Trials of the Abyss

Chapter 179: Like Slaughtering Chickens

Pang Jian!

Zhang Bin's expression turned sinister and his gaze grew somber.

He let out a cold snort, assuming Pang Jian had come to Emerald Lake to find Han Ting.

Last night, Gao Yuan had asked a friend to deliver something to Han Ting. Zhang Bin knew Gao Yuan and Han Ting had no previous connections, meaning Pang Jian was the one to send the item.

He figured Pang Jian was trying to win Han Ting back after his identity as a hunter from the lower realm was exposed. After all, the only thing Pang Jian could rely on now was his wealth.

Spirit stones and rare spirit materials! Zhang Bin realized in excitement. This is Emerald Lake, not the First Peak of the Primordial Wilderness. Private fights aren't prohibited here!

Jiu Yuan, Lou Yunming, and Yang Rui are all in the trading hall on the summit of the First Peak, along with Qi Qingsong, Zhao Yuanqi, and others!

If they killed Pang Jian, seized his spatial bracelet, and escaped from the Primordial Wilderness before the trade fair ended...

A rush of anticipation swept through Zhang Bin as his mind raced!

"Fang Xin, Lin Fan, Tu Hui, Zhang Long!" Zhang Bin shouted as he rushed into their tent. His voice had become rough with excitement. "I saw Pang Jian! Most rogue cultivators near Emerald Lake don't recognize him. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for us to gain immense wealth!"

He then detailed his plan.

"There are at least a million spirit stones in Pang Jian's spatial bracelet! A million!"

"Zhang Bin, let's kill him! What woman couldn't you get with that spatial bracelet?"

"Let's do it!"

The group of rogue cultivators were accustomed to living dangerously and did not hesitate to take the risk.

"Let's go!" The group stepped out of the tent to follow Pang Jian.

By that time, Han Ting had already returned to her tent and was unaware that Pang Jian was on the opposite end of Emerald Lake.

Although the rogue cultivators around Emerald Lake noticed Pang Jian walking alone, they did not pay him much attention.

A few mornings ago, Pang Jian had appeared briefly at the trading hall to sell a Rank Seven Ice Crystal Beast's horn and had left soon after the deal was done. The rogue cultivators near the lake had yet to reach the summit at that time due to their distance, so they had not seen him.

The second time Pang Jian sold precious spirit materials in the trading hall had been past noon on the last day of the free trade period, and most of the rogue cultivators only participated during the first two days.

Therefore, although Pang Jian's name was well-known in the Primordial Wilderness, not many knew what he looked like.

Pang Jian stopped in a secluded spot with no tents or Cloud Sails nearby.

Forcefully suppressing his inner turmoil, he gazed at the glistening Emerald Lake and silently activated the Qi Nurturing Divine Cauldron Art to keep himself calm.

There was no chance to bid...

The young man wore a gloomy expression. His heart was like a volcano on the verge of eruption.

Pang Jian had painstakingly gathered a million spirit stones in hopes of rescuing Luo Hongyan and quietly disappearing from the Primordial Wilderness. He truly did not wish to stir up a bloody storm that would affect all the cultivators in the Primordial Wilderness, but Cao Mang, Lady Hua, and Jiu Yuan had left him no choice.

Only those below Rank Seven can traverse the Mirror Tunnel from the Fifth World to the Third World. Even the strongest among them can only match those in the Spirit Condensation Realm.

Although there are many human cultivators in the Primordial Wilderness right now, they still have a chance of winning. Even in the worst-case scenario, powerful cultivators from the Second World can come down to help deal with the situation.

It's better to let these strong cultivators face them instead of letting them ascend to the Fourth World and attack mortal cities.

The major sects in the Third World have heavily restricted migration, and are only allowing the seven major clans and their vassals to migrate here, leaving the commoners to their fate.

Are the commoners supposed to just wait helplessly for death?

No! The flames of war shouldn't be borne by the Fourth World alone. I'll make them burn directly in the Third World as well!

A complex mix of emotions flickered in Pang Jian's eyes. There was a hint of ruthlessness tinged with hesitation.

Taking a deep breath to gather his composure, he went through his plan once more.

He had chosen Emerald Lake for his purposes long ago, planning to discreetly slip into the lake, bury himself in the mud at the bottom, and release the radiant ripple of light from his bronze pendant. The ripple of light would then form a Mirror Tunnel on the lake's surface that connected to the Fifth World.

Pang Jian would rather ignite a war in the Primordial Wilderness than allow Luo Hongyan to fall into Jiu Yuan's hands!

Cao Mang and Lady Hua must pay for their actions!

Pang Jian was determined to destroy the Primordial Wilderness!

"Hmm?" He sensed someone stealthily approaching.

Suppressing the malicious thoughts bubbling up within him, Pang Jian knitted his brows and waited for the person to come closer.

A group of five soon appeared.

Zhang Bin's eyes were full of malice. "Pang Jian, you're just a hunter from the Fourth World, but you pretended to be a disciple from a noble family to deceive others. Even Han Ting was fooled by you."

Fang Xin and the other three spread out to surround Pang Jian.

Pang Jian had no intention of listening once he saw the malicious intent in their eyes.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Lunar Edges flew from his palm, glistening with icy cold light.

These Lunar Edges were infused with lunar energy, cold energy, and pure spiritual power, They resembled a magnificently blooming flower, exploding into countless petals with Pang Jian at its center.

The Lunar Edges whistled through the air, releasing bone-chilling cold as they went.

Swick!

The Lunar Edges instantly decapitated Fang Xin!

Fang Xin had no chance to display her intricate techniques or utilize her faintly glowing spirit weapon. The Lunar Edges simply sliced through her like a knife through vegetables.

She had died before Zhang Bin had even finished speaking!

The three rogue cultivators named Lin Fan, Tu Hui, and Zhang Long paled as they hastily summoned their protective shields. The respective yellow, teal, and white shields were shattered almost as soon as they were formed.

The three rogue cultivators were all in the middle stage of the Innate Realm like Pang Jian, but could not help but feel their scalps tingle with fear.

"Zhang Bin, this kid is tough!"

"I think we should—"

Before they could finish speaking, Pang Jian waved his hand and unleashed more Lunar Edges, forcing his way into their formation.

Whoosh!

Pang Jian summoned a shimmering green protective shield—formed from spiritual power, stellar energy, lunar energy, and cold energy—to withstand Lin Fan's halberd, Tu Hui's blood-colored spear, and Zhang Long's silver broad ax as he continued his advance.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Pang Jian's fists slammed into the trio's chests like bloodthirsty hammers, collapsing their rib cages and shattering their internal organs, killing them in an instant.

"Pang Jian, I—" Zhang Bin retreated in fear.

Pang Jian?! Han Ting thought in bewilderment, having heard Zhang Bin's terrified scream from her tent. Lifting the flap, she rushed toward the source of the sound.

"Someone's fighting in the corner of Emerald Lake!"

"Let's go check it out!"

The other rogue cultivators also rushed toward the commotion like Han Ting.

"Pang Jian, you..." Zhang Bin summoned a light blue protective shield and rapidly formed hand seals to conjure clusters of dark blue flames.

Dozens of dark blue flames appeared inside his protective shield, circling like a Ferris wheel. He backed up so far that even the approaching rogue cultivators could see his pathetic state.

Zhang Bin was frantically retreating, staring at a dense thicket with an expression of sheer horror as his body and voice both trembled!

"Who is it?"

"Who's chasing Zhang Bin?"

"I thought I heard a familiar name..."

The rogue cultivators wondered aloud as they approached.

Whoosh!

A dazzling silver spear shot out from the dense thicket, streaking toward Zhang Bin like a bolt of lightning.

As the silver spear flew through the air, it left a long trail of white mist in its wake. The bitter cold radiating from the mist caused surrounding grass and trees to freeze with a crackle!

Bang!

The spear effortlessly pierced through Zhang Bin's protective shield. The cold energy extinguished all the dark blue flames!

Zhang Bin shuddered and felt a sharp pain in his chest. A bone-chilling cold seeped into his body.

The spear did not remain lodged in his body and instead, it continued forward. Zhang Bin's corpse was swiftly encased in ice, which eerily propped him up, preventing his body from falling to the ground.

The surrounding rogue cultivators could do nothing but witness Zhang Bin's brutal death.

Han Ting gasped, covering her mouth in shock.

She had rushed over out of concern for Pang Jian's safety. Unexpectedly, the first thing she saw upon arriving was Zhang Bin's death!

"Damn it!" A curse rang out as an unknown cultivator retreated.

The silver spear was shooting toward him.

The cultivator was Xu Li. He was not wearing his Blood Moon Sect attire and had no time to report back to Jiu Yuan or change into his sect's robes.

Although Xu Li was at the late stage of the Innate Realm, he fled in panic.

After all, Zhang Bin had the same cultivation level as him!

Zhang Bin's gruesome death had shattered his confidence. Xu Li wanted nothing more than to get away from the deadly spear and call for help from the Blood Moon Sect's Profound Abode Realm experts.

Whoosh!

The gleaming silver spear released a soul-freezing chill as it relentlessly pursued Xu Li, driving him toward the rock wall at the foot of the Seventh Peak.

Bang!

The spear nailed Xu Li to the rock wall.

In the end, Xu Li did not manage to call for help or reveal his identity as a member of the Blood Moon Sect.

"Pang—" Han Ting cut herself off, biting her lip. Her beautiful eyes shone with excitement as she stared dumbfoundedly at the young man in black slowly emerging from the thicket.

Surprisingly, despite the young man's cultivation realm being lower, he had effortlessly slaughtered Zhang Bin like a chicken.

How did he do it?

Han Ting did not wonder why Zhang Bin had provoked Pang Jian, nor why Pang Jian had attacked. She was simply in utter disbelief at Pang Jian's terrifying combat prowess.