person Name) looked utterly pale.
Even as a Golden Core cultivator, he felt a near-hopeless powerlessness before this demon sovereign true monarch, whose presence loomed like a mountain.
It was the Golden Rhinoceros Demon Emperor (Demon Beast) and his consort. Both had broken through to the Nascent Soul realm over 5 100 years ago, yet they remained at the Nascent Soul, Early Stage (Cultivation Realm) due to the inherently slow progression of demonic beasts' cultivation.
Lyra's expression turned grave. These 2 Eldrin (Person Name) possessed cultivation bases at the first level of Nascent Soul and the second level of late-stage Nascent Soul respectively. Either 1 would require their full strength to contend with.
Now that 2 Demon Emperors have arrived together, even if the entire Chu Kingdom were to unite, they would likely still be no match for them.
Eldrin exchanged a glance with her, then soared into the heavens, amplifying his voice with magic power as he declared, "Your Excellency Golden Rhinoceros Demon Emperor, my Chu Kingdom lies separated from your Golden Rhinoceros Ridge by the Great Kun River—a distance of several 100 1000 li. 1 might say there is no necessary conflict between us."
"Jizhou is currently at war with Bipo Lake. As esteemed Demon Monarchs, why should you embroil yourselves in another's conflict?"
"Haha..."
Before Eldrin could finish speaking, thunderous laughter echoed through the void.
The 2 colossal golden rhinos, enveloped in a sphere of golden light, ultimately transformed into 2 golden figures.
The leader, clad in golden scale armor, was a man of towering and robust stature, while the other was an elegant woman adorned with a golden scale at the center of her brow.
After demons break through to the Nascent Soul realm, they gain the ability to assume human form. The current Golden Rhinoceros lineage’s Demon Emperor and his consort had now manifested their human-shaped venerable forms.
The burly demon emperor's eyes glowed with golden light as he gazed at Eldrin and Lyra, declaring, "This Emperor knows of you 2—Eldrin, the Sword Immortal of Ji Province, and Lyra, the Celestial Maiden of Tianxu. Both of you possess the qualifications to form a supreme Nascent Soul."
"This Emperor can sense your abundant vital energy. Should I slay you and devour your flesh, blood, and Golden Cores, perhaps my cultivation could advance yet another level."
Chapter 1: The Reborn Eldrin The sky was shrouded in heavy clouds, lightning snaking through them like silver serpents. On the peak of Mount Azureveil, a figure stood tall, his black robes billowing in the fierce wind. This was Eldrin, the youngest Soul-Sovereign in 10 1000 years, now facing his Heavenly Tribulation. "Come then!" Eldrin roared towards the heavens, the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss gleaming crimson in his hand. "I've cultivated for 3 1000 years just for this day!" Boom—! 9 colossal lightning bolts descended simultaneously, their blinding radiance illuminating the entire mountain range. Eldrin channeled all his spiritual power, forming a massive golden barrier above his head. However, the terrifying force of the heavenly punishment shattered his defenses instantly. In his final moment, he felt his consciousness fading, his primordial spirit beginning to dissipate. ... When Eldrin opened his eyes again, he found himself in a simple wooden room. The air carried the faint scent of medicinal herbs. He tried to sit up, but a sharp pain shot through his body. "You're awake?" The door creaked open, and a young girl around 15 or 16 entered, holding a bowl of dark medicinal soup. "You've been unconscious for 3 days." Eldrin stared blankly at the girl, countless memories flooding his mind. He had been reborn—into the body of a outer sect disciple of the Verdant Peak Sect, who shared his name. This disciple had just died during a mission to gather spiritual herbs. "Thank you," Eldrin said calmly, accepting the medicine bowl. His spiritual sense swept through his new body, and he couldn't help but frown. The meridians were narrow and clogged, the dantian dim—truly the most mediocre of mortal roots. The girl looked at him with concern. "Senior Brother Qin said you slacked off during the herb gathering and got what you deserved. The sect has deducted your spirit stone allowance for this month—only 50 remain." Eldrin's lips curled into a cold smile. In his previous life, he had tread the path of cultivation for 3 1000 years, rising from insignificance to become a revered Soul-Sovereign. He was all too familiar with such petty schemes. "50 spirit stones..." He murmured softly, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes. "More than enough." He drained the medicinal soup in 1 gulp, then closed his eyes to meditate. Although his cultivation was gone, his comprehension of the heavenly laws remained. The "9 Revolutions Soul-Sutra" he had created in his previous life began to circulate slowly, drawing in the sparse spiritual energy of heaven and earth. By nightfall, Eldrin had opened his eyes again. A faint white mist lingered around him—he had broken through to the first level of Body Refining. He stood up and walked to the window, gazing at the moonlight. In the distance, the main peaks of the Verdant Peak Sect towered into the clouds, their silhouettes majestic under the silver glow. "The Heavenly Dao thinks it can destroy me..." Eldrin's voice was low but resolute. "But it doesn't know that true power lies not in the body, but in the soul." He raised his hand, a wisp of golden light flickering at his fingertips—the remnant soul power of the Soul-Sovereign. Though weak, it was enough to change everything. "Starting from scratch..." A mysterious smile touched his lips. "How interesting." Outside the window, a shooting star streaked across the night sky, its trail brilliant yet fleeting, like the path of cultivation—fraught with peril yet holding the promise of eternity.