The Purgatory Calamity
Chapter 283 - 268: Spirit of the Divine Tree (Please vote for the monthly bottom support~)_1

Chapter 283: Chapter 268: Spirit of the Divine Tree (Please vote for the monthly bottom support~)_1

"Pang Jian, you made me walk for a day and a night to get from that snow-capped peak to the Yin Spirit Temple!"

"Even if you want to take back Cao Mang’s Black Iron Mountain, you should have at least brought me to the vicinity of the Yin Spirit Temple first!"

"..."

Dong Tianze, standing in the center of the Ghost Altar, cursed fiercely with an icy expression.

Pang Jian’s face remained unchanged, and he responded with habitual silence.

Knowing Dong Tianze well, he understood that it was best to keep quiet at this time; otherwise, it would only provoke a more intense reaction from Dong Tianze.

As expected...

Dong Tianze, who had been swearing at everything and spitting words furiously, soon ran out of steam and gasped, "Aren’t you in the Prayer Spirit Forbidden Land?"

In his field of vision, Pang Jian stood in a marsh, surrounded by short-growing flowers, grasses, and trees.

This was clearly not the barren Prayer Spirit Forbidden Land.

"Who said I was in the Prayer Spirit Forbidden Land?"

Pang Jian asked curiously.

"Sword Tower sent people from Red Mountain to find you. Zhao Yuanqi, piloting the Red Rosy Clouds Boat, along with Zhou Qingchen and others hovered near the Prayer Spirit Forbidden Land, but they did not dare to enter it."

Dong Tianze explained with a cold face and after some thought, said, "The Second Realm, a trial ground called Absolute Sky, shrouded in Mysterious Fog, has been designated by the higher-ups."

"In the Absolute Sky Forbidden Land, a number of Ferocious Beasts, evil spirits, and many Alien God puppets have emerged, roaming about, with an unknown purpose."

"It is said that the Absolute Sky Forbidden Land is strange; the mysterious fog seems to prevent cultivators above the Fifth Realm from entering."

"The higher-ups, worried about the Alien God puppets getting into something horrifying, organized a trial."

"Many great sects from the Second Realm, the First Realm, have all joined in to hunt gods in the Absolute Sky Forbidden Land."

"Qi Qingsong from Sword Tower specifically named you to join them in entering."

"..."

Dong Tianze detailed the situation.

"There are Alien Gods..."

Pang Jian immediately became interested.

Eager to search for remains of Alien Gods to refine more golden Divine Sense, he asked, "Are there many such Alien God puppets formed from altars, stone statues, wooden carvings, similar to those in the Prayer Spirit Forbidden Land?"

"Yes, I heard that awakened Alien Gods from some Forbidden Lands in both the Second Realm and the First Realm have also entered the Absolute Sky Forbidden Land," Dong Tianze nodded and said.

"On what basis do the higher-ups believe that cultivators below the Spirit Condensation Realm can deal with those Alien Gods?" Pang Jian asked, puzzled.

"It seems that the Alien God puppets that entered the Absolute Sky Forbidden Land are not particularly strong," Dong Tianze replied with the information he had gathered. "Also, those who entered from the First Realm and the Second Realm are so-called peerless geniuses. Many of them wield Holy Artifacts, and perhaps even Divine Artifacts."

"Enhanced by Holy Artifacts and Divine Artifacts?" Pang Jian suddenly understood.

Li Yuqing, wielding that huge silver sword, had demonstrated combat power far exceeding Yin Yiqing and Tang Hongxiong, which he had witnessed firsthand.

"Ahem."

Pang Jian coughed lightly, then promptly presented the Black Iron Mountain: "With this, using the Soul Skill of the Yin Spirit Temple, it can serve both offensive and defensive purposes."

Dong Tianze snorted coldly and said, "I knew it, you’re just looking for an opportunity to fleece me, name your price!"

He had been staying in his cave dwelling recently, beside the Ghost Altar, specifically to purchase the Black Iron Mountain.

The mountain, teeming with Beast Souls and numerous high-rank Spirit Evils, and also capable of soaring through the sky, was indeed an extremely suitable combat weapon for him.

"You name a price," said Pang Jian indifferently.

Dong Tianze’s face showed difficulty, and after hesitating for a moment, he said, "I have discussed it with my master, and this Black Iron Mountain from Cao Mang is worth about seventy thousand Spirit Jade. Besides, I can add five Soul Nourishing Pills, with each bottle containing ten pills."

"Deal!" Pang Jian agreed without hesitation.

After the talent for "gravity control" emerged from the shell of the Mysterious Turtle, he could soar a hundred feet into the air without relying on the Astonishing Spear, only consuming the Qi and Blood within his body.

In other words, having lost the Black Iron Mountain, he still possessed the ability to fly.

As for the fierce Beast Souls inside the Black Iron Mountain and the Spirit Evils refined by Dong Tianze, they were not his strong suit, and since the mountain could not be stored in a spatial ring, it was not too convenient to keep it with him.

"Collect the Spirit Jade!"

Dong Tianze on the other end, unable to wait any longer, arranged the seventy thousand Spirit Jade awarded by Han Zhiyuan and the five bottles of Soul Nourishing Pills, hastily initiating the transaction array.

"Whew! Whoosh!"

The Black Iron Mountain thus fell into Dong Tianze’s cave dwelling, while the seventy thousand Spirit Jade and Soul Nourishing Pills appeared in Cloud Marsh.

"Another seventy thousand, the bottomless pit of Panshi Fragment Land needs to be filled after all," murmured Pang Jian, slightly distancing himself from the Ghost Altar in front of him, and used the bronze tablet to send the Spirit Jade directly to Panshi Fragment Land.

Upon his return, he found that Dong Tianze, having obtained the Black Iron Mountain, had not left but was quietly waiting for him.

"Is there anything else?" Pang Jian was taken aback.

"I’m going to the Absolute Sky Forbidden Land as well," Dong Tianze suddenly said.

Pang Jian was startled.

"I begged my master, and he will arrange for someone to send me to the Absolute Sky Forbidden Land. I also heard that Zhao Yuanqi asked the Sect Master of Red Mountain, and she plans to go to the Absolute Sky Forbidden Land, to encounter those so-called peerless geniuses of the First Realm and the Second Realm."

"We’re all at the Hollow Profound Realm; it doesn’t mean we are weaker than the geniuses of the upper realms. If Qi Qingsong can go and you, Pang Jian, are going, there’s nothing we’re afraid of," Dong Tianze said with a cold face.

"So, for that Absolute Sky Forbidden Land, can we go anytime without a problem?" Pang Jian asked, surprised.

"It seems it’s not particularly urgent, but you’d better contact Red Mountain soon," Dong Tianze replied.

"Then, we’ll meet again in the Absolute Sky Forbidden Land."

Pang Jian actively dismantled the Ghost Altar.

...

Yin Spirit Temple.

The gaunt Han Zhiyuan stared at the corner, witnessing the entire transaction between Dong Tianze and Pang Jian.

He had come to discuss the matters of the Absolute Sky Forbidden Land with Dong Tianze and happened to arrive just as Pang Jian was opening the Ghost Altar on the other end.

"Tianze, Lord Yin is no more, and Pang Jian is now Pu Zhaotian’s disciple."

"You and him, in the future..."

Han Zhiyuan hinted.

"Master, I understand what you mean. Don’t worry, the hatred between him and me was resolved when he sent a Blood Essence Pill to me without asking for anything in return," Dong Tianze replied as he controlled the Black Iron Mountain to leave the Ghost Altar.

"Whoosh!"

The Black Iron Mountain ignited with pitch-black Demon Flame, and within the flames, he looked somber with a somewhat complicated gaze.

He was still upset that Pang Jian had taken back the Black Iron Mountain without safely delivering him to the gathering place of Yin Spirit Temple worshipers.

However, when he thought back on how Pang Jian not only provided him with powerful Blood Essence Pills without asking for payment but also sent Black Iron Mountain his way when he was severely injured and on the brink of death, he found it hard to hate Pang Jian to the bone.

"We will be competitors, but not mortal enemies, and we will not fight to the death anymore," Dong Tianze muttered softly amidst the pitch-black Demon Flame.

"That’s good."

Han Zhiyuan smiled and nodded.

He also came beside the Black Iron Mountain and touched it before saying, "This object is indeed quite suitable for our cultivation technique. Those Beast Souls within and several arrays for condensing souls, I can help you refine them further."

"Tianze, be more cautious on your journey to the Absolute Sky Forbidden Land."

"Faced with the prodigies of the First Realm and the Second Realm, our Yin Spirit Temple’s cultivation methods and the artifacts in your hand don’t have any advantage."

"The sects from the upper realms want to use this trial to see the abilities of their youths."

"But that doesn’t include our Yin Spirit Temple."

"So, you don’t need to be too conspicuous; our Yin Spirit Temple does not need that much attention," Han Zhiyuan admonished.

"Understood."

Dong Tianze was expressionless.

What he was thinking was... he wasn’t merely a follower of the Yin Spirit Temple.

Behind him, there was that revered and mysterious master.

After hunting down several Divine Guards and advancing to the mid-stage of the Hollow Profound Realm, he felt that his master occasionally glanced at him, showing evident interest.

"I want to prove my potential and my abilities to my master through the journey to the Absolute Sky Forbidden Land!"

...

Cloud Marsh.

Suddenly, a tender green branch dropped down.

Pang Jian opened his eyes, his face looking oddly at the branch that had stopped right in front of him.

On the branch, there was a palm-sized tender green leaf, enveloped in brilliant divine radiance, turning it as smooth and translucent as crystal.

"Father..."

A crisp voice suddenly rang out.

As soon as the voice was heard, it echoed in Pang Jian’s ears and... his heartlake.

Pang Jian looked stunned, noticing a delicate figure within the crystal-like leaf.

It was a young girl in a green chiffon dress, her features not quite clear, her ethereal spiritual body giving an unreal sense of illusion; most of her face was blurred, as if covered by a mist, only her emerald-like green eyes stood out sharply.

"Daddy?"

Seeing Pang Jian didn’t respond, she timidly tried another term.

Located within the leaf, she waved at Pang Jian and cautiously said, "It’s me, I’m Pang Jian’s Sapling."

Pang Jian suddenly rose to his feet.

Approaching the miraculous leaf and looking at the elusive figure of the young girl in it, he asked in shock, "You... have a soul?"

"I always have; it’s just that previously I couldn’t materialize or appear in the form I wished."

Sapling smiled with her eyes squinted.

"That scary Alien God is dead, and I’ve dissolved His Divine Power. With your soul strengthening, my Spiritual Wisdom has grown. Then, I learned how to refine my Spiritual Body."

She danced gracefully within the leaf, showing herself from multiple angles, so Pang Jian could have a clearer view.

After dancing, she let out a cute sigh, feeling somewhat relieved, and said cheerfully, "Father, or daddy? How should I address you? You have the surname Pang, so... what should mine be?"

Pang Jian was stunned.

"Father, the arrival of the Wood Tribe, they created many bonds with my soul, enabling a rapid ascent of my Spiritual Intelligence."

"Through observing their actions and their silent conversations, I know that you created me, so I am your... child."

"Since you are a Pang, then I should be a Pang too; please give me a name," Sapling said, holding the edge of her dress, bowing from within the leaf to Pang Jian with her eyes full of anticipation.

"Pang, let it be Pang Ling," the distraught Pang Jian named her, prompted and guided by her.

...

PS: It’s July, a new start, and Ni, who is recovering from dual Yang, asks for a base monthly vote, please bestow your favor, dear readers!