Trials of the Abyss

Qi Qingsong stood at the front of the Sword Boat, waving enthusiastically at the distant Scarlet Dawn Boat.

"Pang Jian!" he called. "Come on down. Eternal Crossing is part of the Sword Pavilion. I'll introduce you to my senior brothers and sisters."

Pang Jian looked down.

The hundred-zhang-long Sword Boat shimmered silver under the serene moonlight. It looked like an unsheathed sword and exuded an intimidating sharpness.

Swish! Swish!

Streaks of brilliant sword light flashed across the smooth deck, carrying with it profound sword intent.

Dozens of Sword Pavilion disciples in blue robes stood on the Sword Boat and near the teleportation array. Some were drinking and enjoying themselves, while others sipped hot tea.

As soon as Qi Qingsong called out Pang Jian's name, a flurry of curious gazes shifted to the slowly descending Scarlet Dawn Boat, eyes searching for Pang Jian.

"I want to see what kind of person the Pavilion Master personally chose."

"His final disciple? Does the Pavilion Master think that highly of him?"

"Qi Qingsong sure got lucky. He got his hands on the Blue Dream Sword because he found this guy during a trial."

"The Dream Sword Technique can potentially help someone reach godhood through dreams. I'm so envious."

The Sword Pavilion disciples whispered among themselves as the Scarlet Dawn Boat landed.

Pang Jian leaped down, eyes fixed on the bustling spatial teleportation array nearby.

"Hillbilly." Qi Qingsong chuckled as he flew over, nodding at Zhou Qingchen and Zhao Yuanqi. His face darkened when he spotted Dong Tianze. "What are you doing here?"

Back when Pang Jian had been hunting down Dong Tianze in Eight Trigrams City, the latter had tried to stick close to Qi Qingsong, nearly getting him killed. Qi Qingsong still held a grudge over that matter.

Although Qi Qingsong was the Sword Pavilion's leader for the trial of fire in Absolute Heaven, he had only been informed about the Red Mountain Sect disciples accompanying Pang Jian. He was unaware the Sinister Soul Temple and the Blood Moon Sect had also been permitted to send someone.

"Why can't I be here?" Dong Tianze responded coldly.

Like Pang Jian, he was also intrigued by the hexagonal teleportation array when he felt the spatial fluctuation emanating from it.

"The Pavilion Master allowed them to join," Zhao Yuanqi explained as she disembarked.

"Listen, Dong Tianze. Don't cause trouble for me!" Qi Qingsong warned with a sharp glare.

He then pulled Pang Jian over to the teleportation array.

"Both the Second and First Worlds have these spatial teleportation arrays," he explained. "The one on Eternal Crossing is connected to both the Heaven Awakening Continent, where our Sword Pavilion is located, and the Demon Abyss Continent.

"We have even higher-level spatial teleportation arrays in our Sword Pavilion that can take us straight to the First World!

"Let me tell you, constructing each of these arrays costs a fortune in spirit jades. The weaker sects in the Second World don't have the financial capability to build one.

"As for the sects in the Third World? They're not even qualified to construct them. They're not permitted to, even if they had enough spirit jades."

Qi Qingsong stopped in front of a hunched elder sitting beside the teleportation array.

"Elder Mu," he greeted with a bow. "This is Pang Jian."

Mu Aichuan was the overseer of Eternal Crossing and guardian of the teleportation array.

"Greetings, Elder Mu." Pang Jian imitated Qi Qingsong's bow.

Mu Aichuan silently observed Pang Jian with eyes filled with restrained brilliance before he finally nodded. "Not bad, young man. The Pavilion Master holds you in high regard, so don't let him down,"

His eyes were fixed on Pang Jian's forehead, intending to glimpse into his sea of consciousness. After a moment of thought, he realized it could be seen as disrespectful to the Pavilion Master's judgment and ultimately decided against it.

"Though you've not formally entered the sect, your name has already been recorded in the sect's registry as an inner disciple and a personal disciple of the Pavilion Master. Do not tarnish the sect's reputation in Absolute Heaven!" he warned sternly.

Pang Jian nodded. "Junior understands."

"Good. I trust the Pavilion Master's judgment. You must uphold the honor of the Sword Pavilion." Pointing to the Sword Pavilion's Sword Boat, Mu Aichuan added, "There's no teleportation array within Absolute Heaven. You can only reach it via the Sword Boat.

"You don't need to worry about the journey. I can provide support until the boat enters the restricted area as long as Qi Qingsong has the sword token."

The old man's expression was calm, yet quietly confident.

It was as if he could resolve any trouble Qi Qingsong could face as long as the sword token remained intact.

Qi Qingsong's face lit up, and he hurriedly bowed in gratitude. "With Elder Mu's support, I can rest assured when dealing with meddling Spirit Beasts while setting sail for Absolute Heaven."

"Spirit Beasts usually don't provoke our Sword Boat." Mu Aichuan smirked with a hint of mockery. "The Demon Sect's Demon Incursion Ship, the Celestial Lagoon Sect's Mountain Stream Spirit Boat, and Black Valley Sect's Black Cloud Sail are their preferred targets."

Qi Qingsong smiled as he understood the hidden meaning behind Mu Aichuan's words. Cupping his hands to Mu Aichuan, he led Pang Jian onto the Sword Boat.

"Zhao Yuanqi, the Scarlet Dawn Boat is too fragile. Leave it on Eternal Crossing," Qi Qingsong called as he signaled the others to board the Sword Boat. "I've been waiting for you all. Let's not waste any more time and set off immediately."

Zhao Yuanqi, Dong Tianze, Zhou Qingchen, and Fang Boxuan boarded the Sword Boat one after another.

"Pang Jian, I'm Guo Hongyuan, an outer disciple of the Sword Pavilion in the middle stage of the Profound Abode Realm."

"Pang Jian, I'm Nie You, in the late stage of the Profound Abode Realm. My master is Wang Ce."

Dozens of Sword Pavilion disciples in blue robes introduced themselves to Pang Jian one after another.

Pang Jian nodded back at each one.

Those with masters were inner disciples of the Sword Pavilion, of which there were nine in total, most of whom were in the late stage of the Profound Abode Realm.

The remaining ones without masters were all outer disciples. There were over thirty of them, all in the Profound Abode Realm.

Not a single Sword Pavilion disciple greeted Zhao Yuanqi and the others. In their eyes, Zhao Yuanqi's group was like air, practically nonexistent.

"Senior Brother Han, let's set sail!" Qi Qingsong shouted.

The Sword Boat shot up into the sky like a sword gliding through the air, silver light gleaming as it sped toward its destination.

It was much faster and more stable than the Scarlet Dawn Boat.

"Pang Jian, let me show you to your room," Qi Qingsong said with a bright smile, pointing to the top floor of the boat. "You and I both have private rooms on the third floor. The other inner disciples can choose rooms on the first and second floors. The outer disciples don't have this privilege and can only stay on deck."

"Big Brother Zhou, come with me," called Pang Jian.

Zhou Qingchen was caught off guard. "Huh? Me? Pang Jian, isn't that a bit inappropriate?"

He had been at ease on Zhao Yuanqi's Scarlet Dawn Boat, partly because he knew Zhao Yuanqi well and partly because he was a disciple of the Red Mountain Sect.

On the Sword Boat, with dozens of disciples from the Sword Pavilion surrounding him, he could not help but feel somewhat out of place.

These disciples were all in the Profound Abode Realm, with most being in the middle to late stages, and Zhou Qingchen had a feeling that any one of them could easily overpower him.

Thus, he could not help but feel inferior.

"No need to worry about that," Pang Jian assured, waiting for him to join.

"It's fine. Pang Jian has his own room. If he wants to bring you along, that's his choice." Qi Qingsong shrugged with a warm smile. "Brother Zhou, show me the same spirit you had when you tried to kill me!"

Zhou Qingchen recalled the time he and Pang Jian had teamed up to kill Qi Qingsong in Eight Trigrams City under the manipulations of Yuan Lengshan of the Demon Sect.

Chuckling, he joined Pang Jian and Qi Qingsong on the third floor of the Sword Boat.

After they left, Fang Boxuan remarked, "Pang Jian seems like a decent guy. He didn't forget about Zhou Qingchen even after becoming a disciple of Li Zhaotian."

Finding a corner to sit in, he patted the space beside him and gestured to Dong Tianze. "We're all from the Third World. Let's stick together."

Dong Tianze ignored him, choosing to stay where he was with his Black Iron Mountain by his side.

***

Qi Qingsong had prepared a feast of fine wine and savory dishes in Pang Jian's room on the third floor of the Sword Boat.

"Brother Zhou, you're a friend of Pang Jian, so make yourself at home. I witnessed your brotherly bond back in Eight Trigrams City.

"Come on, come on. Help yourself to some food and drink! Let's start with a pot of wine!"

In his heart, Qi Qingsong acknowledged Pang Jian as his most important ally on his cultivation path. Therefore, out of respect for Pang Jian, he treated Zhou Qingchen as a friend as well.

After a few rounds of food and drink, the three quickly bonded, and their past conflict in Eight Trigrams City became a topic of amusement.

"The Demon Incursion Ship? They messed with you when you guys were ascending?" Qi Qingsong's face darkened. "There are two leaders on the Demon Incursion Ship. I happen to know them both. One is Wu Yuan, an old rival of mine. The other is Chen Lushi from the Demon Heart Sect.

"You both met Yuan Lengshan and Lan Xi in Eight Trigrams City. They were her senior sister and junior sister, respectively.

"Wu Yuan isn't one for petty tricks. When he makes a move, he goes for the kill. This must be Chen Lushi's doing. She's got a small mind and a knack for schemes.

"Yuan Lengshan, Lan Xi, Chen Lushi—the Demon Heart Sect sure has its share of wicked women!"

When Qi Qingsong recalled Yuan Lengshan's betrayal, he could not help but be slightly upset.

Pang Jian, however, kept his composure. "We'll deal with them when we get into Absolute Heaven."

"Hmm."

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