Chapter 426.2: Something Strange Has Been Happening in the Demon Abyss Lately

As Moheng sat within his cave dwelling, his gaze grew complicated. I don't know why, but I've been constantly feeling uneasy lately, as though something is watching me. Could the Divine Moon Palace be plotting against me?

Ever since his last visit to Motong, he had felt that something about the demon abyss was off, but he couldn’t pinpoint exactly what. He checked his communication jade slip, finding messages from the group chat. He carefully read through the many messages that had accumulated.

They actually found Violet Qi? Quite lucky.

Even he felt tempted by the mention of Violet Qi. But with five Yang Spirits already dividing it, joining them now would be rather inappropriate.

Moheng calmly continued reading. "What incredible luck! They actually discovered something else besides Violet Qi."

└Violet Qi soaring into the heavens! Hahaha! I've discovered another great treasure!

└Let's go together!

└Should we invite Moheng?

└No need for now. If the treasure turns out to be ordinary, we'd only be disturbing Moheng.

└Let's go!

After some thought, he sent a message.

Heavenly Venerable Moheng: Have any of you noticed anything abnormal with the demon abyss lately? Have you checked on the Yang Spirits in the other regions? Is everything normal?

He gazed up toward the Star World. The stars were shining brilliantly. Those Yang Spirits hadn't suffered any major mishaps[1]. Still, no mishap didn't necessarily mean nothing had happened. They could have defected. Especially Motong. Ever since returning from Divine Moon Palace, he had seemed rather odd.

Moheng had already reported this matter to Moluo. However, Moluo had merely instructed him to keep watching. Moluo was clearly too occupied dealing with the Land of Buddha to believe Motong had any problems.

Soon, the other five Yang Spirits replied one after another.

└Everything seems normal.

└Everything's fine.

└A few days ago, I even went drinking with Heavenly Venerable Motai. He seemed perfectly normal.

└Moheng, has something happened?

"Am I really just imagining things?" Moheng hesitated, sinking into thought.

Heavenly Venerable Moheng: How's the treasure exploration going?

└It is still underway. We've run into a few minor difficulties, but nothing serious. They should be resolved soon.

Moheng calmly typed his reply.

Heavenly Venerable Moheng: Very well. If you can't resolve them, come find me.

Since he harbored ambitions of becoming the leader of the Moluo Clan, he frequently bestowed favors upon the other Yang Spirits.

└Many thanks, Heavenly Venerable!

The group chat fell silent once more.

Moheng remained seated within his cave dwelling, deep in thought.

"All five Yang Spirits say nothing is wrong. Am I really the problem?" He couldn't help but overthink. "Perhaps the Root Demon Tribulation is approaching, and that's why I keep getting these distracting thoughts."

That was the only explanation he could find to comfort himself. For Principle Yang Spirits, increasing one's strength required surviving the Root Demon Tribulation. Indeed, the Ninth Heaven had no heavenly lightning tribulations, only the Root Demon Tribulation. With each successful passage through it, one's magic power grew stronger and cultivation advanced.

However, the Root Demon Tribulation was far from easy. Every kind of desire and obsession would erupt forth. One moment of carelessness could mean death. Thus, many Principle Yang Spirits who lacked confidence in overcoming the tribulation would deliberately suppress their cultivation to avoid triggering it.

Moheng was different. He had ambitions. Therefore, he never suppressed his Root Demon Tribulation. Since it was drawing near, it was perfectly normal for desires, inner demons, and random suspicions to arise.

He was full of confidence. "It must simply be distracting thoughts. With my Root Demon Tribulation approaching... who would dare plot against me?"

The Root Demon Tribulation was every Principle Yang Spirit's ordeal. Even Major Principle experts generally avoided provoking a Principle Yang Spirit who wasn't suppressing their tribulation. If they accidentally triggered the Root Demon Tribulation ahead of time, it would become rather troublesome. Both parties would have to undergo the tribulation together.

Of course, to a Major Principle expert, it’d just be a minor hassle. It’d be like the difference between crushing an ant and a stink bug. One simply smelled a little worse afterward. That was precisely why the Yang Spirit of the Divine Moon Palace guarding the region opposite Moheng had remained strictly on the defensive all this time. She feared Moheng would drag her into the Root Demon Tribulation.

The thought greatly assured Moheng. He had to be overthinking things. That was it. At a time like this, who would dare scheme against me? Wouldn't that be courting death?

Yet at that very moment, Moheng's eyes shifted. From the distant east, an immense aura spread across the heavens. The primordial essence of all creation overflowed as though heaven and earth had shattered

As one who possessed authority over the Moluo Well, Moheng immediately sensed Violet Qi leaking out from the nearby Red Moon Abyss. "This is... Violet Qi? There's so much of it."

The Red Moon Abyss belonged to one of the members of their group chat, the very Yang Spirit who had discovered the treasure and proposed the joint expedition.

Moheng's expression changed repeatedly. Did they find a strange land while looking for the treasure? That’s quite a lot of Violet Qi!

A trace of greed rose within him. Even he found such a quantity of Violet Qi irresistible.

Nevertheless, he still cared about appearances. He would at least ask before going.

Heavenly Venerable Moheng: Everyone, was the disturbance in the Red Moon Abyss just now related to your expedition?

However, after waiting about ten breaths, no one replied.

He froze, his expression changing. "Could there be another treasure?"

Unable to remain seated any longer, he transformed into a streak of light and sped toward the source of the leaking Violet Qi.

1. Well, it depends on how you view triple-disabled people. ☜