The Abyssal Garden: No Room for the Idle

Chenxing could see clearly that aside from the one called Su Buxian and the later arrival, Jiang Zhi, only they could truly be considered An Nan's companions.

The other two.

They were just there to make up the numbers.

However, he didn't underestimate An Nan for this. Before knowing the true identity of a Divine Son, one must always be cautious.

"I...."

Lu Fan and Rab looked somewhat unwilling. They wanted to go further, to finally make contact with a real powerhouse and walk the same path—an opportunity to change their ordinary fates.

But recklessly forging ahead was also akin to courting death.

"We... can only..." Rab clenched his fists.

"Don't be hasty."

Su Qi spoke softly.

"Hmm?"

"I'll teach you a trick... to resist whispers and some other miscellaneous spiritual power shocks."

Jiang Zhi was somewhat surprised, "Brother Su, you're skilled in spiritual power too?"

In his memory, he'd never seen Su Buxian use any abilities related to spiritual power.

"Well, let's say, that is actually my area of expertise," Su Qi said lightly.

This time, speaking the truth had to be believed, right?

"So how do we do it?"

At this moment, even Chenxing looked over—they had a Spiritual Power Sequencer in their team.

Only, he knew... those whispers and Spiritual pollution, things even a professional Spiritual Power Sequencer couldn't claim to resolve, yet here was Su Buxian saying he could withstand them.

If so, it must rely on some powerful spiritual power Tool or Equipment....

Just as he was thinking this, he suddenly noticed that Su Qi had only taken out a lollipop, holding it in his hard grip, and solemnly said to the two,

"Follow me and chant."

"Demons and ghosts, quickly depart, demons and ghosts, quickly depart."

"..."

Chenxing was silent, turning to his team's Spiritual Power Sequencer, "Is this some kind of spiritual power Tool?"

"No..." The Spiritual Power User glanced at An Nan and hesitated, "It's just an ordinary lollipop, it looks more like food, there isn't any power fluctuation."

Chenxing remained silent, "Brother An Nan, this subordinate of yours, is a Spiritual Power User?"

An Nan felt a bit awkward but needed to find some plausible excuse for Brother Su. He tentatively said, "Perhaps?"

"..."

Upon hearing this, Chenxing once again sank into silence.

He shifted his gaze back to Su Buxian, although there were no power fluctuations or signs of spiritual power manifestation.

However, Lu Fan and Rab, seeming unaware of this, solemnly took the two lollipops and began to earnestly mimic,

"Demons and ghosts, quickly depart...."

"Demons and ghosts, quickly depart."

Everyone fell silent, with only the repetitious chant of the two filling the air.

Chenxing glanced silently at An Nan, only to find that he too was struggling to maintain composure.

He sighed inwardly; An Nan's reactions upon contact were quite normal, but that subordinate called Su Buxian was completely different from his own—a lot more casual and unpredictable, and seemingly not as reverent to higher Divine Sons as one might expect.

"He is probably trying to give them a suggestion," the Spiritual Power User whispered, "Such a suggestion is tantamount to self-hypnosis, potentially strengthening their will and increasing resistance against will-eroding spiritual power assaults."

"It's a good idea, but a waste of time."

He shook his head lightly, "This is... the Abyss; it's Pollution, not something that can be resolved through hypnosis."

To combat Pollution's power, one needs to confront it with spiritual power, not just words...

An Nan didn't speak.

Though he was aware of this, having witnessed various tactics from Su Qi, he still held a trace of trust—for instance, problems within the Ancient Gate that neither demigods including Senior Black Cat could solve were rectified by Brother Su.

"Let's not waste anymore time," said the Spiritual Power User, shaking his head, "This can't possibly work; if it did... what's the use of me cultivating spiritual power..."

And in that moment.

Lu Fan and Rab suddenly paused and murmured, "Wait."

"It seems to really work."

"The whispers in my ears have vanished."

"And the unease and fear that filled me have been swept away."

The Spiritual Power User's eyes widened, "Darn!"

It actually bloody worked!!

"What the heck is it?" The Spiritual Power User couldn't help but look toward the lollipop in their hands.

Although he knew it was rude to probe into others' belongings excessively,

But...

Damn, he was really curious!

As a Spiritual Power User, he was very sensitive to various spiritual powers, but damn it! He hadn't felt the slightest fluctuation just now!

"This object must have something special about it!"

"Indeed."

Su Qi said softly, "This thing... although it looks very ordinary, it does have a special aspect."

He peeled open the lollipop and popped it into his mouth.

"It's hot pot flavored, and it's a limited edition..."

"...."

Su Qi just chuckled softly, "Where the heart goes, there the Echo follows."

Chenxing calmly withdrew his gaze, saying lightly,

"Let's go, the journey continues."

Although his subordinates were very curious about what the other had done... it actually wasn't important; they had merely cleared ordinary adventurers of the Pollution's Whisper.

The priority was to move forward.

"It seems that everyone behind us has already arrived..."

"But that's not important either; time is not of the essence here...."

Chenxing looked toward the Twisted Pollution.

"Finding a High-level Holy Artifact first... and being able to fight for it, that is the key."

The group continued to move forward.

Lu Fan and Rab occasionally murmured the phrase under their breath, as if it really was effective.

Su Qi looked at Jiang Zhi's peculiar gaze and smiled lightly, "If you wish, you could chant it too."

"Allow me to refuse, it feels a little embarrassing." Jiang Zhi understood Su Qi, "And moreover, you must have used other methods... the candy and words are not necessary."

Su Qi shook his head, "You, still so stubborn, but I believe..."

"Believe what?" Jiang Zhi felt somewhat uneasy; honestly, the surrounding Pollution hadn't affected him.

But at this moment, Su Qi's words made him feel anxious.

He smiled faintly, "I believe that one day, you'll join me in chanting this phrase."

"..."

Su Qi smiled slightly and withdrew his gaze from Jiang Zhi's resistant expression.

Naturally, they wouldn't be able to sense any spiritual fluctuations, after all, he hadn't used his Spiritual Eyes or any other Spiritual Power.

He simply... intervened with words against the Pollution numerous times.

This was an experiment in itself.

As said before, this place felt like home, what countless others feared as Pollution...

For the Evil God, it was no more troublesome than a sprite.

With that in mind, Su Qi had a thought: could he try to control or command... this kind of Pollution.

And the result of the experiment...

In his vision, there was a mark on both Rab and Lu Fan, a phantom image formed by the Evil God's Eye, silent and unnoticeable.

Similarly... the Pollution around wouldn't affect them.

The experiment was a success, yet not completely so.

Because he had to be present, and when the two chanted those words, it actually should be...

A prayer of faith in the Evil God.

The original phrase was: Lord! I offer everything, etc...

Then, he altered it to: Demons and evils, leave us be.

Don't say it.

It really did work.

But.

The Strength of the Abyss would notice something was amiss, so it could only be used for a while, and the area of influence was limited.

"Now I'm like the Evil God's room manager."

Su Qi looked toward the Demon Land, "I'll help you manage this place well."

....

At this very moment.

In another place.

Millions of Heavenly Destiny People are gathering....

Nancy was among them, in this vast crowd, solemnly looking toward the distant... black and white hourglass.

And within the hourglass, appeared a middle-aged man with an imposing presence, dressed in loose-fitting clothes, his image projected within.

He said gently,

"The moment the World Tree blooms, what will be born is... a chance that concerns the entire future."

"We are competing for Heavenly Destiny, the Abyss for destruction, and countless other beings for the future."

"At that time, all the current situations will change."