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

He silently swept his gaze over the group. After a glance at the Azure Abyss Sword 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 Azure Flood Dragon Demon Emperor did not attack. Baring its fangs and brandishing its claws, it soared into the depths of the void.

Only after the Azure Flood Dragon Demon Emperor departed did the group finally let out a deep, collective breath.

Exquisite Jiang collected the spoils of war, her expression tinged with excitement as she said, "It seems your prediction was correct. That Azure Flood Dragon Demon Emperor was all too eager to kick Golden-Winged Great Roc Demon Emperor while he was down."

"If the Azure Flood Dragon Demon Emperor hadn't been lurking in the shadows today, that Golden-Winged Great Roc Demon Emperor might very well have escaped."

Eldrin Chen shook his head with a smile. "In the eyes of the Azure Flood Dragon Demon Emperor, the Golden-Winged Great Roc is a mortal enemy on the path to the Dao. We, by comparison, are far less significant."

The group spoke no more. After swiftly scouring the battlefield, they turned their attention to besieging the remaining few Spirit Mountain [mountains imbued with potent spiritual energy].

In this battle, the Golden-Winged Great Roc Clan was nearly annihilated. Of their six Infant Soul Demon Emperor [Demon Emperors at the Infant Soul cultivation stage], only one at the Infant Soul Mid Stage managed to flee.

However, judging by the direction in which the Azure Flood Dragon Demon Emperor departed, that last survivor's fate was likely sealed. For the best reading experience, visit audio‑novel.com.

Eldrin Chen led the forces to capture Golden Wing Peak and then advanced towards Divine Bird Peak, intending to completely seize the territory of the Golden-Winged Great Roc Clan.

Without an Infant Soul Demon Emperor to anchor their defenses, the Golden-Winged Great Roc Clan was powerless to stop the assault. Before long, all four of their Spirit Mountain [mountains rich with spiritual energy] had fallen.

Once the four Spirit Mountain were fully secured, Eldrin Chen gathered with the other leaders within the Demon Emperor's Great Hall atop Divine Bird Peak.

Seated at the head of the assembly, Eldrin Chen cast his gaze over the dozen or so Infant Soul True Lord [powerful cultivators at the Infant Soul stage] present. A faint smile touched his lips as he spoke, "Now that the battle is concluded, let us deliberate on the spoils of this campaign."

"Indeed, it is time," the others agreed.

Nods rippled through the group, and expressions of keen anticipation lit their faces.

Seeing their readiness, Eldrin Chen casually passed a ledger to the assembly. "Here is the tally of our gains," he said with a smile. "Review it first."

The three True Lord from the Heavenly Star Sect opened the ledger. A glance was enough to bring satisfied smiles to their faces.

According to the registry, the captured resources were divided into three main categories: fixed assets such as the Spirit Mountain and Earth Vein [underground spiritual energy channels]; Spiritual Treasure [enchanted artifacts] and materials harvested from the Demon Beasts; and various items including Spirit Herb [plants imbued with spiritual energy].

Among these, the fixed assets were of paramount importance. They included four Fifth Rank Spirit Mountain [mountains of the fifth spiritual grade] and two Fifth Rank Earth Vein [fifth-grade underground spiritual energy channels].

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 [the lower tier of the fifth major cultivation rank] Spiritual Vein [a subterranean channel that concentrates and emits spiritual energy]. Only Divine Bird Peak held a Fifth Rank High-Grade Spiritual Vein [the higher, more potent tier of the fifth-rank spiritual vein].

Of the two Earth Vein [a vein of concentrated earthly spiritual energy, often associated with specific elemental properties], one was a Fifth Rank Low-Grade Wood Vein [an Earth Vein attuned to the Wood element] beneath Golden Wing Peak. The Earth Vein under Divine Bird Peak, however, was a Fifth Rank High-Grade Golden Origin Earth Vein [an Earth Vein of exceptional purity, rich in metallic and foundational energies].

Seeing this, Eldrin Chen spoke directly. "Among these Spirit Mountain and Earth Vein, our Chen Clan [a prominent cultivation family] claims Divine Bird Peak and Golden Wing Peak. What say you?"

"I have no objection."

Ethereal Mistress Ling was the first to voice her agreement. That the Chen Clan would want Divine Bird Peak was within everyone's expectations.

Among these sites, Divine Bird Peak, with its Fifth Rank High-Grade Spiritual Vein and Earth Vein, held value far exceeding the other three Spirit Mountain combined. Since the Chen Clan claimed both Divine Bird Peak and Golden Wing Peak, the others found little grounds for dispute.

Seventeen Infant Soul [the cultivation realm where one's nascent soul is formed and nurtured] cultivators had participated in the battle. Seven of these were True Lord [a title for powerful Infant Soul cultivators] from the Chen Clan, and all four combatants at the Infant Soul Late Stage [the advanced phase of the Infant Soul realm] were also from their ranks. It was only natural they would claim the lion's share.

With the Chen Clan taking the major portion, Heavenly Star Sect [a major cultivation sect] and Ethereal Mistress Ling then stepped forward, securing Earth Tremor Valley and Blazing Fire Island respectively to serve as secondary Path-Field [a cultivator's primary base of operations and territory].

With the fixed assets thus divided, the group turned their attention to the next items.

In this battle, they had slain five Infant Soul Demon Emperor [a Demon Emperor whose power is equivalent to the Human Infant Soul realm]. Their spoils included five Demon Emperor [a ruler among demonic beings] corpses, four Demon Emperor Infant Soul [the crystallized nascent soul core of a slain Demon Emperor, a valuable cultivation material], and ten Spiritual Treasure [powerful enchanted artifacts used by cultivators].

Among the five Demon Emperor [a title for a powerful ruler of demonic beings] physical bodies, aside from that of the Golden-Winged Great Roc Demon Emperor [a powerful demonic sovereign with golden wings], only one was at the Infant Soul Mid Stage [the middle phase of the Infant Soul cultivation realm], while the remaining three were all at the Infant Soul Early Stage [the initial phase of the Infant Soul cultivation realm] Demon Emperor.

Of the ten Spiritual Treasure [enchanted artifacts of significant power], two were Superior Spiritual Treasure [a high-grade classification of enchanted artifacts], with the rest being mid or Inferior-Grade Spiritual Treasure [a lower-grade classification of enchanted artifacts]. To Eldrin Chen, none of these were particularly remarkable.

Of those two Superior Spiritual Treasure, one was a golden Great Halberd [a large polearm weapon]. This weapon was forged from Fifth Rank Arcane Gold [a fifth-tier mystical metal], using an exceptionally large quantity of material. Eldrin Chen estimated it could be reforged into two Immortal Sword [swords of legendary, near-divine quality] of the same rank.

The second was a suit of golden battle armor. This treasure was named the 'Impenetrable Mysterious Gold Armor' [Armor of Unyielding Arcane Gold]. It was also forged from Arcane Gold [a mystical metal], constituting a superior-grade Defensive Spiritual Treasure [an enchanted artifact specialized for protection].

Beyond these two Superior Spiritual Treasure, the Golden-Winged Great Roc Demon Emperor possessed no other artifacts of that caliber.

Yet one should not think the Golden-Winged Great Roc Demon Emperor was impoverished. The reason he had only two Superior Spiritual Treasure was because he had been intent on refining them into two Quasi-Primordial Solar Spiritual Treasure [artifacts approaching the legendary Primordial Solar grade]. Your portal to cultivation novels: AUDIO-NOVEL.COM.

The amount of high-grade materials used in the Impenetrable Mysterious Gold Armor and the golden Great Halberd was so vast it would have been sufficient to forge four or five ordinary Superior Spiritual Treasure.

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

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

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

He took the Impenetrable Mysterious Gold Armor and the golden Great Halberd, then said with a smile, "The material of these two treasures is of exceptional quality. I intend to take them back for study, to see if I can elevate my Artifact Forging Art to the level of Quasi-Sixth Rank."

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

Hearing this, naturally no one had any objections. They proceeded to divide the remaining eight Spiritual Treasure among themselves.

Regarding the remaining Demon Emperor carcass and Infant Soul, Exquisite Jiang glanced over them and claimed the feathers and body of the Half-Step Primordial Spirit Realm [a cultivator whose spirit has partially transcended the mortal coil] entity. She showed no interest in the rest.

The feathers of the Golden-Winged Great Roc Demon Emperor were extraordinary, still imbued with the Innate Divine Ability [a powerful technique inherent to a being's nature] 'Golden Wing Divine Light Slash' from its quasi-Primordial Solar Realm [a realm approaching the power of the primordial sun] cultivation. They held the potential to be forged into a Quasi-Primordial Solar Spiritual Treasure [a treasure approaching the power of artifacts from the Primordial Solar Realm], a prospect Exquisite Jiang was naturally unwilling to pass up.

Once the group had thoroughly divided the Demon Emperor remains, Eldrin Chen spoke directly, "My alchemical skills are the highest among us. This Demon Emperor Infant Soul [the condensed spiritual core of a slain Demon Emperor] shall go to me."

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

After a moment's consideration, the others nodded in agreement to his proposal.

Following this division of spoils, among the high-grade treasures they had seized, only a dozen or so Fifth Rank Spirit Herb [plants imbued with potent spiritual energy] remained.

Eldrin Chen selected two of the Tribulation Crossing Flower [a rare flower said to aid in surviving heavenly tribulations] and four stalks of Spirit Nurturing Grass [an herb that nourishes and stabilizes the cultivator's spirit], considering his haul quite substantial.

That Spirit Nurturing Grass is one of the key auxiliary ingredients for refining the Primordial Spirit Pill [a supreme elixir for advancing one's Primordial Spirit], its value is exceedingly high. It was clearly a treasure prepared by the Golden-Winged Great Roc Demon Emperor for a future breakthrough to the Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core realm of a cultivator].

After the treasures were divided, the Sect Master of the Heavenly Star Sect cupped his hands and said, "I must still arrange personnel to take control of the Spiritual Vein [a subterranean channel rich with spiritual energy], so I shall not linger here any longer."

"I am the same; I must return and arrange to take possession of that Spirit Mountain [a mountain imbued with potent spiritual energy]," another added.

Ethereal Mistress Ling also rose to her feet, preparing to depart.

"Then I shall not detain you all any further," came the reply.

Eldrin Chen offered a slight smile and stood to see the guests off.

Once everyone had left, Ethan Chen moved closer to Eldrin Chen and whispered, "Uncle Eldrin, it seems there is something remarkable within the Earth Vein [a powerful terrestrial energy leyline]." Original publication: audio‑novel.com - The source of this chapter.