2643 The Primitive Celestial Pill, The Hidden Spirit Pill

In the past six months, Tian Ji Yu had expended much effort in finding out detailed information about other Golden Celestials below the age of 100 from the other 15 counties under King Qing's Mansion's rule. Based on what he had learned, he knew that Zhou Fei, Zhou Tong's godson, was unlikely to rank in the top ten of the Martial Competition of the 16 Counties, let alone rank in the top three. Therefore, he felt fortunate to have Duan Ling Tian in the Nine Specters County. Otherwise, none of the Golden Celestials below the age of 100, including Zhou Fei who was the strongest, whom he had gathered would stand a chance ranking in the top three of the Martial Competition of the 16 Counties!

Among the 400-500 Golden Celestials below the age of 100 from the 15 counties, there were about five men who could defeat Zhou Fei with just a strike. Even if he put in all his effort to nurture Zhou Fei in the remaining two and half a years, Zhou Fei could only rank in the top ten at most in the Martial Competition for the 16 Counties. If Zhou Fei were not ranked in the top three, the Nine Specters County would be unable to obtain the Great Overarching Pill. Therefore, Duan Ling Tian was extremely valuable to him now. If Duan Ling Tian was not around, the Nine Specters County would not stand a chance in obtaining the Great Overarching Pills at all.

Zhou Tong and Zhou Fei were startled when they heard Tian Ji Yu said that Zheng Qiu had acted under his order and asked Zhou Tong if he had a problem with it.

It was at this moment that Zhou Tong recalled Zheng Qiu had said he had only been acting under orders earlier. How could he have forgotten that, apart from him, only the City Governor could order Zheng Qiu around?

"Lord County Governor, what's the reason for that?" Zhou Tong asked in a low voice as he looked at Tian Ji Yu. As a Great Overarching Golden Celestial, he could speak much freely in front of Tian Ji Yu, the County Governor of Nine Specters County, compared to the others. After all, even if he left the Nine Specters County, the other counties would welcome him!

"A delegate from King Qing's Mansion came to me half a year ago..." Tian Ji Yu spoke honestly. He told them about the reason the delegate from King Qing's Mansion had come and about his information on the other Golden Celestials below the age of 100 from the other 15 counties. He did not hold back his words even though the two parties involved, Duan Ling Tian and Zhou Fei, were present.

After listening to Tian Ji Yu's explanation, Zhou Fei's eyes were filled with reluctance. However, he knew there was nothing he could do at this moment.

On the other hand, Zhou Tong's eyes shone brightly, and his breathing quickened. His chest heaved rapidly as he asked excitedly, "The rewards are the mediocre Celestial Pills, the Great Overarching Pills?"

Zhou Tong became even more excited upon hearing Tian Ji Yu's promise to give him a Great Overarching Pill if Duan Ling Tian ranked in the top two.

Unlike Heavenly Celestials and Golden Celestials who were divided into seven levels respectively, Great Overarching Golden Celestials were divided into five stages; the Yellow Stage, the Profound Stage, the Earthly Stage, the Heavenly Stage, and the Peak Stage. The Yellow Stage's Great Overarching Golden Celestials were the weakest while the Peak Stage's Great Overarching Golden Celestials were the strongest.

Zhou Tong was a Great Overarching Golden Celestial at the yellow stage, and he was only a step away from becoming a Profound Stage's Great Overarching Golden Celestial. He had been stuck at this bottleneck for many years now. If he could obtain a mediocre Celestial Pill, the Great Overarching Pill, he would be able to become a Profound Stage's Great Overarching Golden Celestial.

"Lord County Governor, I'm willing to help you and the County Governor's estate to cultivate Duan Ling Tian so that he'll be able to rank in the top two of the Martial Competition of the 16 Counties!" Zhou Tong said without any hesitation after he regained his senses. After all, in truth, he did not really hate Duan Ling Tian. Now that he discovered Duan Ling Tian might be able to help him obtain a mediocre Celestial Pill, the Great Overarching Pill, naturally, he regarded Duan Ling Tian with even more importance compared to his godson, Zhou Fei.

"Godfather!" Zhou Fei cried out in protest, worried. Initially, he had planned to ask his godfather for help to become stronger than Duan Ling Tian. However, currently, his godfather was going to help his enemy to become stronger instead.

Smack!

Zhou Tong slapped Zhou Fei as soon as Zhou Fei finished speaking. He glared at him and bellowed, "How dare you speak so impolitely before Lord County Governor? If you dare to do it again, don't blame me for being impartial in meting out punishment!"

Zhou Fei who was slapped for no good reason felt extremely aggrieved. However, he could only silently glare at Duan Ling Tian.

Duan Ling Tian did not even deign to look at Zhou Fei. Instead, he was looking at Zhou Tong. He felt rather uncomfortable when he noticed Zhou Tong's gaze was no longer filled with killing intent and had been replaced with goodwill. He thought to himself with certainty, 'It seems like Zhou Tong only does things that benefit him. When the County Governor of Nine Specters County promised to give him a mediocre Celestial Pill, the Great Overarching Pill, he didn't even hesitate to promise to help me grow stronger so I can rank in the top two of the Martial Competition of the 16 Counties."

With this, things came to an end.

Zhou Tong bade farewell to Tian Ji Yu. Before he left with Zhou Fei, he looked at Duan Ling Tian and smiled amicably. "Duan Ling Tian, you may come to me if you need any help. Also, you can have these two bottles of Spirit Nourishing Pill." After he finished speaking, he passed the two bottles of pills to Duan Ling Tian.

Upon seeing this, Zhou Fei was brimming with jealousy. His godfather had never been so generous with him before.

"Thank you, Revered Elder Zhou Tong," Duan Ling Tian said. His eyes shone as he accepted the two bottles from Zhou Tong. Naturally, he knew Zhou Tong would not have been so generous if he had no value. Moreover, Zhou Tong would not even hesitate to kill him!

After Zhou Tong and Zhou Fei left, Tian Ji Yu looked at Duan Ling Tian with a smile. He handed a bottle of pills to Duan Ling Tian as he said, "Duan Ling Tian, since Elder Zhou Tong has given you two bottles of Spirit Nourishing Pills, I'll give you a bottle of the primitive Celestial Pill, the Hidden Spirit Pill. Its efficacy is stronger and can be used together with the Spirit Nourishing Pill."

"The Hidden Spirit Pill?" Duan Ling Tian was taken aback when he heard Tian Ji Yu's words. The Hidden Spirit Pill was a primitive Celestial Pill that could assist one's cultivation and raise one's cultivation speed. Due to its stronger efficacy, it was more precious than the Spirit Nourishing Pills. More importantly, the Hidden Spirit Pill could be taken together with the Spirit Nourishing Pills, and the efficacy of the medicines would be higher in comparison to taking either of the pills alone.

"Thank you, County Governor," Duan Ling Tian said gratefully. He had been slightly excited when he received the Spirit Nourishing Pills from Zhou Tong. However, he was clearly more excited to receive the Hidden Spirit Pills from the County Governor of Nine Specters County!

Tian Ji Yu looked at Duan Ling Tian and bluntly said, "Now you're aware why I helped you with resolving that matter from six months ago. It's because I think you have the potential to rank in the top three of the Martial Competition of the 16 Counties. If you're ranked in the top three, not only will you help Nine Specters County to win the mediocre Celestial Pills, the Great Overarching Pills, but you'll also be greatly rewarded by King Qing's Mansion. Needless to say, I won't treat you badly as well."

"I'll definitely do my best." Duan Ling Tian nodded. Although he knew Tian Ji Yu only treated him kindly because Tian Ji Yu needed him, he liked Tian Ji Yu's honesty.

...

When Zhou Fei returned to his stone chamber that was located second from the last one, his expression was unsightly. He muttered to himself, "Duan Ling Tian… Duan Ling Tian… I wonder where did you come from? If it weren't for you, Lord City Governor and my master would have helped me to grow stronger instead!" He felt incredibly dissatisfied since he thought Duan Ling Tian had snatched away something that should have belonged to him.