Chapter 88 The Abyss 3: Lotus Lantern
Xu Xing was dressed in a long black robe, which shrouded her completely. She hid behind a huge monster skeleton and quietly watched the sealing battlefield that was being finished.
This area is the one that the demon realm is responsible for cleaning up, and the deer clan has been stationed here for the past few years.
The demonic energy at the entrance to the Abyss is slightly weaker here, making it the best place for her to enter. She will wait here until the full moon.
Looking down at the soul essence her master had given her, Xu Xing quickly made a necklace while she still had a few hours left. She then firmly embedded the soul essence into it and added countless magic arrays and restrictions to ensure that everything was foolproof before she put the soul lamp-shaped necklace around her neck with peace of mind.
"Your Highness, the number of magical beasts and the patterns of their appearance during this period are all here."
Inside the tent, Na Yun respectfully presented the spirit silk. Seeing Tian Li deep in thought, staring at the map of the Demon Sealing Battlefield, she quietly withdrew.
Suddenly, Tian Li seemed to sense something. He slightly loosened the collar of his white robe, and the antler pattern below his collarbone emitted a faint glow. He raised his hand and pressed it, and the slightly warm touch seemed to indicate something.
Tian Li lifted the curtain and went outside, her gaze fixed on the east.
Why do I sense her presence here? Is it just my imagination?
It's late at night.
The Demon-Sealing Battlefield at night is quiet yet dangerous; the poisonous fog in the air alone is unbearable for cultivators.
Xu Xing gripped the necklace tightly to her chest, drawing power from the soul lamp that carried her senior brother's aura. Her gaze was fixed on the edge of the abyss ahead.
The demonic energy covering the abyss was almost tangible, a dark and terrifying sight. Only when the moon was full would the intense demonic energy lessen.
The demonic energy of the Abyss is not the same as the demonic energy cultivated by the demons of the Demon Realm. Therefore, demonic cultivators are quite wary of the Abyss, and many demonic cultivators come to the Demon Sealing Battlefield every year. It is said that most of those who perish in the Abyss are demonic cultivators…
Xu Xing gathered her thoughts, which were racing with nervousness. She looked up at the night sky. It was almost time...
As the moon grew rounder, she couldn't help but take a step forward, but the next moment her waist tightened, and she was pulled backward by a strong force.
Tian Li withdrew the white silk ribbon, her usually gentle voice turning serious, "What are you going to do?"
Five years had passed, and although her cultivation hadn't improved much, her aura had become much more refined, which he immediately noticed.
When he turned around and saw it was him, Xu Xing put away the magical weapon he had been holding.
Tian Li was stunned when he saw her golden eyes. Golden eyes? Wasn't she the White Snake? What was with those eyes?
Among the demon race, only...
Seeing Tian Li lost in thought, Xu Xing had no interest in small talk. "It has nothing to do with the High Priest, right?"
Tian Li snapped out of his daze at her coldness, frowning as he said, "Do you know where this is? This isn't a place you can come to..."
Xu Xing was filled with anxiety and had no time to waste with Tian Li. She said coldly, "If the High Priest can come, why can't I?"
His gaze fell on the soul lamp on her chest. Tian Li stretched out his right hand, calculated with his five fingers for a moment, and then said angrily, "Are you going to die for that sword cultivator?"
Xu Xing was startled at first, but then he remembered the reputation of the Deer Clan priests for their knowledge of Yin and Yang, and immediately realized what was going on. He asked, "You know that my senior brother is in the Abyss of Eclipse, so can you help me figure out which level he is on?"
"..."
Tian Li closed her eyes, feeling a headache for the first time. "I have no way of knowing, and I won't let you go."
What exactly is the Snake King doing? Not only has he allowed Xu Xing to remain in the human realm for years, but this time he didn't even know she was going to the Abyss of Eclipse. If she goes to the Abyss of Eclipse, will she be able to survive?
"Since you're not going to help me, then stop talking. My business is none of your concern."
"Do you know who I am...?"
If you hadn't been cast into the human world, perhaps we would have been married long ago.
But Tian Li ultimately didn't say the last sentence.
She wore the necklace containing the sword cultivator's soul essence, but she never wore the deer antler necklace he had given her...
Xu Xing remained expressionless, ignoring Tian Li, and looked up at the moon.
As the full moon approached, she suddenly turned around, her Snowless Sword carving a deep chasm between them, with a lightning-fast spiritual net blocking the way.
Before Tianli could make a move, she was already prepared and blocked it.
"Priest, thank you for your concern, but I have someone I must find."
Xu Xing smiled gently. She knew Tian Li was worried about her. She didn't have any ill feelings towards this deer clan junior priest who liked to change clothes. "I hope we can meet again someday."
Bathed in the soft moonlight, Xu Xing leaped into the abyss, where she was instantly engulfed by thick, black demonic energy.
The spiritual net vanished instantly, and Tian Li subconsciously reached out, only to grasp a cold, chilly wind.
His nominal fiancée jumped into the Abyss of Eclipse right in front of him, a place rumored to be a place where no one could come out alive...
Does he like Xu Xing? Tian Li doesn't know. During their brief time together, he was impressed by her exquisite alchemy skills and accepted her from the bottom of his heart.
He even began to look forward to the day when Xu Xing, the Snake Clan princess, would be revealed, at which point their engagement would naturally come to light.
For five years, the snake clan remained silent. Tian Li personally went to the Golden Snake Palace, but the Snake King spoke vaguely, only saying that the time was not yet ripe. He could only leave with a smile. Since they were destined to be together, he naturally had the patience to wait for the so-called opportune moment.
But now, she has gone to the Abyss of Erosion.
Tian Li's usually gentle smile froze for a long time. He stood motionless until he heard Na Yun's voice behind him.
"Your Highness, what brings you here? It's best not to get too close to the Abyss."
"Go back and prepare, I'm going to use the Soul Splitting Technique."
Na Yun was taken aback. "Your Highness, what happened?"
The Soul Splitting Technique is a secret technique of the Deer Clan priests. Each time it is used, one's cultivation level and lifespan will be reduced, and the price is not small.
What could be so serious that Your Highness would need to divide your soul?
But Tianli did not answer her again.
...
After the mountain wind passes, the valley will have two or three days of peace. During this time, high-level magical beasts will not come out casually, and the cultivators living here will have a rare chance to catch their breath.
"He's a penniless wretch!"
Yu Jiu, who had risked using the invisibility skin, was furious. He hadn't expected that the sword cultivator's storage ring contained not many powerful magical artifacts, but rather a lot of roasted meat, spiritual fruits, and other food.
Yu Jiu tore off a rabbit leg and ate it with gusto, his mouth dripping with oil. Although it tasted good, what use were these things in the Abyss?!
Although the storage ring had a restriction, in the Eclipse Abyss where there was no spiritual energy, the restriction had long been swallowed up and was no longer effective.
Yu Jiu only picked out a few useful magical artifacts and pills; the rest were all junk, such as useless lanterns, fancy clothes, and ineffective communication beads... and why was there a bottle of pitted pills?
I really don't understand why this sword cultivator even carries fake medicine with him!
He grew angrier the more he searched, so he casually threw away those inexplicable little gadgets and, in retaliation, treated his brothers to a good meal.
"I could die content after eating a meal like this!" A demonic cultivator, tears welling in his eyes, savored the roasted meat in his mouth. "I've forgotten how many years it's been since I've had cooked food. Waaah, it's so delicious!"
"Boss, what if that sword cultivator comes knocking on our door?"
“We won’t go back to the cave for a while; we’ll stay here. He’s new here, so there’s no way he can find where we are now.”
After obtaining the storage ring, Yu Jiu, fearing discovery by Shen Du, had already fled with his trusted confidants. As for the unfortunate souls who remained unaware, it didn't matter if they died at the hands of that sword cultivator.
"Boss is brilliant! Hehe, give me another bite..."
"Sizzle—"
The animal hide used to seal the cave entrance was cleaved open with a single sword strike, revealing a blurry figure standing with a sword in hand. In the dim light, a pair of dark eyes coldly stared at them. "Give it back to me."
Having obtained the other party's storage ring, Yu Jiu neither dodged nor avoided it, but narrowed his eyes slightly to examine the person at the cave entrance.
The swordsman was covered in wounds, with almost no uninjured flesh. His left arm was twisted abnormally, and his clothes were covered in sticky fluid and dust. He looked even more disheveled than the cultivators who had survived in the Abyss for many years.
With something to rely on, Yu Jiu grinned, revealing a set of sharp, yellow teeth. "The newcomers just don't know the rules."
Without saying another word, Shen Du raised his right hand and swept his sword horizontally. Although it had no spiritual power, the extremely strong force caused the mountain wall at the cave entrance to quickly extend inward and crack.
The dust from the tremor covered everyone in the cave, and remembering his fierce swordsmanship in slaying the two-headed centipede, the group shrank back and subconsciously looked at Yu Jiu.
Boss, would you really dare to face this terrifying swordsman?
Noticing their gazes, Yu Jiu's face darkened. If he avoided them, how could he face leading these subordinates in the future?
He took out a magical artifact he had found in his storage ring. "I'd like to see if you have the ability to take it!"
With a magical artifact in hand, how could he be afraid of not being able to defeat this little person and complete his cultivation?
...
"A few pieces of junk are worth risking your life for?"
Seeing the man collapse from exhaustion, Yu Jiu slowly stepped forward. Instead of ending Shen Du's life, he maliciously crushed Shen Du's left arm with his magical artifact. "How does it feel to be defeated by your own thing?"
The Flowing Cloud Sword had already flown out and was seized by Yu Jiu's men who were hiding in the cave. The Ice Soul Ring also fell into Yu Jiu's hands.
"Although you're so poor that you only have these few magical artifacts, you still need them, so I'll reluctantly accept them."
Yu Jiu patted Chen Du's face with the Ice Soul Ring, "Who told you to be so unlucky as to come to the Abyss of Eclipse? This is your fate. Go in peace! I will make good use of your magic weapon."
Shen Du remained silent, his right cheek pressed to the ground, the excruciating pain in his left arm already numb. He slowly turned his head, his double-eyed gaze fixed on Yu Jiu's face. Just as Yu Jiu was about to smash his head with his magical weapon, Shen Du suddenly raised his waist and kicked, sending Yu Jiu flying.
A small golden sword floated around him and gradually solidified. Shen Du gripped the sword in his right hand, and with his extremely strong explosive power, he instantly cleaved Yu Jiu's magical weapon in two!
"How is this possible?!"
The magic weapon, now devoid of its spiritual light, clattered to the ground. Yu Jiu took out other magic weapons he had rummaged through his storage ring and frantically retaliated. But the sword cultivator, who had been on the verge of death, somehow found the strength to continue swinging his sword, disregarding the fact that his body was covered in blood from the blows from the magic weapons!
All the magical artifacts were cut down one by one. Yu Jiu grabbed the only remaining Ice Soul Ring to defend himself in vain. When he saw the golden sword light piercing through the air, he thought he was going to die, but the tip of the sword stopped in front of the Ice Soul Ring.
With a flick of his wrist, Shen Du sent it flying and caught it in his hand.
When Shen Du finally trampled him underfoot, Yu Jiu still couldn't understand why this person was fighting so desperately for just a few magical artifacts, even more so than when he fought the two-headed centipede!
"Spare me...spare my life!"
Yu Jiu's mouth was full of blood as he stared in horror at the sword that the man above him was swinging down heavily.
Chen Du, already at his limit, had bloodshot eyes that were somewhat cloudy. He shook his head violently, plunged his sword into the ground near Yu Jiu's ear, and said, word by word, "Give it back to me."
Yu Jiu's face was swollen beyond recognition. With trembling hands, he handed over the storage ring, slurring, "It's all...it's all here!"
Shen Du's consciousness sank into the storage ring and searched quickly, but there was nothing there. The lotus lamp and the spirit-gathering pills she had refined back then were both gone.
Perhaps he would never see his junior sister again. He never expected that he couldn't even keep this little bit of hope.
Shen Du gripped the storage ring tightly and severed Yu Jiu's left arm with a single sword strike. "Where is the contents inside?"
Yu Jiu clutched his severed arm in anguish, yet dared not refuse to answer, "You destroyed the magic...you destroyed the magic artifacts, and we ate the food..."
He only had a few magical artifacts, and he used them all to deal with Chen Du. He really didn't keep any for himself!
Shen Du plunged another sword into his left leg. "And what else?"
What else is there?
The pain jolted Yu Jiu's mind back to a more clear state, and he quickly remembered the things he had thrown away. Trembling, he looked at his useless subordinates hiding behind him and said, "Quick! Quickly find the things I threw away yesterday!"
In the end, all they found was a lotus lantern that had been crushed by a monster and a pill bottle with a corner missing.
Shen Du slowly put the bottle of first-tier spirit-gathering pills into his pocket, and carefully held the deformed lotus lamp to his chest. Fortunately, they were still there.
Yu Jiu saw that he was unmoved by the magical artifacts, but instead carefully held the two pieces of trash, and his gaze became increasingly resentful.
Seeing that Shen Du stopped attacking, Yu Jiu thought he would let him go. His eyes flashed with malice. He knew he couldn't survive with his broken body. He was afraid he wouldn't last until the next Chuanshanfeng before his men took him to feed the monsters!
Knowing he was going to die anyway, he quietly gripped the poisoned dagger, dragged his broken leg, and lunged forward, shouting, "Die!"
"Pfft—"
Without turning his head, Shen Du thrust his sword into Yu Jiu's heart. This man, who had been exiled to the Abyss for slaughtering his fellow disciples and had struggled there for many years, suddenly opened his eyes wide and fell to the ground with his eyes wide open in death.
Several of his men trembled and fell to their knees with a thud, banging their heads on the ground and shouting, "Boss! From now on, you are our boss!"
One of them, quick-witted, held up the Flowing Cloud Sword and presented it with both hands, saying, "Boss, here's your sword!"
Shen Du didn't even glance at them, only taking the Flowing Cloud Sword. His body swayed slightly, and his steps were extremely heavy, but he forced himself to walk forward.
Her contracted beast is still waiting for him.
"thump--"
The tall swordsman fell heavily to the ground, the lotus lantern lay to the side, its closed petals slightly parted, emitting a faint golden light.
"Has the new boss fainted?"
"Should we take advantage of this opportunity...?"
"Do you dare? You go ahead if you want, but I wouldn't dare!"
Should we save him?
Just as the group was undecided, a gray, long-haired beast suddenly darted out from under the roots of a withered tree not far away. It quickly carried Chen Du on its back, picked up the lotus lantern, and disappeared in a flash.
"What the hell?!"
"It looks like a monster?"
"..."
In the hidden cave, Tuanzi carefully placed Chen Du on the ground and licked his already scabbed wounds, but he didn't react at all.
Tuanzi peeled open the armor and placed the small pieces of black iron stone that its owner had specially placed inside the armor near Chen Du's mouth, but no matter how much it struggled, he remained motionless.
Finally, after being hungry for several days, Tuanzi whimpered softly and lay down beside Chen Du's legs, its fluffy tail gently covering him.
After hiding in the Abyss for less than half a month, the Iron-Eating Beast's once glossy black and white fur became so dirty that its original color was no longer visible, and it turned into a grayish, matted patch.
When Tuanzi noticed that Shen Du hadn't woken up for a long time and that he had an unusually high fever, she was so anxious that she spun around twice.
Thinking of something, it quickly pushed the lotus lantern next to it closer to Chen Du, and with its paws it parted the petals, and a familiar sound flowed out.
A person and a beast lay quietly on the ground, the faint, hazy golden light of the crooked lotus lamp the only source of light in the darkness.
"Senior brother is the best! Senior brother is the greatest! Senior brother is the best! Senior brother..."
The lotus lanterns kept repeating tirelessly, as if the girl who recorded the quirky voices and wanted to cheer up her senior brother was right here.
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Author's Note: Thank you 25656288 for the generous ticket! *kiss* [hugs]
Thank you to Panpanya, Yikouzhishi, Anya, Tuyaoguihuagao, Aikanxiaoshuodetutu, Zaisuiyihui, 44874589, Fengzhen, Chongzitaiduohaokeka, Lanlingzhilei, Naichajiebuduan, Wanrihanya, Sanjiaoweicheng, Makabaka, Fanmahanma, Shanmian, Fanfanfanfanfanfan, 25656288, YX, and 38341888 for the nutrient solution. Thank you everyone! [heart]
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