Chapter 454 : Sword of Heaven's Ruin

She made no attempt to conceal her Lifebound Immortal Sword [a cultivator's personal sword, bound to their soul and growing in power with them]. Instead, she directly summoned forth the Heaven's Ruin Immortal-Slaying Sword [a legendary sword famed for its power to slay even celestial beings] to meet the formidable foe head-on.

Although the forces gathered at the Great Kun River and Crimson Scorpion Ridge numbered over a dozen Demon King [powerful demonic beasts equivalent to Golden Core cultivators], they were utterly routed in an astonishingly short span of time, their cries of despair echoing across the battlefield.

The battle raged for merely half a day. In that time, Eldrin Chen and Lyra Jiang alone felled eight Golden Core Demon King. The remaining High-Rank Demonic Tribe [demonic beings of significant power and intelligence] scattered in disarray, while the Low-Rank Demonic Tribe [lesser, often mindless demonic creatures] were left completely leaderless and directionless.

In just half a day, the siege encircling Heaven's Ruin Lake was shattered. The swarms of Low-Rank Demonic Tribe remaining on this battlefield posed no further threat to them.

With time still on their side, they proceeded to Earth Lion Ridge, joining forces with Old Patriarch and others to assault the Demonic Tribe Allied Forces [a coalition army formed by various demonic tribes] advancing from the direction of the Savage Ox Ancient Plains.

This engagement concluded with even greater swiftness. A mere few hours later, the Demonic Tribe forces at Earth Lion Ridge had also been decisively broken and put to flight.

With two of the three fronts now secure, Eldrin Chen immediately turned his path toward Demonic Ape Mountain. He sought out Kael Chen and Qian the Ancient Ancestor [a venerable elder of the Qian Clan], who were stationed there for its defense. "The Demonic Tribe from the direction of Golden Rhino Ridge," he inquired, "how far have they advanced?"

"According to the intelligence received three days ago, they were merely tens of thousands of Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] away from our position," Qian the Ancient Ancestor replied, his expression grave.

Lyra Jiang's brow furrowed slightly. "Why is the most recent report from three days past?" she asked.

"Because scouting the movements from Golden Rhino Ridge is perilous in the extreme," Kael Chen answered, shaking his head, his tone calm yet somber. "We have dispatched five Purple Mansion Cultivator [cultivators who have established their spiritual foundation within the Purple Mansion realm] to gather intelligence. Not a single one has returned alive." This content originates from audio-novel`com. Please respect copyright.

"At most, he could only manage to send back a single Communication Talisman [a magical item used for sending messages over long distances] before his life ended."

"They were merely scouting the periphery. How could even a Purple Mansion Cultivator [a cultivator who has established their spiritual core within the Purple Mansion realm] fail to survive?" Old Patriarch's pupils contracted sharply, and he could not help but exclaim with shock, "Could it be that a Demon Emperor [a ruler among demonic beings, possessing power comparable to a human Nascent Soul cultivator] has personally arrived?"

Everyone's hearts grew uneasy, and expressions of apprehension appeared on their faces.

Seeing their troubled expressions, Eldrin Chen spoke to reassure them. "The movements of a powerhouse at the Demon Emperor level would certainly be under the close watch of the Ji Clan."

"Therefore, you need not worry. If a Demon Emperor were to attack, the Ji Clan would not stand idly by."

Hearing his words, the group felt a slight easing of the tension in their hearts.

When the sky falls, the tallest will hold it up. As long as they did not have to face a Nascent Soul Demon Emperor [a demonic beast emperor whose power rivals a human Nascent Soul cultivator] directly, everything else was manageable.

Returning to the matter at hand, considering the pressure facing Demonic Ape Mountain, Eldrin Chen and Lyra Jiang decided to personally take command and garrison the location.

They waited at Demonic Ape Mountain for a full seven or eight days before the Demonic Tribe [a collective term for tribes of intelligent demonic beasts] army from Golden Rhino Ridge finally arrived from its long journey.

Standing atop the Firmament, Eldrin Chen activated his Insight Eye [a mystical ability that grants enhanced perception and vision] to survey the Demonic Tribe forces. He saw that the Demonic Beast Army numbered in the millions.

Merely the formidable auras emanating from the Golden Core Realm [the third major stage of cultivation, where one forms a solidified golden core of power] numbered over thirty or forty. Among them were even powerful Great Demonic Monster [a formidable demonic beast of significant power and threat] at the Golden Core, Late Stage [the advanced phase of the Golden Core Realm].

If that were all, Eldrin Chen would have remained utterly unperturbed. The most critical factor, however, was that within the Demonic Tribe [a tribe or faction composed of demonic beings] were two auras of overwhelming power, blazing like twin suns in the sky.

These were two colossal golden rhinoceroses, each towering a thousand Zhang-length [one Zhang-length equals three point three three meters]. Their forms resembled two majestic primordial divine mountains; a single misplaced step from them could crush ancient peaks and Ronan.

"It truly is them?"

Among the gathered cultivators, Xavier Xu paled, his face draining of color.

Even though he now held the esteemed status of a Golden Core Cultivator [a cultivator who has reached the Golden Core Realm], facing these mountain-like Demon Emperor True Lord [a demonic beast ruler who has attained the power and status equivalent to a True Lord] filled him with a sense of near-despairing powerlessness.

"It's the Golden Rhino Demon Emperor Couple," he said, voice tight. "They broke through to the Nascent Soul [the fourth major stage of cultivation, where one forms a nascent soul or spirit infant] realm over five hundred years ago. Progress for Demonic Beast [a beast that has absorbed spiritual energy and gained demonic power] cultivation is inherently slow, so they still remain within the Nascent Soul, Early Stage [the initial phase of the Nascent Soul Realm]."

Lyra Jiang's expression turned grave. One of these two Demon Emperor [the sovereign ruler of a demonic tribe] possessed cultivation at the Nascent Soul First Layer [the first layer of the Nascent Soul Realm], while the other had reached the Nascent Soul Late Stage Second Layer [the second layer within the late stage of the Nascent Soul Realm]. Either one would require their full, concerted effort to confront.

Now, with both Demon Emperor arriving together, even if the entire strength of the Chu Kingdom were combined, it might still prove insufficient to be their match.

Eldrin Chen exchanged a glance with her, then soared into the Firmament [the sky, the heavens]. Channeling his mana to amplify his voice, he proclaimed, "Esteemed Golden Rhinoceros Demon Emperor, our Chu Kingdom lies separated from your Golden Rhino Ridge by the Great Kun River, a distance of several hundred A Distance of Ten Thousand Li [a Li-length equals five hundred meters; ten thousand Li is a vast distance]. One could say there is no necessary conflict between us."

"Currently, the Ji Continent [the continent where the story primarily takes place] is at war with the Azure Wave Lake [a major territory controlled by a powerful demonic tribe]. As esteemed Demon Emperor [a ruler among demonic beasts, equivalent to a Nascent Soul realm cultivator], why involve yourselves in another's conflict?"

"Hahaha..."

Before Eldrin Chen could finish, thunderous laughter echoed through the void.

The two mountain-like golden rhinos were enveloped in a golden radiance, finally transforming into two golden humanoid figures.

The leader wore golden scale armor and was a burly, powerfully built man. The other was a graceful woman with a golden scale marking on her forehead.

Upon breaking through to the Nascent Soul [a high realm of cultivation where one's spiritual essence forms an independent entity] realm, members of the Demonic Tribe [a collective term for intelligent, cultivator-level demonic beasts] gain the ability to assume human form. The Demon Emperor couple from the Golden Rhino Lineage [a powerful lineage of demonic beasts resembling golden rhinos] had now manifested in their humanoid majesty. Find this and other novels at *audio-novel.com*.

The burly Demon Emperor's eyes blazed with golden light as he regarded Eldrin Chen and Lyra Jiang. "We know of you two," he rumbled. "The Ji Continent Sword Immortal [a title bestowed upon a supreme sword cultivator from Ji Continent], Eldrin Chen, and the Heaven's Ruin Immortal Maiden [a title for a powerful female cultivator associated with Heaven's Ruin Mountain], Lyra Jiang. You both possess Supreme Nascent Soul Potential [the innate talent and destiny to reach the pinnacle of the Nascent Soul realm]."

"We can sense your vibrant life force and abundant Qi and blood [a term referring to the vitality and physical essence of a cultivator]. Slaying you and devouring your flesh, blood, and Golden Core [the condensed core of spiritual power formed by a Golden Core realm cultivator] might allow our cultivation to advance another layer."

"It truly is them?"

Among the group, Xavier Xu's face turned pale.

Even though he now held the esteemed status of a Golden Core Cultivator, facing these Demon Emperor True Lords that towered like mountains, he felt a sense of near-despairing powerlessness.

"It is the Golden Rhino Demon Emperor Couple. They have been at the Nascent Soul realm for over five hundred years. Progress is slow for Demonic Beasts, so they remain in the Nascent Soul, Early Stage," Lyra Jiang said, her expression grave.

Lyra Jiang's face was set in a grim mask. One of these two Demon Emperors possessed cultivation at the Nascent Soul First Layer, the other at the Nascent Soul Late Stage Second Layer. Either one would require their full, combined strength to contend with.

Now that both Demon Emperors had arrived together, even the combined might of the entire Chu Kingdom might not be enough to stand against them.

Eldrin Chen exchanged a glance with her, then soared into the Firmament. He amplified his voice with mana and declared, "Honored Golden Rhinoceros Demon Emperor, my Chu Kingdom is separated from your Golden Rhino Ridge by the Great Kun River—a distance of hundreds of A Distance of Ten Thousand Li. There is no necessary conflict between us."

"The Ji Continent is currently at war with Azure Wave Lake. As exalted Demon Emperors, why involve yourselves in another's struggle?"

"Hahaha..."

Before Eldrin Chen could finish, thunderous laughter echoed through the void.

The two mountain-like golden rhinos were enveloped in a radiant golden light, which then coalesced into two humanoid figures clad in gold.

The leader was a powerfully built man clad in golden scale armor. Beside him stood a graceful woman with a delicate golden scale gracing her forehead.

After breaking through to the Nascent Soul [the spiritual core formed after the Golden Core stage, representing a cultivator's immortal foundation] realm, Demonic Tribe [a collective term for intelligent, spirit-empowered beasts and monsters] members are already capable of taking human form. The Demon Emperor [a ruler among demonic beasts, equivalent in power to a human Nascent Soul cultivator] couple of the Golden Rhino Lineage had now manifested in such dignified, humanoid visages.

The burly Demon Emperor's eyes blazed with golden light as he regarded Eldrin Chen and Lyra Jiang. "We know of you two," he rumbled. "Ji Continent Sword Immortal [a title bestowed upon a supreme sword cultivator from the Ji Continent] Eldrin Chen, and the Heaven's Ruin Immortal Maiden [a title for a powerful female immortal associated with the Heaven's Ruin Mountain] Lyra Jiang. You both possess Supreme Nascent Soul Potential [the innate destiny and talent to reach the pinnacle of the Nascent Soul realm]."

"We can sense your vital essence is potent and overflowing. If we were to slay you and devour your flesh, blood, and Golden Core [the crystallized core of spiritual energy formed in a cultivator's dantian, the foundation for the Nascent Soul], perhaps our own cultivation could advance yet another layer." Experience the full epic at audi novel.com.