Trials of the Abyss

Chapter 376: Ridicule

Pang Jian turned around to look behind him and mentally ran through the information he had about Liu Youyu.

Liu Youyu was in the late stage of the Soul Wandering Realm and was the Primeval Pillar Divine Kingdom's most outstanding cultivation genius.

According to the Sword Pavilion's intelligence, Liu Youyu had trained from a young age under the tutelage of Bai Jingche, a True God of the Primeval Pillar Divine Kingdom. She had little contact with the nobility of the Divine Kingdoms and was quite introverted.

Most importantly, the Primeval Pillar Divine Kingdom and the Sword Pavilion shared no grudges and even fostered a friendly relationship.

This was also why Pang Jian registered at a redemption point that the Primeval Pillar Divine Kingdom oversaw.

I'll just let her be.

Pang Jian could not guess her true intentions and ignored her instead.

Whoosh!

The Primal Sphere appeared in his hand.

He injected different energies into it, and the grayish-green iron ball rapidly expanded as if inflating.

The Primal Sphere doubled in size and grew increasingly heavy with each new type of energy injected.

Sending his divine sense into the Primal Sphere, Pang Jian saw a complex array of patterns covering the iron ball's surface and interior, somewhat resembling the Heart of Winter.

It's too bad it lacks an array core. Pang Jian sighed as he experimented.

If the Primal Sphere had an array core, he could use it to learn new ways to harness its powers and fully unlock its potential.

He also lacked any associated techniques, meaning he would have to figure it out manually.

After experimenting with it for some time, Pang Jian tossed the grayish-green iron ball into the air, where it grew to the size of a millstone with a thunderous roar.

Liu Youyu's gentle voice drifted from the Flying Fish Boat behind as it rapidly drew closer.

"The Primal Sphere is ever-changing. It can be as small as a grain of sugar or as large as a mountain."

A moment later, her petite figure appeared at the front of the Flying Fish Boat, with her light purple gauze dress fluttering in the wind.

She had elegant eyebrows that arched like mountains and eyes as clear as springs.

"My family has the specific techniques for using the Primal Sphere," she explained.

"Why are you following me?" Pang Jian asked curiously.

"I'm not following you. My destination is also Auspicious Light," she replied as her Flying Fish Boat overtook the Sword Boat. "Further west from Auspicious Light is a fragmented land called Brocade Cloud. Powerful foreign race warriors and Vicious Beasts are hiding there.

"I'm planning to check it out, to see if I can kill them and accumulate more contribution points.

"As for following you..." She frowned. "Before I left, my elder told me to interact more with Li Zhaotian's disciple."

Pang Jian was taken aback. "My master knows your elder?"

"They're old friends." Liu Youyu gently nodded. Lacking the social skills to become more familiar with Pang Jian, she simply tossed over a wooden token and said, "If you encounter any trouble later on, you can use this to contact me.

"I can receive your message as long as you're within a range of three thousand li from me.

"I'll tell you the specific methods for the Primal Sphere when I have the information."

The Flying Fish Boat then slowly flew away.

A wooden token engraved with the character "Liu" landed on the Sword Boat.

She clearly thinks you're a novice and is probably worried you'll die here in the Third World, so she escorted you part of the way. The Abyssal Demon chuckled slyly from within the sword. Now that you're approaching Auspicious Light, she finally felt at ease enough to leave.

Pang Jian could not help but feel both amused and exasperated.

He had initially suspected Liu Youyu had ulterior motives. Unexpectedly, Li Zhaotian and her elder were old friends, and Liu Youyu had even gone out of her way to escort Pang Jian for part of the journey.

If she knows how to use the Primal Sphere, I won't have to figure it out myself.

Pang Jian stored the wooden token and the Primal Sphere in his spatial bracelet.

Before long, Auspicious Light came into view.

Fire Cloud Ships, Mountain Stream Spirit Boats, Demon Incursion Ships, Black Cloud Sails, and other flying vessels were anchored around the fragmented land.

A large warship bearing the Boundless Sky Divine Kingdom's emblem also hovered proudly in the sky.

Cultivators from different sects and factions gathered at Auspicious Light, creating a lively atmosphere.

"A Sword Boat!"

A member of the Zhu Clan on the Boundless Sky Divine Kingdom's warship had recently visited the Sword Pavilion and recognized Pang Jian at a glance.

"That's Pang Jian," he sneered. "It seems he hasn't earned many contribution points, so he's come to Auspicious Light to hunt."

Cultivators at the fragmented land broke out into whispers.

"Pang Jian of the Sword Pavilion!"

"He still hasn't broken into the top hundred of the Soul Wandering Realm leaderboard?"

"Haha, he's truly bringing shame to the Sword Pavilion and Li Zhaotian!"

"Think about Chen Weihuang and Hu Yuanfei—they're practically invincible! Even now, Hu Yuanfei's ranking has only dropped because she's remained at the Celestial Citadel to protect the disciples of the Sword Pavilion."

"Hu Yuanfei could be in the top five, but is being held back by her duty at the Celestial Citadel."

"Strange, why isn't Pang Jian seeking her help?"

The gathered cultivators openly mocked and ridiculed Pang Jian.

Pang Jian simply acted as though he did not hear them.

Scanning the fragmented land, he finally spotted a frantically waving Han Duping on a Scarlet Dawn Boat.

The Sword Boat flew toward Han Duping.

Glancing around, he noticed only unfamiliar faces aside from Han Duping. "Where's Big Brother Zhou?"

"He's gone to seek help from the Boundless Sky Divine Kingdom," Han Duping replied. Clicking his tongue in amazement, he admired the sleek, sharp design of the Sword Boat before glancing at the stern Pang Jian. "Little Brother Pang, it's true what they say—time really does change a person!

"It's been a long time since we last met, and now I see you in a different light! I've barely managed to step into the Profound Abode Realm, but you and Zhou Qingchen..."

He pounded his chest in frustration, feeling a deep sense of defeat.

Several rogue cultivators in the Spirit Condensation Realm cupped their hands respectfully. "Greetings, Brother Pang!"

Pang Jian responded with a few polite nods before turning back to Han Duping. "What's the situation here?"

"Some complications seem to have arisen in Brocade Cloud. Several groups that went to explore that fragmented land have lost contact, including Elder Feng Feiqing from our Red Mountain Sect, who is in the mid-stage of the Spirit Condensation Realm.

"Zhou Qingchen went to ask the Boundless Sky Divine Kingdom for assistance, hoping to have a Soul Wandering Realm cultivator to accompany us to investigate Brocade Cloud.

"Pang Jian, Zhou Qingchen has become overly cautious lately. Others dismiss the foreign races and Vicious Beasts as no threat, but he treats them as serious dangers.

"Because of this, he's faced quite a bit of ridicule." Han Duping sighed.

"The foreign races and the Vicious Beasts aren't easy to deal with," Pang Jian replied gravely.

"Since the start of the war, we, the human race, have been obtaining triumphant victories. High-ranking military officers from the Divine Kingdoms and geniuses from the top sects have all been making a name for themselves," a cocky rogue cultivator said with a grin. "The foreign races and Vicious Beasts haven't put up much of a fight at all."

Another rogue cultivator chimed in, "They used to live in the endless darkness of the Fifth World, where resources are scarce. How much strength could they possibly possess?"

These rogue cultivators had joined Zhou Qingchen's group because of his reputation. Although they respected Zhou Qingchen's strength and character, they did not share his cautious view of the foreign races.

They believed Zhou Qingchen did not have to ask the Boundless Sky Divine Kingdom for a Soul Wandering Realm expert's help with Brocade Cloud.

In their eyes, their strength and the Scarlet Dawn Boat were more than enough to clear out Brocade Cloud and earn considerable contribution points. n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

After all, if a Soul Wandering Realm cultivator from the Boundless Sky Divine Kingdom got involved, there would be nothing left for them.

"That's because you've never encountered a truly powerful foreign race warrior," Pang Jian said coldly. "Big Brother Zhou has suffered losses to strong foreign race warriors in Absolute Heaven. He knows their strength is far greater than what you've seen."

The rogue cultivators chuckled dismissively.

One female rogue cultivator from the Cosmic Skies Continent muttered under her breath, "Maybe you're just weak; that's why you think they're strong."

She was clearly mocking Pang Jian, subtly referencing the fact that he had yet to crack the top hundred of the Soul Wandering Realm leaderboard.

Whoosh!

A brilliant blade light slashed through the air, forcing the woman to leap off the Scarlet Dawn Boat.

Zhou Qingchen stormed over, exuding a commanding aura. His bristly beard and deeply tanned skin gave him a rugged appearance.

"Wang Cui, my Scarlet Dawn Boat is too small to accommodate you," Zhou Qingchen said, expression stern. "Find another place to go. The Scarlet Dawn Boat will no longer be your refuge!"

Wang Cui let out a bitter laugh. "I was just speaking offhandedly. It wasn't even directed at you. Why are you so angry?"

Despite her words, Wang Cui did not argue her dismissal and quietly left.

She could not help but regret it deep down. After all, it was rare to find disciples like Zhou Qingchen—upright, loyal, and respectful to rogue cultivators.

Disciples from major sects like the Celestial Lagoon Sect and the Black Valley Sect treated them like servants, and many rogue cultivators were reluctant to join them.

The nobles from the three Divine Kingdoms did not accept rogue cultivators into their groups and only issued orders to them.

"Old Han, stay. The rest of you, leave the Scarlet Dawn Boat for now. I have matters to discuss with Pang Jian," Zhou Qingchen commanded in a measured tone.

The disciples of the Red Mountain Sect and the rogue cultivators dispersed.

Once everybody else left, Zhou Qingchen let out a weary smile, plopped down on the ground beside the Scarlet Dawn Boat, and said with relief, "You finally made it."

"What's going on?" Pang Jian asked curiously.

"I'm exhausted—mentally exhausted!" He patted his chest and let out a long sigh. "I know how powerful the foreign races are. I've repeatedly explained that the foreign race warriors we've encountered so far are probably just cannon fodder.

"But no one believes me."

He shook his head.

"The human race is advancing triumphantly on every front, encountering only weak foreign race warriors and Vicious Beasts. As a result, my warnings about the true strength of the foreign races have been mocked as cowardice.

"Cowardice? I'm thirteenth on the Spirit Condensation Realm leaderboard!"

Zhou Qingchen's frustration bubbled over and he reverted to his brash self, no longer forced to maintain a stern demeanor with no one else around.

After a brief pause, he said, "Pang Jian, I have a feeling the true powerhouses of the foreign races will appear in large numbers soon. Many people will start dying, and we'll be the ones paying a heavy price for underestimating them."

"As long as it's not us who die, that's fine," Pang Jian said, patting Zhou Qingchen on the shoulder. "I'll accompany you to Brocade Cloud."

Zhou Qingchen stood up. "Something isn't right over there."

"I know."