Chapter 685 : Starlight Salvation in the Void

"What do we do?"

Even Magnus the Virtuous was beginning to feel despair. Though he wielded the Virtuous Heaven Sword, he had yet to comprehend the secret forces [profound laws governing reality and energy], and his Mana [the refined spiritual energy used by cultivators] was an insurmountable chasm compared to that of a Nascent Soul Great Power.

His opponent's Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] was perpetually in a state of Heaven and Man Resonance [a profound connection between the cultivator and the natural world], communing with all things. Everything within tens of thousands of Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] was as clear to them as the lines on their own palm.

Even with the Pure Yang Immortal Sword in hand, Magnus the Virtuous was like a child brandishing a sharp blade before such an entity. Whether in raw power or reaction speed, they were not on the same level, making it nearly impossible to inflict meaningful harm.

Just as the situation seemed on the verge of collapse, from the depths of the distant void, sky-obscuring Treasure Ships [large, enchanted vessels used for travel and warfare] came soaring forth.

Across the vast expanse of heaven and earth, hundreds of Treasure Ships traversed the void. From them emerged several dozen Late Nascent Soul Grand Cultivators, among whom were six figures who had reached the Half-Step Nascent Soul Realm and were considered Ancient Ancestors [venerable, long-lived patriarchs of a clan or sect].

The leader, clad in azure robes, charged forth with an unstoppable aura. From across the endless void, he unleashed a dazzling stream of starlight-infused Sword Qi [a concentrated blade of energy projected from a sword or by a swordsman's will].

"Starlight Calamity-Severing Sword!"

The hearts of all present stirred, instantly recognizing the newcomer's origin.

The arrival was Lucian Lu, a rising star from the family of Dao Lord Nine Abysses and acclaimed as the foremost talent to reach the Nascent Soul realm in the Southern Wilderness Cultivation World over the past Millennium. Find this and other novels at site: audio-novel.com.

The Starlight Calamity-Severing Sword was forged by Jaxian Lu from Nine Heavens Star Sand. He refined it within his body for three Millennium using his Essence, Qi, and Spirit, and nurtured it with his Superior Grade Dao Body to elevate it into a Pure Yang Immortal Sword.

Once forged, this sword's power was unfathomable. It could scatter into a sky full of starlight or coalesce into the Calamity-Severing Sword of Tribulation, shifting freely between tangible and intangible forms.

The Starlight Calamity-Severing Sword shot straight towards the Nine Nether Demon Dragon Emperor. The Nine Nether Demon Dragon Demon Emperor swung his great halberd, intending to shatter it.

Yet, the sword instantly dissolved into a cloud of starry sand, evading the Nine Nether Demon Dragon Emperor's strike, only to reform behind him. With a sharp *clang*, it cleaved down upon the Nine Nether Demon Dragon Emperor with immense force.

"Hmph—"

Facing Jaxian Lu's ferocious assault, the Nine Nether Demon Dragon Emperor merely sneered. A shroud of black demonic mist erupted around him, blocking the seemingly unstoppable sword strike.

This was the Demonic Cloud Divine Shroud, the Lifebound Divine Ability of the Nine Nether Demon Dragon Emperor, which he had surprisingly cultivated to the Sixth Rank realm.

However, the Southern Wilderness Cultivation World was not lacking in formidable experts. Among the several Half-Step Primordial Spirit powerhouses, a red-haired elder frowned, his brow furrowing. He suddenly declared, "Hah! Nine Nether Old Fiend, let this old Daoist, Separated Flame, test your mettle as well."

As the words of the Separated Flame Daoist fell, he summoned a fiery red treasure gourd. It soared into the air, swelling with the wind until it blotted out the sky, casting a vast shadow.

From the gourd's mouth poured forth an endless torrent of crimson divine flames, roaring towards the Nine Nether Demon Dragon Emperor to incinerate him.

"It is the Li Fire Treasure Gourd [a legendary gourd capable of containing and unleashing devastating spiritual flames]!"

A voice cried out in astonished recognition, identifying the origin of this treasure—it was one of the Seven Treasures Gourd [a set of seven legendary gourds, each imbued with a unique and profound power].

To speak of the origins of the Li Fire Treasure Gourd, one must mention the foremost Heaven and Earth Spiritual Root [a primordial plant born from the essence of heaven and earth] within the Purple Realm—the Seven Treasures Gourd Vine [the celestial vine from which the seven legendary gourds grew].

That Seven Treasures Gourd Vine was born from the primal energies of heaven and earth within the Purple Realm, and roughly several Millennium ago, it ascended to the Sixth Rank [a realm of power comparable to that of a celestial immortal].

Upon its ascension to the Sixth Rank, the vine shed seven gourds, each of which was a Pure Yang Spiritual Treasure [a treasure of the highest order, infused with pure Yang energy].

These seven gourds were colored crimson, orange, yellow, green, azure, blue, and violet respectively, each representing a potent secret force and a formidable Divine Ability [a supernatural power or technique].

This Li Fire Treasure Gourd is the crimson gourd, one of the Seven Treasures Gourd. After the gourds fell from the vine all those years ago, their whereabouts became unknown. Who would have thought one would end up in the hands of this Separated Flame Daoist [a Daoist master who wields the power of Separated Flame]?

Now, a torrential deluge of Separated Flame [a primal, world-scorching spiritual fire] surged forth, transforming into a cataclysmic Separated Flame Arcane Force [a devastating technique channeling the power of Separated Flame] that roared towards the Nine Nether Demon Dragon Emperor. The inferno boiled the boundless Demonic Qi [the corrupt, demonic spiritual energy] surrounding him into a frenzy.

The flames engulfed the endless void, leaving the Nine Nether Demon Dragon Emperor with seemingly no room to evade.

Frowning, the Nine Nether Demon Dragon Emperor channeled his power and hurled his great halberd directly at the Li Fire Treasure Gourd.

"We cannot allow him to succeed."

Seeing that a mighty figure from the Southern Wilderness Cultivation World [a vast and perilous region of the cultivation world] had also made a move, Eldrin Chen hastily gathered everyone to once more activate the Ten Thousand Immortals Demon-Suppressing Grand Formation [a legendary formation designed to seal and suppress demonic power], intending to expend their full strength to block the Nine Nether Demon Dragon Emperor.

Magnus the Virtuous, Maris the Sea Steader, and Lu Xuanyuan, seeing the situation, immediately channeled their power into three Pure Yang Spiritual Treasure [supreme treasures forged from the purest Yang energy] to meet the enemy, clearly resolved to slay their foe at any cost.

The several hundred Nascent Soul True Lord [cultivators who have formed their Nascent Soul, a powerful spiritual avatar] from the Southern Wilderness Cultivation World showed no weakness either. Gritting their teeth, they led the multitude of cultivators in unleashing Divine Ability [profound supernatural techniques] and Spiritual Treasure [enchanted artifacts], attacking relentlessly, sparing no effort to drain the strength of the Nine Nether Demon Dragon Emperor.

In an instant, the great battle descended into a brutal and desperate struggle.

Several hundred Nascent Soul Cultivators, nearly ten Ancient Ancestor [venerable figures of immense age and power] at the Half-Step Primordial Spirit [a realm just below the legendary Primordial Spirit stage] level, and five Pure Yang Spiritual Treasure continuously assailed their formidable foe. Yet, in this conflict, the allied forces still found themselves at a disadvantage. Visit audio‑novel.com to enjoy the complete series.

The power of the Nine Nether Demon Dragon Emperor was simply too overwhelming. Even their combined efforts could not inflict serious harm upon him; they could only barely buy time.

And the price was paid in blood. Among the combatants, cultivators fell in great numbers with every passing moment.

"Slay them all!"

After three shichen-time [one Shichen-time equals two hours] of fierce battle, before Eldrin Chen and the others could achieve a decisive outcome, an advantage was finally seized on another front—now that the most powerful pressure from the Nine Nether Demon Dragon Emperor was absent.

The Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon [a powerful demonic entity from beyond this realm] indeed stood at a significant disadvantage against Jaxian Lu. As a Dao Lord [a supreme master of the Dao] who had broken through to the Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] realm many years prior, Jaxian Lu's cultivation had already reached the third layer of that profound stage, and he wielded two Pure Yang Spiritual Treasures [supreme-grade artifacts imbued with pure Yang energy].

Among the three Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demons opposing him, one had not yet managed to refine a Pure Yin Demonic Treasure [a supreme-grade demonic artifact imbued with pure Yin energy]. In total, they possessed merely two Sixth Rank Pure Yin Demonic Treasures.

Harried by the two Star Spirits and the relentless assaults of Jaxian Lu, they finally revealed a fatal flaw.

Dao Lord Nine Abysses summoned a formidable Spiritual Treasure [an enchanted artifact used by cultivators]—a Heavenly Saber—and unleashed a cleaving strike. The blow split the physical body of one Nascent Soul Celestial Demon [a demonic entity at the Nascent Soul stage] asunder, nearly slaying it outright within the void.

"Damnation!"

Witnessing one Nascent Soul Celestial Demon grievously wounded, the Nine Nether Demon Dragon Emperor finally lost his patience.

His Black-Gold Great Halberd whirled through the void, unleashing a peerlessly sharp arc of power. First, it repelled the Sea-Steadying Divine Pearl and the Virtuous Heaven Sword, then with terrifying force, it smashed directly into the Ten Thousand Immortals Demon-Suppressing Grand Formation [a grand formation designed to suppress demons], shattering the formation utterly.

Then, he transformed in a flash into a pitch-black demonic dragon that blotted out the sky. Baring its claws and fangs, it radiated an overwhelming, heaven-defying power, as if to tear the very fabric of heaven and earth asunder.

"BOOM—"

Heaven and earth ruptured. Sundering Flame [a mystical flame of profound power, representing the principle of separation] surged and billowed forth.

The Li Fire Treasure Gourd was sent flying with a brutal impact, causing Separated Flame Daoist to suffer grievous internal injuries, coughing up blood as he was violently thrown back.

"Perish, all of you!"

Having repelled the Li Fire Treasure Gourd, the Nine Nether Demon Dragon Emperor surged forth like a dragon breaking its chains. Infinite killing intent converged within its vertical pupils as it lunged toward Magnus the Virtuous with overwhelming, tyrannical force.

Among the first line encircling him, Magnus the Virtuous possessed the weakest cultivation base. Although his Virtuous Heaven Sword was relatively effective at countering Demonic Qi, the Nine Nether Demon Dragon Emperor now sought to break its enemies one by one, starting with the elimination of the most vulnerable target—Magnus the Virtuous.

"*Clang!*—"

In that life-or-death instant, Eldrin Chen remained preternaturally calm. With a resonant *clang*, he summoned forth the Green Abyss Sword, channeling boundless Heavenly Flame Power into a devastating slash aimed directly at the Nine Nether Demon Dragon Emperor. This chapter appears courtesy of http://www . audio-novel.com.