Chapter 797 : Clash of Divine and Demonic Treasures

"Beware!"

In the span of a single breath, Maris the Sea Steader's countenance shifted dramatically.

This artifact wielded by Wang Clan Patriarch was named the 'Blood Demon Skull' [a malevolent enchanted artifact forged from the skulls of powerful cultivators], a notoriously brutal Spiritual Treasure [an enchanted artifact used by cultivators] of the Demonic Path [a cultivation path that embraces malevolent and destructive energies]. Its creation required harvesting the skulls of numerous high-ranking cultivators.

Unbeknownst to all, Wang Clan Patriarch had secretly mastered its use, refining it to the Sixth Rank [a high level of power for magical treasures] mid-grade realm—clear evidence of his hidden wicked deeds spanning many years.

As the Blood Demon Skull surged toward Eldrin Chen, Maris the Sea Steader, bereft of a Spiritual Treasure to parry the blow, could only channel his Lifebound Divine Ability [a powerful innate technique bonded to a cultivator's life force], 'Vast Sea Void-Sweeping Water' [a divine ability that conjures vast tidal forces], in a desperate attempt to block the assault.

Yet this Pure Yang Divine Ability [a divine ability powered by pure, righteous Yang energy] proved insufficient against the Blood Demon Skull; its surging tide of water was utterly extinguished and dissolved by the overwhelming tide of bloody aura.

Seeing the peril, Eldrin Chen swiftly unleashed both the Dual Polarity Divine Thunder [a cultivation art that harnesses the opposing forces of Yin and Yang thunder] and the Heavenly River Flood Water Sword [a magical sword that channels the power of a celestial river] to meet the attack.

However, his Mana [the spiritual energy used to power techniques and artifacts] reserves were ultimately insufficient. Such measures could not withstand the might of this Demonic Treasure [an artifact infused with demonic power], forcing him to raise his Twofold Divine Aegis [a dual-layered divine protective shield] as a final defense.

But with a sickening *crunch*, the Twofold Divine Aegis was pierced and shattered on the spot by the Blood Demon Skull. A residual wave of bloody light swept onward, aimed directly at Eldrin Chen.

"*Clang—!*" The complete novel can be found at audio-novel[dot]com.

In that life-or-death instant, the Earth-Fortress Sovereign Bell [a powerful defensive bell artifact], the Dual-Polarity Void Mirror [a mirror capable of manipulating spatial forces], and the Li Fire Sword of the Returning Abyss [a sword imbued with the power of the Li Fire trigram] instinctively moved to protect their master, barely managing to block the strike.

However, the Earth-Fortress Sovereign Bell was contaminated by the Blood Demon Skull [a sinister skull artifact radiating demonic energy]. An endless tide of bloody filth and Baleful Qi [a malevolent, destructive form of energy] invaded the treasure bell. Though it was refined away in moments by the Pure Yang Flame [a divine flame of pure, untainted Yang energy], the Spiritual Treasure [a sentient artifact of great power] was severely eroded, its spiritual essence greatly diminished.

Eldrin Chen had no time to mourn the damage to this Lifebound Spiritual Treasure [a spiritual treasure bound to its user's life force]. He swiftly drew Mana [the refined spiritual energy used by cultivators] from the Primordial Green Lotus Platform [a mystical platform shaped like an ancient lotus] and then activated his various Spiritual Treasure to engage the Blood Demon Skull in a fierce struggle.

"Futile resistance," the voice dripped with contempt.

The Wang Clan Patriarch's pupils contracted sharply. Without hesitation, he unleashed another Lifebound Divine Ability [a supreme technique intrinsically linked to the user's life and cultivation], determined to slay Eldrin Chen then and there.

Yet, in that very moment, a treasure scroll that blotted out the heavens descended from the sky, sweeping across the battlefield with an overwhelming, domineering force.

"The Long River Setting Sun Scroll!"

The Wang Clan Patriarch's face paled dramatically, but it was already too late.

Wherever the scroll passed, whether it was the Glacier Iron Corpses [corpse puppets forged from glacial iron] or the various Divine Ability [supreme techniques powered by profound cultivation], all were reduced to dust.

Even several lower-grade Pure Yang Spiritual Treasure [spiritual treasures infused with the pure essence of Yang energy] emitted mournful whimpers, their radiant glows dimming significantly.

In the span of a single clash, the Gold and Jade Wandering Snake Sword was sent flying, and the Blood Demon Skull shuddered violently, its radiance dimming.

"A Demonic Treasure [a powerful artifact forged through malevolent and bloody means]!"

Riverlord Chang descended through the void, his gaze icy as he declared, "Wretch! You, who once stood as a pillar of the Human Race, dare to betray your own kind?"

"Fortunately, this old man kept a trick up his sleeve!"

It turned out Riverlord Chang had been wary. Upon discovering the Immortal-Bewildering Mist had vanished, he immediately left his Second Nascent Soul [a cultivator's second, independently acting spiritual core] behind to continue exploring the Spirit Medicine Garden, while his true self slipped away unnoticed to intercept them.

Now that he had caught Morgrim Wang, Riverlord Chang held nothing back. He unleashed his full power, and the Long River Setting Sun Scroll unfurled like a vast world, its presence suppressing heaven and earth.

"BOOM—"

A deafening, earth-shaking roar echoed as a blazing Setting Sun manifested within the treasure scroll, bearing down upon the Blood Demon Skull. The demonic artifact's light grew perilously faint, and a web of cracks began to spider across its surface.

While artifacts of the Demonic Path [the path of cultivation that embraces malevolence and bloodshed for power] are fearsomely potent, most are crudely forged from inferior materials, lacking the indestructible resilience of orthodox Spiritual Treasure.

Witnessing the damage to his Blood Demon Skull, the Wang Clan Patriarch felt his heart sink. He knew in that moment the battle was lost.

This individual acted decisively, immediately intending to disengage and flee, but the Glacier Elder Demon was even faster.

The Lifebound Divine Ability cultivated by this Demonic Cultivator, the Frost Soul Rainbow Transformation Art [a Pure Yang Grade escape art], was a Pure Yang Grade Escape Art Divine Ability. Its speed was considered rare even among Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] cultivators.

Witness then, as the Glacier Elder Demon transformed into a streak of escaping light that cut across the Firmament. Abandoning his Glacier Iron Corpses to save his own life, he managed to escape with a burst of speed that overtook the other, leaving Morgrim Wang behind in that place.

"Damnation."

Morgrim Wang's heart sank. By the time he tried to flee, it was already too late.

Morgrim Wang could only attempt to escape via a light-based flight technique, but the Long River Setting Sun Scroll unfurled across the void, swallowing and sealing within its painted expanse mountains and rivers spanning tens of thousands of Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters]. For uninterrupted reading, go to audio-novel`com.

"Cleave—!"

In this life-or-death moment, Morgrim Wang still sought to resist desperately. He forcefully activated the Gold and Jade Wandering Snake Sword, sending it slashing through the void in a bid to carve a path through the encirclement.

Alas, his opponents naturally would not allow him to succeed. In that instant, the Azure Dragon Stirring the Sea Sword, the Heaven's Ruin Immortal-Slaying Sword, the Heavenly River Flood Water Sword, the Sea-Steadying Divine Pearl, and several other Pure Yang Spiritual Treasure [magical treasures of the highest Pure Yang Grade] sealed the void, leaving him with absolutely no avenue of retreat.

Cornered and with no way out, Morgrim Wang refused to simply await his fate. Seizing upon the force of the combined attacks directed at him, he chose to detonate and shatter his own Blood Demon Skull.

A mid-grade Pure Yang Demonic Treasure [an artifact forged with demonic energy] detonated, unleashing a boundless tide of blood and filth that drowned the void. The sanguine radiance even tainted several Spiritual Treasure [powerful enchanted artifacts], including the Long River Setting Sun Scroll.

As the price for this desperate act, the physical body of Morgrim Wang disintegrated amidst the cataclysmic light.

"*Whoosh—*"

With a sharp crack, seizing the moment when the spiritual essence of the several Pure Yang Spiritual Treasure [artifacts of the highest Yang purity] was damaged, the Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] of Morgrim Wang immediately fled its shattered vessel, attempting to escape the encircling foes.

In the outside world, Morgrim Wang could have torn through the fabric of space to flee. Here, however, spatial manipulation was impossible. His Primordial Spirit could only summon a Swiftflight Light [a swift, light-based flight technique] and streak towards the exit.

That single difference spelled the divide between life and death. A beam of frigid white light, brimming with glacial energy, shot forth and froze Morgrim Wang's Primordial Spirit solid in the void.

Riverlord Chang struck without hesitation. He channeled a Pure Yang Spiritual Treasure—the 'Setting Sun Divine Needle'—and brought it down, reducing the Primordial Spirit of the Wang Clan Patriarch to ashes on the spot.

With the Wang Clan Patriarch finally slain, the group collectively released a heavy sigh of relief.

Riverlord Chang retrieved his Gold and Jade Wandering Snake Sword, then glanced at Lila with a look of admiration. "Such extraordinary Frost Soul Mana [the spiritual energy used to power techniques]," he remarked, unable to hold back his praise. "It seems you have gained the greatest opportunity from this venture."

Indeed, at that critical moment, it was Lila who had activated her Lifebound Divine Ability [a unique, innate supernatural power]—'Frost Soul Divine Light'—freezing the Primordial Spirit of Morgrim Wang in place, allowing Riverlord Chang to deliver the fatal blow.

Seeing this, Eldrin Chen simply smiled faintly and said, "Senior, having visited the Spirit Medicine Garden [a garden cultivating rare spiritual herbs], you must have reaped a bountiful harvest as well."

"The gains were not insignificant."

Riverlord Chang could not help but stroke his beard. This time, he had obtained a Sixth Rank High Grade [a classification for extremely potent spiritual medicines] medicinal herb that had been extinct in the Purple Realm for tens of thousands of years. It could be refined into a Treasure Pill [a supreme-grade elixir] capable of facilitating a breakthrough to the Primordial Spirit, Late Stage [the advanced stage of cultivating one's spiritual core].

After departing this place, he now held a genuine hope of advancing to the Primordial Spirit, Late Stage realm.

Seeing the evident delight on everyone's faces, Maris the Sea Steader spoke up, "Let us lend our aid to the Drifting Snow Palace [a major sect], secure the various treasures, and then discuss their distribution."

With those words, the group arrived before the Artifact Refining Great Hall [a grand hall dedicated to forging magical artifacts] where the members of the Drifting Snow Palace were gathered.

By now, the defenses of the Grand Hall had been breached by the Drifting Snow Palace contingent. As they arrived, they saw the Master of the Drifting Snow Palace emerge, a precious cauldron in hand and an expression of profound joy upon his face.

"This is—!"

The moment his eyes fell upon that cauldron, Eldrin Chen's expression shifted dramatically.

With Eldrin Chen's discerning eye, he instantly recognized the extraordinary nature of this artifact. Its aura was scarcely inferior to the Ji Clan's legendary Immortal-Refining Furnace [a furnace of legendary power used in supreme alchemy]. Clearly, this too was a Quasi-Immortal Treasure [a magical artifact of near-immortal grade, possessing world-shaking power].

Master of the Drifting Snow Palace [the ruler of a major cultivation palace], noticing the expressions of those present, spoke up, "This artifact is named the Demon-Suppressing Cauldron [a legendary cauldron forged to suppress demonic forces]. It is a treasure left behind by the Ancient Immortals [powerful cultivators from a bygone era] to aid in weathering great calamities."

"Should I obtain this treasure, I vow to use it to suppress the Demonic Tribulation [a cataclysmic event involving the rise of demonic forces], and thus contribute my strength to the Human Race." Published by audio–novel.com. All rights reserved.