Chapter 693 : A Pact of Shadows and Steel

Eldrin Chen listened in silence, a glint of killing intent flickering deep within his pupils.

For the first two or three centuries following each eruption of the Demonic Abyss Cataclysm, the Demonic Cultivator [practitioners who cultivate using demonic or malevolent methods] within the Eastern Region Great Wasteland become most rampant and brazen.

This is because the Human Race within the Eastern Region Great Wasteland is often severely crippled by the cataclysm, with a great number of high-ranking cultivators perishing or wounded, leaving them at their most vulnerable state.

This is especially true for the many injured Golden Core True Person [cultivators who have formed a Golden Core, a solidified core of spiritual power] and Infant Soul True Lord [cultivators who have nurtured an Infant Soul, the nascent form of their Primordial Spirit]. To prevent their injuries from worsening, they are often forced into seclusion for many years to recuperate, unable to engage in excessive combat.

Fortunately, this time, the injuries sustained by Eldrin Chen and Kael Chen were not severe, allowing them to free their hands to deal with these fiends.

Contemplating this, Eldrin Chen spoke thoughtfully, "My initial plan was to recover from my injuries swiftly and allow the clan to recuperate for some years. However, these demonic fiends are growing too audacious. We must intervene and rein them in."

"Indeed," Kael Chen nodded in agreement before continuing, "Several newly-advanced Infant Soul Demonic Cultivator are not an overwhelming threat in themselves. The true concern is that the Demon Race [a race of powerful, often malevolent, spiritual beings] will likely not stand idly by and allow us to succeed."

Upon hearing this, the expressions of those present grew solemn. According to the pact established during the Demonic Abyss Cataclysm, Demon Race beings at the Infant Soul level and above were forbidden from attacking the Human Race during the cataclysm. Now that it has passed, they would undoubtedly relish any opportunity to hinder humanity's recovery.

Eldrin Chen's expression hardened slightly. He then turned to Silas Chen and asked, "Has there been any news from the direction of Azure Wave Lake and Violet Jade Lake?"

Silas Chen's face darkened at the question. He replied with a hint of frustration, "There has been no word yet from Azure Wave Lake. However, the Violet Jade Demon Emperor has repeatedly dispatched Golden Core [the cultivation realm of a Golden Core] level great demons into the Vast Sea to gather intelligence." The complete novel can be found at audio - novel . com.

"By my reckoning, the three-hundred-year contract signed with the Violet Jade Demon Emperor is nearly at its end." Eldrin Chen's expression darkened, his gaze turning grave as he spoke. "It seems that the Violet Jade Demon Emperor is also growing restless."

Seeing this, Eternal Profound Chen could not help but voice his concern. "In that last battle, nearly every Infant Soul [the third major stage of cultivation where the nascent soul is formed] cultivator on the Ji Continent was wounded. Ethereal Mistress Ling, Immortal Maiden Violet Consort, and even Senior Vast Righteousness all require one or two centuries of secluded meditation to recover fully."

"Should we not also rest and recuperate for a time, waiting until everyone's injuries have healed before moving against these Infant Soul fiends?"

"We cannot afford to wait." Eldrin Chen shook his head, his expression solemn. "These Demonic Cultivator [cultivators who use dark, corruptive methods and energies] have only just broken through; their power is still of little concern. But if we allow them to consolidate their cultivation and forge their Demonic Treasure [powerful artifacts infused with demonic energy], they will become far more troublesome adversaries."

"Furthermore, leaving them be would inflict grievous losses upon the lower-realm cultivators of the Vast Sea, which would ultimately impact our production of Five Elements Essence [a refined spiritual essence containing the power of the five elements: metal, wood, water, fire, and earth]."

Exquisite Jiang also nodded in agreement, pondering for a moment before speaking. "A mere handful of Infant Soul Early Stage Demonic Cultivator are not too great a threat. What worries me is the possibility of them forming an alliance with the Violet Jade Demon Emperor. That would undoubtedly bring us significant trouble."

"Then we must act swiftly." After a moment's consideration, Eldrin Chen declared. "Old Granduncle, your injuries are the most severe. You should enter seclusion to heal. The rest of us will purge the Demonic Cultivator from the Vast Sea."

"..."

The Demonic Cultivator stronghold in the Vast Sea was known as Blood Cavern Island.

This Blood Cavern Island had, many years ago, been a formidable Demonic Cultivator Forbidden Land [a place of great danger, often tainted by dark energies or sealed away].

However, later, when the Vast Sea Chen Clan relocated to this region, the then-magnificent and incomparable Chen Clan could not tolerate another power sleeping beside its own bed. Naturally, a war ensued, and the island was utterly swept clean.

After that, Blood Cavern Island languished in decline for several millennia. It was only in recent times that multiple Infant Soul Demonic Cultivator [practitioners who cultivate using demonic or unorthodox methods] have taken up residence here once more.

"This is Blood Cavern Island."

Outside Blood Cavern Island at this moment, Eldrin Chen gazed calmly at the demonic isle before him, a glint of killing intent flashing in his eyes.

By his side stood a full five True Lord [a powerful cultivator rank]: Exquisite Jiang, Kael Chen, Silas Chen, Elara Lin, and Lila.

Although Exquisite Jiang and Elara Lin had not yet fully recovered from their previous injuries, they could still muster the greater part of their combat strength. Their confidence in dealing with the four Infant Soul [a core cultivation realm] fiends of Blood Cavern Island was quite substantial.

Yet, upon arriving at the periphery of Blood Cavern Island, Eldrin Chen sensed something amiss. From the distant void, a group of figures was silently closing in, encircling them.

"Violet Jade Demon Emperor."

Eldrin Chen's pupils contracted slightly as he recognized the origin of the newcomers.

The arrivals were not just the Violet Jade Demon Emperor; accompanying him were two of his subordinate Demon Emperor [powerful rulers of demonkind]: the Hundred-Poison Celestial Scorpion and the Crimson Blood Demon Snake. Furthermore, there were four other Demon Emperor whom he was seeing for the first time.

Among those four Demon Emperors, two were newly ascended Demon Emperors cultivated by Violet Jade Demon Emperor in recent years, and the other two were figures clad in golden and silver scale armor respectively.

The newly ascended Demon Emperors were still of little concern, but as for the figures in the golden and silver scale armor, Eldrin Chen had a fair idea of their origins.

These two demons were known as the Gold and Silver Emperors. It was said they had attained the Dao from being a Golden Dragon Fish and a Silver Dragon Fish respectively, and their cultivation had already reached the lofty Infant Soul 6th Tier.

The Golden Dragon Fish and Silver Dragon Fish were both extraordinary, rare bloodlines within the Demon Race, their lineage not inferior in the slightest to that of flood dragons bearing Dragon Blood.

Coupled with their complementary spiritual energies, their combined strength was even sufficient to contend against a great power of the Infant Soul Late Stage.

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The Violet Jade Demon Emperor looked at Eldrin Chen and could not help but let out a roaring laugh.

It turned out that long ago, having learned from the lesson of being besieged by Eldrin Chen and his allies years prior, he had heeded the strategy of the Hundred-Poison Celestial Scorpion. He had begun cultivating new Demon Emperors while also befriending and rallying aid from the Demon Race to lend him a hand.

Now, three hundred years later, he had not only nurtured two new Infant Soul Demon Emperors but had also secured the assistance of the Gold and Silver Emperors.

At this moment, the Violet Jade Demon Emperor had brought a full seven Demon Emperors. Adding the four Infant Soul Demonic Cultivators from the Vast Sea, their side boasted a total of eleven Infant Soul True Lords, outnumbering the Chen Clan by five.

Seeing the grim expression on Eldrin Chen's face, the Violet Jade Demon Emperor sneered coldly, "Today, I shall let you taste the bitterness of being outnumbered."

"Attack!"

No sooner had the Violet Jade Demon Emperor's words fallen than he led the charge, surrounding and attacking them.

In the blink of an eye, a chaotic melee erupted in full force, with the various Infant Soul Cultivator [cultivators who have condensed their spiritual essence into a nascent soul] already locked in fierce combat.

Eldrin Chen faced the Violet Jade Demon Emperor alone. After exchanging over a dozen blows, he began to feel the pressure mounting.

The Chen Clan was at a severe disadvantage in this battle. He alone contended with the Violet Jade Demon Emperor, while Exquisite Jiang clashed with the Gold and Silver Emperors, and Kael Chen found himself besieged by both the Hundred-Poison Celestial Scorpion and the Crimson Blood Demon Snake.

The remaining two newly-ascended Demon Emperor [powerful rulers of demonkind] and four Infant SoulDemonic Cultivator [cultivators who follow demonic or unorthodox paths] joined forces, launching a concerted assault against Silas Chen, Elara Lin, and Lila.

Had they been at their peak, they might have held their ground. However, Exquisite Jiang's Lifebound Magical Treasure [a magical artifact intimately connected to a cultivator's life force] was not yet fully repaired, Lila's signature magical treasure, the Frost Soul Jade-Condensing Pagoda, had been destroyed, and the rest of their party bore grievous wounds.

If the battle continued in this manner, the members of the Chen Clan risked worsening their injuries, or even facing the peril of a fatal misstep.

With this thought flashing through his mind, Eldrin Chen could no longer afford to hold back. Resolutely, he summoned forth the Azure Abyss Sword.

After all, the Azure Abyss Sword was a Primordial Solar Spiritual Treasure [a supreme-grade magical treasure forged with the essence of the primordial sun]. Even though Eldrin Chen's spiritual power was insufficient to fully unleash it, the might it displayed when activated far surpassed that of any ordinary Spiritual Treasure [an enchanted artifact used by cultivators]. This chapter appears courtesy of audio-novel dot com.