Trials of the Abyss

A nine-story pavilion hung upside down amid the mountains on the Heaven Awakening Continent in the Second World.

The Pavilion was taller than the highest mountains and resembled a giant sword with its tip pointing downward from a distance.

Upon closer inspection, one would see that the inverted nine-story pavilion was adorned with peculiar and ancient spirit swords.

Brilliant sword lights shot out from these spirit swords, releasing profound sword intent as they weaved through the different floors of the pavilion.

This was the Sword Pavilion.

Qi Qingsong was in the middle of breaking through to the Spirit Condensation Realm in a secluded chamber on the mountainside overlooking the Sword Pavilion when his door was suddenly pushed open.

"Master!" Qi Qingsong exclaimed in surprise.

Liu Junhong, a man with a goatee and graying hair tied into a bun, entered the room.

"Pause your breakthrough to the Spirit Condensation Realm for now," he said, tossing a spirit sword forged from blue crystal to Qi Qingsong. "Here. This is the Blue Dream Sword you've been wanting."

Qi Qingsong caught the sword with a face full of joy and burst into laughter. "Thank you for your kindness, Master!"

He infused a wisp of spiritual power into the spirit sword, causing it to emit a dreamy, ethereal blue glow.

Bright lights flickered within the crystalline blade, revealing a series of fantastical and mysterious dreamscapes on closer inspection.

"You've always been a dreamer. The Blue Dream Sword is perfect for you. It even contains a complete sword technique within," Liu Junhong said with a smile.

The flattered but confused Qi Qingsong asked, "Master, you've never treated me this well before. What's different today?"

"Before?" Liu Junhong snorted. "I never expelled you, even when you were stuck in the Innate Realm for so long. You were the one who felt embarrassed and voluntarily moved to the outer sect.

"You were the one who was unmotivated for all those years, wasting your days idling around and daydreaming, and now you want to blame me for it?"

"Your disciple wouldn't dare."

Qi Qingsong, enamored with the Blue Dream Sword, started to memorize the sword technique contained within it.

"Don't focus on the sword technique you practiced before anymore," Liu Junhong said seriously. "Since you enjoy dreaming so much, you should keep on dreaming. From now on, this Dream Sword Technique will be the foundation of your Dao.

"If you're lucky enough to advance to the Immortal Realm with the Dream Sword Technique, you could even have a chance to become a god."

"Become a god through the Dao of Dreams?" Qi Qingsong was stunned and his eyes filled with yearning. "Has anyone done it before?"

Liu Junhong shook his head. "Many new paths to godhood have been painstakingly forged by those who came after. The last and strongest practitioner of the Dream Sword Technique reached the peak of the Immortal Realm but, unfortunately, passed away while attempting to ascend to godhood.

"But just because he failed to become a god with the Dream Sword Technique doesn't mean others will fail as well.

"The Dream Sword Technique, at the very least, offers hope for godhood. Your previous sword techniques held no such possibility."

Qi Qingsong quickly thanked his master. He then asked, "Master, this Blue Dream Sword is a sacred artifact, and the Dream Sword Technique has the potential to lead to godhood. Given what I know about our Sword Pavilion, I wouldn't have received this sword unless I achieved something great. What have I done to earn this?"

"The Pavilion Master said you gave a sword token to Pang Jian and helped the Sword Pavilion recruit an extraordinary talent," Liu Junhong said with a slight frown.

While Liu Junhong did not doubt the Pavilion Master's combat prowess, he sometimes had reservations about Li Zhaotian's decisions.

Thus, he could not help but question whether the so-called exceptional talent Li Zhaotian spoke of was truly deserving of such praise.

"That kid, Pang Jian, does he live up to the title of an extraordinary talent?"

"More or less." Qi Qingsong chuckled. "Like me, he also ascended to the Innate Realm through becoming one with the world."

"That's far from extraordinary." Liu Junhong's face darkened as he glared at Qi Qingsong. "You should know the level of an extraordinary genius in the Second and First Worlds. You, Qi Qingsong, are barely a passable inner disciple of our Sword Pavilion. You're nowhere close to extraordinary!"

Qi Qingsong slumped. "Master, do you have to crush your disciple's spirits like this?"

"Stop whining. I need you to exit seclusion right now and lead a team into Absolute Heaven.

"Forces from the Demon Sect, the Black Valley Sect, the Celestial Lagoon Sect, and even sects from the First World will also be entering the restricted area alongside our Sword Pavilion.

"That restricted area is shrouded in bizarre mist and has seen the intrusion of many Outer God Puppets, along with the emergence of some Vicious Beasts and malevolent spirits.

"The bizarre mist will taint cultivators with Spirit Condensation Realm cultivation and above if they venture too deep, so it's up to you and your peers to handle it.

"This is also a major trial by fire involving both the Second and First Worlds, so don't embarrass the Sword Pavilion," Liu Junhong warned.

"Absolute Heaven? Outer God Puppets?" Qi Qingsong was shocked. "Master, what has happened while I've been in seclusion?"

"Go to the Sacred Soul Continent first. You'll be briefed on the recent upheavals in the Abyss on the way," Liu Junhong replied solemnly.

"What about Pang Jian? Has he come here? I want him to represent the Sword Pavilion with me on this journey to Absolute Heaven and meet the geniuses from both worlds," Qi Qingsong said urgently.

"He left the sword token in his spatial bracelet and the Pavilion Master doesn't know where he is. The Pavilion Master even personally inquired with the Red Mountain Sect and was told that Pang Jian had gone to Spirit Offering again," Liu Junhong said, frowning. "The Pavilion Master intended for him to join you in Absolute Heaven."

"Master, you must think of something and bring Pang Jian to me as soon as possible! I'll feel much more confident with him by my side!"

"You hold him in such high regard?"

"Of course!"

"Alright, I'll see what I can do."

***

Pang Jian sat quietly beneath the World Eater Vine in Misty Swamp, consuming the meat of Vicious Beasts to nourish the bee pupae.

While retrieving the meat from his spatial bracelet, he noticed the sword token he had tossed inside.

The Chaos Sword Technique...

Just the thought of the small world within the sword token, where Li Zhaotian's afterimages demonstrated the intricate and profound sword technique, made Pang Jian itched with anticipation.

Pang Jian had used the newly comprehended, albeit rudimentary form, of the Chaos Sword Technique to kill the Outer God, and it had proved remarkably effective.

The combination of the Chaos Sword Technique, the murky energy in his Primordial Chaos Spiritual Sea, and the gathering of energies from the stars, sun, moon, ice, lightning, and earthflame, was the reason he could annihilate the ten-zhang-tall wooden figure on the spot.

He was sorely tempted to take out the sword token, delve into the deeper mysteries of the Chaos Sword Technique, and comprehend more of its profound transformations.

After a moment, Pang Jian shook his head, dismissing the idea.

"No, if I take the sword token out of the spatial bracelet, the Pavilion Master can track my location."

Sweeping his consciousness through his spatial bracelet, he noticed he was running low on Vicious Beast meat he had obtained in the Primordial Wilderness.

I need to stock up on Soul Nourishing Pills and the meat of Vicious Beasts so I can replenish my mental energy and blood essence.

At that moment, the bronze pendant was still absorbing his blood essence, so Pang Jian gulped down a barrel of blood from a Rank Five Spotted Shadow Leopard.

An hour later, the beehive within the bronze pendant finally stopped drawing blood essence from Pang Jian's body.

Eight new strands of golden divine sense emerged from the acupoints at the bottom of Pang Jian's sea of consciousness!

His total number of divine senses increased from one hundred and thirty-six strands to one hundred and forty-four strands. Of these, twelve strands were golden divine sense!

Whoosh!

Pang Jian's sea of consciousness expanded once again, its boundaries pushing outward as if reconstructing his mental landscape.

Pressure filled Pang Jian's mind and a golden light suddenly shone deep within his eyes.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

The twelve strands of golden divine sense streaked through his sea of consciousness like lightning.

Unexpectedly, the black turtle in the Third World, the Giant Abyssal Serpent in the Fifth World, and the World Eater Vine in Misty Swamp simultaneously sent him messages expressing their gratitude.

Pang Jian was taken aback.

After communicating with the black turtle, the Giant Abyssal Serpent, and the World Eater Vine, he realized the changes and strengthening of his sea of consciousness also benefited these peculiar beings that emerged from the Gate of the Abyss due to their bonds with him.

So, transformations in my sea of consciousness can also benefit them and even enhance their intelligence, Pang Jian thought. This qualitative leap must be due to the increase in golden divine sense, as well as the breakthrough from one hundred and thirty strands to one hundred and forty strands.

Pang Jian marveled at the wonder of the golden divine sense, resolving not to miss his opportunity to hunt another Outer God down if he ever encountered another.

After that, he focused on mastering his divine sense under the little tree.

Several days later, all one hundred and forty-four strands of divine sense harmoniously resonated with Pang Jians's thoughts and will.

The once uncontrollable strands that drifted freely through his sea of consciousness now felt like extensions of his hands and feet.

Pang Jian had reached the peak of the Profound Abode Realm and could work toward advancing to the late stage of the Profound Abode Realm.

Not bad, he thought with a smile.

Glancing around, Pang Jian noticed fresh grass and new saplings emerging in the soil around the little tree.

The divine power the little tree had absorbed with the death of the Outer God seemed to have greatly benefited it.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

The little tree's branches swayed gently, green leaves glowing with divine light as it released astonishing vitality.

Pang Jian felt a slight tremor.

Three new green leaves the size of a fingernail had formed over his heart.

Eight green leaves now covered his heart, each radiating a rich life energy.

The little tree told Pang Jian the name of these leaves and promised to imbue them with miraculous power when it underwent its next transformation.

The Leaves of Life? Pang Jian thought excitedly.

His future cultivation path would only become smoother if these eight Leaves of Life could display extraordinary abilities that assisted in battle like the black turtle scute.

Another two days passed, and Pang Jian, eager to take advantage of the momentum to advance to the late stage of the Profound Abode Realm, felt no sign of an impending breakthrough.

Feeling slightly disheartened, Pang Jian decided to construct the Ghost Altar, intending to contact Dong Tianze in the Third World and gather information on the situation above.

Dong Tianze's image appeared as soon as the Ghost Altar was complete.

Seeing the familiar cave dwelling in the background, Pang Jian realized Dong Tianze had returned to the Sinister Soul Temple and was no longer wandering the Third World.

"You have some nerve, reconstructing the Ghost Altar!"

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