1430 Ceng Zhi

The journey of Martial Dao was like a boat sailing against the currents. You either kept forging ahead or you would fall behind.

Breaking through to the Saint Rudiment Stage was just a matter of time for many Martial Cultivators and Dao Cultivators who had great talent and comprehension ability.

Meanwhile, for cultivators who had mediocre talent and low comprehension ability, they might never break through to the Saint Rudiment Stage for the rest of their lives.

"In the outer court disciples' accommodation area, there has always been 100 compounds and 300 stone houses. However, the amount of cottages isn't fixed." Yang He gave Duan Ling Tian a rough idea about the living situation of the Moon Illumination Sect outer court disciples.

According to Yang He, the Moon Illumination Sect outer court disciples who were living in the compounds were the best of the best among the people on the Paramount Mortal Shedding Stage.

Meanwhile, almost half of those who were living in the 300 stone houses were outer court disciples on the PerfectionMortal Shedding Stage. Apart from that, there were some outer court disciples at the peak level of the Perfection Mortal Shedding Stage who had celebrated abilities among them.

Following Yang He, Duan Ling Tian soon arrived near where the outer court disciples lived. They were looking out at a vast training field.

The accommodation which had a distinct difference was behind the training field.

The cottages were the closest to the training field and the gaps between them were minimal.

There were both new and old cottages among them, the latter seeming like they would collapse anytime.

"The outer court disciples who are staying in the cottages are those who have poorer abilities, but the weakest among them is on the Perfection Mortal Shedding Stage," Yang He said, "In the cottage area, it makes sense that those closest to the training field are noisier. The stone house area is behind the cottage area. Although it's better, they can still hear the commotion from the training field.

"The compound area behind the stone house area is the quietest where the residents almost can't hear anything that's happening at the training field," Yang He explained everything in one breath.

Duan Ling Tian looked ahead when he heard that and saw rows of stone houses behind the rows of cottages.

Meanwhile, there were compounds far away behind the stone houses, and there were exquisite little houses in each of them. Plants grew all over the compounds which were refreshing.

'Those compounds!' At that very second, Duan Ling Tian's desire for the compound was even stronger. He was determined to stay in one of those compounds.

There were many outer court disciples cultivating Saint Grade Martial Tactics on the vast training field.

However, they were only touching base when they sparred with each other.

The rules in the Moon Illumination Sect were strict since it was a seventh-rate force; killing and crippling were prohibited in the sect. Naturally, crippling referred to injuries that could not be recovered with the consumption of Healing Medicinal Pills.

Although Duan Ling Tian was lucky that he had obtained an Immortal Spirit Herb before which could regenerate a severed arm and leg, it was a legendary medicinal herb after all. It was scarce even in Dao Martial Saint Land.

Even a Nine Star Healing Saint Grade Pill which was the highest grade that existed could not regenerate a severed limb.

"Hahahaha…. This must be our Junior Brother who's just passed the entry assessment, am I right? Yang He, why don't you introduce him?" A voice rang out, snapping Duan Ling Tian back from his thoughts.

Duan Ling Tian turned to the source of the voice and saw three people coming towards him in an instant.

A middle-aged man was the leader among the three. Two middle-aged men followed behind him and were clearly his underlings.

It was the leading middle-aged man who had been laughing maniacally earlier.

'Damn it! We've been targeted!' Yang He had a slight change of expression but he regained his composure very soon. He glanced between the middle-aged man who arrived before him and Duan Ling Tian prior to greeting him rather respectfully, "Senior Brother Ceng Zhi."

"Duan Ling Tian, this is Senior Brother Ceng Zhi. Senior Brother Ceng Zhi ranks No. 85 among our outer court disciples," Yang He introduced to Duan Ling Tian after greeting the middle-aged man.

After the introduction, he secretly said to Duan Ling Tian through True Energy Voice Transmission, "Duan Ling Tian, Ceng Zhi's an outer court disciple who is staying in the compound. His cultivation base is close to the peak level of the Paramount Mortal Shedding Stage! He became the sect's outer court disciple 20 years ago, so he's considered an old-timer in the sect's outer court.

"He's always blackmailing outer court disciples below the Perfection Mortal Shedding Stage for Saint Stones. He'll definitely ask for Saint Stones from you later. Pretend to be poor and just give him some to get rid of him. He'll come for you again in the future if you give him too much." There was fear in Yang He's voice. He was apparently afraid of Ceng Zhi.

Duan Ling Tian took a glance at Ceng Zhi and greeted him coldly, "Senior Brother Ceng Zhi."

Ceng Zhi took a hard look at Duan Ling Tian for a while and said maliciously, "Is your name Duan Ling Tian? What an obnoxious name! Judging by your name, I'm sure you come from a rich family. You should have many Saint Stones with you. You're new to the sect, so you must know what to do to respect Senior Brothers like us. Understand?"

Duan Ling Tian was shocked to learn that someone could actually sugar-coat blackmail in such a way.

"Understand what?" Duan Ling Tian asked coldly as if he really did not understand.

"Duan Ling Tian!" Yang He did not expect him to not only ignore what he said but to also play dumb now. He could not help but stare incredulously at the moment while there was a concern in his eyes.

Duan Ling Tian might have impressive talent, but he was only on the Mastery Mortal Shedding Stage after all. Even though he had defeated an ordinary Perfection Mortal Shedding Stage, it was impossible for him to fight an outer court disciple who was close to the peak level of the Paramount Mortal Shedding Stage like Ceng Zhi.

To him, Duan Ling Tian would lose big time!

"Playing dumb?" As expected, Ceng Zhi's face turned completely solemn hearing Duan Ling Tian. He said in his deep voice, "Brat, I've met many rude hotheads like you throughout the 20 years that I'm here. Do you know what happened to them?"

"Let me tell you! Those who got it least severe were bedridden for exactly a month," There was a dangerous glare shooting out of Ceng Zhi's eyes as he spoke while a terrifying aura rose from his body. It swept out and pressed on Duan Ling Tian like a tornado.

However, Duan Ling Tian remained still.

"Why are you telling me all these? Are you trying to tell me that you haven't become an inner court disciple despite being in the sect for 20 years?" Duan Ling Tian asked while grinning with his eyes narrowed.

Bang!

Duan Ling Tian's retort was like a striking lighting bolt, shocking Yang He and the two outer court disciples behind Ceng Zhi.

Even Ceng Zhi was dumbstruck now.

He had yet to break through to the Saint Rudiment Stage and become an inner court disciple after being in the sect for 20 years. Undoubtedly, it was the biggest pain in Ceng Zhi's heart and was the biggest scar that he bore.

Never had he thought that someone would dare to reveal his scar that very day.

Apart from that, the person who revealed his scar was a hothead who had just gotten into the sect!

"Brat! I, Ceng Zhi, swear that I'm not human if I don't make you bedridden for three months!" Ceng Zhi responded with a solemn face before Yang He and the two outer court disciples managed to react. He was almost screaming as he spoke.

His rumbling voice echoed above the training field like an explosion, causing the bunch of outer court disciples on the training field to stop what they were doing and look over.

"It's Senior Brother Ceng Zhi!"

"Tsk tsk! Hearing Senior Brother Ceng Zhi's tone, someone must've triggered him."

"In the outer court, nobody dares to trigger Senior Brother Ceng apart from the Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters who he shouldn't offend… This fella who has triggered him must've just entered the sect today."

"Haha! Seems like this hothead's in bad luck. Let's go! Let's see what's happening."

…

The Moon Illumination Sect outer disciples surrounded Duan Ling Tian one after another.

"Did I say anything wrong?" Duan Ling Tian said while smirking facing the enraged Ceng Zhi. He did not seem to notice that Ceng Zhi was losing his mind.

"The both of you, watch Yang He… If Yang He dares to help, I'll make him bedridden for ten days to half a month! I'll teach this brat a lesson!" Ceng Zhi instructed the two outer court disciples behind him. He then glared at Duan Ling Tian ferociously, the raging fire in his body seeming like it would explode anytime.

"Senior Brother Ceng, Duan Ling Tian didn't mean to offend you. Please forgive him!" Yang He had a drastic change of expression.

It was he who had brought Duan Ling Tian in. If something happened to Duan Ling Tian, although he would not be punished, he would not be able to forgive himself.

"Yang He, are you still thinking of others when you can hardly protect yourself now?"

"That's right! Don't blame me for the things that I'm going to do to you if you dare to move!" The two outer court disciples behind Ceng Zhi stepped forward and blocked Yang He's left and right as they warned while grinning.

Yang He's face turned gravely solemn.

'Duan Ling Tian, things would've been great if you hadn't reject Elder Dong Chong earlier and become his direct disciple. At least, Ceng Zhi won't dare to do anything to you under my watch if you became Elder Dong Chong's direct disciple,' Yang He's heart was filled with bitterness. There was nothing that he could do to help Duan Ling Tian's current situation.

The only thing he could do was hope that Ceng Zhi would show mercy. However, he knew that was impossible.

What Duan Ling Tian said earlier was a taboo to Ceng Zhi, infuriating him completely.

It was his first time seeing Ceng Zhi this furious ever since he got into the Moon Illumination Sect five years ago.

At that moment, the bunch of outer court disciples on the training field inched closer. They were watching Duan Ling Tian and Ceng Zhi who were looking at each other as if they were waiting for a good show to start.

"Tsk tsk! This kid's so daring. He offended Senior Brother Ceng Zhi right after he got into the sect."

"Out of close to 1,000 outer court disciples, Senior Brother Ceng Zhi ranks No. 85. This kid who just got in is asking for death when he offended Senior Brother Ceng Zhi!"

"He'll know that his blood is red in color very soon."

…

Eyes filled with mockery landed on Duan Ling Tian one after another. It was clear that the bunch of outer court disciples who were watching did not think that he could escape Ceng Zhi.

"It seems like you've earned yourself some prestige staying in the outer court for 20 years. At least, all of them think you're going to crush me," Duan Ling Tian smiled calmly and said while looking at Ceng Zhi.

"You're asking for death!" Ceng Zhi growled furiously, realizing that his foe had the guts to bring that up again. He dashed at Duan Ling Tian as if his body turned into a bolt of lightning.