Chapter 797 : Clash of Blood and Divine Thunder

"Beware!"

In the span of a single breath, Sea-Calmer Path Master [the Daoist master known for his sea-calming arts] could not help but change his expression drastically.

This artifact of Patriarch Wang was named the 'Blood Demon Skull' [a sinister magical treasure shaped like a demonic skull], a truly tyrannical Demonic Path [a cultivation method aligned with demonic forces] Spiritual Treasure [a powerful enchanted artifact]. Its forging required the collection of a great number of high-ranking cultivators' skulls to succeed.

Little did anyone know that Patriarch Wang had long since secretly mastered its cultivation, advancing it to the Sixth Rank Mid-Grade [a specific mid-level stage within the sixth major rank of cultivation] realm. This clearly indicated he had been committing atrocities in secret for many years.

As the Blood Demon Skull surged towards Eldrin Chen, Sea-Calmer Path Master found himself without a Spiritual Treasure to parry the blow. He could only channel his Innate Divine Ability [a powerful innate technique], 'Vast Sea Void-Sweeping Water' [a divine ability that conjures vast, sweeping tides of water], to block the attack.

Yet, this Primordial Solar Divine Ability [a divine ability of the primordial sun lineage] was insufficient to withstand the Blood Demon Skull. It was extinguished without a trace by the overwhelming tide of bloody energy.

Seeing the perilous situation, Eldrin Chen hastily summoned forth his Two Polarities Divine Thunder [a divine thunder technique of opposing polarities] and Heavenly River Positive Water Sword [a sword technique drawing power from the positive waters of the Heavenly River] to defend himself.

However, his spiritual energy reserves were ultimately insufficient. Such methods could not hold back the might of this Demonic Treasure [a treasure imbued with demonic power]. He could only brace himself and deploy the Two Polarities Divine Aegis [a divine protective shield of opposing polarities] to withstand the assault.

But then, with a sickening *thwump*, the Two Polarities Divine Aegis was shattered on the spot by the Blood Demon Skull. A residual wave of bloody light still swept towards Eldrin Chen.

"*Clang—*" Original publication: www . audio-novel.com - The source of this chapter.

In that life-or-death instant, the Bulwark Earth Sovereign Bell [a defensive bell imbued with the power of the earth], the Dual Polarity Void Mirror [a mirror that manipulates the forces of yin and yang], and the Solar Fire Returning Abyss Sword [a sword blazing with solar fire] activated on their own to protect their master, barely managing to block the strike.

However, the Bulwark Earth Sovereign Bell was contaminated by the Blood Demon Skull [a demonic artifact forged from a powerful demon's skull]. An endless tide of blood filth and baleful energy invaded the treasure bell. Though it was refined away in moments by the Primordial Solar Flame [a pure flame of primordial yang energy], the Spiritual Treasure [an artifact with its own sentient spirit] was severely damaged, 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 spiritual power from the Primordial Verdant Lotus Throne [a throne formed from a primordial lotus, a source of immense energy] and then activated his various Spiritual Treasure to engage the Blood Demon Skull in a fierce struggle.

"Futile resistance."

Patriarch Wang's pupils contracted sharply. Without hesitation, he unleashed another Innate Divine Ability [a supreme technique born from one's innate constitution], determined to slay Eldrin Chen.

Yet, in that very moment, a treasure painting that blotted out the heavens descended, sweeping across the battlefield with an overwhelming, indomitable force.

"The Long River Setting Sun Painting!"

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

Wherever the treasure painting passed, the Glacier Iron Corpse [corpses frozen and hardened into iron-like state] and all manner of Divine Ability [supreme supernatural techniques] were utterly pulverized into dust.

Even several lower-grade Primordial Solar Spiritual Treasure [spiritual treasures forged with the essence of the primordial sun] let out mournful whimpers, their radiant glows dimming significantly.

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

"A Demonic Treasure [a powerful, often malevolent enchanted artifact forged through demonic arts]!"

Soaring through the void, Long River Path Lord arrived, his gaze icy as he declared, "Wretched traitor! You, a figure of Heaven-Propping Pillar [a term denoting a foundational, indispensable figure] stature among the Human Race, dare to betray your own kind?"

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

It turned out Long River Path Lord had been wary. Upon discovering the Immortal-Bewildering Mist had vanished, he immediately left his Second Primordial Spirit [a secondary, independently acting spiritual avatar] to continue exploring the Spirit Herb Garden, while his true body silently made its way here.

Now that he had caught Wang Old Demon, Long River Path Lord held nothing back. He unleashed his full power, and the Long River Setting Sun Painting unfurled like a vast world, suppressing heaven and earth.

"BOOM—"

A sound that shook the heavens and earth erupted. From within the treasure painting, a Setting Sun [a manifestation of waning, overwhelming power] materialized across the sky, pressing down upon the Blood Demon Skull until its glow grew perilously faint and a web of cracks began to spider across its surface.

While artifacts of the Demonic Path [the cultivation arts and philosophies aligned with demonic forces] are formidable in power, most are crudely forged from inferior materials, far from the indestructible resilience of orthodox Spiritual Treasure [a general term for enchanted artifacts used by cultivators].

Witnessing the damage to his Blood Demon Skull, Patriarch Wang's heart sank. He knew in that moment the battle was lost.

This individual acted decisively, immediately seeking to disengage and flee. Yet, the Glacier Old Demon proved even swifter in his escape.

The Innate Divine Ability cultivated by this Demonic Cultivator, the 'Frost Soul Rainbow Transformation Art', was a Primordial Solar Grade Escape Technique Divine Ability. Its speed was exceptionally rare even among Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] realm experts.

Witnessing the Glacier Old Demon transform into a streak of Escape Radiance that slashed across the Heavenly Vault, he abandoned his Glacier Iron Corpse to save his own life. Starting later, he somehow managed to overtake and escape first, leaving the Wang Old Demon stranded in that place.

"Disaster!"

The heart of the Wang Old Demon sank. By the time he tried to flee again, he found it was already too late.

The Wang Old Demon could only transform into Escape Radiance and attempt to flee. However, the Long River Setting Sun Painting swept across the void, engulfing and sealing away the mountains and rivers for tens of thousands of Li-lengths [one Li-length equals five hundred meters] within its painted expanse. Read, share, and discuss at audio . novel . com.

"Cleave—!"

At this life-or-death juncture, the Wang Old Demon still sought to put up a desperate fight. He forcibly activated his Gold and Jade Wandering Snake Sword to slash horizontally through the void, hoping to carve a path through the encirclement.

Alas, the others naturally would not allow him to succeed. In that instant, the Azure Dragon Stirring Sea Sword, the Heavenly Ruins Immortal-Slaying Sword, the Heavenly River Positive Water Sword, the Sea-Calmer Divine Pearl, and several other Primordial Solar Spiritual Treasure [powerful enchanted artifacts] sealed the void, leaving him with absolutely no avenue of retreat.

Cornered with no way out, the Wang Old Demon refused to simply await his doom. Seizing the moment amidst the barrage of attacks from his foes, he chose to detonate his Blood Demon Skull.

A mid-grade Primordial Solar Demonic Treasure [an artifact forged and wielded by demonic cultivators] detonated, unleashing a boundless tide of blood and filth that drowned the void. The sanguine light even tainted several Spiritual Treasure [powerful enchanted artifacts], including the Long River Setting Sun Painting.

The price for this was the complete disintegration of Wang Old Demon's physical body amidst the cataclysmic radiance.

"*Whoosh—*"

With a sharp crack, seizing the moment when the spiritual essence of the several Primordial Solar Spiritual Treasure [artifacts of the Primordial Solar realm] was damaged, the Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core and highest form of a cultivator's soul] of Wang Old Demon immediately fled, attempting to escape the encirclement.

Had they been in the outside world, Wang Old Demon could have torn through space to flee. But here, where space could not be rent, his Primordial Spirit could only summon its Escape Radiance [a technique for rapid flight] and streak towards the exit.

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

Long River Path Lord acted instantly, activating a Primordial Solar Spiritual Treasure—the 'Setting Sun God Needle'—to strike down. The blow reduced Patriarch Wang's Primordial Spirit to ashes on the spot.

With Patriarch Wang finally slain, everyone present released a heavy sigh of relief.

Long River Path Lord retrieved his Gold and Jade Wandering Snake Sword, then glanced at Lila and could not help but remark with feeling, "Such extraordinary Frost Soul [a power related to ice and frost] spiritual energy. It seems you have gained the greatest opportunity this time."

Indeed, at that critical moment, it was Lila who had activated her Innate Divine Ability [a powerful innate technique], 'Frost Soul Divine Light' [Divine Light of the Frost Soul], to freeze Wang Old Demon's Primordial Spirit, allowing Long River Path Lord to deliver the fatal blow.

Seeing this, Eldrin Chen merely offered a faint smile. "Senior, your visit to the Spirit Herb Garden must have yielded great rewards as well."

"The harvest was... acceptable."

Long River Path Lord could not help but stroke his beard. This time, he had obtained a Sixth Rank Superior Grade precious herb [a medicinal plant of exceptional quality and potency] that had been extinct in the Purple Seal Realm for tens of thousands of years. It could be refined into a Precious Pill 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 harbored a genuine hope of advancing to the Primordial Spirit Late Stage realm.

Observing the pleased expressions on everyone's faces, the Sea-Calmer Path Master spoke up. "Let us lend our aid to Drifting Snow Palace. Once all treasures are secured, we shall discuss their distribution."

With that, the group made their way to the front of the Artifact Refining Great Hall [a grand hall dedicated to the crafting of magical artifacts], where the members of Drifting Snow Palace were gathered.

By now, the defenses of the Great Hall had been breached by the Drifting Snow Palace contingent. As they arrived, they saw the Mistress of Drifting Snow Palace emerge, her face alight with joy, cradling a magnificent treasure cauldron in her hands.

"That 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 famed Immortal Refining Furnace [a legendary furnace capable of refining items of immortal grade]. Clearly, this too was a Near-Immortal Treasures [an artifact of power that approaches the legendary Immortal grade], a treasure of world-shaking might.

Noticing the expressions of those gathered, Mistress of Drifting Snow Palace spoke, "This artifact is named the Demon-Suppressing Cauldron [a legendary vessel forged to contain and subdue demonic calamities]. It is a tribulation-calming treasure left behind by an Ancient Immortal [a cultivator who achieved immortality in a bygone era]."

"Should I obtain this treasure, I vow to wield it to suppress the demonic tribulation and contribute my strength to the Human Race." The complete novel can be found at (audio-novel.com).