The Purgatory Calamity

Above the pool, at the top of the Phoenix Bone.

Luo Hongyan, sealed by the Yin Spirit Temple for hundreds of years, stamped her foot in anger.

Her soul spirit form, with her jade foot submerged in the Phoenix Bone, she jolted back to reality and hurriedly withdrew her delicate foot.

Her pair of demonic red pupils, now as sharply cold as blood-stained blades, fell upon the clear surface of the pool water.

Since her release from the seal, she had been longing for the reconstruction of her flesh and blood body, and the Phoenix Marrow was something she was determined to obtain.

With the Phoenix Marrow fused into her spiritual body, she would find a way to reforge her physical form and reclaim her lost power, to then exact bloody revenge on those who had betrayed her.

She was wary of the mysterious entity that had kept the "Dark Giant Python" in captivity, and being in soul spirit form, she dared not enter the water herself.

By using "Spirit Evil" to possess the Hunter cultivators who fell to the bottom of the pool, she didn't have to take the risk, and no one would know she was spying from above.

Little did she know that the youth favored by the Blood Moon's "Branded Eye" would emerge riding a snake from the shadows and, while killing the Hunter cultivators, the "Black and White King Python" which belonged to Hong Tai, also devoured the "Spirit Evil" she had carefully refined.

"It's just a second-level Black and White King Python, whose intelligence and spirituality are only just awakening. It shouldn't have been able to detect the presence of Spirit Evil, let alone consume the Spirit Evil I refined."

Luo Hongyan, furious at first, gradually calmed down, the more she thought about it, the more she felt something was amiss.

"The Black and White King Python belongs to Hong Tai, so how is it that boy has taken it over? A Black and White King Python that has changed masters is even able to consume my Spirit Evil, this is probably no ordinary matter."

She suspected that the mysterious entity keeping the "Dark Giant Python" at the bottom of the pool was lurking in the shadows, using the young hunter to lay out its plans.

As her restless state of mind completely subsided, she grew increasingly hesitant to take rash actions.

"There are still several Spirit Evils I've left patrolling outside the valley, it seems it's time to summon them."

Lacking eyes to use, she simply had to think, and the "Spirit Evils" wandering outside began to seek out living things to possess, hiding in the shells of wild beasts while waiting for her next instructions.

...

Beneath the bottom of the pool.

"Blub!"

Hong Tai, surrounded by a battle near the Phoenix Bone, let out a string of bubbles from his mouth, turned his head, and stared dumbfounded at Pang Jian, who was riding his "Black and White King Python" and hunting down his disobedient subordinates one by one.

His loud screams went unheard, replaced only by the release of many bubbles.

He was also confused, his "Black and White King Python," which he had pampered with food and drink for seven or eight years, had only just become sentient, how long had it been?

How could he not understand why the "Black and White King Python" would suddenly rebel against him and regard the young hunter as its master?

Also, he had made it clear that he wouldn't allow those subordinates to enter the water, so how dare they disobey his orders?

Hong Tai racked his brains but couldn't find an answer.

Jin Yang, as well as the two leaders whose cultivation had reached the Meridians Channeling Realm, were equally stunned by Pang Jian riding the python, and they kept questioning Hong Tai with puzzled eyes.

Hong Tai, with a stern face, shook his head under their questioning gaze, indicating that he himself was also unaware.

At this moment, Jin Yang suddenly became excited again, pointing to a part of the Phoenix Bone.

All the bright white light spots, taking advantage of their bloody battle with Ouyang Duanhai, had coalesced into a cluster of amber-like mysterious glimmers, slowly floating up from the bottom of the Phoenix Bone towards the top.

"Phoenix Marrow!"

The uncontrollably screaming Jin Yang also released a large bubble.

Using his hands and feet, he gestured desperately in the water, telling the three including Hong Tai to help him intercept Ouyang Duanhai.

He himself, then, chased after the floating white glimmers, trying to catch the Phoenix Marrow at top speed!

"Hmm!"

Pang Jian, riding the python that had been possessed by the "Dark Giant Python," and had slain all the Qi Refining Realm Hunter cultivators, also noticed the reappearance of the mysterious glimmer that strengthened his body.

Immediately, he commanded the "Dark Giant Python" beneath him with his mind.

However, this serpentine being with eyes that had turned pitch black, for the first time, defied his orders.

Pang Jian couldn't help but look down and saw in its obsidian-like pupils the endless hatred and, furthermore... profound fear.

"Hatred and fear, the hatred because the Phoenix Bone consumed your flesh and blood, producing these oddities from your body."

"Fear? You no longer have a flesh and blood body and are only possessing a similar form, yet you still fear that Phoenix Bone?"

Pang Jian thought silently, unsure whether his non-commanding heart's voice could be heard by the Strange Snake.

He suddenly realized, if even the Strange Snake feared the oddities formed by the Phoenix Bone, then Jin Yang, who was trying to snatch that oddity, might not get his wishes fulfilled either.

With his thoughts swiftly churning, Pang Jian merely instructed the "Dark Giant Python" to approach the higher end of the Phoenix Bone, following the anxiously ascending Jin Yang.

This time the "Dark Giant Python" chose to obey the command.

It carried Pang Jian at a much slower pace than before, moving towards Jin Yang at the upper end of the Phoenix Bone.

Pang Jian watched Jin Yang's movements while also glancing at the creature that was being fiercely restrained in the python's skull by Hong Tai's trio.

He had long noticed that when the mysterious glimmer had taken shape, the unknown non-human Different Kind had gone mad, desperately rushing towards the glimmer.

However, under the ferocious onslaught of the trio including Hong Tai, the non-human Different Kind proved unable to leave as planned.

At the moment, Hong Tai, holding a glittering Spirit Sword, one masked person holding a bamboo flute, and Xu Rui clutching an iron Shield,

The three worked together against the enemy, facing the breakout attempts of the non-human Different Kind, they seemed to be quite distressed.

Xu Rui, holding the Shield, seemed to find the weapon unsuitable. After seeking approval from Hong Tai with his eyes, he left the battleground first and went to Ning Yao, who was wrapped in the Silver Silk Giant Net.

He gripped the iron chains and with a gentle shake, Ning Yao escaped from the net.

Xu Rui, upon obtaining his familiar tools, didn't even glance at Ning Yao before immediately swimming towards Hong Tai.

He flung the silver silk giant net high, creating a whistling sound like a cluster of silver clouds in the water as he threw it over the non-human creature.

Clearly, the silver net that trapped Ning Yao was not only his most handy tool but also the perfect treasure for restricting the movements of such non-human creatures.

Simultaneously, Pang Jian suddenly noticed Jin Yang, who was charging towards the surface, sneakily pull out a lotus leaf from his bosom.

The leaf was as blue-green as jade, radiating a crystal-like brilliance under the water, and its meticulous veining seemed to conceal some mystery.

Jin Yang lifted up his clothes, placing the precious lotus leaf directly over his heart, using it to protect the organ.

After taking these measures, he covered his chest with his shirt again, a new confidence flickering in his eyes, and then he charged even faster towards the faint, mysterious light that was ascending.

Jin Yang, who had choked on water earlier, was still mouthing words incessantly, seemingly repeating something.

Due to his frantic repetition, although no sound was emitted, Pang Jian had still managed to discern the words by his lip movement.

He was saying those two words… Phoenix Marrow.

In an instant, Pang Jian realized that the amber light coalescing around the Phoenix Bone actually contained the bone marrow from inside a Heaven Phoenix bone!

Connecting the dots with Jin Yang's series of unusual actions, and the blue-green lotus leaf he used to protect his heart, Pang Jian glanced at the monster with the Divine Phoenix tattoo on its chest and understood that the Phoenix Marrow was seeking a body of flesh and blood capable of bearing its power, aiming to burrow into the heart and settle there.

It seemed that once successful, whoever the Phoenix Marrow entered would transform into another monster.

Knowing the consequences of being consumed by the Phoenix Marrow, Jin Yang had used the blue-green lotus leaf to cover his heart, clearly believing in the leaf's extraordinary effects.

"Help me kill this man."

Pang Jian, unable to direct the "Dark Giant Python" to contact the Phoenix Marrow, suddenly changed his strategy, setting his sights on Jin Yang!

Among all the attackers from the Dark Ghost, it was Jin Yang with his seven Cicada Wing Swords that caused Pang Jian pain by stabbing repeatedly into his hand bones and back; the hurt Jin Yang had inflicted was the greatest.

He resolved to treat Jin Yang as his first target in the Meridians Channeling Realm.

"Whoosh!"

The "Dark Giant Python," writhing its snake body, stirred up noticeable ripples at the bottom of the pool, finally willing to exert force again and rapidly headed straight for Jin Yang with Pang Jian in tow.

Everyone under the water, their strength and speed had been greatly reduced by the resistance of the water.

The python, unaffected, and swifter than on land, quickly brought Pang Jian alongside Jin Yang.

"Swish, swish, swish! Swish, swish, swish!"

Jin Yang's Cicada Wing Swords, having lost much of their spirit after being struck by Ouyang Duanhai, were controlled by his power but moved sluggishly towards Pang Jian.

However, the once-thwarted Cicada Wing Swords, now in the water, had both their might and speed greatly diminished.

With the "Dark Giant Python" to assist, Pang Jian, wielding the Dragon Pattern Spear, managed to disrupt the swords, causing them to fall back to the bottom of the pool.

Taking advantage of the impact force from the "Dark Giant Python" below him, Pang Jian gripped the Dragon Pattern Spear with both hands, taking careful aim at Jin Yang from a distance.

Once close enough, he unleashed the strength within his arms, thrusting the spear with full force.

"Boom!"

A chunk of ice rock, created in a timely fashion by the Cold Chi Jade Pendant's freezing ability, shattered upon impact with Pang Jian's heavy thrust, despite its quick formation.

Jin Yang grunted, seeing his life-saving pendant now riddled with cracks; without the aid of an expert repair, it would be difficult to restore its former effectiveness.

Jin Yang quickly swam away to temporarily evade, but turning back, he saw Pang Jian mounted on the snake charging ferociously towards him again.

With the python's speed, the creature's impact force combined with Pang Jian's own divine power and the weight of the Dragon Pattern Spear, Jin Yang, stripped of the pendant's protection, inwardly cried trouble.

He inwardly cursed Hong Tai for being useless.

He had gone to the trouble of raising a Black and White King Python, which not only failed to serve Hong Tai but was instead aiding a stranger in attacking him.

Cursing aside, Jin Yang could not bear to part with the Phoenix Marrow and, feeling like he was trapped in a difficult situation, chose to continue ascending.

He thought if he truly couldn't avoid Pang Jian, then he might as well burst out of the Black Water Pool, seek the Phoenix Marrow above, and launch a counterattack against Pang Jian.

Underwater, both the Cicada Wing Swords and he himself felt the frustrating sensation of having strength but nowhere to apply it.

Once on land, the merely second-tier Black and White King Python might not be able to take advantage of him.

"Whoosh! Whoosh, whoosh!"

Ning Yao, having been freed by Xu Rui, also made a desperate effort to swim upwards.

Having recently advanced to the Meridians Channeling Realm, she could not match the seasoned veterans like Hong Tai and Xu Rui; her breath was reaching its limit, and she needed to surface soon or risk dying at the bottom of the pool.

As she strenuously swam upward, she naturally raised her head and thus witnessed the chase unfolding between Pang Jian riding the python and Jin Yang.

After Pang Jian finished off every last Qi Refinement Realm cultivator from the Dark Ghost that followed them into the sea, he was now hunting at the bottom of the pool, shifting his focus to a higher caliber opponent.

Ning Yao watched Pang Jian, her mind churning like a turbulent lake, even starting to doubt herself.

She wondered if Pang Jian was really the original owner of the three stone huts.

The Pang Jian those people in Lingshan Town talked about, was he really the same fearless and bloodthirsty youth before her?

If he truly was the young Hunter who had lived by relying on his sister, then why hadn't they seen Pang Jian's sister when they arrived at the courtyard?

"Could it be that some supremely skilled talent from the Upper Realm had assumed Pang Jian's identity and was lying in wait for us to walk into the trap?"

Ning Yao's mind drifted in a haze.

...