Chapter 1271: Source of Dao Corrosion

Han Wuxian paused briefly at the Yellow Sand Gathering, and after confirming the rumors of the western extreme anomaly, he no longer hesitated, turning into an almost imperceptible gray streak of light, racing toward the continent's western edge.

The farther west he traveled, the more desolate the scenery became. Lush green gave way to withered yellow grasslands, then to exposed Gobi, and finally to an endless red desert. The spiritual energy in the air grew thin and restless, mixed with an unsettling corrosive force that was a faint remnant of Yan Buji's Dao Corrosion power, now seeming more active and strange.

Ordinary cultivators here must constantly circulate their magical energy to fend off this invisible corrosion, but Han Wuxian bears a purer, deeper Silence Extinction intent; these stray Dao Corrosion powers not only fail to erode him, they are quietly assimilated and pacified by the natural Dao resonance of his Return to Void, like a drop of water merging into a deep pool. This gives him greater confidence regarding the forthcoming Demon Thought Abyss.

Days later, a breathtaking sight appeared on the horizon.

It was not the towering mountains one imagined, but a massive fissure in the earth, as if torn apart by an invisible colossal force. The crack spanned over a hundred li in width, bottomless in depth, and dense, almost tangible black demonic aura churned like a boiling porridge swamp, surging upward to the clouds and staining the sky a dark blood hue. Within the demonic aura, twisted shadows could be faintly seen and a faint, chilling howl heard—an anomaly formed by chaotic demon thoughts intertwined with lingering Dao Corrosion.

Here lies the western extreme Demon Thought Abyss, the rumored source where Yan Buji's Dao Heart collapses, demon thoughts breed, and ultimately fall.

At the edge of the Abyss, space is extremely unstable, sometimes warping, sometimes tearing into tiny fissures that spew pure demonic aura or oddly shaped, aggressive small demons. Han Wuxian could see cultivators moving along the perimeter—some forming battle formations to purge the demons, others attempting to harvest the drifting pure demonic aura or some mineral—but none dared to venture deep into the swirling demonic aura core.

Han Wuxian gathered all his breath, like a ghost, silently slipping past the outer cultivators and demons, and went straight to the edge of the fissure. He looked down, his gaze piercing the layers of demonic aura, trying to glimpse its core.

Under his Heart Mirror, this Abyss displayed a "Silence" unlike that of the ancient well on Wanji Mountain. The "Silence" of Wanji Mountain is the quiet and emptiness after termination, a rule‑level "stillness". Here, the "Silence" is filled with resentment, unwillingness, madness and destruction—a "dead silence" born when life and Dao are eroded and twisted, an extremely negative, active "Silence".

"Indeed… this shares the same origin as the Devour Silence's corrosive trait, but leans more toward the corruption of mind and Dao," Han Wuxian realized. Yan Buji's "Path of Desire" reaches its extreme as Devour, twisting all heterodox ways, eventually trapping even himself in an insatiable madness and emptiness, a principle that indeed parallels the All Realms‑devouring nature of the Xu Jie.

He no longer hesitated, leapt like a stone dropped into an ink pool, silently sinking into the roiling demonic aura.

Upon entering the Abyss, the surrounding scene changed abruptly.

Ferocious demon thoughts surged like countless needles, trying to pierce his Sea of Consciousness; chaotic whispers and layered hallucinations flooded in, enough to drive the weak‑minded instantly mad. Moreover, the invisible Dao Corrosion power, like maggots on a heel bone, continuously gnawed and twisted the Dao resonance he emitted.

When Han Wuxian's mind shifted, the Heart Mirror rose high over his Sea of Consciousness, its light clear, reflecting all evils; every demon‑thought illusion melted like snow under the mirror light, unable to disturb his mind in the slightest. Simultaneously, he actively circulated his Return to Void Dao Foundation, spreading a deeper, more primordial Silence Extinction intent.

A strange thing occurred.

Those raging demonic auras and Dao Corrosion powers, upon meeting his Return to Void Dao resonance, behaved as if confronting a nemesis—becoming sluggish and recoiling, then gradually smoothed and dissolved by his Silence Extinction force imbued with Absolute Background intent, reverting to a pure, non‑elemental Silence Extinction energy, still tangled but no longer corrosive.

"Using Silence to overcome Silence… no, using a higher‑level 'Silence' to purify this twisted 'Silence'," Han Wuxian mused. He was like a walking purifier; wherever he passed, demonic aura recoiled, demon thoughts calmed. This allowed him to descend the Abyss far faster than ordinary people could imagine.

He kept sinking, the surrounding pressure mounting, the demonic aura's density becoming astonishing, even coalescing into various ferocious demon forms that charged fearlessly. Yet any such demon entering within three zhang of Han Wuxian was swiftly shattered by the invisible Silence Extinction field, reverting to pure energy.

He could not tell how long he had been descending; around him was an extreme darkness, only the occasional eerie glint from the swirling demonic aura. Han Wuxian sensed the spatial structure here was unusually fragile, riddled with fine cracks, some of which deep within emitted a faint, heart‑pounding breath—not something belonging to this realm, likely a fissure linking to the Xu Jie or other unknown domains.

Finally, his feet touched solid ground.

This seemed to be the bottom of the Abyss, a vast and eerie space. Beneath his feet lay rock as black as a mirror, reflecting no image. Ahead, countless twisted, fossil‑like massive "trees" rose, not wood but formed from solidified demon thoughts and Dao Corrosion power, their branches grotesque, as if silently screaming.

At the center of this bizarre "forest", Han Wuxian felt an unusually powerful energy source. The energy was both familiar and alien—familiar in its embedded Silence Extinction essence, alien in its extreme distortion and aggressiveness.

He approached cautiously.

In the central area floated an irregular polyhedral crystal about a zhang in diameter. The crystal was entirely black, yet its interior seemed to contain viscous blood flowing, emitting strong Dao Corrosion fluctuations. Its surface intermittently displayed phantom images of Yan Buji's arrogant yet tormented visage, along with countless struggling, wailing souls.

"The source of Dao Corrosion… or perhaps, after Yan Buji's fall, the core of his Great Dao merged with the Abyss's lingering resentment to form a 'Silence Extinction Crystal'?" Han Wuxian's gaze sharpened. He sensed the crystal's power tier was extremely high, sharing the same root as the Devour Silence force; if he could purify and absorb it, it might not only replenish the consumption of the Eye of Stillness, but also elevate his understanding of the Xu Jie's method of erosion to a new level.

But clearly, this thing was not easy to obtain.

At the moment Han Wuxian stared at the crystal, it jolted violently, its internal blood‑colored radiance flaring wildly!

A massive, violent will brimming with devouring desire surged toward Han Wuxian like a tide. Simultaneously, the surrounding demon‑thought fossil "trees" seemed to come alive, turning into countless twisted tentacles and demonic shadows that lunged from all directions; their breaths merged into a formidable domain that trapped Han Wuxian at the center.

Above the crystal, demonic aura gathered, and a vague, massive silhouette slowly coalesced; though its features were unclear, the domineering, all‑consuming will of "I alone am supreme" was Yan Buji's remnant!

This is not a resurrection, but a "Residual Echo" produced by the union of his strong Dao Mark and the Abyss, guarding the crystal that has gathered his lifelong Dao fruits and endless resentments.

Han Wuxian faced the terrifying onslaught with eyes still calm. He slowly raised his hand, a strand of gray light gathering at his fingertip—not destruction, but the purest "stillness" imbued with the Absolute Background intent.