"An old lady? City Governor Liu, why is that old lady looking for me?" Duan Ling Tian asked as he looked at Liu Feng Gu. He could not figure out why a powerhouse stronger than the County Governor would come looking for him. After all, he had just ascended recently.
"I don't know why she's looking for you, but there's no doubt she came with ill intention. When she mentioned you, I can see the killing intent in her eyes even though she was expressionless. There's no doubt that she wants to kill you!" Liu Feng Gu replied in a low voice.
Duan Ling Tian narrowed his eyes. A hint of fear flashed in his eyes as he thought to himself, 'I've just ascended to the Spirit Overarching Heaven roughly three years ago. When did I provoke such a powerhouse when I spent most of my time in Nine Specters County? Is she sent by Yun Qing Yan from the Divine Offering Land? No, the paths connecting the Divine Offering Land to the Devata Realms have closed… It's impossible for him to send someone here now. Moreover, if she's really sent by Yun Qing Yan, why would she need to come to Bloody Specter City to investigate my whereabouts?'
Duan Ling Tian still remembered the man who was sent by Yun Qing Yan to kill him. That man had personally torn a hole in the void and entered Yan Huang Realm directly. That man was even stronger than most Heavenly Emperors in the Devata Realms. If the old lady was sent by Yun Qing Yan, she should be able to locate him in just an instant using her Divine Consciousness. There was no need for her to investigate his whereabouts.
'If she weren't sent by Yun Qing Yan, then, who's she? I've never encountered someone so strong since I ascended to the Spirit Overarching Heaven...' Duan Ling Tian thought to himself in confusion. He really could not figure out why someone so strong wanted to kill him.
"Duan Ling Tian, it has only been roughly three years since you ascended to the Spirit Overarching Heaven. How and when did you provoke someone like that?" Liu Feng Gu asked as he looked at Duan Ling Tian.
"I don't know either." Duan Ling Tian shook his head. He was equally as baffled by this.
"Zhou Tong? There are only a few people who know I brought Zhou Tong to you so you could kill him. If it's related to him, the old lady would not have just looked for me. She didn't kill you when she met you… It's clear that the old lady has nothing to do with Zhou Tong." Duan Ling Tian shook his head and analyzed the situation.
Upon hearing Duan Ling Tian's words, Liu Feng Gu nodded in agreement. "You're right. Then, why is she targeting you?"
Duan Ling Tian furrowed his brows and said, "Could she be a powerhouse who was hired by the 15 counties to kill me?" Duan Ling Tian knitted his brows.
"A powerhouse hired by the 15 counties?" Liu Feng Gu was taken aback.
However, after mulling it over for a moment, Duan Ling Tian shook his head. "No, it's impossible. If she's hired by the 15 counties, she should know that I was in the County City of Nine Specters County. Moreover, I don't think news about what I'd done in the Liu clan has spread that far yet."
"Duan Ling Tian, what are you talking about? Why would the 15 counties hire someone to kill you?" Liu Feng Gu asked, baffled.
Although news about Duan Ling Tian's deed in the Liu clan had begun to spread, it had not reached Bloody Specter City yet.
Duan Ling Tian recounted everything that had happened in the Liu clan to Liu Feng Gu and also told Liu Feng Gu about the reason behind his departure from the County Governor's estate and Nine Specters County.
Upon hearing Duan Ling Tian's words, Liu Feng Gu sighed in relief. "So that's what happened… It seems like the old lady is a step too late in finding you..."
Duan Ling Tian felt lucky. "That's right. It seems like I unintentionally saved my life by leaving..."
"Duan Ling Tian, why did you come to Bloody Specter City if you planned to leave Nine Specters County?" Liu Feng Gu asked.
"I came to bid you farewell. Moreover, I wanted to thank you for disclosing the location of the Celestial Fire to me," Duan Ling Tian said honestly.
Liu Feng Gu's eyes brightened. "Y-you… You obtained the Celestial Fire?"
"Yes." Duan Ling Tian nodded.
"Is it a primitive Celestial Fire?" Liu Feng Gu asked.
"Yes. Initially, I wasn't sure of its grade. However, after I refined the Spirit Nourishing Pills, I discovered that it should be a primitive Celestial Fire." Duan Ling Tian nodded.
Indeed, the grey flame was only comparable to a primitive Celestial Fire. However, Duan Ling Tian did not tell Liu Feng Gu that he was unable to use all of the grey flames. Only the part that he was able to draw out from the defective metal piece was comparable to a primitive Celestial Fire. If he could draw the grey flame out in its entirety, it was probably comparable to a mediocre Celestial Fire.
"Although it's a primitive Celestial Fire, it's obviously not an ordinary one since it could only be obtained by Great Overarching Golden Celestials. Congratulations on obtaining that Celestial Fire and becoming a primitive Celestial Alchemist!" Liu Feng Gu congratulated Duan Ling Tian.
"It's all due to the information you gave me. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to obtain the Celestial Fire, let alone become a Celestial Alchemist." Duan Ling Tian smiled. At the same time, he took out a Spatial Ring and handed it over to Liu Feng Gu.
"What's this?" Liu Feng Gu was surprised.
"I don't know when and if I'll come back. This is a token of my gratitude for disclosing the location of the Celestial Fire to me," Duan Ling Tian said with a smile.
Liu Feng Gu smiled bitterly. "Duan Ling Tian, the moment I betrayed you by disclosing your location to the old woman, I've already considered all the favors returned. In fact, I'm still indebted to you. If you didn't help me, I wouldn't have been able to avenge my direct disciple. And yet, I returned your kindness with ingratitude..." As he spoke, he felt more and more guilty.
"City Governor, I understand that you had no choice but to do so… Moreover, I'm fine now, aren't I? Just accept these things since it's my wish for you to have them." Duan Ling Tian shook his head and smiled.
Due to Duan Ling Tian's repeated persuasion, Liu Feng Gu eventually accepted the Spatial Ring. However, after he claimed ownership of the ring and saw the mountainous pile of prominent Celestial Stones and the few dozen bottles of the primitive Celestial Pills, the Spirit Nourishing Pills, he hastily removed his ownership of the ring. "Duan Ling Tian, they're too much. You should keep these Celestial Stones and Spirit Nourishing Pills for your own use."
Duan Ling Tian did not take the Spatial Ring from Liu Feng Gu. Instead, he shook his head and said, "No, City Governor. Just keep it. I'm not lacking in Celestial Stones and Spirit Nourishing Pills now." Then, he added, "Since I've already achieved my objective of coming here, I'll be taking my leave now. If there's a chance, I'll visit you in the future."
Before Duan Ling Tian left, Liu Feng called out to him before he solemnly asked, "Duan Ling Tian, do you still plan on participating in the Martial Competition of the 16 counties in King Qin's Mansion?"
"I have promised the County Governor that I would. Moreover, if I rank first, King Qin's Mansion will definitely place great importance on me. At that time, I'll have access to the cultivation resources and environment there!"
"But… But what if the old lady waits for you in King Qin's Mansion? Wouldn't you be endangering your life by showing up in King Qin's Mansion? Since she's stronger than the County Governor, he wouldn't be able to protect you from her." Liu Feng Gu smiled bitterly.
"There are so many powerhouses in King Qin's Mansion, I don't think she'll dare to cause trouble there, right?" Duan Ling Tian frowned.
"That might not be the case. Who knows if there's anyone in King Qin's Mansion who's able to defeat her? How can we say for sure she's not strong enough to cause trouble there? I'm sure it won't be difficult for her to find out the reason you left once she arrives in the County City. It's highly likely that she'll wait for you in King Qin's Mansion during the Martial Competition of the 16 counties.!" Liu Feng Gu said.