Chapter 567: Six Unique Rifts on the Boundary Wall

The two Outer Gods quietly sighed in relief.

"The boundary wall of an abyss is vastly different from the barrier. I only have limited knowledge about the latter," the Moon God said.

A twinge of guilt from keeping the Star Devourer's location secret prompted her to explain the little she knew.

"Think of the barrier as a lock that can only be opened with a key or through brute force."

Pang Jian still looked puzzled.

"The Star Devourer's body is unique," Ying Yue elaborated. "It grew within the Shadow Abyss, consuming fragmented lands and continents. This means it embodies the essence of this world's energies and mysteries. After reaching a certain level, it encompassed the many Heavenly Daos of the Shadow Abyss, essentially becoming the key to the barrier itself.

"It could break through the barrier and leave using the 'key' approach, avoiding any resistance in its exit.

"The only other option without a key is brute force. Enormous strength is required to breach the barrier with this method. Additionally, it seems that only those born within the abysses can break through the barrier with these methods.

"As for outsiders..."

Ying Yue shook her head.

"I've never heard of anyone being able to freely enter or exit the abysses within the bizarre mist, so it's hard to say."

Pang Jian silently mulled over her words.

The energies contained within the Star Devourer's limbs seemed far less comprehensive compared to his Immortal Divine Soul.

At the very least, the Star Devourer lacked solar and lunar energies.

The Shadow Abyss, being a static world, saw neither the sun nor the moon, causing it to lack the Heavenly Daos of these energies. In terms of energy diversity, his Immortal Divine Soul, formed in the Abyss, was undoubtedly broader in scope.

This led him to question the matter further.

"Being all-encompassing doesn't make one a key," Ying Yue clarified. "One has to perfectly align with the essence of that world, with neither too much nor too little of the required energies to break through the barrier."

"Once the energies within you are complete and encompass the entirety of the Abyss, it's possible you could become the key to unlocking the barrier of that world.

"However, that doesn't apply to the Shadow Abyss. Your comprehended Heavenly Daos are too broad and don't align with those of this world.

"As for the boundary wall, even we find it enigmatic. We're quite curious, how did you enter the Shadow Abyss?"

Pang Jian frowned.

Ying Yue shrugged nonchalantly and said, "If you don't want to share, that's fine. It's your secret. You're not obligated to tell us.

"Even other Outer Gods, be they high-ranking Gods or even Sovereigns, can't break through the barrier or the boundary wall to enter the abysses."

Ying Yue hesitated briefly, expression turning reverent.

"There's even a legend that the bizarre mist has its own will."

Pang Jian's heart tightened. "The bizarre mist is...sentient?"

"It's said to have an independent system of laws governing it," Ying Yue explained. "But no one has ever confirmed this, nor has anyone come into contact with the will of the bizarre mist, so it's just a rumor.

"Abysses are fundamentally different from Worlds in the starry skies. The boundary wall, the barrier, the strange internal rules of an abyss, and the mysteries of the bizarre mist—none of these seem like things that could naturally form on their own.

"The Outer Gods in the starry skies regard the bizarre mist as the greatest enigma in existence. Exploring the bizarre mist is for Outer Gods what delving into restricted areas is for your human race in the Abyss."

Although both Outer Gods were fellow mid-ranking Gods, Ying Yue clearly knew far more about the inner workings of the bizarre mist, the boundary wall, and the barrier than Han Yi. Thus, Han Yi could do nothing but listen intently, quietly marveling at Ying Yue's knowledge, unable to interject.

Fixing his gaze on the Frost Crystal God, Pang Jian asked. "How do I get rid of the mark you left on me? I don't want an Outer God to pinpoint my location using secret methods."

Han Yi could burn a drop of her blood to establish a connection to Pang Jian, locating his position and seeing his condition.

Outer Gods like Han Yi and Ying Yue were stationed outside the Abyss with the ultimate goal of eradicating the human race and the Gods born from them.

The Frost Crystal God's ability to track him was a potential threat that Pang Jian simply could not afford to ignore.

"It's simple," Han Yi replied. "You can either expel the divine power I infused into you or refine it completely."

When she established a connection with Pang Jian through the Ice Race's altar using her divine consciousness, she had also channeled a portion of her divine power into Pang Jian's body.

Later, during the formation of his Immortal Divine Soul, this divine power was drawn out and assimilated into it.

Her divine power carried her mark, and once it was expelled, there would no longer be any connection between her and Pang Jian. This one remaining link between them would be severed completely.

Although Han Yi understood that Pang Jian's actions were entirely reasonable given their opposing positions, she still could not help but feel a tinge of sorrow.

"Understood."

Pang Jian departed without hesitation.

The Frost Crystal God noticed that Pang Jian purged her divine power before he could even disappear from sight.

No matter how much blood she burned after this, she would no longer be able to pinpoint Pang Jian's location or establish contact with him.

"Cold-blooded bastard," Ying Yue said frostily. "It would be good if you could stay as clear-headed as him. That kid is going to great lengths to distance himself from us Outer Gods because he knows that any association with us would only bring him endless trouble with the human race in the Abyss.

"We need to kill the Star Devourer and leave this treacherous place as quickly as possible. There's no need to meddle in anything else.

"From now on, just act as though you've never met that human boy.

"Han Yi, once the Star Devourer is dead, the treasures we acquire from its remains will be enough for you to secure a new patron and break free from that high-ranking God's oppression. You'll be free. Why let a mere human boy weigh on your mind?" Ying Yue asked in genuine confusion.

"You wouldn't get it." Han Yi shook her head gently, expression tinged with loss. "Not long ago, he wielded that sword against the Star Devourer for my sake.

"He's not as heartless as you think. If he were truly as cold as you believe, do you think our puppet vessels, our divine artifacts, or even these severed limbs would still be in our possession?"

Her words rendered Ying Yue silent.

Ying Yue could not help but wonder,

what would've happened if the one in the Shadow Abyss wasn't Pang Jian, but another True God from the Abyss, or worse, another Outer God?

***

Outside the Shadow Abyss, Pang Jian failed to locate Thunder God Pan Di in the bizarre mist. Instead, when he extended his divine sense, he detected traces of other Outer Gods.

His expression darkened.

Activating the Thunder Pool within him, he sensed the presence of three Thunder Gods.

One of them was the distant Pan Di. Another was...the Thunderveil Godbeast.

All three low-ranking Thunder Gods were engaged in a pursuit deep within the bizarre mist, and the one being chased was none other than Pan Di!

The three-headed, six-armed Outer Gods that escaped earlier had likely reported Pang Jian's presence, alerting the Outer Gods stationed beyond the Abyss to his existence. It was possible his background and identity were also exposed.

The deaths of the Dark Bat and the Water Gods would only compel the Outer Gods to act more cautiously. Low-ranking Gods seemed to descend in teams. Pang Jian could not be certain if mid-ranking Gods had also joined the hunt.

Returning to the Abyss was far too risky under such circumstances.

Pang Jian instinctively stuck close to the boundary wall of the Shadow Abyss, preparing for an immediate retreat back into its depths if necessary.

The Outer Gods would find it impossible to breach the boundary wall or the barrier to enter the abysses. He, on the other hand, could freely traverse in and out.

In this situation, this unique ability was his greatest leverage.

His best option was to remain hidden within the Shadow Abyss and wait for the Outer Gods scouring for him to give up their search before returning to the Abyss. There was little he could do to assist Pan Di at the moment.

Whoosh!

Pang Jian silently slipped back into the Shadow Abyss.

***

Somewhere in the bizarre mist, the Star Devourer gazed in astonishment at a golden bee, scrutinizing it with one of its segmented limbs. The golden bee appeared tantalizingly appetizing.

As the Star Devourer contemplated giving it a try, the golden bee abruptly vanished.

Boom!

One of the Star Devourer's limbs lunged forward, only to collide with a barrier.

It was another Abyss.

The Star Devourer let out a triumphant howl. "Another world, just like the Shadow Abyss! Could it be the Fire Abyss? The Demon Abyss? The Ghost Abyss? Or perhaps the Thunder Abyss?"

***

On the other side of the boundary wall, the towering Bee Sovereign arrived in response to the news.

A web-like body...it's the Star Devourer from the Shadow Abyss! It escaped the Shadow Abyss and reached the edges of our world!

the Bee Sovereign realized.

He had previously deployed a swarm of golden bees across the bizarre mist to uncover the spatial connections leading to the outside. His efforts led to the discovery of six spatial rifts in the boundary wall, along with the revelation that the golden bees could enter and exit the Abyss using them.

If the golden bees could pass through, then beings from the starry skies could as well.

Warriors of the Ghost Race and Geospirit Race had previously entered Absolute Heaven using such rifts in the boundary wall. Back then, the boundary wall only permitted the entry of beings below Rank Six.

However, the restrictions had loosened since then, now allowing those below Rank Nine to enter.

The Bee Sovereign worried that the restrictions of these six spatial rifts would only ease with time, potentially even allowing Rank Nine beings to enter freely.

It seemed the Abyss was slowly becoming more accommodating to outsiders.

Is this what the once-in-a-hundred-millennia grand event refers to? Will Rank Nine beings enter through the bizarre mists and boundary wall in the future?

The Bee Sovereign had grown increasingly uneasy as he anxiously awaited Pang Jian's return.

Before Pang Jian could return, one of his golden bees reported that Dong Tianze had entered the bizarre mist.

He'll do. He can also deliver the alarming news here back to the Abyss,

the Bee Sovereign thought.

The golden bee near Dong Tianze said in a clear voice, "I know you're a close friend of my master. I have urgent news to share with you."

"Pang Jian?!" Dong Tianze exclaimed in surprise.