Translator: CinderTL
Star Abyss!
One of the most popular adventure grounds in the Profound Yellow Great World!
Unlike the Profound Yellow Vast Land, which was almost entirely monopolized by the Great Sects, the Star Abyss had been declared a paradise for all Void Refining cultivators by the Supreme Truth Sovereign.
Any Void Refining cultivator could venture into the Star Abyss to collect the inheritance treasures left behind by the Starspirit Dao Venerable.
Even the most powerful sects and factions outside the Star Abyss behaved with remarkable restraint, daring not to overstep their bounds. To do so would be tantamount to disrespecting the Supreme Truth Sovereign.
Unlike the Profound Yellow Supreme, who had vanished for tens of millions of years, the Supreme Truth Sovereign had remained active.
Based on the average cycle of a Supreme Sovereign—fifty thousand years of Dao Unification followed by ten thousand years of activity—the Supreme Truth Sovereign still had at least fifty to sixty thousand years of glory ahead.
Under such circumstances, anyone who dared to violate the Star Abyss's rule of shared access would be seen as disrespecting the Supreme Sovereign.
Without the Supreme Truth Sovereign even needing to speak, the Heavenly Principles Sect would hunt down and punish any transgressors, ensuring they paid for their actions.
As a result, the Star Abyss had become a gathering place not only for native Void Refining cultivators of the Profound Yellow Great World but also for Void Refining Heavenly Monarchs from various Human Race Great Worlds, all seeking a chance at fortune within its depths.
When the Heavenly Sage Venerable arrived at the Star Abyss with Li Chunjun in his warship, they were greeted by an orderly and harmonious scene.
Around the crack-like perimeter of the Star Abyss, numerous palaces, warships, and carriages were stationed. Each of these structures radiated the aura of at least a Dharma Manifestation Realm cultivator and bore the insignia of a Great Sect.
In addition to these transportation treasures, a high-grade open-market cave realm lay nearby. Spanning tens of thousands of miles, this cave realm was filled with palaces, pavilions, towns, and marketplaces. It was maintained by the Creation Fortune Merchant Guild and served as the largest and most prosperous trading hub outside the Star Abyss. Many Celestial Sovereigns who had made gains within the Star Abyss would sell their surplus resources through this cave realm market. The market also periodically hosted grand auctions, where the items sold often fetched staggering prices, attracting the attention of even Dharma Manifestation Realm cultivators.
Of course, besides the Creation Fortune Merchant Guild's market, the Heavenly Principles Sect and other Great Sects had also attempted to establish markets outside the Star Abyss. However, due to issues with foot traffic and credibility, all but the Heavenly Principles Sect's market had been forced to close down due to poor business.
"Senior Brother Li, should we browse the market first or...?"
"Let's enter the Star Abyss first," Li Chunjun said. "We'll have plenty of time to shop once our strength increases."
"Very well." Heavenly Sage Venerable nodded slightly, then produced a Jade Talisman. "I've been asking those who have entered the Star Abyss before, compiling their descriptions into a comprehensive record. I hope it will be helpful to Heavenly Monarch Li."
Li Chunjun already possessed the detailed information provided by Liu Yu, but he didn't refuse Heavenly Sage Venerable's goodwill. He accepted the Jade Talisman and left the warship, transforming into a streak of light that plunged directly into the "crack" where the Star Abyss lay.
After watching Li Chunjun enter the Star Abyss, the Three Sage Venerables of Heaven, Earth, and Humanity exchanged glances and smiled. "Alright, let's get back to our own affairs. The Heavenly Principles Sect and many Council-level Powers have jointly decreed that no major battles are to erupt within ten light-years of the Star Abyss. We can finally enjoy some peace and rest."
"Rest... We've had more than enough rest over the years. In fact, we may not have much time left to rest at all," Earth Sage Venerable said, gazing at Li Chunjun's vanishing figure.
He had been cultivating for nearly a hundred thousand years, and his remaining time was dwindling.
"I only hope this Heavenly Monarch Li... can truly bring us some surprises."
"Haven't we thoroughly studied this Heavenly Monarch Li? His talent fully justifies his status as a 'Supreme Sovereign's Direct Disciple.' At thirty years old, he's already at the Peak of the Void Refinement Realm. Even if we looked back ten thousand years, we wouldn't find anyone with better talent."
Human Sage Venerable said.
"If he can maintain this momentum, I'll be fully confident. But I fear his talent might just be a fleeting bloom..."
Earth Sage Venerable's eyes flickered with worry.
"If it were a fleeting bloom, he wouldn't have broken through the Void Refining Realm just a few years ago and already possess the strength to contend with Dharma Manifestation Realm cultivators," Heavenly Sage Venerable interrupted. "Besides, since we've made our decision, there's no point in second-guessing ourselves! From now on, we'll do our utmost to fulfill our role as Dao Protectors, hoping to secure our own future prosperity after he achieves Dao Unification. As for whether the final outcome will satisfy everyone... we can only say, 'Do our best, and leave the rest to fate.'"
A hundred thousand years of cultivation had worn down the Sage Venerable's sharp edges.
He had completely lost faith in his own ability to achieve Dao Unification through his own efforts.
At this moment, Li Chunjun had already descended deep into the Star Abyss.
The Star Abyss was a seemingly bottomless fissure in space.
When a Cultivator approached, a swallowing force would pull them into its depths.
The faster one entered, the stronger the suction became.
Therefore, Li Chunjun maintained a steady, controlled descent.
As he fell, he could see other Cultivators slowly ascending from the abyss.
This was due to the Star Abyss's unique rules: the faster one moved within, the greater the resistance they encountered.
Because of this, even when Void Refining Heavenly Monarchs unleashed their full power in battle, the residual energy from their clashes would dissipate completely within a hundred miles, or even just a few dozen miles. After all, the release of energy was itself a form of speed.
"The Star Abyss was formed from the fallen Dao Harmonizing Star Spirit. But it has no land. The entire abyss is filled with a special force field that condenses various forms of energy. These energies, tainted by the Star Spirit's lingering consciousness, evolve into diverse life forms, acting as guardians to repel all intruders. But... these guardians are both a danger and a trial!"
Information about the Star Abyss flooded Li Chunjun's mind.
"Killing a Star Abyss Guard grants you some residual information—perhaps insights into the Starspirit Dao Venerable's laws, combat experience, or even useless life memories. Moreover, the guards themselves are energy constructs. If you can absorb their energy, it holds considerable value, and some special energies even contain Dao Rhythm comparable to Seventh-Tier Materials."
His gaze shifted, and he quickly noticed something.
A group of about a dozen Primordial Spirits had formed a Battle Formation, cautiously exploring the surroundings.
Yes, Primordial Spirits.
Some Primordial Spirit True Monarchs, nearing the end of their lifespan or seeing no hope for advancement, would gamble one last time in the Star Abyss before their final breath.
Unfortunately, the Star Abyss Guards were incredibly powerful. Out of every thousand Primordial Spirits who entered, not even one might emerge unscathed.
Of course, those who did survive the Star Abyss invariably returned with treasures beyond their wildest dreams.
With these gains, a select few even broke through to the Void Refinement Realm, adding another layer of legend to the Star Abyss.
"Compared to the Star Abyss Guards, many Primordial Spirits actually die at the hands of Void Refining cultivators," Li Chunjun realized.
The Star Abyss Guard was both an opportunity and a trial.
As the number of Star Abyss Guards killed increased, one's body would accumulate a kind of "hatred," attracting higher-level guards.
Therefore, in order to accumulate enough kills, many Primordial Spirits often encountered "monster-stealing" incidents.
If they met someone with a good temperament, the Void Refining cultivators would simply kill the Star Abyss Guards they had found. But if they encountered someone with a bad temperament, who found the Primordial Spirit True Monarchs to be a nuisance, believing their numbers were the reason it took so long to find a guard, they would simply slap them to death.
Li Chunjun remained indifferent to this.
But soon, he seemed to understand why those Void Refining cultivators were stealing monsters.
Like now, he had been in the Star Abyss for a full ten days without even catching a glimpse of a Star Abyss Guard.
"This is what happens when the respawn rate can't keep up with the kill rate," he grumbled inwardly.
Just then, he sensed something.
Battle fluctuations.
The unique environment of the Star Abyss made it difficult for battle fluctuations to travel far. Only when they entered his Divine Sense range could he truly sense the battle's location.
And right now...
Two Void Refining cultivators, seemingly a senior brother and junior sister from the same sect, were locked in a fierce struggle with a Star Abyss Guard.
The Star Abyss Guard's energy glow had reached cyan.
It was no longer a mere gray-white guard.
Li Chunjun estimated its combat strength...
"Equivalent to an ordinary Void Refining cultivator..."
This matched the information Liu Yu had provided.
"Gray-white guards are equivalent to Seventh-Rank lifeforms, cyan guards to ordinary Void Refining cultivators, blue guards to seasoned Void Refining cultivators, red guards to top-tier Void Refining cultivators, purple guards to the Peak of the Void Refinement Realm, golden guards surpass Dharma Manifestation Realm cultivators, and rainbow guards are practically invincible within the Star Abyss."
Li Chunjun's thoughts raced.
Of course, this didn't mean rainbow guards had never been slain.
Human Void Refining cultivators, when united, still possessed the strength to kill them.
However, rainbow guards were rather useless. Once slain, it was considered completing the preliminary assessment, and the victor would be immediately teleported to the Star Abyss's Inheritance Hall to face the Starspirit Dao Venerable's projected trial alone.
This trial was a matter of life or death.
Even if one passed the trial, to obtain the inheritance and the treasures left behind by the Dao Harmonizing Star Spirit, they had to be implanted with a Mind Dao Seed-like power seed, forever bound to the mission of reviving the Star Spirit Clan.
This presented two problems.
The first problem: the most valuable treasures had already been taken by the Supreme Truth Sovereign. What remained held little value.
The second problem: to complete the Ultimate Trial, one needed combat power comparable to a top-grade Dharma Manifestation Realm cultivator. Such Void Refining cultivators were all core figures in the most prestigious sects.
Why would these Void Refining cultivators burden themselves with such a heavy responsibility, even accepting a Mind Dao Seed, for treasures of relatively little value?
As Li Chunjun pondered, a sword light suddenly pierced through the void, streaking directly toward the two Void Refining cultivators.
"Monster stealing?"
Li Chunjun strained his eyes.
He saw three figures rapidly approaching on Sword Flight. Before they even arrived, their mental power had already stirred the Star Abyss.
"Wu Ji Sect is handling this! All bystanders, get out of the way!"
(End of the Chapter)
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