Trials of the Abyss

Chapter 106: Pang Jian's Proposal!

Ling Qing leaned against the wooden wall in a crude wooden house, gritting his teeth in pain with a soft whimper.

Meng Qiulan's thin, withered hand was holding her cane so tightly that veins were protruding.

The atmosphere was unbearably heavy.

The new hall master of the Shadow Specter Sect was seething with rage. Ling Qing was severely injured and her disciples, Bai Wei and Bai Zhi, had been forcibly taken by the Blood Moon Sect. Even so, she could not afford to retaliate.

Pang Jian stood nearby, taking it all in. He now understood the immense power and influence sects like the Blood Moon Sect had over the cultivators in the Fourth World.

The Shadow Specter Sect has been in constant conflict with the seven major clans and usually fought fiercely with them. Yet, when confronted by someone from the upper world’s Blood Moon Sect, even someone like Meng Qiulan, a hall master, didn't consider resisting from start to finish. The deep-rooted deterrence of the sects from the upper worlds was deeply engrained in the inhabitants of the Fourth World!

After a while, Ling Qing said through gritted teeth, "Hall Master, it seems the Blood Moon Sect is also unaware of the exact cause behind the catastrophe occurring in the Ouyang Clan's fragmented lands."

He avoided mentioning Bai Wei's and Bai Zhi's abduction to spare Meng Qiulan further embarrassment.

So, the catastrophe occurred in the fragmented lands within the Ouyang Clan's territory...

Pang Jian now knew the exact location of the catastrophe. The rising murky energy from the Fifth World had led to the near extinction of all life in those fragmented lands.

The Ouyang Clan and Shangguan Clan had ties to the Blood Moon Sect, and their respective territories were adjacent. The Formless Sailboat tasked with capturing Vicious Beasts had likely come to Divine Fortune City to investigate.

Meng Qiulan said nothing in response.

Seeing this, Ling Qing asked with a pained expression, "Hall Master, what should we do next?"

"What can we do?" Meng Qiulan squeezed her cane with two hands and said grimly, "They're from the Blood Moon Sect. They're far superior to Shangguan Dong in Divine Fortune City! The person who injured you is also at the Marrow Cleansing Realm. Not to mention, we have no idea how many people are on that sailboat or what their cultivation realms are!"

Ling Qing sighed and nodded. "I understand."

"Hall Master, we could raid that beast-hunting sailboat, rescue your two disciples, and seize the beast's blood and meat on board," Pang Jian suggested.

He required a lot of blood and flesh brimming with strong vitality for his cultivation and for Luo Hongyan to reforge her physical body. Additionally, he sensed the black turtle within the bronze pendant would need abundant blood essences to be reborn.

Pang Jian had only joined the Shadow Specter Sect to obtain high-grade beast blood through the hall master's connections. Now, with the knowledge that the beast-hunting sailboat held a large amount of beast blood and meat, he could not help but be tempted.

Ling Qing stared at Pang Jian in shock. "Raid the Blood Moon Sect's beast-hunting sailboat?! Kid, do you know what you're saying?"

Meng Qiulan was equally shocked. She took a deep breath and said. "You certainly have guts, coming from the upper worlds! Since its inception, the Shadow Specter Sect has only fought against the seven major clans and has never dared to provoke sects in the upper world! You dare to have such audacious ideas!"

In her eyes, if the Shadow Specter Sect truly provoked sects like the Blood Moon Sect or the Star River Alliance, they would be mercilessly eradicated from the Fourth World.

Thus, even when her disciples were forcibly taken, she could only swallow her anger and did not consider attacking the beast-hunting sailboat.

Pang Jian explained his thought process, "If the murky energy of the Fifth World has contaminated the fragmented lands in the Ouyang Clan's territory, Divine Fortune may not escape unscathed either. In such a scenario, the Shadow Specter Sect, the Shangguan Clan in Divine Fortune City, and the Blood Moon Sect's emissaries could all perish here.

"Under these circumstances, even if something happens to a Blood Moon Sect beast-hunting sailboat, the blame would not necessarily fall on the Shadow Specter Sect!"

Meng Qiulan's and Ling Qing's faces turned serious at the mention of murky energy.

Squeak! Squeak!

Meng Qiulan unconsciously tightened her grip on the cane.

"Raid the beast-hunting sailboat, raid the beast-hunting sailboat..." she repeated, eyes glinting fiercely. Meng Qiulan stood up abruptly. "I need to find out how many Marrow Cleansing Realm experts from the Blood Moon Sect are on that sailboat! Also, we can't do this alone. I need to consult the Sect Leader and gather forces in Divine Fortune City!"

Ling Qing was stunned. "Hall Master Meng, you are not serious, are you?"

Meng Qiulan recalled the sight of her two disciples pleading with their eyes—how she could only lower her head and avoid their gazes—and felt a spark reignite within her. Instead of answering Ling Qing's question, she turned to Pang Jian to seriously ask him, "Hong Jian, do you dare to attack the Blood Moon Sect beast-hunting sailboat?"

"Yes, I dare!"

"Good! From now on, you're a member of the Shadow Specter Sect!" she declared. "If by any chance this plan actually succeeds, I'll let you choose between Bai Wei and Bai Zhi."

"I'm more interested in the beast blood—"

"Hmph!" Meng Qiulan snorted, staring at Pang Jian as though she could see through him. "Don't be too greedy, young man. Even if you want both, your body can't handle it. That's settled then! Ling Qing, you stay here and keep an eye on the Ouyang Clan's fragmented lands. Hong Jian, come with me to Misty Swamp Village!

"I'll have Fan Liang inform our people in Divine Fortune City to determine the cultivation realms of the Blood Moon Sect members on that beast-hunting sailboat, as well as its final docking location. I'll also consult with the Sect Leader to see if this plan has any chance of success,"

Now that her mind was made up, excitement surged through Meng Qiulan, leaving her eager to take action.

Her age and relatively low ranking among the hall masters of the Shadow Specter Sect hall masters meant she was always at risk of being replaced.

She had reached her limit in her cultivation, making further advancement difficult. If she could not contribute to the sect in some significant way, she would struggle to maintain her position despite the Sect Leader's trust.

Raiding Blood Moon Sect beast-hunting sailboat was a high-stakes gamble in her twilight years. If she failed, she would die in the fragmented lands of Divine Fortune. But if she succeeded, she could firmly reestablish herself in the Shadow Specter Sect!

"Hall Master, I left some things in Misty Swamp. Let me retrieve them, and I'll meet you in Misty Swamp Village," Pang Jian said.

"Very well." Meng Qiulan nodded in agreement.

***

Pang Jian traveled without rest, and half a day later, he arrived at the cave where Luo Hongyan was reforging her physical body.

He then faithfully recounted the events that had transpired at the stronghold and explained his plan.

"If we successfully raid the beast-hunting sailboat, we can solve all our problems in one go. And you won't lack the beast blood you need for reforging your physical body," he concluded.

The blood pool filled with the blood of Rank One and Rank Two Vicious Beasts was now very shallow.

Whoosh!

The enchanting figure of Luo Hongyan, shrouded in a mist of blood and wrapped in an illusory crimson gown, flew out from the mouth of a white jade bottle to hover gracefully above the blood pool. Her body had already formed red crystalline bones, but her internal organs had yet to develop.

A captivating smile appeared on her stunning face. "You're becoming more composed and cool-headed. I'm pleased. Back in the City Lord's Mansion in Eight Trigrams City, even though I warned you about Qi Qingsong being a disciple of the Sword Pavilion, you still recklessly attacked him."

Pang Jian felt slightly embarrassed.

The first time he attacked Qi Qingsong was indeed impulsive. He had acted based on his promise to Zhou Qingchen and attacked without knowing the true strength of a disciple from the Sword Pavilion.

At that time, he was only at the Meridian Opening Realm.

That was his most impulsive act to date, and Qi Qingsong's spirit sword had almost been the end of him.

When Pang Jian stood there awkwardly in response, Luo Hongyan smiled sweetly and encouraged him, "However, I have come to appreciate you more precisely because of your impulsiveness and passion. You've only just left the mountains, so you should have some youthful vigor!

"This time, you did very well. Instead of acting recklessly, you watched the beast-hunting sailboat leave and even mobilized the power of the Shadow Specter Sect.

"Yes, you did very well. You even come back to discuss it with me. With my help, our chances of success will be much higher. When the time comes for the actual operation, you should wear a spatial bracelet since a spatial pouch can't hold much beast blood and meat."

Luo Hongyan nodded in satisfaction. "Pang Jian, I'm very happy to see your growth."

***

In Misty Swamp Village, Fan Liang conveyed the findings of their investigations to Meng Qiulan.

"Reporting to Hall Master, we've found out that there are four Marrow Cleansing Realm experts on that Blood Moon Sect beast-hunting sailboat. Their leader is called Fei Zheng. He is at the late stage of the Marrow Cleansing Realm and is likely to advance to the Innate Realm soon.

"Shangguan Dong arranged for them to stay in a large mansion in Divine Fortune City. They have no intention of leaving any time soon and are currently indulging within the city. We've also discovered that Fei Zheng instructed Shangguan Dong to send someone to the Ouyang Clan's territory to survey the situation."

Fan Liang paused, hesitating briefly before continuing, "Hall Master, Fei Zheng plans to offer your two disciples as a tribute to Elder Jiu Yuan of the Blood Moon Sect."

With his report concluded, Fan Liang silently gazed at Meng Qiulan in the dim hall while waiting for her response. A newfound respect bloomed within him. He had not expected her to take action against the Blood Moon Sect for the sake of her two disciples.

Meng Qiulan considered Fan Liang's words, stilling as their meaning dawned on her. "Jiu Yuan? Are you sure it's Jiu Yuan?"

Fan Liang nodded with a bitter smile. "Hall Master, you've probably guessed it too. Jiu Yuan is the only one in the Blood Moon Sect who enjoys torturing and killing sisters. And we know about him thanks to Hong Tai."

"Jiu Yuan!" Meng Qiulan growled, her resolve only growing stronger. "I would rather see Bai Wei and Bai Zhi die in Divine Fortune City than be sent to Jiu Yuan!"

Fan Liang sighed. "Hall Master, should I arrange to have them poisoned to save them from that fate?"

"No! Don't do that until the very last! Let me think...four Marrow Cleansing Realm experts..." Meng Qiulan frowned in deep thought. "Initiate the Ghost Altar rituals! I'll report to the Sect Leader and request a Marrow Cleansing Realm expert to be dispatched to the Divine Fortune immediately!"

"Are we really going to do this?" Fan Liang asked in shock.

Meng Qiulan nodded heavily, eyes filled with determination. "I'm old, and this may be the last impulsive act of my life. Those girls' parents entrusted me to take good care of them before they died. No matter what happens, whether we can save them or not, at least I tried."

Fan Liang shouted, "Then let's do it!"

Knock knock!

A knock sounded on the door. After receiving permission, a Shadow Specter Sect member entered. "Hong Jian is here."

Meng Qiulan nodded and said to Fan Liang, "That young man has potential. When I was at the stronghold at Misty Swamp, I accepted him into our Shadow Specter Sect. Now, he's one of us."

"Should I arrange for him to stay or bring him to you?" Fan Liang asked.

"Have him stay for now. I need to perform the Ghost Altar ritual to report to the Sect Leader. I'll meet with him once our reinforcements arrive."

"Understood."