Chapter 724: The Deterring Force of a Sovereign

In the bizarre mist outside the Nether Abyss, the colossal body of the Rock Devourer let out a harsh, grating sound as its "joints" twisted.

A sacred brilliance, imbued with coldness and death, shot from the spatial rift in the heart-shaped fragmented land.

The multicolored stones filling the fragmented land shattered from the overwhelming divine power, and the dull gleam blanketing the heart-shaped fragmented land was torn apart.

With the veil gone, the Outer Gods residing on the fragmented lands could finally see the spatial rift at the center of the heart-shaped fragmented land, as well as the boundless divine power coming through it.

The intensity of the radiance and the visible strands of Heavenly Dao woven gave away the identity of the caster.

"The aura of a Sovereign!"

"It's Sovereign Luo!"

"She-she..."

Sovereign Luo was attacking the Rock Devourer from afar.

The Rock Devourer could only hold its own because her true body was not present, and her divine power was not at its peak.

However, a Sovereign was still a Sovereign. Once her attention fell on this cluster of fragmented lands, it could no longer be considered a haven.

A growing fear and helplessness spread among the Outer Gods. They would have to find a new place, lest they be caught in the clash between Sovereign Luo and the Rock Devourer.

"Sovereign Luo, I do not fear you," the Rock Devourer rumbled, voice reverberating throughout all the fragmented lands that made up its body and even through the spatial rift to reach the Fifth World of the Abyss. "Suppressing those seven pillars is the same as suppressing my body! I'm only trying to reclaim what belongs to me. Is there a problem with that?"

"Your body?" Luo Hongyan's tone was distant and detached. "The only part of the pillars that ever belonged to you were the Heaven Ascension Divine Stones."

The Rock Devourer snorted. "They're called Heaven Ascension Tribulation Pillars, aren't they? Their core materials are still the Heaven Ascension Divine Stones. Sovereign Luo, your feud with that one is none of my concern, but I will take back what's mine!"

"Do you think you have a say in this?" Luo Hongyan's ethereal figure descended from where she hovered above Eight Trigrams City. "Whatever I set my foot on belongs to me.

"I'll come for you next. I'll tear you apart piece by piece, and everything of value will be added to my collection," she promised, voice filling the Outer Gods with dread.

With that, her figure faded into the city below.

Streams of light and colorful clouds wrapped around the Outer Gods' bodies as they fled the cluster of fragmented lands.

"Rock Devourer, until we meet again!"

"My lord, may fate bring us together once more!"

"Thank you for your shelter. I will not forget your kindness, but this is where we part ways!"

Sovereign Luo was infamous across the starry skies for her ruthlessness. Her methods struck fear into the Outer Gods. Few dared remain in the Rock Devourer's territory after hearing her threat.

Meanwhile, with Luo Hongyan having destroyed the stones on the heart-shaped fragmented land, Pang Jian's Immortal Divine Soul found himself freed. He sealed the spatial rift shut the instant his connection with his physical body was restored.

The humanoid Rock Devourer rotated its stone-carved neck, the two orb-like eyes in its head now dim.

"I didn't expect her vessel in the Abyss to be so powerful." There was no shame or regret in its voice over its failed scheme. Instead, it continued matter-of-factly, "You and your fellow True Gods should abandon any foolish thoughts of interfering in a clash between Sovereigns. Heed my advice. Don't descend into the Seventh World. Find a safe place and stay out of this. Pang Jian, you—"

Pang Jian's Immortal Divine Soul shot away without so much as a word.

His heart burned with anger, but he had nowhere to vent it. All he could do was leave.

This Rank Twelve Aberrant Spirit had treated him kindly out of regard for his mother and had indeed imparted valuable knowledge to him, but it also had ulterior motives!

It exploited his abilities as the World God of the Abyss, tricking him into opening a spatial rift. One of the Heaven Ascension Tribulation Pillars would have been pried away if not for Luo Hongyan's intervention.

Pang Jian even suspected that the Rock Devourer's initial goodwill was designed to lower his guard.

His trust had been broken, and resentment had taken root in his heart, but he was not yet strong enough to fight it. There was no point in staying any longer.

The Rock Devourer did not attempt to pursue or stop Pang Jian.

"Pang Jian, I won't be staying here either. We'll meet again, if fate allows." It glanced down at Pang Jian with its towering, upright body. "Be wary of Long Di. I deceived you and tried to use you to accomplish certain things, but at least you know I won't kill you. Long Di isn't like me. He has real reasons to want you dead.

"I wish you a safe journey."

The Rock Devourer watched as the envoy of the Nether Abyss led Pang Jian away, figures fading into the distance.

After staring off into the distance for a long time, the Rock Devourer heaved a regretful sigh.

"Sovereign Luo..."

Its colossal body stirred, whistling as it moved through the bizarre mist.

Though it previously claimed to be unafraid, its actions said otherwise. The few remaining Outer Gods still lingering on the fragmented lands could see just how deeply it feared Sovereign Luo from its hasty relocation.

***

Pang Jian's physical body in the Fifth World let out a sigh of relief. "I was too reckless. I opened a spatial rift for it and nearly allowed it to lay hands on the Heaven Ascension Tribulation Pillars."

The seven continents could have shattered if the Rock Devourer had used its connection to the Heaven Ascension Divine Stones to pry loose the pillars.

The Heaven Ascension Tribulation Pillars ensured the structural integrity of the continents. Without them, the seven continents would be dangerously fragile.

If the pillars and continents were to disappear, the remains of the Black Empyrean Phoenix in the Seventh World would become completely unbound, and its influence over the Abyss would grow even more terrifying than it already was.

The Rock Devourer's greed for the Heaven Ascension Tribulation Pillars undoubtedly worked in favor of the Black Empyrean Phoenix. Thus, it was only natural that Luo Hongyan would stop it from having its way.

Pang Jian instinctively rejected the very thought of the Black Empyrean Phoenix after realizing its influence over his actions over the years.

"It's truly astonishing," Li Zhaotian said abruptly. "The Rock Devourer wasn't exaggerating. Those two beams of light could have killed us all."

The brief clash above the Fifth Continent was burned into Li Zhaotian's mind, and he was already working to comprehend the many Heavenly Daos involved. Even the recollection of the fight was enough to leave him in awe.

At that moment, he realized just how small he truly was.

Neither the Rock Devourer nor Luo Hongyan had unleashed their full strength due to the limitations of their environments, but even that brief exchange ignited a strong ambition and determination within him.

The rotund True God gazed longingly at the greenish-black sky above. "I suddenly feel the urge to leave too. I want to venture into the starry skies and pursue my next breakthrough."

"Zhu Ji!" Li Wang called out, his voice tinged with surprise as he peered at the fragmented land below.

Pang Jian and Li Zhaotian looked down to see that Zhu Ji had not moved during the chaos, remaining seated on the fragmented land.

Zhu Ji was actively drawing in the energies that saturated the fragmented land.

The murky energy of the Fifth World and Luo Hongyan's lingering aura of death poured into his body.

Before, Zhu Ji had only borrowed these energies for combat, but now, he appeared to be making them his own!

"Zhu Ji could become the first among us in the Abyss to break through the limits of the True God Realm," Li Zhaotian said admiringly.

𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

"Elder Zhu truly is a once-in-a-generation talent," Yin Ji added as she caught up from behind.

Su Wanrou's bright eyes flickered with curiosity as she glanced toward the Fifth Continent, then at the deepening darkness below. "Have the fundamental laws of the Abyss changed? Is it no longer limiting us?"

Pang Jian pondered briefly, then pointed at himself. "I've already forged my Divine Persona. Beyond the Abyss, I would be recognized as a mid-ranking God.

"Long Xiao's soul also underwent a transformation while under the combined pressure of Dong Tianze and Wu Yuan.

"Senior Su, the laws of the Abyss are changing. It's not just Elder Zhu. All of you can attempt to reach higher realms while within the Abyss."

Li Wang, Jiang Fan, Gui Mu, and the others were visibly excited, eager eyes falling on Zhu Ji, as if hoping to glimpse the path to a new future.

Li Zhaotian's expression shifted as he thought of something.

"What about your Immortal Divine Soul?" He frowned. "You ruined the Rock Devourer's plans. Won't it hold a grudge against you?"

Pang Jian shook his head. "I'm fine. The Rock Devourer advised us not to get involved in the clash between the two Sovereigns. It said we don't have the strength or the qualifications to do so."

Yin Ji and Su Wanrou wore faintly bitter expressions upon hearing this, but nodded in quiet agreement.

The overwhelming divine power and the interwoven collision of Heavenly Daos during the brief clash between the Rock Devourer and Luo Hongyan had left a lasting impression on them all.

"Let's see if Zhu Ji can break through," Li Zhaotian said softly.