Chapter 834: A Chance Encounter

A World God Pendant streaked through the bizarre mist like a bolt of lightning.

Huo Ji, the World God of the Flame Abyss, stood atop the pendant, calmly surveying his surroundings.

Golden specks of light quietly flew out from between Huo Ji's brows, flitting through the bizarre mist like sparrows before vanishing soon after.

Pang Jian, having taken over Huo Ji's body, remained vigilant. He knew the spot where his Immortal Divine Soul had lost contact was close by.

Those surrounding his Immortal Divine Soul were only high-ranking Gods like Mou Qi. With the demonic cloak and the Thunder Pool in hand, as well as his divine body still undergoing tempering, Pang Jian felt confident that he could overcome them.

Suddenly, a colossal God descended from the dense bizarre mist above.

"Huo Ji! I received your message. You said you're considering pledging yourself to Sovereign Luo?"

It was none other than Fire God Yan Lie, an old "friend" of Pang Jian!

Veins ran through his body like magma. It appeared as though Flame Spirits were being nurtured within them. A volcano erupted behind him, causing lava to rain down on his towering form, nourishing his flesh, blood, and soul.

The aura and divine power radiating from Yan Lie were several times stronger than when he was in the Abyss!

Draining all the fire and lava in the Abyss still would not have restored him to his former peak. However, with Sovereign Luo's aid, he had once again returned to the pinnacle of his strength only a short time after leaving the Abyss!

As Fire God stood in the bizarre mist, his divine domain spread outward, extending further with every breath.

Though the surrounding bizarre mist sizzled and hissed, its corrosive taint had almost no effect on him.

As a high-ranking God, he could remain deep within the bizarre mist for long periods without issue. Apart from being unable to draw strength from fiery worlds and replenish his divine power, there were few other drawbacks left to trouble him.

Pang Jian could feel the scorching heat emanating from the Fire God through Huo Ji's body.

Yan Lie...

he thought to himself.

What a coincidence

.

Suppressing his urgency to find his Immortal Divine Soul, Pang Jian reined in his aura.

Speaking through Huo Ji, he addressed Yan Lie respectfully, "Lord Yan Lie, rumors have it that the high-ranking Gods of the Spirit Race were seen near our Fire Abyss. Have you heard anything?

"My Lord, the foundational laws of the abysses are breaking down. Soon, other Gods will be able to enter the abysses. It's already started in the Nether Abyss and the Abyss. Our Fire Abyss is no different.

"Everyone in the Fire Abyss is a member of the Flame Race, just like you and me. If the high-ranking Gods of the Spirit Race are active near the Fire Abyss, it could be a sign they intend to invade. I came out this time precisely to uncover the Spirit Race's true intentions."

As he spoke, Pang Jian rifled through Huo Ji's memories, trying to find any record of past communications with Yan Lie, while fabricating the rest on the fly.

Yan Lie snorted.

"The Spirit Race? High-ranking Gods? Is it Mou Qi? I'll help you look into it.

"Since you're a fellow Fire God, Huo Ji, I can give you my recommendation. It's just that..." Yan Lie trailed off with a frown. "Your cultivation realm is too low. Unless you have something truly exceptional to offer, it'll be difficult for you to gain her favor. In recent years, the ones she's willing to take in have almost all been high-ranking Gods."

"I'll do my best," Pang Jian replied calmly.

At that moment, a strand of his divine sense, the one he had sent drifting through the bizarre mist, finally reached its target. After flying for what felt like half a day, it caught sight of the quietly flowing River of Wisdom that appeared to be encircling a battlefield.

The River of Wisdom coiled like a serpent swallowing its own tail, with the bizarre mist at its center having been completely cleared.

Three high-ranking Gods, Mou Qi, Cang Feng, and Mu Ya, were working together to besiege Pang Jian's Immortal Divine Soul.

Even with his divine sense close by, Pang Jian still could not establish a connection with his Immortal Divine Soul. The barrier that was the River of Wisdom prevented any connection from being made.

"Lord Yan Lie, I've spotted the high-ranking Gods of the Spirit Race!"

With that, "Huo Ji" shot forward on the World God Pendant at top speed.

***

Elsewhere, another strand of Pang Jian's divine sense watched as threads of light bound the chunks of fragmented lands split off from the Rock Devourer like coarse hemp rope. They were being reassembled piece by piece.

More fragmented lands hurtled in from a distance, only to collide with some unseen barrier once they approached.

Bluish-black strands of rope-like light would then wind around them and drag them back toward the Rock Devourer's fragmented body.

***

"I told you before. The master you once served doesn't have the power to push you to Rank Thirteen, but I do."

Streaks of bluish-black shadows swept through the bizarre mist, scouring the area in search of the smaller Rock Devourer. Each shadow was a fragment of Fu Ya's divine soul.

"Oh?" One of the bluish-black shadows suddenly paused, catching sight of a faint glimmer of golden light.

The shadow abruptly materialized into a smiling woman with a serene aura. She wore loose-flowing robes of blue and black, and had exquisitely refined features.

Extending her fair, jade-like hand, she gently pointed at the wisp of golden light.

𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

The wisp of golden light gradually unraveled under the force of her divine power, taking the shape of an illusory golden bee.

"A golden Nether Abyss Spirit Bee."

The woman smiled faintly as a scene of Mou Qi and the others surrounding Pang Jian's Immortal Divine Soul flared to life within her radiant eyes.

She watched as Mou Qi rotated an orb to draw in Pang Jian's probing divine sense.

"No." Shaking her head, she said with quiet confidence, "His Immortal Divine Soul didn't release this divine sense. Not a single wisp of divine sense can escape my River of Wisdom. I would have sensed it the moment it touched the river.

The woman chuckled in delight.

"This is a double catch. It seems his physical body has joined the fray as well. Excellent."

With that, the woman vanished, having used her divine power to trace the golden bee's origins. The illusory golden bee also disappeared, but Pang Jian remained completely unaware.

***

Yan Lie, following "Huo Ji's" lead, caught sight of a prismatic figure outside the River of Wisdom. His reaction was even stronger than when he had seen Mou Qi.

"Pang Jian!" he exclaimed, pupils turning a blood-red. "You actually dared to leave the Abyss!"

A suit of armor, flaring with arcs of blazing fire, materialized around him. A crimson longsword appeared in his hand, glowing like a freshly forged branding iron.

"Yan Lie! Don't you dare cross the River of Wisdom!" Cang Feng roared. "Pang Jian is our master's chosen prey. Don't you dare interfere with our master's will!"

Mou Qi's face darkened as he turned toward Yan Lie. The searing heat from the Fire God's blazing armor rolled off him in waves.

"Yan Lie, our master is nearby!" Mou Qi snapped. "Don't be foolish!"