Chapter Fifty-Four: The Abyss Transformed

Chapter Fifty-Four: Cataclysm in the Abyss

“Boss, I’ve broken through!”

Soon after, these few subordinates completed their breakthroughs and stood up one by one, exuding powerful auras from head to toe.

“Good, let’s leave this place,” Chu Jie nodded.

Wang Ye, on the other hand, watched these men with a sense of shock. The Mad Dog Camp’s rate of advancement was too fast. When they left Lingyun District, most of the camp was only at the fifth level of the Body Tempering Realm, but now, in hardly any time at all, they had advanced several more levels.

This made Wang Ye deeply envious, and even more wary of Chu Jie. He had offended Chu Jie before—although Chu Jie hadn’t come after him yet, that didn’t mean he was safe.

Another thing that vexed him was that more than half the brothers he’d brought were dead. When his own boss, Duan Kun, arrived, even if he survived, he’d be in serious trouble.

His eyes shifted, and he had an idea.

…

As the group left, nothing untoward happened. The passage was dark and damp; the only moment of danger was when an oversized worm crawled by, only to be dispatched in a few sword strokes by one of the subordinates.

Strange creatures lurked below ground. The Mad Dog Camp’s men weren’t fond of the subterranean environment; knowing they were about to leave, they were all delighted.

Chu Jie led them back to the original cave entrance. Since Steward Luo hadn’t blocked the entrance when he’d come in, Chu Jie simply guided everyone out. Though the cavern held little of value now, Chu Jie carefully sealed the entrance and left a mark nearby. Perhaps one day they’d return—there were still unexplained mysteries here. While digging, he’d often sensed the cavern had some special purpose, but now, with all the profound crystals mined out, whatever purpose it once served was likely ruined.

As Chu Jie and his men emerged, they saw a group of over ten people approaching from a distance. The clothes seemed familiar; as they drew closer, their faces became clear.

“Chu Jie! Ha! I heard you’ve trained the Mad Dog Camp into an almost invincible force. I’m so envious, I had to come see for myself.”

The newcomer was Duan Kun.

Chu Jie observed him and noticed that Duan Kun had reached the fourth level of the Spirit-Converging Realm. Clearly, Duan Kun had also had a fortuitous encounter recently.

“It’s just a matter of opportunity, nothing more. I plan to train everyone in the Mad Dog Camp to the eighth level of the Body Tempering Realm,” Chu Jie replied with a smile.

Duan Kun was stunned. The eighth level of the Body Tempering Realm! If such a unit truly existed, they’d be unrivaled on the outskirts of Bloodslaughter City. If they advanced further to the Spirit-Converging Realm, even in the outer city, theirs would be a force to be reckoned with.

Duan Kun was Chu Jie’s friend—they’d cooperated up to now without any unpleasantness. That is, except for Wang Ye.

Chu Jie kept Wang Ye around mainly to test Duan Kun’s reliability—to see if Wang Ye’s scheming was secretly orchestrated by Duan Kun.

“Wang Ye, your boss is here. Report truthfully everything that’s happened,” Chu Jie said coldly.

Duan Kun was momentarily confused, then noticed that fewer than half of Wang Ye’s men had returned. So many deaths at once made his expression darken.

He was also angry that the Mad Dog Camp had barely lost any men, while Wang Ye’s group had been decimated. The thought crossed his mind: had Chu Jie used his men as cannon fodder? But he quickly dismissed it. They were partners, jointly managing this force—every subordinate was their shared asset. Who would casually squander elite members?

Seeing Duan Kun’s face, Wang Ye realized things were not going well. He stepped forward, his face contorted in anguish. “Boss, it’s all because Lord Chu forced us to be cannon fodder. The Serpent King’s men killed more than half of us; his people are all fine. Now Lord Chu wants to silence me—please, you must stand up for me!”

He shirked all responsibility with a single sentence.

In Bloodslaughter City, people died all the time; the loss of these men was no big deal. But because this involved Chu Jie and Duan Kun’s leadership, the matter became delicate.

Moreover, their force was still growing and could ill afford to lose talent. So many men dying for nothing would affect Chu Jie’s reputation back in Lingyun District.

“Chu Jie, what happened here?” Duan Kun asked with a frown. “With so many dead, we’ll have to give the brothers an explanation when we return.”

Chu Jie sighed. “Your lieutenant disobeyed my orders, which led the Serpent King to attack them. I had no time to rescue them. Hmph, to slander me now—he truly doesn’t know the meaning of death.”

Wang Ye trembled. He was gambling on Duan Kun’s protection, but he’d slandered Chu Jie first. In truth, he himself didn’t know why he’d tried to smear Chu Jie—perhaps simply because he refused to submit.

“That’s right! The boss told Wang Ye to shoot the Serpent King in the eye, but he deliberately aimed wrong.”

“If the boss hadn’t broken through at the last moment, we’d all be dead because of him!”

The Mad Dog Camp’s subordinates all spoke up at once, recounting the events. None of Wang Ye’s men dared contradict them.

Wang Ye grew desperate. “Boss, you must believe me! They’re framing me. I’ve worked for you so long—if not merit, at least I’ve put in the effort. How can you believe outsiders over me?”

Duan Kun’s face flushed red and then pale, clearly furious.

“Die! I want no such subordinate!” Duan Kun struck Wang Ye with a punch wreathed in spiritual power—true fury.

Seeing his boss really meant to kill him, Wang Ye gritted his teeth and prepared to fight back. But as only a ninth-level Body Tempering practitioner, how could he be Duan Kun’s match?

Duan Kun’s fist crashed into his head; with one blow, Wang Ye froze in place, his body rigid and convulsing.

In the next instant, Wang Ye collapsed to the ground, dead.

Having killed Wang Ye, much of Duan Kun’s anger dissipated. He looked at his remaining men, including those who had followed Wang Ye, and declared, “Listen well—all of you are not only my subordinates, but also Lord Chu’s. If you dare disobey orders, this is your fate!”

His men hurriedly voiced their obedience, not daring to make a sound.

Duan Kun’s swift execution of Wang Ye showed he had far surpassed him. With such a boss, good days lay ahead.

Seeing Duan Kun kill Wang Ye, Chu Jie realized his suspicions of Duan Kun had been misplaced; Wang Ye had been the sole instigator. Fortunately, he was now dealt with.

“All Mad Dog Camp members, hear me! Duan Kun’s orders are my orders. Anyone who disobeys will be killed!” Chu Jie commanded.

The Mad Dog Camp shouted in unison, “We will obey absolutely!”

Only when he saw their compliance did Chu Jie nod. Unifying the outskirts of Bloodslaughter City was more than he alone could handle. With Duan Kun’s help, his progress would quicken.

Besides, he had only half a year. Time was tight. The old man in the dungeon had ordered him to kill the Wang family’s descendant, but nearly a month had passed without results. If he failed within five months, he would become a pool of blood.

Chu Jie had no doubt the old man meant what he said. The old man’s strength was terrifying—before him, Chu Jie couldn’t even muster the thought of resistance.

With Wang Ye’s matter resolved, Chu Jie and Duan Kun prepared to visit the fifth terrace, both to temper their subordinates and to investigate the cataclysm in the Abyss of Gods and Demons—why so many had died there.

As they headed for the fifth terrace, they saw few corpses along the way. Occasionally, other martial artists appeared, but none dared approach, as Chu Jie’s party was too large.

This confirmed Chu Jie’s earlier suspicion: something ahead had been causing the slaughter, but now, whatever it was had left the fourth terrace.

The terraces of the abyss spiraled downward, but the terrain was broad, with howling winds and special environmental effects limiting visibility. From the fourth terrace, they couldn’t see the fifth at all.

On the way, Duan Kun told Chu Jie about Lingyun District. The leaders there, unsettled by Chu Jie and Duan Kun’s dominance, were planning to unite against them. Duan Kun himself had recently had a fortuitous encounter, reaching the fourth level of the Spirit-Converging Realm, while many of the other leaders hadn’t reached that realm. He suspected outside forces were involved—most likely the Luo family.

As they conversed, Chu Jie shared some of what he knew about the Abyss of Gods and Demons.

“So many have died—could it be some monstrous beast has appeared in the abyss?” Duan Kun speculated.

“Perhaps. I’d like to see for myself.” Chu Jie had already reached the fifth level of the Spirit-Converging Realm. With Duan Kun and these subordinates, they could even face someone at the eighth level.

Though many had died here, the abyss still drew crowds—there must be some great benefit to be found.

Just then, the Abyss of Gods and Demons underwent a sudden transformation. First, a blinding light shot skyward from its center. In the next instant, the howling winds vanished completely.

The gales that had ceaselessly battered them ceased all at once. Everyone was stunned—they now realized that something momentous was happening in the abyss.

The origin of the abyss was a mystery; no one knew when it had formed, only that it was a place of secrets. Especially mysterious was the source of the ninefold tempest at its center—no one had ever explained it.

“Come, let’s hurry down! Perhaps a rare treasure is about to appear!” Duan Kun was the first to suggest that something extraordinary was emerging from the abyss.