Chapter 715 : The Ancient's Timeless Wisdom

Simultaneously, deep within the Eastern Sea [the vast eastern ocean of this cultivation world], in the heart of the Black Tortoise Sea Region [a sea domain named for the legendary Black Tortoise], two figures, one old and one young, sat calmly across from each other, engaged in a game of strategy.

The elder was hunched over, his hair a stark white, appearing as weathered and ancient as a piece of driftwood on the verge of crumbling to dust.

His brow twitched slightly as he gazed into the distant void, speaking with a tranquil voice, "That young scion of the Ji Clan has finally made his move against Blood God [a powerful and malevolent demonic cultivator]."

The youth's own brow furrowed. After a long moment of contemplation, he finally spoke, "Patriarch, this battle will reshape the very landscape of the Eastern Sea. It is the perfect moment for you to intervene."

"If the Ji Clan [a prominent human cultivation clan] reclaims Blood God Island [a strategic island stronghold], the power of the Eastern Sea Human Race [the collective term for human cultivators] will surge. They will inevitably begin to encroach upon our Demon Race [the collective term for demonic beasts and cultivators] territories, piece by piece. Why do you merely watch, turning a blind eye to this conflict?"

Hearing this, the elder set down the piece in his hand and shook his head. "Conflict with others inevitably sows the seeds of enmity. The reason this old bones has endured for one hundred and seventy thousand years is by forging bonds of goodwill, not by brandishing strength and seeking battle."

"Over the ages, how many peerless geniuses, unmatched for ten thousand years, have fallen on their journey towards the Path [the ultimate Dao or way of cultivation]? I alone have survived to this day, and it is precisely because I choose to walk the path of peace."

The youth frowned, unable to hold back his words. "But if the Human Race grows too powerful, our Demon Race will surely suffer."

"Foolish child, what is this 'Demon Race' you speak of?"

Black Tortoise Patriarch [the ancient and venerable leader of the Black Tortoise lineage] shook his head with a bitter smile. "The so-called Demon Race is merely a label for the myriad races of the world. Dragons do not dwell with serpents; the Great Roc [a mighty avian demon beast] finds no companionship among the sparrows of the forest. We are not of a single race—our lineages differ, and many are mortal enemies. How can we possibly be considered one unified clan?" Immerse yourself in the complete world at www . audio-novel.com.

"The so-called Demon Race is merely a collective designation imposed upon our myriad races by the powerful Purple Seal Realm Human Race, a means to distinguish themselves from the ten thousand clans and proclaim their favored, noble status bestowed by heaven and earth."

"Since the Demon Race is fundamentally comprised of myriad races, true unity is an impossibility." The Black Tortoise Patriarch spoke with measured calm, then continued serenely, "The innate natures of the myriad races differ vastly—some are malevolent, others are benign."

"Some races harbor an irreconcilable enmity towards the Human Race, while others possess the potential for coexistence."

The youth listened intently, then ventured hesitantly, "Are you suggesting that once the Human Race of the Eastern Sea consolidates its power, they will not turn against us?"

"Precisely." The Black Tortoise Patriarch placed a piece upon the board, his tone detached. "When Imperial Sovereign Jiang achieved his Dao [the supreme path of cultivation and enlightenment], this old turtle contributed significant effort. Most lineages of the Human Race's Immortal Path Lineage [the orthodox path of immortal cultivation] also share some acquaintance with me."

"Otherwise, do you believe that with my strength alone, I could have wrested the Path-Field [a territory imbued with a cultivator's spiritual influence and authority] of the Eastern Sea Azure Dragon from the grasp of an Immortal like Imperial Sovereign Jiang?"

"Such intricate Karma [the cosmic law of cause and effect governing all actions] exists?" The youth drew a sharp breath, casting a look of astonishment at the Black Tortoise Patriarch. "With such connections, Patriarch, no wonder you have held sway over the Purple Seal Realm for nearly two hundred thousand years."

"A mere clinging to survival can hardly be called holding sway over the world."

The Black Tortoise Patriarch shook his head slowly, his voice regaining its placid tone. "As long as the Outer Realm Heavenly Demon [demonic beings from beyond this world] do not breach our defenses, let the cultivators of the human, demon, and fiendish paths squabble as they will. So long as they do not disturb this old one's cultivation, I shall pay them no mind."

"..."

Yet deep within the Distant Sea Cultivation World, in the Soaring Serpent Sea Region and the Great Roc Sea Region, astonishing conjectures were also taking shape.

The Soaring Serpent Demon Ancestor, blocked mid-air by a single figure, sneered coldly, "Having fallen to demonic cultivation yet still laboring for the Human Race... a pity you've forsaken a brilliant future. You shall never glimpse the realms of Immortal or Demon in this lifetime."

"What matter Immortal or Demon? This old man seeks only to guard a corner of peace under heaven."

There, Longgu Path Master laid out a board for a game of Go [a strategic board game of territorial capture], his gaze calm and detached as he studied the layout. "Brother Soaring Serpent," he said, "with our level of cultivation, a fight to the death would likely prove inconclusive."

"Rather than waste our strength for mutual ruin, why not settle this over a game?"

Meanwhile, within the Great Roc Sea Region, two Great Roc Demon Ancestor were preparing to set out when they sensed two immensely powerful presences manifest within the depths of the void.

The Azure-Winged Great Roc Demon Ancestor furrowed his brow, then sat back down with a resigned shake of his head. "Enough," he sighed. "For the sake of a mere Blood God Patriarch, it's not worth engaging the Human Race in a war of annihilation."

Deep within the Eastern Sea, inside the Crystal Dragon Palace, an elegant White Dragon regarded the figure before it, its expression profoundly complex. "I wondered how the Purple Radiance Thunder Dragon Jade could have transformed into a dragon. I never imagined it was someone's Second Primordial Spirit [a cultivator's second, independently formed spiritual core, capable of separate existence and cultivation].

"Should I address you as Purple Radiance Thunder Dragon, or as Sage Lord Dorian?"

"What meaning does such a distinction hold now?"

The thunder dragon, shimmering with Purple Heavenly Thunderclap [a divine lightning technique], coiled and danced through the air, its voice laced with complexity as it declared, "I must stop you. If you intervene in this battle, my true self will likely fail to seize the Blood God Sea Region."

"Very well," the White Dragon [a powerful dragon sovereign] snarled, its tone sharp with humiliation and fury. "I considered you my Dao companion [a cultivation partner], yet you have been scheming against me from the very beginning."

"Since that is the case," it continued, its voice turning icy, "I shall imprison you within this dragon palace. You will never again leave the White Dragon Sea."

At this, the Purple Radiance Thunder Dragon [a thunder dragon of violet brilliance] grew flustered, stammering in surprise, "My lady, let us discuss this calmly."

"…"

Setting aside the affairs of the several Demon Ancestor [ancient and powerful demonic beings], within the Blood God Sea Region, a great battle was now poised to erupt. Your portal to cultivation novels: audio_novel.com.

With the fall of Blood God Island, two Primordial Spirit Patriarch [powerful cultivators whose souls have ascended to a primordial state] charged forward at the forefront. They immediately unleashed their Divine Ability [supernatural techniques powered by divine will] and Spiritual Treasure [enchanted artifacts of immense power], their attacks converging upon the Blood God Island Patriarch.

Facing the assault of the two, the Blood God Patriarch showed not a trace of fear. Though fighting one against two, his cultivation had reached the Primordial Spirit 3rd Tier [the third stage of the Primordial Spirit realm], allowing him to withstand their combined onslaught without yielding an inch.

"First, we exterminate the Demonic Cultivator [cultivators who follow a dark, demonic path]. Then, we lend our aid to the Path Lord [a master who has comprehended a fundamental Dao Path]."

It was at this moment that the Grand Elder of Ji Clan spoke, his voice cutting through the chaos.

At his command, hundreds of Infant Soul True Lord [powerful cultivators at the Infant Soul stage] surged forth in pursuit of the Demonic Cultivator [practitioners of dark, demonic arts] True Lord [a title for cultivators at the True Lord stage].

The Demonic Cultivator from Blood God Island [a stronghold of demonic cultivators] were nearly countless, yet those at the Infant Soul [a core cultivation stage] level numbered only around one hundred. Now, facing pursuit by several times their number of Human Race [the collective of human cultivators] Infant Soul, they were inevitably forced onto the defensive.

With Eldrin Chen and the others joining the fray, the Demonic Path [the path of demonic cultivation] practitioners were swiftly beaten back, their lines crumbling.

"This is bad!"

Blood God Patriarch [the supreme leader of the Blood God Island demonic cultivators] immediately sensed the peril. Demonic Cultivator were largely selfish and self-serving; faced with a battle they were bound to lose, they would scatter and flee in short order.

With that thought, Blood God Old Freak [another name for the Blood God Patriarch] unleashed eight Blood Demon Clone [avatars formed from condensed blood and demonic energy] to descend upon the battlefield.

Given Blood God Patriarch's cultivation at the Primordial Spirit 3rd Tier [the third tier of the Primordial Spirit stage], the manifested Blood Demon Clone were immensely powerful, each possessing combat prowess comparable to a Half-Step Primordial Spirit [a cultivator on the verge of breaking into the Primordial Spirit stage].

As these eight Blood Demon Clone joined the fight, they slaughtered over a dozen Infant Soul True Lord in mere moments.

"Beware the Blood Demon Clone!"

A Half-Step Primordial Spirit from the Eastern Sea Cultivation World [the cultivation realm of the Eastern Sea region] shouted a warning and charged forward to intercept one of the Blood God Avatar [another term for the Blood Demon Clone].

Within the Eastern Sea Cultivation World [the vast oceanic realm where cultivators reside and seek enlightenment], there were only around ten cultivators at the Half-Step Primordial Spirit [a stage just below the true Primordial Spirit realm] level. In this battle, a full three of these half-step Primordial Spirit Cultivator [a cultivator whose spiritual core has begun its profound transformation] had joined the fray. They stepped forward one after another, successfully intercepting three of the Blood Demon Clone [a sinister duplicate body formed from condensed blood and demonic energy].

Eldrin Chen swept his gaze across the battlefield. Four of the terrifying Blood Demon Clone still rampaged unchecked. Their power was staggering; without strength equivalent to the Infant Soul Late Stage [the advanced phase of the Infant Soul cultivation stage], it was impossible to hold them back. For a moment, the assembled forces were helpless, pressed down by the clones' ferocious onslaught.

Seeing the situation grow critical, Eldrin Chen stepped forward without hesitation. Resolve hardening his features, he launched himself toward one of the remaining Blood Demon Clone, his own spiritual energy surging to meet the demonic threat. For uninterrupted reading, go to audio–novel.com.