Demon Abyss Opportunity, Violet Qi Divided in Half

Three days later, on the shores of the East Sea.

Lu Chen found a deserted island, set up a formation, and then took out an item.

That fragment of the God-Slaying Spear!

The fragment was only palm-sized, but its malevolent aura was astonishing. Lu Chen repeatedly tempered it with the Golden Light of Merit and the Three Lights Divine Water, completely erasing the imprint belonging to Luohu. Then—

"Fuse!"

He merged the fragment into the Black Brick.

The Black Brick trembled violently. Fine, dark red patterns appeared on its surface, the sharpness of the spearhead perfectly combined with the solidity of the brick.

The new Black Brick was ready: entirely black, with dark gold patterns interspersed with blood-red demonic markings. Its weight had tripled, and a single strike now carried the triple effect of "Defense Break + Primordial Spirit Erosion + Malevolent Qi Pollution"!

"It should be called the 'God-Slaying Brick' now," Lu Chen said with satisfaction.

Next, he took out the diagram of the Great Formation of the Stars to study.

Although the core part was restricted, the outer formations were enough for him to set up a simplified version of the "Minor Formation of the Stars," which could be used for trapping enemies, defense, and gathering spiritual energy.

"With these two trump cards, I'll have some confidence going to the Demon Abyss."

With preparations complete, Lu Chen flew towards Mount Sumeru in the west.

Ten days later, at the foot of Mount Sumeru.

This place was already within the western territory. Spiritual energy was scarce, and the mountains were bare, forming a stark contrast with the spiritual richness of the east.

Following the guidance of the Demon Abyss Token, Lu Chen found an inconspicuous cave.

The cave entrance was concealed by an illusion formation, making it difficult for even ordinary Grand Unity experts to detect. However, the Demon Abyss Token grew hot and automatically broke through the illusion.

Lu Chen took a deep breath and stepped inside.

The cave was deep and dark. The further down he went, the denser the demonic energy became.

After walking for about a hundred miles, the path ahead suddenly opened up—it was an underground world!

The sky was a dark red rock ceiling, a black demonic river flowed across the land, and demonic cities stood in the distance. Within the cities, shadows flickered, revealing countless demonic creatures in activity.

"This is the Demon Abyss..." Lu Chen was awestruck.

After Luohu's demise, the demonic path still had such a scale?

"You've arrived?"

A figure appeared silently before Lu Chen. It was the remnant soul of Luohu.

"This junior has come to fulfill the appointment," Lu Chen said, cupping his hands.

Luohu sized him up, his gaze falling on the God-Slaying Brick. "You fused the God-Slaying Spear fragment? Interesting... Aren't you afraid I'll be angry?"

"If Senior minded, you wouldn't have let me obtain the fragment," Lu Chen replied calmly.

"Clever," Luohu chuckled. "Follow me."

He led Lu Chen towards the palace at the center of the demonic city.

Along the way, Lu Chen saw countless demonic creatures practicing formations. Among them were familiar figures—the residual souls of the Ancestral Dragon, Primordial Phoenix, and Shi Qilin, training demonic soldiers in the likeness of their respective races!

"This is..."

"After the Calamity, the residual souls of the three races fell into the Demon Abyss and were taken in by me," Luohu said lightly. "They resent the Heavenly Dao's injustice and Hongjun's schemes, and are willing to follow me to reclaim the Primordial Era."

Lu Chen fell silent.

The downfall of the three races did indeed have the Heavenly Dao and Hongjun's instigation. But was seeking refuge with the demonic path... a wise choice?

Entering the palace, Luohu dismissed his attendants.

"I promised to give you a great gift," he said, raising a hand. A black crystal floated in the air. "This is the 'Demon Dao Origin Crystal.' It contains my complete understanding of the demonic path, and more... the secret of the Primordial Violet Qi."

Lu Chen's pupils contracted.

"Don't be surprised," Luohu said leisurely. "The Primordial Violet Qi is the foundation for becoming a Saint, but who says there are only seven? When Chaos first opened, there were forty-nine strands of Primordial Violet Qi. Pangu used most of them during the Sky-Opening. The rest were scattered. The seven strands in Hongjun's possession are only a part of them."

"Then the others..."

"Some were obtained by Chaos Demon Gods, some were lost in the depths of Chaos, and some... are sealed in certain places." Luohu looked at Lu Chen. "For example, one strand is sealed in the deepest part of the Demon Abyss."

Lu Chen's heart pounded.

"Why are you telling me this, Senior?"

"Because I cannot retrieve it," Luohu stated frankly. "That strand of Violet Qi is sealed by Pangu's Law of Strength. Only Pangu's successor can touch it. You carry the Sky-Opening Merit and possess a fragment of the Law of Strength, making you the best candidate."

"What are the conditions?"

"Once the Violet Qi is retrieved, we each get half," Luohu said. "Your half will be enough to complete your foundation when you Proving the Dao through Strength. My half will help me reconstruct my demonic body."

Lu Chen pondered.

The risk was immense, but the reward was equally great.

Half of the Primordial Violet Qi would be enough for him to push the Law of Strength to great completion, laying a solid foundation for Proving the Dao through Strength.

"Is the seal dangerous?"

"There are trials left by Pangu. I don't know the specifics," Luohu said. "But with your intellect and luck, you should be able to pass."

Should...

Lu Chen grumbled inwardly but showed nothing on his face. "This junior can try. But before that, I'd like to know—what's the deal with Jieyin and Zhunti?"

Luohu chuckled. "I knew you'd ask. Them... they were 'converted' by me."

It turned out that when Jieyin and Zhunti were traveling in the west in their early years, they accidentally entered the outskirts of the Demon Abyss. Luohu's remnant soul planted a demonic seed in them. The seed didn't control their minds but subtly influenced them, making them feel a kinship with the demonic path while amplifying their dissatisfaction with the Xuanmen sect.

"So they didn't defect, they were tricked?" Lu Chen realized.

"You could say that," Luohu said. "I needed them to be my eyes within the Xuanmen. Their current 'punitive expedition' against Kunpeng was also secretly instigated by me—the demon race is too strong, which is not conducive to the revival of the demonic path."

Such a deep scheme!

Lu Chen felt Luohu was increasingly dangerous.

"Senior, if I retrieve the Violet Qi, will you really let me go?" he asked.

"I swear upon the origin of the demonic path: if you succeed, I will not stop you. Furthermore, I will grant you permanent use of the Demon Abyss Token, allowing you to trade here anytime," Luohu said solemnly.

A demonic oath was heavier than a Heavenly Dao oath; violating it would lead to the collapse of one's Dao heart.

Lu Chen nodded. "Alright, I'll go."

"Wise choice." Luohu raised his hand. The palace floor cracked open, revealing a staircase leading down. "Go straight for three thousand li, and you'll reach the sealed location. I'll wait for you here... for three days."

Lu Chen no longer hesitated and stepped onto the stairs.

The staircase was long, and the further down he went, the heavier Pangu's Pressure became.

Lu Chen had to activate the axe handle fragment to resist.

After walking for an unknown amount of time, a stone chamber appeared ahead.

In the center of the stone chamber floated a strand of Violet Qi—unlike the fake Violet Qi he had seen before in the Chaos fragments, this one was more condensed, containing Dao runes that flowed like stars and exuding an aura of eternal immortality.

The true Primordial Violet Qi!

Around the Violet Qi were three trials:

The first was a stone tablet inscribed with: [The extreme of strength can break all methods. Display your power.]

Lu Chen thought for a moment. He didn't use the Black Brick but instead circulated the Law of Strength to its fullest and punched the stone tablet.

"Boom!"

The stone tablet didn't budge, but a line of text appeared on its surface: [Strength is not brute force, but the power of the Dao. You are qualified.]

The second was a mirror that reflected Lu Chen's deepest fear—he saw himself failing to Prove the Dao through Strength in the future, dying and his plans coming to naught.

But Lu Chen smiled. "If I fear failure, why cultivate?"

The mirror shattered.

The third was a phantom image of Pangu, holding the Sky-Opening Axe.

[Receive one axe from me. If you survive, you may obtain the Violet Qi.]

The phantom image swung its axe. Although it possessed only one hundred millionth of Pangu's power, it was enough to kill a Quasi-Saint!

Lu Chen gritted his teeth and unleashed all his trump cards:

The Wuji Apricot Yellow Banner protected his body!

The Qiankun Diagram unfolded its small world to offset the impact!

The God-Slaying Brick met the attack!

"Clang—!!!"

The axe and brick collided. Lu Chen flew backward, blood seeping from his seven orifices, but he didn't die.

The phantom image of Pangu dissipated.

All three trials were passed!

The Violet Qi floated before Lu Chen.

He reached out and touched it. The Violet Qi split into two. Half merged into his body, and the other half flew towards the exit of the stairs—that was Luohu's half.

"I succeeded..."

Lu Chen collapsed onto the ground, feeling the vast power of the half strand of Violet Qi within him.

The Law of Strength surged madly, and his cultivation soared from the late stage of Grand Unity Golden Immortal all the way to the peak, just one step away from Grand Unity!

More importantly, his path to Proving the Dao through Strength became clearer.

"Time to go back..."

He stood up, about to leave, when he suddenly noticed another object in the corner of the stone chamber.

It was a bone fragment, drab and unremarkable.

But the Violet Qi within Lu Chen actually resonated with it!

He picked up the bone fragment and probed it with his divine sense--

[Pangu's Spine Fragment · Records of the Three Sky-Opening Styles]

[First Style: Sky-Opening and Earth-Splitting (Requires Saint-level magic power)]

[Second Style: Chaos Returns to Origin (Requires peak Quasi-Saint)]

[Third Style: Strength Pierces the Primordial Era (Grand Unity can learn)]

The third style was exactly what Lu Chen could learn now!

"Another unexpected gain?!" he rejoiced.

Storing the bone fragment into the Qiankun Diagram, Lu Chen quickly returned.

At the exit of the stairs, Luohu had already obtained the other half of the Primordial Violet Qi and was refining it.

"Congratulations," Luohu opened his eyes. "You truly didn't disappoint me."

"Senior is too kind," Lu Chen cupped his hands. "If there's nothing else, this junior will take his leave."

"Wait," Luohu tossed a black ring. "This is the 'Demon Abyss Ring'. With this, you can freely enter and exit the Demon Abyss, and also contact me. If you need anything in the future, you can come for a trade."

Lu Chen took it. "Thank you, senior."

He turned and left the Demon Abyss.

Returning to the surface, the sunlight was dazzling.

Lu Chen let out a long sigh--the trip to the Demon Abyss, though dangerous, had yielded immense rewards.

Half of the Primordial Violet Qi, Pangu's Spine Fragment, the Demon Abyss Ring... and an understanding of the Demon Path's layout.

"Next, it's time to watch the show put on by Jieyin, Zhunti, and Kunpeng."

Just as he was about to fly back east, a communication Jade Slip in his embrace suddenly vibrated.

It was from Hongyun:

[Little friend, return quickly! Something big has happened--Jieyin and Zhunti are really fighting Kunpeng! Minghe is also involved, Taiyi has appeared, five Saints are in a chaotic battle! And... the Demon Clan is searching for the treasure thief, they suspect it's you!]

Lu Chen: "..."

Great, he was being blamed again.

But this time, he wasn't panicked.

Because he now held an extra card in his hand.

"Since we're going to play, let's play big."

He changed direction, not heading back to Wuzhuang Temple, but flying towards Buzhou Mountain.

--The Witch Clan should emerge now.

Lu Chen went to the Witch Clan's tribe at Buzhou Mountain. Relying on the Zhurong Essence Blood and half of the Primordial Violet Qi, he gained the trust of the Ancestral Witches.

Meanwhile, the chaotic battle of the five Saints affected the west. Lingshan shattered, Jieyin and Zhunti were severely injured, and Kunpeng roared before fleeing: "The one who stole the treasures from the Treasure Distribution Cliff is Lu Chen--! I have proof!" Proof? What proof?!