188: Abyss Conference

The Gloomy Abyss, a realm of no light.

This was not a concept of the material world, but a vast alternate dimension filled with chaotic energy and twisted Laws.

Darkness, thick as ink, served as the eternal backdrop here; only the occasional fel lightning streaking across the Void Realm could briefly dispel the depth of a small area.

At this moment, amidst floating thrones condensed from countless strands of void energy,

several figures, so massive they were suffocating, were gathered together.

Their forms varied.

But without exception, all emitted energy fluctuations sufficient to warp space and make all things tremble.

Each of them was far more ancient, more profound, and more terrifying than the recently fallen "Abyssal Devourer."

The energy fluctuations they unconsciously emanated

were enough to cause the surrounding space to constantly produce ripple-like folds and minute cracks.

Then, a voice as deep as the simultaneous wailing of billions of Souls rang out:

“The Abyssal Devourer... is actually dead.”

The voice came from a giant skeleton seated upon the largest throne.

Two clusters of cold, pale-blue flames burned within its eye sockets; it was known as the “Skeleton Monarch.”

“Hmph, that fool!” another voice rang out, coming from a shadow that constantly shifted shapes—the Thousand-Illusion Demon Lord.

“That fellow acted ostentatiously and without restraint, even supporting some ‘Evil God Cult’ in that weak world. It's simply laughable!”

Then, a third voice spoke, carrying a thick texture like the surging of magma:

“According to the sporadic information received, it seems... it was killed by a human.”

The being speaking was a behemoth covered in dark-red lava plating—the Lava Troll.

“A human?”

The Soul fire in the Skeleton Monarch's eye sockets flickered slightly, appearing somewhat surprised, but mostly disdainful.

“That weak race, aside from having fair numbers, possesses individual strength as minuscule as dust.”

“The Abyssal Devourer actually fell at the hands of a human? What a disgrace to my Abyss.”

The Thousand-Illusion Demon Lord said mockingly:

“He possessed the power of devouring but lacked matching wisdom and caution; falling was well-deserved.”

“However, the Origin of the ‘Devouring Authority’ he left behind, as well as that ‘Domain of the Devouring Abyss’ he managed for many years,”

“cannot be allowed to go to waste!”

As soon as these words were spoken, the auras of the several beings present fluctuated slightly, revealing undisguised greed.

“Indeed, since the Abyssal Devourer has perished, his legacy should naturally be redistributed by us,” the Lava Troll growled.

“His Domain is near the ‘Filthy Blood Spring,’ which is very useful to me.” A massive being previously silent, composed of countless worm-like tentacles—the “Corrupting Overlord”—emitted a slippery and greasy voice.

“The fragments of the Devouring Authority are something this King is determined to obtain,” the Skeleton Monarch said in a tone that brooked no argument.

The several Abyss giants began to argue over the issue of dividing the Abyssal Devourer's legacy.

The atmosphere seemed calm, but in reality, undercurrents surged as evil energy collided violently between them.

Just as the argument paused briefly, a relatively “slender” figure shrouded in black mist spoke slowly.

Its voice was dry and raspy, like wind blowing over withered bones:

“Everyone, before dividing the legacy, perhaps we should pay some attention to that human who killed the Abyssal Devourer.”

This figure was precisely the “Lord of Curses.”

The attention of the various beings was drawn over.

“Pay attention to a human? Have you been slumbering so long that even your brain has rotted?” the Thousand-Illusion Demon Lord sneered.

The Lord of Curses did not get angry, still speaking in that dry voice: “Chen Nian... seems to be that person's name. He has been quite prominent in the human world recently.”

“Chen Nian? Never heard of him.” The Lava Troll didn't care at all. “Being able to kill the Abyssal Devourer was nothing more than luck, or that fool the Abyssal Devourer had some mishap himself, leading to a great reduction in strength.”

“Correct.” The Skeleton Monarch said indifferently, “The Abyssal Devourer was the bottom-dweller among us to begin with.”

“His fall doesn't prove how strong this human called Chen Nian is.”

The Thousand-Illusion Demon Lord's shadow-like body twisted, manifesting a mocking face:

“Lord of Curses, for you to suddenly mention this human, could it be that you're afraid? Afraid of a human?”

The other beings also let out low or sharp sneers, full of mockery.

How could the majesty of an Abyssal Overlord be shaken by a mere human?

The Lord of Curses paid no mind and shifted his intent.

In the void, a blurred image manifested.

It was the scene of the nest in the Black Mountain Forest Area that had been completely purified and annihilated.

And further away in that mountain hollow, the tragic remnants of the total annihilation of the Bone-Splitting Demon Lord and his elite forces.

“Fear? Hardly.” The Lord of Curses' voice remained flat. “But an important stronghold I placed in the human world for the ‘Sowing Project’,”

“along with my great general, the ‘Bone-Splitting Demon Lord,’ and the Abyss squad he led, were all completely wiped out by this Chen Nian alone.”

“Even the ‘heart of the abyss’ I bestowed was easily destroyed by him.”

In the image, the scene of destruction—clean and decisive to the extreme—caused the sneering in the area to come to an abrupt halt.

A brief silence occurred among the floating thrones, lasting for about a few seconds.

But it was only a few seconds of silence.

“Heh...” The Thousand-Illusion Demon Lord was the first to break the silence, the mockery on his shadow-formed face growing even thicker.

“Just because a stronghold was destroyed and a few subordinates died, you make such a serious matter of it?”

“Lord of Curses, when did your caution become so laughable?”

“Or rather, has your power regressed to such a point during your endless slumber?”

The Lava Troll also said in a muffled voice: “To hold a human in such high regard is truly inflating the enemy's prestige.”

The Lord of Curses clearly did not intend to stop there and continued:

“The existence of this human has already affected our plans.”

“If left unchecked, there's no guarantee he won't become the next trouble.”

“After all, the lesson from the Abyssal Devourer is not far behind us.”

The Thousand-Illusion Demon Lord remained disdainful:

“Hmph, just a slightly stronger bug.”

“However, these humans have indeed been a bit too active lately.”

“It is also time to make them remember the fear of being dominated by the Abyss once again.”

“Agreed.” The Corrupting Overlord wriggled its tentacles and echoed, “A punishment is needed to make them understand who the true Dominators are.”

Just then, a violent voice full of destructive desire exploded like thunder:

“Hmph, are humans even worthy of us discussing them here? It's simply a waste of our time!”

The voice originated from a massive fire giant—the Incinerator.

“Since you are all so wary, then let me go and crush his bones inch by inch.”

“I will pull out his Soul and roast it in my furnace for ten thousand years!”

“Let all humans hear his eternal wailing and see who else dares to provoke the majesty of the Abyss!”

It roared, the sound waves echoing through the endless darkness.

Upon hearing this, the other beings did not dissuade it; instead, they showed even greater interest.

The Skeleton Monarch nodded slightly: “Fine, since you have volunteered, then you shall be the one to deal with him.”

Hearing this, the Incinerator was also momentarily excited:

“Just watch.”

“I don't care if you're Chen Nian or Li Nian.”

“Anyone who dares to provoke our Abyss, I will make them wish they were dead!”