2223 Tom, Dick, and Harry

"I might have underestimated you." Huang Qi Ling smiled wryly when he saw how easily Duan Ling Tian had kept up with his speed. He said, "I'm already moving at my full speed, but Brother Ling Tian is still able to keep up with me. This means you're far stronger than me. I don't think you're older than me, but your cultivation level is probably higher than mine. I feel so embarrassed that I wish I could find a place to hide my face... After all, I'm from the Wandering Saint Palace, and you're a sectless cultivator."

Huang Qi Ling's smile turned even wrier when he finished speaking. Although they received orthodox cultivation methods from the Devil Clans that would enable them to increase their strength by devouring the essence and blood of Devils, they would reach a bottleneck sooner or later if they used this method to strengthen their Devil Qi. The bottleneck had to do with each Devil Cultivator's innate talent. The higher their innate talent, the more essence and blood they needed to devour to get stronger.

"I'm just lucky since I had a fortuitous encounter," Duan Ling Tian said.

"Brother Ling Tian, you're too humble." Huang Qi Ling knew Duan Ling Tian was being modest.

After they traveled for a short while, Duan Ling Tian saw more and more Devils around him. Soon after, he saw a group of Human-Devils standing still up ahead.

Huang Qi Ling cried out, "We're here!"

Duan Ling Tian looked straight ahead. What lay ahead was a stone forest. There were all kinds of oddly-shaped stones in gigantic size. The smaller ones were a few meters tall while the bigger ones were tens of meters tall. There were even a few that were a few hundred meters tall. Apart from that, there were also several megaliths that were thousands of meters in height, towering over the other stones like trees.

Currently, a group of Human-Devils was rushing to enter the stone forest. As they entered the forest, their figures disappeared one by one silently. Nary a sound could be heard.

"It's in the stone forest?" Duan Ling Tian asked Huang Qi Ling.

"That's what I heard," Huang Qi Ling nodded. His eyes were shining brightly as he said, "Come on! Let's go in and take a look."

"Alright." Duan Ling Tian nodded.

Just as both of them were about to enter the stone forest, three mocking voices called out behind them.

"Well, well, well, isn't it Huang Qi Ling?"

"With your cultivation base, you actually dare to come here to have a look?"

"I advise you not to make a fool out of yourself. After all, you're not only tarnishing your own reputation but you're tarnishing the reputation of the people from the Wandering Saint Palace as well!"

These voices belonged to three young men who were dressed in similar embroidered fine robes like Huang Qi Ling.

In just a blink of an eye, the three young men appeared in front of Duan Ling Tian and Huang Qi Ling, blocking their path. All three men looked at Huang Qi Ling tauntingly.

When Huang Qi Ling saw the three men, his expression turned grim immediately. A hint of anger mixed with fear could be seen on his face as well.

Duan Ling Tian sent a Voice Transmission to Huang Qi Ling. "Who are these people?" He was visibly upset since his path was obstructed for no reason.

"They are my peers and also disciples from the Wandering Saint Palace. Previously..." Through Huang Qi Ling's Voice Transmission, Duan Ling Tian learned that these three men were sons from affluent families. In the Wandering Saint Palace, they had a habit of picking on weak girls from non-influential family. Since the parents of these three men were high-ranking officials, even if the girls were to complain, these men still would not be punished.

Huang Qi Ling could not stand their behavior so he decided to teach them a lesson. He would keep an eye on them, and whenever they misbehaved, he would teach them another lesson. Since Huang Qi Ling's family was more affluent and influential, and he was stronger, these three men could not seek revenge from him. They could only silently accept their fates, resenting Huang Qi Ling inwardly. Unfortunately, Huang Qi Ling met with an accident and was seriously injured. He had damaged his Saint Vein. For this reason, it became difficult for his cultivation base to rise. Eventually, the three men's cultivation bases surpassed Huang Qi Ling's. It was at this time that the three men began to subtly seek revenge from Huang Qi Ling. Naturally, they did not dare to take it too far since his family was much more influential than theirs. Nonetheless, it did not stop them from mocking and insulting him.

"Sons from affluent families?" Duan Ling Tian sneered after he listened to Huang Qi Ling's explanation.

"Huang Qi Ling, is this person your friend?" One of the three young men dressed in embroidered robes asked as he looked at Duan Ling Tian. A hint of killing intent could be seen in his eyes.

As soon as that man spoke, the other two men instantly turned to look at Duan Ling Tian.

Huang Qi Ling's expression changed instantly when he realized the three men's attention was focused on Duan Ling Tian. He said flatly, "I don't know this person! He's not my friend!" Meanwhile, he subtly moved and stood in front of Duan Ling Tian to shield him as he glared at the three men.

The three men laughed uproariously when they heard Huang Qi Ling's words that contradicted his actions.

"Huang Qi Ling, since he's not your friend, then it'll be fine if we kill him!"

"That's a good idea! Since he's not your friend, let's play a hunting game with him as the prey."

The men's laughter gradually died down, and one of them said, "It seems like we'll have a great time today." They looked at Huang Qi Ling viciously before they shifted their gaze to Duan Ling Tian. They stared at Duan Ling Tian like a hunter staring at their prey.

Based on their conversation, it was clear they intended to kill Duan Ling Tian! Huang Qi Ling's background was more powerful than theirs, they did not dare to mess with him even if they were stronger. All they could do was mock and insult him. However, they had no qualms about hurting or killing Huang Qi Ling's friends. Even if they killed his friends, Huang Qi Ling's family would not risk getting into a conflict with the three men's families over an outsider.

"If you touch him, I'll kill you!" Huang Qi Ling's eyes turned cold when he heard the three men's conversation. Although Duan Ling Tian could not be considered as his friend yet, it was a fact that Duan Ling Tian was in danger because of him. He felt guilty that Duan Ling Tian was dragged into his business. If Duan Ling Tian ended up injured or dead because of him, he would feel regret for the rest of his life.

You plan to risk your life, eh?" The three young men laughed when they heard Huang Qi Ling's words. "Based on your capability, do you think you're even a match for us?"

"Huang Qi Ling, if it isn't because you come from an influential family, we would've killed you long ago!"

"Don't worry, Huang Qi Ling. We won't harm you. However, we're definitely going to hurt your friend today!"

"Didn't you say he's not your friend? It doesn't matter anyway. Regardless if he's your friend or not, he'll die today!"

The three men completely ignored Huang Qi ling's warning and continued spewing threats one after another. They could not wait to kill Duan Lingtian!

Unbeknownst to them, a few Human-Devils began to gather around them to watch the show.

"Eh? Isn't this Huang Qi Ling, the former prodigy of the Wandering Saint Palace?"

Some of them managed to recognize Huang Qi Ling.

In the past, Huang Qi Ling was considered a celebrity among the Human-Devils. Although he was not the number one prodigy in the Wandering Saint Palace's younger generation, he was still ranked in the top five.

These three men seem to be disciples from the Wandering Saint Palace as well... Huang Qi Ling is like a tiger that has left the mountain. Even mere cats and dogs could bully him now!" Someone in the crowd said. Although his voice was not loud, most people could hear him.

"Who is it!?" The three men's expressions changed immediately when they heard they were being compared to cats and dogs. They looked around their surroundings angrily, trying to find the person who had spoken. Unfortunately, they could not find that person since there were many people around.

After that, the Human-Devils in the surroundings spoke very softly among themselves.

The man in purple is doomed."

"Well, he can only blame himself for associating with Huang Qi Ling... Although Huang Qi Ling's family is influential, he's only able to protect himself. His family wouldn't intervene for his friends."

These three disciples from the Wandering Saint Palace are obviously Huang Qi Ling's enemies. The person standing behind Huang Qi Ling is definitely going to die today!"

The group Human-Devils looked at Duan Ling Tian sympathetically.

Meanwhile, Huang Qi Ling's expression darkened even more. Although he knew Duan Ling Tian was stronger than him, he did not think that Duan Ling Tian would be able to take on three men at the same time. Among these three men, two of them were at the Fourth Form of the Saint Celestial Stage, and the remaining one was at the Fifth Form of the Saint Celestial Stage.

Huang Qi Ling took a deep breath and sent a Voice Transmission to Duan Ling Tian. "Brother Lingtian, I apologized for dragging you into this mess. How about this? I'll try to hold them off while you enter the stone forest at your fastest speed. Rumor has it that it's like a maze inside. As long as you enter it, they wouldn't be able to find you!"

Duan Ling Tian did not respond to Huang Qi Ling's Voice Transmission.

Whoosh!

Suddenly, a gust of wind blew past everyone as Duan Ling Tian stepped out from behind Huang Qi Ling, shielding him. He stared at the three disciples from the Wandering Saint Palace calmly. However, beneath the calm, a hint of killing intent could be seen.

A surprised expression appeared on Huang Qi Ling's face when he saw Duan Ling Tian shielding him.

"So the three of you want to kill me?" Duan Ling Tian said serenely. However, those who were more astute could hear the coldness in his tone.

The three men from the Wandering Saint Palace were stunned now that Duan Ling Tian had threatened them. They stood still in a daze.

"I ask you again, you cats and dogs... Do you want to kill me?" Duan Ling Tian repeated his question again when he saw three men had fallen into a daze that they did not even respond to his question.