Trials of the Abyss

After Han Ting entered cave dwelling number fifty-six, she released Pang Jian's arm and sincerely apologized, "Sorry for dragging you into this. I just wanted to upset Zhang Bin."

Her flushed face and clenched fists could be seen under the light of the luminous pearls in the cave. It seemed her actions had required great courage on her part.

Pang Jian had been silent outside the cave. Once they entered, he nodded indifferently. "Let's heal your wounds."

"Okay." Han Ting sighed in relief before going to sit on a wooden chair.

Her bold flirtatiousness outside the cave had disappeared without a trace. As Pang Jian knew the exact location of her injuries, there was no need to undress as she did before. Instead, she turned her back to him and slightly lowered her top to reveal her smooth shoulder.

Pang Jian placed his fingers on her shoulder and skillfully transferred life energy into her body.

"Don't worry, Zhang Bin is a coward. You're from a noble family in the upper worlds, so he won't dare do anything to you," Han Ting explained nervously, her head lowered in guilt. "He's the type to bully the weak and fear the strong. He doesn't dare to show anger toward members of the five major sects, let alone someone from the upper worlds."

Pang Jian did not respond. Zhang Bin was the least of his concerns. With Luo Hongyan missing, his only goal was to identify the culprit before using the bronze pendant to disappear from the First Peak of the Primordial Wilderness.

Once he disappeared, there would be no chance for him to interact with people like Han Ting and Zhang Bin.

Han Ting rambled on about her past adventures with Zhang Bin and others, and how they had teamed up to hunt a Rank Five Vicious Beasts in a restricted area.

Pang Jian had a sudden thought.

"Have you ever heard of the Ice Crystal Beast?" he asked.

He intended to sell the Ice Crystal Beast's horn but knew little about the beast itself. If it was unique to the Fifth World, the horn could raise suspicion when brought out as Old Monster Cao and the other participants would undoubtedly question its origin.

Thus, he needed to confirm it was not exclusive to the Fifth World, to ensure selling the horn went smoothly.

"Ice Crystal Beast? There was once a powerful Rank Six Ice Crystal Beast in the Third World. At the time, the Blood Moon Sect dispatched three Spirit Condensation Realm elders to hunt it down," Han Ting recalled. "Ice Crystal Beasts typically live in icy restricted areas.

"A Rank Six Ice Crystal Beast's combat power is enhanced in such environments. I heard two of the Blood Moon Sect's Spirit Condensation Realm elders were injured during the hunt for this Rank Six Ice Crystal Beast.

"Why do you ask?" Han Ting shot Pang Jian a curious look.

"Just curious," Pang Jian said casually. "And how much would a Rank Six Ice Crystal Beast's horn be worth in spirit stones?"

"The blood, skin, heart, and bones of Rank Six Ice Crystal Beasts are all extremely valuable. However, the most precious part is its horn, which can be used to craft ice-attribute spirit artifacts," Han Ting explained. "If I were to guess, a Rank Six Ice Crystal Beast's horn is worth at least forty to fifty thousand spirit stones."

Pang Jian's eyes lit up. "What about a Rank Seven Ice Crystal Beast's horn?"

"Rank Seven?" Han Ting hummed in consideration before replying, "I believe its value could be ten times higher."

Ten times, meaning four to five hundred thousand spirit stones!

Pang Jian's fingers on Han Ting's shoulder trembled in excitement and Han Ting felt his breath become uneven.

The life energy flowing from his fingers no longer targeted her wounds precisely and instead spread without direction or guidance throughout her whole body.

Han Ting silently rejoiced. Although she did not know what had excited him, the dispersed life energy was conveniently helping to cleanse her hidden ailments.

Pang Jian took a moment to gather his composure and refocus the life energy on Han Ting's wounds.

Ten times! Pang Jian was thrilled. He had not expected a Rank Seven Ice Crystal Beast's horn to be worth such an absurd amount.

Even if he were to combine the loot from the Blood Moon Sect's beast-hunting sailboat in Divine Fortune City and the dead rogue cultivators in Ice Rock City, it still would not add up to four hundred thousand spirit stones.

Pang Jian had felt a financial strain after Luo Hongyan's disappearance, but it seemed he had discovered an effective method of earning spirit stones.

He did not have to rob rogue cultivators, attack Blood Moon Sect's beast-hunting sailboats, or venture into restricted areas to hunt Vicious Beasts. All he needed to do was trade with the Celestial Maiden from the Fifth World to gain enormous returns!

The combined worth of all the Gold Obsidian, Thunderstruck Wood, and Solar Essence Stones he had given the Celestial Maiden so far was only around ten thousand spirit stones. In return, he obtained the horn of a Rank Seven Ice Crystal Beast, which could be sold for forty to fifty times that amount!

Additionally, he had a significant amount of blood left from the Ice Crystal Beast. If he sold everything, he would make a substantial profit, far surpassing Luo Hongyan's gains in robbing rogue cultivators near the Three Immortal Islands.

Sensing that the life energy in the three leaves was almost depleted, Pang Jian stopped and calmly said, "We're done for today. Come back tomorrow night. Another two nights and your injuries will be fully healed."

"Thank you." Han Ting adjusted her clothes and prepared to leave. Pausing at the stone door, she said, "Lei Kun left cave dwelling number fifty-seven after meeting us that day and hasn't continued renting it. I noticed it was vacant, so I spent a few more spirit stones to stay there. That way, I could see you more often."

Pang Jian nodded. He knew his proactive apology had successfully dispelled Lei Kun's suspicions. The Spirit Condensation Realm expert no longer stayed in cave dwelling number fifty-seven to spy on him.

Luo Hongyan's disappearance likely has nothing to do with Lei Kun. Otherwise, he would still be watching, Pang Jian thought silently.

"Are you attending the trade fair tomorrow?" Han Ting asked from the doorway.

Pang Jian shook his head. "I plan to wait until the trading halls are open three days from now."

"Okay, got it." Han Ting pushed open the stone door and left Pang Jian's cave dwelling.

Back in cave dwelling number fifty-seven, she stared wistfully at the rock wall bordering her and Pang Jian's cave dwellings.

"He's from the upper world, and a noble family no less. It's a pity he has no interest in me." Han Ting laughed self-deprecatingly. "I wouldn't mind being his concubine if he wanted."

***

Pang Jian took a Mind Soothing Pill to steady his excited mind. He wanted to check in on the little tree to see if the exotic plants and flowers growing in Misty Swamp had bloomed or borne fruit. He planned to harvest some rare plants to sell at the trading market.

With that thought in mind, he connected with the World Eater Vine.

Pang Jian could observe the thousand-mile expanse of Misty Swamp from several angles. All the plants and flowers rooted in Misty Swamp had become extensions of the little tree's perception.

The black turtle also had the same ability in the nameless fragmented land.

Pang Jian could observe the surroundings of any given area as long as there were plants and flowers.

As he studied Misty Swamp, he noticed mighty birds flying in the distant sky!

Dark blue hawks, golden eagles, gray falcons, and giant rocs flew majestically from another fragmented land. Suspended from the talons of these birds were non-flying Vicious Beasts.

These massive birds carried Black and White King Pythons, lizards, Ice Armor Beasts, one-horned rhinoceroses, and more like cargo.

After dropping the Vicious Beasts at the edge of Divine Fortune, they flew back to the fragmented land from which they came.

Through the omnipresent sight of the little tree, Pang Jian noticed hundreds of Vicious Beasts had already been left in Divine Fortune.

The massive birds were transporting the mutated Vicious Beasts that had undergone rank breakthroughs in other contaminated fragmented lands to Divine Fortune.

Vicious Beasts did not have Cloud Sails, Fire Cloud Ships, or Gilded Chariots, and so could only migrate in this primitive way.

Why are they coming to Divine Fortune? Aren't Vicious Beasts supposed to lack intelligence? These mutated Vicious Beasts clearly have a leader! What are they planning?

Pang Jian's mind was filled with questions.

Over the next two days, he continued to closely monitor the situation with the help of the Mind Soothing Pills, watching as more and more Vicious Beasts were transported to Divine Fortune.

Herbivorous Vicious Beasts fed on the contaminated plants in Misty Swamp, appearing extremely excited after sensing the plants contained far more energy compared to other fragmented lands.

Famished carnivorous Vicious Beasts also charged in, attacking the herbivorous Vicious Beasts. An increasing number of fierce Vicious Beasts joined the fray, driven by hunger, resulting in a bloody carnage across the vast Misty Swamp.

The grasslands were stained red, and the marshes and streams turned muddy with blood. This, however, seemed to benefit the plants and flowers in Misty Swamp, creating a delicate balance of life and death.

The scorched lands of Misty Swamp were gradually returning to their former glory. Plants thrived and Vicious Beasts roamed free. Territories were occupied and battles were fought, as the Vicious Beasts feasted on the corpses of their fallen opponents to survive.

Survival of the fittest played out as before in Misty Swamp.

The only difference in Divine Fortune before and after the murky energy's contamination was the complete absence of humans.

One day, a massive black roc flew in from a distant fragmented land, exuding an awe-inspiring aura that made all the Vicious Beasts in Misty Swamp instinctively look up.

The eyes of this extraordinary black roc shone with intelligence as it gazed toward an uncontaminated fragmented land in the distance. A craving for the flesh and blood of human cultivators could be seen in its eyes.

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