Chapter 572: Tacit Understanding

Fortune was a mysterious force unique to abysses that could make divine souls corporeal.

The True Gods of the human race had shone brightly in the starry skies after breaking free of the Abyss and had even destroyed the Hall of Gods, a testament to their terrifying power.

The Outer Gods, wary of the True Gods, researched the source of their strength. Ultimately, they concluded that it was tied to a mysterious force known as Fortune.

The Primordial Demon, Great Demon God He Motian, Zi Mo of the Ghost Race, and Luo Hongyan all descended into the Abyss to obtain this mysterious force.

The Primordial Demon planned to possess Li Zhaotian when he ascended to godhood.

He Motian subtly influenced Xiang Shengwei over time and possessed him when the time was right, hoping to embrace the divine radiance of Fortune in his demonic form.

The high-ranking God of the Ghost Race, Zi Mo, planted a Soul Seed into the Abyss, intending to ascend to godhood using a human body.

Despite their scheming, only Luo Hongyan succeeded in the end. She had used a human woman as a medium to channel Fortune through the Dao of Death and forge a path to godhood in the Abyss. This was an opening for Luo Hongyan to seek a new breakthrough for herself.

Although many abysses lay within the bizarre mist, few could nurture divine seats and Fortune, with the Abyss being the strongest of them.

The Fortune of the Abyss had created the True Gods of the human race, allowing them to light up the starry skies with their brilliance. The powerful Outer Gods, envious of this mysterious force called Fortune, sought to harvest it while simultaneously eradicating the human race.

"If the Abyss were a living being, then Fortune would be its blood—the essence of an abyss," Ying Yue explained. "That's all I know, but I'm certain that all high-ranking Gods and Sovereigns covet this force. As Han Yi and I are only mid-ranking Outer Gods, we aren't yet qualified to seek it."

She and Han Yi stared enviously at Pang Jian's towering prismatic divine form.

They could sense the boundless mysteries and untapped potential within his extraordinary divine form. This filled them with reverence for the True Gods of the human race.

"Pang Jian, if you don't mind, we want to spread our Daos within the Shadow Abyss," Ying Yue said, clearing her throat in embarrassment. "We can guide the inhabitants to strengthen their bloodlines if they're willing to worship us.

"Without the threat of the Star Devourer, it's possible that new Gods could emerge from the Shadow Abyss in the future."

Han Yi glared at Ying Yue in mild reproach before Pang Jian could respond.

In the bizarre mist, the true bodies of the two Outer Gods drew closer and closer to the Star Devourer on their divine platforms.

"The races of the Shadow Abyss are fundamentally different from humans," Ying Yue explained to the disapproving Han Yi. "It wouldn't be appropriate for them to worship Pang Jian. However, it's no problem for them to worship the two of us.

"I know you think we're taking advantage of him, so how about we share a portion of our gains with him once we've dealt with the Star Devourer? What do you think?"

Han Yi nodded lightly in agreement. Then, gritting her teeth, she said, "Yang Luo injured him so badly..."

"Even the two of us combined could barely stand a chance against Yang Luo in battle," Ying Yue said softly. "She has that Sovereign backing her now, so it's best to avoid provoking her.

"Our puppet vessels are in the Shadow Abyss. We can monitor the movements of those Gods and inform him that it's safe to return to the Abyss when they give up their pursuit."

"I suppose that's the only option," Han Yi agreed.

After a brief silence, Ying Yue asked, "Why bother with him? He erased the faint mark you left on him without a second thought. Do you really need to keep thinking about his well-being?"

"I just want him to be safe," Han Yi said softly.

***

Back in the Shadow Abyss, Pang Jian pondered deeply over the events that had transpired.

When he charged toward the Star Devourer and forced it out of the Shadow Abyss, a substantial amount of Faith had gathered around him. Although individual Faith was insignificant, it became quite formidable when the collective beliefs of countless beings converged.

Unfortunately, once the Star Devourer left the Shadow Abyss and the shadow of its threat was lifted, the flow of Faith had diminished significantly, rendering it of little use to him.

Thus, Pang Jian consulted with the Abyssal Demon on this matter.

According to the Abyssal Demon, obtaining a stable flow of Faith required long-term investment and considerable effort.

It involved aiding the growth of one's followers, establishing new rules for them, solving their dilemmas, rebuilding their world, and guiding them to construct temples and altars tailored to their characteristics. Moreover, one needed to provide unwavering protection for that world and its inhabitants.

Pang Jian had only been able to harvest such abundant Faith during his battle with the Star Devourer because he had become a vessel for the hopes of the Shadow Abyss's inhabitants. In other words, it was due to specific and unusual circumstances.

The Star Devourer's departure had resolved a predicament that had plagued the inhabitants of the Shadow Abyss for centuries, and their Faith had naturally weakened to a mere trickle without an active threat looming over them.

For Pang Jian to obtain a stable source of Faith, he would have to invest significant time and effort into aiding the reconstruction of the Shadow Abyss after its calamity.

After some thought, Pang Jian answered, "Since you've clarified the situation regarding the Abyss, its divine seats, and Fortune, I won't compete with you for the believers of this world."

"Good. In return, we'll let you know when the Outer Gods in the bizarre mist stop pursuing you," Ying Yue said with a satisfied smile.

Tugging Han Yi along, the pair flew into the distance, preparing to find the Holy Maiden of the Shadow Spirit Race, Cui Ling, to arrange matters.

The elders of the major races and the Rank Nine warriors were all dead.

In this time of rebuilding, persuading the weakened inhabitants of the Shadow Abyss would be effortless, especially with the influence of the two Outer Gods and the spread of their Heavenly Daos.

Ying Yue allowed Pang Jian a rare smile because of the special significance of holding an abyss.

She and Han Yi had domains and worlds in the starry skies. However, it was exceedingly difficult for them to contact living beings within an abyss and convert them into believers.

Although Ying Yue had claimed the moon and inherited the path that the previous Moon God had left behind, she still only managed to gather a small number of followers from the Star Moon Sect within the Abyss.

Furthermore, her Star Moon Sect followers held no influence, and their numbers were too small to provide meaningful help to her.

The Shadow Abyss, on the other hand, was different. No other Outer Gods had interfered thus far, and the inhabitants had immense potential. Moreover, the Star Devourer's departure meant they had nothing but time to rebuild and develop anew.

As long as Pang Jian did not interfere, the two Outer Gods could easily cultivate the Shadow Abyss into their private dominion. In a few decades or centuries, they would harvest a steady and enduring source of Faith.

***

Divine seats, Fortune.

Pang Jian's physical body sat cross-legged on the shoulder of his Immortal Divine Soul.

He now understood why True Gods like Li Chu, Mu Wentao, Fan Ao, and the Wanderer Tian Du always fought with their true bodies.

It was because it was exceedingly difficult to recover if one's divine soul suffered severe damage.

A corporeal divine soul could manifest its power and unleash unparalleled divine might from within one's sea of consciousness. This allowed one's physical body to serve as armor and a shield for their divine soul, protecting it from critical harm.

Even the Dharma Idol that True Gods summoned was a fusion of the divine soul and physical body, not the divine soul itself. This approach ensured that the divine soul was safeguarded against fatal injuries to the greatest extent possible.

I have not had my Immortal Divine Soul for long, so my understanding of it remains shallow,

Pang Jian thought.

He then chose to temporarily stay in the Shadow Abyss, spending his days studying the mysteries of his Immortal Divine Soul and analyzing the Dao Seals within the Thunder Pool.

As a result, his Immortal Divine Soul remained unhealed.

***

The two Outer Gods busied themselves in the Shadow Abyss, each claiming three of the six remaining intact continents.

Ruined cities were rebuilt, and destroyed temples were reconstructed according to their specifications. Statues, altars, and carvings on stone pillars were redesigned to reflect their true bodies.

Converters received secret techniques and rare treasures through the altars.

***

After an extended pursuit, the true bodies of Ying Yue and Han Yi finally intercepted the Star Devourer in the bizarre mist.

The pair exuded an aura as vast as the heavens and as profound as the seas, with their divine platforms stretching endlessly beneath their feet.

When they caught up to the Star Devourer, Han Yi did not bother with words, simply hurling her Frigid Nether Mountain at it.

The radiant Frigid Nether Mountain grew tens of thousands of zhang, and the Frost Crystal God's insights into the Dao of Cold engraved within it burst forth in dazzling brilliance!

Nine icy rivers flowed like chains of time linking the ancient past and the present. They coiled around the massive body of the Star Devourer, slowly freezing and shattering its limbs one after another.

Scattered light and frozen limbs fell into the nine shimmering rivers, where Ying Yue effortlessly harvested their vast energy and extracted insights into the Heavenly Daos.

Thousands of fine, ethereal strands of frozen lightning emerged from the icy rivers, each corresponding to a pathway in a Heavenly Dao that divine beings could refine to compensate for their weaknesses.

These strands of lightning were treasures of immeasurable value.

A full moon hung high above the Star Devourer, with Ying Yue within it.

Beams of moonlight cascaded down, tearing the Star Devourer apart with their radiance.

Had Pang Jian witnessed this scene, he would have been shocked to realize how effortlessly these two Outer Gods dealt with the Star Devourer when engaging it with their true bodies.