Trials of the Abyss

"The Netherworld Specter Karma Art?!"

When Lu Yanshu, Shen Yanxi, and the others heard about what had happened to Pang Jian, their expressions turned grave.

They gazed at the colossal floating Sanctum of Godly and Demonic Genesis, searching for the drifting figure of Ling Yimo.

Discussions about the Netherworld Specter Karma Art and the Netherworld Specter Karma Threads filled the air.

Pang Jian learned just how terrifying the art was from their conversations.

The Netherworld Specter Karma Art...

It could alter one's karma, determine a person's time of death, and cause one's memories to falter.

The more he learned, the more fear gripped him, and he could not help but feel relieved he had dodged that fate.

Fan Chen from the Supreme Monad Divine Kingdom was deeply knowledgeable about the Abyss and the secrets of the major factions.

"In the Ghost Sacrifice Sect, those qualified to cultivate the Netherworld Specter Karma Art ultimately have to abandon their physical bodies," he explained solemnly. "It's said that Gui Mu can travel between the worlds of the Abyss using only her divine soul.

"One's physical body seems to become a shackle for practitioners of the Netherworld Specter Karma Art.

"Perhaps Ling Yimo intended to abandon her physical body from the start.

"She's far too unique to be treated as a conventional Spirit Condensation Realm cultivator.

"If we were to enter the Sanctum of Godly and Demonic Genesis with our divine souls, we would likely be devoured, just like Cao Jingbai."

A chill ran down everyone's spine.

"How did Zhou Yi manage to escape?" Pang Jian suddenly asked.

"The Nine Tribes Sect has many secret techniques. Not to mention, Zhou Yi possesses rare treasures and is skilled in escape arts," Fan Chen said with a helpless sigh. "Even though we surrounded him, we couldn't contain him."

While everyone was conversing, they kept an eye on the Sanctum of Godly and Demonic Genesis, fearful that Ling Yimo would strike again.

As if aware of their vigilance, Ling Yimo had made herself scarce.

Unwilling to explore the Sanctum of Godly and Demonic Genesis with their divine souls, the group discussed their next steps on the strange, bizarre-mist-covered continent.

Pang Jian's expression remained calm as he turned to Lu Yanshu, the prodigy from the Pure Land Sect, and asked, "Lu Yanshu, you're from the Pure Land Sect. Would you happen to know the owner of that white crane?"

"Why do you ask?" Lu Yanshu responded warily.

"I first encountered that white crane in Cloud Lightning, and we later met again in Absolute Heaven," Pang Jian said, maintaining his stoic expression. "It holds its master in high regard, so I was curious..."

"That's a secret of the Pure Land Sect. I cannot divulge it," Lu Yanshu replied coldly.

Lu Yanshu's firm stance on secrecy conversely reassured Pang Jian.

Pang Jian nodded and did not press further.

After a while, they decided to ignore the Sanctum of Godly and Demonic Genesis for the time being and continue exploring deeper into the continent for any other anomalies.

Pang Jian then said, "I need time to recover."

"I can take you on the Flying Fish Boat," Liu Youyu said lowly.

"That works."

***

Between Auspicious Light and the Cosmic Skies Continent in the Third World, a Sword Boat and a Scarlet Dawn Boat were docked on a massive Primeval Pillar Divine Kingdom warship.

Pang Jian and Zhou Qingchen had left their Sword Boat and Scarlet Dawn Boat behind before entering the Fourth World.

According to Hong Qiming of the Demon Sect, the Sword Boat and Scarlet Dawn Boat were too conspicuous for them to move in secret.

The giant warship where the Sword Boat and Scarlet Dawn Boat were docked gradually came to a stop.

Cheng Rutang and Zheng Guowang stared at the wreckage of a Cloud Sail in the void and the corpses of the rogue cultivators on board.

An officer from the Primeval Pillar Divine Kingdom pointed at one of the corpses.

"That slightly chubby corpse belongs to Han Duping. He was friendly with Pang Jian and Zhou Qingchen," he explained. "The other bodies belong to Wu Xuanfeng and others. They previously aligned themselves with Zhou Qingchen. It seems Berserk Beasts killed them here."

Worry clouded Cheng Rutang's pretty face.

"The contribution points of all those at the forefront of the Soul Wandering Realm and Spirit Condensation Realm leaderboards have stalled, and not a single one can be reached.

"The higher-ups are very concerned about their safety."

The top-ranked individuals on the Merit Leaderboards were all prodigies from major factions. Some even carried important sect artifacts.

These prodigies were the future pillars of their sects, and their prolonged silence had made even the True Gods of the First World uneasy.

Zheng Guowang said, "I have reliable information that they've entered the Fourth World."

"Could high-ranked foreign race powerhouses have mobilized en masse to ambush them in the Fourth World?" Cheng Rutang's brows knitted. "Yu'er has always been cautious. She would've returned if she detected many foreign race powerhouses in one area."

"The higher-ups are already looking into this, so try not to worry too much," Zheng Guowang comforted.

***

Meanwhile, Zhou Yi from the Nine Tribes Sect had hunted down the fleeing top-ranked Spirit Condensation Realm cultivators in the bizarre mist.

Whoosh!

Stopping before a floating golden cauldron, he smiled indifferently and said, "Su Li, Hong Qiming of the Demon Sect is dead. No one will force you to enter the Sanctum of Godly and Demonic Genesis anymore."

The golden cauldron creaked as an unseen force compressed it.

Su Li's face paled and he shrieked, "Brother Zhou, I've lost all interest in the Sanctum of Godly and Demonic Genesis and this continent!"

"Pang Jian, the youngest disciple of Li Zhaotian, killed Hong Qiming," Zhou Yi informed with a smile.

"I don't care who it was! I have no desire to explore the Sanctum of Godly and Demonic Genesis or this continent any further!" Su Li secretly cast secret art after secret art in a panic, trying to break free of the force squeezing the golden cauldron.

Despite his efforts, the cauldron remained unmoving in the air. It was no longer under his control.

"Ah, don't be in such a rush to leave," Zhou Yi said warmly. "I have no one to talk to now that Hong Qiming is dead. Won't you stay and chat with me, Su Li?

"Did you know that long ago, the Nine Tribes Race lived where the Nine Tribes Sect now stands?

"This race looked just like humans, except they advanced through their bloodline rather than the human race cultivation system.

"Of course, times changed, and so did they.

"As time went on, the Nine Tribes Race learned to hide their bloodline and cultivate using the methods of your human race, absorbing the spiritual qi of heaven and earth to strengthen themselves."

Su Li was taken aback. "My human race?"

Zhou Yi nodded genially.

Realization dawned on Su Li. "Zhou Yi, you're part of the foreign races?!"

"Foreign races?" Zhou Yi's lips curled in a cold sneer. "Do we have to be outcasted as part of the foreign races just because we differ slightly from the human race?

"Aside from our special bloodline, my Nine Tribes Race is identical to your human race. Why can't we walk openly in the Abyss? Why does your human race seek to eliminate my Nine Tribes Race?

"Su Li, tell me, why does the Nine Tribes Sect claim our ancestral land?"

Zhou Yi's eyes were filled with a fierce coldness that seemed like it would never dissipate.

Su Li was speechless. It was like he turned into a wooden statue.

If Zhou Yi had not revealed his identity, Su Li would never have imagined that he was different from the human race!

After a brief pause, Su Li muttered, "Are the Nine Tribes Sect blind? Why would they nurture someone like you?"

"They're not blind." Zhou Yi took a deep breath and said with searing hatred, "To deceive everyone, I was stripped of my unique bloodline as an infant.

"You can't possibly imagine the agony that comes with having one's bloodline stripped! The pain of scraping one's bones doesn't even begin to describe it!

"To survive, to avoid persecution, to live in a world ruled by the human race, Nine Tribes Race infants like me have to endure torment from the moment we're born!

"Many Nine Tribes Race children die during the process. The survival rate is only fifty percent.

"I survived, but my younger brother did not." His face contorted into an expression of profound grief as he roared with deep anguish, "Our bloodline was once the source of the Nine Tribes Race's power and dominance!

"But now, we're forced to strip it and practice the cultivation techniques of your human race instead!

"All so we can avoid detection."

Zhou Yi let out a bitter laugh.

"I tricked Hong Qiming into luring Liu Youyu, Fan Chen, Hu Yuanfei, and the top-ranked cultivators on the Soul Wandering Realm and Spirit Condensation Realm leaderboards here so that the future of your human race would be cut off!

"I'll ensure no successors for the human race remain in this new generation!

"I, Zhou Yi, may die here, but I hope the Abyss will be turned upside down in the process! I hope your human race will no longer reign over this world!

"My only wish is that the new generation of the Nine Tribes Race will never again have to endure the agony of losing their bloodline!"

***

Ling Yimo's figure reappeared deep within the floating Sanctum of Godly and Demonic Genesis.

As she gazed indifferently at Zhou Yi through a window, she sent him a mental message, You and I are the same.

This thought traveled across hundreds of li and entered Zhou Yi's mind.

Zhou Yi's mind trembled. Turning his attention to the Sanctum of Godly and Demonic Genesis, he vaguely saw the silhouette of Ling Yimo.

Return and help me, Ling Yimo said.

Zhou Yi considered it, then firmly nodded. "Alright."

Crack!

The golden cauldron sheltering Su Li crumpled under a crushing force and his bones broke from the merciless pressure.

Zhou Yi flew into the air, grabbed Su Li by the hair, and dragged him through the bizarre mist.

With the sacred artifact Jiang Ran had given him destroyed, Su Li was nothing more than a helpless dog in Zhou Yi's grasp, unable to mount any meaningful resistance.

***

Whoosh!

The Flying Fish Boat sailed through the air.

Pang Jian sat with his eyes closed inside the narrow flying vessel, focusing on his recovery.

Liu Youyu's long eyelashes fluttered lightly as she watched him curiously.

"What are you looking at?" Pang Jian asked, opening his eyes.

"N-nothing." Liu Youyu quickly looked down, fidgeting with the hem of her clothes, and whispered, "I was just checking to see if there were still any Netherworld Specter Karma Threads lingering on you."

Pang Jian's expression shifted as he said seriously, "Then please, have a closer look."

Liu Youyu giggled. "I was kidding. I can't see them myself—I need the Celestial Profound Mirror to do that."

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!