"Duan Ling Tian, in the Memory Celestial Talisman given to me, City Governor Liu said you only joined the Black Dragon Army half a year ago. Moreover, you killed a Golden Celestial with just a strike as soon as you joined the army. Subsequently, you severed an arm and a leg of Captain Yang Kong Ping from the Silverwyrm Army in a restaurant in Bloody Specter City. I heard Yang Kong Ping is an Orange Sun Golden Celestial that's ranked in the top three in the Silverwyrm Army. For these reasons, City Governor Liu has given the other spot to you. It's obvious he thinks highly of you."
Duan Ling Tian replied humbly, "The City Governor is just being kind."
"There's no need to be humble," The old man smiled faintly. "You're not even 100 years old, but you're able to defeat a captain who's an Orange Sun Golden Celestial and ranks in the top three in the Silverwyrm Army. This means you must be one of the strongest Golden Celestials in Bloody Specter City who are less than 100 years old. City Governor Liu isn't an impetuous man. You must deserve this spot that he had given to you." The grey-clad old man looked at Duan Ling Tian approvingly after he finished speaking. There was no doubt Duan Ling Tian was the strongest Golden Celestial among those Golden Celestials who had not reached 100 years of age, based on his achievements. Even Qin Yu who was flying next to Duan Ling Tian who had just ascended to the Spirit Overarching Heaven was not a match for Duan Ling Tian. The old man was unaware that Duan Ling Tian had only recently ascended since he was not in Bloody Specter City. Nevertheless, he would not have believed it even if he was aware of it.
Is that a joke? A Heavenly Celestial who had just ascended to the Spirit Overarching Heaven not too long ago managed to defeat Yang Kong Ping who was ranked top three among the Silverwrym Army's captains?
Although Duan Ling Tian's soul was protected by the defective metal piece, others might not be able to guess his cultivation base and age through his soul. However, Golden Celestials could guess his age based on his aura. For this reason, with just a glance, the old man was certain Duan Ling Tian was less than 100 years old.
"As both of you know, I'm the special envoy from the County Governor's estate. My name is Zheng Qiu, and I'm an elder in the inner estate of the County Governor's estate." The old man looked at Duan Ling Tian and Qin Yu as he introduced himself.
A Violet Sun Golden Celestial was the peak of Golden Celestials and was closest to becoming a Great Overarching Golden Celestial.
On the contrary, Duan Ling Tian remained calm and unaffected. After all, he had learned about Zheng Qiu through Liu Feng Gu through Voice Transmission before they departed from Bloody Specter City. He had long known this old man was a Violet Sun Golden Celestial and an inner estate elder of the County Governor's estate!
"The nine cities are a long way from the Nine Hidden County's County City. There would inevitably be robbers during the journey. Some of these robbers are Violet Sun Golden Celestials. For this reason, the County Governor had sent the inner estate elders to the nine cities to escort the young men who had been chosen back to the County City. This is for your safety," Zheng Qiu explained.
Qin Yu nodded in response.
"Elder Zheng Qiu," Duan Ling Tian looked at Zheng Qiu and curiously asked, "Do you know why the County Governor is recruiting Golden Celestials who are less than 100 years old from the nine cities like Qin Yu and I?"
"I don't know the exact reason, but I heard it has something to do with King Qing's Mansion." Zheng Qiu said.
This was not new to Duan Ling Tian. After all, he had already learned about this from Liu Feng Gu, the City Governor of Bloody Specter City.
On the contrary, an indecipherable emotion flashed in Qin Yu's eyes when Zheng Qiu mentioned King Qing's Mansion.
Naturally, Duan Ling Tian and Zheng Qiu did not notice it.
Suddenly, Zheng Qiu said in a low voice, "I just spoke about the robbers… I didn't expect they would appear so soon." His eyes were trained at a spot in the sky as though he had discovered something.
Duan Ling Tian and Zheng Qiu followed suit and looked up at the sky as well. They discovered one of the clouds seemed different from the others.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
At this moment, numerous figures flew out from the cover of the cloud and surrounded them in just an instant.
"As expected of a Violet Sun Golden Celestial, you discovered us so soon..."
Currently, three of them were surrounded by more than twenty people. Two people stepped forward unhurriedly and blocked Duan Ling Tian and the others' way. One was dressed in black and the other was dressed in white
The black-clad old man is as skinny as a bamboo stick while the white-clad old man was as fat and round as a ball. Both of their eyes were trained on Zheng Qiu.
Qin Yu's expression changed as soon as he heard their words. It was clear that they were not afraid of a Violet Sun Golden Celestial!
Even Duan Ling Tian was startled by the robber's words. He thought to himself wryly, "We're truly lucky to encounter a Violet Sun Golden Celestial." He was certain the two old men standing before him who seemed unafraid of Zheng Qiu were not Great Overarching Golden Celestials because he knew Great Overarching Golden Celestials would not rob travelers in a small place like the Nine Specters County. However, since they were not afraid of Zheng Qiu, it was likely they, or someone in their group, was a Violet Sun Golden Celestials as well.
"You dare show yourself even though you know my cultivation base?" Zheng Qiu said in a deep voice as he stared at the two old men, "If I'm not mistaken, you should be the infamous robbers of the Nine Specters County, the Black and White Hero?"
"You're right… You're quite astute." A seemingly innocuous smile appeared on the white-clad old man's face as he narrowed his eyes.
Upon hearing the white-clad old man's confirmation of his identity, a faint smile bloomed on Zheng Qiu's face. Despite the smile, killing intent began to surge out of his body. "I've long heard the Black and White Hero are Violet Sun Golden Celestials who are extremely cunning and possess numerous hiding spots… Our County Governor has sent out many men to get rid of both of you but all of them failed to find your whereabouts. Perfect! How lucky of me to meet both of you here."
"The County Governor's estate?!"
As soon as Zheng Qiu finished speaking, the expressions of the white-robed old man and the black-clad old man changed immediately.
Similarly, the expressions of the over twenty men who were surrounding Duan Ling Tian and Qin Yu changed as well. Some of them even began to tremble in fear.
The County Governor's estate! That's the biggest and strongest force in the Nine Specters County!
In recent years, many men had been sent from the County Governor's estate to destroy this band of robbers. For this reason, they lived a nomadic life, afraid to stay in one place for too long. In fact, they had just arrived in the vicinity of Bloody Specter City not too long ago. They truly did not expect to meet someone from the County Governor's estate here.
When they saw Zheng Qiu, a Violet Sun Golden Celestial, they thought he would be a good target. Who knew he would turn out to be a time bomb instead?
"Y-you're from the County Governor's estate?" The black-robed old man looked at Zheng Qiu and said after taking a deep breath, "If you show us your identity token that proves you're from the County Governor's estate, not only will we let you go unharmed, but we'll also compensate you with 1,000 mediocre Celestial Stone."
If these men were truly from the City Governor's estate, the robbers knew they could not offend them. Even if the other party was weaker, they still would not dare to kill them. After all, it would thoroughly anger the City Governor, and he might even send a Great Overarching Celestial to hunt them down!
Previously, the City Governor did not send any Great Overarching Golden Celestials after them because their whereabouts were hidden. However, if a Great Overarching Golden Celestial put his mind to it, it would not take long for the band of robbers to be discovered unless they leave the Nine Hidden County and its vicinity.
"That won't be necessary," Zheng Qiu said indifferently, "Since you've shown yourself, you should stay!" His eyes shone brighter and brighter as he spoke.
"How arrogant!" As the saying went, 'Even a clay doll has a fire within it'. The black-clad old man's expression darkened when he heard Zheng Qiu's words. He said in a low voice, "There are only three of you, and you're the only Violet Sun Golden Celestial in your group… If we fight, you'll definitely be at a disadvantage. Since you insist on fighting, don't blame us for disregarding the County Governor's estate when we kill all of you. At most, we'll just have to flee the Nine Specters City after killing three of you!"