Chapter 854: The Pillar of the Human Race's Revival

In the starry skies above the bizarre mist, Great Demon God Luan Ji stared intently at Fa Ji.

"Well?"

Seeing Fa Ji's expression settle into calm, the three other Great Demon Gods—He Motian, Tian Wei, and Qi Ling—guessed that the battle in the Fourth World of the Abyss had likely come to an end.

As the demonic cloak was not with Pang Jian's physical body, they had to rely on Fa Ji, a World God, to uncover what truly happened.

"You were right," Fa Ji finally said. "He thoroughly snuffed out Du Ling's path of resurrection."

Tian Wei's expression changed dramatically. "Neither Lord Demonheaven's demonic cloak nor the Thunder Pool was with him! How in the world did he manage that?"

"The Heretical Outer Gods once hailed Du Ling as their leader. We all know how terrifying he is. His resurrection in the Abyss..." He Motian could no longer maintain his composure. "Are you telling me Pang Jian's physical body suppressed Du Ling without relying on any divine artifact?"

"Did he perhaps draw upon the power of other World Gods? For example, from that ancient ape, Yuan Yi?" Qi Ling asked calmly.

Yuan Yi of the Fey Race was the strongest high-ranking God of this era, and coincidentally, also someone with a deep understanding of the Dao of Life.

Qi Ling, unaware that Pang Lin had drained the ancient ape of his blood essence, still believed Yuan Yi was at his peak.

In Qi Ling's view, only a peak-state Yuan Yi, whose Dao fundamentally opposed Du Ling's, combined with the aid of other World Gods, could have enabled Pang Jian to stop Du Ling's resurrection.

"That's right! Were all the other World Gods involved except for you?" Tian Wei asked.

Fa Ji shook his head with a bitter smile. "No. Not a single World God was allowed to enter the Abyss. Pang Jian rejected all their offers. He relied entirely on his own strength and his profound comprehension of the mysteries of life to stop Du Ling's resurrection!"

He Motian, Tian Wei, and Qi Ling were all struck speechless.

Only Luan Ji let out a carefree laugh. "My friends, considering Pang Jian as one of the Demon Gods isn't a bad thing for us. I find myself all the more eager to see him step out of the Abyss and shake the starry skies."

Fa Ji let out a long sigh, a reluctant awe rising in his heart. "I'm just worried he'll keep provoking more and more Outer Gods. First, it was Sovereign Luo, then the God of Wisdom. Who's next?"

"Next?" Luan Ji smirked, his tone playful. "Even if there's a 'next,' I doubt anyone will be able to stop him."

***

In the Nether Abyss, Long Di wore an expression of disbelief.

"Du Ling's resurrection was stopped just like that?"

Before his fall, Du Ling had been someone Long Di deeply feared. He had once attempted to make contact with Du Ling, but the latter was haughty and aloof, even arrogantly demanding that the Nether God acknowledge him as a leader and follow his command. Their meeting had ended on a sour note because of that.

"Yes. Pang Jian destroyed Du Ling's body while it was in the process of forming." Astonishment could be seen in Bai Zi's obsidian-like eyes. "His Immortal Divine Soul can merge with his physical body, right?"

"In theory, yes."

Bai Zi's body trembled. "If he were to anchor his Immortal Divine Soul into his physical body's sea of consciousness...could he stand against a Sovereign in a direct clash while within the Abyss or the Nether Abyss?"

"It's possible...it could actually be possible!" Long Di was startled at the realization.

A sudden intuition seized the former ruler of the Nether Abyss. Even if the God of Wisdom, Fu Ya, were to one day descend into the Nether Abyss and attempt to seize the Soulstream, it was likely Pang Jian could single-handedly stop her.

With Pang Jian's rapid growth, his chances of victory only rose as time went on!

***

"The starry skies!"

"The Darkcloud Realm!"

This was the first time Li Wang, Su Wanrou, Li Zhaotian, Zhu Ji, and the others had stepped out of the Abyss and into the cold depths of the starry skies.

The energy in the starry skies was vastly different from that of the Abyss, and the group could not help but marvel as they attempted to refine and absorb it.

"This starry region feels rather lifeless. That's likely because of Du Ling's lingering aura of death," Su Wanrou muttered with a slight frown. Turning to Li Yuqing, she asked in concern, "Yuqing, are you feeling alright?"

"I'm fine. I feel great." Li Yuqing smiled, holding the Pearl of Fate.

She could feel an overwhelming closeness with the God of Fate after stepping through the spatial rift. A profound liberation and relief had filled her the moment she left the Abyss and the stifling bizarre mist.

"The young World Tree, it-it's—" Li Wang stammered, his expression filled with astonishment.

They watched as Pang Ling used her supple branches and leaves to entwine with and rest gently atop the withered World Tree.

Etched into the withered World Tree's bark and rings were mysteries that only its own kind could perceive.

However, Pang Ling was more than mere kin. She was the reincarnation of this same World Tree!

The life energy radiating from Pang Ling seeped into the withered World Tree, peeling away its insights into the Heavenly Dao and retrieving her memories of her past life.

"Father, I'll need time to process everything. There are too many memories and insights into the Heavenly Dao," Pang Ling said softly.

It was not just the memories and the insights into the Dao of Verdure from her previous life that she needed to process. The mysteries of life that Pang Jian had earlier infused into her within the Abyss, those belonging to Yuan Yi and Sovereign Luo, also required time to be fully absorbed.

"It's alright. You can take your time here. If you need a vast input of life energy, this member of the Wood Race, Mu Duo, can help you," Pang Jian said with a smile.

"I wouldn't dream of refusing. Helping her is helping myself!" Mu Duo replied without hesitation.

He had established a connection with Pang Ling the instant she had entered the Darkcloud Realm, and his bloodline was already catalyzing a new round of transformations through her unique life energy.

Meanwhile, Pang Ling, with the high-ranking God's help, was absorbing the knowledge within the withered World Tree more effectively and rapidly.

Deeper into the starry region, Mu Qingya, known as the Bronze-Masked God in the starry skies, summoned a silver mirror on a desolate star and started arranging materials. Voidstone, Godfall Crystal, Celestial Essence Jade, and other rare, high-grade materials were laid out in an octagonal array beneath the upright silver mirror.

"Pang Jian! Li Wang! Li Zhaotian!" Mu Qingya drew in a deep breath, his emotions surging as he asked, "Have you all prepared yourselves? Are you sure you want to make contact with those ancient figures this early on?"

"Of course!"

Although Li Wang, Zhu Ji, Li Zhaotian, Su Wanrou, Li Yuqing, Dong Tianze, and Wu Yuan had all gathered around, Mu Qingya's gaze remained fixed solely on Pang Jian.

This ancient True God clearly regarded Pang Jian as the pillar of the human race's revival.