Trials of the Abyss

A Fire Cloud Ship quietly docked in the empty central square of Misty Swamp Village.

On deck were powerful figures from different clans, along with the members of the Radiant Sun Sect and the Blood Moon Sect, all staring into the distance and waiting.

Not long after, a large Gilded Chariot flew in their direction.

Before the Gilded Chariot came to a full stop, a woman in the Innate Realm named Huang Ying leaped gracefully from it and landed steadily on the Radiant Sun Sect’s Fire Cloud Ship.

The person in charge of the Radiant Sun Sect was a thick-browed, large-eyed man named Xiao Pei. He anxiously asked Huang Ying, "What’s the situation?"

Next to Xiao Pei stood Dong Yao from the Dong Clan and Zhu Yuanxi from the Blood Moon Sect.

Standing further back were Shangguan Dong, the City Lord of Divine Fortune City, Ouyang Quan from the Ouyang Clan, He Hui from the He Clan, Ning Wei from the Ning Clan, and Su Hongfei from the Su Clan.

The influential figures from the six prominent clans of the Fourth World were all present. The only one missing was the Zhou Clan, whose lands were on the opposite end of the Fourth World.

"A catastrophe is inevitable," said Huang Ying of the Star River Alliance. She looked at the waiting crowd with a grave expression and fearful eyes. "We implanted Stellar Eyes into the captured members of the Shadow Specter Sect and threw them into the contaminated fragmented lands.

"Most of them died quickly, their internal organs rotting away. Those who didn’t die went mad and aimlessly wandered the contaminated lands, becoming food for mutated Vicious Beasts. Even large plants have adapted to the murky energy, becoming monstrous and bloodthirsty.

"Those who went insane soon died off as well. Skeletons are scattered throughout the towns within the contaminated fragmented lands. The entire area is dead silent. We’ve yet to see any survivors through the Stellar Eyes." Huang Ying sighed, shaking her head.

Everyone was horrified. They had expected the situation to be dire, but hearing Huang Ying’s report still filled them with fear and despair.

Even more terrifying was the fact that the tainted energy of the Fifth World was still spreading to the surrounding areas!

Shangguan Dong turned and instructed his subordinate, "Arrange for those in the city with no enmity with our Shangguan Clan to leave on Cloud Sails immediately!"

His subordinate nodded and left.

Dong Yao, one of the pillars of the Dong Clan known for his tall stature and well-dressed appearance, turned to address Xiao Pei, "Brother Xiao, what are the plans of the three sects?"

"Huang Ying’s report aligns with what we know," Xiao Pei began, "There have been previous instances of murky energy from the Fifth World rising to the upper worlds, and it has happened more than once.

"But the last time it happened was a long time ago. According to information from the Radiant Sun Sect, most humans, including cultivators like us, die not long after being corrupted by the tainted energy from the Fifth World.

"Vicious Beasts and plants, however, adapt more easily to it and mutate as a result. After mutation, they become extremely violent and bloodthirsty. Their combat strength also increases and they may even achieve breakthroughs in rank."

The atmosphere became heavier with every word of Xiao Pei’s explanation.

"Huang Ying, you’ve just returned from the fragmented lands. Is the murky energy already spreading?" Xiao Pei asked.

Huang Ying nodded. "Yes, it’s spreading to the surrounding areas, with Divine Fortune being the first to be affected."

"We have no other choice," Xiao Pei said bitterly, shaking his head. "I’ve already had Brother Shangguan join forces with the Ouyang Clan to pour oil around the perimeter of Misty Swamp. Once the oil spreads, we’ll set it ablaze and burn the entire swamp, eliminating all the Vicious Beasts and plants that will inevitably be contaminated by the tainted energy and reducing future threats."

Dong Yao asked curiously, "Brother Xiao, aren’t we going to leave as soon as possible?"

"Not yet. We need to understand the situation fully," Xiao Pei replied. "Those from the upper world also want to know the extent and level of this contamination.

"When the murky energy spreads to Divine Fortune, we’ll observe the changes in the bodies and minds of the rogue cultivators and non-cultivators from the sky through the Star River Alliance’s Stellar Eyes.

"We need this information to gauge the severity of the contamination and how to handle it."

The faces of those from the six clans looked increasingly grim.

Ning Wei from the Ning Clan hesitated before quietly asking, "What about the future? Where will the people be relocated if the murky energy consumes the entire Fourth World?"

Dong Yao, Shangguan Dong, Ouyang Quan, and the others from the seven major clans stared expectantly at Xiao Pei.

Xiao Pei sighed. "The Third World can’t accommodate so many people. The higher-ups will arrange places for your direct clan members and some attached nobles. As for the non-cultivators...we’ll have to see if there are any suitable places in the fragmented lands of the upper world."

A chill settled in everyone’s hearts.

If a massive catastrophe truly broke out, the major sects of the upper world would only save a portion of the population and abandon the rest.

Those abandoned were destined to face a grim fate in the contaminated world.

***

Pang Jian quietly left the cave under the cover of the night sky, watching the skies for patrols as he moved stealthily through Misty Swamp.

Luo Hongyan told him the Radiant Sun Sect had prepared oil, arranging for the Shangguan Clan and the Ouyang Clan to pour it around the perimeter of Misty Swamp to burn and eradicate all the Vicious Beasts and plants in the swamp.

When Misty Swamp was engulfed in flames, the sapling from his bronze pendant would turn to ashes. Thus, he left the cave at night, hoping to retrieve it and return it to the pendant.

Pang Jian stood under the dense foliage, peering up through the leaves, and saw a Cloud Sail drifting by.

"Another Cloud Sail," he muttered.

The Cloud Sail was filled with cultivators from the six major clans.

He had specifically chosen to travel at night because Luo Hongyan mentioned that two more Cloud Sails had been added to the existing patrol, and had warned him to be doubly cautious.

After two hours of sneaking and hiding, Pang Jian finally reached the sapling, which had grown into a little tree and was now taller than him.

Just a few days ago, it had only reached his knees. Its growth rate was truly astonishing!

Rustle!

When he arrived, the little tree gently swayed its tender green branches.

But there was no wind.

It seemed the little tree had gained self-awareness!

Pang Jian could feel the little tree’s joy as it welcomed him. This was an emotion he had never experienced before.

"Misty Swamp is about to be engulfed in flames. All the trees will be burned to ashes, and you won’t be an exception," Pang Jian said to the little tree. He then pointed to the bronze pendant on his chest. "Here! If possible, return here. When I leave this fragmented land, I’ll find new soil for you."

The little tree only swayed its branches as if uncomprehending and did not enter the bronze pendant.

After a moment of hesitation, Pang Jian sat down and closed his eyes in an attempt to convey his message through their connection.

In response, the little tree pulled its roots from the ground, flew to the nearby swamp waters, and submerged itself.

Not long after, it emitted a radiant green glow, floated back up from the bottom of the swamp waters, and then sank into the soil.

It then disappeared into the ground!

It was trying to tell Pang Jian that it was not afraid of the flames as it could hide in the swamp waters or even underground.

Pang Jian was stunned.

Then he recalled the time near the Blood Moon Sect’s Formless Sailboat when bloodthirsty vines emerged from the fissures on the ground.

That giant vine had been deeply buried underground.

The little tree possessed a similar ability.

I was worrying too much, Pang Jian thought with a self-deprecating smile.

Now that he knew it could understand his words, he said, "If you don’t want to return to the bronze pendant, that’s fine. Just be careful. Besides the flames, you also need to watch out for cultivators. They—"

Before he could finish, the little tree re-emerged from the ground. Its green glow vanished, and it became indistinguishable from the surrounding trees.

"Alright then."

Whoosh!

A dazzling green light as bright as jade shot from one of the little tree’s branches and entered Pang Jian’s chest.

Pang Jian felt a mysterious healing power in his chest.

This power carried a strange vitality that spread a cooling sensation throughout his heart and lungs as if nourishing his internal organs.

It was the little tree’s gift to Pang Jian.

"Take care of yourself," Pang Jian said, patting his chest where he felt the new power before silently leaving.

He feared staying would attract the attention of the Cloud Sails flying overhead and expose the little tree.

On his way back, the beast-hunting sailboat from the Blood Moon Sect suddenly roared from a distance, flying toward Pang Jian at a speed far exceeding that of a Cloud Sail.

"There’s a cultivator in the Marrow Cleansing Realm!" A man named Ni Chen shouted, holding a blood-red crystal ball in his hand as he pointed in Pang Jian’s direction. "Over there!"

Whoosh!

The beast-hunting sailboat accelerated.

Soon, sharp-eyed members of the Blood Moon Sect spotted Pang Jian darting through the bushes.

"That’s Hong Jian! He’s the one who killed Fei Zheng!"

"Hong Jian of the Shadow Specter Sect!"

"He won’t escape!"

Two Marrow Cleansing Realm experts of the Blood Moon Sect stood up in shock.

"He’s so young!"

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