Chapter 1408 |
Feng Mingyan’s memories had only awakened after he arrived in the Boundless Demon Realm, where Boundless Snow reigned.
Boundless Snow couldn’t possibly be unaware that Feng Mingyan was Yan Xiao’s clone.
But Boundless Snow merely glanced at him.
She didn’t say anything more.
Even if she wanted to kill Feng Mingyan, now wasn’t the time.
Though she was the Chief Holy Maiden and the top figure among the younger generation of the Boundless Demon Sect, killing a core disciple at the Demon General Realm still required justification. It couldn’t be done in public.
Boundless Snow’s gaze swept across the crowd on both sides of the Abyss.
Then, a cold, clear voice rang out.
"I need eighteen Demon General Realm cultivators to accompany me into the Abyss for an expedition!
Within twenty breaths, the first eighteen to catch them will be my assistants!"
As soon as Boundless Snow spoke, the crowd grew even more excited.
She produced a transparent bottle from her hand.
Inside were dozens of small, black insects.
Seeing these Heavenly Demon Spirit Realm Insects, the crowd grew solemn.
"Heavenly Demon Spirit Realm Insects… These are said to be the fastest spiritual insects in the Boundless Demon Realm.
And don’t let their small size fool you—their combat power isn’t weak. Catching them within twenty breaths won’t be easy.
At least half the Demon General Realm cultivators here probably can’t do it."
"But this is likely the fastest way to screen candidates.
Those who excel in speed are in for a stroke of luck."
"..."
As the people around him discussed, Su Jingzhen felt a bit bitter.
After sensing the coldness in Boundless Snow’s gaze earlier, he wasn’t keen on approaching her directly.
At the least, he needed to follow Ling Hua’s advice and break some of Boundless Snow’s records in the Boundless Demon Sect.
Only then could he possibly improve Yan Xiao’s image in her mind and take the next step.
Even as Tuoba Hong and others rubbed their hands in anticipation, Su Jingzhen remained calm.
He stood at the edge with his hands behind his back, not planning to become an assistant.
He’d simply follow Boundless Snow’s group.
Boundless Snow showed no favoritism.
She tossed the jade bottle into the air.
It exploded, and the dozens of Heavenly Demon Spirit Realm Insects scattered in all directions, as if finally free.
In an instant, they vanished from sight.
Tuoba Hong and the hundreds of Demon General Realm cultivators gave chase.
Each pushed their speed to the limit, using everything they had.
Their divine consciousness had locked onto the insects the moment they flew out.
Within a few breaths, several lucky and powerful individuals caught them.
"Haha, I caught one! I caught one!"
"Ten breaths! It only took me ten breaths.
Now I’m one of Junior Sister Boundless Snow’s assistants, hahaha!"
"..."
Those who caught the insects hurried to Boundless Snow.
Their eyes burned with fervor.
They returned the insects to her.
"Since you’ve caught the insects, stand behind me."
Boundless Snow’s cold voice rang out.
These individuals quietly stood behind her, faces alight with excitement.
As the crowd buzzed, Su Jingzhen suddenly felt a strange aura pass by.
Instinctively, he reached out.
To his surprise, a Heavenly Demon Spirit Realm Insect rested in his palm.
Boundless Snow’s gaze instantly turned toward him.
Su Jingzhen’s expression showed surprise.
He felt somewhat innocent.
The insect had practically flown into his hand.
There was no doubt Boundless Snow had done this intentionally.
Su Jingzhen’s heart grew heavier.
Boundless Snow had deliberately made him an assistant. Combined with her earlier coldness, her intentions were clear.
"That person… That’s Yan Xiao, right?
What’s going on? How did he become one of the eighteen?
He didn’t even move, did he?
Did Junior Sister Boundless Snow personally invite him?"
"What luck! What ability does this guy have to earn her favor?"
"I heard he once split off a clone to connect with Junior Sister Boundless Snow. Did he succeed?"
Many in the crowd noticed.
They were astonished.
Su Jingzhen felt sharp auras lock onto him.
Those who hadn’t caught an insect seethed with envy and hatred.
Why did this guy get one handed to him without moving?
They didn’t dare question Boundless Snow.
So, they directed their hostility toward Su Jingzhen.
He looked at the insect in his hand, feeling it was a hot potato.
But under the crowd’s watchful eyes, he had no choice but to join the assistants behind Boundless Snow.
At such close distance, he felt her extraordinary aura even more keenly.
His heart grew more complicated.
He knew this was Xuening, the same Xuening who had once quietly followed him, without desires or demands.
But now, he didn’t know if revealing his identity would lead to a reunion or an endless pursuit.
Twenty breaths passed.
The first eighteen to catch the insects stood behind Boundless Snow.
Tuoba Hong, who’d come with Su Jingzhen, was among them.
Seeing Su Jingzhen, he was surprised.
"Senior Brother Yan Xiao, you’re so fast! I knew with your strength, you’d make it."
Though Tuoba Hong said this, he was puzzled. He’d invited Su Jingzhen earlier, but Su Jingzhen hadn’t moved.
Boundless Snow glanced at the eighteen beside her.
She nodded silently.
She had no objections to this lineup.
With a wave, eighteen light orbs floated toward Su Jingzhen and the others.
"These are maps of the Abyss I’ve explored.
Familiarize yourselves.
When we descend, the speed will be fast. I won’t care for any of you. If you can’t reach the sixteenth level, you may be lost in the Abyss forever.
Life and death will be up to fate, and you can’t blame me.
We’re aiming for the eighteenth level—the very bottom!
I don’t know what’s there.
If you reach the sixteenth level using my routes, I’ll share joint-attack techniques there!
We’ll form a demonic array to withstand the seventeenth level!"
Boundless Snow’s words shocked the Demon General Realm cultivators present.
Normally, the tenth level was an impressive feat for them.
The sixteenth level? Almost none here had reached it.
Su Jingzhen faintly felt Boundless Snow didn’t truly need eighteen assistants.
She’d gathered them this way, but few would reach the sixteenth level.
Perhaps only he would make it that far.
"Could this be a trap set for me?"
Su Jingzhen pondered.
But in the next moment, he hesitated. Even if Boundless Snow could kill Yan Xiao without such lengths, her motives remained unclear.
"Junior Sister Boundless Snow once glimpsed the sixteenth level with the sect’s elders, but never this deep with so few."
"Thank goodness I didn’t catch an insect. I might end up a skeleton at the bottom."
"I’d like to see how many of these eighteen make it back."
"..."
Those who’d failed to catch an insect wore cold smiles.
Some felt schadenfreude.
Boundless Snow ignored the chatter.
She looked at the eighteen beside her, including Su Jingzhen, and the dozen who’d come with her.
Nearly thirty in total.
Her cold voice rang out: "Entering the Abyss will be dangerous.
Some may perish, never to return.
If you lack confidence, withdraw now. I won’t force you."
The crowd grew solemn.
Su Jingzhen considered another possibility.
Perhaps this wasn’t a trap for him but a way to find sacrifices.
Looking at Boundless Snow’s cold, peerless figure, he felt a hint of dread.
He revisited Yan Xiao’s memories of the Abyss.
Before his clone returned, Yan Xiao’s strength had been weaker, his knowledge limited to the sixth or seventh level.
Su Jingzhen found no useful details.
But giving up wasn’t an option. With the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss, he could release its four Demon Kings if needed.
As he pondered, two assistants hesitated before withdrawing.
"Junior Sister, my strength is lacking. I won’t join this time."
"I wish Junior Sister Snow success."
They retreated awkwardly to the edge.
Boundless Snow nodded silently. The crowd showed no mockery, only solemnity.
In the Starry Sky Demons, glory mattered, but risking life beyond one’s strength wasn’t heroic.
Boundless Snow turned to the crowd’s edge.
"We now have two spots. Any senior brothers want to join?"
Her voice remained cold.
Two who’d failed earlier but were confident stepped forward.
The temptation of earning Boundless Snow’s favor was too great.
Once the eighteen were reassembled, Boundless Snow didn’t hesitate.
She clasped her hands toward Su Jingzhen and the others.
"Thank you for trusting me. Now, let’s set off!"
The dozen who’d come with her gathered their auras.
All were at the eighth transformation of the Demon General Realm!
They formed hand seals, and spiritual runes appeared above the Abyss.
A vortex passage filled with spatial energy formed.
"They can open a passage above the Abyss? Where does it lead?"
"The aura below is violent—likely the tenth level!"
"Incredible! They’ll sprint from the tenth level, saving time and energy!"
"..."
Su Jingzhen raised an eyebrow.
He’d planned to explore from the first level.
He hadn’t expected Boundless Snow’s haste.
As the passage formed, the ten eighth-transformation cultivators stepped in first.
The violent energy stabilized.
Boundless Snow glanced at Su Jingzhen and the others.
"Senior brothers, follow me!"
She stepped into the passage.
Su Jingzhen and the others grew solemn but followed.
The passage, though above the Abyss, resembled teleportation arrays he’d used before.
In a few breaths, they appeared in another space.
It brimmed with dense demonic energy and a mysterious power.
This power echoed world energy’s depth, yet carried a raw, untamed edge he couldn’t place.
He absorbed a wisp and sent it into the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.
Blood Empress, Mo Xuantian, Mo Xuanling, and the old tree—all Demon Kings—were astonished.
Blood Empress smiled.
"Little brother, have you entered the Abyss of the Boundless Demon Sect?"
Su Jingzhen’s eyes lit up.
He’d nearly forgotten Blood Empress’s familiarity with the sect.
Before he could ask, she continued, "This is Primordial Yellow Energy!
It’s unique to the Abyss, a remnant of the creation energy from the Boundless Demon Realm’s birth.
Absorbing it benefits cultivators and is sacred for body refinement.
It only exists at the tenth level.
I didn’t expect you to reach it in less than a day.
As expected of someone I’ve taken a liking to."
Blood Empress laughed, and golden text appeared before Su Jingzhen.
[Emotional Connection +34]
[Emotional Connection +34]
[Emotional Connection +34]
[Remaining Available Points: 60,885]
Another triple strike.
Before Su Jingzhen could speak, Blood Empress added excitedly, "Little brother, since you’re in the Abyss, can you take me with you?"
After destroying Ling Hua’s room, she’d returned to the Pure Land.
Though a Demon King, she feared approaching the sect openly might alert the No Thought Demon King or Boundless True Demon, ruining Su Jingzhen’s plans.
In the Abyss, though, she saw opportunities, and its energy was beyond detection.
"Sister, I’d like to revisit this place. One of my secret techniques could perfect quickly with its energy."
Su Jingzhen smiled. "Since Sister Blood Empress needs it, I’ll help. But now isn’t the right time."
He explained his situation.
Hearing he’d connected with Boundless Snow, Blood Empress’s shock deepened.
[Emotional Connection +34]
[Emotional Connection +34]
[Emotional Connection +34]
[Remaining Available Points: 60,987]
Another triple strike.
To her, reaching the tenth level paled beside bonding with Boundless Snow so fast.
She suddenly felt Su Jingzhen could achieve anything.
After her shock, Blood Empress’s eyes lit up.
"Since you’ve gained a foothold with Boundless Snow, could I slip out later to snare her into the Pure Land—if the timing’s right?"