On the contrary, those Purple Mansion demonic cultivators, who had spent most of their lives secluded in the Demon Lair, failed to recognize the intruder immediately.
This was also because the Fiery Void Sword had recently ascended to a fourth-tier celestial sword, with its power significantly enhanced.
Fourth-tier celestial swords were exceedingly rare, and upgrading one was no small feat. Since the sword had only been upgraded a few months prior, news of its transformation had not yet reached the demonic cultivators, leaving them unable to identify their opponent.
"One hundred years ago, when I first saw him, he was just at the first stage of the Foundation Establishment realm. Yet, he managed to defeat two Foundation Establishment cultivators in tandem, killing Junior Brother Zhang and Zuo Zhouqi."
"Now, after only a century, this Elian has become even more formidable. Ordinary Golden Core cultivators may no longer pose a threat to him."
"If you wish to throw your lives away, go ahead."
Old Demon Hong sneered and took advantage of the chaos to quietly retreat.
Meanwhile, Elian, merged with his sword, unleashed a dazzling blue sword aura, confronting seven or eight Purple Mansion cultivators without fear. The Fiery Void Sword's sharpness was unrivaled, cutting down demons and severing seven or eight third-tier demonic treasures in succession.
"How arrogant!"
A late-stage Purple Mansion demonic cultivator, seeing Elian's overwhelming display, unleashed their natal demonic treasure, the Black Blood Shroud.
Elian's gaze turned icy as he recognized the sinister treasure. The Black Blood Shroud was an exceptionally vile demonic artifact.
Refining it required immense cruelty. To forge it into a third-tier high-grade treasure, one had to capture 330,000 mortals, infect them with plagues to induce their deaths, then weave their hair into the artifact and refine it day and night using the plague-ridden blood.
Once complete, the artifact became malevolent in the extreme, capable of corrupting other cultivators' magical tools and spiritual energy.
Even late-stage Purple Mansion cultivators caught under its influence could have their physical bodies and spiritual energy entirely corrupted, dissolving into pus and blood.
Years ago, Old Demon Hong had crafted such a treasure, only for it to be destroyed by the patriarch's Blazing Fire Divine Flags.
Now, seeing another late-stage Purple Mansion demonic cultivator flaunt the same treasure, Elian swiftly struck. His sword aura cut through the Black Blood Shroud in one swift motion, reducing it to ashes with blazing fire along the cut.
"Ahhh—!"
The demonic cultivator cried out in anguish, spitting a mouthful of blood.
"My treasure!"
Seeing Elian's celestial sword's ferocity, the remaining demonic cultivators began to retreat. As they pulled back, they ordered Foundation Establishment demonic cultivators to swarm Elian in an attempt to delay him.
At that moment, the other pseudo-Golden Core cultivators caught up.
The patriarch surveyed the battlefield, then raised his hand, summoning the Whiteblade Star Orbs. Seven radiant star orbs spun as Yin and Yang energies converged into a devastating attack. The Yin-Yang Annihilation Vase Energy poured forth, engulfing everything in its path.
The attack obliterated countless Qi Refinement and Foundation Establishment demonic cultivators, while the Purple Mansion cultivators struggled to fend off its overwhelming power.
Seizing the opportunity, Elian unleashed his arsenal, including the Fiery Void Sword, Heavenly River Deep Water Sword, and the Formless Sword, to launch a relentless assault. In mere moments, he had slain several Purple Mansion demonic cultivators.
The Fiery Void Sword, as a pure Yang celestial sword, proved devastatingly effective against the suppressed early and mid-stage Purple Mansion demonic cultivators, cutting them down like wheat.
Faced with the combined might of six pseudo-Golden Core combatants, the demonic cultivators could not withstand the assault. They lost over ten Purple Mansion cultivators, leaving their forces in utter disarray.
The demonic cultivators fled in panic, while the Demon Lair Lord, their leader, grew increasingly desperate. Despite the grim situation, his resolve remained unbroken. Drawing on several demonic treasures, he launched a ferocious counterattack, attempting to hold the line.
Among his arsenal, the Blood-Congealing Demon Blade stood out with its unmatched ferocity, forcing Jiang Linglong and the others to combine their efforts just to keep him at bay.
Seeing that time was running short, Elian exchanged a glance with the pseudo-Golden Core cultivators and suggested cautiously, "We'll assist from a distance. Use your treasures to disrupt him, but don't engage directly."
"Understood," they replied, nodding in agreement.
Each brought forth their most potent tools. Lin Qianshu wielded the Ink Snow Celestial Sword, Xu Qianyang unleashed the Azure Sun Demon-Purging Dart and Fairy Mu Jin of the Purple Abyss Sect revealed the Heaven-Scorching Golden Sun Lamp.
Elian, with his Fiery Void Sword and Red Sun Void-Searing Furnace, joined the assault. The combined might of their attacks proved overwhelming, forcing even the Demon Lair Lord to struggle.
After a prolonged battle, the Demon Lair Lord, despite his resilience, began to falter. As Jiang Linglong closed in, ready to deploy the Radiant Heaven Mirror for a decisive strike, the demonic leader made a desperate bid for escape.
Shielding himself with the Nether Demon Tower and using the Blood-Congealing Demon Blade to carve an exit, he finally managed to retreat.
"Trying to escape?"
Jiang Linglong's eyes sharpened. She unleashed the Five Tribulations of the Void Divine Light, an unparalleled offensive technique, sending it hurtling toward the fleeing demon.
The divine light shattered the Nether Demon Tower and narrowly missed a fatal blow, severing the Demon Lair Lord's left arm. Despite the severe injury, the demonic cultivator, utilizing his extraordinary speed, fled deeper into the lair.
"What a pity," Jiang Linglong remarked, her face pale from exhaustion.
"He escaped."
The Five Tribulations of the Void Divine Light, though formidable enough to kill a late-stage Golden Core cultivator, had been hindered by the unique environment of the Demon Lair. Coupled with the demon's extraordinary speed, it fell short of its mark.
"No matter," Elian consoled, offering her a restorative pill.
"The severe injury has weakened him significantly. The remaining battle will be much easier."
After recovering some strength, Jiang Linglong led the group deeper into the lair. With no more high-level demonic cultivators to impede them, they reached the heart of the Nether Spring in just half an hour.
The Nether Spring was located in an enormous subterranean cavern that resembled an underground world. As Elian entered, he was struck by the cavern's vastness, stretching thousands of miles in all directions.
Suddenly, the sound of a sword's hum echoed through the depths.
Turning toward the source, they saw Master Zhang already engaged in fierce combat. He stood alone, battling the Demon Lair Lord and Old Demon Yan, two powerful Golden Core cultivators.
"Perfect timing!"
Upon seeing reinforcements arrive, Master Zhang laughed and shouted, "Daoist Jiang, take the Radiant Heaven Mirror and suppress the Nether Spring!"
...
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I need POWAAA! Gimme Power Stones :D