The Purgatory Calamity-Chapter 79 - 66 Strike First to Gain the Upper Hand_1

Chapter 79: Chapter 66: Strike First to Gain the Upper Hand_1

Chapter 79 -66: Strike First to Gain the Upper Hand_1

“Ground Flame Spell.”

Pang Jian opened the booklet and skimmed the opening page, only to discover that it was an offensive technique cultivated through the collection of Earth Fire.

The so-called Earth Fire referred to the fierce flames that erupted from volcanoes.

“Ground Flame Spell” required the collection of Flame Force at volcanic sites, refining it within the body’s Spiritual Sea to burst out strong power during combat.

According to the offensive techniques recorded in “Ground Flame Spell,” once a minor achievement was made, the practitioner’s palm could emit the intense Earth Fire.

In the middle and later stages of “Ground Flame Spell,” one needed to refine the power of boiling magma, which could enhance the might even further.

After giving it some thought, Pang Jian realized there were no volcanoes near the Solitude Mountain Range, which meant he had no suitable location to practice “Ground Flame Spell.”

Suddenly, he pulled out a dark red stone from the storage bag.

With a thought, he turned to the next page in “Ground Flame Spell” and found an annotation.

According to the annotation, if there wasn’t an appropriate place to practice “Ground Flame Spell,” one could also rely on Earth Flame Stones.

Earth Flame Stones, buried deep beneath volcanoes, contained not only Spiritual Power but also a significant amount of Earth Heart Flame Power.

“This should be an Earth Flame Stone.”

Pang Jian felt around further and sensed a large number of Earth Flame Stones at the bottom of the storage bag. If he truly wanted to cultivate “Ground Flame Spell,” he should have enough for the early stages.

Zhou Qingchen suddenly said, “This offensive Spirit Spell doesn’t belong to Raging Sun Sect. The person from Raging Sun Sect must have used this ‘Ground Flame Spell’ as a supplementary Magic Spell, combined with the Raging Sun spell to exhibit power.”

He glanced at the words “Ground Flame Spell” on the booklet and knew that it had nothing to do with Raging Sun Sect, so he promptly informed Pang Jian that when that person attacked earlier, it was the authentic Magic Spell of Raging Sun Sect that made it appear as if a Fierce Sun burst forth in his palm.

“Ground Flame Spell” and the techniques of Raging Sun Sect had similar auras, which made them more effective when combined, and that’s why that person cultivated both.

“This Magic Spell is quite good; it’s suitable for you to cultivate in the early stages.”

Luo Hongyan seemed to have also noticed the characteristics of the Magic Spell. Just as she was about to say more, her brows furrowed slightly and she said in a cold voice, “Let’s find a stone tower to enter first!”

No sooner had she finished speaking than she unceremoniously dragged Pang Jian toward a three-story building.

Su Meng followed, not knowing what else to do.

Han Duping and Zhou Qingchen exchanged glances, their expressions becoming grave, and they too entered the building.

The stone tower they entered seemed to be an inn from yesteryears in Bagua City, with heavy wooden tables and chairs laid out on the first floor, as if it was used for tea and dining.

The second and third floors were lined with guest rooms, ready to accommodate well-fed and well-drunk guests.

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The three-story inn had only one main entrance and two windows.

As soon as Zhou Qingchen and Han Duping entered, Luo Hongyan ordered sharply, “Close the door and shut the windows as well.”

They did as told, promptly closing the main door and gently shutting the two windows, leaving only a slit open.

The interior of the inn quickly darkened.

Pang Jian looked around and realized that the light in the entire inn came from outside the street. As soon as the doors and windows were all closed, the inn, devoid of other light sources, plunged into darkness quickly.

Luo Hongyan’s lips held a cold smile as she said with a deadly look in her bright eyes, “Those seven people have ill intentions.”

Su Meng exclaimed in surprise, “Why? We have no grudges with them, why would they harbor ill will toward us?”

Luo Hongyan sneered, “Because they are too poor, and extreme poverty breeds evil.”

Su Meng shook her head, not understanding.

“Their life in the Star River Alliance must be very tough. They are so old and still don’t have anything of value on them. Whenever Upper Realm cultivators go out to temper themselves, not knowing if they can survive, they would bring all their belongings.”

“Anyways, I didn’t see anything valuable on those seven people.”

Luo Hongyan looked disdainful and scoffed, “Trash like them definitely isn’t valued in the Star River Alliance; even their masters wouldn’t be willing to prepare the Spiritual Materials needed for the Bone Severing Marrow Washing.”

As she spoke, she glanced at Han Duping.

Han Duping’s face turned somewhat embarrassed. His initial engagement with Zhou Qingchen was also in hopes of leveraging Zhou Qingchen’s status and power to acquire Spiritual Materials needed for his breakthrough into the Marrow Cleansing Realm.

Someone like him, without much talent for cultivation or a good background, would find it difficult to gather the Spiritual Materials for Bone Severing Marrow Washing.

“The Spiritual Materials required for Bone Severing Marrow Washing are very expensive. Some people can’t gather them even in dozens of years and end up stuck in the Meridians Channeling Realm for life,” Zhou Qingchen interjected suddenly. He too had sensed the seven people’s malicious intent and said, “Those guys want to break through their realms and step into a higher level of cultivation, so they have to find ways to gather Spiritual Materials.”

Han Duping nodded lightly and said with emotion, “I just didn’t expect that even knowing Ning was from Star River Alliance, they would still dare to harbor thoughts of murder.”

Luo Hongyan said coldly, “This is Bagua City. As long as all of us die here, nobody would know.”

Listening to their conversation, Pang Jian edged closer to the slit in the window, quietly watching the broad street…

Zhou Qingchen was at another window. Together with Han Duping, they also peeked through the narrow slit, looking at the broad street outside.

Soon, they saw the earlier gentle and jade-like Jian Yaoyang gliding silently over the street, quickly moving forward.

He still had an anxious look on his face, as if he had suddenly remembered something important and wanted to catch up with them to speak.

As his cultivation was the highest, the others, being weaker, all trailed behind him.

However, the six Meridians Channeling Realm cultivators of the Star River Alliance who were following him did not rush to pursue. Instead, they scattered into the stone buildings on both sides of the street, searching each one methodically.

Observing their actions, Pang Jian’s brows furrowed slightly, and he had a rough idea of what was happening.

Since they had been away for a while, those people were unaware of their movements and did not know whether they had headed straight for the city center. Therefore, the fastest chased ahead while the rest searched the buildings on both sides.

This would ensure that they found them.

“We can’t hide.”

Luo Hongyan’s expression was indifferent. She wiped a table with a handkerchief, and after slowly sitting down, she looked at Zhou Qingchen with interest and asked, “What do you plan to do?”

Zhou Qingchen hesitated and said, “They clearly have the motive to kill for loot, but they haven’t actually acted on it yet. They haven’t completely revealed their intentions. What I’m thinking is…”

Luo Hongyan stopped looking at him, cutting off what he was about to say, and looked at Pang Jian leisurely, “And you?”

Pang Jian spoke gravely, “Don’t give them the chance to reveal their intent to kill, go straight to hunting.”

He had experience in this area.

Knowing that the other party was a ferocious beast, he wouldn’t wait for the beast to pounce first, he would always strike first.

Waiting for the other party to actually make a move, or not waiting for them to reveal their intent and striking first, the approaches and difficulties were completely different.

“Go straight for the kill…”

Zhou Qingchen touched his chin, hesitating slightly.

“They’ve only got the idea to kill, and they haven’t acted on it yet. Maybe they’ll change their minds?” Su Meng murmured softly.

Luo Hongyan’s voice turned cold, “Shall we invite them over for a chat, have a little heart-to-heart, and then wait for them to suddenly strike?”

Su Meng dared not make another peep.

Luo Hongyan’s admiring gaze fixed on Pang Jian’s face for a moment before she spoke deliberately, “Let me remind you all, the leader of the other side is also in the Marrow Cleansing Realm, and he’s over thirty. He has been immersed in this realm for a long time.”

“The other six are all in the Meridians Channeling Realm. Do you think we can survive if they suddenly attack us?” Luo Hongyan’s face was cold, and her sharp eyes filled with danger roamed over the faces of the three, Zhou Qingchen and the rest.

Zhou Qingchen clenched his teeth and said, “Then let’s do it!”

Luo Hongyan nodded, the corners of her mouth twitched slightly as she looked at Pang Jian, “Alright, now you consider those seven people as prey you must hunt in the forest. It’s up to you to come up with the hunting plan.”

Pang Jian was taken aback.

Zhou Qingchen said dissatisfiedly, “Why not me?”

Han Duping also said, “Pang Jian to come up with the plan? I think it should be me! Ning, I have experience in this area. Leaving it to Pang Jian is too much of a child’s play…”

Before he could finish, Luo Hongyan cut him off coldly, “I’ll only ask one question. In that pit on the island in the lake, if it had been the two of you at the bottom of the pit facing Dong Tianze’s ambush, could you have emerged unscathed while also leaving Dong Tianze seriously injured and fleeing?”

Both of them fell silent.

Pang Jian didn’t waste any more words. When faced with a life-or-death crisis, he showed another side of himself.

He walked straight to the central table, signaling everyone to gather around, and said, “Tell me quickly about the strengths and weaknesses of the Spiritual Artifacts you have, and your preferred fighting styles.”

Except for Luo Hongyan, the other three quickly explained their situations, all talking at once.

Zhou Qingchen’s Heart Protection Mirror had defensive capabilities and could also emit a blinding light to capture people. His personal Spiritual Power was strong and immense, capable of both offense and defense.

Han Duping claimed to enclose himself within a spherical barrier, excelling at charging into the fray and preferring chaotic situations.

Su Meng, who had no combat experience, mentioned her characteristics, which were basically irrelevant and promptly ignored by Pang Jian.

“Like this.”

In the dimly lit inn, Pang Jian pondered for a moment, then began to share his thoughts.

Everyone listened quietly, their expressions growing stranger the more they heard, and even becoming somewhat fearful, looking at him as if they were looking at a demon or ghost.

“Han, you should have some poison powder or poison mist, right? Take it out. When the time comes, Mr. Zhou and I will use it amidst the chaos. It could paralyze them for a while,” Pang Jian suddenly said.

Han Duping’s old face reddened with anger and he retorted, “What are you saying? Pang, such vile and sneaky tricks, how could I possibly have them?”

“Also, why don’t you ask Ning or Zhou? Why do you only ask me?!”

Han Duping appeared quite agitated.

Pang Jian said earnestly, “I feel like you have some.”

“Cough cough, Han, just take it out.”

Zhou Qingchen coughed lightly.

Han Duping, begrudgingly, produced several packets of poison powder. He first handed them to Zhou Qingchen and then to Pang Jian, saying gravely, “Pang, you really are… truly toxic.”

Zhou Qingchen couldn’t help but comment, “Dong Tianze was lucky to escape with serious injuries from the well. He really has nine lives. I’m starting to admire him.”

…