Chapter 251: The Present Situation

Chapter 251: The Present Situation

Li Yuqing slowly sipped from her delicate wine flask as she explained, starry eyes occasionally glancing at the sky.

Everybody present listened in captivation.

"The True Gods of the First World are also uncertain about the situation beyond the Abyss," she said. "They're both curious and worried about the world beyond.

"Many True Gods want to venture out, but they fear doing so, hoping instead to learn about the outside world through the Outer Gods."

She then shook her head and did not elaborate further on the topic.

"Beyond the Abyss?"

"The world beyond the Abyss..."

Her words left many people in deep thought.

No new Outer Gods appeared even after a long time

Daylight gave way to a dim, overcast night without the stars of the moon to light up the sky.

Pang Jian was chatting with Zhou Qingchen and the others when Li Yuqing abruptly spoke up.

"Pang Jian, let's talk," she said before flying off into the distance.

Pang Jian knew there was no avoiding this so he obediently got up and followed her.

Several hundred zhang away, the young girl in green traced a circle with her sword light, creating a barrier that shut out all prying eyes.

As soon as Pang Jian entered, she huffed, "You forgot my voice."

Although her face was slightly flushed, her clear eyes remained bright, showing no trace of drunkenness.

Pang Jian froze, unsure of how to respond. He had braced himself to be interrogated, so her casual complaint was a surprise.

Li Yuqing glared at Pang Jian with dissatisfaction, then brought out a familiar set of tables and chairs alongside an array of prepared dishes.

"I'm a bit hungry," she said, taking a seat before staring pointedly at the empty chair across from her.

Pang Jian sat down stiffly and she immediately started devouring the food.

"There were too many people watching me just now. I felt too embarrassed to grab anything to eat," she mumbled through a mouthful of food.

Watching her tear into the meat with greasy hands sent a wave of nostalgia through Pang Jian. He felt like he was back in the dark tunnel in Eight Trigrams City two years ago.

Li Yuqing had not changed. She was still the same girl who loved meat and wine.

However, Pang Jian's mindset had shifted.

He now knew her esteemed identity, had witnessed her terrifying strength, and was aware she held some leverage over him.

These factors combined meant he felt far less at ease than he used to when facing her.

"How could you forget my voice?" Li Yuqing stared at Pang Jian with a cold expression, a greasy chicken leg grasped in her hand.

Pang Jian awkwardly explained, "We didn't even meet once after leaving Eight Trigrams City. It's been a long time. Isn't it normal for me to not immediately recognize your voice?"

"Is that so?" Li Yuqing's gem-like eyes gleamed with a piercing light that seemed to see through Pang Jian. "Then can you explain why the World Eater Vine in Divine Fortune wrote that message when I was about to kill it?"

Pang Jian fell silent.

After some thought, he tentatively asked, "You know I can communicate with it?"

"Obviously!" Li Yuqing rolled her eyes, picked up a piece of braised beef, and confidently said, "No matter what kind of relationship you have with it, the fact that it wrote that message proves you two are connected!

"I'm from the Li Family of the Divine Treasure Sect. Our family has a vast information network. Word got around that someone named Luo Yuan in Cloud Lightning killed that annoying crane from the Pure Land Sect.

"Of course, I also know the crane didn't die. It's already returned to the Pure Land Sect."

Li Yuqing put away the table and chairs, then wiped her hands with a handkerchief.

After a moment of thought, she added, "The sky above Spirit Offering is riddled with seals the Outer God created long ago. When the Abyss opens, these seals will activate, and I can only use my sword to take one person away.

"Pang Jian, remember to stay close to me. If something truly unexpected happens, I'll take you out of Spirit Offering.

"We're acquainted. Not to mention, the Sword Pavilion intends to take you as a personal disciple and I owe them a favor.

"So, if I can only take one person with me, that person will be you," she said seriously

Pang Jian was stunned. "Are you saying you may not be able to handle the Outer Gods scattered around Spirit Offering?"

"I can deal with the scattered ones. The problem is, they have a leader now." Li Yuqing frowned. "An Outer God capable of uniting the weaker Outer Gods—I'm not confident against that.

"Pang Jian, what I'm relying on is a divine artifact. I'm only in the Soul Wandering Realm myself," the young girl said helplessly.

"What about everyone else?" Pang Jian asked.

"Everyone else?" Li Yuqing pursed her lips. "The Blood Moon Sect, the Sinister Soul Temple, and the Star River Alliance will lose their leaders, but new ones will rise.

"Pang Jian, you have to learn to let go. More and more people will die as time goes on, and we can't save everyone.

"The Outer Gods may wipe out the sects in the Third World, but new ones will eventually rise after the Outer Gods are cleared out.

"Countless sects have been lost to history already. As for cultivators?" Li Yuqing sighed and shook her head. "Far more of them have perished."

Despite her young age, she exhibited an extraordinary detachment—or perhaps, a cold indifference—regarding the cycles of life and death.

With that, she rose into the air and gracefully landed atop a black stone pillar to quietly rest with her eyes half-closed.

Pang Jian returned to the sight of Zhou Qingchen's cheerful face; Gao Yuan and Han Ting chatting nervously with the members of the Red Mountain Sect; and the chubby Han Duping standing with Jiang Li.

Let's hope it doesn't come to that. Pang Jian thought gloomily as he made small talk with the group.

He struggled to maintain the carefree demeanor that came so naturally to Li Yuqing.

The next day, the blazing sun hung high in the clear sky.

Whoosh!

An Outer God with the face of a human and the body of a spider appeared in the distance and slowly flew closer.

It's him! Pang Jian's expression changed.

The appearance of the arachnid Outer God fully confirmed that the Outer God possessing Xie Xiwen had been defeated.

Unlike before, the spider limbs and human face had since merged to form a complete being.

This Outer God's power has definitely increased, Pang Jian noted.

Tap! Tap! Tap!

A ten-zhang-tall wooden figure emitting corrupting energy appeared from the opposite direction.

It had an aged, male face, with a sinister force capable of withering all life into desolation emanating from the depths of its grayish-brown eyes.

Just looking at it drained Pang Jian's vitality.

The wooden figure stared straight at Li Yuqing with its eerie eyes.

It clearly knew she was the most formidable opponent among their group.