The Purgatory Calamity
Chapter 179 - 164 Inside Trading Site_1

Chapter 179: Chapter 164 Inside Trading Site_1

Above the Fragment Land.

A Roc, looking like a cluster of pitch-black clouds, spread its wings that spanned over thirty feet. The feathers and joints seemed as tough as refined iron and appeared to be filled with strength.

At this moment, the light released from its beastly pupils was filled with a greedy thirst for the flesh and blood of cultivators.

In the Third Realm, Pang Jian, with the help of the Corrosion Boundary Vine, vaguely sensed its presence. It not only possessed astonishing wisdom but also harbored extreme hatred towards human cultivators.

Many birds and beasts, after being covered and contaminated by the Filth Alien Power, seemed to look up to this creature as their leader.

Pang Jian, who originally intended to obtain some exotic flowers and fruits from the Corrosion Boundary Vine, decided to hold off due to its presence.

After observing in silence for a while, Pang Jian actively cut off his connection with the Corrosion Boundary Vine.

The fifty-sixth cave dwelling.

Pang Jian sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion, his brows tightly knit, his expression slightly somber.

The colossal black Roc, which must have already been a formidable beast in the Fourth Realm, became much more powerful due to the contamination of the Filth Alien Power, and its intelligence underwent a significant transformation.

It thus became the leader of the many birds and beasts.

Pang Jian speculated that it had stepped out of the Ouyang Family’s territory in the Fragment Land, intending to invade other Fragment Lands of the Human Race.

Sky Fortune might just be a stop along its path, a stepping stone.

Next.

The Dong Family, Su Family, Ning Family, and the Zhou Family—those Fragment Lands not yet contaminated by the Filth Alien Power—are at great risk of suffering the crazed assaults of these Mutated Beasts.

Even.

The female warriors of the Alien Tribes from the Fifth Realm, sent up here, could also be attacked by the Mutated Beasts.

Even with the Heavenly Tribulation Pillar currently loosened, it still restricts stronger Alien Tribes of the Lower Realm, allowing only warriors below level five to break through the seal.

What would happen when Alien warriors from levels one to four arrive at the Fragment Lands of the Ouyang and Shangguan Families and encounter Mutated Beasts?

The terrifying black Roc surely exceeded the category of level four beasts and its combat power was rapidly growing.

And it did not come from the Fifth Realm.

Filled with hatred towards humans, it may not care about the Alien Tribes from the Lower Realm either; it seemed like its commanded flock only desired to consume as much of the stronger beings’ flesh and blood as possible.

Both human cultivators and the Lower Realm’s Alien warriors could become its targets.

Due to the sudden rise of the Mutated Beasts, the situation in the lower Fourth Realm can only become more chaotic; the space for the seven great families to maneuver will also become increasingly limited.

The great migration is not only imperative, but it might also need to be expedited.

If it’s too late...

"Knock knock knock!"

As Pang Jian was deep in thought, he suddenly heard a knocking sound at his door.

Outside, Han Ting said softly, "Pang Jian, we can go to the trading ground today."

She, with her injuries healed, looked refreshing in the golden sunlight and exuded a lively vitality.

"Hmm, I’m coming."

After pushing open the stone door to step out, Pang Jian nodded towards her and said with a frown, "Our deal ended last night, you actually don’t have to..."

"I am very grateful for your help," she sincerely thanked him, then added, "Since I have nothing else to do, and it’s your first time attending Old Cao’s gathering, I thought I would help you get better acquainted."

"That would be good."

Pang Jian did not refuse.

Shortly afterward, the two of them reached the summit of the first peak once more.

The wooden structure was the trading ground, where doors stood open to those holding tokens for entry.

Many who had arrived earlier were heading towards the trading ground.

"Only those who had transaction records in the first three days are allowed inside."

Holding up her token, Han Ting smiled at Pang Jian and explained, "For every transaction we make, we give a ten percent commission to those women in white, and that generates a record. To enter today’s trading ground, there has to be at least one transaction on the token, otherwise, entry isn’t permitted."

To Pang Jian’s surprise, he pulled out his token and examined it, discovering several bars below the character "Mang."

For purchasing Sun Essence Stone, Thunderstrike Wood, and Gold Friday Stone, it seemed that a bar was added with each completed transaction.

"And on the seventh day, the final trading day presided over personally by Old Cao, one must have made a transaction within the trading ground in order to participate."

As Han Ting gracefully moved towards the trading ground, she continued elaborating, "Keep in mind that every trade made here involves tens of thousands of Spirit Stones. Some transactions can even involve tens of thousands of stones. Old Cao makes a fortune just from the commissions!"

While speaking, they approached a wooden door.

At this moment, each white-clad woman standing by a door was checking the tokens of those wishing to enter.

Seeing the bars under the "Mang" character on Pang Jian and Han Ting’s tokens, one of the women in white smiled and allowed them to proceed.

Inside.

The trading ground’s layout was similar to the exterior, arranged in a circular fashion with a wooden platform set in front of each meditation cushion.

In addition, at the very center of the trading ground, there was an enormous round platform.

Around the edge of the round platform, sat many women in white, who smiled as they watched those moving about inside.

One dignified and elegant lady, dressed in an indescribably luxurious palace gown, stood out among the women in white.

Adorned with a pearl necklace around her slender neck and precious jade hanging from her slim waist, even her hairpins were studded with gemstones.

The opulent lady, with a smile on her lips, nodded frequently towards familiar faces.

"Everyone calls her Madam Hua; she’s Old Cao’s woman, and she presides over the inner trading ground," Han Ting whispered a brief introduction.

No sooner had the words "Madam Hua" been spoken amidst the noisy trading ground, than the elegant lady looked their way.

It was as if, no matter how loud the environment, she could hear her name being mentioned every time.

Noticing her gaze, Han Ting hastily forced a smile, nodded, and bowed towards the lady, whispering, "My friend is here for the first time and is not too familiar with how things work, so I’m just explaining it to him. I hope Madam won’t mind."

Madam Hua nodded imperceptibly, her gaze then moving on to something else, no longer paying attention to Han Ting.

Suddenly, Pang Jian felt a sensation like needles on his back, prompting him to abruptly turn his head.

In a corner of the trading venue, the individual cultivator Zhang Bin’s eyes, sharp as cold arrows, were stealthily fixed on him from the shadows.

By the time Pang Jian turned his head sharply, Zhang Bin immediately withdrew the coldness in his eyes and looked away as if nothing had happened.

"Useless coward!"

Han Ting also noticed Zhang Bin and sneered disdainfully, "He only dares to watch you coldly from the shadows. When he realized you noticed him, he didn’t even dare to show his resentment."

"Your identity as a scion from the Upper Realm’s major families fills him with both hate and fear, yet he has to tightly conceal his inner hatred."

"Hmph, such a man, how could I ever look up to him?"

Han Ting offered her contemptuous assessment.

Pang Jian nodded.

Han Ting then pulled him from the entrance to a corner and whispered, "Today’s participants will be much fewer in number, but their status and identity are far superior."

"I’ve noticed."

Pang Jian, who had been pulled to the corner, had already seen many people wearing the robes of the five major sects mingled among the crowd.

The majority of the individual cultivators who attended the first day had vanished without a trace, clearly knowing that with the insufficient amount of Spirit Stones they possessed, entering the trading venue would be a waste of time.

Scions of noble families, disciples of sects, and outstanding individual cultivators were the main force in today’s trading venue.

"To take part in the grand finale hosted by Cao, one must attend these three days, either buying something or selling something. That’s why you can see many renowned figures from the Third Realm."

Han Ting kept introducing in a soft voice.

"Eh, little brother, you’re here too?"

While Han Ting was speaking, Lei Kun, a cultivator from the Spirit Condensation Realm, suddenly emerged from another wooden door.

As soon as he entered, he took a glance at the participants around him and noticed Pang Jian and Han Ting.

He approached them with a smile and said, "I only stayed in cave number fifty-seven for a moment; then I had other matters to attend to, so I didn’t continue renting that cave and didn’t get a chance to greet you."

"Pleased to meet you, senior."

Pang Jian bowed slightly.

"I dare not accept such courtesy!"

Lei Kun also acted very polite, laughing heartily, "Little brother has the style of a great family. Even a small misunderstanding like the one we had, you were willing to lay aside your pride to explain it, which quite surprised old Lei here."

Pang Jian took a humble stance, "Indeed, it was I who offended senior Lei with my words, it was senior’s generosity that prevented any ill will from developing."

Lei Kun’s smile became even more brilliant as he nodded and glanced at Han Ting before saying, "I won’t disturb you any longer, I’m going to wander around."

Not far away.

"Ting sister seems to have really climbed high."

Fang Xin bit her teeth lightly.

She had been leaning on Zhang Bin but slowly drew some distance from him.

Looking at the tall, cold-faced young man in black, she then covertly glanced at Zhang Bin beside her.

"Both at the Innate Realm, yet one hails from a major family of the Upper Realm, whereas Zhang Bin, despite his higher realm, is just an individual cultivator, and much older. Why does Han Ting get a better destiny than me? Just because she has bigger breasts and a larger butt?"

Fang Xin, who had always compared herself with Han Ting in secret, had her face shifting between hope and despair, her heart filled with mixed emotions.

"Lei Kun!"

Zhang Bin took a deep breath.

He bowed his head slightly, not daring to stare too long at Pang Jian and Han Ting, fearing that his repeated covert observations might eventually irritate Pang Jian.

Even Lei Kun was so courteous to Pang Jian, which must mean Pang Jian truly came from a great family, certainly not someone Zhang Bin, a mere individual cultivator, could provoke.

"That bitch..."

Glancing at the despondently grieving Fang Xin, Zhang Bin saw through her thoughts all at once and suddenly felt disinterested.

"Perhaps, I should have sincerely apologized last night, asked for Han Ting’s forgiveness, instead of..."

"If it really doesn’t work out, I’ll capture this wretched Fang Xin and hand her over to her for disposal. Hopefully, through Fang Xin, she can vent her anger and forgive our previous actions."

Zhang Bin silently contemplated how to dispel Han Ting’s hostility and resolve their conflict.

"Ha!"

Madam Hua, who had been standing in the center of the platform, suddenly smiled and gracefully flew towards a wooden door.

She glared at a white-clothed young lady with reproach, saying, "Blind little girl, she is Zhao Yuanqi from Red Mountain; she needs no token!"

"Miss Zhao, please come in!"

The graceful and dignified Madam Hua bowed slightly, standing in front of the door personally welcoming her.

Then, Zhao Yuanqi, a girl with silver hair tied in a ponytail and carrying a large gourd on her back, walked in with an indifferent expression.

Behind her, Jiang Li, who also lacked a token, hesitated timidly.

"Let’s go."

Zhao Yuanqi took her hand, leading her into the trading venue, coldly saying, "Most of the so-called rules of Yuanmang do not bind us."

"Miss Zhao’s presence graces our Yuanmang with distinction, naturally, we must make an exception for you!"

Madam Hua nodded repeatedly with a sincere smile.

She personally led Zhao Yuanqi inside, warmly continuing her introduction, "Today has just begun, and there may not be anything here that catches your eye. But rest assured, on the final day, the grand finale, there will definitely be Strange Treasures that will!"

In the corner.

"Those rules you told me about, how come they don’t apply to her?"

Pang Jian asked curiously.

Han Ting smiled wryly, "Because she is Zhao Yuanqi."

...