What a joke!
The reason Duan Ling Tian came here to participate in the Rising Sky Ranking Battle was to kill Xu Jing, the Young Mansion Master of Rising Sky Mansion.
Naturally, Duan Ling Tian was the only one aware of this.
When the group of people was wondering if Xu Jing would challenge Duan Ling Tian or not, Xu Jing finally shifted his gaze to Duan Ling Tian. To him, this aloof young man called Li Feng was just a sectless cultivator.
To be honest, when he found out Duan Ling Tian had killed Xu Can, not only did he not hate Duan Ling Tian, but he even had a better impression of him.
Xu Can was the only one who could threaten his position in the Rising Sky Mansion before he cultivated the Devouring Dark Devil Technique. Xu Can was the only person among his peers who could fight for the position of Mansion Master with him. Now that Xu Can was dead, he no longer had a rival for the position. However, even if Xu Can did not die, he was not afraid of fighting him. He was at the peak of the Refined Saint Stage after all!
The Flowery Monk and Jing Xu Zi who were at the Mastery Refined Saint Stage had even been killed by him. Was there any need for him to be afraid of Xu Can who was merely at the Intermediate Refined Saint Stage?
Although Xu Jing had no interest in seeking revenge for Xu Can, in the face of the eager looks from the people of the Rising Sky Mansion, he quickly made up his mind to challenge Li Feng.
In his opinion, challenging Li Feng was a mere formality. Since Li Feng had witnessed his strength earlier, he did not think Li Feng would dare to accept his challenge.
Although it was just a mere formality, it would be enough to elevate his position in the hearts of the people from Rising Sky Mansion. This would undoubtedly be beneficial to him when he became the Mansion Master in the future.
Under the watchful eyes of the others, a person soon walked out from the group of Rising Sky Mansion's people.
"Please, Young Mansion Master." The moment this Rising Sky Mansion's disciple appeared, he went to the chess piece Xu Jing was on and challenged Xu Jing.
Naturally, nobody really thought he had the courage to challenge Xu Jing. They all knew this was all just ruse so that Xu Jing could challenge Li Feng, Duan Ling Tian's fake persona.
"I admit defeat." Just as everyone had expected, Xu Jing admitted defeat as soon as the disciple from the Rising Sky Mansion challenged him.
In the next instant, without waiting for Xu Jing to challenge Duan Ling Tian, everyone shifted their eyes to Duan Ling Tian since they knew what Xu Jing's next course of action was.
Just as they had expected, after Xu Jing admitted defeat, he soared up into the sky before he arrived on Duan Ling Tian's chess piece. Xu Jing maintained his position, hovering in the air. He looked down at Duan Ling Tian domineeringly. "You're Li Feng, right? To think you actually dare to kill disciples from my Rising Sky Mansion! Fight me if you dare!"
Fight me if you dare?
Xu Jing's words obviously implied that if Duan Ling Tian did not accept his challenge, it would mean he was a coward.
However, the crowd did not approve of his words.
"Hurmph! Does he think he can provoke Li Feng into accepting his challenge by saying such words?"
"That's right! It might still work if he didn't reveal his true strength, However, now that he has shown his true strength, how could Li Feng possibly accept his challenge? Isn't that just seeking death?"
"Li Feng should only be a Mastery Refined Saint Stage Martial Cultivator like the Flowery Monk and Jing Xu Zi at most."
"The Flowery Monk and Jing Xu Zi are really quite pitiful… If Xu Jing didn't deliberately conceal his cultivation base, they wouldn't have fought with him, and they wouldn't have died."
"Exactly! This Xu Jing is too cunning!"
The crowd whispered among themselves. They did not think Duan Ling Tian would accept Xu Jing's challenge since he was so powerful.
It could be said that in the Rising Sky Mansion's district, or even in all of the fourth-rate forces' districts, it was unlikely there was anyone below the age of fifty who was as strong as Xu Jing. He was not even fifty years old yet, but he was already at the peak of the Refined Saint Stage!
Such a person was rare even in those quasi third-rate forces.
Just when everyone thought Duan Ling Tian would admit defeat, he stepped out and looked at Xu Jing indifferently. "Based on your words, it seems that you think I'll admit defeat?"
"Don't tell me you're not going to admit defeat?" Xu Jing smirked when he heard Duan Ling Tian's words.
"Why should I admit defeat? Since you want a battle, let's battle then!" Duan Ling Tian continued to say nonchalantly. However, when he reached the end of his sentence, his voice got louder.
Since you want to battle, let's battle then!
The moment these words left Duan Ling Tian's mouth, silence immediately descended on the Nimble Chess Set. One could even hear the rapid and faint breathing of the people present on the scene.
Everyone's eyes were trained on Duan Ling Tian.
"This Li Feng actually accepted Xu Jing's challenge?"
"My goodness! Isn't he afraid of death?"
"With Xu Jing's strength, unless Li Feng's also at the peak of the Refined Saint Stage, he won't be a match for Xu Jing at all. Since he dares to accept Xu Jing's challenge, don't tell me he's also a Martial Cultivator at the peak of the Refined Saint Stage?"
"How's that possible? Don't forget he's not even forty years old yet."
"A Martial Cultivator below the age of forty who's at the peak of the Refined Saint Stage, put aside there's no one like that in the Lower Province of the Dao Martial Saint Land, even if such a person exists in the Upper Province of the Dao Martial Saint Land, he would be considered outstanding there as well."
When the crowd regained their senses, they began their discussion that revolved around Duan Ling Tian.
"Little Brother Li Feng, don't be rash! Although Xu Jing has only broken through to the peak of the Refined Saint Stage, and his cultivation base is not that stable yet, his cultivation base is still at the peak of the Refined Saint Stage no matter what. The Mastery Refined Saint Stage can't compare to it at all." At this moment, Ren Zhong reminded Duan Ling Tian through Voice Transmission.
Liu Hong Guang also reminded him as well.
Whether it was Ren Zhong or Liu Hong Guang, both of them did not want Li Feng to accept Xu Jing's challenge since he might be killed.
Li Feng was a talented Martial Cultivator that they regarded highly. Naturally, they did not wish any harm to fall upon him.
Unfortunately, faced with their words, Duan Ling Tian merely smiled and responded through Voice Transmission, "Thank you for your concern, but I believe he doesn't have the ability to kill me."
The peak of the Refined Saint Stage?
Cultivation base was not stable yet?
Upon hearing Ren Zhong's words, Duan Ling Tian's originally chaotic emotions began to calm down.
Naturally, he believed Ren Zhong's words.
After all, he was the Vice Mansion Master of the fourth-rated force, Sky Hurdle Mansion.
Previously, he was most worried that Xu Jing's cultivation base at the peak of the Refined Saint Stage had already stabilized since it would not be easy to deal with him anymore if that was the case.
However, after learning that Xu Jing's cultivation base had not stabilized, he felt more at ease. Naturally, he only felt a little at ease. Even if Xu Jing's cultivation base had not stabilized yet, it was still at the Refined Saint Stage. The Mastery Refined Saint Stage could not compare to it at all.
Ren Zhong was unaware of Duan Ling Tian's current cultivation base. If he knew his cultivation base was only at the Pristine Refined Saint Stage, he would most likely be so shocked that he would get a heart attack!
Killing Xu Can, an eminent powerhouse in the Intermediate Refined Saint Stage, when his cultivation base was only at the Pristine Refined Saint Stage. Nobody had heard of such a ridiculous thing before in the Dao Martial Saint Land.
However, Duan Ling Tian had done it.
"Good! Good! Very good!" Xu Jing who was momentarily taken aback by Duan Ling Tian accepting his challenge so directly finally regained his senses. His eyes were sparkling as he looked at Duan Ling Tian. "Li Feng, I must admit you're pretty brave! Unfortunately, not all brave people can survive in this world of martial artists! I'll quickly show you how foolish you are for accepting my challenge. Wait a minute! Perhaps, you won't even know how foolish you're being since I'll probably be able to kill you in one blow!"
When Xu Jing reached the end of his sentence, he smiled mockingly. It was as though he was certain Duan Ling Tian would be killed by him.
"Is that so?" Even if Duan Ling Tian had a good temper, he could not help but feel furious when he heard Xu Jing's words.
"What? Are you angry?" Xu Jing flashed a dazzling smile. "Well then, you better get angry all you want now… You might not get a chance later on."
"Hurmph!" Duan Ling Tian snorted and ignored him. He only stared at him coldly.
"You can make the first move. I won't take advantage of you," Xu Jing said mockingly.
When Duan Ling Tian heard Xu Jing's provocative words, the flame of rage surged up in his heart.
However, most people felt indifferent when they heard Xu Jing's words since they felt he had the capability to speak such words.
"Did Li Feng's head get kicked by a donkey? To think he actually accepted Xu Jing's challenge!"
"Could it be he doesn't know he's seeking death?"
"Hurmph! He's just seeking death!"
Not many people in the crowd regarded Li Feng highly.
Apart from some sectless cultivators who looked at Duan Ling Tian worriedly, everyone was watching this as though they were watching a show.
These people were mostly from the other sects and had a dislike for sectless cultivators. They particularly disliked sectless cultivators who were outstanding like Duan Ling Tian since it made them feel jealous. The fact that he possessed such a cultivation base at his age was even more infuriating.
Duan Ling Tian rose up into the air from the giant chess piece. He finally came to a stop when he was at the same height as Xu Jing.
Determination could be seen in Duan Ling Tian's eyes as he looked at Xu Jing.
'Xue Nai, Brother Ling Tian will help you eradicate this problem today… From now on, you can be as carefree as you were before.' When Duan Ling Tian thought of the current Han Xue Nai who was laden with anxiety compared to the mischievous Han Xue Nai from before, he felt his heart ached again.
Due to this reason, he must kill Xu Jing today no matter what even though it was a little difficult with his current strength.
'And Jing Xu Zi… Although we're strangers, since your Yin Yang Two Qis Swords had indirectly helped my Sovereign Heart Sword make a breakthrough, it can be considered as me owing you a favor. I'll repay you today. When Xu Jing dies, you should be able to rest in peace in the nether world,' Duan Ling Tian thought to himself.