Trials of the Abyss-Chapter 756: Messenger

"Girl, does the change in barrier have something to do with you?"

Li Zhaotian hovered beneath the barrier, quietly attuning himself to the strange aura radiating from Li Yuqing.

A chill ran through him. He felt as though she had seen through his past and future.

Letting out a dry cough, he said, "I sensed a presence within the barrier that's identical to the one you carry. That presence is the reason I can no longer close off our world. Outer Gods can once again peer into this world through special means."

Li Zhaotian had hurried back to the upper world to shield the Abyss from the scrutiny of the Outer Gods. Unexpectedly, he found that it was no longer something he could accomplish.

"It does have something to do with me," Li Yuqing admitted. Taking out the Pearl of Fate, she held it gently in her palm and felt the fate energy flowing through it. "Someone told me that the Abyss can't stay sealed for long. Pavilion Master, there's no need for you to worry too much. If they want to watch, let them."

Her voice was respectful, for she held Li Zhaotian in high regard. Li Yuqing saw the Sword Pavilion as the only place outside of the Divine Treasure Sect and the Li Family where she genuinely belonged. After all, even her Heaven-Splitting Sword had come from the Sword Pavilion.

"Who is this person?" Li Zhaotian asked.

"One of the Four Sovereigns, the God of Fate," Li Yuqing replied. "Unlike the other Gods, this one holds no prejudice against our kind. He doesn't see humans as enemies."

Li Zhaotian smiled bitterly. "Another Sovereign..."

There's already the fallen Black Empyrean Phoenix, Sovereign Demonheaven of the Demon Races, and Sovereign Luo. Now the God of Fate has entered the picture as well. How has the small world of the Abyss become entangled with so many Sovereigns? He sighed inwardly.

After a long pause, he cautioned, "Remember, he's not one of us. No matter how friendly he seems, you'd do well to be careful."

"He's really not like the others," Li Yuqing said with conviction.

As she was about to explain further, a warm whisper came from the Pearl of Fate.

Stay in the Abyss for now. This world is unique. It'll allow you to continue growing.

The starry skies beyond are vast, but many of their secrets pale in comparison to the abysses. The abysses conceal mysteries that even I find astonishing. There's no need for you to rush to leave.

The Gods from the abysses often achieved greater heights and held more formidable power. Long Di, Yuan Yi, and Demonheaven are examples of such figures, and so are you.

The God of Fate chuckled softly.

Even if the Abyss were to be destroyed, you would survive. No matter the result of Sovereign Luo and that Black Empyrean Phoenix's battle, they'll still show me a measure of respect.

***

Deep in the bizarre mist of Absolute Heaven, Yuan Qi stood beneath the towering golden beehive in his human form and said to the swarm of bees, "I've reached the limits of my growth. I plan to return to the Abyss."

The Bee Sovereign emerged from the top of the beehive and descended with a beat of his wings.

No foreign race warrior had entered through the six unique spatial rifts recently. The bizarre mist surrounding Absolute Heaven had settled into a calm.

Through the bees and Pang Jian, the Bee Sovereign was aware that the barrier no longer shielded the Abyss from the Outer Gods. They could once again peer into the Abyss.

Zhu Ji had defied convention, advancing his cultivation realm to mid-ranking godhood while still in the Abyss, even destroying the vessels of He Motian and Zi Mo after.

Dispatching Rank Nine warriors into the Abyss under these circumstances was equivalent to sending them to their deaths.

"You seek to ascend as a Fey God?" the Bee Sovereign asked.

Yuan Qi bared his teeth in a grin. "There's only one path left for me now."

"Pang Jian's Immortal Divine Soul was destroyed in the Nether Abyss. An ancient ape with the same icy blue eyes as yours killed him," the Bee Sovereign said, gaze turning sharp. "It seems your bloodline isn't so simple after all."

"An ancient ape destroyed Pang Jian's Immortal Divine Soul?!"

"Mhm. A Fey God born of one of the abysses—a high-ranking God," the Bee Sovereign replied. "That ancient ape said he'll command a campaign of World Gods and divine beings against the Abyss once the war in the Nether Abyss ends.

"You'll probably meet that ancient ape in the Abyss before long. When that time comes, what will you choose? Your race surely has an extraordinary background. Once that ancient ape sees you in the Abyss, he'll undoubtedly value you highly. That's actually what worries me a little..."

Yuan Qi's eyes were filled with dread at this revelation of his terrifying lineage. A moment later, the Rank Nine Fey King pointed to his icy blue eyes and said, "Pang Jian saved not only these eyes but also my life. And not just once, either."

Pang Jian's father had saved Yuan Qi long before he had even gained sentience. Later, when the Celestial Phoenix's bones had fallen into the Solitary Mountain Range and Shangguan Qin's party captured him, Pang Jian had also rescued him.

"I know how to repay kindness," Yuan Qi said lowly.

"Then I wish you success in ascending as a Rank Ten Fey God."

***

When viewed from above, the fragmented lands floating in the bizarre mist formed an enormous character for human[1].

This was the body of the Rank Twelve Aberrant Spirit, the Rock Devourer, and acted as its exclusive domain. These fragmented lands had drifted far from the Nether Abyss, deep into the unknown reaches of the bizarre mist.

Most of the Outer Gods seeking refuge on these fragmented lands had left after hearing Sovereign Luo's threat to come looking for the Rock Devourer. Only two or three tenths remained.

On this day, a small metal skiff radiating a bronze glow emerged from the distant bizarre mist, heading straight for the Rock Devourer's territory.

"Rock Devourer! You killed the envoy of the Nether Abyss that I sent!" the Bronze-Masked God shouted from afar.

The Rock Devourer's smaller form burst from the ground and waited atop the heart-shaped fragmented land as the Bronze-Masked God's metal skiff descended.

"Pang Jian, the son of Pang Qi, has perished in the Nether Abyss," the Rock Devourer said as the Bronze-Masked God disembarked his skiff. "I left a trace of my power on him, but now it's gone. His aura and the mark have been completely wiped out.

"Bronze-Masked God, you're far too late! The Nether Abyss is already undergoing a monumental upheaval! Yuan Yi is launching a full-scale invasion of the Nether Abyss using an army of World Gods and low-ranking Outer Gods from within the bizarre mist!"

Pang Jian's departure from the fragmented lands had happened long enough ago for word of the war in the Nether Abyss to spread throughout the bizarre mist. The Rock Devourer was one of the overlords within the bizarre mist and naturally received the news.

"That child was Pang Qi's son?" The Bronze-Masked God's face paled. Swearing under his breath, he continued, "And he died in the Nether Abyss? Rock Devourer, why did you let him go there?!"

The Rock Devourer snorted. "Long Di invited him. It had nothing to do with me! The upheaval in the Nether Abyss isn't something either of us could have stopped. You'd best turn your attention to the Abyss instead.

"The clash between the Black Empyrean Phoenix and Sovereign Luo is in full swing there. One misstep, and your human race could face extinction."

"Besides, Pang Jian still has another body in the Abyss. You should be worrying whether that version of him will survive."

Hearing this, the Bronze-Masked God hastily boarded his skiff and sped away, dust trailing behind him.

***

In the Frozen Land on the Resolute Expanse, a once-sealed altar stirred, sending forth a summons toward the starry skies.

A young Ice Race maiden stood at its center, a golden bee perched on her shoulder. Together, they sensed the descent of a foreign will, one belonging to an Outer God.

Beside the altar, the elders of the Ice Race wore expressions of confusion and uncertainty.

The golden bee had informed them about the Ice Race's newfound freedom when it arrived. Humans would no longer hunt or persecute them, allowing them to roam the Abyss without restraint. The bee even said that they could be sent out of the Abyss and into the worlds their ancestors once inhabited if they so wished.

This news, though joyous, also left the Ice Race at a loss.

After all, they had followed Pang Jian for years.

Following that, Pang Jian arranged for a maiden with a pure bloodline and an unclouded heart to step onto the altar, using an ancient rite to start a communion with the Frost Crystal God.

The altar was soon shrouded in a crystalline radiance, and a cold will, loftier than the moon itself, descended upon the Frozen Land.

The Ice Race maiden opened her eyes and looked directly at the golden bee perched nearby. A divine consciousness had temporarily infiltrated her soul.

"Pang Jian?" she asked.

"My Immortal Divine Soul in the Nether Abyss encountered a setback, and my physical body is in the Fifth World," the golden bee said in lieu of a greeting. "This is the only way I can communicate with you for now.

"He Motian's strange behavior stems from my influence. I'll use He Motian to keep that God of the Spirit Race, Mou Qi, in check for now. You needn't worry.

"Once I've settled matters here, I'll kill Mou Qi for you. He's just a high-ranking God. Hardly a threat. You have nothing to fear."

***

Pang Jian's cold voice echoed within Han Yi's divine platform in the Lunar Divine Palace.

"That's enough! Stop!" Ying Yue glared at the Frost Crystal God, huffing in annoyance. Her normally frosty friend's eyes brimmed with the bashful joy of a love-struck maiden. "Fine! You guessed right! You picked a man with real ability. Satisfied?"

At that moment, Pang Jian's echoing voice finally faded.

Han Yi could not help but sway in joy atop her divine platform, practically dancing as she said, "I told you it was him. Who else but him would help me, especially when the one I'm up against is someone like Mou Qi, a high-ranking God of the Spirit Race?"

"Alright, alright. I'll admit. Pang Jian is truly amazing." Ying Yue pouted. "But how did he even pull it off?"

1. The Chinese character for human is 人. ☜