As Zhang Ruochen and Mu Lingxi left the palace, the Blood Empress appeared atop a tall pavilion, watching their departing figures from afar.
Chi Linyuan materialized beside her, whispering, “Master, are you letting them leave just like that?”
“What else can I do? If I force them to stay, Chen’er will only resent me more. This is already a good outcome. At least Lanyou remains, and I believe Chen’er will return. I just hope it won’t take too long,” the Blood Empress sighed, her eyes filled with helplessness.
If possible, she’d have preferred Zhang Ruochen stay longer and merge with his past life’s body as she wished.
But that wasn’t feasible now. These matters required patience; rushing would only backfire.
Zhang Ruochen and Mu Lingxi moved swiftly, soon reaching the special passage to the first gradient.
No one intercepted them, allowing Zhang Ruochen to quietly exhale in relief.
Casting a distant glance at the steep, divine-blood-stained peak, he took Mu Lingxi’s hand and plunged into the blood-red vortex.
Moments later, they emerged from the blood-energy-spewing chasm, successfully exiting the second gradient.
“Unless you see it yourself, no one would believe the second gradient of the Endless Abyss is like that,” Mu Lingxi said, reflective.
Zhang Ruochen nodded. “Indeed. From our explorations, it’s likely more than one or two gods fell there. It’s a mysterious and terrifying place.”
He’d observed that the gradient’s most enigmatic sites were tied to fallen gods, areas even the Blood Empress hadn’t fully mastered.
“Um… I have something for you,” Mu Lingxi said hesitantly.
“What is it?” Zhang Ruochen asked eagerly.
With a flip of her hand, Mu Lingxi produced a black stone, egg-sized and unremarkable, easily overlooked if tossed aside.
But closer inspection revealed countless intricate, dizzying secret patterns crisscrossing its surface.
The moment the stone appeared, Zhang Ruochen sensed a stir in his Divine Light Sea of Qi.
Before he could react, the Hidden Mountain Demon Mirror flew out from it.
Without prompting, the mirror activated, its surface blooming with supreme inscriptions. Thick demonic energy surged, forming black mountains, like primordial demonic peaks capable of suppressing all.
A powerful suction force erupted from the mirror, instantly pulling the black stone from Mu Lingxi’s hand.
The mirror’s surface rippled faintly, and the stone sank into it.
“Quick, envelop the mirror with your power!” Mu Lingxi urged.
Zhang Ruochen, reacting swiftly, released potent saintly energy, fully encasing the mirror, then poured his power into it.
He realized the black stone was likely the missing core of the Hidden Mountain Demon Mirror.
As suspected, the mirror’s spirit resided in that stone.
Once fused, the mirror would become a complete supreme saint artifact, its power far beyond its current state.
A fully intact Hidden Mountain Demon Mirror would be uncontrollable with Zhang Ruochen’s current strength.
However, the mirror had been severely damaged before, and its spirit likely wasn’t at its peak.
Even so, a supreme saint artifact’s spirit was not to be underestimated.
Zhang Ruochen expected a struggle, perhaps even pain, but to his surprise, the mirror’s spirit didn’t resist, allowing him to easily take control.
Soon, the mirror’s power subsided, calming.
Noticeably, the mirror had changed—its surface cracks were gone, and its supreme inscriptions denser.
Holding it, Zhang Ruochen frowned, looking at Mu Lingxi. “How did the mirror’s core end up with you?”
“It… was given to me by the Blood Empress,” Mu Lingxi said, lowering her head, avoiding his gaze, her voice small.
She knew Zhang Ruochen’s temperament. In their 20 days in the second gradient, he’d rejected all the Blood Empress’s gifts, and her accepting something from her would likely upset him.
Without her answer, Zhang Ruochen had already guessed. If Mu Lingxi had the core all along, she’d have given it to him sooner.
He also understood her intent: to equip him with a complete supreme saint artifact, immensely beneficial to him.
Even the most potent supreme saint artifact, without its spirit, couldn’t compare to newly forged ones.
It might even pale against top-tier king-grade weapons, whose spirits neared Great Saint-level power.
The deed was done; separating the core was impossible, and discarding the mirror wasn’t an option.
After losing the Azure Sky Pagoda, the Hidden Mountain Demon Mirror was his only supreme saint artifact.
He hadn’t expected its core to be in the Blood Empress’s possession.
This suggested a deep connection between the Hidden Mountain Demon Mirror and the Blood Sea Demon Mirror, perhaps akin to the Sunken Abyss Ancient Sword and the Blood-Dripping Sword.
Shaking his head helplessly, Zhang Ruochen stored the mirror in his Divine Light Sea of Qi. “Fine, I owe her a favor.”
Mu Lingxi looked up, her bright eyes cautious. “You’re not mad at me?”
“Mad? For caring too much?” Zhang Ruochen teased, gently touching her cheek.
Relieved, Mu Lingxi patted her chest, smiling playfully. “You scared me! Don’t worry, I’ll listen to you from now on.”
Zhang Ruochen took her hand, chuckling. “Let’s head back to the Blood God Sect. After 20 days away, I hope nothing’s gone wrong.”
They soared upward, vanishing from the Endless Abyss in a few flashes.
Oddly, the blood beasts in the first and second gradients remained passive, treating them as invisible, showing no intent to attack.
This was likely tied to the Blood Empress.
At the Abyss’s edge, four figures stood, gazing into the dark chasm.
Though they suppressed their auras, terrifying phenomena surrounded them—slowly spinning black holes, void-crushing black stars, and more.
The one with the black hole phenomenon said solemnly, “The Endless Abyss is a major forbidden zone in the Kunlun Realm, rumored to have three gradients hiding ancient secrets. Most who enter never return.”
“Over half a month ago, Zhang Ruochen entered abruptly. He likely knows some of the Abyss’s secrets.”
His knowledge of Zhang Ruochen’s secretive entry showed his capability.
“It’s been over half a month. He might’ve died in there—a pity for his treasures,” another sneered, a blood-dripping demonic sword phenomenon behind him, its killing intent chilling.
“No, Zhang Ruochen’s not that easy to kill. Entering now, he’s likely after treasures left by the Blood God. According to Blood Slaughter Divine Son, the Blood God had unusual ties to the Immortal Vampires, taking something vital from them, possibly hidden in the Abyss,” said the one with the black star phenomenon.
The others’ expressions shifted. Matters involving the Blood God and Immortal Vampires demanded caution.
The black-star figure, clearly the leader, was at the Heaven-Connecting Realm’s peak, a step from Near-Path Realm, his true strength rivaling some Near-Path experts.
“Hm? Someone’s coming out?” he said, his face changing.
*Swoosh.*
Two figures shot out from the Abyss—Zhang Ruochen and Mu Lingxi.
Spotting the four at the edge, Zhang Ruochen’s eyes flashed coldly. “I didn’t come for you, yet you dare trespass on Blood God Sect territory. Do you think we’re defenseless?7
