Trials of the Abyss

Chapter 261: Returning the Black Iron Mountain to its Rightful Owner

"What's going on?"

"Someone's fighting!"

Zhou Qingchen and Han Duping said simultaneously, looking toward the source of the explosion.

Stepping out of the room, Pang Jian immediately caught sight of the familiar Black Iron Mountain.

The Black Iron Mountain hovered amidst surging demonic flames. Dong Tianze wielded his Ghost's Cry as he fought Zhao Yuanqi.

The aloof silver-haired girl in black sat atop the large red gourd she typically carried on her back.

Rays of multicolored light poured out the open mouth of the gourd.

The vibrant multicolored radiance, as brilliant and lustrous as silk, overwhelmed the beast souls and Spirit Devils.

Dong Tianze's face was grim, cold eyes gleaming menacingly from where he stood atop the Black Iron Mountain.

Demonic flames surrounded him as he wielded his Ghost's Cry to control the beast souls and Spirit Devils in a desperate attempt to tear through the beams of light.

Although the light shattered, new beams poured from the gourd beneath Zhao Yuanqi.

The silver-haired girl had been in a poor mood lately and could not restrain herself from arrogantly mocking, "You're so reliant on the Black Iron Mountain. Without it, you would've been defeated long ago."

"And if you didn't have that gourd filled with radiant lights, you'd already be dead," Dong Tianze sneered back.

"Dong Tianze!" Zhou Qingchen roared and charged forward.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Several long blades spread out behind him like a peacock's tail, surging toward Dong Tianze in a brilliant flurry of light.

Zhou Qingchen came from the same Red Mountain Sect and practiced similar techniques, so his fighting style was strikingly similar to Zhao Yuanqi's.

"He's a traitor of the Sinister Soul Temple! Getting rid of him isn't an issue!" Han Duping grunted.

He and Zhou Qingchen regarded Dong Tianze as a sworn enemy after learning about what happened in Eight Trigrams City from Qi Qingsong.

"There's no need. I've long since settled things with him," Pang Jian hastily tried to explain.

No one was listening.

"What's wrong with you people?!" Dong Tianze's temper flared.

He maneuvered the Black Iron Mountain to dodge Zhao Yuanqi's attack before unleashing a sea of golden dagger light that shattered the radiant lights emanating from Zhou Qingchen's long blades.

"I'm here to see Pang Jian!" he shouted, finally noticing Pang Jian standing nearby.

"Stop!" Pang Jian helplessly yelled.

Zhao Yuanqi glanced over coldly.

Zhou Qingchen was stunned. "Pang Jian, he—"

"This is between me and him. We'll handle it ourselves. I don't need anyone else's help." Pang Jian stepped forward, rested a hand on Zhou Qingchen's shoulder, and put on airs. "Big Brother Zhou, times have changed. Dong Tianze is no longer a match for me. You don't need to stand up for me anymore."

"That's true," Zhou Qingchen realized.

Pang Jian even killed Lou Yunming of the Sinister Soul Temple in the Primordial Wilderness, what could Dong Tianze do to him?

Meanwhile, the commotion had caught the attention of the major clans of Snow Peak City.

"Dong Tianze of the Sinister Soul Temple!"

"When did he return?"

"Didn't the Sinister Soul Temple imprison him? Didn't they treat him like a traitor?"

"That's just what they say to outsiders! His master, Han Zhiyuan, was recently appointed as the new Cult Leader of the Sinister Soul Temple. It's only natural for his disciple to return."

Cultivators of the major clans gossiped.

Although many of the clans in Snow Peak City were loyal to the Blood Moon Sect and the Star River Alliance, the city itself was close to the Sinister Soul Temple, and members of the Sinister Soul Temple frequently passed through.

Many of the shops in the city catered specifically to the Sinister Soul Temple.

Thus, the major clans were well aware of the internal affairs of the Sinister Soul Temple and had heard the Sinister Soul Temple still considered Dong Tianze a core member.

Pang Jian raised his head and softly called out to Zhao Yuanqi, "Miss Zhao, please come down."

"Pang Jian, this guy treated you horribly in Eight Trigrams City. He's a traitor of the Sinister Soul Temple now, killing him won't bring any trouble," Zhao Yuanqi said, puzzled.

Pang Jian frowned impatiently. "I said it's between us. There's no need for others to interfere."

"You!" Feeling like her good intentions were disregarded, Zhao Yuanqi shot Pang Jian a cold glare before descending with her gourd. "Pang Jian, you killed Cao Mang in the Primordial Wilderness. I heard you left that place using the Black Iron Mountain. Is the Black Iron Mountain Dong Tianze controlling yours?"

"Yes, I sold it to him," Pang Jian answered with a low voice.

"Sold it to him...?" Zhao Yuanqi was even more confused than before. "This guy is always causing trouble. It's best if you keep your distance. He's killed a lot of people. He'll likely meet a violent end without the Sinister Soul Temple protecting him."

"If we're talking about causing trouble, I'd say Pang Jian here is even more troublesome than Dong Tianze," quipped Qi Pinghai, the head of the Qi Clan, as he approached.

He knew Dong Tianze was still a core member of the Sinister Soul Temple and sought to prevent a major conflict between the two sides.

Smiling warmly, he said, "Why not sit down and discuss things calmly? There's no need for a deadly fight."

The Black Iron Mountain slowly descended.

"I have something to discuss with Pang Jian. Everyone else, stay out of it!" Dong Tianze showed no respect for Qi Pinghai. Glaring at the distant buildings and the people watching from the Cloud Sail hovering in the sky, he shouted, "Get lost!"

The Cloud Sail quickly descended.

The clan elders hiding in the tall buildings of Snow Peak City hastily retreated, wanting to avoid a confrontation with Dong Tianze.

"Alright, I'll talk to him alone."

Pang Jian leaped onto the Black Iron Mountain.

As soon as Pang Jian was on board, the Black Iron Mountain shot toward a snow-covered peak nearby.

Han Duping scratched his head. "What's going on between those two?"

Zhou Qingchen was equally baffled. "I can't figure it out either."

"Their relationship isn't as bad as you might think," Qi Pinghai said with a smile.

As the leader of a clan neighboring the Sinister Soul Temple, he knew the Sinister Soul Temple had recently sold many items from the Star River Alliance and the Blood Moon Sect discreetly through the Dark Cloud Pavilion.

Han Zhiyuan, former Vice Cult Leader and current Cult Leader of the Sinister Soul Temple, backed the Dark Cloud Pavilion.

Qi Pinghai had previously wondered why so many high-grade items from the Blood Moon Sect and Star River Alliance were being sold there, but now understood after seeing Cao Mang's Black Iron Mountain under Dong Tianze's control.

The Shadow Specter Sect—or more accurately, the Sinister Soul Temple—was Pang Jian's network for selling stolen goods!

***

Boom!

The heavy Black Iron Mountain crashed onto a snowy peak, sending snow flying.

Pang Jian spread his hand, watching the snowflakes drift down with curious eyes.

"Snow..."

This was Pang Jian's first time seeing snow. It never snowed in the Solitary Mountain Range, and none of the other regions he had been to after leaving had falling snow either.

"Hillbilly!" Dong Tianze sneered mockingly.

Pang Jian turned his head and glanced at Dong Tianze. "Have you ever seen snow? Or mountain peaks like these?"

Dong Tianze instantly shut up.

"We're both from the Fourth World. You've only been here a year or so longer than me. I've never seen snowy peaks or falling snow in the Fourth World. Have you?" Pang Jian asked curiously.

"Enough with the nonsense!" Dong Tianze snorted in frustration before changing the topic. "Pang Jian, I discovered a mysterious fragmented land beneath a sea of massive boulders near the Celestial Phoenix remains!"

Pang Jian was taken aback.

Dong Tianze leaped down from the Black Iron Mountain, boots crunching in the snow as he excitedly faced the general direction of the Resolute Expanse.

"That fragmented land is still undiscovered and has a high concentration of spiritual qi! It's strange, it pulled me and the Black Iron Mountain in, then spat us right back out.

"I haven't told anyone about this, but you delivered me the Black Iron Mountain, so..." He paused, back still facing Pang Jian. "Pang Jian, I'm inviting you to explore this unknown fragmented land with me. We'll split everything we find equally!"

After speaking, Dong Tianze waited in silence.

An unexplored fragmented land was something no one could resist. He had not even told his master, Han Zhiyuan, because he believed Pang Jian, having once saved his life with the miraculous Blood Enhancing Pill and the Black Iron Mountain, would be a reliable partner.

"Pang Jian?"

After waiting a long time without receiving a response, Dong Tianze could not help but turn around.

Pang Jian was flying away on the Black Iron Mountain.

Dong Tianze was dumbfounded.

"I'm not interested in that fragmented land," Pang Jian shouted back at Dong Tianze as he flew across the snowy peaks. "Yin Yiqing is dead, and your master has become the new Cult Leader of the Sinister Soul Temple. If you want the Black Iron Mountain, just gather enough spirit jades to buy it.

"Oh, and I need Soul Nourishing Pills and Mind Soothing Pills to nurture my divine sense—the more, the better.

"I'll just consider this trip as you returning the Black Iron Mountain to me."

Whoosh!

The Black Iron Mountain flew away.

Dong Tianze had laid so much groundwork, expecting to pique Pang Jian's interest enough for him to ask for more details, only for Pang Jian to leave.

His face contorted into a hideous expression of fury.

"Pang Jian! I'm talking serious business here!" Dong Tianze roared at the Black Iron Mountain, sprinting across the snowy peak and leaping high like a roc taking flight. "You bastard! I never intended to keep the Black Iron Mountain for myself!

"That fragmented land is incredibly special—I wanted to invite you to explore it together! Pang Jian, I would never have shared this with you if not for you saving my life!"

Afraid Dong Tianze would actually catch up, Pang Jian hastily steered the Black Iron Mountain further away and called back, "Sorry, I'm just not interested in what you're offering."

"Then, at least take me back to the Sinister Soul Temple!" Dong Tianze begged.

"It's not that far. You can walk a few steps yourself."

"Pang Jian! Don't expect me to ever respond to you again through the Ghost Altar!"