"Why is it them?" Qin Yu exclaimed in shock when he saw the people who were currently descending. He had only seen Zhou Fei before, but it was not difficult for him to figure out the old man's identity. The old man had to be Zhou Tong, the first Revered Elder in the County Governor's estate in Nine Specters County! Moreover, the old man did not have the aura of a Golden Celestial. The aura he emitted screamed he was stronger than a Golden Celestial. Despite already knowing the answer, he asked, "Duan Ling Tian, that old man with Zhou Fei is Revered Elder Zhou Tong, right?"
Based on what Zheng Qiu said, Qin Yu knew that before Duan Ling Tian went into closed-door cultivation one and a half year ago, Zhou Tong had happily given Duan Ling Tian two bottles of primitive Celestial Pills, the Hidden Spirit Pills, when the County Governor of Nine Specters County promised to give Zhou Tong a Great Overarching Pill if Duan Ling Tian managed to rank in the top three of the Martial Competition of the 16 Counties. How could a person's attitude undergo a heaven and earth change in just a year and a half? It was obvious that the old man who accompanied Zhou Fei here did not come with good intentions.
"You're right, that's Zhou Tong," Duan Ling Tian replied.
Despite already knowing the answer, Qin Yu inhaled sharply when he heard Duan Ling Tian's words. He asked through Voice Transmission, "Didn't he give you two bottles of Spirit Nourishing Pills a year and a half ago? I heard that he was eager to help you grow stronger so you can rank in the top three of the Martial Competition of the 16 Counties. It's obvious he came harboring ill intentions. Why is his change so extreme when just a short time has passed?"
"Indeed, he came harboring ill intentions." Since Qin Yu could tell Zhou Tong was up to no good, Duan Ling Tian could, naturally, see that as well. Moreover, he even figured out the two individuals earlier must have been planted by Zhou Tong as well.
Duan Ling Tian thought to himself with a sigh, 'I was too careless.' However, the two individuals' words had sounded true to him. Otherwise, he would not have chased after them without preparing in advance. Naturally, it was also because he longed for a profound-grade cultivation technique that he had recklessly chased after the two individuals. If he obtained a profound-grade cultivation technique to replace his yellow-grade cultivation technique, the Crystal Clearance Technique, his cultivation speed would increase by several folds!
Qin Yu verbalized the thoughts in Duan Ling Tian's mind through Voice Transmission, "It seems like the two individuals were sent by Zhou Tong… However, it did not seem like they were lying about the profound-grade cultivation technique."
Swoosh! Swoosh!
Duan Ling Tian smiled faintly before he said, "Revered Elder Zhou Tong, what coincidence meeting you here."
Zhou Tong said indifferently, "It's not a coincidence. I've been waiting for you for some time now."
Duan Ling Tian feigned a shocked expression on his face.
"Duan Ling Tian!" Zhou Fei looked at Duan Ling Tian and sneered. "Who would've expected you to conceal yourself so well? If I didn't go to Bloody Specter City to investigate your background, I would've never guessed you'd just ascended to the Spirit Overarching Heaven two and a half years ago! Moreover, you'd ascended to the Heavenly Celestials' Celestial Ascension Pool." His sneer grew more pronounced as he spoke.
Upon hearing Zhou Fei's words, Qin Yu's expression changed immediately. Naturally, he knew about this, but he did not expect Zhou Fei would discover this. Moreover, Zhou Fei had intentionally gone to Bloody Specter City to investigate the matter. Realization dawned on him at this moment. No wonder Zhou Tong's attitude underwent such a huge change. Zhou Fei must have informed him about all Duan Ling Tian. It was not difficult to figure out that Zhou Tong coveted Duan Ling Tian's extraordinary Celestial Methods and Divine Abilities. After all, a mediocre Celestial Pill like the Great Overarching Pill was incredibly insignificant compared to a heaven-grade Celestial Method or Divine Ability. Now that he found out the reason behind Zhou Tong's arrival, he turned to look at Duan Ling Tian. However, he discovered Duan Ling Tian remained calm when faced with Zhou Fei's mocking words. It seemed as though even if Mount Tai were to collapse before him, Duan Ling Tian would still be able to maintain his composure.
Duan Ling Tian looked at Zhou Fei and chuckled. "You're quite determined. Even those things have been investigated by you." His eyes were brimming with disdain as he continued to say, "Zhou Fei, if you had a fraction of this determination in regard to cultivating, you would not have been so weak that I could even defeat you with just a strike."
Duan Ling Tian's words were akin to pouring salt on Zhou Fei's wound. As soon as he heard this, his expression changed greatly. He glowered at Duan Ling Tian before he shouted, "Why are you acting so arrogant? If it were not for your Celestial Methods and Divine Abilities, how could you be a match for me? You're just a newly ascended lowly trash!"
"Lowly trash?" Duan Ling Tian smiled. "If I'm trash, what does it make you, someone who had his limbs severed by lowly trash? Does it make you a piece of sh*t?" His smile deepened as he spoke.
Upon hearing Duan Ling Tian's words, Zhou Fei was rendered speechless, and his expression turned even more unsightly. Duan Ling Tian was speaking the truth. The gap between them was so wide that Duan Ling Tian could easily defeat him with just a strike! In the end, he said in a low voice, "Duan Ling Tian, you can continue being a smartass. However, it won't change the fact that you're merely a dog in my godfather's cage. If you were told to go east, you couldn't even look west. If you were told to go south, you couldn't even look north!" He sneered as he continued to say confidently, "If you obediently reveal your Celestial Methods and Divine Abilities, you might be able to live for a few more years. Otherwise, you'll have a taste of what it's like to have a life worse than death!" It was clear he did not doubt Zhou Tong's ability at all.
"Is that so?" Duan Ling Tian flashed a grin. From the beginning until now, he did not reveal even the slightest hint of panic. It was as though he did not fear Zhou Tong at all.
"Smile while you still can. Once my godfather acts, you won't be able to smile even if you want to!" Zhuo Fei sneered.
At this moment, Zhou Tong who had remained silent until now finally spoke up, "Duan Ling Tian!" His cloudy eyes seemed exceptionally bright at this moment as he looked at Duan Ling Tian. "It's truly shocking that you'd only ascended two and a half years ago. If I'm not mistaken, you're still a Heavenly Celestial, right?"
Duan Ling Tian responded to the question with another question, "Would you believe me if I say no, Revered Elder Zhou Tong?"
Before Zhou Tong could reply, Zhou Fei scoffed loudly. He said contemptuously, "Duan Ling Tian, who do you think you are? Do you expect us to believe you became a Golden Celestial in just two and a half years? What a joke! If I master your heaven-grade Celestial Methods and Divine Abilities, I'll be able to kill you with a finger!"
Duan Ling Tian did not even deign to spare Zhou Fei a glance. He only looked at Zhou Tong calmly. Zhou Fei was not worthy of his attention at all.
"Duan Ling Tian!" When Zhou Fei saw Duan Ling Tian's blatant disregard, he was resentful and embarrassed. He glared at Duan Ling Tian until it looked as though they were going to pop out of their sockets.
At this moment, Zhou Tong's eyes flashed coldly as he said, "Regardless if I believe you or not, there's no doubt that you'll be captured by me today!"
Even after Zhou Tong dropped his pretenses, Duan Ling Tian still looked calm. He asked nonchalantly, Revered Elder Zhou Tong, if I'm not mistaken, those two individuals were sent by you to lure me here, right?"
"Correct," Zhou Tong replied apathetically. He did not put much thought into why Duan Ling Tian was able to maintain his composure. Both him and Zhou Fei thought Duan Ling Tian was only putting on a front to try and confuse them.
Duan Ling Tian said, "I'm really curious… Why did it seem like they were telling the truth when they spoke about the profound-grade cultivation techniques? There were no flaws in their words."
"That's because they're speaking from my experience a year and a half ago. At that time, I had obtained information on the whereabouts of a profound-grade cultivation technique and had even left the Nine Specters County to look for it." An almost unnoticeable hint of regret flashed in his eyes briefly when he spoke.
However, it did not escape Duan Ling Tian's eyes. He instantly exposed Zhou Tong. "What a pity! It seems like the profound-grade cultivation technique was obtained by someone else."
"Well, I don't think it's a pity." Zhuo Tong's eyes shone as he stared at Duan Ling Tian. "Compared to an insignificant profound-grade cultivation technique, I'm more interested in heaven-grade Celestial Methods and Divine Abilities!"