Trials of the Abyss

Chen Weihuang explained Great Elder Jiang Ran's forceful convening of the elders' meeting and his actions to seize authority from Wang Ce and the others.

He also mentioned that Jiang Ran required Pang Jian to prove he was worthy of the title of Li Zhaotian's personal disciple.

The Merit Leaderboards, which the three Divine Kingdoms and the strongest factions of the First World were hosting, were the best way to demonstrate one's strength and capability.

"It's not entirely unreasonable." Pang Jian echoed Chen Weihuang's sentiment.

After receiving more information about the Merit Leaderboards, he noted the rankings for the Profound Abode Realm and Spirit Condensation Realm boards had not changed much, with only slight shifts among the familiar names.

However, on the Soul Wandering Realm leaderboard, Li Yuqing had reclaimed the top spot, with her contribution points reaching thirty-seven thousand.

Her contribution points were about twenty thousand points higher than Zhou Yi from the Nine Tribes Sect, crowning her the most dazzling talent throughout the Abyss.

The reputation of the Divine Treasure Sect's Li Family's battle prowess spread through the Abyss, astonishing countless people.

Pang Jian sought clarification from his senior brother about the sudden change.

"Eight days ago, she appeared at a redemption point on the Dark Abyss Continent and presented the heads of two Rank Eight foreign race warriors," Chen Weihuang explained. "A Rank Eight foreign race warrior is equivalent to a human cultivator in the Nirvana Realm and is worth at least ten thousand points.

"The contribution points range between ten thousand and twenty thousand points depending on the bloodline."

"If I go down to the lower world to fight, to whom should I report my identity, and how is the contribution point calculated?" Pang Jian asked.

"There are officials ready to register you at any redemption point. They'll provide you with a Mystic Eye.

"The number and rank of the foreign race warriors you kill in battle will be recorded when you wear the Mystic Eye.

"It only works within the Third World and on battlefields close to the redemption points.

"If you stray too far and the Mystic Eye fails to record your battles, you'll need to cut off the heads of the foreign race warriors and Vicious Beasts you defeat and personally bring them to the redemption point."

After some thought, Chen Weihuang added, "Before you head down to the lower world, you can visit the Sword Honing Peak to use up your merit points from the Sword Pavilion. You can purchase spirit materials, pills, and some auxiliary artifacts."

"Got it."

Pang Jian headed straight to the Sword Honing Peak.

With his sword token, Pang Jian had unimpeded access to the Scripture Pavilion Pavilion, Pill Pavilion, and Artifact Pavilion. He first went to the Pill Pavilion.

A row of pills designed to nourish the soul caught his eye—Mind Soothing Pills, Spirit Condensation Pills, Soul Nourishing Pills, Soul Enriching Pills, and Divine Pills were all readily available.

Pan Zheng from the Scripture Pavilion accompanied Pang Jian and helpfully described the uses of each pill with a smile, "Mind Soothing Pills are suitable for those below the Spirit Condensation Realm.

"Spirit Condensation Pills increase the chance of advancing to the Spirit Condensation Realm.

"Soul Nourishing Pills can nourish one's divine soul, but in terms of potency, the Soul Enriching Pill is significantly more effective, though its price is also much higher.

"We only have three Divine Pills in stock, each valued at seven thousand merit points.

"As long as one's divine soul isn't completely destroyed, consuming a Divine Pill can rebuild it. It's a divine-grade pill," Pan Zheng explained solemnly.

Pang Jian regarded it with deep respect.

He squinted as he examined the pills. A bottle of Mind Soothing Pills required only ten merit points, Soul Nourishing Pills a hundred points, and Soul Enriching Pills a thousand.

The price increased tenfold with each grade.

Finally, the Divine Pill was priced by the pill rather than by the bottle, with one costing seven thousand merit points.

"Soul Enriching Pills seem suitable for you," Pan Zheng kindly suggested.

"Very well."

Pang Jian exchanged two bottles of Soul Enriching Pills for two thousand merit points in his sword token.

Then, moving on to the pills for replenishing blood essence, he again followed Pan Zheng's recommendation and used two thousand merit points to purchase two bottles of Great Blood Essence Pills.

"Do you need any protective armor?" Pan Zheng asked.

Shaking his head, Pang Jian replied, "No need."

Pang Jian then proceeded to the Artifact Pavilion.

There he saw a dazzling array of treasures and spirit artifacts—swords, tridents, bells, cauldrons, axes, mirrors—alongside a collection of brilliantly glowing armor.

The top floor of the Artifact Pavilion held rows upon rows of spirit swords.

Pang Jian was taken aback. "There are spirit swords here too?"

"The spirit swords displayed in the Sword Pavilion have special significance," Pan Zheng said with a smile. "Those spirit swords were either forged by our Sword Pavilion or once belonged to disciples of the Sword Pavilion. Some are so extraordinary they have to be forcibly suppressed and sealed."

Pan Zheng glanced at the Abyssal Demon Sword hanging on Pang Jian's waist.

"The spirit swords here mostly come from outside our sect and have no connection with us.

"The quality of these spirit swords varies and cannot be compared to those in the Sword Pavilion." Clearing his throat, he added, "Pang Jian, there's no need to look at the spirit swords here if you can truly wield the Abyssal Demon Sword."

Pang Jian quickly lost interest.

After wandering around the Artifact Pavilion for some time, he still did not find anything that caught his eye. "Are there any other valuable items?"

"Do you have any special requirements?" Pan Zheng asked curiously.

"Is there an item that can contain various types of energies?"

"There is!" Pan Zheng led Pang Jian to a less frequented section and pointed to a greenish-gray iron ball inside a wooden box. "This is Primal Sphere. A deceased rogue cultivator who called himself Reverend Primal left it behind.

"He was at the mid-stage of the Immortal Realm when he died.

"This Primal Sphere can withstand impacts from various energies, though I'm not entirely sure about its specific use.

"Most of us in the Sword Pavilion only focus on refining one or two energies closely related to our cultivation methods. Cultivating with many energies is uncommon as it can hinder progress in advancing one's cultivation realm."

"It costs five thousand merit points?" Pang Jian asked, squinting at the iron ball,

Pan Zheng nodded and sincerely advised, "It's a saint-grade artifact. It's expensive and highly specialized, which is why no one has bought it. My suggestion is to not waste five thousand merit points on—"

"I'll take it."

"Alright, suit yourself."

***

Several days later, in Great Elder Jiang Ran's Residence on the Celestial Gate Peak.

"Su Li, you've successfully advanced to the mid-stage of the Soul Wandering Realm. It's time for you to head down and temper yourself." Jiang Ran handed Su Li a small golden cauldron with a smile. "Pang Jian represents Li Zhaotian, while you represent me."

Su Li responded solemnly, "I will not disappoint you, Master!"

"Go." Jiang Ran waved his hand dismissively. "I'll be satisfied if you can make it into the top ten of the Soul Wandering Realm leaderboard."

Su Li turned and left.

Zhou Wenhao, also inside the residence, said in a deep voice, "Master, about Pang Jian..."

"The Cloud Devourer Marquis, the Blazing Rainbow Marquis, and the Armor-Breaking Marquis will keep an eye on him. Su Li is not particularly meticulous, and if I instruct him to target Pang Jian, I fear he'll leave evidence behind" Jiang Ran said helplessly.

As his master, he was naturally aware of Su Li's rash tendencies.

"Is Pang Jian truly worthy of such concern from you, Master?" Zhou Wenhao asked in surprise.

After the elders' meeting, Jiang Ran contacted those from the Boundless Sky Divine Kingdom and started planning ways to suppress him once Pang Jian left the Sword Pavilion the day before.

Zhou Wenhao could not help but feel that his master was overreacting.

"I know nothing about the boy, nor am I interested in his past." Jiang Ran sighed. "But I do understand Li Zhaotian.

"I knew what kind of person he was since I first met him. He may be indifferent about minor issues, but he's sharper than anyone else when it comes to important matters.

"If he dares to declare that Pang Jian will inherit the Sword Pavilion, that means Pang Jian undoubtedly has what it takes.

"From that moment, Pang Jian became a threat surpassing even that of Chen Weihuang and Hu Yuanfei.

"Remember this; your Senior Uncle Li would never misjudge a person. And if he succeeds in becoming a True God, we'll have to wholeheartedly serve the Sword Pavilion's future without harboring any ulterior motives until his demise!"

Zhou Wenhao was shocked.

At that moment, he realized just how much his master respected and feared the imposing Li Zhaotian.

"I may as well tell you the truth." Jiang Ran sighed bitterly. "The True Gods from my Jiang Clan stand no chance against Li Zhaotian if he successfully ascends to the True God Realm.

"No one understands him better than I do. As a True God, Li Zhaotian alone could stand against two True Gods from the Boundless Sky Divine Kingdom, and he would only become more terrifying with time."

***

A small Sword Boat lay quietly anchored beneath a fragmented land on the Heaven Awakening Continent.

Above the Sword Boat hovered a golden divine soul, enduring the fierce assault of the astral winds.

My foundation at the mid-stage of the Soul Wandering Realm will be solidified once I get through this stage, Pang Jian thought.

He sat in the Sword Boat and swallowed a Soul Enriching Pill as he watched cracks spread across his golden divine soul.

Pure soul essence, several times more potent than that from a Soul Nourishing Pill, surged within him. Wisps of ethereal mist rose to his sea of consciousness and formed a dense sea of soul essence.

Whoosh!

Pang Jian's golden divine soul descended, settling into the sea of soul essence like soaking in the finest spiritual elixir, and the tiny cracks quickly healed.

The Soul Enriching Pill is truly extraordinary, Pang Jian marveled.

A quarter of an hour later, his golden divine soul returned to endure the agony of the astral winds.

Only a third of the Soul Enriching Pill's soul essence had been consumed, with the remainder still lingering in his sea of consciousness, ready to heal his damaged divine soul again.

Pang Jian felt exhilarated.

It's absolutely worth its selling price!

***

Time passed, and half a month went by.

The battles in the Third World raged on, with brutal skirmishes occurring everywhere.

"Why hasn't Pang Jian made it into the top hundred on the Soul Wandering Realm leaderboard?"

"He's been away from the Sword Pavilion for half a month now, yet there's been no sign of him."

"Senior Brother Su Li has already reached thirteenth place on the Soul Wandering Realm leaderboard."

"What is Pang Jian up to?"

Many inner disciples of the Sword Pavilion kept a close eye on the Merit Leaderboards rankings through their sword tokens, paying particular attention to certain individuals.

Hu Yuanfei was ranked seventh on the Soul Wandering Realm leaderboard, having recently fallen one place.

Meanwhile, Qi Qingsong and Zhuang Yuyan were placed within the top twenty on the Spirit Condensation Realm leaderboard.

Several other disciples of the Sword Pavilion also ranked highly across the three leaderboards, a testament to the sect's deep foundation.

However, the one everyone was most focused on—Pang Jian—had not appeared on the Merit Leaderboards since leaving the Sword Pavilion.

Cultivators from major factions started to doubt Pang Jian's abilities and questioned Li Zhaotian's judgment in selecting him.

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!