Chapter 858 : Blood Phoenix and the Demonic Tide

"Screech—" [a piercing cry]

Before the assembled cultivators could even release a sigh of relief, the void was torn asunder once more. A Blood Phoenix soared into the sky, charging directly towards the Gu Yuan Mountain Range.

"That Fire Phoenix from the Southern Sea?"

Sea-Calmer Path Master narrowed his eyes slightly, his voice tinged with doubt as he asked.

Exquisite Jiang nodded and began recounting the origins of this demonic beast. "The Fire Phoenix Demon Ancestor was originally a Nest-Stealing Cuckoo [a parasitic demon bird]. It stole a portion of the origin essence from an Immortal's legacy—a Phoenix Egg—and only then transformed into an impure-blooded Fire Phoenix."

"This vile creature was originally awakened by an Outer Realm Demon God [a powerful demonic entity from beyond this world]. It was part of a scheme to target the Fire Phoenix Demon Immortal [a demon who has ascended to immortality]. That it has now fallen and transformed into a Blood Phoenix is hardly surprising."

Finally understanding the chain of events, Sea-Calmer Path Master sighed. "Judging by its demeanor, its Life Soul [the core of its life force and destiny] has likely been seized by the Outer Realm Demon God. Today, it has come here to die, sent to eliminate Brother Eldrin."

As his words faded, Sea-Calmer Path Master soared into the air. He summoned his Sea-Calmer Divine Pearl [a divine treasure capable of calming turbulent seas] and hurled it across the void, intercepting the path of the Blood Phoenix Demon Ancestor.

At that very moment, a Demonic Ship tore through the depths of the void, arriving with terrifying speed.

Upon the deck of the Demonic Ship stood over a dozen figures of Outer Realm Heavenly Demon [celestial-ranked demons from beyond this world]. The leader's aura was overwhelmingly powerful; it was none other than the Garuda the Heavenly Demon. This content originates from audio-novel-dot-com. Please respect copyright.

"Be cautious! We shall defend by relying on the formation!"

Exquisite Jiang immediately warned, gathering everyone to activate the Mountain Protection Formation [a defensive array that draws upon the power of a mountain], and clashed with over a dozen Outer Realm Heavenly Demon [powerful demons from beyond this world].

Fortunately, the Outer Realm Heavenly Demon were not at their full strength either. Of the three at the Primordial Spirit Late Stage [the advanced stage of the Primordial Spirit realm], one remained guarding the Cosmic Stellar Archipelago, another was blocking the Horizon Pavilion [a major cultivation sect], leaving only the Garuda Heavenly Demon [a powerful bird-like demon] at the Primordial Spirit Late Stage to come.

Relying on the Mountain Protection Formation, they managed to barely hold off the Outer Realm Heavenly Demon.

The Garuda the Heavenly Demon, seeing the Impenetrable [an ability or state of being unbreakable] Mountain Protection Formation and wary of the Immortal Refining Furnace [a legendary furnace capable of refining even immortals], sneered coldly and spoke, "You observers on the sidelines, if you do not act now, when will you?"

"Fellow Daoist, there is no need for haste!"

A cold laugh echoed from the void, and from the depths of space, three figures stepped forth one after another.

The leader wore a Blood Robe [a robe dyed or imbued with blood essence], his features peerlessly handsome and elegant—it was none other than the awe-inspiring Blood God Patriarch. The remaining two were the Primal Radiance Path Master [a Daoist title] from the Fang Immortal Clan and the Rising Sun Path Lord.

The moment he saw them, Dorian Ji's gaze turned icy. Holding the Immortal Refining Furnace aloft to deter the enemies, he spoke with a murderous aura radiating around him, "Esteemed ones, do you dare to test the might of the Immortal Refining Furnace?"

"This..."

For a moment, even the two Path Lord from the Blood God Patriarch and the Fang Immortal Clan 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 legendary power], the might of the Immortal Refining Furnace was beyond doubt. At its full, awakened power, even a Primordial Spirit 9th Tier cultivator would be grievously wounded; one would need at least the strength of the Primordial Spirit Late Stage to withstand it.

Although their own power was Extraordinary, they still lacked the audacity to face the Immortal Refining Furnace head-on.

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

"Though the Immortal Refining Furnace possesses Extraordinary might, without a Primordial Spirit Late Stage Great Power to channel it, how many times can it truly awaken to its full potential?"

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

He strode forward with casual steps, his eyes cold as he declared, "During the journey to the Demonic Abyss Cataclysm, this treasure fully awakened once."

"Later, at the Horizon Pavilion, the Immortal Refining Furnace slew the Purple Blood Heavenly Demon by awakening fully once more. Tell me, how much of its combat power can possibly remain now?"

"Blood Demon Patriarch!"

Only after the newcomer finished speaking did the crowd finally react.

The Blood God Patriarch immediately paled, exclaiming in utter horror, "The Blood Demon Old Freak... you're not dead?"

"My dear disciple, your master has been thinking of you for thousands of years."

Upon seeing the Blood God Patriarch, the Blood Demon Old Freak let out a cold laugh. Several streaks of bloody light shot forth from his head, lunging towards the Blood God Patriarch.

The Blood God Patriarch let out a strange shriek, attempting to tear through the void to escape.

But who was the Blood Demon Patriarch? This fiend was once the foremost figure of the Demonic Path [the path of cultivation that embraces demonic and unorthodox methods] in the Purple Seal Realm, a titan who had vied for supremacy with Imperial Sovereign Jiang and was spoken of in the same breath as the Eastern Sovereign [a title for a supreme sovereign of the eastern lands]. Naturally, he had prepared numerous contingencies.

The Blood God Old Freak cultivated the Blood Demon Reincarnation Grand Art [a supreme demonic art focused on blood and reincarnation], which made him destined to be mere cultivation fodder for the Blood Demon Old Freak. As he tried to flee, he suddenly felt his spiritual energy reverse its flow. In an instant, he was enveloped by a sphere of bloody light. Original publication: audio-novel .c om - The source of this chapter.

Within mere breaths, the consciousness of the Blood God Old Freak flickered and died, becoming nothing more than a Blood God Avatar [a powerful blood-based incarnation or puppet] for the Blood Demon Old Freak.

Having refined the Blood God Old Freak, the Blood Demon Patriarch immediately felt his power surge, having recovered to the level of the Primordial Spirit 7th Tier [the seventh level of the Primordial Spirit cultivation stage].

With a cold sneer, he cast his gaze upon the Immortal Refining Furnace [a legendary cauldron capable of refining immortals] and declared, "Today, I, the Blood Demon Patriarch, return to this world. I shall bathe the Eastern Region Great Wasteland in blood and restore the fearsome glory of the Blood Demon God Cult [a notorious demonic cult]."

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"

As his words fell, the Blood Demon Patriarch [a powerful demonic cultivator] immediately manifested several Blood God [a title for a powerful blood path cultivator] clones, each possessing combat power rivaling the Primordial Spirit Early Stage [the initial phase of the Primordial Spirit cultivation realm].

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

This was highly unfavorable for Eldrin Chen. Initially, the defenders had barely managed to hold off the attacks from the Outer Realm Heavenly Demon [a powerful demon from beyond this realm] and his allies by relying on the Mountain Protection Formation [a defensive array formation].

Now, with the arrival of the Blood Demon Patriarch and his cohorts, the tide had turned decisively. This Demonic Path [a cultivation path aligned with demonic forces] patriarch was particularly formidable. Not only had his main body recovered its Primordial Spirit Late Stage [the advanced phase of the Primordial Spirit realm] strength, but his several avatars were also no weaker than Primordial Spirit Early Stage cultivators.

Just as the situation seemed utterly dire, the void was torn asunder once more, and a thunderous draconic roar shook the heavens.

All eyes beheld a dazzling Purple Thunder Dragon [a majestic dragon imbued with purple lightning] soaring through the void, charging directly at the horde of Demonic Cultivator [cultivators who follow demonic arts].

The Purple Radiance Thunder Dragon alone would have been a sight to behold, but it was followed closely by a woman of breathtaking beauty, her head adorned with a pair of Dragon Horn [horns signifying draconic heritage or power]. She strode through the air and, with a wave of her hand, summoned an Immortal Sword [a divine blade of immense power] to cleave through the sky towards the Blood Demon Patriarch.

"Ice Hornless Dragon Demon Ancestor!"

Seeing a Primordial Spirit Late Stage great power arrive to aid them, the defenders collectively breathed a sigh of relief, their fighting spirit blazing even fiercer.

Following closely, another figure emerged from the boundless void. It was none other than Verdant Seal Path Master, who had now embarked upon the path of a Ghost Immortal [an immortal who cultivates through ghostly or spectral means].

After Verdant Seal Path Master switched to cultivating the Ghost Immortal [a path of cultivation focused on harnessing ghostly and spiritual energies] path, he faced no competition from other Ghost Cultivator [cultivators who specialize in ghostly arts] for the faith and offerings within the Purple Seal Realm. His cultivation base advanced by leaps and bounds, and he has now astonishingly reached the Primordial Spirit 4th Tier [the fourth major stage of the Primordial Spirit realm, representing a significant increase in spiritual power].

He also brought a vast host of Netherworld Soldiers and Ghost Generals [spectral warriors and commanders from the underworld] with him. For a time, they held back several Primordial Spirit Demons [powerful demons whose strength is comparable to cultivators at the Primordial Spirit realm], greatly alleviating the pressure on the allied forces.

At that very moment, high in the boundless Heavenly Vault, the golden sun plummeted with ever-increasing speed. The moment for Heaven Soul Return [a profound divine technique involving the recall or ascension of one's celestial soul] was now but a single breath away.

"Break through to the Primordial Spirit [the realm where a cultivator's spiritual essence coalesces into a powerful, independent spirit]?"

Simultaneously, within the starry void beyond the world, an Outer Realm Demon God [a deity-level entity of immense demonic power originating from outside the known realms] abruptly opened its eyes.

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

"BOOM—"

At the same time, far away within the Cosmic Stellar Archipelago...

Inside a Seclusion Chamber [a specially prepared room for deep, undisturbed meditation and cultivation], the Netherworld Phoenix [a mythical phoenix associated with the powers of death and rebirth from the underworld], which had been in seclusion reforge [a process of tempering and reforging one's physical body to make it stronger] its physical form, opened its eyes. An expression of absolute terror dawned upon its face.

"Your Majesty, the Demon God [a supreme ruler among demonic beings, possessing god-like power], spare me, I beg you…"

"Boom—"

With a deafening roar, the Primordial Spirit [the spiritual core of a cultivator] of the Netherworld Phoenix [a mythical bird of death and rebirth] instantly exploded, transforming into a vast cloud of Netherworld Blood Curse [a malevolent curse powered by netherworld blood and hatred] that surged towards the Gu Yuan Mountain Range.

"Trading a Netherworld Phoenix of the Primordial Spirit 9th Tier [the ninth and highest level of the Primordial Spirit realm] for a true Immortal Seed [the foundational potential to ascend to immortality],"

"is a profitable exchange."

The Outer Realm Demon God [a powerful demonic entity from beyond this world] who had accomplished this deed spoke with utter indifference, then closed its eyes. This chapter is provided by audio-novel[dot]com. Support the original.