"What?"
"Duan Ling Tian is actually younger than 100 years old?"
"If he had just ascended not too long ago, doesn't it mean he's not even 100 years old when he ascended? He actually managed to ascend in less than 100 years!"
"This is truly rare, isn't it?"
"Of course it's rare! Such a person might not even appear among 10,000 newly ascended cultivators… No, in fact, I think not even among 100,000 newly-ascended cultivators, there would not be such a person!"
"How did such a person ascend to a small place like Bloody Specter City? It doesn't seem real, does it?"
...
In the Silverwyrm Army's camp.
A group of Silverwyrm Army's officers and soldiers who had heard this news were in shock and disbelief. Apart from the centurions and decurions who had witnessed Duan Ling Tian's strength, many of them doubted the veracity of this news. They felt skeptical about the fact that Duan Ling Tian was the newly-ascended cultivator who was in one of the Heavenly Celestials' Celestial Ascension Pools that was managed by the Silverwyrm Army!
When Miao Lai Long, the Commander of the Silverwyrm Army, received the news, his expression changed greatly. "Duan Ling Tian is actually younger than 100 years old? Moreover, Lord City Governor decided to send him to the County Governor's estate?"
He had heard about the City Governor having to send two people to the County Governor's estate in the County City of the Nine Specters County, but he did not know anything about Duan Ling Tian being chosen.
'I wonder if Lord City Governor is doing this just to coax Duan Ling Tian so Duan Ling Tian would willingly teach him the Celestial Methods and Divine Abilities?' Miao Lai Long was skeptical. Even if Liu Feng Gu wanted to coax Duan Ling Tian, there was no need to send him to the City Governor's estate, was there? If Duan Ling Tian did not hand over his Celestial Methods and Divine Abilities before he went to the County Governor's estate in the County City of the Nine Specters County, it would be extraordinarily difficult to get them from him after he left!
'No. I have to confirm this matter with Lord City Governor immediately!' Miao Lai Long thought to himself as he left the Silverwyrm Army's camp for the City Governor's estate to meet Liu Feng Gu.
…
In the great hall of the City Governor's estate.
Miao Lai Long was suitably upset when he heard this. Naturally, he did not dare to express his anger. "Yes, Lord City Governor, you're right. If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave."
…
After Miao Lai Long left the City Governor's estate, he met his sister, Miao Lai Feng, in Lai Feng Restaurant. Together, they returned to the Silverwyrm Army's camp.
When they returned to the Silverwyrm Army's camp, he summoned Yang Kong Ping, his brother-in-law, into his tent.
Currently, Yang Kong Ping could only rely on his one leg to stand. His face was slightly pale, and he had lost his high spirits from the past. A hint of resentment could be seen in the depths of his eyes.
Miao Lai Feng curiously asked, "Brother, why did you summon me here?"
"There's been a change in our plan. Lord City Governor has no intention of obtaining Duan Ling Tian's Celestial Methods and Divine Abilities. It seems like I've made a wrong move," Miao Lai Long said in a low voice.
"What?" Miao Lai Feng and Yang Kong Ping, the pair of husband and wife, cried out in unison. Their expressions changed dramatically. They had been hoping to use the City Governor's hand to take revenge on Duan Ling Tian. After all, Miao Lai Long had told them the City Governor was a very careful person. After the City Governor obtained Duan Ling Tian's Celestial Methods and Divine Abilities, there was no way he would let Duan Ling Tian live. However, Miao Lai Long just said the City Governor had no intention of obtaining the extraordinary Celestial Methods and Divine Abilities from Duan Ling Tian?
"Rumor has it that Lord City Governor has selected Duan Ling Tian as one of the two people to be sent to the County Governor's estate in the County City of the Nine Specters County. I thought that's just a way that Lord City Governor is using to coax Duan Ling Tian into teaching him the Celestial Methods and Divine Abilities. However, brother, you said Lord City Governor has no intention of obtaining the Celestial Methods and Divine Abilities? Don't tell me Lord City Governor truly intends on sending Duan Ling Tian to the County Governor's estate?" Yang Kong Ping asked in a low voice with an expression of incredulity on his face. He would only address Miao Lai Long as Lord Commander when there were outsiders around. However, in private, he would address Miao Lai Long as brother just like his wife.
"Indeed. He plans to send Duan Ling Tian to the County Governor's estate. Based on his words, it seems like everything he has done is to befriend Duan Ling Tian." Miao Lai Long nodded.
"Befriend Duan Ling Tian? Don't tell me Duan Ling Tian is really less than 100 years of age like the rumor says?" Yang Kong Ping's expression darkened.
Miao Lai Long nodded again, "Although I'm rather unwilling to believe it, it's true. Moreover, it seems that Lord City Governor thoroughly understands Duan Ling Tian's character. He knows Duan Ling Tian is someone who won't hand over the Celestial Methods and Divine Abilities even if it means his death. For this reason, he chose to befriend Duan Ling Tian when Duan Ling Tian still hasn't achieved his full potential!"
"Brother, are we just going to let him off? Can we only watch as Duan Ling Tian rises up step by step from Bloody Specter City to the County City of the Nine Specters County? Once he leaves, it'll be even more difficult for us to deal with him," Miao Lai Feng said with a sour expression on her face.
Miao Lai Long replied in a low voice, "Of course we're not going to let him off just like. However, I'm afraid we can't stop Duan Ling Tian from going to the County City of the Nine Specters County. What we can do now is stay in the Silverwyrm Army's camp and the Bloody Specter City and behave ourselves. I've been working for Lord City Governor for a long time so I know him very well. Since he has decided to befriend Duan Ling Tian, he definitely won't allow us to go against him. For the next period of time, all of you should calm down and behave. After Duan Ling Tian has left Bloody Specter City and Lord Governor stops keeping an eye on us, we'll think of a way to spread the news about Duan Ling Tian mastering extraordinary Celestial Methods and Divine Abilities to the Nine Specters County. When news of this spreads there, Duan Ling Tian won't be able to live in peace. Since he's so fierce and stubborn, and he would rather die than reveal his Celestial Methods and Divine Abilities, there will be many pairs of hands we can borrow to kill Duan Ling Tian!" His eyes flashed with killing intent when he spoke.
"You are so smart, brother!" The husband and wife's eyes brightened like stars in the night sky when they heard Miao Lai Long's words.
...
Four months passed in just a blink of an eye.
Everyone from Bloody Specter City, the Black Dragon Army, and the Silverwyrm Army had their attention focused on the City Governor's estate. Today was the day the City Governor had organized a battle for Golden Celestials under the age of 100 from the Black Dragon Army, the Silverwyrm Army, and the Golden Serpent Guards. The winner would be selected to go to the County City of Nine Specters County.
"It's a pity only the centurions or those with higher ranks from the Black Dragon Army and Silverwyrm Army are allowed to enter the City Governor's estate to watch the battle. It's truly a pity we can't witness the battle among Golden Celestials younger than 100 years old from the Black Dragon Army, the Silverwyrm Army, and the Golden Serpent Guards." Many people in Bloody Specter City sighed in disappointment.
"Don't worry. It's said that Lord City Governor will let his people record the battle using the Floating Image Pearl. The recorded floating image will be played for a month at the Central Square."
"Floating Image Pearl? Is it the primitive Celestial Weapon that has similar effects as the Floating Image Celestial Talisman? However, unlike the Floating Image Celestial Talisman, it can be played multiple times?"
"Yes."
When they learned the City Governor would let someone record the battle in the City Governor's estate with the primitive Celestial Weapon, the Floating Image Pearl, many of them began to regain their spirits.
...
At the same time, many had gathered in the City Governor's estate. Most of these people were centurions from the Black Dragon Army and the Silverwyrm Army who had come to watch the battle.
Tong Zheng, a Centurion of the Black Dragon Army, who used to be Duan Ling Tian's subordinate had come as well. He looked at the row of people standing in the large battle arena and said to a centurion standing next to him, "We have three people from the Black Dragon Army participating in the battle today. Captain Zhao Dong Xing, Captain Qin Yu, and Centurion Xue Lang will be participating today. However, the Silverwyrm Army only has two participants."
The Silverwyrm Army had only sent two people to join the battle because there were only two Golden Celestials who were younger than 100 years old in the entire camp.
"There are five from the Golden Serpent Guards."
There were far more natives of the Devata Realm who were Golden Celestials and less than 100 years old compared to those who had ascended. However, their number was not too large since Bloody Specter City was just a tiny place.
It did not take long before Liu Feng Gu, the City Governor of Blood Specter City, arrived. After the crowd greeted him respectfully, he loudly announced, "Let's begin."
The nine people in the battle arena did not waste time and began to fight. This was not a fight to the death. The last person standing in the arena would be selected to go to the County Governor's estate in the County City of the Nine Specters County a month later. They would be accompanied by a special envoy from the County Governor's estate.
After half an hour, the result was out.
"H-he's the winner?"
"H-how's this possible?"
The result was shocking to everyone who was present on the scene.