Trials of the Abyss

The elder of the Radiant Sun Sect denounced Huang Qi with an air of righteous authority.

Huang Qi's face darkened, but he dared not confront Wei Wenhan directly. As a rogue cultivator, he knew the importance of picking his battles.

His grudge against Cao Mang was a private fight among rogue cultivators. As long as he killed Cao Mang, the issue would be resolved because Cao Mang was also a rogue cultivator and did not have the backing of a sect.

However, Wei Wenhan was different.

He was a Spirit Condensation Realm elder of the Radiant Sun Sect and had a close relationship with Yang Rui. In other words, Wei Wenhan represented the whole Radiant Sun Sect.

With this in mind, Huang Qi did not dare to act rashly despite his displeasure and could only stay silent.

Satisfied with Huang Qi's compliance, Wei Wenhan shifted his attention to Pang Jian.

"Pang Jian, although you're destined to enter the Sword Pavilion, there's still something I need to remind you of." Wei Wenhan adopted the authoritative demeanor of an elder instructing a junior as he gently persuaded, "The woman named Luo Hongyan is a remnant of the Blood Spirit Sect. You should break off any ties with her. You'll only end up bringing trouble upon yourself otherwise.

"Not to mention—"

Wei Wenhan's authoritative act following the battle against the invading forces had long annoyed Pang Jian.

Moreover, Wei Wenhan's repeated reminders that Luo Hongyan was a remnant of the Blood Spirit Sect only fueled Pang Jian's anger.

"What?" Wei Wenhan was taken aback.

Wei Wenhan had not involved himself in the dispute between Pang Jian and Cao Mang, Lou Yunming, and Jiu Yuan, nor did he have personal grievances with Pang Jian. Thus, he assumed Pang Jian would at least hear him out if he adopted the stance of an advising elder.

He did not expect Pang Jian to rudely interrupt him.

Meanwhile, Pang Jian was already displeased with the Radiant Sun Sect because of Yang Rui and did not have the patience to listen to Wei Wenhan's incessant chatter.

"I've said this before. I, Pang Jian, can do as I please in my territory. Not even the five major sects of the Third World can intervene!" Brazenly fixing his threatening gaze on Wei Wenhan and Yang Rui, he added arrogantly, "If I say Cao Mang colluded with the foreign races then he did. Even if he didn't, I want to kill him anyway. Does anyone have a problem with that?"

Pang Jian had the Spirit Slaughtering Astral Array, all the spiritual qi of the Primordial Wilderness, and the black turtle on his side.

The fate of every cultivator on the summit of the First Peak was in Pang Jian's hands.

He had the power to determine who lives and who dies!

After all, he even dared to kill Liang Ying, Lou Yunming, and Jiu Yuan. There was no reason for him to fear a mere elder from the Radiant Sun Sect.

Wei Wenhan was so angry he was fuming. Pointing his Fire Dragon Ruler at Pang Jian, he angrily scolded, "You have no respect for your elders! I don't care what extraordinary spirit artifact the Sword Pavilion has given you. Even if you managed to kill Jiu Yuan and Lou Yunming, you're still just a junior in the Profound Abode Realm. How dare you speak to me like this!"

Wei Wenhan assumed Pang Jian's extraordinary cultivation talent earned him the favor of the Sword Pavilion and believed Qi Qingsong had brought some terrifying spirit artifacts from the Sword Pavilion for him. This allowed Pang Jian to exploit the chaotic situation in the Primordial Wilderness and rise in fame.

In other words, Wei Wenhan attributed the deaths of Jiu Yuan and the others to some powerful spirit artifacts and not Pang Jian.

The Star Crushing Umbrella slowly expanded and flew toward the meditating Cao Mang. Pang Jian followed close behind with his spear, his fierce gaze fixed on Wei Wenhan and Yang Rui.

"I'm going to kill Cao Mang now. I'll kill whoever dares to stop me."

Pang Jian's words caused an uproar on the summit of the First Peak.

No one expected Pang Jian to show such blatant disregard for Wei Wenhan of the Radiant Sun Sect.

Regardless of whether he was set to become an inner disciple of the Sword Pavilion, Pang Jian's arrogance and audacity were undoubtedly excessive.

Those on the summit of the First Peak were stunned. They had never seen anyone as bold as Pang Jian before.

"This brat…" Huang Qi clicked his tongue in astonishment.

Huang Qi knew Pang Jian had killed Jiu Yuan, Lou Yunming, and Liang Ying, but he had never truly witnessed Pang Jian's fierce determination firsthand. Now, watching him on the summit of the First Peak, he finally realized how mad the young man was.

Pang Jian dared to say things he would not dare to utter!

Pang Jian dared to do things he would not dare to do!

I wonder what it would've been like if somebody like this existed in the Providence Sect before it was destroyed… Huang Qi wondered. He then smiled bitterly and sighed. If there really were such a lawless individual in the Providence Sect, it likely would've been wiped even faster.

"Do those from the lower worlds all have such disregard for etiquette and rules?" Lian Feng exclaimed in surprise.

Many rogue cultivators on the summit of the First Peak stared at Pang Jian in a mix of shock and admiration.

This was their first time seeing someone treat an elder of the five major sects with such contempt. While they admired Pang Jian's courage, they also worried Wei Wenhan would use the Radiant Sun Sect to suppress him.

Cao Mang took the opportunity to fan the flames. "He doesn't even take you seriously. It's like his word is the only one that matters in the entire Primordial Wilderness! Brother Wei, your reputation will suffer if you don't kill him!"

Wei Wenhan's Fire Dragon Ruler blazed with fiery light after Pang Jian humiliated him.

Sneering coldly, he spat, "What an ungrateful brat! I want to see what extraordinary spirit artifact you, a Sword Pavilion disciple, possess that makes you so arrogant!"

An intensely hot protective shield enveloped Wei Wenhan's tall frame.

Pang Jian shot toward Cao Mang. Wei Wenhan charged after him, intending to teach him a lesson.

Cao Mang was severely injured, but that did not mean the Primordial Wilderness was now under Pang Jian's command!

I can't believe a mere brat from the lower world would dare to act so arrogantly in the Primordial Wilderness!

Intertwined light beams shot up from the ground as Wei Wenhan leaped into the air.

A miniature Spirit Slaughtering Astral Array suddenly appeared!

The sharp light beams shattered Wei Wenhan's protective shield, piercing through his body. A muffled groan escaped his lips as he frantically tried to block the light beams with his Fire Dragon Ruler.

"Cao Mang! You deserve to die a thousand deaths!" Wei Wenhan shouted angrily.

Whoosh!

The light beams shot upward in relentless pursuit of Wei Wenhan.

He had to continuously swing the Fire Dragon Ruler and summon fiery dragons to counter the terrifying light beams.

"Cao Mang!" Wei Wenhan roared, glaring hatefully at Cao Mang.

Cao Mang would have to die a thousand times for the rage in Wei Wenhan's heart to be quelled.

Wei Wenhan had tried to protect Cao Mang and help secure a chance for him to recover, only for Cao Mang to ambush him!

Protecting Cao Mang was the most foolish thing Wei Wenhan had ever done.

The false accusations pushed Cao Mang to the brink of madness. He opened his mouth to explain. "I—"

The radiance from the canopy of the Star Crushing Umbrella above Cao Mang's head cascaded down and isolated him from the outside world.

"I didn't! I didn't activate the Spirit Slaughtering Astral Array! It wasn't me! It honestly wasn't me!" Cao Mang's desperate screams echoed within the small world beneath the umbrella. Unfortunately for him, not a single word reached the outside world.

The mastermind behind the activation of the Spirit Slaughtering Astral Array, Pang Jian, stood outside the umbrella. He watched as Wei Wenhan cursed Cao Mang with an unexpectedly intense lividity.

Once the Spirit Slaughtering Astral Array was activated, Wei Wenhan instantly regarded Cao Mang as his mortal enemy.

"Pang Jian, I misunderstood you! Kill him! Kill Cao Mang for me!" Wei Wenhan shouted in slight embarrassment.

He finally understood why Jiu Yuan and Pang Jian claimed Cao Mang to be the mastermind.

The Spirit Slaughtering Astral Array's sudden activation was undeniable proof!

Not to mention, the Black Iron Mountain beneath Cao Mang was the array core of the deadly Spirit Slaughtering Astral Array!

Cao Mang and Lady Hua spent over a century creating the Spirit Slaughtering Astral Array. It was their pride and joy. No one aside from Cao Mang could control the array.

Who else could be ambushing him if not Cao Mang?

Wei Wenhan no longer had any doubts. He firmly believed Cao Mang was aiming to eliminate him now that the foreign races were out of the picture.

"Pang Jian, be careful of the Spirit Slaughtering Astral Array. It's an extraordinary array, and its core is the Black Iron Mountain under Cao Mang the dwarf!" Wei Wenhan viciously insulted.

He was furious at Cao Mang's deception and even suspected that Cao Mang had other deadly tricks up his sleeve.

"Everyone, be careful!" Wei Wenhan warned. "The Spirit Slaughtering Astral Array is still under Cao Mang's control. Anyone here could become his target!

"Cao Mang surely has more deadly tricks up his sleeve. If he's daring to act now, it must be because he's confident in his ability to kill us all!

"Be careful of Cao Mang the dwarf!"

The interwoven light beams of the array continued to run wild.

Yang Rui let out a muffled groan and hastily summoned his Nine Suns Cauldron. Jumping inside it, he said in a deep voice, "The truth has been revealed! Now that the foreign race warriors and Vicious Beasts are dead, Cao Mang is no longer hiding his murderous intent!"

"Damn you, Cao Mang!" Lin Yuanfeng cursed as he leaped into the air.

Slash!

The interwoven light beams had sliced his legs into a bloody mess.

The Spirit Slaughtering Astral Array also attacked several others on the summit of the First Peak. They cursed Cao Mang as they hurriedly fled toward the foot of the mountain.

The situation had taken a dramatic turn.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Sharp light beams burst forth on the summit of the First Peak, resembling a blooming carnivorous flower as it attacked everyone within reach.

"Cao Mang!"

Cultivators on the summit of the First Peak cursed Cao Mang as they fled.

Wei Wenhan soared into the air with the Fire Dragon Ruler in hand. After scanning the summit, he swiftly floated toward the Yang Rui's Nine Suns Cauldron.

Standing at the edge of the cauldron, Wei Wenhan coldly remarked, "Cao Mang the dwarf must have long been corrupted by demonic influences. He's even more detestable than the foreign races from the Fifth World!"

"The Spirit Slaughtering Astral Array has become even stronger," Yang Rui noted solemnly.

"I know." Wei Wenhan stared at the Star Crushing Umbrella enveloping the Black Iron Mountain and said worriedly, "If Cao Mang dared to make a move, it must be because he has more tricks up his sleeve. We must be cautious!"

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