Chapter 625 : The Fallen God's Gambit

After Verdant Child departed, the Fallen God Patriarch stood motionless in place for a long while. Then, he strode into a secluded cave abode deep within the Great Hall.

Within that cave abode, a handsome man sat in silent meditation. Any cultivator of the Chen Clan present would have paled with shock upon seeing him.

This person 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 Fiendish Energy [a corrupting energy born of demonic and fiendish sources] relentlessly eroded his flesh and soul, inflicting an agony beyond words.

The Fallen God Patriarch gazed at him with a complex expression. After a long silence, he finally spoke, "Truly a seed of Demonic Cultivator talent rare across the ages. It is a profound waste that one such as you does not walk the demonic path."

"Hmph—"

Kael Chen snorted coldly, his expression unflinching as he met the Patriarch's gaze. Gritting his teeth against the endless corrosive assault, his voice was icy. "What is it you truly want?"

"There is no need for such hatred."

The Fallen God Patriarch spoke calmly, a rare, almost gentle smile touching his lips. "The boundless Demonic Fiendish 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 open before you."

"My initial intent was a desperate gamble—to study your method of subduing the Demonic Fiendish Energy and find a way to help Verdant Child's shattered soul recover." Read the full novel exclusively on audio-novel . com.

"This is a matter of benefit for both you and me. However, it seems I have now found a better method."

Kael Chen allowed the endless Demonic Fiendish Energy [a malevolent and corrupting energy associated with demons and fiends] to engulf his body. 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 world are you?"

"Who am I?" Fallen God Patriarch fell silent. After a long pause, he spoke with a trace of confusion, "I am but a wisp of dust beneath the Tribulation [a cataclysmic heavenly trial or calamity]. I cannot be counted among the living, nor truly among the dead. I have even lost most of my memories."

"Only a single, unyielding voice tells me that to escape His control, I must reclaim my lost memories, shatter the inner demonic barriers of my heart, and once more take hold of my own Life Soul [the core essence of one's being and destiny, often tied to fate and reincarnation]."

"Otherwise, I shall be eternally damned, falling into the Avici Hell [the lowest and most terrible of the Buddhist hells, a place of unending torment] with no hope of return."

Kael Chen fell silent. Among the various Primordial Spirit Path Lord [a high-level cultivator who has mastered the Primordial Spirit realm] of the Eastern Region Great Wasteland, the Fallen God Patriarch was known to be the most reclusive, spoken of rarely as if his name were a forbidden taboo.

Who could have imagined that, much like the Outer Realm Heavenly Demon [powerful demons originating from realms beyond this world], he had long since had his Life Soul seized by an Outer Realm Demon God [a supremely powerful demonic deity from an outer realm], trapped in a state where he was no longer master of his own fate.

If this was the case, then likely even the various Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a high-level cultivator, representing a major stage of power] old demons within the Purple Seal Realm would not be pleased to see that Outer Realm Demon God invade this world.

"Who exactly is He?"

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

"If I am corroded by the Demonic Fiendish Energy [a malevolent, consciousness-corrupting energy], and lose my sanity completely, will I end up like Him, forever falling into the Avici Hell [the deepest and most torturous of the Buddhist hells]?"

A chill ran through Kael Chen's heart. Even with his will of tempered iron, he felt an overwhelming sense of despair.

At least the Fallen God Patriarch was an Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator, representing a high level of power] old demon; a sliver of consciousness still lingered within him.

But the Saintess of the Fallen God Hall, with her cultivation at the Infant Soul Mid Stage [a powerful stage of spiritual development], had her Life Soul [the core of one's identity and destiny] utterly eroded, remolded into a completely new consciousness.

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

Would he still be *him* then?

"This cannot be."

In that instant, Kael Chen gritted his teeth. Billions of thoughts within his mind began to shine: "My fellow cultivators, do you wish to sink into the Avici Hell, to suffer endless torment for all eternity? Or will you follow me in Ethereal Ascension [the ultimate transcendence, rising above the mortal and spiritual planes to achieve true immortality]?"

"Ethereal Ascension!"

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

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

"Boom—"

Billions of dazzling rays of light bloomed, each strand reinforcing the Eldrin-faith upon Kael Chen, continuously resisting the endless assault of the Demonic Fiendish Energy [a malevolent, corrupting energy born from demonic and fiendish sources].

Fallen God Patriarch watched silently, a glimmer of light appearing in his abyss-like pupils. "The power of Eldrin-faith, gathered from billions of thoughts, is unexpectedly potent."

As he spoke, a look of astonishment flashed in the eyes of the Fallen God Patriarch. The complete novel can be found at audio-novel*com.

At his level of cultivation, his Heaven Soul [the celestial aspect of the soul], Earth Soul [the earthly aspect of the soul], and Life Soul [the vital aspect of the soul] had merged into one. Even the endless erosion of Demonic Fiendish Energy found it difficult to completely corrupt his mind. Thus, the Demonic Fiendish Energy of the Fallen Deity Ridge held little true threat for him.

Yet Kael Chen, merely at the Infant Soul Early Stage [the initial phase of the Infant Soul cultivation realm], could temporarily withstand the Sixth Rank [a powerful tier of cultivation] Demonic Fiendish Energy. Such fortitude earned a measure of his respect.

"A pity," he mused. "This requires forging an Heavenly Path Infant Soul [an Infant Soul foundation aligned with the Heavenly Path] using Heavenly Path Energy [energy of the Heavenly Dao] tainted by billions of vengeful thoughts. It is useless for the Verdant Child."

"What she needs is a method to awaken the divine soul."

After a long while, Fallen God Patriarch shook his head and finally spoke, "If you can subdue the Demonic Fiendish Energy [a malevolent and chaotic energy born from demonic sources] within the Fallen Deity Ridge, you may yet grasp a sliver of opportunity to ascend to immortality in the future."

"However, you have only two and a half Sixty-Year Cycle [a cycle of sixty years, a significant unit of time in cultivation] left. If you fail to subdue the Demonic Fiendish Energy before then, by the time the Demonic Abyss opens and my will is completely seized by the Demon God, it will spell your doom."

"..."

"My thanks for your assistance, Fellow Daoist."

Within the Underground Fire Vein [a subterranean channel of potent fire-attribute spiritual energy] beneath Immortal Apricot Island.

Eldrin Chen retrieved the Crimson Phoenix Furnace and offered a slight bow of respect towards the Slanting Sun Wheel. With the Wheel's aid, over the course of one Sixty-Year Cycle, the demonic taint within the Crimson Phoenix Furnace had finally been completely purified.

The Slanting Sun Wheel observed the Crimson Phoenix Furnace in Eldrin Chen's hand and smiled faintly. "This Crimson Phoenix Furnace is a treasure of great import. It serves not only for offense and defense but can also be used for alchemy and artifact forging. You must wield it with care."

"Indeed, I shall."

After bidding farewell to the Slanting Sun Wheel, Eldrin Chen said to Exquisite Jiang, "The Nine Rivers Continent has agreed to lend their strength. However, it will take them a few years to muster their forces. Let us use this time to make further preparations."

"Agreed," Exquisite Jiang nodded, then continued, "With the Primordial Solar Divine Liquid [a sacred liquid imbued with the pure essence of the primordial sun] and the two precious lotuses in our possession, we can indeed attempt to jointly refine a supreme treasure."

"Then let us proceed to the Flaming Prison Sea of Fire [a legendary sea of eternal, scorching flames]."

As the two prepared to forge a supreme treasure, it was naturally easier to utilize the Fifth Rank High-Grade Fire Vein [a powerful, concentrated ley line of fire-attribute spiritual energy] within the Flaming Prison Sea of Fire.

Upon arriving at the Flaming Prison Sea of Fire, they harnessed the power of the Fifth Rank High-Grade Fire Vein to commence the forging of the Spiritual Treasure [an enchanted artifact of immense power].

To forge this precious treasure, Eldrin Chen not only contributed the Crimson Flame Treasure Lotus [a legendary lotus artifact imbued with crimson fire], but also added the Heavenly Mountain Snow Lotus [a miraculous snow lotus from the celestial peaks] and infused it with that single drop of Primordial Solar Divine Liquid [a liquid essence containing the primordial power of the sun]. The entire process consumed three full years before completion.

"A magnificent treasure."

Gazing upon the radiant lotus before him, a look of pleasant surprise spread across Eldrin Chen's face.

The finished treasure lotus indeed met his expectations, its grade having soared to the level of Quasi-Sixth Rank. It could rightfully be called a Quasi-Primordial Solar Spiritual Treasure [a near-legendary artifact approaching the power of a primordial sun], one capable of shaking the heavens and earth.

This treasure was a Defensive Spiritual Treasure [a spiritual artifact specializing in protection] of astonishing defensive power. It could activate the divine ability Two Polarities Divine Aegis [a supreme defensive technique harnessing the power of opposing polarities], a part of the Art of Divine Subjugation [a profound cultivation art for subduing divine forces]. If wielded by a cultivator at the Infant Soul Late Stage [the advanced stage of the Infant Soul cultivation realm], even a Half-Step Primordial Spirit Path Lord [a master who has comprehended a Great Dao Path] would find it difficult to breach its defenses with ease.

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

"Indeed, a Quasi-Primordial Solar Spiritual Treasure."

A glimmer of delight also appeared in Exquisite Jiang's eyes. A Quasi-Primordial Solar Spiritual Treasure [a treasure of immense power, one step below the legendary Primordial Solar grade] was a rarity under heaven. Even a Half-Step Primordial Spirit Path Lord [a master who has begun to touch the mysteries of the Primordial Spirit realm] might not possess more than a few such treasures, a testament to its immense value.

With this treasure in hand, once they broke through to the Infant Soul Mid Stage, they would likely be able to hold their own even against a mighty figure at the Great Perfection of Infant Soul [the pinnacle of the Infant Soul realm].

Having stored the Dual Polarity Treasure Lotus, Eldrin Chen emerged from the Earthfire Chamber. No sooner had he stepped out than he encountered Lila.

Seeing them, Lila offered a slight smile. "Preparations on the Nine Rivers Continent are nearly complete. They are only waiting for us now." Support the author by reading on *audio-novel.com*.