It is said that the Abyss has seven layers, with each subsequent layer being vastly larger than the previous one. Even so, the first layer is by no means small, and it would take Han Li and the others four or five days to reach the planned entrance to the second layer.
On the first day, everything went smoothly. They flew through dense forested regions, encountering only a few reckless flocks of fierce birds along the way, with no other incidents.
However, early on the second day, the trio suddenly noticed the sky above them darkening, and their surroundings turned murky.
Startled, Han Li looked up.
To his surprise, the faintly glowing mist that had always filled the air had vanished. Instead, high above, a vast expanse of dark stone walls appeared, covered in stalactite-like formations. Some areas even seemed to host lush moss and vines when viewed from afar.
They had flown beyond the reach of the Abyss Gate and had officially entered the underground world of the first layer.
Fortunately, many of the trees on the ground, perhaps due to long exposure to darkness, emitted a faint glow. Additionally, unknown minerals scattered across the ground also radiated light to varying degrees.
Thus, the underground world was not entirely pitch-black, and they could still make out many things in the distance.
However, the atmosphere was markedly different—colder and gloomier.
Occasional gusts of black mist and icy winds added an eerie, unsettling feeling.
But the most significant change was that shortly after entering this dark region, Han Li found his spiritual sense suppressed, extending only a few dozen feet beyond his body.
This was already remarkable, given that his spiritual sense far surpassed that of ordinary Deity Transformation cultivators due to his cultivation of the Great Development Art. Bai Bi and Lei Lan, on the other hand, likely couldn’t extend their spiritual sense more than a few feet.
As Han Li pondered this, he swept his spiritual sense behind him and confirmed that the two Saint Disciples looked rather uneasy.
Still, none of them were particularly surprised.
The elders of the Tian Peng Clan had warned them about this suppression of spiritual sense before they departed from the Holy City.
Not only did it affect outsiders like them, but even the native dark creatures of the Abyss were subject to the same restrictions. However, the latter, having long adapted to the environment, treated it as normal, while the newly arrived Fei Ling tribesmen naturally found it uncomfortable, greatly diminishing their combat effectiveness.
Han Li, however, was unfazed. He had encountered such suppression of spiritual sense many times before and was well-versed in fighting under such conditions.
After flying forward for several hours, Han Li suddenly frowned and raised a hand, flicking his fingers toward the few Moonlight Stones hovering before him.
With a series of crisp *pops*, the stones shattered into nothingness.
Han Li’s cyan glow dimmed as he halted his flight.
The surroundings grew indistinct, and even the black winds seemed to grow colder.
Bai Bi and Lei Lan instinctively stopped as well, though they were puzzled.
Just as Lei Lan was about to voice her confusion, a faint buzzing sound arose from all directions, growing louder. Countless green dots of light emerged from the darkness, swiftly converging toward them.
“Shadowspider Wasps!” Lei Lan exclaimed in alarm.
Bai Bi’s expression also shifted slightly.
“Indeed, these are low-level demonic wasps—one of the most troublesome creatures in the Abyss. They love attacking any moving, glowing objects,” Han Li remarked calmly, scanning the surroundings.
Even without his explanation, Lei Lan and Bai Bi could now clearly see the green dots for what they were—thumb-sized creatures with spider-like front halves and venomous stingers at the rear. Their bodies were emerald green with yellow stripes, making them look vicious.
Judging by the countless dots in the distance, there were at least ten thousand of them.
The sheer number was staggering.
Even Bai Bi and Lei Lan, as early-stage Spirit Generals, grew solemn.
It wasn’t that they feared these wasps, but eliminating so many would undoubtedly drain their energy. Since they were still in the first layer and had only been traveling for two days, they preferred to avoid such a battle.
Yet, the aggressive swarm showed no signs of retreating.
With no choice, Lei Lan and Bai Bi prepared to fight.
Lei Lan spread her wings, silver arcs crackling across them, while Bai Bi formed hand seals, summoning faint golden threads around his body—some kind of mysterious technique.
Han Li glanced at them briefly before opening his mouth and spitting out a silver fireball.
With a flash, the fireball transformed into a fist-sized silver bird.
The bird flapped its wings once before exploding midair, scattering into hundreds of silver sparks.
An unbelievable scene unfolded.
As the sparks dispersed among the green dots, they flickered like phantoms, and wherever they passed, the green lights vanished instantly.
The hundred or so silver sparks danced around, preventing the swarm from advancing even a step closer.
Bai Bi and Lei Lan were stunned.
Shadowspider Wasps were notorious in the Abyss for their resilience. Their bodies were condensed from dark, impure energy, making them difficult to destroy. Even if their forms were shattered, they could quickly regenerate using the surrounding darkness—unless annihilated completely.
This was why they were so troublesome. Of course, this ability only worked in the Abyss, where dark energy was abundant. On the surface, they would lose this power.
In fact, many Abyss creatures thrived only in this environment, their strength diminishing drastically outside.
This was also why the Fei Ling Clan could effectively seal the Abyss entrance. Without this weakness, containing the Abyss creatures would have been far more challenging.
Han Li’s Spirit Devouring Heavenly Fire appeared harmless, but each spark incinerated the wasps completely, devouring even their dark energy.
With their essence destroyed, the wasps had no chance of recovery.
Moreover, the fire carried a trace of sentience, attacking enemies without Han Li’s direct control.
Thus, with his hands behind his back, Han Li watched as the ten thousand Shadowspider Wasps were utterly annihilated.
With a casual wave, the silver sparks converged, reforming into the silver bird, which then vanished into his body.
“Let’s go,” Han Li said nonchalantly, transforming into a streak of cyan light.
Lei Lan and Bai Bi suppressed their astonishment and followed silently.
Regardless of their pride or hidden thoughts about Han Li, witnessing his power made them less resistant to his leadership.
After flying through the damp, shadowy forests for a full day and night, they finally reached the edge.
Ahead, the scenery changed dramatically—a vast, silver-gray desert stretched before them.
The sand glittered coldly under an unseen light, an utterly desolate sight.
“Did I misremember? According to the map, there should be an underground river here. How did it turn into this?” Han Li hovered midair, scrutinizing a jade slip with a puzzled expression.
“Brother Han, you’re not mistaken. Our maps also indicate a river here,” Bai Bi and Lei Lan confirmed after checking, their faces equally bewildered.
“Perhaps the underground river dried up, and the water drained to the second layer,” Lei Lan speculated.
“The traces don’t quite match. Even if the water disappeared, how did this desert form?” Han Li shook his head, dismissing the idea.
“Then what do you think happened here?” Bai Bi stroked his chin, smiling.
“I don’t know, and we don’t need to find out. We’re here to travel, not study the Abyss’s geography. Let’s move on, but be extra cautious in the desert,” Han Li replied after a brief silence.
“Fair enough,” Bai Bi chuckled.
The trio then transformed into streaks of light and flew into the silver desert.
Despite their casual words, they instinctively increased their speed, eager to leave this eerie place behind.
After flying tens of thousands of miles, they saw nothing but endless silver-gray sand—not a single plant in sight.
“What’s that?” Han Li suddenly frowned, his eyes flashing blue as he looked toward a spot not far away.
“Brother Han, what’s wrong?” Bai Bi asked nervously.
“There seems to be an oasis over there, and I smell blood,” Han Li replied gravely.
“Blood? I think I smell it too. It’s definitely coming from that direction,” Lei Lan said, wrinkling her nose uncertainly.
“Could it be from some Abyss beasts?” Bai Bi hesitated.
“Unlikely. The spiritual energy there is chaotic, suggesting a battle took place. Let’s check it out,” Lei Lan insisted, shaking her head.
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