2332 Trying to Escape?

Duan Ling Tian was clearly very strong. He had killed Liao Nai Jiang, the master of the Human-Devil Patriarch, a Three Tribulation Bodiless Celestial, with just one strike. Yuwen Hao Chen was unlikely to escape death today. Everyone wondered if Duan Ling Tian would kill them after he killed Yuwen Hao Chen. They felt anxiety gripping them when they thought about this.

Suddenly, Duan Ling Tian said in a cold voice, "Yuwen Hao Chen, you have a choice to make… Your first option is to honor me as your master by swearing a lightning penalty oath to do my bidding. Your second option is death!"

Everyone was dumbfounded by Duan Ling Tian's statement. Based on his words, it seemed like he was planning to let Yuwen Hao Chen live?

As soon as Duan Ling Tian finished speaking, Huang Wen Jing sighed in relief and quickly expressed her gratitude. "Thank you!" She knew this was the extent of Duan Ling Tian's compromise. Although it might be humiliating for her master to acknowledge Duan Ling Tian as his master, she thought Duan Ling Tian was definitely qualified. After all, Duan Ling Tian was extremely strong and he could help others improve their Innate Spiritual Roots with some mysterious technique.

"There's no need to thank me. I owe you a favor when you promised to keep my family safe earlier if I died. Moreover, it's more beneficial for me if I allow your master to serve me rather than killing him," Duan Ling Tian said indifferently when he heard Huang Wen Jing thanking him. He spoke so casually as though he was speaking about some insignificant matter. In fact, this matter was inconsequential to him. Although it was true that Yuwen Hao Chen would be more useful to him alive rather than dead, he would not have a problem killing Yuwen Hao Chen if he had to. Yuwen Hao Chen was an Eminent Celestial. If he swore on the lightning penalty oath to serve him, it would definitely be an advantage. With this, he could even bring the Wandering Saint Palace under his control.

The crowd broke into a commotion when they heard Huang Wen Jing and Duan Ling Tian's words.

"No wonder Duan Ling Tian decided to spare Palace Master Yuwen's life. As it turns out, he owes Huang Wen Jing a favor!"

"I thought Huang Wen Jing had a death wish. I didn't expect this at all!"

"Nevertheless, this is a difficult decision for Palace Master Yuwen. It would be humiliating if he has to acknowledge Duan Ling Tian as his master!"

"Humiliating? Think about it. With Duan Ling Tian's strength, it would be extremely easy for him if he wants to kill Palace Master Yuwen. Although it might seem humiliating, Duan Ling Tian has made a huge compromise. Personally, I think it's reasonable."

"I'll definitely acknowledge him as my master if it'll save my life. After all, nothing's left once you die."

Everyone was discussing among themselves. Some thought Duan Ling Tian had gone overboard with his request, and some thought his request was reasonable.

...

In the distance, Gan Ru Yan finally relaxed when she saw what was happening. "I see… So this is how it is..." Earlier, she had thought Duan Ling Tian had decided to spare the Palace Master of Wandering Saint Palace because of the beautiful Huang Wen Jing. However, she knew she had misunderstood when she heard his words. As it turned out, Huang Wen Jing had promised him she would keep his family safe if he died. Naturally, she knew he was looking out for her sister, Duan Si Ling, herself, and Peng Lai.

Unlike Gan Ru Yan, Ke'er's expression remained unchanged throughout this exchange. It was as though she fully supported Duan Ling Tian regardless of whatever he decided to do.

...

'Acknowledge him as my master?' Yuwen Hao Chen was surprised by this. He was aware Duan Ling Tian had decided to spare him due to his favorite disciple. However, he found it difficult to make a choice. After all, he was the Palace Master of Wandering Saint Palace, one of the palaces from the Three Palaces and Six Hall. His status was even higher now that he had become an Eminent Celestial. It was only natural that he was hesitant to acknowledge someone else as his master. 'Either I die or acknowledge him as my master…' He was conflicted.

"I'll give you three breaths to think it through… If you haven't decided at that time, I'll kill you!" Duan Ling Tian frowned when he sensed Yuwen Hao Chen's hesitation. He refused to waste any more time and decided to urge Yuwen Hao Chen. His tone was impatient when he spoke.

"Master!" Huang Wen Jing had a worried expression on her face. She was afraid her master would choose to die rather than yield. The situation turned even tenser now that Duan Ling Tian had spoken.

Everyone's eyes were trained on Yuwen Hao Chen. They looked at him with a mixture of sympathy, doubt, confusion, and indifference. All of them were silent.

After a moment, Yuwen Hao Chen said through gritted teeth. "I, Yuwen Hao Chen…" He swore on the lightning penalty oath to serve Duan Ling Tian under everyone's watchful eyes.

The Palace Master of Wandering Saint Palace finally conceded. However, no one laughed at him because they knew this was a wise move!

Huang Wen Jing was not the only one who sighed in relief when Yuwen Hao Chen swore on the lightning penalty oath, many of those from the Wandering Saint Palace sighed in relief as well.

Huang Wen Jing felt relieved because she knew her master would live. However, for the others, they were mostly relieved because they knew they would live since their palace master had yielded to Duan Ling Tian.

After Yuwen Hao Chen swore on the lightning penalty oath, he shifted his attention to the other leaders from the Three Palaces and Six Halls. His gaze was piercing when he looked at them.

All the leaders' expressions changed drastically when they saw Duan Ling Tian's cutting gaze that was trained on them.

The Hall Master of Azure Sheen Hall wasted no time in swearing on the lightning penalty oath to serve Duan Ling Tian as though he worried any delay would anger Duan Ling Tian.

Now that someone had taken the lead, the others no longer hesitated. All of them hurriedly swore on the lightning penalty oath to serve Duan Ling Tian.

Could they resist? What a joke! Even Yuwen Hao Chen who was an Eminent Celestial had acknowledged Duan Ling Tian as his master. They had no other choice but to follow along unless they wanted to die.

Most people collectively sighed in relief when they saw their palace masters and hall masters acknowledging the god-like man as their master.

On the contrary, the people from the Wandering Saint Palace led by their vice palace master, Xing Yuan Ba, were standing on pins and needles. From the beginning until the end, Duan Ling Tian did not spare them a glance at all.

Eventually, Xing Yuan Ba, the Vice Palace Master of Great Spirit Palace, stepped forward. He looked anxious as he said humbly, "Lord Duan Ling Tian! The Great Spirit Palace is willing to swear on the lightning penalty oath to serve you." Currently, this tall and muscular man, the strongest person among those below the Ninth Form of the Saint Celestial Stage, had to lower himself before Duan Ling Tian. Nobody from the Great Spirit Palace objected to him speaking for them since he had been Shi Nan Feng's right-hand man all this while. Now that Shi Nan Feng had died, it was only natural that he would take the lead.

Duan Ling Tian looked at Xing Yuan Ba lazily as he said indifferently, "Great Spirit Palace? I can spare those from the Great Spirit Palace if they can provide me with clues of the Azure Cloud Mansion's whereabouts. Otherwise, you can all accompany Palace Master Shi Nan Feng in hell." He sounded as though he was talking about the weather.

However, the expressions of the people from the Great Spirit Palace changed drastically when they heard his words.

After hearing Duan Ling Tian's words, the Vice Palace Master of Great Spirit Palace, Xing Yuan Ba, knew they would not be able to escape death if they stayed put. He quickly cried out, "Run!" At his command, the people from the Great Spirit Palace began to flee.

Clues regarding the whereabouts of Azure Cloud Mansion? Would they know such a thing? Even if they did, they would have told their palace master about it as soon as they found out.

At this moment, Xing Yuan Ba decided to take a risk. He thought if everyone from the Great Spirit Palace ran in different directions, one or two people might survive. Who knew if he might be one of those that survived? Naturally, he was either too naive or he had underestimated Duan Ling Tian's strength.

"Trying to run?" Duan Ling Tian sneered disdainfully before he lifted his hands.