Trials of the Abyss

Chapter 390: The Divine Artifact of the Demon Sect

Pang Jian gently gripped his sword and calmly established a connection with the Abyssal Demon as he stared steadily at Hong Qiming. "This demonic sword in my hand comes from a branch of the Demon Sect and houses the Abyssal Demon.

"It can perceive the evil intentions within people's hearts, especially those directed toward me.

"Hong Qiming, Zhou Yi, you two have schemed to lure people deeper into this continent, hoping to use our artifacts to help you unravel its mysteries.

"Did you think no one would notice?"

Pang Jian no longer bothered to feign politeness as he tore away the thin veil of their deception.

"If you want to uncover the secrets of the Sanctum of Godly and Demonic Genesis, enter it with your own divine souls. I, for one, won't be stepping in."

Zhou Yi frowned in silence.

"Is the Abyssal Demon Sword truly that miraculous?" Hong Qiming exclaimed in shock.

The Demon Sword Sect had been destroyed for many years, and knowledge of the demonic sword was scarce, even within the Demon Sect.

Although Hong Qiming was a leading figure in the new generation of the Demon Sect, he had never encountered the Abyssal Demon Sword as it had always been suppressed on the first floor of the Sword Pavilion.

However, he knew the remnants of the Demon Sword Sect longed for the sword, believing its return would restore their former glory.

"Wu Yuan, Pang Jian is destined to perish here, and the Abyssal Demon Sword will return to our Demon Sect." Stroking his chin, Hong Qiming added, "I have no interest in cultivating sword techniques as I already have the Demon God Lamp in my possession, but you could consider it."

Wu Yuan shook his head and replied woodenly, "I'm not worthy of it."

Hong Qiming frowned. "Wu Yuan, it's time to choose between me and Pang Jian. Either you help me kill Pang Jian, or—"

"Then I choose to kill you!" Wu Yuan said, taking a step back.

"I knew you couldn't be trusted! You're a disciple of the Demon Sect, how dare you betray us! I'll get rid of you first!" Hong Qiming roared.

Flickering flames flew out from the oil lamp and shot toward Wu Yuan like meteors.

Wu Yuan retreated into the cover of the bizarre mist, leaving the range of Hong Qiming's perception and using a secret technique to erase the Demon God Lamp's tracking.

The pursuing flames were left without a target.

"Senior Brother Hong, you're going to die here. Even if I chose you, you would've killed me," Wu Yuan muttered coldly.

Whoosh!

A purple orb hovered above Wu Yuan's head like a watchful demonic eye.

"Pang Jian, the Demon God Lamp is a top-tier sacred artifact," he informed from a distance. "It contains six mysterious realms modeled after the enigmatic worlds the outer world's Demon Race created."

Although Hong Qiming likely could not see him, Wu Yuan was certain Pang Jian could.

"Hong Qiming's divine soul is in the lamp's wick. Remember to target his divine soul, but be careful not to get drawn into the six realms, or you could become lost within.," Wu Yuan explained.

Pang Jian listened intently, surprised at Wu Yuan's decisiveness in turning on his fellow disciple.

"Don't overthink it. You, Liu Youyu, Fan Chen, and Hu Yuanfei's combined strength surpasses that of Zhou Yi and Hong Qiming.

"These two are full of malicious intent. Once their actions are exposed, their respective sects will surely eliminate them.

"Joining forces with them means I'm more likely to die as well. It's not a difficult decision to make," Wu Yuan muttered.

Pang Jian gently nodded and his eyes took on a golden hue as he studied Hong Qiming's oil lamp.

As Wu Yuan mentioned, Hong Qiming's divine soul was crouched within the burning wick.

A wave of divine sense radiated from the wick, still searching for Wu Yuan.

Whenever Hong Qiming's divine sense neared Wu Yuan, the purple orb above Wu Yuan's head would morph into a demonic eye and glare at the wave of divine sense.

Sizzle!

Hong Qiming's divine sense dissolved under the demonic eye's gaze.

"The Purple Demon Eye!" Hong Qiming gasped.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

Six surreal mystical realms unfurled like turbulent vortexes in the space behind Hong Qiming.

Some realms were filled with lively festivities, with seductive demonesses and demon generals reveling in wild revelries.

Others featured mountains of bones and seas of blood, like scenes of apocalyptic destruction.

One of the realms was engulfed in raging flames, with demons roaring madly as if undergoing a fiery purification.

Grand demon palaces stood towering in yet another realm, with beings resembling the Demon Scale Race and Nether Demon Race gathered in a solemn ceremony to worship the outer world's Demon Gods.

Hong Qiming's divine soul crouched within the Demon God Lamp's wick became the master of the six mystical realms, like an exalted being the demons revered.

"Wu Yuan! So I was mistaken, the old man actually chose you as his protege!

"The Demon God Lamp is a sacred artifact, but the Purple Demon Eye is a divine one!

"If he gave you the Purple Demon Eye, it means he's backing you as the next Sect Master of the Demon Sect. One of us will die here today!"

Hong Qiming had shifted his target from Pang Jian to Wu Yuan.

Whoosh!

Using his divine soul to control the Demon God Lamp, he guided the six mystical realms toward where Wu Yuan had vanished.

Pang Jian gripped the Abyssal Demon Sword with a strange expression.

"Brother Zhou, I'll leave Pang Jian to you." Hong Qiming sat cross-legged and channeled all his power into his divine soul within the Demon God Lamp.

"Uh..." Zhou Yi was taken aback. Sighing, he turned to Pang Jian and said frankly, "Pang Jian, the soul within your sword couldn't possibly have discerned my thoughts."

Pang Jian nodded. "Not just yours. It couldn't discern Hong Qiming's or Liu Youyu's either. The Abyssal Demon can't perceive any evil or good intentions from them."

Earlier, Pang Jian had discreetly tried to use the Abyssal Demon to probe the thoughts of several people, only to discover that it could not discern the thoughts of Fan Chen, Lu Yanshu, Hu Yuanfei, Liu Youyu, and the couple from the Ancient Law Sect.

Each of these individuals had influential backgrounds and carried powerful artifacts. Naturally, they had methods of guarding their seas of consciousness tightly, leaving the Abyssal Demon with no openings to exploit.

"So you were just making things up earlier?" Zhou Yi asked, surprised.

Pang Jian nodded again.

"Then..." Zhou Yi habitually looked around and asked, "Is Liu Youyu nearby?"

Fan Chen from the Supreme Monad Divine Kingdom was the first to appear.

"Zhou Yi!" he yelled coldly. "I trusted you, yet you conspired with Hong Qiming to exploit us!"

The Flying Fish Boat whistled as it approached.

Liu Youyu, Hu Yuanfei, Zhou Qingchen, and Lu Yanshu appeared one after another, encircling Zhou Yi and Hong Qiming's physical body in perfect sync.

Hong Qiming was stunned at the sudden turn of events.

"Pang Jian, are you turning against us?" he growled.

"You two started this," Pang Jian replied with a slight smirk. "I'll leave Zhou Yi to the rest of you. Let me deal with Hong Qiming's divine soul and that Demon God Lamp."

Whoosh!

Pang Jian flew up on his sword and soon reached where the six mystical realms were whirling through the air, with the Demon God Lamp floating in their midst.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

The six realms locked onto Wu Yuan from afar and attempted to pull him in.

Demonesses, demon generals, Demon Gods, and worshiping subjects within the realms emanated a chaotic force that warped Wu Yuan's surroundings, distorting even his sea of consciousness.

But Wu Yuan stood firm.

The Demon Sect's divine artifact, the Purple Demon Eye, floated above him, and a dark, looming demonic figure materialized within its slowly dilating pupil.

An overwhelming aura descended upon the six mystical realms, creating immense pressure on the demonesses, demon generals, Demon Gods, and the worshiping subjects.

The foundational laws within the six realms were altered, and a grand demonic chant resonated across the heavens and earth. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"It's the Great Demon God, He Motian!"

"He Motian!"

Eerie demonic chants echoed across the six realms.

The demonic figure deep within the Purple Demon Eye grew more real.

It slowly transformed into an enormous Demon God with four heads, four faces, and four arms. Each hand held a token, a prayer bead, a lotus, and a water jug.

The Demon God sat atop a peacock as it faced the six mystical realms.

Boom!

Hong Qiming's six mystical realms collapsed one by one.

"Even if your cultivation realm surpasses mine, the power of a divine artifact is beyond that of a mere sacred artifact," Wu Yuan said, still maintaining his indifferent expression "A divine image of He Motian was sealed within the Purple Demon Eye, and I've refined and fused with it.

"This divine image is now the array core of the Purple Demon Eye and is fully under my control.

"Senior Brother Hong, I had no intention of competing for the position of Sect Master, but since you insist on pushing me, don't blame me."

"The Purple Demon Eye is in your possession, yet you claim you have no intention of competing with me?!" Hong Qiming's divine soul shouted angrily from within the oil lamp. "You became my greatest rival when you accepted the Purple Demon Eye!"

"If that's the case..." Wu Yuan sighed, resigned. "Pang Jian, let's work together to kill him."

Pang Jian was surprised but nodded in agreement. "Alright."

The Great Demon God, He Motian! This being is a powerful God from the outer worlds. I didn't expect a being as transcendent as He Motian to leave a divine image in the Abyss, sealed within his own eye.

Pang Jian, my purpose is to slay the Outer Gods, but I must avoid killing Demon Gods ascended from the Demon Race in the outer worlds.

That Great Demon God He Motian likely shares the same origin as I do. I think I might even know him.

Help me—help me find my other half in the bizarre mist.

If you help me reunite with my other half and agree not to hunt the Demon Gods from the Demon Race in the outer worlds, I'll join you in waging war against the heavens!