Chapter 625 : The God-Slayer's Forbidden Bargain

After Lila departed, Thanatos the God-Slayer stood motionless in place for a long while, before finally striding into a secluded Cultivation Cave deep within the Grand Hall.

Within that Cultivation Cave, a handsome man sat in serene meditation. Any Chen Clan Cultivators present would have paled in recognition.

This man was none other than Kael Chen.

Clad in black robes, Kael Chen's limbs were shackled by chains forged from Divine Metal. An endless tide of Demonic Qi [corruptive demonic energy] ceaselessly eroded his flesh and soul, inflicting an agony beyond words.

Thanatos the God-Slayer gazed at him with a complex expression. After a long silence, he finally spoke, "A seed of Demonic Cultivator talent as rare as yours across ten thousand ages... it is truly a pity you do not walk the demonic path."

"Hmph—"

Kael Chen snorted coldly, his face an unyielding mask as he gritted his teeth against the endless Demonic Qi assault. His gaze was icy as he demanded, "What is it you truly want?"

"There is no need for such hatred."

Thanatos the God-Slayer spoke calmly, a rare, almost gentle smile touching his lips. "The boundless Demonic Fiend Qi [a supremely potent and corruptive form of demonic energy] devours the mind and erodes a cultivator's will. If you can endure it, the path to the Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core and highest essence of a cultivator] realm lies within your grasp."

"My initial thought was a desperate gamble—to study your method of subduing the Demonic Fiend Qi and find a way to help Caspian's fractured soul." Find thousands of chapters at audio-novel.com (official site).

"This is a boon for both of us. Yet, it seems I have now found a better path."

Kael Chen allowed the endless tide of Demonic Fiend Qi [a malevolent and corrupting form of spiritual energy] to wash over him. Enduring boundless agony, he let out a cry of anguish.

After a long while, he drew a deep breath and, gritting his teeth, asked, "Who in the heavens are you?"

"Who am I?" Thanatos the God-Slayer fell silent. After a long pause, he spoke with a trace of confusion, "I am but a mote of dust beneath a great calamity. I cannot be counted among the living, nor truly among the dead. I remember nothing of my past."

"Only a voice, filled with bitter resentment, whispers to me. It tells me that only by reclaiming my lost memories, by shattering the demonic obsessions within my heart, and by seizing control of my own Life Soul [the core of one's destiny and spiritual existence, akin to a soul contract], can I break free from Its dominion."

"Otherwise, I shall be condemned to eternal damnation, falling into the Avīci Hell [the deepest, most inescapable hell in Buddhist cosmology] with no hope of return."

Kael Chen fell into a contemplative silence. Among the many Nascent Soul Dao Lord [powerful cultivators who have formed their Nascent Soul and comprehended a Great Dao] of the Eastern Wastelands, Thanatos the God-Slayer was known to be the most reclusive, spoken of rarely as if his name itself were a forbidden taboo.

He never imagined that this figure, much like the Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon [demonic beings from beyond this world], had long ago had his Life Soul seized by the Extraterrestrial Demon God [a supreme demonic deity from beyond this world], trapped in a state of utter powerlessness.

If this was so, then likely even the various Nascent Soul Elder Demon [ancient and powerful demonic cultivators at the Nascent Soul realm] within the Purple Realm would not relish the thought of that Extraterrestrial Demon God breaching their world's defenses.

"Who... or what... is It, truly?"

"A single thought can lead to immortality, a single thought can plunge one into demonhood."

"If I am corroded by the Demonic Fiend Qi [a malevolent, corrupting energy born of demonic essence] and lose my sanity completely, will I end up like Him, forever falling into the Avici Hell?"

Kael Chen felt a chill in his heart. Even with his will of tempered iron, he was gripped by utter despair in this moment.

After all, Thanatos the God-Slayer was a Nascent Soul Elder Demon [a powerful demonic cultivator who has reached the Nascent Soul stage of cultivation]; a sliver of consciousness still lingered within him by some unfathomable fate.

Yet, the Saintess of the Godfall Hall possessed cultivation at the Nascent Soul, Mid Stage [the middle stage of the Nascent Soul realm, a profound level of power], but her Life Soul [the core of one's being, consciousness, and destiny] had been utterly eroded, remolded into an entirely new consciousness.

If he were to sink to such depths, would he too fall into that darkness, forever losing his original self, with no chance of ever awakening again?

Would he still be *him* then?

"This cannot be."

In an instant, Kael Chen gritted his teeth. A billion thoughts within his mind began to shine with light: "My fellow souls, do you wish to sink into the Avici Hell, to suffer endless torment for all eternity, or will you follow me and Ascend to Immortal Eternity [achieve the ultimate state of immortality and eternal transcendence]?"

"Ascend to Immortal Eternity."

Billions upon billions of thoughts ignited with light, roaring in defiance.

Kael Chen smiled, his gaze resolute as he declared, "Lend me your strength, and let us subdue it!"

"Boom—"

Billions of dazzling rays of light unfurled, each strand reinforcing the faith of Kael Chen in Eldrin, continuously resisting the endless, corrosive clarity of the Demonic Fiend Qi [the malevolent and corrupting energy of demonic fiends].

Thanatos the God-Slayer watched in silence, a glimmer of light appearing within his abyssal pupils. "The power of faith, gathered from billions of thoughts, can be so formidable," he mused.

As he spoke, a look of astonishment flashed in the eyes of Thanatos the God-Slayer. This chapter is provided by audio - novel . com. Support the original.

At his level of cultivation, where the Heavenly Soul [the celestial aspect of the soul], the Earthly Soul [the earthly aspect of the soul], and the Life Soul [the vital aspect of the soul] had merged into the unified Three Souls [the trinity of a cultivator's spiritual essence], even the endless erosion of Demonic Fiend Qi found it difficult to completely overwhelm his consciousness. Thus, the Demonic Fiend Qi of God-Slaying Ridge was of little consequence to him.

Yet, Kael Chen, merely at the Nascent Soul, Early Stage [the initial phase of the Nascent Soul realm], could temporarily withstand the Sixth Rank Demonic Malignancy [a sixth-tier demonic art of immense corruption]. Such fortitude earned a measure of his respect.

"A pity," he sighed. "This requires forging a Heavenly Dao Nascent Soul [a Nascent Soul aligned with the Heavenly Dao] using Heavenly Dao Qi [the energy of the Heavenly Dao] tainted by billions of vengeful resentments. It is useless for Qing'er."

"What she needs is a method to awaken her slumbering soul."

After a long while, Thanatos the God-Slayer shook his head and finally spoke, "If you can subdue the Demonic Fiend Qi [a malevolent and chaotic energy born from demonic sources] of God-Slaying Ridge, you may, in the future, grasp a sliver of an opportunity to ascend to immortality."

"However, you have only two and a half Jiazi-time [a cycle of sixty years] remaining. If you fail to subdue the Demonic Fiend Qi before that time, then when the Demonic Abyss opens and my will is completely seized by the Demon God, it will spell your doom."

"My gratitude for your assistance, Fellow Daoist [a respectful term for a fellow cultivator]."

Within the Underground Fire Vein of Immortal Apricot Island.

Eldrin Chen retrieved the Crimson Phoenix Crucible and offered a slight bow of respect towards Inclined Sun Wheel. With Inclined Sun Wheel's aid, after one full Jiazi-time, the Demonic Qi [demonic energy] within the Crimson Phoenix Crucible had finally been completely refined and purified.

Inclined Sun Wheel gazed at the Crimson Phoenix Crucible in Eldrin Chen's hands and said with a faint smile, "This Crimson Phoenix Crucible is a treasure of great weight. It is not only versatile in both offense and defense but can also be used for alchemy and artifact forging. You must wield it with care."

"That is my intention."

After bidding farewell to Inclined Sun Wheel, Eldrin Chen said to Lyra Jiang, "The Nine Rivers Continent has agreed to lend its hand. However, it will take them several years to muster their forces. Let us use this opportunity to make some final preparations."

"Agreed," Lyra Jiang nodded, then continued, "With the Pure Yang Divine Liquid [a liquid essence of pure Yang energy] and the two Treasure Lotus [spiritual lotuses of immense value] in our possession, we can indeed attempt to jointly forge a supreme treasure."

"Then let us proceed to the Flaming Prison Sea of Fire."

The two of them prepared to forge a supreme treasure, and it was naturally still more convenient to use the Fifth Rank High Grade Fire Vein within the Flaming Prison Sea of Fire.

Upon arriving at the Flaming Prison Sea of Fire, they immediately harnessed the power of the Fifth Rank High Grade Fire Vein to begin forging the Spiritual Treasure.

To craft this precious treasure, Eldrin Chen not only brought out the Crimson Flame Treasure Lotus, but also that Heavenly Mountain Snow Lotus, further infusing it with a single drop of Pure Yang Divine Liquid. The entire process consumed three full years before completion.

"A magnificent treasure."

Gazing upon the completed Treasure Lotus, Eldrin Chen revealed a look of pleasant surprise.

The finished Treasure Lotus indeed lived up to his expectations, having reached the lofty grade of Quasi-Sixth Rank. It could rightfully be called a Quasi-Pure Yang Spiritual Treasure capable of shaking the heavens and earth.

This treasure was a Defensive Spiritual Treasure of astonishing protective power. It could unleash the Defensive Divine Ability known as Twofold Divine Aegis. If wielded by a Primordial Spirit, Late Stage cultivator, even a Half-Step Nascent Soul Dao Lord would find it difficult to breach its defenses with ease.

With this thought, Eldrin Chen said with a smile, "With this treasure in hand, our safety in the days to come is assured."

"Indeed, a Quasi-Pure Yang Spiritual Treasure."

Lyra Jiang's eyes also gleamed with delight. Quasi-Pure Yang Spiritual Treasure were exceedingly rare in the world; even a Half-Step Nascent Soul Dao Lord might not possess more than a few, a testament to this treasure's immense value.

With this treasure in hand, once they break through to the Nascent Soul, Mid Stage [the fifth major stage of cultivation, where the cultivator's soul begins to separate from the mortal coil], they should be able to hold their own even against a powerhouse at the Nascent Soul Great Perfection [the pinnacle of the Nascent Soul stage, just before the next great ascension].

Having stored the Dual Polarity Treasure Lotus [a mystical lotus artifact embodying the harmony of opposing forces], Eldrin Chen emerged from the Earthfire Chamber [a cultivation chamber harnessing the primal energies of earth and fire]. No sooner had he stepped out than he encountered Lila.

Seeing them emerge, Lila offered a slight smile. "Preparations on the Nine Rivers Continent [a vast landmass crisscrossed by nine legendary rivers] are nearly complete. They await only our arrival now." Find thousands of chapters at audio‑novel.com.