Chapter 763: Dong Tianze's Act of Madness

The black turtle's choice cast a shadow over Pang Jian's heart. He could not help but recall the Rock Devourer's words.

According to the Rock Devourer, the black turtle, the World Tree, the Nether Abyss Spirit Bees, and the Black Dragon King could only return from death thanks to the blood of the Celestial Phoenix.

The Celestial Phoenix's blood contained the miraculous power of nirvanic rebirth, with the Celestial Phoenix itself being born from the blood essence of the fallen Black Empyrean Phoenix.

In other words, the Celestial Phoenix was the Black Empyrean Phoenix.

The Sovereign of the Fey Race required the aid of many external forces on its path of rebirth.

The Black Dragon King was its sharpest fang, the World Tree could ignite its vitality, the Nether Abyss Spirit Bee could stir its soul, and the black turtle could shatter the seven continents in the Fifth World that suppressed it.

Of these four beings, only the World Tree was not of the Fey Race. These juniors would only become easier to control if they were to merge with the Sovereign's essence.

The Black Dragon King was undeniable proof of that.

Xiao Hei experienced an extreme temperament after ascending to godhood through Corruption and severed his connection with Pang Jian. Now, it was the black turtle's turn.

She's started her counterattack.

The ever-present murky energy in the lower worlds was filled with traces of the Black Empyrean Phoenix's presence.

Though the core of the Black Empyrean Phoenix's power was darkness, it was not limited to darkness alone. The murky energy that rose from the Sixth World to saturate the Fifth, Fourth, and Third Worlds also originated from it.

One could even say that the Seventh, Sixth, Fifth, Fourth, and Third Worlds had all become the domains of the Black Empyrean Phoenix.

The core of the Black Empyrean Phoenix's divine power, darkness, filled the Seventh World.

The Sixth World was also rooted in darkness, mixed with murky energy.

Darkness also originally dominated the Fifth World, but the removal of Sovereign Demonheaven's cloak and the spread of Luo Hongyan's aura of death had effectively minimized that influence.

Though murky energy in the Third and Fourth Worlds was comparatively thinner, it still remained the dominant force.

Looking at it this way, the Black Empyrean Phoenix held influence over a vast portion of the Abyss.

Pang Jian gradually came to grasp the formidable nature of the Sovereign of the Fey Race.

Perhaps Zhu Ji was right. There's no guarantee that the Sovereign of the Fey Race will lose the battle against Luo Hongyan.

Reaching out to Pang Ling and the Bee Sovereign, he cautioned,

Both of you, be careful. If you encounter a force too strong to resist, or if a foreign will tries to corrupt you, you can call for my help. As long as I receive the signal, I'll immediately come to your aid.

Remember. Danger may be approaching. Be on your guard.

Pang Jian had not sensed a thing when the black turtle fell under the influence of the Black Empyrean Phoenix. He could not bear the thought of the Bee Sovereign or Pang Ling meeting the same fate of having their minds one day warped by the Black Empyrean Phoenix, cutting off all connection with him and straying down an unknown path.

Father, those Outer Gods don't have the power to corrupt me right now!

Pang Ling replied with a cheerful laugh. Her spirit form hovered at the top of the World Tree, her fair cheeks glimmering with a jade-like luster.

Do you still remember that so-called Forest God? Even if he were to descend into the Abyss in person, I'm confident I could kill him and extract every last mystery from his body.

Even a high-ranking God, if their true body can't enter the Abyss, can hardly influence me through divine consciousness alone.

Father, there's no need to worry about me.

After giving rise to a Rank Ten Wood Race powerhouse, Mu Yuan, more and more members of the Wood Race had experienced breakthroughs in their bloodlines.

With the birth of many elite warriors, their powerful soul fluctuations were feeding back into her, allowing her intellect and insight to grow rapidly.

She was already a rare and extraordinary Aberrant Spirit, reborn from an even stronger one.

Lately, she felt that within the Abyss, she could even break through to the Rank Eleven before long.

Rank Eleven was an immense threshold and a stage of extraordinary transformation for any Aberrant Spirit. Pang Ling knew that it was not out of reach for her.

I'm not afraid either,

the Bee Sovereign responded.

Aside from the Sovereigns, no high-ranking God in the starry skies can easily influence me. Even if they do descend with their divine consciousness, it'll only become food for my soul. I'll—

What?!

the Bee Sovereign let out a startled cry in Absolute Heaven.

Something's wrong!

Ever since his bloodline had reached Rank Nine, all the golden bees he had scattered across the Abyss were able to transmit any gathered intelligence to him in real time.

Earlier, when Dong Tianze and Wu Yuan left Absolute Heaven, he had secretly sent two bees to tail them from the shadows.

On Wu Yuan's end, there had been nothing unusual. He had remained focused on cultivation.

Dong Tianze, however, had noticed the bees tailing him after leaving the Dark Abyss Continent. Evading their surveillance, he disappeared after shaking them off.

None of the Bee Sovereign's bees scattered across the Abyss had caught any trace of Dong Tianze since. That is, until now, in the Boundless Sky Divine Kingdom on the Eastern Land of the First World.

A cluster of Fortune had returned to the barrier!

True God Jiang Fan had fallen!

A golden bee caught sight of Dong Tianze fleeing from a host of Immortal Realm powerhouses.

Dense bloody mist surrounded the grievously wounded as he fled. He coughed violently, spraying mouthfuls of fresh blood that only deepened the crimson hue of the mist swirling around him.

"Dong Tianze has fallen to the demonic path! He went mad and murdered Ancestor Jiang Fan!"

"Ancestor Jiang Fan was the first emperor of our Boundless Sky Divine Kingdom. He established our divine kingdom! This lunatic Dong Tianze assassinated him at a time when our human race needs unity most!"

"How could someone so depraved have ever become a True God?"

The Immortal Realm powerhouses from the Boundless Sky Divine Kingdom shouted in fury as they pursued him. Word of what had happened was spread through every available means, ensuring that all major sects and factions learned the truth.

***

On the lowest level of the Sword Pavilion, a fat elder, a thin elder, and a sword soul named Lady Feng were in a fierce argument.

"What?! Dong Tianze killed Jiang Fan? How is that even possible?"

"How did he even manage it?"

"Wait, that can't be right. Didn't Fatty Li merge with the barrier? Can't he sense the movements of every True God through it? How could he be unaware of Jiang Fan's death or Dong Tianze's assassination?"

"I told you we never should've given him the Bloodthirsty Sword!" the thin elder shouted angrily.

"Li Zhaotian!" the fat elder called out in a rage.

As if hearing his cry, Li Zhaotian's voice suddenly echoed through the Sword Pavilion, transmitted from a fragmented land in the First World where Yin Ji was located.

"I truly had no idea about Dong Tianze assassinating Jiang Fan. I only just found out myself." Li Zhaotian sighed. "This wouldn't be such a big deal if Jiang Fan had died on his own, or even if a powerful foreign race had killed him. But for Dong Tianze to have killed him...Zhu Ji won't let this go easily.

"Zhu Ji has already surpassed the True God Realm and is the strongest pillar behind the Boundless Sky Divine Kingdom. Given the nature of Jiang Fan's death, he'll likely be compelled to act."

***

At the Stargazing Platform, Li Wang shot to his feet in a rage.

"Jiang Fan's dead?

"That bastard Dong Tianze. How could he do something like this?

"The battle between the two Sovereigns in the Seventh World is still ongoing. How could he choose to sabotage our unity at a time like this? He deserves to die a thousand deaths!"

***

Pang Jian hovered within the thick layer of leaden clouds above the Fey Spirit Continent, concealing his presence.

More golden bees were already rushing toward Dong Tianze under his and the Bee Sovereign's command.

On the Zhu Clan's fragmented land located in the outer reaches of the Eastern Land, a small mountain collapsed with a sweep of Zhu Ji's arm as he shot into the sky.

Clusters of fragmented lands flashed past as he sped across the region, quickly closing in on the main continent of the Eastern Land.

A golden bee suddenly blocked his path, bringing Zhu Ji to a halt.

"Senior Zhu, I don't care what bond you shared with Jiang Fan or how deep your ties run with the Boundless Sky Divine Kingdom," said the golden bee in Pang Jian's voice. "Dong Tianze has to live."

𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

"For that brat Dong Tianze to kill Jiang Fan in cold blood means he's already lost himself." Zhu Ji frowned. "Pang Jian, are you really going to jeopardize our internal unity for the sake of a madman?"

He was well aware of Pang Jian's strength and status as the World God of the Abyss.

That was why he took the time to emphasize the despicable nature of Dong Tianze's actions, making it clear that such behavior could not be tolerated. Had it been anyone else, Zhu Ji would not have bothered explaining at all.

"I know. What he did is inexcusable."

Pang Jian's agreement brought some relief to Zhu Ji. It at least showed that Pang Jian understood the gravity of the situation.

"I approved of much of what that boy did before he went mad. It's just that Bloodthirsty Sword..." Zhu Ji sighed. "Its wielders inevitably fall to the demonic path. I thought he would be the exception, but I was wrong."

"Even so, I still want him alive."

Zhu Ji's expression darkened. "You're still going to protect him? Even if he's fallen into depravity, lost all sense of self, and starts killing innocents?"

Pang Jian was silent for a few seconds.

"Yes."

"Pang Jian, do you truly think no one in the Abyss can stand against you?!"

"It's not what I think. It's simply the truth," Pang Jian said calmly but firmly. "Senior Zhu, forgive my arrogance, but even if you've broken past the limits of the True God Realm, you're still not my match, nor is anyone else.

"So, if I say Dong Tianze will live, nobody will be allowed to kill him."