Chapter 486 : Ominous Portents Before the Storm

Seeing that everyone had sworn the Inner Demon Oath [a binding vow where breaking it invites demonic possession], the Nine Rivers True Lord produced a treasure ship of Spiritual Treasure grade [a powerful enchanted artifact]. "Since we are prepared," he declared, "let us depart."

This treasure ship was inlaid with a Fourth Rank Spatial Gemstone [a rare mineral that manipulates space], granting it the capacity to hold several hundred cultivators and the ability to conceal its aura. It was a Spiritual Treasure the Nine Rivers True Lord had specifically borrowed for this mission, a crucial asset for their surprise attack.

The several dozen Golden Core Cultivators [cultivators who have condensed their spiritual energy into a solid Golden Core] hastily boarded the vessel, which then set sail for the Boulder Sea Region.

After flying for three days, they finally infiltrated the heart of the Boulder Sea Region, now less than ten thousand Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] from the Spirit Island where the Bixia Demon King was secluded in cultivation.

Confirming that the Bixia Demon King was still in seclusion, the Nine Rivers True Lord activated the ship's magical treasure [enchanted artifact] to conceal it completely. "We shall wait here," he instructed. "The moment it begins to undergo its Heavenly Thunder Tribulation [a trial of heavenly lightning that tests a cultivator's advancement], we strike."

"Understood."

Eldrin Chen nodded, but his gaze lingered on the Nine Rivers True Lord's forehead. There, he discerned a faint, ominous wisp of dark energy coiling, an ill portent.

Exquisite Jiang noticed his expression and sent a silent mental message. "What is it?"

"A shroud of dark energy crowns his head. I fear misfortune approaches."

Eldrin Chen replied with a subtle mental whisper, his brow furrowed slightly. Support the author by reading on audio–novel.com.

Hearing his words, Exquisite Jiang's pupils contracted slightly. Ever since obtaining the Great Deduction Ancient Scroll, Eldrin Chen had spent his spare time delving into this Ancient Scripture.

It seemed he possessed a remarkably high aptitude for Celestial Mechanism Calculation [a profound art of divination and fate-reading], advancing in its cultivation with astonishing speed. Thus, although the time since acquiring the scroll was still short, he had already begun to grasp its fundamentals.

Thinking of this, Exquisite Jiang could not help but say, "Since you have discerned the anomaly, I fear this battle may hold unforeseen developments."

Eldrin Chen nodded, then stated, "If this battle truly holds surprises, we must not separate."

"..."

As the group waited, far away in the Boulder Sea Region, upon a Fifth Rank Spirit Island [an island imbued with potent spiritual energy], three figures gathered within a grand hall.

Contrary to expectations, the figure seated upon the hall's main throne was not the Boulder Demon Emperor, but a handsome man clad in a Blood Robe.

This man's cultivation was merely at the Golden Core Perfection [the pinnacle stage of the Golden Core realm], yet his bearing was exceptionally noble. His pupils shimmered with a crimson hue, reminiscent of a bewitching Underworld Blossom [a mythical flower said to bloom in the netherworld].

Before him stood two figures. The one on the left wore black robes, his aura profound and boundless like an abyssal sea, actually surpassing that of Nine Rivers True Lord by a significant margin.

The figure on the right was the master of the Boulder Sea Region. Though his cultivation was at the Infant Soul Early Stage [the initial stage of the Infant Soul realm], he seemed to shrink slightly in the presence of the handsome man.

At this moment, the Boulder Demon Emperor cast a glance filled with deep apprehension towards the black-robed figure, then turned to the handsome man and said, "Since they have arrived just outside Spirit Island, Young Master of Forgetful River, why don't we simply move to eliminate them now?"

"Patience,"

the man in the Blood Robe replied with a faint smile, the Underworld Blossom [a mystical flower symbolizing death and rebirth] in his eyes blooming with an even more bewitching allure. "What I relish most is witnessing 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's expression shifted slightly, but he offered no further argument.

Just then, the handsome man reached out and grasped at the empty air before him. "The Eight Trigrams Demon Refining Banner [a powerful banner used to refine and subdue demons] and the Metallic Gold Demon-Slaying Sword Talisman [a talisman that manifests a sword of metallic gold energy to slay demons]," he murmured. "That Nine Rivers True Person has hidden his cards well."

"Had I not come to assist you this time, your Bixia Bloodline [the lineage of the mythical turtle-dragon Bixia] would likely have been cut short midway."

Hearing this, the Boulder Demon Emperor broke into a smile. "My thanks for lending your strength, Young Master."

"No need for excessive gratitude. This was merely the agreed-upon price for my services."

The Young Master of Forgetful River spoke with detached calm, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of his eyes. "I aid you in slaying Nine Rivers True Person, and you aid me in breaching Nine Rivers Island."

"Once the deed is done, the Infant Soul of Nine Rivers Island and its billions of Human Race shall also be mine to claim."

As he spoke, Young Master of Forgetful River revealed a sinister grin. "If I can offer the tens of billions of Human Race on Nine Rivers Island as a blood sacrifice, I will surely master the Blood Demon Grand Art and forge the Heavenly Path Blood Demon Infant Soul in one fell swoop."

This demonic whisper sent a chill down the spine of even the Boulder Demon Emperor.

It recalled the origins of this Young Master of Forgetful River. He hailed from a Violet Sanctum Aristocratic Family. At the tender age of eighteen, he had blood-sacrificed his entire clan, both mortals and cultivators, catching the eye of Blood God Patriarch who took him in as a final disciple.

One could say he was a born seed of a Demonic Cultivator. Once he forged a Heavenly Path Infant Soul, he would undoubtedly become one of the most terrifying sources of calamity in the world.

But what did that matter to the Boulder Demon Emperor? For the Demon Race, where the strong preyed on the weak, mutual benefit was all that mattered. Even if the man before him was an Outer Realm Heavenly Demon, cooperation was not out of the question. The complete novel can be found at audio-novel . com.

The true fear of an Outer Realm Heavenly Demon invasion was a concern for the Human Race and the few Demon Ancestor of the Demon Race.

Thinking this, the Boulder Demon Emperor chuckled. "Once we slay that old monster from Nine Rivers and the elite of the Human Race in this battle, this Emperor will surely crack the turtle shell that is Nine Rivers Island."

"..."

Unaware of the machinations within Forgetful River Island, those outside remained in the dark.

Including Nine Rivers True Lord [a title for a powerful cultivator], the others were still adjusting their spiritual energy and mental state, hoping to face the coming battle at their absolute peak.

During this time, Eldrin Chen nearly revealed his premonition to Nine Rivers True Lord on several occasions, but after careful consideration, he ultimately chose to remain silent.

The reason was that he hailed from beyond the Eastern Sea Cultivation World [the world of cultivation east of the continent], and his arrival here was both sudden and without any familiar acquaintances. Consequently, the others maintained a certain degree of wariness towards them.

Under such circumstances, even if he spoke out, it was uncertain whether Nine Rivers True Lord would believe him. Even if he did, Eldrin Chen had no concrete evidence to prove the anomaly.

After all, unless one cultivated the Celestial Mechanism Calculation [a profound divination art for calculating heavenly secrets], it was difficult for ordinary cultivators to perceive the sinister black energy lurking within Nine Rivers True Lord.

Revealing the truth now might startle the snake in the grass, prematurely exposing their hidden cards.

Therefore, after much deliberation, Eldrin Chen and Exquisite Jiang decided to conceal their trump card for the time being. They prepared to launch a surprise attack at the critical moment, hoping to shatter the deadlock in one decisive move.

They waited and waited. In the blink of an eye, three months passed. Then, on this day, Tribulation Cloud [ominous clouds heralding a heavenly tribulation] began to gather in the void. The sky-spanning clouds soon enveloped the heavens for thousands of Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters].

"It's the Infant Soul Heavenly Thunder Tribulation [the thunder tribulation one must overcome to advance to the Infant Soul realm]," someone declared.

Watching the serpentine bolts of lightning dance across the sky, Nine Rivers True Lord spoke, his voice firm. "Everyone, prepare yourselves. We must be ready to act at any moment."

As they spoke, the group quietly maneuvered their treasure vessel closer, soon arriving within a thousand Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] of the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation [a cataclysmic trial of divine lightning that tests the limits of cultivators and beings ascending in power]'s core.

Upon the Heavenly Vault [the vast, boundless sky], a colossal golden turtle, a thousand Zhang-length [one Zhang-length equals three point three three meters] in size, coiled through the heavens, relying on the sheer might of its physical form to withstand the vast Heavenly Thunder Tribulation.

"What formidable physical prowess," someone murmured.

"Truly worthy of the Bixia Bloodline [the ancient and mighty lineage of the Bixia, a divine turtle known for its unparalleled defense]," another remarked with awe.

Watching the Bixia Demon Emperor [the sovereign ruler of the Bixia turtle demons] traverse the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation, the expressions of the onlookers grew solemn.

Face River Lu furrowed his brow, a note of unease in his voice. "This beast's physical body is immensely powerful, and the defensive capability of its Bixia Turtle Shell [the legendary, nigh-impenetrable carapace of a Bixia turtle] rivals that of a top-tier defensive Demon-Subduing Supreme Treasure [a pinnacle-grade enchanted artifact of immense power, often used to suppress demonic forces]."

"I fear the toll it pays to endure the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation will be far less than we anticipated. It may not suffer crippling injuries."

Eldrin Chen's gaze also sharpened with concern. Typically, surviving the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation without a Demon-Subduing Supreme Treasure would leave one grievously wounded, with their spiritual energy reserves drastically depleted.

Their initial calculations had suggested the Bixia Demon Emperor would emerge from the tribulation with, at most, half its combat strength remaining.

Yet, judging by the scene unfolding before them, the Bixia Demon Emperor's retained power would likely far exceed their grim expectations. Original publication: audio-novel[dot]com - The source of this chapter.