After informing Zhen Ping Fan about the result of his investigation, Zhen Yun Feng asked, “What happened exactly? Why did you want to know this?”
However, Zhen Yun Feng did not immediately receive a reply from his son.
…
It was not that Zhen Ping Fang did not want to reply to his father, but he himself also did not know what happened. At this moment, he was telling Duan Ling Tian about the result of his father’s investigation.
“Senior Uncle Ping Sheng isn’t in the sect. He left the sect very recently and has yet to return.”
After that, Zhen Ping Fan asked, “Can you tell me what happened now? My father’s also asking me for an explanation.”
Duan Ling Tian was already highly suspicious of Yuan Ping Sheng. After hearing Zhen Ping Fan’s words, he was almost completely certain that Yuan Ping Sheng, the Ascension Elder of the Pure Yang Sect, killed Long Qing Chong, the Sect Leader of the Flying Dragon Sect. How could there be such a coincidence in the world?
Moreover, from what he had heard, he knew that Yuan Ping Sheng rarely left Ping Sheng Island, let alone the Pure Yang Sect’s estate. Even his duties as an Ascension Elder that required him to leave the sect were delegated. Perhaps, it was due to his old age and his injuries from his past Heavenly Tribulation that he spent almost all his time cultivating. Perhaps, he could have improved his strength outside the sect, but it came with risks as well. If he were injured when he went out, his chances of surviving his next Heavenly Tribulation would be even lower. Moreover, there were not many fortuitous encounters that could help an intermediate Emperor of Gods; they were extremely rare. One had to be very lucky to encounter them.
The Secret Holy Realm was one such rare fortuitous encounter. However, the Pure Yang Sect managed to obtain quite a lot of slots this time during the Seven Mansions Feast. It was likely that Yuan Ping Sheng would be given a slot to enter the Secret Holy Realm. After all, a disciple of his factionhad won two slots. It would be unreasonable if he were not given a slot to enter the Secret Holy Realm.
Meanwhile, although Yang Qian Ye seemed to be looking ahead, he was keeping a watch on Duan Ling Tian from the corners of his eyes. Hence, he had seen the slight change in Duan Ling Tian’s expression. He asked, “What happened?”
Duan Ling Tian did not hesitate and replied, “Although I didn’t interact much with Sect Leader Long in the past, I had a good impression of him. I’m also saddened by his death. Saying that, we’re not so close that I’d seek revenge for him.” After a beat, he continued to say, “I’ll tell you what I learned since I feel that you deserve to know the truth. Moreover, this can also be considered the final thing I do for him. It was his wish that you know he didn’t kill your father.”
Although Duan Ling Tian was saddened by Long Qing Chong’s death, it was not to the extent that he wanted to avenge him. There were too many people he knew in the world. He could not possibly avenge each and every one of them when the occasion arose.
Duan Ling Tian continued to say as his voice turned solemn, “I hope you won’t tell anyone about how you came across this information. At the very least, you can’t mention that you found out about it from me or Elder Zhen Ping Fan. I don’t want to implicate him in this matter.”
Yang Qian Ye listened to Duan Ling Tian’s words patiently before he replied, “I understand your concerns. You don’t have to worry. I won’t mention this to anyone. Moreover, I still have to confirm the matter myself. I won’t just blindly trust your words.”
Yang Qian Ye made his stance very clear. He would not just listen to Duan Ling Tian and would confirm and investigate the matter personally as well.
In the beginning, Yang Qian Ye had been blinded by hatred due to his father’s death. However, after speaking to Duan Ling Tian previously, he began to calm down and analyzed the matter. Indeed, there were many suspicious points about his father’s death. As such, he found it even more difficult to trust another person completely. He could only depend on himself to discover the truth.
“I’m glad you understand that,” Duan Ling Tian said. Then, he no longer wasted time and told Yang Qian Ye about what he had learned.
“Elder Zhen asked for help from his father. It’s confirmed that the founder of your faction isn’t in the sect. It should take a while before he returns…” Duan Ling Tian said. At the same time, he thought to himself, ‘After all, even if he’s traveling in an emperor-grade flying ship, it’ll take a while for him to travel back to the Pure Yang Sect from the Flying Dragon Sect…’
At the same time, Zhen Ping Fan, who had yet to receive a reply from Duan Ling Tian, grew impatient.
“Duan Ling Tian? You’re not going to go back on your words, are you? Tell me what happened.”
Duan Ling Tian sighed and replied, “Of course not. I was talking to another person, comforting them a little.”
“So what happened?”
At this time, Zhen Ping Fan could vaguely guess that Yuan Ping Sheng’s absence from the Pure Yang Sect had something to do with Duan Ling Tian’s friend. His heart skipped a beat immediately, and his expression changed slightly.
Before Zhen Ping Fan could send another message, Duan Ling Tian said, “Elder Zhen, I just found out not long ago that Sect Leader Long of the Flying Dragon Sect is dead.”
Zhen Ping Fan’s eyes widened imperceptibly. “How did he die?”
“A powerhouse broke the Flying Dragon Sect’s Guarding Formation and killed Long Qing Chong. Based on the words of the members of the sect, the culprit is an intermediate Emperor of Gods at least,” Duan Ling Tian said.
Zhen Ping Fan fell silent for a moment. Then, he asked, “You suspect that the culprit is… Senior Uncle Ping Sheng?”
Duan Ling Tian remained silent, but it was as good as an answer.
Zhen Ping Fang frowned slightly, somewhat regretting helping Duan Ling Tian to inquire about this matter. After all, this would stir up internal strife in the Pure Yang Sect. Moreover, although Duan Ling Tian would not avenge Long Qing Chong, it was inevitable that Duan Ling Tian’s impression of the Pure Yang Sect would take a hit because of this matter. With these thoughts in mind, his head began to ache a little.
Zhen Ping Fan knew Yuan Ping Sheng certainly had the motive to kill Long Qing Chong. He, his father, and Ye Chen Feng had long been suspicious of Yuan Han Jin and Yang Qian Ye’s sudden progress. This new revelation only confirmed their suspicion.
After a moment, Zhen Ping Fan asked grimly, “I’ve already done you a favor and investigated this matter with my father’s help. I hope that you won’t speak a word of this from this moment onward.”
This was the first time Duan Ling Tian had seen Zhen Ping Fan so serious. Thinking that he had spoken to Yang Qian Ye before making this promise, he did not think he was breaking his promise.
“Alright.”
Zhen Ping Fan did not expect that Duan Ling Tian had informed Yang Qian Ye about the matter as soon as Duan Ling Tian received his message. After all, he knew Duan Ling Tian and Yang Qian Ye were not close at all. If anything, they were more enemies than friends.
Duan Ling Tian and Yang Qian Ye already had bad blood between them before Duan Ling Tian went to the Flying Dragon Sect and when Yang Qian Ye was still in the 10,000 Devils Sect. Later on, because of Duan Ling Tian, the Flying Dragon Sect killed many members of the 10,000 Devils Sect, including elders and two of Yang Qian Ye’s childhood friends.
Zhen Ping Fan sighed in relief when he heard Duan Ling Tian’s reply. Then, he informed his father about what he had learned from Duan Ling Tian. He also did not forget to inform Ye Chen Feng about it.
When Ye Chen Feng learned about what happened, his expression froze for a brief moment. A hint of dissatisfaction and coldness flashed in his eyes as well. Although Yuan Ping Sheng could be considered his senior brother, he found Yuan Ping Sheng’s actions quite despicable.
Meanwhile, Duan Ling Tian shifted his attention back to the battlefield.
Two people were fighting at this moment. One of them was the sixth participant, Tuo Ba Xiu from the Underworld Mansion’s Yuwen clan. Her figure danced in the air as a freezing energy swept out.
Previously, Lin Yuan rose from sixth to fifth place while his opponent. Then, it was Tuo Ba Xiu’s turn.
Since Lin Yuan had just finished his turn, Tuo Ba Xiu naturally could not challenge him. Hence, she challenged the fourth participant, Yuan Mo Yu.
Yuan Mo Yu previously fought with Wanqi Hong, who was ranked tenth. However, the duo’s fight ended in a tie. The fight took place a while ago so he had long recovered his energy with various divine pills.
After exchanging 30 moves, Yuan Mo Yu and Tuo Ba Xiu were still evenly matched.
However, Duan Ling Tian and the others could tell that Yuan Mo Yu and Tuo Ba Xiu were still holding back.
‘Are they going to test the water first, hoping to defeat each other in one fell swoop at the critical moment?’ Duan Ling Tian speculated inwardly. It was not a bad strategy. Although it would deplete more energy, it was not something that could not be recovered with a few divine pills. Hence, it would not affect their later performances.