1616 A Visi

After taking leave from his duty, the Situ Clan's guard did not cultivate after he entered the Situ Clan's estate. His destination was one of the inner mansions. To be more precise, his destination was the huge courtyard inside the Second Master, Situ Ming's inner mansion.

The Situ Clan's guard was granted entrance to meet Situ Ming after he gave his name.

"Second Master."

With just a glance, Situ Ming identified the guard as someone he had arranged to stand guard at the Situ Clan's great entrance. He asked immediately, "What? What's going on?"

This man whom he had arranged to stand guard at the door would report to him about the people going in and out of the Situ Clan's great entrance.

"Second Master, that Master Duan has returned," the guard said.

"He has only just returned?" Situ Ming frowned.

He had already known Duan Ling Tian had left the Situ Clan before anything had even happened to the Dark Nether Sect's base in the capital. In fact, he had suspected Duan Ling Tian to be the cause of the commotion in the Dark Nether Sect's base in the capital since he possessed the strength to enter the top ten of the Heaven Ranking.

However, when he thought of Zhou Shu, the person-in-charge of the Dark Nether Sect's base in the capital, he dismissed the thought because he felt Duan Ling Tian was no match for him.

"Yes." The guard nodded before saying, "He even brought back eight people with him."

"Eight people?" Situ Ming frowned. "Who are they?"

"I have no idea." The guard shook his head.

"Alright, I understand. You may take your leave," Situ Ming replied with a wave of his hand.

After the guard left, Situ Ming's frown deepened. His expression had turned grave as well. "Where did Duan Ling Tian come from? It seems as though he had appeared out of nowhere in Windfall Nation and destroyed my plan!"

The 'plan' he spoke of referred to that time when he had almost killed Situ Hang.

Naturally, his son was not alone in planning that. He was the true mastermind behind the idea.

The news of Duan Ling Tian's return soon reached Situ Hao, the Clan Leader of Situ Clan, and Situ Hang, the Great Young Master of Situ Clan. Both of them came out to greet Duan Ling Tian at the same time.

"Clan Leader, Young Master Hang." When Duan Ling Tian saw Situ Hao and Situ Hang, he smiled and greeted them before he introduced Bai Li Hong and the others to them.

"Master Bai Li." They were friendly to Bai Li Hong since they had long heard about him.

However, they did not forget Feng Wu Dao and the others as well since they were all Duan Ling Tian's good friends.

Soon after, Situ Hao personally arranged the accommodation for Bai Li Hong and the others in the vicinity of Situ Hang's residence. This arrangement was, no doubt, made for the convenience of Duan Ling Tian and the others so that they did not have to travel far to meet each other.

After the matter of accommodations were dealt with, Duan Ling Tian looked at Feng Wu Dao. "Uncle Feng, get some rest today… We'll leave for Drift Blaze Sect first thing in the morning tomorrow."

"Alright." Although Feng Wu Dao felt anxious, he was not in a hurry. He nodded his head as a sign of assent before he returned to his room to rest.

After bidding farewell to Bai Li Hong and the others, Duan Ling Tian left with Situ Hao and his son and returned to Situ Hang's huge courtyard.

"Master Duan, you actually saved them all on your own!" Situ Hang had a shocked expression on his face.

"Master Duan, you did not encounter the Sect Leader and Supreme Elder of Dark Nether Sect when you were there, right?" Situ Hao asked.

He knew the Dark Nether Sect very well. After all, he had wanted to annihilate the sect for a long time now. However, when he recalled the relationship between the Dark Nether Sect and Situ Ming's faction, he was worried Situ Ming's faction would be forced to take desperate measures if he had rashly made a move on the Dark Nether Sect. They might even join forces with the two Saint Stage powerhouses from the Dark Nether Sect to go against him and his people. If they really joined forces, his faction would not be a match for them.

At that time, even if the ancestor of Situ Clan intervened, his faction would be greatly injured, and it would be almost impossible for them to fight with Situ Ming's faction.

As the ancestor of Situ Clan, in consideration of the wellbeing of the clan as a whole, he would not blame Situ Ming and his people even if he knew they were in the wrong.

The Dao Martial Saint Land followed the law of the jungle where the weak was a prey to the strong. It was the survival of the fittest!

Due to this reason, he was unable to help Duan Ling Tian even though he wanted to. He could not gamble with the lives of his people since it might result in a loss.

The fact that Duan Ling Tian managed to rescue all his friends with his own strength was completely out of his expectation.

"I did encounter them." Duan Ling Tian nodded.

"You did?" When Situ Hao and his son, Situ Hang, heard this, their eyes widened immediately. "T-Then…"

"The Dark Nether Sect's Supreme Elder is dead. As for the Sect Leader of Dark Nether Sect, he has run away. The Dark Nether Sect no longer exists except in name," Duan Ling Tian answered at a speed that was neither fast nor slow. He spoke so casually that it seemed as though he was talking about some insignificant matter.

"WHAT?!" Duan Ling Tian's words stunned both Situ Hao and his son! Both of them looked at Duan Ling Tian to gauge his expression, but he only had a serene expression on his face. It did not seem like he was lying.

"Young Master Hang, didn't I say I might give you a surprise before I left?" Duan Ling Tian smiled as he looked at Situ Hang.

A surprise!

At this moment, Situ Hang finally remembered the day when Duan Ling Tian said he did not need their help. Before he left Situ Clan, he did say he would give them a surprise.

However, he had thought the surprise Duan Ling Tian had mentioned was him killing the Vice Sect Leaders of Dark Nether Sect at the Dark Nether Sect's base in the capital.

At this moment, he finally realized Duan Ling Tian had done something he did not dare to even imagine before this. The Supreme Elder of Dark Nether Sect was dead, the Sect Leader had run away, and the sect had ceased to exists except in name.

'It seems like there's a terrifying force backing Master Duan,' Situ Hang thought to himself, 'Could it be the Drift Blaze Sect's powerhouses who had done this?"

When he recalled the close relationship between Duan Ling Tian and Lady Feng from Drift Blaze Sect, coupled with the fact that Lady Feng was the Sect Leader of Drift Blaze Sect's favorite disciple, he came to this conclusion in the end.

Situ Hao also shared the same thoughts as Situ Hang.

The Dark Nether Sect had been annihilated!

The moment he thought of this, he was filled with joy. There was a hint of excitement in his eyes as well when he looked at Duan Ling Tian.

"Thank you, Master Duan." Situ Hao, the Clan Leader of Situ Clan, actually bowed to show his gratitude. If word spread out, how many people would be shocked by this?

Situ Hang also bowed to express his gratitude as well.

Naturally, Duan Ling Tian was unaware of Situ Hao and his son's thoughts.

Duan Ling Tian looked at Situ Hao as he said, "Clan Leader, my senior brother and my friends will be staying in the Situ Clan for the time being. You..."

Before Duan Ling Tian could finish his words, Situ Hao interrupted him. He said solemnly and sincerely, "Master Duan, Master Bai Li, and your friends can stay in the Situ Clan as long as they want. I give you my words that they'll be treated as guests of honor, and we'll make them feel at home."

"Thank you very much, Clan Leader Situ." Duan Ling Tian quickly expressed his gratitude.

"You flatter me, Master Duan." Situ Hao smiled. "You're the Interim Advisor of our Situ Clan. It's only natural for me to do this."

"Master Duan." Situ Hang's expression suddenly turned glum as though he had recalled something. "I overheard your conversation with Mister Feng earlier. Will you be going to the Drift Blaze Sect with him tomorrow?"

"Yes." Duan Ling Tian nodded.

"Master Duan." At this moment, Situ Hao's expression turned slightly grave. "There's something that you're unaware of. During the time you're away, Situ Ming's faction was in an uproar. It was fine previously because they didn't know about your whereabouts. However, I'm sure they've received the news now that you've returned. I'm afraid they might make a move if you leave tomorrow," Situ Hao voiced out his concern.

"That's right." Situ Hang nodded. "Even if Grandpa Hou follows both of you, it still won't be completely safe. Based on our speculation, it's very likely that Situ Ming thinks you're responsible for the death of the two Vice Sect Leaders of Dark Nether Sect in the Dark Nether Sect's base in the capital. If you continue to disrupt his plans over and over again, he definitely won't let the matter slide if he's presented with an opportunity."

"Is that all?" Duan Ling Tian shook his head and smiled as though he was not concerned by this at all.

When Situ Hao saw Duan Ling Tian was not very bothered about this matter, he took a deep breath before saying, "Master Duan, this is not a trivial matter… Situ Ming is a fierce and ambitious person. He has hated you to the core ever since you saved Hang'er's life. Regarding the Dark Nether Sect, he might not be 100% certain, but he definitely won't let you go." Situ Hao smiled wryly. "Even if Elder Hou follows you tomorrow, your safety is not guaranteed. There's a possibility Situ Ming might personally make a move with the other Supreme Elder of Situ Clan. Elder Hou won't be able to stop two Saint Stage powerhouses at once. However, if you insist on going, Elder Hou and I will accompany you on the trip."

"Clan Leader Situ, thank you for your good intention, but there's no need for that." Duan Ling Tian shook his head. A confident expression appeared on his face. "As long as you help me to spread the word about the purpose of our visit to Drift Blaze Sect, Situ Ming won't dare to make a move on us even if his courage is multiplied by ten."

"Purpose? What purpose?" Situ Hao could not help but ask. It seemed as though he was being swayed by Duan Ling Tian's confidence.

Situ Hang also looked at Duan Ling Tian curiously.

"That Uncle Feng of mine is none other than the father of Lady Feng of Drift Blaze Sect! Tell me, if my purpose of visiting the Drift Blaze Sect spreads out, would Situ Ming still dare to act recklessly?" Duan Ling Tian smiled.

When Duan Ling Tian's words entered Situ Hao and his son's ears, it was as though a bomb had exploded. They only regained their senses after a long time.

"T-That Mister Feng is actually Lady Feng's father?" Situ Hang was so shocked that his eyes were as wide as saucers.