Chapter 858 : The Blood Phoenix's Descent

"Screech—"

Before the gathered cultivators could even catch their breath, the void was rent asunder once more. A Blood Phoenix [a demonic beast corrupted by blood and malice, resembling a phoenix] soared into the sky, its trajectory aimed directly at the Guyuan Mountain Range.

"That fire phoenix from the Southern Sea?"

Maris the Sea Steader's pupils contracted slightly as he asked with a trace of uncertainty.

Lyra Jiang gave a nod and began recounting the origins of this demonic beast. "The Fire Phoenix Demon Progenitor was originally a Nest-Stealing Cuckoo [a parasitic bird known for laying its eggs in other birds' nests]. It only transformed into an impure-blooded fire phoenix after stealing and absorbing a portion of the primordial essence from an Immortal-grade Phoenix Egg."

"This vile creature was originally enlightened by an Extraterrestrial Demon God [a powerful demonic entity from beyond this realm] as part of a scheme against the Fire Phoenix Immortal. Its current fall from grace and transformation into a Blood Phoenix was, in hindsight, almost inevitable."

Now understanding the chain of events, Maris the Sea Steader sighed. "Judging by its bearing, its Life Soul [the core of its life force and destiny] has likely been completely subjugated by that Extraterrestrial Demon God. Today, it comes here seeking death, with the sole purpose of eliminating Brother Eldrin."

As his words faded, Maris the Sea Steader shot into the air. He summoned his Sea-Steadying Divine Pearl [a divine treasure capable of calming the seas and stabilizing space], its power lashing out to intercept the void and block the path of the Blood Phoenix Demon Progenitor.

In that very same instant, from the depths of the void, a Demonic Ship [a massive vessel crafted from demonic materials and powered by malevolent energies] tore through space, arriving with a violent shudder.

Upon the deck of that Demonic Ship stood over a dozen figures—Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon [powerful demons originating from beyond the mortal realm]. The one at their forefront radiated an aura of overwhelming, terrifying power. It was none other than the Garuda Heavenly Demon. Support the author by reading on audio~novel.com.

"Stay vigilant! We shall defend according to the formation's plan!"

Lyra Jiang immediately cautioned, rallying everyone to activate the Mountain Guardian Grand Formation. They clashed with over a dozen Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon [demonic beings from beyond this realm].

Fortunately, the Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon were not at their full strength. Of the three Primordial Spirit, Late Stage [cultivators who have reached the late stage of the Primordial Spirit realm] among them, one remained guarding the Cosmic Star Archipelago, another blocked the path outside the Horizon Sea Pavilion, leaving only the Garuda Heavenly Demon [a powerful avian demon] at the Primordial Spirit, Late Stage stage to lead the assault.

Relying on the Mountain Guardian Grand Formation, they managed to barely hold the line against the Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon.

Seeing he could not breach the Mountain Guardian Grand Formation and wary of the Immortal-Refining Furnace's [a legendary artifact capable of refining even immortals] might, the Garuda Heavenly Demon let out a cold laugh. "You spectators in the shadows," he called out, "if not now, when will you strike?"

"Patience, Fellow Daoist [a respectful term for a fellow cultivator]!"

A mocking voice echoed from the void. From the depths of space, three figures stepped forth one after another.

The leader wore blood-red robes and possessed peerlessly elegant features—it was none other than the Blood God Ancient Ancestor, whose name shook the world. The other two were the Profound Sun Daoist and the Rising Sun Dao Lord [a title for a powerful cultivator], both from the Fang Immortal Clan.

The moment he saw them, Dorian Ji's gaze turned icy. He raised the Immortal-Refining Furnace to deter the enemies, his voice laced with palpable killing intent. "Gentlemen," he challenged, "dare you test the might of the Immortal-Refining Furnace?"

"This..."

For a moment, even Blood God Ancient Ancestor and the two Dao Lord from the Fang Immortal Clan [a powerful clan of cultivators] could not help but reveal looks of astonishment.

As one of the mere six treasures in the world approaching the level of an Immortal Treasure [a supreme artifact of immense power], the might of the Immortal-Refining Furnace [a legendary furnace capable of refining even immortals] was beyond doubt. At its full awakening, even a Ninth Layer Nascent Soul [the pinnacle stage of the Nascent Soul realm] cultivator would be grievously wounded; one would need at least the strength of the Primordial Spirit, Late Stage [the advanced stage of the Primordial Spirit realm] to withstand it.

Though their own power was extraordinary, none of them dared to face the Immortal-Refining Furnace head-on.

Just as they hesitated, a cold sneer echoed through the void.

"Though the Immortal-Refining Furnace is formidable, without a Primordial Spirit, Late Stage mighty one to channel it, how many times can it truly awaken to its full power?"

The newcomer wore robes of black and crimson, his stature imposing and majestic, exuding an aura that seemed to press down upon heaven and earth itself.

He strode forward with casual steps, his eyes icy as he declared, "During the journey to the Demonic Abyss Cataclysm [a great calamity involving a demonic abyss], this treasure fully awakened once."

"Later, at the Horizon Sea Pavilion [the Pavilion at the Horizon's Edge], the Immortal-Refining Furnace slew the Violet Blood Heaven-Demon [a powerful celestial demon] with another full awakening. Now, what fraction of its combat power can the Immortal-Refining Furnace possibly retain?"

"Blood Demon Ancient Ancestor!"

As soon as the newcomer finished speaking, the others finally grasped his identity.

That Blood God Ancient Ancestor [a powerful demonic cultivator who draws power from blood and sacrifice] immediately paled, his face a mask of utter terror as he cried out, "You old fiend, Blood Demon Ancient Fiend [a terrifying elder demon who practices blood magic]! You're not dead?"

"My dear disciple," the voice echoed, thick with malice, "your master has been thinking of you, yearning for you, for these many Millennium [a period of one thousand years]."

The moment he laid eyes on the Blood God Ancient Ancestor, Blood Demon Ancient Fiend let out a cold, grating laugh. From the crown of his head, several streaks of crimson light shot forth, lunging towards his former disciple with predatory speed.

The Blood God Ancient Ancestor let out a shrill, inhuman shriek and tried to tear open the fabric of space to flee.

But who was Blood Demon Ancient Ancestor [the supreme progenitor of blood demonic arts]? This monster had once been the foremost figure of the Demonic Path [the collective term for all demonic cultivation sects and practices] in the Purple Realm [a vast and ancient cultivation continent]. A titan who had vied for supremacy with Jiang the Sovereign Emperor [a legendary human emperor] and was spoken of in the same breath as Eastern Sovereign [a mythical sovereign ruler]. Naturally, he had prepared countless contingencies.

That Blood God Ancient Fiend cultivated the Blood Demon Reincarnation Grand Art [a supreme demonic art that allows the practitioner to be reborn through the blood and cultivation of others], a technique designed by the ancient fiend himself to turn disciples into cultivation resources. As he tried to escape, he suddenly felt his Mana [the cultivated spiritual energy used to power techniques and spells] violently reverse. In an instant, he was enveloped by a swirling sphere of bloody light. Continue reading this story at audi novel.com.

After mere moments, the Spiritual Sense [a cultivator's spiritual awareness and perception] of the Blood God Ancient Fiend flickered and died, extinguished. He had become nothing more than another Blood God Avatar [a powerful blood clone or manifestation] for Blood Demon Ancient Ancestor.

Having refined and absorbed the Blood God Ancient Fiend, Blood Demon Ancient Ancestor felt his Mana surge dramatically. His power had already recovered to the level of the seventh layer of the Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core and highest essence of a cultivator, representing a profound stage of power] realm.

With a sinister sneer, his gaze fell upon the distant Immortal-Refining Furnace [a legendary cauldron capable of refining even immortals]. "Today, I, Blood Demon Ancient Ancestor, return to this world," he declared, his voice resonating with ancient malice. "The Eastern Wastelands [a vast, desolate region] shall be bathed in blood. The glory of the Blood Demon Divine Cult [an ancient and feared demonic sect] shall be reborn!"

"*Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!*"

As his words fell, the Blood Demon Ancient Ancestor [a powerful ancient demonic cultivator] immediately manifested several Blood God [a title for a powerful blood-path demonic entity] clones, each possessing combat power rivaling the Primordial Spirit, Early Stage [the initial stage of the Primordial Spirit realm, a high level of cultivation].

A chaotic melee erupted once more, and the situation grew increasingly desperate and tangled.

This was highly unfavorable for Eldrin Chen. Initially, the defenders had barely managed to hold off the assaults of the Extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon [a powerful demon from beyond this world] and his allies by relying on the Mountain Guardian Grand Formation [a powerful defensive formation].

Now, with the arrival of the Blood Demon Ancient Ancestor and others—especially the Blood Demon Ancient Ancestor himself, this Demonic Path Patriarch [a supreme leader of the demonic path]—the tide had turned. Not only had his main body recovered its Primordial Spirit, Late Stage [the advanced stage of the Primordial Spirit realm] combat power, but his several avatars were also no weaker than beings at the Primordial Spirit, Early Stage level.

Just as the situation grew dire beyond measure, the void was torn asunder once more, and a deafening, earth-shaking draconic roar echoed through the heavens.

All witnesses beheld a blindingly radiant violet thunder dragon soaring through the torn void, charging directly toward the gathered Demonic Cultivator [practitioners of demonic cultivation arts].

The appearance of the Violet Radiance Thunder Dragon [a mighty dragon composed of violet thunder energy] alone would have been startling, but it was followed closely by a peerlessly beautiful woman with draconic horns emerging from her forehead. She strode through the air and, with a mere gesture, summoned an Immortal Sword [a sword of immortal-grade power] to cleave through the sky toward the Blood Demon Ancient Ancestor.

"Frost Drake Demon Progenitor [the progenitor of the frost drake demon race, a being of immense power]!"

Seeing a Primordial Spirit, Late Stage mighty one arrive to aid them, the defenders could not help but let out a collective sigh of relief. Their fighting spirit, however, burned even fiercer within their hearts.

Following closely behind, another figure emerged from the endless void. It was the Verdant Daoist [a Daoist title meaning 'Green' or 'Verdant'], who had now chosen to walk the path of the Ghost Immortal [a unique and potent branch of immortal cultivation focusing on spectral and soul-based powers].

After Verdant Daoist switched to cultivating the Ghost Immortal [a path of cultivation focused on spectral and soul-based powers] path, he faced no competition for faith and offerings within the Purple Realm [a specific spiritual plane or domain]. His cultivation advanced by leaps and bounds, and he has now astonishingly reached the Nascent Soul Fourth Layer realm.

He also brought a vast host of Spectral Soldiers and Ghost Generals [ethereal warriors and commanders bound to a ghost cultivator's will] with him. For a time, they held back several Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a high-level cultivator] Demonic Monsters, significantly easing the pressure on everyone.

At that very moment, high in the boundless Firmament, the golden sun plummeted with ever-increasing speed. The moment for the Celestial Soul Return [a supreme technique to recall and restore a celestial soul] was now but a breath away.

"Break through to Primordial Spirit?"

Simultaneously, within the Extraterrestrial Starry Sky [the cosmos beyond the known world], the Extraterrestrial Demon God [a powerful demonic entity from beyond this realm] abruptly opened its eyes.

Its pupils reflected the scene unfolding atop Gu Yuan Mountain. After a moment's calculation, its gaze turned utterly frigid.

"BOOM—"

At the same time, far away within the Cosmic Star Archipelago [a constellation of islands or realms adrift in the cosmos].

Inside a Seclusion Chamber, the Netherworld Phoenix [a phoenix reborn from netherworld flames], who was in secluded cultivation reconstructing its physical form, opened its eyes, revealing a look of absolute terror.

"Demon God Majesty, spare me…"

"Boom—"

With a deafening roar, the Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] of the Netherworld Phoenix exploded in an instant, transforming into a vast cloud of the Netherworld Blood Curse [a potent and malevolent curse born of netherworld blood and malice] that surged towards the Guyuan Mountain Range.

"Trading a Netherworld Phoenix of the Ninth Layer Nascent Soul [the ninth and final stage of the Nascent Soul realm] for a true Immortal Ascension Seed [a being destined for Immortal Ascension].

"This is a profitable exchange."

Having completed this act, the Extraterrestrial Demon God [a powerful demonic entity from beyond this world] spoke in a voice of utter indifference before closing its eyes.

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