Trials of the Abyss
Chapter 766: Suppressing Divine Soul

Chapter 766: Suppressing Divine Soul

In the vast starry expanses, everything pulsed with Pang Jian's aura. The ever-surging energies deep within suddenly converged and took form. Pang Jian emerged, calm and composed, his gaze fixed on Zhu Ji, his aura in no way weaker than Zhu Ji's.

Within his divine domain, he was the supreme being. The starry expanse, existing independently from the Abyss, was formed through the fusion of Pang Jian's Heavenly Daos and his myriad energies.

The stars concealed profound mysteries, while the sun and moon brimmed with wonders. He could wield every tangible manifestation within this starry expanse or shift the stars and move the sun and moon at will.

Zhu Ji did not look at Pang Jian. Instead, he calmly surveyed his surroundings and said, "So this is what the starry skies beyond the Abyss looked like."

As he spoke, the Dharma Idol he had summoned suddenly began to grow taller.

Having stepped into the Ascendant God Realm, he had undergone a qualitative leap and gained access to a broader range of techniques.

He had absorbed both the murky energy of the Fifth World and the spiritual qi of the upper worlds, transforming them into the source of power that now strengthened his Dharma Idol.

"Your divine domain is certainly unique, but it's not enough to confine me. Even without drawing on any of the energies here that belong to you, I can still break through your divine domain using only the energies I've amassed myself." As he spoke, Zhu Ji slowly clenched his fist.

Cracks echoed from his fingers as searing lightning lanced between the gaps, and a terrifying force gathered in his palm.

Zhu Ji clenched his fist like he was grasping an entire world. At the center of that fist, a strange vortex suddenly formed, radiating an overwhelming force that threatened to engulf everything. The sun, moon, and stars all seemed to be drawn into the vortex formed in Zhu Ji's fist.

"Obliterate!" Zhu Ji shouted.

In Pang Jian's divine domain, a stretch of radiant stars lost control and hurtled toward the vortex at the center of Zhu Ji's fist.

The stars, imbued by Pang Jian with stellar energy and branded with corresponding Dao, shattered into nothingness the moment they fell into the vortex. The stellar energy they contained was seized by Zhu Ji, causing the vortex to swell in size.

"Pang Jian, the reason I refrained from confronting you before wasn't out of fear." Zhu Ji swung his fist toward another stretch of the starry expanse, sending the vortex with it. The cold stars in that region were reduced to ash, and the mysterious vortex controlled by Zhu Ji swelled once more.

"It was because you brought me out of the Sixth World and delivered healing elixirs to us in our time of need. And, like me, you refuse to watch our human race face extinction. You don't want the Abyss to become a living hell either.

"We share the same goal. And since you're the Abyss's World God of this generation, I've chosen to tolerate you again and again.

"But what Dong Tianze has done has pushed me beyond my limit. I have to uncover the truth."

Zhu Ji continued to swing his fists. The mysterious vortex within Pang Jian's divine domain devoured everything in sight.

"You're truly formidable. Even in the starry skies beyond the Abyss, few mid-ranking Gods would be your match." Pang Jian nodded lightly.

Pang Jian did not dwell on the matter of Dong Tianze, instead focusing his attention on the mysterious vortex, seeking to discern the wonders hidden within.

The vast starry expanse was his divine domain, and within it, he reigned as the supreme being. Here, he was all-knowing and all-powerful.

When his divine sense sank into the vortex, he sensed over a dozen distinct and pure energies spiraling around a single point. There was destruction, decay, toxins, and corrosion from the murky energy, spiritual qi, as well as elements such as lightning, cold, fire, and water.

Since his breakthrough, Zhu Ji had visited different regions of the Abyss, collecting all kinds of energies.

He neither explored the mysteries of the lightning, nor sought the truths hidden within destruction, nor studied the transformations of fire. He only wanted the energy itself. In his eyes, the different energies held no real distinction. They were simply forces to empower his attacks.

The vortex he created was capable of devouring all types of energy, reducing them back to their most fundamental form. Clearly, his Dao of Power was one of a kind.

His future was boundless. Perhaps, through his extraordinary Dao, he could repeatedly break through the shackles and become the strongest among the human race.

Sensing his Dao, Pang Jian could not help but feel a measure of respect. But he still did what needed to be done.

"Your insight into the nature of energies is truly impressive, but your divine soul can't keep up. I'll start by severing your divine soul's connection to that vortex."

As soon as the words left Pang Jian's mouth, the invisible soul essence connecting Zhu Ji and the steadily expanding vortex was severed. In an instant, Zhu Ji lost control over the vortex.

Pang Jian suddenly appeared at the center of the vortex. The pitch-black demonic cloak on his body expanded ten millionfold, rupturing the mysterious vortex.

"Senior, I can strike directly at your divine soul, just as I did with Gui Mu and as I will now."

Pang Jian cast a glance at Zhu Ji from across the void, his golden eyes flickering with otherworldly light.

Zhu Ji immediately shut his eyes.

But Pang Jian's eyes, like a pair of golden suns, had already appeared within his sea of consciousness, illuminating his divine soul.

Within his divine domain, when Pang Jian employed his soul-related techniques, closing one's eyes was utterly useless.

Above Zhu Ji's sea of consciousness, Pang Jian's blazing golden eyes hung like radiant suns, flooding everything with light and heat.

"Change!"

The pair of golden suns abruptly transformed into two swirling golden whirlpools. The Nether Abyss Spirit Bee's unique trait of corroding divine consciousness erupted with full force, unleashing arcs of golden lightning that scattered outward.

Faced with this kind of assault, Zhu Ji was utterly helpless. He could feel his sea of consciousness beginning to unravel, and even his divine soul couldn't withstand the pull of the twin whirlpools.

In battles fought outside the soul, he had many means at his disposal. However, from the moment he entered Pang Jian's divine domain, the latter had already discerned both his strengths and weaknesses through the divine domain.

After severing Zhu Ji's connection to the vortex and avoiding a physical clash, Pang Jian struck directly at his divine soul. Though Zhu Ji possessed vast, overwhelming power, he now had no way to unleash it. He could only watch as his sea of consciousness crumbled and collapsed.

"Senior, you should spend more time comprehending the mysteries of the soul and building a proper defense. Also, you'd best seek out soul-based artifacts that can shield and protect your divine soul. Otherwise, you'll find yourself at a serious disadvantage." Pang Jian sincerely advised.

The golden whirlpools vanished, and the arcs of lightning scattering outward gradually faded into nothingness.

Moments later, the vast starry expanse began to recede into Pang Jian's body. Within a few breaths, his divine domain had fully dissipated.

He hovered in the void, no larger than a grain of rice compared to the towering Dharma Idol Zhu Ji had summoned, and looked straight at him. "Senior Liu Fu's death has nothing to do with Dong Tianze. I trust him."

Turning his head, Pang Jian looked toward Dong Tianze and asked, "Isn't that so?"