Duan Ling Tian only let go of He Zhong after he had sworn using the Tribulation Oath, the Nine-Nine Heavenly Tribulation.
"This speed is really amazing!" Duan Ling Tian, aided by the Three Star Divine Strider Talisman that granted him the speed of a Paramount Saint Rudiment Stage powerhouse, began to stroll around the outer court after He Zhong swore an oath and left. He was so fast to the point that the outer court elders could barely catch any trace of his movement at all.
However, the Three Star Divine Strider Talisman's effect had a time limit. After strolling around the outer court for a while, the effect wore off and Duan Ling Tian reverted to his original state.
Meanwhile, the news of Duan Ling Tian defeating He Zhong had also spread to the inner court like a typhoon, greatly raising Duan Ling Tian's fame once again.
Although He Zhong was only an outer court disciple, he was ranked 66th in the Nine Sect Alliances' Earth Ranking. His fame had even surpassed some of the ordinary inner court elders in the Moon Illumination Sect.
However, someone like that was defeated by Duan Ling Tian, an outer court disciple who had just entered the sect slightly more than three months ago.
Duan Ling Tian had also successfully replaced He Zhong and ranked 66th in the Earth Ranking.
He Zhong, on the other hand, had traded places with Duan Ling Tian and was ranked 99th in the Earth Ranking.
This position originally belonged to Feng Fan.
Duan Ling Tian's fame spread to the inner court and caused many of the inner court disciples to click their tongues in disapproval.
"All along, those who came from the City Governor's Estate of Mound Hill usually have a bad ending when faced with Liu Huan's men… However, this Duan Ling Tian has placed Elder Liu Huan's men in a disadvantageous position. He's really not a simple person." Many inner court disciples who were privy to the dispute between inner court Elder Liu Huan and the City Governor of Mound Hill City clicked their tongues as they discussed this.
The news of He Zhong possibly being Liu Huan's disciple had also begun to spread.
When all was said and done, Liu Huan had been greatly embarrassed.
In Liu Huan's residence in the inner court.
Smack!
A furious Liu Huan raised his hand and slapped down on the stone table before him, shattering it. "A Three Star Divine Strider Talisman and one million Merit Points? He's got a huge appetite! Isn't he afraid of bursting?!"
"His appetite has been huge all along. I heard he had earned almost two million Merit Points more than a month ago." He Zhong sighed.
"Uncle, I know you feel dissatisfied about this matter… But, I've already made an oath," He Zhong reminded as he looked at Liu Huan.
"Little Zhong, don't worry. I won't make you break your oath… It's just a Three Star Divine Strider Talisman and one million Merit Points, right? I still have that much at least." Liu Huan took a deep breath, his expression turned warmer when he looked at He Zhong. However, the rage in the depth of his eyes did not lessen at all.
"However, that Duan Ling Tian is really courageous! How dare he beat you up to this extent." Looking at both sides of He Zhong's face that were still swollen, Liu Huan asked furiously, "Little Zhong, don't tell me you going to let this go?"
"Uncle, I know what you mean, but I made an oath to not go against him in the future. Due to this reason, please don't put me in a difficult spot anymore, uncle. I don't want to be struck to death by the Nine-Nine Heavenly Tribulation." Naturally, He Zhong knew what Liu Huan meant. There was no doubt he was trying to drag him into this mess so they could oppose Duan Ling Tian together.
At this moment, he regretted complying with Liu Huan before this. Otherwise, he would not have to suffer so much humiliation now.
Although he did not suffer any material loss, the humiliation was more than enough to make his position in the outer court decline.
"I know you've made an oath, but Vice Sect Leader Zhang…" Liu Huan's eyes shone brightly for a split second.
However, he was interrupted by He Zhong before he could finish his sentence. "Uncle, whatever Master wants to do is not up to me to decide. Since I've sworn that I won't go against Duan Ling Tian, naturally, I won't fan the fire in front of Master as well. Otherwise, I'll be considered as violating the Tribulation Oath, and I might get struck by the lightning penalty."
"You don't have to say anything. I'll inform Vice Sect Leader Zhang about this matter… I think he won't let go of someone who had humiliated his direct disciple." A sneer could be seen on Liu Huan's face when he reached the end of his sentence.
He Zhong glanced at Liu Huan indifferently and did not say anything. If this was the case, he would not be considered as going against his oath.
"Uncle, the Three Star Divine Strider Talisman and one million Merit Points…" He Zhong reminded Liu Huan as he looked at him. It was uncertain if he did it intentionally.
"I'll transfer 1.4 million Merit Points to you… Go and buy the Three Star Divine Strider Talisman from the Merit Pavilion. As for the extra 100,000 Merit Points, take it as my compensation to you. After all, I was the one who asked you to battle Duan Ling Tian." Liu Huan took out his Crystal Card and transferred 1.4 million Merit Points to He Zhong.
"Alright." He Zhong nodded. He was satisfied with how sensible Liu Huan was.
After He Zhong left, Liu Huan's face turned grave immediately.
1.4 million Merit Points had vanished just like that.
It would be a lie if he said he did not feel any pain at all.
His entire wealth only amounted to slightly more than 1.6 million Merit Points.
In just a blink of an eye, he had lost almost 90% of it.
"Duan Ling Tian, I, Liu Huan, will find it difficult to eat or sleep if you don't die!" Liu Huan muttered to himself as his eyes gleamed coldly.
In the next instant, Liu Huan began to rack his brain to come up with a solution that would rid him of Duan Ling Tian once and for all.
The next morning, He Zhong went to look for Duan Ling Tian.
"Not bad. You really kept your word." After receiving the Three Star Divine Strider Talisman and one million Merit Point from He Zhong, Duan Ling Tian nodded his head in satisfaction.
He Zhong smiled wryly when he heard his words.
Could he not keep his word?
He had sworn using the Tribulation Oath, the Nine-Nine Heavenly Tribulation, he would not live if he did not keep his promise.
After He Zhong passed the Dao Talisman and Merit Points to Duan Ling Tian, he did not stay any longer and left immediately.
Although he had sworn to not go against Duan Ling Tian anymore, it did not mean he could face him with a calm heart. At this moment, he did not want to have anything to do with Duan Ling Tian at all.
To him, Duan Ling Tian was no different from a nightmare.
"It's a good thing I bought a Three Star Divine Strider when I went to the Merit Pavilion previously. Otherwise, it would've been difficult for me to escape the critical situation yesterday!"
The moment Duan Ling Tian recalled yesterday's incident, he still felt a trace of fear.
If it was not for the Three Star Divine Strider Talisman, he would not have been able to dodge the offensive Dao Talisman that He Zhong threw out yesterday.
That offensive Dao Talisman was a Two Star offensive Dao Talisman. When the energy contained inside it exploded, it was comparable to the attack of a Mastery Saint Rudiment Stage powerhouse.
"Looks like I can't save my Merit Points and not buy the Dao Talisman." Duan Ling Tian took a deep breath before he left his little courtyard and headed to the Merit Pavilion of Moon Illumination Sect.
Unlike his previous trip to the Merit Pavilion, most of the inner court disciples there recognized him this time.
When Duan Ling Tian arrived at the Merit Pavilion, he did not stay on the first level of the Merit Pavilion, but he went up the stairs immediately. His destination was the third level of the Merit Pavilion.
The third level of the Merit Pavilion was where Dao Talismans were sold.
When he passed by the second level of the Merit Pavilion, Duan Ling Tian noticed the person on duty was not Elder Fang Gan so he went up to the third level.
"Duan Ling Tian!" The people on duty on the third level of the Merit Pavilion were the two inner court deacons from his last trip. When they saw Duan Ling Tian, their gazes turned a little complicated.
They had also heard of yesterday's news.
He had defeated He Zhong the Earth Ranking's powerhouse who might be a disciple of inner court Elder Liu Huan and extorted a million Merit Points and a Three Star Divine Strider Talisman from him.
When they heard of Duan Ling Tian's thug-like behavior, they instantly became speechless.
It seemed like no one with such a thug-like behavior existed before in the history of Moon Illumination Sect.
Duan Ling Tian nodded his head at the two people before taking out his Spatial Ring and entering the third level of the Merit Pavilion.
This time, apart from buying a Three Star Divine Strider Talisman, he had also bought two Three Star Golden Energy Talisman… He wanted to buy offensive Dao Talismans, he did not see any Three Star offensive Dao Talismans. In the end, he bought two Two Star offensive Dao Talismans instead.
Currently, he had two Three Star Divine Strider Talismans, two Three Star Golden Energy Talismans and two Two Star offensive Dao Talismans in his possession.
Duan Ling Tian, who had spent 900,000 Merit Points, could not help but ask when he was at the entrance of the third level of the Merit Pavilion, "Excuse me, I wonder why there's no Three Star offensive Dao Talismans in the third level of the Merit Pavilion?"
Once a Three Star offensive Dao Talisman was activated, its strength was equivalent to the full attack of a Martial or Dao Cultivator at the Paramount Saint Rudiment Stage.
Naturally, it was only equivalent to an ordinary Martial or Dao Cultivator at the Paramount Saint Rudiment Stage.
"There's no Three Star offensive Dao Talismans in our Moon Illumination Sect." One of the inner court deacons shook his head. "Among all the Dao Talismans, it's most difficult to draw offensive Dao Talismans... Although offensive Dao Talismans will vanish in just a blink of an eye, its value is not something that the Divine Strider Talismans and the Golden Energy Talismans can compare to."
"If you want to buy Three Star offensive Dao Talismans, you'll have to go to the Nine Sect Alliances' headquarter," the other inner court deacon chimed in.
"The Nine Sect Alliances' headquarter?" Duan Ling Tian was stunned.
"The Nine Sect Alliances' headquarter is located in the biggest city in the Nine Sect Alliances district — Hanyang City. If you want to buy a Three Star offensive Dao Talisman, you'll have to go to Hanyang City," the inner court deacon who first spoke up replied.
"Alright," Duan Ling Tian nodded before asking again, "Do both of you know where Elder Fang Gan lives?"
After learning about the location of Elder Fang Gan's residence from the two inner court deacons, Duan Ling Tian left the Merit Pavilion and headed toward the inner court.
This was his first time entering the inner court ever since he came to the Moon Illumination Sect.
The biggest difference between the inner and outer courts was its cultivating environment.
The intensity of the Heaven and Earth Spirit Energy was far richer compared to the outer court. Moreover, the Heaven and Earth Spirit Energy would only get denser the deeper one entered the inner court. "It's obvious the Moon Illumination Sect's seventh-grade Saint Stones reserve lies in the center of Moon Illumination Sect's estate."
It was not difficult for Duan Ling Tian figure this out.
The Heaven and Earth Spirit Energy would become richer the closer it was to the Saint Stones reserve.
Apart from that, the inner court was also a lot bigger than the outer court. It stretched out as far as the eyes could see.
Following the two inner court deacons' direction, Duan Ling Tian arrived at the eastern district of the inner court.
The residences of the inner court elders were located here. There were many big mansions and statues of great beasts here.