Chapter 345: Three Thousand Divine Seats

The rogue cultivators vented their frustrations as they flew above the sea of massive boulders.

Pang Jian harmonized with the Resolute Expanse to eavesdrop on their conversation.

From them, he learned that the factions in the First World had designated the Third World of the Abyss as the battlefield where they would confront the foreign races.

Recently, flying vessels from the First and Second Worlds had been arriving in the Third World to transport mortals and cultivators with low cultivation realms.

The factions in the First World concluded that the murky energy became more dense the further down one went.

The murky energy that reached the Third World would be thin enough that cultivators in the Profound Abode Realm and above could use their protective shields to resist its corruption and take part in the fight against the foreign races.

For this reason, cultivators in the Profound Abode Realm and above were not permitted to board the flying vessels departing the Third World.

Influential figures from the First World had even descended to the Third World to instruct cultivators in the Profound Abode Realm and above to report to the Dark Abyss and Cosmic Skies Continents, where they would be placed under the command of emissaries from the upper worlds.

Sects, noble families, and rogue cultivators were all being conscripted.

Many unruly rogue cultivators feared becoming cannon fodder and sought remote places to hide.

Some of these rogue cultivators had opted to hide in this sea of massive boulders because it was adjacent to the bizarre mist of the Third World and remained largely ignored.

They planned to lie low and observe the situation.

In short, they did not want to be the first wave of forces fighting against the foreign races from the lower worlds.

It looks like they mean business this time.

Pang Jian asked the black turtle,

Will you head up or retreat into the bizarre mist when the murky energy rises?

I'll take the Resolute Expanse into the Second World,

the black turtle said uneasily.

Neither I nor the beings living in the Frozen Land can adapt to the corrupted environment.

Pang Jian was surprised.

The Ice Race is also part of the foreign races. Can't withstand it?

The Ice Race is different from the foreign races suppressed in the Fifth World. They don't know how to temper their bodies with murky energy. Adapting would be an extremely painful process, with many dying before they could coexist with it.

I see.

Pang Jian recalled how many one-eyed giants had died because they could not withstand the murky energy after being exiled to the Fifth World for provoking the ancient Thunder Dragon.

The Wood Race and many other foreign races that once thrived with the spiritual qi of heaven and earth in the upper worlds had also experienced a similar period of despair and darkness.

Many foreign races faced extinction when they could not survive the change.

The Ice Race population was already extremely low. Without Rank Eight experts, they would likely be wiped out if exposed to the murky energy.

The fragmented land you brought back from the bizarre mist is truly remarkable!

The black turtle growled excitedly underground.

It moved swiftly between the fragmented lands, lingering near the lightning and ice veins as it contemplated how to strengthen them.

This was the black turtle's area of expertise, so Pang Jian simply left the black turtle to it.

His priority was refining his blood essence, comprehending the Lightning Dao Seals in the Thunder Pool, and tempering his divine soul.

***

More and more rogue cultivators gathered in the sea of massive boulders above, with Cloud Sails occasionally drifting past.

The black turtle used its power as an Earth Spirit to maneuver the fragmented lands and avoid the Cloud Sails.

It also set up a barrier of cold mist from the Frozen Land mixed with the spiritual qi of heaven and earth.

The thin veil of cold mist became a barrier blocking outside powerhouses from sensing the merged fragmented lands.

The mist was once a mystical barrier that enveloped the entire Frozen Land. It was connected to the glaciers, snow-capped peaks, and the crystalline ice veins underground,

the black turtle muttered as it wandered beneath the fragmented land.

That barrier seems to have lost its power since you took the Heart of Winter.

I sense the altar can communicate with something beyond this world. It just requires a special ritual.

Pang Jian was alarmed.

Don't mess with that! The altar can connect to the Frost Crystal God from the outer world. It would be catastrophic if she descended!

An Outer God? Like the spider one controlling that puppet body?

The black turtle's tone was disdainful and arrogant.

After merging these two fragmented lands, my strength has increased and I can wield power beyond my level in this Resolute Expanse.

I can easily crush a puppet body. You don't need to be so worried.

The black turtle's bloodline was in Rank Seven, and it could exert Rank Eight strength in the Resolute Expanse. This was comparable to a human cultivator in the Nirvana Realm[1].

It indeed had reason to be arrogant.

Let's not rush. Wait until you reach Rank Eight and gain the strength of a Rank Nine being. We can think about this once you have the ability to face off against a human cultivator in the Immortal Realm,

Pang Jian persuaded.

Very well.

***

A spatial teleportation array lit up and two figures appeared in the Sword Pavilion of the Heaven Awakening Continent in the Second World.

"Junior Brother Qi, Senior Sister Zhuang," a blue-robed Sword Pavilion disciple greeted, eyes filled with surprise. "The Pavilion Master and several elders have been waiting for a long time! When they heard you were still alive, the Pavilion Master's excitement scared everyone!"

"Did the divine crane from the Pure Land Sect say that everyone had died?" Qi Qingsong snorted.

"Yes, it's been over two years, and only that white crane flew out of the bizarre mist surrounding Absolute Heaven." The disciple sighed. "It even confirmed that foreign races and Outer God Puppets had emerged. Who could possibly escape such a terrifying situation?

"You two are truly blessed with incredible fortune!"

"Alright, the Pavilion Master and the elders have waited long enough. You should go see them." The disciple gestured toward the main hall.

𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

"Let's go."

Qi Qingsong and Zhuang Yuyan headed over.

Not long after, the Pavilion Master, Li Zhaotian; Zhuang Yuyan's master, Guang He; Qi Qingsong's master, Liu Junhong, and several other elders sat with grim expressions as they listened to Qi Qingsong and Zhuang Yuyan's account of their experiences in Absolute Heaven.

Crack!

The dome of the main hall cracked open, revealing a bright full moon and glittering stars.

The elders gazed at the sky, an oppressive feeling weighing on their hearts. It was almost like they could see the Outer Gods lurking beyond the Abyss, lying in wait for their prey—the True Gods of the human race.

"The Outer Gods ambush the True Gods of the human race the moment they break free from the Abyss and enter the starry skies!" Li Zhaotian stomped his foot and cursed, "Damn it! Is this why not a single True God has returned after all these years? Did those Outer Gods slaughter them all?"

The other elders were also seething with anger. They wished they could immediately ascend to godhood and band together to fight the Outer Gods in the starry skies.

Liu Junhong's expression was grave. "The news you've brought back is worth all the lives it cost. We could never have imagined that the Outer Gods would ambush the True Gods of the human race when they broke free from the Abyss!"

"Our ancestors were extraordinary!" Wang Ce exclaimed admiringly. "They shattered the Hall of the Gods in the starry skies that the Outer Gods controlled! The human race of the Abyss may have become enemies of the Outer Gods as a result, yet I can't help but respect what they accomplished!"

Guang He's calm demeanor was unwavering. "The once-in-a-hundred-millennia event led to Absolute Heaven and three fragmented lands appearing together in the bizarre mist. An Outer God has entered our world with its true body through that fiery fragmented land.

"It's no wonder the Heaven Ascension Tribulation Pillars were thrown into chaos."

Guang He turned to Zhuang Yuyan, frowning. "You said a woman named Luo Hongyan had an aura stronger than even that Fire God?"

Zhuang Yuyan nodded. "I'm certain her rank is higher."

"The Outer Gods are divided into low, mid, and high ranks, with Sovereign being the top," Li Zhaotian cut in, privy to many secrets due to his position as the Pavilion Master. "There are legends about this based on knowledge collected from the divine consciousness of Outer God Puppets and the ancient texts of powerful races like the Celestial Race.

"It's said that the Hall of the Gods in the starry skies once held three thousand Divine Seats at its peak, which is said to be the limit of the Hall of the Gods. Each Divine Seat supposedly corresponds to a different path to godhood.

"There have only ever been four Sovereigns.

"If one of these Sovereigns has descended into the Abyss alongside the Fire God..." Li Zhaotian's face darkened. "I must leave for the First World immediately!"

With that, Li Zhaotian vanished into the Sword Pavilion's teleportation array.

As soon as he left, the remaining elders of the Sword Pavilion started chatting freely.

"What about Pang Jian? Where did he go?"

"Why didn't he return to the Sword Pavilion with you?"

"Li Zhaotian was clearly thrilled to know that Pang Jian was alive, but he didn't ask a single question."

"Heh, he didn't ask, but I bet he sent countless messages to that kid's sword token."

"The strange thing is, that kid hasn't responded at all. It's like he's deliberately avoiding Li Zhaotian."

The elders openly called Li Zhaotian by his full name, showing a slight lack of respect.

"Master, I'd like to request a body-tempering technique," Zhuang Yuyan suddenly said.

"Senior Uncle Guang, I'd like one as well," Qi Qingsong added with a grin.

"Both of you have contributed greatly to our Sword Pavilion." Guang He nodded. "I'll need some time to determine the exact value of your contribution, but the information you brought back is more than enough for you to freely choose any rare treasures from our Sword Pavilion."

Guang He then narrowed his eyes and a flash of light appeared within them.

"Your divine souls are different from ordinary cultivators," he noted. "Have you infused divine essence within them?"

"Master, how did you know?" Zhuang Yuyan asked, astonished.

"The Abyss has opened for the Outer Gods to descend in their puppet bodies. One can obtain their divine consciousness by hunting these puppet bodies down," Guang He said with a sigh. "The Pavilion Master has already started encouraging disciples to take up the body-tempering techniques stored within our Sword Pavilion."

"Master, why didn't you tell us earlier?" Zhuang Yuyan complained.

"I only found out recently myself," Guang He replied.

1. For reference, the Nirvana Realm is the third-to-last cultivation realm, coming before the Immortal Realm and True God Realm, and after the Spirit Condensation Realm and Soul Wandering Realm. ☜