Chapter 624 : A Gathering of True Lords

Within the Grand Hall of Spirit Isle Lake, five True Lord [powerful cultivators who have reached the Nascent Soul realm] had gathered.

Thalion Chen cast a glance at Eldrin Chen and inquired, "You've just returned and summoned us all. Has something momentous occurred?"

Eldrin Chen gave a solemn nod and proceeded to recount the events to the assembled group.

Upon hearing the tale, grave expressions settled upon everyone's faces. Lila, her countenance heavy, spoke first. "The strength of the Desolate Demon Ridge is not insignificant. Would acting against them now be somewhat premature?"

"Indeed," Old Patriarch concurred, his brow furrowed with concern. "At present, Kael has not yet returned to the clan, and Silas must wait another thirty years before attempting his breakthrough to the Nascent Soul [the realm where a cultivator forms their immortal infant soul]. Would it not be wiser to wait a while longer?"

"It is not that I wish to rush," Eldrin Chen sighed, then continued. "Even if we reclaim the sword tip of Senior Qingyuan, its restoration will require no small amount of time. It is best we aid its recovery before the Demonic Abyss Cataclysm [a prophesied, cataclysmic eruption of demonic energy from the abyss] descends."

The others exchanged glances, the weight of his words causing them to suppress their earlier reservations.

Once the Demonic Abyss Cataclysm erupts, even a Nascent Soul True Lord faces a significant risk of falling. To possess a Pure Yang Immortal Sword [a supreme-grade immortal weapon of pure yang energy] as a final trump card would greatly increase the Chen Clan's chances of surviving this tribulation.

Having reached this understanding, Elara Lin declared, "If that is the case, then we must commit to this battle with our full strength."

"It seems there is no other choice," the others agreed. This chapter appears courtesy of audi0-n0vel.c0m.

Old Patriarch spoke, then continued, "This battle is too distant from the Ji Continent. It would be unwise for us to mobilize low-level cultivators on a large scale."

"It matters not," Eldrin Chen replied calmly, a flicker of thought in his eyes. "The Nine Rivers Continent is also a major continent. Let the low-level cultivators there contribute their strength."

"It will take at least several years to conscript cultivators from that region. In the meantime, we can dispatch a portion of our cultivators at the Purple Mansion [a mid-level cultivation stage] realm and above to provide assistance."

"Very well." Hearing this, Thalion Chen stroked his long beard and said, "The Nine Rivers Daoist is a Late Nascent Soul Grand Cultivator [a cultivator at the peak of the Nascent Soul stage]. With the combined forces of our Chen Clan and the Tianlu Sect joining the fray, our chances of victory in this battle are already quite substantial."

Within the vast expanse of the Eastern Wastelands, the Human Race occupies six Ancient Domain [profound and ancient territories]. These are the Star Lake Ancient Domain, the Seven Stars Ancient Domain, the Long River Ancient Domain, the Myriad Void Ancient Domain, the Star Ancient Domain, and the Three Veins Ancient Domain where the Ji Continent is located.

Among these Ancient Domain, the Star Ancient Domain is held by the Star Palace, the Long River Ancient Domain is the domain of the Long River Sacred Land, and the Myriad Void Ancient Domain is the territory of the Lin Clan.

In truth, in the distant past, the Human Race possessed eight great Ancient Domain. The seventh and eighth of these great domains are now the locations of the present-day God-Slaying Ridge and the Netherworld Sea.

The Netherworld Ancient Ancestor of the Netherworld Sea was once a venerable Human Race Nascent Soul Dao Lord [a master of the Dao at the Nascent Soul stage]. Over three thousand years ago, a single thought led him down the demonic path. He comprehended the legendary Netherworld Demonic Path [a sinister cultivation method of the Netherworld] and fell from grace, becoming a Primordial Spirit [a supreme spiritual cultivation stage] Demonic Cultivator who struck terror across the land.

Similarly, several Millennium [cycles of one thousand years] ago, the God-Slaying Ridge was also a Human Race Dao Lord Sacred Land [a sacred land guarded by a Human Dao Lord], defended by a Human Race Dao Lord.

Regrettably, the essence blood and Birth Date and Time [the precise moment of birth, crucial for fate-based arts] of that Human Race Dao Lord were obtained by the Demon God. Several Heavenly Demons [powerful demonic beings] who cultivated the Heavenly Secrets Dao [the Dao of Heavenly Mysteries] joined forces and used a vile curse technique to cause his death.

After the Human Race Dao Lord [a supreme cultivator who has comprehended a fundamental principle of the cosmos] fell, his physical body and Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] both dissolved into a vile black blood. This corruption tainted a vast Dao Lord Sacred Land [a land sanctified and empowered by a Dao Lord's presence], transforming it into a forbidden zone.

Thereafter, God-Slaying Ridge was occupied by the Demonic Path [a collective term for practitioners of malevolent, power-at-any-cost cultivation methods] Primordial Spirit cultivator, Thanatos the God-Slayer. From then on, it became a dreaded Sacred Land [a place of immense power and significance for a particular cultivation tradition] for Demonic Cultivator [cultivators who use cruel, destructive, and often sacrificial methods to gain power].

And now, upon God-Slaying Ridge, Desolation Morgrim knelt cautiously before a Grand Hall, prostrating himself and trembling as he awaited an audience.

A long while later, the great doors of the Grand Hall swung open. A woman emerged, her figure near perfection, her countenance rivaling that of a celestial being.

"I pay my respects to the Saintess,"

Desolation Morgrim hurriedly spoke, his demeanor one of profound reverence.

She glanced at Desolation Morgrim, her eyes like stagnant pools showing no ripple of emotion. "The Ancient Ancestor [a venerable and immensely powerful progenitor of a lineage] summons you. Follow me."

Only then did Desolation Morgrim rise to his feet, his expression still one of deep respect as he followed her into the Grand Hall.

The moment he stepped across the threshold of the Grand Hall, Desolation Morgrim felt an overwhelming, majestic demonic aura press down upon him. His heart trembled all the more fiercely.

At the center of the Grand Hall stood a figure draped in robes of black and gold. His form was tall and imposing, like a deity or demon made manifest. The terrifying Hugo behind him remained shrouded and unseen.

Desolation Morgrim drew a deep breath and promptly prostrated himself, saying, "This junior pays his respects to the Holy Venerable [a title of supreme reverence for a powerful cultivator]. May the Holy Venerable enjoy eternal life and ascend to become an undying True Demon [a supreme rank among demonic beings]."

"Rise. There is no need for such formality."

Thanatos the God-Slayer stood in silent contemplation, his gaze fixed upon Desolation Morgrim for a long moment before he finally spoke. "Tell me more about the circumstances surrounding Eldrin, the Abyss."

"Hah..."

Desolation Morgrim took another steadying breath and relayed all he knew to Thanatos the God-Slayer. Unable to contain his apprehension, he added, "If that Abyssal Daoist [a title for a Daoist cultivator associated with the abyss] possesses the potential for a Great Luo Nascent Soul [the highest-grade foundation for the Nascent Soul realm, representing supreme potential], it could spell calamity for our Demonic Path [the collective forces and practitioners of demonic cultivation]. I implore the Ancient Ancestor to act and strangle this threat in its cradle."

"You worry overmuch." Continue your cultivation journey at audio-novel dot com.

After a moment of pensive silence, Thanatos the God-Slayer responded with a faint, dismissive smile. "To forge a Great Luo Nascent Soul, one must first use Nine Heavens Immortal Qi [a supreme-grade spiritual energy from the highest heavens] as a catalyst to shatter the Great Luo shackles."

"The Human Race now holds precious little Immortal Qi [a purified, potent form of spiritual energy], and what remains is tightly controlled by those old fossils in the Central Ancestral Domain [the heartland and most powerful region of the human cultivator world]. Had they truly granted him its use, Eldrin, the Abyss would have long since been whisked away into hiding within the Central Ancestral Domain itself."

Here, Thanatos the God-Slayer paused, a flicker of calculation in his eyes. "However," he continued, his voice measured, "while he may not have forged a Great Luo Nascent Soul, that Abyssal Daoist, blessed with Five Spiritual Roots [a rare and balanced affinity for all five elemental spiritual energies], undoubtedly achieved a Great Luo Golden Core [the highest-grade foundation for the Golden Core realm]."

"Such heavenly talent, even if it falls short of immortality, will inevitably become a pillar supporting the heavens for the Human Race. He must be eradicated, and swiftly."

Thanatos the God-Slayer spoke with detached calm, then declared with absolute confidence, "Enough. This old man shall personally unleash the God-Falling Curse and send that whelp Eldrin, the Abyss to his final rest."

"Hmm—"

As he spoke, he began to channel the Demonic Path curse technique to slay Eldrin Chen, but halfway through the incantation, he let out a soft sound of surprise and withdrew the spell.

He performed a brief divination on the spot, his gaze flickering with astonishment. Shaking his head, he continued, "It seems that Eldrin, the Abyss cultivates a protective Divine Ability from the Heavenly Secrets path. If I were to unleash the curse, not only would it likely fail to kill him, but it would also alert our quarry."

"Let it be."

Thanatos the God-Slayer's eyes turned frosty as he looked at Desolation Morgrim and said, "You may return. I shall arrange for someone to lend you their strength in this matter."

"This junior obeys."

With those words, Desolation Morgrim retreated respectfully.

After his departure, Thanatos the God-Slayer turned to the Saintess of Godfall Ridge and said, "Qing'er, my recent divination revealed something unexpected. The opportunity for the revival of your soul and spirit seems to lie with that whelp Eldrin, the Abyss."

"Oh?"

Qing'er [a term of endearment for a young woman] replied silently, her eyes like fathomless abysses, showing not a ripple of emotion.

"Alas."

Gazing at Qing'er's utterly placid expression, Thanatos the God-Slayer felt a rare flicker of paternal warmth. "Your father's Life Soul is held in the grasp of an Extraterrestrial Demon God, leaving me no longer master of my own fate."

"Yet now, the opportunity for your soul's revival has arrived. For that, I would pay any price, no matter how great, to guide you back onto the Great Dao [the supreme path of cultivation and enlightenment]." This chapter is part of a larger work available at http://www . audio-novel.com.