The outer perimeter of the Demon Suppression Abyss.
Perennial Yin Qi permeated the air.
Many Disciples of the Shenxuan Sect guarded this place; the weakest among them were Golden Core Realm Cultivators, and there were even elite Nascent Soul Realm Disciples, all of whom had impeccable backgrounds.
Although they didn't know what terrifying existence was suppressed deep within the abyss, the invisible sense of oppression that emanated was enough to keep their nerves constantly taut.
After the thirty-year term was up, the rewards promised by the Sect were enough to tempt anyone, but the prerequisite was enduring these long thirty years.
At this moment, a heavy profound iron gate silently slid open, and a figure, imbued with the unique pressure of a Soul Transformation Realm Cultivator, slowly walked in.
Li Shanhai and the many garrison Disciples were immediately startled and bowed in unison, saluting:
"Greetings, Elder Shi."
The person who arrived was precisely Elder Shi Chong of the Enforcement Hall.
His face was square, his brows were stern, and his Soul Transformation ninth-level cultivation Qi was as solid as a mountain, giving people a strong sense of oppression.
"Hmm."
Shi Chong's gaze was like lightning, sweeping over everyone, his voice low, "Any abnormalities recently?"
The leading Nascent Soul Realm Inner Sect Disciple, named Zhao Qian, had been stationed here for nearly twenty years.
He stepped forward, his brows slightly furrowed, his tone carrying a hint of imperceptible worry: "Reporting to Elder, the Restriction is operating as usual, with no signs of external impact. It's just..."
"Just what?"
Shi Chong's gaze suddenly sharpened, fixed intently on him.
Zhao Qian felt the pressure in that gaze, swallowed, and forced himself to say: "This Disciple dares not speak rashly, but in recent days, my mind has always felt an inexplicable unease.
Deep within the abyss... it seems more active than usual, with an indescribable restlessness."
He tried hard to find suitable words to describe it, but this intuition was difficult to substantiate with evidence.
"Groundless conjecture!"
Shi Chong's face darkened, and he reprimanded sharply,
"As a guarding Disciple, the foremost thing is to have a firm will!
Wild thoughts, giving rise to Heart Demons, is a path to death!
If you don't even have this much self-control, then get out of the Demon Suppression Abyss as soon as possible!"
"This Disciple knows his mistake!"
Zhao Qian's face turned pale, cold sweat beaded on his forehead, and he quickly bowed his head in apology.
The other Disciples were also silent, and Li Shanhai buried his head even lower, fearing that he would be noticed.
Shi Chong snorted coldly, saying no more, and instead took out a token from his sleeve—neither gold nor jade, flowing with ancient spiritual light—it was the Abyss Suppressing Token, which opened the core Seal of the Demon Suppression Abyss!
"Elder! You are..."
Zhao Qian couldn't help but ask in surprise.
According to regulations, without a handwritten order from the Sect Master or a Grand Elder and the presence of multiple Elders, no one was allowed to enter the core Seal area without authorization.
Shi Chong's expression remained unchanged, his tone carrying an unquestionable authority: "You all live in constant fear, all because of the unknown. This Venerable One will inspect the Seal status of that Devil Head today, so that you can feel at ease, lest you become suspicious and throw yourselves into disarray!"
"Of course, I applied to the Sect Master for this, so you don't have to worry."
As soon as these words were spoken, the last trace of doubt in the hearts of the Disciples was immediately suppressed.
After all, Shi Chong was an Elder of the Enforcement Hall with extremely high status, and he was also at the ninth level of Soul Transformation, with boundless prospects, so they naturally dared not ask more questions.
But Li Shanhai felt that Elder Shi's action seemed a bit... too normal?
This was unlike his usual style; normally, the other party wouldn't say an extra word to them, let alone ask so many questions.
However, Shi Chong didn't give them any more time to think.
Holding the Abyss Suppressing Token, he chanted incantations, and the token glowed brightly.
Buzz—!
Amidst a low hum, a passage separating the abyss from the mundane world appeared.
The temperature in the air plummeted, and the guarding Disciples' faces turned pale; the Golden Core Disciples with weaker cultivation even circulated their Cultivation Techniques to protect themselves.
Shi Chong, however, seemed completely oblivious to the terrifying Devilish Qi.
His figure flickered, and he entered the Demon Suppression Abyss without hesitation.
At this moment, his eyes no longer held their usual clarity, only a dead silence of darkness and a deeply hidden trace of madness.
Li Shanhai stared intently at the re-closed passage, his expression changing erratically.
Elder Shi's back when he stepped in just now made him feel a hint of... determination?
He then shook his head, forcibly dispelling this terrifying thought, but the heavy unease deep in his heart could not be quelled.
At the bottom of the Demon Suppression Abyss.
This place was like a dark space independent of the world, without light, only eternal darkness.
At the center of the space, a huge three-dimensional cage made of countless golden runic chains floated in the Void Realm, and at the center of the cage was a purple phantom.
"Finally, he's here."
"Hehehe."
The purple phantom laughed sinisterly.
Shi Chong's face was gloomy, evidently, making this decision was also a struggle for him.
But there was no other way; he had to do it.
"After this is done, I will have no further ties with the Heavenly Demon Sect."
Shi Chong said fiercely.
His mood was extremely complex; in reality, he was an undercover agent.
It was just that he had been in the Shenxuan Sect for too long, and he no longer felt like a member of the Heavenly Demon Sect, but a few years ago, people from the Heavenly Demon Sect still found him.
And he then discovered that he had unknowingly helped the Heavenly Demon Sect transmit quite a bit of information.
If the Sect knew about this, he didn't know what to do.
And the Heavenly Demon Sect keenly perceived this point, promising him that as long as he did one thing, all evidence would be destroyed, allowing him to completely become Elder Shi of the Shenxuan Sect.
"Haha, I don't know."
"But if you let me out, I can help you fulfill this wish."
The purple phantom laughed loudly, seemingly enjoying this feeling.
"Forget it."
Shi Chong, after all, was a Soul Transformation Cultivator who had cultivated for many years, so he naturally wouldn't be indecisive.
He carefully took out a pitch-black crystal—this was the Myriad Devil Corroding Heart Lure, containing the Heavenly Demon's resentment, which could resonate strongly with the Heavenly Demon's remnant soul, and then allow the remnant soul to break out of the Seal on its own.
At that time, as long as he killed all the guarding Disciples, no one would know it was him.
Everyone would only think that the Heavenly Demon had escaped on its own.
As for these Disciples, they were purely unlucky.
Seemingly prepared, Shi Chong threw the crystal towards the cage.
Immediately.
"Roar—!!!"
A roar filled with endless ecstasy rang out.
The cage, as if a spark had been thrown into boiling oil, suddenly vibrated violently.
Crack!
On the cage, a crack thinner than a hair, under the impact of the Devilish Qi, quietly appeared... "Senior Brother Zhao, why do I feel something is wrong?"
Li Shanhai looked at the closed entrance of the Demon Suppression Abyss and whispered.
"Sigh, don't overthink it."
"Didn't Elder Shi say, don't overthink it, if you get infected with a Heart Demon, it'll be over."
Zhao Qian sighed and said:
"It won't be long before we can leave this damned place too, and then the Sect's reward will be enough for us to cultivate for a hundred years."
Thinking of this, Li Shanhai also nodded and said:
"With this reward, I also have a chance to break through to Nascent Soul."
"Yes, ah..."
Suddenly.
Just then.
Buzz!!!
The Demon Suppression Abyss trembled slightly.
All the guarding Disciples were immediately startled, subconsciously saying:
"Could it be that something happened to Elder Shi?"
At the same time.
"Hmm?"
Han Xuanji immediately opened his eyes.
Because the demon suppression seal actually floated into the air on its own, radiating golden light, and then transmitted a piece of information to him.
"A Heavenly Demon has appeared?"
Han Xuanji was startled.