Chapter 486 : The Ambush at Boulder Sea

Seeing that everyone had sworn the Heart Demon Oath [a solemn vow that, if broken, summons a demonic entity to torment the oath-breaker's soul], the Nine Rivers True Lord produced a Treasure Boat of Spiritual Treasure [a treasure imbued with a nascent consciousness, far surpassing ordinary magical treasures] grade. "Since preparations are complete, let us depart," he declared.

This Treasure Boat was inlaid with a Fourth Rank Spatial Gemstone [a rare mineral that manipulates spatial dimensions], granting it the capacity to hold several hundred cultivators while also possessing formidable concealment and aura-suppressing properties. It was a Spiritual Treasure the Nine Rivers True Lord had specifically borrowed for this mission, a crucial asset for their surprise assault.

The several dozen Golden Core Cultivator [cultivators who have condensed their spiritual power into a stable, golden-hued core within their dantian] swiftly boarded the Treasure Boat, which then set course for the Boulder Sea Region.

After three days of flight, they finally infiltrated the heart of the Boulder Sea Region. The Spirit Island [an island rich in spiritual energy, often used as a cultivation site] where the Bixia Demon King was secluded in meditation now lay less than ten thousand Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] away.

Confirming that the Bixia Demon King was still in seclusion, the Nine Rivers True Lord activated his Magical Treasure to further cloak the Treasure Boat. "We shall wait here," he instructed in a low voice. "The moment it begins its Heavenly Thunder Tribulation [a trial of lightning sent by the heavens to test a cultivator's worthiness for a major breakthrough], we strike."

"Understood," came the unified, whispered reply.

Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod, but his gaze lingered on the Nine Rivers True Lord's brow. There, he perceived a faint, ominous wisp of black Qi [the vital energy that flows through all living things] coiling like a serpent—an unmistakable portent of impending calamity.

Lyra Jiang, noticing the subtle shift in his demeanor, sent a silent mental message. "What is it?"

"A shroud of black Qi gathers above his crown. It foretells misfortune," Eldrin Chen responded, his own mental voice a thread of quiet concern shared only with Lyra Jiang.

Hearing his words, Lyra Jiang's pupils contracted slightly. Ever since obtaining the Great Derivation Ancient Scroll, Eldrin Chen had spent his spare time comprehending this ancient scripture. For more chapters, visit audio-novel . com for the complete novel.

It seemed he possessed a remarkably high aptitude for the calculations of Heavenly Secrets [the art of divination and fate-reading]. His progress in cultivating it could be described as rapid and unimpeded. Therefore, although the time since he acquired this tome was still short, he had already begun to grasp its fundamentals.

Thinking of this, Lyra Jiang could not help but say, "Since you have discerned an anomaly, I fear this battle may hold unforeseen changes."

Eldrin Chen nodded, then stated, "If unexpected events arise in this battle, we must not separate."

As the group waited, far away on a Fifth Rank Spirit Island within the Boulder Sea Region, three figures gathered within a Grand Hall.

Contrary to expectations, the one seated upon the main throne of the Grand Hall was not the Boulder Demon Emperor, but a handsome man clad in blood-red robes.

This man's cultivation was merely at the Golden Core Great Perfection, yet his aura was exceptionally noble. His pupils shimmered with a strand of crimson light, resembling a bewitching flower of the underworld [a mythical flower said to bloom along the river of the underworld, symbolizing separation and remembrance].

Behind him stood two figures. The one on the left wore black robes, his presence profound and boundless like an abyssal sea, actually surpassing Nine Rivers True Lord by several degrees in power.

The figure on the right was the master of the Boulder Sea Region, his cultivation at the Nascent Soul, Early Stage. Yet, before the handsome man, he too seemed unconsciously diminished.

At this moment, the Boulder Demon Emperor cast a wary glance at the black-robed figure, then looked at the handsome man and said, "Lorcan, Scion of Lethe, since they have arrived beyond the Spirit Island, should we not simply take action and slay them?"

"What's the hurry?"

The man in the blood-red robe smiled faintly, the other shore flowers in his eyes blooming with an increasingly bewitching allure. "What I love most," he said, "is the look of stunned disbelief on an opponent's face when victory is snatched from their grasp at the very last moment."

"This..."

The Boulder Demon Emperor [a powerful demonic beast ruler] showed a flicker of change in his expression, but said nothing more.

At that moment, the handsome man reached out and grasped at the empty air, then remarked, "The Eight Trigrams Demon-Refining Banner [a powerful banner used to refine and subdue demons] and the Metallic Essence Demon-Slaying Sword Talisman [a potent talisman that unleashes sword energy to slay demons]... that Nine Rivers True Lord hid them quite well."

"If I hadn't come to assist you this time, I'm afraid your Ba Xia Bloodline [the lineage of the mythical dragon-turtle Ba Xia] would most likely have perished midway."

Upon hearing this, the Boulder Demon Emperor smiled and said, "I must still thank you, young master, for lending me your strength."

"No need for excessive thanks. This was merely the agreed-upon compensation,"

Lorcan, Scion of Lethe [a title meaning 'Prince of the River of Forgetfulness'] replied indifferently, a faint, knowing smile playing on his lips. "I help you slay Nine Rivers True Lord, and you help me breach Nine Rivers Island [a major island stronghold]."

"Once the deed is done, the Nascent Soul [the spiritual core of a high-level cultivator] of Nine Rivers True Lord, along with the hundreds of millions of the Human Race on Nine Rivers Island, shall rightfully become mine."

Lorcan, Scion of Lethe said with a sinister grin, "If I can perform a blood sacrifice of the billions of Human Race on Nine Rivers Island, I will surely succeed in cultivating the Blood Demon Grand Art and forge a Heavenly Dao Blood Demon Nascent Soul [a supreme Nascent Soul formed through demonic blood arts] in one fell swoop."

The whispered words of the Demonic Monsters sent a chill down even the Boulder Demon Emperor's spine.

It recalled the origins of this Lorcan, Scion of Lethe. He hailed from a Purple Mansion [the third major realm of cultivation] family, and at the tender age of eighteen, he had blood-sacrificed his entire clan, both mortals and cultivators. He was then taken under the wing of the Blood God Ancient Ancestor and accepted as a personal disciple.

One could say he was a born seed of a Demonic Cultivator [a cultivator who follows a path of malevolent and often sacrificial arts]. Once he forged a Heavenly Dao Nascent Soul [the highest grade of Nascent Soul, aligned with the Heavenly Dao], he would undoubtedly become one of the most terrifying sources of calamity in the world.

But what did that matter to him? For the Demonic Tribe, where the strong prey on the weak, mutual benefit was the only true principle. Even if the man before him was an Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon [a powerful demonic entity from beyond this world], cooperation was not out of the question.

The ones who truly feared the invasion of Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon were the Human Race and the few Demon Progenitors of the Demonic Tribe.

Thinking this, the Boulder Demon Emperor chuckled, "Once we slay the old monster of Nine Rivers and the elite forces of the Human Race in this battle, I will surely shatter the turtle shell that is Nine Rivers Island's defenses." Find this and other novels at http://www . audio-novel.com.

[Note: Maintaining update quota. Several hundred characters will be revised shortly.] The Boulder Demon Emperor's expression shifted slightly, but it said nothing more.

At that moment, the handsome man reached out and grasped at the empty air, then spoke. "The Eight Trigrams Demon-Refining Banner [a powerful banner treasure used to refine demons] and the Metallic Essence Demon-Slaying Sword Talisman [a potent talisman that unleashes sword energy to slay demons]. That Nine Rivers fellow has hidden his cards quite well."

"If I hadn't come to aid you this time, I fear your descendant with the Bixia Bloodline [the bloodline of Bixia, a mythical dragon-turtle hybrid] would likely have perished halfway through its journey."

Upon hearing this, the Boulder Demon Emperor revealed a smile and said, "I must still thank you, Young Master, for lending me your strength."

"There is no need for thanks. This was merely the agreed-upon compensation," came the reply.

Lorcan, Scion of Lethe spoke softly, a faint, cold smile touching his features. "I aided you in slaying Nine Rivers True Lord, and you aid me in breaching Nine Rivers Island."

"Once the deed is done, the Nascent Soul [the spiritual core of a cultivator, representing a major breakthrough in power and longevity] of Nine Rivers True Lord, along with the hundreds of millions of Human Race souls upon Nine Rivers Island, shall rightfully be mine."

As he spoke, a cruel grin spread across Lorcan, Scion of Lethe's face. "If I can offer the tens of billions of Human Race on Nine Rivers Island as a blood sacrifice, I will undoubtedly master the Blood Demon Grand Art [a forbidden technique that draws power from mass bloodshed and suffering] and forge a Heavenly Dao Blood Demon Nascent Soul [a supremely powerful, yet abominable, spiritual core born from the Heavenly Dao itself, but twisted by demonic blood sacrifice] in one fell swoop."

The low murmur of this Demonic Monsters [a general term for malevolent, monstrous beings that cultivate demonic arts] sent a shiver down even the Boulder Demon Emperor's spine.

It recalled the origins of this Lorcan, Scion of Lethe. He hailed from a Purple Mansion [a major cultivation realm where one opens a spiritual mansion within their dantian] family clan. At the tender age of eighteen, he had bloodily sacrificed his entire clan—mortals and cultivators alike. This act caught the eye of the Blood God Ancient Ancestor, who took him on as a final disciple.

One could say he was a born seed of a Demonic Cultivator [a cultivator who pursues power through malevolent, often sacrificial, means]. Once he forged a Heavenly Dao Nascent Soul [the highest potential form of the Nascent Soul realm, aligned with the fundamental laws of heaven], he would undoubtedly become one of the most terrifying sources of calamity in the world.

But what did that matter to it? For the Demonic Tribe [a collective term for tribes or nations of demonic beasts and cultivators], where the strong preyed upon the weak, mutual benefit was the only true principle. Even if the one before it was an Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon [a demonic entity from beyond this world, often possessing immense and alien power], cooperation was not impossible.

Those who truly feared the incursion of Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon were the Human Race and the few Demonic Tribe Demon Progenitors. It was their concern, not his.

At this thought, Boulder Demon Emperor laughed and said, "If we can slay the old fiend Nine Rivers True Lord and the elite forces of the Human Race in this battle, this Emperor will surely shatter the turtle shell of Nine Rivers Island."

Those who truly fear the invasion of the Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon are the Human Race and the few Demon Progenitors of the Demonic Tribe.