Trials of the Abyss

The White Lynx's piercing eyes locked onto Pang Jian.

"My injuries haven't completely healed," she explained. "I didn't dare to leave the Sacred Soul Continent while the ancient Thunder Dragon was in deep slumber.

"He could sense my movements in his slumbering state.

"If I left, it would mean I harbor resentment toward the Dragon Lair Sect and intend to sever ties with the Fey Race on the Sacred Soul Continent.

"I simply didn't dare…" She gently shook her head. "I had nowhere to go. I hid in this valley because no Fey Kings or Great Feys come here.

"I was waiting for the Fey Kings to start their battles. Even though the ancient Thunder Dragon had to wake up for the event, he's also forced to shift his focus to the Rock Bear and the others' battles.

"I was planning to leave the Sacred Soul Continent and seek refuge elsewhere when you suddenly surfaced from underground."

The White Lynx's eyes flickered with hesitation as she internally struggled over whether or not to attack Pang Jian.

His master is Li Zhaotian of the Sword Pavilion, but he has divine artifacts and a divine soul imbued with divine consciousness.

Though she had yet to recover fully, she had recouped enough strength to conjure her black-and-white domain.

Thus, she was confident she could subdue Pang Jian if she went all out.

If she killed him, she could strip him of everything he had.

His divine artifact, the Heart of Winter, could fetch a high price outside the Sacred Soul Continent, and she was certain he also had other valuable items in his spatial bracelet.

Above all, his unique divine soul was an irresistible temptation to her.

Killing Pang Jian, taking all his possessions, and escaping the Sacred Soul Continent while the ancient Thunder Dragon was preoccupied with the six Fey Kings seemed like a near-perfect plan.

There was just one flaw.

Her gaze fell on the sword token clutched tightly in Pang Jian's hand.

Pang Jian was Li Zhaotian's personal disciple. His sword token could likely transmit messages instantly, even from the Sacred Soul Continent.

The potential threat of the Sword Pavilion and Li Zhaotian made her hesitate.

She also could not help but recall how Pang Jian had offered to treat her injuries when she had initially been wounded.

Her lips curled into a helpless, bitter smile and she shook her head regretfully.

"Forget it." Cupping her scarred face with her equally scarred hands, she said, "I'd have to face the wrath of the Sword Pavilion and Li Zhaotian after leaving the Sacred Spirit Continent if I kill you.

"If you were one of those other youngsters, I wouldn't hesitate as much. Even those with True Gods backing them.

"Li Zhaotian is different. He would hunt me across the entire Abyss.

"Ah, what a miserable fate I have," the White Lynx lamented, wallowing in self-pity.

A chill ran down Pang Jian's spine. He had not expected the White Lynx to be so blunt about her plans and thought process.

After a moment of silence, Pang Jian decided to take a risk.

"We're planning to leave the Sacred Soul Continent soon. Perhaps we could give you a ride on our Sword Boat," he offered.

The White Lynx was stunned. "Didn't you hear me? I just said I wanted to kill you. Even now, I'm tempted. Your divine soul is extremely alluring. I almost can't resist devouring it."

"Wanting to do something and actually doing it are different matters. As long as you haven't acted, there's still room to reconcile," Pang Jian replied earnestly.

"Are you seriously inviting me onto your Sword Boat?" The White Lynx scoffed. "Have you even thought it through? None of you could withstand a single strike from me."

Her words caused Pang Jian to hesitate once more. "Then perhaps we'll meet again in the future."

Waving weakly as if bidding her farewell, he laid back down on the grass and started to heal his injuries with the Leaves of Life.

The black turtle had instructed Pang Jian to leave the Sacred Soul Continent post-haste once he delivered the Black Turtle Shield Armor to the Rock Bear.

Neither he nor his group had the power or right to interfere in the struggle for the position of Fey God.

The black turtle was still imprisoned in the Dragon Lair Sect. Once Pang Jian left the Sacred Soul Continent, he could use the Gate of the Abyss to teleport to Pang Jian's side.

Just as Pang Jian could teleport to the black turtle, the black turtle could likewise teleport to him.

In this way, the black turtle could take advantage of the ancient Thunder Dragon's distraction due to the Fey Kings' battles to escape from the Dragon Lair Sect.

However, Pang Jian had to be outside the Sacred Soul Continent. Otherwise, the terrifyingly powerful ancient Thunder Dragon would still be able to locate the black turtle.

After pondering over the situation for some time, Pang Jian noticed the White Lynx was still there.

"Why haven't you left?" he asked curiously.

"Why don't you leave first?" she countered.

"I'm injured and need time to recover."

"So am I."

The Rank Nine White Lynx fixed her eerie, pitch-black eyes on Pang Jian, observing his recovery.

Pang Jian's scar-riddled skin healed at a visible rate with the help of life energy and the potent blood essence from his Providence Mystic Reservoir Acupoint.

When she listened closely, she could even hear the faint sounds of his bones shifting and his inner organs stitching back together.

Licking her pale lips she asked, "Does what you said back then still hold?"

Her tone sent shivers down Pang Jian's spine.

"What do you mean?"

"You said you'd treat my injuries, as long as I…" she trailed off, eyes shifting warily toward the direction of the Dragon Lair Sect. "I can't say it out loud. There are things I don't dare speak of until I leave the Sacred Soul Continent.

"I fear those dragons can hear me. I fear facing the same torment again. The Gold Dragon already warned me that my next infraction will be my death."

Her petite frame visibly trembled. She clearly held a deep-rooted fear of the Dragon Lair Sect.

It was this overwhelming dread that had prevented her from letting Pang Jian treat her injuries last time.

The White Lynx was an anomaly among the Fey Race. Although she had an innately powerful soul, her body was far weaker than other Fey Kings of the same rank.

The dragon that had subjected her to near-death torment was particularly familiar with her vulnerabilities. It had deliberately targeted her weakest point—her body—leaving her with injuries she had yet to recover from.

When she saw Pang Jian's rapid self-healing abilities, she could not help but feel hopeful about her own recovery.

"It still holds," Pang Jian said after some thought.

"Then, please treat my injuries and take me away from the Sacred Soul Continent," the White Lynx said, gracefully landing beside Pang Jian.

"I need to heal myself first, then it will be your turn."

"I know. I'll be here to protect you in the meantime."

"No need. Actually, keep your distance from me. When you're this close, I can't help but feel like you're about to devour my divine soul. Your body may be gravely injured, but your soul is still terrifying."

"Sword Pavilion boy, are you afraid of me?"

"A little."

The White Lynx snorted, expression cold as she transformed into her lynx form and disappeared into the dense foliage.

***

Half a day later, Pang Jian emerged from the valley with a snow-white lynx trailing behind him.

His external injuries had all been healed, though his internal injuries were still on the mend.

"Senior Sister, we need to leave the Sacred Soul Continent as soon as possible," Pang Jian said, leaping onto the Sword Boat.

Whoosh!

The White Lynx, its fur pristine but its body still bearing visible scars, followed closely behind him.

The others had been cultivating on the Sword Boat and were now staring in surprise at the seemingly harmless White Lynx sitting beside Pang Jian.

"Who is she?" Liu Youyu asked, gripping the Celestial Profound Mirror so tightly that her knuckles turned white from the strain. "Is it…her?!"

"It's me," the White Lynx said arrogantly in human tongue. She raised a paw to reveal the blood-colored beast's eye. "With this in my possession, most Fey Kings won't be able to detect your Sword Boat as it traverses through the Sacred Soul Continent.

"This Sword Pavilion boy begged me to escort you all out of the Sacred Soul Continent, so I reluctantly agreed to help," she said haughtily.

The prideful White Lynx refused to admit that Pang Jian was helping treat her injuries or that she needed to board the Sword Boat to escape from the Sacred Soul Continent. Instead, she painted Pang Jian as the one who sought her aid.

"That beast's eye belongs to me!" Dong Tianze's expression darkened. "One of Yuan Min's subordinates stole it from me."

"Go ask Yuan Min for it back then. If you've got the guts, that is," the White Lynx retorted, baring her teeth in a mocking grin. "I earned it with my own abilities. Do you plan to take it back from me by force?"

Dong Tianze hesitated, expression grim as he glanced at Pang Jian.

"Her soul is not injured," Pang Jian said softly.

"Forget it. I wouldn't know how to use it anyway." Dong Tianze sighed.

He found a corner to sit in, closed his eyes, and resolutely pretended the white-furred lynx was not there.

The Sword Boat rose into the air.

"Junior Brother, what's going on?" Hu Yuanfei asked through the sword token.

"She wants to escape the Sacred Soul Continent," Pang Jian replied. "I suspect she's trying to break free from the Dragon Lair Sect's control and head to Northern Qi in the Fourth World.

"The Sword Boat offers some protection, and the blood-colored beast's eye can help mask her presence.

"The ancient Thunder Dragon is no longer slumbering, but he's focused on the battles of the six Fey Kings and is unlikely to pay her much attention."

"Are you sure bringing her along won't endanger the rest of us?" Hu Yuanfei asked.

"The Dragon Lair Sect doesn't fear the True Gods, but she does. Besides, she seems to fear our master more than the True Gods, so we should be safe."

"I hope you're right."

Hu Yuanfei kept a wary eye on the Rank Nine White Lynx throughout the journey, fearing she would suddenly turn hostile.

***

A man in golden robes stood on a cracked, arid plain.

His face was sharp and resolute, with gleaming golden dragon horns crowning his forehead.

Beneath his feet was the shrunken beast form of a Rank Nine Goldrock Beast.

The man in golden robes etched deep wounds into the Fey King's famously durable hide using his razor-sharp golden claws.

Although the wounds did not cut to the bone, they were still deep enough to sever its meridians and cripple its foundation.

"Why didn't you report it to the Dragon Lair Sect if an envoy from the Boundless Sky Divine Kingdom met with the Frostfeather Drake?" the man in golden robes interrogated, lowering his gaze to meet the Goldrock Beast's eyes.

The Rank Nine Goldrock Beast wailed in pain and terror, "By the time I found out, it was already too late!

"Lord Long Zhan, please believe me! Fey King Frostfeather Drake and Fey King Two-Faced Ghost Spider had already started their battle by the time I knew!"

"That doesn't change the fact that you were too late." The man in the golden robe, known as Long Zhan, licked his lips as his gaze shifted toward the heart of the Rank Nine Fey King.

While its heart was not essential to him, it still held some allure.

"Spare me, my lord!" the Goldrock Beast pleaded in despair.

"Fine, I'll just take one of your eyes. I've already consumed hearts from three Goldrock Beasts in recent centuries," Long Zhan said casually.

As the Goldrock Beast sputtered out tearful words of gratitude, Long Zhan's hand transformed into a golden dragon claw and effortlessly gouged out one of its eyes.

Blood streamed from the Goldrock Beast's empty eye socket as it staggered away. Its body trembled from pain and grief.

It knew all too well that the three Goldrock Beasts that the Rank Nine Gold Dragon had devoured were its elders—blood relatives sharing its lineage.

Still, there was nothing it could do.

After all, its bloodline was incomplete and had yet to fully awaken.

Even if his bloodline mysteries were to manifest and he reached the peak of Rank Nine, he still would not have any confidence in defeating Long Zhan.

As a Gold Dragon, Long Zhan held unparalleled prestige among the Fey Race.

The Dragon Lair Sect had forged him into a peerless blade and none among the Rank Nine Fey Kings dared to claim they could defeat him.

Even the Rock Bear, the oldest and most experienced contender in the struggle for the position of Fey God, was not necessarily Long Zhan's match.

The Goldrock Beast's lineage as a whole could only tremble in fear before Long Zhan. The thought of rebellion was not one they could afford to entertain.

***

Below, Long Zhan caught sight of the Sword Boat streaking across the sky.

"Hmm." A sly grin stretched across his face. "White Lynx, oh my dear White Lynx, how clever of you to try escaping with a Sword Boat.

"It's too bad you seem to have forgotten that the blood-colored beast's eye has been cracked and can't completely conceal your presence.

"I can sense you as long as the wounds I left haven't healed.

"Still, Li Zhaotian of the Sword Pavilion…that could be troublesome," he murmured, stroking his chin thoughtfully.

***

Aboard the Sword Boat, the White Lynx trembled violently, her shrill voice cutting through the air. "Long Zhan is below us! I can feel him! This thing, it has a crack! It can't fully conceal me!"

The White Lynx paced back and forth in a panic, eyes shifting between black and white in her panic.

She seemed to be debating whether to kneel and beg the Dragon Lair Sect for forgiveness.

"Is Long Zhan the dragon who wounded you?" Pang Jian asked.

"Yes! He's a Rank Nine Gold Dragon and is stronger than any of the six Fey Kings competing for the position of Fey God!" the White Lynx exclaimed anxiously, voice filled with unease.

"Why isn't he competing for the position of Fey God then?" Zhou Qingchen asked. "If he's that powerful, why wouldn't the Dragon Lair Sect support him?"

"Because one of your True Gods is already occupying the path to godhood through the Dao of Gold.

"Human cultivators can choose a suitable, unclaimed Dao early in their cultivation and work toward it.

"But the bloodline attributes for the Fey race are fixed at birth. Long Zhan never had a choice."

The White Lynx turned to Fan Chen.

"Fan Ao, a True God of the Supreme Monad Divine Kingdom, is occupying the Dao of Gold.

"As long as he's alive, Long Zhan cannot fight for the position of Fey God, even when new spots appear.

"No matter how many opportunities arise, he can never become a Fey God for as long as Fan Ao is still alive, and he torments me and the others out of resentment for his situation.

"He's already tormented me to my limit. I just hope he doesn't fixate on me after this and just leaves the Sword Boat alone."

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