C420 Abyssal Leviathan!

A droplet of golden-red demon blood separated from the heart of Dusk Raven and floated in the sky.

Within the depths of the demon blood, thousands of red crystal lightning bolts crisscrossed.

"Eye of Fire!"

Dusk Raven let out a piercing shriek as its dark brown eyes suddenly turned gold.

The elders and leaders from various sects beside Shadow's Keep all fixed their gaze on him.

Two beams of golden light, like flowing gold, shot into the droplet of golden-red demon blood.

Inside, the myriad red crystal lightning seemed to be manipulated and woven by an unseen force, intricately forming in the void.

Gradually, it took on the blurred shape of a phantom resembling Hei Xun.

Using a drop of his lifeblood and his remnant soul as a conduit, he connected with the heavens and earth to search for living creatures of the same caliber within a thousand miles—an act that greatly drained his power.

Dusk Raven performed this ritual before everyone to make it clear that Shadow's Keep was not involved.

He, too, was eager to discover Hei Xun's whereabouts and uncover what mischief was afoot.

"Hei Xun!"

Dusk Raven spoke again, and suddenly, grey feathers congealed into lifelike little crows that flapped their wings and circled the droplet of golden-red demon blood.

The phantom of Hei Xun within the demon blood slowly sharpened into clarity.

The onlookers' expressions grew increasingly grave.

Abruptly, concentric rings of dark blue light enveloped Hei Xun's phantom.

"Boom!"

Dusk Raven's lifeblood burst open in midair!

The little crows, transformed from the grey feathers, perished one after another.

Dusk Raven grunted, the brilliance in his golden eyes fading instantly.

"Lord Dusk Raven!"

"Dusk Raven!"

Xu Zixi, along with the elders from various sects, cried out in alarm.

In that instant, everyone's face paled, realizing the gravity of the situation was far worse than anticipated.

Strands of dark blue smoke wafted from Dusk Raven's eyes. Emaciated as he was, he produced a seven-colored spirit ginseng and swallowed it whole, chewing vigorously.

A radiant glow emanated from the corners of his mouth.

"You all..."

Dusk Raven lifted his head, surveying the surrounding sect elders and guests with a grim and stern voice, "The trial-takers you've brought here have likely encountered trouble beneath the sea. Hei Xun, I've just attempted to reach him using the Eye of Fire and the demon blood of Shadow's Keep."

"You all saw the outcome, right? Hei Xun seems to be trapped as well."

"Hei Xun's strength is roughly equal to mine. Whoever or whatever can trap him can also trap me."

His words cast a pall of silence over everyone.

"I'm not clear on how dire the situation is at the moment. But one thing I can tell you is that I'm unable to reach Shadow's Keep!"

Dusk Raven gave Xu Zixi a look and instructed, "Proceed as I've directed."

Xu Zixi nodded, and without another word, she released seven giant pythons.

The pythons didn't plunge into the sea but raced towards the Land of Quiescence.

Xu Zixi was tethered to the tails of the seven pythons, being pulled through the skies of the Embers Sea at an astonishing speed.

"The trial-takers you've led here lack remarkable individuals, apart from Liu Ying and Tang Cen; there are no others who stand out." Dusk Raven addressed them, "The number of survivors is likely to be low. Besides, they're not the kind of rare talents that are worth lamenting over. You should evacuate the Embers Sea immediately, contact your respective sects in your own way, and inform them of the events that have transpired here."

To Dusk Raven, Yan Lu, Wu Pei, Fei Yi, Su Yan, Lin Zhuyun, and the like were merely average.

Such individuals were not uncommon in the sects; their deaths would not be significant.

He advised them not to grieve excessively.

"How should we report to the sect? What exactly should we say?" inquired an elder from the Moon Sect.

"An extraterrestrial entity is wreaking havoc!"

This statement caused a stir among the crowd.

...

"I am the Abyssal Leviathan!"

A faint consciousness emanated from the cool crescent moon suspended high above.

Yu Yuan, who had just completed the eighth level and advanced to the late period of the Golden Sanctum, was still savoring his achievement and the newfound power. Yet before he could fully grasp the nuances of his recent advancement, he detected something amiss.

Had it not been for his practice of Soul Forging through Enlightenment, his heaven soul would not have been sensitive enough to perceive this wave of consciousness.

"I am the Abyssal Leviathan, come from the Star River beyond this world."

"I am the Abyssal Leviathan..."

Within the curve of the crescent moon, a faint consciousness echoed its identity repeatedly.

Yu Yuan finally regained his composure. He didn't hurry to explore the changes within himself but instead furrowed his brow and maintained a cautious stance. "I'm listening," he declared.

The persistent repetition of consciousness ceased suddenly.

Yu Yuan, with a serene demeanor, continued to gaze at the crescent moon.

After a considerable pause, the feeble consciousness stirred once more. "You... you're inside my belly..." The wave of consciousness now carried a sense of stifled frustration and deep-seated grievance.

"Mm, I've figured as much."

Yu Yuan flexed his shoulders, his gaze fixed on the towering stone columns, and spoke evenly, "How many years have you been trapped here?"

"It has been an exceedingly long time, so long that..."

The entity known as the Abyssal Leviathan contemplated and carefully crafted its words before transmitting its thoughts once more. "So long that you diminutive creatures have somehow ascended to become the sovereigns of the Everlands. You've even outdone the evilkind and the giant dragons, achieving what they could not."

"Eh!"

Yu Yuan feigned astonishment, exclaiming, "You've been trapped for such a long time, yet you seem to know quite a bit. When those ancient runes ensnared you, our human race had not yet risen to power in the Everlands, had they?"

"This region of the sea is ancient, not a mere day or two old. Over millions of years, countless trial-takers like you have come here." The consciousness of the Abyssal Leviathan became increasingly fluid, as if swiftly adjusting to the conversation. "Though I am confined and immobilized, cursed by these damnable totem poles, I can still hear and sense the changes in the outside world through those who venture into the Embers Sea."

"What is it that the evilkind and the giant dragons couldn't do?" Yu Yuan inquired.

"When the evilkind ruled the Everlands, they never truly shattered the confines of this realm, nor did they delve deep into the Star River," the Abyssal Leviathan lamented with a mix of sighs and murmurs. "The most trivial of beings discovered how to draw in spiritual energy and assimilate it within themselves. Once they embarked on the path of cultivation, they sparked the greatest upheaval the cosmos has ever seen."

"After humanity gained control over the Everlands, they reached into the Star River, stirring up storms and acting with impunity."

"I recall when I first invaded the Everlands, I wouldn't even deign to give you ant-like beings a second glance."

The consciousness of the Abyssal Leviathan was tumultuous, filled with a sense of superiority and pride at this moment.

It was as though a higher-order intelligent life form was gazing down upon lower-order animals and insects.

Yu Yuan chuckled, "After observing the Embers Sea for so many years, you've witnessed the evolution and strengthening of humans. You've come to recognize who truly holds power in the current world."

"Understood," replied the Abyssal Leviathan, wisely.

"Now, what is it that you want to discuss with such a feeble consciousness?" Yu Yuan, with his arms folded across his chest, leaned back against the sword sheath, gazing up at the stark moon. "I've been inside you for quite some time, cultivating, and you've shown no interest. What prompts you to emerge now?"

"That sword sheath... the power it conceals could obliterate me," the Abyssal Leviathan admitted.

Yu Yuan glanced back at the sword sheath wedged in the soulstone crevice and flashed a radiant smile. He drew the sheath into his hand and observed, "I've noticed. You've been quite disruptive for some time, and even the totem-poles you mentioned nearly failed to contain you. Once it appeared, you suddenly became still."

"I sensed its might, its formidable power. I fear death, and so..."

The Abyssal Leviathan earnestly confessed its fear and implored, "I hope you won't use this sword sheath against me. You could wield it against others who pose a greater threat."

"There are beings more fearsome than the Abyssal Leviathan lurking in the depths of the Embers Sea?" Yu Yuan asked, astonished.

"Yes, there are."

"What are they?"

A heavy silence followed. The Abyssal Leviathan seemed to be harboring a fear, which delayed its response.

Eventually, it transmitted another ripple of consciousness, "My recent struggles to break free from the totem-pole's seal were driven by a sense that something was amiss. Should that entity cause trouble, every trial-taker, along with the guardians of the Devil Palace and Shadow's Keep, would perish."

Yu Yuan's expression darkened. "What are you talking about?!"

"There are others besides me in the depths of the sea," the Abyssal Leviathan spoke with a measured tone.

"Something more menacing than you, something that unsettles even you—what is it?" Yu Yuan inhaled deeply, his gaze fixed on the cold crescent moon. "Could its malevolence plunge this entire region of the sea into chaos and suffering?"

"Yes, it's different from me. It will kill everyone!"

The consciousness of the Abyssal Leviathan stirred with agitation. "Don't waste the sheath on me. Once the power inside is depleted, it's gone for good. You should save the sheath for that threat."

"It's the Tears of the Azurefiend!"

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