Chapter 596: Insights on All Fronts

In the depths of the Resolute Expanse, the black turtle sat cross-legged with an expression full of sorrow.

Long Xiao's decision, the Nine-Headed Bird's support, and the Rock Bear's forced compliance were all beyond his influence.

His bloodline rank and unacknowledged status among the Fey Race meant he lacked the authority to shift the grand course of the Fey Race.

Thus, he could do nothing but watch as Long Xiao paraded arrogantly, taking the lead for the foreign races in the Fifth World, and inciting Su Wanrou to unleash the Poison Scourge.

The Sacred Soul Continent—which he and the Celestial Phoenix had fought so hard to secure—had become a blood-soaked purgatory under the Poison Scourge.

As an ancient Fey Race, he had fought ceaselessly for the survival of his kin. This massacre pained his heart.

The foreign races in the Fifth World allowed Long Xiao to run rampant on purpose. They wanted him to provoke Su Wanrou into unleashing the Poison Scourge. This way, the Fey Race and the human race will never again coexist in peace.

A millennia-old alliance has been ruined beyond repair. This is exactly what they wanted.

The black turtle let out a long sigh.

His every thought echoed clearly within Pang Jian's mind.

Pang Jian shared his anguish and sorrow. He, too, could not ignore the suffering of the Fey Race dying under the Poison Scourge.

This was never my intention,

Pang Jian replied.

As a World God, I've always strived for a renewed alliance between the human race and the Fey Race.

I planned to represent the True Gods to make a new pledge to the Fey Race. I even discovered the existence of an Ancient Fey World in the starry skies, one capable of sheltering the Fey Gods of the Abyss.

But while I was in discussion with the True Gods, Long Xiao acted recklessly, seizing the Thunderclap Paradise and taking Pang Lin in the process.

I hope you don't blame me.

Pang Jian sat before the well-shaped domain of sword light as he conversed with the black turtle.

With a thought, he established a simultaneous link with the Giant Abyssal Serpent, Pang Ling, and the Bee Sovereign.

Through the Giant Abyssal Serpent's vision, he watched as the Fey Race from the Sacred Soul Continent broke through the leaden clouds of the Third World and descended toward the Fey Spirit Continent.

The Giant Abyssal Serpent, now a Rank Nine Fey King, emerged from the depths of a cold, shadowy pool, its icy gaze fixed upon the young dragons.

Cold disdain surged in its heart at the sight.

When the Giant Abyssal Serpent noticed Pang Jian's will had locked onto him, it asked,

What disaster has struck above?

Su Wanrou of the Pure Land Sect has unleashed the Poison Scourge on the Sacred Soul Continent.

Pang Jian replied.

I've also destroyed six of the Nine-Headed Bird's heads. It dove down not long ago. Have you seen any trace of it in the lower worlds?

A storm churned within the Giant Abyssal Serpent.

You-you already possess the strength to wound it so grievously?

I do. I also encountered a Dark Bat Outer God in the bizarre mist beyond the Abyss, the same one that once tried to capture you. I killed it then and there. I have a dark scepter from that battle, ready for you.

The Giant Abyssal Serpent fell into silence.

Pang Jian waited, allowing him time to process the information.

After a brief pause, the Giant Abyssal Serpent finally said,

Lately, as I've been piecing together fragments of my past, I keep getting a distinct feeling that I've died more than once. Except when the Celestial Phoenix's bone impaled me, I think there was at least one other time. I'm certain that the ancient Thunder Dragon killed me.

Congratulations on gradually recovering your memories.

Pang Jian's voice was calm.

But don't let any of your kin learn of this until you ascend to a Fey God. Long Xiao is your destined nemesis. As long as he stands atop the hierarchy of the Fey Race, you will never have the chance to rise.

Then...what should I do?

the Giant Abyssal Serpent asked tentatively.

Pang Jian patiently replied,

Accumulate strength and wait for the right moment. You were already a Fey God once. You have all the conditions necessary to ascend again. Once your bloodline returns to the peak of Rank Nine, all you need to do is bide your time until a seat among the Fey Gods opens up.

And when I become a Fey God?

You'll have regained all your past memories by then. You'll know what you seek.

Alright.

Uncertain yet contemplative, the Giant Abyssal Serpent sank back into the freezing depths of the shadowed pool, no longer paying any heed to the Fey Race descending from above.

***

In Misty Swamp, Pang Ling clutched the hem of her robe, biting her lip in nervous apprehension.

Father, she said that the True God named Li Chu, who ascended through the Dao of Verdure, will die before long, and his corpse will be delivered to me,

she explained.

She said I'll advance to Rank Ten after devouring his remains.

In return, I have to create a supreme warrior of the Wood Race, one with a Rank Ten bloodline. That warrior, along with the entire Wood Race, will serve her within the Abyss.

Before ascending to the upper worlds, she briefly stopped by. She was different this time. She didn't seek my opinion but demanded my compliance.

I-I was no match for her. If I refused, she would have erased me on the spot. So I had no choice but to agree...

Pang Ling trailed off, voice growing increasingly faint with unease.

Don't worry about my feelings,

Pang Jian gently assured me.

Just focus on staying alive.

Father, she's changed. She's not the same as before. You have to be careful. Every time she appears before me, I feel her drifting further away, becoming more distant,

Pang Ling fretted.

I understand. But no matter what happens, remember to protect yourself first.

***

The Bee Sovereign and Dong Tianze continued their hunt in the bizarre mist beyond Absolute Heaven, slaying the foreign race warriors being sent into the restricted area.

In the past, communication with the Bee Sovereign within the bizarre mist had been impossible while Pang Jian was in the Abyss.

𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

Now, however, there were no such barriers.

Pang Jian briefly informed the Bee Sovereign that a blind Gray Ape would soon be arriving and would need the guidance of his bees to get to Absolute Heaven.

Afterward, he concisely relayed the state of the war in the Abyss before finally settling into meditative stillness before the well-shaped domain of sword light.

If Gui Mu's assessment was correct, his master's ascension to godhood would be a turning point for the human race. The foreign races in the Fifth World were undoubtedly aware of this as well, meaning stronger adversaries were bound to appear.

Pang Jian was prepared to meet any and all dangers that arose.

Calming his mind, he quietly refined his comprehension of the Chaos Firmament. His three thousand strands of divine sense meticulously analyzed the mysteries of his Immortal Divine Soul.

"Gui Mu once performed miracles here."

Zhou Yi had appeared from the lower worlds.

Pang Jian had once killed him and destroyed his physical body with a single strike, but Zi Mo had reforged his soul, allowing him to be reborn as a ghost cultivator.

Another figure then emerged beside Zhou Yi.

It was the White Bone Saint, Lu Qinghe.

Xie Tong of the Blood Prison Sect and Mu Weifeng of the Blackwood Sect had died back on the Imperial Dominion, with the disciples of both sects nearly annihilated.

Lu Qinghe, on the other hand, had mysteriously disappeared.

After months of silence, he resurfaced alongside Zhou Yi, stepping forth from the depths of the lower world.

Lu Qinghe's gaunt, deathly pale face was etched with disbelief and astonishment as he muttered, "I can't believe Li Zhaotian would use the Sword Pavilion to kill Mu Wentao, then unhesitatingly make his second attempt to ascend to godhood. To live in an era where Li Zhaotian exists is truly despairing."

"Fortunately, he's yet to complete his ascension," Zhou Yi murmured. "We still have a chance."

Pang Jian opened his eyes, his gaze piercing. "Who else is here? There's no need to hide. Call them out. You wouldn't dare to stand before me and utter such words if it were just the two of you."