Trials of the Abyss

Chapter 464: Li Zhaotian's "Benevolence"

Five hundred zhang underground, Pang Jian felt a faint tremor ripple through his divine soul while drawing in the stellar energy using the Qi Nurturing Divine Cauldron Art.

Naturally, he noticed the white-robed woman attempting to disrupt his efforts to channel stellar energy into his dantian with seven strands of moonlit divine sense.

Her hostility was evident.

She resented him for absorbing the lunar energy from the lower depths of the Stellar-Lunar Vein and was retaliating in anger. He, however, dismissed her actions as insignificant.

After all, her cultivation was only in the Soul Wandering Realm. Even if imbued with divine consciousness, the seven strands of divine sense she unleashed posed no real threat to him.

Their divine sense clashed again and a wave of unprecedented pleasure and comfort washed over him. The surprising sensation caused Pang Jian to suspect that something was amiss.

His divine soul was forged with three thousand strands of divine sense imbued with divine consciousness and carried the characteristics of Nether Abyss Spirit Bees.

In its aggressive form, it could corrode the divine consciousness of the Outer Gods.

The Nether Abyss Spirit Bee's traits only manifested when he willed it. When he did not, his divine sense would remain harmless.

Such was the case now.

His divine sense, which he was using to guide the stellar energy, was in a passive state. There was no reason for it to carry the Nether Abyss Spirit Bee's corrosive properties at the moment, let alone evoke such pleasant sensations.

So why is it happening now?

Pang Jian tightened his grip on the sword token, pausing his study of sword enlightenment to concentrate on the matter at hand.

Immersing himself in the waves of soul-stirring pleasure, he carefully scrutinized the peculiarities within his divine sense, attempting to unravel the source of the anomaly.

He soon discovered an extraordinarily subtle sword intent within his divine sense.

This subtle sword intent emanated profound ripples as it lay concealed within his golden divine sense.

Pleasure, ecstasy, the pursuit of the beauty of the soul, and the forging of emotional connections—these peculiar ripples ceaselessly radiated from the minuscule sword intent.

If his strands of golden divine sense were slender streams, then this sword intent was akin to tiny grains of rice-sized fish at the bottom of those streams.

It was nearly impossible to detect without careful examination and intense focus.

What shocked Pang Jian most was that the subtle sword intent unmistakably originated from him.

At the core of the sword intent lay none other than the divine consciousness within his own divine sense!

Despite this, no matter how hard he thought, he could not recall intentionally altering his divine sense to grant it the ability to influence another's divine soul.

After killing Lie Yi, I entered a state of sword enlightenment. During that time, I comprehended and practiced many intricate sword techniques that my master imprinted within the sword token.

My mind was wholly absorbed in the intricate mysteries of those sword techniques back then.

Could it be...

Doubts swirled in Pang Jian's mind as he channeled a strand of divine sense into the sword token and into the space where Li Zhaotian had left behind sword techniques for him to comprehend.

Inside, he found the projections of his master's burly, blue-clad figure still tirelessly demonstrating exquisite sword techniques. Even though Pang Jian knew these were mere projections, he could not help but feel a pang of sorrow and nostalgia.

Pang Jian steadied his emotions before searching through the projections of Li Zhaotian.

Soon, he found a projection seemingly swinging his sword aimlessly, as if inscribing something in the air.

Pang Jian sent his divine sense toward the projection to investigate.

A hidden message triggered from the projection.

"Hahaha!

"My dear disciple, I know you're shy and clueless about the joys of love and pleasure, but you're my disciple, how could you not have a few confidants of the opposite sex?

"Haha! Your gracious master is secretly passing down a technique of mine—the Sword of Ecstasy. This is my exclusive gift to you.

"This sword art will remain dormant until you grasp its essence—not necessarily through experience, but through understanding the deeper connection it embodies. As you cultivate, the sword intent will naturally manifest within your divine soul."

"If you're reading this message, it means you've already felt the beauty of the Sword of Ecstasy and savored its delights.

"Hahaha! The path of cultivation is long and arduous. Life can become unbearably dull if you're fortunate enough to attain immortality.

"We should embrace all the splendors of the world—scenic wonders, gourmet food, and, of course, beautiful people. These are all experiences you have to savor.

"I'm not only teaching you swordsmanship but also how to cultivate your heart and enjoy the wonders of life.

"Experience all the beauty life has to offer. Don't waste your limited time just on cultivation.

"Hahaha! Now, go and grasp the essence of the sword technique!"

Li Zhaotian's boisterous and clamorous voice echoed from within the blue-clad figure still demonstrating sword techniques.

Pang Jian finally realized that, during his enlightenment, he had unwittingly comprehended his master's Sword of Ecstasy, leaving its sword intent deeply rooted in his divine soul. This sword intent naturally emerged when his divine sense came into contact with the white-robed woman's divine sense.

It seemed this was a mischievous but well-intentioned gesture from Li Zhaotian.

The Sword of Ecstasy...

It has a strange name, but the pleasure it brings is undeniably real.

Pang Jian's cultivation realm far surpassed that of the white-robed woman above. His perception could extend far beyond hers, and his divine sense enveloped her completely.

Beads of crystalline sweat formed on the unfamiliar woman's fair forehead, cheeks, neck, and even the exposed portion of her arm.

This is my master's thoughtful gesture. He was worried I wouldn't study it, but actually...this feeling isn't bad at all.

The seven strands of moonlit divine sense, which sought to disrupt Pang Jian, retreated back to the white-robed woman.

Pang Jian, immersed in the intoxicating sensation, watched as his seven strands of golden divine sense abruptly surged out of the Stellar-Lunar Veins.

The seven strands of golden divine sense coiled tightly around the Moon God Ying Yue's divine sense like menacing serpentine dragons, indulging in the intoxicating sensation without restraint.

In the starry skies, the Moon God's true body shifted uneasily on the massive platform, writhing in discomfort.

Her eyes were glazed and frantic. Hot, heavy breaths escaped her trembling lips.

She hastily severed her connection with the divine consciousness in her many statues across her domains.

The Moon God feared her disheveled state would reflect upon the statues imbued with her divine consciousness and potentially alarm her followers.

"Despicable little bastard from the Abyss!" she roared furiously. "I swear I'll drag you out, strip your skin, break your bones, and smash your body into a thousand pieces!"

The human vessel she had possessed—Ling Yue'e—ignored the potential presence of Demon Sect powerhouses lurking in or around Star Moon Valley.

Her trembling figure soared into the air in a frenzy.

Despite pulling the seven strands of moonlit divine sense back into her body, the relentless golden divine sense remained entangled with it.

She was a Moon God and controlled a divine domain with countless followers in the starry skies. For her, this situation was beyond humiliating.

The golden divine sense clinging to her own gave her the unbearable sensation of seven of her being held in an unwelcome embrace.

"Let go!

"Get away!

"Who are you?

"I, Ying Yue, swear I'll find and kill you!"

Her piercing shriek echoed through the seven strands of moonlit divine sense. @@novelbin@@

In response, Pang Jian's divine sense slowly loosened their grip, releasing her seven strands of moonlit divine sense one by one as if finally aware of the impropriety.

When the final strands of golden divine sense at last separated from the Moon God's divine sense, a hesitant voice lingered in her mind.

You're not...enjoying this? I truly thought you were enjoying it like I was. You didn't look to be in pain. I genuinely don't understand. Why are you so eager to leave? And why do you want to kill me?

With that, the connection between them broke.

***

Ying Yue's vessel panted heavily above Star Moon Valley, her rage boiling over as she destroyed everything in her sight.

The lunar energy she had painstakingly accumulated burst out in a dazzling wave, obliterating all tangible objects in her vicinity.

Her furious screams echoed through one of the grand palaces that the Bright Moon Race had built, resounding across the moon and causing the celestial body to tremble.

The moon became brighter than ever before.

Outer Gods in the nearby starry skies sensed the anomaly and heard the enraged cries of the Moon God.

Ying Yue was considered one of the calmer and more composed Outer Gods. Naturally, her uncharacteristic behavior aroused curiosity and unease.

A massive golden platform drawn by Colossal Three-Legged Golden Crows emerged from the blazing sun and crossed millions of li in the blink of an eye to arrive above the moon.

The Sun God stood atop the massive platform spanning thousands of mu.

His towering body was as imposing as a mountain range and was encased in natural golden armor which bore intricate patterns radiating with the blazing Dao of Suns.

An awe-inspiring divine light emanated from his fiery eyes, compelling reverence from all who beheld him.

Raging flames flickered violently around his platform as cores detonated in endless explosions and created apocalyptic storms of destruction.

"Ying Yue, what happened?" the Sun God asked with gentle concern.

The Bright Moon Race were already prostrating themselves. None dared to glance at the platform or glimpse the Sun God's visage.

The Moon God suppressed her murderous urges and replied coldly, "It has nothing to do with you. Leave my domain immediately!"

"You can always share your troubles with me. I live just above the sun. You know how I feel toward you," the Sun God replied, voice tinged with dejection at her dismissal. With a helpless sigh, he guided his platform away, unwilling to provoke further animosity.

The Bright Moon Race remained motionless.

The Moon God did not deign to reply to the Sun God's departing words.

Inside the palace, however, the sound of rare vessels shattering echoed continuously.