The branch of the Nether River that had appeared out of nowhere slowly retreated towards the glorious part of the sea after he tore his gaze from it, as if it was going to return to its origin now that it had lost his attention.

Nie Tian felt an internal struggle.

The Nether River had been the Phantasms’ most mysterious asset since ancient times. Its value far exceeded that of the Book of Spirits.

For Phantasms, nothing could match the Nether River’s significance.

Even though the Book of Spirits recorded wondrous soul spells, everything in it had come from the Nether River.

The Nether River was the foundation of the entire Phantasm race, as it was their mother river and the origin of all of their soul magics.

Right now, with the help of the Spirit Pearl, Nie Tian, who wasn’t a Phantasm, was able to perceive the countless seemingly disorderly soul strands in the Nether River, and derive pieces of obscure enlightenment from them.

Such enlightenment would help him uncover the ultimate secrets of his sea of awareness and true soul.

They would even be helpful when he attempted to enter the Saint and God domain.

He wasn’t sure if he would have a chance to see that branch of the Nether River again if he left the Seven-star Blue Sea.

Should he give up his opportunity to derive enlightenment from the Nether River so he could descend towards the sea bottom to reestablish contact with the five evil gods and find out what was happening with them? Would it be worth it?

“Master, we’re losing connection with the five evil gods,” the Spirit Pearl’s soul reminded him.

After pondering for a moment, he asked through a soul voice, “Will I have a chance to channel that branch of the Nether River here again?” 

The Spirit Pearl’s soul took a moment to think, then said, “I don’t know. I have a feeling that I can only help you see the profound wonders within the Nether River. Normally, humans can’t see them. However, I wasn’t the reason why that branch of the Nether River magically showed up here.”

“Then what was?”

“I suppose it was the unique aura released by the spell formation those five formed.”

“If that’s the case, I know what to do now.”

Nie Tian didn’t hesitate anymore. Enveloped in the Primal Chaos he had created around him and his unique void domain, he started to slowly descend towards the depths of the Seven-star Blue Sea.

Everything happened smoothly at first.

Due to the existence of the unique magnetic field, the mixed energies within the Seven-star Blue Sea couldn’t hurt him.

Not just that, but those energies, which were deadly to Yin Yanan and other powerful Qi warriors, were purged by the magnetic field and fused into his domain as wisps of pure power.

Also, as his domain went deeper and deeper, the Godspirit Tree, the Heavenly Stars Flower, and the seventy-two tree branches within his domain were able to absorb more power than before.

Even his sea of awareness and true soul started to emanate fiery light as he sank deeper!

His true soul seemed to be cleansed over and over by countless wisps of invisible power!

Overjoyed by this discovery, he exclaimed, “I can’t believe my true soul is being refined in a similar way to my fleshly body being refined through Heavenly Wood Heal!”

“Master, this is the power of this mysterious sea that floats in the starry river,” the Spirit Pearl’s soul responded. “Not just you, but those five are also either recovering or strengthening themselves with the power of this magical sea.”

Nie Tian was confused. “But why is this happening? I’ve been in this sea before. Nothing like this happened.” 

“I don’t know.”

The conversation between Nie Tian and the Spirit Pearl’s soul continued as he started to sink at a slower speed.

Pain started to show on his face as well.

He started to experience excruciating pain as the unknown power within the Seven-star Blue Sea continued to help refine his true soul.

Even his body, which he had tempered a thousand times over, started to suffer from heavy impacts.

However, since his body was tough enough, such impacts were still bearable to him.

His soul, on the other hand, wasn’t nearly as tough as his fleshly body. It was only being lightly cleansed by the power of the Seven-star Blue Sea, yet it pained him so much that he wanted to die.

The Spirit Pearl’s soul also sensed the changes. “Master, you were in a relatively high level before. In shallow areas of the sea, there are more spiritual energies than power that can infiltrate seas of awareness and affect souls. However, as we sink deeper and deeper, our surroundings are filled with more and more soul-impacting power.

“The deeper we go, the stronger impacts we’ll have to face.

“Even I...”

With these words, the Spirit Pearl, which was embedded in Nie Tian’s forehead and emanating cyan light, quietly went dim.

WHOOSH!

After sending a last wisp of soul message, the Spirit Pearl suddenly flew back into Nie Tian’s ring of holding.

“What?”

Nie Tian went blank, as if he hadn’t expected that the Phantasms’ invaluable treasure would choose to take shelter in his ring of holding after descending to a certain depth.

“Is this really that scary? Isn’t it just our souls being torn at by a mysterious power from the depths of the sea?”

 He thought to himself. 

“Plus, my true soul keeps recovering from the damage and becoming stronger, which allows it to withstand even stronger tearing.”

However, it seemed that the Spirit Pearl’s soul didn’t hear any of that.

BOOM!

Inside of Nie Tian’s sea of awareness, many of the soul strands that had woven into his true soul suddenly snapped like strained strings.

Nie Tian suffered terribly as this happened.

However, immediately afterwards, wisps of power flew into his sea of awareness, fusing into his true soul.

Nourished by them, the severed soul strands not only reattached themselves, but also became more resilient than ever, with a new sense of solidity added to Nie Tian’s illusory true soul.

Stars shone and changed position over his sea of awareness.

His nine star souls were also gathering power that was helpful to them as they grew stronger and shone with increasingly glorious starlight.

Even Nie Tian’s sea of awareness was being nourished as he sank towards the depths of the Seven-star Blue Sea.

Before he knew it, Nie Tian’s soul connection to the five evil gods was restored. “This is interesting...”

“Is this just because I’m close enough to them?” Muttering, he tried to focus on sensing the evil gods. However, the pain in his true soul rapidly built up to the point where he could no longer focus.

Therefore, even though the connection between him and the five evil gods was reestablished, it was hard for him to actually communicate with them.

However, he refused to give up.

Bearing the excruciating pain in his soul, he continued diving, and saw that the water in his surroundings started to move in a strange way due to the violent twisting power of his magnetic field. Soon, a vortex came to form.

All of a sudden, a huge arched red bronze gate appeared underneath him.

The five evil gods were gritting their teeth as they pushed at the closed gate together.

A shudder ran through Nie Tian. “A bronze gate!”

As he tried to take a closer look at it, he discovered that his sight had become blurry, and that the huge arched gate had disappeared, along with the five evil gods that were gathered around it.

Even more unbearable pain overtook his true soul, stopping him from focusing.

Even though he suffered great pain and his head buzzed nonstop, he couldn’t help wondering, “A gate... Where does it lead?”

At this moment, Mo Qianfan and Yu Suying exclaimed simultaneously over the Seven-star Blue Sea, “Luo Wanxiang!”

Luo Wanxiang, who was a vice sectmaster of the Ancient Fragmentary Star Palace and held the All Manifestations Star Banner, somehow appeared here at such a special time.

He had teamed up with Grand Monarch Bloodlust to fight Fan Tianze from the Heaven Span Pavilion.

After Grand Monarch Bloodlust had retreated, Fan Tianze had chased after him regardless of everything, as if he had been bent on punishing him for his betrayal and making him an example.

However, shortly afterwards, word of the Realm of Remote Heaven falling and Ancientspirits and outsiders launching a massive invasion had spread. Fan Tianze had been forced to hurry back to the Heaven Span Pavilion to preside over the defenses.

Luo Wanxiang had gone missing since then.

No one had expected that this vice sectmaster of the Ancient Fragmentary Star Palace, whose authority in the Ancient Fragmentary Star Palace had been second to only Ji Cang, would show up at the Seven-star Blue Sea at this moment.

Yu Suying and Mo Qianfan looked grim, as if they were apprehensive about this formidable foe.

Dong Li communicated with the black tortoise in a low voice before casting a meaningful gaze towards Xie Qian and Jing Feiyang. She also snuck a glance at Zhao Shanling, signaling him to leave right away to inform other powerful experts of Luo Wanxiang’s appearance at the Seven-star Blue Sea.

Chu Rui, Fan Tianze, and the other God domain experts of the four great sects were all gathered in the Heaven Span Pavilion’s headquarters now.

If they were informed of Luo Wanxiang’s presence, who was a traitor for colluding with the Phantasms, many would be bound to come after him.

Strangely, Luo Wanxiang, who had suddenly arrived, was expressionless as he nodded slightly towards Yu Suying and Mo Qianfan. While they were confused by this, he morphed into a streak of starlight and disappeared into the Seven-star Blue Sea.

Those who were concerned with Nie Tian’s safety started discussing anxiously.

“The Seven-star Blue Sea! Is he here to kill Nie Tian?”

“If not, why would he choose to enter the Seven-star Blue Sea when it’s the most bizarre?”

“Luo Wanxiang is at the middle God domain. What do we do?”

Dong Li turned to Jing Feiyang and said, “Inform Fan Tianze and Chu Rui of what’s happened here right away. I think they’ll come after Luo Wanxiang after learning that he showed up here.” 

Jing Feiyang nodded.

FIZZ! FIZZ!

The streak of starlight transformed from Luo Wanxiang’s dharma idol sputtered sparks as it suffered from the corrosion of the strange power in the Seven-star Blue Sea.

Nie Tian jerked his head up. Glaring at him, he exclaimed, “Vice Sectmaster!”

“Tell those five things of yours to open that bronze gate!” Luo Wanxiang’s fierce shout immediately reached Nie Tian’s mind, rumbling through his sea of awareness.

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