Trials of the Abyss

Chapter 127: The Great Sun Hanging in the Sky

Before dawn, Pang Jian led Zhao Ling and the others out of the underground cave and carved a new one next to a low hill.

Standing in the small cave, Pang Jian said, "This will do for now. Don't go out during the day. If you want to expand the cave, try to do it at night and keep the noise to a minimum as there's a Fire Cloud Ship from the Radiant Sun Sect still patrolling high in the sky."

"Can you really help us survive this ordeal?" Zhao Ling asked skeptically.

"Yes, I'll know when the murky energy invades," Pang Jian replied calmly. "I'll come here to get you when that happens. Don't worry, I have a way to protect you from the murky energy. Once everyone leaves Divine Fortune, I'll take you away."

With that, he stepped out of the cramped cave.

After he left, the members of the Shadow Specter Sect blocked the entrance with large stones.

The voluptuous Bai Wei stared blankly at the entrance where Pang Jian had left. "Do you think he can help us survive?"

"We have no choice but to trust him," Zhao Ling said, leaning against the uneven, rocky cave wall. She took out some water, took a few sips, and continued in a low voice, "The Sect Leader has abandoned us. The powerful Sinister Soul Temple cultivator has nothing to do with the Shadow Specter Sect. Just as I was despairing and preparing to face death, he showed up..."

She smiled. "I believe in him!"

Wu Yi knitted his brows. "I've heard that some great figures from the upper world can enter the Fifth World and survive. Could Hong Jian be connected to the upper world?"

"That doesn't include the Third World," Meng Qiulan interjected solemnly, her wrinkled face was full of worry. "Only the great figures of the Second World and First World dare to venture into the Fifth World, but even they must be careful and constantly resist the tainted energy. Their combat power greatly diminishes as a result. Such great figures are beyond our reach, so stop daydreaming."

***

Three Cloud Sails rose from the Divine Fortune City's southern, northern, and western districts.

Members of the Star River Alliance moved through the different districts and placed Stellar Eyes on every street corner.

These Stellar Eyes were made of Stellar Stones and allowed Huang Ying to observe the city from a distance.

On one of the Cloud Sails, Dong Yao, Shangguan Dong, Ouyang Quan, He Hui, and Su Hongfei were chatting leisurely as they looked down at Divine Fortune City.

In the corner of the Cloud Sail, cages that once held Vicious Beasts now imprisoned the disheveled Yang Yuansen and other rogue cultivators.

"Apart from the commoners, the higher-ups are mostly concerned about the reactions cultivators like us would have if we were to be affected by the murky energy," said Shangguan Dong, the City Lord of Divine Fortune City.

Only a few commoners and rogue cultivators remained in Divine Fortune City, destined to be contaminated by the tainted energy.

Su Hongfei looked at Dong Yao and asked, "Why are we doing this?"

Dong Yao explained, "The higher-ups in the upper worlds want to learn more about the murky energy. The composition of the tainted energy of the Fifth World is said to differ from place to place. They want to understand the composition of the spreading murky energy and assess its strength.

"They'll also be sending people to the Fourth World to inspect the contaminated areas as the changes in the bodies and minds of those affected provide them with a reference. That way, they can determine the strength and composition of the murky energy and plan appropriately based on that information."

The eavesdropping Yang Yuansen finally understood why they were kept alive.

He had been tortured and was covered in blood from head to toe.

"If I had known, I would've joined Zhao Ling and Meng Qiulan to kill a few more members of the Blood Moon Sect!" He glared coldly at the speakers and taunted, "I joined the Shadow Specter Sect because I despise your big clans! You’re nothing but a bunch of lapdogs! The Star River Alliance, the Blood Moon Sect, the Radiant Sun Sect—you just do whatever they tell you!"

"Humph!" He Hui from the He Clan stabbed Yang Yuansen in the waist with his sword.

Yang Yuansen gritted his teeth in pain but did not beg for mercy. Instead, he grinned savagely. "I hope this murky energy engulfs the entire Fourth World. I want to see where you'll run then!"

He Hui sneered, "We can go to the Third World."

"Haha! The seven major clans might rule the Fourth World, but once you go to the Third World, you'll be worse off than dogs!" Yang Yuansen mocked, having nothing to lose now that he knew his fate was to be thrown into the murky energy. "The local clans in the Third World already occupy the areas with pure spiritual qi. There's no room for you!"

"Shut his mouth," Dong Yao said irritably. "Being mute won't hinder the Star River Alliance from using the Stellar Eyes to monitor his physical and mental state."

He Hui nodded and stabbed Yang Yuansen twice more, finally silencing him.

"If the entire Fourth World is indeed invaded, our future..." Dong Yao trailed off, looking at the dark sky, unsure of the fate of their seven major clans.

***

Pang Jian once again set the copper chest down next to the blood pool and entered it. This time, he did not see the moon and stars but a blazing sun!

A great sun hung in the sky of the chest, warming his body with its scorching rays.

When it's daytime outside, it shows the sun. When it's nighttime, it shows the moon and the stars!

The phenomena inside the chest changed with the alternation of day and night in the outside world!

So this is the sun? The legendary sun...

Pang Jian stared at it with his face full of wonder.

He felt like he was beneath the real sky, experiencing the true warmth of the sun's radiance.

Using the remnants of Sun Bin's divine power, he previously had the fortune of glimpsing the moon and stars. It looked exactly like what he saw in the chest earlier.

Today, he faced the legendary sun and bathed in its warmth. The novelty of the experience was exciting.

Thus, he did not rush to cultivate or enter the meditative state of Qi Nurturing Divine Cauldron Art but simply stared at the sun in awe.

He had no idea how much time had passed.

Creak!

Luo Hongyan lifted the lid.

The great sun vanished instantly.

Seeing Pang Jian still lost in thought, Luo Hongyan smiled softly as she prompted, "By my calculations, it's almost time for you to activate the Ghost Altar and trade with Dong Tianze again."

"Alright." Only then did Pang Jian step out of the chest.

He noticed the light cast by the chest was even more dazzling than before.

By entering the chest during the day, the sun's radiance flowed into it, making its light more brilliant.

"Let me adjust your appearance," Luo Hongyan said, floating over.

Her jade-like hand held a brush dipped in some unknown dye as she approached Pang Jian to paint his face.

Pang Jian closed his eyes, still quietly marveling at the chest's strangeness.

"You're quite handsome, but your expression is harsh, which makes you seem cold," Luo Hongyan observed as she applied the strange dye to Pang Jian's cheekbones. "I can't bring myself to make you ugly."

When she finished applying the dye to his face, she gently pinched his cheek with her newly formed hand and said with satisfaction, "You can go now."

Pang Jian opened his eyes.

Her pinch to his cheek seemed unnecessary, but he tactfully said nothing. He then entered the small carved-out cave.

After sealing the entrance, he retrieved the materials for constructing the Ghost Altar and set it up.

Moments later, Dong Tianze appeared in the center of the Ghost Altar. Putting on an air of mystery and speaking in a deliberately hoarse voice, he said, "I didn't expect you to be alive."

He had learned about the Radiant Sun Sect's efforts to burn Misty Swamp with the cooperation of the seven major clans from the Sinister Soul Temple. He feared the spirit materials he prepared would have to be resold for cheap.

Unexpectedly, the transaction proceeded as scheduled.

"These are the things I've prepared." Pang Jian placed the spirit jade, spirit stones, and a few uniquely shaped items into the depression on the altar.

This time, the items for trade were not from his collection but had been scavenged by Luo Hongyan using the Spirit Devils. Pang Jian did not know the actual value of these items but trusted that Luo Hongyan would give him items that Dong Tianze would be satisfied with.

Sure enough, Dong Tianze glanced at the items, nodded slightly, and placed his spirit materials in front of him.

"Alright," he said. "Some of these materials are used for refining souls and are unique to ou—to the Sinister Soul Temple."

Dong Tianze nearly said our Sinister Soul Temple but managed to correct himself.

"You're in the Marrow Cleansing Realm, still far from the Innate Realm. Why are you rushing to buy soul-nurturing materials for the Profound Abode Realm and the Spirit Condensation Realm?" Dong Tianze asked suspiciously.

"I'll eventually reach those realms, so it's better to prepare in advance," Pang Jian replied with his head lowered.

"Eventually..." Dong Tianze eyed the newly appointed hall master and said coldly, "The murky energy is about to invade Divine Fortune. I hope I'll still receive messages from you in the future."

He then vanished from the Ghost Altar.