Upon hearing Liu Feng Gu's words, Elder Hong inhaled sharply. He said in a frightened voice, "Lord Governor, if this is true, then, isn't Duan Ling Tian in danger? Why don't you use a Communication Celestial Talisman to inform Duan Ling Tian about this so he can find a way to defend himself against Zhou Tong?"
"Elder Hong…" Liu Feng Gu said with a sigh, "I've thought about things you said as well. However, do you think my communication talisman will reach Duan Ling Tian's hands in the County City? Let alone reaching Duan Ling Tian's hand, there's no chance of it entering the County Governor's estate unless it's inscribed by a Great Overarching Golden Celestial or those who are stronger."
Communication Celestial Talismans were talismans used to transmit information. However, there were many kinds of Communication Celestial Talismans. Naturally, the talismans that were drawn by those with a high cultivation base were better than those that were inscribed by someone with a low cultivation base. Since Liu Feng Gu was only an Indigo Sun Golden Celestial, all the talismans he owned that were drawn by him would be easily intercepted by those who had a higher cultivation base than him. Moreover, due to the distance between Bloody Specter City and the County City, it was highly likely the communication talisman would be intercepted halfway before it even reached the County Governor's estate. To ensure a smooth delivery of information, it was better for a Great Overarching Golden Celestial, at least, to inscribe the Communication Celestial Talisman.
Previously, when Duan Ling Tian severed Zhou Fei's limbs, the talisman Zhou Fei had used to summon Zhou Tong was a Communication Celestial Talisman that Zhou Tong, a Great Overarching Golden Celestial at the yellow stage, had personally inscribed.
"Moreover, even if I have a Communication Celestial Talisman inscribed by a Great Overarching Golden Celestial, do you honestly think Zhou Tong wouldn't keep an eye on Duan Ling Tian now that he knows Duan Ling Tian is sent by me? How could he let my Communication Celestial Talisman reach Duan Ling Tian? I can say with almost 100% certainty that even if we visit the County City, we still won't be able to contact Duan Ling Tian." He fell silent for a moment before he finally said again, "At this point, Duan Ling Tian can only depend on himself to escape this calamity."
Elder Hong mulled over Liu Feng Gu's words and found that, indeed, it seemed like there was nothing they could do for now.
Previously, Liu Feng Gu was able to peacefully stay in Bloody Specter City because he did not threaten Zhou Tong nor was he a threat to Zhou Tong. Moreover, the County Governor of Nine Specters City stood as a deterrent as well. However, Zhou Tong would no longer let matters go now that there was Duan Ling Tian. He had previously granted Duan Ling Tian access to his cultivation place. With just a little investigation, Zhou Tong would definitely discover all this.
At this moment, Elder Hong returned to the great hall again. "Lord Governor! There's something else. There was news from the County Governor's estate a year ago. It's said Great Overarching Pills will be given to the counties where the top three participants of the Martial Competition of the 16 Counties are from." He took a breath before he continued speaking, "For this reason, although Duan Ling Tian broke a rule in the Latent Dragon Abyss, Lord County Governor did not pursue the matter. Moreover, he even asked Elder Zheng Qiu to take the blame for Duan Ling Tian. Based on this, it's clear that he values Duan Ling Tian very much. It's probably because he hopes that Duan Ling Tian would be able to win him the Great Overarching Pills. After all, we both know Lord County Governor's cultivation base has been stuck at a bottleneck for a few years now. With the Great Overarching Pill, he'll be able to improve his cultivation base. How could he not want the pills? Under these circumstances, he would certainly protect Duan Ling Tian."
Elder Hong paused for a moment before he finally said, "Why don't you inform Lord County Governor about this? This will ensure that he watches over Duan Ling Tian…"
"I've also thought about this as well," Liu Feng Gu said with a sigh, "However, it's a naive idea. Put aside the fact that Zhou Tong would probably intercept any information we send to Lord County Governor, what makes you think Lord County Governor won't covet Duan Ling Tian's heaven-grade Celestial Methods and Divine Abilities like Zhou Tong? After all, a high-rank Celestial Method or Divine Ability is much rarer compared to Great Overarching Pills."
Upon hearing this, Elder Hong smiled bitterly. "Indeed, my thinking is naive and too simple. I'm nowhere as wise as you." He sighed as he added, "It's like you said, Duan Ling Tian can only rely on himself now."
…
Meanwhile, Duan Ling Tian was, naturally, unaware of everything that had transpired in Bloody Specter City. He was still in closed-door cultivation.
After obtaining that primitive Celestial Pill, the Hidden Spirit Pill, from the County Governor of Nine Specters County, Duan Ling Tian had wholeheartedly immersed himself in cultivation. The pill's efficacy was absorbed and circulated in his body. Even after his cultivation base had a breakthrough, he continued with cultivating with the goal of breaking through to the next stage. He had completely forgotten about the passage of time as he cultivated.
During cultivation, even when he encountered bottlenecks that slowed down his cultivation speed, he did not stop and continued cultivating using the yellow-grade cultivation technique, the Crystal Clearance Technique. With that, he continued to circulate his Celestial Origin Energy, the Hidden Spirit Pill, and the Spirit Nourishing Pill in his body, completing one cycle after another. Coupled with the superior cultivation environment and the high-grade Celestial Stone, he was progressing rapidly.
In the stone chamber in the depth of the Latent Dragon Abyss, Duan Ling Tian took a Hidden Spirit Pill and swallowed it. Soon after, a rich medicinal energy flowed in his body. "This is my last Hidden Spirit Pill… I hope the pill's efficacy is enough for my cultivation base to push through this bottleneck and break through to the next stage!"
"Spirit Nourishing Pill!" After that, he consumed the primitive Celestial Pill, the Spirit Nourishing Pill.
After taking the pills, Duan Ling Tian calmed down and wholeheartedly immersed himself into cultivating again. Except for cultivating, there were no other superfluous thoughts in his mind. The efficacies of the two pills merged, and he could feel himself almost pushing past the bottleneck.
...
Duan Ling Tian was blissfully unaware that at this moment, there were people waiting for him to come out of his closed-door cultivation in the County Governor's estate.
"Damn it! That Duan Ling Tian still hasn't come out! He's only a Heavenly Celestial, regardless of how good the cultivation environment and resources are, he'll eventually hit a bottleneck, right? Why hasn't he come out? Almost half a year has passed, and he's still not coming out?!" Zhuo Fei had just returned to his stone chamber that was second to last in the Latent Dragon Abyss. His expression was incredibly unsightly.
Several months had passed since his and his godfather's return from Bloody Specter City. They had been waiting all this while for Duan Ling Tian to come out from his closed-door cultivation. After all, they could not act against Duan Ling Tian in the Latent Dragon Abyss since they would definitely alert the County Governor. At that time, who knew if they could obtain Duan Ling Tian's heaven-grade Celestial Methods and Divine Abilities?
On the other hand, Zhou Tong remained patient as he waited for Duan Ling Tian. Perhaps, the saying was true, 'The older the ginger, the spicier it is'.
In comparison, Zhou Fei had begun to lose patience after waiting for only a few months. However, there was nothing he could do even if he was impatient. All he could do was come out of his stone chamber every once in a while to look at the last stone chamber in the Latent Dragon Abyss, checking if there were any signs of movements.
…
Two months later.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
A series of loud explosions suddenly rang from the last room in the depth of the Latent Dragon Abyss. The commotion it caused was extremely huge. Even the stone chamber above it was slightly quaking. This was a feat since the Latent Dragon Abyss that was constructed by the County Governor of Nine Specters County was extremely sturdy.
In the second to last stone chamber in the Latent Dragon Abyss, Zhou Fei who was sitting cross-legged opened his eyes in excitement. "It seems like the disturbance came from Duan Ling Tian's stone chamber!"
After half a year, Duan Ling Tian finally showed signs of movements!