Chapter 597: The Forefather of the Fey Race

Pang Jian had forged his divine path through the Dao of Chaos to become one of the True Gods.

Meanwhile, the White Bone Saint, Lu Qinghe, was still only a peak Immortal Realm cultivator at best.

Zhou Yi, having been forced onto the path of ghost cultivators, was even less worthy of concern. A single bolt of lightning could utterly obliterate him.

Despite the many years since they last met, this had not changed. Zhou Yi still could not withstand a single blow from Pang Jian.

Pang Jian did not believe that these two would be so ignorant of his strength, which could only mean that they had another card to play.

"I knew we couldn't hide it from you." Lu Qinghe chuckled, voice ringing like a solemn decree as he called down toward the lower worlds, "Forefather of the Fey Race, please ascend!"

A massive fragmented land sliced through the astral winds as it soared up from the Third World.

At its heart stood a colossal one-eyed giant, his towering frame as vast and immovable as a mountain range, hoisting an entire landmass into the sky with sheer strength.

His lone crimson eye burned like a smoldering sun, casting a piercing radiance that seemed to split space itself.

It was none other than Ah Man.

Perched on his broad shoulder sat a stunning Celestial Race woman.

Her pristine white wings were unfurled, her serene eyes as deep as a tranquil lake, and her presence as gentle as flowing water. She was, unmistakably, Yu Xin.

The fragmented land beneath them was Ice Rock Island, where Ice Rock City once stood. A place deeply familiar to Pang Jian.

Long ago, he had witnessed Ah Man's formidable power through the eyes of the Giant Abyssal Serpent.

He also knew that Yu Xin had personally persuaded Ah Man to take part in the ascension to the upper worlds, offering him the Mountain Flipping Seal in return.

Pang Jian was well aware of Ah Man's past. He had once also struck a secret deal with Yu Xin, exchanging rare materials that the foreign races desperately sought.

Yu Xin had been profoundly grateful to Pang Jian, and for a long time, she would whisper blessings for his well-being whenever she prayed.

Years had passed in the blink of an eye. Pang Jian had ascended to godhood and was now determined to shield the human race from extermination.

Meanwhile, Yu Xin of the Celestial Race and the one-eyed giant Ah Man had fulfilled their long-held desire to escape from the Fifth World.

Yu Xin had long lost contact with the Giant Abyssal Serpent and likely remained unaware of Pang Jian's true identity.

Ah Man could not have known that Pang Jian had once sat at the altar beneath Ice Rock City, bearing silent witness to the tragedy that had shaped his past.

Fate played a cruel hand.

To think that the White Bone Saint Lu Qinghe's ace in the hole was none other than Ah Man, the leader of the one-eyed giants.

Even more ironic was the presence of Yu Xin at his side, the very Celestial Race woman Pang Jian had once aided in secret because of a fleeting moment of compassion.

"Ancestor of Ten Thousand Mountains, I implore you to destroy Li Zhaotian's path to godhood!" Lu Qinghe cried, distancing himself from the battlefield to avoid being caught in the storm of the impending clash.

Ah Man's power enveloped Yu Xin and carried her away from Ice Rock Island.

Her wings stirred the air as she hovered, clear eyes filled with curiosity as she studied the newly ascended Sword God bathed in prismatic light.

Pang Jian.

A strange feeling stirred within her.

She recalled hearing this name from the Sovereign when she had once gone to collect the Mountain Flipping Seal.

Back then, it had been an obscure name, one yet to shake the Abyss, but for some reason, it had left an impression on her.

Over time, she gradually learned of the man behind the name: Pang Jian of the Sword Pavilion.

Before she and the Giant Abyssal Serpent were separated, she had occasionally mentioned the name in passing. The Giant Abyssal Serpent had listened with unexpected attentiveness and interest.

That man...

The way he looks at me is strange. Have we met before?

No, that can't be. I wasn't there for any of his battles against Xuan Ying. I wasn't present when he fought for the Sword Pavilion disciples on the Cosmic Skies Continent either.

Strange...

Xiao Hei, where did you go? The Fey Race has already made an agreement with us. They said you left Northern Qi long ago, so why haven't you come to see me?

Did you perhaps go to the Sacred Soul Continent?

The Celestial Maiden of the Celestial Race instinctively turned to glance at the Sacred Soul Continent.

A pang of pain clenched her heart as a despairing thought crept into her mind.

What if the Giant Abyssal Serpent had suffered misfortune there, perishing alongside the countless Fey Race under the terrifying Poison Scourge?

When Yu Xin and Ah Man ascended to the Second World, they saw chunks of landmasses sinking, carrying fear-stricken Fey Race on them.

Perched atop Ah Man's broad shoulder, she was impossible to miss. If the Giant Abyssal Serpent was among the retreating Fey Race, it would have seen Ah Man's towering figure and noticed her as well.

However, no desperate hiss or roar ever reached her ears.

***

"Ah Man of the Titan Race, here under orders to destroy the divine path of the Pavilion Master of the Sword Pavilion!" the Ancestor of Ten Thousand Mountains bellowed in fluent human speech.

He no longer referred to himself as a one-eyed giant, instead proclaiming the true name of his lineage.

The Titan Race was known to be among the most formidable forces in the starry skies.

Great Demon God He Motian, the three-headed, six-armed Outer Gods, and many other colossal races were all branches of the Titan Race.

It was only through these Outer Gods, descended into puppet vessels, that Ah Man learned of his lineage's illustrious past.

He came to realize that ancient Fey Race such as Long Xiao, the Celestial Phoenix, the Qilin, and the black turtle were far beneath the Titan Race in the boundless expanse of the starry skies.

Gradually, Ah Man started to take pride in his heritage.

Before journeying to the upper worlds, the Sovereign had promised that Ah Man would be granted the authority to hunt Long Xiao, the one who had nearly wiped out his entire race, down within the vast starry skies once the chaos in the Abyss had settled.

The ancient Thunder Dragon would eventually leave the Abyss, and as long as Ah Man survived, he too would gain the right to step beyond this world.

Out in the boundless starry skies, the ancient Thunder Dragon would be isolated, with no aid to call upon.

Meanwhile, Ah Man, a true member of the Titan Race, could soar freely across the stars, gathering power and allies. Killing a lone Fey God that had left the Abyss would be no difficult feat.

This was the only reason Ah Man managed to suppress the fury burning within him instead of immediately settling his life-and-death feud with Long Xiao.

"You were never meant to live past childhood, but your father, Yan Shan, sought out the Ice Demon, sacrificing everything just to extend your life again and again.

"For your sake, he offended that ancient Thunder Dragon, which led to the destruction of the Three Immortal Islands and the deaths of countless one-eyed giants in Ice Rock City.

"In the end, your people were cast down into the Fifth World and driven to the brink of extinction.

"The ancient Thunder Dragon standing behind you was the cause of every tragedy your people have faced. And yet, you now fight by his side," Pang Jian said, voice laced with icy contempt.

Lu Qinghe and Zhou Yi both looked visibly shaken at his words. Even Yu Xin froze in place, stunned.

The tragic past of the one-eyed giants had long been buried in the flow of time.

Yu Xin could not help but wonder how Pang Jian knew about it.

Ah Man let out a furious roar. "How do you know this?!"

"Your father's deal back then was struck with the Ice Demon from the starry skies. I came into possession of an artifact once belonging to that Ice Demon by chance, which allowed me to uncover this past.

"Are you certain you wish to ally yourself with the culprit who killed your father and nearly drove your people to extinction?" Pang Jian questioned coldly.