Pang Jian's Divine Persona was formed through fragments of You Kui's Divine Persona and Corruption. The fact that a cluster of Corruption from the Black Empyrean Phoenix had fused with his Divine Persona worried him greatly. He feared that the Black Empyrean Phoenix could one day act through his physical body using that Corruption.
"What you refer to as Corruption is actually a portion of its original essence," the Primordial Demon explained. "The Black Empyrean Phoenix started its rebirth from the moment that first sliver of that essence was separated and the first Fey God was born through it.
"By dividing its essence, it created Fey Gods and Rank Ten powerhouses across various races, nurturing their growth. When they reached the peak of their power and could rise no further, that essence would be reclaimed. Its essence grew in this way, steadily accumulating, becoming more concentrated and powerful over time.
"This is the reason the Fey Gods and Rank Ten foreign race powerhouses ascended through the Black Empyrean Phoenix's essence, can never break through the barrier. Those Fey Gods and foreign race powerhouses are trapped, destined to perish within the Abyss, thus allowing its essence to return to its remains.
"Every cluster of essence it reclaimed pushed its path to rebirth a step further. Fey Gods have risen and fallen one after another over centuries and millennia. The essence it sent out always returned to its remains after they died. This is how it's continued to gather power.
"After so long, it has accumulated nearly enough strength to be reborn. However, just as it was about to do so, Sovereign Luo arrived.
"Either the Black Empyrean Phoenix will be reborn, or Sovereign Luo will seize its Dao of Darkness for herself.
"To be honest, I was hoping to take a share of the spoils myself." The Primordial Demon chuckled. "But the soul fragment I left within its remains can't even take part in the fight, even with neither Sovereign at their peak state. I can only observe the battle from the sidelines.
"You can stir lightning in your sea of consciousness and Divine Persona. That makes it difficult for me to twist your thoughts and will. Perhaps we could cooperate and see if the two of us together could have a chance to step in."
Pang Jian was born with a Primordial Chaos Spiritual Sea and carried within his body a vast reserve of murky energy. The seven fragmented lands in his dantian were etched with numerous Dao Seals.
The formation of his Divine Persona also meant that he now stood as a mid-ranking God. If he and the Primordial Demon could reach an agreement, they had the chance to tip the balance of this battle. seaʀᴄh thё NovelZone.fun website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.
"I have no intention of getting involved." Pang Jian shook his head in refusal, then cast one last deep glance at the remains of the Black Empyrean Phoenix. "Can the deepest depths of the Seventh World truly be traversed? I want to know if I, a person carrying the Black Empyrean Phoenix's essence, can break free of the Abyss."
The Primordial Demon's expression turned cold. Unable to corrupt Pang Jian's will, he had been forced to speak at length, attempting to lure him in with talk of alliance, hoping to draw him into the clash between two Sovereigns.
Pang Jian's refusal made him feel like he had wasted his time, and he had no desire to explain anything further.
The darkness swallowed another wave of light.
No longer interested in wasting his words, the Primordial Demon flew toward the vast remains of the Black Empyrean Phoenix in Qi Xu's body. Unable to seize Pang Jian's body or shake his will, he saw no reason to waste his energy on the human anymore.
The Primordial Demon's sudden departure left Pang Jian momentarily stunned.
The battle between the two Sovereigns and the Primordial Demon's attempts to claim a share for himself would all unfold around the Black Empyrean Phoenix's remains. Pang Jian sensed that this confrontation would be a long one, and as things stood, he had little qualification to take part.
Pang Jian had originally descended into the Seventh World to confront the Primordial Demon. However, the sight of the Primordial Demon vanishing beneath one of the Black Empyrean Phoenix's wings was enough for him to swiftly abandon the thought.
He had no intention of coming into contact with the remains of the Black Empyrean Phoenix. Given the situation, he figured he could take the time to investigate whether his physical body, fused with a cluster of the Black Empyrean Phoenix's essence, could escape the Abyss from the depths of the Seventh World.
Genuinely curious about what form the depth of the Seventh World would take, Pang Jian continued his descent.
***
Long Xiao and the Rock Bear conversed in human form inside the True Dragon Hall in the Sacred Soul Continent of the Second World.
They were the only two present in the hall.
"Lately, I've felt a heaviness in my heart, like something bad is about to happen," Long Xiao said quietly. Drawing a deep breath, he continued, "I've decided to leave. I'll have to ask you to watch over the Fey Race for me. If possible, look after the Dragon Lair Sect as well."
The Rock Bear was stunned. "Why?"
At this time, the Dragon Lair Sect was at its weakest and would likely collapse without the formidable ancient Thunder Dragon. This would leave the Fey Race with no ability to stand against the human race and the foreign races.
The old Rock Bear could not make sense of why Long Xiao planned to leave the Abyss at this critical juncture, when the Dragon Lair Sect and the Fey Race needed him most.
"If I don't leave soon, I'm afraid I'll die here in the Abyss." Long Xiao sighed. Although he could not explain the reasoning behind his fears, he firmly trusted his instincts. "I'm going to break through the barrier while Li Zhaotian is still in the lower worlds and too preoccupied to monitor it."
"Are you really going through with this? Are you just going to abandon the Dragon Lair Sect and the Fey Race?" the Rock Bear questioned.
"I wish I could stay, but something here fills me with overwhelming unease, and it's growing stronger by the moment. Lately, visions of the Celestial Phoenix's death have been surfacing in my mind. I can't explain it, but I'm certain it has something to do with her."
Long Xiao's eyes flickered with both regret and awe.
"For some reason, I feel she's coming back to life. If she returns, the Fey Race will still have a future. You all could follow her. But not me. If she comes back, I'll be the first one she kills."
Long Xiao had played a role, both openly and behind the scenes, in the death of the previous leader of the Fey Race, the Celestial Phoenix. Many Fey Kings whispered about it in private, but none dared speak of it publicly.
By admitting that the Celestial Phoenix would kill him if she were to return, he was, in effect, confessing his shameful part in her demise.
"It's not that I'm afraid of her!" Long Xiao snorted coldly. "It's just that the Dragon Lair Sect and the Fey Race have suffered terrible losses under my leadership. The chaos in the Abyss leaves me feeling completely at a loss for what to do next.
"Frankly speaking, I don't see a future for the Fey Race, or at least, I no longer have the strength to lead it toward one. If she truly is reborn, perhaps she and the black turtle can still lead you forward."
Long Xiao then told the Rock Bear about the reborn black turtle hibernating at the center of the Resolute Expanse.
After giving further instructions and passing along some words of advice to the dragons of the Dragon Lair Sect, Long Xiao departed from the Sacred Soul Continent, flying straight toward the barrier above the First World.
There was one thing he had not told the Rock Bear. Aside from the haunting visions of the Celestial Phoenix's death, he also sensed a familiar darkness growing wildly within the Abyss.
That Black Dragon King, with its impure bloodline, had grown so powerful in the world below that Long Xiao felt utterly powerless before it. If he did not leave soon, he would surely end up torn apart beneath the claws of the Black Dragon King.
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