“That’s a distant dream.” Su Li seemed even more dejected after listening to Duan Ling Tian’s words. After a moment, he seemed to have recalled something. He looked at Duan Ling Tian enviously and said, “No matter how hard I work, if I succeed, perhaps, I’ll be the Heavenly Emperor of the Jade Emperor Heaven; my success isn’t guaranteed. However, currently, you’re already the true disciple of the legendary Heavenly Emperor of the Solitary Destructive Heaven. Do you have any idea how many people are jealous of you? Everyone’s saying that with the legendary Heavenly Emperor as your master, even if you’re not talented, you’ll still be able to grow quickly under his tutelage. After all, he’s the legendary Heavenly Emperor who’s known for his meteoric rise to the top…”
Before Duan Ling Tian could reply, Su Li stared at Duan Ling Tian and continued to say excitedly, “Duan Ling Tian, speaking of which, I am also an avid admirer of your master… When will you bring me to meet him? I’ve long wanted to meet this mighty figure who came from the same mundane realm as us and achieved so much in such a short time.”
Due to Duan Ling Tian, Su Li had long heard of Feng Qing Yang. He knew Feng Qin Yang was the first successor of the Fog Rain Progeny from the Seven Absolutes Sect, which was famous in the Saint Province Realm, 10,000 years ago. As a Sword Celestial, he admired Feng Qing Yang from the bottom of his heart as well.
“Let’s see if my master has the time now…” Duan Ling Tian sent a message to Feng Qing Yang after he heard Su Li’s words. After that, he said with a smile, “I’ve spoken about you to my master in the past. He praised your talent and luck as well…”
“No matter what, I can’t compete with you…” Su Li said with a wry smile, “I was brought to the Thousand Tribulations Sword Sect from the mundane realm whereas you ascended to a Devata Realm through your hard work and determination.”
Su Li was aware that he had an easier time compared to Duan Ling Tian. Duan Ling Tian had come this far because of his diligence and determination. In comparison, he was brought to the Thousand Tribulations Sword Sect and was quickly given the best cultivation resources. Although he was sent out of the sect to gain experience, he was still relatively safe. He was never in any danger of dying like Duan Ling Tian.
After receiving Feng Qing Yang’s reply, he rose to his feet and said with a smile, “My master asked us to meet him now.”
Su Li’s eyes lit up as soon as he heard Duan Ling Tian’s words. He asked, slightly nervous, “Duan Ling Tian, should I tidy up a little and fix my appearance before meeting your master?”
After Su Li finished speaking, he looked down to inspect his clothes and appearance anxiously.
When Duan Ling Tian saw Su Li so nervous as though he was going to go on a pilgrimage, he said reassuringly, “Su Li, my master is an easygoing person. There’s no need for you to worry about trivial things such as appearances.”
“Nevertheless, I still can’t help but feel nervous,” Su Li said with a nervous smile, “After all, I’m going to meet the Invincible Sword Celestial, the legendary Heavenly Emperor…”
Before entering the Asura Hell, which is one of the seven deadliest places in Devata Realms, Feng Qing Yang was known in the Solitary Destructive Heaven as the Invincible Sword Celestial. After emerging from the Asura Hell, he was known as the Invincible Sword Celestial in all Devata Realms. Most people agreed that there were no other Sword Celestials who would be a match for him.
Since there were many who were certain Feng Qing Yang had attained godhood, they thought he should now be known as the God of Sword instead of the Invincible Sword Celestial. Nevertheless, Feng Qing Yang was someone who united Sword Celestials from different realms.
As a Sword Celestial, how could Su Li not feel nervous about meeting the legendary Invincible Sword Celestial? He only managed to calm down slightly when he saw Feng Qing Yang.
“Greetings, Senior Feng Qing Yang.” Su Li bowed respectfully as soon as he saw Feng Qing Yang.
Feng Qing Yang nodded and smiled in response. “Su Li, I heard about you from Little Tian. It’s remarkable that someone from our Saint Province Realm is able to come so far…”
Although there were quite a number of cultivators who managed to ascend to a Devata Realm from the Saint Province Realm, many had met with accidents and died after arriving at a Devata Realm. There were very few who really stood out.
When Feng Qing Yang first ascended, he did not realize how scarce outstanding talents from the Saint Province realms were. As time passed, and he had more people, he finally realized there were not many outstanding cultivators from the Saint Province Realms. Nevertheless, he was not too surprised. After all, there were so many mundane realms, and the Saint Province Realm was not even considered a big mundane realm. In fact, there were many mundane realms that did not produce any outstanding cultivators just like the Saint Province Realms before the appearance of Feng Qing Yang, Duan Ling Tian, and Su Li.
Among all the large mundane realms, there were only a few famous ones; this included the Yan Huang Realm. For example, the Yan Huang Realm had powerful titled Celestial Emperors and influential forces that originated from the Yan Huang Realm. Even the Heavenly Emperor of the Jade Emperor Heaven was from the Yan Huang Realm. The other famous mundane realms were similar to the Yan Huang realm; they all produced many mighty figures and influential forces.
“Senior Feng Qing Yang, you’re too kind with your words.” Su Li smiled wryly when he heard Feng Qing Yang praising him. He said with a sigh, “I was only lucky that I came across the legacy of a senior from the Thousand Tribulations Sword Sect and was brought to the sect as a result to be nurtured. Otherwise, I probably won’t be where I am today even if I managed to ascend to a Devata Realm by cultivating on my own. I’m not like you and Duan Ling Tian who achieved everything through sheer will and diligence…”
“Su Li, I disagree,” Feng Qing Yang shook his head and said, “Your luck is also part of your strength. There were so many people in the Saint Province Realm; why do you think you were chosen out of so many people to inherit the legacy and was brought to the Thousand Tribulations Sword Sect in the Jade Emperor Heaven? It’s your luck and your fate. Moreover, if you don’t have the capability, even if you’re lucky to come across the legacy, you won’t be able to come so far…”
Feng Qing Yang did not wait for Su Li’s reply and continued to say, “In fact, I only began to gain fame after a few fortuitous encounters left by Sword Celestials in Devata Realm that allowed me to perfect my Sword Dao. If it weren’t for luck, I wouldn’t be where I am today as well…”
Su Li seemed enlightened after listening to Feng Qing Yang’s words. He nodded and said, “Thank you, Senior Feng Qing Yang. I understand now.”
Feng Qing Yang shook his head and said, “It’s nothing. If you have nothing to do before the Devata Realms’ Battle of the Geniuses, you can stay here so I can have a look at your sword skills if you want…”
“Thank you, Senior Feng Qing Yang!” Su Li was overjoyed. With those words, Su Li knew the legendary Invincible Sword Celestial intended to give him some pointers.
Duan Ling Tian’s eyes lit up as well, and he hurriedly expressed his gratitude. “Thank you, master.”
In fact, Feng Qing Yang did not doubt Feng Qing Yang would treat Su Li well and give Su Lu advice. After all, Feng Qing Yang knew Su Li was a good friend of his.
With this, Duan Ling Tian left Su Li with Feng Qing Yang and returned to his wooden house.
…
Two days later.
“Duan Ling Tian, are you here?”
Duan Ling Tian received a message; based on the sender’s voice, it seemed like the sender was not in the Heavenly Palace of the Primeval Heaven. He found the owner of the voice familiar and strange at the same time. Nevertheless, it did not take him to identify the person who sent him the message after he recalled a few distant memories.
After identifying the voice, Duan Ling Tian asked, “Where are you?”
The other person replied, “I’m on my way to the Heavenly Palace of the Primeval Heaven.”
“Are you participating in the Devata Realms’ Battle of the Geniuses?” Duan Ling Tian asked.
“Yes. Let’s catch up when I arrive…”
Duan Ling Tian’s eyes brightened. Apart from Su Li, he had another friend who would also be participating in the Devata Realms’ Battle of the Geniuses. The person was none other than Ling Jue Yun.
Duan Ling Tian considered Ling Jue Yun as one of his few good friends. In the past, they had gone through a few life-or-death situations together. Although the time he had known Ling Jue Yun was not as long as the time he knew Su Li, he still treated Ling Jue Yun as an important friend. Therefore, he was delighted to hear from Ling Jue Yun after so many years had passed. Not only that, but he would also be able to meet Ling Jue Yun who would also be participating in the Devata Realms’ Battle of the Geniuses that was held every 1,000 years.
Duan Ling Tian’s eyes glinted as he thought to himself, ‘It has been so long… I wonder how powerful he has gotten…’
Following that, Duan Ling Tian informed Huang’er, the Seven Orifices Exquisite Sword’s sword soul, about Ling Jue Yun. “Huang’er, Ling Jue Yun is coming here. He’s also participating in the Devata Realms’ Battle of the Geniuses.”
Huang’er who had acknowledged Duan Ling Tian as her master remained indifferent when Duan Ling Tian mentioned Ling Jue Yun. She only said, “That’s good. It means he’s improved significantly during these years…”
As soon as Huang’er finished speaking, a voice rang from outside of the wooden house.
“Duan Ling Tian, show yourself!”
Under normal circumstances, Duan Ling Tian would not be able to hear voices from outside the wooden house due to the Soundproof Formation. However, since the person had spoken using his Divine Consciousness, he could hear the other person’s voice.
Duan Ling Tian frowned. Who was it? He was not familiar with the voice at all.