Trials of the Abyss

Chapter 215: Destroying Your Foundation!

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

The walls of the Nine Suns Cauldron emitted solar radiance that repelled the light beams rising from below.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The light beams constantly attacked the radiance from the Nine Suns Cauldron, causing Yang Rui's tall figure to tremble.

Yang Rui broke out in a cold sweat. "The array is too fierce!"

Before, the Spirit Slaughtering Astral Array appeared as a large interwoven grid, forming a massive protective shield over the summit of the Primordial Wilderness's First Peak. Any foreign race warriors or Vicious Beasts attempting to cross the bounds of the array would be severely injured.

At that time, the Spirit Slaughtering Astral Array felt like just another array to Yang Rui—merely an inanimate object. The interwoven grid did not show any intricate or mysterious changes and had simply risen from the edges of the summit without harming the people and objects within.

This time, however, was different.

The Spirit Slaughtering Astral Array now acted as though it was alive!

Every beam of light was like a living being. They emerged from every corner of the summit and precisely honed in on their intended targets.

It almost seemed like someone was controlling each light beam like a master sculptor wielding a chisel.

The craftsmanship had to be unparalleled for an array to be refined to this degree, practically reaching the level of Dao itself.

"Cao Mang is truly a genius to evolve this array to such an extent." Wei Wenhan sighed in admiration.

"Pang Jian..." Yang Rui's eyebrows twitched as he looked at the blurry figures beneath the Star Crushing Umbrella. "As long as Cao Mang is in control of this peerless deadly array, he's invincible in the Primordial Wilderness. No matter how strong Pang Jian is, he's destined to die under the umbrella."

Yang Rui secretly breathed a sigh of relief. The thought of Pang Jian dying under the umbrella lifted a weight off his chest.

"What a pity." Wei Wenhan shook his head and sighed. "The Sword Pavilion must've valued him greatly to bestow an extraordinary spirit artifact on him. This allowed him to shine brightly in the Primordial Wilderness.

"Yang Rui, do not be discouraged. Pang Jian was able to kill Jiu Yuan and Lou Yunming because of external aid, not because he's inherently strong!

"In my eyes, you, Yang Rui, are the top Profound Abode Realm cultivator in the Third World! No elite rogue cultivator or disciple of the five major sects can compare to you!"

Wei Wenhan's encouraging words allowed the demoralized Yang Rui to once again straighten his back in pride.

The two of them drifted away from the First Peak in the Nine Suns Cauldron and gradually made their way toward the Second Peak.

The other cultivators on the summit of the First Peak similarly retreated. Some summoned a cloud, like Jiu Yuan did, or escaped using spirit artifacts.

Those without spirit artifacts or Spirit Condensation Realm cultivation simply ran down toward the foot of the mountain.

Huang Qi retreated to a corner of the summit and watched as beams of light occasionally appeared in the hazy world beneath the Star Crushing Umbrella.

"Pang Jian..." He could not help but sigh. "With such a fierce array in hand, Cao Mang is bound to fight back as though his life is on the line. Even I may not be his match unless he leaves the First Peak."

After a moment of hesitation, Huang Qi finally retreated, becoming the last cultivator to leave the summit of the First Peak.

He feared Cao Mang would target him next if he stayed any longer.

Huang Qi and Cao Mang were both Spirit Condensation Realm cultivators. Given Cao Mang's injuries, Huang Qi felt confident about their fight as long as it did not take place on the First Peak.

He could not allow Cao Mang to control the Spirit Slaughtering Astral Array.

The indiscriminate attacks of the evolved Spirit Slaughtering Astral Array forced all the cultivators to flee the summit of the First Peak, leaving only Pang Jian and Cao Mang under the Star Crushing Umbrella.

***

A sharp beam of light snaked through the gaps in Pang Jian's outstretched fingers.

Whoosh!

The thin, sharp beam avoided Pang Jian's flesh with astonishing precision as if attuned to his mind, flying past in a way Cao Mang could not comprehend.

More and more light beams from the Spirit Slaughtering Astral Array surrounded Pang Jian, enveloping him like a shield of thorny brambles.

This sight left Cao Mang dumbfounded and his eyes filled with horror. "It's you! Pang Jian, you're the one secretly controlling the Spirit Slaughtering Astral Array!

"I spent millions of spirit stones and over a hundred years to create this array. How did it end up in your control?!

"Pang Jian, you've gone too far!"

Spurt!

Cao Mang spat out a mouthful of blood.

He had been trying desperately to suppress his tumultuous emotions and calmly deal with the situation.

However, when he saw the Spirit Slaughtering Astral Array displaying even more intricate and complex changes under Pang Jian's control, he could no longer stamp down his rage.

"You caused the array to malfunction that first time too! You also used it to attack Jiu Yuan when he was under the umbrella, causing him to view me as an enemy after he escaped!

"It was you, Pang Jian! Your manipulation of my Spirit Slaughtering Astral Array caused everyone to misunderstand me!

"Pang Jian!"

Cao Mang's furious roars echoed in the small world under the umbrella, but not a single word escaped into the world beyond.

Pang Jian calmly faced the frenzied Cao Mang with his spear in hand, patiently listening to his raging tirade. Once Cao Mang was done, he smiled coldly and said, "There's more."

"More what?" Cao Mang panted heavily. The wounds on his chest tore open and blood rushed out. "Pang Jian, what else have you done? You're seeking revenge on me just because I captured that woman, Luo Hongyan!"

"My Primordial Wilderness, my First Peak, my wife!"

Cao Mang suddenly collapsed onto the floating Black Iron Mountain.

His array, his life's work, and his beloved were all being destroyed before his eyes. Cao Mang's diminutive frame could not withstand the shock any longer.

An overwhelming feeling of helplessness filled him as he slumped to the ground.

"I was the one who opened the Mirror Tunnel on Emerald Lake and led the invading forces from the Fifth World here," Pang Jian revealed, knowing full well that Cao Mang was doomed. "I led the foreign race warriors and Vicious Beasts here to destroy your foundation."

Spurt!

Blood gushed uncontrollably from Cao Mang's mouth and chest.

Rumble!

The First Peak shook violently.

The tremor rippled outward, affecting all the other peaks as well!

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The mountains Cao Mang was so proud of collapsed one after another, starting from the Ninth Peak, then the Eighth Peak, the Seventh Peak, and the Sixth Peak. Thousands of giant boulders tumbled down the mountains and crashed into the surrounding valleys and clear lakes.

The most famous fragmented land in the Third World was crumbling down at a speed visible to the naked eye!

"Pang Jian! You bastard! My Primordial Wilderness! My life's work!"

Cao Mang charged forward recklessly with his Black Iron Mountain, seemingly merged with it. Ferocious Ice Sculpture Beasts, Blood-Marked Pythons, and Demon Armor Beasts appeared in the black demonic fire surrounding the Black Iron Mountain and tried to tear Pang Jian apart.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Countless beams of light filled the small world under the umbrella, filling the space between Pang Jian and the Black Iron Mountain before climbing over the Black Iron Mountain like creeping ivy.

The sharp light beams swallowed the Vicious Beasts, the black demonic flames, Cao Mang's protective shield, and his spirit artifact!

Pang Jian's control over the Spirit Slaughtering Astral Array had reached a level Cao Mang could never hope to achieve in his lifetime thanks to the black turtle.

Killing a severely injured Cao Mang was now as easy as crushing an ant for Pang Jian.

***

On the still-intact summit of the Second Peak, onlookers intently watched the fight happening on the First Peak.

"Pang Jian is done for."

"Cao Mang's control over that array has reached a near-Dao level. Look at all those beams of light around his Black Iron Mountain."

"Even if Pang Jian escapes Cao Mang's Black Iron Mountain, he's still within range of the Spirit Slaughtering Astral Array."

"The kid had a bright future, but unfortunately, he provoked the master of the Primordial Wilderness. His arrogance and recklessness were bound to cost him."

Fang Boxuan of the Blood Moon Sect stood on a protruding stone platform on the mountainside of the Second Peak with Xie Xiwen and other members of the Star River Alliance.

The group gazed toward the First Peak. They had learned that Cao Mang had reactivated the Spirit Slaughtering Astral Array with the intention of killing all the powerful figures on the summit from cultivators fleeing the First Peak.

They also learned that Pang Jian had summoned the Star Crushing Umbrella and was single-handedly fighting against Cao Mang.

"Cao Mang colluded with the foreign races and tried to take advantage of the situation to kill others with his array! He deserves to be executed a thousand times over!" a young disciple of the Star River Alliance angrily condemned.

"Pang Jian turned out to be a hero. What a pity..." Another disciple sighed regretfully, believing it would be difficult for Pang Jian to survive as he had not retreated from the summit in time.

"I'm sure Cao Mang still has other tricks up his sleeve." Shen Lei frowned as he observed the Spirit Condensation Realm cultivators hovering around the summit of the First Peak. "He activated the Spirit Slaughtering Astral Array and is attacking everyone. He must have immense confidence in winning and likely plans to go after those who left the summit."

Rumble!

In the distance, the Ninth, Eighth, and Seventh Peaks continued to crumble.

A chill ran down Shen Lei's spine. "The unusual activity of those mountains indicates that Cao Mang definitely has further measures prepared for the rest of us once he deals with Pang Jian!"

Xie Xuwen and Fang Boxuan were horrified at Shen Lei's sound reasoning sound.