Trials of the Abyss

Pang Jian had always known his sister, Pang Lin, would eventually clash with the ancient Thunder Dragon slumbering in the Dragon Lair Sect.

The Thunder Dragon had dominated the Dao of Lightning for millennia.

If Pang Lin ever wished to ascend to the True God Realm, she would inevitably have to destroy the Dragon Lair Sect and kill the ancient Thunder Dragon.

It was just like how the aging Rock Bear could never hope to ascend to the rank of Fey God before the death of the Rank Ten black turtle was confirmed.

Before stepping onto the Sacred Soul Continent, Pang Jian had not truly understood what the Dragon Lair Sect symbolized to the Fey Race, nor had he grasped the oppressive influence of the Thunder Dragon.

He had naively believed that the ancient Thunder Dragon feared the powerful human factions and that the True Gods would be enough to suppress it.

After all, the Sacred Soul Continent was in the Second World, not the First World.

Pang Jian had since realized just how wrong he had been.

Even though the ancient Thunder Dragon had not shown himself for many years, his oppressive influence was still etched deep into the souls of every Fey Race.

Pang Jian had recently experienced the formidable combat prowess of the Fey King White Lynx, a prodigious talent of the new Fey Race generation.

The enemy of his enemy could become an ally.

Pang Jian was willing to overlook the White Lynx's previous attack on him for his sister's sake—to plant a seed of hatred against the Dragon Lair Sect and the ancient Thunder Dragon.

***

The Fey King White Lynx jumped up to perch on an ancient tree a distance away.

Snap!

The branch snapped under her small paw.

Her inky black eyes flickered with pain.

With her Rank Nine bloodline, she would never have normally caused a branch to break under her weight unless her injuries were severe and she was gravely weakened.

She hastily leaped to another branch, making a conscious effort to land lightly this time.

Blood started to seep from the gruesome wounds on her body.

The White Lynx had arduously suppressed her injuries in front of the Rock Bear and Yuan Qi, refusing to let her blood spill to avoid appearing pitiable and defeated.

Once no one was around, however, she let go of her pretense of strength, allowing the blood to spill uncontrollably from her wounds.

A soft, sorrowful whimper came from deep within her. It was a cry of pain so faint it was almost inaudible—though no less heartbreakingly mournful.

Another Fey King had already seized her territory. Returning while in such a weakened state, would inevitably mean having a confrontation with that Fey King.

To fight in her current condition would be to court death.

"The Sacred Soul Continent no longer has a place for me," she wailed, soft cries echoing with bitterness and despair as she lamented the unfairness of fate. "I underestimated the Dragon Lair Sect...and I underestimated Yuan Min..."

The White Lync sighed deeply, lost and unsure of where to go as she helplessly pondered her future.

Her dual physical and emotional torment consumed her so fully that she did not sense Pang Jian until he stood directly in front of her.

"You're here to take revenge, aren't you?" the White Lynx asked, gazing straight into his eyes.

She quietly activated her bloodline to suppress her bleeding wounds, while attempting to alter the color of her black eyes.

"I'm not here for revenge." Pang Jian knitted his brows. "You should let your blood flow freely.

"I can sense the terrifying aura of a dragon lingering in your blood.

"That aura will corrode your flesh and body if you keep it inside. Letting your blood flow may make you look pitiful, but it's better than harboring the dragon's harmful aura within your body."

The White Lynx's eyes turned icy.

"Oh, so you're here to mock me, then?" Not wanting to transform into human form or feign civility with Pang Jian, she doggedly remained in her petite lynx form as she sneered, "I brought this upon myself.

"My unwillingness to accept an incomplete bloodline and my desire to restore it like the Old Bear has led me to this state.

"This is my punishment. It was my own doing. Are you satisfied now?"

Her tone grew colder with every word.

The white eye she had been trying to manifest refused to materialize, her severed meridians making it impossible no matter how hard she tried.

Despair filled her heart. It seemed that what she had spent her entire life chasing would now forever remain out of reach.

"I want to try healing your injuries and reconnecting your severed meridians. I can't guarantee success, but I want to give it a shot," Pang Jian said as he silently activated the Leaves of Life covering his heart.

Rich life energy surged from the vibrant green leaves, causing a spark of light to flicker in the White Lynx's eyes.

She hesitated briefly before asking, "Why?"

"I simply want to oppose the Dragon Lair Sect," Pang Jian explained. "If you recover, you could one day retaliate against the dragons for what they've done to you.

"You're different from the other Fey Kings. You're strong and have untapped potential. That's why—"

The White Lynx abruptly transformed into a streak of white lightning as she fled in terror, leaving a trail of blood behind her.

His words appeared to have truly startled her.

"I just want to survive—I no longer care about the future!" she cried in panic. "I don't need your treatment, so don't chase or harm me!"

Her injuries had left her with a deep-seated fear of the Dragon Lair Sect.

Although she could tell that the life energy radiating from Pang Jian could indeed help restore her severed meridians, she dared not accept his aid.

Pang Jian's heart grew unbearably heavy as he watched the White Lynx flee.

The Dragon Lair Sect...

He had never imagined her fear of the Dragon Lair Sect was so all-consuming that she would not even allow him to treat her.

How terrifying must the Dragon Lair Sect be for the Fey Race on the Sacred Soul Continent to harbor such profound dread?

The Dragon Lair Sect wields such overwhelming influence over the Fey Race…do they even fear the Pure Land Sect?

If Pang Lin were exposed, would the ancient Thunder Dragon slumbering within the Dragon Lair Sect ever allow her to live?

What would the ancient Thunder Dragon do to me if it ever senses the Thunder Pool in my spiritual sea?

Is the ancient Thunder Dragon even afraid of Li Zhaotian?

These dark thoughts circled endlessly in Pang Jian's mind, and he returned to the Greencliff Mountain Range with a grim expression.

The first thing he saw was Yuan Qi standing dejectedly near the pit, repeatedly shaking his head.

"Did the Rock Bear fail?" Pang Jian asked.

"Yuan Min outmaneuvered us," Yuan Qi explained darkly. "There were traces of Yuan Min's venom in the Black Stork's heart.

"The Black Stork likely didn't even realize Yuan Min's venom was inside him.

"When Elder Bear's dormant bloodline started to awaken, the venom took effect, dissolving the crystal bloodline chains he had just formed."

Yuan Qi gazed at the pit with a sigh.

"Elder Bear has not only failed to awaken his dormant bloodline but is also injured. He's gone deep underground to purge Yuan Min's venom and won't be emerging anytime soon.

"As for me..." Yuan Qi trailed off, appearing utterly at a loss. "It's impossible for me to find another set of materials required to reawaken Elder Bear's bloodline in a short amount of time.

"I suspect the Dragon Lair Sect will soon announce the six Fey Kings and force them to duel to the death.

"Even if Elder Bear doesn't make it to the battlefield, Yuan Min will come for him. Yuan Min will likely use Elder Bear's heart in his first attempt to claim the Fey God position."

After a brief pause, Yuan Qi earnestly advised, "You should leave the Sacred Soul Continent as soon as possible. The White Lynx said the Dragon Lair Sect has set its sights on you.

"Their justification for killing you will be your interference in the struggle for the Fey God position.

"The Dragon Lair Sect represents the entire Fey Race, and the human race desperately needs the Fey Race's support right now."

He glanced at the mountain peak where Fan Chen, Liu Youyu, and the others stood.

"The Dragon Lair Sect could kill those juniors and return the divine artifacts to avoid further issues.

"Even if the True Gods hold a grudge, they'll prioritize resolving the crisis with the foreign races before addressing grievances with the Dragon Lair Sect."

His meaning was clear—even those with the backing of a True God, like Fan Chen, could die in the Sacred Soul Continent.

"I understand."

Pang Jian flew back to the mountain peak, the weight of successive failures clouding his face with gloom.

As he reflected on their experiences, he realized that misfortune had dogged their every step since they set foot on the Sacred Soul Continent.

Yuan Min's cunning ploys had robbed them, the White Lynx had left them humiliated, Elder Bear had fallen victim to treachery, and now, the Dragon Lair Sect was targeting them.

The Fey Race—or more precisely, the all-encompassing influence of the Dragon Lair Sect—loomed over them like a colossal shadow, stifling their every move.

Pang Jian arrived before the group.

"The White Lynx didn't even let me treat her injuries because of her fear of the Dragon Lair Sect." He sighed. "Yuan Min poisoned the Old Bear, leaving him unlikely to prevail.

"Soon, Yuan Min will come for him, and the Rock Bear will likely die.

"I…I invited you to the Sacred Soul Continent without fully understanding the situation here. I dragged you into this predicament.

"I'm sorry for putting everyone in harm's way." Pang Jian bowed in apology.

"You didn't do this intentionally, and we came of our own accord," Fan Chen comforted, shaking his head. "What we need to do now is decide—do we retreat from the Sacred Soul Continent, or…?"

Dong Tianze and Zhou Qingchen immediately turned to look at Pang Jian.

Their meaning was clear—they would follow his lead, no matter his choice.

"Could the Rock Bear protect us if he survives? Surely the ancient Thunder Dragon wouldn't act directly, right?" Liu Youyu asked tentatively.

"He's injured and likely won't be a match for Yuan Min without reawakening his bloodline," Dong Wenjian replied.

"Then we need to help him recover as quickly as possible. Perhaps he could still match Yuan Min in battle if he regains his strength, even without a reawakened bloodline," Liu Youyu said, reaching into the mirrored world of her Celestial Profound Mirror. Her expression brightened as she grasped something unseen. "I think I can help him."

Pang Jian looked at her in astonishment.

He did not wish to drag Fan Chen, Liu Youyu, and Dong Wenjian into further danger alongside him on the Sacred Soul Continent. After all, his selfish desires were not worth risking their lives.

Thus, he genuinely hoped they would leave as soon as possible and avoid lingering in the Sacred Soul Continent any longer.

He had initially intended to wait until the Sword Boat left before venturing underground alone to attempt to heal the Rock Bear.

However, Liu Youyu's words left him conflicted.

"If you can heal the White Lynx, you could likely also heal the Rock Bear. Why don't we try together?" Liu Youyu suggested.

Pang Jian knitted his brows, wavering.

"Let's go give it a shot," she urged, tugging at his sleeve as she pulled him toward the pit.