Trials of the Abyss

"I’ve broken through to the Marrow Cleansing Realm?" Pang Jian asked in return. At this point, he was unsure of his own condition.

Earlier, in the darkness, he had been violently assaulted by the dense murky energy of the Fifth World. The excruciating pain left him disorientated and uncertain about what had occurred.

Li Yuqing’s words shocked him.

"Yeah. Your bones have been tempered. That means you broke through to the Marrow Cleansing Realm."

Li Yuqing wore an expression of utter certainty. Her bright eyes were devoid of deceit as she earnestly explained things to Pang Jian.

"The early stage of the Marrow Cleansing Realm is about tempering one’s tendons and bones; the mid-stage is focused on refining one’s muscles and internal organs; and the late stage is about purifying one’s blood.

"But, you’re...very strange."

Li Yuqing stared at Pang Jian in confusion for a long time before continuing, "When the darkness of the Fifth World engulfed you, you wailed like a ghost and howled like a wolf for a long while, only to advance to the Marrow Cleansing Realm."

"The early stage...tempering one’s tendons and bones..." Pang Jian murmured thoughtfully to himself. After a moment, he turned to her and said, "According to what you’ve said, it seems I’ve truly broken through to the Marrow Cleansing Realm."

The girl abruptly remembered something and gently covered her mouth as if afraid of letting out a startled cry.

In a tone of disbelief, she asked, "Did you use the tainted energy of the Fifth World to open your meridians?"

Pang Jian nodded.

"Freak!" Li Yuqing could not help but scream.

She gazed at Pang Jian with astonishment as she sized him up.

Pang Jian remained silent.

"I’ve heard rumors of a special spiritual sea that can adapt to all kinds of energy. Whether it’s the pure spiritual qi of heaven and earth, the murky energy of the Fifth World, or other chaotic energies, like Profound Yin energy and poisonous energy."

Li Yuqing sighed deeply, as though filled with conflicting emotions.

Profound Yin energy? Poisonous energy? Pang Jian thought as he recalled the acidic and poisonous energy he had absorbed using the Qi Nurturing Divine Cauldron Art back in Blackwater Pond.

He had also absorbed a considerable amount of Profound Yin energy in the stone pile, but his dantian had felt no discomfort.

Therefore, he asked Li Yuqing, "What is this special spiritual sea?"

"It’s called the Primordial Chaos Spiritual Sea, also known as the Sea of Turmoil," The girl explained with a strange look on her face.

Pang Jian was momentarily stunned.

Meanwhile, in the courtyard, the girl in white seated on one of the raised platforms finally finished her lengthy tale as she said, "Alright, I’ve finished telling my story."

Pang Jian wanted to inquire further about the Primordial Chaos Spiritual Sea. However, seeing Li Yuqing’s gaze shift toward the girl in white within the City Lord’s Mansion, he decided to hold off on his questions.

Based on what he saw earlier while eating, he had learned that the girl in white was named Yuan Lengshan. She and Lan Xi came from a branch of the Second World’s Demon Sect called the Demon Heart Sect.

He also discovered that Yuan Lengshan and Lan Xi had intended to eliminate those fighting for the treasures in the pool and that Yuan Lengshan had manipulated him and Zhou Qingchen like pawns.

Yuan Lengshan’s story revealed that Eight Trigrams City was originally under the control of the Yuan Family and housed tens of thousands of inhabitants.

However, Eight Trigrams City vanished overnight and was used for a blood sacrifice on a Heaven Ascension Tribulation Pillar.

Her ancestors, along with all the inhabitants of Eight Trigrams City, had become sacrifices to nourish the Heaven Ascension Tribulation Pillar.

As a descendant of the Yuan Family, she should have been the master of Eight Trigrams City, and now that she had returned to the city, she was determined to uncover the true reason behind its disappearance.

Li Yuqing sneered as she stared intently at Yuan Lengshan. "Eight Trigrams City, the Yuan Family. I’ve heard rumors about the Yuan Family. They’re not known for their good deeds, that’s for sure.

"All those involved with Eight Trigrams City three thousand years ago, whether from the Yuan Family or those simply residing here, deserved to die.

"The decision to make Eight Trigrams City disappear was reached after many discussions between different parties, all for the sake of eliminating them once and for all,"

It was apparent that Li Yuqing did not harbor any goodwill toward the Yuan Family or even Eight Trigrams City as a whole.

Whoosh!

Before Pang Jian could mull over it further, he saw the gleaming silver spear that had been at the bottom of the pool shoot out from Yuan Lengshan’s hand.

Her target was Luo Hongyan!

Luo Hongyan chuckled and casually waved her hand as the spear approached.

A dazzling nebula swirled around the spear shaft, causing it to veer off course.

The spear resembling silver lightning headed straight for the tunnel engulfed in darkness.

Pang Jian was taken aback.

Without hesitation, he positioned himself in front of Li Yuqing to intercept the spear.

Bang!

Dong Tianze stood by the tunnel entrance and blocked the silver spear with his Ghost’s Cry. It fell to the ground with a resounding clang and came to a half beside the tunnel.

Pang Jian realized that the true target of the silver spear was not the tunnel entrance but Dong Tianze!

Dong Tianze glared at Luo Hongyan. "I didn’t attack you earlier. Why are you targeting me?"

Even though the silver spear was on the ground before him, Dong Tianze did not dare to pick it up.

Yuan Lengshan had been caressing the spear shaft as she recounted the truth behind Eight Trigrams City. Dong Tianze was unsure if she had tampered with the silver spear and feared it was a trap.

"You misunderstand me. I just casually flicked it aside. How could I have known that it would fly straight at you."

Luo Hongyan pointed at Lan Xi without turning her head and said, "You team up with the brat from the Black Valley Sect to kill the older one. I’ll join forces with the one surnamed Qi to deal with the younger one."

As soon as she finished speaking, she leaped toward Yuan Lengshan.

"You insolent wench, I’ve had my eye on you for a long time," Luo Hongyan said with a snort.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

In response to her words, Lin Beiye and Qi Qingsong also rushed toward the raised platform where Yuan Lengshan and Lan Xi were.

Qi Qingsong charged straight at Yuan Lengshan, seated atop the raised platform, while Lin Beiye headed toward where Lan Xi stood below.

The duo from the Sword Pavilion and the Black Valley Sect acted according to Luo Hongyan’s instruction and unhesitatingly launched their attacks.

As things had come to this point, Dong Tianze did not bother to say much more as he wielded his Ghost’s Cry and charged toward Lan Xi.

Once again, the chilling wail of the Ghost Cry rang out, sending shivers down everyone’s spine.

***

"Despicable women," Li Yuqing muttered under her breath. It was unclear whether her contempt was directed at Yuan Lengshan or Luo Hongyan.

She stood behind Pang Jian in the dark tunnel, watching as he acted like a guardian deity, shielding her from danger. He also inadvertently obstructed much of her view.

Her bright eyes were filled with astonishment as she asked incredulously, "Do I look like that pathetic spear would be enough to stab me to death?"

Pang Jian did not turn around. Instead, he placed his full attention on the battle in the courtyard. "I don’t know whether the spear would stab you, but I’ve eaten your food, so I feel obliged to shield you from harm."

"Oh, so it’s because you ate my food."

Li Yuqing suppressed a smile, finding his explanation amusing. "Did you eat his food too, the silly big guy named Zhou Qingchen? Otherwise, why would you risk your life for him? You had a chance to escape, but instead, you sent him through the Mirror Tunnel and took his place."

"Yes, I did," Pang Jian said, recalling the skewer of grilled meat Zhou Qingchen had brought to him in the stone pile.

He must be at Black Orchid Lake by now. He should be alive, he thought to himself.

"You’re quite loyal," Li Yuqing said, leaning forward and gesturing for him to stop standing guard so she could stand shoulder-to-shoulder with him.

Before them was the entrance to the courtyard in the City Lord’s Mansion, so even though they were standing right next to each other, it did not feel cramped at all, and they had an unobstructed view of the battle unfolding around the pool.

Li Yuqing pursed her lips while looking at the gleaming silver spear not far from them. After a moment of contemplation, she said, "That spear...I vaguely remember you staring at it."

"My Dragonwood Spear had a wooden shaft, which didn’t feel quite right in my hand. I was told on our way here that this spear that had emerged in the pillar of light would suit me better."

"Oh, that’s simple then." Li Yuqing nodded, extending her slightly chubby left hand toward the silver spear.

Pang Jian anxiously tried to stop her. "Even Dong Tianze didn’t dare to touch it, you shouldn’t—"

Whoosh!

A small golden grappling hook flew out from a spatial ring on her left hand.

The grappling hook latched onto the spear tip and dragged the silver spear into the darkness.

Before Pang Jian could finish his sentence, the silver spear landed in Li Yuqing’s hand.

As he stood, staring at her in shock, Li Yuqing held the spear with one hand while her other traced the length of the spear shaft, effortlessly removing the spiritual power Yuan Lengshan had left in the silver spear.

She then handed the silver spear to Pang Jian. "Here, for you."

Pang Jian stared at her dumbfoundedly.

"It’s fine. I’ve already examined it. You can use it now."

When Pang Jian made no move to take the silver spear, Li Yuqing angrily shoved it into his hand. "Don’t worry, I won’t harm you!"

"Oh, okay, thank you," Pang Jian said, clutching the heavy silver spear. It felt remarkably comfortable in his hand as if it was made for him.

"Hey! Where’s the Startling Slaughter Spear?" Li Jie shouted in surprise from within the City Lord’s Mansion.

He had been enjoying the lively battle before him when he noticed that the silver spear had mysteriously vanished.

Li Jie was shocked. His gaze shifted toward the dark tunnel.

"Where’s the spear?" Dong Tianze’s, Qi Qingsong’s, and Luo Hongyan’s expressions changed subtly at Li Jie’s words.

They eyed their surroundings uneasily, sensing a lurking presence in the shadows.

"Have we been exposed?" Pang Jian tightened his grip on the Startling Slaughter Spear and looked worriedly at Li Yuqing. "Shouldn’t you stay farther away? If they make their way here, I’m afraid you—

"It’s okay," Li Yuqing interrupted with a dismissive wave of her chubby white hand. "Rest assured, not everyone is a freak like you, capable of staying in darkness unscathed.

"The woman you called an evil woman tried to follow you into the darkness and almost lost her life.

"Honestly, I believe she genuinely does care about you and was deeply concerned for your well-being."

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