112 Chapter 111

[Name: Xiahou Yuan (Lin Yuan)]

[Identity: Keeper of the Gate of the Myriad Realms]

[Bound Talent: Unrivaled Insight]

[Current Status: Consciousness Descended]

[Remaining Residency Time: Two hundred and ninety years]

The Great Abyss, eighteen levels underground.

Lin Yuan opened his eyes, scanning the illusory characters below his line of sight.

Unbeknownst to him, Lin Yuan had already been conscious in this realm for ten years.

During these ten years, Lin Yuan hadn't moved a muscle, dedicating all his efforts to wearing down the six black chains shackling his body.

As for why he hadn't starved to death in this realm's cultivation system, upon reaching the seventh realm, one could absorb the essence of heaven and earth, achieving a state of fasting.

Though the essence of heaven and earth within the Great Abyss was extremely scarce, it still existed. Coupled with Lin Yuan's consciousness descending, starvation was naturally out of the question.

Furthermore.

Tianjianzi would not allow Xiahou Yuan to starve to death.

The death of the physical body did not signify the demise of the soul.

Only if Xiahou Yuan actively sought death would he truly perish.

"It's been ten years."

Lin Yuan sighed.

"Finally, it's done."

Lin Yuan slowly rose to his feet.

At the same time.

The two black chains piercing through Lin Yuan's chest bone quietly disintegrated into dust.

The other four black chains binding his limbs also crumbled inch by inch.

Over the course of ten years, Lin Yuan had never ceased to devour and erode the black chains.

Finally, today, he completely resolved the suppression of his six black chains.

"Feels much freer."

Lin Yuan took a deep breath.

Having lost the suppression of the six black chains, Lin Yuan finally dared to breathe deeply.

"The transformation of my flesh due to the six thousand years' Deep Sea Essence Gold is quite remarkable."

A hint of surprise flashed across Lin Yuan's face.

Through the devouring technique of the Swallowing Path, constantly converting the evolution within the Deep Sea Essence Gold, Lin Yuan's physical body had improved significantly over the past ten years.

This was quite an unexpected joy.

Outside the Great Abyss.

Numerous guards still hadn't left.

As long as Xiahou Yuan remained alive, these guards wouldn't be able to depart.

Of course, the guards would rotate annually, and the Great Abyss, located in the frigid north, was the northernmost region within the northern territories.

If it weren't for the promised rewards from Tianjian Sect and the ability to rotate back home within a year, no cultivator would willingly come here.

"Xiahou Yuan hasn't died yet?"

Outside the entrance, Zhao Si could now handle things on his own, bringing a new recruit guards to inspect the stone lanterns.

When he noticed that the flames inside the lanterns were still burning slowly after these past ten years, he couldn't help but be amazed.

Over the past ten years, he had already rotated three times, relying on guarding the Great Abyss to receive rewards from Tianjian Sect.

Zhao Si had already reached the fourth stage/realm of cultivation.

Nevertheless.

Even though he was outside the Great Abyss.

He still felt suppressed.

Almost like an ordinary person, he had to take one step at a time.

And now, after a full decade, that legendary demon lord, Xiahou Yuan, was still alive.

If it weren't for the fact that this stone lantern was left by the number one powerhouse in the world, Tianjianzi.

Zhao Si would almost suspect that something was wrong with the lantern.

"This Xiahou Yuan, back then, was a genuine scourge to the world, a true demon lord."

Following convention, Zhao Si explained to the new recruit guard nearby just how wicked Xiahou Yuan was.

"Uncle Zhao, do you think if Xiahou Yuan is suppressed here, the demonic forces across the Five Realms will behave and not cause chaos?"

"But in recent years, there have been frequent traces of demons in my hometown, and several villages have been massacred."

The new recruit guard expressed his confusion.

From the accounts of his elders, he knew that over a decade ago, when the demon lord Xiahou Yuan was still around, the demonic forces across the Five Realms were unprecedentedly powerful, but such mass slaughters were rare.

"Well..."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Si fell silent.

It wasn't just the new recruit who had this doubt.

He had also heard of many such incidents.

With the absence of Xiahou Yuan, the leader of the demonic forces.

The demon lords across the Five Realms seemed to have lost their 'shackles.'

They had gone completely berserk.

Of course.

The righteous forces led by Tianjian Sect continued to dispatch disciples to eradicate these demon lords.

But it didn't have much significance.

Even if the demon lords were wiped out.

Often, several years or decades later.

New demon lords would emerge.

And most of these new demon lords were often the ones who had eradicated demon lords in the first place.

These individuals had obtained some demonic inheritance techniques. In the end, unable to resist the temptation, they began to practice them themselves.

There was no other way.

The cultivation methods of the demonic path were too alluring.

It was almost like cheating.

Normal cultivation methods required several years of hard work to advance from the first stage to the second stage, and one's innate talent had to be good.

But as for the demonic cultivation methods? No hard work or talent was needed.

All one needed was the ability to kill.

To the cultivators of the demonic path, the lifeblood and souls of living beings were like potent elixirs.

"Don't overthink it."

"Now that these demon lords are so rampant, you can imagine, if Xiahou Yuan were still around, the situation would be ten times more perilous."

Zhao Si comforted.

Rather than comforting the new recruit guard.

It was more like comforting himself.

A bold and reckless thought surged in his mind.

Perhaps Tianjianzi shouldn't have suppressed Xiahou Yuan back then.

If Xiahou Yuan were still around, even if the situation in the Five Realms couldn't be alleviated.

It wouldn't have worsened like it is now, right?

Eighteen levels underground.

Lin Yuan sat cross-legged.

"Next, it's time to regain my strength."

Lin Yuan thought to himself.

While the six black chains were still present, both his flesh and soul were suppressed.

Let alone cultivation, even the slightest movement would cause excruciating pain.

But now, freed from the suppression of the six black chains.

Recovering strength was straightforward.

Even though within the depths of the Great Abyss, where all methods withered away, ordinary cultivators at the seventh or eighth stage would have ninety percent of their strength suppressed.

But for Lin Yuan, it wasn't difficult.

Moreover, over the past ten years, while Lin Yuan had devoted all his energy to wearing down and devouring the black chains, he hadn't forgotten enlightenment.

In ten years, Lin Yuan had already digested more than half of the over one hundred evolutionary paths in the Seven Star Cave World.

Even the Mysterious Yellow Evolutionary Path had been comprehended to eight-tenths of its second-rank segment.

"It's a pity there are no special treasures to assist."

Recovering strength wasn't difficult; reaching the next realm was simply a matter of accumulating energy.

If Lin Yuan could bring the pot of 'Red Spirit Liquid' from the main world.

He could recover to full strength in half a day or even a few hours.

But without the 'Red Spirit Liquid' or other rare treasures, he could only recover slowly and steadily.

Of course.

Lin Yuan's 'slow recovery' was in comparison to using the 'Red Spirit Liquid.'

When compared to other cultivators, or even those strange demon lords who could break through realms at will.

In fact, the two couldn't be compared at all.

Time passed once again.

Another ten years went by.

In the northern region.

On a hill near the Great Abyss.

More than ten figures stood, gazing into the distance at the Great Abyss.

"Respected one."

The leader was a woman with a cold gaze, standing silently there.

"Guardian Nuan."

At this moment, a figure dressed in black hurried over.

And respectfully said to the woman, "The Demon Lord Moyang said he's facing pursuit from Tianjian Sect and can't join us in time."

"This guy."

There was a hint of killing intent in the Guardian Nuan's eyes.

Facing pursuit from Tianjian Sect? With Moyang's strength at the ninth stage, if he really wanted to escape, unless Tianjianzi joined forces with more than a dozen other righteous ninth-stage experts and set up a killing formation, they wouldn't be able to touch him at all.

"When the respected one was present, these demon lords were all eager to serve, willing to die for the respected one. But now that Tianjianzi, that despicable person, has sealed the respected one, they don't even think of rescuing him."

The Guardian Nuan's face was angry, but she sighed inwardly.

People in the demonic path were all selfish and self-serving. Expecting them to rescue Xiahou Yuan for nothing was simply unrealistic.

But the Guardian Nuan knew that Moyang owed Xiahou Yuan several great favors back then. Logically speaking, he should at least show some consideration.

"It's all because of that vile woman Bai Qing'er. I reminded the respected one many times back then to be wary of her."

The Guardian Nuan knew the ins and outs of the earth-shaking battle between righteousness and evil twenty-five years ago. If it weren't for Bai Qing'er's betrayal, it wasn't certain who would have won.

"We can't wait any longer."

"Even if Moyang isn't here, I must try again."

The Guardian Nuan made up her mind.

It had been twenty-five years since Xiahou Yuan was sealed underground in the Great Abyss.

During such a long time, the Guardian Nuan truly worried that Xiahou Yuan wouldn't hold out much longer.

Outside the Great Abyss.

Zhao Si and the other guards were patrolling.

At this moment.

More than ten figures were quickly rushing towards them.

Even though they were subject to a certain degree of suppression near the Great Abyss.

These figures' speed was still extremely fast.

"Not good."

"It's those remnants of the demonic path again."

Zhao Si, with his rich experience, immediately understood what was happening.

Xiahou Yuan being sealed underground in the Great Abyss wasn't a secret.

This led to a group of demonic path remnants attempting to rescue him every once in a while.

"Demonic path remnants?"

The new recruit guard beside him shivered.

Just as he was about to gather his courage and go stop the approaching demonic path remnants.

"What are you doing?"

Before this new recruit guard could rush out.

He was pulled back by Zhao Si.

"Huh?"

A thousand questions arose in the new recruit guard's mind.

"These remnants of the demonic path are reckless and don't fear death. Do you want to go up there and throw your life away?"

Zhao Si quickly led all the guards to retreat.

Once they reached a safe location.

Zhao Si stopped.

Looking into the distance at the entrance to the Great Abyss,

At this moment, the group of demonic path remnants was already standing outside the entrance to the Great Abyss, trying various methods.

"Uncle Zhao, are we just going to watch from here?"

The new recruit guard beside him found it hard to accept.

"Don't worry, they can't break open the entrance to the Great Abyss."

Zhao Si remained calm.

Such incidents occurred every few years.

However, the Great Abyss was built by Tianjianzi and many other righteous experts.

Xiahou Yuan was sealed in the underground depths of the Great Abyss.

From the first level of the entrance to the deepest eighteenth level.

Each level's gate was cast from mysterious gold.

And the deeper the gate, the stronger it was.

For years, no matter how these demonic path remnants tossed about.

They couldn't even break open the gate of the first level, let alone rescue Xiahou Yuan.

"I've already contacted Jiang Jianke. In half an hour at most, he will arrive."

Zhao Si continued.

Jiang Jianke was a eigth-stage expert specially responsible for guarding the Great Abyss.

However, due to the extreme suppression around the Great Abyss, Jiang Jianke usually stationed himself a hundred miles away from the Great Abyss.

Otherwise, Jiang Jianke couldn't cultivate normally.

If anything happened in the Great Abyss, Zhao Si only needed to contact him according to the agreed method.

Jiang Jianke would arrive in a very short time.

Outside the entrance to the Great Abyss.

The Guardian Nuan took out a gourd and poured the thick liquid inside onto the entrance gate.

Piercing sounds echoed.

A green smoke rose.

A thin layer on the surface of the entrance gate was corroded, revealing a faint golden interior.

"Damn it."

The Guardian Nuan, seeing this, felt a sense of despair.

The viscous liquid in the gourd was known as the 'Mother Water of Dissolving All Things.'

Even the toughest things would quickly disappear under this Mother Water.

Originally, the Guardian Nuan thought that the Mother Water should be able to deal with the entrance gate built from 'mysterious gold.'

But now, it seemed she was mistaken.

"Respected one."

The Guardian Nuan placed her right hand on the entrance gate of the Great Abyss.

This was the closest she could get to Xiahou Yuan.

"It's my fault."

The Guardian Nuan's eyes turned slightly red.

"The time is almost up. Wait a little longer, and that Jiang Jianke should arrive."

Suddenly, a man beside her spoke up.

"Jiang Jianke."

The Guardian Nuan took a deep breath.

"Moyang True Lord."

If Moyang True Lord were here, he could completely deter Jiang Jianke and buy her more time.

"Respected one."

"Hold on a little longer."

"I'll be back soon."

After saying this, the Guardian Nuan quickly led her followers away.

As time passed, the number of demon lords truly loyal to Xiahou Yuan dwindled.

So the Guardian Nuan absolutely couldn't let her followers die in vain.

Jiang Jianke was a eigth-stage expert, and if they were stopped by him, it would be difficult for them to escape unscathed.

As the Guardian Nuan and the demonic remnants left, many guards who had been pushed away began to approach.

"You see."

"These remnants of the demonic path can't do anything to the entrance gate made of mysterious gold."

Zhao Si carefully inspected the entrance gate and chuckled when he saw that only a thin layer had been corroded.

"Hahaha, these remnants of the demonic path truly don't know the heights of the heavens and the depths of the earth. This entrance gate was personally built by Tianjianzi and many other experts. Even if they passed the first level, there are still seventeen more layers below."

"Wishing to rescue Xiahou Yuan is nothing but a dream."

"In my opinion, even if Xiahou Yuan were in perfect condition, with peak strength, he wouldn't be able to break open the eighteen layers of the Great Abyss."

The guards spoke confidently, expressing great confidence in the entrance gate.

They even felt that even if Xiahou Yuan recovered all his strength, he wouldn't be able to come out.

Suddenly.

At this moment.

Crack!!

Crackle!!

A muffled sound of fracture faintly spread.

"Huh?"

"What's that sound?"

Zhao Si, with keen senses, immediately sensed something.

The other guards also blinked, looking at each other.

"It seems like... it's coming from the entrance gate."

A weak voice sounded, coming from the new recruit guard.

At this moment, he widened his eyes, staring straight at the entrance gate of the Great Abyss.

"What did you say?"

Zhao Si's heart tightened.

He quickly turned his head to look.

Just this glance.

Zhao Si witnessed an unforgettable scene.

He saw the intact entrance gate of the Great Abyss, now showing cracks from inside to outside.

These cracks kept spreading, expanding, and splitting.

In an instant, they covered the entire gate.

"Not good!!!"

Zhao Si's heart almost stopped beating.

Before these two words could be uttered.

The entrance gate of the Great Abyss exploded with a loud bang.

Countless fragments of mysterious gold, like meteors, shot out in all directions.

But nobody paid attention to them.

Their gazes were all fixed on the empty entrance of the Great Abyss.

Only the sound of faint footsteps, slow and leisurely, came from the depths of the Great Abyss.

Under the shocked gaze of everyone.

A figure dressed in tattered clothes slowly walked out of the Great Abyss.

As this figure emerged, they raised their hand to shield their eyes, as if finding the light too bright.

"Freedom!"

The figure took a deep breath, and within a radius of tens or hundreds of miles, all the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, whether willing or unwilling, was sucked into their body.

...

I need POWAAAA :D

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