The Ninth Level of the Chaos Abyss
Beyond the black fissure lay a world utterly unlike the previous eight levels.
There was no violent turbulence of laws. No rolling chaos fog so dense it could not be refined. Instead, an extreme stillness dominated the void—so quiet it felt sacred, as though all motion had been deliberately stilled.
At the center of this boundless silence floated a lotus pond spanning thousands of miles.
The water within was crystal clear, tinged with a faint halo of chaos. Slap-sized cyan lotus flowers drifted quietly on the surface, their layered petals releasing a subtle, refreshing fragrance that seemed capable of calming the soul.
At the heart of the pond stood a towering green lotus tree, thousands of feet tall.
Its rhizome was as thick as an ancient dragon, deeply rooted in chaotic soil at the pond's bottom. Vast lotus leaves spread outward like enormous cyan canopies, blotting out the void above. Ancient runes flowed endlessly across their surfaces, and within them lingered a faint resonance from the universe's first opening.
Yet the most eye-catching sight lay at the very top.
Resting upon the lotus canopy were nine fist-sized lotus seeds.
Each seed was dark gold in color, covered in intricate, mysterious patterns. Every one of them radiated a pure chaotic origin so intense that even a Universe Venerable would go mad with desire.
This was the Chaos Green Lotus.
Beside the lotus pond stood a single figure.
He was tall as a mountain, a dark-golden dragon tail trailing behind him. His face was ancient and unadorned, his eyes deep like distant stars. A faint mist of chaos surrounded his body. Though clearly only a shadow, the pressure he radiated was enough to make the void tremble.
That pressure far surpassed an invincible king.
It was unmistakably the might of a Primary Universe Venerable.
The moment Jiang Yan stepped out of the black fissure, the figure's gaze fell upon him. A faint smile curved at the corner of his mouth.
"A World Master who can casually slay peak King-level ferocious beasts," the figure said slowly. "Worthy of being the foremost pride of the human race."
His voice boomed like a great bell, echoing throughout the void with unquestionable authority.
"Since I suppressed the Original Secret Realm, you are the first member to reach this place."
Jiang Yan's eyes left the Chaos Green Lotus and locked onto the burly figure. His pupils contracted slightly.
Suppressed the Original Secret Realm?
Then this person's identity—
A wave of realization struck him. From the man's body, Jiang Yan felt a heart-palpitating pressure he had only ever sensed from his two teachers.
"May I ask who senior is?" Jiang Yan asked solemnly.
The burly figure chuckled.
"I am Dragon Journey. You should have heard of me."
Jiang Yan's heart shook.
"Lord of the Dragon Journey?!"
The so-called "Chaos Ancestral Dragon" spoken of by King Jinlun was not a ferocious beast at all—but the veteran powerhouse of the Virtual Universe Company, the Lord of the Dragon Journey himself, the overseer of its treasure vault!
"To be precise," Dragon Journey said with a smile, "this is merely a divine power clone left behind by my true body."
This clone was the real trump card guarding the Original Secret Realm—tasked with suppressing the ferocious beasts of the first eight levels while nurturing the Chaos Green Lotus.
Jiang Yan took a slow breath.
Even a divine power clone… was still a Universe Lord's clone.
At minimum, it possessed the combat power of a Universe Venerable.
His original plan flashed through his mind—slay the ninth-level guardian, harvest a scarlet breath surpassing all eight levels combined, and reap immeasurable benefits.
Now, that possibility was gone.
A Universe Lord's clone would never condense scarlet breath.
Jiang Yan cupped his fists respectfully.
"Junior Jiang Yan greets Lord Dragon Journey. I came only for the Chaos Lotus Seeds. I hope senior will grant me this chance."
"Grant it?"
Dragon Journey laughed and shook his head. "The Chaos Green Lotus is merely a treasure I planted casually. But since you are a member of the Original Secret Realm, you must follow the rules I set."
"If you wish to obtain the lotus seeds, you must receive three attacks from me."
He paused, then added calmly, "I will only use the strength of a Primary Universe Venerable. I will not bully the young. If you withstand all three, the lotus seeds are yours. If not—leave."
Jiang Yan's eyes ignited with blazing battle intent.
Only Primary Universe Venerable strength?
Then this was no longer impossible.
His level of life had already undergone transformation from absorbing massive scarlet breath. He had been planning to challenge the twenty-first floor of the Tongtian Bridge after leaving the abyss.
This was perfect.
"Very well," Jiang Yan said firmly. "I accept."
With a thought, a set of domineering scarlet armor enveloped his body—the Chongbao Mad God Armor. At the same time, a war blade appeared in his hand: the Juekong Saber.
Against a Universe Lord's clone, there was no room for carelessness.
Dragon Journey raised an eyebrow but said nothing. Equipment and fortune were also manifestations of strength.
"First move."
His figure vanished.
In the next instant, he appeared before Jiang Yan, calmly drawing back his right fist and throwing it forward—seemingly slow, yet terrifying.
Before the fist even arrived, an overwhelming force swept over Jiang Yan. Space shattered inch by inch. Even time itself slowed beneath the pressure.
This punch was simple.
But it contained the essence of the Beast God Dao, domineering and absolute—enough to crush any invincible king.
"Good!"
Jiang Yan roared, gripping the Juekong Saber and slashing out.
Four Elephant Spear Code — Immortal Chapter!
Zhenhuan Domain!
Boom!
Fist and blade collided.
A catastrophic shockwave exploded outward. The lotus pond surged violently, water rising ten thousand feet into the void. Countless cyan lotus flowers disintegrated into dust.
Only the Chaos Green Lotus, protected by its leaves, remained unharmed.
Jiang Yan was blasted backward hundreds of miles, barely stabilizing himself. Blood seeped from the corner of his mouth.
He wiped it away—and laughed.
"The strength of a Primary Universe Venerable truly lives up to its name!"
Dragon Journey nodded, approval flickering in his eyes.
"To wield a Demon Lord's secret method to such a degree… impressive. A World Master resisting my full-powered strike and surviving—you've surpassed that devil already."
"Second punch!"
His figure vanished again.
This time, dragon might surged around his fists, as if an ancient ancestral dragon had awakened.
"Dragon Journey Nine Strikes — Break!"
A dragon-shaped golden shadow burst forth, roaring as it lunged toward Jiang Yan with universe-rending force.
Jiang Yan did not hesitate.
"Time Stands Still!"
Time froze across thousands of miles.
The golden dragon shadow halted mid-air.
Yet Dragon Journey's fist continued forward.
"Hm?" Dragon Journey's eyes flashed with surprise. "So the Demon Slayer body is this compatible with the Law of Time?"
With a low shout—
"Break!"
Time shattered.
The dragon shadow surged forward once more.
Jiang Yan gathered thunder, space, and time into his blade and slashed.
The dragon shadow split apart—but the force hurled him backward again, his face paling.
"And the third punch!"
This time, chaos surged, condensing into an enormous dragon claw.
"Dragon Claw Destruction!"
The claw crushed space into nothingness, a terrifying suction seeking to tear Jiang Yan apart completely.
Determination flashed in Jiang Yan's eyes.
Two superior laws and eight inferior laws erupted within him.
"Demon God Overlord Slash!"
The saber roared.
Blade and claw collided.
BOOM—
The surrounding void was annihilated.
When the dust settled, Jiang Yan stood—bloodied, shaking, but unfallen.
Across from him, Dragon Journey stared at the wound on his chest, eyes filled with disbelief.
His armor… had been cut open.
"Good! Good! Good!"
He laughed heartily.
"You took all three attacks. I concede."
The pressure faded.
Jiang Yan finally exhaled, slumping slightly.
"Senior showed mercy."
Dragon Journey waved his hand. "You're monstrous enough. At your age, even the Lord of Chaos City couldn't do this. Your combat power already rivals ordinary Primary Universe Venerables."
He pointed at the lotus canopy.
"The nine lotus seeds are yours."
Jiang Yan retrieved them. The pure chaos origin washed his body and soul.
"Now you may leave," Dragon Journey said, fading.
Jiang Yan hesitated. "Senior… why does the Chaos Abyss exist here?"
Dragon Journey's voice echoed faintly.
"To cultivate the Chaos Green Lotus—and temper the future of the human race."
His figure vanished.
On the obsidian platform, King Jinlun waited anxiously.
When Jiang Yan emerged, battered yet radiant—
Tears nearly fell.
"Your Highness…"
Jiang Yan handed over the lotus calmly.
"Mission complete."