Chapter 642: The Location of Gui Mu and the Others

Every time Pang Jian used the Gate of the Abyss to teleport to a different Heaven Ascension Tribulation Pillar, an illusory projection of the corresponding pillar would manifest in the hazy domain.

Gui Mu's projection would then speed toward that Heaven Ascension Tribulation Pillar.

However, her speed slowed with each exertion of divine power. The time Pang Jian spent at each pillar also decreased.

The result was that Gui Mu's projection failed to reach the projections of the Heaven Ascension Tribulation Pillars even once.

Previously, only one Heaven Ascension Tribulation Pillar manifested at a time, and it would vanish when Pang Jian departed.

Unexpectedly, all seven suddenly appeared at once!

Seven illusory Heaven Ascension Tribulation Pillars stood tall within the hazy domain like beacons of light.

Gui Mu, Zhu Ji, and Li Wang instinctively moved toward the nearest Heaven Ascension Tribulation Pillar in their Dharma Idols, drawn like drowning souls to a floating log in the vast ocean.

The three trapped True Gods had always remained in the lower depths of this enigmatic domain, with the Heaven Ascension Tribulation Pillars manifesting far beyond their reach each time one appeared.

This time was no different.

The weary eyes of the spectating True Gods flickered with hope as they watched the center of the six artifacts.

For the first time, it seemed as though Gui Mu and the others would finally escape that accursed place.

Unlike before, the seven projections of the Heaven Ascension Tribulation Pillars did not vanish. They remained, standing firm in the strange domain.

Of the three, Gui Mu's projection was the first to reach the base of one of the Heaven Ascension Tribulation Pillars. Her Dharma Idol, shrouded in divine radiance, surged upward with all her might.

It would not take her long to reach the top of the Heaven Ascension Tribulation Pillar.

Suddenly, a hazy gray radiance appeared!

The gray radiance flickered into existence, and Gui Mu's projection collided headfirst into it. This hazy radiance then disappeared immediately after.

Her ascension was halted.

Her Dharma Idol trembled violently, scattering fragments of light as disbelief flashed across her face. Unwilling to accept failure, she shot upward once more.

The gray radiance reappeared!

Determined to break free, Gui Mu's Dharma Idol surged upward, striving to reach the top of the Heaven Ascension Tribulation Pillar. Despite her best efforts, she failed to break through the hazy gray radiance and was repeatedly forced downward.

The gathered True Gods fell into a heavy silence.

Before long, Zhu Ji and Li Wang's projections reached the bases of two other Heaven Ascension Tribulation Pillars. Like Gui Mu, they charged upward with all their might, only for that same hazy gray radiance to appear!

Li Wang and Zhu Ji met the same fate as Gui Mu. They, too, were blocked and forced back down.

"It's as if a barrier exists above them," Wanderer Tian Du said grimly. "Where exactly are they? Why is there some kind of restriction above them? And why do the projections of the Heaven Ascension Tribulation Pillars exist in that place?"

"I think I know where that Sovereign has dragged them," Su Wanrou said, her expression grave.

Everyone turned their attention to her.

Taking a deep breath to steady herself, Su Wanrou asked, "Where are the real Heaven Ascension Tribulation Pillars located?"

"The Fifth World," Jiang Fan said.

Su Wanrou gave a slight nod. "If these projections of the Heaven Ascension Tribulation Pillars reflect those in the Fifth World, where do you think Li Wang and the others are trapped?"

Her question sent a chill running down the spines of the gathered True Gods.

Dong Shangqing licked his lips, his voice strained. "The endless darkness beneath the Fifth World?"

Wanderer Tian Du was visibly shaken. "The legendary Sixth World?"

"If the Sixth World truly exists, then that's where the three of them are," Su Wanrou said, a creeping cold seeping into her heart. "That Sovereign named Luo Hongyan used these six artifacts from the Heaven Ascension Tribulation Pillars to forge a portal.

"She made sure we could see the predicament of Li Wang and the others as a deliberate lure to draw us in for their rescue.

"If we lose our composure and step in, hoping to pull them out, we'll end up just like them.

"No one who has entered the endless darkness beneath the Fifth World has ever returned!

"I suspect that what we see and what they see is vastly different. The thing that they've been struggling so desperately to resist is likely the corruption of concentrated murky energy!

"Dense murky energy surges up from the darkness beneath the Fifth World into the upper worlds at specific intervals.

"For human cultivators, the higher their cultivation realms, the greater the suppression they suffer from murky energy. Those ascended to godhood using Fortune face even stronger constraints.

"I can hardly imagine the level of suppression that Zhu Ji, Li Wang, and Gui Mu are enduring beneath the Fifth World.

"It's no wonder they've never dispelled their Dharma Idols. It also explains why they look so exhausted."

The gathered True Gods were left in shock at Su Wanrou's words.

Even back when the Fey Race ruled the Abyss, rumors about the endless darkness beneath the Fifth World had persisted.

Without exception, no foreign race, human race, or Fey Race had ever returned after stepping into the darkness.

The Sovereign had dragged Gui Mu and the others into that darkness and deliberately left their projections for the others to witness.

If more of them had stepped in, they would have ended up stuck in the darkness below the Fifth World as well.

In that situation, few True Gods would remain behind to face the foreign races in the upcoming war. The balance of power in the Abyss would be overturned, and the human race's dominion over the Abyss would inevitably crumble.

Even the loss of Li Wang, Gui Mu, and Zhu Ji did not bode well for the human race. It was hard to say if they even stood a chance of victory when they were three True Gods down.

"What do you all think?" Li Zhaotian asked grimly.

Liu Fu responded immediately, "We have to find a way to pull them out."

"How do we even save them?" Li Yuanli asked.

Liu Fu gave it some serious thought, then said, "Pang Jian has been moving across the seven continents of the Fifth World. His presence caused the projection of the Heaven Ascension Tribulation Pillars to manifest, which provided Gui Mu and the others with coordinates.

"Now, all seven pillars have appeared at once. This is likely connected to Pang Jian as well.

"We need someone to descend into the Fifth World, find Pang Jian on the First Continent, and inform him of what has happened.

"Then, we'll have to ask him if there's any way to pull Zhu Ji and the others out.

"That's the only plan I can think of."

Liu Fu observed the others deep in contemplation for a moment.

"It can't be True Gods like us," he added. "We carry Fortune, which makes it nearly impossible to evade the detection of the foreign race powerhouses, especially when they have a Fire God among them.

"If we openly descend, it'll trigger an early war against the foreign races. Worse still, we'll be forced to fight in their territory, where they hold the advantage.

"Our chances of victory are already slim without Zhu Ji, Li Wang, and Gui Mu here. Fighting in an environment dense with murky energy only reduces those chances further."

Liu Fu let out a heavy sigh.

"Even I can't do anything in a world shrouded in murky energy," Li Zhaotian said. "Harmonizing with the barrier won't help me in that situation.

"We need someone capable of adapting to the conditions in the Fifth World to descend and find Pang Jian," Liu Fu reiterated, gaze pointedly locked onto Li Yuanli.

Li Yuanli froze as he realized what was being implied.

After a brief silence, he sighed and acquiesced, "I'll send my daughter down."

The Li Family had artifacts capable of concealing one's aura, as well as artifacts that could allow Li Yuqing to move effortlessly through the darkness.

Li Yuqing had already explored the Fifth World in the past using those artifacts.

She was strong, and by fortunate coincidence, had yet to ascend to the True God Realm, meaning she did not carry any Fortune within her. This meant the murky energy of the Fifth World would not affect her as greatly.

Moreover, she was well-acquainted with Pang Jian.

After much deliberation, Liu Fu could think of no one more suited to infiltrate the Fifth World and find Pang Jian than her.