1630 Dark Clouds Hanging Over The Mountain

In Bai Li Hong's eyes, Duan Ling Tian was no longer an outsider. Due to this reason, he bluntly said, "Junior Brother, since you've already announced your departure from the Situ Clan, there's no need for you to show up at the battle tomorrow. As the strongest powerhouse on the Heaven Ranking, Lin Dong is very powerful and is acknowledged by the Southern Ridge Yuan Mansion. Not only that, it's apparent he's filled with confidence since he dares to issue a challenge even after he knows about your strength. You'll only be placed in a disadvantageous position if you have the Death Duel with him." Bai Li Hong's expression was grave.

"That's right, Duan Ling Tian. Although prestige is important, it's nothing compared to your life. Moreover, you can find him for a battle after you've broken through to the Saint Stage and defeat him to wash away the humiliation. Even if there are people who said you're afraid of Lin Dong now, in the future, they'll know you're stronger when you defeat him," Chen Shao Shuai chimed in.

"Young Master, although I don't know how strong Lin Dong is compared to you, I still think you shouldn't show up tomorrow," Xiong Quan said.

Soon after, Sima, Gold Thug, and the Nangong Twins chimed in as well. The words they said were similar to the ones the others had spoken earlier. All of them were trying to dissuade him from showing up at the battle tomorrow.

"Don't worry. I wouldn't have accepted Lin Dong's challenge if I don't have any confidence! I'm not afraid of anyone below the Saint Stage." Duan Ling Tian merely smiled. He had a confident expression on his face.

When Duan Ling Tian saw a few of them still looked worried, he added, "All of you have seen me grow to this stage… Don't tell me all of you think I'm someone one who pointlessly seeks death? If I'm really that kind of person, would I even still be alive now?" He shook his head when he reached the end of his sentence

When Bai Li Hong and the others heard his words, they were rendered speechless immediately.

Now that they had thought about it carefully, it seemed like Duan Ling Tian really was not the kind to overestimate himself and seek death.

There were many instances where they had doubted Duan Ling Tian, but every time, he would surprise them.

When they thought of this, coupled with Duan Ling Tian's confidence, they immediately felt at ease.

"Then we'll go and watch you defeat Lin Dong tomorrow." Nangong Yi smiled.

"That's right! We want to see how the strongest person on the Heaven Ranking is defeated by you," Chen Shao Shuai chimed in.

Now that Duan Ling Tian had reminded them, their mentalities had undergone 180 degrees change in mere seconds. They were all filled with confidence in Duan Ling Tian.

"Alright." Duan Ling Tian nodded his head and smiled. Although he no longer said anything, the confident smile on his face was enough to explain everything.

Bai Li Hong and the others no longer disturbed him and bade him farewell before they returned to their respective rooms.

Meanwhile, Duan Ling Tian had also returned to his room. However, he did not enter the Seven Treasures Exquisite Pagoda to cultivate. Instead, he sat cross-legged on the bed.

"How do I enter the second stage of the Sovereign Heart Sword?" Duan Ling Tian muttered to himself. Hints of confusion could be seen in his eyes.

Although he had memorized all the contents of the Sovereign Heart Sword, and he had long entered the first stage, he felt he still had quite a long way to go in regards to entering the second stage.

He knew the general principle of the second stage, but it was extremely difficult to enter it.

After spending more than one year in the third level of the Seven Treasures Exquisite Pagoda, he had spent a lot of thoughts on this. In the end, he came to the conclusion that he would only make it to the second stage of the Sovereign Heart Sword when he found the opening. Once he found the opening, he would be able to enter the second stage of the Sovereign Heart Sword.

While Duan Ling Tian thought about this, night had already fallen, but he still could not come to a proper conclusion.

Duan Ling Tian finally moved to stretch his limbs when dawn arrived. He smiled wryly as he came to his senses. "I still can't find a way… Looks like I'll need some luck to find the opening. I really hope the chance would come soon so my strength will increase another level again."

Actually, Duan Ling Tian was quite pleased with the progress he had made in the last three months or more.

'The strongest powerhouse on the Heaven Ranking? I'm not afraid of you even before I went into closed-door cultivation, let alone now! Since you're seeking death, I'll fulfill your wish then! There's no need for you to return to the Southern Ridge Yuan Mansion anymore.' When Duan Ling Tian thought of the Death Duel in the afternoon, his eyes flashed coldly as he narrowed them.

"Lin Dong seems to be a lineal disciple of a sixth-rate clan in the Southern Ridge Yuan Mansion. I wonder how King Qian would face the wrath of the sixth-rate clan when Lin Dong dies in Windfall Nation! It may seem like a sixth-rate clan is inferior to the Windfall Nation's Imperial Family, but they're actually on even ground." A sneer appeared on the corner of Duan Ling Tian's mouth.

Since King Qian wanted to kill him, he would let him have a taste of his own medicine!

Early in the morning, Duan Ling Tian walked out of the room just in time to see Situ Hang eating breakfast in the huge courtyard.

"Master Duan, you're up early. You didn't cultivate?" When Situ Hang saw Duan Ling Tian, he was a little astonished. He thought Master Duan would stay in the room to cultivate until it was time to leave for the Death Duel. However, Duan Ling Tian's appearance made him realize how wrong he was.

Faced with Lin Dong, the strongest powerhouse on the Heaven Ranking from the Southern Ridge Yuan Mansion, this Master Duan was extremely calm. It made him feel that Duan Ling Tian was really confident in defeating Lin Dong from the Southern Ridge Yuan Mansion.

However, he dismissed his thoughts as soon as they appeared.

Lin Dong was the strongest powerhouse on the Heaven Ranking from Southern Ridge Yuan Mansion. He was originally not a simple person. Since he dared to issue a Death Duel, this meant he felt confident. Otherwise, he would not seek death on his own accord.

When Situ Hang saw Duan Ling Tian taking a seat, he ordered his servant to prepare another set of breakfast.

When he saw how Duan Ling Tian was eating breakfast with a full appetite and a calm expression, he could not help but smile wryly. "Master Duan, you're going to have a Death Duel with Lin Dong this afternoon. Are you really not worried at all?"

"What's there to be worried about?" Duan Ling Tian asked in return.

Duan Ling Tian's words stunned Situ Hang, rendering him speechless.

Duan Ling Tian's confidence caused him to be unable to continue the discussion.

Naturally, he wished that Duan Ling Tian would be able to survive the Death Duel and emerge as the winner. However, when he thought about Lin Dong, his wish seemed very farfetched.

In his opinion, Duan Ling Tian was confident because he had yet to realize how terrifying Lin Dong was.

'It's alright… At most, I'll ask Grandpa Hou to make a move when Master Duan is in danger. I'm willing to be scolded as long as Master Duan is safe,' Situ Hang thought to himself.

He had a wild and crazy plan. As soon as Lin Dong was about to kill Duan Ling Tian, he would ask Situ Hou to save Duan Ling Tian.

Naturally, his name would be tarnished if he had done that. However, he had already made up his mind. He would say that he had done it on his own accord, and it had nothing to do with the Situ Clan at all.

However, Situ Hang seemed to have completely forgotten if he had Situ Hou to help him, King Qian, naturally, had Saint Stage powerhouses at his side who were also prepared for something like this.

As the saying went, 'Being worried would only bring about chaos.' This could be said about Situ Hang's current situation.

Time continued to pass by quietly, and soon after, noon finally arrived.

With Situ Hao at the lead, the people from Situ Clan left their estate and the capital in an ostentatious manner. They left through the northern gate and made their way north.

After leaving the capital, all of them rose up into the air and flew.

Bai Li Hong and the others were also among the people from Situ Clan.

Currently, Bai Li Hong was the Interim Advisor of Situ Clan. He was acknowledged by everyone in the clan since he was a Three Star Saint Inscription Master.

Due to this reason, although Duan Ling Tian no longer had any connection to the clan, Sima and the others still lived quite a comfortable life due to Bai Li Hong's presence.

Actually, even without Bai Li Hong's identity as a Three Star Saint Inscription Master, they could also live a carefree life in Situ Clan since Feng Wu Dao was the father of Lady Feng from Drift Blaze Sect. It was impossible the Situ Clan had not thought about this.

"Where's Duan Ling Tian?" Chen Shao Shuai glanced right and left, but he did not see Duan Ling Tian at all.

"I didn't see him since early this morning. I don't know where he has gone." Nangong Yi looked right and left as well before he shook his head.

"After Duan Ling Tian had breakfast with me, he left by himself first. According to him, he's no longer the Interim Advisor of Situ Clan so it's better for him to go to Northern Mang Mountain on his own." Situ Hang approached them at this moment and smiled wryly.

"If that's the case, he must have already arrived at Northern Mang Mountain." Chen Shao Shuai and Nangong Yi finally understood what was going on.

Northern Mang Mountain was situated 10,000 miles away to the north of Windfall Nation's capital.

To a normal person, 10,000 miles was a long journey. However, to the people in Situ Clan, including Chen Shao Shuai and the others whose cultivation base were the weakest, 10,000 miles was not that far.

Soon after, they arrived at Northern Mang Mountain even though they had to take the speed of Chen Shao Shuai and the others into consideration.

"There are so many people!" When they arrived at Northern Mang Mountain and saw the dark mass of people in the sky, they were all taken aback.

The sky above the Northern Mang Mountain was filled with people. From afar, it seemed as though black clouds were gathered at the top of Northern Mang Mountain. It was as though it was pressuring it.

"The people from the capital came to the mountain yesterday in order to secure a good spot to watch the show," Situ Hang explained, "Apart from people from the capital, even people from around the capital had rushed here the moment they received the news. However, now that they're crowding the top of Northern Mang Mountain, where's Master Duan and Lin Dong going to fight? Don't tell me they didn't think about this at all?"

When Situ Hang looked at the crowd of people in the sky above Northern Mang Mountain, he shook his head.