The Purgatory Calamity-Chapter 120 - 106: Pang Jian’s proposal!_1

Inside the simple wooden hut.

Ling Qing leaned against the wooden wall, grimacing and moaning softly in pain.

Meng Qiulan’s hand, which held the walking stick, had bony protrusions under the chicken-skin-like back of her hand.

The atmosphere in the room was extremely oppressive.

The severe injury of her subordinate, Ling Qing, and the forced purchase of her apprentices Bai Wei and Bai Zhi by the Blood Moon had infuriated the new Hall Master of the Dark Ghosts.

Yet, she felt powerless to act out.

Pang Jian, by her side, now understood just how much sway a sect from the Upper Realm like Blood Moon held in the Fourth Realm.

Even when pitted against the seven major families, the Dark Ghosts - facing emissaries from Blood Moon of the Upper Realm - Meng Qiulan, though a Hall Master, never once thought of rebelling.

— The deterrent power of Upper Realm sects was deeply ingrained!

"Hall Master, it seems that Blood Moon isn’t quite clear about the reason for the disaster that has plagued the Fragment Land within the Ouyang Family’s territory," Ling Qing said through gritted teeth after a long while.

He deliberately avoided mentioning the abduction of Bai Wei and Bai Zhi to spare Meng Qiulan the embarrassment.

"So, the disaster occurred in the Fragment Land under the Ouyang Family’s jurisdiction..."

Through Ling Qing’s words, Pang Jian learned the exact location of the disaster, learning that the Filth Alien Power had risen from the Lower Realm, leading to almost total extinction of life in those Fragment Lands.

The Ouyang Family and Shangguan Family, both affiliated with Blood Moon from the Upper Realm, controlled adjacent Fragment Lands. The Unstable Ferry tasked with capturing beasts had come planning to investigate the situation in Sky Fortune City.

Seeing that Meng Qiulan remained silent, Ling Qing asked with a pained expression, "Hall Master, what should we do next?"

"What can we do?"

Meng Qiulan sat in the chair, both hands gripping the walking stick tightly, and said with a stern face, "Our opponent is Blood Moon, not Shangguan Dong from Sky Fortune City! The person who came down and injured you severely is at the Marrow Cleansing Realm, and how many people there are in the cabin and their cultivation realms are something we do not know at all!"

Ling Qing sighed and nodded, saying, "I understand."

"Hall Master, we could raid that beast-catching ship, rescue your two apprentices, and take the beast blood and meat on the ship," Pang Jian suddenly suggested.

He needed a substantial amount of vibrant blood and flesh for his future needs, as did Luo Hongyan for her bone and flesh forging. He also felt that the Mysterious Turtle currently floating inside the bronze medallion would need nourishment from a vast life force to emerge.

He had joined the Dark Ghosts with the hope of purchasing high-grade beast blood through the hall master and the Dark Ghosts’ channels.

Now knowing that the beast-catching ship held a vast amount of beast blood and meat, he naturally became tempted.

"Raid a beast-catching ship of Blood Moon?!"

Ling Qing looked at Pang Jian, who had made the suggestion, in astonishment, "Boy, do you realize what you’re suggesting?"

Meng Qiulan sharply inhaled, equally shocked as she looked at Pang Jian, "You came from the Upper Realm; you really do have guts!"

"The Dark Ghosts have only ever quarreled with the seven major families, never daring to truly provoke those sects from the Upper Realm! You, you actually have such audacious ideas!"

In her view, if the Dark Ghosts truly angered sects like Blood Moon or the Star River Alliance, and those sects took note of it...

Then the Dark Ghosts would quickly be eradicated from the Fourth Realm!

Thus, when her two apprentices were taken by force, all she could do was bite her tongue and not consider doing anything to the beast-catching ship.

"Since the Fragment Land within the Ouyang Family’s territory has been tainted by the Filth Alien Power from the Lower Realm, Sky Fortune might also not be spared. In that case, the Dark Ghosts, the Shangguan Family from Sky Fortune City, as well as the people from Blood Moon might all end up dying here," Pang Jian analyzed. "Under such circumstances, should something happen to a Blood Moon beast-catching ship, it might not necessarily be blamed on us Dark Ghosts!"

The mention of the Filth Alien Power’s invasion immediately cast a grave expression on Meng Qiulan and Ling Qing’s faces, giving them a sense of death creeping closer.

"Squeak! Squeak, squeak!"

Unable to help herself, Meng Qiulan clutched her walking stick so tightly it made an odd noise.

"Raid the beast-catching ship, raid the beast-catching ship..."

Her eyes shone with a ferocious glint, as if demons within were rejoicing.

"I need to find out exactly how many Marrow Cleansing Realm experts from Blood Moon are on that beast-catching ship! In addition, we definitely can’t do this on our own; I need to consult the Ghost Leader and must mobilize strength in Sky Fortune City!"

She abruptly stood up!

Ling Qing was astonished and exclaimed, "Master Meng, you can’t be serious?"

Thinking of her two apprentices looking at her with pleas for help, and her own head turned away in avoidance, Meng Qiulan felt the dried blood within her heart igniting somewhat. She didn’t answer Ling Qing’s question but instead commanded, "Hong Jian, do you dare to strike at the beast-catching ship of Blood Moon?"

"I do!"

"Good! From now on, you are a member of our Dark Ghosts!"

Meng Qiulan promptly affirmed Pang Jian’s affiliation, then continued, "If we are lucky enough to succeed with this, I’ll allow you to choose one from Bai Wei and Bai Zhi!"

Pang Jian said, "I was hoping for beast blood..."

"Hmph!"

Meng Qiulan snorted, giving him a knowing look, and said, "Don’t be too greedy at such a young age; you wouldn’t be able to handle both. It’s settled then! Ling Qing, you continue to stay here, keep an eye on the developments from the Ouyang Family’s Fragment Land, and Hong Jian will come with me to Cloud Marsh Town!"

"I want Fan Liang to inform our people in Sky Fortune City to find out as soon as possible the cultivation realms of Blood Moon’s emissaries on that ship, as well as the ship’s final docking location."

"I naturally have to consult the Ghost Leader, to see if there is any possibility of success."

The moment she made up her mind, Meng Qiulan felt her whole being boiling over, eager to proceed.

At her advanced age, among the many hall masters of the Dark Ghosts, she ranked towards the end, always at risk of being replaced.

Her talent was limited, and a further breakthrough was unlikely. If she couldn’t achieve a significant accomplishment, even with the Ghost Leader’s trust, she would struggle to make a mark.

Raiding Blood Moon’s beast-catching ship was the ultimate gamble at the end of her life; fail, and she would naturally die on the broken grounds of Sky Fortune.

If she wins, she’ll be able to reestablish her position within the Dark Ghosts through this incident!

"Hall Master, I left something in Cloud Marsh, I’ll go to Cloud Marsh Town to find you after I’ve retrieved it,"

Pang Jian said.

"Okay."

Meng Qiulan nodded in agreement.

...

Half a day later.

Having made no delays along the way, Pang Jian arrived at the cave where Luo Hongyan was regenerating her flesh and blood. He reported the events that had taken place at their base and shared his plans.

"Once we successfully raid the Beast-Catching Ship, we can solve all our problems at once, and you’ll have no shortage of beast blood for your flesh regeneration," Pang Jian concluded.

The blood water in the Blood Jade Pool, mixed with level one and level two beast blood, had now become quite shallow.

"Huff!"

The hazily enshrouded figure of Luo Hongyan, immersed in the blood mist, floated out from the mouth of the White Jade Porcelain Bottle and hovered above the Blood Pool, graceful as could be.

Wrapped in an ethereal, crimson dress, she now possessed ruby-like bones, yet her viscera hadn’t formed.

"You’re becoming more calm and collected, which pleases me greatly."

A captivating smile appeared on her exquisite face, crafted from spiritual essence: "I recall that after I clearly stated my identity as a disciple of the Sword Tower in City Lord Mansion of Bagua City, you still recklessly attacked Qi Qingsong."

Pang Jian felt somewhat embarrassed.

Indeed, the first attempt on Qi Qingsong was very impulsive. He had attacked suddenly without understanding the true combat power of the Sword Tower disciples because he had made a promise to Zhou Qingchen.

Back then, he was only at the Meridians Channeling Realm.

That time was also his most impulsive attack, and he almost got slain by Qi Qingsong with a Spirit Sword.

"However, my growing recognition and respect for you are also precisely because of your impulsiveness and passion. After all, you’ve only just come down from the mountain not long ago. It’s fitting for a young person to have such a sharp edge!"

Seeing his embarrassed silence, Luo Hongyan smiled encouragingly: "This time, you did well. You didn’t act recklessly on the spot but watched as the Beast-Catching Ship departed and even thought to use the power of the Dark Ghosts."

"Yes, very good. You’ve come back to discuss with me now," Luo Hongyan praised as she nodded, speaking with a joyful tone: "With me, our chances of success are much greater."

"When it’s time to act, you must wear a storage bracelet because a storage bag can only hold so much beast blood and flesh."

"Pang Jian, I’m delighted to see your growth."

...

Cloud Marsh Town.

"Reporting to the Hall Master, we have fully investigated. That Beast-Catching Ship from Blood Moon has four Marrow Cleansing Realm cultivators aboard."

"The one leading them is named Fei Zheng, with cultivation in the later stages of the Marrow Cleansing Realm, seemingly close to advancing to the Innate Realm in the short term."

"Right now, they’re staying in a mansion in Sky Fortune City arranged by Shangguan Dong. The people from Blood Moon aren’t planning to leave immediately — they’re indulging in pleasure within Sky Fortune City."

"Our people only know that Fei Zheng has instructed Shangguan Dong to send someone to investigate the situation within the Ouyang Family’s territory," the speaker continued.

At this point, Fan Liang paused and then added, "Hall Master, Fei Zheng plans to present your two disciples as offerings to the ... Elder Jiuyuan of Blood Moon."

In the dimly lit hall, his gaze towards Meng Qiulan held a trace of respect.

He hadn’t expected Master Meng, despite her youth, to dare to strike against the people of Blood Moon of the Upper Realm, and all for her two disciples.

Meng Qiulan pondered over what Fan Liang had just said, then after a moment of stillness, she realized: "Jiuyuan? Are you sure it’s Jiuyuan?"

Fan Liang nodded with a wry smile, "Hall Master, you must have thought of it too — among Blood Moon, the only one who enjoys tormenting sisters is Jiuyuan. And the reason we know of him at all is thanks to Hong Tai."

"Jiuyuan!"

Meng Qiulan uttered sternly, her determination solidifying: "I’d rather have Bai Wei and Bai Zhi die in Sky Fortune City than send them into the hands of Jiuyuan!"

Fan Liang suggested with a sigh: "Hall Master, should I think of a way to have someone poison them to death?"

"No! Don’t do that unless it’s the last step. Let me think, four Marrow Cleansing Realm cultivators..."

Meng Qiulan’s frown deepened as she contemplated out loud: "Conduct the Ghost Altar Rite! I must report to the Ghost Leader immediately, and request the Ghost Leader to arrange for Marrow Cleansing Realm experts to swiftly enter our Sky Fortune Fragment Land!"

Fan Liang exclaimed in shock, "You’re really going to do it?"

"I’ve grown old. This might be my last impulsive action," Meng Qiulan said with determination, expressing profound determination in her gaze. "Before their parents passed, they entrusted me to take good care of those two girls. Regardless of the outcome, and whether or not I can save them, at least I’ve truly tried."

With resolve, Fan Liang exclaimed, "Then let’s do it!"

"Thud, thud!"

Someone knocked on the door from outside. After receiving permission, a Dark Ghost member entered, saying, "Hong Jian has arrived."

Meng Qiulan hummed in acknowledgement, then addressed Fan Liang, "That young man is capable of big things. I agreed to him back in our Cloud Marsh base; he’s now one of us."

"Shall I arrange for him to settle in first, or would you like to meet him now?" Fan Liang asked.

"Have him settle in first. I need to conduct the Ghost Altar Rite and report to the Ghost Leader. We’ll meet him after the reinforcements arrive."

"Understood."

...