Trials of the Abyss

Chapter 68: Earth Blaze Technique

As old comrades-in-arms, Zhou Qingchen and Han Duping had a habit of drinking together after a battle to relax their nerves.

Han Duping asked for a jar of liquor, and the pair stood guard at the door, chatting leisurely while drinking.

After ensuring no enemies remained in the inn, Pang Jian dragged Qiu Li's and Lin Quanshan's corpses over and tossed them into the Peaceful Inn.

Under the curious gaze of Zhou Qingchen and Han Duping, he also wiped away the bloodstains from where Qiu Li and Lin Quanshan had died.

Once Pang Jian finished cleaning up, he washed the blood off his hands at a water basin in the inn and said to the two, "I'm going to rest across the street."

With that said, he pushed open the door of the building opposite the inn, went in, and closed the door behind him.

The two men had been drinking quietly as they watched Pang Jian do all this.

After Pang Jian disappeared into the stone building opposite the inn, Han Duping gulped down a mouthful of his drink before sighing. "Is it really that tough being a hunter in the mountains?"

Zhou Qingchen chuckled wryly. "Indeed, being a hunter in the mountains demands strategic planning and swift execution. It's important to leave no trace behind, and when striking, it's all or nothing,"

Han Duping stared intently at the building Pang Jian had entered, rubbing his forehead in frustration. "Why do I feel like I can't even be a competent hunter in the Solitary Mountain Range?"

Hearing this, Zhou Qingchen's laughter faded. His expression turned solemn as he fell silent.

When Jian Yaoyang entered the inn, he and Pang Jian simultaneously attacked from both sides.

From beginning to end, Pang Jian remained calm and composed. The memory of his cool and collected eyes sent shivers down Zhou Qingchen's spine.

After seeing Jian Yaoyang inhale the poison powder, Pang Jian did not hesitate to stab through the window with his spear, killing the person standing guard outside. He then leaped out of the window to slay the other female cultivator.

His decisiveness, ruthlessness, and cold-blooded demeanor, made Zhou Qingchen shudder in recollection. That was the second time he had seen Pang Jian take action.

The first time was outside the stone pile when Pang Jian took advantage of the ear-piercing demonic sound to assassinate He Ziren. Zhou Qingchen had left early in the subsequent battle at Blackwater Pond, so he did not witness what followed.

He also did not witness firsthand how Pang Jian inflicted severe wounds on Dong Tianze in the deep hole.

This time, however, he finally witnessed how terrifying Pang Jian could be in battle.

Zhou Qingchen sighed. "Some people are just naturally suited for the battlefield, and inherently inclined towards bloodshed and warfare. Pang Jian is probably one of those people. Even if he's a hunter of the Solitary Mountain Range, he is also the king of these mountains and forests. The rest of the wild beasts and hunters will never gain any advantage on him."

"Your words have lightened my mood a bit," Han Duping said hoarsely.

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Luo Hongyan's cold voice suddenly rang out from inside the inn. "Have you two finished your drinks? It's time to come inside and tidy up. Unless you're not interested in these people's spirit stones and belongings?"

"Alright, alright, we're coming."

***

"Earth Blaze Technique."

Pang Jian sat in the corner of the dimly lit shop, reading the contents of the booklet using the faint light that shone through the gap in the windows as he took out a piece of fiery-hot Earth Blaze stone.

After carefully running through the first few chapters of the Earth Blaze Technique several times, Pang Jian was determined to use the Earth Blaze stone to cultivate.

Resting the Earth Blaze stone against his navel, he activated the Qi Nurturing Divine Cauldron Art to refine its energy. Soon, he felt strands of fiery power appear in his dantian and mingle with his spiritual power.

Following the instructions in the Earth Blaze Technique, he refined the earthflame energy within his dantian and spiritual sea.

As usual, the spiritual power flowed smoothly into his spiritual sea.

The earthflame energy absorbed alongside the spiritual power from the Earth Blaze stone seemed to transform into thin streaks of fiery meteors, shooting down from his dantian into his spiritual sea.

In his vast spiritual sea, a small area voluntarily dispersed spiritual power outward to welcome the descent of the fiery meteors.

Strands of earthflame energy converged in that area to form a small fiery pool within Pang Jian's spiritual sea.

The fiery pool only occupied a tiny area of his vast spiritual sea, serving solely as a container for the earthflame energy and preparing it for the subsequent execution of techniques.

One piece, two pieces, three pieces.

Before long, Pang Jian had depleted the earthflame energy from seven Earth Blaze stones and had channeled it into the newly-created fiery pool.

Afterward, he retrieved the Earth Blaze Technique booklet and flipped to the later chapters.

Whoosh!

With a single thought, the earthflame energy within the fiery pool was connected to two meridians linking his spiritual sea to his arms.

Streams of crimson earthflame energy and shimmering green spiritual power flowed through his meridians.

First fast, then slow. Roll it back to amass momentum before releasing, Pang Jian recited mentally.

Strands of delicate crimson earthflame energy, enveloped by his spiritual power, raced through the meridians of his arm.

The earthflame energy alternated between darting toward his palm and slowing down before abruptly rolling back to accumulate momentum with the incoming earthflame energy and spiritual power to gather into a formidable wave of power.

The Earth Blaze Technique could neither be mastered overnight nor in a single burst of effort.

As it flowed into his palm, it rolled back several times, merging with earthflame energy and spiritual power from behind and erupting with unparalleled ferocity.

Pang Jian repeatedly attempted to roll back the earthflame energy in waves, converting it into a more potent blend of earthflame energy and spiritual power.

Whoosh!

A ball of intense, fiery red energy erupted in his palm. Pang Jian instinctively pointed it toward the nearby cabinet, blasting it into charred, shattered fragments.

A faint scent of magma and sulfur lingered in the room.

Pang Jian stood up. "Earth Blaze Technique!"

Imbued with special attributes energy, the force unleashed by the technique was surprisingly potent and far surpassed that of simply channeling spiritual power.

At this moment, he recalled how a small crimson mountain would appear when Zhou Qingchen used his offensive killing moves.

The individual from the Radiant Sun Sect, whose palm seemed to be able to conjure a miniature sun, likely employed a similar offensive technique to the Earth Blaze Technique.

The circulation of the earthflame energy is still too sluggish. I'm not adept at it yet. It takes me too long to build up enough earthflame energy for the eruption.

Pang Jian found his rolling forward and backward of the earthflame energy too slow.

If he wanted to unleash the Earth Blaze Technique with a single thought, he would have to repeatedly practice the motion and familiarize himself with this new method of circulating energy.

Knock! Knock!

A knock sounded out, followed by the voice of Luo Hongyan. "It's me. Let me in."

Pang Jian knitted his brows. He had not heard footsteps, meaning Luo Hongyan had likely been standing outside, waiting for him to destroy the cabinet with earthflame energy before knocking on the door.

"The door isn't locked," Pang Jian replied coldly.

"Oh." Luo Hongyan pushed open the door and upon entering, she caught a whiff of the faint scent of magma and sulfur. Surprised, she exclaimed, "You're already able to unleash the power of the earthflame?"

She closed the door behind her and tossed a cloth bag toward Pang Jian in the dimly lit room.

"This isn't a spatial pouch but it contains some spirit stones. It's rightfully yours," she said, lips curling in disdain. "Seven paupers indeed. I've never seen such pathetic folks before. Their things aren't worth much. No wonder they resorted to desperate measures."

Pang Jian took the cloth bag and found only about twenty spirit stones inside. Surprised, he asked, "Is this all?"

"Yeah, they were probably struggling to make ends meet. They were probably reluctant to use spirit stones in their daily cultivation so they could replenish their strength when encountering danger. They likely brought all their belongings with them on this risky journey."

Luo Hongyan knitted her brows and shook her head regretfully. "I've searched through everything, but there's nothing worth taking. They only had basic techniques taught by the Star River Alliance. There's nothing suitable for you."

Pang Jian transferred all the spirit stones into his spatial pouch without saying another word.

"Pang Jian, I truly mean no harm to you. Please believe me," Luo Hongyan said.

Pang Jian looked at her indifferently.

"When the Divine Spirit Pagoda trapped me on Central Lake Island, you rescued me in the nick of time. I fought for these things for you because you didn't abandon me like you abandoned Ning Yao in Blackwater Pond."

With that said, Luo Hongyan did not wait for Pang Jian to respond before turning and walking away

It was not until she reached the door that she added, "You should get ready. It's time for us to continue our journey."

***

In Ning Yao's sea of consciousness.

Ning Yao had been imprisoned in the darkness for a long time without uttering a word. Gazing at the enchanting silhouette before her, she said, "You've gone to great lengths to get close to him, all for that bronze pendant on his chest. Why do you insist on gaining his trust?"

Luo Hongyan glanced at her and shook her head, "You know nothing."

Ning Yao knitted her brows. "We've already arrived in this city. Just find a way to get the bronze pendant. Why bother wasting your effort on useless tasks?"

"Lately, I've been considering whether I should fully possess you," Luo Hongyan said with a smile.

Shaken, Ning Yao did not dare to say another word.

Luo Hongyan snorted. "Good. Don't bother me again."

She recalled the days of her cultivation in a sect several hundreds of years ago.

In that long-lost sect, she had experienced nothing but deceit, betrayal, and treachery.

Those she believed to be her closest friends had merely been lusting after her beauty. Once she firmly rejected their advances, they revealed a side of themselves she did not recognize, capable of the most despicable acts.

The way she now interacted as Ning Yao with Pang Jian, Su Meng, Zhou Qingchen, and the others was something she had never experienced before in her life.

Although they were all somewhat wary of her, none of them harbored any malicious intent toward each other, nor did they fight over resource allocation either.

They trusted each other and conversed freely with one another. Zhou Qingchen, despite being a young master, carried no air and did not hold himself in high regard.

Compared to the cold, cruel sect where despicable deeds were common among fellow disciples, this small and weaker group was refreshing to her.