Trials of the Abyss

Chapter 181: Those Ascended to Face Death

The trading hall of the First Peak in the Primordial Wilderness was still bustling with activity.

"Lady Hua, Pang Jian went to Emerald Lake alone. He appears to have gone to find a female rogue cultivator named Han Ting. Five rogue cultivators tried to kill and rob him when they saw him alone, but he ended up killing them all. He then killed two more rogue cultivators in what seems to be a fit of rage," Lady Hua's subordinate reported through the white jade token in her hand.

At the same time, she was selling Spirit Condensation Pills to geniuses like Yang Rui, Zhao Yuanqi, Xie Xiwen, and Fang Boxuan with a charming smile.

She had trained all the white-clad women in the Primordial Wilderness and had spies on every major peak. Every move Pang Jian made after he left the First Peak was relayed back to her, and her sources of information were more detailed and accurate than even Jiu Yuan's.

"After going on a killing spree at Emerald Lake, he immediately used spirit stones to recover," her subordinate continued.

Lady Hua took a moment to consider her subordinate's words before replying telepathically, Don't act rashly. Let him stay by Emerald Lake. It's crucial to know which Cloud Sail he eventually boards.

By the way, where is the rogue cultivator named Huang Qi now?

The people assigned to monitor Huang Qi responded apologetically.

"Lady Hua, we lost him."

"Huang Qi left the First Peak, stayed in a forest for a while, then vanished."

"Please forgive our incompetence!"

Lady Hua masked the sinking feeling in her heart with a calm smile. "Ladies and gentlemen, a single Spirit Condensation Pill costs three hundred thousand spirit stones. This'll help you refine your divine soul more swiftly and effectively when advancing to the Spirit Condensation Realm."

"I'll bid for it!" Yang Rui shouted. He was in the late stage of the Profound Abode Realm.

"Me too." Qi Qingsong lazily smiled.

"I'll join the bidding too!" declared Xie Xiwen from the Star River Alliance.

"Count me in!" said Fang Boxuan from the Blood Moon Sect.

All the top talents, except Zhao Yuanqi, planned to try their luck to draw for the Spirit Condensation Pill, hoping it would aid their breakthrough into the Spirit Condensation Realm.

***

"Hm?" A member of the Star River Alliance noticed Pang Jian had disappeared after casually glancing down toward Emerald Lake. Puzzled, he peered around and wondered aloud, "When did that guy leave?"

His question drew the attention of the other cultivators, causing them to also look down in search of Pang Jian.

Weird... Still, they did not think much of it beyond that.

Meanwhile, Pang Jian was burying himself in the mud on Emerald Lake's floor, leaving only his bronze pendant exposed as he established a connection with the Giant Abyssal Serpent.

Yu Xin flew nervous but excited circles above the pool in the Fifth World.

The Primordial Wilderness in the Third World... Her usually clear eyes were cloudy from excitement.

The Heaven Ascension Tribulation Pillars had suppressed the foreign races in the Fifth World for a long time. All the intelligent beings of the Fifth World had dreamed of ascending to the upper worlds, but none had succeeded in thousands of years. Without exception, the Heaven Ascension Tribulation Pillars would strike down anybody attempting to ascend!

However, they would succeed today!

Furthermore, they were heading to the Primordial Wilderness in the Third World, where many rogue cultivators with rare treasures were trading!

This was a godsend!

The Fifth World was scarce in resources. The inhabitants of the Fifth World desperately needed rare spirit materials from the upper worlds. They were willing to pay any price for them, including the lives of warriors and Vicious Beasts!

I hope they succeed. Only those below Rank Seven can ascend this time, so I can't go through for now. I hope to one day ascend to the upper worlds too, Yu Xin prayed silently.

Splash!

Xiao Hei sprang up from where it was lying beside the pool and plunged into the water.

Yu Xin instantly knew there was hope, and every feather on her body seemed to tremble with nervous anticipation.

Please, please give us a chance! I know this batch of warriors will ultimately die up there, but still, I beg you... Yu Xin clasped her hands in prayer toward Xiao Hei's mysterious backer.

This batch of warriors and Vicious Beasts were destined to die in the Primordial Wilderness of the Third World. The combined strength of the five major sects in the Third World and the terrifying human experts in the Second and First Worlds would inevitably annihilate them.

She could only hope they could obtain the needed spirit materials and throw them down to the Fifth World before they were killed.

If resources from the upper worlds fell down to the wilderness of the Fifth World, they would have a seed of hope. Strong warriors and Vicious Beasts could then break the Heaven Ascension Tribulation Pillars' seals, ascend to the contaminated Fourth World, and establish themselves there!

Meanwhile, Pang Jian used his Innate Realm cultivation to close his pores and merge with the lake, as if he were a lifeless rock at the bottom of Emerald Lake.

Focusing his mind and spirit, he then activated the hidden power within the bronze pendant.

Whoosh!

A bright light was projected onto the lake's surface to form a Mirror Tunnel!

"It worked!" Yu Xin cheered. "Lord Yu Gu!"

Lord Yu Gu was a man with six pairs of wings from the Celestial Race and was hovering a few dozen miles away. At Yu Xin's excited call, he roared, "All races warriors, enter the pool and march toward the Primordial Wilderness in the Third World!"

Members of the Ghost Race, the Wood Race, and the Demon Scale Race, all rode their massive Vicious Beasts toward the pool. The towering one-eyed giants also rushed over.

"Celestial Maiden!" Yu Gu flew to Yu Xin and respectfully saluted, face full of gratitude. "In our darkest hour, you found us a new path!"

"Lord Yu Gu, my rank is exactly seven, so I can't accompany you to fight in the Third World. Please take care!" Yu Xin said softly.

Members of the Celestial Race gained an extra pair of wings for every two ranks they broke through. Therefore, Yu Xin and Yu Gu both had six pairs of wings, even though she was at Rank Seven while Yu Gu was at Rank Six.

"Don't worry, we know what kind of dangers await in the upper worlds." Yu Gu smiled calmly. "I'll be sure to get the spirit materials we urgently need before I die!"

Holding back her sadness, Yu Xin reminded gently, "Remember everything I told you."

She had conveyed all the mysterious being's instructions to Yu Gu. Nothing could be overlooked as this would inevitably affect their relationship with the mysterious being moving forward.

Yu Gu was wise and cautious, and she believed he would not disappoint her.

"Don't worry. I remember everything!"

Then, seeing that the warriors and Vicious Beasts had arrived at the pool, Yu Gu took a deep breath and shot toward the Mirror Tunnel.

"Everyone, follow me to the upper worlds and face death!" he called.

"Let's go!"

"Ascend to the upper worlds!"

"Fulfill the dream of our ancestors for generations!"

"Return to our ancestral homeland!"

The members of the Ghost Race, the Wood Race, the Demon Scale Race, and the one-eyed giants roared as they stepped into the Mirror Tunnel.

***

In the First Peak of the Primordial Wilderness, Lady Hua handed a Spirit Condensation Pill to the genius of the Radiant Sun Sect with a smile. "Yang Rui, congratulations. If there are no accidents, you'll be able to advance to the Spirit Condensation Realm by this year."

Lady Hua was slightly envious of Yang Rui's talent and backing as it had taken her nearly four times longer than him to reach the Spirit Condensation Realm.

Although she appeared young and beautiful, she was actually over a hundred years old. She could not help but sigh in admiration when she saw geniuses like Yang Rui, Xie Xiwen, and Fang Boxuan.

"It seems it won't be long before I'll go to the Second World." Yang Rui held the Spirit Condensation Pill and peered smugly at Qi Qingsong. "My luck is better than yours. This fact will be true in the future as well."

Qi Qingsong smiled placidly. "Let's meet in the Second World if we have the chance."

"Next, we have a spirit sword valued at nine hundred thousand spirit stones," Lady Hua called out, glancing at Qi Qingsong and Xie Xiwen from the Star River Alliance. "This spirit sword falls between the quality of an advanced grade and a saint-grade spirit artifact!"

Xie Xiwen had come to the event specifically for the sword and instantly shouted, "I'll bid!"

Qi Qingsong smiled bitterly and shook his head. "I'll pass."

A spirit sword that was almost at the saint grade had the potential to become a true saint-grade weapon if successfully obtained and nurtured with spiritual power and divine sense for many years.

Although Qi Qingsong also longed for such a spirit sword, he had not returned to being an inner disciple for long and had yet to accumulate his wealth.

At the moment, he simply did not have nine hundred thousand spirit stones.

Suddenly, a flurry of messages came from jade talismans and communication tokens throughout the trading hall.

"Lady Hua!"

"Elder Lou!"

"Elder Jiu Yuan!"

"Elder Liang!"

"A Mirror Tunnel has appeared on the lake surface of Emerald Lake. The situation is unclear!"

"The members of the Star River Alliance and the Sinister Soul Temple are closely watching the Mirror Tunnel, but they don't know where it leads!"

"Elder, something is amiss. I sense danger!"