"Remember, once you enter the Demon Abyss, do not go beyond these areas." After handling some matters, the Grand Elder arrived at the rift.
With a wave of his right hand, numerous jade slips flew towards the warriors.
Meng Changqing caught one.
The jade slip was a map of the Demon Abyss, drawn by the Wanxiang Pavilion over the years.
The terrain on it was quite strange, with many key areas marked in red, indicating numerous demonic presences, places not to be ventured into recklessly.
Only the peripheral areas were safe for training.
"After entering the Abyss, you won't stay together due to certain reasons, but you won't be too far apart. If you encounter danger, use the Abyss Token to leave," the Grand Elder reminded them again.
"Understood!" Everyone was both excited and a bit anxious.
After all, they were about to face the powerful, legendary Heavenly Demons.
"Begin," the Grand Elder signaled to Xu Lingyue nearby.
She nodded slightly, and a formation disk appeared in her palm.
As it spun, mystical power surged forth.
The rift trembled, and the protective barrier dimmed significantly.
Excited roars came from beyond the rift, as if something unseen was about to break through.
"Impudent creatures!" The Grand Elder's eyes widened, his voice booming like a dragon's roar, sending rolling sound waves into the rift.
"Hurry inside!" he ordered.
Meng Changqing led the charge, transforming into a stream of light and entering the rift.
The technique just used by the Grand Elder was likely the "Heavenly Dragon Eight Sounds," a rare sound wave martial art.
The others quickly followed suit.
Once everyone was inside, Xu Lingyue promptly closed the rift.
"Unpolished jade cannot become a gem. I hope these juniors gain something and grow from this experience," the Grand Elder said, stroking his white beard.
He referred mainly to Meng Changqing, Mo Xiaoyu, Han Luoyu, and Lin Xiaotian.
As for the others, in their forties, they had long since reached their potential limits.
Their main task in the Abyss was to capture Heavenly Demons.
Upon entering the rift, everything was pitch black before their vision gradually returned.
They were now in a different realm, a dark and gloomy place with leaden clouds overhead and black-red earth below, where trees grew like fleshy outgrowths, twisted and terrifying.
"So this is the Abyss," Meng Changqing murmured, hovering in midair.
Before he could fully observe the surroundings, a fierce wind whooshed from behind.
His waist sword, Crimson Sky, unsheathed itself, slashing the attacker into pieces.
Turning around, he saw a semi-transparent creature with no face, feet, or distinct form, able to morph at will.
"So this is a Heavenly Demon?" Meng Changqing raised an eyebrow, finding it similar to ancient descriptions — formless and intangible.
Though powerful, this one was weak, easily defeated by Crimson Sky alone.
Crimson Sky, highly active, darted through the air, killing several small hidden demons.
"So they disintegrate quickly upon death," Meng Changqing noted as the demon's body melted away like snow. "So they must be captured alive?"
He pondered briefly but dismissed the thought, focusing instead on merging with the True Demon Technique.
"Crimson Sky, let's go," he called. Crimson Sky, though playful, followed immediately.
Half an hour later, a figure appeared in the void, clad in black armor with a tall frame, masked face, and blood-red eyes.
"The scent of humans… and quite young!" The Heavenly Demon inhaled deeply, eyes gleaming with greed.
"Not bad, a human entering from the rift! Perfect, my current body is decaying, time to switch!" With that, the demon sped off towards the distant scent.
Following the map, Meng Changqing found a secluded valley, free of demonic activity, perfect for merging attributes.
"Crimson Sky, stand guard," he instructed from his makeshift cave.
"Rest assured, Master, nothing will approach without stepping over my body," Crimson Sky carved in the ground, nodding the sword hilt.
Meng Changqing trusted her completely and focused on merging. "System, use the attribute acquisition card! Merge the attribute 'Supreme Commanding Demon Technique: Initial Chapter' from Bai Suxi's panel!"
[Confirmed! Consuming one attribute acquisition card! Acquired attribute: 'Supreme Commanding Demon Technique: Initial Chapter.' Merging now!]
A vast stream of information surged into his consciousness, filled with insights into the True Demon Technique.
Simultaneously, his body trembled as immense power integrated into every part of him.
"Dominate! Dominate!! Dominate!!! Obey and live, defy and die! The demonic slaves of the heavens, upon seeing my sovereignty, must kneel thrice and kowtow nine times in subservience!"
In an instant, infinite voices echoed within, exuding supreme and tyrannical power.
Meng Changqing focused intensely, absorbing the insights.
After half an hour, the merging completed, and his demeanor had drastically changed.
He now exuded rolling demonic energy, pure and untainted, giving off a sense of supreme, inviolable power.
Opening his eyes, he emanated an indescribable majesty, like an emperor descending, filled with intense dominance.
His gaze alone could shatter souls.
"The core technique of the ancient Demon Sect is truly profound and powerful, even in its initial chapter," Meng Changqing marveled, spreading his fingers to see countless chains of power coursing beneath his skin.
He now fully understood and mastered the True Demon Technique, realizing it was ineffective against humans but held immense control over demons.
Capturing, refining, and devouring — three main steps!
Unfortunately, the initial chapter only worked on demons below the Marquis level, but for Meng Changqing, who was still at the Divine Attainment Realm, it was more than enough.
He was confident his diligent friend Bai Suxi would advance further.
Suddenly, a sharp sword cry from Crimson Sky alerted him to an approaching threat.