Yarra’s Adventure Notes
Chapter 479 - 44: Elemental Abyss_1

Chapter 479: Chapter 44: Elemental Abyss_1

"Elemental Abyss?" Catherine and Lina exchanged a glance: "What is that?"

"I think I’ve come across it in a novel before." Lina said: "I always thought it was just a fictitious term in the story, does it actually exist?"

"It does." Freya nodded: "That kind of knowledge isn’t much use for the study of mechanics, so I haven’t looked into it deeply, and I’m not clear on the specifics. But I think Vivian would know more, she likes to understand seemingly useless knowledge."

"Foolish, you academics who only concern yourselves with practical use are the most idiotic." Vivian sneered: "No knowledge is useless, you just think it’s useless because your knowledge isn’t sufficient to understand its use. Without the knowledge you deem useless, your so-called practical disciplines wouldn’t even exist."

"Enough, both of you, stop arguing. Every time these things are brought up, you bicker nonstop. Aren’t you two tired of it?" Catherine exasperatedly interrupted the girls’ tense exchange: "What exactly is the Elemental Abyss?"

"To explain the Elemental Abyss, we’ll need to approach a few questions. Let’s continue our journey as we discuss, I want to distance us from this vortex." Vivian said: "Have you ever wondered, the earth is divided into layers and magma layers, but what’s beneath them? And around the earth is the ocean, but what’s at the end of the ocean?"

"Apologies." Catherine gave a bitter smile: "I’ve never considered such profound questions."

"The end of the ocean is the void." After setting off again, Lanna turned back and began explaining: "Our world is a circle, the ocean wraps the land, and beyond the ocean is the void. Divine Realm, the dwelling place of gods, is established within the void. But the ocean and the void are not directly connected, they are separated by an Elemental Screen, a concept that has no quantitative measure. Anything that comes into contact with the Elemental Screen, without divine protection, would be assimilated by the Elemental Screen’s rules, disintegrated into their most fundamental elements. No exceptions. In our world, an immense amount of matter is constantly being devoured and disintegrated by the Elemental Screen at the world’s edge, becoming pure elements. These elements immediately merge into the Elemental Screen. At the same time, a large amount of free state elements separate from the Elemental Screen and re-infuse into our world. This Elemental Screen is known as the Elemental Abyss."

"Is this true?" Catherine was so surprised she nearly let go of Lamia’s tail she was holding onto: "I’ve always thought that the ocean was endless, turns out there’s a screen on the outside."

"Knowing this isn’t really useful, only scholars inclined toward theory would be interested." Vivian replied: "Though no one is sure whether someone has witnessed this boundary with their own eyes, theoretically it can be calculated that it exists. This boundary can be seen as a protective layer for the Yarran World, safeguarding it from being invaded by the chaotic energy in the void. As soon as the turbulent, chaotic energy in the void touches this screen, it decomposes and is absorbed into gentle free state energy."

"There are people who have witnessed it with their own eyes." Lanna responded: "Many of our Sea Race have seen it, I witnessed it forty years ago. I was very curious back then, so I swam in the ocean for nearly a month. I swam all the way to the edge of the world and saw the Elemental Screen stretching up into the sky. I also saw large amounts of seawater pouring into the Elemental Abyss, disappearing and transforming into elements."

"I see, I think I understand now." Catherine answered seriously: "I’m sorry, I wasn’t questioning you, but this knowledge is just too unbelievable, that’s why I..."

"Don’t mind, everyone would react this way." Lanna comforted Catherine for a few moments before she continued her explanation: "The bottom of the Great Vortex leads to the Elemental Abyss, which hasn’t been witnessed by anyone. But over five thousand years ago, upon the scholars’ request, a High Priest sent her Vitality attached to the water current down the Great Vortex into the underground. She saw the water current going downwards, going through the earth layers and the cooled magma layer, arriving in front of the Elemental Abyss. But the velocity of the current was too fast, she didn’t have time to withdraw her Vitality before it was devoured by the Elemental Abyss along with the current. It was then that our Sea Race realized that even Vitality could be disintegrated by the Elemental Abyss. Having lost a significant portion of her Vitality, the High Priest’s power dropped from Demigod to Divine Gold, and she sometimes became absent-minded. She had no choice but to step down from her High Priest position, but the Sea Race has been honoring her as the Honorary High Priest for her contributions to knowledge and exploration, worshipping her in the Storm God Temple until she died of old age."

"The enticing unknown is always dangerous." Vivian bowed her head, speaking the academic prayer for the fallen softly, like the sound of a small wave: "The pursuit of unknown knowledge is always accompanied by pain and sacrifice. But we will not fear hardship, with our lives as stepping stones, step by step we will conquer the unknown sea, presenting new knowledge to the world."

"The counterpart to the Great Vortex is the Undersea Fountain." After Vivian had offered her prayers for those who had sacrificed for knowledge, Lanna continued to explain: "Unfortunately, there aren’t any Undersea Fountains along our way, but if you want to see, I can take you to the nearest one after we finish our task. The Undersea Fountain also leads to the Elemental Abyss, but it is the section where the concentration and pressure of the free state elements are too high that they have to turn into a physical form and gush out from the undersea crevices. The Undersea Fountain is quite large, with huge water columns forcefully surging upwards, breaking the surface of the water, spraying almost a thousand meters into the air. If the location of the fountain happens to be near an island, you can clearly see this sight from the surface of the ocean unobstructed by fog. The enormous water column breaking through the surface, with a perennial rainbow hanging behind it, the sound of the water echoes continuously in the surrounding sea areas like thunder. It’s all so spectacular."

"There certainly have been people who tried to find a way down to the origins of the Undersea Fountain, right?" Vivian’s eyes were full of curiosity as she asked," Otherwise your scholars wouldn’t have asserted that it sprouted from the Elemental Abyss."

"Unfortunately, there isn’t and it’s impossible to venture into either. The water column erupting out of there can resist four kilometers of water pressure and continue upwards, shooting out of the water without being affected by gravity and rushing straight into the skies. Think about it, the power coming out of that vent must be formidable. Nothing can stand in the way of that water. Even a demigod who wants to enter the fountain mouth under the sea would be shattered into pieces under its tremendous impact. Therefore, there is simply no way to enter this underwater fountain in reverse. No one can do it." Lanna fell silent for a moment before continuing, leading everyone silently through the depths of the sea with Lamia. Only after a long while did she go on, "However, the giant whirlpool and underwater fountain do occasionally transform into one another. If the concentration of elements exceeds a certain point, it will reduce the pressure as an underwater fountain; if the concentration decreases, it naturally turns into a giant whirlpool to supplement it. Witnessing all this, one can only marvel at the mystery of Lord Yarra’s creations."

"What a pity." Vivian murmured regretfully, "If we could face the Elemental Abyss up close, if we could touch it, analyse it, we would certainly discover many truths that have never been revealed to the world. However, according to you, mortals are forever unable to touch that door. Even risking our lives sounds futile. We might be destroyed the moment we touch that barrier. What a pity."

"Don’t do anything dangerous," Catherine cautioned, grasping Lamia’s tail with one hand while using her free hand to tug on Vivian’s wet ponytail. "You can experiment with anything else, no matter how crazy, but I won’t allow you to attempt something that has a hundred percent mortality rate. Need I remind you not even to think about it?"

"Hey big sister- let go, it hurts," complained Vivian, tilting her head. "I get it. I won’t be reckless. Let go of me now. If you must yank, pull somewhere else!"

"Pulling somewhere else won’t give you a lesson. Don’t I know you?" retorted Catherine, glaring. After a pause, she added, "Fine then, I’ll switch my grip."

So Catherine shifted her hand to the other ponytail.

"Hey, you’re doing this on purpose," Vivian protested, helplessly shielding her hair with one hand. "What will grabbing the other side accomplish? I’ve already assured you that I won’t do anything reckless."

"This is just to burn it into your memory," huffed Catherine. "You’re always full of surprises when you act foolishly. I’d hate to take a sip of water one day, only to realise that you were the ingredient."

"Yes, yes." Vivian appeared quite disgruntled, but a tiny curve flashed at the corners of her mouth. "Your example is decidedly... distressing, big sister."

"Indeed." Lina joined in the conversation, "Drinking that water would probably turn us into idiots too. That would be awful."

"That’s not the case." Freya spoke up last, gently asserting, "Everything is broken down into its purest elements there. Any dumbness would likewise be stripped away, so it wouldn’t be contagious."

"Hold on, let’s stop bickering for now." Lanna interrupted before the girls could start a squabble, "We’ve already moved away from the giant whirlpool so I’m curious; Vivian, since you’re so eager to study the Elemental Abyss, why did you insist on immediately retreating from the giant whirlpool earlier?"

Immediately, all eyes turned to Pannis, who was clutching Lanna’s tail. He stared back at them, unblinking.

"Why am I suddenly public enemy number one?" Pannis used his tail to cover his face. "I would never have gone inside. Maybe going in there wouldn’t have killed me."

"See, this is why," Catherine pointed at Pannis as the girls frowned at his words. "It’s to prevent certain people-"

Before Catherine could finish, a massive shadow rose from the seabed beneath them. It appeared to move slowly, yet none could keep pace. The shadow swiftly wrapped itself around Lanna before pulling her down to the seabed at lightning speed. (To be continued. If you like this story, please visit qidian.com to vote. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users please visit m.qidian.com to read.)