The outer perimeter of the Devil-Suppressing Abyss.
A pervasive, gloomy atmosphere filled the air year-round.
Many disciples of the Divine Profound Sect guard this place. The weakest among them is Golden Core Realm cultivator, and there are many elite disciples in the Nascent Soul Realm. Each of them is a disciple with a completely innocent background.
Although they didn't know what terrifying being was suppressed deep within the abyss, the invisible sense of oppression was enough to keep them on edge at all times.
After the thirty-year period expires, the rewards promised by the sect are enough to tempt anyone, but the prerequisite is that one must endure these long thirty years.
At that moment, a heavy black iron gate slid open silently, and a figure, exuding the unique pressure of the Spirit Transformation Realm, slowly stepped inside.
Li Shanhai and the many disciples stationed there were immediately startled and bowed in unison, saying:
"Greetings, Elder Shi."
The newcomer was none other than Shi Qianzhong, an elder of the Law Enforcement Hall.
He had a square face and a cold expression between his brows. His cultivation level of the Spirit Transformation Ninth Layer stage was as solid as a mountain, giving people an extremely strong sense of pressure.
"Um."
Shi Qianzhong's gaze swept across the crowd like lightning, his voice low and deep, "Has anything unusual happened recently?"
The leader, a Nascent Soul cultivator from the inner realm, was named Zhao Qian, and had been stationed here for nearly twenty years.
He stepped forward, his brow furrowed slightly, a hint of worry in his voice. "Reporting to the elder, the restriction is functioning normally, and there are no signs of external impact. However..."
"Just what?"
Shi Qianzhong's gaze suddenly sharpened as he stared intently at him.
Zhao Qian felt the pressure in that gaze, his Adam's apple bobbed, and he forced himself to say, "This disciple dares not speak presumptuously, but lately, I have been feeling inexplicably uneasy."
Deep within the abyss... there seems to be more activity than usual, a restless energy that defies description.
He struggled to find the right words to describe it, but this intuition was difficult to prove with evidence.
"Unfounded speculation!"
Shi Qianzhong's face darkened, and he rebuked him sternly.
"As a guardian disciple, the most important thing is to have a firm will!"
To indulge in wild thoughts and give rise to demonic ideas is a Dao of Death!
If you don't even have this much self-control, you should get out of the Devil-Suppressing Abyss as soon as possible!
"This disciple knows his mistake!"
Zhao Qian's face turned pale, and cold sweat beaded on his forehead. He quickly lowered his head and apologized.
The other disciples also remained silent, and Li Shanhai lowered his head even further, afraid that they would notice him.
Shi Qianzhong snorted coldly and said no more. Instead, he took out a token from his sleeve that was neither gold nor jade and flowed with ancient spiritual light— the Abyss Suppression Token, which was used to open the core seal of the Devil-Suppressing Abyss!
"Elder! What's wrong...?"
Zhao Qian couldn't help but ask in a trembling voice.
According to regulations, no one may enter the core sealed area without a written order from the sect leader or the Taishang elder, or with multiple elders present.
Shi Qianzhong's expression remained unchanged, his tone carrying an undeniable air of authority. "You are all living in constant fear because of the unknown. Today, I will examine the state of the demon's seal to put your minds at ease and prevent you from becoming paranoid and losing your composure!"
"Of course, I applied to the sect leader for this, so you don't need to worry."
Upon hearing this, the disciples immediately suppressed the last trace of doubt in their hearts.
After all, Shi Qianzhong was a highly respected elder of the Law Enforcement Hall, and at the Spirit Transformation Ninth Layer, with Wuliang. Naturally, they dared not ask any further questions.
But Li Shanhai felt that Elder Shi's actions seemed somewhat... too normal?
This was unlike his usual style; normally, the other party wouldn't say an extra word to them, much less ask so many questions.
However, Shi Qianzhong didn't give them any more time to think.
He held the Abyss Suppression Token in his hand, chanting incantations, and the token shone brightly with spiritual light.
Buzz--!
Amidst a deep hum, a passage separating the abyss from the present world appeared.
The temperature in the air plummeted, and the guards turned pale. The weaker Golden Core disciples immediately activated their Cultivation Method to protect themselves.
Shi Qianzhong, however, seemed completely unaware of this terrifying demonic energy.
He swayed and entered the Devil-Suppressing Abyss without hesitation.
At this moment, his eyes no longer held their former clarity, but only a deathly darkness and a deeply hidden madness.
Li Shanhai stared intently at the newly closed passage, his expression shifting constantly.
The way Elder Shi had walked in just now had given him a sense of... resoluteness?
He immediately shook his head, forcibly dispelling the terrible thought, but the heavy unease deep in his heart could not be calmed.
Bottom of the Devil-Suppressing Abyss.
This place seems to be a dark space separate from the rest of the world, devoid of light, only eternal darkness.
At the center of the space, a massive, three-dimensional cage made of countless golden rune chains floated in the void, with a purple phantom at its center.
"It's finally here."
Hehehe.
The purple phantom smiled coldly.
Shi Qianzhong's face was gloomy, clearly indicating that making this decision was also a difficult decision for him.
But he had no choice; he had to do it.
"After this is done, I will have no further connection with the Heavenly Devil Cult."
Shi Qianzhong said fiercely.
His feelings were extremely complicated; in reality, he was an undercover agent.
He had been in the Divine Profound Sect for so long that he no longer considered himself a member of the Heavenly Devil Cult. However, a few years ago, the people of the Heavenly Devil Cult still managed to find him.
And then he realized that he had unknowingly helped the Heavenly Devil Cult pass on a lot of information.
If the sect found out about this, he didn't know what to do.
The Heavenly Devil Cult astutely understood this and promised him that if he did just one thing, they could destroy all the evidence and make him a true Elder Shi of the Divine Profound Sect.
Haha, I don't know.
"But if you let me out, I can help you fulfill this wish."
The purple phantom laughed loudly, seemingly enjoying the feeling.
"Never mind."
Shi Qianzhong was, after all, a Spirit Transformation cultivator who had cultivated for many years, so he was naturally not indecisive.
He carefully took out a jet-black crystal, which was the Myriad Devils Heart-Eroding Lure. It contained the resentment of the Heavenly Devil and could resonate strongly with the remnant soul of the Heavenly Devil, allowing the remnant soul to break free of the seal on its own.
When the time comes, as long as he kills all the guarding disciples, no one will know that it was him who did it.
Everyone would assume that the Heavenly Devil escaped on his own.
As for these disciples, they were simply unlucky.
Seemingly having prepared himself mentally, Shi Qianzhong threw the crystal into the cage.
Instantly.
"Roar--!!!"
A roar filled with boundless ecstasy rang out.
The cage shook violently, as if a spark had been thrown into boiling oil.
Click!
On the cage, a crack thinner than a hair quietly appeared under the impact of demonic energy.
"Senior Brother Zhao, something feels off."
Li Shanhai looked at the sealed entrance to the Devil-Suppressing Abyss and said softly.
"Sigh, don't overthink it."
"Didn't Elder Shi say, 'Don't overthink it. If you get tainted by Heart Devil, it'll be all over.'"
Zhao Qian sighed and said:
"It won't be long before we leave this awful place. The sect's rewards will be enough for us to cultivate for a hundred years."
Thinking of this, Li Shanhai nodded and said:
"With this reward, I also have a chance to break through to the Nascent Soul."
"Yes..."
Sudden.
Just then...
Buzz!!!
The Devil-Suppressing Abyss trembled slightly.
All the disciples guarding the town were immediately startled and instinctively said:
"Could it be that Elder Shi has encountered some kind of accident?"
at the same time.
"Um?"
Han Xuanji immediately opened her eyes.
Because the Devil-Suppressing Seal actually floated into the air on its own, radiating golden light, and then transmitted a message to him.
"A Heavenly Devil has been born?"
Han Xuanji was startled.