Zhou Tong had personally inscribed the Communication Celestial Talisman that he had just used. Its speed was comparable to that of a Great Overarching Golden Celestial, and it was only slightly slower than his top speed. Those who were weaker than a Great Overarching Golden Celestial would not be able to catch up to his Communication Celestial Talisman, let alone block it. However, there would always be an exception.
Although Duan Ling Tian's cultivation base was far behind a Great Overarching Golden Celestial, his attack was no weaker than an ordinary Great Overarching Golden Celestial when he used the Devata Artifact, the Seven Orifices Exquisite Sword, and unleashed all his strength. For this reason, he caught up to the Communication Celestial Talisman and blocked it. In fact, due to the loss of its artifact soul, the Seven Orifices Exquisite Sword was not as powerful as it used to be. Otherwise, Zhou Tong's Communication Celestial Talisman would not have gone as far as it did.
Zhou Tong's expression changed drastically when he saw the Communication Celestial Talisman he had used was so easily blocked. A mixture of fear, shock, and disbelief could be seen in his eyes when he looked at Duan Ling Tian again. He wondered inwardly, 'How's it possible that someone who had just ascended to the Spirit Overarching Heaven two years ago is stronger than I am?' As impossible as it might seem, he had to accept this fact!
"Duan Ling Tian..." Qin Yu murmured, thoroughly shocked, as he looked at Duan Ling Tian who was standing next to him. Although he knew Duan Ling Tian was rather strong and had mastered a number of heaven-grade Celestial Methods and Divine Abilities, he did not expect Duan Ling Tian's strength to be comparable to a Great Overarching Golden Celestial. He had witnessed Duan Ling Tian defeat Zhou Tong, the first Revered Elder of the County Governor's estate in Nine Specters County and one of the two Great Overarching Golden Celestial in Nine Specters County. How could he not feel shocked? Most importantly, he knew if Duan Ling Tian did not hold back, Duan Ling Tian could have killed Zhou Tong. At this moment, he felt as though he was looking at a stranger when he looked at Duan Ling Tian who seemed to have been imbued by divine power.
After Duan Ling Tian used his seven-colored sword Formation that was boosted by the Seven Orifices Exquisite Sword to bind Zhou Tong, he looked at Qin Yu and asked with a smile, "Qin Yu, do you want to return to Bloody Specter City or should I send you back to the County City?" He did not want to waste time and planned to bring Zhou Tong back to Bloody Specter to hand him over to Liu Feng Gu, the City Governor of Bloody Specter City. He truly did not expect he would be able to defeat Zhou Tong in merely two years after he had arrived in the County City of the Nine Specters County!
"Alright." Duan Ling Tian nodded. Then, he maintained his hold on Zhou Tong with the seven-colored sword Formation while he carried Qin Yu with him as he sped toward Bloody Specter City at a speed comparable to a Great Overarching Golden Celestial.
As they got closer to Bloody Specter City, Zhou Tong seemed to smell the stench of his death. He quickly humbled himself and pleaded, "Duan Ling Tian, if you let me go, I'll acknowledge you as my master! I'll even help you take over Nine Specters County and become the County Governor!"
"Help me become the County Governor of Nine Specters County?" Duan Ling Tian smiled. His eyes narrowed as he looked at Zhou Tong apathetically. "Zhou Tong, if you have the ability to help me become the County Governor of Nine Specters County, would you have remained the first Revered Elder for so long? Do you think I'm a three-year-old child?" A hint of ridicule could be heard in his voice when he spoke. If Zhou Tong were capable of taking over the position of County Governor, Zhou Tong would have seized the position for his own.
"Duan Ling Tian, although you're strong, your strength is on even ground with the County Governor at most. If we join forces, we'll be able to kill him," Zhou Tong said.
Duan Ling Tian laughed before he said, "Who's to say you won't join forces with the County Governor and attack me at that time?"
Zhou Tong's expression darkened when he heard Duan Ling Tian's words. Indeed, this thought had crossed his mind. After all, he could kill two birds with one stone if his plan were successful. After being seen through by Duan Ling Tian, he said without much conviction, "Y-you have to trust me!" He steeled himself and continued to persuade Duan Ling Tian, "Once you become the County Governor of Nine Specters County, you don't have to worry about cultivation resources. Although Nine Specters County is under King Qing's Mansion's rule, King Qing's Mansion, generally, would not intervene in the county's affairs. You can do whatever you want once you become a County Governor."
Seeing as they were about to arrive in Bloody Specter City, he no longer wanted to waste words with Zhou Tong. He bluntly said, "I'm sorry, I'm not interested! I've only been talking to you because I was bored. Do you really think I'm unaware of what you're thinking?" While he was in Bloody Specter City, he had learned that one would need the approval of King Qing's Mansion in order to become the County Governor of Nine Specters County. If he were to kill the County Governor of Nine Specters County, instead of becoming the new County Governor, he would be hunted down by King Qing's Mansion. This was similar to how one would need approval from the County Governor in order to become a City Governor. Knowing all these things, he was, naturally, aware that Zhou Tong harbored ill intentions. Even if Zhou Tong did not join forces with the County Governor to kill him, Zhou Tong could use the death of the County Governor to frame him and cause King Qing's Mansion to hunt him down. At that time, he would not be able to stay in Nine Specters County, and Zhou Tong would benefit from it instead.
Upon hearing Duan Ling Tian's words, he was enraged, and his expression turned unsightly. "You…" He studied the seven-colored sword Formation that restrained him, looking for a weak spot. His injuries had healed. He thought if he could just find a weak spot, he would be able to escape.
When Bloody Specter City appeared in the distance, Duan Ling Tian suddenly bellowed, "Trying to escape?"
Zhou Tong was frightened. He looked guilty as he lowered his gaze.
Duan Ling Tian scoffed.
Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!
In just an instant, a series of short-lived sword cries rang in the air as the seven-colored sword Formation beneath Duan Ling Tian's feet shot toward Zhou Tong who was also restrained by the seven-colored sword Formation.
Upon seeing Duan Ling Tian's attack, his expression changed drastically as he cried out, "No!" His Celestial Origin Energy surged out of his body in just an instant. Alas, although he had recovered a lot, he was still a lot weaker compared to when he was at the peak of his strength. It took just a short moment before his flame-like Celestial Origin Energy was snuffed out by Duan Ling Tian's seven-colored sword Formation.
The soft sounds of flesh being pierced could be heard as the seven-colored sword Formation left hideous bloody wounds on Zhou Tong's body, causing his body to look like a honeycomb. Similar to earlier, Duan Ling Tian's attack avoided all of Zhou Tong's vital points to keep him alive.
In the end, Zhou Tong could only use his remaining Celestial Origin Energy to heal himself. His aura had greatly weakened again. When he finally healed himself, cold sweat trickled down his forehead. He snarled, "Duan Ling Tian…" He lunged at Duan Ling Tian as though he was a beast that wanted to rip a chunk of Duan Ling Tian's flesh off. He was furious that Duan Ling Tian had weakened him so much, effectively taking away all his chances to escape!
On the other hand, Duan Ling Tian ignored the resentful and furious Zhou Tong. After all, Zhou Tong was a dead man walking.
'Is he… Is he really a Great Overarching Golden Celestial?' Qin Yu thought to himself, amused. Zhou Tong, a Great Overarching Golden Celestial, was no different from a lamb being readied for slaughter at this moment!