Chapter 803: An Olive Branch From Sovereign Luo

Within the Lunar Divine Palace, Ying Yue and Han Yi stirred slowly. Their eyes were dazed, their minds blank, as though they had been drifting alone through a vast, silent realm of light for countless millennia, lost, unable to find the way back.

Even though they had returned, their gazes were still dull, only instinctively sweeping across their surroundings with no sign of clarity or recognition.

The oppressive light filling the palace gradually faded, but an unmoving, radiant figure shrouded in layered veils of light still hovered between the two of them.

"Ying Yue. Han Yi," Sovereign Luo gently called their names.

Upon hearing their names, they finally realized with a start that they had been imprisoned by her for who knew how long. Sovereign Luo had used their Divine Personas to peer into the Nether Abyss, yet they still remembered to nod obediently when they heard her voice. Their posture was humble and their tone submissive as they hurriedly replied, "We await your orders."

Seemingly satisfied with their response, Sovereign Luo, shrouded behind her veil of radiant light, gave a faint nod. Then she asked, "Are you willing to serve me?"

The moment those words fell, both Han Yi and Ying Yue trembled. The light in their eyes wavered, daybreak banishing the long night.

Neither Ying Yue nor Han Yi came from noble lineages. In the vast starry skies. They had always been marginal figures with no real influence or voice among the Outer Gods.

It was precisely because of this that Mou Qi had been able to easily manipulate Han Yi. Han Yi would not have been nearly so powerless if she had her own support. In that case, Mou Qi would never have dared to act so overbearingly.

Of course, Han Yi had dreamed of the favor of a powerful high-ranking God, hoping that she might finally live free from constant oppression while under their protection. Whenever she suffered an injustice, she longed for someone she could lean on, someone who could shield her. After all, even among the Outer Gods, competition was ruthless and unforgiving.

But what she had never imagined was that she would receive the favor of a Sovereign, that a Sovereign would personally extend an invitation to her.

"I..." Han Yi suddenly faltered, her voice trembling, caught between fear and disbelief.

"Sovereign Luo," Ying Yue said gently, bowing with reverence. She kept her head lowered as she spoke. "Why are we worthy of your favor?"

"There's no need for questions," Sovereign Luo replied coolly, "I will only ask one thing. Will you serve me, or not?"

Ying Yue hesitated only briefly. Seeing Han Yi still paralyzed with uncertainty, she stepped forward without hesitation. "To be chosen by you is the greatest honor we could hope for. We are willing to serve you."

She gently tugged on Han Yi's sleeve, lifting her gaze slightly to signal with her eyes.

Though countless questions and doubts churned in Han Yi's heart, in that moment, she too made her choice. With a low voice, she echoed. "We are willing to serve you."

"Good." Sovereign Luo smiled faintly, clearly pleased with their response. "Han Yi, Mou Qi will no longer trouble you. You have chosen to serve me, so you have my backing. That will remain true until the day I fall.

"Now, come. Receive my gift."

From within the layered veils of light, two beams of crystalline light shot forth, one entering Ying Yue's sea of consciousness, the other piercing into Han Yi's. Both beams sank directly into their Divine Personas.

Within Ying Yue's Divine Persona, a torrent of intricate truth related to lunar radiance suddenly emerged, along with many profound insights into the many aspects of the moon, including the refinement and sublimation of lunar radiance itself.

In Han Yi's Divine Persona, the insights into the Dao of Cold mastered by Sovereign Luo instantly transformed into Dao Seals, etched deep into her Divine Persona.

Ying Yue's lunar divine techniques and Han Yi's comprehension of the Dao of Cold had both made tremendous strides through the two beams of light.

"I promise you this," Luo Shen said, "Both of you will become high-ranking Gods.

"Now, take your time. Fully absorb the divine powers I've bestowed."

With those final words, Sovereign Luo vanished, taking the layers of radiant light that had cloaked her figure with her. The palace fell silent once more.

Overwhelmed by the weight of the olive branch that had come out of nowhere, Han Yi and Ying Yue were dazed for a moment before they temporarily set aside their doubts and immersed themself in their unexpected fortune.

***

Within the bizarre mist, the Rank Twelve Aberrant Spirit, the Rock Devourer, scurried about in hiding, not daring to linger for even a moment.

It was fleeing from Sovereign Luo, terrified that she might truly descend into the bizarre mist to settle their score from what had happened in the Abyss. Along the way, it saw legions of Great Feys and Fey Kings marching toward the Nether Abyss.

It grew anxious for the Nether Abyss's fate, fearing that Yuan Yi and the various World Gods and Outer Gods born in the bizarre mist might successfully breach the Nether Abyss. On the other hand, the Rock Devourer dared not approach the Nether Abyss, worried that Outer Gods loyal to Sovereign Luo might be patrolling that region and expose its whereabouts.

On this particular day, several Gods of the Ghost Race quietly entered the Rock Devourer's field of awareness. Their faces were weary and dispirited, grumbling as they moved, discussing recent events both inside and outside the Nether Abyss. They spoke with obvious awe and disbelief when talking about Pang Jian's terrifying rise.

Hidden nearby, the Rock Devourer listened in for a while and felt as though they were deliberately spreading nonsense.

"That brat came back to life inside the Nether Abyss and broke through to the Transcendent God Realm? He even fought Yuan Yi head-on inside the Nether Abyss and forced him out? After leaving the Nether Abyss, he even defeated Yuan Yi within the bizarre mist?"

"This..." The shrunken Rock Devourer sat atop a heart-shaped fragmented land, looking utterly stunned. Its mind had gone blank.

"That can't be true! Back in the bizarre mist, even I had to avoid that ancient ape at all costs. How could Pang Jian possibly defeat him?"

After a moment of brooding, the Rock Devourer made up its mind. It would go to the Nether Abyss and see the truth with its own eyes.

***

In the bizarre mist beyond the Abyss, a God wearing a bronze mask navigated a sleek metallic skiff like a flash of lightning as he drew ever closer to the edge of the Abyss.

Along the way, a few Outer Gods loyal to He Motian and Zi Mo, as well as powerhouses from the Demon and Ghost races, took notice of the passing vessel and the figure standing atop it.

Unaware of the Bronze-Masked God's true identity, some among these foreign races even took the initiative to offer respectful greetings from afar. This allowed the Bronze-Masked God to travel without meeting any resistance along the way.

One day, the Bronze-Masked God's skiff came to an abrupt halt.

"Who might you be, honored one?" The Bronze-Masked God instantly tensed up. He narrowed his eyes at the figure blocking his path and asked coldly, "Are you one of the True Gods who came out of the Abyss?"

Standing before him was a sweet-looking young girl. She stood graceful and poised and a harmless smile played at the corners of her lips. There was no overwhelming bloodline aura emanating from her. She was unmistakably human. And yet, her presence was anything but ordinary. To the Bronze-Masked God, she felt strange and unfathomable, stirring a deep unease within him.

"Aren't you also a True God of the human race?" the girl asked with a gentle smile.

The Bronze-Masked God blanched. His true identity was only known to a few, and he always hid his true identity beneath a special robe and a bronze mask. Unable to conceal his alarm, he rapidly asked, "Who are you? What sect are you from? Who is your master?"

"My name is Pang Lin. I come from the Pure Land Sect in the First World, and I'm a disciple of Su Wanrou." The girl smiled sweetly and cheerfully added, "Pang Jian is my biological brother. Our father is Pang Qi."

"What?!" The Bronze-Masked God let out a strangled cry of disbelief.

Sensing a great upheaval, he had rushed to the Abyss, afraid for the fate of Pang Jian and the human race. He had not expected to encounter Pang Jian's younger sister before even entering the Abyss.