Chapter 433: This Long-Lost And Familiar Energy, The Demoness In Red, Chan Honyi
The Demonic Energy in the Demon-Burying Abyss surged. The deeper they went, the more intense the terrifying fluctuation felt. Moreover, other than the countless skeletons hanging on the walls surrounding them, there were also living beings of all races. They could also feel the fear that made them shiver and penetrated their souls. The cold air had even seeped into their flesh and bones.
This was no longer a place normal people could just waltz into.
Demon-Burying Abyss had existed for many years, and yet only a handful of people had come to this pitch-black place. However, with Gu Changge's powerful eyes, he could easily see the surroundings clearly. The walls were steep and covered with various plants. There were also many fairly young Soul-Exterminating Lotuses taking root in the void.
They went all the way down the mouth of the abyss until they were now close to the bottom.
The demonic entities here were more frighteningly powerful. Even the monks around Chosen Monk Jin Chan were struggling to move forward, and many had suffered serious injuries inflicted by the demonic entities here. However, Buddhist Mountain's dharma was exquisite enough to easily expel Demonic Energy from them without causing much damage.
As though a piece of the sky had fallen, there was a terrifying and vast fluctuation ahead that destroyed everything in the surrounding area at this moment. Seeing this, Chosen Monk Jin Chan's expression turned solemn, and he looked back at Gu Changge.
"The depths of the abyss are where danger truly lurks. How about everyone wait here while I explore the place, Young Master Changge?" he asked.
Although what Gu Changge said before eased his suspicion, he was still wary of Gu Changge and secretly had his guard up. A man like him would never give his complete trust to another person, more so when the other party was Gu Changge. The best thing to do now was to avoid Gu Changge and enter the place alone so that he could prevent Gu Changge from coveting the Zen Robe.
"Is that right?" Hearing that, Gu Changge didn't give much of a reaction other than replying with a smile. "All the more reason for me to stay if it's dangerous. What if something bad happens to you here? I wouldn't want the Buddhist Mountain to blame me for it."
Of course, he knew what the monk was thinking.
Despite his disappointment, Chosen Monk Jin Chan maintained the look on his face. "In that case, I'll have to trouble you in a bit, Young Master Changge." In fact, he wasn't surprised by Gu Changge's reply. It only made sense for Gu Changge to not leave at this point. It wasn't as though Chosen Monk Jin Chan had high hopes when he suggested it earlier.
Soon, Chosen Monk Jin Chan led everyone through the place where the Demonic Energy was even more widespread, and finally came to the bottom of the Demon-Burying Abyss.
Different from the turbulent Demonic Energy in other areas, this place appeared to be extremely peaceful. Not a single demonic entity could be seen. As if they had entered an invisible portal to the deepest part of hell, this place was so quiet not a hint of energy of life could be detected.
"Something feels off here. It's unsettling," commented a monk from the Floating Buddhist Temple. He had a frown on his face as his eyes swept across the quiet abyss. This was very different from the depths of the Demon-Burying Abyss they imagined. However, they could still see the many traces of fighting and killing. Someone had been here before, but this was also where they met their end. Thick Demonic Fog could also be seen filling the air of this place, and it could even shroud one's divine sense behind a dark and gloomy curtain.
[The Zen Robe is here.] Chosen Monk Jin Chan felt the Buddhist Bone in his arms start to glow as it sent out a sense of familiarity. This piece of Buddhist Bone was the relic transformed by the last owner of the Zen Robe after his demise. It looked exactly like a bone that shone brilliantly as wisps of Buddhist cadence intertwined on its surface. However, Chosen Monk Jin Chan's face looked as normal as could be when he suggested, "This is a special place. I suggest we split up and look for leads. What do you think, Young Master Changge?"
Gu Changge, too, felt a sense of familiarity with nature coming from the depths of the Demon-Burying Abyss. He smiled nonchalantly upon hearing those words. "Since Chosen Monk Jin Chan has said so, we should investigate separately. But if there is any danger, I am afraid it will be difficult to go to immediately lend each other our support."
"There is no other way. Everyone should watch their own backs. I have my suspicions that this place has something to do with the loosening and breaking of the Demon-Burying Abyss seal. Let's gather up here if you can't find any clues," Chosen Monk Jin Chan sighed.
"If so, I'll start from this side." Gu Changge smilingly nodded and went directly to another area where the Demonic Energy was more turbulent. Chosen Monk Jin Chan took a deep look at him, and it was only after seeing Gu Changge's figure disappear that he turned around and went in the direction the Buddhist bone was beckoning him to. However, out of worry that Gu Changge would turn back, the monk hid himself and carefully waited there.
[It seems that he really went in another direction.] Chosen Monk Jin Chan quietly breathed a sigh of relief. After not seeing Gu Changge following him despite him waiting for a long time, he headed towards the place the Buddhist bone picked up. He was extremely vigilant towards Gu Changge, and he hadn't lowered his guard for even one second. He was cautious about everything.
After separating from Chosen Monk Jin Chan Fozi and the others, Gu Changge appeared on a low mountain at the bottom of the abyss with a faint mockery on his face. [Are you still foolishly waiting for me to turn back?]
How could he not know what the Chosen Monk was thinking? Just as Chosen Monk Jin Chan didn't want him to follow, Gu Changge also didn't want to be followed. After all, there was still a drop of his True Blood here. He could go take his True Blood while Chosen Monk Jin Chan went for the Zen Robe. In fact, Gu Changge wasn't the least bit worried. Even if Chosen Monk Jin Chan found what he was here for, Gu Changge had his ways to make the monk surrender the item to him.
However, the energy contained in this drop of True Blood in the Demon-Burying Abyss was beyond imagination. With his current strength, even if his Grand Flask swallowed it and forcely refined it, it would be a tall task. But as long as Gu Changge had the Zen Robe, the process would be much easier.
Gu Changge's figure swiftly passed through this place and headed towards the darker area ahead, where the terrifying fluctuations could be seen and felt. This was where his Sacred Emperor Realm aura surged. It practically made him invincible. Even from a distance, his aura felt as though it could cause a person's body and soul to collapse.
During this process, there were many Sacred King Realm great demons who appeared. However, all of them ended up cowering as they kept their distance and prostrated on the spot they stood on.
Gu Changge's cultivation now was only half a foot away from Quasi-Nirvana Realm. Those in the Sacred King Realm were no different from ants in his eyes. At this moment, the great demons all felt as if they were worshipping a true dragon. Their opponent could shatter them to pieces by putting a little pressure.
The land in front of him was already a dark purple colour. As if formed by countless blood stains. The quiet, exhausted piece of land was filled with Demonic Energy. This was a strange place which had been smashed to pieces. Terrifying craters formed from fallen stars could also be seen here.
Gu Changge went deep into the place, but he didn't feel Chan Honyi's aura. Thinking that she must be where Chosen Monk Jin Chan was heading, while he himself was where the drop of True Blood fell, he immediately headed deeper to the seemingly-deserted land.
There were even some ancient Engraved stones here that fell from somewhere. Some of them were complete; some were broken. Gu Changge only took a glance at them before he got bored of the sight. The depths of the Demon-Burying Abyss was a world of its own where the territory was endless.
The remaining prestige of the drop of True Blood had even changed and reversed the World Principles here, causing the environment here to have different Great Daos. He could even see many disordered stars and galaxies emerging above his head. This scene was frightening; this place was already an independent world of its own.
Gu Changge eventually reached the deepest parts of the place. This sea of fire, or sea of blood, was boundless and thick with surging Demonic Energy. As it bubbled and billowed, wisps of brilliant, blood-coloured oozed out of it. Supreme Principles could be seen merging into the sea. If one was looking at it from a high altitude, one would be able to see bubbles emerging one by one and tumbling into the sky as if there was an ancient world in it.
Even Gu Changge felt like his body was about to burst when he arrived here. One could only imagine how scary and mighty the energy of this sea of blood was. Even a True Daoist would feel intimidated, and would hesitate to approach this place. However, as Gu Changge exuded more of his energy, this feeling of being torn apart disappeared. After all, the two were two peas in a pod.
Right then, several vague figures exuding terrifying auras emerged not far away. However, their faces were not of the human race. Their strange appearance was as though all kinds of things were spliced together. There were ones with human heads and animal bodies, and there are also those with animal heads and human bodies.
They were staring at Gu Changge with surprise, awe, and submission at this moment. Their feelings came from the bottom of their hearts. This was because they were the terrifying Ox Spirits bred by this sea of blood, and they were also giants who dominated the Demon-Burying Abyss. Any other demonic entities were but food to them.
Despite noticing them, Gu Changge didn't care much about them. He only lightly closed his eyes and sighed in admiration when he came to the bank of the sea of blood. [This familiar and long-lost energy...] At this moment, the sea of blood in front of him was boiling, and there was a monstrous red wave of light rushing out. It was as if it was cheering and welcoming their original master.
*Whoosh* Gu Changge suddenly opened his mouth at the boundless sea of blood. A terrifying momentum seemed to sweep the world as it shook the heavens, and even space was about to collapse. All the creatures near the sea of blood couldn't help trembling and falling to their knees, not daring to move an inch.
*Buzz!* The area between his eyebrows let out a bright, clean glow then. It was a terrifying power that penetrated the clouds, entwined with five-colour rays of light and Chaos Qi. This was the first time Gu Changge had shown his power, which literally could split the sky apart. Even the stars in front of him were so fragile they could turn to ashes in one breath.
This power was unrivalled.
A terrible thing happened the next moment. Following Gu Changge's roar, the sea of blood in front of him began to boil like crazy as it crashed in Gu Changge's direction. He devoured the Ox Spirits as he sucked in the endless blood energy here, and the red brilliance like a galaxy soon fell into his mouth. It seemed like a bottomless black hole had formed here, or even a dark, collapsed sun that was sucking on all the light in the world. The vast sea of blood quickly disappeared, but stormy waves were formed.
Such a scene was so shocking that Gu Changge even summoned out his tall and sturdy Dharma Body. Every inch of the sea of blood gushed at him when he opened his mouth.
Stunned by what was happening, all the beings in the vicinity looked horrified as they trembled in horror. They never thought there would come a day when the source of the sea of blood that created them, the source of all the Demonic Energy, would be swallowed by someone. The energy of this young man left them even more afraid than the source of this sea of blood.
A creature in tattered black battle suit flowing with black light and stained with blood that must have dirtied the battle suit at some point appeared then. Some parts of the suit had cracked open, revealing green skin. It also had a battered spear in one hand, while the other held a Coal Shield that had cracked on one side. With its terrifying energy, it had possibly reached the Quasi-Nirvana Realm.
The rest of the creatures around here were terror-stricken when they sensed its arrival. Obviously, it was the king of this place, making it stronger than the rest of the Ox Spirits. When it came in front of Gu Change, it put down the spear and shield in its hand, and there was a radiant light in its eye sockets when it lowered its head sincerely, showing its willingness to be Gu Changge's follower.
Gu Changge, on the other hand, lightly closed his eyes and quietly calmed the sea of blood. He didn't give much of a response despite being aware of the creature's yield.
Seeing this, the rest of the Ox Spirits left this place in silence without daring to get too close. They would become the creature's food if they encountered it any other day. They could imagine how powerful and terrifying it was. The injuries and tattered battle suit on its bodies were the best proof of their guess.
And just when Gu Changge was devouring the sea of blood, to take away his True Blood, the entire Demon-Burying Abyss was also undergoing shocking changes.
A monstrous hostility swept out from a place far away from here. This kind of ferocious power was so terrifying it was indescribable. There was even an unrivalled Demonic Energy gushing out of the Demon-Burying Abyss, dimming all the stars within a million kilometres. All the essence of the universe started rolling backwards, and countless stars trembled, each of them seemed to be collapsing.
The sky soon went dark then, and not a hint of light could be seen. Such a scene shocked many forces in the Upper Realm. Even the faces of many Ancient Beings who were good at deduction fell when they look in the direction of the Demon-Burying Abyss.
"What a gory sight... This is an indelible hatred and killing intent that will last forever. Things are going to be very different in the Upper Realm." The Elders of the Pavillion of Heavenly Secrets and the Sikong Family, who were experts at deduction, all sported a gravely solemn and dignified look on their faces. The tortoise shell in their hands cracked open with a loud sound, and someone even groaned as they coughed up blood and were flung backwards. They were horrified by the backlash.
"It's a terrible disaster. I'm afraid that an unimaginable and peerless demon will be emerge from the Demon-Burying Abyss! I can't believe this! The seal has been wearing out through the years. Is it finally going to break and bring the end to all of us?"
"But isn't it supposed to hold out for another half-a-year? Why is this happening?!"
Many peerless experts frowned. They already had their hands full with the battle in the Eight Wastelands and Ten Domains, and something big just had to happen in the Demon-Burying Abyss. It was difficult to divide their attention. They would at least have time to think of a plan to deal with it if there was still half a year left, but judging from the current situation, something strange might have happened in the Demon-Burying Abyss right now.
"This won't do. We have to send a few experts to check out the situation. We'll need to take time to resolve the problem in the Demon-Burying Abyss."
They started to think of countermeasures right there and then before they dispatched the experts around them to investigate the Demon-Burying Abyss. In that instant, the Upper Realm was in mayhem. There was first the disaster with the Eternal Overcast, and now there was chaos in the Demon-Burying Abyss. Everyone was left in panic and unease.
At the same time, Chosen Monk Jin Chan, who was at the depths of the Demon-Burying Abyss, had a startled look on his face, as he almost suffocated earlier. [What the hell just happened!? Could it be because of the Zen Robe? Just why is the seal weakening now?]
There was a tremor that came from his soul, as if it was about to freeze. That overwhelming hatred that wiped out both energy and soul permeating this place, and seemed to have become one with the surroundings. With his current state of mind, he couldn't help the fear that arose. He didn't dare imagine how powerful the existence sealed in the deepest part was.
However, Chosen Monk Jin Chan was no ordinary person. His expression quickly returned to normal, and he looked at a mountain glowing with Buddha aura not far away. Even though it was neither big nor tall, there were many shiny scriptures on it, and a string of intertwined and glowing ancient runes branded everywhere near it. Faintly, he could even see the divine light around the mountain peak. The silhouettes of Buddhas and ancient monks appeared to be sitting at the mountain peak with their legs crossed as they chanted scriptures.
What truly caught his eye was a moonlight-white Zen Robe sitting there, aglow with an untainted Buddha aura as it protected everything around it. When the Demonic Energy drifted here, it seemed to be stained by the scorching sun, making a hissing sound as it turned green.
"Chosen Monk, this is the boundary line of the seal. We can't get any closer. The smoke is about to disperse." The many monks around Chosen Monk Jin Chan all looked dignified as they stared at the scene behind the mountain peak. It was pitch black there. As if trapped in eternal darkness. No light could be seen. However, they could feel a palpitating energy which made them tremble coming from it. They could hardly withstand such pressure. Having to put up with the feeling made them feel like ants in front of a dragon. The unstoppable pressure was comparable to the feeling of walking on the edge of an abyss with eyes closed; one mistake was all it took for one to be completely destroyed.
There were also all kinds of terrifying arrays here emitting bursts of golden light, but with the contamination of the Demonic Energy. With the inch-long cracks on them, it was only a matter of time before they broke down. This frightened the monks to no end.
"I know." Chosen Monk Jin Chan's face was solemn. "But we have to take the Zen Robe."
He walked towards the top of the mountain ahead. At the same time, he took out a Buddhist Bone glowing with Buddha Aura in his hand to replace the Zen Robe's spot when he took the robe. This place's seal would take no time to crumble if he didn't do this.
However, all of a sudden, Chosen Monk Jin Chan's face fell, and he felt chills over his body. As though stared at by a gruesome existence, he didn't dare to move. A cold, bone-chilling air enveloped his whole body, and even his scalp felt like it was going to burst open. He didn't have the courage to turn his head, but he saw the petrified expressions of the other monks as they stared behind him.
"What is that?"
Chosen Monk Jin Chan's Buddha Heart was flowing with Buddha aura at this moment. At the same time, the Buddhist bone was also blooming with dazzling brilliance. Fighting against this frightening aura, he forced himself to turn his head, only to see a figure standing not far from him.
The other party seemed to be looking at him in doubt and puzzlement.
It was a figure so dazzling no words of praise could perfectly describe her beauty. Her loveliness had reached an extreme, and no one would dare disrespect her. It almost felt like a sin to even take a look at her. Her tall and slender figure was dressed in red. With black hair like a waterfall, and a small, heart-shaped face, no flaws could be found in her facial features. Not only that, her clear pupils were like flawless black gems shining with lustre. However, she looked confused as she dazedly stood there looking at Chosen Monk Jin Chan. As if staring into the void, her eyes lacked focus as she looked past the man at something.
[This is the figure I saw before... It's the Demoness in Red who was sealed in the Demon-Burying Abyss!] As the memories emerged in his head, his calm heart started to beat violently. He looked away with great difficulty. Knowing how frightening this existence was, he didn't have the courage to look at her a second longer.
The woman in red stood trapped within the arrays when bursts of golden light fell on her body, prompting wisps of green smoke to well. It was obvious that she was in pain, but there was no change in her expression as she continued to stare at the distance in confusion. Moreover, she had a unique Celestial Energy on her that felt as heavenly as it was hellish. Her energy was so terrifying that it made the monks' scalps tingle, and their legs almost failed them.
"This is the land of the demoness in red that was recorded in the ancient records..."
"It is her!"
All the monks of the Buddhist Mountain looked terrified, but they eventually calmed down when they saw how the demoness was still imprisoned within the seal. The reason the abbot of the Floating Buddhist Temple met his end was because he entered the magic circle by mistake.
None of them dared to underestimate the demoness in red. They couldn't even begin to imagine how terrifying she could be. In fact, it felt like their souls were about to freeze to the point of breaking even though all she did was stand there. They didn't look at her for long, and they quietly chanted sutras to calm themselves down, lest they were enchanted by her beauty.
"She can't get out of there." Knowing that she couldn't leave where she was sealed off in, Chosen Monk Jin Chan quickly calmed down and felt more at ease.
He was about to go to the mountain ahead and take off the Zen Robe when hundreds of millions of divine lights suddenly burst out from the arrays here. It was as if they had turned into beams of dazzling light that blasted towards the demoness in red in the sealed place. Her body immediately emitted bursts of smoke-like hissing sounds that sounded like water on a hot pan.
The sound was enough to make one clench their jaws in pain, but she seemed to be unable to feel the pain, or perhaps, she was used to the pain. She kept looking at the direction behind Chosen Monk Jin Chan in a daze. It seemed that she was able to sense someone there. Someone who was very important to her, someone she could never forget... Even if she couldn't see them, she knew where they were.
In her trance-like state, she mumbled one word out of an ancient language under her breath. "M-Master..."
However, Chosen Monk Jin Chan and the rest of them couldn't make out what she uttered. All they could tell was that she had said something from an old language, but they didn't know what age the language was.
The demoness in red seemed to want to get out of here, but when she touched the light in front of her, puffs of green smoke wafted from her body. As though burned by fire, she couldn't help but take a step back in pain. The faces of the Buddhist Mountain's quickly fell, and they involuntarily shivered when they saw the flesh and bones of the demoness' hand melt away when she touched the light. They couldn't begin to imagine how cruel the being who set up the arrays here was.
Not only that, the arrays seemed to have been set up especially to keep the demoness imprisoned. No one else would trigger the arrays, and they could easily walk over to her side...