Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Zhou Shu Qiu had long heard from Lyu Luo that Duan Ling Tian and Huan’er shared a room. However, she was still taken aback when she witnessed it for herself. She stood at the entrance of Duan Ling Tian and Huan’er’s room, pondering on what she should before she decided to silently walk away.
Meanwhile, the prominent Celestial Alchemists from the Tai Yi Celestial Sect, Situ Ming and Yang Chong, were passing by the courtyard and saw Zhou Shu Qiu leaving with a dejected expression on her face.
“The little princess of the Thousand Spiders Celestial Sect seems to have fallen for Master Duan…” Yang Chong said to Situ Ming as they watched Zhou Shu Qiu slowly disappear from their sight.
“It’s no surprise,” Situ Ming said, “Master Duan’s not even 100 years old, and he’s achieved such remarkable feats… Apart from that, he’s from a powerful clan in the central area. Most women would fall for such an outstanding young man. I’ve long heard that this little princess has high standards when it comes to men… Only a perfect man would make her fall head over heels in love.”
“Master Situ, you seem to understand the minds of women?” Yang Chong said, slightly taken aback.
“Of course. After all, I’ve had my fair share of relationships when I was a young lad,” Situ Ming proudly said. He puffed out his chest and held his head up high as they returned to their courtyard.
“Fair share of relationships?” It took a while for realization to dawn on Yang Chong. ‘Master Situ seems very straight-laced. I didn’t expect him to be an expert in relationships.’ His impression of Situ Ming had changed drastically at this moment.
…
A few days later, Duan Ling Tian and the people of the Tai Yi Celestial Sect gathered at the front courtyard of the Thousand Spiders Celestial Sect’s residence in Alchemy City, preparing to depart from the city.
“Brother Ling Tian, how long would it take you to completely master the Celestial Method and Divine Ability you obtained?” Huan’er sent Duan Ling Tian a Voice Transmission as they waited to depart.
“I’m not sure… I’d be able to master them faster if I put in more effort to comprehend them,” Duan Ling Tian replied through Voice Transmission. He had been spending his time cultivating and comprehending the Duke Grade Celestial Method and Divine Ability he had won from the Blissful Sect and the Profound Heaven Celestial Sect respectively during the Alchemy Conference. His winning record was unprecedented in the history of the Six Southeastern Regions.
‘The Eastern Purple Qi is mediocre but well-balanced… It shouldn’t take me long to comprehend them since it bears similarities to the Divine Abilities that I’d comprehended. As for the Duke Grade Celestial Method, the Immobilization King Method… I’m afraid I’ll need to spend more time on it. If it’s a Celestial Method suitable for swords, it’ll only require half the effort from me since I have the knowledge I gained from mastering the Sovereign Heart Sword. Alas, it’s not related to the swords at all. Just as the moon waxes and wanes in cycles, things won’t always go my way… I should be grateful and content for obtaining the Celestial Method and Divine Ability,’ Duan Ling Tian thought to himself.
During the past two days, Duan Ling Tian had been comprehending the Celestial Method, the Immobilization King Method, and the Divine Ability, the Eastern Purple Qi. He discovered that in the Devata Realm, as long as the Celestial Methods or Divine Abilities were of the same types, they would share a lot of similarities. For example, the Eastern Purple Qi was a mediocre and well-balanced Divine Ability with no distinctive characteristics, and it bore similarities to the Divine Abilities he had mastered in the past. Thus, it was easier for him to comprehend it.
‘I should choose the same type of Celestial Methods and Divine Abilities if conditions permit. It’ll help me to comprehend them faster.’ Duan Ling Tian came to this conclusion after thinking about it. Previously, although he was aware of this, now that he was experiencing it, he could acutely feel the difference.
Soon enough, Jian Qiu Luo, the Sect Leader of the Thousand Spiders Celestial Sect, and few others finally arrived.
“Master Duan.” Jian Qiu Luo, the Sect Leader of the Thousand Spiders Celestial Sect, and her disciples greeted Duan Ling Tian.
“Sect Leader Jian.” Duan Ling Tian responded with a smile. Then, he looked at Zhou Shu Qiu and nodded slightly. After all, it would be rude if he did not acknowledge an old acquaintance. He saw her nodding back at him in response and thought about her drastic change in behavior over the past few days. She had been rather friendly, but she had suddenly become cold and indifferent. He was truly confused by her sudden change in behavior. He only thought to himself with a sigh, ‘A woman’s heart is like a needle at the bottom of the ocean!’
Jian Qiu Luo was quick to notice Zhou Shu Qiu’s indifferent attitude toward Duan Ling Tian. She asked through Voice Transmission, “Junior sister, what’s wrong? You like Master Duan, don’t you?”
Zhou Shu Qiu’s face flushed red as soon as she heard Jian Qiu Luo’s words. She quickly retorted, “Senior Sister, you must be joking! That womanizer? I won’t like him even if the entire male population is dead.”
“What’s wrong? Are you jealous of Miss Huan’er?” It was easy for Jian Qiu Luo to see through Zhou Shu Qiu’s thoughts. She advised Zhou Shu Qiu, “Junior sister, in this world, strong and powerful men rarely settle down with just one woman. Master Duan is a good man, you should grab hold of it if an opportunity comes your way.” Although she had no prior experience in relationships, as the saying went, ‘One might not have seen it but one must have heard about it’. She had been in a sect where women made up the majority of it for so many years, it was only natural for her to know a thing or two about relationships.
“Senior sister, it’s not what you think…” Zhou Shu Qiu wanted to explain herself but found herself unable to find the words for it.
At the same time, a voice suddenly rang in Duan Ling Tian’s mind. “Master Duan, I assume you’re aware that the little princess of the Thousand Spiders Celestial Sect is suddenly being cold to you?”
“Hm?” Duan Ling Tian looked around and discovered the Voice Transmission was sent by Situ Ming. “Master Situ, do you know why she’s giving me the cold shoulders?” Although he was aware of her sudden change in attitude, he did not pay any attention to it. Since Situ Ming seemed to be aware of the reason, his curiosity was suddenly piqued.
“Master Duan, three days ago…” Situ Ming proceeded to recount how Zhou Shu Qiu had discovered Duan Ling Tian and Huan’er cultivating in the same room.
“What does it have to do with her sudden change of attitude?” Duan Ling Tian asked, puzzled.
“Master Duan, aren’t you aware that she has feelings for you?” Situ Ming stared at Duan Ling Tian in disbelief.
“What?!” Duan Ling Tian was taken aback. He instinctively glanced at Zhou Shu Qiu before he turned back to look at Situ Ming and said, “She…she has feelings for me? Master Situ, there must be a misunderstanding.”
“It’s definitely not a misunderstanding!” Situ Ming shook his head and said, “Master Duan, it seems to me that the little princess of the Thousand Spider Celestial Sect is an old acquaintance of yours… If I’m not mistaken, her current attitude is totally different from when both of you were in the Wastelands, right?”
“It seems like it…” Duan Ling Tian realized that Situ Ming was right. He turned to look at her again and coincidentally caught her looking at him. She averted her eyes immediately as her face flushed red. He sighed inwardly upon seeing this, realizing Zhou Shu Qiu did, indeed, have feelings for him. He did not expect this at all since he had only treated her like Murong Bing’s best friend. He had assumed her positive attitude toward him was due to Murong Bing as well.
‘I should keep a distance from Miss Zhou…’ Duan Ling Tian thought to himself. He already had enough on his plate. His two wives, partner, parents, children, and friends were waiting for him to rescue them in the Divine Offering Land. In the next 900 years, he would need to increase his strength as fast as possible so that when the spatial tunnel connecting the Divine Offering Land to Devata Realms opened again, he could go to the Divine Offering Land to rescue them all! Even if he did not have to rescue his loved ones, he would still avoid Zhou Shu Qiu, similar to how he used to avoid the women surrounding him in the mundane realm. He loved his wives very much and did not want to hurt them because of another woman. Murong Bing was an exception due to the accident. He had to be responsible for his action after all. Even with a peerless beauty like Huan’er, he had been consciously keeping a distance from her as well.