Mysterious Abyss

Biodata

Power Progression

Identity and Origin

“Mysterious Abyss Emperor” begins as Lu Chen’s public identity. While Lu Chen remains hidden, outsiders encounter his manifestations and interpret his seclusion, defenses, and protection of weaker clans as signs of an unfathomable ancient expert. The title spreads throughout the Northern Sea after Abyss withstands the Blackwater Dragon Palace 12 16 17.

The Old Shell gradually becomes more than a remotely controlled body. Its role is to bear the Emperor’s identity and associated fate, including the future Heaven-Mending sacrifice. Nuwa’s growing association of Mysterious Abyss with the shell strengthens that separation from Lu Chen’s true body 102 118.

By its awakening, the Old Shell recognizes itself as Mysterious Abyss and identifies Lu Chen as its true body. The system confirms that no foreign consciousness is present: its personality develops from Lu Chen’s origin and the identity sustained by Abyss’s collective recognition 128.

Its autonomy remains limited at first. It can greet inhabitants, hear disputes, and make simple judgments, but consults Lu Chen on unfamiliar or consequential matters. Lu Chen can observe through their connection of origin, intervene when necessary, and manifest his abilities through it 128 130 133 166.

Appearance

• Tortoise form: An enormous Black Tortoise body; gray light appears across it when transforming into human form 128.
• Human form: Black hair draped over the shoulders and a black Daoist robe 137.
• Imperial presentation: Wears no imperial crown and does not deliberately project imperial majesty 137.
• Life-and-Death Wheel: A black-and-white Dao Wheel manifests behind him or within his palm when he uses his principal offensive ability 168 229.
• Arrival at the false Divine Court: The Blackwater parts around him, while the Black Tortoise phantom overhead lowers its head 137.

Personality

The Old Shell’s developing personality reflects the public identity it has inherited: cautious, uncompetitive, reluctant to become entangled in causality, and willing to shelter those with nowhere else to go. Its caution is not merely Lu Chen’s assumption; when tested, it refuses dangerous missions and says it would consult him before answering a summons from Nuwa 128.

It is literal about its own inexperience. When asked why it has begun attending to ordinary affairs, it answers that it is “learning to handle them.” Lan Shuang interprets this as the Emperor renewing his attention to Abyss, although the Old Shell is genuinely learning to act independently 130.

As Abyss’s public ruler, Mysterious Abyss combines restraint with decisive enforcement. He does not pursue dominance or prolong a settled dispute, but responds forcefully when outsiders injure Abyss’s people or violate its boundaries. His treatment of the Seventh Golden Crow Prince is deliberately limited to punishment for the boundary crossing, rather than an excuse for wider conflict 190 192.

Abilities & Skills

Black Tortoise Defense

The Old Shell withstands powerful attacks while allowing Lu Chen’s true body to remain concealed 77 168.

• Absorbs and redirects Kunpeng’s palm strike, leaving Mysterious Abyss unharmed while forcing Kunpeng back three steps 77.
• Takes a blood-sword strike from Minghe’s personally controlled Blood God Child with only a slight sway; even his robes remain intact 168.
• Supports an attrition-based fighting style: opponents must overcome his defenses before his recovery and erosion abilities turn the battle against them 165 229.

Abyss Life and Death Wheel

An innate divine ability nurtured from Lu Chen’s own Great Dao, combining life, death, and Abyss rather than reproducing Netherworld Reincarnation 165 166 167.

• Attrition: The Death Wheel weakens an opponent while the Life Wheel replenishes Mysterious Abyss, making prolonged combat increasingly unfavorable for the attacker 165 229.
• Interference with replenishment: Suppresses the Blood God Child’s recovery even while it draws power from the Blood Sea 168.
• Connection-following erosion: Death power can travel along an established link, as demonstrated against Youquan through the Myriad Souls Banner 149.
• Attack erosion: After the second revolution, can wear away incoming divine abilities and the external power within the Chaos Bell’s light 227 229.
• Limits: At his newly attained realm, Lu Chen cannot erase Minghe’s entire Blood Sea. The ability’s effect against a Saint is described as slight 168.

Remote Manifestation and Spatial Movement

Lu Chen uses Abyss’s spatial techniques and connected infrastructure to act without exposing his true body 147 149.

• The Abyss Escape Realm Chapter conceals Abyss’s coordinates and permits the Old Shell Avatar to make short-distance movements between realms 147.
• Power can be projected through the Three Lives Post Station network to form a Black Tortoise Dharma Body far from Abyss 149.
• Long-distance projection is costly: the manifestation confronting Youquan consumes considerably more power than fighting within Abyss itself 149.

Administration and Judgment

The Old Shell can independently conduct routine public business, while referring questions beyond its understanding to Lu Chen 130 133 135.

• Hears both sides of disputes before responding 130.
• Uses the Book of Cause and Effect to distinguish wrongdoing from coercion or innocent involvement 137.
• Represents Abyss in negotiations with major powers, including Di Jun 135.
• Communicates through the Cause and Effect Mirror to enforce post station rules remotely 171 190.

Associated Items and Infrastructure

• Book of Cause and Effect — Records and exposes karmic wrongdoing. Used to reveal the false Divine Court’s crimes and distinguish its perpetrators from those forced into service 137.
• Cause and Effect Mirror — Carries his image and voice to distant post stations 171 190.
• Abyss Soul-Attracting Lamp — Guides willing souls toward the Three Lives Gate. It cannot forcibly restrain or refine souls and has no lethal effect on living beings 143.
• Three Lives Gate — Shelters departed souls and later connects to the Netherworld. Mysterious Abyss maintains it as a crossing toward Reincarnation, not the seat of an Underworld government 155 170.
• Three Lives Boundary Stele — Marks the protected boundary of a post station. Its death Dao patterns weaken the Seventh Prince’s Solar True Fire after he crosses it 190.

History

Refuge and Northern Sea Reputation

Lu Chen originally establishes the Inner Realm of the Abyss as a quiet place to hide from outside conflict. Its inhabitants develop it into a city, bureaucracy, academy, and multi-clan refuge, repeatedly giving his limited interventions a much grander interpretation than he intends 1 4 6 7.

Abyss’s resistance to the Blackwater Dragon Palace spreads the Emperor’s name among weaker Northern Sea clans. Rumors portray him as an ancient Black Tortoise, an incarnation of Northern Water Fortune, or an expert approaching sainthood; these claims are explicitly exaggerations rather than confirmed cultivation stages 16 17.

Independence and the Awakened Old Shell

Mysterious Abyss refuses Di Jun’s invitation to join the Demon Clan and later rejects Primordial Purple Qi. Hongjun confirms that his path does not lie in the Heavenly Dao Saint Position, although outsiders inflate this into claims that he already possesses Saint-comparable methods 79 112.

After Nuwa’s visits, the Old Shell’s life force and identity become increasingly stable. It awakens, receives instruction from Lu Chen, and begins independently handling everyday affairs at the Northern Darkness Dao Palace 118 127 128 130.

Di Jun subsequently negotiates clear boundaries with Mysterious Abyss rather than forcing Abyss into the Demon Court. Their agreement protects innocent refugees while recognizing legitimate external obligations and criminal investigations 135.

Destruction of the False Divine Court

Daoist Xuan Cang exploits Mysterious Abyss’s reputation to establish a false Divine Court, demand tribute, and massacre Northern Sea tribes. After survivors reach Abyss, Lu Chen chooses to settle the resulting karma rather than merely deny involvement 136.

Mysterious Abyss arrives with Han Jue, Ao Lie, and Feng Li, exposes the crimes, and kills Xuan Cang with one palm, erasing both his Primordial Spirit and true spirit. Abyss returns the stolen resources, destroys the false court, and publicly rejects tribute collection and military conscription in its name 137.

Houtu and the Road Beyond Death

At the Three Lives Gate, Mysterious Abyss encourages Houtu to investigate the fate of ordinary souls because she is willing to ask the dead what they want. He leaves the discovery to her rather than dictate the answer 140.

When Houtu identifies Reincarnation as the path beyond the gate, he acknowledges having seen possibilities but insists that it is her Dao. He promises that the Three Lives Gate will remain if her attempt fails 160.

Observing the establishment of Reincarnation gives Lu Chen insight into life and death, leading to his breakthrough and the formation of the Abyss Life and Death Wheel. Through Mysterious Abyss, he later tests the ability against Minghe’s Blood God Child and wears the avatar out of existence 161 165 167 168.

Enforcement During the Witch–Demon Conflict

Mysterious Abyss refuses to let either side turn the Three Lives Post Stations into battlefields. His enforcement kills violators including Kua Yue, Black Crow, and Yanlan, while the Seventh Golden Crow Prince receives a limited punishment for testing the boundary 172 178 189 190.

Di Jun rejects retaliation for Black Crow’s death and orders Demon Court forces to respect the stations. As the ten suns devastate the north, Abyss continues accepting eligible refugees without treating Demon Court origin as an automatic disqualification 178 202 203.

Victory over Taiyi

Taiyi visits to test Mysterious Abyss’s Dao in a controlled spar. Mysterious Abyss first contests the Chaos Bell’s waves, then holds down the treasure itself while the Life-and-Death Wheel erodes Taiyi’s expenditure and replenishes his own strength 226 227 229.

He counterattacks through the bell, pushing Taiyi backward nine steps. Taiyi concedes; the Chaos Bell remains undamaged 229.

Rules and Policies

Relationships

• Lu Chen — True body and source of origin. Trains the Old Shell, supervises its early autonomy, and supplies power and answers when needed 128 130 135.
• Lan Shuang — Senior administrator whom the Old Shell recognizes through its inherited identity. Handles Abyss’s affairs and brings important matters before him 128 130 202.
• Lady Mingzhu — Treasury Bureau head; oversees the return of resources seized by the false Divine Court 130 137.
• Han Jue, Ao Lie, and Feng Li — Abyss representatives who accompany him against Daoist Xuan Cang and execute the false court’s core perpetrators 137.
• Nuwa — Visitor whose experiences among Abyss’s clans inspire her creation insights. Her recognition helps strengthen the Old Shell’s identity and Heaven-Mending fate connection 118 127 128.
• Houtu — Fellow Daoist whose search for a destination for the dead develops around the Three Lives Gate. He supports her without claiming her Reincarnation Dao as his own 140 160.
• Di Jun — Independent political counterpart. Negotiates mutual boundaries with Abyss and recognizes its right to enforce post station rules 135 178 192.
• Minghe — Dao interlocutor and sparring partner. Recognizes his independent cultivation path and offers a Blood God Child to test the Life-and-Death Wheel 167 168.
• Taiyi — Sparring opponent who ultimately concedes after Mysterious Abyss halts the Chaos Bell and pushes him back nine steps 226 229.
• Kuafu — Addresses Mysterious Abyss at the Three Lives Gate after death, thanks him, and follows his guidance toward Reincarnation 212.

Notable Quotes

“I am good at leaving a door open. As for where the door should lead, you are more suited than I am to seek it.” 140

“The Three Lives Post Station protects what happens after you enter. The karma you incurred before entering still remains.” 181

“I've only just begun.” 168