Chapter 685 : The Verdant Patriarch's Arrival

"What should we do?"

Vast Righteousness True Lord [a title for a powerful cultivator] felt a surge of despair. Although he wielded the Vast Righteousness Heaven Sword [a legendary divine sword], he had not yet comprehended its Arcane Power [the profound, esoteric power within a divine artifact]. His spiritual power was like a chasm compared to that of a Primordial Spirit Great Power [a supreme expert who has cultivated their Primordial Spirit to a profound level].

His opponent's Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core and highest essence of a cultivator] was perpetually in a state of Celestial-Mortal Symbiosis [a profound realm where the cultivator's spirit harmonizes with heaven and earth]. It was in constant communion with all things; within a radius of tens of thousands of Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters], every detail was as clear to him as the lines on his own palm.

Even with the Primordial Solar Immortal Sword [an immortal-grade sword of pure solar essence] in hand, Vast Righteousness True Lord was like a child wielding a great blade before this foe. Whether in raw power or reaction speed, they were not on the same level. Inflicting any meaningful harm seemed nearly impossible.

Just as the situation was about to collapse, from the depths of the distant void, sky-obscuring Treasure Ship [massive, enchanted vessels used for long-distance travel and warfare] came soaring forth.

Across the vast expanse of heaven and earth, several hundred Treasure Ship traversed the void. From them emerged several dozen Late Stage Infant Soul Great Cultivator [powerful cultivators at the peak of the Infant Soul stage], and among them were six figures who had reached the Half-Step Primordial Spirit Realm [a transitional state just below the full Primordial Spirit realm]—true Patriarch [a venerable leader of a clan or sect] level experts.

At their head was a figure clad in verdant robes, arriving with an aura of invincibility. From across the endless void, he unleashed a brilliant slash of starlight sword energy.

"Starlight Calamity-Severing Sword!"

The hearts of all present stirred; they instantly recognized the newcomer's origin.

The arrival was Mystery Origin Lu, a rising star of the Nine Abyss Path Lord [a title for a master of profound and abyssal cultivation arts] family and hailed as the foremost Infant Soul [a major cultivation stage where the cultivator's nascent soul is formed] cultivator of the past millennium within the Southern Desolation Cultivation World [a vast and perilous region of the cultivation world]. Continue your cultivation journey at audio-novel . com.

The Starlight Calamity-Severing Sword was forged by Nine Abyss Lu from star sand collected from the Nine Heavens. Mystery Origin Lu fused it into his body and refined it for three thousand years with his Vital Essence, Energy, and Spirit, then nurtured it with his Superior Grade Path Body to elevate it into a Primordial Solar Immortal Sword.

Once forged, this sword's power was unfathomable, capable of scattering into a sky full of starlight or coalescing into a calamity-severing blade of salvation, shifting freely between tangible and intangible forms.

The Starlight Calamity-Severing Sword shot straight towards the Nine Nether Abyssal Demonic Dragon Emperor, who swung his Great Halberd to smash it aside.

Yet the sword instantly dissolved into a cloud of star sand, evading the Nine Nether Abyssal Demonic Dragon Emperor's strike, only to reform behind him with a sharp *clang* and cleave down upon the demonic dragon with immense force.

"Hmph—"

Facing Mystery Origin Lu's ferocious assault, the Nine Nether Abyssal Demonic Dragon Emperor merely sneered. A shield of dark, smoky energy erupted around him, blocking the seemingly unstoppable sword strike.

This was the Divine Ability Demonic Cloud Divine Shield, an Innate Divine Ability of the Nine Nether Abyssal Demonic Dragon Emperor that he had surprisingly cultivated to the Sixth Rank level.

However, the Southern Desolation Cultivation World was not lacking in formidable experts. Among the half-step Primordial Spirit Great Power cultivators present, a red-haired elder frowned, his brow furrowing, and suddenly declared, "Hah! Old fiend of the Nine Nether Abysses, let this old daoist, Solar Fire Path Master, test your mettle as well."

As the Solar Fire Path Master's words fell, he summoned a fiery crimson treasure gourd. The gourd shot forth, swelling with the wind until it blotted out the sky, achieving a heaven-shrouding, sun-eclipsing magnitude.

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

"It is the Solar Fire Treasure Gourd [a legendary gourd that contains and unleashes the power of the primordial sun]!"

Someone cried out in delighted recognition, identifying the treasure's origins—it was one of the legendary Seven Treasures Gourd [a set of seven divine gourds, each imbued with immense power].

To speak of the origins of the Solar Fire Treasure Gourd, one must mention the Seven Treasures Gourd Tree [a mythical tree that bears gourds of immense power], which stands as the foremost Worldly Spiritual Root [a natural formation of immense spiritual significance] within the Purple Seal Realm [a vast and ancient cultivation world].

That Seven Treasures Gourd Tree was born from the very essence of heaven and earth within the Purple Seal Realm, and roughly several thousand years ago, it ascended to the Sixth Rank [a profound level of power and existence].

Upon its ascension to the Sixth Rank, the tree shed seven gourds, each of which was a treasure at the level of a Primordial Solar Spiritual Treasure [an artifact containing the foundational power of the sun].

These seven gourds manifested in the colors crimson, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, and violet, each representing a formidable Arcane Power [a profound and esoteric supernatural ability] and Divine Ability [a supreme supernatural power attained through cultivation].

This Solar Fire Treasure Gourd is the crimson gourd among the Seven Treasures Gourd. After the gourds fell from the tree all those years ago, the whereabouts of these seven treasures became unknown. Who would have thought one would end up in the hands of this Solar Fire Path Master [a master cultivator whose path is aligned with solar fire]?

At this moment, a torrential deluge of Solar Fire [the pure, destructive flame of the sun] surged forth, transforming into Solar Fire Arcane Power [the esoteric power derived from solar fire] capable of scorching heaven and extinguishing earth. It swept towards the Nine Nether Abyssal Demonic Dragon Emperor [a supreme demonic dragon sovereign from the deepest nether realms], causing the boundless demonic miasma around it to seethe and boil.

The flames enveloped the endless void, forcing even the mighty Nine Nether Abyssal Demonic Dragon Emperor into a position where evasion seemed impossible.

Frowning, the Nine Nether Abyssal Demonic Dragon Emperor channeled its power and thrust its Great Halberd [a massive polearm weapon] directly at the Solar Fire Treasure Gourd.

"We cannot allow him to succeed."

Seeing that a Great Power Figure [a cultivator of immense power, often at the peak of the Primordial Spirit realm or beyond] from the Southern Desolation Cultivation World had also joined the fray, Eldrin Chen swiftly rallied everyone to once more activate the Myriad Immortals Demon-Subduing Grand Formation [a legendary formation designed to suppress and vanquish demonic entities], intending to muster their full strength to withstand the Nine Nether Abyssal Demonic Dragon Emperor [a supreme demonic dragon sovereign from the deepest, most malevolent abyss].

Vast Righteousness True Lord, Sea-Calmer Path Master, and Mystery Origin Lu witnessed this and immediately channeled their power into three Primordial Solar Spiritual Treasures [divine artifacts imbued with the pure, primordial essence of the sun] to meet the enemy head-on. Their intent was clear: to slay the foe at any cost.

The several hundred Infant Soul True Lords [cultivators who have formed their Infant Soul, a nascent spiritual form within the dantian] from the Southern Desolation Cultivation World showed no hesitation either. Gritting their teeth, they led the multitude of cultivators in unleashing a relentless barrage of Divine Abilities [supernatural techniques powered by profound cultivation] and Spiritual Treasures [enchanted artifacts used by cultivators]. Their goal was singular: to exhaust the power of the Nine Nether Abyssal Demonic Dragon Emperor, regardless of the sacrifice.

In that instant, the great battle descended into a maelstrom of utter carnage.

Several hundred Infant Soul Cultivators, nearly ten Patriarchs [venerable leaders of great clans or sects] at the Half-Step Primordial Spirit [a transitional state just below the full Primordial Spirit realm] realm, and five Primordial Solar Spiritual Treasures continuously assailed their formidable foe. Yet, despite this overwhelming force, the allied side found themselves at a disadvantage. This novel is serialized on audio–novel.com. Visit for updates.

The might of the Nine Nether Abyssal Demonic Dragon Emperor was simply too overwhelming. Even their combined efforts could not inflict a decisive wound; they could only barely manage to stall for time.

And the price for this delay was paid in blood. Among the combatants, cultivators fell by the score with every passing moment.

"Slay them all!"

After three shichen-time [one shichen equals two hours] of fierce combat, Eldrin Chen and his allies had yet to achieve victory. However, with the most powerful Nine Nether Abyssal Demonic Dragon Emperor no longer suppressing them, the battle on the other front finally began to turn in their favor.

The Outer Realm Heavenly Demon [a powerful demonic entity originating from beyond the known realms] indeed held a significant gap compared to Nine Abyss Lu. Having broken through to the Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] realm for many years and attained the rank of Path Lord, Nine Abyss Lu had cultivated his cultivation base to the Primordial Spirit 3rd Tier and wielded two Primordial Solar Spiritual Treasure [powerful enchanted artifacts infused with the essence of the primordial sun].

Among the three opposing Outer Realm Heavenly Demon, one had not yet managed to refine a Pure Lunar Demonic Treasure [a demonic artifact of great power, counterpart to the solar treasures]. In total, they possessed only two Sixth Rank Pure Lunar Demonic Treasure.

Harried by the containment of the two Star Spirits and the relentless assaults from Nine Abyss Lu, they finally revealed a flaw in their defense.

The Nine Abyss Path Lord unleashed a formidable Spiritual Treasure, the Heavenly Blade [a divine blade capable of cleaving the heavens]. With a single, devastating slash, he cleaved through the physical body of one Primordial Spirit Heavenly Demon, nearly obliterating the foe amidst the void.

"Damnation!"

Witnessing one of their Primordial Spirit Heavenly Demon grievously wounded, the Nine Nether Abyssal Demonic Dragon Emperor [the sovereign emperor of the nine nether abyssal demonic dragons] finally lost his patience.

His Obsidian Gold Great Halberd [a massive halberd forged from obsidian and gold] whirled through the void, its peerless edge lashing out. It first repelled the Sea-Calmer Divine Pearl and the Vast Righteousness Heaven Sword, then struck the Myriad Immortals Demon-Subduing Grand Formation [a grand formation designed to suppress legions of demons] with such force that the formation shattered completely.

Then, he transformed in a flash into a colossal, sky-obscuring black demonic dragon. Baring fangs and spreading claws, he radiated an overwhelming, tyrannical power, as if intent on tearing apart both Sunder Heaven and earth.

"BOOM—"

Heaven and earth ruptured. Solar Fire [a divine technique manifesting the purifying flames of the sun] surged and blazed.

The Solar Fire Treasure Gourd [a magical gourd that channels solar fire] was sent flying with a tremendous impact, and the Solar Fire Path Master [a cultivator who has mastered the path of solar fire] was grievously wounded, coughing up blood as he was violently thrown back.

"Perish, all of you!"

Having repelled the Solar Fire Treasure Gourd, the Nine Nether Abyssal Demonic Dragon Emperor [a supreme demonic dragon sovereign from the deepest abyss] surged forth like a dragon breaking free from its chains. Its vertical pupils blazed with boundless killing intent as it lunged with overwhelming, arrogant power towards Vast Righteousness True Lord.

Among the first line encircling him, Vast Righteousness True Lord possessed the weakest cultivation base. While his Vast Righteousness Heaven Sword [a divine sword embodying vast and righteous power] was relatively effective at suppressing demonic energy, it made him the prime target. The Nine Nether Abyssal Demonic Dragon Emperor intended to break its foes one by one, starting by eliminating the weakest link—Vast Righteousness True Lord.

"*Clang!*"

In that life-or-death moment, Eldrin Chen remained exceptionally calm. With a resonant *clang*, he summoned forth the Azure Abyss Sword [a sword imbued with the profound power of the azure abyss]. Channeling boundless Heavenly Flame Power [the divine power of celestial flames], he unleashed a devastating slash aimed directly at the Nine Nether Abyssal Demonic Dragon Emperor. Enjoyed this chapter? Read more at audio‑novel.com.