Trials of the Abyss

Chapter 107: Discussion Among the Hall Masters

Night fell on the Shadow Specter Sect's stronghold within Misty Swamp Village.

Under the light of an oil lamp, Pang Jian set down a fractured Earth Blaze Stone and squinted to sense the newly formed fiery pool in his spiritual sea.

It's a pity my spiritual sea isn't filled with the tainted energy of the Fifth World. If it were, the power of the Earth Blaze Technique would be enough to annihilate even the strongest Marrow Cleansing Realm cultivators. He sighed regretfully.

The accomplishment of killing Yuan Lengshan with three beams of light in the City Lord's Mansion in Eight Trigrams City was reliant on the dense, murky energy in the darkness.

Although Pang Jian had tried combining the earthflame energy from the fiery pool with his spiritual power, the resulting power was far inferior to the effects of the tainted energy.

Whoosh!

Pang Jian took out a bottle containing the blood of a Rank Two Ice Armor Beast from his spatial pouch and gulped it down.

A surge of potent blood essence formed in his stomach.

He then promptly circulated his spiritual power, combining the vigorous blood essence with his spiritual power and directing it through his meridians to nourish his internal organs.

Although cleansing one's bones and marrow was crucial in the Marrow Cleansing Realm, this was only true in the early stage. The middle stage, on the other hand, was focused on strengthening one's internal organs.

Using the vigorous blood essence in beasts' blood to invigorate the internal organs also extended one's lifespan.

"Reaching this stage will ensure a long life, and prevent one from dying of old age," Pang Jian muttered mockingly as he recalled Sun Bin's words.

An hour later, he had fully absorbed the blood essences from the bottle of Rank Two Ice Armor Beast's blood.

Taking out the remaining six bottles of beast blood from his storage ring and arranging them in front of him, Pang Jian shook his head.

It's not enough.

Only one of the six bottles came from a Rank Two wind-element Spirit Beast, while the rest were from Rank One Vicious Beasts.

Clang!

A sound of glass hitting wood rang out from a nearby cabinet.

Startled, Pang Jian opened the cabinet door and retrieved a white jade porcelain bottle bundled in cloth.

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The Crystal Snow Lotus within the bottle had fewer jade-like lotus leaves than before. Luo Hongyan's beautiful, shrunken figure sat on top of the lotus.

Pang Jian opened the bottle's stopper, releasing a strong, bloody scent.

Without leaving the porcelain bottle, she asked, "What did the Shadow Specter Sect say?"

"I've been here for two days, and no one has summoned me yet," Pang Jian replied honestly.

"They haven't decided yet?" Luo Hongyan paused, knitting her brows, and said, "Pour all six bottles of beast blood into this porcelain bottle. Pang Jian, now that I've started to reforge my physical body, I can't stop."

"Understood." Pang Jian unhesitatingly poured all six bottles of beast blood into the white jade porcelain bottle.

Despite that, only a small pool of blood formed at the bottom of Luo Hongyan's bottle.

The Crystal Snow Lotus floated above the blood pool and absorbed the beast's blood with its remaining lotus leaves to help Luo Hongyan temper her crystalline bones.

Luo Hongyan sighed frustratedly. "Ah, despite having spirit jade and spirit stones, I can't acquire Rank Three Vicious Beast's blood in the lower world. It was an oversight on my part. Without the Blood Moon Sect's blood pool, I'll need to purify the impurities from the blood in this bottle. What a hassle.

"I hope the Shadow Specter Sect comes to a decision soon. Otherwise, you'll have a tough time hunting Vicious Beasts for me in the vast Misty Swamp."

Pang Jian nodded.

Sensing someone approaching, Luo Hongyan whispered, "Put the stopper back on and return this bottle to the cabinet."

Pang Jian followed her instructions, replacing the stopper and putting the porcelain bottle back in the cabinet. He then covered it with cloth and closed the cabinet's door.

"Little Brother Hong!" Fan Liang called softly from outside. "Hall Master Meng requests your presence!"

"Coming." Pang Jian headed out.

"Hong Jian, let me quickly brief you on the situation," Fan Liang said as they walked. "Five people have arrived, all in the Marrow Cleansing Realm. Two of them are Hall Masters..."

Pang Jian listened attentively.

In the Shadow Specter Sect, there was the Sect Leader, followed by nine Hall Masters, and below them were commanders.

The previous Hall Master of Divine Fortune Hong Tai, and the current was Meng Qiulan. Both of them were in the Marrow Cleansing Realm.

Fan Liang, Ling Qing, and the late Xu Rui were commanders under their Hall Masters and were mostly in the Meridian Opening Realm.

Below them were ordinary Shadow Specter Sect members, generally at the Qi Nurturing Realm.

"One of the Hall Masters is called Yang Yuansen while the other is called Zhao Ling..."

Pang Jian silently memorized the names.

Following Fan Liang's lead, he soon arrived at a hall illuminated by gemstones instead of the usual oil lamps.

After respectfully greeting the people inside, Fan Liang left.

"Hong Jian, come here," Meng Qiulan beckoned him from within the hall.

Besides Meng Qiulan, there were five other strangers in the hall.

As Pang Jian walked toward her, he sized up the strangers, trying to match them with the names Fan Liang had told him.

"These are Hall Masters Yang Yuansen and Zhao Ling," Before he could figure it out, Meng Qiulan introduced two of them to Pang Jian. She then pointed to Pang Jian. "This is Hong Tai's nephew, Hong Jian."

"Heh, Hong Tai was unlucky. He led a group to the Solitary Mountain Range in Northern Qi, but it resulted in the death of Jin Yang," sneered a robust man with a shaved head, loose robes, and two elderly men flanking him.

This man was Yang Yuansen, and Pang Jian could sense he was still in his prime.

Yang Yuansen continued, "I heard Jin Yang was someone important from the Third World, and our Sect Leader was tasked to take care of him. The Sect Leader now has to explain this situation to the upper world. Luckily for Hong Tai, he's dead, or the Sect Leader would've held him accountable!"

"Elder Meng, you're not young anymore, yet here you are, taking such a big risk. I never thought you'd consider going against the Blood Moon Sect!" said an athletic woman wearing a light purple dress. The woman stood leaning against a pillar in the hall, and her long, straight legs were strikingly beautiful.

This woman in her early twenties was Zhao Ling. Her appearance was not only outstanding but she also exuded an intimidating aura. Her eyebrows slanted down like daggers, giving the impression that she was extremely battle-hungry.

"We're all at the Marrow Cleansing Realm Realm and need high-grade beast blood and meat, but it's hard to request from the Sect Leader. Even the Sect Leader seems to struggle with them and sometimes doesn't respond to the request at all," Meng Qiulan replied, redirecting their focus to personal interests.

Zhao Ling sighed. "That's true. I prepared some spirit stones to exchange for high-grade beast blood and meat with the Sect Leader, but he didn't even reply."

Yang Yuansen grunted. "I don't know the exact reasons, but it seems our Sect Leader has a rough time getting things from the Blood Moon Sect."

"Exactly. That's why the Sect Leader was very interested when I mentioned raiding the Blood Moon Sect's beast-hunting sailboat," Meng Qiulan said.

Zhao Ling eyed Pang Jian coldly. "What we're discussing is confidential. Even if he's Hong Tai's nephew, he has no right to be here listening to our plans!"

"Yeah, why's this kid here?" Yang Yuansen also complained.

Meng Qiulan calmly replied, "Like us, he is also at the Marrow Cleansing Realm."

Zhao Ling and Yang Yuansen were taken aback and regarded Pang Jian seriously for the first time since he entered.

Yang Yuansen sized Pang Jian up with a strange smile. "Such a young Marrow Cleansing Realm cultivator is unprecedented in our Shadow Specter Sect. Elder Meng, you now also have a Marrow Cleansing Realm subordinate! Haha, Hong Tai was mediocre, but he has a talented nephew!"

Then, as if suddenly recalling something, he slapped his thigh and said, "Zhao Ling, with him joining our Shadow Specter Sect, he's become our youngest Marrow Cleansing Realm member! If I remember correctly, you were twenty when you advanced to the Marrow Cleansing Realm, right?"

Zhao Ling snorted. "So what?"

"Heh, nothing, nothing. It's just that you've always lorded your age over us, but now it seems you can't do that anymore," Yang Yuansen said with a dry laugh.

Seeing the two about to argue, Meng Qiulan intervened, "Let's get down to business!"

"Alright, let's talk business! Elder Meng, I need to clarify that I agreed to join this mission for a reason!" The bald Yang Yuansen shouted, staring directly into Meng Qiulan's eyes. "If this mission succeeds, aside from my share of loot, your two female disciples must be mine! The three of us will take care of Fei Zheng from the Blood Moon Sect! If you disagree, you can find another hall master to help you. I'll back out!"

Meng Qiulan frowned.

"Elder Meng, you know me. I'm just a womanizer, but I won't do anything as cruel as torturing and killing them. Besides, we're all in the Shadow Specter Sect. If they follow me, you can still see them often. If they're handed over to Jiu Yuan of the Blood Moon Sect, you know better than I do what their fate will be."

Meng Qiulan's frown deepened at the mention of Jiu Yuan.

No other hall master in the Shadow Specter Sect could mobilize three Marrow Cleansing Realm cultivators at once, and Yang Yuansen was in the late stage of the Marrow Cleansing Realm, making him one of the strongest.

Zhao Ling crossed her long legs, took out a map of Divine Fortune City, and glanced down at it disdainfully."Yang Yuansen, is that all you aspire to? No wonder you've been stuck at the Marrow Cleansing Realm for so long. With your mind always on women, you deserve to stay in the lower world forever!"

"Hehe, Zhao Ling, if you agreed to be with me, I wouldn't need those sisters. I'll give up all my women for you." Yang Yuansen's lecherous gaze lingered on her long legs before moving up to her ample chest. "I have average talent, but you, Zhao Ling, are exceptional. If we had a child, they'd surely make a name for themselves in the upper worlds!"

Zhao Ling did not even spare him a glance. She kept her eyes on the map in her hand as she let out a cold laugh.

"To me, you're as useless as Hong Tai. You maintain a middle-aged appearance after reaching the Marrow Cleansing Realm, but you're actually over seventy years old. I would've already left the Shadow Specter Sect at your age and made a name for myself in the Third World. Do you really think you're worthy of having a child with me?" Zhao Ling mocked.

Yang Yuansen's face darkened, laughing sinisterly before glaring at Meng Qiulan. "Elder Meng, what do you think?"

"I agree." Meng Qiulan said through gritted teeth. She then looked helplessly at Pang Jian and sighed.

Pang Jian remained silent.

He needed high-grade beast blood and was not interested in Bai Wei and Bai Zhi, so there was no reason for him to protest

With that sorted, the group discussed possible plans, with Pang Jian listening quietly.

He learned there were four Marrow Cleansing Realm cultivators on the Blood Moon Sect's beast-hunting sailboat.

The strongest among them was Fei Zheng as he was just one step away from the Innate Realm.

The Blood Moon Sect aside, Shangguan Dong, the City Lord of Divine Fortune City, was also in the Marrow Cleansing Realm.

There were several Meridian Opening Realm cultivators in the city as well.

The discussion in the hall gradually grew heated.

Yang Yuansen proposed attacking the Formless Sailboat after it left Divine Fortune City. He believed their combined strength was enough to kill all four Marrow Cleansing Realm cultivators and the remaining Meridian Opening Realm cultivators.

Zhao Ling, on the other hand, suggested they launch their attack within Divine Fortune City, preferably when the four Marrow Cleansing Realm cultivators were scattered.

She recommended raiding the mansion where the Formless Sailboat was docked, seizing the beast's blood and meat, rescuing the pair of sisters, and leaving without engaging the Blood Moon Sect in a prolonged fight.

Divine Fortune City was large and dense, making it easier to escape.

Outside the Divine City was a vast plain, ill-suited for running and hiding.

"Hong Jian, what do you think?" Meng Qiulan asked.

"I prefer to attack within the city. If there are unknown dangers on the beast-hunting sailboat, it's easier to hide and retreat from inside Divine Fortune City," Pang Jian replied.

He did not believe the Shadow Specter Sect knew everything, so he preferred to have a backup plan.

Zhao Ling nodded slightly and her gaze toward Pang Jian softened. "You're more reliable than that old fool Hong Tai. I worked with him once, and he almost got me killed!"

Pang Jian now understood why she initially had shown hostility toward him.

"What do you think about attacking inside the city?" Meng Qiulan asked Yang Yuansen.

"Whatever." Yang Yuansen laughed indifferently. "As long as we're dealing with the Blood Moon Sect, I don't care if it's inside or outside the city. I'm just eager to get started."

"Alright, let's go over the details." Meng Qiulan nodded.