“Huan’er, don’t worry… Your mother will be fine.”
After Zhuge Feng and Zhuge Yun left, Duan Ling Tian brought Huan’er to the Gan Jiang Peak. He consoled her as they climbed up the peak.
“Brother Ling Tian, what about my father… Do you think he’s fine as well?” In the past, all she knew was her mother. She did not know anything about her father. Now that she learned more about her father, it was only natural that she began to think and worry about him as well.
“I’m sure he’ll be fine,” Duan Ling Tian smiled and said, “After all, all he did was cancel the marriage arrangement. They can’t just take his life because of that, right? It’s likely that they only imprisoned him in the Heavenly Pool Palace to make him reflect on his mistake.” Despite his words, he was, in fact, not that optimistic. The Heavenly Pool Palace was not an ordinary heaven-grade force since they had the support of the Heavenly Emperor of the Boundless Heaven. Otherwise, the Solitary Destructive Heaven’s Heavenly Sword Mountain would not have handed Huan’er’s father to the Heavenly Palace Pool.
Duan Ling Tian continued to console Huan’er. “Huan’er, what you can do now is to cultivate while we wait for the return of the two progeny leaders. If your father is truly imprisoned, it’d be quite impossible for your mother to rescue him on her own. You need to improve your strength in order to help her. Naturally, I’ll help you as well.”
Huan’er grew calmer after listening to Duan Ling Tian’s words. Her eyes shone with determination as she said, “Brother Ling Tian, I must become stronger!”
Since the beginning, Huan’er did not place much importance on growing stronger. When Duan Ling Tian was weaker, she was only motivated to grow stronger so she could help him. However, after Duan Ling Tian had surpassed her, she had begun to neglect her cultivation. Needless to say, now that she found out the predicament her parents were in, she was determined to grow stronger.
“I’ll accompany you. Let’s cultivate together,” Duan Ling Tian replied.
Before Zhuge Feng left, he had told Duan Ling Tian that he could cultivate anywhere in Gan Jiang Peak. Since Zhuge Feng was not around, apart from Duan Ling Tian and Huan’er, it was empty. Moreover, since it was just the duo cultivating, the Heaven and Spirit Earth Energy was better than that at the Tai-Ah Peak.
After exploring for a while, Duan Ling Tian discovered a damaged stone platform midway up Gan Jiang Peak. Further in the damaged stone platform was a cave. Inside the cave, there was a dusty chamber. Clearly, this place used to be a place for cultivation. Since it was secluded, he decided to cultivate here.
Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!
A gust of wind stirred up in the chamber with a wave of Duan Ling Tian’s hand, clearing the dust away.
Then, he said, “Huan’er, let’s cultivate here.”
Duan Ling Tian sat crossed-legged on a stone bed in the chamber with Huan’er next to him and began to cultivate.
When he cultivated, he released the Heaven and Earth Spirit Energy just enough to surround him and Huan’er. Since he could not constantly maintain the output of the Heaven and Earth Spirit Energy while he was cultivating, he had asked the World Cleansing Divine Water for help.
In his Little Word, the Divine Tree of Life had grown even bigger. At this moment, the two Ning Dragons were lying under the Divine Tree of Life, looking as though they were asleep. However, the fact was they were cultivating.
Meanwhile, five energies of different colors that belonged to the Five Divine Elements revolved around it. All the Five Divine Elements in his body had already evolved to their sixth form. However, it would be difficult for them to further evolve to their seventh form through the Heaven and Earth Spirit Energy, which he obtained from the remnant of a Realm of Gods, in his Little World. The only way for them to evolve now was to devour another Divine Element. Naturally, the Divine Elements could only devour Divine Elements similar to them. For example, the Profound Divine Metal could only devour other Profound Divine Metals to evolve. Devouring other Divine Elements would be useless. It was also for this reason, Duan Ling Tian did not have to worry there would be internal fighting between the Five Divine Elements in his body.
At this moment, the World Cleansing Divine Water’s voice rang in Duan Ling Tian’s ears. “Little Tian, I’ve spoken to the Ning Dragons. They’re willing to acknowledge you as their master only if you promise to return their freedom to them after you’ve become a god.”
Duan Ling Tian’s eyes brightened as soon as he heard the World Cleansing Divine Water’s words.
The World Cleansing Divine Water continued to say, “After you become a god, they won’t be able to help you anyway so I think you should agree to their condition.”
Needless to say, Duan Ling Tian did not hesitate to agree to the two Ning Dragons’ conditions.
While Huan’er was immersed in her cultivation, Duan Ling Tian and the Ning Dragons in his Little World made a pact under the guidance of the World Cleansing Divine Water. With the pact, both parties would not be able to go back on their words.
After it was done, the two Ning Dragons roared to acknowledge Duan Ling Tian as their master.
Alas, Duan Ling Tian could not understand them at all. However, it was not important. It did not matter if they could not understand each other as long as the Ning Dragons understood when or who he wanted them to attack.
After dealing with the Ning Dragons, Duan Ling Tian began to absorb the Heaven and Earth Spirit Energy and began to cultivate.
…
After a year, Zhuge Feng and Zhuge Yun finally returned.
As soon as Duan Ling Tian saw the twins, he looked at Zhuge Yun and asked without beating around the bush, “Senior, did you find out anything?”
Zhuge Yun glanced at Huan’er who was standing next to Duan Ling Tian before she said, “Huan’er’s father is still alive…”
Duan Ling Tian and Huan’er’s eyes lit up immediately upon hearing Zhuge Yun’s words.
Zhuge Yun continued to say, “There’s good news and bad news…”
Duan Ling Tian and Huan’er stiffened immediately.
Zhuge Yun bluntly said, “Huan’er’s mother is also imprisoned by the Heavenly Pool Palace.”
Duan Ling Tian and Huan’er’s expressions drastically changed. This was indeed bad news. In other words, both of Huan’er’s parents were imprisoned by the Heavenly Pool Palace, a heaven-grade force in the Boundless Heaven.
“Senior, do you know their exact location in the Heavenly Pool Palace?” Duan Ling Tian asked Zhuge Yun. He knew the Heavenly Pool Palace’s treatment of Huan’er’s parents would not be good; they were not guests but prisoners.
“I have no idea.” Zhuge Yun shook her head. “We’ve tried using the Thousand Tribulations Sword Sect’s name to visit the Grand Elder of the Heavenly Pool Palace to find out more. I tried probing him with words, but he clearly avoided talking about the matter. Huan’er’s parents are probably not treated very well in the Heavenly Pool Palace as you may have guessed…”
Huan’er’s beautiful limpid eyes were filled with anxiety when she heard Zhuge Yun’s words.
Even Duan Ling Tian’s expression was grim at this moment. Although Huan’er’s parents were alive, there was no doubt they were suffering. Although he had already guessed her parents would not be treated well, he did not know the extent of her parents’ mistreatment by the Heavenly Pool Palace.
At this moment, Huan’er looked at Duan Ling Tian and said resolutely, “Brother Ling Tian, I want to go to the Heavenly Pool Palace.”
“Huan’er, we’ll definitely go to the Heavenly Pool Palace. However, we have to have a plan in place; we can’t act recklessly. It would only be counterproductive if we act rashly. Even the progeny leaders couldn’t find out much. It’s useless if we were to go there right now,” Duan Ling Tian said, trying to dissuade Huan’er from going to the Heavenly Palace Pool now.
Huan’er fell silent upon hearing Duan Ling Tian’s words. She knew he was right.
At this moment, Zhuge Yun said, “If you really want to go to the Heavenly Pool Palace, it’s not completely impossible… Every 1,000 years, the Heavenly Pool Palace would recruit disciples from outside. What I want to say is that they’ll be recruiting disciples after 20 years. Those who are under the age of 1,000 and are capable of passing their tests would be accepted as disciples. The tests are based on one’s cultivation base and age. With your strength and young age, both of you shouldn’t have a problem joining the Heavenly Pool Palace.”
“Join the Heavenly Pool Palace?” Huan’er’s eyes lit up again.
Duan Ling Tian frowned slightly.
Duan Ling Tian slightly frowned. Although it was a rather good solution, he did not feel it was the right thing to do since he had just joined the Thousand Tribulations Sword Sect.
Zhuge Feng who seemed to be able to see through Duan Ling Tian’s dilemma looked at Duan Ling Tian appreciatively.
Zhuge Yun said with a smile, “Duan Ling Tian, your main reason for joining the Heavenly Pool Palace is only for Huan’er’s parents, nothing more. You will still remain a disciple of the Thousand Tribulations Sword Sect and the Gan Jiang Progeny. We will always welcome you back to the sect.”
“Thank you, Senior.” Duan Ling Tian was truly appreciative of Zhuge Yun’s words and accepted her good intentions.
“Thank you, Progeny Leader,” Huan’er said solemnly as she looked at Zhuge Yun, “I, Huan’er, will forever be a disciple of the Thousand Tribulations Sword Sect’s Mo Xie Progeny. This will never change no matter what!”
“The same goes for me.” Duan Ling Tian nodded. Although their time in the Thousand Tribulations Sword Sect was short, the sect felt like home to them due to Zhuge Feng and Zhuge Yun’s kindness. The sect felt like a home they could always return to no matter where they went.
“Now, go on.” Zhuge Yun casually threw a Spatial Ring to Duan Ling Tian before she waved her hand and said, “During our return to the Thousand Tribulations Sword Sect, we have already foreseen you leaving to the Boundless Heaven. The things in this Spatial Ring will be able to help during critical moments!”
After Duan Ling Tian claimed ownership of the Spatial Ring, he discovered there were dozens of Celestial Talismans in the ring. There was no doubt the Celestial Talismans given to him by Zhuge Yun were extraordinary. His expression turned solemn again.
Before Duan Ling Tian and Huan’er left, Zhuge Yun reminded them, “The Heavenly Pool Palace is located in the Boundless Territory of the Boundless Heaven… You can get to the Heavenly Pool Palace through the Devata Realm Transporting Formation. The Heavenly Pool Palace covers a vast area. All you need to do is ask around to get to the Heavenly Pool Palace’s estate.”