208: Star Abyss Remnants, the Secret of the Ancient Altar
Dead silence and darkness once again enveloped the area.
Only the dead city, more than half erased by the "Void" black mist, remained, leaving behind terrifying, mirror-smooth cross-sections that silently spoke of the horror of the previous clash on the level of rules.
Ye Chen sat cross-legged on the cold ruins, his aura weak and his face pale.
He was channeling the Primordial Chaos Art with all his might, absorbing the thin energy from the Void Realm to repair his nearly dried-up Dantian and Sea of Consciousness.
The confrontation with the "Void" black mist had consumed far more than he had estimated.
It was not just an overdraft of power, but a violent shock to his Divine Soul and Dao intent.
If the chaos ancestral talisman had not triggered that trace of the Origin mark at the last moment, the consequences would have been unimaginable.
Several hours later, he slowly exhaled a breath of stale air and opened his eyes.
Although it would take time to fully recover, at least his mobility was no longer impaired.
He looked within himself and discovered that after the chaos ancestral talisman in his Qi Sea had fused with the "Chaos Fire Seed" and triggered the Origin mark, the trace of the intent representing the creation of "Life" within the flowing Chaos Qi on its surface had become clearer, forming a more profound balance with the original intents of annihilation and tolerance.
Its form had also become more solid, as if a sleeping giant beast had opened its eyes a crack.
"Void..." Ye Chen murmured the name, his eyes extremely solemn.
The malice and coldness from the unknown depths had left a deep impression on him.
This was by no means an ordinary enemy, but a terrifying entity on the same level as Chaos, representing the ultimate "non-existence" of the Universe.
They seemed to hold great hostility toward the chaos ancestral talisman, especially the newly acquired power of "Life."
He must improve his strength as soon as possible and find the other ancestral rune fragments!
He stood up, took one last look at the erased area, and his figure turned into a beam of sword light, fleeing toward the rendezvous point agreed upon with the "star chaser" flying boat.
This place was not suitable for staying long; no one knew if the "Void" would make a comeback.
However, just as he was about to leave the dead city area and enter the more chaotic outer zones of the Star Abyss of Fallen Gods, his Divine Sense suddenly caught a trace of an extremely faint... life fluctuation that was completely out of place with the surrounding dead silence?
This fluctuation was not the resentful dead matter of a Fiend Soul or corpse soldier, but a real, living vitality filled with panic and vigilance!
Ye Chen paused, concealed his aura, and quietly snuck toward the direction from which the fluctuation came.
At the edge of the dead city, at the entrance of a hidden underground fissure half-covered by giant bones, he saw the source of the fluctuation.
It was three... "people"?
They were small in stature, their skin an unhealthy pale due to long-term lack of light, and they wore clothes simply stitched together from some kind of tough animal hide and dull metal pieces, clutching bone spears or rusted short swords in their hands.
Their eyes were filled with vigilance toward the environment, fear of the unknown, and a bone-deep exhaustion and numbness.
Their cultivation was very low.
The strongest among them, the leader, had barely reached the Peak of the Earth Fiend Realm, while the other two were only around the Middle Stage of the Earth Fiend Realm.
In this Star Abyss of Fallen Gods, where even those at the Tiangang Realm could fall at any moment, they were as weak as dust.
Seemingly sensing Ye Chen's approach (although Ye Chen had tried his best to conceal himself, the trace of aura he inadvertently revealed was still like a prehistoric beast to these people), the three of them immediately shrank back into the fissure like frightened rabbits, pointing their bone spears and short swords at the entrance, their bodies trembling slightly from fear.
Ye Chen pondered for a moment, withdrew all his aura, slowly revealed his figure, stood outside the fissure entrance, and spoke in as peaceful a tone as possible: "I have no malice."
His voice sounded exceptionally clear in this dead silent environment.
There was silence in the fissure for a moment, and then, the leader at the Peak of the Earth Fiend Realm, a young man with a scar on his face, cautiously poked his head out.
When he saw that Ye Chen looked like a human and had no obvious Evil Qi or Death Qi on him, the fear in his eyes lessened slightly, but his vigilance remained.
"You... who are you? The 'World-Devouring Black Mist' outside... has it disappeared?"
The young man's voice was dry and hoarse, with a heavy local accent, but Ye Chen could barely understand him.
World-Devouring Black Mist?
Is that what they call the "Void" black mist?
Ye Chen's heart stirred, and he nodded: "The black mist has retreated."
"Are you... people who live here?"
Hearing that the black mist had retreated, the young man seemed to heave a sigh of relief, but he still did not fully put down his weapon.
He sized up Ye Chen, especially Ye Chen's relatively clean green robes, which were completely out of place with the surrounding environment, and his unfathomable aura.
He hesitated for a moment and said: "We are the remnants of the 'Star Scar Tribe'... living for generations in this forgotten land."
"Are you... from the 'world of the living' outside?"
Star Scar Tribe?
Remnants?
Living for generations in the Star Abyss of Fallen Gods?
Ye Chen was shaken.
This Star Abyss of Fallen Gods was extremely dangerous, making it difficult even for Tiangang Realm experts to stay for long.
How did these people, whose average strength was only at the Earth Fiend Realm, manage to survive here?
"I do indeed come from the outside world," Ye Chen did not deny it.
"I accidentally ended up here and am looking for a way to leave, as well as... some special items."
He did not directly mention the ancestral rune fragments.
Hearing that Ye Chen came from the outside world, the young man and the two people behind him felt an indescribable longing and envy burst out in their eyes, but it was quickly replaced by deep despair.
"Leaving... impossible..." the young man shook his head, his voice low.
"The Star Abyss is a huge cage; once you enter, you can never get out... unless..."
"Unless what?" Ye Chen pressed.
The young man hesitated, seemingly having some concerns.
He looked at Ye Chen, then at his two companions behind him who were also showing hope mixed with fear, and finally gritted his teeth and whispered: "Unless... one can find the legendary 'Ancient Altar' and obtain the recognition of the 'spirit of the star abyss', perhaps... there is a glimmer of hope."
"But... the Ancient Altar is guarded by powerful 'Abyss Beasts', and countless ancestors who tried to approach it... all died..."
Ancient Altar?
spirit of the star abyss?
Ye Chen's eyes flashed; this might be a clue.
He asked calmly: "Where is the Ancient Altar? And what is that 'spirit of the star abyss'?"
"The Ancient Altar is in the deepest part of the 'Star Burying Valley'... that is one of the most dangerous places in the Star Abyss."
The young man's face showed fear.
"As for the 'spirit of the star abyss'... we don't know exactly what it is."
"The tribe's oldest legends mention that it is the Incarnation of the remaining will of this Star Abyss, controlling part of the rules of the Star Abyss..."
"It is said that it sometimes responds to pious sacrifices, bestowing weak protection, allowing us to collect rare 'Star Marrow Ore' in certain dead zones to maintain the tribe's survival..."
Incarnation of the remaining will?
Controlling part of the rules?
Thoughts raced through Ye Chen's mind.
Could this so-called "spirit of the star abyss" be related to the ancestral rune fragments?
Or rather, does it know the whereabouts of the fragments?
After all, the Chaos Origin contained in the ancestral rune fragments might have some connection to this Star Abyss, formed by the annihilation of countless worlds, in terms of the intent of "End" and "Return to Nothingness."
"Take me to your tribe," Ye Chen made his decision.
To learn more about the Ancient Altar and the 'spirit of the star abyss', contacting these local remnants was the best way.
Moreover, he also needed a relatively safe place to fully recover from his injuries and digest his gains from this time.
"What?" The young man was stunned, then his expression changed drastically.
"No! The location of the tribe is top secret!"
"And... and your identity is unknown; the Elders will not agree!"
"I can provide protection in exchange," Ye Chen said calmly.
At the same time, a wisp of faint Chaos Life Flame quietly appeared at his fingertips, the warm and vital aura instantly dispelling the thick, deadly chill around them, making the three remnants tremble all over, their eyes filled with unbelievable shock and... longing!
In this land full of dead silence and despair, vitality was the most precious thing!
The young man looked at the leaping Chaos flame, his breathing becoming rapid.
He exchanged glances with the other two, and they all saw the struggle and willingness in each other's eyes.
Finally, the young man nodded heavily: "Okay! I will take you to see the Elders! But you must swear that you will never do anything to harm the tribe!"
"Agreed," Ye Chen answered readily.
He had no intention of being an enemy to these struggling remnants.
Led by the young man, Ye Chen followed them into the hidden underground fissure, walking along the winding, downward passage covered in moss and slippery stones toward the hiding place of the Star Scar Tribe.
In the darkness, Ye Chen's gaze was deep.
He felt that in this forgotten Star Abyss of death, there seemed to be more secrets hidden than he had imagined.
And that so-called "Ancient Altar" and "spirit of the star abyss" were very likely the keys to his next step.