The Purgatory Calamity
Chapter 228 - 213 Dawn_1

Chapter 228: Chapter 213 Dawn_1

The endless night of slaughter, at last, had passed.

This night, the Alien Tribes and Ferocious Beasts launched their final assault, fearless in the face of death, and with someone’s help, as the "Heavenly Killing Spirit Array" suddenly shattered, they managed to enter the summit of the First Peak.

Now, a ray of sunlight shone down.

Among the Alien Tribes, only the Wood Tribe chieftain survived and left; the rest had all died in battle.

It was also this night when Pang Jian, who had left the trading grounds with a grudge, climbed to the summit twice in succession with his spear in hand.

Liang Ying, Lou Yunming, and Jiuyuan, three Great Cultivators of the Spirit Condensation Realm, were beheaded because of him.

Pang Jian’s notoriety, in a single night, shook Yuan Mang and was destined to spread throughout the Third Realm.

At this moment.

With the threat of the Alien Tribes and Ferocious Beasts eliminated, those who were collecting the spoils of war still kept a silent watch on Pang Jian and Cao Mang’s movements.

Under the brilliance of the rising sun, Pang Jian’s eyes, as sharp as the spear in his hands, fixed upon the former master of Yuan Mang.

"Cao Mang."

His calm voice was undercurrented with a violent intent to kill.

"You will surely die in Yuan Mang!"

Cao Mang instantly responded, his words steeped in deep-seated hatred, "No matter if you are a disciple of the Sword Tower or what your background is, Pang Jian, you will die at my hands in Yuan Mang!"

Pang Jian frowned, "I will destroy your Yuan Mang."

His high vantage point allowed him to survey the overall situation quietly, watching the Mysterious Turtle in the depths of the earth pulling on the Underground Spirit Vein, dragging it towards an unknown Fragmented Land.

He clearly saw that from deep beneath the other mountains, rolling Spiritual Energy was converging towards that Spirit Vein.

The Spirit Vein that was connected above the "Heavenly Killing Spirit Array" seemed to be nourished by the Spiritual Energy from beneath those mountains. The immense Spiritual Energy accumulated by Yuan Mang over thousands of years was also gathering towards the Spirit Vein.

The Mysterious Turtle aimed not only to steal the Spirit Vein but also to use it to gather the Spiritual Energy of this fragmented land.

The other peaks of Yuan Mang were unstable due to the changes in underground Spiritual Energy.

Suddenly, Pang Jian had a feeling that once this Spirit Vein was completely stripped from Yuan Mang, this fragmented land, renowned in the Third Realm, would become barren and lifeless.

No matter if Cao Mang lived or died, Yuan Mang Fragmented Lands would be destroyed by the Mysterious Turtle.

"Destroy my Yuan Mang? Just with you, Pang Jian?"

Cao Mang, enraged, laughed mockingly.

From Black Iron Mountain beneath him, thick Demon Flames surged again, and he flicked out luminous Spirit Jade from his sleeve, disappearing into the eerie summit of Black Iron Mountain.

Cao Mang took the opportunity to swallow two Pills, his withered chest expanding as if he was gathering a new strength.

"From now on, Yuan Mang will become a desolate land that no one cares about, and you, Cao Mang, will also die today."

Pang Jian, as if pronouncing the predetermined fate of Cao Mang and the Fragmented Lands, called upon nature’s Spiritual Energy from all directions to pour into the Star-shattering Umbrella, causing this advanced Spiritual Artifact to rapidly swell.

Soon, the Star-shattering Umbrella had grown several times larger, obscuring the sky.

"Woosh! Whoosh!"

The rich Spiritual Energy swirling in the high skies continued to pour into the Star-shattering Umbrella, making it seem as if it had gathered the power of Sky Fortune.

"Legend has it that those who ascend to the Innate Realm through Unity of Heaven and Man, during battle, can make nature’s Spiritual Energy respond to them. I have seen such geniuses touched by the heavens, and I have seen such individuals command nature’s Spiritual Energy, but clearly, none has reached the exaggerated extent of Pang Jian!"

Huang Qi scratched his head in confusion.

The Spiritual Energy flooding into the Star-shattering Umbrella, as though controlled by Pang Jian’s will, shook him to his core.

Wei Wenhan’s expression was solemn as he spoke softly, "Such a way of Unity of Heaven and Man, not even I have seen or heard before!"

"Those who unify with heaven and earth don’t possess such power, to mobilize the Spiritual Energy of a fragmented land at will!" Yang Rui exclaimed in a low voice.

He had also ascended to the Innate Realm in the same manner, but he did not have the power to control the Spiritual Energy of the Yuan Mang Fragmented Lands and instantly merge it with his own Nine Suns Tripod.

"Is this kid really planning to kill every objectionable person himself?"

Huang Qi muttered to himself.

Having killed Madam Hua, he was ready to engage in a bloody battle with Cao Mang; he believed that after a succession of fights, the Cao Mang before him would no doubt be no match for him.

At this moment, Pang Jian had already taken a stance, seemingly prepared to personally obliterate Cao Mang.

The hesitant Huang Qi, who had intended to intervene, quietly watched from near Madam Hua’s body, watching Pang Jian and Cao Mang’s movements, ready to forcibly intervene at any moment.

— Unless it became clear that Pang Jian was outmatched.

He was also curious and wanted to see for himself what miraculous method Pang Jian had used to kill one after another Spirit Condensation Realm figures like Jiuyuan, Lou Yunming, and Liang Ying.

"Whoosh!"

The Star-shattering Umbrella slowly floated up into the sky.

Under the sunlight, the sparkling radiance of stars and the Moon God on the umbrella’s surface remained dazzling and did not wane even in daylight.

Brandishing his spear, Pang Jian approached Cao Mang in the same manner he had Jiuyuan, dragging the conspicuously sharp spear, sparking with fire, towards his adversary.

His eyes fixed on Cao Mang’s, he suddenly said, "Let me ask you once more, on what basis do you, Cao Mang?"

"On what basis?"

On the verge of collapse, Cao Mang was initially taken aback, unsure why Pang Jian would ask such a seemingly senseless question out of the blue.

A moment later, he realized this was the same question Pang Jian had asked before.

At the trading grounds in the past, Pang Jian had questioned his basis for capturing Luo Hongyan and selling her for millions of Spirit Stones.

"I..."

Pang Jian’s face was somber; beneath his feet, the pitch-black Demon Flame burned, as the vivid forms of sixth-level Ferocious Beasts, one after another, assailed him.

The diminutive Cao Mang, as if he were being protected by the numerous beasts, resembled the king of beasts.

He gasped for breath, his pupils shooting out dark flames, while the power of the Pill roamed inside him, replenishing his Spiritual Power and Qi and Blood.

The extremely agitated Cao Mang eventually began to calm down amidst this state.

He suddenly realized a terrifying truth.

The problem he faced now was no longer about the irretrievable White Jade Bracelet or the hatred for his companion’s death.

It was that Cao Mang himself might die today in the Yuan Mang Fragmented Lands that he had painstakingly managed for over a hundred years.

Pang Jian dared to kill and had already slain Lou Yunming and Jiuyuan while showing a strong intent to kill him. On the other hand, the Individual Cultivator Huang Qi possessed the same level of cultivation as him.

He, however, was severely injured from successive bloody battles and his consumption was even greater.

In such circumstances, one misstep could lead to his demise in this world.

Therefore, he could no longer concern himself with the White Jade Bracelet, nor with the vengeance for his companion.

Staying alive became the most pressing matter for him.

He had boldly claimed, just because he was Cao, the Cao Mang of old, but now when faced with Pang Jian’s questioning, he finally offered a seemingly reasonable explanation, "She was a remnant of the Blood Spirit Sect, deserving of death by all, I see no issue with capturing her."

"A tumorous degenerate who colludes with Alien Tribes actually has the audacity to accuse someone else of being a remnant?"

Pang Jian scoffed coldly.

"I have never colluded with Alien Tribes!"

Cao Mang roared in fury once again.

The crowd at the mountain summit, though busy dissecting Monster limbs, also closely followed every word exchanged between the two men.

Wei Wenhan of the Raging Sun Sect, seeing that the two were again disputing this matter, frowned and said, "Pang Jian, you and Jiuyuan both say he is colluding with Alien Tribes, but where is your evidence? He has killed the leader of the Heaven Clan and many attacking Ferocious Beasts. Personal vendettas aside, if you do not have sufficient reason to prove his collusion with Alien Tribes, better not spout nonsense."

Upon these words, many meaningful glances quietly fell upon Wei Wenhan.

The Fierce Sun gradually rose into the sky.

Sunlight streamed down onto the mountaintop, and under the sun’s glory, both Yang Rui’s Nine Suns Tripod and Wei Wenhan’s Flame Dragon Ruler appeared even more dazzling.

The spell of the Raging Sun Sect, when practiced under the blazing sun, saw a significant increase in might, including their Spiritual Artifacts.

Wei Wenhan, with the Flame Dragon Ruler in hand, had an air of extraordinary presence, looking every bit the master of the situation.

On the current mountaintop, with no strong individuals from the Blood Moon, Yin Spirit Temple, Star River Alliance, or Elders from Red Mountain, only he, Wei Wenhan, could still represent the five major Sects.

He was also at the mid-stage of the Spirit Condensation Realm.

So as to prove he had no ties with the Alien Tribes, Cao Mang had made himself into the sharpest weapon, slaying countless Monster beasts.

As a result, he had sustained severe injuries and found his situation precarious.

With the threat of Alien Tribes eliminated, Wei Wenhan from the Sect began considering the next steps.

With Pang Jian’s evident ambitions, and the impressive emergence of the Individual Cultivator Huang Qi, he felt it was somewhat difficult to control the situation.

After some contemplation, he still thought that Cao Mang, who had always been friendly with their five major Sects, seemed a bit easier to manage.

So he decided to speak up for Cao Mang.

"To be honest, Cao Mang was truly the most diligent in killing the members of the Alien Tribes."

"That’s right, it has always been the Alien Tribes who vehemently claim that they were invited by Cao Mang. This, on the contrary, seems a bit too deliberate."

"Hmm, Madam Hua had her arm severed by the Wood Tribe leader, and a White Jade Bracelet was taken. I think the Alien Tribes want to kill both of them even more."

"If they truly were in collusion with the Alien Tribes, they would not have ended up so miserable, one severely injured and the other dead."

"..."

The discussions buzzed among the great family Elders and Individual Cultivators.

"Cao Mang should have no connections with the Alien Tribes!"

Lin Yuanfeng merely glanced at Wei Wenhan and knew what he was thinking, quickly chiming in, "Pang Jian, you can’t simply take your word for it that Cao Mang is involved with Alien Tribes!"

The Lin clan was affiliated with the Raging Sun Sect.

As the clan Elder and someone with a close relationship with the Raging Sun Sect, Lin Yuanfeng naturally knew which side to support.

Cao Mang, desperately trying to recover his strength, saw that after Wei Wenhan spoke up, many began to speak for him. His face darkened as he stood atop Black Iron Mountain, in no rush to take action.

An inscrutable Pang Jian and a Huang Qi, who was also at the mid-stage of Spirit Condensation Realm—a match with either would not be easy.

If he could have more time to recuperate and opportunistically gather some strength, it would naturally benefit his next moves.

He was willing to see Wei Wenhan buy him some time.

"The Alien Tribes came from Jade Lake; as the true controller of the Yuan Mang Fragmented Lands, Cao Mang’s suspicion is naturally the greatest!"

Huang Qi was set on dooming Cao Mang, and immediately stood up to shout firmly.

"We’ve heard about your personal grudge against Cao Mang in the marketplace."

Wei Wenhan spoke indifferently, "Personal vendettas aside, once Cao Mang recovers his strength, you can have a fair fight. I just believe you should not take advantage of someone’s weakness or make baseless accusations against him."

...