Jiang Yan flew into the inverted city.
Then he looked downward.
A massive pit, pitch-black yet suffused with a faint purple glow, appeared before him.
As he stared at those oddly shaped purple stones, a wave of discomfort suddenly surged within Jiang Yan.
This feeling… was strange.
In short, he found it utterly repulsive.
"Could it be… that thing is a product of the Abyss?"
Jiang Yan muttered doubtfully as he flew toward the bottom of the city.
Arriving at the center of the giant pit, he landed on the ground and surveyed his surroundings with a frown.
The unsettling aura grew stronger and stronger.
"Who are you?!"
Suddenly, a hoarse, gloomy voice rang out behind him. Jiang Yan's heart jolted.
He hadn't sensed it at all just now!
Had it appeared out of nowhere?
Jiang Yan turned around and saw a humanoid figure clad head to toe in black-and-purple armor standing behind him.
"That appearance—no doubt about it, an Abyss Lector."
"And judging by the element, it should be an Electro Abyss Lector."
Jiang Yan's thoughts raced as he spoke aloud:
"You… you're from the Abyss, aren't you?"
"..."
The Abyss Lector clearly hadn't expected Jiang Yan to immediately identify its origin.
"How do you know of the Abyss?"
"No… the power within you doesn't belong to this world!"
"Who exactly are you?!"
The Abyss Lector's gaze locked onto Jiang Yan's right hand, which was still tucked casually into his pocket.
From this man before it, it could sense an aura utterly foreign to this world.
"Don't worry about who I am," Jiang Yan narrowed his eyes. "Just tell me—where is the Abyss?"
His patience was limited.
The aura emanating from the surrounding purple stones made him increasingly uncomfortable and irritable.
"The secrets of the Abyss are not to be probed."
"Since you have come here and dared to gaze upon it, you must pay a price equal to that audacity."
Jiang Yan let out a cold laugh.
"You sure love saying things I don't understand."
"But I think you'll learn to cooperate."
He pulled his right hand out of his pocket.
"Impudent ant—how dare you!"
The Abyss Lector roared in fury and leapt into the air.
Jiang Yan simply raised his right hand and clenched it in midair.
The Space Stone lit up.
In an instant, faint blue light flashed around the Abyss Lector, freezing it completely within a locked space.
"Damn it! How do you possess His power?!"
The Abyss Lector struggled violently, its voice filled with rage.
"No—this isn't His power!"
"This power should not exist in this world at all!!"
As the Space Stone on the back of Jiang Yan's hand continued to glow, the spatial restraints tightened further and further.
"So," Jiang Yan said calmly, "are you going to talk or not?"
"Arrogant fool! You will pay for your words!"
The Electro Abyss Lector roared, struggling in vain, refusing to yield.
"Forget it. I'm bored now."
Watching the Abyss Lector struggle, Jiang Yan curled his lips in disinterest.
With a beckoning motion, he dragged the Abyss Lector right in front of him.
Then he placed his right hand atop the armored head of the Abyss Lector.
The Soul Stone suddenly flared to life.
Jiang Yan closed his eyes.
Before him unfolded the memories recorded within the Abyss Lector's soul.
After a long while, Jiang Yan slowly opened his eyes and murmured:
"As expected… the Abyss…"
"…is the result of erosion from the Sea of Quanta."
Looking at the Abyss Lector kneeling on the ground in agony, Jiang Yan slowly raised his hand.
Now that he knew where the Abyss was, there was no longer any need for this creature to exist.
The Power Stone lit up.
A flash of violet light—
The Abyss Lector let out a final wail before being reduced to dust, dispersing completely.
The Power Stone's ability to shatter and dominate all force and energy was no empty boast.
Before it, the Abyss Lector had virtually no ability to resist.
"Alright then… time to go pay the Abyss a visit."
Jiang Yan stretched lazily.
Within his mind, the Monkey Talisman suddenly activated.
A faint white glow enveloped his body.
His form rapidly shifted and transformed—
In the next moment, a figure clad in black-and-purple armor stood there.
Abyss Lector Jiang Yan, making his dazzling debut!
"Mm… this feels weird."
Jiang Yan moved his body slightly. After transforming into an Abyss creature, everything—from the view inside the armor to the way his body moved—felt oddly unnatural.
He couldn't quite put it into words.
"Feels like something's still missing…"
Muttering to himself, Jiang Yan glanced at the purple-glowing stones around him.
"Oh—I know."
Before long, an Abyss Lector stood in the center of the clearing, with fragments of purple stones hanging from its waist.
"Yep, that's better."
Feeling the same discomforting aura emanating from his body, Jiang Yan nodded with satisfaction.
"This power… feels strangely familiar."
Apep's voice sounded from his wrist.
"It's fine," Jiang Yan said with a smile. "We'll find out soon enough."
Although Apep had forgotten the forbidden knowledge, it still felt a sense of familiarity when faced with the power of the Abyss.
"No—still missing one more thing."
Jiang Yan suddenly slapped his forehead and beckoned again.
Within the armor of his right arm, the Reality Stone glowed.
A book radiating purple light appeared before him.
"Perfect."
Jiang Yan chuckled. He'd almost forgotten about the book that always floated before the Electro Abyss Lector.
If he was going to disguise himself, he might as well do it properly.
Soon after, pale blue light bloomed in front of him, and a massive portal appeared.
"Serve the Abyss! Hahaha!"
Jiang Yan couldn't remember who originally said that line, but saying it himself felt pretty good.
Was it the Pyro Abyss Lector?
No—maybe the Hydro Abyss Herald?
Tch, he forgot. Whatever.
As long as it was something an Abyss Lector would say, that was good enough.
The Abyss…
I'm coming!
Heh heh heh!!!
For a moment, Jiang Yan felt like he was the one invading their territory, cackling like a full-on villain.
Well—perhaps, in the eyes of the Abyss, he really was the villain.
Imitating the way the Electro Abyss Lector moved, Jiang Yan slowly rose into the air and drifted toward the portal.
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