Trials of the Abyss

Chapter 375: Officially Registered

A giant spirit sword hovered above the Celestial Citadel in the Third World, resembling the legendary Roc Fish[1], suppressing the many Vicious Beasts below.

Warriors from various foreign races rode Vicious Beasts and wielded a myriad of artifacts as they clashed fiercely with cultivators at the edge of the fragmented land.

On the viewing platform of a Sword Boat anchored in the center of the fragmented land, the fiery Hu Yuanfei controlled the Rocfish Sword with her divine soul, closely monitoring the shifting dynamics of the battlefield.

Her eyebrows were as sharp as daggers, and she exuded a heroic spirit as her blue robes billowed in the wind.

Strands of her divine sense slipped into the crystal prism on her chest known as the Mystic Eye to check the Soul Wandering Realm leaderboard.

"He still hasn't made it into the top hundred!" she snapped impatiently. "Qi Qingsong!"

Qi Qingsong flew from the deck of the Sword Boat and landed on the viewing platform with a lazy smile.

"What are your orders, Senior Sister Hu? The Vicious Beasts and foreign race warriors attacking this time are weak. Killing them won't yield many contribution points, so I couldn't be bothered to join in," he explained, thinking Hu Yuanfei's displeasure was due to him drinking and having fun instead of participating in the battle.

"My master chose that guy because of your recommendation, so tell me why he's yet to even make it into the top hundred on the Soul Wandering Realm leaderboard?" Hu Yuanfei asked coldly.

She had heard the murmurs of many Sword Pavilion disciples lately.

Even those within the Sword Pavilion privately criticized her master, wondering if he had chosen the wrong person. The talk outside the sect was undoubtedly even harsher.

Hu Yuanfei regarded Li Zhaotian as a father figure and could not tolerate others questioning him. Hearing those criticisms only soured her mood.

The little junior brother she had never met was falling short of expectations.

It had been nearly a month since he had left the Sword Pavilion, and she had checked the Soul Wandering Realm leaderboard dozens of times since then, but his name never appeared.

Qi Qingsong chuckled when he realized what she was concerned about. "He's probably been delayed by other matters and hasn't engaged in fights in the Third World yet.

"Senior Sister Hu, you don't need to worry about Pang Jian.

"I know him too well—he stands out in every cultivation realm he's in. Trust me, when his name starts appearing on the Soul Wandering Realm leaderboard, it'll be unstoppable," Qi Qingsong said with absolute confidence.

Hu Yuanfei wore a look of surprise. "You're not just saying that to comfort me, right?"

"Haha! Let's be patient and wait to see what happens!" Qi Qingsong assured.

He, too, had heard the rumors and gossip but was genuinely unconcerned.

After all, he knew Pang Jian well and trusted in his strength.

Pang Jian had the divine artifacts, the Heart of Winter and the Thunder Pool in his possession. Not many could stand against him if he were to unleash the true strength of his Soul Wandering Realm cultivation.

"Alright, I'll trust you and put some faith in him too!" Hu Yuanfei said, half-convinced.

***

Massive warships bearing the flag of the Primeval Pillar Divine Kingdom were anchored in a crimson wilderness on the Cosmic Skies Continent.

Multifaceted prisms stood on the tall, square platforms, displaying scene after scene corresponding to the thousands of Mystic Eyes. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Cultivators from the Primeval Pillar Divine Kingdom observed the scenes displayed in each prism and meticulously recorded what they saw.

"Qin Wanyi killed seven Rank Five Ghost Race warriors, earning three hundred contribution points and moving up two ranks."

"Dong Jian killed one Rank Six Savage Primeval Beasts, earning seven hundred contribution points and moving up two ranks."

"Lin Qi..."

The record keepers focused intently on the prisms, carefully identifying the ranks of the foreign race warriors and Vicious Beasts.

Those accidentally overlooked could also inform the record keepers through the Mystic Eyes.

At that moment, they received some exciting news.

"Liu Youyu has returned!"

"She's the pride of our Primeval Pillar Divine Kingdom!"

"She went to the Fourth World. She probably made significant gains this time!"

Cultivators from the Primeval Pillar Divine Kingdom erupted into cheers.

Within just a quarter of an hour, Liu Youyu's distinctive Flying Fish Boat came into view, with a small Sword Boat following closely behind.

Many disciples of the Red Mountain Sect and elders from the major clans of the Cosmic Skies Continent gazed admiringly at the Flying Fish Boat.

The Sword Boat, on the other hand, drew little attention.

Before long, the Flying Fish Boat hovered above one of the square stone platforms.

Boom!

The massive bloody head of a python flew out from the Flying Fish Boat and crashed onto the stone platform below, causing it to tremble violently.

"A Rank Eight Silver-Scaled Burrowing Python!"

"That's seventeen thousand contribution points!"

"Liu Youyu now has a total of twenty-five thousand points! She's officially surpassed Fan Chen of the Supreme Monad Divine Kingdom, rising to third place in the Soul Wandering Realm leaderboard!"

"She's only behind Li Yuqing, the Li Family's deadly weapon, and Zhou Yi of the Nine Tribes Sect!"

The members of the Primeval Pillar Divine Kingdom overseeing the redemption point brimmed with excitement and started chanting Liu Youyu's name.

She was the pride of the Primeval Pillar Divine Kingdom and represented their supreme prestige.

As the wave of cheers subsided, a voice came from the unassuming Sword Boat. "Excuse me, where should I register?"

The record keepers from the Primeval Pillar Divine Kingdom, still immersed in their joy, ignored the speaker.

Left with no choice, the person in the Sword Boat raised his voice.

"I've come from the Sword Pavilion to participate in the hunt for foreign race warriors and Vicious Beasts. Where do I register?!" he shouted.

A tall, muscular middle-aged man clad in pitch-black armor gestured toward the Sword Boat with a broad smile and said, "Keep your Sword Boat in the air and come down yourself!"

"Very well."

A young man in blue robes flew out from the Sword Boat, appearing as tall and steady as a mountain.

His face was chiseled with sharp features, giving off a stern and unyielding aura. A short sword wrapped in black cloth hung from his waist alongside a sword token.

Zheng Guowang of the Primeval Pillar Divine Kingdom glanced at the sword toke and smiled, interest slightly piqued.

"An inner disciple, I see. "Who's your master and what's your name?"

The newcomer replied calmly, "My master is Li Zhaotian and my name is Pang Jian."

Young nobles from the Primeval Pillar Divine Kingdom, disciples of the Red Mountain Sect, and elders from the major clans of the Cosmic Skies Continent erupted into whispered discussion.

"Pang Jian?!"

"He's only now registering?"

"I heard he left the Sword Pavilion a month ago!"

"This guy..."

Even the Flying Fish Boat, which had already begun to depart, paused mid-flight.

Liu Youyu had remained within her Flying Fish Boat even after tossing down the head of the Rank Eight Silver-Scaled Burrowing Python, but could not resist peering out to observe from a distance.

Zheng Guowang's expression turned serious.

"Please give me a moment."

Using a secret technique, he communicated with the other redemption points and soon confirmed none had any records of Pang Jian.

"We thought—we assumed..." He chuckled awkwardly. "Everyone thought you already registered at another redemption point. There are seven redemption points in total and we don't usually cross-reference them all, so..."

He then took out a Mystic Eye and imprinted it with Pang Jian's details.

"From now on, the Mystic Eye will record any foreign race warriors or Vicious Beasts from the Fifth World you kill. If the Mystic Eye can't record it, you're too far from the nearest redemption point and will have to report it yourself." Zheng Guowang explained.

Pang Jian took the offered Mystic Eye and inspected it with his divine sense.

He immediately saw three constantly changing leaderboards.

The contribution points of the top hundred individuals on the Profound Abode Realm, the Spirit Condensation Realm, and the Soul Wandering Realm leaderboards were updated in real time.

It was much faster than the Sword Pavilion's sword token.

"Thank you," Pang Jian said with a respectful bow. He then asked, "Do you know where the members of my Sword Pavilion are located?"

"Hu Yuanfei is in the Celestial Citadel and Su Li is in Sunken Bei[2]." After a moment, Zheng Guowang added, "Zhou Qingchen and the others from the Red Mountain Sect are still in Auspicious Light."

He was clearly aware of Pang Jian's relationship with Zhou Qingchen.

Pang Jian thanked him again before flying off on his Sword Boat.

"Auspicious Light is the closest, about nine thousand li west of the Cosmic Skies Continent. Safe travels!" Zheng Guowang called.

A record keeper from another stone platform scoffed disdainfully at Zheng Guowang. "Old Zheng, why are you being so enthusiastic? Do you think he deserves your flattery just because he's a personal disciple of Li Zhaotian?"

"Of all the redemption points, he chose mine. Isn't that fate?" Zheng Guowang laughed heartily.

***

An hour later, Pang Jian passed over the famous rivers and mountains of the Cosmic Skies Continent on his small Sword Boat.

The once-thriving cities below had long since been abandoned.

Murky energy had turned the continent into a desolate wasteland. As the foreign races advanced, it was also doomed to become a brutal battlefield.

They first attacked the fragmented lands furthest from the Cosmic Skies and Dark Abyss Continents and are gradually getting closer. Though the foreign races seem to be saving the two continents for last, the fight here is inevitable.

As he pondered, Pang Jian's Sword Boat flew past the Cosmic Skies Continent and headed toward Auspicious Light.

After a while, he frowned, and his Sword Boat slowed down.

A familiar Flying Fish Boat trailed a few dozen li behind him, neither hastening nor lagging.

When his Sword Boat stopped, the Flying Fish Boat also halted.

Pang Jian then resumed his flight.

The Flying Fish Boat soon started up again.

Gripping the hilt of the black sword, he asked the Abyssal Demon. Is there anyone harboring ill will toward me within a hundred-li radius?

None, the Abyssal Demon swiftly replied.

Thus, Pang Jian no longer paid it any mind and simply allowed the Flying Fish Boat to follow him.

After some time, the Abyssal Demon added, I can't sense the thoughts of the person in the boat behind us. I can't discern anything—malicious or otherwise.

1. In Chinese mythology and literature, the Kunpeng (鲲鹏) is a legendary creature that symbolizes transformation and vast power. It combines two forms: the Kun (鲲), a massive fish, and the Peng (鹏), a giant bird. ☜

2. The character 邶 (Bèi) is an ancient place name and typically refers to the region of 邶国 (the State of Bei) during the Zhou Dynasty. It does not have a direct meaning like a common word but is used as a geographical or cultural reference. ☜