The Primordial Demon was a curious being, truly unlike any other. He left no trace when he retreated from Wu Yuan's body, and Pang Jian had no way to track where he had gone. Even Pang Jian could only flood his sea of consciousness with lightning to keep his thoughts from being consumed when facing the Primordial Demon. Wu Yuan, having cultivated the Demon Stone Art and thus being deeply intertwined with the Primordial Demon, would find it nearly impossible to resist him with strength alone. The Primordial Demon could invade Wu Yuan's sea of consciousness whenever he wanted, and with an alarmingly high likelihood of success each time. This was likely why he chose not to seriously injure Wu Yuan before retreating, because he fully intended to return. "The Primordial Demon is rooted in the wicked thoughts of all living beings," Pang Jian said with a helpless sigh. "At least for now, I see no way to completely annihilate him within the Abyss. That said, if your soul becomes strong enough, you will be able to perceive traces of his existence." Wu Yuan's expression was bitter. "Attain a deeper mastery of the soul than he does? That's easier said than done." The sudden emergence of the Primordial Demon had shown him firsthand the terrifying nature of that being. Moreover, each time the Primordial Demon appeared, he came back stronger than before. If Wu Yuan could not resist him now, it would only grow more difficult with time. "One thing the Primordial Demon made clear is that he grows stronger each time his nine fragments in the starry skies devour one another." Pang Jian sighed. At that moment, four radiant streaks of light tore through the sky. Li Zhaotian, Li Wang, Su Wanrou, and Zhu Ji all descended into the fragmented land where the World Tree stood. "Pang Jian," Li Wang started, casting Wu Yuan a cautious look. "Has the Primordial Demon already corrupted him?" Pang Jian opened his mouth to answer, but Li Wang did not even give him a chance. "Li Zhaotian!" Li Wang snapped. "First Dong Tianze, now Wu Yuan. You knew full well the risks they posed. Why did you insist on nurturing them?" Dong Tianze, still wrapped in the demonic cloak, had become unrecognizable. Only the flickering of demonic characters could be seen, swirling amid the surging demonic energy. "Wu Yuan is still himself, and Dong Tianze will be fine as well," Pang Jian replied with a cold frown. "Wu Yuan has already surpassed you. He'll be the next to step into the Ascendant God Realm. Dong Tianze will follow soon after. "If the two of them can break through to the Transcendent God Realm, the forces that seek to corrupt and enslave them will no longer be able to do anything to them. "Senior Li, given the state of the Abyss, don't you think it's worth the gamble?" Pang Jian's tone was no longer courteous. Li Wang's expression morphed into one of shock. "The Ascendant God Realm? He broke through?" Su Wanrou and Zhu Ji were equally astonished. They had not expected this disciple of the Demon Sect to have such astonishing talent. Suddenly, the murky energy surging up from the lower world shot toward the upper world like a charging tide. The Black Empyrean Phoenix had ordered the human race to withdraw from the Second World through the black turtle. It made clear its intent to transform the Abyss's Second World into a haven for Vicious Beasts and Spirit Beasts alike, and now, it was putting that plan into motion. "So soon?" Su Wanrou's expression changed. "Some cultivators haven't made it to the First World yet." "Those still in the Second World are all fairly accomplished. They can hold out for a while, even in an environment filled with murky energy," Li Zhaotian said calmly. "But what about later? Will the Black Empyrean Phoenix flood the First World with murky energy too?" Everyone fell silent at his words. Li Yuqing narrowed her eyes at Pang Jian, detecting the subtle resonance between him and the demonic cloak. She could perceive Pang Jian's divine sense at work, moving among the names of Demon Gods on the cloak, and communicating with Fa Ji and He Motian. In the starry skies, the emaciated but honed body of Great Demon God Fa Ji stood beneath a row of banners ignited with black demonic flames. Different manifestations of Fa Ji across various Demon Realms had been frozen in place, their demonic souls slowly dissipating. Fa Ji was slowly forgetting who he was. He Motian, with his many heads and arms, stood under the gaze of Tian Wei and Qi Ling, his towering form stiff and unmoving like a lifeless statue. "Pang Jian..." Tian Wei bared his teeth, a bloodthirsty glint in his eyes. "Ever since he obtained that cloak, he's been using it to suppress us, the Demon Gods! And now, he's even turned on Fa Ji and He Motian!" A chill crept into Qi Ling's heart. "Thankfully, you and I only recently became Great Demon Gods and didn't leave our names on that cloak. Otherwise, we likely would've suffered the same fate." Fa Ji's and He Motian's demonic souls were being stripped away for defying Pang Jian's orders. Though they were also Great Demon Gods, Tian Wei and Qi Ling could only watch helplessly, powerless to interfere. Pang Jian, please have mercy. Don't take this any further. Allow me to help you erase that blood-red Celestial Phoenix Imprint. Would that be acceptable? Great Demon God Luan Ji asked through his name on the demonic cloak. Although he was also one of the Great Demon Gods whose name was on the cloak, Pang Jian had never made any demands of him. Even so, he could sense what was happening within the Abyss, and it had left him deeply shaken. Previously, Pang Jian had only been able to distort the will of one or two Great Demon Gods, channeling a portion of lightning to harass them, forcing them to fend it off with great effort. However, things had changed since then. Pang Jian had gained the power to siphon the demonic souls and divine consciousness of the two Great Demon Gods. He could kill them through the demonic cloak! Luan Ji had no desire to side with He Motian or Fa Ji, but he could not help but feel a twinge of sentiment for his old comrades. Thus, he offered his assistance in exchange for their survival, hoping to spare his old comrades from having their demonic souls siphoned away. Fine, Pang Jian replied softly. The demonic souls he had siphoned with his golden Divine Persona and sealed within the names of Fa Ji and He Motian on the cloak were released all at once, returning to their manifestations in the starry skies. Pang Lin was gliding gracefully through the bizarre mist beyond the Abyss when she abruptly stopped in her tracks, her brow arching slightly. "Great Demon God Luan Ji," she murmured with a faint frown. "Those Demon Gods previously joined forces to suppress Yan Lie and annihilate her vessel, so I'll let this matter go. In the Abyss, the blood-red Celestial Phoenix Imprint on Dong Tianze's forehead vanished. "I value old ties. You did well as a Celestial Phoenix Divine Guard. You fulfilled your duty," she said with a small smile.