Chapter 565: The Bloodthirsty Sword Stirs

The Star Devourer escaped through the barrier sealing the Shadow Abyss.

The inhabitants of the Shadow Abyss could finally embrace the light once more as the shadow looming over them disappeared.

In contrast, the two Outer Gods, Han Yi and Ying Yue, were left disappointed. They had descended into puppet vessels and expended significant energy to hunt the Star Devourer, only for the result to fall far short of their expectations.

A few limbs were nothing compared to the Star Devourer's massive body. Moreover, they had not even severed these limbs themselves and had to split them with Pang Jian.

It was far from enough for Han Yi to escape the coercion and suppression of that high-ranking God, nor was it enough for Ying Yue to elevate her position as a mid-ranking god.

Their disappointment was plainly visible on their puppet vessels' faces.

"I'll only take one limb," Pang Jian said.

Among the seven massive limbs, he chose one containing traces of the Dao of Metal and brought it toward the bizarre mist where Thunder God Fan Di lingered using his Immortal Divine Soul.

"He doesn't seem interested in engaging with us," Ying Yue remarked with a cold snort.

"As he said, he's a True God of the human race. We're on opposing sides," Han Yi replied, bitterness rising in her heart as she watched Pang Jian's Immortal Divine Soul disappear into the distance. "Apologies. After so much preparation, this is all we've gained."

"Who are you apologizing to?" Ying Yue asked, clearly displeased.

"To you, of course."

"But you're not even looking at me!"

Han Yi turned to face Ying Yue with a serious expression. "I'm sorry. You can have your pick of the Star Devourer's remains."

"I don't want it," Ying Yue replied with a shake of her head.

Han Yi was taken aback. "Then what do you want?"

"Let's discuss it somewhere else," Ying Yue said with a knowing smile.

***

Back in the Lunar Divine Palace on the moon, Ying Yue's true body awoke from her silence. "Han Yi, let's head into the bizarre mist next."

"Descend into the bizarre mist? Why?" Han Yi asked in surprise.

"I left a secret marker on the Star Devourer," Ying Yue replied with a smug smile. "We can't descend into the Shadow Abyss, but the bizarre mist doesn't impose such restrictions.

"The Star Devourer escaped there to evade Pang Jian.

"In other words, it has nowhere to run if we hunt it in the bizarre mist. No matter how strong it is, it can't escape the pursuit of our true bodies."

Ying Yue's divine platform rose. Her radiant divine body glowed with luminous moonlight and radiated a killing intent.

"After fleeing the Shadow Abyss, the Star Devourer lingered briefly in the starry skies. That moment was enough for the moonlight to lock onto its mark! Han Yi, I will definitely find it!"

Her divine platform then floated out of the Lunar Divine Palace.

The Frost Crystal God unhesitatingly followed her, flying after Ying Yue with her own divine platform.

"Ying Yue, why don't we inform Pang Jian? After all, he forced the Star Devourer to flee. Why don't we invite him to join us?" Han Yi suggested.

"What are you thinking? The other Gods cannot enter the Shadow Abyss and have no idea what's happening within, but they could notice us in the bizarre mist! Besides, the Star Devourer is as good as dead now that our true bodies are in play. Why do we need him?"

The pair argued as they descended into the sea of bizarre mist below in two beams of light.

***

The Star Devourer drifted aimlessly within the bizarre mist, speeding in a direction it believed would take it far from the Shadow Abyss.

Abysses were truly peculiar. When it broke through the barrier and entered the starry skies, it immediately sensed powerful Outer Gods attempting to lock onto it. Thus, it only lingered briefly before diving back into the bizarre mist.

A wave of dizziness overwhelmed the Aberrant Spirit as it descended into the bizarre mist.

Anyone or anything descending into the bizarre mist would experience this disorienting phenomenon. Time and space would appear inverted, as if pulling them to another plane entirely. All connection to the starry skies would become severed.

This was part of the reason emerging from the bizarre mist required unimaginable effort and trials.

Breaking through the barrier of an abyss was the most optimal way to leave the bizarre mist, allowing one to bypass these ordeals and directly reach the infinite expanse of starry skies above.

In truth, the Star Devourer could have traversed the starry skies with its awakened abilities, drawing power from celestial bodies to grow stronger and continue its ascension. Unfortunately, the starry skies were now crowded with Outer Gods.

Aberrant Spirits like the Star Devourer were prime prey for Outer Gods. It would face relentless pursuit and extermination if discovered.

Though it could grow endlessly stronger by consuming celestial bodies, the presence of the Outer Gods forced it back into the cover of the bizarre mist.

However, before long, it encountered a group of Outer Gods. These Outer Gods discussed a True God of the human race—Pang Jian—and appeared to be searching the bizarre mist under orders to capture him.

The Star Devourer was tempted to approach them, eager to reveal that Pang Jian was in the Shadow Abyss. Only the looming risk of exposing itself forced it to hesitate.

After much consideration, it quietly distanced itself.

It drifted through the bizarre mist, still devouring the star's core, only to encounter more Outer Gods searching for Pang Jian.

The Star Devourer's unease mounted with every encounter. The bizarre mist, which it had thought would be a safe haven, was conversely fraught with danger due to the descent of many Outer Gods.

Fortunately, it had only encountered low-ranking Outer Gods so far. Its familiarity with the bizarre mist and inherent abilities as an Aberrant Spirit meant it could still stealthily approach and eavesdrop.

All it would take was a single mid-ranking Outer God for it to face certain death.

The Star Devourer moved with extreme caution. It cowered, tail tucked, gripped with fear and anxiety as it sought to evade detection.

Day and night, it cursed Pang Jian a thousandfold, damning the True God of the human race for drawing so many Outer Gods into the bizarre mist.

Is the human race of the Abyss really that renowned in the starry skies? Is a single True God worth mobilizing so many Outer Gods to scour the bizarre mist?

Its many encounters brought a gradual but begrudging respect toward the Abyss, the human race, and Pang Jian. The grandiose boasts it made earlier now seemed laughable.

Forget it. It's better for me to stay far away from the Abyss. That way, there's no chance I'll ever cross paths with Pang Jian again,

the Star Devourer resolved as it wandered the bizarre mist.

One day, it unexpectedly spotted a golden bee.

***

A sword was lodged in the ground of an inconspicuous corner at the lowest level of the Sword Pavilion in the Heaven Awakening Continent.

Its hilt was dark red, stained with what seemed like ancient blood, exuding a pungent, bloody aura. This sword's soul had remained dormant for ages.

When Pang Jian visited to choose a sword, the Abyssal Demon Sword and the White Bone Sword had reacted to his presence. This sword, however, remained unmoved.

Unexpectedly, this silent sword now radiated a crimson glow.

Two elders—one fat, the other thin—and a woman named Lady Feng instantly appeared, gazes fixed vigilantly on the sword.

Unlike the Abyssal Demon Sword or the White Bone Sword, this sword was usually well-behaved and rarely caused trouble.

The three sword soul guardians of the Sword Pavilion rarely needed to concern themselves with this sword.

Thus, the fact that it acted up signaled something extraordinary.

"Someone has mastered the Blood God Technique," the Bloodthirsty Sword said, voice ambiguously androgynous. "That person has just arrived on the Heaven Awakening Continent. Either you kill them, or you destroy me, because I will inevitably unite with them. I suggest you consult Li Zhaotian for his opinion on this."

"The Blood God Technique of the Blood Spirit Sect?!" The fat elder's face darkened.

Whoosh!

Li Zhaotian abruptly appeared in the lowest level of the Sword Pavilion, having sensed the stirring of the Bloodthirsty Sword.

Fixing his gaze on the sword lodged in the ground, Li Zhaotian said, "His name is Dong Tianze. He has indeed mastered the Blood God Technique. What, are you interested in him?"

"I can help him become a Blood God, though he will be what you call a heretical God," the Bloodthirsty Sword replied.

"A heretical God, hmm..." Li Zhaotian frowned. "Will you gradually corrupt him, dragging him deeper into the path of heresy and turning him into a full-fledged demon?"

"From your perspective, he's already a complete demon." The Bloodthirsty Sword chuckled.

Li Zhaotian's expression grew grim. "Could the Sword Pavilion use him?"

The Bloodthirsty Sword was silent for a long moment.

"That depends on him," it finally replied. "There's a chance he could be used, provided he can suppress me and his will aligns with the Sword Pavilion. Otherwise...

"Well, you know the consequences."

Though the Bloodthirsty Sword carried an air of calm restraint, its name and history suggested something far more volatile and bloodthirsty.

The three sword souls and Li Zhaotian knew its apparent composure was only a facade, honed through endless time.

"Fatty Li! Absolutely not!"

"This sword will bring calamity to the outside world if it leaves the Sword Pavilion!"

"Its wielder will slaughter endlessly. Its wishes cannot be granted!"

For once, the three sword souls were in unanimous agreement.

Li Zhaotian ignored their protests.

"Lift the seal and let it leave the Sword Pavilion to find Dong Tianze," he ordered. "I will publicly claim that the Bloodthirsty Sword broke your restrictions and escaped the Sword Pavilion under its own power."

***

In the Skyveil Cliff Sect's territory was a region named the Bloodcloud Mountain Range.

It was one of the ancient battlefields of previous invasions from the foreign races.

Fierce battles had erupted there, claiming the lives of tens of thousands of high-level cultivators alongside equally powerful foreign race warriors.

Dong Tianze was traversing this mountain range alone when, sensing an unusual disturbance, he glanced up at the sky.

A blood-red light silently streaked toward him.