Trials of the Abyss

Chapter 448: A Pantheon of Outer Gods

In the northernmost region of the Fourth World, the Giant Abyssal Serpent wandered aimlessly through the night sky in his human form.

His appearance and demeanor bore an uncanny resemblance to Pang Jian.

Flying vessels carrying the Ghost Race, the Wood Race, and the Radiant Race mistook him for a human, only to sense overwhelming blood essence radiating from him when they approached.

His aura, filled with darkness and savagery, was the distilled essence of murky energy from a certain region in the Fifth World.

The approaching foreign races immediately realized that this black-clad youth was, in fact, a Rank Eight Great Fey originating from the Fifth World.

Their flying vessels would then promptly veer away without uttering a single word.

When Vicious and Spirit Beasts flocking toward Northern Qi from various worlds crossed paths with the Giant Abyssal Serpent, those with underdeveloped intelligence would instinctively keep their distance.

The Giant Abyssal Serpent had since recalled fragments of memories but still could not fully piece them together. He gazed up at the sky before turning his eyes toward a Celestial Race stronghold in the Fourth World.

Where should I go? Should I seek her? Or him?

He did not know where he belonged.

His intelligence had awakened after becoming Rank Eight, allowing him to grasp his extraordinary bloodline and the ancient enmity between his kin, the Fey Race, and the foreign races of the Fifth World.

However, the ancient Fey Race within Northern Qi had already reached an agreement with those foreign races despite this enmity.

Even disregarding these politics, he could not deny that the awakening of his intelligence made it difficult for him to view Yu Xin of the Celestial Race the way he did before.

He simply could no longer see himself as her subordinate or mount.

Even if I sought her out, how would I face her?

The lack of answers to his existential questions left him indecisive and hesitant.

He recalled stepping out of the small world within Pang Jian's bronze pendant and fighting alongside Pang Jian at Blackwater Pond.

It knew Pang Jian kept some secrets from the human race, but he was still a part of them.

The ancient Fey Race hiding in Northern Qi had no desire to associate with the human race this time, and the arrival of the ancient Thunder Dragon from the Dragon Lair Sect signaled that the Fey Race on the Sacred Soul Continent was following suit.

As a member of the Fey Race, he needed to assess the broader situation carefully. During this chaotic time, it would be unwise to associate too closely with Pang Jian.

Many unanswered questions raced through his mind.

How could two souls merge so seamlessly? Why can I recall memories of another life?

Who am I?

The Giant Abyssal howled, lost and without answers.

Then, transforming into a menacing dark dragon, he flew toward the Fey Spirit Continent in the Fourth World with a ferocious roar.

Through it all, the Giant Abyssal Serpent ignored Pang Jian's repeated inquiries and actively refused to establish a connection with him.

***

Dong Tianze and Zhou Qingchen had taken over two abandoned wooden huts that rogue cultivators had once used in the Cloud Wilderness.

Both their sects had been destroyed and the few who cared for them were dead.

They were naturally overwhelmed with grief and needed time to adjust.

Pang Jian sat in front of his wooden hut, repeatedly trying to establish a connection with the Giant Abyssal Serpent.

All his attempts were met with silence.

The ancient Thunder Dragon killed him? Did he remember who he was?

Pang Jian sought advice from the black turtle on the distant Sacred Soul Continent and told him about the Giant Abyssal Serpent's situation.

There have been many Fey Gods throughout the history of the Fey Race, but few survived the passing of time.

I still have many gaps in my memories, but I know there were more Fey Gods before the seven Heaven Ascension Tribulation Pillars were erected. Afterward, the number of Fey Gods dwindled.

Fey Gods emerged both before and after the era of the Celestial Phoenix, that ancient Thunder Dragon, and I.

The Giant Abyssal Serpent and Ice Armor Eel Dragon you mentioned could be like me—reborn Fey Race. I vaguely recall these two being among the past Rank Ten Fey Gods.

The black turtle paused as if thinking.

You should inform the True Gods about the ancient Thunder Dragon's arrival in Northern Qi, he added. Unless a second Fey God emerges, the ancient Thunder Dragon represents all the Fey Race on the Sacred Soul Continent.

All Great Feys and Fey Kings will act according to his decision.

Even if the Fey Race remains neutral in this war, it would still be a significant loss for the human race.

If they were to oppose the human race...I hope the True Gods of the human race are adequately prepared, the black turtle said wearily.

Even though the black turtle did not explicitly say it, Pang Jian could sense his wavering stance.

After all, the human race had repeatedly broken their promises and even suppressed the Fey Race's bloodlines using the Heaven Ascension Tribulation Pillars.

It was only natural that the black turtle would no longer be as easily persuaded as before.

Pang Jian was the current wielder of the Gates of the Abyss and felt partially responsible for the actions of past World Gods.

The closer he came to uncovering the truth of the past, the heavier and more conflicted his heart grew.

He had witnessed firsthand how unrestrained the Great Feys and Fey Kings treated other beings on the Sacred Soul Continent.

If all the territories of the Fey Race were to devolve into such blood-soaked domains, then perhaps the True Gods' betrayals were not entirely unjustified.

The battle prowess of the Fey Race far surpassed that of the human and foreign races at the same rank when their bloodlines were not suppressed. If left unchecked, the Fey Race would inevitably rise to dominance.

Even if the total number of Fey Gods equaled only half that of the True Gods, the unsuppressed Fey Race still had the potential to overpower the human race and the foreign races.

Generations of World Gods owed a debt to the Fey Race and the black turtle in particular, but they also had to work to ensure the long-term prosperity of the human race.

Pang Jian could no longer clearly distinguish between right and wrong.

At that moment, he suddenly remembered what his master had once told him.

If we can break out of the Abyss into the vast starry rivers and seize new worlds from the Outer Gods, we could solve many of these problems.

The conflict between the human race and the Fey Race could be resolved if they joined forces to break free from the Abyss.

The starry skies were vast and boundless. There were more than enough worlds out there for both the human race and the Fey Race to expand and thrive.

Tearing down the barrier that trapped them within the Abyss would surely usher in a new era!

"Perhaps that's the solution," Pang Jian murmured, transmitting a message to Hu Yuanfei through the sword token.

***

Hu Yuanfei emerged from her secluded cultivation and, after receiving permission, stepped into the hall on the Sword Honing Peak.

After bowing respectfully to Jiang Ran, Guang He, and Liu Junhong, she said, "Junior Brother has sent a message—he says the ancient Thunder Dragon has gone to Northern Qi."

The three elders were visibly shaken.

They had just been speculating where the ancient Thunder Dragon had gone after leaving the Sacred Soul Continent.

"Is this information reliable?" Liu Junhong's voice trembled.

Hu Yuanfei nodded.

Liu Junhong sprang to his feet. "I'll go find Xu Yu and have her deliver this information to Li Wang without delay!"

"Where's Pang Jian?" Jiang Ran asked solemnly. "How did he learn of this?"

"He said that he played a part in the death of Long Zhan in the bizarre mist," Hu Yuanfei explained. "He acquired some items from the Rank Nine Five-Clawed Gold Dragon and claims to have sensed the ancient Thunder Dragon's movements through them.

"He says he's hiding near the edge of the bizarre mist and assures us there's no need to worry.

"Also, Junior Brother has advanced to the Nirvana Realm."

Jiang Ran's eyes widened in shock. @@novelbin@@

Guang He clenched his fist tightly before slowly releasing it, then remarked calmly, "The Pavilion Master has an exceptionally keen eye."

Jiang Ran abruptly stood up, only to sit back down, and gently nodded.

***.

There was no sky above nor ground below in the realm of eternal darkness.

It was a place of endless desolation.

In this void was a sword gleaming with a blackish-golden hue.

Several golden dragon claws were skewered through the sword like candied hawthorns as it slowly absorbed them.

With each passing day, the sword transformed bit by bit.

The sword waited patiently in this absolute darkness, clinging to the hope that Pang Jian would come once it absorbed the dragon's claws.

It was much calmer in the void than before.

Eventually, the dragon claws disappeared completely.

The Abyssal Demon Sword had absorbed both the claws and horns of the Five-Clawed Gold Dragon.

One day, the dark sky changed.

Countless stars lined the sky and a luminous full moon appeared.

The Abyssal Demon instantly knew that Pang Jian had arrived.

Only Pang Jian could cause the Heaven-Earth Cosmos Chest and its infinite darkness to be filled with light.

The Abyssal Demon sensed Pang Jian's presence and saw a hand reaching out to grasp the now blackish-gold divine sword.

Not bad. You've absorbed them all.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Projections of Pang Jian's and the Abyssal Demon's consciousness emerged from the Heaven-Earth Cosmos Chest to hover above the dense bizarre mist.

The stars above loomed large, and grand palaces stood majestically on the cold moon.

Several Outer Gods have arrived with their true forms above, said the Abyssal Demon, now in the form of a shifting black-gray cloud. I can sense them. It's the Outer Gods that the Ghost Race and the Wood Race worship. Even the Frost Crystal God is there.

It seems the Outer Gods are deeply concerned about the situation in the Abyss, Pang Jian sneered coldly.

Then, fearing the Outer Gods would detect his presence, he quickly retreated back into the chest with the Abyssal Demon.

He Motian was there too! The Great Demon God He Motian has arrived in the starry sky above the Abyss! The Abyssal Demon shuddered, then warned, Be wary of the one wielding the Purple Demon Eye.

When the Abyss opens, He Motian will be able to sense the divine image tied to him inside the Purple Demon Eye!

He Motian could corrupt that boy and turn him into his puppet.

The best solution is to kill him as soon as possible and let me devour He Motian's divine image! the Abyssal Demon cried within the sword.

Pang Jian did not respond.

After getting out of the chest, he gazed at the sky above with a bitter expression.

Li Zhaotian's solution was to join forces with the Fey Race to break through the barrier and seize the worlds in the starry skies.

However, a pantheon of Outer Gods was already standing ready outside.