The Chen family was mobilized in full force this time. To prevent leaks and safeguard their home base, even the eighteen core family members participating in the mission were kept in the dark about its true purpose.
To ensure a swift operation, Elian and the other three Foundation Establishment cultivators ignored the substantial depletion of their spiritual energy, each carrying four or five Qi Refinement cultivators on their swords as they flew toward the great wilderness spanning ten thousand miles.
In just four or five days, the group arrived within three hundred miles of the ancient cultivator's cave dwelling.
The group descended from their flying swords, and only then did the old patriarch reveal their mission. Upon learning they were to confront a Purple Mansion beast, fear inevitably crept into their hearts.
Chen Nianyong shivered, his face pale, and muttered, "A single breath from a Purple Mansion beast could kill us. Bringing us here with our cultivation is no different from walking to our deaths."
"Don't worry. The vanguard this time will be the patriarch and me," Elian reassured the group. He paused before continuing, "All you need to do is operate the array flags and provide spiritual energy support to Uncle Qinghao and Nianfu."
Chen Changlu, the sixteenth great-uncle, smacked Chen Nianyong on the head and sternly rebuked him, "For years, the family has been paying you a salary precisely for moments like this. Do you intend to run away now?"
"How could I?" Chen Nianyong awkwardly rubbed his head, forcing a smile. "I'm just afraid of dying in vain."
The group chuckled awkwardly. Even Chen Changlu, who was ninety-seven years old, was willing to fight, so none of them would dare back down. With the protection of the array, they believed their chances of survival were relatively high as long as the array remained intact.
Seeing a glimmer of determination among the group, Chen Qinghao sighed in relief and distributed the array flags, instructing everyone to rehearse.
The family cultivators were already familiar with the Blazing Fire Divine Array, so they quickly adapted.
That night, the group did not press forward. Instead, they rested on the spot, restoring their spiritual energy before proceeding to Yang Yuanqing's cave dwelling the next day.
The group advanced cautiously, careful to avoid detection. It seemed that the Thunder Roc's injuries had severely damaged its divine sense, as the group managed to approach within five miles of the cave dwelling before being noticed.
"Boom—"
A thunderous roar echoed as the Thunder Roc smashed through the ancient cave dwelling and burst out of the mountain, fleeing into the distance.
Fortunately, the group was well-prepared. The old patriarch was the first to act. His Crimson Flame Spirit Blade unleashed a blade aura over eight zhang long, tearing through the sky and slashing at the Roc.
As the old patriarch's life-bound magical weapon, the Crimson Flame Spirit Blade was 30% more powerful than ordinary magical weapons of the same level, enough to injure a Purple Mansion beast.
The Thunder Roc, however, did not confront the attack directly. Instead, it flapped its wings, attempting to escape in another direction.
But a brilliant blue sword light soared into the air, blocking the Thunder Roc's path. As an upper-grade life-bound celestial sword, the Fiery Void Sword was 30% more powerful than the Crimson Flame Spirit Blade and capable of seriously wounding the Thunder Roc.
With the Fiery Void Sword ahead and the Crimson Flame Spirit Blade behind, the Thunder Roc had no time to change direction. It resorted to unleashing a thunder spell to counter the attacks.
Although the Thunder Roc's spell was a natural ability rather than a true magical technique, its power was still extraordinary. A serpent-like thunderbolt descended, managing to block the Fiery Void Sword.
Seeing his attack thwarted, Elian's gaze sharpened. He summoned a Metal Element Divine Thunder to strike down.
"Boom—"
A deafening thunderclap resounded as the Metal Element Divine Thunder descended like celestial lightning. Its unmatched speed left the Thunder Roc unable to dodge.
Elian's profound and sharp mana, now comparable to that of an eighth-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, made the divine ability powerful enough to threaten the Purple Mansion beast.
Wounded and unable to withstand the attack directly, the Thunder Roc was forced to use its protective qi shield to block the blow. It then flapped its wings again, desperately fleeing into the distance.
"Don't let it escape!" Chen Changxuan shouted, his voice filled with urgency. The Thunder Roc intentionally avoided him, a peak Foundation Establishment cultivator, making it difficult for him to keep up.
Fortunately, by then, the third elder and others had caught up. Chen Qinghao activated the Blazing Fire Divine Array and unleashed the Flaming Piercing Cone.
Empowered by the array, the Flaming Piercing Cone's might exceeded even the Fiery Void Sword by 50%, radiating a dazzling twelve-zhang aura as it pierced toward the Thunder Roc.
Caught off guard, the Thunder Roc attempted to block with its protective qi shield. While it managed to deflect most of the attack's power, the Flaming Piercing Cone still forced it back a hundred zhang, halting its escape.
Moreover, after consecutive hits from the Metal Element Divine Thunder and the Flaming Piercing Cone, the Roc's protective qi shield was shattered, rendering it ineffective for the time being.
Seizing the opportunity, the group surrounded the Roc. Only then did they notice a massive wound on its abdomen, with faint golden flames burning within.
"There's residual West Pole Metal Flame. The Thunder Roc must have been struck by the Golden Lion Mastiff's divine ability," Elian thought upon observing the Roc's condition.
The West Pole Metal Flame, a signature ability of the Golden Lion Mastiff, was incredibly potent. Once it injured an enemy, the flame would seep into their wounds and meridians, tormenting their flesh day and night, making it nearly impossible to remove.
Even the powerful Thunder Roc had become extremely weak under the flame's relentless burning. Its strength had diminished by 50-60%, and it remained in constant pain.
"Caw—"
Despite its injuries, the Thunder Roc retained its dignity as a Purple Mansion beast. Seeing itself surrounded, it suppressed its pain and prepared to end the fight quickly.
It suddenly opened its beak and spat out a thunder-imbued sword light that slashed toward Elian.
"Not good! That's the Thunderfire Sword!" the old patriarch exclaimed in alarm.
The Thunderfire Sword was a legendary life-bound magical weapon of the Yang clan, a Purple Mansion family in Ling County. Over a century ago, the Yang clan's ancestor, Yang Yonglu, forged this celestial sword, using it to dominate the border regions.
During the Beast Rebellion eighty-five years ago, even Qingyang Sect lost two Purple Mansion ancestors, and the Purple Mansion families of Bianzhou region suffered heavy casualties. Yang Yonglu himself perished in that conflict, and the Thunderfire Sword was lost.
Who could have imagined that it had ended up in the hands of the Thunder Roc's lineage?
...
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I need POWAAA! Gimme Power Stones :D