Chapter 595: Taking a Stand

The Rank Ten Rock Bear did not hesitate to head for the poison-laden battlefield.

His gaze immediately fell upon Pang Jian as he left the Sacred Soul Continent.

When he saw the well-shaped domain of sword light near Pang Jian, the Rock Bear realized Li Zhaotian was once again attempting to ascend to godhood.

Long Xiao was still locked in battle with Su Wanrou, but he could communicate with the Rock Bear through the secret techniques of the Fey Gods.

Long Xiao urged him to ignore their fight and instead sabotage Li Zhaotian's ascension.

The Rock Bear disregarded his command.

It was not that the Rock Bear could not see the broader picture. He knew Li Zhaotian's ascension would decide the war; he simply did not care.

𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

All that mattered to the Rock Bear was ending Su Wanrou's Poison Scourge.

"With the Rock Bear joining the battle, Su Wanrou will have to face two Fey Gods," the Abyssal Demon mused, stroking his chin with a smirk. "From what I can see, in her corrupted state, she's evenly matched with that Thunder Dragon.

"Their fight could have gone either way without the Rock Bear's interference, but now that he's joined, she's far more likely to lose.

"Why don't I take over guarding your master, while you enter the battlefield? Or perhaps...you could let me join the fight?"

The Abyssal Demon stood eagerly poised for battle.

He thrived on chaos. Nothing delighted him more than watching the Abyss descend into endless strife and slaughter, feeding on the ever-growing malice and resentment that would fuel his growth.

Pang Jian raised an eyebrow at the Abyssal Demon's words.

Glancing down at the sword in his grasp, he wondered,

Is the Abyssal Demon Sword even still divine without its namesake soul?

The Abyssal Demon can freely command the six demonic realms now that he's separated from the sword. His tangible body also makes him the one and only Demon God in the Abyss.

Can the Abyssal Demon still be trusted?

I've lost all leverage over the Abyssal Demon.

Pang Jian was conflicted.

The crimson flame representing Gui Mu flickered.

"Pang Jian, let him fight if he wants to.

"When Su Wanrou descends into darkness and unleashes the Poison Scourge, she becomes indiscriminate in her attacks. Her poisons will affect anyone entering her domain. Even you will be seen as an enemy.

"Your master's ascension will determine the fate of the entire human race.

"I just spoke with Li Wang, and there are some things you need to know.

"Zhu Ji barely stepped out of the Eastern Land when Luo Hongyan intercepted her. Unable to defeat her, he called for aid, and Li Wang responded. The two of them are barely holding their ground against her as we speak.

"Liu Fu used the Sword Pavilion's teleportation array to reach the Heaven Awakening Continent and was intending to use another teleportation array to reach the Resolute Expanse before heading here.

"However, upon arriving in the Heaven Awakening Continent, he sensed the presence of an incredibly powerful foreign race and is likely now engaged in battle with Sha Jia of the Celestial Race.

"Pei Yishan and Dong Shangqing had just left the Northern Ruin when Li Bai of the Demon Scale Race and Jing Sha of the Dark Shadow Race ambushed them.

"Pei Yishan severely wounded Jing Sha, and she called Fire God Yan Lie for reinforcements.

"Yan Lie has killed Lin Qiyang of the Pure Land Sect and is making his way toward the Northern Ruin to assist in the battle.

"Lie Yang of the Radiant Race and Qi Xu of the Flame Race have locked down the two rogue True Gods, Yin Ji and Wanderer Tian Du. They are unable to break free for now.

"Meanwhile, a newly ascended Rank Ten powerhouse from the Ghost Race, Jiu Luo, is lurking near the Western Loam. Jiu Luo will launch an assault on the region the instant Li Yuanli dares to reveal himself.

"The Western Loam's True Gods are in a dire situation. Su Wanrou is here, Lin Qiyang is dead, and Li Yuanli does not dare to leave.

"Nearly every human True God is occupied, unable to intervene in each other's battles.

"Also, among the known Rank Ten powerhouses in the Fifth World, the one-eyed giant, Ah Man, has yet to reveal himself.

"I have to deal with Mu Wentao's lingering soul first before I can leave the Ghost Sacrifice Sect.

"At this perilous time, we're all placing our hopes in your master's successful ascension to godhood. If he succeeds, many of these dire situations will likely be resolved. He could even become the decisive force that turns the tide.

"Pang Jian, guard your master well. Do not let anyone disrupt him.

"Buy the human race time. Buy us hope."

The crimson flame representing Gui Mu flickered and dimmed into nothingness as she retracted her divine sense.

Pang Jian now fully grasped the terrifying crisis facing the human race.

Lin Qiyang had perished, and nearly every human True God was trapped in battle, unable to intervene elsewhere. Even Zhu Ji, the strongest of the human race True Gods, had been forced to seek Li Wang's help, barely holding out against Luo Hongyan.

Gui Mu had placed all her hopes on Li Zhaotian's ascension, believing that he would turn the tables if he became a True God.

Even though his master had slain her junior brother with a single sword strike and used his death as a stepping stone to ascend, Gui Mu bore no resentment toward him.

Instead, she sincerely hoped for his master's success for the sake of the greater survival of the human race.

At that moment, Pang Jian realized that every True God, Fey God, and Rank Ten foreign race warrior had only ever fought for the survival of their respective races.

The True Gods had betrayed and oppressed the Fey Race for generations, sealing their bloodlines with the Heaven Ascension Tribulation Pillars.

Such actions were undeniably cruel.

The World Gods had opposed it, the ancient black turtle had raged against it, and the Celestial Phoenix had fought against it.

Regardless of the morality of their actions, it was undeniable that those True Gods had acted for the sake of the human race within the Abyss.

Similarly, Long Xiao had started the war, the Nine-Headed Bird committed atrocities, and the Rank Ten Rock Bear stepped into the poison-ridden battlefield for the survival and prosperity of their race.

One day, I will set the mistakes of the past right. But for now, I am human, and I will not allow the human race to be exterminated.

Pang Jian had made his decision.

"If you're going to join the battle, take this sword with you." Lifting the Abyssal Demon Sword, he gave it a slight shake toward the Abyssal Demon and said calmly, "Once you're in, go for the ancient Thunder Dragon. If possible, try to show some restraint toward the Rock Bear."

The Abyssal Demon let out a disbelieving chuckle, "Are you serious?"

"Weren't you the one who suggested that one of us go?"

The Abyssal Demon quietly retracted the six demonic realms.

As the demonic realms around him faded, the ones within the sword surged and expanded.

A knowing smirk curled elegantly at his lips. Beckoning with a single finger, the Abyssal Demon Sword flew from Pang Jian's hand, falling effortlessly into his grasp.

The sword felt more natural in his hands than in Pang Jian's. It was as if the sword had been waiting to return to him.

"It seems I still need to gain your trust. There's no need for such wariness between us.

"It doesn't matter if I have a new demonic body and stand as the only true Demon God in the Abyss. My infamy and corruption of Mo Nan were all in the past.

"You're not Mo Nan. Both your treatments of me have differed from the start.

"Now, allow me to prove myself to you."

With that, the Abyssal Demon grasped the sword and shot toward the battlefield.

As Pang Jian watched the Abyssal Demon's figure fade into the poisonous mist, a weary sigh echoed in his mind.

The Fey Race on the Sacred Soul Continent should not be condemned to extinction simply because of Su Wanrou's reckless madness,

the black turtle lamented.