This is the Abyss?
Xu Jingming had long known about the Abyss, but interacting with it still left him uneasy.
People like Eternal Tower Master from the outside world resisted the Abyssal will's invasion, refusing to succumb. Yet, many native high-dimensional lifeforms willingly embraced the Abyssal will, acting as they pleased.
"I've never believed in fate!" Overlord Yandi, having thrived in the Abyss, shared this disbelief. Whenever he faced a formidable adversary, he either fled or annihilated them!
He had reached his current heights by trampling over a trail of fallen opponents.
Though he could see the timeline, he rejected the future it portrayed.
"I've witnessed countless future branches, but I've intentionally acted against them! In the end, I proved one thing… Everything is determined by power! If I'm strong, I can kill my enemies! Regardless of their future potential, if they're weak now, I can end them and leave them with no future!" Overlord Yandi's wild gaze reflected his unshakable, unhinged will.
Over time, his conviction that power determined everything had seeped into his very marrow.
"Wu Ming, who's only invincible in the future, let's see what you're made of!" Overlord Yandi's nine-eyed face twisted in madness.
Whoosh!
A torrent of murky water surged towards Xu Jingming.
From a distance, Xu Jingming observed the scene with gravity.
His words alone affect my body. Overlord Yandi's power is on par with Brother Ancient Tree's. Xu Jingming knew just how formidable his adversary was.
The torrent of murky water engulfed Xu Jingming's position, but he turned ethereal and retreated into the Heart Realm.
Concealed in the Heart Realm, Xu Jingming scrutinized the murky water.
From what I know, Overlord Yandi excels in two Abyssal disciplines—the Sin school and the Demonic Sound school. He's amassed extensive knowledge in both. Rumor has it, he's left his life mark in the Abyss' Sin Spring, drawing endless power from it for his own use. Xu Jingming understood the terror his opponent represented.
If he could concentrate a stream of Sin Spring Water, he'd be on the cusp of becoming a third-realm powerhouse.
Overlord Yandi had inscribed a life mark in the Abyss's Sin Spring. Mobilizing thousands of streams of spring water was a breeze for him, making their consumption inconsequential.
"Wu Ming!" A nine-eyed face emerged from the turbulent water, bellowing, "Is that all you can do? Hide in the Heart Realm?"
He could trace karma to pinpoint Xu Jingming's location, but his power would significantly diminish within the Heart Realm, rendering it harmless to Xu Jingming.
"I wouldn't dare touch your Sin Spring Water," Xu Jingming replied with a smile. "Since you've made your move, let me try mine."
"You? My Body of Sin is here. Can you do anything to it?" the nine-eyed face inquired.
"I'll give it a shot," Xu Jingming said.
Whoosh!
He instantly left the Heart Realm, dividing into three clones, each positioned differently from Overlord Yandi.
In that instant, the three Xu Jingmings transformed ethereal, each wielding an ethereal spear. These were the psychic spears infused with Heart Spirit Beads.
"You're out!" The nine-eyed face brimmed with anticipation. Instantly, surging waves crashed toward the three clones, while murky water solidified into two colossal arms, each wielding a massive dark fork.
The two gargantuan forks struck in unison!
Clang!
Demonic Sound assault!
His prowess in the Demonic Sound school, combined with these third-realm weapons, made him a formidable force and a dominant figure in the Abyss.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The moment the three Xu Jingmings materialized, they unleashed their most potent psychic spear technique. Three orbs of light materialized in the sky, hurtling toward Overlord Yandi at breakneck speeds, aiming to incinerate and obliterate his mind and will.
This move was Golden Halberd's third move—Dawn Piercer!
Guided by the Ultimate existence's spearmanship, the psychic spearmanship Xu Jingming devised was staggeringly powerful.
Huh? The three Xu Jingmings first sensed the Demonic Sound attack, targeting both body and mind. As a half-step third-realm powerhouse in the Heart Realm, Xu Jingming could endure the mental onslaught.
The assault, however, caused Xu Jingming to experience searing pain as though his body was being ripped apart.
Chi—
As the three orbs of light Xu Jingming had transformed into penetrated Overlord Yandi's murky water, he too felt the corrosive effect of the Sin Spring Water, his face contorting in agony.
"Argh, it hurts!" The nine-eyed face howled in pain while the spring water roiled. Although the Sin Spring Water significantly hindered psychic weapons, the unbearable pain ravaging the mind made Overlord Yandi suffer immensely.
Hu! Hu! Hu!
The Sin Spring Water's obstruction is overwhelming. I barely managed to breach his mind and inflict minor damage, but it's already so draining. Xu Jingming's three illusory clones retreated into the Heart Realm, having partially executed his spearmanship.
Inside the Heart Realm, Xu Jingming's three clones were riddled with gaping wounds, their faces twisted and grotesque.
I couldn't withstand the invasion of the Demonic Sound and the Sin Spring Water the moment we clashed. Xu Jingming's three clones slowly healed. Although the psychic weapon lineage's offense is incredibly potent, its defense is weaker.
In terms of offense, his psychic spearmanship, Dawn Piercer, might rival Overlord Yandi. However, he fell short in other areas. The opponent's colossal Body of Sin far surpassed his own.
Though he screams in agony, it's merely a flesh wound for him. As for me, I'm already severely injured from the Demonic Sound and the Sin Spring Water. If I persist, my body will collapse entirely, Xu Jingming thought.
"Your psychic weapon is quite painful. Come on, keep it up." The turbulent, murky water swirled as the nine-eyed face fixed its gaze on Xu Jingming in the Heart Realm, excitement in its eyes. "Don't tell me that's all you have?"
In truth, Xu Jingming possessed only one half-step third-realm technique.
"My power is indeed inferior to yours." Xu Jingming conceded, nodding. With that, he took a step and vanished from the Abyssal space.
Huh?
The nine-eyed face displayed a look of surprise. "He just left like that?"
"Brother Yandi, Wu Ming only needs to witness the Abyss Red Lotus bloom. There's truly no need to fight him." A withered tree materialized beside him, speaking helplessly. "He's recently advanced to the half-step third realm. He's not strong yet, but it will be troublesome if his power increases substantially in the future."
"Trouble? What kind of trouble?" The nine-eyed face stared at him, baffled.
The withered tree figure explained, "Indeed, Brother Yandi, you left your life mark in the Sin Spring. It's impossible for anyone below the third realm to enter the Sin Spring and destroy your mark. You are, in effect, immortal. But the future Wu Ming might annihilate all your clones in the outside world, preventing you from ever leaving the Sin Spring."
"So what?" the nine-eyed face inquired, still perplexed. "At worst, I'll remain in the Sin Spring."
The withered tree fell silent.
Fine.
His boss rarely showed mercy when in the mood to attack.
"The Sin Spring also houses life imprints from different dominions. It's quite fascinating when everyone gathers and battles," the nine-eyed face remarked. The Sin Spring attracted all the powerhouses in this timeline capable of leaving their marks there.
The nine-eyed face gazed into the distance and shook its head. "This Wu Ming is weaker than I imagined."
Then, spring water surged and enveloped the Abyss Red Lotus entirely.
*******
In an adjacent Abyssal space.
Xu Jingming materialized.
There's nothing I can do about being weaker than my opponent, Xu Jingming thought. Since diplomacy has failed and I cannot defeat him, I'll resort to force! When the Abyss Red Lotus blooms, I'll teleport to the Heart Realm and get as close as possible.
Regardless of whether Overlord Yandi permits it or not, I'll teleport to the nearest location in the Heart Realm and forcefully observe it!
There are still 300 to 400 years before the Abyss Red Lotus blooms. There's plenty of time. Xu Jingming surveyed the scene before him, anticipation gleaming in his eyes. I can explore the Abyss more thoroughly.
After comprehending the complete legacy of Abyssal Void for over 10,000 years, witnessing the Abyss firsthand was a distinct experience.
Thus, from that day forward, Xu Jingming traversed layer upon layer of Abyssal space. He observed the laws of Abyssal space, the natural environment, and the life and battles of Abyssal creatures…
Day after day, year after year.
The more Xu Jingming observed, the more insights he gained.
I used to view the Abyss with prejudice and considered it sinful. It's incredibly chaotic, and countless lunatics dwell here. Xu Jingming watched as two deranged Abyssal mutated beasts charged toward him. As they advanced, the beasts ignited with black lotus flames and disintegrated into ashes.
But in reality, the Abyss signifies an absence of laws. Its operating principles are that there are no principles, and it accommodates all possibilities! Xu Jingming realized that even those with good intentions and light in their hearts, like Eternal Tower Master, could still comprehend the Abyssal path.
The rules of each Abyssal space are determined by the corresponding layer's Abyss Sovereign.
If an Abyss Sovereign so chooses, they can make their layer beautiful and filled with goodness.
Xu Jingming pondered. Countless layers of Abyssal space represent endless possibilities. There's no order, and living beings are permitted to create order on their own. Naturally, there's a shortcut to growth—Abyss Sacrifice. If one cannot control themselves, the Abyss Sacrifice will inevitably corrode them.
To take the shortcut or not? The choice is purely voluntary.
The Abyss… it doesn't symbolize sin but rather, absolute freedom! It's utterly devoid of rules! Xu Jingming found himself lost in contemplation.
Behind him, a massive illusory Abyss slowly materialized. This ethereal Abyss consisted of layers upon layers of space. With each newly formed layer of Abyssal space, the entire illusory Abyss grew increasingly menacing.
