Trials of the Abyss

"Pang Jian, I walked an entire day and night to get back to the Sinister Soul Temple from that snowy peak!

"Even if you wanted to take back the Black Iron Mountain, you should've at least dropped me within the Sinister Soul Temple's territory!"

Dong Tianze then broke out into a stream of curses, expression as cold and menacing as ever.

Pang Jian remained unfazed as he habitually stayed silent in response to Dong Tianze's curses.

Based on his understanding of Dong Tianze, he knew it was better not to speak up yet, or he would only provoke an even more intense outburst from Dong Tianze.

Sure enough, after cursing until he was out of breath, Dong Tianze finally asked, "You're not in Spirit Offering?"

He could see Pang Jian standing in a lush swamp through the Ghost Altar. It was clearly not the barren and lifeless Spirit Offering.

"Who told you I was in Spirit Offering?" Pang Jian asked curiously.

"The Sword Pavilion had people from the Red Mountain Sect looking for you," Dong Tianze explained. "Zhao Yuanqi piloted the Scarlet Dawn Boat near Spirit Offering with Zhou Qingchen and others, but they didn't dare to enter the restricted area.

"There's a restricted area in the Second World shrouded in bizarre mist called Absolute Heaven. It's been designated a trial by fire by the higher-ups.

"Many Vicious Beasts, malevolent spirits, and Outer God Puppets have appeared in Absolute Heaven. No one knows what they're planning to do inside.

"Absolute Heaven is said to be very strange, with bizarre mist that prevents Spirit Condensation Realm cultivators and above from entering.

"The higher-ups are worried the Outer God Puppets inside are plotting something terrifying, so they've organized a trial by fire.

"Sects from both the Second World and the First World are participating in it with the goal being to hunt the Outer Gods within Absolute Heaven.

"Qi Qingsong from the Sword Pavilion specifically requested that you join him in entering the restricted area," Dong Tianze added.

Outer Gods? Pang Jian was instantly interested.

Eager to search for Outer Gods to refine more golden divine senses, he asked, "Are the Outer God Puppets similar to those in Spirit Offering, formed from altars, statues, and wooden carvings?"

Dong Tianze nodded. "They are. It's said that some of the awakened Outer Gods from other restricted areas in the Second and First Worlds have also entered Absolute Heaven."

"What makes the higher-ups think that cultivators below the Spirit Condensation Realm can handle those Outer Gods?" Pang Jian asked, puzzled.

"I heard the Outer God puppets entering Absolute Heaven aren't particularly strong. Also, the peerless geniuses from the First and Second Worlds will be entering the restricted area as well. Most of them wield sacred artifacts. Some of them could even possess divine artifacts."

Sacred artifacts and divine artifacts?

Pang Jian recalled how Li Yuqing had used the massive silvery-white sword to unleash a combat prowess far surpassing the late Cult Leader Yin Yiqing and the late Sect Master Tang Hongxiong.

Cough! Cough!

"Ahem." Pang Jian cleared his throat and presented the Black Iron Mountain. "This item can be activated with your soul techniques from the Sinister Soul Temple and is useful for both offense and defense."

Dong Tianze snorted coldly. "I knew it! You're trying to take advantage of me. Name your price!"

Dong Tianze had been watching over the Ghost Altar in his cave for some time, hoping to purchase this Black Iron Mountain.

The spirit artifact not only contained many beast souls and several high-level Spirit Devils but could also fly. It was an ideal weapon for him.

"You set the price," Pang Jian said calmly.

Dong Tianze hesitated, expression conflicted, before he finally said, "I discussed it with my master. Cao Mang's Black Iron Mountain is worth about seventy thousand spirit jades. I can also offer five bottles of Soul Nourishing Pills, with ten pills per bottle."

"Deal!" Pang Jian agreed without hesitation.

Pang Jian could soar a hundred zhang into the air using only his blood essence with the black turtle scute's Gravity Manipulation.

In other words, he could fly even without the Black Iron Mountain.

Pang Jian also did not need the beast souls and Spirit Devils inside the Black Iron Mountain as they were not his specialty. Not to mention, the spirit artifact could not be stored in his spatial bracelet, making it rather inconvenient to keep around.

"Prepare to receive the spirit jades!" Dong Tianze eagerly placed the seventy thousand spirit jades and five bottles of Soul Nourishing Pills Han Zhiyuan had given him and activated the arrays.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

The Black Iron Mountain materialized in Dong Tianze's cave, while seventy thousand spirit jades and five bottles of Soul Nourishing Pills appeared in Misty Swamp.

"Another seventy thousand. The bottomless pit that is the Resolute Expanse still needs to be filled," Pang Jian muttered to himself, moving away from the Ghost Altar so he could discreetly use the bronze pendant to send the spirit jades to the Resolute Expanse.

When he returned, he found Dong Tianze still waiting quietly for him.

"Is there anything else?" Pang Jian asked, surprised.

"I'm going to Absolute Heaven as well," Dong Tianze suddenly said. "I've convinced my master, and he's arranging for me to be sent to Absolute Heaven.

"I heard Zhao Yuanqi has also requested the Sect Master of the Red Mountain Sect to let her go to Absolute Heaven, to challenge the peerless geniuses from the First and Second Worlds.

"We're all in the Profound Abode Realm, so we won't necessarily be weaker than the geniuses from the upper worlds. You and Qi Qingsong are both going, so there's nothing we should fear," Dong Tianze said coldly.

"Is there a rush to get to Absolute Heaven?" Pang Jian asked.

"It doesn't seem particularly urgent, but you should still contact the Red Mountain Sect as soon as possible."

"Alright then, I'll see you in Absolute Heaven," Pang Jian said before dismantling the Ghost Altar.

***

The gaunt and bony Han Zhiyuan stood in a corner of Dong Tianze's dwelling in the Sinister Soul Temple, silently watching the transaction between Dong Tianze and Pang Jian.

He had come to discuss the matter of Absolute Heaven with Dong Tianze but happened to arrive just as Pang Jian activated the Ghost Altar.

"Tianze, Cult Leader Yin is gone and Pang Jian is now Pavilion Master Li Zhaotian's disciple. Going forward, your relationship with him…" Han Zhiyuan reminded.

"Master, I understand. Don't worry, the grudge between us was resolved when he sent me Blood Enhancing Pills without asking for anything in return," Dong Tianze said as he guided the Black Iron Mountain away from the Ghost Altar.

Whoosh!

Black flames ignited around the Black Iron Mountain with Dong Tianze standing within them, face somber and expression complicated.

He was still angry that Pang Jian had taken back the Black Iron Mountain without safely returning him to the Sinister Soul Temple.

However, it was hard to continue harboring deep resentment toward Pang Jian when he remembered how Pang Jian had selflessly sent him multiple potent Blood Enhancing Pills and the Black Iron Mountain during his time of need.

"We may be rivals, but we won't be mortal enemies. There's no need for us to fight to the death," Dong Tianze murmured within the black flames.

"That's good." Han Zhiyuan smiled and nodded. Approaching the Black Iron Mountain, he reached out to touch it and said, "This item is well-suited to our techniques. I can help you further refine the beast souls and soul-gathering arrays inside.

"Tianze, don't be too reckless on your trip to Absolute Heaven. Our Sinister Soul Temple's techniques and your tools don't offer much of an advantage when faced with the geniuses from the First and Second Worlds.

"The sects from the upper worlds are using this trial by fire to test the abilities of their younger generations, but that doesn't include our Sinister Soul Temple.

"So, there's no need for you to stand out too much. Our Sinister Soul Temple doesn't need to draw that kind of attention," Han Zhiyuan advised.

"Understood," Dong Tianze replied, expression cold.

He inwardly thought that he was not just a disciple of the Sinister Soul Temple.

After all, he also had his mysterious master of noble status behind him.

He felt like his master was paying more attention to him now that he had killed several Divine Guards and advanced to the middle stage of the Profound Abode Realm

I must prove my potential and capability to my master during this journey to Absolute Heaven!

***

In Misty Swamp, a tender green branch drooped down in front of Pang Jian.

Pang Jian opened his eyes and stared at the branch with a strange look on his face.

On the branch was a palm-sized green leaf as smooth and translucent as crystal with radiant divine light wrapping around it.

"Father..."

A crisp voice rang out.

The voice resonated not only in Pang Jian's ears but also in the depths of his heart.

Pang Jian watched, dumbfounded, as a delicate figure appeared within the crystalline leaf.

The little girl wore a light green gauze dress.

Her translucent green spirit body beneath the gauze dress felt almost illusory and most of her facial features were blurry as if shrouded in mist, with only her emerald-green eyes standing out clearly.

When Pang Jian did not respond, she timidly tried another form of address.

"Dad?" She waved at Pang Jian from within the leaf. "It's me, I'm Pang Jian's little tree."

Pang Jian rose to his feet.

Leaning closer to the peculiar leaf to get a better look at the ethereal little girl inside, he exclaimed in shock, "You…have a spirit body?"

"I've always had one, but I couldn't materialize it or take on the form I desired before," she said with a squinting smile. "I absorbed some of that terrifying Outer God's divine power when it died. Your soul has also grown stronger, enhancing my spiritual intelligence. All of that allowed me to learn how to condense a spirit body."

She danced lightly within the leaf, showing off her form to Pang Jian.

Her spirit body was that of a little girl, around twelve or thirteen years old. After twirling around, she adorably exhaled and asked with an easy smile, "Should I call you Father? Or Dad? Your surname is Pang, so what should my name be?"

Pang Jian was in a daze.

"Father, the arrival of the Wood Race and the bonds they established with my soul helped accelerate my spiritual enlightenment.

"After observing their actions and listening to their conversations, I learned that you created me. So, that means I'm your child.

"Your surname is Pang, I should also have the surname Pang. Please, Father, give me a name."

She grasped the hem of her gauze dress and gracefully curtsied to Pang Jian from within the leaf, her emerald-green eyes filled with anticipation.

"Pang…" Pang Jian trailed off, still thrown off at the unexpected development. "How about Pang Ling[1]?"

1. Pang Ling (庞灵) is distinct from Pang Lin (庞琳). In this context, "灵" refers to the soul or spirit, while "琳" refers to a gem. ☜

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