Trials of the Abyss

Chapter 116: Performing the Ghost Altar Ritual

A Cloud Sail slowly descended toward Divine Fortune City.

The Cloud Sail was the most common means of transport for both goods and people in the seven major clans of the Fourth World. It traveled between the fragmented lands at a slow pace and could not fly to the Third World.

A man named He Hui stood on the deck of the Cloud Sail as he looked at the approaching Divine Fortune City. He had a commanding presence and had just entered the Marrow Cleansing Realm.

A loyal advisor of the He Clan accompanied He Hui in gazing at Divine Fortune City and commented, "It's much more empty than before. The influential families loyal to the Shangguan Clan have all evacuated via Cloud Sails.

"The rogue cultivators have to pay an exorbitant fee. Their memories are also searched to ensure they have no ties to the Shadow Specter Sect before being allowed to leave."

The advisor glanced toward the western district and shook his head.

"The commoners are unaware of the impending danger. They only know that the city's population is dwindling."

He Hui did not respond. He had been in a terrible mood since finding out that both his brother, He Rong, and his son, He Ziren, had perished in the Solitary Mountain Range.

Not long ago, he learned from the Su Clan that Hong Tai of the Shadow Specter Sect had killed his son, He Ziren, and that his brother had died at the hands of the traitor, Dong Tianze of the Dong Clan.

Only Su Meng, Zhou Qingchen, and Han Duping had survived, having escaped to the Third World through a Mirror Tunnel.

"Ziren is dead. Hong Tai has a nephew named Hong Jian who is making a name for himself in Divine Fortune City!" He Hui suppressed his inner grief. "I've come to Divine Fortune City not only to understand the extent of the catastrophe but also to ensure the death of Hong Jian!"

The advisor nodded. "My lord, Shangguan Dong and Ouyang Quan are also searching for Hong Jian. Hong Tai is said to have killed Ouyang Duanhai, Shangguan Qin, and their clan members in the Solitary Mountain Range as well."

He Hui coldly declared, "No one from the Shadow Specter Sect will leave Divine Fortune alive!"

***

Three Cloud Sails, each filled with cultivators from the seven major clans, roamed the skies above Misty Swamp.

They patrolled day and night.

Those aboard the Cloud Sails targeted Shadow Specter Sect members and rogue cultivators unable to prove their dissociation from the sect.

Resistors were killed on the spot. Non-resisters were captured and imprisoned, destined to be handed over later to the Radiant Sun Sect and the Star River Alliance. The Gilded Chariot and the Fire Cloud Ship transported them to the fragmented lands contaminated by murky energy.

The Star River Alliance implanted Stellar Eyes into these prisoners before tossing them into the contaminated lands to observe what was happening below.

***

Standing in a marsh shrouded in pale green miasma were the three hall masters, Meng Qiulan, Yang Yuansen, and Zhao Ling.

Even if a Cloud Sail passed overhead, it was impossible to see through the haze without descending into the marsh.

Nothing could be seen at night.

The group stood around a four-sided altar.

This was the Ghost Altar, constructed with a mix of Profound Yin Stones and Ethereal Spirit Jade.

Colorful small flags inscribed with unknown runes were planted along its edges. Next to these flags were depressions that held cultivation techniques, marrow cleansing materials, exquisitely crafted spirit artifacts, and pill bottles.

The projection of a gray shadowy figure appeared in the center of the Ghost Altar.

"Greetings to the Sect Leader!" The three hall masters bowed respectfully to the shadowy figure.

The Sect Leader of the Shadow Specter Sect said hoarsely, "Aside from the Zhou Clan, which is furthest from the Shangguan Clan's territory, the other six major clans have arrived. Additionally, members of the Star River Alliance, the Radiant Sun Sect, and the Blood Moon Sect are present.

"You must find your own way to leave the fragmented lands of Divine Fortune. Even if I mobilized the entire Shadow Specter Sect, it would still be difficult to fight our way into Divine Fortune City to bring you out."

Although the trio had anticipated this harsh truth, hearing it directly from the Sect Leader still brought a wave of despair to the three hall masters.

"Meng Qiulan, Zhao Ling. Both of you have families outside Divine Fortune. You can offer some of your precious items here, and I will ensure your families are well taken care of," the leader added softly.

Meng Qiulan moved first, placing beast blood, spirit jades from the beast-hunting sailboat, and a cherished mid-grade spirit artifact into an empty depression on the altar.

"I have no children of my own. My brother died of old age long ago and his family members have no cultivation talent. I only hope his family can live a life of wealth and honor," she said.

"I promise your brother's family will enjoy all the wealth and honor in the mortal world." The Sect Leader nodded. Meng Qiulan's items disappeared.

Zhao Ling hesitated, then placed her prepared items into the depression before her. "I hope my brother can receive a set of marrow cleansing materials when he reaches that stage."

"That's simple enough." The Sect Leader glanced at the offered items. "The value of these items exceeds that of a single set of marrow cleansing materials. Do you have any other requests?"

Zhao Ling replied, "I know of your capabilities, Sect Leader. If catastrophe truly spreads across the Fourth World, I hope you can bring my brother to the Third World. It doesn't matter where it is in the Third World, as long as he survives."

The Sect Leader took a moment to consider her request before finally nodding. "I promise I'll bring your brother to the Third World."

With those words, Zhao Ling's items were also teleported away.

"Thank you, Sect Leader!" she bowed.

The Sect Leader then turned to Yang Yuansen. "What about you?"

"Sect Leader, I have no children or family to worry about. You can deal with the women who followed me as you see fit. Give them away or sell them, it doesn't matter to me. I'm going to die in Divine Fortune anyway. I couldn't care less about people who aren't related to me by blood," Yang Yuansen said with a cold smile.

The Sect Leader nodded. "Very well. You three, take care of yourselves. Let's hope we meet again someday."

With that, the shadowy figure vanished from the Ghost Altar, alongside the remaining items in the depressions on the altar.

Meng Qiulan stood up, removing the small flags from the altar, and preparing to dismantle it.

"We probably won't need this Ghost Altar anymore," she grumbled.

Someone suddenly appeared in the distance, and in the blink of an eye, closed the gap to appear before three of them, giving them tremendous fright.

"Hong Jian!" Meng Qiulan exclaimed. She looked around and asked in a chastising tone, "Are all our lookouts dead?"

"No. It's dark, and I'm too fast for them to notice," Pang Jian replied calmly.

Glancing at the Ghost Altar Meng Qiulan was dismantling, Pang Jian sensed a familiar aura. He had felt this eerie aura when he destroyed the skull-shaped array in the Solitary Mountain Range.

Perhaps the Shadow Specter Sect has connections to the Sinister Soul Temple, Pang Jian thought.

"You've been gone for a long time," Zhao Ling said, standing up and staring at Pang Jian. "While you were gone, we..."

She shook her head as her voice trailed off, unwilling to continue.

Their strongholds had been dismantled one after another, Fan Liang had been captured, and many of their subordinates in the Meridian Opening Realm had been killed or injured.

The remaining members of the Shadow Specter Sect in Divine Fortune numbered fewer than forty. Most were scattered across Misty Swamp, hiding in caves or submerged in lakes, and living in constant fear of being discovered by the Cloud Sails patrolling above.

"Is this the Ghost Altar?" Pang Jian asked with an intent gaze. "I heard hall masters can use it to communicate with the Sect Leader and exchange rare materials."

"It can only be reactivated after a while," Meng Qiulan nodded. Smiling bitterly at him, she said. "Hong Jian, it's a pity you didn't leave Divine Fortune earlier. With your cultivation realm and youth, if you had gone to another branch of the Shadow Specter Sect, you would've been given a grand welcome."

"I heard the Sect Leader intends for me to take over as the hall master of Divine Fortune?" Pang Jian asked.

Meng Qiulan was speechless. "The seven major clans are hunting us all down. Does being a hall master still hold any significance to you now?"

Pang Jian was silent for a long moment before finally saying, "You all may die, but I might not."

"Kid!" Yang Yuansen shouted angrily. "Where were you when we were fleeing in disgrace and our subordinates were being killed? According to the plan, you should've joined us the next day! Do you really think you can survive?"

"Yes."

Meanwhile, Wu Yi, Bai Wei, and Bai Zhi approached upon hearing the commotion.

Seeing Pang Jian, they cried out, "Hong Jian!"

"We thought you were already dead," Bai Wei said, eyes red with heartfelt sorrow. "So many people have died, familiar faces killed day after day. I thought you were among them."

Bai Zhi bit her lower lip, and silently but eagerly stared at him.

"Elder Meng, you know I've always been interested in these two sisters. We're all destined to die in Divine Fortune anyway, so why don't you just let me have them, fulfill my wish, and let me die in peace in Divine Fortune ?" Yang Yuansen boldly suggested.

"I don't want that!"

"I don't want to be with him!"

Bai Zhi and Bai Wei screamed simultaneously. They then glanced hopefully at Pang Jian.

If they were destined to serve someone before dying, they wanted it to be him.