Trials of the Abyss

Chapter 508: The Revival of the Blood Spirit Sect

A brand-new wooden house stood next to Pang Jian's modest dwelling in the Cloud Wilderness.

The three-story house was far more refined and spacious than Pang Jian's simple abode.

The house belonged to Li Yuqing.

Li Yuqing opened a window on the third floor and called out to the plain wooden hut below, "Pang Jian, come have a drink! Cultivating every day is so dull. I've summoned Li Jie over. Things will get lively here in a few days."

She leisurely stayed on the Resolute Expanse, completely at ease with her surroundings.

At times, she and Pang Jian would exchange insights on cultivation. Other times, she invited him to drink and admire the moon.

Li Yuqing appeared rather content with life on the Resolute Expanse and clearly planned to stay for a long time.

Her call roused Pang Jian from his meditation. He flew over without hesitation.

This was their routine in recent days.

***

Liu Junhong sat atop a massive willow tree near the Verdure Paradise in the Cloud Wilderness, observing the changes within the Blessed Land while also keeping an eye on Pang Jian.

"They make a fine pair," he said with a smile.

Then, using his sword token, he informed Xu Yu, "The Verdure Paradise can now grow high-grade spirit herbs. Keep an eye out for some good seeds."

"Where's Wu Sujin now?" Xu Yu curiously pried. "Pang Jian's dealing with two troublesome girls in such a small fragmented land. Can he really handle them?"

"Everything's still peaceful for now." Liu Junhong glanced toward the Forbidden Land of the Thunder God. "The girl from the Pure Land Sect is watching over the Thunderclap Paradise with Old Mu. She says she'll send her junior sister over once the Blessed Land fully forms and can be entered in the flesh."

At that moment, Qi Qingsong's divine soul flew over from the distant mining area and stopped before Liu Junhong with a mischievous grin.

"Master! Who are you gossiping about now?"

"You!" Liu Junhong snorted. "Zhou Qingchen and Dong Tianze surpass you if not for your lack of effort? You sleep all day and do nothing useful!"

"Master, have you forgotten that I cultivate the Dream Sword Technique?" Qi Qingsong protested.

Liu Junhong glared at Qi Qingsong.

"I don't think you're actually comprehending the Dream Sword Technique in your dreams!

"None of our generation, including Senior Jiang, have successfully stepped into the True God Realm. The future of the Sword Pavilion lies with Pang Jian, Chen Weihuang, and Hu Yuanfei. Not to mention you and Zhuang Yuyan!

"All we can do is support you and clear as many obstacles as possible so you can smoothly ascend to godhood in these chaotic times.

"If I could witness the era where multiple Sword Gods stand side by side, I can die without regret."

Liu Junhong was aware that the Immortal Realm was the limit for him, Xu Yu, Guang He, and Wang Ce.

This era undoubtedly belonged to the younger generation.

The True Gods would likely fall in the upcoming war, leaving many positions vacant. This would give the rising elites of the human race a chance to ascend to those divine seats.

True Gods inevitably rose and fell with every surge of foreign races into the upper worlds and the outbreak of great calamities.

The fall of old True Gods and the emergence of new ones often determined the fate of a sect for millennia.

If the Sword Pavilion could seize this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to produce several Sword Gods, it could dominate the Abyss for thousands of years to come.

"Becoming a True God is easier said than done." Qi Qingsong's divine soul let out a wry smile. "Even our Pavilion Master failed to ascend. I don't have the confidence."

Li Zhaotian's failure had been a heavy blow to the Sword Pavilion's morale.

Core members of the Sword Pavilion regarded Li Zhaotian as their spiritual pillar and firmly believed in his success.

His failure had left many disheartened. After all, if someone as brilliant in the Dao of Sword as Li Zhaotian could not ascend to the True God Realm, they surely had no chance either.

Liu Junhong's expression darkened. "His failure was due to other reasons. He would've ascended if not for an unforeseen accident. And even if he failed the first time, he will succeed the second time!"

"Only one person in history has ever succeeded in becoming a True God on their second attempt." Qi Qingsong sighed.

Liu Junhong said firmly, "And I believe he'll be the second."

"I believe that too." Great Elder Jiang Ran said, stepping out of the teleportation array and arriving at the Verdure Paradise in a flash. "There'll surely be opportunists snooping around this fragmented land soon.

"I'll be staying here for a while to help Pang Jian keep watch over this place lest someone like Li Chu appears again."

Qi Qingsong quickly greeted Jiang Ran with his divine soul, "Greetings, Great Elder!"

Knowing his master and Jiang Ran had matters to discuss, Qi Qingsong hurried back to the mines, where he continued to temper his divine soul with the magma below.

***

The Imperial Dominion spanned a territory larger than the Resolute Expanse, making it one of the largest and most prominent fragmented lands in the Second World.

It had long been a gathering place for rogue cultivators from the Second World and beyond. Rogue cultivators from the First and Third Worlds also flocked to the Imperial Dominion.

The once renowned Blood Spirit Sect had risen to prominence in the Imperial Dominion. They had met their downfall there as well.

Deep within a dense forest shrouded in poisonous mist in the northern region of the fragmented land, Dong Tianze strode forward with a cold expression.

Rogue and heretical cultivators lurking in the area instinctively stepped aside when they saw him.

Dong Tianze walked unhindered until he reached a valley filled with swirling blood-colored mist.

White bones were strewn across the valley, and swarms of poisonous insects writhed within the many abandoned blood pools,

The crumbling altars, destroyed buildings, and deep fissures carved into the earth bore silent witness to the bloody battle that had once taken place here.

"The Blood Spirit Sect was the origin of the Blood Moon Sect and the Sinister Soul Temple in the Third World. At our peak, we had several Immortal Realm powerhouses," a raspy voice said from within one of the blood pools writhing with poisonous insects.

Leaves scattered, and the poisonous insects in the pool abruptly burst apart in a disgusting spray of insect juice.

The exploded insects dissolved into the blood-colored mist, thickening the crimson haze that filled the valley.

A hooked-nose old man suddenly appeared, standing in the blood pool among the drifting leaves.

"Were you the one gathering disciples of the Blood Moon Sect and the Sinister Soul Temple, claiming you would restore the Blood Spirit Sect to its former glory?"Dong Tianze asked coldly. "The forbidden techniques of the Blood Spirit Sect have led to many deaths."

"If they died, then they clearly weren't disciples of our Blood Spirit Sect." The old man stepped out of the blood pool and approached Dong Tianze, locking eyes with him. "I have a technique capable of removing the Celestial Phoenix Imprint on your forehead.

"You're the Holy Son of our Blood Spirit Sect, not a Celestial Phoenix Divine Guard.

"Holy Son, this is the secret technique to erase the Celestial Phoenix Imprint. Your life is yours to control.

"You can also use it to drain the blood essence of the heir of the Celestial Phoenix's legacy as well."

The old man tossed a scroll toward Dong Tianze.

Thud!

Dong Tianze did not reach out to catch it, merely glancing at the scroll as it fell. "The Blood God Technique?"

"Yes, it's a cultivation method that can lead you to godhood." The hooked-nosed old man slowly stepped backward, his aura quietly retracting. "I've waited here for days just to hand you this Blood God Technique.

"Holy Son, whether you cultivate it or not is entirely up to you, but know that your status as the Holy Son cannot be changed."

"Holy Son? Who bestowed the title to me?" Dong Tianze sneered.

"Naturally, it was the God that our Blood Spirit Sect worshiped!" The old man's face lit up fanatically before curling into an eerie laugh. "She's in the Abyss. I can feel her presence.

"Holy Son, if you cultivate the Blood God Technique, you'll be able to adapt to either the spiritual qi of heaven and earth or the corrupted murky energy of the Fifth World.

"You'll thrive regardless of whether you dwell in the First World or fall to the Fifth World.

"When the calamity befalling the Abyss passes, our Blood Spirit Sect will stand among the strongest forces, and you will be our leader.

"Believe me, by then, you will have already ascended to the rank of True God.

"Our worshiped God will guide you. Soaring through the starry skies as the Blood God will come naturally to you."

The rambling old man then vanished into the valley.

Despite secretly probing the old man with divine sense, Dong Tianze could not discern his cultivation realm at all.

The Blood God Technique is...a path to godhood?

With a wave of his hand, the scroll on the ground flew into his spatial bracelet.

Dong Tianze narrowed his eyes in thought.

Luo Hongyan was once the Holy Maiden of the Blood Spirit Sect, but the power she released in Absolute Heaven belonged to an Outer God.

Was she possessed? Or has she always been an Outer God?

If she's an Outer God, is she the one secretly driving the Blood Spirit Sect's revival?

Dong Tianze's face darkened as he pondered.

"It's the remnants of the Blood Spirit Sect!"

A flying vessel bearing the flag of the Ghost Sacrifice Sect appeared above the valley. Several Ghost Sacrifice Sect cultivators leaped down, brandishing spirit artifacts at Dong Tianze.

Dong Tianze instantly discerned that the approaching Ghost Sacrifice Sect cultivators were all in the Soul Wandering Realm.

"I am Dong Tianze of the Sinister Soul Temple, not the Blood Spirit Sect," he explained coldly.

"Still denying it? You have a vast amount of blood essence, and your divine soul carries an ancient aura.

"There's no mistake! You're clearly from the Blood Spirit Sect!

"Those tempering their bodies and cultivating with sinister soul techniques are undoubtedly remnants of the Blood Spirit Sect!

"Blood Spirit Sect remnants like you have been surfacing all over the Second World lately, and now, here you are, standing at the very site of the sect's destruction. Do you still dare to deny it?

The Ghost Sacrifice Sect cultivators did not give Dong Tianze a chance to explain further before attacking him with their spirit artifacts.