Chapter 128: The Secret of the Abyss of Absolute Solitude

Ji Yao was stunned by Situ Jing’s inquiry. Why was the other party so certain about mentioning the Forbidden Demon Land? Since they had already clarified the situation between them, Ji Yao naturally did not want to resort to guessing.

"Senior, why are you so certain this is related to the Forbidden Demon Land?" Ji Yao asked directly.

"I am not certain," Situ Jing shook her head, "but I cannot think of any other place in this realm with enough power to awaken the ancient demon race."

As if something had occurred to her, Ji Yao suddenly asked, "Senior, are you saying that the methods currently appearing are of ancient origin?"

Situ Jing gave a helpless smile. "At least in the era I lived through, these traces never surfaced."

"You must have heard of how the ancient cultivation world used arrays to purge demons. In fact, there are precedents for this. The Micang Realm also has demon races that have been sealed since ancient times; these matters have existed ever since the Three Thousand Realms were separated."

Guided by Situ Jing, Ji Yao added, "The Immortal Realm ascended and departed, causing the Three Thousand Realms to separate, which resulted in insufficient energy in each domain."

"Exactly! It is precisely because of this lack of energy that these ancient sealed demons could not maintain themselves and were forced into an eternal slumber," Situ Jing continued to explain.

"This is also why there are Immortal-Demon Wars in the Immortal Realm every so often, while the Three Thousand Realms remain relatively peaceful. Although the separation of the Three Thousand Realms from the Immortal Realm limited the growth of all races, it also provided them with sufficient living space. While minor disturbances by demon races occur occasionally in the smaller realms, they rarely become catastrophic. However, this incident in the Micang Realm is clearly not a trivial matter; if not handled properly, it may lead to a great disaster."

Ji Yao’s expression darkened. These matters felt too remote from her, yet she found herself entangled in them, unsure of what kind of pawn she was in this game.

"Very well, tell me about what you sensed," Situ Jing said, changing the subject.

"These are only our speculations; there is no solid evidence. Some things must be verified in person; otherwise, how can we find the best strategy to respond?"

After steadying her mindset, Ji Yao nodded and described her sensations.

"Senior, I saw the presence of the toxin, and I felt two different forces summoning it. One was filled with malice, while the other was merely a simple summons, devoid of any other special meaning. Although both forces pointed toward the northwest, the malicious one likely originates from the Forbidden Demon Land, but the other lies further north."

Ji Yao produced a simple map of the Micang Realm, pointed to the location of the Forbidden Demon Land, and traced a line further north, landing on a gorge called the Abyss of Desolation, located at the junction of the Great Dayu Mountains and the Western Ridge.

"What exactly is this Abyss of Desolation?" Ji Yao had not studied the map of the Micang Realm in detail before, so while she might have heard some names, she had never delved into them.

If it were not for the feeling that the source was further north than the Western Ridge, she would not have pointed to this location.

Situ Jing frowned as she looked at the spot Ji Yao indicated, lost in thought. "Are you certain? You said it was further north—could it be within the Great Dayu Mountains?"

"It shouldn't be the Great Dayu Mountains," Ji Yao said, rubbing her brow as she recalled the sensation.

"The two summoning auras are similar and linked, yet distinct. Based on the distance of their connection," Ji Yao pointed again at the name of the Abyss of Desolation on the map, "it should be here."

Ji Yao did not understand why Situ Jing wore such an indescribable expression upon hearing the name, until the latter explained the situation of the Abyss of Desolation.

The so-called Abyss of Desolation is a gorge over a thousand meters deep, its length precisely separating the Western Ridge from the Northern Wilds. It is a forbidden zone for cultivators because it is a place devoid of spiritual energy—there is neither spiritual energy nor demonic energy to be found.

Of course, this alone does not explain its peril. The true danger lies in the gray mist that perpetually shrouds the air above the gorge. Within this mist, there is a strange suction force; any person or beast attempting to fly over it is pulled in by this power, vanishing without a trace.

Some who went missing had left behind soul lamps; within three days of being pulled in, their soul lamps would extinguish, which was proof enough that they had mostly perished.

Therefore, the Abyss of Desolation is essentially devoid of human presence, and even birds find it impossible to cross.

Rumors have it that, at irregular intervals, the gray mist over the Abyss of Desolation disperses in certain areas, allowing those with the capability to descend to the bottom and return safely.

However, this timing is not fixed but entirely random—both the interval between occurrences and the duration the mist remains dispersed are unpredictable. If one fails to enter and exit within that window, they are inevitably pulled into the gray mist and perish.

No one has ever verified this claim, and those who propagate it have never actually ventured near the Abyss of Desolation. Perhaps some have entered and emerged safely, but they certainly kept it to themselves rather than letting rumors run wild.

Situ Jing finally summarized, "This Abyss of Desolation has existed as long as I can remember; I do not know when it was formed. If your intuition is correct, I suspect it might be the sealing ground of some ancient demon."

Ji Yao was speechless for a long moment. This place sounded even more dangerous than the Forbidden Demon Land.

"Since the summons can travel out from there and is linked to the Forbidden Demon Land, it is quite possible that some loophole has appeared," Ji Yao speculated to herself.

Situ Jing tapped her. "Do not think so much. Even if you could enter, it would be impossible with your current cultivation, so we will not consider that place for now."

Ji Yao rubbed the back of her head and muttered, "We can always prepare for the worst!"

"You said that the summons from there hasn't taken action against you, so we will set it aside for now and focus on solving the more urgent matters first," Situ Jing analyzed.

"Currently, you have three tasks: first, continue to investigate the Forbidden Demon Land; second, strive to improve your cultivation; and third, obtain the Source of Wood as soon as possible."

Ji Yao felt the last point was a pleasant surprise. She had thought that with so many things happening, the Source of Wood might no longer resolve her problems, but to her surprise, it remained effective.

"Senior, can the Source of Wood still clear this toxin?"

Situ Jing glanced at her sideways. "What are you thinking? The toxin is a fact; the summons is merely an added complication. Clearing the toxin is a necessity. Regardless of whether the summons persists after the toxin is cleared, at least you won't have to worry about your life at every moment. Or are you saying you no longer wish to be cured?"

How could that be! Ji Yao quickly waved her hands. "Senior, I misunderstood. I would dream of being free from the threat of the toxin—how could I not want that?"

Situ Jing chuckled softly, then rubbed her temples, unable to hide her exhaustion.

"Enough. Rest for a few days and prepare to continue your journey. Take this Retrospective Stone; once you are near the Forbidden Demon Land, hang it on your person. It will record everything you see."

Seeing Situ Jing’s state and hearing these words, Ji Yao could not help but feel anxious.

"Senior, are you planning to go into seclusion immediately?"

For the first time, Situ Jing reached out and patted Ji Yao’s hair like a close elder.

"Yes, I must recover the spiritual energy I have expended as soon as possible. I will not be able to look after you on the road ahead. You must be extremely careful; do not venture too deep into the Forbidden Demon Land. If you encounter something you cannot handle, return to the Lingyun Sect immediately."

"Senior!"

"Only with cultivation can you plan for the future. Do not be reckless, do you understand?"

"Understood, I will listen to you."