Hao Shuang was a skinny young man. He had a head of long white hair with eyebrows to match. However, his skin was ruddy and soft like a baby. He seemed to have a permanent smile on his face that lit up his handsome and refined face. Apart from being ranked fifth on the Supreme Saint Ranking, he was also a sectless cultivator. He was the strongest sectless cultivator after Nie Wu Tian, the strongest person in the Dao Martial Saint Land.
Before Tang Xuan broke through the Ninth Form of the Saint Celestial Stage, Hao Shuang was the second strongest person under in the Dao Martial Saint Land. Since Tang Xuan had broken through to the Ninth Form of the Saint Celestial Stage, Hao Suang had taken over Tang Xuan's place as the strongest person under the Ninth Form of the Saint Celestial Stage in the Dao Martial Saint Land!
For this reason, Zi Feng, the former leader of the Guardians of Fire Worship Sect, and the others were horrified and they felt their hearts sank when they saw Hao Shuang. They did not expect Hao Shuang would appear and help the Black Kshetra Sect.
"Hao Shuang?!" The people from Fire Worship Sect, except for Duan Ling Tian, were shocked when they heard Zi Feng's words. A horrified expression appeared on their faces as well as they turned to look at Hao Shuang. The expressions of Qing Huo, Hong Yun, Guardian Leng Ying, in particular, turned extremely grim.
Earlier, they did not think the Black Kshetra Sect had an advantage if they were to fight. They thought the Sect Leader of Black Kshetra Sect was only blinded by his misguided confidence. However, now they finally understood why the Sect Leader of Black Kshetra Sect was so confident. As it turned out, he had gotten help from a sectless cultivator who was ranked fifth on the Supreme Saint Ranking, the strongest person under the Ninth Form of the Saint Celestial Stage!
If the people from the Fire Worship Sect were equally matched with the people from the Black Kshetra Sect earlier, currently, they were severely lacking in comparison.
"Hao Shuang? The sectless cultivator who's ranked fifth on the Supreme Saint Ranking?" The Golden Flame Elders and the Vice Hall Masters of the Enforcement Hall from the Fire Worship Sect were horrified. Fear could be seen in their eyes.
"Ever since Lord Sect Leader has broken through to the Ninth Form of the Saint Celestial Stage, his title of being the 'strongest person under the Ninth Form of the Saint Celestial Stage' has been taken by Hao Shuang. I can't believe the Black Kshetra Sect had asked for help from him!"
"Damn it! All of our advantages are gone now that he's here!"
"It seems like the Sect Leader of Black Kshetra Sect has planned this for a long time. He knew we would be in a disadvantageous position once Hao Shuang appears."
"What should we do now? The five great Guardians are no match for them at all. As for us, we'll only be cannon fodder!"
The Golden Flame Elders and the Vice Hall Masters whispered among themselves with a grim expression on their faces.
Hao Shuang's appearance had taken them and the four Guardians by surprise.
Hao Shuang, the strongest person under the Saint Celestial Stage?' Duan Ling Tian was the only one who remained calm. He studied Hao Shuang intently. 'He's ranked fifth on the Supreme Saint Ranking? This means his cultivation base is at the peak of the Eighth Form of the Saint Celestial Stage?"
Unlike the people from the Fire Worship Sect who had fallen silent, the people from Black Kshetra Sect were very lively.
"Brother Hao, you're finally here!" The Sect Leader of Black Kshetra Sect smiled widely when he saw Hao Shuang. This was their trump card. Since they had expected this, they had planned for it. Since the Supreme Elder of Black Kshetra Sect had left with the Sect Leader of Fire Worship Sect, they could no longer rely on the strength of the powerhouse at the Ninth Form of the Saint Celestial Stage. At this time, the Black Kshetra Sect's strength would be equal with the Fire Worship Sect. They needed someone to tip the scale, and Hao Shuang was the best candidate for this. As long as there were no other powerhouses at the Ninth Form of the Saint Celestial Stage around, nobody would be able to defeat Hao Shuang.
"Mr. Hao Shuang!" The two Karmapas of Black Kshetra Sect, the Violet Dragon King and the White Tiger King, greeted Hao Shuang enthusiastically when they saw him. Although they were also at the Eighth Form of the Saint Celestial Stage like Hao Shuang, they knew they were no match for him even if they joined forces.
"Lord Hao Shuang!" The two Vice Sect Leaders from Black Kshetra Sect greeted Hao Shuang respectfully.
"En." Hao Shuang nodded his head indifferently in response to the greetings from the people of Black Kshetra Sect. He turned to look at the people from the Fire Worship Sect one after another before his gaze finally landed on Duan Ling Tian.
“You're Duan Ling Tian? The new Guardian of Fire Worship Sect? The number one prodigy in the Dao Martial Saint Land?" Hao Shuang asked curiously as he looked at Duan Ling Tian.
"The number one prodigy in the Dao Martial Saint Land? You flatter me... However, I do believe I'm slightly more powerful than those trash from Black Kshetra Sect!" Duan Ling Tian answered nonchalantly, mocking the people from Black Kshetra Sect. He did not see a need to be polite since these people clearly came with the intention to kill him.
"Duan Ling Tian!" Duan Ling Tian's words, naturally, enraged the people from Black Kshetra Sect. They glared at him viciously.
"You have a silver tongue! I wonder if you're really as amazing as the rumors say you are!" Hao Shuang's narrowed eyes gleamed coldly.
"Why? Are you planning to test my strength?" Duan Ling Tian asked indifferently as though he was discussing something of little importance.
"As a matter of fact, I am planning to do that!" Hao Shuang nodded.
"I hope you've thought this through. There are some things that can't be changed once you've decided on it, just like how you can't recall an arrow once it has left the bow!" Duan Ling Tian replied slowly. His words were filled with threats.
"You're so confident?" Hao Shuang narrowed his eyes again. His eyes gleamed with a cold and vicious light.
The people from Black Kshetra Sect only smirked coldly when they heard Duan Ling Tian's words.
"Duan Ling Tian, do you really think that you can intimidate Brother Hao by putting on air? Ridiculous!" The Sect Leader of Black Kshetra Sect snorted.
"Duan Ling Tian, I think you're still in your mother's womb when Mister Hao was roaming the Dao Martial Saint Land! How dare you act so arrogantly in front of Mister Hao?" The White Tiger King of Black Kshetra Sect sneered.
Although the Violet Dragon King and the two Vice Sect Leaders of Black Kshetra Sect remained silent, their contempt was evident in their eyes.
Tension began to rise between Duan Ling Tian and Hao Shuang when...
"Mr. Hao!" Zi Feng looked at Hao Shuang with a sullen expression as he asked, "May I know what benefits did the Black Kshetra Sect promise you? As long as you're willing to stay out of this matter today, the Fire Worship Sect is willing to promise you twice of whatever they promised you!"
Although Zi Feng acknowledged that he was weaker than Duan Ling Tian, he did not think Duan Ling Tian was a match for Hao Shuang at all.
Hao Shuang was no ordinary powerhouse at the Eighth Form of the Saint Celestial Stage after all. According to the Sect Leader of Fire Worship Sect, when he fought with Hao Shuang previously, he would not have won if he did not master the number one movement Divine Ability in the Dao Martial Saint Land. Based on this, one could see how strong Hao Shuang was. Moreover, the Sect Leader of Fire Worship Sect had said that the person most likely to break through to the Ninth Form of the Saint Celestial Stage after him was Hao Shuang.
Zi Feng did not think Duan Ling Tian would be a match for such a person. For this reason, he decided to make a counteroffer to Hao Shuang. However, he did not plan to ask Hao Shuang to stand on their side, he only wanted Hao Shuang to remain neutral.
Hao Shuang scoffed when he heard Zi Feng's words. He said coldly, "Guardian Zi Feng, do you really think I'm such a lowly and vile person who would go back on his promise?"
Zi Feng was speechless when he heard Hao Shuang's words.
"Today, no matter what you or the Fire Worship Sect promise me, I'll still stand on the Black Kshetra Sect's side. I'm a person with status in the Dao Martial Saint Land, I won't tarnish my reputation over some promise from the Fire Worship Sect!" Hao Shuang was very clear about his decision.
"Guardian Zi Feng, stop wasting your energy!" The Sect Leader of the Black Kshetra Sect looked at Zi Feng mockingly. "I gave all of you a chance earlier, so don't blame me for not showing any mercy!"
"I don't believe you have the guts to kill all of us. If you do, our sect leader will definitely annihilate your Black Kshetra Sect!" Leng Ying looked at the Sect Leader of Black Kshetra Sect and said fiercely. "With our Sect Leader's strength, if he really wants to annihilate your Black Kshetra Sect, even that Supreme Elder of yours wouldn't be able to stop him!"
When Tang Xuan, the Sect Leader of Fire Worship Sect, was at the Eighth Form of the Saint Celestial Stage, he could already easily escape from the Supreme Elder of Black Kshetra Sect with the help of the number one movement Divine Ability in the Dao Martial Saint Land, let alone now that he had broken through to the Ninth Form of the Saint Celestial Stage. If he wanted to, he could kill everyone in the Black Kshetra Sect under the nose of their Supreme Elder. At that time, the only member of the Black Kshetra Sect would be the Supreme Elder of the Black Kshetra Sect!