Chapter 781: Echoes of the Abyss: The Sealing Array

Alright.

Yun Wanshang held a faint golden Dharma sword as she stood beside Lu Changsheng. Her colorful palace attire billowed dramatically, and her imposing aura made it clear that she could not afford to exhaust herself in this situation.

Qian Zhuyan remained silent; his tall, dark, and cold metallic body hummed like a war machine, ever ready to strike at a moment’s notice.

The Golden-Winged Roc circled nearby, biting any strange creatures that charged in, though the main fighting force remained Lu Changsheng and the Soul-Taking Beast.

Hoo hoo hoo—

Black demonic aura roiled and spread.

Now in battle form, the Soul-Taking Beast—transformed into a creature of punishment—was even more terrifying than the surrounding oddities, a fearsome demon incarnate.

Endless strange beings were devoured under its blood-red, demonic gaze, their screams and howls echoing in agony.

Though most of these eerie creatures possessed only second-rank strength,

devouring so many in such a short time prevented the Soul-Taking Beast from refining them at its usual pace; black mists swirled around it, and its horns turned a fierce crimson.

Amidst the dark hair on its back, countless evil spirits twisted together, forming a ghostly king of unparalleled terror.

Even Yun Wanshang, standing nearby, could not mask her astonishment at the sight of the Soul-Taking Beast.

“He has such a spirit pet—why wasn’t it used back in the Yin Ghost Sect?”

Yun Wanshang recalled that Lu Changsheng, in his guise as Yangming Zhenren, had sealed the doors of the Yin Ghost Sect.

She was taken aback; if he had unleashed this spirit pet then, the Yin Ghost Sect would have stood no chance.

Lu Changsheng remained oblivious to her inner thoughts.

After entering this realm, his long-dormant magical energy finally revived, filling him with an indescribable sense of relief.

Clang clang clang!!!

The Da Luo Sword Embryo in his hand trembled and burst forth with an earth-shattering, dazzling beam of sword light—like a stroke of heavenly brilliance that sliced through the darkness, annihilating one strange creature after another.

Even the still, murky clouds of darkness seemed to part under Lu Changsheng’s mighty stroke.

“Such brilliance in sword light!?”

Yun Wanshang stared at Lu Changsheng in astonishment.

She had seen him unleash the Da Luo Sword Embryo before.

But the difference between his barely activated strike in a state of depleted energy and now—when his vital force was nearly restored—was like night and day.

Empowered by the very essence of sword Dao, that single strike could kill numerous Core Formation Grand Cultivators in an instant, leaving Yun Wanshang utterly stunned.

She realized just how formidable Lu Changsheng’s cultivation and combat prowess truly were.

Moreover, his extraordinary insight into the sword Dao suggested he might soon shatter all formations with a single blow—her heart pounded with awe and disbelief.

“Buzz, buzz, buzz!!!”

A slight smile played on Lu Changsheng’s lips as the Da Luo Sword Embryo vibrated wildly; with each resonant tone, a beam of sword light erupted, tearing through the heavens to slay countless demons.

Yet, compared to the demonic nemesis beside him, his methods still seemed a touch insufficient.

Feeling not only his energy restored but also an inexplicable force of the heavens and earth, Lu Changsheng’s Fourth-Rank Physique began to surge powerfully.

His vital energy erupted like an ancient volcano, bursting forth like a dam breaking, rumbling loudly as ferocious vitality soared from his head like blazing flames.

Soon, a shroud of void and chaos enveloped him, as if he had returned to creation’s dawn.

Countless immortal kings, deities, dragons, phoenixes, and even Buddhist demons appeared, purging and shattering the demonic aura and strange creatures around him.

His physical divine skill—Chaos Manifestation!—left Yun Wanshang speechless as she watched Lu Changsheng’s astonishing display.

Yet in that moment, she felt only a deep sense of relief.

She understood why the Array Spirit had summoned Lu Changsheng to seal the demons.

After all, with power and techniques like his, hardly anyone in the Land of Eternal Night was more suited to sealing demons.

However, flaunting such power always comes with a price.

After roughly half an hour, Lu Changsheng began to tire, his magical energy nearly half spent.

Though he possessed a Fourth-Rank Physique and magnificent energy,

the relentless use of his divine abilities and the Da Luo Sword Embryo—even a Nascent Soul True Lord would struggle to sustain it.

Moreover, in this realm devoid of spiritual energy, his magical reserves could not be replenished.

Though his Chaos Body could refine demonic aura to restore itself,

both his techniques and his physique demanded balance.

Short-term use was fine, but prolonged strain would damage his very essence.

“Young friend, you can head to the southeast to the array’s pattern and rest while I recharge my formation power,” he instructed.

“But try to rely on the Celestial Treasure Might—do not act on your own,” he added.

As if sensing Lu Changsheng’s fatigue, a frail, ancient voice from the depths of the Demon Abyss spoke up.

Hearing this, Lu Changsheng immediately saw an interwoven pattern—a Five-Colored Array—forming a barely visible barrier to the southeast.

“Thank you, elder!”

Without hesitation, Lu Changsheng, Yun Wanshang, and Qian Zhuyan raced toward the five-colored array to sit and rest.

Strange creatures attacked Lu Changsheng, shielded by the array; yet they were held at bay, their forms dissolving into swirling black mists amid flashes of spiritual light.

“Clearing out all these strange creatures will likely take too long,” Yun Wanshang remarked gravely.

Gazing at the dire state of the Demon Abyss, she spoke with a solemn expression.

She knew that their mission was not only to expel the demonic aura and creatures but also to repair the seal.

Even with Lu Changsheng’s strength restored and accompanied by the demon nemesis that was the Soul-Taking Beast, the task couldn’t be accomplished quickly.

“Don’t worry—I have other methods,” he assured.

Lu Changsheng took Yun Wanshang’s fair, jade-like hand and spoke softly, urging her to feel the blessing of the formation’s power.

He mused that if he could master this grand sealing array and merge with its power, his strength might reach unimaginable heights.

Seeing how naturally Lu Changsheng held her hand, Yun Wanshang hesitated, considering withdrawing her hand.

But as she saw him close his eyes in concentration, she said nothing and let him continue.

Their closeness needed no words; during countless expeditions in these Forbidden Mountains, they had shared many intimate moments.

Qian Zhuyan remained silent, standing like a stoic puppet guard, faithfully protecting them both.

After a moment’s thought, she noticed a Soul Crystal materialize in her hand.

It was the perfect time to refine the Soul Crystal the Soul-Taking Beast had acquired from devouring strange creatures.

In the deepest reaches of the Demon Abyss, within a forbidden area veiled in endless mists, a mountain resembling a Qilin stood tall, its presence interlinking arrays across the Abyss.

At the peak, a phantom Qilin appeared intermittently, its gaze fixed on Lu Changsheng at the apex.

“Had this youth possessed greater cultivation, his methods would even surpass those of past demon sealers,” the Qilin murmured.

The Qilin muttered to itself.

It had summoned Lu Changsheng primarily because it sensed the Sun-Moon Yin-Yang Mirror.

It recognized that this treasure possessed the power to purify demonic energy.

It hoped to harness the artifact to cleanse the Abyss of its demonic aura and spectral creatures.

Never had it imagined that, besides wielding a Celestial Treasure, Lu Changsheng also commanded a Punishment Beast! Only when he empowered his body with formation strength and unleashed his divine skill, Chaos Manifestation, did it realize that this youth was far more exceptional than expected.

The only problem was that his cultivation was still too low.

Not only was Lu Changsheng’s strength lacking, but the Punishment Beast’s power was also insufficient.

Otherwise, with their combined prowess, sealing the demons would have been a trivial task.

After a moment, the phantom Qilin sighed and vanished, leaving the mountain like a divine guardian bowing its head in silent vigil over all living beings.

Time flew by, and before they knew it, Lu Changsheng and Yun Wanshang had been sealing demons in the Demon Abyss for over a month.

In this realm devoid of spiritual energy, depleted vital force and magical reserves were hard to replenish, so he had to act with utmost caution.

He could only rely on the formation’s power bestowed upon him, using the Sun-Moon Yin-Yang Mirror to purge the demonic aura and creatures.

Although the array’s power was limited—insufficient to fully unleash the mirror’s Celestial Treasure Might—it could still emit a Nascent Soul-level Sun Profound Light.

“Buzz, buzz, buzz—”

Lu Changsheng, wielding the Sun-Moon Yin-Yang Mirror, sent forth bursts of scorching, dominating Sun Profound Light at the cavern of the Demon Abyss, incinerating and purifying endless demonic energy.

After more than a month of sealing demons, he had come to understand that these strange creatures were known as demonic specters.

They were formless, ghostlike demons.

Only these specters could effortlessly slip through spatial corridors, making their numbers seemingly endless.

After over a month of sealing demons, the number of demonic specters had significantly diminished.

However, the specters that did emerge were growing stronger—elite units all.

Without the boost from the Sun-Moon Yin-Yang Mirror and formation power, and even with the option to rest at the array, not even a top-tier Nascent Soul True Lord could withstand the relentless assault of the spectral horde.

“It’s just a Fifth-Rank Array—it can only seal such a terrifying passage,” someone observed.

After a long while, a weary Lu Changsheng returned to the array zone, cradling the Sun-Moon Yin-Yang Mirror and reflecting deeply.

And he wasn’t alone.

Even the Soul-Taking Beast, this demon nemesis, needed rest after a long bout of fighting.

They were utterly drained and required time to recover.

Time passed slowly.

After six months of sealing demons, the demonic aura in the Demon Abyss had visibly thinned.

Yet jet-black beams, like wild serpents from the Underworld, continued to batter the sky as they collided with colorful, smoky clouds, forming a fearsome spectacle.

“Young friend, be cautious—a Fourth-Rank demonic specter is about to appear,” a voice warned.

That day, another five-colored Qilin broke through layers of demonic mist and approached the array. It addressed Lu Changsheng before transforming into three drops of Qilin Blood to help ease their condition as a reward.

After all, the Demon Abyss was saturated with demonic energy, and without the relief of Qilin Blood, even Lu Changsheng would have been under immense strain.

“Take it; I don’t need it,” Yun Wanshang said as Lu Changsheng offered her a drop of Qilin Blood.

Seeing the drop offered, Yun Wanshang shook her head in refusal.

At first, she had sealed demons alongside him.

But as the sealing continued, she realized she couldn’t contribute much, and Lu Changsheng didn’t require her meager strength.

She only needed to rest at the array.

Thus, at that moment, she was unwilling to waste such precious Qilin Blood.

“True Lord, keep it. This Qilin Blood can purify the flesh and aid you in breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage,” Lu Changsheng said.

Lu Changsheng always shared his treasures with those close to him.

Besides, while the Qilin Blood had little effect on him—a drop less mattered—it was far more beneficial for Yun Wanshang.

Without further words, he placed the crystalline, iridescent Qilin Blood into her hand and ingested a drop himself.

After a long while, from the depths of the Demon Abyss emerged not only a horde of Third-Rank specters but also a colossal demonic beast, several yards in length, its ghastly red-tinged face so terrifying it made one dizzy at a glance.

“Soul-Taking!”

Cradling the Sun-Moon Yin-Yang Mirror in one hand and wielding the Da Luo Sword Embryo in the other, Lu Changsheng charged alongside the Soul-Taking Beast to slay the specters.

These demonic specters were horrifying—possessing a near-immortal quality.

Without the Sun-Moon Yin-Yang Mirror, it would have been nearly impossible for the Soul-Taking Beast to exterminate them.

Even so, facing a swarm of Third-Rank specters along with a Fourth-Rank one, Lu Changsheng still felt the pressure mounting.

“Hoo hoo hoo—”

Yet, as soon as one Fourth-Rank demon was heavily injured by the mirror and devoured by the Soul-Taking Beast, another Fourth-Rank demon charged in.

“Elder, wait—we need a break,” someone called out.

After slaying three Fourth-Rank demons in succession, Lu Changsheng shouted toward the depths of the Demon Abyss,

not only was he exhausted, but even the Soul-Taking Beast’s stomach could no longer hold on.

“Alright,” came the reply.

The frail, aged voice acknowledged Lu Changsheng’s strength; such matters could not be forced.

For if anything were to happen to him, all their efforts would be wasted.

A few days later, the Soul-Taking Beast reluctantly spat out a jade-green crystal as large as a watermelon.

“Is this the Soul Crystal of a Fourth-Rank demon?”

Lu Changsheng sensed an immensely pure and powerful yin spirit force emanating from the crystal.

“Xiao Yan,” he called.

Without further inspection, Lu Changsheng handed the crystal to Qian Zhuyan standing beside him.

Qian Zhuyan’s eyes burned with a soulful flame, full of longing and anticipation.

At the mere sight of the crystal, she realized that by refining it, the puppet spirit’s soul could ascend to Fourth-Rank, transforming it into a true Fourth-Rank Puppet! “Thank you, my lord,” she said.

In a cold, husky tone, Qian Zhuyan expressed her gratitude to Lu Changsheng.

“There’s no need for us to thank each other,” he replied with a gentle laugh.

Lu Changsheng chuckled lightly; his handsome, gentle features were irresistibly endearing.

Even Yun Wanshang sometimes wondered if this rogue had mastered an enchanting technique or awakened some alluring charm within himself.

After speaking, Lu Changsheng looked at the Soul-Taking Beast and signaled for it to expel two more Fourth-Rank Soul Crystals.

Firstly, these crystals contained an incredibly pure and mighty yin spirit force that Lu Changsheng planned to study when he had time.

Secondly, they were extremely beneficial for ghost cultivators, a resource he could trade in the future for other rare natural treasures.

“Squeak, squeak, squeak”

The Soul-Taking Beast, reverting to its small, monkey-like form, looked instantly forlorn.

The very essence of the demonic specters converged within this Soul Crystal.

If it expelled the crystal, all its effort would have been wasted with no reward.

It hardly minded second- or even third-rank Soul Crystals, viewing them as mere snacks that offered little advancement.

But these Fourth-Rank Soul Crystals were immensely beneficial for its growth.

“Alright then, leave a few for me later,” Lu Changsheng said, amused by the creature’s pouting.

Seeing the forlorn look on the Soul-Taking Beast, Lu Changsheng couldn’t help but smile.

He indicated that it should digest these first and, when more Fourth-Rank demons appeared later, save a few crystals for itself.

“Squeak, squeak, squeak”

The Soul-Taking Beast immediately nodded happily, its little face exuding an endearing charm.