C2169 The End of the Abyss

At the site of the shattered Abyssal Gate, the land that had perpetually shone upon the abyss below as a beacon of light was the first to surge forth from the Abyss. Propelled by the immense energy of the Abyss and entwined by the unseen rules of the abyssal realm, it uncontrollably broke free, emerging outside of the Abyss. Its departure sent shockwaves through all the Abyssal races, prompting prayers and pleas across the realm.

This land had been the Abyss's eternal light source. Even in the absence of the Light Spirit, the Sunstone—forged over millions of years from the land's accumulated light—continued to illuminate the Abyss. With its departure, the Abyss faced the prospect of plunging back into perpetual darkness.

The land that once oversaw the netherworld was now mostly inhabited by intelligent lifeforms, brought from the darkness below by Jihui and other formidable beings of the Gods. These beings were the contemporary Gods. Having left the Abyssal World, this land, comparable in size to the Tyria Main Planet, floated through the void of the Origin Realm, absorbing the nourishment of cosmic energy.

Within this realm, the clash of abyssal energy and cosmic energy created a multitude of bizarre and wondrous phenomena. Many fierce Abyssal plants and insects perished. Yet, the members of the Gods remained unaffected by the tumultuous energies.

The lamentations and prayers from the world beneath the Abyss were short-lived, as they soon realized their own land was also in motion, hurtling towards the Origin Realm! The two continents from the second layer of the Abyss, carrying warriors of the higher Abyssal tribes, swiftly emerged from the illusory Abyss and entered the Origin Realm.

The beings lucky enough to dwell on these lands were formidable Abyssal Tribes, tested by time and bloodshed. They quickly adapted to the cosmic energy of the Origin Realm. Only a handful of the strongest warriors' descendants struggled to endure the unfamiliar forces, exhibiting various symptoms of distress. Some retched, others coughed up blood, and some fell into unconsciousness.

The cosmic energy of the Origin Realm penetrated their skin and filled their lungs, inflicting excruciating pain on the weaker Abyssal creatures. Nonetheless, these were the progeny of the mightiest, inherently fierce, and they were rescued by the stalwarts of their tribes. Subsequently, the lands of the third and fourth layers of the Abyss also detached and drifted away from the Abyss.

Wails and screams echoed across the Abyssal lands as the third and fourth levels were engulfed in chaos. The violent and disordered energy of the Abyss was diluted, and upon separation from the Abyssal World, the cosmic energy from the Origin Realm rushed in furiously. The proportion of Abyssal energy to the cosmic energy of the Origin Realm was roughly three to seven. The cosmic energy pressed against the Abyssal energy, swirling above these lands, overwhelming the inhabitants of the Abyss who lacked the strength and resilience to resist. Consequently, there was a massive loss of life.

The fifth and sixth levels of the Abyss were also expelled from their world by the force of the Heavenly Dao rule, nearly facing an apocalyptic disaster. The end of the world seemed to have descended in reality. Millions of Abyssal beings, ejected from their world and now exposed in the Origin Realm, were enveloped by cosmic energy that scoured away their native Abyssal power. The lower-tier Abyssal tribes, forced to absorb the cosmic energy, suffered as if poisoned. Their bodies, bloodlines, bones, and organs were inherently designed to endure the power of the Abyss. With weaker constitutions and not yet evolved to escape the Abyss, they were tragically killed when suddenly removed from their home. Only a handful of survivors, blessed with extraordinary gifts and unique skeletal structures, managed to cling to life.

This exodus from the Abyss, more rapid and violent than the summons of Mother Earth, proceeded with an eerie smoothness. Yet, the toll it took far exceeded that of Mother Earth's call. The vast Abyssal World was left desolate, devoid of any light to shine upon the lower realms, leaving only darkness and the sixty-four floating lands. These lands were home to the most primitive Abyssal tribes, resembling wild beasts. Lacking fully awakened spiritual wisdom, these tribes narrowly avoided disaster and were not transported en masse to the Origin Realm.

...

In the Frostlands, deep within the mind of Demon Lord Tan Xiaotian, the lingering death knot within his dark-green divine seat vanished without a trace. Even Taishi, whose corruption had not been purged by the Soul Cleansing Brilliance, found himself restored in an instant. "I am free!"

Taishi was visibly taken aback, hardly able to believe what was unfolding.

"Even here in the Frostlands, we've been influenced by the Evil Temple and granted clemency?" Tan Xiaotian exclaimed in astonishment.

Near the Wellspring of Creation, Yu Yuan's Solar Spirit, remaining in the Frostlands, opened his palm.

His palm faced the crowd, acting like a mirror reflecting the battle in the Ashlands and the scenes witnessed by his real body.

The Solar Spirit and the real body were always in sync.

His actions—saving Olliergues and Brie, slaying Gomez and Olliergues, and all the other deeds that halted the corruption of the mightiest minds—were visible to everyone in the Frostlands through his Solar Spirit's palm.

Bertain had also noticed Reid's hesitation and his sudden silence.

At the time, Bertain could only respond with a wry smile, without any significant reaction.

But now, even Demon Lord Tan Xiaotian and beings as powerful as Taishi in the Frostlands had seen the contaminants within their primordial spirits vanish completely.

This revelation shook Bertain to the core.

"We're considerably behind schedule."

Yu Yuan's Solar Spirit, observing Bertain's new amethyst demonform, remarked, "His reach extends even to the Frostlands. He's more troublesome than I had anticipated."

The Frostlands were separate from the Origin Realm, encased by a crystalline ice wall.

Yu Yuan was troubled by the withdrawal of the invasive force, which had also cleansed Tan Xiaotian and Taishi.

"Your real body in the Ashlands, with its seven-tiered Soul Altar, exerted a force that put him under considerable strain. He isn't as at ease as he lets on, given that his two prime vessels are your real body and myself."

Bertain remained composed, mulling things over before adding, "His other essence and power have latched onto your Undead Sovereign form and ventured into the mysterious Otherworld of Death. Yet, with your unexpected visit to the Ashlands, he had no choice but to sacrifice the Evil Temple, likely depleting a significant amount of his strength."

After a brief pause, Bertain concluded, "Distorting the souls of the mighty, altering their thoughts and memories, also drains a great deal of energy. He's quite the schemer. He claims to be adopting a new approach, but in truth, he's merely recuperating his power."

Indeed, it is terrifying. Not even the Frostlands could prevent it from reclaiming the power it had unleashed. The invasion of Tan Xiaotian and the others' minds has been fading much more slowly than in the Ashlands. This suggests that the reclamation of power began in the Ashlands and then spread outward to the extraterrestrial realms.

The Great Demon God caressed his gleaming hand bones and stroked his equally luminous chin, deep in thought.

"Unlock the seal of the bitter cold. I shall venture to what he calls the true Abyss of Truth!"

Bertain's eyes sparkled with excitement. Pumping his fists eagerly, he stared intently at the Primal Blood Continent, blood-red in hue, and declared, "For me, this is an opportunity of a lifetime. He can't possibly attend to everything at once!"

Clang! Clang! Clang!

Bertain's hands rhythmically struck the crystalline wall.

Whoosh!

His peculiar demonform, along with its armor, miraculously passed through the crystalline wall and entered the ultimate darkness of the Darkland.

As he had hoped, the Primal Blood and the extreme cold had resisted the seal, allowing him smooth passage.

...

In the Ashlands at this moment.

Yu Yuan, bearing the title Lord of the Abyss, suddenly experienced a profound connection when the illusory Abyss of Truth stirred.

As the lands broke away from the illusory Abyss, Yu Yuan felt as though his very skeleton was being dismantled piece by piece.

Rip!

In the shadows, it seemed as though numerous spiritual connections, eternally linked to him, were severing one after another.

Yu Yuan's memory was jolted back to his original pact.

The seven tiers above the Darkness were his domain, under his dominion.

Below the Darkness, encompassing the Genesis Continent and the Evil Temple, was his jurisdiction, with a clear non-interference agreement between the two realms.

The title of Lord of the Abyss was etched within those seven layers of the Abyss, where he had inscribed the profound secrets of the Way of Heaven he had discerned.

His real body had effortlessly slain Yuan Le's Blood Clone, and at that moment, he had become seamlessly integrated with the Abyss.

Now, as he ventured forth, he could also connect with the Abyss above the Darkness, amplifying his power in that realm and enabling him to accomplish many wonders.

The lands detaching from the Seven Abyss World felt like his very bones being extracted from his body.

Yu Yuan suddenly realized that expelling all the lands from the so-called illusory Abyss could, in fact, diminish his strength.

"You've grown quite cunning."

Yu Yuan's expression was icy as he reflected on Bertain's words before his departure, scrutinizing the deity emblazoned on the Holy Temple's forehead. "Did you sic the Evil God on me because this Holy Temple isn't so easily consecrated? Or perhaps you require more time?"

The deity chuckled and replied, "Take a guess."

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