Trials of the Abyss

"Who else wants to join the bidding?" Cao Mang asked. His powerful voice echoed through every corner of the trading hall as stood on the platform and looked around.

The attendees' gazes fell on Luo Hongyan's flawless face inside the crystal, but no one spoke up.

Those present at the trading hall today were either an elite elder of a major sect or a renowned rogue cultivator from the Third World.

Jiu Yuan, Lou Yunming, and Yang Rui had all stated their intention to bid for Luo Hongyan, with Jiu Yuan being particularly determined to win. Even if new bidders successfully drew the lot for Luo Hongyan, they had to consider if they could leave the Primordial Wilderness alive afterward.

Old Man Cao, they say Pang Jian is her brother. Qi Qingsong and Zhao Yuanqi are close to him. Will this cause problems for us? Lady Hua asked Cao Mang through a secret telepathic technique.

Cao Mang maintained his neutral expression. It's no problem. He may know Qi Qingsong and Zhao Yuanqi, but he isn't Qi Qingsong or Zhao Yuanqi!

Lady Hua gave a barely perceptible nod. It's rumored that Qi Qingsong, Zhou Qingchen, and Dong Tianze went through a trial together a few months ago. Pang Jian was one of the participants. He even provoked Dong Tianze.

His true identity is that of a hunter from the Solitary Mountain Range in the Fourth World, Cao Mang explained. Regardless of how highly Qi Qingsong and Zhao Yuanqi regard him, that fact remains unchanged. I won't give up a million spirit stones just because of his connections with Qi Qingsong and Zhao Yuanqi!

Cao Mang valued wealth over anything else. Having overseen the Primordial Wilderness for many years, collecting rare treasures from different worlds and hosting trade fairs every three years to gather cultivation resources for himself and Lady Hua, he naturally would not let this fortune slip through his fingers.

Whoosh!

Lady Hua gracefully landed next to Huang Qi and said with a smile, "Every bidder must prove they have enough wealth. We won't allow bids without verification."

Jiu Yuan, Lou Yunming, Yang Rui, and Pang Jian all undoubtedly had a million spirit stones. Huang Qi, on the other hand, was unfamiliar to her, and his cultivation realm appeared to be around the Profound Abode Realm. Concerned he would cause trouble later down the line, she thus signaled for him to show his wealth.

"It seems you don't believe me," Huang Qi said, feigning insult. His lecherous eyes raked over Lady Hua's ample bosom before retrieving his spirit jades from his spatial bracelet. Soon, the spirit jades were piled so high they almost buried him!

"Is this enough?" Huang Qi grinned at Lady Hua.

Lady Hua nodded repeatedly. "Enough! That's enough!"

Then, she shot Cao Mang another telepathic message. This man is of unknown origin. He sold the first part of the Grand Providence Sacred Body manual to Pang Jian and disregarded Yang Rui to buy the Scarlet-Eyed Demon Wolf's eyes for six hundred thousand spirit stones yesterday.

I didn't expect him to have another million spirit stones! His cultivation seems to either be in the Profound Abode Realm, or at most, the early Spirit Condensation Realm, she said excitedly.

On the platform, Cao Mang remained expressionless. Have someone follow him. Once he leaves the Primordial Chaos, I'll deal with him myself!

Lady Hua's eyes sparkled with delight.

Cao Mang was one of the most powerful rogue cultivators in the Third World and had amassed much of his wealth through unsavory dealings. In the upper world, he maintained connections with notorious figures in the Second and Third Worlds. In the lower world, he maintained contact with the foreign races of the Fifth World.

Over the years, many wealthy rogue cultivators like Huang Qi would often disappear after the trade fair.

"Jiu Yuan, Lou Yunming, Yang Rui, Pang Jian, and Huang Qi," Lady Hua listed, taking out a round wooden bucket and placing five bamboo sticks inside. "Only one stick is marked as the winner. You five will draw lots."

Clatter! Clatter!

She stood in front of the prismatic crystal imprisoning Luo Hongyan, shaking the wooden bucket to mix up the bamboo sticks.

"Who'll go first?" Lady Hua asked with a smile.

Yang Rui from the Radiant Sun Sect strode silently toward the central platform.

Staring intently at the relaxed Qi Qingsong, he said, "It won't be long before I enter the Second World and make a name for myself there. I joined the Radiant Sun Sect first and cultivated their techniques, so I won't be an inner disciple of the Sword Pavilion or the Demon Sect once I reach the Second World, but I could still become an honorary elder.

"If I were to join the Sword Pavilion, as an inner disciple, you'd have to show me respect if your cultivation realm isn't as high as mine."

Qi Qingsong smiled nonchalantly and did not respond.

"I'll go first!" Huang Qi stepped forward.

He stood with his back to the crowd in front of Lady Hua, sly eyes fixated on her chest as he extended a withered left hand toward the bamboo sticks in the round wooden bucket.

The bamboo sticks shone with a silvery glow that prevented Huang Qi from using his divine sense to locate the bamboo stick marked with the character "Winner".

Eyes still fixed on Lady Hua's chest, Huang Qi reached out, only for his hand to brush against Lady Hua's smooth white one holding the round wooden bucket.

"Ah! Sorry, I must've grabbed the wrong thing!" Huang Qi feigned innocence, giving her hand a quick squeeze before hurriedly drawing a bamboo stick, right as her anger was about to flare.

Glancing at his chosen bamboo stick, he shook his head helplessly and shot Pang Jian a bitter smile. "Sorry, Little Brother."

Pang Jian simply hummed in response.

Meanwhile, Cao Mang was glaring dagger at Huang Qi from up on the central platform. He was already plotting how he would deal with Huang Qi once he left the Primordial Wilderness.

The onlookers glanced between Huang Qi and Cao Mang, in silent admiration at Huang Qi's boldness. Many whispered among themselves, wondering about Huang Qi's background and origins.

Huang Qi dared to make moves on Lady Hua right in front of Cao Mang. His future appeared grim.

Given Cao Mang's temperament, they believed Huang Qi would not survive long after leaving the Primordial Wilderness.

"Who's next?" Lady Hua asked in barely concealed anger.

"Let me try my luck." Yang Rui stepped forward.

He showed no interest in Lady Hua. Instead, he kept his eyes fixed on Luo Hongyan as he marveled, "A million spirit stones for such an extraordinary woman! It's worth it, despite the circumstances."

Drawing a bamboo stick, he glanced at it and glared coldly at Pang Jian.

"Too bad I can't use her to spite you," he sneered, reducing the bamboo sticks to ashes with a burst of flame.

Disappointed, he turned away and walked to the other end of the platform to eye a wooden box containing a pill.

Pang Jian turned to stare at the seething Cao Mang and asked calmly, "Cao Mang, has my sister ever offended you?"

He addressed Cao Mang without any titles or honorifics.

Even geniuses like Yang Rui addressed Cao Mang as Senior Cao. Elders like Jiu Yuan and Lou Yunming usually called him Brother Cao or Junior Cao. All the cultivators in the Primordial Wilderness showed proper respect to this renowned Third World rogue cultivator.

Today, however, there was an exception.

"I can't remember the last time someone called me by my name," Cao Mang murmured to himself, staring coldly at Pang Jian. Then, in a louder voice, he said, "No, she never offended me."

"Cao Mang, we came to your event and stayed on the First Peak," Pang Jian continued, voice calm but steady. "Why? Why did you destroy her soul array on the way back and force her to leave the First Peak? Why did you capture her and sell her as merchandise?

"What gives you the right?"

The trading hall fell into silence. Cultivators glanced between Pang Jian and Cao Mang in surprise as everyone contemplated his words.

"Brother!" Huang Qi gave Pang Jian a thumbs-up. "Well said!"

"That's right. What gives him the right?!" Jiang Li called out softly, biting her lip.

Zhao Yuanqi gazed thoughtfully at Pang Jian's tall figure. No wonder Zhou Qingchen and Jiang Li hold him in such high regard. If I were in his place, I would not have the courage to address Cao Mang by name and question him so boldly.

"Indeed, what gives Old Monster Cao the right to capture her without reason? Just because she's from the Blood Spirit Sect?" a young woman in a Star River Alliance robe chimed in quietly. This woman was Xie Xiwen, one of the four geniuses of the Third World.

"Little Xie, watch your words!" Liang Ying, an elder of the Star River Alliance, scolded.

"Pang Jian has no family or sect backing him, but he still dares to speak out. Why should I be afraid?" Xie Xiwen retorted. "Or are you saying our Star River Alliance is too weak to stand up to a rogue cultivator?"

"We're on his territory, so we need to show some respect. It's just common courtesy!" Elder Liang Ying replied in exasperation.

"Oh." Xie Xiwen appeared confused.

Cao Mang stepped down from the central platform to stand before Pang Jian.

Although short in stature, he exuded a towering presence as he stood with his hands clasped behind his back. He was like the First Peak of the Primordial Wilderness, overlooking and suppressing all the surrounding mountains.

Jiu Yuan, Lou Yunming, Liang Ying, and the other elders from the major sects gazed solemnly at Cao Mang. Though they were all in the Spirit Condensation Realm, the elders were only in the early stages. Cao Mang was a cut above them.

"It has nothing to do with her being a remnant of the Blood Spirit Sect.

"I, Cao Mang, can do as I please in my territory. Not even the five major sects of the Third World can intervene!" he said domineeringly, eyeing Pang Jian with blatant derision and scorn.

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