The Bagua shuddered to a halt. Through the starship's external projection system, Ye Chen and the others could clearly see what lay before them: a pitch-black wormhole, around which swirled purple-black energy, resembling the gaping maw of an ancient, monstrous beast, menacingly facing their world.

Fu Xi's expression grew solemn. "When we enter, everyone be ready. The ship could be attacked at any moment. Furthermore, there are some unknown entities that can penetrate the ship's metal hull and attack directly. Do not let your guard down!"

Seeing his grave demeanor, a sudden tightness gripped the others. Their eyelids felt heavy, and a nameless shadow of foreboding descended upon them. If even Fu Xi, who was stationed here, looked this serious, one could only imagine the peril they were about to face.

Shao Hao slightly composed himself and murmured to Ye Chen, "When the ship enters this 'Black Nether Pass,' be prepared to attack at a moment's notice!"

Ye Chen's eyes flashed. "What is the 'Black Nether Pass'?"

Shao Hao stated gravely, "Along the route to the Ancient Realm Peak, there are three layered spatial planes. All three are extremely perilous. The first one we encounter is the 'Black Nether Pass'! Within this 'Black Nether Pass,' grim, sweeping winds rage across the heavens. You absolutely must not leave the ship, and you must wear armor of the Dao Artifact level just to offer a meager defense!"

Ye Chen frowned. He hadn't expected the danger here to be so intense that Dao Artifact level armor was required for mere survival.

Shao Hao glanced at him. "Don't take this lightly. Although the Bagua is a peak Dao Artifact, inside the [Black Nether Pass], there exists a natural energy lifeform called the 'Black Demon.' The Black Demon's body has almost no density, allowing it to phase through any starship and attack from within."

Ye Chen's gaze sharpened. "What are the Black Demon's methods of attack? How can it be slain?"

Shao Hao replied darkly, "Black Demons specialize in mental attacks. Based on our clan's years of traversing these paths, only those whose state of mind has reached the third stage of the Origin Realm can obliterate a Black Demon using sheer willpower!"

Ye Chen's face darkened. His suspicion was confirmed. Hearing Shao Hao say the Black Demon energy creature could phase through metal made him uneasy, and indeed, it was so. With his current mental state only at the first stage of the Origin Realm, facing a Black Demon, let alone killing it, defending himself would be a struggle.

Shao Hao patted his shoulder and smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry. Uncle Fu Xi will look after you when we get in there. With him present, nothing untoward will happen."

Ye Chen nodded without saying more, only casting a worried glance at Bai Yijun beside him. Despite knowing such a powerhouse as Fu Xi was present, worry persisted. If he himself were harmed, it would be regrettable; but if this beautiful girl beside him were harmed, it would be utterly unforgivable.

"State of Mind," Ye Chen clenched his fist. He knew his secret arts could only amplify his energy and physical body; they offered no boost to one's mental fortitude. This was his fatal weakness! If he encountered someone with powerful mental cultivation, a simple attack using Soul Penetration could instantly kill him!

At this moment, the Bagua adjusted its systems. Both the gravity and propulsion systems were matched to the recorded data for the [Black Nether Pass] passage before it slowly proceeded, soon gliding into the dark wormhole.

From Shao Hao’s previous explanations, Ye Chen understood this wasn't a true wormhole but a completely independent spatial conduit. Legend claimed that in ancient times, this [Black Nether Pass] did not exist, and people could easily reach the Ancient Realm Peak. Countless adventurers in the Spirit Realm could venture inside.

Vast treasures were unearthed, drawing countless people flocking toward the Ancient Realm Peak. Later, allegedly after a great catastrophe, this area formed into a naturally occurring, isolated universe. It wasn't large, and because it was utterly dark without light, everyone called it the [Black Nether Pass]!

The Bagua entered the Black Nether Pass. Since the ship's internal gravity system had been adjusted, there was no gravitational anomaly upon entering the [Black Nether Pass] universe; everything felt smooth. Moreover, the various control rooms and living quarters inside the ship automatically folded and retracted into the metallic walls.

The interior of the entire Bagua instantly became spacious, revealing a vast training ground as far as the eye could see. Ye Chen knew this was preparation for when the "Black Demons" attacked, ensuring sufficient space for defense, as the metallic walls were like thin paper to these creatures, yet they formed an insurmountable barrier to the crew, putting them at a significant disadvantage in combat.

Fu Xi, clearly no stranger to this place, remained unconcerned, standing quietly by the ship's viewport, hands clasped behind his back, gazing out at the black void, lost in thought.

The Bagua continued slowly along its route. Since the outside was utterly black, there was no way to tell if the ship was moving or stationary, though the mileage counter in the control room and the route map confirmed they were advancing.

Time flowed...

...

About two hours passed without incident.

Shao Hao frowned, his expression somewhat odd. Ye Chen noticed and asked, "What's wrong?"

Shao Hao shook his head. "Perhaps I'm overthinking it. From the Black Nether Pass to the next gate, the [Abyss Manor], the journey usually takes about three hours. Every time I've come this way... the Black Demon attacks start almost immediately upon entry. It's strange that we've covered most of the distance without seeing a single one."

Ye Chen's eyes flickered. "Could it be that with the news of the Ancient God's Cave Mansion emerging, the various factions involved are too preoccupied fighting each other, or perhaps they've already been annihilated by other forces?"

Shao Hao felt a stirring of unease, though he couldn't pinpoint why. He sighed, "Let's hope so!"

The moment his words fell—KABOOM!

The entire Bagua jolted violently, as if struck by a massive meteor in space. Yet, given the Bagua's structural integrity and speed, it could withstand impacts from planet-sized objects without losing half a step. For it to shake so violently, not only Ye Chen but even Fu Xi's expression changed slightly, and he quickly retreated a few steps, shouting, "Everyone gather together!"

The ten Pan Gods reacted with lightning speed, instantly closing ranks into a tight circle. Ye Chen, Bai Yijun, Shao Hao, and Emperor Yao stood within the circle, expressions grim.

Whoosh... whoosh...

Gusts of eerie wind swirled outside the Bagua. Through the external sound capture system, they distinctly reached Ye Chen and the others. The wind howled mournfully, like the wailing of ghosts, chilling them to the bone.

Mixed within the wind were countless rustling sounds, the flapping of wings, and sharp laughter reminiscent of an emasculated voice.

Danger! Ye Chen suddenly sensed a powerful threat; the hairs on his body stood on end, his muscles trembling slightly. He quickly tightened his grip on Bai Yijun's small hand, his icy gaze flashing with two streaks of cold lightning as the electric waves in his brain spun madly, sensing his surroundings.

As his brainwaves extended, Ye Chen immediately felt an immense, overwhelming pressure, as if a pair of divine, subtle eyes were watching him. Shao Hao and the ten Pan Gods surrounding him were enveloped in a layer of vibrant, fiercely burning cyan flame.

"What powerful mental fortitude," Ye Chen felt immense pressure emanating from Shao Hao beside him, beads of cold sweat forming on his brow.

CRACK!

Just then, an explosion erupted directly above them, followed by a piercing, desperate shriek. Ye Chen's heart lurched, his blood boiling, his pupils shrinking to pinpricks. He realized the source of the scream was no more than two meters away from him!

What did two meters mean? To a powerhouse of his level, that was practically "point-blank range!"

The composure forged in the crucible of Earth's zombie apocalypse kept Ye Chen's heart pounding, but his brain remained clear. He looked up quickly and saw a monstrous, distorted face slowly dissipating in the air.

"Black Demon!!" Ye Chen knew this was the Black Demon of the [Black Nether Pass]. He never imagined it would be so terrifyingly close without him noticing!

Ye Chen realized the fatal flaw of his weak mental state, feeling a surge of frustration and anger. He didn't waste time berating himself; he immediately became alert, his brainwaves whipping around him, scanning every movement nearby. Even with the protection of powerful figures like Shao Hao and Fu Xi, the feeling of imminent death from that last moment had pierced him deeply. He knew that if Shao Hao hadn't moved quickly, this Black Demon might have already ripped his head off!

At that instant, several dark shadows darted out from the surrounding metal walls. For these creatures, the Bagua's metallic structure was utterly meaningless.

This time, Ye Chen clearly saw the appearance of the Black Demons. They all possessed black, fleshy wings, a single horn on their foreheads, razor-sharp, grotesque teeth, and eyes as red as blood. Their skin was dark, and they wielded greatswords wreathed in raging demonic flames, looking like devils risen from hell!

"Kwa!" A Black Demon emitted a strange syllable from its throat and suddenly darted toward the east, its greatsword raised.

On this side, a female Pan God, her expression grave, stared intently at the Black Demon. Suddenly, she roared, summoning a nearly transparent cyan greatsword from her hand and hacking horizontally toward the creature.

Clang! Bang!

The two greatswords met violently, exchanging tens of thousands of blows in the blink of an eye. Ye Chen recognized that the cyan greatsword in the female Pan God's hand was an Intent Sword condensed from her own brainwaves!

Boom!

The Black Demon sneered, abruptly pressing its wrist down. The female Pan God shuddered; both her arms were severed cleanly at the shoulders, spraying blood. A few drops splattered onto her clear face. She crumpled down, her body limp with disbelief.

An overwhelming sense of crisis enveloped Ye Chen. He quickly scanned his surroundings and immediately noticed that Shao Hao and Emperor Yao beside him were already engaged, tied down by two hulking Black Demons. These two creatures more closely resembled humans, possessing elegant curves and four black, fleshy wings sprouting from their backs!

This is the first update for today; I'll make up for it with three tomorrow. I'm quite tired today, phew. I heard tomorrow is the college entrance exam. I wish all my brothers a good night's sleep and excellent results tomorrow. If things don't go well, at least try to use a 'Tyrant's Brush' or a 'Cloth-Shirt' for 'assistance.' In any case, keep fighting!