Chapter 652: Restoration of Vitality

The darkness swept forward, engulfing everything in its path. Not even a single ember in Qi Xu's Fire World remained to illuminate the void.

This darkness was eerily similar to the absolute darkness beneath the Fifth World, exuding an aura of cold desolation and nothingness. It was as if anything swallowed by the darkness would be silenced for eternity.

The Giant Abyssal Serpent, now ascended as a Rank Ten Fey God Black Dragon King, did not respond to Pang Jian's command with words.

However, no trace of Qi Xu's aura leaked from the darkness.

The Fey God Black Dragon King held a clear advantage over Qi Xu. Not only was she already wounded, but Fey Gods were often far stronger than ordinary Rank Ten foreign race powerhouses.

Furthermore, the Black Dragon King was different from other Fey Gods—he was a reborn ancient Fey God. He had once been a powerful Black Dragon living in the Fifth World of the Abyss, but had perished in a conflict with Long Xiao.

This was why the Black Dragon King had ascended far faster than the Rock Bear. After all, he had walked this path before.

As the Giant Abyssal Serpent's bloodline merged with Corruption, the memories of his past life resurfaced, allowing him to complete in moments what would normally take other Fey Gods months to achieve.

He was also rapidly regaining his previous strength after reclaiming his buried memories.

Handling Qi Xu was a trivial task with his mastery of the darkness and his ferocious draconic body.

Pang Jian had no doubt that Qi Xu would not escape, but the Black Dragon King's silence still stirred a hint of unease in his heart.

Becoming a Fey God meant that the Black Dragon King would rapidly reclaim all his past memories. He was likely still in the process of reintegration at this time.

A flurry of questions filled Pang Jian's mind.

Why was he imprisoned in Blackwater Pond in the form of a Giant Abyssal Serpent?

Was he also reborn through the Gate of the Abyss? What did my father do to him?

What is the true relationship between my father and the Black Dragon King?

Pang Jian had no answer to these questions.

After ascending and regaining his memories, the Fey God is no longer just the Giant Abyssal Serpent. He's also the Black Dragon King of the past. What will he ultimately choose to become?

As Pang Jian pondered, the girl beside him suddenly opened her eyes.

The abundant life energy flowing into Li Yuqing's body washed away the exhaustion in her eyes and replaced it with a renewed brilliance.

"Pang Jian..." she mumbled as she lowered her gaze to her still-skeletal arm.

Pang Jian's broad hand firmly grasped her own. She could feel the warmth emanating from him.

"Where did you draw this life energy from?" she asked softly. "It's so pure and boundless. The backlash from failing to kill my opponent in a single strike with my Sword of Fate is terrifying.

"The Li Family of the Divine Treasure Sect is wealthy beyond measure and has many life-extending elixirs, yet not a single one holds a fraction of the power of the life energy you're channeling into me."

She narrowed her eyes as she examined herself closely.

Threads of backlashing sword intent still lurked within her body, eroding her vitality and spreading through her limbs and bones.

She had never paid much attention to tempering her physique. With her divine soul and willpower both in disarray, the sword intent that was supposed to cut down her enemy was instead devouring her own vitality.

Without Pang Jian's infusion of life energy, Qi Xu would not even need to finish her off. Li Yuqing would have died on her own.

Life energy streamed endlessly into her body. As her divine soul and willpower slowly recovered, she could finally spare some attention to tend to her injuries.

"The World Eater Vine you once encountered has grown a lot." Pang Jian's lips curled into a relaxed smile. "She's known as one of the great sources of corruption in the Fifth World, but beyond this world, she holds another name: the World Tree.

"She's since become a Rank Ten Aberrant Spirit. Her life energy is what's keeping you alive. You once spared her life. She is repaying that favor."

Li Yuqing's face was filled with surprise.

She recalled how the green sapling once encountered in Misty Swamp years ago had tremblingly scratched words into the ground with its branches.

I am Pang Jian's tree!

"A Rank Ten Aberrant Spirit—is it akin to a divine being?" Li Yuqing asked curiously.

Pang Jian nodded with a smile before gesturing toward the surging darkness. "There's a Rank Ten Black Dragon King as well. It was nurtured alongside that little sapling.

"The little sapling became a Rank Ten Aberrant Spirit, akin to an Outer God, and the Black Dragon has since ascended as a Rank Ten Fey God."

Li Yuqing marveled at the revelation.

"I never expected your true Heavenly Dao to be tied to fate," Pang Jian added. "That strike of yours nearly killed a Rank Ten powerhouse of the Flame Race. It's truly impressive."

Pang Jian's praise was sincere. The human race of the Abyss would not be so easily exterminated with rising talents like Li Yuqing on their side.

Their enemies had a Sovereign, a high-ranking Outer God, and gifted Rank Ten powerhouses on their side, but that did not mean there was no hope for the human race.

"I'm not there yet. Unleashing that technique is too exhausting right now. It'll be easier once I ascend to godhood," Li Yuqing said modestly.

As they conversed, the life energy within her body had gradually suppressed the sword intent's backlash, and the exposed bones of her mangled arm had started the slow process of regeneration.

"Right, I almost forgot why I came here," Li Yuqing said hurriedly. "That Sovereign named Luo Hongyan has trapped True Gods Zhu Ji, Gui Mu, and Li Wang In the outer reaches of the Eastern Land of the First World..."

She quickly delivered the message her father had entrusted to her.

Pang Jian was taken aback.

He had not expected the True Gods above to be watching his every move while he traversed the continents of the Fifth World, wildly absorbing murky energy as he went.

Even more shocking was the news that Zhu Ji, Gui Mu, and Li Wang were imprisoned in the darkness beneath the Fifth World.

"Senior Li and the other True Gods want you to see if you can find a way to rescue them.

"They said you're the World God of this era and that you share a connection with the Heaven Ascension Tribulation Pillars.

"They believe that if anyone can save them, it's you." She paused briefly, then added, "I'm only here to relay their request. Pang Jian, I don't think you should risk yourself for this."

The surging life energy flowing into her body gradually restored the radiant fairness of her complexion and the dazzling brilliance in her eyes.

The Heaven-Splitting Sword shrank a millionfold and returned to her side, where it aided in eradicating the lingering backlash. It would not be long before she fully recovered.

"No one has ever returned from the darkness beneath the Fifth World. Don't risk yourself for those three seniors unless you're absolutely certain," she advised. "Once I ascend to godhood, you, Senior Li, and I can take the place of Li Wang, Zhu Ji, and Gui Mu.

"We will likely even surpass them at their peak. The three of us can suppress the foreign races of the Fifth World and prevent that Sovereign from destroying the human race's foundation. You don't need to risk venturing into the endless darkness."

In truth, Li Yuqing was unwilling to see Pang Jian risk his life just to fulfill the True Gods' expectations.

"Once you've fully recovered, perhaps you can try looking into my future." Pang Jian chuckled. "As long as you catch the faintest glimpse of hope, I won't hesitate to step into the darkness."