Chapter 508: The Origin of the Fiery Demon Abyss
At the banquet, the old man's voice clearly reached everyone's ears.
"This matter must be traced back to after the War of the Dragon and Phoenix. After the War of the Dragon and Phoenix ended, not only did the Dragon and Phoenix Patriarchs fail to bear the Mandate of Heaven, but they also attracted the covetous gaze of the Outer Heavenly Demons.
A Heavenly Demon of the Divine Emperor rank, taking advantage of the Phoenix Patriarch's severe injuries, launched a surprise attack on the Xuan Heaven Continent.
The Phoenix Patriarch engaged in a battle with it, and eventually, the Phoenix Patriarch utilized the power of the Barren Continent to suppress that Demon God. However, the Phoenix Patriarch was left with only one last breath and subsequently chose Nirvana.
The burial place of that Demon God is the Fiery Demon Abyss. Although the Demon God perished, its Demon God Blood contaminated the abyss, turning all the creatures within the abyss into demonized beings. The remnant soul merged into the abyss, causing the abyss to become a forbidden land.
Initially, the Phoenix Clan would clean up the abyss every few years. But as time passed, the clansmen who regularly cleaned the abyss showed signs of being demonized.
The Phoenix Clan Head at the time immediately and decisively ordered that no clansman could clean the abyss more than three times.
However, in this way, relying solely on the Phoenix Clan made it impossible to suppress the number of demonized beings in the abyss.
Finally, that Clan Head made a decision: all Half-Saint forces under the command of the Phoenix Clan were eligible to participate in clearing the abyss, and the reward of the Wutong Branch was offered. Over time, the abyss trial became the most important trial for the eighteen Half-Saint forces of the Phoenix Clan."
After listening to the Old Ancestor's narrative, Ye Beixuan cupped his hands and asked: "Old Ancestor, your humble son-in-law wishes to know how the ranking of this trial is calculated?"
"Naturally, it is calculated by submitting Demonic Crystals to exchange for points. The Demonic Crystals dropped by demonized beings of higher cultivation yield higher points. The top ten cultivators in points can receive rewards, and the top three can even obtain a spot to enter the Nirvana Land for enlightenment."
When the old man mentioned entering the Nirvana Land for enlightenment, his face showed a look of yearning.
He had only entered the Nirvana Land once since arriving at the Ancestral Land, and that single experience had significantly boosted his cultivation. If he could enter one more time, he would definitely become a Saint.
However, he was merely fantasizing; at his advanced age, re-entering the Nirvana Land was almost impossible.
"I see."
Ye Beixuan then asked: "What is the highest realm of the most powerful demonized being in the Fiery Demon Abyss?"
"Half-Saint."
The old man continued to explain: "In this Fiery Demon Abyss, there are a total of ten Half-Saint demonized beings. However, the locations where these ten Half-Saint demonized beings reside are extremely perilous. Even a Saint might not escape unscathed, and thus those ten demonized beings remain there perpetually."
"Old Ancestor, does the Divine Phoenix Valley not worry that those ten demonized beings might step into the Saint Realm?"
Ye Beixuan asked out of curiosity.
"If they were to step into the Saint Realm, that would actually be a good thing for the Divine Phoenix Valley. Once they become Saints, they cannot remain in the Fiery Demon Abyss. As long as they dare to emerge from the Fiery Demon Abyss, it will be their doom. The Divine King of the Divine Phoenix Valley will not tolerate them bringing disaster to this region."
The old man said with a confident expression.
Ye Beixuan nodded slightly, saying nothing more, having already formed his own considerations in his heart.
Ye Beixuan was never willing to lag behind others. At Mount Miaomiao, he had no choice; not to mention the two Holy Son Senior Brothers, even Senior Sister Qin was an extremely terrifying existence.
It was not an easy matter to stand out at Mount Miaomiao.
However, in this trial, facing the seventeen territorial lords of the Phoenix Clan, he was completely fearless.
Seeing Ye Beixuan remain silent, the old man continued to ask: "Beixuan, is there anything else you want to ask?"
Ye Beixuan said with a smile: "Replying to the Old Ancestor, your humble son-in-law has no more questions. I will certainly seize the championship in this trial."
"Good!"
The old man raised the wine cup in his hand: "Then this old man will first wish you immediate success here. Cheers!!!"
"Cheers!"
While the Fiery Phoenix Valley group was drinking in joyous harmony, the other seventeen territorial lords were intensely analyzing their respective opponents.
This was especially true for the eleven major Half-Saint forces local to the Barren Continent.
The Fiery Demon Abyss trial was a grand event of the highest importance to them.
During every trial, they would make deployments targeting the other ten forces, aiming to secure a spot in the top three.
Enlightenment in the Nirvana Land was a chance for transformation for them; it could not only enhance their bloodline but perhaps even nurture a Saint.
Even if that Saint's ultimate affiliation was with the Divine Phoenix Valley, the more Ancestors they had in the Divine Phoenix Valley, the greater their influence would be in the Barren Continent.
Over the next three days, undercurrents surged within the Divine Phoenix Valley.
Only Ye Beixuan and his group acted as if they were here for sightseeing, casually strolling around the Divine Phoenix Valley.
This behavior naturally attracted the scorn of the other seventeen territorial lords.
The day of the trial arrived as scheduled. Ye Beixuan followed the main contingent of the Fiery Phoenix Valley to the entrance of the Fiery Demon Abyss.
From the outside, it looked like an ordinary gorge, but upon closer inspection, the gorge was bottomless, and the sky above the gorge was shrouded in Demonic Qi.
If not for the Divine Phoenix Valley's seal, the Demonic Qi inside would have long since overflowed.
Clang...
Accompanied by a cry of the Phoenix, a Phoenix descended from the sky and landed in front of everyone.
"We respectfully greet the Envoy."
"Dispense with the formalities."
The Phoenix scanned everyone present and said: "Presumably, your Old Ancestors have already informed you of the reason and purpose of the trial. Next, this Venerable One will explain the rules of this trial."
"Demonic Crystals below the True Fate Realm do not count as points. True Fate Realm Demonic Crystals count as 1 point, Heaven Origin 10, Spirit Nurturing 100, Path Union 1,000, Nirvana 10,000, Quasi Half-Saint 50,000, and Half-Saint 1,000,000. Killing is permitted during the trial, but after exiting the secret realm, no private revenge is allowed. Violators will be executed without mercy. Have you all understood?"
"We solemnly obey the Envoy's command."
Everyone said respectfully.
Upon hearing the Envoy's words, Ye Beixuan thought to himself: So the Divine Phoenix Valley is essentially treating this Fiery Demon Abyss as a pig farm, using the demonized beings to nourish and strengthen the Divine Phoenix Valley and the Phoenix bloodline.
Hearing everyone's response, the Phoenix continued: "This trial will last for three months. After three months, this Venerable One will come to activate the array and wait for you for three days. You must return as scheduled by then."
"If you do not emerge after three months, you will only be able to sink into the abyss and be transformed into demonized beings. Do not blame this Venerable One for not having warned you."
"Next, this Venerable One will open the passage to the Demon Abyss. All participants in the trial, prepare yourselves."
With that, it chanted a complex incantation. An ancient divine script appeared above the crowd, and as the ancient divine script landed over the gorge.
The gorge slowly opened toward both sides, and the earth trembled as well.
Such a sight naturally astonished many cultivators not from the Barren Continent. Only Ye Beixuan and Feng Qiongyu stood there with composed expressions.
A moment later, the Demon Abyss passage was fully opened. It was a path shrouded in dark red flames, with no end in sight.
Ye Beixuan instinctively projected his divine sense into the passage, but found that his divine sense was swallowed by the passage, making it impossible to see the situation inside.
At the same time, the Phoenix's voice sounded again: "According to the results of the last trial, the various Phoenix-descendant forces, line up and depart!"
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