Trials of the Abyss-Chapter 507: Little Monsters

Li Yuqing of the Divine Treasure Sect.

Wu Sujin of the Pure Land Sect.

Both hailed from the Western Loam, and their cultivation talents shone brightly across the Abyss.

Pang Jian had assumed that the disciples of these two sects shared harmonious ties, given the strong relationship between the Pure Land Sect and the Divine Treasure Sect.

Li Yuqing and Wu Sujin's sharp hostility toward each other instantly shattered that assumption.

"Is your Pure Land Sect scheming for one of the Blessed Lands on this fragmented land, like Li Chu from the Forsaken Expanse Sect?" Li Yuqing accused.

Over the years, she had grown into a striking figure, and her graceful curves stood out vividly beneath the simplicity of her bright yellow robes.

Her clear eyes burned with anger, delicate features laced with coldness as she questioned, "Wu Sujin, even if your master never told you about the relationship between the Sword Pavilion and our Li Family, you surely recognize this Heaven-Splitting Sword, right?"

A sword intent capable of rending the heavens seeped from the divine sword strapped to her back.

Even the Abyssal Demon comprehending the profound truths of the Dao of Demon in Pang Jian's wooden hut in the Cloud Wilderness trembled when he sensed her spreading sword intent.

Why is the Heaven-Splitting Sword here?

It's fine. It's on our side, Pang Jian assured, signaling it to resume its meditation.

Oh.

With that, the Abyssal Demon returned to his meditation.

"Wu Sujin, ever since I obtained this divine sword from the Sword Pavilion, I've practically been half their disciple! If you're here to take one of the Blessed Lands from this fragmented land, just know that you're making an enemy of me, Li Yuqing!

"Wu Sujin, I advise you to leave now and stay away!"

Li Yuqing had rushed here the moment she heard rumors about a mysterious fragmented land in the Second World with ties to the Sword Pavilion.

After discreetly inquiring with a few insiders at the Sword Pavilion, Li Yuqing quickly learned that the fragmented land belonged to Pang Jian. She immediately rushed over, fearing someone like Li Chu would try to claim it for themselves.

The Sword Pavilion's influence among the human race had visibly declined after Li Zhaotian had failed to ascend to the True God Realm.

Li Yuqing was the wielder of the Heaven-Splitting Sword and a representative of the Divine Treasure Sect's Li Family. Her mere presence at the Resolute Expanse was enough to dissuade any potential threats, even Li Chu.

Determined to guard the Resolute Expanse, she could not help but be suspicious of Wu Sujin's presence on the land.

"Making an enemy of you?" Wu Sujin sneered. "I honestly have no idea what goes on in that head of yours. Li Yuqing, have you cultivated to the point of dulling your wits? The Pure Land Sect has never coveted the Sword Pavilion's territory.

"Pang Jian and I have private matters to discuss, so kindly step away," she added, curling her lips into a faint smirk.

"Private matters?" Li Yuqing's curiosity was piqued. A dangerous glint flickered in her eyes as she asked, "Pang Jian, what secrets are you two hiding?"

"Well..." Pang Jian coughed lightly, hesitating briefly before deciding to reveal the truth.

For reasons he could not quite explain, he always found himself willing to share far more than he normally would whenever he was with Li Yuqing.

Memories surfaced of them sharing food and drink in the dark tunnels of the Fifth World and having long conversations in Spirit Offering. Every time he recalled those times, a warmth flowed through his heart.

He knew Li Yuqing was someone he could trust.

After all, she had even let the World Eater Vine in Misty Swamp go because it had ties to Pang Jian.

Pang Jian started to explain, "I—"

"Don't you dare!" Wu Sujin cut him off sharply. "This concerns my junior sister. It's a closely guarded secret of the Pure Land Sect."

"Junior sister? Do you mean the heir of the Celestial Phoenix's legacy? The one your sect is keeping under tight wraps?" Li Yuqing's interest deepened, eyes darting between Wu Sujin and Pang Jian. "Does she have something to do with what you're discussing?"

Pang Jian nodded.

"How do you know her junior sister?" Li Yuqing's gaze sharpened with an unreadable glint.

Fearing further misunderstanding, he decided to ignore Wu Sujin's protests.

"Her junior sister is Pang Lin, my younger sister," he explained. "My biological sister."

The unsettling glint in Li Yuqing's eyes disappeared.

"Oh, Well, carry on, then."

Li Yuqing had stormed in, fully prepared to confront the Pure Land Sect for coveting the Thunderclap Paradise, only to realize it was all a misunderstanding.

As a fellow native of the Western Loam, the Divine Treasure Sect's Li Family was naturally aware of the girl that the Pure Land Sect was carefully nurturing.

The relationship between the Pure Land Sect and the Sword Pavilion was already an amicable one. Given that the heir of the Celestial Phoenix's legacy was Pang Jian's biological sister, it was near impossible that Wu Sujin was here with malicious intent.

Having realized this, Li Yuqing gracefully left the valley.

"Hello, Grandpa Mu," she greeted Mu Aichuan with a bright smile and a bow as she passed the valley's entrance. "I rushed over and forgot to pay my respects."

"You're one of our own at the Sword Pavilion. There's no need for formalities." The hunched old man returned her smile. "That girl from the Pure Land Sect isn't the master of a divine sword. She's the outsider here."

"Of course!"

Beaming, Li Yuqing set up a table and chairs outside the valley, pulling Mu Aichuan along to indulge in her private stash of fine food and wine.

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"So, what's the deal with this fragmented land? How did it suddenly sprout three Blessed Lands? Grandpa Mu, how long have you been guarding this place?" Li Yuqing bombarded Mu Aichuan with a barrage of questions.

Mu Aichuan was typically indifferent to others but was a completely different person around Li Yuqing.

An affectionate smile stretched across his face as he casually picked at the dishes on the table. "Yuqing, only Pang Jian knows the full truth about this fragmented land. I'm just an old man keeping watch over one of the Blessed Lands to make sure it forms properly."

"Then I'll ask him directly later." Li Yuqing grinned, pouring Mu Aichuan another drink.

***

In the valley, Wu Sujin explained that the Pure Land Sect would use a teleportation array to first send Pang Lin to the Sword Pavilion on the Heaven Awakening Continent.

She would then be transported to the Resolute Expanse through the Sword Pavilion's teleportation array.

This would minimize the risk of Pang Lin's aura leaking out.

As the heir of the Celestial Phoenix's legacy, her presence was naturally far more conspicuous than the average cultivator.

The Pure Land Sect did not want word to spread that Pang Lin had secretly left their sanctuary to train elsewhere.

They feared the Dragon Lair Sect would covertly manipulate others to harm her.

After finalizing the arrangements, Wu Sujin casually shifted the conversation. "How do you know that little monster from the Li Family?"

"Little monster?" Pang Jian was caught off guard.

"She's already advanced to the Nirvana Realm at such a young age. If that's not monstrous, what is? I was barely in the Soul Wandering Realm when I was her age. She's a step ahead of me in terms of talent."

Wu Sujin's lips curved into a wry smile.

"Never mind, I almost forgot you're a little monster too. You're the same age as her and already in the Nirvana Realm as well.

"And then there's my junior sister..."

The more she thought about it, the more dejected she became.

"The greatest talents always emerge during the most terrifying calamities. You three are the geniuses of this era. Once you ascend to the True God Realm, you'll undoubtedly surpass our current True Gods.

"Whenever we face impossible odds, peerless geniuses appear to shake the heavens and earth. I've always believed that the human race's ultimate victory stems from this.

"Watching you all rise to brilliance only convinces me that there's still hope for us."

***

Half a day later, in the Frozen Land, Pang Jian stood before a towering glacier with Li Yuqing.

"This is the third Blessed Land," he explained, sipping from a silver flask. "This Frozen Land was originally adjacent to Absolute Heaven, deep within the bizarre mist.

"Thanks to the Heart of Winter, a divine artifact that the Ice Demon left behind, I could move this fragmented land and bring it out of the bizarre mist.

"The peculiarity of the Resolute Expanse comes from the black turtle beneath us. It's linked to the Black Turtle Shield Armor, which the ancient Rank Ten black turtle left behind."

Pang Jian intentionally chose not to disclose the fact that the black turtle below was, in fact, the rebirth of the Rank Ten black turtle.

Aside from that, Pang Jian withheld little.

"I heard the Black Turtle Shield Armor was on the Sacred Soul Continent. So, the black turtle beneath us obtained it there and brought it to the Resolute Expanse, which led to the formation of the three Blessed Lands."

Li Yuqing paused, seeming mulling over something.

"I heard the Rock Bear got hold of the Black Turtle Shield Armor and used it to slay the Four-Eyed Spirit Fox."

The Li Family had backed the Four-Eyed Spirit Fox's ascension to Fey God. Their interference in Fey Race's affairs prompted Long Yan to travel to the Demon Abyss Continent to try to assassinate Li Jie.

Unfortunately, the Four-Eyed Spirit Fox was defeated, and the Rock Bear ascended as a Fey God, thwarting the Li Family's plans.

Only now did Li Yuqing realize that Pang Jian had secretly aided the Rock Bear in that victory.

Pang Jian supported the Rock Bear, while she and the Li Family supported the Four-Eyed Spirit Fox. In the end, the Rock Bear had won.

In a way, she and Pang Jian had unknowingly competed behind the scenes, and she lost.

The realization that she had been on the losing side irked Li Yuqing.

"So you're the one who ruined my plans!" she grumbled, shooting Pang Jian a glare. "Any treasures the Sword Pavilion doesn't need from the Thunderclap, Verdure, and Frostclad Paradises are to be sold to our Divine Treasure Sect!

"Also, give our Li Family the right to cultivate in the Blessed Lands!"

Pang Jian smiled. "You can have your father discuss it with my master."

"Grandpa Mu said this fragmented land belongs to you," Li Yuqing replied with a mischievous grin. "Why bother those old men with our affairs?

"Think about it. How many times have I saved you? Didn't I keep quiet about that World Eater Vine in Misty Swamp for you?"

When she said it like that, Pang Jian had no choice but to agree with a sigh of resignation.

"So, why is the Pure Land Sect keeping your sister under such tight wraps?" Li Yuqing asked curiously.

"She was born with a natural lightning vortex in her spiritual sea," Pang Jian unhesitatingly explained. "Her progress on the Dao of Lighting has been swift, and she has the potential to ascend to the True God Realm through it,"

Li Yuqing, sharp as ever, immediately grasped the weight of his words.

"That means she, you, and the Pure Land Sect...you're all under a lot of pressure."

Pang Jian could only respond with a bitter smile.