Chapter 727 : A Dragon's Grudge and a Roc's Fall

He silently swept his gaze over the assembly. After a glance at the Green Abyss Sword held in Eldrin Chen's hand, he suppressed the chilling intent and said, "I must still thank you for eliminating a great enemy for this Emperor."

"We shall meet again another day."

In the end, the Green Flood Dragon Demon Emperor did not take action. Baring its fangs and brandishing its claws, it soared into the depths of the void.

Only after the Green Flood Dragon Demon Emperor departed did the group finally take a deep breath.

Lyra Jiang collected the spoils of war, then said with evident excitement, "It seems your prediction was correct. That Green Flood Dragon Demon Emperor was all too eager to add stones to the well of the Golden-Winged Great Peng Demon Emperor's misfortune."

"Had the Green Flood Dragon Demon Emperor not been lying in ambush today, that Golden-Winged Great Peng Demon Emperor might truly have escaped."

Eldrin Chen shook his head with a smile. "In the eyes of the Green Flood Dragon Demon Emperor, the Golden-Winged Roc is a mortal enemy on the path to the Dao [the fundamental principle or path in cultivation]. We, by comparison, are far less significant."

The group spoke no more. After swiftly scouring the battlefield, they proceeded to assault the remaining Spirit Mountain [mountains imbued with potent spiritual energy].

In this battle, the Golden-Winged Roc clan was nearly annihilated. Of their six Nascent Soul Demon Emperor [powerful demonic cultivators at the Nascent Soul realm], only a single Nascent Soul, Mid Stage Demon Emperor managed to flee.

However, judging by the direction in which the Green Flood Dragon Demon Emperor departed, that last survivor's fate was likely sealed. Continue reading this story at audio-novel dot com.

Eldrin Chen led the forces to capture Golden Wing Peak, then proceeded with his troops towards Divine Bird Peak, intending to completely seize the territory of the Golden-Winged Roc clan.

Without a Nascent Soul Demon Emperor [a demonic cultivator who has reached the Nascent Soul stage] to hold their ground, the Golden-Winged Roc clan naturally could not withstand the assault. Before long, all four Spirit Mountain [mountains rich in spiritual energy, often used as cultivation bases] were conquered.

After the four Spirit Mountain were fully secured, Eldrin Chen gathered with the others within the Demon Emperor's Grand Hall of Divine Bird Peak.

Seated at the head of the hall, Eldrin Chen cast a glance at the dozen or so Nascent Soul True Lord [cultivators who have reached the Nascent Soul stage] present and offered a faint smile. "Now that the great battle has concluded," he said, "let us deliberate on the spoils of this campaign."

"Indeed, it is only fitting,"

the assembly nodded in agreement, their expressions brightening with anticipation.

Seeing their readiness, Eldrin Chen casually passed a ledger to the group. "Here is the tally of our gains from this battle," he announced with a smile. "Please, review it first."

The three True Lord from the Celestial Star Sect opened the ledger and perused its contents, their faces soon breaking into pleased smiles.

According to the registered spoils, the resources seized in this campaign were divided into three main categories: Fixed Assets such as Spirit Mountain Earth Veins [the spiritual energy channels within a Spirit Mountain]; Spiritual Treasure [enchanted artifacts used by cultivators] and materials harvested from Demonic Beast [beasts that have absorbed spiritual energy and gained demonic power]; and items like Spirit Medicine [plants imbued with spiritual energy, used in alchemy].

Among these, the Fixed Assets were of paramount importance. They included four Fifth Rank Spirit Mountain [a high-grade Spirit Mountain suitable for powerful cultivators] and two Fifth Rank Earth Vein [a high-grade spiritual energy channel within the earth].

Among the four Fifth Rank Spirit Mountain [a mountain imbued with potent spiritual energy, suitable for high-level cultivation], Golden Wing Peak, Earth Tremor Valley, and Blazing Fire Island all possessed Fifth Rank Low Grade [a specific tier and quality level within the cultivation ranking system] Spirit Vein [a subterranean channel or deposit that concentrates and emits spiritual energy]. Only Divine Bird Peak held a Fifth Rank High Grade Spirit Vein [a superior quality spiritual energy vein of the fifth rank].

Of the two Earth Vein [a specialized spiritual vein attuned to elemental earth energy], one was a Fifth Rank Low Grade Wood Vein [an earth vein aligned with the wood element] situated beneath Golden Wing Peak. The Earth Vein under Divine Bird Peak, however, was a Fifth Rank High Grade Metal Essence Earth Vein [an earth vein rich in the essence of the metal element].

Seeing this, Eldrin Chen spoke directly: "Among these Spirit Mountain Earth Veins [the combined spiritual mountains and their associated earth veins], our Chen Clan claims Divine Bird Peak and Golden Wing Peak. What say you?"

"I have no objection."

Lingxu the Ethereal Immortal [a title meaning 'Ethereal Void Immortal'] was the first to voice his agreement. That the Chen Clan would want Divine Bird Peak was within everyone's expectations.

Among these Earth Vein, Divine Bird Peak—with its Fifth Rank High Grade Spirit Vein and Earth Vein—was worth more than the other three Spirit Mountain combined. Since the Chen Clan was taking Divine Bird Peak and Golden Wing Peak, no one had any grounds for complaint.

For in this battle, a total of seventeen Nascent Soul [the stage of cultivation where one forms an immortal infant soul] cultivators had participated. Seven of these were True Lord [a title for powerful Nascent Soul stage cultivators] from the Chen Clan, and all four combatants with Nascent Soul Late Stage [the advanced phase of the Nascent Soul realm] strength were also from their clan. It was only natural they would claim the lion's share.

With the Chen Clan taking the major portion, the Celestial Star Sect and Lingxu the Ethereal Immortal followed suit, securing Earth Tremor Valley and Blazing Fire Island respectively to serve as secondary Daoist Assembly Ground [a designated gathering and cultivation site for a sect or powerful individual].

Once these Fixed Assets [immovable resources like land and spiritual veins] were divided, the group turned their attention to the next category of spoils.

In this conflict, they had slain five Nascent Soul Demon Emperor [a demonic beast ruler equivalent in power to a human Nascent Soul cultivator], obtaining five Demon Emperor [a title for a ruler among demonic beasts] carcasses, four Demon Emperor Nascent Soul [the immortal infant soul of a slain Demon Emperor, a potent spiritual material], and ten Spiritual Treasure [powerful enchanted artifacts].

Among the five Demon Emperor [a supreme ruler of demonkind] physical bodies, aside from that of the Golden-Winged Great Peng Demon Emperor [the sovereign of the great roc demons with golden wings], only one was at the Nascent Soul, Mid Stage [the middle phase of the Nascent Soul realm, where the cultivator's soul begins to manifest independently], while the remaining three were all Nascent Soul, Early Stage Demon Emperor.

Of the ten Spiritual Treasure [enchanted artifacts of significant power], two were Superior Grade Spiritual Treasure [the highest quality tier of Spiritual Treasures], with the rest being Inferior Grade Spiritual Treasure [the lowest quality tier of Spiritual Treasures]. To Eldrin Chen, none of these were particularly noteworthy.

Of those two Superior Grade Spiritual Treasure, one was a great golden halberd. This weapon was forged from Fifth Rank Arcane Gold [a rare, fifth-tier mystical metal], using an exceptionally large quantity of material. Eldrin Chen estimated it could be reforged into two Immortal Sword [legendary swords wielded by immortal beings] of the same grade.

The second treasure was a suit of golden battle armor. This treasure was named the 'Adamantine Unbreakable Armor' [Armor of Adamantine, renowned for its absolute resilience]. It too was cast from arcane gold and was a superior-grade Defensive Spiritual Treasure [a Spiritual Treasure specialized for protection].

Beyond these two Superior Grade Spiritual Treasure, the Golden-Winged Great Peng Demon Emperor possessed no other treasures of that exalted grade.

Yet one should not think the Golden-Winged Great Peng Demon Emperor was impoverished. The reason he possessed only two Superior Grade Spiritual Treasure was that he had been intent on refining them into two Quasi-Pure Yang Spiritual Treasure [Spiritual Treasures imbued with a trace of Pure Yang energy, a step below true divine artifacts]. Original publication: *audio-novel.com* - The source of this chapter.

The amount of high-grade materials used in the Adamantine Unbreakable Armor and the great golden halberd was so vast it could have forged four or five ordinary Superior Grade Spiritual Treasure.

It was merely that the Golden-Winged Great Peng Demon Emperor had only recently broken through to the Half-Step Primordial Spirit [a transitional state between Nascent Soul and the Primordial Spirit realm]. Given another century or two, he likely would have succeeded in refining those two Quasi-Pure Yang Spiritual Treasure.

Had that come to pass, the Golden-Winged Great Peng Demon Emperor's power would have increased dramatically, making him a far more formidable foe to contend with.

With two Superior Grade Spiritual Treasure now in his possession, Eldrin Chen naturally had no cause for complaint in his selection.

He took the Adamantine Unbreakable Armor and the golden great halberd, then said with a smile, "These two treasures are crafted from exceptional materials. I intend to take them back for study, to see if I can elevate my Artificing Art [the art of crafting magical artifacts] to the level of the Quasi-Sixth Rank [a realm just below the Sixth Rank]."

"As for the rest, you may each make your selections."

Hearing this, the others naturally had no objections and proceeded to divide the remaining eight Spiritual Treasure [powerful enchanted artifacts] amongst themselves.

Regarding the remaining Demon Emperor [a ruler among demonic beings] carcass and the Nascent Soul [the spiritual infant formed within a Golden Core cultivator's dantian], Lyra Jiang glanced at them and claimed the feathers and the body of the one at the Half-Step Nascent Soul Realm [a transitional state approaching the Nascent Soul Realm]. She left the rest untouched.

The feathers of the Golden-Winged Great Peng Demon Emperor were extraordinary, still imbued with the Lifebound Divine Ability [a unique, innate supernatural power] 'Golden Wing Divine Light Slash' from the quasi-Pure Yang Realm [a realm of pure, unadulterated Yang energy]. They held the potential to be forged into a Quasi-Pure Yang Spiritual Treasure [a treasure approaching the power of a Pure Yang artifact]. Naturally, Lyra Jiang was reluctant to let such an opportunity slip away.

After the group had thoroughly divided the Demon Emperor remains, Eldrin Chen spoke directly, "My mastery of Alchemy [the art of refining spiritual pills and elixirs] is the highest among us. Therefore, I shall take this Demon Emperor Nascent Soul [the spiritual core of a slain Demon Emperor]."

"You provide the auxiliary materials for the Nascent Soul Formation Pill [a legendary pill that aids in forming a Nascent Soul], and I will undertake the refinement. Upon success, I will give half of the resulting pills to you. What say you?"

Upon hearing his proposal, the others made a quick mental calculation, then nodded in agreement to his request.

With these spoils distributed, among the high-grade treasures they had seized, only a dozen or so stalks of Fifth Rank Spirit Medicine [spiritual herbs of the Fifth Rank] remained.

Eldrin Chen selected two of the Tribulation Transcendence Flower [a rare flower said to aid in surviving heavenly tribulations] and four stalks of Spirit-Nourishing Grass [an herb that nourishes and stabilizes the spirit], considering his harvest to be quite substantial.

That Spirit-Nourishing Grass is one of the key auxiliary ingredients for refining the Nascent Soul Pill [a legendary pill that aids in the breakthrough to the Nascent Soul realm], its value can be said to be exceedingly high. It was clearly a treasure prepared by the Golden-Winged Great Peng Demon Emperor for its future breakthrough to the Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator, a realm beyond Nascent Soul].

After the treasures were divided, the Sect Master of the Celestial Star Sect cupped his hands and said, "I must still arrange personnel to take control of the Spirit Vein [a natural concentration of spiritual energy within the earth], so I shall not linger here any longer."

"I am the same; I must also return to arrange the reception of that Spirit Mountain."

Lingxu the Ethereal Immortal also rose to his feet, preparing to depart.

"Then I shall not detain you all any further."

Eldrin Chen offered a faint smile and stood to see the others off.

After everyone had departed, Ethan Chen approached Eldrin Chen and whispered, "Uncle Eldrin, it seems there is something quite remarkable within the Earth Vein [a powerful, earth-aligned spiritual energy current deep underground]." Original publication: audio‑novel.com - The source of this chapter.