Trials of the Abyss-Chapter 576: The True God Council

Gui Mu's indistinct projection suddenly became sharp and clear under the watchful eyes of the gathered True Gods.

She was an imposing woman, taller than most men, with a strong physique clad in a green robe. Though not conventionally beautiful, her aura exuded a sense of majesty and solemn grandeur.

As the most powerful figure in the history of the Ghost Sacrifice Sect, she wielded control over the Pool of Reincarnation and was a master of the Dao of Karma.

Nominally, she was merely Mu Wentao's senior sister, but she had actually been more like a mentor and maternal figure to him.

When Mu Wentao was a youth, she taught him the techniques of the Ghost Sacrifice Sect, guiding him through the world and instructing him on how to grow stronger. She had also played a decisive role in his ascension to godhood.

Mu Wentao's power and status were almost entirely her doing. Even Ling Yimo had been entrusted to Mu Wentao after she discovered her in the bizarre mist.

Everyone believed that, as the de facto ruler of the Ghost Sacrifice Sect, she bore inescapable responsibility for Mu Wentao's betrayal to serve the Outer God Zi Mo. Despite this, no one openly accused her or demanded that she take accountability for Mu Wentao's actions.

This was because her name occupied a significant place in the relatively short but storied history of the human race's dominance in the Abyss.

Gui Mu had made extraordinary contributions alongside the Sword Pavilion during the foreign races' past attempts to ascend.

Her formidable strength was painstakingly built through the slaughter of Rank Ten foreign race warriors.

In her earlier years, she was among the weakest of the True Gods in her era, but she gradually grew her strength over the course of many bloody battles.

The Ghost Sacrifice Sect's enduring prominence and her ability to secure a divine seat for Mu Wentao were the results of her hard-fought victories.

Her contributions to the human race were undeniable; thus even though Mu Wentao's betrayal implicated her to some extent, no one harshly criticized her for it.

Now, with Pang Jian returning from the starry skies, his Immortal Divine Soul battered and wounded, Li Wang brought the matter up once again.

Under the watchful eyes of the gathered True Gods, she remained silent, merely allowing her previously indistinct projection to solidify into a clearer form.

"Whenever a True God departs from the Abyss or falls in battle, the Fortune tied to them will return to the Abyss," Li Wang explained, massaging his temples as he unceremoniously slumped into his seat. "Pang Jian, this is why we rarely allow our manifested divine souls to roam freely. It's incredibly difficult to heal them once injured.

"A divine soul fused with a divine seat requires Fortune to heal, even from minor injuries. Part of the reason we left one divine seat vacant for so long was to facilitate recovery efforts."

The True Gods had used the unoccupied divine seat reserved for Li Zhaotian to heal their injuries.

As long as a divine seat remained vacant, its reserves of Fortune could be partially drawn upon and would replenish over time. The True Gods had collectively agreed to leave a divine seat unoccupied because it benefited everyone.

If not for the dire situation for the human race requiring the rise of a powerful Sword God, that position would have likely remained vacant for longer.

"I see." Pang Jian fixed his gaze on Gui Mu. "This time, I stepped out of the Abyss with my physical body. I encountered a few low-ranking Outer Gods in the bizarre mist. I also ventured into another abyss."

His words immediately drew the weighty attention of those present. The mention of another abyss was enough to pique the curiosity of the True Gods.

"That world is known as the Shadow Abyss. While there, I encountered an Aberrant Spirit known as the Star Devourer. According to the Outer Gods, the Star Devourer is a treasure trove. Its severed limbs can be forged into divine artifacts—"

His words came to an abrupt halt.

The gathered True Gods patiently waited for him to continue.

His silence persisted.

Eventually, unable to hold back any longer, Li Yuanli asked, "Why did you stop?"

"Uncle Li, Senior Liu, Senior Dong, Senior Tiandu, and..." Pang Jian's eyes landed on the faint silhouette of Su Wanrou of the Pure Land Sect. With a precise and respectful bow, he continued, "Senior Su, once this council on the Stargazing Platform concludes, I will share everything I know without reservation."

"Good child," Su Wanrou gently replied.

When Pang Jian's projection first descended, he had already offered her an informal bow. Su Wanrou had long been Pang Lin's protector, hoping to one day see her inherit the Heavenly Dao that the ancient Thunder Dragon had long dominated.

Both their relationships with Pang Lin naturally positioned them as allies. Pang Jian felt nothing but gratitude for Su Wanrou and believed she deserved only the utmost respect.

Her simple phrase, "Good child," conveyed more than a thousand words ever could.

Having paid his respects to her, Pang Jian turned toward another indistinct figure and performed the formalities of a disciple with a bow.

"Though we're meeting for the first time, my master often spoke of you," he said earnestly. "When this matter concludes, I humbly invite this esteemed senior to visit the Sword Pavilion. I would be honored to clarify anything related to the outer worlds."

"Did he truly mention me often in front of you?" asked Yin Ji, a rogue True God.

She appeared uninterested in the Outer Gods or the Shadow Abyss, instead focusing on whether Li Zhaotian spoke of her to his disciples.

Pang Jian nodded sincerely. "Always."

"Zhaotian took in a fine disciple," Yin Ji remarked warmly.

Wanderer Tiandu, another rogue True God, chuckled in his stone pillar, genuinely surprised at the uncharacteristically gentle side that the fearsome Yin Ji was showing to Pang Jian.

Fatty Li truly knows how to pick a disciple, he thought to himself.

After paying formal respect to the two senior figures, Pang Jian added, "I will represent the Sword Pavilion in extending an invitation for a private gathering with esteemed seniors at a later time.

"Senior Li, I have nothing further to say here," he said politely to Li Wang, his tone measured and distant.

There were sixteen True Gods, with fourteen remaining after excluding Mu Wentao and Luo Hongyan.

Liu Fu, Li Yuanli, Dong Shangqing, Su Wanrou, Lin Qiyang—also from the Pure Land Sect—and the two rogue True Gods formed a faction of eight, including Pang Jian.

Pang Jian had effectively drawn a dividing line among the True Gods with this one move.

As the World God of this era, Pang Jian's ability to freely traverse in and out of the Abyss granted him unparalleled potential to surpass others in exploring and understanding the outer worlds.

The seven he singled out each shared various ties with him. Nobody in their right mind would decline a private meeting with him.

Excluding Zhu Ji, Jiang Fan, Li Wang, Gui Mu, Pei Yishan, and Li Chu meant these six True Gods were cut off from firsthand knowledge of Pang Jian's experiences beyond the Abyss.

Knowledge of oneself and one's enemy was vital for victory. Venturing into the starry skies without a true understanding of the strength of the Outer Gods would inevitably put them at a severe disadvantage.

Moreover, there were rumors of a reborn Fire God in the Fifth World—an Outer God with a real divine body. The True Gods required more precise intelligence of the Outer Gods' combat prowess and the nature of other worlds.

This knowledge was something they could only rely on Pang Jian for.

The usually taciturn Zhu Ji uncharacteristically broke his silence. "Gui Mu, what's your stance on Mu Wentao?"

A chill swept through the True Gods.

Su Wanrou turned her gaze toward Zhu Ji's indistinct projection with visible surprise. The expression of the other True Gods turned grave.

Zhu Ji of the Boundless Sky Divine Kingdom was widely regarded as the strongest True God among them, surpassing even Su Wanrou and Gui Mu.

Only Su Wanrou and Gui Mu refused to openly acknowledge this claim.

Thus, when Zhu Ji finally broke his silence, no one dared to ignore his words. Not even Gui Mu.

"I won't interfere with your decision regarding him, nor will I involve myself in it," Gui Mu finally said. "I also won't seek revenge afterward."

Zhu Ji's normally stocky figure seemed to grow towering in response to her words. Su Wanrou did not press Gui Mu further. Li Wang and the other True Gods merely observed silently.

The proud and headstrong Gui Mu had always placed herself above reproach. No amount of questioning or persuasion could sway her. Only Zhu Ji could pressure her, even if only slightly.

"Mu Wentao is in the Sacred Soul Continent," Zhu Ji said. "I can hold the ancient Thunder Dragon in check and ensure it does not act recklessly. My only concern is that unexpected variables could arise once we move, such as the foreign race powerhouses from the Fifth World interfering."

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His words left no doubt about his intention to eliminate Mu Wentao!

Pang Jian's towering Immortal Divine Soul involuntarily lowered its gaze, locking onto Zhu Ji's stone pillar.

Zhu Ji's statement unmistakably implied that he could single-handedly suppress the ancient Thunder Dragon without fear or worry.

His only hesitation lay in the possibility that the other Fey Gods and foreign race powerhouses would get involved once they acted, with the possibility of escalating into an all-out war of annihilation.

"That's what worries us as well." Li Wang shot Pang Jian a bitter smile.

Liu Fu sighed. "After all, the Fey Race still has three living Fey Gods."

"What if the other two Fey Gods choose not to interfere and tacitly allow Mu Wentao's demise?" Pang Jian asked solemnly.

Li Wang asked hesitantly, "You can influence their stance?"

"At the very least, I'm certain Fey God Rock Bear won't interfere," Pang Jian mused. "I came from Northern Qi, and the Fey God there could have some connection to me. I won't know until I meet them though."

Li Wang chuckled. "Your status as a World God means you have sway over the Fey Gods. We can deal with the ancient Thunder Dragon if those two remain uninvolved. In that case, Mu Wentao will have no chance to survive."

"That settles it," Zhu Ji declared. "I'll handle the ancient Thunder Dragon. The rest of you decide who will eliminate Mu Wentao. There's no need to lure him out of the Sacred Soul Continent anymore. We strike directly."

Li Wang's expression changed. "According to the old accords, True Gods are forbidden from stepping into the Fey Race's territory!"

"That rule was built on the assumption that the Fey Race would always stand as our allies and fight alongside us," Zhu Ji countered, "Even if they remain neutral, the rule has to be discarded."

Su Wanrou was the first to express her stance. "I agree."

"That ancient Thunder Dragon has been getting bolder lately," Pei Yishan of the Forsaken Expanse Sect said. "He's convinced we won't act against the Fey Race for the sake of the bigger picture. I also believe we have to deal with Mu Wentao.

"We're simply punishing a traitor within our ranks, not targeting a Fey God. The Thunder Dragon dared to meddle in our internal affairs. It's only right that we teach him a lesson!"

Pei Yishan then glared pointedly at Li Chu.

"Li Chu challenging Pang Jian at the Resolute Expanse was in line with what most of us wanted..."

The True God of the Forsaken Expanse Sect shot a glance at Li Wang.

"But the Dragon Lair Sect was involved as well! A while back, Li Chu told me that the ancient Thunder Dragon sent him a message, urging him to test Pang Jian's strength."

Pang Jian was taken aback. He had not expected the Dragon Lair Sect to take such an interest in him, nor had he anticipated Pei Yishan openly revealing this before everyone.

"Li Chu is one of us. It was wrong of him to listen to the ancient Thunder Dragon, but at least he harbored no true malice toward Pang Jian," Pei Yishan said frankly. "If anything, he ended up learning a lesson himself,

"Li Chu is a part of my Forsaken Expanse Sect. That ancient Thunder Dragon bypassed me entirely and went straight to him.

"I will personally go to the Sacred Soul Continent. I don't care if I'm there to subdue that ancient Thunder Dragon or eliminate Mu Wentao. Either way, you can count me in."

Pei Yishan snorted coldly.

There was no mistaking his disdain for the ancient Thunder Dragon.

Pang Jian could not help but stare at the True God of the Forsaken Expanse Sect. Unlike Li Chu's cunning schemes and hidden agendas, Pei Yishan was forthright and straightforward in his actions.

"Good, we've at least set an initial course of action." Li Wang turned to Pang Jian and urged, "Now that Mu Wentao's matter is settled, you can finally share what happened after you left the Abyss."

"Naturally," Pang Jian responded with satisfaction.

***

As the sky gradually brightened, dark clouds gathered in the Resolute Expanse, rumbling with ominous thunder.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The thunderclaps grew louder as if threatening to tear the heavens asunder.

Lightning bolts lashed down from the clouds like coiling dragons and crackling whips, striking toward the earth like a Thunder God chastising the land.

The clouds thickened, and the lightning became more concentrated as they converged on a deep valley in the Resolute Expanse.

Something in that valley was actively summoning lightning to the Resolute Expanse!

"It's the Thunderclap Paradise! Pang Lin!" Wu Sujin cried as she descended to the valley's entrance.

Elder Mu Aichuan rose from his seated meditation, his back to her as he gazed into the depths of the valley.

"Something has changed within the Thunderclap Paradise," Mu Aichuan said gravely. "I've already sent word to the Sword Pavilion. Several Immortal Realm elders will arrive soon to stabilize the situation. There's a force brewing within the Thunderclap Paradise, but I cannot tell whether it's auspicious or calamitous yet."

Wu Sujin retrieved a jade talisman etched with lightning runes and tossed it into the valley. The talisman intercepted a bolt of lightning, absorbing a portion of it.

A flicker of delight curled the corner of her lips. "No need for concern, Elder Mu. I believe my junior sister is harnessing the Thunderclap Paradise to draw lightning from beyond this world.

"I've witnessed this phenomenon twice before. There should be no danger."

Wu Sujin then turned to the gathered cultivators, which included Qi Qingsong, Zhou Qingchen, and Li Yujing.

"There's no need to worry. Junior sister is likely making significant progress on her Dao of Lightning," she assured with a gentle smile.