Chapter 443 : Clash of Celestial Treasures

He activated his Divine Ability [a supernatural power cultivated through esoteric arts] to shield his body, only then realizing it was the Slanting Sun Wheel [a magical artifact shaped like a slanted solar disc] that had caught up to him.

Without a moment to spare for thought, he instantly turned and fled southward again, but Selene's Ring [a magical treasure named after the moon goddess Selene] had already blocked his path ahead, forcing him back with unyielding pressure.

"Damnation."

Celestial Star Child [a Daoist title meaning 'Child of the Celestial Stars'] gazed with icy coldness. Even without a True Lord [a high-ranking cultivator title] to wield it, the Demon-Subduing Supreme Treasure [a top-tier artifact specifically designed to suppress demons], when fully awakened, still possessed power sufficient to trouble him greatly.

Had Exquisite Jiang [a cultivator known for her exquisite grace] and Eldrin Chen not been present, he was confident he could have worn down the two supreme treasures until their energy was depleted. But under the current circumstances, he was granted no such opportunity.

"I cannot afford to be dragged down like this."

With this thought, Celestial Star Child soared into the air and actually summoned his Innate Divine Ability [a divine ability inherent to one's nature or lineage], the 'Six Harmonies Stellar Sword' [a sword technique harmonizing six stellar forces].

This Six Harmonies Stellar Sword Divine Ability, was the signature Divine Ability created by Celestial Star Child through his profound contemplation of the Southern Dipper Six Stars [the six stars of the Southern Dipper constellation].

Based on the six Stellar [pertaining to stars or celestial bodies] forces of the Celestial Treasury Star [the Star of Celestial Treasury], Celestial Beam Star [the Star of Celestial Beam], Celestial Mechanism Star [the Star of Celestial Mechanism], Celestial Unity Star [the Star of Celestial Unity], Celestial Aspect Star [the Star of Celestial Aspect], and Seven Slaughter Star [the Star of Seven Slaughter], he had forged six blades of Stellar sword energy.

In years past, relying on this Divine Ability, Celestial Star Child had even slain several Golden Core Cultivator [cultivators who have condensed a Golden Core, a major milestone]. Now, having broken through to the Infant Soul Realm [the realm where one nurtures an Infant Soul], he had immediately integrated this offensive Divine Ability into his Infant Soul [the nascent spiritual form cultivated in the Infant Soul Realm]. Continue your cultivation journey at audio-novel . com.

Once this Divine Ability merged with his Infant Soul and became an Innate Divine Ability, its grade had already ascended by a major tier, reaching the realm of a Great God Ability.

Now, the moment Celestial Star Child made his move, he unleashed the Six Harmonies Stellar Sword, revealing his greatest trump card from the very outset.

To utterly shatter the encirclement, he did not hesitate to expend his Infant Soul Essence [the foundational spiritual energy of an Infant Soul cultivator], boosting his magical power by a full fifty percent.

"You insignificant cultivators dare to defy a True Lord? Then face my wrath!"

With a long roar, Celestial Star Child commanded the six Stellar Heaven swords orbiting his body to soar into the sky. Their dazzling, brilliant sword-light illuminated the distant reaches of the boundless Heavenly Vault, casting a layer of blue-white radiance over vast swathes of the Flaming Prison Sea of Fire.

As he channeled his power and unleashed the swords, the six Stellar Heaven blades shot forth one after another, streaking directly towards Eldrin Chen.

"Not good!"

Eldrin Chen hastily retreated, summoning the Trinity Divine Thunder to intercept the attack.

Even though his magical power had been refined by the Solar Fire Returning Abyss Sword to a purity nearly on par with an Infant Soul True Lord, the Trinity Divine Thunder was still shattered in a single blow.

"My reserves of power are still insufficient," he realized.

Eldrin Chen's gaze turned frosty. He was about to channel his Solar Fire Returning Abyss Sword to block this Great God Ability [a supreme innate divine technique], when he saw Exquisite Jiang's Heavenly Ruins Immortal-Slaying Sword flash forward with a metallic *shing*, intercepting the six Stellar Heaven Swords.

In that very instant, the Celestial Star Child seized the opening. While unleashing another Divine Ability [a powerful supernatural technique] to force Exquisite Jiang into a full defensive posture, he attempted to bolt past the opening.

Yet, he had barely covered half the distance when a cascade of Formation Flag [enchanted banners used to set up magical arrays] descended, sealing the very space around him.

"The Primordial Unity Heaven-Sealing Formation, powered by the Four Symbols Formation Flags."

The Celestial Star Child's pupils contracted sharply. Two sets of top-grade Formation Flag [enchanted banners used to set up magical arrays] working in tandem were more than enough to stall him, if only for a few crucial moments.

The situation was dire. He dared not linger. Disregarding the immense toll on his spiritual energy, he once again mustered his power and summoned the Stellar Heaven Swords.

This Innate Great God Ability [a supreme innate divine technique] truly lived up to its reputation as one of the ultimate trump cards for an Infant Soul Cultivator [a cultivator at the Nascent Soul stage]. As the six Stellar Heaven Swords slashed forth, their combined strike shattered both Formation [magical defensive arrays] and the four True Spirit [spiritual entities at the True Spirit stage] of Golden Core Late Stage [Late Golden Core] cultivators guarding them.

Two of the Four Symbols Formation Flags were instantly destroyed, and the Primordial Unity Heaven-Sealing Formation suffered grievous damage.

"Now!"

But in that same fleeting moment, Eldrin Chen's eyes snapped wide open. His entire being transformed into a streak of dazzling sword-light as he shot forward.

"Sword and body become one!"

"Disaster!"

Witnessing Eldrin Chen merge with his sword, transforming into a violet dragon-like Immortal Sword that cleaved towards him, Celestial Star Child found his previous move spent and could only hastily activate his Body Protection Divine Ability to resist.

Alas, against Eldrin Chen's all-out strike, his Divine Ability [a supernatural power cultivated through esoteric arts] was instantly torn asunder, and his entire physical body was cloven in two by the single sword stroke.

After his body was destroyed, Celestial Star Child's Infant Soul [the nascent spiritual form of a high-level cultivator] attempted to flee. Yet, a raging Solar Fire [a divine flame of pure yang essence] swept forth, igniting his Infant Soul as well.

"Aaaargh—!" For the best reading experience, visit audio_novel.com.

Celestial Star Child's Infant Soul shrieked in agony. A cultivator's Infant Soul is exceedingly fragile, and the Slaughter [a divine ability focused on annihilation] property of the Demon-Slaying Immortal Sword combined with the Solar Fire possessed boundless destructive power. Once tainted by the Solar Fire, his fate was sealed.

Screaming, he flew for several thousand Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] before the Solar Fire finally engulfed his Infant Soul, utterly incinerating it into ashes of calamity.

In his final moments, Celestial Star Child's heart was filled with resentment and bitter regret. For a millennium, he had cultivated diligently, committing countless heinous acts in pursuit of the Dao. He had even betrayed his closest confidant to obtain the Nine Heavens Stellar Fragment [a precious ore containing condensed stellar essence].

Though sometimes he would wake from nightmares, each time he would convince himself anew: anyone standing in his path was merely an obstacle to be removed.

Even if it were one's own dear friend, if one's death could pave a single stone upon their path, it would be worth it.

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

If only he had waited another hundred years, until his cultivation base had gradually solidified, until he had reforged his Lifebound Spiritual Treasure [a magical treasure intimately bound to a cultivator's life force and soul], he would never have ended up in such a predicament.

"Hah—"

Watching the Celestial Star Child [a title for a powerful cultivator associated with celestial stars] fall, Eldrin Chen let out a heavy sigh of relief.

Exchanging a glance with Exquisite Jiang, he spoke with a touch of emotion, "Over two hundred years ago, when I swore that Inner Demon Oath [a binding vow that creates a demonic entity within one's own soul if broken], I thought I would have to wait until the five-hundred-year deadline was nearly upon us to settle this Karma [the cosmic principle of cause and effect governing actions and their consequences]. I never imagined it would be resolved so swiftly."

Exquisite Jiang offered a faint smile, her tone serene. "That fiend's methods were extraordinary. Had you not concealed the Demon-Slaying Immortal Sword [a divine sword specifically forged to slay demonic beings] and caught him off guard, it would have been difficult to strike him down with a single blow."

"Indeed."

Eldrin Chen nodded in agreement. Strictly speaking, the Celestial Star Child had not been able to unleash his full power.

In order to survive the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation [a cataclysmic trial of heavenly lightning that cultivators must endure to advance to higher realms], all three of his Lifebound Magical Treasure had been utterly destroyed within the tribulation's fury. Furthermore, his stock of high-grade magical treasure [an enchanted artifact used by cultivators] talismans had been completely exhausted; he did not even have one or two life-preserving talismans left in his grasp.

Even so, with his level of power, it would be exceedingly difficult to slay him, for individuals of this caliber possess escape capabilities far surpassing the ordinary.

Yet, he could never have imagined that Eldrin Chen also possessed a Demon-Slaying Immortal Sword in his grasp.

After all, Eldrin Chen had at most just broken through to the Golden Core Late Stage. For him to have acquired a Lifebound Immortal Sword of Spiritual Treasure grade in such a short time was something many Infant Soul True Lord would find hard to believe if told.

A single miscalculation ultimately led to Celestial Star Child being slain in one strike, unable to fully unleash his Divine Ability [profound supernatural power] and cultivation base.

Eldrin Chen collected Celestial Star Child's Storage Bag [a spatial pouch for storing items]. After a brief inspection, he shook his head and remarked, "Though this Celestial Star Child was an Infant Soul True Lord, his possessions are surprisingly meager."

The treasures within the Storage Bag were few. Aside from Celestial Star Child's cultivation manual and Divine Ability, there were only several hundred thousand Spirit Stone [a mineral that stores and radiates spiritual energy]. Other miscellaneous items and Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures [rare spiritual resources from heaven and earth] were also scarce, likely all traded away for resources to aid in forming his Nascent Soul.

This outcome was actually within Eldrin Chen's expectations. This Celestial Star Child was merely a rogue cultivator. To have managed to purchase two Nascent Soul Formation Pill [a pill that aids in forming the Nascent Soul] and prepare magical treasure [enchanted artifacts used by cultivators] for his tribulation already signified immense wealth.

Although he barely managed to break through into the Infant Soul Realm, it had completely drained his resources.

With this thought, Eldrin Chen said, "One cannot deny that someone like him, had he not met his end here, might have traveled even further on the path."

"But this Celestial Star Child was ruthless and cruel. The havoc he would have wreaked after breaking through to the Infant Soul Realm would have been far greater, who knows how many immortal Clan Assembly [gatherings of cultivation clans] he would have devastated. By slaying him, we have rid the people of a scourge." This content originates from audio-novel dot com. Please respect copyright.