Trials of the Abyss
Chapter 685: A Vague Path to Growing Stronger

Chapter 685: A Vague Path to Growing Stronger

Beneath the Thunder Abyss, Pan Di's skeleton had been shattered beyond recognition, leaving behind nothing but useless fragments.

The Outer Gods gathered here had not spared the remains of the Fey Race's Thunder God. They had scoured through the bones and harvested anything valuable that was left behind.

Their gains were only possible because Pan Di's killer had chosen not to take the body for themselves.

As a result, the gains had fallen into the hands of the Outer Gods that Zi Mo had summoned for the ambush, leaving only worthless remnants floating desolately in the bizarre mist.

"They're all gone." Pang Jian sighed softly, pausing among the scattered remains to release his divine sense.

The only reason he dared to leave the Thunder Abyss at this time was because he received a message from Ying Yue.

Ying Yue had crafted an extraordinary artifact that allowed her to communicate with Pang Jian through the connection of the moon above the Thunder Abyss and its manifestation within Pang Jian's Immortal Divine Soul.

Only after Ying Yue informed him about Zi Mo's order to retreat did Pang Jian dare to emerge.

His purpose in leaving the Thunder Abyss was also to see if any reckless Outer Gods still dared to linger. He was eager to restart his hunt for the Outer Gods.

The Primeval Demon Fusion Heart had since refined the divine souls and hearts of the Water Serpent, the Vermilion Bird, and the unicorn.

The bloodline abilities of the three Fey Gods were absorbed to further complement the Dao of Lightning, Fire, Cold, and Water that Pang Jian had comprehended and stored within his body.

Their divine souls also merged directly into his ever-growing soul essence.

He still could not fully grasp the exact strength of his Immortal Divine Soul. Regardless, every formidable being he refined would only increase his power.

Pang Jian cultivated the Dao of Chaos, a Heavenly Dao that allowed him to assimilate all forms of energy and fuse them seamlessly into himself.

The Primeval Demon Fusion Art could analyze and refine all forms of energy, aligning perfectly with his Dao of Chaos and providing immense benefits.

Even low-ranking Gods had unique strengths and distinct insights.

For instance, the Dao of Water that the Water Serpent Meng Wa grasped shared only limited commonality with that of the Naga. Even though both were Water Gods, their insights differed significantly.

The ancient Fey Emperor Shui Yuan from the Sixth Continent of the Fifth World of the Abyss was also a Water God.

However, Shui Yuan's Dao of Water was also vastly different from that of Meng Wa and the Naga.

After integrating the diverse Daos of these Water Gods, a remarkable transformation unfolded in the kidneys of Pang Jian's Immortal Divine Soul.

Pang Jian's understanding of the Dao of Water deepened to unprecedented levels.

The Naga, Shui Yuan, and Meng Wa were all low-ranking Water Gods, but merging their Daos evoked the insights of a mid-ranking Water God.

The same principle applied to the Vermillion Bird's Dao of Fire, which could be harmonized with the profound insights of Long Hui, the Fey Emperor of the Third Continent.

Similarly, the unicorn's Dao of Lightning could also be incorporated into Pang Jian's existing insights into the Dao of Lightning.

Killing Outer Gods and assimilating their Heavenly Daos into his Immortal Divine Soul appeared to be a viable path forward in Pang Jian's cultivation.

The only threat is the high-ranking God of the Ghost Race, Zi Mo. Without Zi Mo, the mid-ranking Gods likely won't be able to stand against me.

Pang Jian suddenly sensed Han Yi approaching on her crystalline divine platform.

Why's she still here? He frowned.

Ying Yue had risked warning him precisely because she was worried Han Yi would get dragged into the chaos of the ambush if Pang Jian were to leave the Thunder Abyss unawares.

The danger has passed, and the Outer Gods have retreated, so why is Han Yi still lingering near the Thunder Abyss? Can Han Yi communicate with Ying Yue?

Han Yi's elegant features carried a mix of anticipation and timid apprehension, like a maiden anticipating a meeting with her beloved.

She feared Pang Jian would not come, while also being equally afraid that he would act recklessly.

Every subtle movement of her figure, from the twitch of her brow to the gleam in her eye, reflected her emotions.

They were from opposing sides, and she knew that continuous contact would only bring harm to both sides. Despite this, she could not help but approach Pang Jian with reckless boldness, unafraid to bare her heart time and again.

For her, gaining even the slightest acknowledgment from Pang Jian was the greatest happiness in the world.

Han Yi was the revered Frost Crystal God, the ruler of countless worlds. Many races, like the Ice Race, worshiped her as their sole deity.

Even she could not comprehend how she had fallen to such humility and self-deprecation.

When Pang Jian recalled everything she had done for him since they first met, his hardened heart softened.

With a quiet sigh, Pang Jian rubbed his stiff face, preparing to set aside his guarded emotions and greet her.

He resolved to treat her with gentleness this time.

Suddenly, Pang Jian's divine sense, which had extended further past Han Yi, detected another presence.

An Outer God was hiding deep within the bizarre mist, deliberately suppressing their aura to prevent their corrosive power from leaking out.

A monstrous spider body with a flawless human face. That's Yang Luo, the Spider God!

Yang Luo had once gravely wounded him within the bizarre mist, forcing him to escape through the Gate of the Abyss and return to the Abyss to recover using Fortune.

Pang Jian had not expected Yang Luo to still be lurking outside the Thunder Abyss.

His eyes turned icy when he noticed that Yang Luo's suspicious gaze was fixed not on him but on Han Yi.

She's doubting Han Yi!

Pang Jian's mind sharpened with clarity, and another realization struck him.

The divine sense he had extended through the bizarre mist moved as effortlessly as a fish in water. Its range of perception and subtlety were astonishing. Even Han Yi and Yang Luo did not sense his probing!

Both Han Yi and Yang Luo were mid-ranking Gods!

Despite this, it seemed that the range of Pang Jian's divine sense within the bizarre mist far surpassed theirs. It was as though the bizarre mist acted as a veil that shielded and empowered him.

The bizarre mist severely limited the Outer Gods' perceptions, forcing them to rely on divine artifacts just to communicate with one another.

A flash of delight gleamed in Pang Jian's eyes.

The bizarre mist is my domain.

***

"Pang Jian!"

A brilliant gleam shone in Han Yi's icy eyes when Pang Jian's prismatic Immortal Divine Soul emerged.

She had feared that she would never see him again.

Each day that passed was torment for her. She was terrified that Pang Jian would fall into the Outer Gods' trap outside the Thunder Abyss, with Zi Mo capturing him and stripping his divine soul away.

Through it all, she had repeatedly asked herself, What will I do if that day truly comes?

Pang Jian left the bizarre mist, killed You Kui at the nameless star, and even relinquished his claim of the Star Devourer for my sake.

He also promised to eliminate the high-ranking God harassing me if the opportunity ever arose.

Though he never showed me overt kindness and always acted indifferent, his actions spoke volumes. His silent gestures have always been filled with warmth.

He's done so much for me. Do I have it in me to just stand by and watch as the others tear him apart? Or will I choose to die alongside him?

Although Han Yi asked herself these questions many times, her heart never gave her a clear answer. Still, the hesitation, torment, and despair she endured were, in a way, an answer of their own.

Eventually, she realized that if the day truly came that Pang Jian faced imminent death, her rational mind would undoubtedly give way to emotion.

She would surely abandon everything and choose to perish alongside him.

That was simply who she was—who she had always been.

As Han Yi was about to cry out in joy, she caught sight of the look on Pang Jian's chiseled face, his expression hardened with a killing intent so sharp it could freeze the void.

"You're courting death!" A chilling murderous intent surged forth through Pang Jian's gritted teeth.

Gold, green, red, yellow, and silver lightning spheres roared into existence, merging into a furious storm that shot toward her.

Han Yi stared at Pang Jian in confusion, completely at a loss as to why he was treating her this way.

Why? she cried silently in her heart.

Her eyes were filled with questions, but no sound left her lips.

Even so, she knew Pang Jian would understand her unspoken words.

The lightning spheres, imbued with the five elements of Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth, exploded around Han Yi, unleashing a deafening storm of thunder.

Han Yi stood quietly atop her divine platform, not even activating her divine domain to defend herself.

No matter how irrational his actions seemed, she could not find it in her to fight him, to raise her hand against him.

Instead, her divine platform instinctively radiated an icy glow, forming a barrier of ice that birthed streaks of frigid lightning, attempting to ward off the barrage from the lightning spheres.

A deafening cacophony of eruptions filled the bizarre mist.

The barrier of ice shattered, allowing the crackling bolts of lightning to surge through.

Searing arcs lashed against Han Yi's body like whips, but the pain seemed like a dull ache compared to the agony in her heart.

Turning her head, she watched Pang Jian streak past overhead like a blazing rainbow.

The anguish in her soul far surpassed the torment in her flesh.

Why? Han Yi was still struggling to grasp what had just happened when a soul-piercing shriek abruptly echoed from nearby.

It was only when the enormous figure with a spider body and a human face appeared that Han Yi's eyes flew wide with realization.

Yang Luo had been watching her all along!

Probing the lightning spheres, Han Yi quickly realized that the seemingly terrifying barrage of lightning spheres was, in truth, far less dangerous than it appeared. Although flashy, the overwhelming might typical of lightning was barely present.

Understanding filled Han Yi, and her icy gaze became saturated with murderous intent.

She had heard of Yang Luo's previous ambush of Pang Jian in the bizarre mist. Yang Luo had grievously wounded Pang Jian, making her the only Outer God to ever succeed in doing so!

Yang Luo had been smug about this accomplishment, even using it to mock Zi Mo. According to her, the fact that Pang Jian killed a mid-ranking God like You Kui only proved that the divine beings born of the Ghost Race were weak and incompetent.

In the Abyss, Yang Luo had clung tightly to that Sovereign, and her arrogant words had displeased many Outer Gods.

However, out of fear for that Sovereign, these Outer Gods could do nothing but swallow their anger and let Yang Luo continue her brazen boasting.

That same hateful Yang Luo was now tailing Han Yi through the bizarre mist.

If Pang Jian had not sensed her presence, the consequences for Han Yi would have been unimaginable.

Yang Luo will die here, Han Yi vowed in her heart.