Chapter 652 : Heavenly Flames and Stellar Siege

In years past, when the Vast Sea's Verdant Seal True Lord allied with several Half-Step Primordial Spirit [cultivators whose spiritual core is halfway to becoming a Primordial Spirit] experts to besiege him, they found themselves powerless to prevail. Instead, they suffered a significant setback under the might of his Heavenly Demon Blood-Refining Divine Blade [a demonic blade forged and empowered through blood sacrifice].

Considering this, the Nine Rivers Path Master spoke, "The Blood-Refining Old Demon has not yet begun his breakthrough to the Primordial Spirit [the realm of the spiritual core, a major milestone in cultivation]. Should we wait a while longer?"

"Unnecessary. We attack directly."

So saying, Star Lord Alkaid turned to the nine True Lord [a title for powerful cultivators, often at the Golden Core or higher realm] beside him. "I must trouble my nine junior brothers to take action."

The nine True Lord nodded in unison. Each produced a resplendent Stellar Treasure Pearl [a magical pearl that channels stellar energies], and astonishingly, every single one of these treasures was a Superior Spiritual Treasure [a high-grade enchanted artifact].

"Stellar Heavenly Flame Demon Refining Formation."

Eldrin Chen felt a flicker of recognition in his heart, identifying the origin of these nine precious pearls.

The Stellar Heavenly Flame Demon Refining Formation was a Sixth Rank [a classification denoting immense power] Formation [a structured array that channels energy for attack, defense, or other effects]. Composed of nine Stellar Treasure Pearl and jointly activated by nine Infant Soul Late Stage [cultivators at the peak of the Infant Soul realm] experts, it could draw upon the Power of the Nine Heavens Stellar [the primordial energy of the highest celestial spheres] and transform it into the descent of Stellar Heaven fire—a blaze said to incinerate all things.

It was said this formation's power barely brushed the threshold of the Primordial Spirit realm and was one of the foundational, sect-protecting legacies of the Stellar Palace.

As the nine cultivators combined their efforts, boundless starlight cascaded down, transforming into magnificent stellar flames that bombarded the exterior of the Blood Demon Cave. In that moment, the entire Blood Demon Cave began to tremble violently. Find thousands of chapters at audio . novel . com.

"Disaster has struck."

Within the Blood Demon Cave at this moment, Desolation Old Demon, Blazing Fire Old Demon, Fang Old Demon, and over a dozen other Infant Soul-realm Demonic Cultivator [practitioners who cultivate demonic arts] were gathered together, each wearing expressions of profound dread.

The Blazing Fire Old Demon, staring at the forces outside, said with a grave expression, "It's the people from the Stellar Palace. How could they have arrived so swiftly?"

"This is dire. Since the Stellar Palace has made its move, there will surely be a Primordial Spirit Path Lord [a cultivator who has reached the Primordial Spirit realm and mastered a profound cultivation path] to obstruct the breakthrough. I fear we cannot hold them off for long."

The assembled Infant Soul-realm Demonic Cultivator all revealed looks of terror, their hearts already contemplating retreat.

Desolation Old Demon's gaze shifted to a figure seated at the head of the Great Hall, his expression solemn as he spoke, "Brother Wang, what is truly happening with the Blood-Refining Patriarch? Why, after three years in seclusion, is there still no sign of him attempting to break through to the Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core realm beyond the Infant Soul stage]?"

The Wang-surnamed demonic cultivator's expression was also grim. By all logic, after several years in seclusion, even if the Blood-Refining Old Demon hadn't broken through to Primordial Spirit yet, there should have been some manifestation of him attempting the breakthrough. Yet, after all this time, there was not the slightest ripple of activity.

Even though he was the Blood-Refining Old Demon's own son, he couldn't help but feel a sense of eerie foreboding.

However, the Blood-Refining Old Demon's fearsome reputation was too great; not even he dared to harbor any treacherous thoughts. Thus, he sneered coldly and declared:

"Breaking through to the Primordial Spirit is not the work of a single day. My father has plotted for many years and is now at the most critical juncture. Your task is simply to hold off those fools from the Stellar Palace."

Seeing that Wang Old Demon still held his ground here, the gathered fiends, wary of Blood-Refining Old Demon's formidable authority, gritted their teeth and channeled their Demonic Fiendish Energy [a malevolent, corrupting power cultivated by demonic practitioners] to resist the Stellar Heaven [the Celestial Vault] fire. Yet, a seed of retreat had already begun to sprout in their hearts.

The Stellar Heaven fire, drawn down from the Nine Heavens Above [the highest celestial realms], poured forth in an unending torrent, hammering against the Blood Demon Cave. This relentless assault continued for a full half-day, grinding away until more than half of the cave's protective Demonic Fiendish Energy had been utterly annihilated.

As the Demonic Fiendish Energy neared the point of collapse, Desolation Old Demon could no longer contain his alarm. "The fiendish energy can barely hold!" he cried out, his voice tinged with panic. "Why hasn't Blood-Refining Old Demon begun the ritual to draw down the Heaven Soul [a celestial soul essence required for a critical breakthrough in cultivation]?"

His words struck a chord. The others now sensed that something was profoundly amiss.

By all logic, initiating the Heaven Soul ritual now would be too late—even Desolation Old Demon himself would struggle to complete his own breakthrough in time. To delay any further was tantamount to courting death. Was Blood-Refining Old Demon truly waiting to perish?

"Disaster! We've been deceived!"

Blazing Fire Old Demon's expression transformed into one of utter horror. Ignoring Wang Old Demon's attempts to block him, he unleashed a thunderous palm strike that shattered the sealed entrance to Blood-Refining Old Demon's secluded cultivation chamber.

Within the ruined chamber, there was no sign of Blood-Refining Old Demon. All that remained was a single, blood-red, cicada-like husk, lying empty upon the ground.

"The Blood Cicada Molting Great Divine Ability [a supreme esoteric art that allows a cultivator to shed their physical form like a cicada, leaving behind a decoy shell to escape mortal peril]," one of the fiends whispered, recognition dawning with dread.

"The Tribulation Substitution Path Attainment Art [a profound cultivation technique used to transfer or evade heavenly tribulations]," another concluded, the full extent of the betrayal settling upon them all.

A group of Infant Soul Demonic Cultivator [practitioners who cultivate demonic arts] paled drastically, their faces etched with utter despair.

The Blood Cicada Molting Great Divine Ability [a supreme mystical technique for shedding one's form like a cicada] is an incredibly profound life-preserving Great God Ability [a supreme-level divine technique]. When combined with the exceedingly rare Blood Cicada, it allows for instantaneous escape across tens of thousands of Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] through the void, even capable of evading the perception of a Primordial Spirit Path Lord [a cultivator who has reached the Primordial Spirit realm and comprehended a Path].

As for the Tribulation Substitution Path Attainment Art [a sinister art that uses others to bear one's heavenly tribulations], it is an exceptionally vile technique for transferring calamities.

The dozen or so Infant Soul True Lord [cultivators at the Infant Soul realm who have earned the title of True Lord] present, including Blood-Refining Old Demon's own son, Wang Old Demon, had unwittingly all become sacrificial pawns for Blood-Refining Old Demon's scheme.

By having them bear his tribulation in his stead, Blood-Refining Old Demon could escape the divinations of Human Race [the collective term for human cultivators] practitioners. When he later attempted his breakthrough to Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator, a major cultivation realm], the Human Tribulation [the karmic and worldly obstacles faced during cultivation] would be greatly mitigated, significantly increasing his chances of success.

"So that's it. How ruthless this Blood-Refining Old Demon is, daring to use even his own flesh and blood as a shield against fate," someone uttered with a shudder. This novel is serialized on audio-novel .c om. Visit for updates.

Blazing Fire Old Demon and the others were gripped by despair. They had gathered at the Blood Demon Cave, never imagining that Blood-Refining Old Demon's heart was so black, coldly calculating against them all, his own son included.

Now, with Blood-Refining Old Demon having shed his form via the blood cicada, they faced the forces of the Stellar Palace with no hope of survival.

"BOOM—"

The sky erupted with a deafening roar. Although the Demonic Fiendish Energy [a malevolent, corrupting energy associated with demons] shrouding the Blood Demon Cave was potent, it proved insufficient against the combined assault of the Stellar Heaven [a celestial fire technique] and the other attackers. In the end, it was violently torn asunder.

Seeing their sole barrier shattered, the Infant Soul [the third major stage of cultivation, where the cultivator's nascent soul is formed] demonic fiends could only flee in panic.

"Where do you think you're going?"

With a cold sneer, Star Lord Alkaid unleashed a dazzling sword beam, cutting off the escape of Blazing Fire Old Demon.

The others all sprang into action, surrounding the Demonic Cultivator [practitioners who use unorthodox, often malevolent methods to cultivate power]. A fierce battle was imminent.

Eldrin Chen and Exquisite Jiang charged directly at Desolation Old Demon, intent on slaying this formidable foe from the outset. The tip of the Azure Abyss Sword was likely on his person, and Eldrin was determined to reclaim it.

At that very moment, starlight blossomed brilliantly across the sky. A figure, resplendent as a Nine Heavens Stellar [a legendary treasure said to contain the condensed essence of celestial bodies], strode forth.

She was clad in a gown of Stellar [pertaining to the stars or celestial bodies] gossamer, a Stellar Dao Mark [a mystical sigil representing comprehension of a fundamental principle] gracing her brow. Her mere presence seemed to dim the splendor of the endless mountains and rivers.

"It's her."

In an instant, Eldrin Chen recognized her origins.

She was once the foremost of the Ten Great True Lord [the title for cultivators at the Nascent Soul stage] of the Eastern Region Great Wasteland, hailed as the Eastern Region Great Wasteland's number one Infant Soul cultivator—Celestial Rotating Jade Immortal Maiden. Now, she was known as Celestial Rotating Jade the Path Lord [a title for a master who has forged their own unique cultivation path].

At this moment, Celestial Rotating Jade Immortal Maiden [a powerful female immortal] frowned slightly. With a graceful motion of her fair hand, she tore open the vast mountain range, revealing a single blood-red cicada within the Blood Demon Cave [a cavernous lair of demonic cultivators].

"The Blood Cicada Molting Art [a forbidden demonic technique that allows one to shed their physical form and escape death]."

"Was it the Blood God Old Freak?"

The Celestial Rotating Jade Immortal Maiden's gaze turned icy, an infinite killing intent manifesting within her heart.

To perform the Blood Cicada Molting Art, one requires a Netherworld Blood Cicada [a rare and sinister artifact born from a transformed snow cicada] as a medium.

The original form of that Netherworld Blood Cicada is the Heavenly Mountain Snow Cicada [a legendary spiritual insect found in sacred, frigid peaks], a Spiritual Object [an object imbued with potent spiritual energy] of immeasurable value. It can only be transformed into a blood cicada through a specific, esoteric method.

Within the entire Purple Seal Realm [a vast cultivation world], aside from the Blood Demon Patriarch [a notorious demonic overlord] who was slain long ago by Imperial Sovereign Jiang, the only one who knows this technique is the Blood Demon Patriarch's disciple, the Blood God Patriarch.

Only such a supreme Demonic Path [the dark and forbidden arts of demonic cultivation] secret art could deceive the eyes of the Stellar Palace [a celestial organization of star-aligned cultivators] and allow escape from their surveillance and divinations.

"To think he actually managed to flee."

The Celestial Rotating Jade Immortal Maiden's elegant brows knitted together. She raised her hand, sending down a cascade of starlight. Apart from Desolation Old Demon and a few other Infant Soul Late Stage [cultivators at the peak of the Infant Soul realm, the stage after the Golden Core] demonic cultivators who barely managed to preserve their wretched lives, all the remaining Demonic Cultivator [practitioners of the dark, forbidden arts] perished instantly.

Simultaneously, deep within the Eastern Region Great Wasteland, within a cavern of blood, an elder clad in a black Blood Robe [a sinister garment often worn by blood path cultivators] opened his eyes and let out a chilling, unnatural laugh.

"Heh heh heh... The Tribulation Substitution Path Attainment Art [a forbidden art that allows a cultivator to evade heavenly tribulations by transferring the calamity onto others] is complete. My path to the Dao is now assured." Enjoyed this chapter? Read more at audio_novel.com.