Trials of the Abyss

Pang Jian once again assumed the role of a guide and was entrusted with their itinerary.

Luo Hongyan’s actions after the incident in the hollow tree trunk not only exceeded Pang Jian’s expectations but also left the Su Clan and the He Clan feeling surprised.

All the details of the exploration and itinerary were left to Pang Jian, and she offered unwavering support regardless of where Pang Jian decided to go.

She warned Su Yuntian and He Rong that the location they wished to explore was teeming with members of the Shadow Specter Sect and emphasized how Pang Jian not only saved the lives of many members of the seven major clans but was also very familiar with the terrain of the Solitary Mountain Range, including knowledge about its danger zones.

Due to her persistent efforts, the Su Clan and the He Clan eventually conceded to have Pang Jian as their guide.

Thus, under Pang Jian’s leadership, their search party continued to advance steadily toward the northernmost area of the Solitary Mountain Range.

Along the way, Luo Hongyan stuck close to Pang Jian, conversing with him at every opportunity, eager to share even the smallest anecdotes.

***

Nightfall once again descended upon them.

He Rong angrily glared at the distant campfire, where Pang Jian and "Ning Yao" were once again engaged in hushed conversation.

Occasionally, Luo Hongyan would let out soft chuckles, much to He Rong’s annoyance.

"They look like a real couple," Su Meng whispered, fueling the fire.

He Rong stood up irritably, but Su Yuntian swiftly grabbed his arm and pulled him back down. In a voice tinged with concern, Su Yuntian reprimanded. "What’s gotten into you? Ziren has already passed away. He and Ning Yao weren’t even married yet. She isn’t your He Clan’s daughter-in-law!"

He Rong growled, "When I see her like this, it makes me furious to think about how infatuated Ziren was with her. It’s even more infuriating knowing that there might not even be bones left of him!"

"People can’t come back from the dead. There’s no need to be like this," Su Yuntian advised gently, urging He Rong to refrain from acting impulsively and to avoid stirring up trouble.

Su Yuntian also found it strange. Ning Yao was normally indifferent toward others but was unusually proactive toward Pang Jian. Whenever Pang Jian was not cultivating, she would stick by his side.

It was uncertain what she and Pang Jian talked about. However, she would occasionally burst into laughter that sounded like tinkling bells and seemed to be in a rather good mood.

The deaths of Ning Yuanshan and the Ning Clan’s servants did not seem to have affected her.

Could it be that she simply did not care?

Su Yuntian rubbed his chin, watching "Ning Yao" from afar, puzzled by the situation.

"Sister Ning defied societal expectations by not choosing Brother Ziren. Instead, she fell in love with a hunter from the mountains. I think it’s very admirable," Su Meng whispered.

Her words caused He Rong’s expression to grow even darker.

"Father, you’re not allowed to interfere in my marriage decisions in the future!" Su Meng shouted.

Su Yuntian gave her a stern glare and said with a sigh of exasperation, "Considering your cultivation talent, our Su Clan has no right to interfere. Once you go to the Radiant Sun Sect, a master will take you under their wing. Your master will arrange these matters for you. It’s not up to our Su Clan to decide."

"Then I’ll make sure to choose a good master!" Su Meng exclaimed

***

Crackle!

Pang Jian observed the woman across from him as he stoked the fire, causing sparks to scatter.

Whenever he was not cultivating, she would approach him and start talking about the cultivation world. Sometimes, she would even briefly recount the wonders and tales of the various sects in the Third World.

Through their conversations, Pang Jian learned that the Dong Clan and the Su Clan had a longstanding connection with the Radiant Sun Sect from the upper world and that they had set their sights on Su Meng.

Besides that, the Zhou Clan had deep ties with the Red Mountain Sect, while the Ning Clan and the He Clan had a favorable relationship with the Star River Alliance. Finally, the Shangguan Clan and the Ouyang Clan were considered vassal forces of the Blood Moon Sect in the Fourth World. Young talents from these two major clans would do everything in their power to journey to the Blood Moon Sect to cultivate.

In the Third World above them, amidst the countless floating islands, were two continents known as Cosmic Skies and Dark Abyss.

The most powerful factions of cultivators established their sects and schools on these two continents. These were the Radiant Sun Sect, the Red Mountain Sect, the Blood Moon Sect, the Sinister Soul Temple, and the Star River Alliance.

The Radiant Sun Sect and the Red Mountain Sect occupied the Cosmic Skies continent, while the Blood Moon Sect, the Star River Alliance, and the Sinister Soul Temple stayed on the Dark Abyss continent.

Ning Yao had long since received the Star River Alliance’s acknowledgment. In the future, she would cultivate at the Star River Alliance in the Third World. Currently, she was raising her cultivation realm in the lower world.

After experiencing the life-and-death ordeal at Blackwater Pond, the previously aloof girl seemed to undergo a sudden change in temperament.

Following her sincere apologies in the hollow tree trunk, she no longer behaved haughtily. Pang Jian could not find fault in anything she did after that.

When he sought a quiet place to cultivate with the spirit stones in his bamboo basket, Ning Yao would tactfully excuse herself. When he was in the mood to talk, she would approach and teach him common knowledge about the cultivation world, offering him new understandings.

She also procured ample food and clean water from the Su Clan and the He Clan for him and persuaded them to accompany him on his journey.

Her recent behavior put Pang Jian at ease and left him with no complaints.

Sometimes, Pang Jian wondered if something had happened to Ning Yao after nearly drowning in Blackwater Pond.

"What are you thinking about?" Seeing his absent-minded appearance, Luo Hongyan stopped her description of some wonder of the Third World and asked Pang Jian with a smile.

"In the Solitary Mountain Range, there are three forbidden zones that I’ve never ventured into before. The Blackwater Pond is one of them. There’s also a place called Insect Valley, and a small island in the middle of Black Orchid Lake." Pang Jian collected in his wandering thoughts, staring into the distance as he said, "We’ll reach Insect Valley soon. I want to go and have a look."

Luo Hongyan’s eyebrows twitched slightly, and a hint of surprise swept across her face. "Who told you about these forbidden zones?"

There was no mention of the three forbidden zones in the real Ning Yao’s memories nor those of the Spirit Devils.

"I heard about it from veteran hunters," Pang Jian lied. The fact that his father had been the one to forbid him from entering these forbidden areas was something he wanted to keep secret.

"Oh, alright. About Insect Valley..." Though a hint of doubt lingered in her heart, Luo Hongyan tactfully refrained from pressing further, smiling brightly as she said, "Anyway, I’ll follow your lead. Wherever you decide to go, I’ll go with you."

Pang Jian paused, his gaze lingering on her with a peculiar expression on his face.

"Everyone, please get ready. Once we’ve eaten our fill, we’ll head to Insect Valley," Luo Hongyan declared as she stood up. Moving toward the Su Clan and the He Clan, she maintained a slight distance from them as she added, "Pang Jian mentioned that Insect Valley might be dangerous, so everyone has to be careful."

She gracefully returned to Pang Jian, swaying in her hips as she walked, completely oblivious to the anger brewing within He Rong’s eyes.

To her, He Rong and Su Yuntian were just higher-level Spirit Devils.

She spared their lives solely because she needed them to maintain the fa?ade of being Ning Yao.

"Let’s continue," Pang Jian slowly rose to his feet. He advanced through the darkness with the Dragonwood Spear in hand and the bamboo basket on his back.

The group huddled close together in the tranquil night, reluctant to stray too far apart.

After notifying the Su Clan and the He Clan, Luo Hongyan once again stuck to Pang Jian, practically pressing herself against him.

Accustomed to such proximity, Pang Jian occasionally caught a pleasant fragrance wafting from her, stirring up mixed emotions.

Two hours later.

Beneath the pitch-black night sky, Pang Jian arrived at Insect Valley. He had passed this place several times before but had never ventured into it.

The darkness of the night meant that he could not see the bone of the Celestial Phoenix protruding from Insect Valley when he initially arrived.

As the members of the Su Clan and the He Clan trickled in, they lit up the lanterns and candles in their possession. It was only then that Pang Jian noticed something was amiss.

The bone of the Celestial Phoenix had pierced through a huge beehive, with its sharp end buried deep into the ground, and numerous skeletons scattered around.

Pang Jian had never seen such a massive beehive before and wondered how many bees and insects had once lived inside it.

Recalling the fearsome sight of the enormous serpent at the bottom of Blackwater Pond, Pang Jian speculated that this massive beehive was the terrifying reason behind Insect Valley being designated as a forbidden zone.

Just like the giant serpent, the beehive had also been targeted by the bone of the Celestial Phoenix, which pierced straight through the beehive when it fell.

Countless bees and insects must have perished in Insect Valley, their essence drained by the bone of the Celestial Phoenix, transforming into another essence of the Celestial Phoenix.

With a torch in hand, Su Yuntian moved closer to inspect before he shouted, "The Ouyang Clan’s attire! Ning Yao, they’re from the Ouyang Clan! You mentioned encountering Ouyang Duanhai. You said he was neither human nor ghost and was ultimately killed by the Shadow Specter Sect at Blackwater Pond. This must be where Ouyang Duanhai was possessed!"

A strange, human-shaped figure? Ouyang Duanhai, killed by the Shadow Specter Sect? Pang Jian was stunned.

He cast Luo Hongyan a meaningful look when he realized she had not been entirely truthful with the Su Clan and the He Clan. The strange figure named Ouyang Duanhai had been devoured from within by the Divine Guard as it transformed into a blood-red Celestial Phoenix. That Celestial Phoenix had ultimately been absorbed by Pang Jian’s bronze pendant.

"There’s nothing of value here anymore." Luo Honyan knew that Ouyang Duanhai had already taken the essence of the Celestial Phoenix, so she found the place rather dull. She continued, "Pang Jian, whatever wonders this place might’ve once held, they’re already gone."

Pang Jian also came to the same realization.

The bone of the Celestial Phoenix had already descended and impaled the massive to the ground. Now that the essence of the Celestial Phoenix had already been formed, this place indeed held no further value.

"Let’s camp here for the night. Tomorrow, at dawn, we’ll head to Black Orchid Lake and check the island there. There might be another bone of the Celestial Phoenix there." He had a strong intuition. The fact that Blackwater Pond and Insect Valley, both designated as forbidden zones by his father, were chosen by the bone of the Celestial Phoenix, suggested that the small island in Black Orchid Lake might very well harbor a fourth.

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