C1421 Nether Abyss
Nether Abyss.
Renowned as one of the enigmatic forbidden lands within the Boundless Great World, the Nether Abyss held a tremendous reputation.
In his former life as Hong Qi, he was unable to embark on the path of cultivation. Only with the vigilant accompaniment of Jee Ningshuang and the esteemed cultivators from the Medicine God Sect, and shrouded in protective artifacts, was he able to traverse the Nether Abyss.
Moreover, he never managed to reach the seabed of the Nether Abyss, nor did he witness the seven "Cold Abyss Entrances" firsthand.
Over three hundred years later, he returned to the vicinity of the Nether Abyss. This time, he forwent the use of any deep-sea diving apparatus or special spiritual armor for protection.
Gazing at the crystalline seawater, he descended slowly, extending his perception through a combination of soul sense and vital energy.
Beneath the sea's surface, a multitude of creatures stirred. There were demons fond of the cold, vast sea, cultivators from both the nearby Crack Archipelago and the Quietus Continent, and souls with chilling auras.
Some souls even bore the distinctive essence of Horror Land.
His exceptional soul sense and keen vital energy enabled him to detect all manner of souls and exotic beings.
He was aware that a formidable cold dragon once roamed the depths of the Nether Abyss, exploiting its severe conditions to prey on other demons and overzealous cultivators.
Groups like the Cold Yin Sect's elite cultivators frequently ventured into the Nether Abyss, hoping to fortuitously obtain Ice Soul Crystals and cold-attributed seaweed to fortify their souls and temper their Yang Gods. They aspired to use these cold crystals to craft their dharma when advancing to the Unrestrained Stage.
Lost in contemplation, he had descended a hundred feet.
At this depth, he sensed that most of those who could maintain this level of descent were formidable in their own right.
"Eh!"
He paused mid-descent, his surprise evident as he observed a region several dozen miles away.
A familiar figure, accompanied by several Yin God cultivators from the seven lower sects, navigated the depths aboard an ice-cold spirit boat.
Su Yan of the Taiyuan Sect had advanced to the Middle Period of the Yin God Stage under the tutelage of Jiang Xingwen. She was journeying with several women from the Cold Yin Sect and the Cloud Water Sect. Beneath the sea, they occasionally released their Yin Gods to harvest the rich Yin Qi of the region, integrating it into their own Yin Gods to enhance their cultivation.
Years had passed since Yu Yuan last saw Su Yan, and she had grown even more graceful, her brows tinged with an air of aloofness. He had always thought she bore a resemblance to Jee Ningshuang, and even now, he found the similarities striking. Unable to pinpoint the reason, Yu Yuan discreetly paid attention and eavesdropped.
It didn't take long for Yu Yuan to learn that Su Yan and the women from the Cold Yin Sect and Cloud Water Sect had chosen to refine their Yin Gods in the Nether Abyss, as they were reluctant to venture into Horror Land. The Nether Abyss was not only bitterly cold but also rich in Yin Qi, making it an exceptional place for cultivation. The practitioners from the Cold Yin Sect and Cloud Water Sect could not only temper their Yin Gods here but also purify their meridians and bones, drawing more cold energy into their Yellow Court. This made the Abyss a favored destination for them. However, due to their modest levels of cultivation, they dared not descend to the very bottom of the Cold Abyss.
After a period of covert observation and listening to the women's conversations, Yu Yuan redirected his focus elsewhere, no longer concerned with their activities. Su Yan seemed to be doing well; although her cultivation level wasn't particularly remarkable, she had attained the Yin God Stage. For her sake, he preferred to remain unseen.
Yu Yuan was acutely aware that Su Yan's master had perished due to his actions, harboring a deep resentment towards him and consistently opposing him. Moreover, since Jiang Xingwen was a descendant of Nie Qingtian, it wouldn't be right for him to confront her directly. The outcome of Jiang Xingwen's fate following the conflict in the Illusion Starfield was unknown to him, and frankly, he had no desire to find out.
Given that Su Yan was deep in her practice and accompanied by a fellow cultivator from the Cold Yin Sect, any sudden appearance on his part would only complicate matters for her unnecessarily.
He continued his descent.
Shortly thereafter, he caught sight of Loong Tianxiao, a hybrid creature with a dragon's head and a human's body, hunting a sixth-level Cold Dragon on the seabed, devoid of the Cold Abyss Entrance.
The several-hundred-meter-long Loong Tianxiao coiled around the Cold Dragon, methodically draining its vital essence of flesh and blood.
With half of his lineage derived from the Nagas, he was deemed an offspring of an ancient dragon. Yet, Loong Jie paid him little heed. During Loong Jie's confinement in the Sword Prison, he found himself pursued by the dragons of Hidden Dragon Lake.
Subsequently, Loong Tianxiao was inadvertently taken in by Chen Qingyan and brought back to the Sword Sect.
Thus, he became part of the Sword Sect. Even though he was regarded as an outsider within the sect, his affiliation with the Sword Sect meant that neither the dragons of Hidden Dragon Lake nor the Dragon Servitors dared to confront him any longer.
At that moment, as Loong Tianxiao feasted on the Frost Dragon, Kong Banbi and several sword cultivators from the Sword Sect were nearby.
Chen Qingyan, however, was not present.
Yu Yuan glanced around a few more times and expanded his divine consciousness, discovering that in addition to the Sword Sect, Cloud Water Sect, Cold Yin Sect, and Taiyuan Sect, there were practitioners from the Thunder Sect and Spirit Void Sect circling the Nether Abyss. The majority were at the Yin God Stage and Soul Wandering Stage.
It appeared they had come to view the Nether Abyss as a sacred site for refining their Yin God and enhancing their Soul Wandering Stage, since they were unable to enter Horror Land.
Yu Yuan smiled softly to himself, deciding not to meet with Kong Banbi or Loong Tianxiao.
After some time.
Like a specter, he reached the heart of the Nether Abyss and beheld seven enigmatic pits—much like the experience of Lim Zhuyun years ago.
Within these seven pits, some exuded chilling ghostly flames, others overflowed with thick cold fog, and yet others radiated piercing cold light.
Unaffected by the surrounding seawater, the flames, fog, and ice light existed in their own right.
With a hiss and a crackle, as soon as he made his presence known, six of the seven mysterious pits reacted simultaneously—lightning flashed, cold flames flickered, and ice light burst forth.
Squinting his eyes, Yu Yuan tapped into the mystical essence of the Dragon Slash Platform to keenly perceive the energies within.
"The Demon Palace, Devil Palace, Primordial Yang Sect, Profound Sky Sect, the Desolate God, and President Lyi's presence. The one remaining, clearly a sealed pit, contains Gu Xingkui's sword soul..."
He swiftly discerned that each of the six enigmatic pits held a trace of either Devil Soul, Demon Soul, or lingering thoughts of a Primordial Spirit.
The pit corresponding to President Lyi, leading to the Oblivion Starfield, emitted the faintest aura.
Determining which Primordial Spirit or Demon God was overseeing each of the six mysterious pits proved challenging.
Yet, he understood that the seven "Cold Abyss Entrances" within this sacred ground had long been under the vigilance of the five exalted forces, the Desolate Swamp, and the Babel Chamber of Commerce.
Their duty extended beyond mere guardianship; they were also charged with maintaining the stability of the "Cold Abyss Entrances" and restoring any damage using a plethora of rare spiritual materials.
Only the five paramount forces, the Desolate Swamp, and the Babel Chamber of Commerce were privy to the secrets of this realm.
"That Cold Flood Dragon, before its demise, wreaked havoc in the seas above. Could it be... that its actions were sanctioned by these powers? Otherwise, wouldn't it be a trivial matter for those entities to slay a Cold Flood Dragon?"
He came to the realization that the Cold Flood Dragon's deeds must have been endorsed by all the factions involved.
Moreover, the Cold Flood Dragon's formidable emergence and strength were likely bolstered by these factions' clandestine support.
They utilized the Cold Flood Dragon to eliminate any brave souls venturing into the depths of the Cold Abyss, thereby safeguarding the Nether Abyss's secrets.
This ensured that the existence of the seven wondrous "Cold Abyss Entrances," gateways to the Outland Star River, remained hidden at the base of the Cold Abyss.
"I truly was..."
Yu Yuan reflected with a pang of regret, suddenly recognizing how rash and ignorant he and Jee Ningshuang had been when they led the Medicine God Sect's mighty into the Nether Abyss to hunt the Cold Dragon.
His actions had inadvertently disrupted the schemes of those powers, causing them to lose a Demonic Beast that guarded the abyss's secrets.
It was no surprise that the Peak experts from various camps disapproved of his subsequent behavior. It appeared he had unwittingly opposed those forces without even realizing it.
"You all insist on keeping secrets and not disclosing anything, harboring resentment and plotting against me in the shadows..."
Yu Yuan grumbled discontentedly. His gaze settled on the hole that was conspicuously blocked, the one that should have been under the watch of Gu Xingkui, before he swiftly drifted away.
He pondered whether the Optimus Sword had made its return through the Cold Abyss Entrance, recalling how it had even wounded Gu Xingkui.
Could it be that Gu Xingkui, injured by the event and with the Cold Abyss Entrance gone, had simply decided to return to the Sword Sect?
Was it possible that the Divine Sword, after dispersing its sword intent and light into the Sword Prison, had departed through another Cold Abyss Entrance?
His attention was drawn involuntarily to the hole leading to the Oblivion Starfield, which was supposed to be under the vigilant care of President Lyi.
