"Abyss... this word had been used to describe far too many things since times immemorial... A path(Abyssal Dao), A place(The Abyss), A being(Abyssal Abominations), an aspect(Abyssal taint) and the list goes on and on... However, one must remember, the abyss is but a branch of chaos and the fruit definitely does not fall all that far from the tree.
It's just as unpredictive as chaos and yet... It is completely unlike it!
Chaos corrodes and creates, all of creation orignates from chaos and thus, the reason why we call our reality "The Chaos Sea"... However, Abyss is different... Unlike other branches of chaos, Abyss taints rather than corroding or creating... no... wait, in a way it does corrode too haha!"
"Hm? What about destruction, you ask?
Well, that one's too early for you let's talk about that later... Or perhaps the time might come sooner than expected, my dear disciple. After all, all that belongs to me, will be yours. Even my wisdom, you'll eventually possess it as well."
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...
Silence fell upon all as a chilling wind blew, Jianyu's visage too blurred at that moment, soon reaching Xiao Dong... a cold, merciless, yet chaotic aura enveloped him.
"Heup...!" Air forcefully expelled out of Xiao Dong's mouth as Jianyu's palm ruthlessly hit his chest.
*Bdamm!!
The cavern's walls rumbled thunderously as Xiao Dong's body smashed into the stony wall... or so one would've expected, however, in reality, Xiao Dong landed onto the wall with his feet and launched himself back at Jianyu, a small wooden stick in his hand.
"Spirit Rending blaze!" Ashen flames slithered like countless serpents, blocking Xiao Dong's path yet he braved through the pain and injuries to proceed towards his opponent.
"Wraa!" Upon closing in, he swung his wooden stick at Jianyu. The latter simply swung his hand, covered in the same ashen flame.
However, unlike what he might have expected, Xiao Dong's stick latched onto his arm, encircling it like a snake, "Take this!!"
Noticing the peculiarity of the artifact, Jianyu kicked Xiao Dong in an attempt to disrupt him. However, he was too late...
While he did succeed in pushing Xiao Dong back, most of Jianyu's arm had ripped apart by that stick, with some of it even being absorbed by it!
As Xiao Dong advanced, his eyes burning with determination, Jianyu, though visibly irritated, remained composed. The severed arm began to regenerate at an astonishing speed, the jade springs water working its miraculous effects. Inch by inch, muscle and skin wove themselves back together until Jianyu's arm was fully restored.
"What a nuisance..." Jianyu muttered, flexing his newly regenerated limb. Xiao Dong's frustration grew as he witnessed the seemingly effortless recovery.
Undeterred, Xiao Dong charged once more, wielding the mysterious wooden stick. This time, however, Jianyu opted for a different strategy. As Xiao Dong swung the stick towards him, Jianyu skillfully dodged and parried, using his distance to his advantage.
Jianyu realized that facing Xiao Dong up close might not be the wisest choice, considering the unusual properties of the stick. After all, his physique was one that could successfully contain chaos Qi, and while the said Qi was of the lowest grade among its kind, it was still just as fickle and tyrannical.
Thus, Jianyu reached into his spatial ring and pulled out an array of artifacts and spiritual treasures. Each item emanated a formidable aura, and Jianyu began to unleash them with precision.
A storm of spiritual energy and an excess of Qi filled the cavern as Jianyu wielded artifacts that ranged from ethereal blades to defensive charms. The cavern echoed with the clash of energies and the metallic resonance of spiritual treasures.
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Xiao Dong, relentless and undeterred, continued to press forward. However, Jianyu's calculated attacks forced him to defend rather than attack. The ashen flames of the Spirit Rending Blaze flared and twisted, attempting to ward off Xiao Dong's approach.
Xiao Dong, realizing the challenge posed by Jianyu's arsenal, gritted his teeth and focused. The wooden stick in his hand glowed with an ominous light as he channeled his own spiritual energy into it. The stick absorbed the Qi released by Jianyu's attacks, growing more potent with each absorption.
Seizing the opportunity, Xiao Dong swung the stick, unleashing a surge of chaotic energy back at Jianyu. This unexpected counter caught Jianyu off guard, forcing him to evade.
Yet, Jianyu was hit by the onslaught of chaotic energy and stilled for a moment. That moment was all that Xiao Dong needed to fulfill his plan. "Urgh!" As Jianyu came to, he saw Xiao Dong holding a dagger to Yin Xifeng's neck.
"If you want her to live, don't take a step further!" Xiao Dong commanded.
"No, Jianyu! Don't do as he says!" Xifeng pleaded, her eyes wide with a mixture of fear and determination.
Jianyu, with a stoic yet intense expression, addressed Xiao Dong, "Do you truly believe something like this would faze me?" His defiance hung in the air, challenging Xiao Dong's attempt at manipulation.
Xiao Dong, however, remained silent, his grip tightening on the dagger. Growing anxious by the display of Jianyu's unwavering resolve, he pressed the blade more firmly against Xifeng's neck, eliciting a gasp from her.
"Fine... I'll do as you say. Let her go..." Jianyu conceded, a pained and annoyed expression crossing his face. The cavern seemed to quiet for a moment as the tension between the two combatants reached a temporary impasse.
"Hmph! Should've listened to me sooner!" Xiao Dong snorted, a smirk of satisfaction playing on his lips. Slowly, he began to bring something out of his spatial pouch, maintaining his hold on Xifeng.
"Here!" Xiao Dong tossed a pitch-black vial towards Jianyu, which the latter caught promptly.
"..." Examining the vial that reflected no light, Jianyu felt something within him stir up. However, as soon as it appeared the sensation disappeared as if it never existed.
"Open the vial!" Xiao Dong demanded, an ugly smile covering his face.
"..." Jianyu did not do as he was asked and instead stared into Xiao Dong's eyes, sending a chill down the latter's spine, "Swear upon your Dao... swear that you wouldn't harm her after this..." His expression still quite stoic but his frown was somewhat apparent.
"No! Jia-!" Xifeng struggled to speak but was silenced by Xiao Dong, who pressed onto her mouth with his hand,
"Hmph! fine, I swear upon my Dao," Xiao Dong pledged with his ugly smile still apparent on his face.
*Snap!
As the vial was opened, a dark shadow, reminiscent of the one from earlier, manifested, entering Jianyu's body!
"Untethered Heart Mantra!"
Jianyu employed his counter-measure against the shadow, which was the condensed essence of negative emotions. He suppressed the little evil spirit, just as he did with the one attempting to possess Xifeng earlier, and readied himself to dash towards his opponent...
"URGHHH!!" However, not everything went as planned, and Jianyu soon collapsed...
Or perhaps, everything went along someone else's plans?
...
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}Gruu...{
In the expansive realm of boundless, untamed darkness, the diminutive evil spirit raised its head in search of its prey. However, an unfamiliar sensation of fear soon gripped it.
]Huhu... Not as ignorant as I presumed...[A voice resonated through the darkness, casting an even deeper shadow over the shadowy ambiance. In reaction, the small ghost could only quiver.
]Sigh... what a cowardly one... Yet, you have arrived at the opportune moment[ The Darkness moved at once in response to the voice, ]Become my sustenance...[ The Darkness engulfed the spirit, ruthlessly consuming it in its entirety.
]And thus, the cornerstone of my ascent![
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"Urghhh!!" Jianyu struggled against the pain and screams clouding his mind as he tirelessly endeavored to practice the Untethered Heart Mantra.
]Give in. Your resistance is futile![
A voice echoed in his mind, intensifying his agony. Though somewhat familiar, he couldn't recall the origin of the voice amidst the turmoil of chaos qi stirring within him, triggering an ominous transformation.
And with it came a change to his everything, his very existence had begun to morph and change.
'NO! I'll not. Even if. I become. An abyssal abomination... I'll BE ME!!'
]YOU!!![ The voice grew enraged as a hint of anxiety and fear grew apparent within it.
'MY HATRED! MY BITTERNESS! MY MALICE! IT'S MINE ALONE! IT BELONGS TO ME!!!'
the once damp, bluish moss-covered stony walls of the cavernous expanse underwent an ominous transformation. A fluid, liquidy shadow greedily enveloped everything within sight, giving rise to misshapen ashen branches that protruded menacingly from the shadows.
"████ ████!" The Abbysal abomination's words echoed through the hidden realm, the monstrous being's words akin to the roaring thunders, yet remarkably decipherable in their eerie clarity. It called out the name of the one who caused this transformation and struck terror into the very core of the bearer of said name, Xiao Dong.
Confronting this abomination, an unfamiliar sense of 'fear' gripped Xiao Dong.