74: Chapter 74 Abyss Artifacts!

"Confirm signature."

After Lu Yin confirmed there were no issues, he selected confirm.

In the next second, the dark red contract rune suddenly erupted with a blinding light.

The abyssal script upon it intertwined like living things, eventually transforming into two blood-colored chains.

One vanished into the depths of Lu Yin's sea of consciousness, while the other entwined around Aiolia's remaining soul origin.

[Contract established!]

[Ding! Abyssal quest activated: Compete for the Holy Demon Throne. Current Holy Demon Race support: 10%.]

[Note: When support reaches 50%, the Emperor's Challenge can be activated. The winner will directly gain 100% support.]

At the moment of the system notification, Lu Yin's vision seemed to pierce through the endless void, glimpsing a bizarre and terrifying scene.

A shattered dark red sky, with rivers like flowing lava beneath it.

Twisted, grotesque plants writhed upon the cracked earth.

Countless abyssal creatures of various forms were slaughtering and devouring each other.

Lu Yin could feel the pure malice and chaos permeating this land.

This was the Demon Abyss, a world where the law of the jungle was taken to the extreme.

At the center of this bloody scene, a magnificent giant city built of bones and obsidian stood tall.

On a throne within a palace in the city, a massive figure shrouded in shadow suddenly opened its eyes.

Those eyes were like two burning, dark star-vortexes, looking precisely at Lu Yin across layers of space.

A vast, cold will filled with absolute malice surged forth like a mountain flood!

This was the pressure of a Demon Emperor in his prime, like an invisible storm intent on completely crushing Lu Yin's soul.

"Hmph!"

Lu Yin let out a muffled groan, his face instantly turning pale as fine beads of sweat broke out on his forehead.

But there was no hint of fear in his eyes; instead, a more intense fighting spirit ignited.

"An opponent like this is actually somewhat interesting."

Lu Yin's will was as firm as a rock, forcibly withstanding the impact of this terrifying pressure.

At the same time, some information surfaced in his mind.

Evil Bone Emperor, Di Gulov!

In the next second, Di Gulov's pressure receded like a tide.

The images in Lu Yin's mind shattered and disappeared along with it.

[Warning: You have been marked by 'Evil Bone Emperor, Di Gulov'!]

[Current support: 10% → 8%]

Looking at the system prompt that popped up again, Lu Yin frowned slightly.

"Jie jie jie, how does it feel?"

Aiolia's voice rang out in Lu Yin's sea of consciousness, tinged with a bit of schadenfreude.

Lu Yin ignored Aiolia's mockery and instead carefully observed the changes on the panel.

The dark red contract rune had stabilized, emitting a faint abyssal aura.

Beside the rune, a tiny skull mark had appeared, permeating with unsettling malice.

This was the Evil Bone Emperor's mark.

"The support rate just dropped by 2%. What happened?" Lu Yin asked in his heart.

"Isn't that obvious?"

Aiolia sneered.

"Di Gulov has already sensed your existence. That pressure just now wasn't just to intimidate you, but also to assert his authority to the entire Holy Demon Clan."

"Those clansmen who might have been on the fence naturally know which side to take after feeling the Evil Bone Emperor's power."

Hearing this, a cold light flashed in Lu Yin's eyes.

It seemed the competition for the Holy Demon Throne was far more brutal than he had imagined.

It wasn't just a confrontation of strength, but a contest of influence and prestige.

"You said you would tell me the location of the abyssal artifact. Can you say it now?"

Lu Yin thought briefly and turned his attention back to the contents of the contract.

What he needed most right now was to quickly increase his strength.

Aiolia fell silent for a moment, then slowly said.

"God-Fiend Battlefield."

"Rumor has it that true gods have fallen there, and the corpses of Abyssal Demon Gods are buried there."

"On that cursed battlefield, the relics of countless powerful beings are scattered."

"Among them is an abyssal artifact named the 'Eye of Calamity'."

"It is said that the Eye of Calamity is one of the few Demon God treasures among the Abyssal Demons, possessing the power to command all the demons of the abyss."

"As long as you obtain it, you will gain the recognition of the entire abyss and bring all Abyssal Demons under your command."

A sharp light flashed in Lu Yin's eyes.

Abyssal Demon Gods are higher-level and more terrifying Abyssal Demons than Abyssal Demon Emperors, possessing power that can challenge gods.

However, such beings have never appeared before humans.

Even in the abyss, they are nothing more than ethereal legends.

"The specific location?"

Aiolia paused and said.

"The God-Fiend Battlefield is vast and boundless, with distorted time and space, and dangers lurking everywhere."

"No one knows the exact location of the Eye of Calamity. If it were known, it would have been taken long ago."

Sensing Lu Yin's gaze gradually turning cold.

Aiolia quickly continued.

"However, although I don't know the exact location, I possess the 'key' to finding the artifact."

"Key?" Lu Yin's heart stirred, but his tone remained flat.

"That's right. Back when I was competing for abyssal authority with other emperors, I happened to obtain an ancient stele fragment."

"That fragment is inscribed with demon runes related to the Eye of Calamity, and as long as one stands in a specific location, it can resonate with the Eye of Calamity."

"With it, you'll have a chance to find the artifact's general direction in the vast battlefield!"

A faint soul message entered Lu Yin's perception; it was an image of an irregular black fragment.

Its surface was covered in cracks, yet it emitted a desolate and ancient aura.

The runes on it were twisted and eerie; looking at them for too long even made one's soul feel dizzy.

"Where is this fragment now?" Lu Yin pressed.

"Before I was sealed, I hid it beneath the 'Altar of Old Days' in the Holy Demon Abyss."

Aiolia replied.

"That is one of my secret strongholds; I can tell you the location."

"But that place is now surely under strict guard by Di Gulov's subordinates. With your current strength, going there would be suicide."

Lu Yin was silent for a moment, quickly weighing his options in his mind.

Although a contract existed, Aiolia's words were half-true and half-false.

There were both baits and warnings.

The clue to the Eye of Calamity might be real, but the difficulty of obtaining it was immense and filled with unknown risks.

It made sense; if every artifact could be easily obtained, then artifacts wouldn't have the value they do today.

"It seems this abyssal artifact is not something that can be plotted for in the short term."

Lu Yin said slowly, his tone revealing no emotion.

"So, until I reach a level of strength sufficient to explore the God-Fiend Battlefield and find this 'Eye of Calamity', the value of your so-called additional clauses will be greatly diminished."

Aiolia's soul fire flickered, appearing a bit guilty.

"At least... I gave you a clear direction and hope, didn't I? That is an artifact of an Abyssal Demon God!"

Although the two of them had now signed a contract, if Lu Yin died, Aiolia would also dissipate.

They were two souls in one body; before he completed his resurrection, they were essentially on the same boat.

Aiolia was terrified that this ancestor might commit suicide again over a disagreement.

Then all his schemes would truly be in vain.

Seemingly sensing Aiolia's soul fluctuations, Lu Yin didn't forget to sneer.

"You, an emperor of the abyss, are truly a coward."