Trials of the Abyss

Chapter 176: Cao Mang the Dwarf

Luo Hongyan's heart trembled.

Pang Jian?

She strained her bright eyes within the prismatic crystal, trying to find the person she believed could not possibly be there.

Impossible. He can't be here. I must be hallucinating. I must've heard wrong, she thought to herself.

She had long been cut off from the outside world after being imprisoned by Old Monster Cao for many days.

Old Monster Cao had either killed or collected all her Spirit Devils, meaning she had also lost all her spies. Since being captured, she had been kept in a dark cave and had no clue as to the recent happenings within the Primordial Wilderness.

After waiting for her return in vain, she assumed Pang Jian would not have stayed until the last day of the trade fair and would have left the Primordial Wilderness with Gao Yuan.

She even considered the possibility that the reveal of her identity had led both Pang Jian and Gao Yuan to fall victim to Jiu Yuan's schemes.

"Pang Jian!" A gloomy voice rang out.

Luo Hongyan was startled. She could not help but look in the direction of the voice.

It was Jiu Yuan from the Blood Moon Sect!

Jiu Yuan called out Pang Jian's name.

So it wasn't her imagination!

Still, she could not help the lingering feeling of doubt.

Whoosh!

A tall, refined young man dressed in black appeared before her. The familiar young man wore a stern expression, and his chiseled features were as striking as ever.

Pang Jian! Luo Hongyan screamed internally. Her beautiful eyes were alight with urgency and anger. Why did you come? Pang Jian, you shouldn't have come!

Despite her despairing situation, Pang Jian's appearance did not bring her joy. She was furious. She desperately wanted to scold Pang Jian but could do nothing in her sealed state.

"You've suffered," Pang Jian said softly. His chest heaved violently, breathing rough and unsettled.

Having spent so much time together, Pang Jian understood Luo Hongyan's gaze very well. Even though she could not speak, he could tell she was fuming, silently scolding him for losing his composure and showing up in front of her at the trading hall.

Pang Jian took a deep breath. Despite being in such a dire situation, Luo Hongyan still worried about his safety, fearing he would meet the same fate.

Forcing himself to stop staring at Luo Hongyan, he turned toward Jiu Yuan and the coldly composed Lou Yunming standing beside the giant crystal.

You've suffered... Luo Hongyan's deep, mysterious eyes welled with tears at his words.

After composing himself, Pang Jian glanced over at her again and said seriously, "You'll survive. Nothing will happen to you. Trust me."

Luo Hongyan's eyes filled with more tears.

"Brat, having a million spirit stones doesn't guarantee you'll win her," Jiu Yuan sneered. "Even if you win her and take her away from the First Peak, you won't leave the Primordial Wilderness unscathed!"

Jiu Yuan then glanced at Qi Qingsong and mocked, "Even an inner disciple of the Sword Pavilion isn't qualified to take someone from us. Especially a remnant of the Blood Spirit Sect! Qi Qingsong, even if your master were here, he'd have to think twice about rescuing a remnant of the Blood Spirit Sect!"

Qi Qingsong touched the token at his waist and smiled. "You're right. The Blood Moon Sect and Sinister Soul Temple are powerful. I can't provoke you."

"Don't drag our Sinister Soul Temple into this!" Lou Yunming glared coldly at Jiu Yuan and said in an equally icy tone, "She was originally our prisoner and only escaped after she went to the Solitary Mountain Range in the lower world. I'm here to take responsibility and bring her back to the Sinister Soul Temple for re-imprisonment."

"She killed Ling Yun and looted our beast-hunting sailboat in the lower world. I won't let you have her so easily," Jiu Yuan replied.

"I'm the one who captured her. The two of you can draw lots for her later. Whoever wins gets to take her," a rough, hearty voice rang out.

"Old Monster Cao!"

"The master of the Primordial Wilderness has arrived!"

Everyone in the trading hall turned to look at the owner of the voice.

Pang Jian turned his head to see a man with thick eyebrows, large eyes, and a short stature descend from the sky and land in the center of the platform. He stood next to the smiling Lady Hua, but he was only slightly taller than her seated figure. Cao Mang exuded an air of righteousness and grandeur in his golden robes and a feathered crown. Unfortunately, his short stature made him appear diminutive.

Whoosh whoosh whoosh!

As he descended, wooden boxes containing exotic treasures and rare items, glass bottles, and scrolls materialized, landing on the edges of the platform in a dazzling array of light and color.

Pang Jian glanced around. There were large pills in some of the glass bottles, gleaming spirit swords in the wooden boxes, and advanced cultivation manuals. Everything a cultivator could desire was put on display.

"Pang Jian, Sister-Sister Luo!" Jiang Li's startled cry came from the wooden door in front of Luo Hongyan.

Zhao Yuanqi led Jiang Li into the trading hall. The pair gazed curiously at the stunning woman imprisoned in the prismatic crystal.

Zhao Yuanqi shook her head. Such beauty. It's a pity she's from the Blood Spirit Sect. If not for that, I could've found another way to help.

Jiang Li approached Pang Jian and bowed toward Luo Hongyan. "Sister Luo, thank you for looking after me in Eight Trigrams City. I'm sorry I wasn't able to help you."

Luo Hongyan glanced at her briefly before shifting her gaze back to Pang Jian. It was clear that Jiang Li's words did not matter to Luo Hongyan.

"Yang Rui!"

"Fang Boxuan!"

"Xie Xiwen!"

Following Zhao Yuanqi, the three other geniuses of the Third World arrived at the trading hall one after another, precisely on time. Their appearance caused quite a few murmurs, and many rogue cultivators in the Profound Abode Realm and the Spirit Condensation Realm observed the three from throughout the trading hall.

Pang Jian frowned, uninterested in the newcomers.

The tall, handsome Fang Boxuan approached Zhao Yuanqi.

Glancing at Luo Hongyan, he remarked in awe, "Yuanqi, is she the one you asked me to help with? She's stunning, but unfortunately, she's a remnant of the Blood Spirit Sect."

Fang Boxuan shook his head regretfully.

"Brat, are you trying to compete with me for her?" Jiu Yuan asked through gritted teeth.

Jiu Yuan and Fang Boxuan were both members of the Blood Moon Sect. Jiu Yuan had not favored Fang Boxuan in the beginning and had been stingy with his cultivation resources.

However, Fang Boxuan had several fortunate encounters, causing his cultivation realm to soar, and he soon became the most dazzling talent of the Blood Moon Sect.

Since then, Fang Boxuan constantly opposed him, and they accumulated many grudges.

Fang Boxuan snorted. "I have my eye on something and I don't have extra spirit stones to compete with you. After all, I'm still too young and lack your accumulation of wealth. But in a few years, once I reach the Spirit Condensation Realm, your influence in the Blood Moon Sect will diminish."

Jiu Yuan's expression darkened at Fang Boxuan's words.

Yang Rui from the Radiant Sun Sect stepped in front of Cao Mang and Lady Hua. Pointing at Luo Hongyan, he asked curiously, "Senior Cao, could you tell us about the woman in the prismatic crystal? Is she also being sold as an exotic treasure?"

"Yes, for one million spirit stones, anyone can try to bid for her," Cao Mang said indifferently. Unlike the enthusiastic Lady Hua, he remained reserved toward a genius like Yang Rui. "The Sinister Soul Temple informed me that she's a survivor of the Blood Spirit Sect.

"Her original body was destroyed and her soul was suppressed for hundreds of years. After escaping, she found a Crystal Snow Lotus and forged a new body. Although her cultivation realm is unclear, her combat prowess is roughly at the early stage of the Spirit Condensation Realm.

"Yang Rui, her true strength surpasses yours. I advise you not to bid for her,"

"What's her relationship with Pang Jian?" Yang Rui asked again.

The master of the Primordial Wilderness thought for a long moment. "They're said to be siblings."

"Siblings?" Yang Rui considered this for a while, then declared, "I want to participate in the bidding!"

Pang Jian's gaze snapped toward him.

Yang Rui met Pang Jian's gaze and calmly said, "If you had sold me the Scarlet-Eyed Demon Wolf's eyes yesterday, this wouldn't be happening."

He was handsome and imposing, standing there like a statue radiating light and heat.

Many rogue cultivators inwardly frowned, apprehension clear in their eyes as they did not dare to provoke him.

Despite being younger than Qi Qingsong, he had already reached the late stage of the Profound Abode Realm and was on the brink of refining his divine sense.

With his talent and abilities, if he had joined the Sword Pavilion, the Demon Sect, or the Black Valley Sect instead of the Radiant Sun Sect in the Third World, he would have also been a prominent figure in the Second World.

Yang Rui.

Just as Yang Rui had done yesterday, Pang Jian made sure to return the favor and engrave Yang Rui's name in his mind as well.

After exchanging a glance from a distance, Pang Jian nodded and then looked away.

"Senior Cao, shall we start with her?" Yang Rui suggested.

The dwarf, Cao Mang, squinted at the prismatic crystal containing Luo Hongyan and asked, "Who else is bidding?"

"I am," Pang Jian responded.

"And me," Huang Qi called out slyly from an unnoticed corner, chuckling softly. Seeing Pang Jian’s displeased expression, he hurriedly explained, "Little Brother, the more bidders, the better the chances. Don’t worry, if I win, I’ll sell her to you at the same price.

"You made an enemy for no reason because of those Scarlet-Eyed Demon Wolf's eyes. I feel bad about it, and I want to make it up to you."

Pang Jian hesitated, then nodded lightly.