Trials of the Abyss

Chapter 53: A Light in the Darkness!

Whoosh!

Like an elusive wisp of smoke, Dong Tianze activated the Nine Ghost Melodies Technique and gracefully drifted to the edge of the deep hole.

He ignored Zhou Qingchen and Han Duping following behind him, prioritizing the blood essence of the black turtle.

The mournful wailing from Ghost's Cry ceased, and the colossal Demon God formed from the ghostly apparitions vanished into the nine holes on the dagger's blade.

There had always been two distinctly different ways of wielding Ghost's Cry.

Ghost's Cry could let off the mournful wailings of tens of thousands of ghosts, during which its sharpness and durability weakened. However, its influence on the soul of the living increased dramatically.

On the other hand, when used without the mournful wailing, the array on Ghost's Cry would activate, increasing its sharpness and transforming it into an incomparably sharp dagger.

Dong Tianze did not need the mournful wails to split open the scarlet lotus. He only needed to unleash its sharp blade.

As Dong Tianze drifted toward the mouth of the deep hole like a ghost, a thin layer of frost coated the arm that wielded Ghost's Cry.

The frost was his bone-chilling spiritual power. As he poured spiritual power into his dagger, cold air seeped out from his skin and formed a thin layer of frost.

Meanwhile, Pang Jian had been patiently waiting at the bottom of the deep hole for Dong Tianze. He jumped to his feet like a coiled spring.

He sensed unusual activity outside of the deep hole!

Holding the Dragonwood Spear with both hands, Pang Jian hid in the darkest corner of the deep hole, blending in with the shadows.

He had meticulously evaluated that spot as the most strategically advantageous for attacking.

Most of the red lines on the scarlet lotus converged at its bud, appearing to gather into a cluster of crimson clouds that blocked an area of dim light and causing a small patch of darkness to appear at the bottom of the deep hole.

Pang Jian hid in this shadowed area. He gathered his spiritual power and guided it along the four meridians, connecting his palms to his spiritual sea.

In the pitch-back bottom of the deep hole, the tip of the Dragonwood Spear glinted with a green light that resembled a razor-sharp needle.

It was almost as sharp as Pang Jian's gaze.

Dong Tianze had finished gathering his strength. He dove headfirst into the deep hole, thrusting Ghost's Cry at the scarlet lotus as he cried, "Pang Jian, here I come!"

Meanwhile, Luo Hongyan gently closed her eyes.

"Let me see how you will stay alive!" he exclaimed. Meanwhile, the edge of Ghost's Cry shone with golden light, filling the nine holes on its blade.

The golden light was a testament to its sharpness, and once it appeared, the dagger stabbed at the bud of the lotus!

The red lines that formed the lotus silently vanished.

The lotus disappeared!

The full force of Dong Tianze's attack fell on empty air. The inertia and immense momentum of the attack sent him hurtling uncontrollably toward the bottom of the deep hole!

Sensing something was amiss, Dong Tianze frantically looked around and caught sight of a gleaming silver giant net.

"Silver Silkworm Net!" Dong Tianze screamed.

He slashed and stabbed fervently at the Silver Silkworm Net, tearing a gaping slit in it with Ghost's Cry.

Despite this, he still became entangled in the Silver Silkworm Net due to his high speed. Cocooned like a silkworm, he continued to fall into the deep hole.

At the dark bottom of the deep hole, a lone figure stood atop the pristine bone of the Celestial Phoenix.

He remained as still as a rock. His hands gripped the spear with unparalleled steadiness. It was as though time had frozen him for him.

Composure and calmness were reflected in his cold, blank gaze.

Standing in Dong Tianze's blind spot, he remained hidden in the shadows, watching Dong Tianze draw closer as he patiently waited for the perfect moment to reveal himself.

He exuded patience. There was no sense of urgency surrounding him and it was almost as if he could wait for that moment for another thousand or even ten thousand years.

Where is he? Dong Tianze panicked. He saw neither the black turtle's blood essence nor Pang Jian.

Twisting desperately, he attempted to free himself from the silver net before his body hit the ground. However, entangled in the Silver Silkworm Net, this range of motion was severely restricted, greatly diminishing his ability to effectively wield Ghost's Cry.

Swoosh!

A strange sharp sound rang out!

Dong Tianze turned ashen with shock. His eyes landed on the glimmer of green light even before he could find Pang Jian!

The glimmer of green light stood out vividly in the deep dark hole, momentarily dazzling Dong Tianze.

Just as Dong Tianze was about to focus his mind and unleash the soul-capturing melody of Ghost's Cry, he suddenly felt a chilly sensation at the back of his head.

The Spirit Devils had invaded him and were using self-immolation to disrupt his mind, rendering him unable to maintain precise control over himself!

He cursed vehemently as he struggled within the Silver Silkworm Net.

Pang Jian's body surged with strength. He steadied himself, transferring strength from his feet to his waist and abdomen, all the while, pouring a torrent of spiritual power into the Dragonwood Spear. He then activated the array on the spear, amplifying its strength and sharpness to its limits!

Pang Jian had become one with the Dragonwood Spear. His spiritual power flowed seamlessly to the tip of the spear!

The green light shining from the tip of the spear was so bright that even he, the wielder of the spear, found it blinding!

Bang!

The Dragonwood Spear struck Dong Tianze's back, impaling him against the wall of the deep hole!

Pang Jian did not hesitate, wrenching back the Dragonwood Spear in a spray of blood, only to thrust it at Dong Tianze again!

When Pang Jian pulled back the Dragonwood Spear, Dong Tianze's body, still entangled in the Silver Silkworm Net, slid toward the ground. His descent was stopped when Pang Jian swiftly pinned him back against the wall with another thrust of his spear!

These two successive heavy blows overwhelmed Dong Tianze with pain and dizziness. At this moment, the Spirit Devil that had infiltrated his mind finally burned to ashes.

His mind cleared.

Still restrained by the Silver Silkworm Net, he hastily activated another function of Ghost's Cry.

The mournful wailing of tens of thousands of ghosts emanated from the nine holes on the blade of Ghost's Cry.

Pang Jian felt as though he had stepped into an eerie ghost realm. Everywhere he looked, there were ghostly apparitions. Their ominous and chilling aura seemed to seep into his pores, affecting his very being.

The bronze pendant hanging from his chest turned scorching hot.

The tiny spark illuminated Pang Jian's mind. Despite being on the brink of being overwhelmed by the ghostly apparitions, he unexpectedly became invulnerable to all evil influences.

Pang Jian pulled back the Dragonwood Spear and thrust it at the horrified Dong Tianze once more.

Bang!

The Dragonwood Spear ran Dong Tianze through for the third time.

Dong Tianze's body finally grazed the ground.

The onslaught of numerous Spirit Devils had already tired Dong Tianze out. Now, with Pang Jian piercing through his body again and again, he could barely muster any strength.

His mind went blank as he watched Pang Jian emerge from the shadows.

How did it end up like this?

How is this possible?

He opened his mouth to speak but only vomited a mouthful of blood.

A ruthless and cold-blooded individual like him could endure physical pain. However, the intense sense of defeat that came with being heavily wounded by Pang Jian was something he could not bear!

Celestial Phoenix Transformation! Dong Tianze recalled, just as Pang Jian was about to pull his spear out again.

He gritted his teeth as he silently recited the forbidden technique in his mind.

A Celestial Phoenix appeared between his brows, an imprint on his forehead, exuding supreme majesty!

The multicolored Celestial Phoenix radiated a bright light in the dark deep hole. It then released a majestic aura that permeated Dong Tianze's entire body.

The noble and magnificent Celestial Phoenix contrasted starkly with Dong Tianze's grim and battered appearance.

It shone like the most brilliant gem in the universe, reaching the pinnacle of splendor.

The horrifying wounds on Dong Tianze's body stopped bleeding, the skin stitching back together at an astonishing speed.

Dong Tianze curled up, softly chanting something with a devout and humble appearance.

In the depths of his consciousness, he felt the presence of his master high above the sky, as if bestowing blessings upon him.

He received the patronage of his deity-like master. It bestowed upon him the power to survive.

Dong Tianze regained his strength. Before the Dragonwood Spear could leave his body, he bit his tongue to regain his senses and swung Ghost's Cry to cut the silver threads of the net.

Pang Jian forcefully pulled back the Dragonwood Spear, only to find that not a single drop of blood flowed from the massive wound.

Urgent footsteps could be heard from outside the deep hole, along with Zhou Qingchen's sharp scream. "Pang Jian!"

Zhou Qingchen had only just made it over.

In the deep hole, Dong Tianze had freed himself from the Silver Silkworm Net. He stared at Pang Jian with bloodthirsty eyes.

Pang Jian remained unmoved, channeling his spiritual power into the Dragonwood Spear in preparation for his next attack.

Dong Tianze felt faint. Even with the blessings of his master from above, the repeated assaults on his mind and excessive blood loss meant he would not be able to hold on for much longer.

Ghost's Cry's mournful wailing did not affect Pang Jian, making it difficult to deal with him given Dong Tianze's already wounded state.

Even if he managed to kill Pang Jian, he would still be trapped at the bottom of the deep hole. He would not escape it alive once Zhou Qingchen and the others arrived.

Thoughts raced through Dong Tianze's mind like lightning. He used Ghost's Cry to clear a path and headed straight toward the mouth of the deep hole.

Drip!

Blood dripped from the tip of Pang Jian's spear. With knitted brows, he watched as Dong Tianze climbed upward.

The appearance of the Celestial Phoenix's imprint on his forehead caused Dong Tianze to become extremely dangerous. It was as if it had unleashed his infinite potential, instilling fear in even Pang Jian.

Striking now would not be wise. Pang Jian risked provoking the trapped beast into a fight to the death.

If I don't want this to haunt me in the future, I must cut off the problem at its roots! Pang Jian decided

Pang Jian climbed the walls following the grooves he had carved into them. With his spear in hand, he steadily drew closer to Dong Tianze.

How persistent! Dong Tianze thought, face brimming with ruthlessness and savagery.

If not for the threat of Zhou Qingchen, he would have turned around and killed Pang Jian in a fit of rage.

From beginning to end, he had not managed to deliver a single strike to Pang Jian and had instead suffered three bloody wounds. Even so, he had considered sparing Pang Jian's life.

However, Pang Jian persistently followed him, hunting him down with murderous intent. This ignited a blazing anger in Dong Tianze's heart.

"Pang Jian, the evil woman is still on the island! You must hold on!" Zhou Qingchen shouted from a distance.

Zhou Qingchen's shout lifted Pang Jian's fighting spirit and intimidated Dong Tianze. It only reminded Dong Tianze of the hidden adversaries on the island.

He had ended up in this miserable state because a dozen Spirit Devils self-immolated within him, and the person controlling said Spirit Devils had yet to reveal themselves.

That realization snapped Dong Tianze back to his senses. A cold dose of reality extinguished the raging flames of anger within him.

Dong Tianze helplessly summoned the black turtle's blood essence that he had gathered in his body to use for cleansing his marrow and shot upward toward the mouth of the deep hole like a sharp arrow.

He no longer wished to engage with Pang Jian.

Knowing that he could not catch up, Pang Jian threw the Dragonwood Spear, striking Dong Tianze in his behind just as he was about to leave the deep hole.

Whoosh!

"Aaaah!" Dong Tianze roared, swinging his hand to knock off the spear.

After exiting the deep hole, he used Ghost's Cry to block Zhou Qingchen's attack.

Without looking back, Dong Tianze leaped into Black Orchid Lake and disappeared beneath the water's surface.