After Duan Ling Tian received the bottle of Hidden Spirit Pills from Tian Ji Yu and two bottles of Spirit Nourishing Pills from Zhou Tong, the first Revered Elder, he did not waste any time and began to focus on his cultivation. Similar to him, the two Great Overarching Golden Celestials in Nine Specters County, naturally, wished he could improve his cultivation base as soon as possible. Three of them had their respective objectives, but they shared the same path to getting there.
After Duan Ling Tian returned to the stone chamber in the depths of the Latent Dragon Abyss, he thought to himself curiously, 'King Qing's Mansion will reward the counties where the top three participants are from with the mediocre Celestial Pills, the Great Overarching Pills. I wonder what rewards he would give the top three participants?' He was greatly looking forward to the reward as well.
...
After Duan Ling Tian consumed the primitive Celestial Pill, the Hidden Spirit Pill, and began to cultivate, a young man emerged like a gust of wind from the second to last stone chamber in the Latent Dragon Abyss. He could be seen making his way to a residence in the County Governor's estate after he left the Latent Dragon Abyss. This young man was none other than Zhou Fei.
Zhou Fei went to look for Zhou Tong, his godfather and the first Revered Elder of the County Governor's estate. When he saw his Zhou Tong, he respectfully greeted, "Godfather!"
Zhou Tong glanced at Zhou Fei lazily with a cocked eyebrow. "Is something the matter?" Compared to before, his attitude toward Zhou Fei had changed. He had taken Zhou Fei as his godson due to Zhou Fei's innate talent. However, Zhou Fei's talent that had initially made him proud had been overshadowed by Duan Ling Tian who came from Bloody Specter City. Therefore, his disappointment in his godson had caused his attitude to change.
Zhou Fei who could clearly sense Zhou Tong's change hated Duan Ling Tian even more. He cursed Duan Ling Tian inwardly. Naturally, he did not dare to express his resentment to Zhou Tong since he knew Zhou Tong held Duan Ling Tian in higher regard compared to him. He suppressed his anger and calmly said, "Godfather, I wish to go out. I hope you'll send an elder out with me."
"Where do you plan to go?" Zhou Tong asked with a gleam in his eyes.
"I am not sure yet. I just want to go out to train," Zhou Fei said.
Although Zhou Tong no longer valued Zhou Fei as much as he valued Duan Ling Tian, Zhou Fei was still his godson. Therefore, he did not refuse Zhou Fei and quickly ordered an elder from the inner estate to accompany and protect Zhou Fei.
When Zhou Fei left the County City of Nine Specters County with the elder from the inner estate, he made his way, seemingly unintentionally, to Bloody Specter City, the place where Duan Ling Tian had ascended to in the Spirit Overarching Heaven.
Zhou Fei's eyes lit up as he continued thinking to himself, 'If I can verify that Duan Ling Tian is someone Liu Feng Gu trained to deal with godfather, no matter how tempted godfather is by the mediocre Celestial Pills, the Great Overarching Pills, he'll definitely kill Duan Ling Tian before the Martial Competition of the 16 Counties. After all, based on the rewards, it's obvious King Qing's Mansion places great importance on the competition. If Duan Ling Tian stands out and ranks in the top three, King Qing's Mansion will definitely protect him. At that time, it'll be extremely difficult for godfather to kill Duan Ling Tian!' He was well aware of Zhou Tong and Liu Feng Gu's past, therefore, he was certain his godfather would definitely kill Duan Ling Tian if he could prove Duan Ling Tian was sent by Liu Feng Gu. His godfather would not let a threat like Duan Ling Tian grow stronger, he would definitely nip this threat in the bud!
...
In a place far away from the Nine Specters County, there was a vast fairyland-like place that was surrounded by clouds and mist. It was spring all year round and was filled with lush greeneries.
At this moment, a graceful figure that looked like a fairy could be seen standing on the peak of a mountain. She was looking in the direction of Nine Specters County dazedly.
The woman, who was wearing a plain light purple dress, had a pair of perfectly arched eyebrows, fair skin, and a wasp waist. Although she was wearing a translucent veil to cover the lower half of her face, her bright eyes and elegant air were enough to make the surroundings pale in comparison. The perfect outline of her face could be vaguely seen through her translucent veil, filling people with the urge to remove the veil so they could have a better look at her. Even with the veil, she looked peerlessly charming and beautiful. One could only imagine how much more beautiful she was without the veil.
She muttered to herself, "If I had known I would be unable to forget him, I would've killed him that day!" Nonetheless, her words lacked conviction. If she were able to turn back time, she was not sure if she could bear to kill that man.
"Third Senior Sister! Third Senior Sister!" A melodious voice like silver bells tinkling rang in the air at this moment before a green-clad young girl flew up from the bottom of the mountain. A streak of light shot toward the purple-clad woman, and the green-clad young girl appeared in just a blink of an eye.
"Lü Luo, why are you here?" The purple-dressed woman asked as she looked at the green-clad young girl affectionately.
"Third Senior Sister, why do I feel that you've been moody ever since your return a year ago? Didn't you find the World Cleansing Horsetail Whisk, our sect's Guarding Celestial Weapon? It's something to feel happy about, right? Even master, senior uncle, and junior uncle praised you!" the green-clad young girl asked as she looked at the purple-clad woman knowingly.
Based on the green-clad young girl's words, it was obvious that the purple-clad woman was none other than Murong Bing, the woman whom Duan Ling Tian had met in the Little World left behind by the Celestial King from Blissful Sect. At that time, through a series of events, they ended up having premarital sex.
"Moreover, I heard senior aunt is going to make you her heir in a month! This means you'll be the sect master after she retires," the green-clad girl continued to say.
"Did senior aunt… really say that?" Murong Bing asked as her eyes shone.
"Yes! I heard it with my own ears!" The green-clad young girl nodded her head like a chick pecking grains from the ground.
Upon hearing the green-clad young girl's words, Murong Bin could not help but sigh. According to the rules of the Compassionate Celestial Traveler Sect, to become the sect master, apart from being talented and strong, one had to be a virgin! She had lost her virginity in the Little World, she was destined not to be the Sect Leader of the Compassionate Celestial Traveler Sect.
"Lü Luo, where's senior aunt now?" Murong Bin asked. After she learned of the location of the Sect Leader of Compassionate Celestial Traveler Sect, she disappeared with a flutter of dress, looking like a purple butterfly when she left the mountain.
In a large garden located at the hillside, Murong Bin met the Sect Leader of the Compassionate Celestial Traveler Sect who was also her senior aunt. She greeted her senior aunt respectfully, "Senior aunt."
"Bing'er, is there anything you need?" The Sect Leader of Compassionate Celestial Traveler was a graceful and beautiful woman wearing a white robe that was embroidered with many lotuses. When she saw Murong Bin, a gentle and kind expression could be seen on her face, looking like an elder who was proud of an outstanding junior. Although Murong Bing was not her disciple, Murong Bing was the disciple of her junior sister. Murong Bing was also one of the most outstanding disciples in the Compassionate Celestial Traveler Sect. She was very satisfied with Murong Bing. Otherwise, she would not have planned to make Murong Bing the next Sect Leader of the Compassionate Celestial Traveler Sect.
Murong Bing said bluntly, "Senior aunt, I heard that you plan on making me your heir during the sect's meeting that'll be held in a month's time. I came here to change your mind!"
Upon hearing this, the Sect Leader of the Compassionate Celestial Traveler Sect was startled and confused. "Bing'er, what do you mean? Don't you want to be the next Sect Leader of the Compassionate Celestial Traveler Sect and lead the sect to an era of glory? I remember your master saying that it's your dream since you're young to become the Sect Leader of the Compassionate Celestial Traveler Sect."