Chapter 603: The "Sky" of the Abyss

Long Xiao's ambitions were boundless.

The Nine Heavens Thunder Divine Tree originated from the Thunderclap Paradise, a Blessed Land that Long Xiao was certain came from the Duke of Thunder's Forbidden Land of the Thunder God.

The Duke of Thunder had become renowned to all the Outer Gods across the endless starry skies as the first ever Thunder God.

Whenever the Abyss opened, the Outer Gods would use altars to peer into its depths.

They would also anchor their divine consciousness into puppet vessels to move within the Abyss.

Long Xiao had lived through countless eras of the Abyss and had naturally encountered many Outer God Puppets throughout his long existence.

He had obliterated some of these puppet vessels with his lightning while engaging in covert dealings with others.

Through these Outer God Puppets, he had heard of a domineering Thunder God, the first of his kind, emerging from beyond the Abyss.

This being of unparalleled might had also originated from an abyss.

Long Xiao had long revered the Duke of Thunder.

Over the years, he had attempted to gain insights into the Duke of Thunder's Dao of Lightning and had long resolved to seek out the Divine Court of Thunder if he ever left the Abyss.

The Duke of Thunder had come inches away from ascending to a Sovereign.

The mere thought that Pang Jian could have the Duke of Thunder's artifact, even damaged and incomplete, ignited a burning desire in Long Xiao's heart and sent his excitement surging.

"Do you have it? Your Dao of Lightning bears a striking resemblance to the Thunderclap Paradise," Long Xiao said, expression almost gleeful.

Pang Jian gripped his sword. "Take a guess."

"Heh." Long Xiao clicked his tongue. "Guess? What a joke! I'll just slaughter Li Zhaotian, destroy the Sword Pavilion, and capture your sister again. Then, I'll make you hand over the Thunder Pool in exchange for her life!"

Pang Jian swung his sword in response to Long Xiao's threat, unleashing a dazzling river of sword light that tore through the air.

Eight more rivers of sword light followed in quick succession, each slashing toward one of the nine massive lightning vortexes swirling behind Long Xiao.

Long Xiao snorted and tossed the Mirage Dragon Pearl into the air.

"Nine thunders forge the heavens and shape all existence!"

The pearl expanded before transforming into a colossal pillar.

This pillar had nine facets, each linked to a lightning vortex.

Imposing mountain ranges, vast seas, and boundless skies took form within the lightning vortexes. Stormy clouds stretched across the skies, while lightning-attribute beasts, birds, dragons, and the Thunder Race roamed these miniature worlds.

Pang Jian's rivers of sword light pierced these lightning vortexes, only for this singular Dao of Lightning to gradually erode their radiance.

The brilliant rivers of sword light shattered one by one.

These scattered fragments shimmered like stellar essence, lunar meteorites, and flowing flames.

Unnervingly, none of the soul essence he had imbued in the nine rivers of sword light had returned to Pang Jian; instead, they were erased in an instant.

This ancient Thunder Dragon's most terrifying ability is its power to counter soul techniques and destroy soul essence,

the Abyssal Demon cautioned from within the divine sword.

I was forced to retreat because he counters Demon Gods like me.

Thunder Gods naturally restrain Outer Gods of the Ghost Race or Demon Gods like me.

The Abyssal Demon had not unleashed the six demonic realms alongside Pang Jian's sword light because he knew it would be useless against Long Xiao.

The lightning vortexes became increasingly turbulent, resembling nine converging worlds as they pressed toward Pang Jian with overwhelming force.

"In that case..."

Pang Jian's Immortal Divine Soul expanded to ten thousand zhang before dissolving into a boundless cosmic expanse.

An endless starry sky emerged, with the stars, sun, and moons coexisting in its depths.

The five elements of Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth each rooted themselves in five distinct regions, transforming into unique domains within the boundless cosmos.

Hundreds of stars burned fiercely in the Fire Domain, flames raging in an endless inferno.

In the Metal Domain, celestial bodies gleamed. Some bore a golden brilliance, while others appeared made of black iron, shimmering silver, or primordial bronze.

At the heart of the Wood Domain floated an ancient divine tree, so vast it defied imagination. Its mighty branches and leaves cradled the stars, nourishing them with its supreme divine power and boundless vitality. Dense forests overflowing with abundant life energy flourished on the surface of each star.

Deep blue celestial bodies covered in vast oceans, winding rivers, and meandering streams stretched across the Water Domain. Misty veils of water drifted along their outer layers, radiating the energy of boundless nourishment.

In the Earth Domain, some celestial bodies took the form of solid planetary spheres, while others existed as floating continents, suspended within space.

Pang Jian had refined these masses into existence through his divine power and comprehension, having observed the celestial bodies in the starry skies and the continents of both the Abyss and the Shadow Abyss.

The Chaos Firmament was the embodiment of his previous enlightenments and newfound understanding.

As the Chaos Firmament took form, it was infused with the mighty force of the barrier, bolstering it with an overwhelming surge of foreign energy.

Pang Jian's Chaos Firmament had become the "sky" of the Abyss itself!

Empowered by the barrier, the "sky" crashed into the nine lightning vortexes, rampaging through them without restraint!

The edges of the Chaos Firmament clashed against the worlds within the lightning vortexes in a collision of Heavenly Daos.

Pang Jian's divine power surged forth, hundreds of strands grappling violently against the lightning veins woven throughout the worlds of the lightning vortexes.

His comprehended Heavenly Daos, divine power, blood essence, myriad energies, and array of mystical techniques converged into radiant sword lights.

Each sword light embodied one or more of his energies. They collided with the Dao of Lightning within the lightning vortexes in a cataclysmic struggle.

This was a battle unlike any Pang Jian had ever fought before.

He felt as though he had become an entire world unto himself.

𝕗𝕣𝐞𝐞𝘄𝐞𝚋𝚗𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗹.𝚌𝕠𝚖

Every aspect of his existence—his Immortal Divine Soul, divine power, will, Heavenly Daos, techniques, and even his Fortune—had transformed into weapons and tools to eradicate worlds.

A deafening thunderclap resounded as one of the lightning vortexes collapsed, sending scattered lightning bolts surging wildly in every direction.

Even after his Immortal Divine Soul became the Chaos Firmament, he continued to adapt and grow stronger, the barrier subtly compensating for his weaknesses.

The mighty Outer Gods each have divine domains,

the Abyssal Demon said.

When divine beings wage war, their divine domains inevitably clash. I never expected that you two had the power to wield domains within the Abyss.

To think your Immortal Divine Soul can directly manifest as a divine domain...

The Abyssal Demon clicked his tongue in astonishment.

His six demonic realms were the divine domain he was still in the process of painstakingly constructing. Unfortunately, they were still in their developmental stages and had yet to reach the power he had envisioned.

The Abyssal Demon was a Demon God, and the divine domain he forged would naturally be one of darkness and corruption.

Thus, even if he ascended as a mid-ranking Demon God, he would still have no absolute certainty of victory against the ancient Thunder Dragon.

In contrast, Pang Jian's divine domain was all-encompassing, embodying the essence of the starry skies and the fabric of creation itself. It was deeply entrenched in the foundation of the Heavenly Daos.

With the barrier echoing in resonance, Pang Jian could stand on equal footing against Long Xiao's lightning vortexes.

The Abyssal Demon continued to marvel as another lightning vortex collapsed under Pang Jian's Chaos Firmament, dispersing into streaks of lightning.

"Could it be that even Long Xiao isn't his match?"

"Has Pang Jian already reached such a terrifying level?"

The sight of the Chaos Firmament, stretching across the sky like a celestial expanse beyond the Abyss, left both Lu Qinghe and Zhou Yi deeply shaken.

Neither could comprehend Pang Jian's way of battle.

A resounding roar suddenly erupted from within the well-shaped domain of sword light.

Inside, a massive azure dragon coiled around an inverted nine-level pagoda!

Long Xiao's massive body was wrapped around the Sword Pavilion!

Gloating laughter echoed from within the domain of sword light. "Pang Jian, Li Zhaotian, even when working together, you two are still no match for me!"

Long Xiao's human form still hovered among the lightning vortexes, bearing his aura, soul fluctuations, and insights into the Dao of Lightning.

However, the instant Long Xiao's dragon form appeared in the well-shaped domain, this once-real human form turned illusory.

"It's the Mirage Dragon Pearl! Long Xiao used it to leave behind a fake body," Lu Qinghe realized. "The real Long Xiao approached the Sword Pavilion while Pang Jian was occupied with the lightning vortexes!

"As expected of the leader of the Fey Race!" Lu Qinghe clapped his hands in admiration.

Zhou Yi relaxed, a hint of relief in his voice as he remarked, "It seems the outcome is already decided."

Long Xiao had skillfully used the Mirage Dragon Pearl to mislead Pang Jian, forcing him to focus his attention on the lightning vortexes and the fake body while the real Long Xiao stealthily approached the Sword Pavilion.

This simple deception had allowed Long Xiao to break through Pang Jian's defense.

If Li Zhaotian failed to ascend to godhood once again, there would likely be no third attempt.

"Master!" Pang Jian yelled in anguish from deep within the Chaos Firmament, where he had no physical form.

What the hell are you screaming for?

A lazy, indifferent voice echoed through the mystical starry expanse.

It was Li Zhaotian's voice!

And it seemed only Pang Jian could hear him.

That ancient Thunder Dragon is roaring arrogantly in his true form because he hasn't actually found me.

Don't worry, the Sword Pavilion isn't something he can easily destroy.

Fight! Keep fighting! Tear down his lightning vortexes for me!

The barrier is on your side. Do you really think you can't obliterate the nine lightning vortexes that the ancient Thunder Dragon spent tens of thousands of years refining?

Li Zhaotian egged Pang Jian on.

Although Pang Jian could hear his voice, he had no idea where Li Zhaotian was. Regardless, his master's words alone were enough to steady Pang Jian's resolve.

Rather than rushing to reform his Immortal Divine Soul, Pang Jian chose to maintain the enigmatic state of the Chaos Firmament.

The Chaos Firmament crashed into another lightning vortex, laying waste to the lightning vortexes that Long Xiao had painstakingly refined.

It did not take long for another lightning vortex to collapse, then another.

Pang Jian was slowly stripping away Long Xiao's divine power.

"Li Zhaotian! You damn fat bastard, where the hell are you hiding?!" roared the azure dragon. "You're not in the Sword Pavilion, nor within this sword light domain. Don't tell me—wait, are you inside the barrier?!"

With a violent swipe of his tail, Long Xiao shattered the well-shaped domain of sword light and took off to the First World, body still coiled around the Sword Pavilion.