Gray-black mud, dark green puddles, and dense, tombstone-like withered trees.
The air was thick with a mixture of rot and sulfur. Occasionally, bubbles rose from deep within the mud, bursting to release an even more pungent stench.
He had arrived at the Forgotten Swamp.
Jiang Lin stood at the edge of the swamp, his golden eyes gazing into this land of death.
He could feel a faint, flickering spatial fluctuation pulsating somewhere within the swamp.
The fluctuation was weak, like a candle in the wind, but it was definitely there.
“The entrance is nearby,” he said to Little Black.
Little Black poked its head out from his arms, its amber cat eyes alertly scanning the swamp.
“Careful, there’s something here.”
Before its voice could fade, a low, muffled thud echoed from deep within the swamp, like the heartbeat of a giant beast.
Then, the ground began to tremble. Ripples spread across the puddles on the mud's surface, and the branches of the withered trees began to shake violently.
Jiang Lin frowned slightly, and the perception of 【Phantom Step · Shadow Wind】 expanded to its limit.
Deep in the swamp, a massive life force was awakening.
The aura was cold and violent, carrying a heart-palpitating pressure similar to that of the evil god Mozos.
“A decay-marsh worm,” Jiang Lin thought, his heart turning solemn. “And it’s a big one.”
Without hesitation, he pushed off with his toes, his figure flashing like lightning into the swamp.
Beneath him, the mud surged, and dark green water splashed everywhere.
His figure moved through the withered trees, each landing precisely on relatively solid ground to avoid sinking into the mire.
Behind him, the muffled thuds from the depths grew more intense, and the ground shook more violently.
Finally, when Jiang Lin was about five li into the swamp, the mud ahead suddenly exploded!
A massive figure burst out from underground, bringing with it a rain of mud and gravel.
It was a giant worm.
Its body was over five meters in diameter, and its length was immeasurable, as most of it remained buried in the mud.
Its surface was covered in a gray-black carapace, with thick, dark green fluids flowing from the gaps.
Its head had no eyes, only a massive circular mouth filled with spiral serrated teeth, from which corrosive slime constantly dripped.
A decay-marsh worm.
Jiang Lin stopped abruptly, steadying himself atop a withered tree, his golden eyes fixed on the giant worm.
He could feel that this decay-marsh worm’s aura was around the 5th-rank. It wasn't overly strong, but in a swamp environment, its combat power would be significantly boosted.
“Go around it?” Little Black sent a telepathic message.
“No.” Jiang Lin shook his head. “I’ll try the new sword technique I learned.”
He raised his right hand, pressing his index and middle fingers together, and pointed forward gently.
Sword Intent Condensation.
A wisp of deep blue sword intent shot from his fingertip, rapidly condensing in the air into a three-foot-long ice-blue longsword.
The longsword hovered before Jiang Lin, its blade transparent with countless fine frost-runes flowing inside. The edge was as thin as a cicada’s wing, reflecting a cold light in the twilight.
With a thought from Jiang Lin, the longsword turned into a streak of deep blue light, shooting straight toward the decay-marsh worm's massive mouth!
The decay-marsh worm seemed to sense the threat. Its massive body suddenly contracted, its mouth snapping shut, while a large amount of dark green toxic mist sprayed from the gaps in its carapace, attempting to corrode the sword.
However, a sword formed of sword intent was not a physical object and was unaffected by the toxic mist.
It passed silently through the mist and plunged into the decay-marsh worm's mouth.
Squelch!
A faint sound of penetration echoed.
The decay-marsh worm's body suddenly stiffened, then began to twitch violently.
Its massive frame thrashed in the mud, sending mud and gravel flying everywhere as the surrounding withered trees were knocked over.
But the struggle lasted for only ten breaths.
Then, it stopped moving.
The decay-marsh worm's body began to disintegrate from the inside out. Its carapace peeled away in pieces, revealing the grayish-white, lifeless flesh beneath.
Dark green fluids surged out like a fountain, staining the surrounding mud in a grotesque color.
Jiang Lin withdrew his sword intent and continued toward the depths of the swamp.
Behind him, the remains of the decay-marsh worm slowly sank into the mud, leaving only a mess behind.
In the depths of the swamp, the spatial fluctuation grew clearer.
Jiang Lin stopped before a natural archway formed by interwoven withered trees and vines.
The archway was about three meters high and two meters wide, twisted together from countless branches.
The branches were covered in dark green moss, and a faint dark purple light could be seen flowing through the gaps.
Inside the archway was a chaotic void.
“The entrance to the Abyss Corridor.”
“According to the records, there should be more than one entrance. The one we found seems to be a more remote one.”
“Those large Abyss Corridor entrances should have many demons guarding them.”
Jiang Lin stared into the darkness.
He could feel that on the other side of the darkness lay a space entirely different from this world.
The magic essence there was more violent, the flow of time more chaotic, and the air was filled with an ancient and dangerous aura.
Little Black poked its head out from his arms, its amber eyes staring at the darkness.
“I probably can’t go in,” it said. “This entrance only allows creatures with a Demon Lord Seed to enter.”
Jiang Lin nodded, took Little Black from his arms, and placed it on a piece of withered wood next to the archway.
“Wait for me to come back. You’ll be fine on your own, right?”
Little Black was silent for a moment before nodding.
“Don’t die,” it urged.
Jiang Lin nodded, then turned and stepped into the darkness.
His vision suddenly warped.
A familiar sensation of spatial dizziness hit him.
When his vision cleared, Jiang Lin was standing on a strange land.
The sky was an eternal dark purple. There was no sun, no stars, only the eerie red light that occasionally peeked through the thick clouds, casting a hellish glow over the land.
Beneath his feet was cracked black earth.
The air smelled of sulfur and rotting meat, and every breath brought the violent fluctuations of magic essence.
In the distance were rolling black hills, barren of any vegetation, with only countless jagged black rocks that looked like tombstones under the dark red sky.
Further away, the silhouettes of some buildings could be vaguely seen.
Massive, twisted structures built of black volcanic rock—some looked like castles, some like temples, and some were completely unrecognizable.
Jiang Lin stood where he was, the perception of 【Phantom Step · Shadow Wind】 fully expanded.
Within a thousand meters, there was no sign of life.
He raised his right hand, palm facing down.
Blood-red light spread from beneath his feet, and a blood-colored rift appeared out of thin air.
On the other side of the rift was a boundless crimson void and countless scarlet eyes.
One, ten, fifty, a hundred...
When the hundredth 3rd-rank peak crimson claw-wing emerged from the rift, Jiang Lin stopped the summoning.
A hundred 3rd-rank peak blood demons, combined with himself, should be enough to handle most situations in this unknown trial ground.
“Disperse and scout.”
Jiang Lin’s mental link transmitted the command, and the crimson claw-wings silently scattered, disappearing into the dark purple sky.
Jiang Lin took a deep breath and stepped forward.
The Abyss Corridor, the Demon Lord Trial, had officially begun!
The requirements for the apostle of god task surfaced in his mind:
Blend in and hunt other Demon God Believers.
At the same time, the Demon Lord Seed within him vibrated gently, emitting a strange, almost excited pulse.
It was hungry.
Hungry to devour other seeds, hungry to grow stronger, hungry to complete the trial.
Simultaneously, a system prompt appeared:
【Host detected entering the Abyss Corridor to participate in the Demon Lord Trial】
【System Phase Quest Unlocked】
【Complete the Demon Lord Trial】
【Reward: Obtain Demon Lord Status and access to the Abyss of Slaughter】
Jiang Lin suppressed the seed's restlessness and focused his mind on the mental link with the blood demons.
The dispersed crimson claw-wings were transmitting their vision back. In their shared sight, the terrain, creatures, and energy fluctuations within a dozens of li began to emerge.
About twenty li to the southeast, there was a patch of ruins with a faint life force within.
About thirty li to the northwest, there was a black lake, its surface as smooth as a mirror, but with many battle marks along the shore.
About fifty li due north, there was a massive rift valley. Strong energy fluctuations pulsated deep within the rift, like a heartbeat.
“Deep in the rift... that might be the core area of the trial.”
Jiang Lin withdrew his consciousness and looked toward the north.
He didn't rush to set off. Instead, he sat cross-legged and took an ice-blue crystal from his spatial ring.
This was the sword token Loren had given him, containing a sword qi strike with his master’s full power.
Once activated, it could release an attack capable of slaying a 9th-rank powerhouse, but it could only be used once.
He tucked the sword token close to his body and took out several bottles of magic restoration potions and healing potions, placing them within easy reach.
Preparations were complete.
Jiang Lin stood up, his figure flashing like lightning as he sped toward the north.
Night in the Abyss Corridor was even more dangerous than the day.
The dark purple sky grew deeper, yet the red light through the clouds became brighter, making the land look as if it were soaked in blood.
The wind blew from the depths of the rift, carrying a bone-chilling cold and a faint sound like whispering.
Jiang Lin stopped on a black hill, his gaze sweeping over the surroundings.
Not far away was a patch of ruins.
It might have once been a temple or a castle.
Now, only broken walls remained, casting twisted shadows under the dark red sky.
Within the ruins, a faint life force was pulsating.
“One, or two?” Jiang Lin frowned slightly.
In his perception, there were at least two life forces in the ruins, but they were very weak, as if they were deliberately concealing themselves.
“It could also be a trap.”
With a thought, one of the crimson claw-wings above him silently glided toward the ruins.
The crimson claw-wing circled over the ruins, its dark red eyes piercing the darkness to transmit the scene inside back to Jiang Lin’s consciousness.
In the center of the ruins, inside a half-collapsed hall, two figures sat back-to-back.
One was a demon, with curved horns on his head, dark red skin, and wearing damaged leather armor, holding a broken longblade.
The other was a beastkin, heavily built and covered in gray-black fur. His right arm was tattooed with complex totemic patterns, and his left leg had a deep, bone-deep wound that was slowly healing.
“They’re injured,” Jiang Lin judged. “And quite badly.”
He didn't rush closer. Instead, he had the crimson claw-wing continue circling while he expanded his perception to its limit to search for any ambushes.
After confirming it was safe, he leaped down from the hill. With a few bounds through the ruins, he landed silently at the entrance of the hall.
The two figures looked up at the same time.
The demon’s eyes were dark red with vertical pupils like a snake. The moment he saw Jiang Lin, his body tensed, and he held his broken blade in front of him.
The beastkin's reaction was a step slower. He struggled to stand, but the wound on his left leg made him grunt in pain, and he slumped back to the ground.
“A human?” the demon’s voice was raspy, filled with disbelief. “How did you get in here?”
Jiang Lin didn't answer, simply looking at them calmly.
He could feel that both of them were around the 3rd-rank. The beastkin was heavily injured, his combat power greatly reduced.
The demon’s injuries were lighter, but he wasn't at full strength either.
Within both of them, there were fluctuations of a Demon Lord Seed.
“If you don’t want to die, answer a few questions,” Jiang Lin said. His voice wasn't loud, but it reached their ears clearly.
The demon and the beastkin exchanged a look but said nothing.
Jiang Lin didn't mind and continued,
“How many participants are in the Abyss Corridor right now? Who is the strongest, and at what level?”
The demon and the beastkin exchanged another look, remaining silent.
Jiang Lin didn't push them, simply standing there calmly.
His long golden hair fluttered slightly in the wind, his body surrounded by faint golden holy light and deep blue ice soul power.
He wasn't worried about them escaping. In their current state, they wouldn't get far even if they tried.
The silence lasted for several breaths.
Eventually, it was the demon who spoke first.
He slowly lowered his broken blade. The caution in his dark red eyes hadn't vanished, but a trace of pragmatism had appeared.
“You’re a human. How do you have a Demon Lord Seed?”
“That’s not important,” Jiang Lin replied without directly answering. “Tell me, how many participants are in the Abyss Corridor right now? Who is the strongest, and at what level?”
The demon gritted his teeth, seemingly weighing the pros and cons.
The beastkin beside him tugged at his sleeve and said in a raspy, low voice,
“Tell him. We won’t live much longer anyway.”
“If you want a quick death, tell me now,” Jiang Lin’s voice remained calm. “If you don’t...”
He didn't finish the sentence, but the meaning was clear.
The demon took a deep breath and finally spoke.
“Every time the Abyss Corridor opens, about three hundred to five hundred participants enter.”
“The exact number varies because the entrances are scattered, and some die immediately upon being teleported into dangerous areas.”
“This time, as far as I know, there are at least four hundred.”
“Four hundred...” Jiang Lin nodded slightly. “Are there any notable contenders?”
“This time, representatives from the four great Demon Lords of the western demon territory are participating.”
The demon’s tone became solemn, as if he were mentioning beings that must be feared.
“Under the ‘Blood Pupil’ Demon Lord, his subordinate Karthus is already at the 5th-rank peak. He excels in blood-attribute magic-martial arts and is practically immortal on the battlefield.”
...
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