Abyss Sovereign: Lin Yuan's Awakening

Chapter 010: The Abyss Guild

Su Qing walked ahead with steady, unhurried steps, her figure sharp and alert. Lin Yuan followed closely behind, weaving through the bustling streets, his fingers unconsciously brushing the hilt of the Abyss Longs word at his waist—still warm from the earlier fight with the Shadow Pavilion.

He’d just escaped Shen Mu’s clutches, and every nerve in his body remained stretched tight, like a bowstring ready to snap. Even with Su Qing—his savior—by his side, he couldn’t let his guard down. The Shadow Pavilion’s reach was too far; they could be lurking around any corner.

Eventually, they stopped in front of an unremarkable coffee shop. A wooden sign hung above the door, warm yellow light spilled through the windows, and a few potted plants sat by the entrance—blending seamlessly with every other small shop on the street. No one would guess it was a front for something far more secretive.

“Come in.” Su Qing pushed open the door and stepped inside, bypassing the front counter straight for the kitchen. Lin Yuan raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued, and followed her.

His jaw dropped the second he entered the kitchen. It was spotless—no trace of oil or smoke, not even a single crumb. On the innermost wall, almost flush with the surface, was a sleek fingerprint scanner. Su Qing pressed her fingertip to it, and a soft “click” echoed through the room.

The wall rumbled, sliding open slowly with a low whir of machinery, revealing a silver elevator behind it—sleek, modern, and nothing like the cramped basement Lin Yuan had imagined.

“Do all Abyss Guild strongholds hide underground?” Lin Yuan couldn’t help but ask as they stepped into the elevator. The doors slid shut with a soft hiss, and the car began to descend smoothly.

“Most of them.” Su Qing’s tone was flat, matter-of-fact. “Abyss exploration is tied to too many secrets—operating in the open would only bring trouble.”

Thirty seconds later, the elevator came to a stop. The doors slid open, and Lin Yuan’s breath caught in his throat, his pupils shrinking sharply. This was no dingy basement—it was a massive underground space, its vaulted ceiling vanishing into darkness above. Cool white lights embedded in the rock walls illuminated every corner, bright as day.

The space was meticulously organized: a roaring training ground where Awakened fought fiercely, an armory lined with every weapon imaginable, a fully equipped medical bay, and soundproof meeting rooms. In the center, a huge transparent capsule simulated the Abyss’s barren desert— a virtual training chamber for honing skills.

Men and women in matching black uniforms moved busily, each radiating the distinct aura of an Awakened. Even a random logistics worker passing by had a stronger presence than Lin Yuan had when he first stepped into the Abyss.

“This is the Abyss Guild?” Lin Yuan whispered, his voice filled with shock. He’d only heard of the organization in top-secret files, never imagining he’d stand inside one of their strongholds.

“Just a city branch.” Su Qing started walking forward again. “The headquarters is ten times bigger than this.”

Lin Yuan followed silently, his mind reeling. If a single branch was this impressive, how powerful must the headquarters be? He’d made the right choice to trust Su Qing—this was his best chance to survive the Shadow Pavilion and uncover the truth about his system.

Su Qing led him through the bustling main hall, stopping finally in front of a heavy alloy door. “The Guild Master is waiting inside. Go on in.”

Lin Yuan took a deep breath, forcing down his nerves, and pushed open the door. The room was spacious but simply furnished: a massive solid wood desk, a few guest chairs, and a huge map of Abyss Rifts covering the entire opposite wall, marked with countless dense notations.

Behind the desk sat a middle-aged man. He looked to be in his fifties, with gray flecks at his temples, but there was no frailty in him—he was sharp, vital, his eyes as piercing as an eagle’s. Even sitting still, he exuded an unfathomable pressure that made the hair on the back of Lin Yuan’s neck stand on end.

This man’s aura was far stronger than Shen Mu’s—Lin Yuan could feel it in his bones. Shen Mu was an A-Rank Awakened, but this man? He had to be S-Rank, or higher.

“Sit.” The man nodded toward the chair across from him, his voice deep and authoritative, leaving no room for refusal. Lin Yuan pulled out the chair and sat down, his fingers still resting on his sword hilt, meeting the man’s gaze calmly.

“You’re the Abyss Guild Master?”

“I am.” The man smiled slightly. “Qin Yuan—founder and current Guild Master. And the first man to return alive from Abyss Floor 50.”

Floor 50?! Lin Yuan’s heart slammed against his ribs, his pupils blowing wide. Abyss Floor 50 was the universally recognized death zone—beyond it lay uncharted territory, with barely any official records. To return alive, Qin Yuan’s power had to be off the charts.

“You wanted to see me about the Child of the Abyss?” Lin Yuan steadied himself, cutting to the chase. Shen Mu and Su Qing had both mentioned it—now he needed answers.

Qin Yuan nodded, standing up to walk to the map. His fingertip landed on the very bottom marking: Abyss Floor 99. “Do you know what the Abyss really is?”

“Rifts, underground cities, monsters, Abyss Hearts—I know the basics.”

“That’s only the surface.” Qin Yuan’s voice dropped. “The Abyss has ninety-nine floors, each guarded by a Lord who holds a piece of its truth. The ultimate secret lies in Floor 99—and no human has ever reached it.”

“What does this have to do with the Child of the Abyss?” Lin Yuan frowned.

Qin Yuan turned to him, a strange light in his eyes. “The ancient prophecy says the Child of the Abyss is the only one who can reach Floor 99. The only one who can uncover the Abyss’s ultimate secret. And you—” He pointed directly at Lin Yuan. “You are that child.”

Silence filled the room. Lin Yuan sat frozen, a tidal wave of shock washing over him. Shen Mu had said it. Su Qing had said it. Now Qin Yuan—one of the strongest men in the Abyss—had confirmed it. He wasn’t just a lucky scavenger with a system; he was the prophesied Child of the Abyss.

“What makes you so sure?” Lin Yuan asked, his voice steady despite the turmoil in his chest.

“Your system.” Qin Yuan’s answer was direct. “The Abyss Sovereign System—it’s the only system born from the Abyss itself. Only the Child of the Abyss is worthy of it. We’ve tracked its energy signature for years; we felt it the second you awakened it on Floor 1.”

Lin Yuan’s mind raced. He’d been watched since the very beginning. But instead of fear, he felt a spark of resolve—this was his chance to find his place, to stop running from the Shadow Pavilion.

“What do you want from me?” he asked, the most critical question.

“Join the Abyss Guild.” Qin Yuan walked back to his desk, his gaze open and direct. “Let us train you. In exchange, we’ll give you top-tier resources, equipment, intelligence—and the full truth of what it means to be the Child of the Abyss.”

Lin Yuan leaned back, deep in thought. Joining meant protection from the Shadow Pavilion, resources he could only dream of, and answers. But it also meant stepping into a deeper storm—no free lunch, no easy path.

“One question first.” Lin Yuan sat up straight. “Shen Mu said the Child of the Abyss can control Abyss entrances—including the sealed Floor 30. Is that true?”

Qin Yuan’s smile faded, his gaze hardening. “Shen Mu found you? He wants you to open Floor 30?”

“He does.” Lin Yuan nodded. “What’s he after?”

“It’s true you can control the entrances—but only once you’re strong enough.” Qin Yuan’s tone turned grave. “Right now, you’d die from power overload if you tried. That’s why Shen Mu wanted to control you—he’s trying to use you before you’re ready.”

A cold sweat broke out on Lin Yuan’s back. He’d known Shen Mu was up to no good, but he’d never guessed the man wanted to kill him. He’d narrowly escaped death once—he wouldn’t let it happen again.

“I’ll join.” Lin Yuan’s voice was firm, resolve burning in his eyes. “But one condition: I won’t follow forced orders. If the Guild asks me to do something I refuse, I have the right to say no.”

He’d join to grow stronger, to uncover the truth—but he’d never be anyone’s pawn.

Qin Yuan stared at him for a moment, then laughed heartily. “Granted. The Abyss Guild doesn’t need blind soldiers—we need partners who can walk with us to Floor 99.” He stood up, holding out his hand. “Welcome to the Abyss Guild, Lin Yuan.”

Lin Yuan stood up, gripping his hand firmly. The second their palms touched, a flood of system alerts blared in his head:

【System Prompt: Newbie Main Quest 「Survive 24 Hours」 Completed!】

【Quest Rewards Distributed: Abyss Points +100!】

【Random Skill Draw: Congratulations! You’ve obtained Rare Active Skill 「Abyss Gaze」!】

【Abyss Sovereign Level Increased: lv.1 → lv.2!】

【New Function Unlocked: Abyss Shop (Intermediate)!】

A faint smile tugged at Lin Yuan’s lips. Twenty-four hours of life-or-death struggle, and he’d finally completed his newbie mission. From a bottom-feeding scavenger to the Child of the Abyss, from escaping the Shadow Pavilion to joining the most elite Abyss organization—he’d come farther than he’d ever dreamed.

The road ahead was still filled with thorns. The Shadow Pavilion’s threat loomed, the Abyss’s secrets remained hidden, and ninety-nine floors waited to be explored. But he’d taken the hardest first step.

“This is just the beginning.” Lin Yuan looked at his palm, feeling the surging power in his body. His eyes blazed with unshakable resolve. “I’ll reach Floor 99. I’ll uncover every secret of the Abyss.”