However, at this moment, the spacious front yard was wrecked as though a violent storm had just landed. The stone tiles, trees, and plants were overturned and scattered everywhere.
"So this is the strength of a Celestial Duke?"
"Didn't you hear what the Thousand Spiders Celestial Sect's Guardian Xue Lang said? All three of them are Two Forms Celestial Dukes!"
"Celestial Dukes have nine divisions of cultivation base. One Basic Celestial Dukes are the weakest, and Two Form Celestial Dukes are a level stronger than One Basic Celestial Dukes!"
"Well, if they're Two Form Celestial Dukes, this level of destruction is not surprising."
"Don't tell me none of you has discovered that even though we're so close to the battle, their energies have avoided us..."
"You're right!"
When the shockwave wrecked the front yard, the people from the Soaring Dragon Celestial Sect had risen into the sky to avoid being caught in the backlash. However, they soon discovered the shockwave seemed to deliberately avoid them.
Indeed, Huang Chao, Xue Lang, and Teng Qing had taken the people of the Soaring Dragon Celestial Kingdom into consideration and avoided harming them. To be more precise, they were trying to avoid harming that each of them had already considered as belonging to them. Apart from that, they also did not wish to injure the powerhouses younger than 100 years old who had come to participate in the Wasteland Grand Contest. After all, they would have to explain themselves to their respective sect leaders if the young powerhouses were harmed.
The onlookers surveyed their surroundings. After the dust had settled, they discovered the front yard was completely wrecked. Even Long Dong Ping, the Emperor of the Soaring Dragon Celestial Kingdom, was shocked by the sight. They did not expect that just a single exchange of blows between three Celestial Dukes would reduce the front yard to such a state. They found the destructive power astonishing and terrifying!
Meanwhile, Duan Ling Tian, Huan'er, and the other three hovered in the sky and looked down.
Unlike Long Fei Yun and Duan Ling Tian who seemed calm, Qin Yu and Qiu Ling wore an extremely grave expression on their faces.
Meanwhile, Huan'er hugged Duan Ling Tian's arm with a calm expression as well as she surveyed the wreckage.
A few hundred meters across from Teng Qing, two figures whose robes were in tatters looked extremely miserable. These two figures were none other than Huang Chao, the elder of the Tai Yi Celestial Sect, and Xue Lang, the Guardian of the Thousand Spiders Sect.
As though it was premeditated, Huang Chao and Xue Lang trembled in unison before they spat out a mouthful of blood. Their faces were as pale as a sheet of blank paper. After they took a deep breath, they looked at Teng Qing in shock and horror as they cried out in unison, "Teng Qing, you actually broke through and became a Three Talent Celestial Duke?!" It seemed as though they had rehearsed this line beforehand.
"Three Talent Celestial Duke?"
Upon hearing Huang Chao and Xue Lang's words, everyone's expressions turned grim except for Duan Ling Tian and Huan'er.
Three Talent Celestial Dukes were much stronger than One Basic Celestial Dukes and Two Forms Celestial Dukes. There were less than twenty Three Talent Celestial Dukes in the Three Major Celestial Sects of the Wasteland.
"It seems like Elder Teng Qing has recently broken through and became a Three Talent Celestial Duke!"
"No wonder Elder Teng Qing is so confident he'll be able to obtain the beauty for himself. As it turns out, he has already become a Three Talents Celestial Duke! Since Elder Huang Chao and Guardian Xue Lang are both Two Forms Celestial Dukes, they're naturally not a match for him."
"It seems like the beauty will fall into Elder Teng Qing's hands."
As the people from the Soaring Dragon Celestial Kingdom discussed among themselves, they looked at Huan'er who was standing next to Duan Ling Tian sympathetically.
Under everyone's watchful eyes, Teng Qing glanced at Huang Chao and Xue Lang indifferently as he asked, "Gentlemen… Do you still want to continue?"
Huang Chao and Xue Lang exchanged a glance upon hearing his words. Their expressions darkened, but they remained silent. They were well aware that they were not a match for Teng Qing even if they joined forces since Teng Qing was now a Three Talent Celestial Duke. Although they were unwilling, they had no choice but to give up on the beauty.
Seeing the lack of objection from Huang Chao and Xue Lang, Teng Qing laughed heartily. Then, he flew toward Huan'er like a goshawk. Everyone looked at him as he flew at a speed that was neither fast nor slow.
People like Long Dong Ping who suspected Duan Ling Tian had an ordinary background turned to look at Duan Ling Tian immediately. They were curious about how Duan Ling Tian was going to react. They wondered if Duan Ling Tian would be able to protect the woman by his side. In their opinion, the only thing Duan Ling Tian could do at this point to stop Teng Qing was to reveal his extraordinary background. After all, regardless of how talented Duan Ling Tian was, he was no match for a Three Talent Celestial Duke yet.
When Teng Qing was about to reach Huan'er's side, a purple figure flashed in front of Huan'er, shielding her from Teng Qing's unrestrained gaze.
Upon seeing this, Teng Qing's expression darkened immediately. "Brat, you're seeking death!" His eyes gleamed coldly as Celestial Origin Energy surged out of his body. It was clear he was prepared to kill Duan Ling Tian who stood between him and Huan'er.
Upon facing Teng Qing who was poised to attack, Duan Ling Tian's expression remained impassive as he said, "I'll give you one chance… Get lost within three breaths, and I'll let your behavior slide… Otherwise..."
Before Duan Ling Tian finished speaking, Teng Qing sneered and interjected, "Otherwise what?" He looked at Duan Ling Tian contemptuously as he continued to say, "You're just an insignificant ant in one of the Celestial Kingdoms of the Wasteland. How dare you run your mouth before me, telling me to get lost. If I don't kill you today, I'll be doing my reputation a disservice!" As soon as he finished speaking, his Celestial Origin Energy surged toward Duan Ling Tian like a fierce beast that was going to devour Duan Ling Tian.
Duan Ling Tian said in a faint voice, "They say that birds of a feather flock together… Your behavior has made me disappointed with the Martial Dragon Celestial Sect." Then, he turned to look at Long Fei Yun and said, "Thirteenth Prince, I might not be able to fulfill my promise to you to join the Martial Dragon Celestial Sect. However, rest assured that even if I don't join the Martial Dragon Celestial Sect, I'll still fulfill my other promise!"
Naturally, Duan Ling Tian's words and the nature of the promise were only understood by Long Fei Yun and Qiu Ling. Long Fei Yun knew that Duan Ling Tian would still help him ascend the throne and become the next Emperor of the Soaring Dragon Celestial Kingdom even if he did not join the Martial Dragon Celestial Sect!
Before Long Fei Yun could reply, a loud laughter rang in the air.
Teng Qing laughed as though he had heard a funny joke as his Celestial Origin Energy continued to surge. He regarded Duan Ling Tian as though he was looking at a fool. "Disappointed in the Martial Dragon Celestial Sect? Not joining the Martial Dragon Celestial Sect?"
When Teng Qing finally stopped laughing, he looked at Duan Ling Tian mockingly and said, "Do you think you can join the Martial Dragon Celestial Sect just because you want?" Then, he added, "Brat, I've changed my mind. Initially, I was going to grant you an easy death. However, seeing how you insult the Martial Dragon Celestial Sect, I'm going to make you suffer so much that you wish for death before I finally kill you!"