Chapter 648 Suppressing the Zhenjun

"I shall stake my life against you, old man!"

Patriarch Chen was enraged. As a True Lord who had lived for over a 1000 years, how could he tolerate Fang Xuanjing’s insolence?

He summoned his life-bound spiritual treasure to strike at the formidable foe, unleashing a surge of immense power as he sought to repel the Fang Xuan Whale before him.

Yet the demonic curse within his body was like maggots gnawing at his bones, relentlessly eroding his flesh and blood. At this critical moment, it prevented him from summoning his magical power, reducing his combat prowess to a mere 30 to 50 percent of its full strength.

Boom—

A deafening roar erupted as the Chen Clan’s Patriarch was sent flying backward, spitting blood. Struck by Fang Xuanjing’s devastating blow, he hurtled through the air and crashed into a mountain, reducing it to rubble in an instant.

He emerged from the ruins drenched in blood, his face contorted in agony as he rasped, "You've gone too far. Even if this old man must perish today, devoured by the demonic curse, I will make you pay the price."

Patriarch Chen declared he would cease suppressing the demonic curse within his body and unleash his Nascent Soul Qi (Spiritual Root) directly against the foe.

Yet at that very instant, an overwhelmingly majestic aura descended from the heavens, forcibly separating the 2.

Then, a cold and detached voice descended from the 9 Heavens Above (Time & Distance): "Enough!"

Who?

Fang Xuanjing abruptly raised his head, his gaze fixed upon the figure in the heavens, and he couldn't suppress the slight contraction of his pupils.

Behold, the 9 heavens' clouds and mist converged, swirling around a snow-robed figure who seemed to be strolling forth like a celestial being descending from the highest heavens.

Behind him, a man and a woman followed with restrained expressions, their faces caught between worry and delight.

It was Corin (Person Name) and Mingyan.

The members of the Chen family exchanged looks of pleasant surprise, recognizing the origins of the 2 individuals.

These 2 were the Nascent Soul seeds of the clan. They had initially believed they were designated as the clan's preservation sparks for evacuation, but it now appeared they had been dispatched to seek reinforcements.

Fang Xuanjing’s gaze was grave as he looked at Eldrin and said, “May I ask your esteemed title, fellow Daoist? And why have you intervened in the affairs of our Mingxu Continent?”

"If you choose to remain neutral today, Fellow Daoist, I shall present you with generous gifts when this matter concludes."

Eldrin did not reply, merely casting a faint, indifferent glance at him before clasping his hands behind his back. "3 moves," he stated calmly.

"What?" Fang Xuanjing was taken aback, still struggling to comprehend the situation.

"If you survive 3 moves, your life shall be spared."

As Eldrin's voice fell, the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss instantly bloomed, unleashing a breathtaking immortal radiance as it descended toward Fang Xuanjing.

With a superior spiritual treasure and the formidable power of the late Nascent Soul stage, the might that could be unleashed was truly immeasurable.

Even an innate Great Luo Nascent Soul like Eldrin (Person Name) could only barely withstand such methods when confronting a late-stage Nascent Soul opponent, relying on his ultimate trump card—the Heavenly Union Convergence.

Fang Xuanjing had only just stepped into the Nascent Soul Realm, forming a mere Mortal-Grade Nascent Soul. Against such a superior-grade spirit treasure, he likely wouldn’t last more than a few exchanges.

Witnessing the supreme-grade Demon-Slaying Immortal Sword descending upon him, Fang Xuanjing’s face instantly contorted with terror.

In that split second when his scalp prickled with dread, he instantly activated his innate divine ability and joined forces with his life-bound immortal sword to unleash a defensive strike, already planning to retreat and flee for his life.

But the speed of a Nascent Soul, Early Stage cultivator, while perhaps sufficient to escape a Nascent Soul, Mid Stage pursuer at full burst, was simply inadequate before such a superior spiritual treasure.

With a sharp clang that pierced the air, the inferior-grade spirit treasure was instantly grievously wounded, its surface webbed with cracks from the strike of the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss (Magic Treasure). Yet the sword’s momentum did not wane, continuing its deadly arc toward Fang Xuanjing.

Everyone present was utterly stunned. This was hardly 3 moves—he likely couldn't even withstand a single encounter.

In truth, this was the genuine combat prowess of the Late Nascent Soul stage. Had it not been for Eldrin and 4 or 5 other Mid Nascent Soul cultivators jointly sharing the pressure during that battle against the Purple Jade Demon Emperor back then, even an ordinary Mid Nascent Soul expert would likely have failed to withstand 30 moves.

At the Nascent Soul, Early Stage (Cultivation Realm), 1 could at most exchange a few moves. For someone like Fang Xuanjing, a newly ascended Human Dao True Monarch, being slain in a single encounter was entirely within expectations.

"Clang—"

The Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss (Magic Treasure) shone with peerless sharpness, cleaving toward Fang Xuanjing with unparalleled annihilating force.

"Fellow Daoist, I beseech you to stay your blade!"

Just as Fang Xuanjing was about to be beheaded, a voice rang out at the critical moment.

Then, a streak of sword light shot forth, its radiant gleam swiftly intercepting the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss (Magic Treasure).

"Hmm?"

Eldrin (Person Name) furrowed his brow but did not strike again, his gaze fixed on the distant depths of the void.

In the boundless void, an elder with an ethereal aura and immortal demeanor approached, casting a rather displeased look toward Eldrin (Person Name).

The man in a flowing daoist robe cast a faintly cold glance at Eldrin and said, "Who might you be, to dare cause trouble within my Ancient River Dominion?"

"Oh?"

Eldrin (Person Name) stood with an ethereal grace and transcendent poise, his hands clasped behind his back. He spoke with detached calm, "Who are you, meddling in affairs that are none of your concern?"

"Hmph."

The man let out a cold laugh and declared, “You should know that I am the Sword-bearing Elder of the Eternal River Immortal Alliance, tasked with overseeing the affairs of 9 continents, including the Realm of Emptiness.”

Swordmaster Zhenjun of the Riverrun Alliance.

Eldrin's eyes flickered slightly as he roughly grasped the origins of this Longhe Immortal Alliance.

Among the 6 ancient domains of the Eastern Wastelands (Location), only those possessing Primordial Spirit Dao Lords established immortal alliances. Thus, the Eastern Wastelands (Location) too maintained its own Eastern Desolation Immortal Alliance (Organization).

The Long River Immortal Alliance was established by the Long River Holy Land, with the Holy Land at its core, uniting hundreds of Nascent Soul forces from over a 100 major continents.

Within the Long River Immortal Alliance, there were several dozen Sword-bearing Elders, all holding the esteemed rank of Great Perfected Lord at the late Nascent Soul stage. Each 1 was a figure of noble status.

With this thought in mind, Eldrin said with a calm gaze, "As the Sword-Holding True Monarch, you stood by when the Fang Clan moved against the Chen Family, yet the moment I confronted Fang Xuanjing, you emerged to intervene. How remarkably impartial you are."

"You..." The Sword-wielding True Monarch's expression shifted slightly, his sleeve fluttering as he thundered in fury, "The Cataclysm of the Demonic Abyss approaches. This Fang Xuanjing is, at the very least, a Nascent Soul True Monarch. Would it not be a grievous waste for him to die by your hand?"

"And that Chen Linyuan, gravely wounded with but a sliver of life remaining, likely won't survive until the Abyssal Cataclysm. The 2 are simply beyond comparison."

Eldrin remained unmoved, his gaze fixed upon the Mysterious Whale as he said, "Do you intend to protect him?"

The Sword-Wielding True Monarch stood between them, gazing at Eldrin as he said, “Fellow Daoist, you are also a mighty figure among our human race. This humble Daoist has no wish to conflict with you.”

"However, as the Sword Elder of the Eternal River Immortal Alliance, this old man cannot possibly stand by and watch him perish here."

Hearing this, Eldrin narrowed his gaze slightly and said, "Fellow Daoist, your partiality is far too evident. While Fang Xuanjing is a True Monarch, has the Chen Clan truly contributed nothing at all?"

"The Chen Family Ancestor hasn't even exhausted his lifespan, yet you're already rushing to help him seize a cultivation site. Just how many benefits did you receive from him?"

At this point, Eldrin let out a cold sneer.

As his voice fell, he unleashed the Sky Union Slash at the Sword-Wielding True Monarch, instantly forcing him into a hasty retreat.

Immediately after, Eldrin (Person Name) took a single step forward and struck Fang Xuanjing with a palm strike, hurling him deep into the mountain range. Then, with a surge of magical power, he summoned several colossal peaks to seal the area.

"In light of the impending Demonic Abyss calamity, and considering your arduous cultivation journey, I shall spare your life today."

"However, while the death penalty may be spared, living punishment is unavoidable. You shall be suppressed for 1 jiazi (Time Cycle) to atone for your sins."