Trials of the Abyss-Chapter 573: One Step Too Late

Mid-ranking Outer Gods were far superior to low-ranking Outer Gods.

Outer God Puppets in the Abyss struggled to contend with human race powerhouses, simply because the puppet vessels could not bear the full extent of their power.

The high-ranking God of the Ghost Race, Zi Mo, once said that she looked forward to the day Gui Mu broke the barrier of the Abyss and faced her true body in the starry skies. On that day, Gui Mu would likely perish in the blink of an eye.

The only ones capable of contending with Zi Mo were the ancient True Gods who had emerged long ago and had the chance to amass new strength in the starry skies. Newly escaped True Gods stood no chance of victory.

***

"Ying Yue, Pang Jian has helped us quite a bit. Let's give him one-fifth of the Star Devourer's body," the Frost Crystal God suggested while freezing the Star Devourer with her Frigid Nether Mountain.

Her majestic true body pointed at the Star Devourer's massive body, which was still wrapped around the star core.

"Aberrant Spirit, your constant hiding in the starry skies and retreating into the depths of stars only proves how weak you are compared to true divine beings."

The nine icy rivers shimmered as they slowly snaked around the Star Devourer. The crystalline Frigid Nether Mountain, infused with the Dao of Cold, pressed down on its body, freezing and shattering even more limbs.

"One-sixth. No more," Ying Yue bargained cheerfully from the conjured moon above.

The thought of successfully capturing the Star Devourer and the imminent availability of followers in the Shadow Abyss brought a faint smile to the Moon God's lips.

As she dismantled the Star Devourer, she quietly pondered which powerful high-ranking Outer God she could use their spoils to negotiate with to solve Han Yi's troubles.

Suddenly, something strange happened!

A vast sea of souls roared onto the scene with glimmering green waves. Its depths were filled with graves, tombs, and burial mounds, from which spectral figures and ghostly creatures rose with eerily echoing laughter.

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The mid-ranking God of the Ghost Race, You Kui, appeared from the sea of souls like one of these emerging specters.

"So, you two were hunting a Star Devourer," You Kui said, pulling back his hood to reveal a pale, ghostly visage. He grinned ominously at Han Yi and Ying Yue, turning his strikingly handsome face into a terrifying one.

"You Kui, the mid-ranking God of the Ghost Race," Ying Yue said coldly. Riding her crescent-moon-shaped divine artifact above the sea of souls, she questioned him with a displeased expression, "Were you tracking us?"

"No." You Kui shook his head, still smiling eerily. "Your movements were simply too conspicuous. Traces of your presence lingered throughout the bizarre mist. Some low-ranking Gods happened to notice your trail and reported it to me.

"I was curious why you two were rushing through the bizarre mist when you hadn't been summoned. I assumed you were after that True God of the human race, Pang Jian, to kill him and take the Heart of Winter.

"To my surprise, it was for a Star Devourer!" You Kui chuckled gleefully.

Howl!

The Star Devourer brought their attention back to itself before hastily exposing the cooperation between Han Yi, Ying Yue, and Pang Jian in the Shadow Abyss.

The Star Devourer was no fool. It knew it stood no chance against these mid-ranking Outer Gods. By exposing what had happened in the Shadow Abyss, it hoped to sow discord among the three Outer Gods, hopefully instigating a fight, during which it could escape.

"You two have some nerve!" You Kui roared furiously.

The graves, tombs, and burial mounds within the sea of souls rose higher and higher, radiating a soul-chilling glow as they locked onto Han Yi and Ying Yue.

"It doesn't matter what the circumstances were! If you discover a True God of the human race, the wisest course of action is always to kill him immediately! Even if you couldn't kill him, why didn't you withdraw and report to the higher-ups?

"Collaborating with a True God of the human race is an unforgivable crime!" You Kui growled fiercely.

Han Yi and Ying Yue exchanged a fearful glance.

They had only been one step away!

If they had silenced the Star Devourer before it could reveal their secret, they could have secured their prize without worry.

Instead, You Kui had learned of their actions through the Star Devourer.

The connection between You Kui and Zi Mo, the high-ranking God of the Ghost Race, meant that even silencing You Kui would not prevent this information from spreading.

"This has nothing to do with Ying Yue. I was the one who made contact with the True God," Han Yi declared. "You Kui, I am willing to accept any punishment, but I beg you not to involve Ying Yue."

You Kui's green eyes gleamed with a sinister light as he smiled, "Leave the Star Devourer behind, and I'll keep your secret. As for the rest...

"I'll come to find you once I've dealt with the Star Devourer."

"You want more?" Han Yi asked through gritted teeth.

"Yes, but we'll talk about that later," You Kui dismissed impatiently. "You know I can find both of you anytime I wish. Of the two high-ranking Gods overseeing matters above, one is from our Ghost Race. There's no escape for you two."

Han Yi wanted to say more but Ying Yue pulled her away.

As the two Outer Gods flew off, they could not help but glance back longingly at the Star Devourer.

They had taken great risks, even cooperating with Pang Jian in the Shadow Abyss, to capture the Star Devourer. However, just as they were about to reap the rewards, You Kui intercepted and claimed their prize.

It was a hard pill to swallow.

Even so, colluding with a True God was an unforgivable crime, and there was nothing they could do now that You Kui knew.

"This You Kui of the Ghost Race, he's both cunning and greedy. This time, we could lose more than just the Star Devourer. Han Yi, prepare to make some sacrifices." Ying Yue sighed deeply, her voice heavy with resignation.

"I'm sorry, Ying Yue. I've wronged you," Han Yi said with a helpless shake of her head. "This is all my fault. I'll go to that high-ranking God's domain and serve him willingly for a few years, offering my divine power to strengthen him.

"Ying Yue, he's a high-ranking God. His influence carries weight. I'll beg him to ensure you won't be dragged into this."

Han Yi felt powerless against You Kui and the high-ranking God of the Ghost Race behind him. The only aid she could think of was the high-ranking God harassing her.

She was willing to sacrifice herself and endure humiliation if it meant sparing Ying Yue from further harm. This was her mistake, and she would take responsibility for it.

***

In the Shadow Abyss, Pang Jian's physical body sat on the shoulder of his Immortal Divine Soul as he contemplated the mysteries of the divine seats, Fortune, and how to return to the Abyss.

Removing the bronze pendant from around his neck, he gazed at the engraved doors on its front before flipping it over.

A flicker of surprise crossed his face.

On the back of the bronze pendant, the character for "Abyss" in "Gate of the Abyss" had shrunk and shifted slightly to the side.

Next to it, a new character, "Shadow," had appeared.

The pendant was no longer labeled the "Gate of the Abyss" but rather the "Gate of the Shadow Abyss."

Was a new character added because I found the Shadow Abyss and obtained its coordinates? If so, could this pendant somehow connect the Abyss and the Shadow Abyss?"

Pang Jian directed his divine sense toward the five characters. When his divine sense entered the "Abyss" character, he glimpsed something faint and indistinct.

It was a hazy image of the Bee Sovereign and Dong Tianze.