Chapter 459 : Betrayal of the Crimson Dragon

The expressions of the numerous Demon Emperor [a title for a ruler among demonic beasts] shifted slightly, but before several of these Demon Emperor could act, an even greater unforeseen event unfolded.

Crimson Dragon True Lord [a title for a powerful cultivator associated with a crimson dragon] actually abandoned his opponent and, with a flick of his hand, sent a streak of sword light slashing towards Eldrin Chen and Lyra Jiang.

"A traitor from within."

In that fleeting, lightning-fast moment, Eldrin Chen's face paled with shock and horror. Crimson Dragon True Lord was a close friend of the Ji Clan Grand Elder; why would he suddenly attack them?

In the same instant, his gaze snapped to the Flood Dragon [a powerful, dragon-like demonic beast] upon which the Crimson Dragon True Lord was seated. Its scales were crimson as blood, its twin horns pointed skyward like immortal swords, and within its draconic eyes swirled a tide of malice that seemed capable of engulfing heaven and earth.

"Is it the True Lord [a title for a high-ranking cultivator] riding the dragon, or the dragon controlling the True Lord?"

"So that's how it is."

The true objective of the Demonic Tribe [a collective term for tribes of demonic beasts and cultivators] from the very beginning had been to eliminate the two of them, these Heaven's Chosen [prodigies blessed with exceptional talent and destiny] of boundless potential.

Over the years, as their power had risen, the Demonic Tribe had long taken notice. This apprehension had grown with their forging of the Demon-Subduing Immortal Sword [a legendary sword specifically designed to vanquish demons], reaching a point where their elimination could no longer be delayed.

After all, with the Demon-Subduing Immortal Sword in hand, their chances of seizing the Heavenly Dao Qi [a primordial strand of energy embodying the Heavenly Dao, crucial for supreme breakthroughs] would be immense. Once they obtained the Heavenly Dao Qi, their path to becoming Heavenly Dao Nascent Soul [a Nascent Soul formed in perfect harmony with the Heavenly Dao, representing the pinnacle of foundation] would be all but assured. Official source: audio-novel .c om. Unauthorized reproduction is prohibited.

Those who achieve the Heavenly Dao Nascent Soul [the highest grade of Nascent Soul, formed in resonance with the Heavenly Dao] can almost always cultivate to the Nascent Soul Great Perfection [the pinnacle stage of the Nascent Soul realm]. Faced with such formidable enemies of terrifying potential, if they are not slain before they break through to Nascent Soul, the difficulty of dealing with them later would be on an entirely different level.

All along, due to the influence of the Ji Clan, they had never found a suitable opportunity to strike down the two. Thus, they seized this very moment to eliminate them.

"Disaster!"

Witnessing the Crimson Dragon True Lord [a title for a powerful cultivator associated with a crimson dragon] turn traitor, many faces were etched with despair.

Both the Crimson Dragon and the Crimson Dragon True Lord were beings at the Nascent Soul Late Stage. For them, slaying Eldrin Chen and his companion would be a matter of effortless ease.

The most critical point was that with these two additional Nascent Soul Late Stage powerhouses, coupled with the now-unfettered Inscription of Sorrow Lord joining the fray, the tide of this battle was likely to shift dramatically.

Yet, at that very moment, from the distant edge of the void, five beams of extreme light surged into the Firmament [the vault of heaven]. They coalesced into a Five-Colored Heaven-Piercing Light Pillar [a radiant pillar of five-colored light that seems to pierce the heavens], transforming into a Formation Cage [a cage-like barrier created by a magical formation] that completely enveloped this expanse of void.

Though the strike from the Crimson Dragon True Lord was mighty, it was instantly blocked by this Formation [a structured arrangement of magical energy for defense, attack, or other purposes].

"How is this possible?"

The faces of several Demon Emperor [rulers of demon tribes, equivalent to Nascent Soul cultivators] changed drastically. They now saw five True Lord [a title for Nascent Soul realm cultivators] of imposing and majestic aura, each holding a Formation Flags [flags used to control and power formations], soaring into the sky.

Among those five True Lords [a title for powerful cultivators at the Nascent Soul Realm], two were the Ji Clan Second Elder and the Ji Clan Third Elder, both at the Nascent Soul Late Stage [the advanced phase of the Nascent Soul cultivation realm].

Behind these five True Lords stood a legion of cultivators numbering fifty thousand, their cultivation bases starting at the very threshold of the Foundation Establishment [the second major realm of cultivation, where one's spiritual foundation is solidified].

The cultivation arts practiced by these warriors were aligned with the five elements. When their combined power was channeled and focused, it caused the might of this Formation [a structured arrangement of energy and personnel for combat or defense] to surge explosively.

"The Dao Soldier Grand Formation [a supreme military formation of elite cultivators, a hallmark of the most powerful human forces]," one of the Demon Emperors [a ruler among demonic tribes, equivalent to a human True Lord] exclaimed in recognition, identifying the origin of this formidable Formation.

Dao Soldiers [elite cultivator-soldiers] are a powerful military formation that only a Dao Lord Sacred Land [a supreme sanctuary led by a cultivator who has comprehended a Great Dao] possesses the capability to train and maintain. They represent one of the most profound Deep-Seated Foundation [the accumulated, hidden strength and legacy of a powerful force] of such a sacred land.

"Did you truly believe that a mere place like the Ridge of the Black Fiend [a territory associated with demonic forces] was beyond the ability of our Ji Clan to subdue?"

High in the sky, Ji Daoming spoke with calm authority. The Ji Clan was once a Dao Lord Sacred Land, and the Deep-Seated Foundation it possessed far exceeded ordinary imagination.

Now, having invited the aid of several True Lords allies, they could not only handle the Ridge of the Black Fiend with ease, but had also arranged for the Golden-Winged Roc [a powerful, golden-winged bird of prey demonic beast] lineage to be intercepted by others.

Ji Daoming continued his explanation, his gaze shifting to settle upon the Crimson Dragon True Lord [a True Lord whose Dao title is associated with a crimson dragon]. "For this campaign, we invited several True Lords to lend their strength. Most are merely assisting by holding back other Demon Emperors. Do you know why we specifically invited *you* to participate directly in the battle?"

"This..."

Crimson Dragon True Lord paled, and the crimson Flood Dragon [a powerful serpentine creature, often a precursor to a True Dragon] beside him revealed a look of shock.

He had originally thought that the Ji Clan had invited the Crimson Dragon True Lord to participate in this battle because they valued his Dragon Taming Art [a mystical art for subduing and controlling dragon-kind]. He never imagined they were merely testing him.

Observing his expression, Ji Daoming let out a sigh of regret. "Proceed," he said.

The Five Elements Heaven-Piercing Formation enveloped the void. Powered by the combined efforts of five Nascent Soul True Lords [powerful cultivators who have formed their Nascent Soul, a spiritual core] and the strength of fifty thousand Dao soldiers, its unleashed power nearly reached the level of the Half-Step Nascent Soul Realm.

Even if the Green Flood Dragon Demon Emperor [a supreme ruler among demonic flood dragons] were to attack personally, he would have to tread carefully against this Formation [a structured arrangement of power, often for defense or attack]. Naturally, the Nascent Soul Demon Emperors present found it difficult to withstand.

The three Flood Dragon Demon Emperors wore expressions of grave solemnity. The Golden Flood Dragon Demon Emperor opened his maw and spat out a luminous treasure, crying out, "Imperial Father, save me!" Continue reading this story at audio-novel dot com.

A mighty roar echoed through the heavens.

In that instant, the sky at the horizon was torn asunder.

A colossal azure Flood Dragon, its body nearly ten thousand zhang-lengths [one Zhang-length equals three point three three meters] long and covered in scales of azure-gold, coiled into view. Its form was majestic, bearing a striking resemblance to a legendary True Dragon [the ultimate sovereign among dragon-kind, possessing immense power and divinity].

It soared through the clouds, exhaling mist, its four claws rending the void, and its draconic eyes blazed like twin suns.

Yet, it did not gaze upon the five figures within the formation. Instead, it looked towards the distant depths of the void and spoke calmly, "Dorian, if you wish to avoid an early confrontation, release them."

"Hmm."

A faint voice drifted from the distant void.

Initially gentle, the sound soon resonated like the voice of the Great Dao itself, transforming into a divine echo that swept across the heavens and earth, reverberating through the mountain ranges for ten thousand Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters].

The onlookers raised their eyes and saw a figure clad in violet robes striding forward.

He stood tall and slender, his form shrouded in swirling Violet Qi [a rare and auspicious spiritual energy often associated with enlightenment and immortality]. This Violet Qi coalesced into ethereal purple True Dragon [a supreme, primordial dragon species] and celestial phoenixes that circled him—a manifestation of being near the Dao [the fundamental principle or path in Chinese philosophy].

So-called Nascent Soul Dao Lord [a cultivator whose Primordial Spirit has nearly touched the Great Dao]—such existences have Primordial Spirits [the spiritual core of a cultivator] that verge upon touching the Great Dao. They exist in a perpetual state of epiphany, capable of invoking wondrous phenomena that resonate with the Dao itself.

The fact that Ji Clan Patriarch could manifest such phenomena clearly indicated he was but a single step away from the realm of a Dao Lord [a title for a supreme master of the Dao].

Indeed, this was the truth. Ji Clan Patriarch was no ordinary Half-Step Dao Lord [a cultivator on the very cusp of becoming a full Dao Lord]. Having cultivated to this point, his confidence in breaking through to the Nascent Soul Realm [the realm where one forms their Primordial Spirit] was nearly eight or nine parts out of ten.

The only obstacles that could hinder him now were external calamities and the Dao Lord Heavenly Thunder Tribulation [the final, most devastating heavenly tribulation faced by those seeking to ascend to the Dao Lord realm].

At this moment, Dorian Ji strode forward. With each step, violet lotuses bloomed beneath his feet. His eyes held a profound calm as he spoke, "What does it matter if we must fight?"

"Hmph—"

The azure Flood Dragon [a powerful serpentine creature on the verge of ascending to true dragonhood] that was nearly transformed into a true dragon snorted coldly, its expression icy. "At our level of cultivation, a fight to the death would likely shatter the Dao path for both of us."

"You would perish. I would not."

Dorian Ji stated with utter serenity. Above his head, an immortal furnace soared into the air. Simply hovering there, it seemed capable of refining all the immortals and demons of the Nine Heavens [the highest celestial realms in cosmology].

"The Immortal-Refining Furnace!"

The azure Flood Dragon's gaze turned frigid. After a long pause, it finally said, "Over five hundred years ago, the Immortal-Refining Furnace [a legendary treasure said to be capable of refining even immortals] was grievously wounded by a coalition of Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon [demonic entities from beyond this world]. How much of its former power has it recovered?"

"If you use it to slay me yourself, will you still be able to survive your own Nascent Soul Grand Tribulation [the cataclysmic heavenly trial required to advance to the Nascent Soul realm]?"

The Green Flood Dragon Demon Emperor sneered. From between his brows, an azure treasure ruler shot forth, radiating a dazzling, peerless brilliance.

"Azure Jade Heaven-Measuring Ruler [a legendary measuring tool said to be able to gauge the heavens themselves]."

Dorian Ji spoke with calm authority, "The Azure Jade Heaven-Measuring Ruler is one of the Nine Heavens Exotic Treasure [a set of legendary artifacts of immense power]. While it may not rival the Immortal-Refining Furnace [a furnace capable of refining even immortals], it is nonetheless a Supreme Treasure of Pure Yang [a treasure of the highest order, embodying the ultimate Yang principle] that has shaken the very foundations of the world."

"This artifact was originally the Supreme Treasure of Pure Yang of the Black Dragon Demon Progenitor [the primordial ancestor of the black dragon demon lineage]. The Green Flood Dragon Demon Emperor possessed the potential of a Nascent Soul Dao Lord [a cultivator who has reached the Nascent Soul realm and attained the status of a Dao Lord], and being of the Black Dragon Demon Progenitor's bloodline, was thus deemed worthy of receiving it as a gift." Find thousands of chapters at audio . novel . com.