Trials of the Abyss

Chapter 482: Li Wang

"Li Wang, you should have taken precautionary measures earlier," Liu Fu said sternly, unable to mask the accusation in his eyes. "You know the internal situation of the Demon Sect better than anyone.

"Low-level Demon Sect disciples are extremely prone to losing control and dying from cultivation deviation.

"Those in higher cultivation realms are far more susceptible to the corruption and influence of the Demon Gods in the outer worlds.

"The higher their cultivation, the greater the chance of those Demon Gods targeting them.

"How many times have Demon Gods corrupted the minds of high-level cultivators since humans took control of the Demon Abyss Continent and the Demon Sect was established?

"As far as I know, at least three generations of Sect Masters from the Demon Sect have willingly submitted themselves to the Demon Gods, and one of them was even a True God!"

Liu Fu's volume rose with every word.

"If you sensed something was off with Xiang Shengwei, why didn't you take precautions sooner?"

Both Li Yuanli and Dong Shangqing had been prepared to voice their own criticisms but held their tongues when the normally quiet Liu Fu vented his frustrations.

"It was my oversight," Li Wang admitted. "I've been preoccupied with trying to unravel what agreement the Fey Race in Northern Qi reached with the Dragon Lair Sect.

"Most of my attention has been focused on the Outer Gods in the Fifth World. Xiang Shengwei didn't receive the attention he deserved."

Hearing his admission, Liu Fu said no more and fell into silence.

"Pang Jian!" Li Wang called.

"I'm here." Pang Jian flew over at the summon, having deliberately kept his distance from the four True Gods.

The laid-back Li Wang, the unassuming Liu Fu, the handsome Li Yuanli, and the ethereal Dong Shangqing—each of the four True Gods bore a unique regality, with none showing even the faintest sign of aging.

They made no deliberate effort to display their authority, refraining from manifesting their Dharma Idols and containing their divine power.

If not for their divine artifacts, Pang Jian would have found it hard to believe that they were among the most powerful figures in the Abyss.

Li Wang waved his sleeve, and a purple-black shrine floated out.

"This is the Demon Subjugating Shrine. Try taking it into the Demon Abyss Continent.

"It was crafted from a fragment of the demonic stone and can sense the movements of all Demon Gods and Great Demon Gods while also suppressing and sealing them.

"Take it to the demonic stone. All you need to do is drop it on top of the demonic stone to suppress its anomalies.

"Also, be cautious of Xiang Shengwei, the Sect Master of the Demon Sect. Others could be compromised as well."

The shrine carved from the purple-black stone appeared rather rough and was noticeably less polished than Wu Yuan's Purple Demon Eye or the massive purple demonic stone.

"You can guide your divine sense into the shrine and focus it on the black orb inside to take control of it," Li Wang explained. Handing the shrine to Pang Jian, he encouraged, "Give it a try."

"Pang Jian, we can't enter the Demon Abyss Continent. We hope you can make another trip back," Li Yuanli said, a hint of pleading in his voice.

"Pang Jian, Dong Wenjian couldn't stop praising you after returning from the Sacred Soul Continent. This journey back to the Demon Abyss will undoubtedly be incredibly perilous, but we have no choice but to rely on you," Dong Shangqing added.

The usually silent Liu Fu simply looked at him, a faint trace of reluctance in his eyes.

Liu Youyu was his descendant, and he was close to Li Zhaotian. Despite only being in the Nirvana Realm, it was clear Pang Jian was one of those extraordinary figures that emerged during great calamities in the Abyss.

Such a promising figure was destined to ascend to the True God Realm and become a peerless talent capable of leading an entire era.

He had barely escaped the perilous Demon Abyss Continent, only for them to ask him to dive back into the tiger's den, where the slightest misstep could cost him his life.

Liu Fu understood the dire circumstances and uttered words of neither persuasion nor dissuasion.

"Demon subjugating..." Pang Jian guided his divine sense into the shrine as instructed.

His divine sense entered the black orb within, and it was like he had gained a new black "eye," allowing him to see every detail of the shrine's interior.

The cavernous space inside the shrine seemed to house many demonic statues. The walls were lined with grooves, each containing the vivid image of Demon Gods.

While they appeared to be enshrined, they were, in fact, sealed.

Even a brief glance told him that there were at least seven Demon God figures imprisoned inside.

The shrine's interior was dim and eerie, filled with unsettling energy fluctuations. The black orb his divine sense had entered was actually the central control hub for the shrine's arrays.

With just a thought, he could channel the shrine's energy and even extract power from the seven imprisoned Demon Gods within.

"Once the Demon Subjugating Shrine enters the Demon Abyss Continent, you'll be able to detect Demon Gods as long as your divine sense is in the black orb.

"You'll be able to tell if there are any other Demon Gods besides Xiang Shengwei around you.

"Let's just hope Xiang Shengwei is too preoccupied with maintaining control over the arrays to spare the effort to deal with you."

Li Wang explained how to use the Demon Subjugating Shrine in further detail and outlined some of the precautions Pang Jian could take while on the Demon Abyss Continent.

Finally, he said, "There's no time to waste. Head into the Demon Abyss Continent and put an end to the calamity plaguing the continent below."

"Understood," Pang Jian responded decisively. Holding the Demon Subjugating Shrine, he charged straight into the Demon Abyss Continent.

When his body made contact with the Heaven-Encompassing Demonic Array, the bronze pendant on his chest warmed, allowing him to pass through effortlessly.

None of the four True Gods asked how Pang Jian could enter and exit the Demon Abyss Continent.

Their eyes simply remained fixed on his every move, watching as Pang Jian disappeared beyond the barrier.

The barrier remained undisturbed even as Pang Jian passed through.

They stood in silent contemplation, lost in thought.

After a moment, Liu Fu realized, "So, he's this era's new World God."

Li Wang gently nodded. "It's about the right time for a new World God to emerge."

"World God..." Dong Shangqing smiled bitterly. "The previous generations of World Gods were utterly disappointed in us. I wonder if this era's World God will still stand by our side."

"The World God is also human, just like us," said Li Yuanli. "No matter what, the World God would never stand idly by and watch the human race fall into ruin."

"World God..." Li Wang muttered softly as he rubbed his eyes.

***

When Pang Jian crossed the barrier into the Demon Abyss Continent with the Demon Subjugating Shrine, the divine sense in the shrine's black orb started to relay information to him through the shrine.

The Demon Subjugating Shrine showed him a vivid scene.

In a grand hall, a figure sat atop a greenish-black lotus platform, hands forming seals in front of his chest.

His entire body was engulfed in greenish-black demonic flames that matched the color of the lotus platform.

The demonic flames spread outward, activating numerous demonic statues and arrays embedded in the stone floor, pillars, and walls of the hall.

The figure sat with eyes closed, exuding an aura of solemnity and reverence, like a worshiped deity.

Two other individuals sat quietly on the ground of the same hall.

One was draped in white robes covered in black "Demon" characters and deep red hearts.

The other leaned against a pitch-black stone pillar, seemingly fused with it, head bowed as if in deep slumber.

The figure on the greenish-black lotus platform suddenly opened his eyes. His greenish-black pupils exuded a chilling indifference toward all living beings.

"Ah, the Demon Subjugating Shrine." His lips curled into a faint, elegant smile as he uttered, "Li Wang."

"He Motian!" Li Wang's voice resonated from within the Demon Subjugating Shrine.

Pang Jian's divine sense was forcibly expelled from the shrine as it flew straight toward the Demon Sect.

Whoosh!

The Demon Subjugating Shrine expanded a thousandfold, transforming into a towering structure larger than the demonic stone itself.

Tens of thousands of windows were unveiled, and deep, resonant divine tones echoed through the air as each window drew in sinister demonic energy like water being siphoned.

Demonic energy poured into the Demon Subjugating Shrine in a frenzied torrent.

The harrowing screams of the seven imprisoned Demon Gods echoed from the shrine, voices filled with excruciating pain.

Li Wang's voice drifted faintly from the shrine. "Pang Jian, go to the demonic stone and wait for me there."

Whoosh!

A dazzling starry sky spread outward from the top of the towering Demon Subjugating Shrine.

The sun, moons, and stars filled space beneath the Heaven-Encompassing Demonic Array, giving the Demon Abyss Continent a bright new sky.

Li Wang's celestial dome illuminated the entire Demon Abyss Continent from beneath the Heaven-Encompassing Demonic Array.

The radiance of the sun, moons, and stars rapidly purified the demonic energy on the continent.

As the demonic energy dissipated, the sinister force compelling people to commit atrocities vanished as well. Those previously locked in combat lowered their weapons, confused and disoriented.

Pang Jian watched as it all unfolded, just as bewildered and dazed as the motionless combatants below.

The Li Wang he had seen earlier showed no trace of overwhelming divine authority, and his relaxed demeanor had left little impression.

Pang Jian had not sensed what made this nominal leader of the True Gods so extraordinary.

The instant the Demon Subjugating Shrine entered the Demon Abyss Continent, a dramatic transformation occurred. Li Wang had completely turned the tide using just a fragment of his divine soul concealed within the shrine.

The shrine, radiating boundless divine power, hurtled straight toward the Demon Sect.

A new starry expanse replaced the oppressive greenish-black of the barrier and the corrupting force of demonic energy seemed to dissipate and diminish.

Everything was heading in a positive direction.

However, Pang Jian could not get over the fact that Li Wang had deceived him.

Li Wang had clearly been prepared to use his own power and methods to suppress the chaos in the Demon Abyss Continent through the Demon Subjugating Shrine. All he needed was for Pang Jian to carry it into the Demon Abyss Continent.

Why wasn't he upfront about it?

Why did he go through the trouble of explaining the shrine's functions and usage as though Pang Jian would need to rely on them?

Pang Jian could not figure it out, but the realization left an uncomfortable feeling in his heart.

Boom!

The greenish-black barrier capping the Demon Abyss shattered as the Demon Subjugating Shrine flew overhead.

The towering purple demonic stone and all those within could be seen below.

Li Jie and the Immortal Realm cultivators that had descended into the Demon Abyss gazed at the massive Demon Subjugating Shrine as it drifted away, voices raised in excitement.

"Li Wang!"

"Li Wang found a way to resolve this calamity!"

"As expected of Li Wang!"

The cultivators hiding across the Demon Abyss Continent emerged when the Demon Subjugating Shrine appeared.

Those corrupted broke out into cheers once they regained their clarity and reason, chanting Li Wang's name and praising the True God.