2599 Qin Yu

"Please calm down, captain!"

"Please calm down, captain!"

The remaining centurions, including the centurion who was injured by Duan Ling Tian, were now lying prostrate on the ground. All of their heads were lowered, they were afraid to meet Duan Ling Tian's eyes. At the same time, they inwardly cursed at Jian Qiu Ping, one of the Captains of the Black Dragon Army.

If Jian Qiu Ping did not say their new captain was merely a Violet Moon Heavenly Celestial, they would never have committed such a faux pas and angered their captain.

Meanwhile, the group of decurions had just regained their senses. When they saw the centurions lying prostrate on the ground, all of them instantly fell to their knees and followed the centurions' example.

Needless to say, the foot soldiers followed suit as well. After all, even the centurions and decurions had yielded to the man before them. This could only mean that the man was someone strong. They could only prostrate themselves before him, hoping they would not incur his anger.

For a moment, Duan Ling Tian was the only one left standing, looking like an emperor surrounded by his kneeling courtiers.

Duan Ling Tian harrumphed as he coldly swept his eyes across the troop under his command in the Black Dragon Army. He said domineeringly, "I hope nothing like this happens again. Adjourn!" Before his voice had even faded away, he disappeared in just a blink of an eye before everyone's sight. He wanted to return to his tent to cultivate and did not want to waste his time on trivial matters such as this.

Duan Ling Tian's troops in the Black Dragon Army slowly rose to their feet one after another after he had left. Fear was written all over their faces.

The centurion who had been injured by Duan Ling Tian said through gritted teeth, "All of us have been fooled by Captain Jian Qiu Ping. Our new captain is not weak at all!" Although Duan Ling Tian was the cause of his injury, he did not blame Duan Ling Tian at all. He felt grateful that Duan Ling Tian did not kill him for his insubordination. If anyone were to be blamed for this, it would be Jian Qiu Ping. If it were not for Jian Qiu Ping's words, he would not have dared to act insolently toward his superior.

…

Meanwhile, Duan Ling Tian made his way to his tent in the Black Dragon Army. As soon as he arrived in his tent, he sat cross-legged before he took out a Mediocre Celestial Stone and began to cultivate.

The process of cultivating in Devata Realms was almost similar to how it was in the mundane realms. Apart from absorbing Heaven and Earth Spirit Energy, he could also use Celestial Stones, instead of Saint Stones, to aid him with his cultivation.

After that, Duan Ling Tian calmed himself down and began to focus on cultivating.

The members of the Black Dragon Army would be shocked if they could read Duan Ling Tian's thoughts. After all, one had to be a Blue Moon Heavenly Celestial at least, in order to become a decurion. The requirements to become a captain was, naturally, higher. Who would have thought their new captain was only a Blue Moon Heavenly Celestial?

….

At this moment, Jian Qiu Ping did not spare any efforts to spread the word about Duan Ling Tian being a mere Violet Moon Heavenly Celestial in the army camp. Ironically, he was unaware that Duan Ling Tian was only a Blue Moon Heavenly Celestial, he was not even a Violet Moon Heavenly Celestial. Regardless, his hard work paid off. It did not take long before discussions about Duan Ling Tian could be heard everywhere in the army camp.

The 800 soldiers under Duan Ling Tian's command were unaware of this. They only heard the rumors about their captain's cultivation base after it had spread for a long time. Naturally, they were enraged and began to defend their new captain when they heard the rumors.

"Who the hell said that our captain is a Violet Moon Heavenly Celestial? Is it Jian Qiu Ping again?"

"Why is Jian Qiu Ping doing this? What could he possibly gain from this?"

"Well, everyone knows he's going to be replaced by Qin Yu, one of the centurions under his command, once Qin Yu comes out of closed-door cultivation. Perhaps, he's trying to divert the attention to our new captain."

"What a jerk!"

The more they thought about it, the angrier they felt. After all, they were already dissatisfied with Jian Qiu Ping for lying to them once. Now, Jian Qiu Ping was even spreading the same lies to everyone in the Black Dragon Army! For this reason, they began to retaliate and dispel the rumor. One of the centurions who was injured by Duan Ling Tian even went the extra mile and recounted his experience with his captain without caring about being embarrassed.

"I'm Tong Zheng, a centurion who serves under Captain Duan. I'm a Violet Moon Heavenly Celestial, but there was nothing I could do to defend myself when Captain Duan attacked me. Before I regained my senses, I was already on the floor. If Captain Duan is really just a Violet Moon Heavenly Celestial, do all of you think he would be able to defeat me so easily?"

With the efforts of the troops under Duan Ling Tian's command, many people began to believe that Duan Ling Tian was not just a mere Violet Moon Heavenly Celestial. Some of them even speculated that Duan Ling Tian was stronger than Jian Qiu Ping who was the weakest amongst the ten Captains of the Black Dragon Army.

...

When word of this finally reached Jian Qiu Ping's ears, his expression turned grim.

"Do they think they'll be able to help Duan Ling Tian by spreading fake news? Naive! Too naive! So what if Qin Yu is able to defeat me and replace me as a Captain of the Black Dragon Army? I'll just look for Duan Ling Tian and challenge him for the position of captain. I'll show those people who's boss once I become their new captain!" Flames of fury surged in his heart the more he thought about this. He could not wait to replace Duan Ling Tian so he could seek revenge from those people who defended Duan Ling Tian. After all, as a superior, it would be easy for him to make life difficult for his subordinates.

While Jian Qiu Ping indulged in the fantasy of making life difficult for the troops under Duan Ling Tian's command, another piece of shocking news began to spread in the army camp. The centurion, Qin Yu, had come out of his closed-door cultivation and planned to challenge his captain, Jian Qiu Ping!

It took a while before Jian Qiu Ping was finally made aware of the matter. His expression darkened as his eyes burned with anger as he stared at Qin Yu. He said through gritted teeth, "Qin Yu! Do you think I'm weaker than Duan Ling Tian? Is that why you came to challenge me instead?" His voice grew louder and louder as he spoke.

On the contrary, Qin Yu remained calm as he said emotionlessly, "Captain, I was in closed-door cultivation this entire time. As soon as I came out, I instantly sent a challenge to you. I don't know who's Duan Ling Tian."

Qin Yu was a young man with a muscular body and handsome appearance. The Black Dragon Army's armor further accentuated his fine bearing as a soldier.

Currently, Qin Yu stood across Jian Qiu Ping. They were surrounded by many people. Not only were Jian Qiu Ping's subordinates present on the scene, but even the soldiers under the other captains' commands had come to watch the show. It was human nature to take part in merriment, even Celestials were not immune to it.

The anger on Jian Qiu Ping's face gradually disappeared as he said in a stern voice, "Now that you know about it, are you still planning to challenge me or are you going to challenge Duan Ling Tian?" He had assumed Qin Yu would challenge Duan Ling Tian if he gave Qin Yu a way out.

"I don't think that's necessary," Qin Yu said calmly as he held Jian Qiu Ping's gaze, "I'm not someone who adapts easily. I think it's better for me to become a captain to my brothers. For this reason, I, Qin Yu, am determined to challenge you, Captain Jian!"

The soldiers in the Black Dragon Army were anticipating the fight between Qin Yu and Jian Qiu Ping at this moment when something unexpected happened.

"Very well!" Jian Qiu Ping looked at Qin Yu coldly and said in a displeased tone, "Since you want my position so much, I'll give it to you. Consider this my present to you for working so hard during your time under my command."

Not only was the crowd present on the scene shocked, but even Qin Yu was shocked upon hearing these words. Based on his knowledge, Jian Qiu Ping would not admit defeat so easily even if his opponent was much stronger than him. After coming to terms with Jian Qiu Ping conceding the position to him, he nodded. "Well, thank you, cap… No, starting from now on, I should call you Centurion Jian Qiu Ping."

Since Jian Qiu Ping had conceded his position, he would, naturally, be demoted to a centurion now that Qin Yu had become a captain. The crowd was still in shock over his decision when his booming voice resounded in the vicinity, "I, Jian Qiu Ping, hereby declare that I will challenge Duan Ling Tian to a duel!"