Tens of thousands of Devils and Netherspirits had died at Nie Tian’s hands.
Their floating bodies filled the starry river around the Forbidden Land of Devil Refinement, along with the wreckage of stars.h.i.+ps, making the entire area of the starry river look congested.
The Seaspirits and Moonspirits had long since retreated from the area. Even their two grand monarchs, who had chosen to stay, cautiously hid their auras and were nowhere to be seen.
As for the Lightspirits, they were still gathered where Jiang Yuanchi had first arrived.
Meanwhile, Jiang Yuanchi’s battle against Grand Monarch Gloom Butcher of the Devils carried the two of them from place to place. They would be seen fighting far away from the Forbidden Land of Devil Refinement in one moment, but found fighting close to it in the next moment.
Soon, the Lightspirits received Jiang Yuanchi’s soul messages and also retreated from that area of the starry river.
Then, practically no member of the three major races could be seen in the vicinity of the Forbidden Land of Devil Refinement anymore.
WHOOs.h.!.+ WHOOs.h.!.+
Countless wisps of flesh auras that were either dark purple or misty cyan converged and fused into Nie Tian’s flesh aura sea.
Drop after drop of Blood Essence that was rich in life power was condensed in his heart, like crimson crystals.
Within a short time, he recovered all of the Blood Essence he had consumed in battle.
FIZZ!
As he attempted to activate his life bloodline, wisps of flesh power that he had refined from the Devils and Netherspirits flashed through his bones and internal organs like lightning bolts.
He examined himself with his soul awareness, and saw the sparkling essence of flesh and blood filling his flesh, meridians, and bones like sweet morning dew.
“My bloodline aura has fallen dormant, and no longer requires more flesh power. Hence, all of the flesh power I acquire after I’ve replenished my Blood Essence goes directly to tempering my body.”
Eyes narrowed, Nie Tian observed himself with rapt attention, and then discovered that fine lightning wisps could be seen flickering on his skin somehow.
He moved his arms in a casual manner, and the lightning wisps slithering on his skin immediately came together to boost his power.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
Pieces of stars.h.i.+p debris that were nearly ten thousand square meters large were pushed away from him, and then exploded into tiny grains of dust that dissipated in the void.
He shrewdly sensed that his body had been further strengthened, and had started slowly growing again.
“The restrictive spells in the Forbidden Land of Devil Refinement are very strange and powerful.” Pei Qiqi flew weightlessly to his side and said with an expressionless face, “I’m afraid that I can’t get the sectmaster of the fire element sect and that flame dragon out of there.”
“Senior Martial Sister Pei...” Nie Tian wanted to say something, but hesitated.
At this point, there were barely any living beings in the vast area around the Forbidden Land of Devil Refinement due to the retreat of the outsiders and the terrifying ripples of power caused by the clash between Grand Monarch Gloom Butcher and Jiang Yuanchi.
The vast area of the starry river was filled with floating outsider bodies and stars.h.i.+p debris, which seemed to be telling the cruelty of the battle that had taken place here...
Seeing that Pei Qiqi remained quiet and distant, Nie Tian pondered for a while, then said, “You have nothing to be embarra.s.sed about, actually.
“I’ve already recovered all the flesh power I used to try to lift the seal on your bloodline. As long as you’re safe, I don’t care if I lose some power.”
“I care,” Pei Qiqi exclaimed softly. “I’m embarra.s.sed for what he did. However, he’s my father, and he’s dying. I spent my whole life trying to find him. Now, I’ve finally found him and felt familial love for the first time. I can tell that his feelings for me are real. Then, he used me against you...”
Nie Tian stopped her, and said, “It’s in the past. Let’s not talk about it. All that matters is that you’re fine.”
Pei Qiqi cast her gaze down slightly. “So… Why did you come to the Void World?”
“I feared for your safety.”
“Oh...”
The two of them fell silent.
Pei Qiqi was never a person who knew how to express their feelings, especially now. The guilt she was feeling made her even more withdrawn.
Just as Nie Tian was about to break the ice by saying something, he suddenly received warnings from all five evil G.o.ds simultaneously.
“A late tenth grade Netherspirit grand monarch is rapidly approaching,” The evil G.o.d of fear said hastily. “ If what I suspect is correct, he’s most likely the third most powerful Netherspirit of this generation: Grand Monarch Soul Slayer, whose strength is only surpa.s.sed by Grand Monarch Soul Capturer and Grand Monarch Thousand Spirits.”
Spirited, Nie Tian said, “Grand Monarch Soul Slayer? The one that ranks the eighth among all grand monarchs in the Void World?”
“Exactly,” The evil G.o.d of bloodl.u.s.t answered.
“Hahaha!” Nie Tian laughed. “With Grand Monarch Gloom Butcher fighting Jiang Yuanchi, and Luo Wanxiang slain by you, I’m feeling bored for not having a worthy opponent.”
“Who’s coming?” Pei Qiqi asked.
“Grand Monarch Soul Slayer of the Netherspirits,” Nie Tian answered.
“He ranks number eight among all grand monarchs in the Void World,” Pei Qiqi said, her face turning grim. “He’s even stronger than Grand Monarch Ash Bone, who you killed in the Spirit World with the help of the evil G.o.ds.”
The truth was that there were quite a few late tenth grade grand monarchs in the Void World.
Among them, Grand Monarch Heaven Devil of the Devils ranked number one, Grand Monarch Soul Capturer of the Netherspirits ranked number two, and Grand Monarch Bone Piercer of the Bonedrudes ranked number three.
The three of them were acknowledged to be the tier-one, peak experts of the Void World.
After them, Grand Monarch Thousand Spirits of the Netherspirits ranked number four, Grand Monarch Sharp Bones of the Bonedrudes ranked number five, and Grand Monarch Heaven Abhorrer ranked number six.
Ranked number seven was Grand Monarch Gloom Butcher, who was fighting Jiang Yuanchi at this moment. After him were Grand Monarch Soul Slayer, who was on his way to the Forbidden Land of Devil Refinement, and Grand Monarch Ash Bone, who had already died at Nie Tian’s hands.
The last one, ranking number ten, was also a Devil, who people referred to as Grand Monarch Lurking Devil.
Even for the races in the Void World, Grand Monarch Lurking Devil was a mysterious existence. Many Devils knew nothing about the background of this mysterious senior and had never met him in person, let alone the Netherspirits and Bonedrudes.
Rumor had it that he spent most of his time lurking in the Doomed Star Sea, the Mortal World, and even the Spirit World.
“Master...” the evil G.o.d of rage said, his soul fluctuations somewhat unusual. “Grand Monarch Soul Slayer seems to have changed directions and left.”
Nie Tian was taken aback. “What?”
“I suppose he learned about your might from the fleeing Netherspirits and realized that he’s no match for you,” the evil G.o.d of rage said with anger rising in his heart. “I can’t believe that the younger generations of Netherspirits have become so cowardly! He didn’t even engage in battle, and he fled in fear! How come someone like him is among the top ten experts of the Void World?!”
With a derisive laugh, Nie Tian said, “It appears that it’s time we head for the Realm of Dark Souls! After all, the Forbidden Land of Devil Refinement is full of bizarre restrictive spells, which even I can’t break. Perhaps only Dong Li can break them with the wondrous tools of the Dark King.
“Right now, the place I should be is the Realm of Dark Souls, where that last Nether River is.”
If Pei Qiqi hadn’t been by his side, he would have to concern himself with what he might encounter during his lengthy journey to the Realm of Dark Souls of the Netherspirits.
However, with Pei Qiqi around, and with the help of her s.p.a.ce Boundaries Crystal, traveling to and from the Realm of Dark Souls would be much easier!
“Do you know where the Realm of Dark Souls is, Senior Martial Sister Pei?” he asked. “Do you know if you can take me there?”
Pei Qiqi nodded. “I know the general location. Originally, the Realm of Dark Souls and the Forbidden Land of Devil Refinement were both targets that I considered. But since I knew that the Realm of Dark Souls was even more dangerous, and I was afraid that I’d be trapped there, I chose the Forbidden Land of Devil Refinement.”
With a smile, Nie Tian summoned the Spirit Scepter and said, “Come with me this time. With this treasure, I’m sure we’ll be able to leave unscathed if things go south, even though it’s the Realm of Dark Souls. This scepter can channel the Nether River. That Nether River belongs with it in the first place.”