Demon Cultivator in Abyssal Era

"Celestial Person’s Five Declines!"

This term made Chu Xiu’s heart jump.

The so-called Celestial Person’s Five Declines refers to the phenomenon that appears when a celestial person’s lifespan is nearing its end, as mentioned in Buddhist legends: filthy clothes, wilting flowers on the head, sweating under the arms, body stench, and dissatisfaction with one’s seat.

Taking another look at the youth, he indeed seemed to exhibit similar symptoms.

"Just recently, I felt this world and the outer world suddenly connected under the influence of a mysterious force. I have hidden in this Peach Blossom Spring for seven hundred years, and this situation has never occurred before. Subsequently, I fearfully discovered that I began to exhibit the signs of Celestial Person’s Five Declines," the youth continued.

"My body started to decay, and my mana faded with it. I tried to sever contact with the outside world, but the moment I touched that force, I understood it was a power I could never possibly resist, a power I have avoided my entire life—"

"Abyss."

As the word ’Abyss’ fell, the youth’s face grew more ashen, the pustules on his body burst, and pus began to seep out.

The youth’s words also made Chu Xiu realize something: "You were an Awakened One before, weren’t you."

"Not just an Awakened One, I was also one of only three Civilization Envoys in our world. However, I failed during the first Ancient Trials."

The youth shook his head with a bitter smile: "All my teammates who went with me died; only I survived by relying on Proof of the Old Days, and all I gained..."

The youth pointed to where he was standing: "is this Peach Blossom Spring."

"No wonder," Chu Xiu nodded.

No wonder the youth seemed to know him thoroughly; it turned out he was once a Civilization Envoy as well.

After failing the trials, he probably became disheartened and brought some of his clan into this Peach Blossom Spring, becoming a local emperor.

Yet, a Civilization Envoy ruling his people with religion, even creating a Paradise for pleasure; besides, Chu Xiu had heard plenty of idle talk along the way, revealing many of the guy’s other malicious deeds. Calling him a capricious brutal ruler wouldn’t be wrong.

It seems the title of Civilization Envoy was merely a designation, unrelated to one’s character.

"No wonder Vengeance is so uneasy about me; perhaps I should disguise myself more in the future," Chu Xiu thought secretly.

However, he was still somewhat puzzled: "Why did the others become stronger after encountering the Abyss, but you declined instead?"

"Because they are beings born locally; the power they gained is consistent with their inner selves."

"Even though I have the strongest celestial power, it’s only like a golden robe. No matter how long I wear it, it is never a part of my body. Once there is a breach in the Peach Blossom Spring, the outer power can also strengthen the celestial power. Yet, this enhancement conflicts with my original body, which has long exhausted its lifespan over seven hundred years, leading to its decline." The youth shook his head with a bitter smile.

"I see." Chu Xiu finally understood why the celestial person had been trying his best to stop him.

He realized that his desire to leave would further strengthen the connection between this world and the outer world.

Without further thought, Chu Xiu inquired about the main issue: "Where exactly is this place and how do I leave?"

However, this time, the celestial person didn’t answer truthfully but instead showed a mysterious smile: "That leads us to the conditions I mentioned."

"Speak," Chu Xiu said indifferently. "Currently, I don’t see any possibility of collaboration between you and me."

"I have a proposal," the celestial person raised a finger, "The conventional trial of Olden Trial is to take away 50% of people, right?"

"I won’t allow so many people to leave. For every person who enters the outer world through the passageway, his soul, consciousness, and body, upon contact with the Abyss, will further deepen the Abyss’s reach here."

"However, I also know that this so-called 50% refers to 50% of the existing humans, and not 50% of the total."

"How about this, we kill 95% of the humans here, split the remaining evenly, you take 50% and leave, completing your task, while I take the others deeper into the Peach Blossom Spring, where the Abyss hasn’t reached yet."

"This way, you can complete your task, and I can continue my rule. Isn’t it a win-win solution?"

The celestial person’s words made Chu Xiu look up slightly.

Kill 95% of people? That’s nearly twenty thousand lives.

Chu Xiu didn’t care about unrelated people’s lives, it’s just...

"This would affect my task evaluation," Chu Xiu said indifferently.

"But if you don’t agree, you get nothing," the youth said confidently, "During these seven hundred years, I haven’t just enjoyed leisure; every day I’ve been deepening my control over this place."

"The Celestial Dragon is now entirely under my control; even if I enter the Celestial Person’s Five Declines, he cannot break free, even if you kill me, his control won’t be lifted. It would only drive him into a frenzy."

"And to leave here, you must rely on the Celestial Dragon!"

"You’ve killed so many people and destroyed my Buddha Tower; you must have gained enough benefits, isn’t it time to be satisfied?"

Chu Xiu didn’t respond but pointed to the outer world’s passageway, smirking: "If the Celestial Dragon can leave through this passageway, then why can’t I?"

Chu Xiu had thought the passageway for departure was right before them, and the celestial person would relent. Unexpectedly, he instead showed a peculiar smile.

"Perhaps you can leave, but you absolutely can’t take twenty thousand people with you!" he said with certainty. "I might as well tell you honestly, though you are strong, without the Celestial Dragon’s help, managing to take a hundred people safely would be your limit! Collaborating with me, you can safely bring back more people!"