Trials of the Abyss

Why did you leave without informing me? Did something or someone compel you to leave the First Peak?

Pang Jian was irritated and depressed.

He was used to having Luo Hongyan by his side, taking care of everything for him. He never had to worry about cultivation techniques, spirit stones, or other resources with her around. She had even handled the spirit stones and materials for his trade with Dong Tianze.

Only after she disappeared did he realize how much he had come to rely on her.

Please be alright. If you encounter misfortune, I...

A fierce glint flashed in Pang Jian's eyes.

Luo Hongyan had been with him from the Solitary Mountain Range and held a special place in his heart. The thought of her possibly being in trouble stirred a violent rage within him.

The two hall masters of Shadow Specter Sect and the pair of sisters had just been passing companions. Their deaths made him feel frustrated and depressed, but he had not been unbearably pained.

However, the mere thought of something happening to Luo Hongyan caused him genuine anguish.

Taking out his bronze pendant, he connected to the little tree in Misty Swamp while silently summoning the Mirror Tunnel.

Whoosh!

Ice crystals covered the pendant, and radiant ripples resembling a space-time tunnel appeared.

As Pang Jian gazed at these magnificent, mysterious ripples, he sensed he could travel to Misty Swamp in the Fourth World if he entered it.

I'm safe as long as I don't leave the First Peak. Even if something happens, I can escape using the pendant! Pang Jian thought decisively.

With that, he severed the connection, causing the radiant ripples to disappear, then placed the bronze pendant back around his neck.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Pang Jian took out the Startling Slaughter Spear, the copper chest, spirit jades, spirit stones, low to mid-level cultivation techniques, bottles of poison, and healing pills from his spatial bracelet.

He counted dozens of spirit jades, nearly three thousand spirit stones, and other miscellaneous items of little value. Staring at his cultivation resources, Pang Jian knitted his brows in thought.

He decided to find a way to take part in Old Monster Cao's trade fair to see if the Blood Moon Sect's Jiu Yuan, rogue cultivator Lei Kun, or anyone else there mentioned her disappearance and hopefully discover some clues.

These Spirit Condensation Realm experts were not people he could contend with, so his primary goals were to identify his targets and learn what had happened. If the worst-case scenario occurred, he could always use the pendant to return to Misty Swamp in the Fourth World or the nameless fragmented land where the black turtle resided.

This would allow him to avoid being killed outside the First Peak in the Primordial Wilderness. As long as he escaped the Primordial Wilderness alive, he could go into hiding, bide his time, and seek revenge when his cultivation realm was high enough.

After organizing his thoughts, he visited Gao Yuan and explained he wanted to obtain a token to participate in Old Monster Cao's trade fair.

"I didn't register, so I don't have a token." Gao Yuan shook his head with a bitter smile. "There's only three days left before the trade fair and the registration deadline has passed. The only way now is to get a token from someone else."

Gao Yuan paused in consideration.

After a long while, he finally gritted his teeth and said, "I'll see what I can do!"

He then headed down to the lower levels.

Later that night, Gao Yuan knocked on Pang Jian's door, with Han Ting by his side. Bowing and scraping, he said, "Little Brother is from the upper world, and his sister is missing. He also offended the Blood Moon Sect on Ice Rock Island. Han Ting, even if you don't do it for my sake, think about your own future and make a valuable friend."

Unlike before, Gao Yuan was extremely respectful and did not dare to joke around.

Pang Jian was surprised to see Gao Yuan had brought Han Ting with him after making his rounds.

"Little Brother, I had no other choice. My rogue cultivator friends are all poor. They may have the five hundred spirit stones needed to register, but none have the ten thousand spirit stones required to show to Old Monster Cao's subordinates. I thought about it and realized Han Ting is relatively well-off. She also has a token to participate," Gao Yuan explained with a bitter smile.

Han Ting reluctantly came over because of Pang Jian's origins in the upper world. She reassessed Pang Jian, taking in his spatial bracelet, well-built physique, and chiseled features.

He's not exactly handsome, but he has a certain charm, Han Ting silently evaluated.

"I was severely injured and planned on using the token to participate in the trade fair to see if there were any miraculous healing medicines. Brat, I don't care where you're from or what happened with you and your sister. What can you offer me in return for my token?" Han Ting asked, casting a scrutinizing gaze in his direction.

"Severely injured and looking for miraculous healing medicine," Pang Jian murmured thoughtfully.

After a moment, he said, "Gao Yuan, please step outside and close the door. I need to speak with her privately."

"Uh, alright." Gao Yuan retreated to the door, glancing interestedly at Han Ting's exceptional figure one last time before shutting it.

Perfectly round and firm, exceptionally alluring. I wonder how the little brother plans to persuade her, Gao Yuan wondered.

"Spit it out!" Han Ting unceremoniously sat down on a wooden chair. Her round hips filled every inch of the seat, making it look small.

"May I see your injuries?" Pang Jian asked.

"My injuries?" Han Ting chuckled dismissively. "Do you even know how to heal injuries? Brat, to be honest, my injuries also involve poison. If it were that easy to treat, I wouldn't have to hide on the First Peak."

"Let me try," Pang Jian said, moving behind her. Before she could respond, Pang Jian placed a finger on her shoulder and silently sent out a wisp of life energy.

Han Ting immediately tensed up and moved to stand.

"Hold on. Just take a second to feel it," Pang Jian said.

Han Ting calmed down. Her eyes flickered with surprise as she sensed the wisp of mysterious life energy entering her body.

The life energy was imbued with the essence of vegetation, stimulating her body's self-healing potential. She could keenly sense the unusual vitality within her body.

"No, it's not there," Han Ting whispered, sensing the life energy's direction. "My injury is a bit lower."

"Sorry." Pang Jian tried to guide the life energy within Han Ting's body.

"It's a bit to the left. Further left. Too far!" Han Ting was getting anxious.

She could feel the extraordinary power of the mysterious life energy wandering within her body. However, Pang Jian did not know where her injury was and could not accurately target the wound despite her verbal guidance.

Han Ting was bold by nature. Thus, she lowered her clothes down to her waist and wrapped them around her chest to expose her smooth back to Pang Jian, allowing him to see her injury.

A woman injured her…

A small dark purple handprint stood out conspicuously on Han Ting's glossy back. It was deeply embedded beneath her skin like a blotch of dark ink. As Pang Jian studied it, he sensed a scorching fire poison infiltrating Han Ting's internal organs.

"The little wench I treated like a sister turned against me when it mattered most!" Han Ting angrily cursed.

Uninterested in the story of their sisterhood, Pang Jian did not ask for details and instead focused on channeling his life energy into the dark purple handprint. He was unsure if the mysterious life energy would work on Han Ting's injury, but he had no choice but to try.

The dark purple handprint on Han Ting's back lightened, while the vibrant green of the three leaves in his chest faded.

The cursing Han Ting fell into silence as the streams of life energy from Pang Jian entered her wound. Her eyes sparkled with excitement!

After a while, the three leaves in Pang Jian's chest, although still present, were drained of their green hue.

Pang Jian said exhaustedly, "One session isn't enough. It'll probably take another day or two. Come back tomorrow."

Han Ting silently shrugged her robes back on before turning to stare deeply at Pang Jian. She then tossed a token onto the table.

"Old Monster Cao's trade fair is in three days. I'll come for three consecutive days. That should be enough," Han Ting said in feigned calmness, suppressing her excitement at the miraculous life energy. "I'll come back tomorrow."

With that, she pushed open the stone door.

"Gao Yuan!" she exclaimed, glaring at the person outside. "What're you doing sneaking around in front of the door?"

Standing on the stone path outside Pang Jian's cave dwelling, Gao Yuan glanced at the moonlit night sky and coughed. "Admiring the moon."

"Admire your big head!" She shot him a fierce look and deliberately stomped on his foot as she passed him.

Gao Yuan grimaced in pain and squatted down to rub his foot. Turning to look at Han Ting's retreating figure, he noticed her adjusting the front of her clothes.

Full of questions, he stood up to see Pang Jian playing with a token in the cave dwelling.

"She'll come over for three consecutive days. She'll be back tomorrow..." Gao Yuan muttered with a peculiar expression on his face.

Little brother didn't sell himself to her, did he? No, that can't be. She has a great reputation among rogue cultivators and I've never heard of her having a fling with anyone. This doesn't make sense!

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