Chapter 749 : The Dragon's Hidden Abyss

The group continued their descent, discovering that the deeper they went, the more immense the Water Elemental Qi [the spiritual essence of the water element] became. Furthermore, spiritual energy began to appear, and soon its concentration even reached the level of a Fifth Rank [a high-grade spiritual land or resource].

Not long after, the four felt they had likely descended several million Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] before finally reaching the bottom of the abyssal pool.

In this deep abyss, Eldrin Chen beheld a wondrous world. All around were peculiar deep-sea creatures, each emitting points of dazzling, radiant light, illuminating the seabed realm in a spectacle of resplendent beauty.

Even more miraculous was the lingering draconic aura [the potent, majestic energy associated with dragons] within this deep pool, which had imbued many of the creatures born here with a trace of dragon lineage.

"With so much residual draconic aura here, could this be the legendary Dragon Transformation Pool [a mythical pool said to bestow draconic power or transformation]?"

Maris the Sea Steader murmured, his voice tinged with disbelief.

Upon hearing this, Eldrin Chen's pupils constricted sharply. Since arriving in the Southern Sea Cultivation World, he had gained a certain understanding of its lore.

The sea region they now found themselves in was named the Celestial Carp Sea, which, as the name implied, was the very place where the Celestial Carp had achieved its Dao [attained enlightenment and ascended to a higher state of being].

It was said that over one hundred thousand years ago, the Celestial Carp Sea was home to a prodigiously talented Demon Progenitor known as the Celestial Carp Demon Progenitor.

Its true form was that of a common carp. Through leaping the Dragon Gate [a mythical trial symbolizing transcendence] and continuously surpassing its limits, it ultimately evolved into a magnificent Crimson Dragon [a powerful, fire-aligned dragon] and ascended to immortality. This chapter appears courtesy of audio-novel.com.

That Celestial Carp Demon Progenitor never forgot its origins; even after transforming into a dragon, it still referred to itself as the Celestial Carp. Hence, this stretch of sea is also known as the Celestial Carp Sea.

The Dragon Transformation Pool, meanwhile, was the Daoist Assembly Ground [a sacred site where a cultivator or being undergoes profound enlightenment or transformation] of the Celestial Carp before its draconic metamorphosis. Though hundreds of millennia have passed, erasing any trace of Sixth Rank Spiritual Object [objects imbued with potent spiritual energy], a precious wisp of draconic aura [the residual, potent energy left by a true dragon] still lingers here, making it a coveted treasure land in the eyes of countless dragon-kin Demon Emperor within the Purple Realm.

Alas, the Daoist Assembly Ground of a demonic immortal is notoriously difficult to divine, leaving countless Demon Emperor to search in vain. Who could have imagined they would be the ones to discover it?

With this realization, Eldrin Chen drew a deep breath and said, "So it is a demonic immortal's Daoist Assembly Ground. No wonder it could evade the divinations of even a Nascent Soul Dao Lord. It seems we must proceed with even greater caution."

As they conversed, the group continued their search along the pool's floor for the lair of the Mystic Turtle Demon Race.

The Dragon Transformation Pool was narrow at the top and broad at the base, its interior space stretching for untold thousands of Li-length [one Li-length equals five hundred meters], forming a vast, submerged world unto itself.

The four of them followed the flow of the Water Essence Power [the concentrated, primordial energy of water], which finally led them to the very heart of this Water Vein [a subterranean channel or nexus of concentrated water-element spiritual energy].

There, at the core of that boundless Water Vein, a shimmering, translucent barrier arched like an inverted crystal bowl, cleaving the water from the seabed below.

Beneath this luminous dome, halls and pavilions stood in orderly array, with the central structures shrouded by the immense power of the endless Water Vein.

"A Quasi-Sixth Rank Water Vein," Eldrin Chen observed. "It appears the Mystic Turtle Demon Progenitor resides within."

Lyra Jiang's eyes narrowed slightly, her tone carrying a weight of solemnity as she spoke.

At that very moment, Eldrin Chen carefully surveyed the surroundings, then spoke with a furrowed brow: "The auras of four Demon Emperor [supreme rulers of demonic races], and a Quasi-Sixth Rank [a formation approaching the power of the sixth major cultivation realm] Mountain Guardian Grand Formation [a powerful defensive array that draws upon the strength of a mountain's spirit]. Yet, why do I not sense the presence of the Mystic Turtle Demon Progenitor?"

"BOOM—"

At that instant, from within the spring that was the source of the Water Vein [a concentrated channel of water-attributed spiritual energy] at the heart of the Earth Vein [a concentrated channel of earth-attributed spiritual energy], an immensely vast and majestic aura erupted.

That aura was profound and boundless, unfathomable as a vast ocean, coalescing into a force field that seemed capable of shaking the very heavens.

Simultaneously, from the Nine Heavens Above [a poetic term for the highest reaches of the sky], a dazzling golden radiance, brilliant and resplendent as the sun itself, began to descend, drawn inexorably downward by the pull of this burgeoning aura.

"Disaster! The Mystic Tortoise Demon Emperor is attempting a breakthrough to the Primordial Spirit realm [the spiritual core of a cultivator, representing a major advancement in power and longevity]!"

Maris the Sea Steader's face paled dramatically. He finally understood—they had unwittingly become the tribulation, the heavenly obstacle meant to block the Mystic Turtle Demon Progenitor's path to ascension.

No wonder he had sensed the Mystic Tortoise Demon Emperor's presence through that obscure, fateful connection. It was all a manifestation of the Heavenly Dao's tribulation. Even if he had not come, others would have been guided by the will of heaven to arrive and obstruct the Mystic Turtle Demon Progenitor's path to enlightenment.

Beside him, Eldrin Chen's expression also shifted. He drew a deep breath, then gazed into the distant depths of the sea and declared, "Green Flood Dragon Demon Emperor, how much longer do you intend to hide?"

"Your spiritual sense is remarkably potent."

At that very moment, from within the boundless depths of the sea, an immense, sky-obscuring azure Flood Dragon coiled its way toward them.

It turned out that moments before, as the Mystic Tortoise Demon Emperor began its attempt to break through to the Primordial Spirit [the highest spiritual core realm], both sides had inadvertently leaked a trace of their auras.

The Green Flood Dragon Demon Emperor coiled closer, its gaze sweeping over the group before it spoke with a detached tone, "The fact that we have all gathered here proves that this Mystic Tortoise holds the key to our own ascension. Blocking its path is an absolute necessity."

"The enmity born from blocking one's Dao [path to enlightenment] is akin to the murder of one's parents. Compared to that, the grievances between you and I are trivial. Should we not slay the Mystic Tortoise Demon Emperor first, and then divide the treasures amongst ourselves?"

Hearing the words of the Green Flood Dragon Demon Emperor, Eldrin Chen's pupils narrowed with a cold glint. Yet, he understood this was not the moment to confront the serpentine emperor. Original English translation available at www . audio-novel.com.

Maris the Sea Steader met his gaze and transmitted a silent message, "If we fight the Green Flood Dragon Demon Emperor now, the Mystic Tortoise Demon Emperor will most likely seize the opportunity to complete its breakthrough to Primordial Spirit."

"That tortoise holds the key to your own ascension, Brother. It is wiser to deal with the tortoise first, then turn our attention to the Green Flood Dragon Demon Emperor."

Eldrin Chen nodded in agreement. To truly slay the Green Flood Dragon Demon Emperor would require at least three Half-Step Primordial Spirit cultivators, each wielding a Pure Yang Spiritual Treasure [a supreme-grade artifact infused with pure Yang energy], and even then, there was a high chance it would escape with its life.

At best, they counted as two Half-Step Primordial Spirit cultivators with Pure Yang Spiritual Treasure. Defeating the Green Flood Dragon Demon Emperor was not the difficulty; the true challenge was preventing its escape. As long as the dragon emperor chose not to engage in a protracted fight, slaying it was nearly impossible.

With this thought, Eldrin Chen gave a slight nod and declared, "If that is the case, let us set aside our grievances for now and slay the Mystic Tortoise Demon Emperor first."

"Then let us act."

As the Green Flood Dragon Demon Emperor's words fell, it immediately summoned its Lifebound Spiritual Treasure, the 'Azure Dragon Heaven-Severing Blade', and cleaved towards the Mountain Guardian Grand Formation [the primary defensive array protecting the mountain].

Eldrin Chen and the others also joined the assault without hesitation, each unleashing their own Lifebound Spiritual Treasure [a cultivator's personally bonded and nurtured magical weapon] against the Formation. For a moment, their combined onslaught caused the Mountain Guardian Grand Formation to flicker and tremble violently under the barrage.

Yet, the power of this Sixth Rank Water Vein [a subterranean channel of potent water-attributed spiritual energy] combined with the Quasi-Sixth Rank Mountain Guardian Grand Formation proved truly formidable. It could withstand even a Nascent Soul Dao Lord [a cultivator who has formed their Nascent Soul, a higher state of being] for a short time, let alone a few cultivators at the Half-Step Primordial Spirit [a transitional stage just below the Primordial Spirit realm] level.

Knowing a greater battle lay ahead, the group was reluctant to waste the potency of their Pure Yang Spiritual Treasure [a treasure imbued with pure Yang energy, highly effective against Yin and demonic forces] on merely battering the Mountain Guardian Grand Formation. They struck dozens of times in succession, yet the formation remained unbroken. Finally, the Green Flood Dragon Demon Emperor could wait no longer.

A flicker of impatience crossed its features as it glared at the others and roared, "If we continue to hold back our true strength now, the Mystic Turtle Demon Progenitor will succeed in its breakthrough!"

"Then we strike with our full might."

As Maris the Sea Steader spoke, he immediately produced a Treasure Talisman [a powerful, single-use talisman artifact] specifically designed for breaking formations.

This formation-breaking Treasure Talisman was a treasured item hoarded by Maris the Sea Steader, its grade reaching the lofty Fifth Rank High Grade. As the talisman was unleashed with a thunderous impact upon the Earth Vein [a ley line of earth-attributed spiritual energy], the protective grand formation woven within it instantly dimmed, its radiance fading by a full thirty percent.

"A prime opportunity."

Seeing the protective grand formation's radiance wane drastically, Verdant Consort [a powerful demonic cultivator] summoned forth a dazzling thunder pearl and hurled it down upon the defensive barrier.

This pearl was named the Yi Wood Divine Thunder Pearl [a treasure containing immense wood-attributed thunder energy], its power nearing that of a single strike from a Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a high-level cultivator]. It instantly shattered the Mountain Guardian Grand Formation [a powerful defensive array] nearly to pieces.

Seizing the moment, Verdant Consort unleashed her 'Crimson Gold Barrier-Breaking Qi Shuttle' [a piercing projectile of crimson and gold energy]. With a thunderous roar, it completely fragmented the remnants of the Mountain Guardian Grand Formation.

"Protect the Ancient Ancestor [the venerable progenitor of their lineage] as he completes his Dao [the path to enlightenment]!"

As the grand formation collapsed, four Demon Emperor [rulers of demon tribes] from the island, leading countless members of their Demonic Tribe [a clan or society of demons], surged forward to meet the threat. For uninterrupted reading, go to audi novel.com.