Chapter Sixty-Two: The Beast Tide of the Abyss

Chapter Sixty-Two: Abyssal Beast Tide

“Do you believe my brother could easily crush you?” Chu Jie fixed his gaze on Zhou Jie, murderous intent radiating from him. The slaughter he had wrought in the Divine Demon Abyss had left his aura steeped in deadly energy.

Some of those present were still sorting their belongings or chatting, but now, every eye was turned toward Chu Jie.

Zhou Jie responded arrogantly, “Him? Not just him—even you’re no match for me.”

Zhou Jie’s cultivation was indeed impressive; he appeared to be at the fifth level of the Spirit Gathering Realm, and his combat prowess clearly exceeded his current rank, allowing him to dismiss Chu Jie and his companions.

Chu Jie stared at Zhou Jie; neither launched into immediate battle. Instead, their auras collided first.

Two waves of murderous intent met in the air, sending crackles of electricity shimmering between them.

Duan Kun did not intervene but watched from the sidelines. He’d witnessed Chu Jie’s fighting ability before and knew that dealing with Zhou Jie shouldn’t be difficult. His main concern was the others in the group—if anyone tried to play dirty, he was prepared.

After a tense standoff, neither side gave way, but they still did not come to blows.

Zhou Jie continued, “Do you see the headband I’m wearing? It’s a treasure, and not just any treasure—a superior-grade artifact. You country bumpkins—have you ever seen such a thing?”

Chu Jie glanced at Zhou Jie’s head. Indeed, he wore something like a silk ribbon, and at the center of his brow was a blue gemstone, radiating a strange brilliance.

Chu Jie had noticed it before, thinking it was merely decorative, but had not expected it to be a superior-grade artifact.

To possess a treasure is to invite trouble, yet Zhou Jie boasted of his possession without a care. Did he truly have the confidence to fend off any who might covet it? Or was he genuinely that powerful?

Everyone except Chu Jie and his companions stared at Zhou Jie with envy. An artifact raises one’s strength by a whole level. In Blood Slaughter City, artifacts were hard to come by, and even if one managed to obtain an artifact, it was rarely of superior quality.

For example, Captain Du Xuan owned an artifact, but it was only inferior-grade. Compared to a superior artifact, it was nothing, yet acquiring even that had cost him most of his fortune.

Some warriors at the second or third level of the Spirit Gathering Realm used only ordinary mortal weapons, never having glimpsed a true artifact.

Zhou Jie, seeing their covetous gazes, was very pleased. He looked at Chu Jie with even greater disdain.

“This Azurewave Divine King Headband was purchased at great expense by a friend in the inner city. I’m not afraid of being robbed. No one dares steal from me—I know people in the inner city. If I die, there will definitely be an investigation.” Zhou Jie spoke loudly to the crowd.

A flush of color appeared on his pale face, revealing his excitement.

“As for what it does, you can guess all you want—I won’t be foolish enough to tell you. With this superior artifact, those two aren’t even close to being my match.” Zhou Jie stroked his headband, his expression feverish.

Chu Jie was at a loss for words. If it came to superior artifacts, both he and Duan Kun possessed them. Yet neither would flaunt them as Zhou Jie did. The power of such treasures was undeniable, explaining Zhou Jie’s arrogance. For someone at the Spirit Gathering Realm, owning an artifact made it possible to kill those at even higher levels.

Du Xuan looked troubled. “I’m sorry, brothers. I think it’s best if you leave. You can see for yourself—you’re no match for him. I don’t want to make enemies over this. Let’s remain friends in the future.”

The captain immediately began persuading Chu Jie to leave. Now, in terms of strength, Zhou Jie was superior, and as a team member, he presented fewer risks than Chu Jie and his companion, who had just joined and could bring trouble. Du Xuan made his decision without hesitation.

Duan Kun was not pleased and did not answer Du Xuan right away. He stepped forward. “So, just because you have an artifact, you think you’re something special?”

Zhou Jie looked at him, intrigued. “Having an artifact isn’t a big deal, but for you bumpkins who turn green with envy at the sight of one, it’s everything. You’re not thinking of stealing mine, are you? Tsk, tsk—someone like you isn’t even worthy to carry my shoes.”

Without another word, Duan Kun summoned his spindle-shaped artifact. A stream of light shot from his body, humming as it grew to the size of a person in the air, emanating immense power.

A superior-grade artifact—a spindle-shaped magical weapon!

With its appearance, Duan Kun’s murderous aura intensified, the artifact’s point unwaveringly directed at Zhou Jie, as if ready to strike at any moment.

The crowd was stunned—another superior artifact!

Normally, such treasures were held only by high-level cultivators in the Spirit Gathering Realm. Those at lower levels could not possibly possess them. Yet now, they witnessed two artifacts in one place—astonishing!

Du Xuan felt his face burn. He had assumed Chu Jie and Duan Kun lacked artifacts and had tried to persuade them, but now realized his efforts were unnecessary. Worse, he had probably offended them.

Zhou Jie’s expression darkened. He hadn’t expected Duan Kun to have an artifact, and a superior-grade one at that. To make matters worse, Duan Kun’s treasure was a weapon designed for attack—the best kind among artifacts.

Now, the crowd’s gaze toward Chu Jie and Duan Kun shifted once more. Owning such artifacts meant their cultivation was surely formidable. Envy filled their expressions, and Zhou Jie, whom they had never liked, was utterly ignored.

Zhou Jie had expected that revealing his artifact would win him admirers, perhaps even convince Du Xuan to relinquish his captaincy to him. His outward protest against Chu Jie and Duan Kun joining the team was, in truth, a bid to establish dominance and make the group follow his lead.

But the reveal of Duan Kun’s spindle-shaped artifact changed everything, rendering his previous actions useless. Still, he refused to back down.

The spindle artifact had been given to Duan Kun as an exchange for the Jade Gourd, since Chu Jie found it unnecessary. His own artifact, the Universe Treasure Wheel, was also superior-grade, but its fame was so great that revealing it would immediately attract attention, so he had kept it hidden.

“Since you two are so capable, I think you should join the team,” Du Xuan said, completely reversing his earlier stance and now eagerly inviting Chu Jie and Duan Kun.

Chu Jie and Duan Kun exchanged glances. Their interest in the group lay mainly in gathering information; the rest was of little concern. After the earlier unpleasantness, they had already decided to leave.

Just as Chu Jie was about to speak his mind, the abyss underwent a sudden change.

Streams of light erupted from the center of the abyss, shooting outward and igniting the sky as if it were ablaze.

“Could it be that a treasure has appeared?” Du Xuan said, his tone urgent.

Having seen Duan Kun’s and Zhou Jie’s artifacts, everyone was now even more eager for treasures. Opportunities were rare, especially around Blood Slaughter City, where the competition was fierce—too many seekers, too few prizes.

Zhou Jie stared greedily at the center of the Divine Demon Abyss. Why had they risked their lives to come here, if not to obtain powerful artifacts or superior resources?

With the abyss’s sudden transformation, everyone forgot the earlier conflict and focused on what was happening in the Divine Demon Abyss.

No one knew what was transpiring at the abyss’s center, but the commotion was immense.

For a moment, the earth seemed to quake.

Chu Jie was stunned. What force could shake heaven and earth? What lay within the Divine Demon Abyss?

“I think we shouldn’t waste time fighting. Let’s hurry to the center and see!” someone called out.

“Yes, let’s move quickly! The faster we get there, the better. If a treasure has appeared, and we’re late, it’ll be gone!” the crowd grew anxious.

“Hmph, I’ll let you off for now,” Zhou Jie said, the light from his headband fading as he returned to his place, feigning indifference. But after turning away, he added, “You holding those artifacts is like pearls cast before swine. Whether you can wield their power is doubtful. You’re still no match for me.”

Chu Jie and Duan Kun could only shake their heads. If not for the abyss’s upheaval, they would have gladly cut Zhou Jie into pieces and tossed him to the monsters below.

The strange phenomena at the abyss’s center continued. The sky seemed torn open, ablaze with crimson. Waves of clouds rolled and surged overhead, a spectacular sight.

The ground’s tremors intensified. Suddenly, Chu Jie saw countless black shapes flying from a distant cave—long and slender, with thin wings. Closer inspection revealed them to be Blackwind Serpents.

So many Blackwind Serpents had emerged in just a few breaths—already numbering over a thousand, with more still pouring forth.

Nor were they alone: the roars of wild beasts echoed, as if all the monsters in the area had entered a frenzy.

“Could the monsters in the abyss be rioting? Is a beast tide about to occur?” someone’s face turned pale.

They had already risked their lives searching for treasure, facing the threat of peerless killers. Now they also had to contend with a beast tide—no wonder their expressions were grim.

“A bunch of useless wretches. So what if there’s a beast tide? Do you think it’ll eat you alive?” Zhou Jie sneered again, as if his stature depended on belittling others.

“I think we should hurry to the center and investigate. We shouldn’t be late. Let’s go together—if we encounter the beast tide, we’ll fight as one!” Chu Jie said immediately to Du Xuan.

Du Xuan replied, “Agreed. Sorry again for earlier. Thank you for letting bygones be bygones. Let’s set out now!”

By this time, everyone had packed up and was ready to depart.

Zhou Jie had no companions at his side; his eccentric and disagreeable nature, combined with his failed bid for power, left him in a foul mood.

Chu Jie and Duan Kun brought up the rear of the group, while Zhou Jie walked at the front with Du Xuan. This arrangement ensured top fighters at both ends of the formation.