Trials of the Abyss

Chapter 510: The Charm of Sword Pavilion Disciples

Lin Miaojin gazed down at Huang Qi from the seventh floor of the Soughing Wind Pavilion. "What are you waiting for?"

Huang Qi squatted at the street corner, lazily smoking his pipe under the sun, staring fixedly at the teleportation array outside the pavilion.

It was the most basic type of teleportation array, a simple square array occupying no more than a mu of land incapable of connecting to any sects in the First World.

Most of the time, it functioned as a one-way teleportation array.

Sects like the Sword Pavilion, the Celestial Lagoon Sect, and the Skyveil Cliff Sect from the Heaven Awakening Continent, as well as the Demon Sect and the Black Valley Sect from the Demon Abyss Continent, occasionally sent their disciples to the Imperial Dominion through this array.

However, rogue cultivators in the Imperial Dominion rarely succeeded in their attempts to teleport to the sects.

This was not because the array was damaged but because the sects did not permit it.

Only disciples or members from these sects could activate the array and travel to specific locations, usually after communicating with their sects in advance through transmission tokens.

After passing Huang Qi's message, Lin Miaojin noticed Huang Qi silently waiting by the teleportation array.

Curious, she came down and approached him. "Do you really think some Immortal Realm elder from Sword Pavilion will come to the Imperial Dominion just for Dong Tianze?"

Huang Qi smirked, puffing away at his pipe without a word.

"I looked into it. That Phantom Cloud Ship hovering above us belongs to Xing Heng, a protector of the Ghost Sacrifice Sect. He's an Immortal Realm cultivator.

"The Ghost Sacrifice Sect claims they're pursuing Dong Tianze because he's a remnant of the Blood Spirit Sect and has been cultivating their forbidden techniques at the sect's old location.

"Huang Qi, do you truly believe the Sword Pavilion would stand against the Ghost Sacrifice Sect for a remnant of the Blood Spirit Sect?" Lin Miaojin asked.

Huang Qi exhaled a long stream of smoke and said calmly, "All I know is that Dong Tianze is a disciple of the Sinister Soul Temple. Whether or not he's a remnant of the Blood Spirit Sect isn't for the Ghost Sacrifice Sect to decide."

"Cult Leader Han Zhiyuan is dead. That sect is bound to fade into history the way your Providence Sect did," Lin Miaojin said. "Huang Qi, I passed your message to the Sword Pavilion, but there was no response.

"If I were Xu Yu, do you know what I would do when I received this information? I would pretend I never saw it.

"I wouldn't want to risk antagonizing the Ghost Sacrifice Sect for Dong Tianze, so I simply wouldn't inform Pang Jian.

"The Sword Pavilion's morale is low after Li Zhaotian's failed ascension to the True God Realm. Elder Xu Yu will naturally prioritize the Sword Pavilion's interests.

"Why would they clash with the Ghost Sacrifice Sect over someone unrelated?"

"Don't judge the members of Sword Pavilion by your own standards," Huang Qi said, his smile twisting with amusement. "Lin Miaojin, if the Sword Pavilion were truly a sect that only sought profit and avoided danger, it wouldn't have earned the respect it holds today.

"The Sword Pavilion and its disciples carry a defiant edge and an unyielding spirit! That is the foundation of the Sword Pavilion's dominance in the Abyss!

"I've seen that unwavering sharpness in Pang Jian. I've also seen it in other Sword Pavilion disciples more than once.

"Trust me. The Sword Pavilion, or more specifically Pang Jian, won't turn a blind eye."

Huang Qi suddenly rose to his feet, back straightening as he locked eyes with a figure emerging from the teleportation array.

"See? Here he comes now."

Lin Miaojin turned to see a tall, blue-robed youth striding forward, a sword token hanging from his waist.

Huang Qi beamed, waving enthusiastically. "I knew you'd show up!"

Lin Miaojin's heart rippled with emotion.

Pang Jian's prompt arrival showed that the Sword Pavilion had treated her message with utmost seriousness.

Elder Xu Yu would have had to pass it on to Pang Jian immediately after receiving it.

Likewise, Pang Jian would have had to act the moment he received the news, wasting no time to rush to the Imperial Dominion.

That was the only way Pang Jian could have arrived so swiftly!

This meant Huang Qi was right.

Lin Miaojin had mistakenly judged the Sword Pavilion based on her own reasoning and expectations.

Contrary to her expectations, Elder Xu Yu acknowledged the bond between Pang Jian and Dong Tianze and did not simply turn a blind eye to avoid conflict with the Ghost Sacrifice Sect.

Pang Jian's quick arrival also showed how much this matter meant to him!

Lin Miaojin was thoroughly moved.

"Mr. Huang, did you pass the message to the Sword Pavilion?" Pang Jian asked as he approached.

Huang Qi grinned. "It was just a few spirit jades, hardly worth mentioning."

He then explained the situation, detailing the backgrounds and cultivation realms of the Ghost Sacrifice cultivators and why they were after Dong Tianze.

"Many thanks, Mr. Huang." Pang Jian bowed deeply in gratitude.

"No need for that! Please, don't be so formal!" Huang Qi hastily stepped aside, unwilling to accept Pang Jian's bow. "I owe you far more. I wouldn't have made it back up to the Second World if not for you.

"Back then, you told your senior brother, Yu Shi, that I was a friend. The respect I received because of that...was more than I could have imagined.

"Pang Jian, I know the kind of person you are. I knew you would come.

"Now, I'm quite familiar with the northern region of this fragmented land. Let me lead you there."

With that, Huang Qi flew swiftly toward the north.

Pang Jian followed closely behind.

Lin Miaojin stood frozen in place, dumbfounded by what she had just witnessed.

Not every cultivator in the Abyss was a peerless prodigy. When Lin Miaojin first met Huang Qi, he was in the Spirit Condensation Realm, and his cultivation had not advanced since.

That same Huang Qi now led Pang Jian toward the Phantom Cloud Ship, heading straight for a confrontation with the Ghost Sacrifice Sect's powerful cultivators.

Is he out of his mind?

Pang Jian came alone, and according to the rumors, he's only just stepped into the Nirvana Realm. What chance do they have against Xing Heng, an Immortal Realm cultivator, and several other Ghost Sacrifice Sect Nirvana Realm cultivators?

Was risking his life over a shred of respect really worth it?

"Those two are insane!" Liu Miaojin cursed under her breath.

Returning to the Soughing Wind Pavilion, she used the transmission token to send another message to the Sword Pavilion.

"Pang Jian has arrived at the Imperial Dominion," she informed. "The one leading the Ghost Sacrifice Sect's party is Xing Heng, a protector in the early stages of the Immortal Realm.

"I don't know if Pang Jian can contend with them alone. I urge your sect to treat this matter with caution."

After sending the message, Lin Miaojin sat in her room, her emotions in turmoil.

She could not understand why she kept involving herself in such thankless matters.

The first message was part of her job, a simple business exchange for the spirit jades Huang Qi had offered.

There had been no real reason to send the second message.

If the Sword Pavilion and the Ghost Sacrifice Sect truly clashed, and the Ghost Sacrifice Sect decided to trace the source, the trail would almost certainly lead to her.

If that happened, the Ghost Sacrifice Sect would likely ruthlessly deal with both her and the Soughing Wind Pavilion.

"Perhaps it's Elder Xu Yu's defiance or Pang Jian's unwavering determination influencing me. Still, I can't deny that this world needs sects like the Sword Pavilion! We need people like Xu Yu and Pang Jian!"

Ding!

The transmission token emitted a crisp chime.

"This is Xu Yu. Thank you for the two messages. The Sword Pavilion will remember this favor.

"Rest assured, the Sword Pavilion won't reveal you or the Soughing Wind Pavilion as the source.

"Furthermore, if your involvement is exposed for any reason, you and anyone you deem important may seek refuge in Trimcloud Town under our protection.

"The Sword Pavilion will do everything in its power to ensure the safety of you and those around you," Xu Yu assured.

Lin Miaojin was a nobody in the Imperial Dominion, yet the Sword Pavilion was prepared to go to such lengths to ensure her safety.

She suddenly understood why Huang Qi was willing to risk his life to guide Pang Jian.

The people of Sword Pavilion truly possessed a rare charm.

I can't join the fight, but I can do what I do best—gather as much intelligence as possible on the Ghost Sacrifice Sect. Hopefully, the Sword Pavilion can use it to their advantage.

Lin Miaojin quietly immersed herself in her work, collecting intelligence in the shadows.

***

In the northern region of the Imperial Dominion, Dong Tianze abruptly turned back just as he was about to leave the fragmented land and enter the open air of the Second World.

After all, he was not foolish and had long since spotted the Phantom Cloud Ship lingering in the sky.

He quickly found a deep mountain lake and dove headfirst into its dark waters.

The northern region of the Imperial Dominion had plenty of hiding places as it was filled with towering trees, steep mountains, lakes, and secluded valleys.

In contrast, there was nowhere to hide in the open air of the Second World.

Leaving the fragmented land meant the Ghost Sacrifice Sect could easily hunt him down with their Phantom Cloud Ship.

I have no choice but to wait this out.

Dong Tianze suppressed his aura and glided toward the deepest part of the lake, hoping to avoid detection.

Having refined the Blood Moon Sect's body tempering technique to an advanced stage, he could hide his presence, blood essence, and spiritual power to great effect.

Moreover, his divine soul was infused with divine consciousness and had unique concealment properties of its own.

This, combined with the techniques he had gleaned from the Celestial Phoenix Imprint and the bone of the Celestial Phoenix, meant that he had honed his stealth abilities to a near-masterful level.

Qian Bo of the Ghost Sacrifice Sect stood at the lakeside. He tossed six copper coins into the lake and attached his divine sense to them as they sank to search the lakebed for traces of Dong Tianze.

"I've never encountered such a slippery Soul Wandering Realm cultivator before," he muttered. "I hear he was born in the Fourth World."

"We both know that a prodigy from the Fourth World rises like an unstoppable force every so often," Yang Ronghao said, a hint of resentment in his tone. "Isn't Pang Jian from Sword Pavilion also from the Fourth World?"

Qian Bo's brows knitted. "Pang Jian...seems to know Dong Tianze."

"So what?" Yang Ronghao replied indifferently. "The Sword Pavilion is bound to crumble during the next wave of foreign race invasions without Li Zhaotian to hold things together.

"When that happens, the Sword Pavilion will become like the Sinister Soul Temple. Li Zhaotian will be the next Han Zhiyuan.

"Pang Jian's renown will inevitably fade without the Sword Pavilion behind him.

"Besides, the Sword Pavilion likely won't risk clashing with us over someone like Dong Tianze anyway," Yang Ronghao said with a shrug.

Summoning two Shadow Specters, forged from the souls of powerful Ghost Race warriors, he pricked his finger and let a drop of blood fall onto their foreheads.

Their forms solidified as the blood seeped in.

"Find him for me."

The Shadow Specters slipped into the lake under the guidance of Yang Ronghao's blood essence and divine soul. It did not take long for them to catch the faint traces of Dong Tianze's presence.