Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
“You’re looking for me, Li An?” Duan Ling Tian asked nonchalantly.
“Impudent!” Ji Fan, the Arhat of the Blissful Sect, cried out fiercely. His eyes flashed with a murderous intent. “How dare you address my grandmaster by his name? Do you really think of yourself as someone from a powerful clan in the central area?” Then, he said mockingly, “How preposterous!”
“Hm?” Bai Ping, Tie Tai He, and Situ Ming, the Sect Leader, the prominent Celestial Alchemist, and the Supreme Elder of the Tai Yi Celestial Sect, were baffled. They did not understand Ji Fan’s words. What did Ji Fan mean by ‘Do you really think of yourself as someone from a powerful clan in the central area? Was… was it possible that Duan Ling Tian was not from a powerful clan in the central area?
“What do you mean?” Duan Ling Tian frowned slightly as he looked at Ji Fan. Inwardly, he had already guessed that the Blissful Sect must have already seen through his lie. ‘It seems like the Blissful Sect has thoroughly investigated me… Otherwise, they won’t dare to act so rudely. They must know I’m not from a powerful clan in the central area.’
“What do I mean?” The sneer on Ji Fan’s face deepened when he heard Duan Ling Tian’s words. “Duan Ling Tian… The Blissful Sect hasn’t been idle over the past few years. We’ve sent our people all over the Wasteland. You’re not from a powerful clan in the central area. You’re a transcender, someone who had ascended to the Devata Realm from a mundane realm.” His eyes were brimming with smugness, triumph, disdain, and confidence when he spoke.
Bai Ping, Tie Tai He, and Situ Ming could not help but laugh upon hearing Ji Fan’s words. Duan Ling Tian was so talented even though he was not even 100 years old. Before reaching the age of 100, he was already a prominent Celestial Alchemist capable of refining the Overarching Heaven Pill. His alchemy skills were widely acknowledged as the best among the prominent Celestial Alchemists in the Six Southeastern Regions. Apart from that, at such a young age, he was already an Overarching Heavenly Supreme Celestial. How could there be a transcender from the mundane realm who was a top prominent Celestial Alchemist and Overarching Heavenly Supreme Celestial before even reaching the age of 100?
“What?!”
“Master Duan… is a transcender?!”
“Arhat, it’d be more believable if you told us Master Duan is a direct disciple of the Southern Heaven Divine Emperor of the Southern Heaven Territory… Do you think we’re fools and will believe your claim that Master Duan is a transcender?” Situ Ming said with a sneer.
“Exactly!” Tie Tai He chimed in, “A cultivator who’s an Overarching Heavenly Supreme Celestial and a top prominent Celestial Alchemist under the age of 100 is a transcender? If you can find a transcender like this in the Spirit Overarching Heaven, or even the 81 Devata Realms, I, Tie Tai He, will give you my head to do as you please if you can find a transcender in the 81 Devatal Realms capable of such feats!” It was clear did not believe Ji Fan at all.
“Absurd!” Bai Ping who was usually taciturn agreed with Situ Ming and Tie Tai He as well.
“You… You don’t believe me?” Ji Fan felt wronged and furious when he saw the disbelief on Bai Ping, Tie Tai He, and Situ Ming’s faces.
Duan Ling Tian laughed at the sight of this.
Li An looked at Duan Ling Tian with a calm expression and said to Ji Fan, “Fan’er why are so worked up? After all, if it weren’t for the Blissful Sect’s investigation, we would also find it hard to believe that Duan Ling Tian is just a transcender. There’s no need to argue with them. Don’t forget the purpose of our visit. Focus on our objective and ignore everything else.” He looked at Duan Ling Tian with a calm and peaceful expression as he conversed with Ji Fan.
Bai Ping, Tie Tai He, and Situ Ming could sense the indifference and disdain in Li An’s tone, and an uneasy feeling rose in their hearts. However, even with that, they were still not convinced by Ji Fan’s claim of Duan Ling Tian being a transcender.
Li An looked at Duan Ling Tian and said, “Duan Ling Tian, I’m here on behalf of the Blissful Sect. Our sect has thoroughly investigated your background.” Without waiting for Duan Ling Tian’s reply, he continued to say, “I’m going to give you two options: First, Join the Blissful Sect and become a Revered Elder of the sect. We won’t mistreat you. Second, if you refuse, I’ll kill you today.” His eyes gleamed with killing intent during the end of words.
The killing intent from a Nine Palaces Celestial Duke caused Duan Ling Tian to shudder inwardly. He felt uncomfortable; he knew his life was hanging by a thread at this moment.
“What makes you think I’m not from a powerful clan in the central area just because I’m a transcender?” Duan Ling Tian asked with a straight face.
Ji Fan laughed when he heard Duan Ling Tian’s words. “Duan Ling Tian, are you really going to insist you’re from a powerful clan in the central area?” Then, he added, “Since you’re not reconciled, let me share with you another piece of information. The Blissful Sect has some knowledge of the great clans in the central area. After our investigation and speaking to people who have been to the central area before, we discovered there’s no Crimson Sky’s Duan clan in the central area at all.” He spoke slowly as though to make sure everyone would clearly hear his words.
Before Ji Fan could refute his words, Duan Ling Tian looked at Li An and nonchalantly said, “It seems like the Blissful Sect expended a lot of effort to investigate me. However, do you think the Blissful Sect will be able to find anything if the Crimson Sky’s Duan clan is a reclusive clan? If I’m not mistaken, even if I choose the first option, you’ll still kill me anyway. You’ll probably try to dispose of me a few years down the road. There’s no need to deny it. How can you possibly spare someone who’s liable to become a threat to the Blissful Sect in the future?” He looked at Li An knowingly as he spoke.
“You’re very intelligent.” Li An’s expression changed when he heard Duan Ling Tian’s words. Surprisingly, he did not deny Duan Ling Tian’s words. The killing intent in his eyes intensified as he said, “Well, you could’ve lived a few more years. It’s really a waste, but as it is, I guess you’ll have to die today.”
Celestial Origins Energy surged and rippled out Li An’s body like a wave. His aura easily suppressed the people from the Tai Yi Celestial Sect.
Even Bai Ping and Tie Tai He who were Seven Stars Celestial Dukes turned slightly pale from the pressure of Li An’s Celestial Origin Energy.
It was only natural since Li An was no ordinary Nine Palaces Celestial Duke. He was invincible to everyone below Ten Directions Celestial Dukes. His strength was just lacking a little compared to an ordinary Ten Directions Celestial Duke. He was the strongest Nine Palaces Celestial Duke in the Six Southeastern Regions. Naturally, his aura and Celestial Origins Energy were far superior to ordinary Nine Palaces Celestial Dukes.
Swoosh! Swoosh!
Bai Ping and Tie Tai He exchanged a look before they rushed to Duan Ling Tian’s side to protect him.
“Sect leader, Elder Tie…” Duan Ling Tian did not expect Bai Ping and Tie Tai He to protect him even though they knew they were no match for a Nine Palaces Duke like Li An. He was, naturally, moved by this gesture.
“Sect leader, Elder Tie… This is between me and him. There’s no need to involve yourselves in this matter,” Duan Ling Tian said. He knew Bai Ping and Tie Tai He could not protect him from Li An.
“Master Duan,” Bai Ping said unwaveringly in a low voice, “Regardless, if you’re a transcender or from a powerful clan in the central area, all I know is you’re currently the Chief Celestial Alchemist of the Tai Yi Celestial Sect! Therefore, if anyone wants to harm you, they’ll have to do it over my dead body.” He sounded determined.
Although Tie Tai He stayed silent, his towering stature standing unmoving next to Bai Ping made it clear he shared Bai Ping’s thoughts.
Li An chuckled derisively, amused, “Do you really think you’re able to stop me from killing Duan Ling Tian? Both of you are just puny Seven Stars Celestial Dukes.”
In just a blink of an eye, Li An appeared in front of Bai Ping and Tie Tai He, leaving no time for the duo to respond at all.
The gap of their strength was way too big!
Boom! Boom!
After the explosion sounded, Duan Ling Tian noticed Bai Ping and Tie Tai He were no longer by his side. Only Li An stood at the spot where Bai Ping and Tie Tai He were standing earlier.
Bai Ping and Tie Tai He were sent flying back in a wretched manner. It was painfully clear they were no match for Li An at all.
Duan Ling Tian looked at Li An with a serene expression as he held a hairpin out of sight. “Li An, I’d like to know if the decision to kill me is your own or the collective decision of the Blissful Sect?”