Trials of the Abyss

Pang Jian destroyed the Witchghost Flag veiling the lake in a single strike.

The Witchghost Flag was a sacred artifact that Xing Heng, an Immortal Realm cultivator, wielded.

Despite that, it could not withstand a single sword strike from Pang Jian.

The power behind the strike caused Pang Jian to realize how much his experience of wandering the starry skies with his divine soul had refined his sword technique.

Simply gazing at the sky and perceiving it with his divine soul from within the Abyss could never allow him to truly comprehend the starry skies.

His sword could not embody the essence of the starry skies until he stepped out of the Abyss.

He could only manifest the true wonders of the starry skies after he placed himself in that desolate space, felt the coldness, and comprehended the complex and ever-shifting celestial energies beyond the Abyss!

In the starry skies, he discovered that the Abyss was in constant motion within the bizarre mist.

The ancient celestial bodies that appeared close together when viewed from the Abyss were actually separated by vast distances.

This newfound insight into the starry skies had elevated his sword technique!

The sword light infused with stellar, lunar, and solar energies had become dazzling beyond comparison!

Gasps of shock echoed from the spectating cultivators.

Pang Jian's sword strike had shaken the scattered rogue cultivators.

They still felt immersed in the profound mystery of that sword technique even after the sword light faded and the Witchghost Flag lay torn in two.

Some felt as though they were still drifting in the starry skies.

The single strike left them caught in its lingering sword intent. They simply could not calm their racing hearts.

It was a legendary strike that only a true sword genius could achieve!

"That sword strike has faintly touched upon the divine!"

"When the sword light flashed, it felt as if a corner of the starry skies descended into the Abyss and imprinted onto my soul."

"Pang Jian is truly a sword prodigy of this era!"

The rogue cultivators in the Imperial Dominion showered him with praise.

They had only ever seen Pang Jian's battle against Xuan Ying of the Demon Scale Race and his killing of Zhou Yi from the Nine Tribes Sect through the Celestial Profound Mirror.

Even Pang Jian's killing of the Divine Son of the Radiant Race, Lie Yi, in the Cosmic Skies Continent had mainly spread among the foreign races.

Beyond that, the rogue cultivators' knowledge of Pang Jian's abilities was limited to rumors.

Only after witnessing his sword strike did they truly understand that another sword prodigy had finally emerged from the Sword Pavilion after Li Zhaotian!

Pang Jian had cleaved apart an Immortal Realm cultivator's sacred artifact with his Nirvana Realm cultivation This alone was enough to prove that the rumors surrounding him were no exaggeration.

In fact, the rumors appeared to have conversely downplayed Pang Jian's combat prowess!

"Pang Jian, you destroyed my Witchghost Flag and interfered in our pursuit of the remnant from the Blood Spirit Sect." Xing Heng righteously reprimanded. "Do you realize what this means for the Sword Pavilion?

"In this critical time, when every faction is working to eradicate the foreign races of the Fifth World, you, as a disciple of the Sword Pavilion—"

Pang Jian's second sword strike abruptly cut him off.

The same dazzling sword light erupted, woven with the brilliance of the starry skies, and further sliced the already halved Witchghost Flag into four.

Pale blue lightning erupted, reducing the vengeful spirits and malevolent ghosts above the flag into dust.

The eradication of the evil spirits meant that Xing Heng's Witchghost Flag was thoroughly destroyed with these two sword strikes.

Xing Heng's righteous facade collapsed at the sight, and he fell silent with an ugly expression.

The sword prodigy from the Sword Pavilion evidently cared nothing for his words or his title as a protector of the Ghost Sacrifice Sect.

In the face of such an unyielding adversary, Xing Heng could not help but wonder, Why is Pang Jian being so reckless?

What does he know that I don't?

Who or what gave Pang Jian the confidence to strike without hesitation?

Despite his higher cultivation realm, Xing Heng found himself uncertain. He suspected that an Immortal REalm elder of the Sword Pavilion lurked nearby in support of Pang Jian.

***

Dong Tianze's heart sank when he saw the massive black flag shrouding the surface of the lake like a dark curtain.

An Immortal Realm cultivator from the Ghost Sacrifice Sect had clearly intervened.

Dong Tianze was only in the Soul Wandering Realm and was already struggling against the two Nirvana Realm cultivators. There was no way he could possibly escape if an Immortal Realm cultivator joined the fray.

Just as despair set in, a dazzling sword light tore through the black curtain.

Then, another strike sliced the black flag into four.

The lightning entwined in the sword light also destroyed the vengeful spirits and malevolent ghosts within the flag.

When Dong Tianze saw this, he knew that Pang Jian had come.

Although the copper coins and Shadow Specters were still in pursuit, Dong Tianze calmly stopped at the bottom of the lake.

He no longer fled.

Qian Bo and Yang Ronghao dared not pursue further when the Witchghost Flag was destroyed, sensing a chilling gaze locked onto them from above the lake.

This icy gaze was far more terrifying than the sword light that had torn the Witchghost Flag apart, silently threatening to annihilate them if they made even the slightest move against Dong Tianze.

Despite being in the Nirvana Realm, Qian Bo and Yang Ronghao felt the cold fear of being struck down on the spot. Neither dared to move a muscle.

Dong Tianze sat down calmly right before their eyes. Without concern for their presence, he took out a pill, swallowed it, and started to meditate.

Serene composure replaced the earlier turmoil and frustration on his face.

Even so, beneath that calm lay a hidden edge of ruthless brutality.

When Qian Bo and Yang Ronghao saw this, they could not help but recall that Dong Tianze had only taken twenty years to reach the Soul Wandering Realm.

Without prompting, Qian Bo explained, "We were just following orders."

Dong Tianze said nothing. He simply grinned in response.

The cruel smile brimmed with savage intent.

Yang Ronghao's temples throbbed. It felt like a bloodthirsty beast was stalking him.

In that instant, he knew without a shred of doubt that neither of them would escape Dong Tianze's wrath if he survived.

***

Pang Jian hovered motionlessly in the air, sword in hand.

"Ask the two below to come up. If you leave, I will stay my sword." Pointing the tip of his sword at the Phantom Cloud Ship above, he added, "Xing Heng, I owe you no explanation. If you refuse to leave, it won't just be the Whitchghost Flag that gets torn apart."

The threat in his words was unmistakable.

Even though the Sword Pavilion's influence had waned, Pang Jian still dared to threaten a protector of the Ghost Sacrifice Sect.

The rogue cultivators could hardly believe it.

Xing Heng himself was equally baffled. At a loss, he could only retrieve his black jade token and await instructions from the higher-ups of his sect.

A new command came through, clear and decisive. "Kill Pang Jian. Leave Dong Tianze alive."