Chapter 683 : The Fallen Demon Blade

Seven days later, the Treasure Ship fleet set sail towards the White Tiger Star Palace sea region.

Kael Chen stood silently in place, his expression calm and solemn as he watched the others depart into the distance.

For this battle, their forces were mobilized almost to the last man. Yet, to guard against the threat posed by scattered Fiend Race remnants to the Formation Eye of the Vermilion Bird Archipelago, a contingent of Infant Soul True Lord and troops was left behind.

This group included Kael Chen and Ethan Chen, among others, who would be responsible for guarding several key Star Constellation Formation Eye.

Watching Eldrin Chen and the others vanish into the horizon, Kael Chen did not linger long on Chariot Water Island. He soon took flight, heading towards Star Sun Island.

Having traversed several million Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters], he passed by a desolate island. Suddenly, Kael Chen's brow furrowed slightly. His Escape Radiance [a flight technique] halted abruptly, and he came to a stop before a Spirit Mountain [a mountain rich in spiritual energy].

There, upon the barren island, a pitch-black demonic sword hovered and drifted.

The sword was entirely crystalline and translucent. Within its depths, black mist coiled and swirled, accompanied by an aura of Indestructibility Sword Intent [a sword intent embodying the concept of unyielding durability].

"The [a legendary demonic blade said to be capable of slaying immortals]," he murmured.

In that instant, Kael Chen recognized the sword's origin. Experience the full epic at AUDIO-NOVEL.COM.

It turned out that after the Heavenly Demon Immortal-Slaying Sword [a legendary demonic blade of immense power] fought its way out of the encirclement, it ultimately exhausted its spiritual energy and plummeted onto this desolate and remote island.

At the very moment Kael Chen discovered the Heavenly Demon Immortal-Slaying Sword, the sword's light erupted violently. In an instant, it transformed into a wisp of black energy and shot straight into the center of his brow.

"Hahaha!"

In that fleeting, lightning-fast moment, Kael Chen heard a strange, sinister laugh echoing within the depths of his consciousness [the seat of a cultivator's mind and spirit].

A wisp of a remnant soul flew out from the sword, its voice brimming with maniacal joy. "Heaven has not forsaken me after all! To think I would encounter a cultivator at the Heavenly Path Infant Soul [a high cultivation stage where one's nascent soul is tempered by heavenly laws] realm!"

"Soul-Seizing Reincarnation Art [a forbidden demonic technique to seize another's body and soul for rebirth]!"

The intruder was actually a remnant soul-fragment of the Garuda Demon Monarch [a powerful, bird-like demon sovereign]. With overwhelming murderous intent, it lunged towards Kael Chen's Infant Soul [the nascent spiritual core of a high-level cultivator], intent on performing this vile Demonic Path [pertaining to demonic cultivation arts] Great God Ability [a supreme-level divine ability] to seize his body and transcend his own tribulation through reincarnation.

Faced with the Garuda Demon Monarch's insidious method of forced reincarnation, Kael Chen remained utterly composed, his expression unchanging. He did not resist at all, allowing the demon monarch's spiritual consciousness to flood into his Infant Soul.

"What is happening?"

The moment the Garuda Demon Monarch's Demon Monarch [a title for a ruler among demons] consciousness surged into Kael Chen's brow, it suddenly sensed that something was terribly amiss.

Within Kael Chen's Infant Soul [the nascent spiritual form of a cultivator], billions upon billions of thoughts suddenly differentiated and surged forth. An endless tide of consciousness completely submerged him, leaving him feeling as insignificant and unreachable as a lone boat adrift on a boundless ocean.

In that fleeting Ksana-time [an infinitesimal unit of time], the remnant soul of the Garuda Demon Monarch panicked. A look of sheer terror dawned on its spectral visage as it exclaimed in utter shock, "Who... what are you? Man or specter?"

Kael Chen watched it calmly, his expression remaining utterly unchanged, his gaze steady and silent.

His Infant Soul housed four hundred eighty million distinct thoughts. When these thoughts acted in concert, his spiritual soul's power surpassed even that of a half-step Primordial Spirit Great Power [a cultivator on the verge of achieving the Primordial Spirit realm].

For the Garuda Demon Monarch, a mere wisp of a remnant thought, to attempt a Divine Ability [a supreme supernatural technique] to seize his body was nothing short of a fool's delusion.

Only after the billions of thoughts within Kael Chen's spiritual soul had gradually devoured the Garuda Demon Monarch's remnant consciousness, assimilating it completely into his own being, did he finally speak, his tone detached.

"I am myself. And now, you are also me. You shall become but one of my four hundred eighty million thoughts."

"*Hum—*"

The sword light trembled faintly. Sensing something amiss, the Heavenly Demon Immortal-Slaying Sword sought to flee from Kael Chen's sea of consciousness.

Yet, Kael Chen merely furrowed his brow slightly. A strand of power, now bearing the essence of the Garuda Demon Monarch, surged from his Infant Soul and coiled around the Heavenly Demon Immortal-Slaying Sword, ensnaring it.

Sensing the power of the Garuda Demon Monarch, the radiance of the Heavenly Demon Immortal-Slaying Sword [a legendary demon-slaying blade] trembled faintly before gradually dimming.

It was at this moment that Kael Chen's spiritual power [the cultivated energy of a practitioner] began to slowly erode the demonic sword, refining this Pure Lunar Demonic Treasure [an enchanted artifact of pure lunar and demonic essence] that once belonged to the Garuda Demon Monarch.

"..."

As for Kael Chen's chance encounter with the Heavenly Demon Immortal-Slaying Sword, Eldrin Chen remained completely unaware.

The great army pressed onward, and after more than a month of travel, having crossed tens of millions of Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] of territory, they finally arrived at the borders of the White Tiger Domain.

Aboard the Treasure Ship [a vessel imbued with magical properties], Eldrin Chen and the other combatants at the Infant Soul Late Stage [the advanced phase of the Infant Soul cultivation realm] had gathered, each wearing expressions of grave solemnity. Discover more cultivation stories at http://www . audio-novel.com.

Mysterious Void Path Master set down a letter in his hand, his face etched with worry as he spoke, "Our fellow Daoists from the Azure Dragon Star Palace have already been routed. I fear this battle is about to take an unexpected turn for the worse."

"What are we to do now?"

Everyone present wore a heavy expression, with many feeling a sense of despair.

Eldrin Chen's countenance was also one of profound sorrow. The retreat of the Azure Dragon Star Palace dealt them a crushing blow, a weight like a great stone pressing down upon their hearts.

According to the battle plan they had agreed upon with Nine Abyss Path Lord, in three days' time, Nine Abyss Path Lord would force the four Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator, representing a high level of power] cultivators of the Fiend Race into a decisive battle.

As planned, Nine Abyss Lu would mobilize the power of the three Star Spirits—Azure Dragon, White Tiger, and Vermilion Bird—to engage the four Fiend Race Path Lord [a title for a master of a particular cultivation path] in the main confrontation.

Meanwhile, the forces from White Tiger Star Palace and Three Veins Ancient Domain would launch a pincer attack from the front and rear, focusing on one or two of the Fiend Race Primordial Spirit cultivators. If they could pin down two Primordial Spirit Demonic Cultivators, they would create an opportunity for Nine Abyss Path Lord to slay the Outer Realm Heavenly Demon [a powerful demonic entity from beyond this realm].

But now, with all the Formation Eyes [the critical control points of a magical formation] of the Azure Dragon Star Palace breached, they had lost the aid of the Azure Dragon Star Spirit. This was equivalent to losing the combat power of an entire Primordial Spirit cultivator.

In a battle of this magnitude, the strength of one Primordial Spirit cultivator was more decisive than that of hundreds of Infant Soul True Lords [cultivators who have condensed their nascent souls]. The collapse of the Azure Dragon Star Palace Archipelago thus had a devastating impact on their prospects.

At this thought, unease stirred in everyone's hearts. Mysterious Void Path Master could not help but ask, "Brother Eldrin, should this battle still proceed?"

"We fight!" declared Eldrin Chen with unwavering resolve, his gaze turning icy. "If we succeed here, we all live to return. If we fail, the entire strategic situation will crumble."

"This is our only chance. We must fight on, no matter the cost."

His words sent a tremor through them all, for whether this battle ended in victory or defeat, a bloody price would surely be paid.

Yet they understood the truth in Eldrin Chen's words. There could be no more retreat.

The Master of Featherflight Pavilion nodded, his gaze resolute as he declared, "Should any among us fall in battle, I implore the survivors to extend some care to their descendants."

"Brother Featherflight."

The Mysterious Void Path Master felt a tremor in his heart. He glanced at the Featherflight Path Master before gritting his teeth and saying, "This old man's lifespan is nearly spent. It is time to stake everything."

"Only, if I should perish, I entrust the care of my clan to you."

"You have my word." The Master of Featherflight Pavilion nodded, then laughed heartily. "If I fall, I shall trouble Brother Mystery Void to collect my remains."

Witnessing these two half-step Primordial Spirit Great Power [cultivators who have reached the threshold of the Primordial Spirit realm] cast aside all concern for life and death, the others' fighting spirit was rekindled. They resolved to stake everything on this one decisive battle to determine the fate of the heavens and earth.

"Good! Then we fight! Let us join forces and try our hand at slaying a Primordial Spirit [a cultivator whose spiritual core has fully manifested as an independent, powerful entity]!"

Seeing the group's fervent battle intent, Eldrin Chen also revealed a smile as he spoke.

He produced a rare jar of spiritual wine [a potent liquor infused with spiritual energy, often used to aid cultivation or celebrate], poured a cup for each person, and declared, "I drink this toast to see you off. We *will* slay this Heavenly Demon in this battle!" Published by audio - novel . com. All rights reserved.