Cultivating Immortality :I Obtained The Villain's Ascension Code
Chapter 43: Desolate Shadow Abyss

Chapter 43: Desolate Shadow Abyss

Su Jen’s expression remained calm on the surface, yet her heart stirred slightly.

Divine Sense Transmission... at such close range?

She narrowed her eyes and swept her spiritual sense outward like a net.

In the next moment, her gaze landed upon a certain place in the southeast quadrant of the mountains.

"That place..."

It was the Desolate Shadow Abyss.

The most forbidden zone within the sect’s territory.

She hesitated only briefly before vanishing from her spot. A ripple passed through the air where she once stood, and in the blink of an eye, she reappeared on the very edge of the abyss.

A cold wind howled, though there was no visible source. Here, light itself seemed to vanish.

Even cultivators with enhanced vision would find themselves blind. Only Divine Sense could navigate such depths.

It was said that below the Heavenly Tribulation Realm, one could not even take a single step here without losing their sense of self.

In the past, the Shadowclaw Sect had not lacked in experts who reached the Heavenly Tribulation Realm. Yet without exception, those who entered this abyss vanished utterly.

Su Jen stood silently, sensing the stillness around her.

She was once a late Divine Transformation Realm cultivator. Though her current strength had not fully recovered, walking through this place posed no true danger to her.

She advanced slowly, Before long, she arrived at the very center of the abyss.

There, her steps came to a halt.

Even she, with all her composure, could not help the flicker of astonishment in her eyes.

In the gloom ahead stood a solitary stone platform, slightly elevated, surrounded by nothing but boundless void. Upon that platform, a man sat in meditation.

He was young—at least in appearance—his features tranquil and refined, carrying a calm dignity. His eyes were closed, expression utterly still. But what drew her attention more than anything was his posture.

Both his palms were pressed lightly against the surface of the platform, fingers spread wide.

Her gaze dropped instinctively to the base of the stone slab—and her heart skipped a beat.

Beneath the platform was an abyss.

No, abyss was too tame a word.

It was an endless black void, vast and utterly silent, as if all of space and time had been swallowed within it. No matter how deep her divine sense probed, it could find no bottom, Just darkness—absolute and eternal.

At the threshold of that black chasm, just beneath the stone platform, seven colossal chains spanned across the pit, anchoring it from all directions.

Each chain gleamed with a faint, metallic luster, yet they gave off no spiritual fluctuation. It was not that they concealed their presence, but rather, they seemed to exist outside of her comprehension.

Su Jen narrowed her eyes and extended her divine sense toward one of the chains.

But what she felt made her breath catch.

There was nothing.

Even her senses could not penetrate the outermost surface.

A moment later, understanding flashed across her face.

Heaven-Sealing Metal. Divine-rank material... and seven chains of it?

Her gaze returned to the man seated upon the platform.

This man... is suppressing the abyss.

And judging by the placement of his hands, the chains, and the strange flow of spiritual energy around him...

Her mind turned rapidly, calculating the possibilities.

The man slowly opened his eyes.

They were deep and dark, like wells that reflected nothing. A faint ripple of spiritual pressure stirred as his gaze fell upon Su Jen, yet his expression remained detached, as if everything in the world held little significance.

"Do you know what this place is?"

His voice wasn’t loud, yet it echoed clearly within the abyss.

Su Jen remained silent for a long moment. Her eyes flickered with complex emotion—hesitation, calculation, reverence.

"Is that... a Domain Boundary?"

The man gave a slight nod of acknowledgment.

Su Jen’s complexion turned pale instantly. Even with her cultivation and past standing, such a concept was far beyond what she had ever expected to encounter with her own eyes.

A Domain Boundary...

The invisible wall that separated this universe from the immeasurable void beyond.

It was said that only those who stepped into the Immortal Crossing Realm—beings half a step away from true ascension—could begin to faintly perceive such a boundary. Even then, to see one, to stand so near it...

Her breathing slowed.

Suddenly, a terrifying memory surfaced in her mind—an ancient jade tablet she had once stumbled upon during her early cultivation years. The writings were vague, bordering on myth. But they spoke of weak points in the domain wall, places that required powerful seals to prevent contamination from the outer void.

She quickly cupped her hands and bowed deeply.

"Pardon this junior’s offense, Senior. I was ignorant and rude."

The man’s eyes flickered briefly with a hint of surprise.

"You seem like an interesting one. What is it that you know?"

Su Jen took a deep breath and steadied her voice.

"This must be... a weak boundary point within the Domain Wall. Fortunately, it appears stable for now. This junior suspects it is directly connected to a corrupted region of the outer void. And Senior... is here to guard it."

The man’s gaze sharpened slightly, then softened.

"Indeed. Your insight is accurate. Tell me, who are you?"

Su Jen replied respectfully,

"This junior is Su Jen, current Sect Master of the Luminous River Sect in the Jade Flowing Realm."

The man’s brows furrowed slightly.

"Luminous River Sect... I don’t believe I’ve heard of it, though I do know of the Jade Flowing Realm."

Su Jen smiled faintly, a hint of self-deprecation in her tone.

"It’s only a minor sect in a remote realm. Naturally, it’s not worthy of Senior’s attention."

The man let out a soft sigh.

"The outer realms... ever-shifting. Unlike the Inner Realms, where sects and bloodlines may endure for countless eons."

Hearing this, Su Jen’s heart trembled slightly.

—He is from the Inner Realms!

No longer was there room for doubt.

Even more likely, what stood before her now... was not even his true self.

—An avatar? No... I’m certain of it!

After steadying her breath, she ventured cautiously, "Senior, may I inquire as to your esteemed identity?"

The young man’s lips curved upward slightly, but he did not answer.

Instead, he asked in return, "Why do you want to destroy the Shadowclaw Sect?"

The question struck like a thunderclap.

Su Jen’s heart skipped a beat. For a brief moment, her thoughts descended into chaos.

What could she possibly say?

But the man simply chuckled. "You don’t need to be so tense. I’m merely asking."

Only then did Su Jen feel the pressure ease. She exhaled quietly, then began recounting her encounter with Jiang Chen, the events surrounding Wu Shu, and her actions up to this moment.

The man listened in silence. At the end, his eyes held a faint gleam of amusement.

"Ah... so that’s how it is." The man’s eyes gleamed with faint amusement. "The troubles of the Wu Clan, then."

Su Jen nodded solemnly.

While she looked down upon Wu Shu and many of the other Sea and Mountain Realm forces, she had no desire to provoke those with true backing.

The Sea and Mountain Realm was dominated by two great factions—the Wu Clan and the Azure Phoenix Sect. Both traced their roots to the Inner Realms, where they stood as powerful forces even among the high-level sects.

"Well then," the man said with a half-smile, "do you truly understand the origin of the Shadowclaw Sect?"

Su Jen’s eyes narrowed. Origin? She had always believed it to be a mid-tier sect—nothing more, nothing less.

The man, sensing her confusion, chuckled lightly.

"I am the founder of the Shadowclaw Sect."

Su Jen’s mouth twitched involuntarily.

To think... such a powerhouse had established this seemingly modest sect in the outer realms?

But what she heard next caused her very bones to tremble.

"I hail from the Netherworld Sacred Sect. The Shadowclaw Sect... is but one of our satellite branches."

For a moment, her mind blanked.

—Netherworld Sacred Sect...?!

One of the supreme powers of the Inner Realms, renowned for its dominance. It was said to control an entire realm on its own, a sovereign force unmatched by most.

"I... am finished..." Su Jen’s eyes dimmed.

But before despair could fully take root, the man offered a gentle shake of his head.

"There’s no need to worry. Since the fault lies with us, we won’t pursue the matter further."

Su Jen could scarcely believe her ears—but the pressure bearing down on her chest lightened all at once.

She bowed respectfully. "This junior thanks Senior for your great mercy."

The man gave a casual nod and waved his hand.

"You may leave. And speak of this place to no one."

"Rest assured, Senior. This matter shall never pass my lips."

Just as she turned to leave, the man’s voice rang out once more.

"Ah, right... remember to repair the defensive formation."

Su Jen nearly staggered mid-step but quickly regained her composure. She offered a wry smile.

"Yes, Senior. I will see to it personally."

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