Trials of the Abyss

Dong Tianze was baffled. He had quietly remained in his cave dwelling, yet trouble still managed to find him.

For the past two months, he had been refining his blood in his cave dwelling, hoping to advance to the Innate Realm.

Occasionally, he would respond to the Shadow Specter Sect’s hall masters in the Fourth World.

They told him that the murky energy had contaminated the entire fragmented lands of Divine Fortune. The Cloud Sails of the seven major clans had also withdrawn from Divine Fortune soon after.

The newly appointed hall master had disappeared since then, and Dong Tianze assumed he was dead.

He had not left the Sinister Soul Temple for two months and was shocked to hear that someone was committing crimes using his identity.

"I know it’s not you," said the gaunt Han Zhiyuan as he massaged his temples. "Someone’s impersonating you. What’s strange is that they possess a Divine Spirit Pagoda."

Dong Tianze was startled. "Could it be one of our people?"

"Unlikely." Han Zhiyuan shook his head. "But over the years, we’ve lost several Divine Spirit Pagodas. I can only say that the impersonator is familiar with us."

"Very well, I’ll go to the Three Immortals Island," Dong Tianze said coldly as he stood up. "I need to stretch my legs anyway. I’ve been feeling restless recently. I’ve been stuck at the final step of the Marrow Cleansing Realm, unable to break through."

"Be careful," Han Zhiyuan said as he walked toward the exit. Pausing at the cave entrance with his back still facing Dong Tianze, he said, "There are others in the Third World who have obtained the essence of the Celestial Phoenix like you. I’ve heard there’s a tradition of mutual hunting among the Celestial Phoenix Divine Guard. Be cautious on the Three Immortals Island."

"Master!" Dong Tianze’s body trembled.

"The news about your being a Celestial Phoenix Divine Guard came from the Red Mountain Sect and the Radiant Sun Sect. Zhou Qingchen from the Red Mountain Sect and a girl named Su Meng from the Radiant Sun Sect claimed to have seen the Celestial Phoenix Imprint on your forehead.

"Don’t worry. Your status as a Celestial Phoenix Divine Guard benefits the Sinister Soul Temple. The Cult Leader heard from a reliable source that the Pure Land Sect of the First World took in the true successor of the Celestial Phoenix. Your master has the potential to stand at the pinnacle of the First World.

"The Red Mountain Sect, the Radiant Sun Sect, the Blood Moon Sect, and the Star River Alliance wouldn’t dare to harm a Celestial Phoenix Divine Guard. The only thing you need to be wary of is other Celestial Phoenix Divine Guards. The mutual hunting and competition among the Celestial Phoenix Divine Guards is a rule that other sects cannot interfere with," Han Zhiyuan explained.

Dong Tianze had been worried that his status as a Celestial Phoenix Divine Guard would affect his cultivation in the Sinister Soul Temple, so when he heard Han Zhiyuan’s explanation, he heaved a sigh of relief.

"Master, are you suggesting that Celestial Phoenix Divine Guards might try to hunt me on the Three Immortals Island?" he asked

Han Zhiyuan nodded. "That’s my guess."

"That suits me perfectly!" Dong Tianze was pleased.

A single drop of the essence of the Celestial Phoenix had benefited him greatly.

After that, he successfully underwent the bone forging, marrow cleansing process at Black Orchid Lake, refined his internal organs in Eight Trigrams City, and was now in the process of refining his blood.

He knew he would become stronger if he found another Celestial Phoenix Divine Guard, killed them, and absorbed their Celestial Phoenix Imprint.

The trip to the Three Immortal Islands and the potential hunt for a Celestial Phoenix Divine Guard was a new challenge for him.

***

Zhou Qingchen arrived at the village at the foot of the Red Mountain Sect on the Cosmic Skies Continent.

"Old Han, I’ve received information that Dong Tianze is wandering about in a Divine Spirit Pagoda and killing rogue cultivators near the Three Immortals Island!" he shouted, kicking open the courtyard gate. "Pang Jian’s fate in the Solitary Mountain Range is still unknown. I must kill Dong Tianze to avenge him!"

He could not forget the heroic scene of Pang Jian sending him through the Mirror Tunnel while drenched in blood.

"Sword Pavilion’s Qi Qingsong said that Pang Jian nearly killed Dong Tianze after you left. He’s already avenged himself," said Han Duping.

With the help of Li Jie’s green fruit juice, Han Duping had completed the bone forging, marrow cleansing process and was now in the mid-stage of the Marrow Cleansing Realm.

Han Duping took a deep breath and continued, "Dong Tianze is very cunning. His status as a Celestial Phoenix Divine Guard means that even the Li Family of the Divine Treasures Sect has to give his master some face. Can’t you stay calm?"

"Just answer me, are you going or not?" Zhou Qingchen snapped.

"I’m going! Damn it, I’ll go with you, alright?"

***

Silver, dagger-like Lunar Edges spun around Pang Jian on the unnamed fragmented land.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

These Lunar Edges were similar to Jin Yang’s Cicada Wing Swords. They flew around for a while then abruptly shot toward a rock wall.

Boom!

The hard red rock in the volcanic crater was blasted into pieces.

"It’s not very powerful," Pang Jian said, tossing the Lunar Edge manual into the pool of lava below.

The Lunar Edge technique was refined from the lunar energy in his dantian and could only be used to kill weaker cultivators. It would only ever serve as a complementary attack against formidable opponents like Qi Qingsong or Dong Tianze and could not turn the tides of battle.

Still, it’s an additional offensive technique, Pang Jian thought as he took out the Primordial Sun Technique and Starflow Technique manuals.

As he was about to go through them, he sensed a faint cry for help.

Pang Jian was taken aback. Entering a focused state using the Qi Nurturing Divine Cauldron Art, he soon determined the plea was coming from the little tree in the Fourth World!

Up to this point, he had always been the one to initiate contact with the little tree. This was the first time the little tree had reached out to him on its own!

With a single thought, he connected to the little tree’s sight and saw Misty Swamp.

A familiar person appeared before his eyes!

A beautiful and elegant girl hovered under the dim sky of the Fourth World!

The girl wore a simple green dress, accentuating her tall, graceful figure. An exquisite jade ring adorned the ring finger of her pale, slender left hand. Aside from that, she wore no other accessories.

A massive silvery-white sword as wide as a mountain floated behind her, emitting a terrifying pressure.

The ferocious plants below her, including the little tree, all trembled in fear.

"Li Yuqing!"

The girl could not hear Pang Jian’s startled exclamation.

Even through the little tree, he could feel the terrifying pressure emanating from the massive silver-white sword!

The enormous sword stood hundreds of zhang tall. It seemed capable of destroying Divine Fortune with a single strike!

Misty Swamp, which spanned thousands of miles, could be reduced to dust in the blink of an eye!

"She’s so powerful!" Pang Jian could feel Li Yuqing’s world-shattering strength from a world away!

He could not have imagined the girl he had met and eaten with within the dark tunnel of Eight Trigrams City possessed such terrifying combat power!

All the formidable human cultivators he had encountered so far like Sun Bin, Yuan Shishan, and Luo Hongyan seemed to pale in comparison to Li Yuqing.

"World Eater Vine," Li Yuqing muttered in confusion. "I remember this fearsome plant was supposed to be extinct in the Fifth World. Why did it suddenly appear in this ordinary fragmented land?"

Li Yuqing had been busy surveying the fragmented lands within the Ouyang Clan’s territory, investigating the anomalies caused by the murky energy.

In the forested forbidden areas where Vicious Beasts and wild beasts roamed, she saw that some fortunate beasts had transformed, significantly elevating their bloodline, and allowing them to become rulers in those regions.

Many plants in the Fourth World became violent and bloodthirsty, exhibiting characteristics of plants from the Fifth World.

Only humans were unable to adapt to the murky energy. They either dissolved into piles of bones or leaped off the edges of the fragmented lands into the Fifth World.

After examining the fragmented lands in the Ouyang Clan’s territory, she arrived at the Shangguan Clan’s territory and saw new vegetation had sprouted in the burned Misty Swamp.

Suspecting something was amiss, she released her divine sense and discovered that all the plants in Misty Swamp were channeling their energy into a single tree, like offering tributes to a deity.

She soon confirmed the seemingly ordinary little tree was a World Eater Vine!

Although she had never seen a World Eater Vine firsthand, she had heard numerous stories about its fearsome nature.

Having established that a young World Eater Vine was the root of the abnormalities in Misty Swamp, she prepared to destroy the entire fragmented lands of Divine Fortune to ensure the vine had no chance at survival.

"The World Eater Vine from the Fifth World," Pang Jian murmured. Li Yuqing’s mutterings had taught him the name of the little tree that emerged from his bronze pendant.

The young World Eater Vine sensed Li Yuqing’s murderous intent and the overwhelming pressure of her massive sword.

Realizing the girl’s intent to decimate Divine Fortune, it desperately sent Pang Jian a plea for help, hoping he could do something.

"Whatever the reason, you should not exist here," Li Yuqing said decisively.

The massive silvery-white sword behind her radiated a divine light, and an earth-shattering sword intent enveloped Divine Fortune!

The overwhelmed Pang Jian could sense the young World Eater Vine’s despair and helplessness. However, being in the Third World, he lacked a medium like the Giant Abyssal Serpent to reach the vine using the bronze pendant. His voice and thoughts also could not be conveyed through the World Eater Vine.

What should I do? What should I do?

Thoughts flashed through his mind like lightning.

An idea struck him!

Pang Jian quickly communicated with the World Eater Vine, desperately trying to convey his thoughts and intentions.

Quick, do exactly as I say!

The World Eater Vine released a radiant green glow from its branches and leaves, no longer concealing its mystical nature.

A sharp branch started to scratch out words on the ground.

I... A small, crooked character appeared in a muddy scrawl.

Li Yuqing paused her attack and stared at the World Eater Vine’s hasty scribbles.

I am..

I am Pang...

I am Pang Jian’s...

I am Pang Jian’s Tree!

A line of hastily scrawled characters was etched into the ground of Misty Swamp.

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