Trials of the Abyss-Chapter 634: The Breath of a Star

The completion of the gray-black fragmented land forged a mysterious connection between Pang Jian and the Fifth Continent.

The sensation was strikingly similar to harmonizing with the Fifth World itself.

Pang Jian felt like he was halfway to becoming a master of the Fifth Continent through the crystallized fragmented land of murky energy within his dantian.

As his perception expanded, he sensed a vast, stabilizing force dispersing from the Heaven Ascension Tribulation Pillar, anchoring the continent below.

Although the towering pillar had long lost its former suppressive force, power still radiated from within it.

An azure-green radiance extended from its subterranean pillar core to the edges of the Fifth Continent, reinforcing the fractured underground layers, ensuring the continent would never collapse.

It did not matter how fierce the battles between the foreign race powerhouses became, as long as the Heaven Ascension Tribulation Pillar stood, the continent would gradually restore itself.

I didn't know the Heaven Ascension Tribulation Pillar had this ability. Has it always protected this continent, or is this a recent change? Pang Jian wondered in astonishment.

He assumed that Luo Hongyan repurposed the Heaven Ascension Tribulation Pillars after deciphering their mysteries and removing their sealing abilities, turning them into stabilizing forces that reinforced all seven continents.

The golden mountain, embedded in the gray-black fragmented land, suddenly blazed with dazzling golden radiance.

At the core of the golden mountain, the golden feather transformed into streaks of golden lightning that spread outward and etched themselves deep into the mountain's surface.

The Dao of Metal that the Fey Emperor Jin Yu had spent his whole life pursuing abruptly became astonishingly clear.

When Pang Jian delved into these insights, his comprehension speed skyrocketed to an unfathomable pace.

How marvelous!

In high spirits, he resumed wandering the Fifth Continent, continuing to harvest murky energy.

Unfortunately, he soon discovered that none of this newly absorbed murky energy could merge into the gray-black fragmented land, nor contribute to its further expansion. It seemed he had reached the limit.

Let's try another continent.

Establishing a connection with another Heaven Ascension Tribulation Pillar using the Gate of the Abyss, he quickly teleported to Blood Prison Village on the Seventh Continent.

Pang Jian immediately absorbed the omnipresent murky energy lingering within the deserted village.

The swirling murky energy of the village was tinged with a faint bloodlust. The metallic scent of blood still lingered in the air, as if it had only recently dried.

In his dantian, a wisp of dark-red murky energy emerged from the darkness, then slowly spiraled upward, remaining separate from the gray-black fragmented land corresponding to the Fifth Continent.

As Pang Jian continued to refine this murky energy, it gradually condensed into a dark-red crystal, no larger than a grain of rice.

Though the crystal was riddled with impurities and blemishes, it was clearly still a source of power.

A second fragmented land is forming!

Pang Jian's eyes gleamed at the realization that his hypothesis was correct.

Extracting the murky energy from different continents of the Fifth World allowed him to construct corresponding fragmented lands within his dantian, each mirroring one of the seven continents.

It worked for the Fifth Continent, and now, it was happening for the Seventh Continent as well!

More dark-red murky energy rose from the darkness in his dantian, merging with the tiny crystal and causing it to grow to the size of a fist.

The foundation for the second fragmented land was formed.

All that remained was for him to traverse the sacred mountains and vast rivers in every corner of the Seventh Continent, absorbing murky energy as he went.

Once done, a second fragmented land of murky energy would be fully formed within his dantian, allowing him to forge a mystical connection with the continent beneath his feet.

***

Li Yuanli had been keeping a close watch on the mysterious hazy domain at the outer reaches of the Eastern Land when he noticed something strange. "A Radiant Race warrior!"

Li Wang, Zhu Ji, and Gui Mu had all since stopped moving, no longer wasting energy and instead focusing on using their Dharma Idols to resist a corrupting force.

Gui Mu's eyes had remained shut since losing Pang Jian.

At that moment, she suddenly opened them!

Gui Mu sprang into motion at the same time that Li Yuanli noticed a tiny glimmer of a Radiant Race warrior within the hazy domain.

An overwhelming sense of urgency radiated from her as she rushed toward the minuscule Radiant Race warrior at even greater speeds than before.

Li Zhaotian glanced into the otherworldly domain. "That's still Pang Jian. That kid cultivated the Grand Providence Sacred Body of the Providence Sect to an advanced level. He can alter his appearance, bones, and even the aura of his flesh and blood to the point of resembling a foreign race warrior."

Although the color of Pang Jian's eyebrows, hair, and skin had changed, the look in his eyes, his sharply defined features, and his overall appearance still strongly resembled his original self.

Before long, an environment slowly appeared around Pang Jian.

A village and a Heaven Ascension Tribulation Pillar appeared, just like before.

"He's on the Seventh Continent!" Liu Fu exclaimed.

"Yes, that's Blood Prison Village." Dong Shangqing, standing beside the hammer-shaped artifact, added, "The distance between the Fifth and Seventh Continents is vast. Interestingly, whenever Pang Jian moves between the continents, he always heads to a Heaven Ascension Tribulation Pillar.

"He likely has an artifact that enables teleportation, with the Heaven Ascension Tribulation Pillars serving as fixed coordinates.

"Also, he seems noticeably more confident now. Clearly, he's discovered something beneficial to him," Dong Shangqing observed, noting the satisfied smile on Pang Jian's face.

Whatever he uncovered, it was clearly in his favor.

As the True Gods discussed, Gui Mu raced through the hazy domain, desperately trying to reach Pang Jian before he vanished again.

However, Pang Jian did not linger for long.

The instant the murky energy of Blood Prison Village no longer expanded his second fragmented land, he decisively descended from the Heaven Ascension Tribulation Pillar.

Once separated from the pillar, his figure, the village, and the pillar all vanished from the hazy domain.

Gui Mu came to a frustrated halt once more.

***

Meanwhile, in the starry skies, a dark yellow star hovered beneath Pang Jian, its vast surface stretching out before him.

The star was riddled with massive chasms and criss-crossing ravines that seemed to plunge deep into its core.

Collapsed mountains, city ruins, and wreckages of Starry River Warships were scattered along its surface, all remnants of past conflicts.

"This star has no name," Han Yi informed through the star-shaped crystal token. "At least, not one that we are aware of."

"It was likely a mineral-rich star once abundant in precious metals. The Starry River Warships and gaping chasms leading underground suggest it was heavily mined in the past.

"It was likely abandoned and forgotten after its valuable metals were depleted.

"The Star Devourer and You Kui are both inside. Those criss-crossing ravines are from the Star Devourer burrowing into the core of the star. Be careful not to alert You Kui too soon," Han Yi cautioned.

It's a dying star, already devoid of vitality. It can barely draw in any cosmic energies from the starry skies anymore, the Abyssal Demon observed from within the Abyssal Demon Sword. Of course, only a forgotten and valueless star like this could serve as a suitable hiding place for the Star Devourer.

Still, it could hold some worth for the Star Devourer. That Aberrant Spirit could probably extract a bit more from it before abandoning it entirely.

Be careful. Conceal your aura and do not release your divine sense.

With Han Yi's and the Abyssal Demon's warnings in mind, Pang Jian randomly selected a deep, dark chasm and slowly descended toward the star's core.

This was his first time physically exploring a world in the starry skies, so everything felt novel and intriguing.

As Pang Jian's Immortal Divine Soul sank toward the star's core, his skin picked up a metallic rust drifting through the air.

Although the nameless star was dying, it still had a faint "breath."

Each inhale drew in the mysterious energies of the starry skies and absorbed them into the star itself.

It also exhaled gases deep within the star's core, venting them through the chasms and ravines.

The star struggled to pull in the energies of the starry skies, and the air it slowly exhaled carried a dense metallic rust.

It inhaled energies, but it also dissipated energies.

Pang Jian could not help but think of the Abyss.

Long ago, Fey Emperor Jin Yu soared through the First World of the Abyss and discovered a sparse amount of spiritual qi right below the barrier.

Did the barrier draw in the energies of the starry skies and refine them into spiritual qi?

Murky energy also surges upward from the endless darkness at the bottom of the Abyss.

Does the formation of those fragmented lands of murky energy within my dantian mirror how the continents of the Fifth World were formed?

Was this how the seven continents of the Fifth World first came into being?

If so, then why was there no trace of energy when I descended into the darkness through the Heaven-Earth Cosmos Chest?

Could there be a layer beneath the darkness? A truly silent, frigid void?

Murky energy can't have emerged from nothing. It has to have an origin. So, where does the endless darkness at the bottom of the Abyss draw murky energy from?

Could it be the bizarre mist?

But the bizarre mist contains no energy. Otherwise, Pan Di wouldn't have ended up in such a dire state.

The boundless starry skies stretch above the barrier of the Abyss, but what lies beneath?

Pang Jian was broken out of his ponderings when he collided with an invisible barrier in the depths of the star.

The Star Devourer's shrill wail echoed in his mind, It's you! Did you come here for me? Or for him?

I'll kill him first before dealing with you, Pang Jian replied.

Good! Then kill him first. I can guide you to him! The Star Devourer's faint voice brimmed with anticipation. I loathe this God of the Ghost Race!

After sealing the Star Devourer, You Kui had dragged it here and forced it to devour the energy of this peculiar star, hoping to shape its evolution according to his own design.

He evidently had a plan for the Star Devourer, one that required its body to be filled with metal energy.