Memory

Morning mist shrouded the Ancient Soul Beast Altar, and the moss on the stone steps glowed a ghostly green. Yang Jun leaned against a stone pillar. The corrupted wound on his left arm had stopped bleeding, but the Earth Vein Power in his meridians had become unstable from being pushed too hard, and every breath tugged at the piercing pain in his wound. Bibi Dong sat beside him, spider silk wrapped around his wrist. Its purple glow was faint but steady as it sent strands of Soul Power into his body, easing his pain. Her face was still pale, but clarity had returned to her Violet Eyes. Her fingertips brushed the ancient Runes on the stone pillar—marks left behind by Yang Jun's father, Yang Zhen, Golden Patterns born from the same source as the Earth Vein Power.

"My father... used a Soul Bone as the catalyst to seal the rift of the Abyssal Mother Nest," Yang Jun said quietly. The Ice Soul Heart in his palm shone with Blue Crystal light, resonating with the Golden Patterns on the pillar and revealing a fragment of his father's memories: Yang Zhen stood with a Hoe-Sickle in hand, side by side with a Golden Pattern Soul Beast. He drove Soul Bone Shards into the center of the altar, and Golden Patterns spread across the entire Forbidden Ground, forming a golden barrier that sealed the Abyssal Black Qi deep within the rift. In the memory fragment, Yang Zhen's voice was low. "If the abyss returns, use the Ice Soul Heart to resonate with the Soul Bone and awaken the altar's primordial power. Remember, Child of the Earth Veins, you bear not only your father's oath, but the fate of the entire continent."

Bibi Dong's fingertips paused. Spider silk silently wound around the stone pillar, and purple light swept over the Runes, unexpectedly revealing a memory fragment of her own: twenty years ago, as a Spirit Hall official, she had been ordered to take part in the sealing operation and had witnessed Yang Zhen use a Soul Bone as the catalyst to seal the Abyssal Rift. At the time, she had tried to stop the Spirit Hall Emissary's scheme, but the Pope had controlled her with a Silk Soul Crystal, forcing her to take part in the sealing. In the memory fragment, she secretly hid a Soul Bone Shard deep within the altar. Struggle and guilt flashed through her Violet Eyes. "Back then... I failed to stop them. But your father used the last of his strength to protect this land."

The altar suddenly shook. The Golden Patterns on the stone pillar intertwined with purple light, and a phantom emerged—a phantom of the Golden Pattern Soul Beast rose from beneath the earth, the icy crystal light on its forehead resonating with Yang Jun's Ice Soul Heart. "Child of the Earth Veins, the tide of the Abyssal Mother Nest is about to arrive. The altar's primordial power must be awakened with the Ice Soul Heart and Soul Bone Shards." The phantom screeched and pointed toward the hollow at the altar's center—Yang Jun's father's Soul Bone Shard was embedded there, Golden Patterns spreading throughout the hollow as if awaiting activation.

Yang Jun gritted his teeth and pressed the Ice Soul Heart into the hollow. Blue Crystal light merged with the Golden Patterns, and the Runes across the altar floor lit up one by one, forming a pillar of interwoven blue and gold that shot into the heavens. Within the light pillar, Yang Zhen's complete memories appeared: back then, he had discovered the rift of the Abyssal Mother Nest and used his own Soul Bone as the catalyst to form a contract with the Ancient Soul Beast, sealing the rift beneath the altar. Yet the Abyssal Mother Nest had not been completely destroyed. It had lurked deep within the rift, waiting for the tide to arrive so it could devour the continent once more. "On the day the tide arrives, the Abyssal Lord will awaken, and the rift will open again." Yang Zhen's voice was heavy. "Only the Child of the Earth Veins and the inheritor of the Ancient Soul Beast bloodline can awaken the altar's primordial power together and seal the mother nest completely."

Bibi Dong's pupils contracted sharply. Spider silk wrapped around Yang Jun's wrist as purple light surged. "The inheritor of the Ancient Soul Beast bloodline... is the Golden Pattern Soul Beast? But it has already become a phantom. How can it awaken the primordial power?" The Golden Pattern Soul Beast phantom screeched, and the icy crystal on its forehead flew toward Yang Jun, merging into the Ice Soul Heart. Blue Crystal light flared, revealing another phantom—Bibi Dong's Spider Emperor Spirit. It intertwined with the Golden Pattern Soul Beast phantom, forming a Blue-Purple Light Pillar that resonated with the altar's primordial power. "So that's it... your Silk Soul Crystal is a bloodline fragment of the Ancient Soul Beast!" Yang Jun realized. The Ice Soul Heart in his palm collided with Bibi Dong's Silk Soul Crystal, Blue Crystal light merging with purple radiance as the altar's primordial power fully awakened.

All at once, violent tremors rose from underground. The hollow at the altar's center split open into an Abyssal Rift, and black qi surged forth like a tide. A savage Abyssal Lord crawled out of the rift—it resembled a giant spider, its entire body covered in Abyssal Runes. A golden mark sat on its forehead, born from the same source as Yang Zhen's Soul Bone Shard. "Yang Zhen... you sealed me with a Soul Bone, but the tide has come. I will devour the continent!" The Abyssal Lord roared, its claws striking toward the altar as black qi transformed into Poisonous Mist, corroding the surrounding stone steps.

Yang Jun roared and pressed the Ice Soul Heart into Bibi Dong's palm. Blue Crystal light merged with purple radiance, forming a Frost Giant Scythe that cleaved toward the Abyssal Lord. Bibi Dong's Spider Emperor Spirit erupted, and the Eight Spider Lances pierced the Abyssal Lord's body. Purple light and black qi clashed fiercely. But the Abyssal Lord's power far surpassed that of a Puppet Beast. Its claw lashed toward Yang Jun, black qi turning into poisonous spikes that pierced his left arm. Yang Jun's wound suddenly corrupted, and the Earth Vein Power in his meridians became unstable from being pushed too hard. He staggered backward as the light of the Frost Giant Scythe gradually dimmed.

"Don't give up!" Bibi Dong transmitted hoarsely. Spider silk wrapped around Yang Jun's wrist as her essence blood flowed into the Symbiotic Mark. Golden Patterns and purple light surged, and their Soul Power unexpectedly merged within the mark, forming a blazing Blue-Purple Light Pillar that shot straight into the Abyssal Rift. The Earth Vein Power within Yang Jun's body awakened like a giant dragon and resonated with the Ice Soul Heart. Blue Crystal light devoured the black qi. The Abyssal Lord howled and exploded within the light pillar, and the rift began to close. But Bibi Dong's wound suddenly split open, and the bloodline fragment within the Silk Soul Crystal shattered from being pushed too hard. The purple light gradually faded.

"The Symbiotic Mark... can save you!" Yang Jun gritted his teeth and pressed the Ice Soul Heart into Bibi Dong's wound. Blue Crystal light devoured the corruption, but the meridians in his left arm burst from overusing Earth Vein Power, blood soaking through his clothes. Bibi Dong struggled to grasp his hand, and a brief clarity appeared in her Violet Eyes. "No... don't waste the Ice Soul Heart. The altar's primordial power... needs you to guard it." Yang Jun shook his head, withdrew the Ice Soul Heart, and instead pressed a Soul Bone Shard against Bibi Dong's wound. Golden Patterns and purple light intertwined, temporarily suppressing her injuries. But his own wound began to corrupt, black qi seeping into his meridians.

"Remember, Child of the Earth Veins, you bear not only your father's oath." The Golden Pattern Soul Beast phantom screeched as the icy crystal on its forehead flew toward Yang Jun once more and merged with the Ice Soul Heart. Blue Crystal light surged, temporarily suppressing Yang Jun's corruption. The phantom pointed toward the depths of the altar, where a Stone Gate stood. Yang Zhen's mark was carved upon it. "Beyond the Stone Gate lies the secret your father left unfinished. Hurry... the tide of the Abyssal Mother Nest is about to arrive."

Yang Jun gritted his teeth, lifted Bibi Dong onto his back, and raced toward the Stone Gate as Earth Vein Power surged beneath his feet. The morning mist gradually dispersed, and the rising sun pierced through the dense forest, illuminating the spider silk and Golden Patterns entwined around them like a bridge spanning the abyss. Far off on the horizon, an eerie Blood Cloud quietly gathered, slowly approaching the Star Dou Forest like the abyss's gaze. From deep within the Blood Cloud came the hoarse laughter of the Pope's Remnant Soul. "Yang Jun... Bibi Dong, you cannot escape. The day the Abyssal Mother Nest awakens will be the day Earth Vein Power becomes our slave completely..."

The Stone Gate opened, and Yang Jun and Bibi Dong stepped inside to find a Secret Chamber. Yang Zhen's Hoe-Sickle rested within it, carved with the oath: "Child of the Earth Veins, Guard the Earth." Beside it lay a Letter, which read: "Jun'er, if you see this letter, it means the abyss has returned. Do not blame Bibi Dong. Back then, the Pope controlled her and forced her to take part in the sealing. Her heart still carries the conviction to protect. Remember, the Symbiotic Mark is the bridge connecting you and her. Only by guarding together can you defeat the abyss." Yang Jun clutched the Letter, tears streaming down his face. Bibi Dong remained silent, spider silk wrapped around his wrist as faint purple light flickered, as if silently saying, I have never forgotten the conviction to protect.

A Map was carved into the wall of the Secret Chamber—the entrance to the Abyssal Mother Nest, located deep within the Star Dou Forest. Yang Jun and Bibi Dong exchanged a look, determination shining in their eyes. They knew the journey ahead would be even harder than before, but they also understood that only by guarding together could they defeat the abyss and fulfill his father's oath.