338: The Absent Lord of Curses

Gloomy Abyss, Core Region, Abyss Council.

This was a magnificent hall constructed from pure darkness and energy from the Void Realm.

Its ceiling was too high to see, and its expanse was boundless.

The dome of the hall resembled an inverted sea of stars.

Countless dim stars flickered within the Void Realm, casting down a cold and deathly radiance.

The floor was made of black crystal, smooth as a mirror, reflecting the distorted starlight from above.

Walking upon it felt like treading on a frozen ocean of night.

On ordinary days, this was the gathering place of the Abyss's supreme will, permeated with an eternal majesty and silence.

But at this moment, the atmosphere in the Royal Court was as oppressive as an extinct volcano on the verge of eruption.

Even the ghosts drifting in the Void Realm cowered in the shadows, not daring to make the slightest sound.

In the center of the hall, seven massive thrones of various forms were arranged in a circle, each radiating a vast and terrifying aura.

On four of these thrones, figures had already solidified.

They were the Skeleton Monarch, the Thousand-Illusion Demon Lord, the Lava Troll, and the Putrid Dominator.

The Skeleton Monarch sat in the primary seat, his body still covered in fine cracks.

Though the Soul fire in his eye sockets had stabilized considerably, it still appeared dim.

Clearly, the damage to his Origin caused by forcibly cutting through space last time was far from recovered.

The Thousand-Illusion Demon Lord had transformed into a mass of ever-shifting colored shadows, slowly writhing on his seat.

It emitted eerie fluctuations that unsettled the mind.

The Lava Troll's massive body sat on a specially made stone throne, with dark red lava flowing slowly across his surface.

Low "gurgling" sounds constantly emanated from him, with occasional sparks flying out.

The Putrid Dominator was like a giant pile of rotting flesh that constantly expanded and contracted.

Yellow-green pus flowed all over him, emitting a nauseating and filthy stench.

They had gathered here today as agreed to discuss a vital matter concerning the future plans of the Abyss.

Specifically, how to deal with the ever-growing terrifying threat that was Chen Nian.

And whether they should temporarily retreat entirely and enter a deeper state of dormancy.

However, at this moment, the meeting was unable to begin.

Because in the fifth position, the high-backed throne belonging to the Lord of Curses—carved with twisted runes and shrouded in ominous black mist—remained empty.

Its master, the Lord of Curses, had not appeared.

As time ticked away, the only sounds in the hall were the crackling of burning Soul fires and the faint scraping of Bones.

Along with the increasingly impatient silence of several Dominators.

Finally, the scorching lava on the Lava Troll's surface let out a violent "gurgle," breaking the deathly silence.

His voice, heavy as the tremors of the earth's core, rang out, filled with irritability and fury:

"What on earth is that fellow, the Lord of Curses, doing?"

"The appointed time has passed; how dare he leave the four of us here waiting?"

The Soul fire in the Skeleton Monarch's eye sockets flickered.

His current form was still covered in fine cracks, and his aura was far less solid than before.

But his voice carried a hint of cold realization and majesty:

"This King warned him long ago to cast aside his unrealistic ambitions and wishful thinking!"

"The 'Myriad Curses Corrosion Realm' ritual creates too much commotion and could easily attract that Fiend!"

"When he left yesterday, his state was already somewhat off, his Soul fire filled with paranoia and fanaticism. I fear he didn't listen to my warning at all."

The shifting shadow of the Thousand-Illusion Demon Lord rippled slightly, emitting an ethereal and solemn voice:

"Skeleton, you mean..."

"He might have actually forcibly activated the final ritual and... something went wrong?"

The Putrid Dominator's massive pile of flesh writhed, producing a muffled, grunting sound filled with blatant disdain:

"That fool! Always thinking he's in control of everything, toying with curses and the hearts of men."

"Does he really think that with an unverified ritual, he can contend with that monster who killed two Dominators and forced the Skeleton Monarch to sacrifice his tail to survive?"

"It's pure delusional fantasy!"

The Skeleton Monarch's voice grew even colder:

"If he truly attracted Chen Nian and the ritual failed..."

"Then right now, being unable to save himself would be the least of his problems."

"Even more terrifying is that Abyss of Curses he's managed for countless ages, and the Abyssal Passages connected to us..."

He didn't finish his sentence, but the implication sent a chill through all the Dominators present.

The lava on the Lava Troll's surface instantly cooled and solidified, then suddenly boiled up again:

"You mean that lunatic might lead the Fiend straight to our doorstep?!"

The Thousand-Illusion Demon Lord's shadow twisted violently. "This... that's impossible, isn't it?"

"The Abyss of Curses has layers upon layers of defensive and concealment Magic Formations. Even if the ritual failed, could he really not even manage to cut off the connection and seal the passages?"

The Skeleton Monarch's voice carried deep exhaustion and a trace of imperceptible fear:

"For a fool blinded by greed and arrogance who suddenly encounters an insurmountable enemy, anything is possible."

The hall fell into a deathly silence once more.

Only the energy fluctuations emanating from the Dominators showed the turmoil in their hearts.

Their dissatisfaction with the Lord of Curses' absence quickly transformed into deep anxiety and even panic.

Just then—

"Report—!!!"

A Messenger Demonic Evil, shrouded in shadows and resembling a ghost, scrambled into the council hall.

The terror on its face was almost tangible, its voice shrill and trembling:

"Your... Your Majesties, the Dominators!"

"No... this is bad! Abnormally violent Spatial Tremors are coming from the direction of the Abyss of Curses!"

"The Outer Barrier of His Majesty the Lord of Curses' Core Territory is being forcibly breached by an extremely terrifying external force!"

"The aura of that power matches perfectly with the aura of that human described in previous intelligence!"

"Furthermore, there seem to be weak but chaotic Soul fire fluctuations from His Majesty the Lord of Curses mixed within."

After the Demonic Evil finished crying out, its entire body nearly collapsed to the ground.

"What?!"

Hearing this, the four Abyssal Overlords all changed countenance!

Although they already had an ominous premonition.

When the worst-case scenario was confirmed, the impact still made their Souls tremble!

The Skeleton Monarch's Soul fire flickered violently, his skeletal hands gripping the armrests of the throne until they creaked.

"As expected... it really is him!"

"The Lord of Curses is such a useless fool who can't do anything right but ruins everything. Not only did he fail, but he brought the enemy straight to our doorstep!"

The Thousand-Illusion Demon Lord's shadow contracted instantly, his voice carrying uncontrollable shock and anger:

"With the Lord of Curses' Soul fire fluctuations mixed in, could it be that he has already been defeated and captured?!"

"This... how is that possible? Even if he was no match, with his strength, he should at least have been able to protect himself and escape..."

The Putrid Dominator's flesh oozed even more nauseating pus, revealing his extreme inner unease:

"Facing that monster, nothing is impossible."

"The Abyssal Devourer and the Incinerator didn't even have a chance to flee."

"The Skeleton Monarch only managed to escape by sacrificing an outpost and a portion of his Origin..."

"In the Lord of Curses' state, I fear he didn't even have time to make the decision to sacrifice his tail to survive!"

The lava around the Lava Troll boiled and exploded, scorching the nearby floor into a glass-like state.

He roared in a rage, shouting loudly:

"Bastard! What's the use of saying all this now! That Fiend is already about to break in!"

"Once the Abyss of Curses is breached, any one of us could be next! He must be stopped immediately!"

The Thousand-Illusion Demon Lord's voice carried a hint of desperate shrillness:

"How do we stop him? If we rush into battle, aren't we just sending ourselves to our deaths? Are we supposed to have a final showdown with that monster here?"

The hall was once again enveloped in a terrifying silence.

A direct showdown with Chen Nian?

This thought filled all the Dominators with a Soul-deep resistance.

He was a terrifying existence whose strength was unfathomable and could not be measured by common logic.

To rashly engage in a final battle with him without any preparation would be seeking one's own death!