Watching Ling Feng's frenzied state, the Abyssal Witch spoke flatly, "It's useless. The Power of the Abyss in your body has already been awakened by me. Whether you want to admit it or not, you are now one of our Abyssal Clan!"

Ling Feng stopped his movement and glared at the Abyssal Witch with gritted teeth, "It's all your fault! If it weren't for you, I wouldn't have turned into this... this freak that's neither human nor ghost! You ruined me!"

Suddenly, Ling Feng felt a tightness around his neck—he had been grabbed by the Abyssal Witch with one hand.

The Abyssal Witch clutched Ling Feng's neck, her previously smiling face now cold and sinister. "Who are you calling a freak? Did you just call us Abyssal Clan freaks? Care to repeat that?"

Ling Feng felt the grip on his neck intensify, clearly enraging the Abyssal Witch with his earlier words! To her mind, the Abyssal Clan, even in the Great Thousand World, was considered among the Higher Races. How could they ever compare to the primitives of Earth?

Ling Feng, transformed into one of the Abyssal Clan, should be thanking the heavens for such fortune! Yet he dared to reject and label the Abyssal Clan as freaks? This was intolerable to the Abyssal Witch!

"Even if you're going to kill me, I'll say it anyway!" Ling Feng stared hard at the Abyssal Witch and said resolutely, "Even if it means dying, I refuse to become one of those freaks!"

The Abyssal Witch sneered coldly, then slammed Ling Feng onto the ground with force.

Coughing violently, Ling Feng struggled to his feet. "You won't kill me?"

The Abyssal Witch rolled her eyes. "Oh, I'd love to kill you. But if I do, who knows how many years I'll have to wait for the next Successor to show up? I can't waste all my time in this godforsaken place! Ah, right, I almost lost my temper because of you. You keep calling us freaks—do you even know what the ultimate form of life is?"

Ling Feng froze for a moment. "What do you mean?"

"Hmph, just another idiot shackled by worldly perspectives." The Abyssal Witch said indifferently, "Today, I'll enlighten you, so other worlds don't kill you out of ignorance! You keep saying 'freaks'—but what do you actually think a freak is? To other life forms, isn't humanity already monstrous in their eyes?"

Ling Feng was bewildered. This woman had just wanted to kill him moments ago, and now her demeanor had changed entirely.

"Humans, us Abyssal Clan, even Angel Clan and other races—all are merely vessels for life. Once life evolves to a certain level, everyone converges." The Abyssal Witch said calmly, "Therefore, what you call 'freaks' and humans are the same. At higher levels, they all culminate into a singular form of life. Life can take on countless forms, but its essence remains singular. Do you understand?"

Ling Feng shook his head, "I don't understand."

"Judging by your expression, of course you don't!" The Abyssal Witch rolled her eyes again. "Anyway, just remember this: once you cultivate to a higher level, you'll realize that both humans and the Abyssal Clan eventually become one unified life form. So... If I hear you call us Abyssal Clan freaks again, I'll make sure to teach you a proper lesson! Got it?"

Ling Feng sighed, "I understand, but... Can I retract these horns now? I really don't want to be a part of the Abyssal Clan just yet!"

The terrifying power of the Abyssal Witch made Ling Feng resolve not to provoke her anymore. For now, his priority was figuring out how to restore himself to his original form!

If he walked out as he was now, he'd probably be caught immediately and turned into an experimental subject.

"Hmph, you truly don't know how lucky you are. Awakening the Power of the Abyss grants you immense strength, yet you still complain! How infuriating! If you weren't the Successor, I'd have already taught you a good lesson!" The Abyssal Witch said with dissatisfaction.

Ling Feng forced an awkward smile and changed the subject. "Can you tell me what exactly a Successor is? What do you need me to do?"

"A Successor, naturally, inherits the power of our Abyssal Clan!" The Abyssal Witch said lightly, "The reason I await the arrival of a Successor is simply because of a mission! Years ago, after losing a bet, I was forced to stay in this lightless place, waiting for the Successor's appearance. It's truly maddening!"

The conversation seemed to be drifting. Ling Feng quickly refocused the topic, "What is the mission of the Successor?"

"The Successor's mission is to open the Gate of the Abyss!" The Abyssal Witch explained. "Thousands of years ago, the Gate of the Abyss was attacked. To protect it, the Demon King buried it underwater and sealed it away. After the turmoil subsided, the Successor was designated to unseal and reopen the Gate of the Abyss. Your task is to take up the mantle of the Successor and fulfill this responsibility!"

Open the Gate of the Abyss? Ling Feng's heart stirred—he seemed to grasp something.

"Why does there have to be a Successor?" Ling Feng pressed on, "With your strength, couldn't you complete this mission yourself?"

The Abyssal Witch shrugged. "You're not wrong. But the Gate of the Abyss can only be opened by natives of this realm. I'm of the Bloodline of the Abyss—I simply can't unseal it!"

"Why must the Gate of the Abyss be opened?" Ling Feng couldn't help but ask.

The Abyssal Witch smirked, her tone laced with amusement. "You're like a curious little kid. Why all the questions?"

"Curious, that's all!" Ling Feng replied calmly. "Honestly, I didn't know much about the Bloodline of the Abyss before. I just can't understand why opening the Gate of the Abyss is so imperative."

The Abyssal Witch said indifferently, "Some matters aren't for you to know right now. Once you open the Gate of the Abyss, you'll naturally understand everything!"

With that, the Abyssal Witch waved her hand. From the central altar, a white light emerged, revealing a map and a key within.

"This is the map leading to the Gate of the Abyss and the key to open it!" The Abyssal Witch said, "Little one, I look forward to our next meeting! But next time, if you dare call us Abyssal Clan freaks again, I won't be so forgiving!"

As she spoke, the Abyssal Witch placed the map and key into Ling Feng's hands. "I'll impart to you a mental method to control the Power of the Abyss!"

The Abyssal Witch then lightly tapped Ling Feng's forehead. Instantly, a clear mental method appeared in Ling Feng's mind—it was the spell to control the Power of the Abyss.

Ling Feng was overjoyed. With this, he could suppress the Power of the Abyss and return to normal!

Taking the map and key, the Abyssal Witch suddenly chuckled. "Oh, I nearly forgot to tell you: If the Gate of the Abyss isn't opened within two years, the Power of the Abyss within you will erupt. When that happens, you'll face certain death! So... your time is running out!"

Ling Feng was stunned—wasn't this just a giant trap?

After saying this, the Abyssal Witch's figure began to fade from Ling Feng's sight. "Oh, and one more thing—I almost forgot to mention! After I disappear, the twelve statues in this plaza will come to life. You'll have to defeat them to leave. Otherwise, you'll be stuck here indefinitely!"

"Don't leave! Stop right there!" Ling Feng shouted anxiously, but by then, the Abyssal Witch's presence had entirely vanished.

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