Trials of the Abyss

Chapter 477: The Moon God Suffers Another Defeat

Back near Absolute Heaven, above the Forbidden Land of the Thunder God, Ying Yue had witnessed Pang Jian command Ice Race warriors to slaughter her Bright Moon Race worshiper through her altar.

Pang Jian's actions within the bizarre mist had left an indelible mark on her.

He occasionally used the Heaven-Earth Cosmos Chest to project his ethereal form out of the Abyss and had once attempted to spy on the full moon under her control.

Naturally, she had immediately sensed his presence.

Her true body resided on the moon and she could fully wield the moon's power to amplify her perception.

Thus, she had instantly discerned Pang Jian's hazy projection for what it truly was.

She realized Pang Jian had used some secret technique to survey the starry skies beyond the Abyss.

In contrast, her abilities in her vessel were significantly weakened.

Although her divine consciousness had descended into Ling Yue'e of the Star Moon Sect, this body was not her Ying Yue's body. It lacked her complete divine soul and was not connected to a moon.

Pang Jian's strands of divine sense also had not taken on a human form when extending from the lower depths of the Stellar-Lunar Veins.

Thus, she failed to recognize that the underground pervert was actually the same Pang Jian responsible for repeatedly sabotaging her plans.

After entering the Demon Abyss and observing in secret, she became certain that Pang Jian was the sallow-faced youth from before.

Pang Jian traveled with Wu Yuan for an extended time and his aura was identical to the young man in Star Moon Valley.

"Did you really think changing your face was enough to stop me from recognizing you?" Ying Yue took a deep breath, and a crescent moon materialized behind her.

She glided to the top of the crescent moon, narrowed eyes quietly gathering power.

The omnipresent demonic energy within the Demon Abyss surged like a tide, flowing into the crescent moon beneath her feet and dyeing it a deep greenish-black.

The radiant crescent moon slowly changed into something dark and sinister, exuding an eerie demonic light that sent shivers of unease through one's heart.

"Pang Jian, how dare you violate my divine sense!"

The crescent moon locked onto Pang Jian like an unblinking eye.

A torrent of greenish-black Lunar Edges, refined from demonic energy, engulfed Pang Jian and Li Jie, slashing toward them with terrifying force.

Pang Jian hastily summoned a protective shield to defend himself, while Li Jie retreated into his Qilin Bell.

Crack! Crack! Crack!

Pang Jian's icy protective shield trembled under the relentless barrage of Lunar Edges. It reminded him of the slashing of Xuan Ying's serrated demonic blade and gave him a slight headache.

According to Wu Yuan, only the Demon Scale Race can naturally refine demonic energy. This woman is a disciple of the Star Moon Sect—a human, She also hasn't cultivated some demonic art the way I have.

How can she wield demonic energy, which doesn't even belong to the Abyss, with such proficiency?

Her aura and power are far stronger than in Star Moon Valley.

The divine sense she extended into the underground Stellar-Lunar Veins also carried an astonishing level of divine consciousness...

Pang Jian did not counterattack, instead analyzing the situation with a frown.

Lunar Edges crashed against his protective shield, as Pang Jian silently observed the beautiful woman standing atop the demonic moon. The demonic energy within the moon would respond with incredible precision every time her divine sense so much as twitched.

This Ying Yue was clearly proficient in controlling demonic energy and could skillfully shape it to her will.

Demonic energy was unpredictable and possessed the characteristics of the Demon Gods. Despite this, she could still use it with ease.

This led Pang Jian to conclude that Ying Yue was a greater prodigy in using demonic energy than even Xuan Ying of the Demon Scale Race.

Abyssal Demon, this woman calling herself Ying Yue... Pang Jian called out, briefly recounting Ying Yue's abilities.

The Abyssal Demon carefully listened to Pang Jian's description, still maintaining its distance from the massive demonic stone and refraining from acting against Xuan Ying.

Within the world of the sword, the Abyssal Demon stood in the roaring flames of the blazing mysterious realm as he quietly perfected his own Demon God form.

I recall there being a Moon God named Ying Yue.

There are at least three Moon Gods within the starry skies, but I remember Ying Yue being the strongest.

Pang Jian, Ying Yue has most likely possessed the woman before you.

She's the same Moon God residing on the moon above the Abyss, the Abyssal Demon said with absolute certainty.

Pang Jian was shaken to his core. An image of an ancient Outer God brimming with boundless divine power surfaced in his mind.

I have no doubt it's her! the Abyssal Demon continued. The starry skies are a complex place filled with many worlds, each with its own unique energies.

Outer Gods like Ying Yue understand how to harness these diverse energies and are masters of combat because of it.

The Demon Races are one of the most prominent groups in the starry skies. Naturally, she would know how to use their demonic energy in battle.

Pang Jian took a deep breath, deeply startled. "So, Ying Yue is a Moon God!"

His previous encounters with Outer God Puppets had mostly involved Outer Gods channeling their divine consciousness into statues or banners rather than living beings.

Ying Yue being a Moon God meant there was no easy resolution to their conflict.

After all, Pang Jian had killed many members of the Bright Moon Race and repeatedly sabotaged her plans.

Still, he could not help but wonder why the Sword of Ecstasy had taken effect when his divine sense entangled with her.

Ying Yue was an Outer God.

Could my master's Sword of Ecstasy truly be that extraordinary? To the point where it even affects a female Outer God in the starry skies when my sword intent inadvertently touches them? Pang Jian wondered.

A playful glint appeared in his eyes and a strange smirk curled his lips.

Despite the overwhelming assault of Lunar Edges, Pang Jian forced his way through the barrage, dashing straight toward the Moon God atop the demonic moon.

"Ying Yue!" Pang Jian's eyes turned golden as he stared at her. "You shouldn't have descended into the Abyss, and you especially shouldn't have let me find out!

"You're not here with your true body, and this vessel of yours cannot fully channel your divine power. You're courting death!"

Whoosh!

The crystalline Heart of Winter appeared beneath Pang Jian's feet, allowing him to stand atop it in a similar way Ying Yue was standing on the demonic moon.

Pang Jian used its cold energy to freeze and crush the incoming Lunar Edges.

He exuded an astonishing aura as waves of divine sense rippled from him.

The icy Lunar Edges and the attacks condensed from demonic energy could only slice through tangible forms. Thus, they posed no threat to his divine sense.

His divine sense surged ahead of his physical body, swiftly closing in on Ying Yue!

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Pang Jian's divine sense transformed into a golden tidal wave, then split into dozens of golden spectral snakes before slithering toward Ying Yue.

His actions were enough to make it evident that he intended to invade Ying Yue's sea of consciousness with his divine sense.

Ying Yue's porcelain face twisted in terror as if she were caught in a nightmare.

She recalled how those sinister strands of golden divine sense relentlessly entangled her moonlit divine sense even when she tried to flee from underground.

The dizzying sensations when their divine senses intertwined were enough for her to lose control. Just seven strands of his divine sense had been enough to leave even her true body struggling to withstand the overwhelming impact.

She could only imagine the humiliating consequences if dozens of golden divine sense were to invade her sea of consciousness.

"Shameless!" Ying Yue's beautiful eyes blazed with fury.

Despite this, she dared not allow Pang Jian's divine sense to get close to her, and she reluctantly retreated with the demonic moon.

How infuriating! I can control demonic energy and hold some advantages in the Demon Abyss, but the refinement of this vessel's divine soul is still lacking.

After leaving the Star Moon Valley, she found a remote area to carefully absorb pure moonlight, ensuring she did not attract too much attention. However, her cautiousness had resulted in insufficient gains.

She had rushed over in a hurry when she sensed that her imprint on Wu Yuan had entered the Demon Abyss.

This meant that her combat prowess had only really seen a moderate improvement compared to before, far from a complete transformation.

That demonic stone hides mysteries even I can't fully decipher. Perhaps it can help me kill that pervert.

I'm a God. I have knowledge beyond the grasp of the inhabitants of the Abyss. It doesn't matter which Demon God left this demonic stone behind, I can probably wield it with ease.

With that thought, Moon God Ying Yue flew toward the center of the Demon Abyss.

Along the way, demonic energy continued to stream madly into her demonic moon The greenish-black crescent moon grew larger and stronger, brimming with increasingly terrifying power.

***

Within the ruined city, Pang Jian halted his pursuit of Ying Yue and turned to Li Jie.

"Li Jie, I need to head to the demonic stone at the center of the Demon Abyss.

"That woman earlier was merely the vessel of a Moon God. The situation in the Demon Abyss is growing increasingly dangerous.

"Xuan Ying of the Demon Scale Race is here, and now an Outer God is getting involved too. It's best if you don't stay here any longer."

Li Jie let out a bitter laugh.

"I'm really unlucky. I came here to temper my heart against the demonic stone, but then Long Yan wanted to kill me, the prodigy of the Demon Scale Race appeared, and now there's a Moon God too..." he lamented with a self-deprecating sigh. "You're right, my life's more important. I'll leave as soon as possible.

"Here, take this sword scabbard."

Li Jie handed the meticulously crafted sword scabbard to Pang Jian before carefully explaining its functions.

Pang Jian took the sword scabbard and sent a strand of divine sense into it, noticing the twelve intricate arrays inscribed inside.

On the surface of the scabbard was a protruding golden orb, which could be gently pressed into the sword scabbard.

When the golden orb was pressed down into the sword scabbard, the twelve arrays for sealing the Abyssal Demon would activate, preventing it from corrupting the minds of others.

Pressing the orb again caused it to pop back out, deactivating all twelve arrays.

Unfortunately, with the Abyssal Demon now complete, sealing him in the sword's inner world would not be enough to sever its communication with the outside world.

"I knew that those arrays wouldn't be able to suppress its demonic soul the moment that sword flew off on its own," Li Jie said with a sigh. Casually tossing a silver spatial ring to Pang Jian, he added, "Transfer your items into this ring. It's time you upgraded your spatial storage artifact."

He cast a disdainful look at the spatial bracelet on Pang Jian's wrist.

"Do you even know your status now, Pang Jian? Only a spatial ring that I, Li Jie, crafted is worthy of someone like you!"

Stunned, Pang Jian hesitated briefly before taking the spatial ring.

"I don't actually have that much stuff."

Pang Jian put his spatial bracelet into the silver spatial ring. The spatial bracelet disintegrated as it entered the spatial ring, allowing its contents to be smoothly transferred.

Pills, the Heaven-Earth Cosmos Chest, some spirit jades, and barrels of high-ranked Vicious Beasts' blood smoothly settled into the spatial ring.

As Pang Jian inspected the contents of the spatial rings, he noticed that there were also various poisonous mists in porcelain bottles and banners already inside.

"Theatspatial ring contains some items I use for self-defense. Keep them," Li Jie said, reluctantly flying off on his Qilin Bell. "I know I'll only hold you back if I stay in the Demon Abyss, so let's meet again when you return."

Li Jie's journey toward the center of the Demon Abyss had been far from a pleasant experience.

Leaving, on the other hand, was far easier.

After parting ways with Pang Jian, Li Jie swiftly exited the Demon Abyss, effortlessly crossing the barrier of demonic light and emerging onto the Demon Abyss Continent.

The night was deep and dark, with neither stars nor moon hanging in the sky.

A sense of oppressive unease welled up within Li Jie for no apparent reason.

He sent a strand of divine sense into a jade pendant on his waist, attempting to contact his family. "I've left the Demon Abyss. I couldn't reach the demonic stone because something felt off. I–"

Li Jie stopped.

To his horror, Li Jie realized he could no longer connect to his family's communication array.

"This is the Second World. Murky energy hasn't tainted it like the Third World yet! How could this be happening?"

Alarmed, Li Jie soared into the sky on his Qilin Bell, rising hundreds of zhang into the air to survey the Demon Abyss Continent.

Dense clouds of smoke rose from the many deep pits in the direction of the Demon Sect.

Several of the Demon Sect's branches were strewn with corpses.

Focusing his senses, he silently attuned himself to his surroundings and soon caught the sound of battle cries.

"What's happening?" Li Jie's face paled with shock.

Carefully concealing his presence, he maneuvered his Qilin Bell to observe other regions. Fierce battles were erupting all across the continent.

This was an internal conflict, not an invasion from the foreign races of the Fifth World!

This would never happen under usual circumstances! The threat of the foreign races is looming. Such chaos would never normally occur on a continent under the Demon Sect's rule!

Realizing that something was gravely amiss, Li Jie dared not linger or investigate further.

He activated every speed-enhancing array available, pouring all his spiritual power into them to propel the Qilin Bell into the sky. He sought to leave the Demon Abyss Continent as quickly as possible to inform the world of the abnormalities occurring on it.

It has to be the interference of either an Outer God or the Fifth World's foreign races! Li Jie thought, a rising sense of urgency filling him.