Translator: CinderTL
Deep within a canyon in the Primordial Qi Death Zone, Song Wen addressed the Nether Fox before him. "Next, I'll help the void fiend in my Sea of Consciousness advance. You're responsible for guarding our surroundings."
After the Nether Fox reached the fifth-tier, Song Wen retreated tens of thousands of miles further into the Death Zone, arriving at this canyon. There, he deployed the Phantom Sea Traceless Formation.
The Nether Fox replied, "Rest assured, Master. After my advancement, my divine sense has greatly expanded. Within a four-thousand-mile radius of this Primordial Qi Death Zone, nothing can escape my perception."
Song Wen nodded, then sat cross-legged and sank his consciousness into his Sea of Consciousness.
Instantly, countless silver specks of light descended from the Black Hole hovering above the Sea of Consciousness.
Shadow Void, witnessing this, was overjoyed.
"Thank you for your generosity, Master," it said, absorbing the silver light that landed on its form.
However, it soon noticed that while the silver light rained down in abundance, only a portion fell upon it. The rest drifted deeper into the Sea of Consciousness.
This was because Song Wen was seizing the opportunity to activate the Forbidden Divine Art, absorbing the Soul Source Essence.
Time flew by, and six months passed in the blink of an eye.
On this day, the eight tentacles extending from Song Wen's head suddenly erupted with a colossal aura.
This aura surged like a tidal wave, causing the Primordial Qi within the mountain valley to churn ceaselessly.
A slender, delicate tentacle slowly emerged from Song Wen's head.
The newly formed tentacle trembled incessantly, resembling a spiritual serpent struggling to break free from its shell.
As time passed, the tentacle gradually grew longer and thicker, its color deepening.
Meanwhile, the aura emanating from the original eight tentacles intensified, startling the Nether Fox, who repeatedly glanced sideways in astonishment.
The Nether Fox's expression suddenly shifted, and it urgently spoke.
"Master, a fifth-tier void fiend is approaching from the east."
Song Wen's tightly closed eyes snapped open.
"Are you certain it's heading this way?"
Over the past six months, void fiends and resentful spirits had occasionally appeared. However, they had merely passed through the area, wandering briefly before departing.
"I'm certain it's heading straight for us," the Nether Fox said.
Before the words had even left its mouth, it added, "A fifth-tier void fiend has also appeared to the north."
Song Wen's eyes narrowed, a foreboding feeling rising in his heart.
The sudden approach of these void fiends was likely drawn by the aura emanating from the shadow void.
Song Wen immediately split his focus, communicating with the shadow void in his Sea of Consciousness.
"Two void creatures are approaching us. Drive them away immediately."
"Yes, Master."
The shadow void, currently focused on absorbing the Soul Source Essence, emitted a strange pulse that radiated outward.
A moment later, a flicker of surprise appeared in its slender eyes.
"Master, they're ignoring my commands and continuing to approach."
Song Wen's voice turned cold. "Why is that? The previous fifth-tier void fiends obeyed you without question. Could these be high-ranking void clan members?"
The shadow void's eyes flickered with fear, as if dreading Song Wen's punishment.
"No. These two void fiends are also Low-Tier Void Beasts. They might be trying to devour me."
"Aren't you a high-ranking void clan member?" Song Wen asked, his voice tinged with confusion. "How dare two low-ranking void clan members, weaker than you, attempt to devour you?"
"They must have sensed that I was nearing the final stages of my incubation," the shadow void explained. "To them, I'm merely an unhatched egg. By devouring me now, they might be able to seize my bloodline and ascend to become high-ranking void clan members themselves."
Song Wen's expression turned icy, and he demanded sharply, "If it's so dangerous, why did you insist on incubating in the Primordial Qi Death Zone?"
The two void clan members that had appeared posed no immediate threat, but they would inevitably attract stronger void fiends.
"I... this subordinate only just recalled this part of my inherited memories," the shadow void stammered.
"Useless!" Song Wen growled.
Unpleasant predictions often come true.
The shadow void continued, "Master, another void clan member has appeared to the northwest. It's... a late-stage sixth-tier entity."
Song Wen's face darkened, and he ignored the shadow void.
Though furious, Song Wen knew Shadow Void was still of great use, making it impossible to kill him.
Withdrawing his consciousness from his Sea of Consciousness, Song Wen waved his hand, recalling the formation flags that had deployed the Phantom Sea Traceless Formation.
He retrieved the Nether Fox into his Spirit Beast Pouch, then soared into the air, flying out of the mountain valley and heading south.
Traveling over 800,000 li southward would bring him beyond the Primordial Qi Death Zone. Once there, he could finally rest easy.
Perhaps due to the Void Clan's powerful divine sense power and relatively weak physical bodies, they were poor at escape speed. Even the three Void Clan members, including the late sixth-tier void fiend, gradually fell behind Song Wen.
Just as Song Wen began to breathe a sigh of relief, Shadow Void's voice rang out again, tinged with panic.
"Master, there's a seventh-tier low-ranking void clan member ten thousand li ahead, heading straight for us!"
"A seventh-tier void clan member!"
Song Wen's pupils constricted. He immediately changed course, veering west.
Shadow Void protested, "Master, the seventh-tier void clan member is faster than you. Heading west won't shake it off; it might even attract more void clan members!"
"I know!" Song Wen snapped. "Stop the incubation process now!"
If Shadow Void temporarily halted the incubation, he would cease emitting the unique aura associated with the process, making it much easier to evade the void clan member.
"Master, I cannot do that. The hatching process is irreversible," Shadow Void said.
Song Wen replied, "Then do you have a solution? If not, don't blame me for devouring you on the spot."
"Master, your subordinate acknowledges my mistake and begs for forgiveness," Shadow Void said urgently. "Master, our only option now is to head north. The northern region lies deep within the Primordial Qi Death Zone, where vast numbers of resentful spirits are bound to exist. The Void Clan feeds on resentful spirits, while the spirits themselves harbor an innate hatred for the Void Clan. Even without intelligence, they will relentlessly pursue any Void Clan member they encounter. If we can find a seventh-tier resentful spirit and use it to distract that Seventh-Tier Void Demon, we might be able to escape."
"Fool!" Song Wen roared. "What if we don't find a seventh-tier resentful spirit? What if we encounter another Seventh-Tier Void Demon or an even stronger void fiend?"
Aow!
At that moment, a piercing shriek suddenly echoed from behind them.
A flash of pain crossed Song Wen's eyes as he clenched his teeth, forcing himself to endure the discomfort.
The shriek originated from the seventh-tier void demon's divine sense attack. Though the Sea of Consciousness Black Hole could devour it, the divine sense power contained within far surpassed Song Wen's own. This caused violent tremors in his Sea of Consciousness, sending waves of searing pain through his mind.
(End of the Chapter)