Chapter 353: Internal Strife

Pang Jian's golden divine sense surrounded the Abyssal Demon Sword forged from black crystal jade.

The Abyssal Demon's demonic wills had seemingly conjured the clusters of demonic flames, masses of dark clouds, and even trees and rivers that could be seen within the sword.

The previously dormant and weak clusters of demonic wills surged with newfound vitality like a dry well filling with water again.

"He chose the Abyssal Demon Sword. That's the demonic sword of Demon Sword Sect's Mo Nan. Pang Jian will undoubtedly fall down the path of evil. I hope he dies soon."

"Sigh, why didn't Qi Qingsong perish in Absolute Heaven?"

"My master is growing more disappointed in me by the day. I hope he dies in the battle against the foreign races."

"These inner disciples all act so high and mighty. Every one of them deserves to die."

"Let the Sword Pavilion be destroyed already!"

Wicked thoughts poured forth from the clusters of demonic will, greatly shocking Pang Jian.

The evil thoughts did not originate from the Abyssal Demon but from the nearby disciples within the Sword Pavilion.

The Abyssal Demon was restoring its strength using their dark desires and emotions.

From the swirling demonic wills emerged the Abyssal Demon's consciousness.

It seemed to have many independent consciousnesses—a trait reminiscent of the Observer.

"The thoughts of mortals strengthen me, Pang Jian! I can't control you because your divine soul is unique and has the power to annihilate divine consciousness, much like the Nether Abyss Spirit Bees.

"But I can siphon the wicked thoughts from the hearts of mortals! I'll recover swiftly as long as I'm no longer sealed. The dark desires and vile thoughts of the mortals around you will nourish me."

The Abyssal Demon laughed in triumph.

Whoosh!

Pang Jian's divine sense transformed into a golden radiance, illuminating the clusters of clouds and flames embodying its demonic wills and eroding them away.

It did not take long for the clusters of clouds and flames to reform.

The demonic wills came from the dark thoughts arising in the hearts of the Sword Pavilion disciples, protectors, and elders.

The demonic wills were repeatedly destroyed and reformed in a tug-of-war between Pang Jian and the Abyssal Demon.

"You can't eliminate me, and I can't fully deal with you either!" it roared in defiance. "As long as a consciousness of mine remains, I can use the evil desires of the Sword Pavilion members to reform my demonic wills!

"As long as one consciousness is left unextinguished, a hundred more can be reborn!

"To destroy me, you'd have to erase all my consciousnesses. But if I'm gone, this sword will become useless!

"Now, what will you choose?"

The Abyssal Demon Sword showed no fear when faced with Pang Jian's continuous obliteration of its demonic wills and consciousnesses.

"Pang Jian, you made a grave mistake choosing me!" it taunted,

Pang Jian paused, then asked, "The Outer God, the one known as the Observer—are they also from the Demon Race in the outer worlds?"

"Indeed!" The Abyssal Demon's voice brimmed with pride. "We, the Demon Race, are among the highest-ranked races across the vast starry skies."

Pang Jian gently nodded. "Mo Nan, the Sect Master of the Demon Sword Sect, refined a Demon Race warrior's soul into his sword's soul. He was quite the talent."

"Too bad he died," the Abyssal Demon sneered. "If he had become a True God, I could've dragged him down into becoming a Demon. I wouldn't be in this situation."

As they conversed, the clusters of demonic wills within the sword increased, and the Abyssal Demon's strength grew.

"Hehe!" The Abyssal Demon cackled. "Many in the Sword Pavilion don't welcome your arrival. A lot of them want you, Li Zhaotian, and even Chen Weihuang dead.

"Excellent. Such dark thoughts further fuel my strength!

"I thrive in filthy, corrupt environments. The wicked desires of powerful cultivators only nourish me even more!"

The Abyssal Demon continued to monologue.

Swoosh!

Pang Jian summoned his internal energies and sent lightning, extreme cold, searing flames, and solar brilliance into the sword to attack the demonic wills of the Abyssal Demon.

"Your powers are so chaotic and mixed. Why did Li Zhaotian choose you?

"No sword technique could ever reach its full potential with your cultivation method! You'll never become a True God! That fat fool of a master of yours must be blind!"

Pang Jian eradicated clusters of demonic wills.

However, they accumulated again after only a short while.

It was like the Abyssal Demon said, it would endlessly regenerate until every last trace of its consciousness was erased.

As long as people were nearby, the Abyssal Demon could draw from the deceit within their hearts to regain its original strength.

Pang Jian frowned.

The Heavenly Demon Race is tricky to deal with.

Buzz!

Pang Jian's sword token sounded.

Qi Qingsong's urging voice came through, giving him the location of the Drunken Cloud Pavilion and telling him to hurry over.

The Drunken Cloud Pavilion is down the mountain.

Pang Jian noted before leaving the cave dwelling.

Outer disciples, inner disciples, elders, and protectors lived in the towns and villages between the towering mountains.

Once Pang Jian figured out the direction he needed to go, he hung the Abyssal Demon Sword at his waist and headed straight for a sizable town down the mountain.

Pang Jian entered a private room on the fifth floor of the Drunken Cloud Pavilion.

Grabbing him by the shoulder, Qi Qingsong pulled him in with a smile and introduced him to the group. "Everyone, this is Pang Jian, my closest brother!"

The others inside the room rose and cupped their hands in greeting, except for Zhuang Yuyan.

"Jiang Yang of the Enlightenment Peak. Junior Brother Pang, I only recently joined the inner sect myself. Please take care of me in the future."

"Duan Jing of the Breakthrough Peak."

"Xu Xuanlun, also of the Breakthrough Peak."

"Tang Can of the Elusive Peak. Senior Sister Zhuang took me under her wing. Please take care of me."

"Zeng Yulan of the Fate Severing Peak."

"Song Zihe of the Fate Severing Peak."

"Greetings, Junior Brother Pang."

The group introduced themselves to Pang Jian one by one.

Zhuang Yuyan gently smiled and said straightforwardly, "These people are close with me and Qi Qingsong. Every sect has its cliques, and these people are part of ours."

She then pointed at the two female disciples from the Fate Severing Peak.

"The two of them formed a deep bond with me during one of the sect's trials. Tang Can is from the Elusive Peak like me and I've taken him under my care."

Qi Qingsong chimed in, "Duan Jing and Xu Xuanlun stayed friends with me even when I was demoted to an outer disciple."

With that, he pressed Pang Jian into a seat and poured him a cup so they could all drink together.

After a few drinks, Pang Jian relaxed and became more comfortable with Qi Qingsong and Zhuang Yuyan's group.

"My master mentioned you when he returned, saying how impressive it was that you managed to subdue the Abyssal Demon Sword." Zeng Yulan's beautiful eyes sparkled.

She did not wear the Sword Pavilion's typical blue robes and had instead chosen a form-fitting, crimson gown.

Her graceful movements and rosy, powdered cheeks gave her an alluring presence.

She also frequently left her seat to toast Pang Jian.

Leaning close to Pang Jian, her warm breath brushed his skin as she whispered, "Junior Brother Pang, Senior Sister Zhuang said you saved everyone's lives in Absolute Heaven. From now on, I'll be sticking by your side during dangerous trials!"

"You sly girl," Zhuang Yuyan remarked with a laugh.

The other female disciple from the Fate Severing Peak, Song Zihe, was slender with delicate features and exuded a quiet, ladylike charm.

She appeared rather shy, biting her lip and avoiding eye contact with Pang Jian whenever she toasted him.

Unaccustomed to such attention, Pang Jian awkwardly responded to their friendly advances as they explained the sect's internal dynamics to him.

The four elders—Liu Junhong, Guang He, Wang Ce, and Xu Yu—were all close to Li Zhaotian and had been promoted to their positions under his guidance.

Guang He managed the Sword Honing Peak, the Scripture Pavilion, the Artifact Pavilion, and the Pill Pavilion.

Xu Yu oversaw the vital intelligence network of the Sword Pavilion and her personnel was responsible for gathering the news Pang Jian received through the sword token.

Wang Ce was responsible for selecting new disciples and enforcing the sect's laws, as well as overseeing the outer disciples and the Sword Pavilion's resources.

Liu Junhong, on the other hand, handled external affairs, managing relations with allied sects and the clans associated with the Sword Pavilion.

"Before your master became Pavilion Master, other people held those positions," Zhuang Yuyan said with a slight frown. "That previous faction was once the backbone of the Sword Pavilion, and their influence remains deeply entrenched."

Her words caused the mood in the room to turn solemn.

Zhuang Yuyan sighed. "The noisiest room in Drunken Cloud Pavilion has been reserved for disciples of that faction for years. Their leader may have left Sword Pavilion to wander the First World, but he's never given up his ambition to control the Sword Pavilion."

“Who is he?” Pang Jian asked curiously.

"Elder Jiang Ran. He's the most senior elder still alive and his master was the last Sword God of the Sword Pavilion," Qi Qingsong explained. "When the last Sword God died, he chose your master to succeed him instead of Jiang Ran.

"At the time, your master had not yet reached the late stage of the Immortal Realm, and Jiang Ran overshadowed him for many years.

"The positions currently held by the four elders were once firmly in Jiang Ran's control.

"If not for Jiang Ran's failed attempt to become a True God—which resulted in his cultivation dropping to mid-stage of the Immortal Realm—your master wouldn't have been able to promote the elders we know today," Qi Qingsong revealed.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

Heavy footsteps approached the private room like a beating drum and the door swung open without so much as a knock.

A man stood at the doorway with several well-dressed Sword Pavilion disciples flanking him.

"I heard someone talking about my master so I figured I'd drop by and listen." He leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed and lips curled into a smug grin. "What? Don't want to continue your conversation now that I'm here?"