1625 The Strongest Person On The Heaven Rankings

The grey-clad old man was the leader of the Mountainshade Black Market's branch in Windfall Nation. He knew what the portrait in his hand represented. Since the portrait was passed down from the Mountainshade Black Market's headquarter, he knew whichever branch that found this person would be able to obtain a hefty reward.

If they managed to bring the man in the portrait back to the Mountainshade Black Market's headquarter, the leader of the branch might even have chance to stay by the Main Leader of the Mountainshade Black Market's headquarter side for ten years and receive pointers from him.

The latter was more than enough to make people go crazy!

The leader in the Mountainshade Black Market's headquarter was also the leader with the most prominent position in Mountainshade Black Market. Moreover, he was also a top-rate powerhouse in the Lower Province of the Dao Martial Saint Land.

Being able to stay by the side of such a powerhouse for ten years and obtain pointers from him was like a dream come true.

Due to this reason, the old man's heart was in turmoil when he heard the young man who had caused a commotion a few months ago in Windfall Nation was also called Duan Ling Tian.

"Jing Yuan, make a trip to the capital of Windfall Nation and take a look at the Interim Advisor of Situ Clan. See if he's the person in the portrait." Hong Zhen, the leader of the Mountainshade Black Market's branch in Windfall Nation, raised his hand and passed the portrait in his hand to the middle-aged man. "You can leave after you've made a copy of this portrait."

"Yes, Lord Leader." Jing Yuan nodded his head solemnly and left after taking the portrait.

If Duan Ling Tian was here and saw the portrait in his hand, he would be shocked to see the portrait of the man resembled him. Moreover, the drawing was so life-like and similar to the real person.

In King Qian's Estate in Windfall Nation.

In the main palace of King Qian's estate, a white-clad young man glanced indifferently at the Fourth Prince of Windfall Nation's Imperial Family, King Qian, and said, "King Qian, if that Duan Ling Tian still refuses to come out after ten days, I can only return to the Southern Ridge Yuan Mansion… I can only suppress my cultivation base for one more month at most."

His tone sounded impolite as though he did not regard the other party like a prince at all.

A hint of anger of flashed in King Qian's eyes, but he did not show his anger at all. He forced a smile on his face as he said, "Don't worry, Master Lin. I guarantee Duan Ling Tian will come out in ten days' time even if he's unwilling! You're the strongest powerhouse on the Heaven Ranking, the fact that you came here all the way from the Southern Ridge Yuan Mansion to challenge him is an honor for him. He's really ungrateful to avoid you like this!"

"There's no reason for you to flatter me. The reason I came here is for the reward you promised. If he doesn't show himself in ten days, I'll have to leave. I'm afraid I won't be able to return you the deposit!" The young man said nonchalantly. It was obvious he was being disrespectful.

"Of course." However, King Qian did not show his anger even though the white-clad young man was being disrespectful.

In addition to being the strongest powerhouse on the Heaven Ranking in the Southern Ridge Yuan Mansion's district, the white-clad young man was also a disciple from a powerful sixth-rate clan in the Southern Ridge Yuan Mansion. The clan's power was not inferior to the Windfall Nation's Imperial Family at all.

The white-clad young man was also a lineal disciple of that clan.

Two months ago, King Qian had invited the strongest person on the Heaven Ranking from the Lin Clan in Southern Ridge Yuan Mansion to Windfall Nation so that he could kill Duan Ling Tian and snatch his Spatial Ring away. To be more precise, he wanted to snatch the Devilseal Tablet away.

Naturally, he did not tell the white-clad young man about the Devilseal Tablet. He merely told him he wanted some items from Duan Ling Tian's Spatial ring and those items were extremely valuable to him.

He had made a deal with Lin Dong. Lin Dong would kill Duan Ling Tian and give him the Spatial Ring, and he would be given another reward in return.

In order to invite Lin Dong over, the reward he had to offer had cost him an arm and a leg. However, the moment he thought about obtaining the Devilseal Tablet, he felt it was worth it.

"Hurmph! Goodbye for now then." Lin Dong, the white-clad young man, snorted coldly before he turned around and leave. He was so arrogant, it was apparent he did not think highly of King Qian at all.

King Qian's expression turned solemn as he looked at Lin Dong's retreating back.

Ye Feng who had been standing quietly at the side all this while said fawningly in a timely manner, "Fourth Imperial Highness, this Lin Dong really has no respect for anyone! You're the Fourth Prince of our Windfall Nation's Imperial family and will succeed the throne of Windfall Nation in the future, and yet, he dares to treat you like this."

"Hurmph! Other people might be afraid of my identity as the Fourth Prince of Windfall Nation's Imperial family, but he, Lin Dong, has no need to be afraid at all. The Lin Clan is not inferior to Windfall Nation at all." King Qian snorted. His words made Ye Feng feel awkward.

Soon after, King Qian stared at Ye Feng coldly as he said, "Ye Feng, what's going on with the matter you're handling? It has already been two months, but there's no movement from the Situ Clan at all!"

"Fourth Imperial Highness, I've really tried my best in these two months. The news of the Interim Advisor of Situ Clan, Duan Ling Tian, being afraid of Lin Dong, the strongest person on the Heaven Ranking from Southern Ridge Yuan Mansion, has already spread everywhere, but he still refuses to show himself. There's nothing else I can do." Ye Feng smiled wryly.

"Since you can't do anything about it, there's no need for you to concern yourself with it anymore," King Qian said nonchalantly.

Upon hearing that, Ye Feng heaved a sigh of relief. Since a while ago, he did not want to have anything to do with this.

It was obvious the Interim Advisor of Situ Clan, Duan Ling Tian, had no intention of accepting the challenge. Otherwise, he would have revealed himself a long time ago.

After a few days, the people of Windfall Nation realized that the words on the street had changed.

During the past two months, the hottest news was about Lin Dong, the strongest powerhouse on the Heaven Ranking from Southern Ridge Yuan Mansion, coming to challenge the Interim Advisor of Situ Clan, Duan Ling Tian. However, Duan Ling Tian was in closed-door cultivation and would not accept the challenge.

Naturally, it was Situ Clan who had spread the news of Duan Ling Tian being in the midst of closed-door cultivation.

The majority of the people did not believe this. They felt Duan Ling Tian was afraid of Lin Dong and did not dare to accept the challenge.

Although the topic in these few days did not deviate from Duan Ling Tian and Lin Dong, many people began to speak about Lin Dong being a guest of honor in King Qian's estate.

King Qian's estate!

These three words would not mean much if the Situ Clan was not involved.

However, because of the Situ Clan's involvement in this matter, many people's imagination began to run wild.

After all, everyone knew the Situ Clan had always been on King Rong's side.

The Interim Advisor of Situ Clan had avoided the challenge from a guest of honor from King Qian's estate. Did this not mean that King Rong's estate was inferior to King Qian's estate?

Soon after, this rumor began to spread viciously due to some instigators.

Even King Rong's estate could no longer stand it, and they immediately pressured the Situ Clan.

In the Situ Clan.

Situ Hao's eyebrows were furrowed after he sent out a man from King Rong's estate. After a while, he finally made his way to his son, Situ Hang's mansion.

"Hang'er, Master Duan still hasn't shown any signs of coming out of his closed-door cultivation?" Situ Hao asked Situ Hang.

"Why? Father, are you still worried about the rumors spreading outside? There's no need for you to worry at all. Master Duan doesn't care about those baseless rumors at all." Situ Hang smiled.

"The situation has changed." Situ Hao smiled wryly. Then he told Situ Hang about the purpose of the visit of the man from King Rong's estate. Apart from that, he also filled him in about the latest rumors that were spreading in Windfall Nation, and how everyone was saying King Rong's estate was inferior to King Qian's estate.

Although Duan Ling Tian did not have any contact with King Rong or the people from his estate up until now, he was still the Interim Advisor of Situ Clan. Situ Clan had always been on King Rong's side. To a certain extent, Duan Ling Tian had a connection with King Rong. He was even considered as someone from King Rong's estate.

Similarly, Lin Dong was also considered as someone from King Qian's estate since he was a guest of honor in his estate.

"What are the people from King Qian's estate trying to do?" Situ Hang's expression had turned extremely grave.

"I have a nagging feeling that something's not right. Initially, I thought Lin Dong has heard of Master Duan's name and came here to challenge him to find out who's stronger. However, it seems like things aren't as simple as it seems. I'm afraid King Qian's estate plays a role in this, and they must have added fuel to the flame." Situ Hao managed to uncover the truth with this one remark.

"Father, do you mean Lin Dong was invited by King Qian to strike at King Rong?" Situ Hang narrowed his eyes.

"It's possible." Situ Hao nodded. "It's a pity Master Duan still hasn't come out of his closed-door cultivation. More than three months have gone by since he entered closed-door cultivation, right?"

"That's right. It's been more than three months." Situ Hang nodded.

"King Rong's estate is feeling restless now. The man King Rong sent gave me two options according to the order that was given." Situ Hao sighed.

"What options?" Situ Hang frowned.

"King Rong said if Master Duan is really in the midst of closed-door cultivation, we'll have to think of a way to get him to come out of closed-door cultivation and ask him if he's confident about fighting Lin Dong. If he is, then he is to accept the challenge. If he's not, then he has to retreat!" Situ Hao replied.

"How to retreat?" Situ Hang's frown deepened.

"Master Duan will have to publicly announce his departure from the Situ Clan and cut all ties with the clan." Situ Hao sighed.

"How's this possible!" Situ Hang's expression turned grave. "Master Duan is my life savior. How can we let him do that? Father, I disagree with this. What's the second option King Rong gave you?" Situ Hang seemed to be grasping at straws.

"The second option only applies if Master Duan is not in closed-door cultivation. He has to retreat immediately if that's the case!" Situ Hao let out a long sigh.

"Then, Clan Leader Situ, which option would you choose?" At this moment, accompanied by the sound of a door creaking, a purple figure walked out from one of the rooms in the courtyard as sunlight shone on him.

The purple figure was a young man with dashing brows and bright eyes. He was incredibly handsome.

Upon seeing the purple-clad young man, Situ Hang's eyes lit up as he quickly walked toward him. "Master Duan!"

"Master Duan." Situ Hao smiled wryly. Naturally, he knew his words had been overheard by Duan Ling Tian. He felt a little guilty.

The purple-clad young man who had just walked out of the room was none other than Duan Ling Tian who had been in closed-door cultivation for more than three months.