Bloodline

Before the golden barrier at the entrance to the Abyssal Mother Nest, Yang Jun leaned against the stone wall. The wound on his left arm had split open again from overusing the Ice Soul Heart, black blood dripping from his fingertips. Bibi Dong knelt beside him, spider silk wrapped around his wrist. The violet glow was faint but steady as it poured Soul Power into his body, trying to ease his pain. Su Li stood before the barrier, Purification Incense wafting from the censer, yet unable to penetrate the golden barrier in the slightest.

"This barrier... Yang Zhen created it by combining Soul Bone Shards with Earth Vein Power." Su Li murmured, her fingertips brushing the Runes on the barrier. A flicker of surprise passed through her almond eyes. "The Runes contain your Earth Vein Power, Yang Jun. Perhaps only you can break it."

Yang Jun gritted his teeth and pressed the Ice Soul Heart in his palm against the barrier. Blue Crystal light merged with the golden Runes, revealing a memory fragment of his father: Yang Zhen stood before the Abyssal Rift with a Hoe-Sickle in hand, inserting a Soul Bone Shard into the center of the barrier. Golden Patterns spread across the entire entrance, forming a golden barrier that sealed the Abyssal Black Qi deep within the rift. In the fragment, Yang Zhen's voice was low. "If the entrance is sealed, the Child of the Earth Veins' bloodline must serve as the catalyst, the Soul Bone Shard as the key, and the Ice Soul Heart as the flame. Only then can it be opened."

"Bloodline as the catalyst?" A trace of conflict flickered through Bibi Dong's Violet Eyes. She took a golden Soul Bone Shard from the Silk Soul Crystal—it was the one she had taken back from the Spirit Hall Emissary all those years ago, hidden within the Soul Crystal ever since. She placed the Soul Bone Shard in Yang Jun's palm, violet light intertwining with Golden Patterns. "This is your father's Soul Bone Shard. Back then, I... failed to stop them, but at least I preserved this."

Yang Jun's gaze fell on the Soul Bone Shard. The Ice Soul Heart in his palm resonated with it, and Blue Crystal light surged, enveloping the shard. He bit his fingertip and let a drop of blood fall onto it. His blood merged with the Ice Soul Heart, forming a pale blue pillar of light that shot straight into the sky. Within it appeared another memory fragment of Yang Zhen: he stood beside Su Li's Grandmaster, Hoe-Sickle in hand, and inserted the Soul Bone Shard into an altar. Golden Patterns spread forth as he assisted Su Li's Grandmaster in sealing the Abyssal Rift. In the fragment, Yang Zhen's voice carried a trace of gentleness. "Bibi Dong, you should never have been dragged into this conflict. But your kindness... will become the key to saving the continent."

Tears welled in Bibi Dong's Violet Eyes. She had never imagined that Yang Zhen had seen through her heart long ago. Su Li's censer suddenly erupted with intense violet light, releasing dense Purification Incense that enveloped Yang Jun's wound. The wound gradually healed, and the corrupt black qi was completely cleansed away.

"Yang Jun, your bloodline has resonated with the Soul Bone Shard!" Su Li murmured. The violet light from the censer merged with the Ice Soul Heart, forming a violet pillar of light that intertwined with the blue pillar and shot straight into the golden barrier. The Runes on the barrier gradually lit up, while the golden light slowly faded, revealing a pitch-black entrance. Waves of Abyssal Black Qi poured out from within, mixed with piercing howls.

"The entrance is open!" Bibi Dong rose to her feet, spider silk winding around the Eight Spider Lances. Determination flashed in her Violet Eyes. "Yang Jun, let's go in."

Yang Jun pressed the Ice Soul Heart against the Hoe-Sickle, and Blue-Gold Light burst forth. He nodded. "Let's go. We have to stop the Abyssal Tide."

Deep inside the entrance, the three advanced through a pitch-black passage. Ancient Runes were carved into the stone walls on both sides, releasing faint black qi. Su Li's censer released Purification Incense, dispersing the surrounding black qi, but the temperature in the passage grew lower and lower. Even Yang Jun's Ice Soul Heart felt a trace of chill.

"There's a Soul Power fluctuation ahead!" Bibi Dong suddenly whispered, her Violet Eyes sweeping over the passage ahead. At the end of the passage stood a massive stone chamber. In its center was an altar, upon which rested a golden Soul Bone. Intricate Runes were carved onto it, sharing the same origin as the Earth Vein Power in Yang Jun's palm. Nine black stone pillars encircled the altar, each carved with Abyssal Runes and emitting dense black qi.

"That is... Yang Zhen's Soul Bone?" Surprise flashed through Su Li's almond eyes. Violet light from the censer swept over the altar, revealing a memory fragment of Yang Zhen: he stood before the altar with the Hoe-Sickle in hand and inserted the Soul Bone into its center. Golden Patterns spread throughout the stone chamber, forming a golden barrier that sealed the Abyssal Black Qi deep beneath the altar. In the fragment, Yang Zhen's voice carried a trace of exhaustion. "If the abyss returns, the Child of the Earth Veins' bloodline must serve as the catalyst, the Soul Bone as the key, and the Ice Soul Heart as the flame. Only then can the altar's source power be awakened and the Abyssal Mother Nest sealed completely."

At that moment, the black qi in the chamber suddenly surged. The Abyssal Runes on the nine black stone pillars lit up, forming a black pillar of light that enveloped the altar. Within the pillar appeared the phantom of the Pope's Remnant Soul, his voice cold and sinister. "Yang Jun, do you think you can stop me? The Abyssal Mother Nest's tide has already arrived. The rift your father sealed all those years ago is about to be shattered completely!"

"Pope's Remnant Soul!" Hatred flashed through Bibi Dong's Violet Eyes. Spider silk coiled around the Eight Spider Lances, and violet light surged. "This time, I won't let you succeed again!"

Yang Jun pressed the Ice Soul Heart against the Hoe-Sickle, Blue-Gold Light erupting around him. He murmured, "Father, I won't let your sacrifice be in vain."

Su Li's censer suddenly erupted with intense violet light, releasing dense Purification Incense that enveloped the phantom of the Pope's Remnant Soul. The phantom shrieked within the incense as its black qi was gradually cleansed. Yet the black qi in the stone chamber grew denser and denser, and the Abyssal Runes on the nine black stone pillars shone with blinding brilliance.

"This is the Inner Demon Trial!" Su Li murmured, violet light from her censer sweeping across the stone chamber. "When Yang Zhen sealed the abyss, he left his inner demon within the altar. If we cannot pass the Inner Demon Trial, we cannot awaken the altar's source power."

"Inner Demon Trial?" Conflict flickered through Bibi Dong's Violet Eyes as she stared at the Soul Bone on the altar. A memory fragment of Yang Zhen surfaced in her mind: back then, as a Spirit Hall deacon, she had been ordered to join the sealing operation. She had personally watched Yang Zhen use the Soul Bone as a 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 the Silk Soul Crystal, forcing her to take part in the sealing. In the fragment, Yang Zhen's voice carried a trace of gentleness. "Bibi Dong, you should never have been dragged into this conflict. But your kindness... will become the key to saving the continent."

Yang Jun placed a hand on Bibi Dong's shoulder, Blue Crystal light merging with violet light. "Bibi Dong, we'll face it together."

Bibi Dong nodded. Spider silk wrapped around Yang Jun's wrist, while violet light and Blue Crystal light intertwined into a blazing pillar that shot straight toward the altar. Within the pillar appeared Yang Zhen's inner demon: an Abyssal Erosion-corrupted Yang Zhen, wielding a black Hoe-Sickle with red light blazing in his eyes as he roared, "Bibi Dong, you betrayed me! Yang Jun, you have failed my expectations!"

"No!" Determination flashed through Bibi Dong's Violet Eyes. She raised the Silk Soul Crystal, and violet light surged. "I did not betray you, Yang Zhen! I have always been looking for a chance to stop Spirit Hall's scheme!"

Yang Jun pressed the Ice Soul Heart against the Hoe-Sickle, Blue-Gold Light bursting forth. He murmured, "Father, I will not fail your expectations."

Su Li's censer released dense Purification Incense, enveloping Yang Zhen's inner demon. The inner demon shrieked within the incense as the black qi was gradually cleansed away. In the end, it transformed into a golden pillar of light that shot straight into the altar. The Soul Bone atop the altar suddenly erupted with intense Golden Patterns, merging with the Ice Soul Heart to form a Blue-Gold Light Pillar that shot into the sky.

"The Inner Demon Trial has been passed!" Su Li murmured, violet light from the censer sweeping over the altar. "Yang Jun, Bibi Dong, you must pour your bloodline and the Soul Bone Shard into the altar to awaken its source power."

Yang Jun bit his fingertip and let a drop of blood fall onto the Soul Bone Shard. Bibi Dong also bit her fingertip and dripped her blood onto it. Their blood merged with the Soul Bone Shard, forming a Blue-Purple Light Pillar that shot straight into the altar. The Soul Bone on the altar suddenly erupted with intense Golden Patterns, merging with the Blue-Purple Light Pillar to form a massive pillar of light that shot straight toward the core of the Abyssal Mother Nest.

"The altar's source power has been awakened!" Delight flashed through Su Li's almond eyes. "Yang Jun, Bibi Dong, you must enter the core and seal the Abyssal Mother Nest completely!"

At that moment, the black qi in the stone chamber suddenly surged. The true form of the Pope's Remnant Soul burst out from the black qi, clutching a black staff with red light gleaming in his eyes. "Do you think you can stop me? The Abyssal Mother Nest's tide has already arrived. My power will awaken completely!"

"Pope's Remnant Soul!" Hatred flashed through Bibi Dong's Violet Eyes. Spider silk coiled around the Eight Spider Lances, and violet light surged. "This time, I won't let you succeed again!"

Yang Jun pressed the Ice Soul Heart against the Hoe-Sickle, Blue-Gold Light erupting around him. He murmured, "Father, I won't let your sacrifice be in vain."

Su Li's censer released dense Purification Incense, enveloping the true form of the Pope's Remnant Soul. He shrieked within the incense as his black qi was gradually cleansed, but his power only grew stronger. The black staff released a black pillar of light that shot straight at Yang Jun and Bibi Dong.

"Watch out!" Su Li whispered. Violet light from her censer swept over the two, forming a violet barrier that blocked the black pillar of light.

Yang Jun and Bibi Dong exchanged a glance. Blue Crystal light and violet light intertwined into a blazing pillar that shot straight into the true form of the Pope's Remnant Soul. He shrieked within the pillar of light as his black qi was gradually cleansed. At last, he turned into a cloud of black smoke and dissipated into the air.

"The Pope's Remnant Soul... is gone?" Surprise flashed through Bibi Dong's Violet Eyes. She looked at the Soul Bone on the altar as Golden Patterns gradually spread throughout the entire stone chamber, sealing the Abyssal Black Qi completely.

Su Li's censer released dense Purification Incense, driving the black qi from the stone chamber. She walked to Yang Jun and Bibi Dong's side, a smile flickering through her almond eyes. "You did it, Yang Jun. Bibi Dong."

Yang Jun looked at the Soul Bone on the altar. Blue Crystal light merged with Golden Patterns, revealing a memory fragment of his father: Yang Zhen stood beside him with the Hoe-Sickle in hand, his voice carrying a trace of relief. "Yang Jun, you did it. Bibi Dong, thank you for protecting my son."

Tears welled in Bibi Dong's Violet Eyes as she softly said, "Yang Zhen, I did it."