Trials of the Abyss

Chapter 417: Humiliated

Chapter 417: Humiliated

The Fey Kings and Great Feys roared in satisfaction.

They had long become accustomed to devouring young humans, becoming second nature to the Fey Kings and Great Feys present.

Piles of human bones lay outside the lavish palaces, and some chambers even appeared to be constructed from the bones of human cultivators.

Outside the Sacred Soul Continent, the human race crafted exquisite ornaments, flying vessels, and artifacts from Fey Race's bones.

The Fey Race on the Sacred Soul Continent mirrored that practice in their own way.

They took pride in enslaving human women for entertainment and feasting on the flesh and blood of humans.

The Celestial Phoenix had previously managed to curb this vile habit, but after her death, these ancient, depraved practices of the Fey Race took root once more.

The Great Feys and Fey Kings could now relish in their bloodthirsty indulgences completely unchecked.

As Pang Jian watched the howling Great Feys and Fey Kings, his expression darkened, and anger flashed in his eyes.

These Great Feys and Fey Kings flaunted their brutality before him and Hu Yuanfei, despite knowing they were from the Sword Pavilion and part of the human race. This suggested they were even more vicious and unrestrained in private.

If all the Fey Race on the Sacred Soul Continent bore such intense malice toward the human race and took delight in revenge, Pang Jian could almost understand why the True Gods had broken their promises and were unwilling to cede more land to them.

Even races like the Celestial Race, the Demon Scale Race, and the Wood Race merely fought and killed human cultivators. They did not consume human flesh as the Fey Race did.

Pang Jian felt like he was glimpsing scenes from an ancient era—when the Fey Race still ruled the Abyss and feasted upon women from the Celestial, Wood, and Sea Races.

When the foreign races gained dominance, they enslaved the Fey Race as Vicious Beasts, feeding them Bloodthirst Elixirs to make them deadly in battle.

After humans took control, cultivators across the Abyss hunted Fey Race to enhance their cultivation.

Meanwhile, the Fey Race on the Sacred Soul Continent slaughtered humans for entertainment.

Pang Jian felt at a loss.

He was on the path to becoming a World God and the owner of the Gate of the Abyss,

The more brutality he witnessed, the more he found himself uncertain about which path to follow.

He grieved the death of the Rank Ten black turtle and sympathized with the Fey Race that the foreign races slaughtered on the Fey Spirit Continent in an ancient era.

He also felt compassion for the Vicious Beasts forced to consume Bloodthirst Elixirs.

Before this, he believed the humans owed the Fey Race a debt and that, as someone on the path to becoming a World God, it was his duty to secure them their rightful place.

However, this experience told him that if he truly ceded more land to the Fey Race, it would be nothing more than increasing the land on which they could prey on humans for sport.

In that case, it was better not to give it to them at all!

He could no longer discern who was right and who was wrong—the oath-breaking True Gods or the honorable World Gods and the Sword Pavilion.

Hu Yuanfei sighed.

"Things weren't like this when the Celestial Phoenix was still around," she explained to Pang Jian, "The high-ranking Fey Race didn't act this way when she governed the Sacred Soul Continent.

"But after her death, the ancient Thunder Dragon went into deep slumber within the Dragon Lair Sect, and the black turtle...vanished into the bizarre mist, tirelessly searching for new land for the Fey Race.

"Over time, without guidance, the untamed nature of the Great Feys and Fey Kings resurfaced."

Hu Yuanfe was no longer in the mood to speak with Fey King Yuan Min. Turning to the Rank Eight White Python, she asked, "Can we leave?"

"That's not up to me," replied the old woman in white.

Fey King Yuan Min stood arrogantly with his hands clasped behind his back.

"I want to know about the ancient Fey Race in Northern Qi of the Fourth World. What's going on?

"Humans, if this news has spread to the major factions, why haven't they sent word to the Sacred Soul Continent?

"What? Are the humans worried we'll rush into the Northern Qi to join forces with them?

"Awakening the bloodlines of Vicious and Spirit Beasts, and reviving ancient techniques? Heh, that does sound interesting!"

The other Fey Kings and Great Feys also seemed keenly interested, as if already planning a trip to the bizarre-mist-shrouded Northern Qi.

"Murky energy does not affect us. Our Fey Race can live just as comfortably in lands filled with spiritual qi as in regions with murky energy." A Rank Eight Great Fey grinned. "It just shows that the Fey Race have always been the true rulers of the Abyss. We can adapt to any environment here."

"Exactly! Even if the Second World is awash in murky energy, the Sacred Soul Continent will be unaffected."

"The ancient Fey Race down below are making quite a show. I bet those True Gods of the human race will end up coming to us, begging for our help in the battle!"

"And what's the offer? More promises to divide the land?"

"Haha, would you believe them? I certainly wouldn't!"

Pang Jian's patience waned as the Great Feys laughed and chatted.

Just then, a Rank Eight Great Fey stepped forward to present a golden feather and a blood-colored beast's eye to Fey King Yuan Min.

"My lord, we've retrieved the items."

"Good!" Yuan Min took the golden feather and the blood-colored beast's eye, then remarked calmly, "These are artifacts of the Fey Race. It's only right that they return to us."

Pang Jian's expression changed dramatically and he shot straight toward the surface, ignoring the reactions of the surrounding Great Feys and Fey Kings.

Yuan Min's invitation had been a ploy to distract him and Hu Yuanfei, giving the Fey Race a chance to raid the others.

"My Lord!" several Great Feys cried.

Yuan Min shook his head. "He's a disciple of the Sword Pavilion. Let him go."

"Fey King Yuan Min, do you realize who stands behind those people?" Hu Yuanfei asked, expression icy.

"And who might that be? The True Gods?" Yuan Min snorted. "The True Gods had to lure Lady Celestial Phoenix away to kill her. They don't deserve our respect.

"Girl, I'd be willing to buy that wooden staff of yours at a reasonable price.

"It's only natural for us to take back what's rightfully ours!

"I haven't laid a hand on you and am still treating you respectfully not because I fear Li Zhaotian. It's simply because generation after generation of your Sword Pavilion's Sword Gods have spoken up fairly on behalf of our Fey Race!

"We don't have to cower or hold back anymore! After all, this is a time when humans need us, the Fey Race, the most!

"We're not even afraid of the True Gods!" Fey King Yuan Min declared with undisguised pride.

"Very well! I hope you can keep up that pride of yours when push comes to shove!" Hu Yuanfei retorted before soaring off on her sword.

"My Lord, the two from the Supreme Monad Divine Kingdom and the Primeval Pillar Divine Kingdom each have True Gods behind them. The young one from the Ancient Law Sect has one as well.

"This group of youngsters has formidable backers—aren't we courting disaster by provoking them?" asked the Rank Eight Great Fey who delivered the artifacts to Yuan Min.

"It's not like we killed any of them. What's there to be afraid of?" Fey King Yuan Min scoffed. "All I did was reclaim what rightfully belonged to our Fey Race."

***

The Sword Boat that once hovered in the air now lay on the sandy beach of an island on a sunlit, breezy ocean.

Corpses of the young human women Pang Jian had seen on the Rank Eight sea lion's island earlier were strewn all across the beach.

The stench of blood was heavy in the air, though signs of battle were scarce.

Only the human servants attending the Great Feys had died, likely as a display of intimidation.

Fan Chen, Liu Youyu, Dong Tianze, Zhou Qingchen, and the others were unharmed but wore grave expressions.

Zhou Qingchen's and Dong Tianze's clothing were torn, suggesting they had briefly clashed with the Great Feys.

Whoosh!

Pang Jian let out a sigh of relief when he saw they were all unharmed. "Good to see everyone's safe."

"They robbed us of our belongings—the two Fey Race artifacts we found in the stone forest, along with many spirit crystals, pills, and materials," Dong Wenjian said with cold fury. "They still dared to act this way even after I warned them that my ancestor is the True God of the Ancient Law Sect!"

Pang Jian turned to Dong Tianze and Zhou Qingchen. "You two..."

"They treated us worse because we don't have a True God backing us," Zhou Qingchen replied solemnly. "As they put it, Dong Tianze and I would've been killed if we hadn't come on the Sword Boat with you and Hu Yuanfei."

Whoosh!

Hu Yuanfei emerged from the sea soon after.

After briefly assessing the situation, she restarted the Sword Boat and they soon departed from the island.

The atmosphere on the Sword Boat was heavy, with everyone looking displeased.

Fan Chen, Liu Youyu, and Dong Wenjian were all prominent young talents of the major human factions, and it was humiliating for them to have such an experience on their first visit to the Sacred Soul Continent.

What hurt most was the fact that their prestigious status did not affect the Fey Race.

After a long silence, Hu Yuanfei finally said, "There are three Rank Nine Fey Kings at the depths of the sea here. Even joining forces against Yuan Min alone would be a death sentence.

"There are also over a dozen Rank Eight Great Feys. You need a divine artifact to have even a fighting chance against a Rank Eight Fey Race.

"But this is the Sacred Soul Continent, their territory. It's teeming with Fey Kings and Great Feys."

Hu Yuanfei sighed bitterly.

"We have no choice but to endure this. I've informed my master, but he's still recovering from his injuries and can't immediately come to the Sacred Soul Continent.

"Not to mention, you were only robbed, not killed. The True Gods behind you likely won't risk entering the Sacred Soul Continent to confront the Fey Kings over this."

Hu Yuanfei's attempt at pacification fell flat with the group.

"Yuan Min took those Fey Race artifacts and other valuables from you to increase his chances of advancing to a Fey God." Pang Jian frowned. "No one will question his actions If he successfully ascends to the rank of a Fey God.

"And if he fails and another Fey King devours him, he won't have to face the True Gods' wrath.

"He dares to act recklessly because he has nothing to lose either way."

Pang Jian took a deep breath.

"We need to find out who his opponent is and ensure he loses. Only if he dies and has his heart devoured can we wash away the humiliation we've suffered here!"