novelraw Chapter 179-1: The Ancient Demon at the Bottom of the Abyss (1)
Chapter 179-1: The Ancient Demon at the Bottom of the Abyss (1)
He spent quite a long time making his way back to the initial forked cave.
Of the left, center, and right tunnels, only the rightmost passage remained unexplored.
As for heading to the Hidden Canyon, there was no rush.
The Hidden Canyon was undoubtedly an ultra-high-difficulty area. Before going there, it was the optimal strategy to first scavenge all available resources and strengthen himself.
[Compared to the left and center tunnels, the rightmost passage did not appear to have any distinguishing features.]
[Will you enter the right passage or exit the cave?]
[You step into the rightmost passage…]
[The passage is narrow and dim, winding in a twisting path. As you go deeper, the only sound is your footsteps pressing against the limestone.]
[In the deathly silence, your footsteps echoed alone. Gradually, you began to feel a trace of unease.]
Lin Xun remained on full alert, ready in case a Subterranean Shadow Fiend leapt out at him.The injuries and fatigue from the trial illusions would not carry over into the real world.
At this moment, the Earth Giant was still in full health and stamina.
[…]
[The expected ambush did not come. You traversed the dark, narrow tunnel and reached its end.]
[Before your eyes, the space suddenly opened up. At the end of the passage was a solitary cliff, below which stretched an endless abyss of darkness.]
[A cold wind rose from the depths of the abyss, like the howling of demons. Standing at the cliff’s edge, you felt yourself swaying as though you could lose your balance at any moment, tumble down, and be swallowed by eternal darkness.]
[You suddenly noticed there was a corpse not far from where you stood. Do you wish to examine it?]
[You stepped forward and looked carefully at the corpse…]
[It was a rotting body with only the upper half of the torso remaining, clad in a tattered black robe trimmed with gold. On the chest was embroidered the multi-eyed emblem of the Multivision School Association.]
[You searched the corpse for a while and found several items left behind by the deceased: a yellowed parchment scroll, a book shimmering with light, and a leather-bound journal with a worn cover.]
[You have obtained Teleportation Scroll of the Star-Chasing Corridor (Special Item)]
[You have obtained Book of Characters (Item)]
[You have obtained Memo of the Grand Scholar of the Multivision Association (Document)]
The corpse by the cliff was probably the Grand Scholar named Maguire, subordinate to the Multivision President.
He must have discovered the ancient abyssal demon in this cave and, before dying, somehow sent word to the President of the Multivision Association, then perished here in this lightless cavern.
Lin Xun opened his inventory to inspect the items.
[Teleportation Scroll of the Star-Chasing Corridor (Special Item): A yellowed parchment scroll engraved with a corridor formed of countless starlights. The overlapping, interwoven corridors make your head spin.]
[Using this item will teleport you to a location known as the Star-Chasing Corridor.]
Star-Chasing Corridor?
Lin Xun had never come across any information about this place in the records he’d read.
“Judging by the name alone, it doesn’t sound like any good place.”
He turned his attention to the next item.
[Book of Characters (Item): A shimmering book that, when opened, is filled with densely transcribed characters. The arrangement of the characters seems to follow a unique pattern, and the entire volume contains a strange power.]
[Using this item will allow you to awaken an unknown creature slumbering in the abyss.]
There was only one of this item, which very likely meant he would only have a single chance to challenge the abyssal demon.
If he failed, the grand boss’s rewards would bid him farewell.
Lin Xun frowned and checked the last document item.
[Memo of the Grand Scholar of the Multivision Association (Document)]
[Praise the radiant stars!]
[I have finally found the path to pursue the stars!]
[Just as I was about to secretly teleport to the Star-Chasing Corridor, I received yet another summons from the President, urging me to quickly investigate a concealed abyssal cave.]
[The President always hides the truth, never willing to tell me the real method of becoming a god, yet again and again forcing me to risk my life to search for demon Shells for him.]
[Hmph. As if I, a Grand Scholar, were some ignorant fool?]
[The President abruptly abandoned the Omniscient True Knowledge and converted to the worship of the radiant stars, then repeatedly sent us Grand Scholars to search for demon Shells on his behalf.]
[The method to become a god must be related to both.]
[Though after following him in worship of the starborn divinity, I, too, was awed by the divine power and changed my faith…]
[But that isn’t the main point. The point is that by chance, I learned about the President’s Abyss Demon Completion Project!]
[As I suspected all along, the path to godhood is formed by combining the two.]
[Since I was summoned on short notice, I had to postpone my plan to enter the Star-Chasing Corridor.]
[Well then, since he refuses to share the method of ascending to godhood with me, I shall simply take the demon Shell for myself.]
[According to the contents of the Abyss Demon Completion Project, once I obtain the demon Shell and then head to the Star-Chasing Corridor, wouldn’t I be standing at the threshold of the path to becoming a god?]
[It is all the perfect arrangement of the radiant stars!]
[Praise the great radiant stars!]
[Ah, right. The Book of Characters used to awaken the abyssal demon has been used up. I must return to the President to requisition more copies.]
[Be sure not to forget this tomorrow.]
[Remember! Remember!]
After reading the document, Lin Xun’s brows knitted tightly together. He felt that this matter was anything but simple.
Maguire had clearly died while trying to confront the abyssal demon head-on.