Chapter 515: Fabricating Reasons

It was already evening, and the sky was ablaze with the colors of the setting sun.

Countless eyes were both openly and secretly fixed on the figure hovering motionlessly above the lake.

The surroundings were silent, yet the hearts of many roared with waves of turmoil.

Pang Jian, a Nirvana Realm cultivator, had killed Xing Heng of the Ghost Sacrifice Sect, an Immortal Realm cultivator.

There was an entire cultivation realm between them!

At that moment, a new star of the Dao of Sword seemed to rise, destined to shine brilliantly across the Abyss.

When the human race of the Abyss faced its darkest hour, a sharper sword emerged from the Sword Pavilion in Li Zhaotian's wake!

Pang Jian!

This name echoed within their hearts.

The greenish-black Heaven-Encompassing Demonic Array behind Pang Jian cast a suffocating weight over everyone, and the demonic realms within it felt eerily real.

At this moment, Pang Jian appeared more like a demon than even Dong Tianze himself.

Many knew that Mo Nan of the Demon Sword Sect had forged the Abyssal Demon Sword as a sword meant purely for slaughter. They were also aware that a terrifying demonic soul resided within it.

If the wielder could suppress the demonic soul and guide the sword toward the righteous path, it could act as a weapon of justice.

Otherwise, the wielder would eventually fall to the demonic path and become a demon.

After Pang Jian killed Xing Heng, some could not help but wonder if the Abyssal Demon Sword would one day consume Pang Jian, dragging him onto the demonic path. Even so, none dared voice their doubts.

Pang Jian had the audacity to kill Xing Heng of the Ghost Sacrifice Sect. Mere rogue cultivators like them naturally dared not provoke him.

Thus, although the rogue cultivators were shaken to their core, they wisely kept silent.

In their hearts, they questioned how Pang Jian had the strength to bridge the gap of a cultivation realm and kill Xing Heng.

They could not help but wonder about his future path.

***

"The Immortal Realm." Pang Jian chuckled softly.

The Heaven-Encompassing Demonic Array folded back into the Abyssal Demon Sword, taking the six demonic realms with it.

Six inky black specks of light flickered briefly on the sword's surface before fading into nothingness.

All the lightning vanished as well.

Xing Heng's corpse drifted lifelessly atop the lake's surface.

The gray stone altar, pillars, engraved stones, decayed bones, and withered wood were either reduced to dust or became debris in the lake.

After this battle, Pang Jian's name would ascend to unprecedented heights.

All the True Gods of the Abyss and the mightiest factions of the First World would learn of his combat prowess to slay enemies beyond his cultivation realm!

The True Gods would naturally recognize his limitless potential.

One could only imagine how much power Pang Jian could wield in the deadlocked battle between the human race and the foreign races if he were to break through to the Immortal Realm and ascend to the True God Realm.

The stronger he became, the more the True Gods would rely on him.

Pang Jian understood this and thus felt no fear about the consequences of his actions. After all, this was the reason he made Xing Heng his target during the Sword Pavilion's weakest hour in the first place.

***

In the lake, Dong Tianze felt unease creeping into his heart.

How will the Ghost Sacrifice Sect respond to Xing Heng's death?

he wondered.

How will Pang Jian face the Ghost Sacrifice Sect's wrath?

Will the Sword Pavilion be dragged into this storm alongside him?

Li Zhaotian failed to ascend to the True God Realm...

What could the Sword Pavilion offer to appease the Ghost Sacrifice Sect?

Dong Tianze's concern for Pang Jian overshadowed his lingering doubts about Pang Jian concealing the fact that his sister was the heir of the Celestial Phoenix's legacy.

His frustration over the matter no longer weighed on his heart, and his previous inner conflicts melted away like snowflakes.

***

Whoosh!

A tall figure draped in a tiger skin shot over from Imperial Dominion City and appeared above the lake in the blink of an eye.

"City Lord Shang Xiuchun!"

Shang Xiuchun's arrival shattered the silence in the northern region of the Imperial Dominion, and hushed murmurs rippled through the crowd.

"Why didn't he come before Xing Heng died?"

"Nobody could've imagined that Xing Heng, an Immortal Realm cultivator, would fall to Pang Jian. Who could've expected that Pang Jian would dare to kill him?"

"How will the Ghost Sacrifice Sect respond to Xing Heng's death?"

The gathered rogue cultivators whispered among themselves.

"I am Shang Xiuchun, the City Lord of the Imperial Dominion. Pang Jian—" Shang Xiuchun's words faltered, his expression tightening. After a pause, he sighed bitterly. "Why did you have to kill Xing Heng?"

This was the question on everyone's mind, though none dared to voice it before.

At the end of the day, Pang Jian had no real reason to kill Xing Heng. His death was entirely avoidable.

Even if he wanted to rescue Dong Tianze, defeating Xing Heng would have sufficed.

There was no reason to kill him and make an enemy of the Ghost Sacrifice Sect.

They could not understand it.

Pang Jian met Shang Xiuchun's eyes.

"Back in the Fourth World, when I was still struggling to find my footing, I temporarily joined an organization called the Shadow Specter Sect. I joined them to obtain cultivation resources.

"Cultivators in the Fourth World have difficult lives. I come from humble origins, not a member of the seven major clans. I joined the Shadow Specter Sect to break through my limits."

Dong Tianze blinked perplexedly, unsure why Pang Jian was bringing this up now.

Qian Bo and Yang Ronghao, still reeling from Xing Heng's death, exchanged bewildered glances when Pang Jian mentioned the Shadow Specter Sect.

"Back then, Dong Tianze was the leader. His master temporarily entrusted him with command of the sect, meaning we were both part of the Shadow Specter Sect for a period of time.

𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

"The Shadow Specter Sect only existed because the Second Elder of the Ghost Sacrifice Sect, Jiang Cen, cultivated the Shadow Specter Arts.

"The deceased Cult Leader of the Sinister Soul Continent, Han Zhiyuan, created the Shadow Specter Sect under Jiang Cen's instructions.

"In other words, we were unknowingly working for this elder.

"The Shadow Specter Sect no longer exists, and Han Zhiyuan died in battle on the Dark Abyss Continent. Now, only Dong Tianze and I remain as the last important members of the organization."

Pang Jian paused and glanced toward the Phantom Cloud Ship in the sky.

"I don't know who is so intent on killing Dong Tianze, but I do know that the techniques Dong Tianze cultivates come from the Ghost Sacrifice Sect.

"Dong Tianze shows no signs of an Outer God corrupting him. Xing Heng had no proof, yet he insisted on killing him. Naturally, I believe there's another reason."

His words subtly pointed to Jiang Cen wanting to erase all traces of the Shadow Specter Sect.

Before the rise of the murky energy, the Shadow Specter Sect had secret dealings with the foreign races of the Fifth World.

Pang Jian learned that Jiang Cen had been the mastermind behind the Shadow Specter Sect from Elder Xu Yu, so he fabricated this explanation out of necessity.

Although he knew this justification was flimsy and riddled with holes that would not withstand scrutiny, he had no choice but to say it.

If not, the Ghost Sacrifice Sect's focus on Dong Tianze would persist, branding him as a remnant of the Blood Spirit Sect.

Heretical cultivators were surfacing everywhere in these troubled times. If Dong Tianze were labeled as one as well, the Ghost Sacrifice Sect would have every reason to pursue him.

Pang Jian effectively prevented this possibility by dragging Jiang Cen into the spotlight and using the Shadow Specter Sect as a diversion.

Before the foreign races broke free from the Fifth World, other major factions had also traded with them in secret.

The existence and actions of the Shadow Specter Sect took place before the rise of the murky energy. Therefore, such dealings were not considered grave offenses in the eyes of the True Gods.

Pang Jian merely used this excuse to clear Dong Tianze of suspicion.

"This-this..." Shang Xiuchun let out an awkward smile, unsure how to respond.

Even if Jiang Cen had truly ordered Xing Heng to kill Dong Tianze and erase traces of the Shadow Specter Sect, Shang Xiuchun could do nothing.

He had no power to rein in Jiang Cen or the Ghost Sacrifice Sect.

I shouldn't have come here. I should've stayed hidden and pretended I was dead,

Shang Xiuchun thought bitterly.

His discomfort did not faze Pang Jian.

Though he addressed Shang Xiuchun, his real audience was the spectating rogue cultivators, as well as Qian Bo and Yang Ronghao.

He wanted these people to spread the word that he had acted not just to protect Dong Tianze but because he was once part of the Shadow Specter Sect and found Jiang Cen's conduct despicable.

After giving the crowd time to digest his words, Pang Jian's attention shifted toward the lake.

"You can leave now," he said to Qian Bo and Yang Ronghao. "I know you were only following orders. I won't trouble you. Take Xing Heng's corpse and leave the Imperial Dominion."

"Ah, right. Yes...of course," the two stammered, trembling as they retrieved Xing Heng's body from the lake's surface before flying off.

"Disperse."

Pang Jian waved his hand dismissively to the onlookers and landed on the lakeshore, waiting for Dong Tianze to come up.

City Lord Shang Xiuchun hesitated, then stepped forward and said, "The teleportation array in Imperial Dominion City suddenly collapsed during your battle with Xing Heng."

Pang Jian frowned. "Do you know who did it?"

"No." Shang Xiuchun gritted his teeth before lowering his voice. "The moment the teleportation array broke, I sent word to Elder Xu Yu of the Sword Pavilion, informing her of the sabotage."

"I appreciate it." Pang Jian nodded.

Gripping his sword token, he notified the Immortal Realm elders of Xing Heng's death.

"Xing Heng is dead?"

"You killed him?"

"Wasn't Xing Heng an Immortal Realm cultivator? Did you really kill him?"

"We're on our way with a Sword Boat! We thought you'd be at a disadvantage and were worried Xing Heng would suppress you. I can't believe you actually killed him!"

A flurry of messages from Xu Yu, Liu Junhong, Guang He, and Wang Ce appeared in rapid succession.

"The Ghost Sacrifice Sect wanted Dong Tianze captured alive, not killed on the spot," Shang Xiuchun added softly. "It's strange. With Xing Heng's Immortal Realm cultivation, he could've easily captured Dong Tianze if he acted sooner.

"The collapse of the teleportation array and their slow pursuit of Dong Tianze makes me think there's more at play here."

Shang Xiuchun scanned the surroundings with wary eyes.

"Perhaps someone is trying to lure you or another elder from the Sword Pavilion to the Imperial Dominion. Be careful."

With that, Shang Xiuchun flew away.

Surprisingly, he did not return to Imperial Dominion City but left the fragmented land altogether.

Based on his demeanor, it seemed he sensed danger looming over the Imperial Dominion and had decided to abandon it altogether.