“Yes.” Duan Ling Tian felt pressure from the middle-aged man’s aura. He did not know the middle-aged man’s precise strength, but he was sure the middle-aged man was much stronger than Dugu Wen whom he had killed in the past. In fact, he was sure the middle-aged man was even stronger than his teacher, Xu Lang, the Verdant Prairie Celestial Emperor. The middle-aged man was, at the very least, on par with the Heavenly Pool Palace’s Profound Heaven Celestial Emperor. The Jade Bow Celestial Emperor’s strength was likely comparable to the Profound Heaven Celestial Emperor and was weaker than the Palace Master of the Heavenly Pool Palace.
“I’m Meng Chuan, the Jade Bow Celestial Emperor. I’m a subordinate of Lord Heavenly Emperor,” the middle-aged man said to Duan Ling Tian, “Lord Heavenly Emperor isn’t here at the moment. He has left to attend to some matters. What brings you here? Is it urgent?”
“He’s not here?” Duan Ling Tian was taken aback. After a moment, he revealed the purpose of his visit. “I’m here to ask for a favor from Senior Feng Qing Yang.”
“A favor?” Meng Chuan raised an eyebrow. Then, he looked at Duan Ling Tian meaningfully as he said, “I’ll pass your message to Lord Heavenly Emperor, but I’ll need to verify your identity first. You said you inherited Lord Heavenly Emperor’s legacy in the mundane realm so you shouldn’t have a problem proving that, right?”
“Yes, of course.” With just a thought, he cast the Sovereign Heart Sword that he had not used for a long time.
In just a moment, the Heart Sword’s deadly and terrifying sword intent permeated the air.
“The Sovereign Heart Sword?” Meng Chuan’s eyes lit up. Although Duan Ling Tian’s Sovereign Heart Sword could not compare to Feng Qing Yang’s Sovereign Heart Sword, there was no doubt they were one and the same. With this confirmation, he nodded and said, “It seems like you really inherited Lord Heavenly Emperor’s legacy in the mundane realm. Tell me, what’s the purpose of your visit?”
After confirming Duan Ling Tian was not lying, Meng Chuan’s attitude changed for the better. Since he had a certain understanding of Feng Qing Yang, he knew Feng Qing Yang would treat Duan Ling Tian, his successor, differently even if Duan Ling Tian only inherited Feng Qing Yang’s legacy in the mundane realm. Moreover, up until now, Feng Qing Yang did not have a formal direct disciple.
“I’m here because…” Since Feng Qing Yang was absent, he could only reveal everything to Meng Chuan. Moreover, Meng Chuan was close to Feng Qing Yang.
Meng Chuan nodded after he listened to Duan Ling Tian’s words. He said, “Rescue two people from the Heavenly Pool Palace? Although the Palace Master of the Heavenly Pool Palace is related to the Heavenly Emperor of the Boundless Heaven, the Heavenly Emperor of the Boundless Heaven will still have to show our Lord Heavenly Emperor some respect…”
After a brief moment of silence, Meng Chuan said, “I’ve already sent a message to Lord Heavenly Emperor. Please wait for a moment…”
However, after an hour passed, there was still no reply from Feng Qing Yang. In the end, Meng Chuan had to send a message to his elder brother, Meng Luo.
Meng Luo, the Heavenly Savage Celestial Emperor, was one of Feng Qing Yang’s strongest subordinates. He was a top-tier titled Celestial Emperor in all Devata Realms. His strength was not inferior to that of the leaders of heaven-grade forces in all the Devata Realms.
Meng Chuan had sent a message to his elder brother, Meng Luo, because Meng Luo had left with Feng Qing Yang. However, Meng Luo did not reply to Meng Chuan’s message as well.
‘Lord Heavenly Emperor and my elder brother didn’t reply to my messages. It seems like they’re busy or in a place where they couldn’t receive the messages.’
Meng Chuan shook his head as he said, “Duan Ling Tian, even my elder brother who’s with Lord Heavenly Emperor didn’t reply to my message. They must be busy or they didn’t receive my messages. How about this? Why don’t I follow you back to the Heavenly Pool Palace?”
Duan Ling Tian had been disappointed when he heard Feng Qing Yang was absent. He grew even more disappointed when there was no reply from both Feng Qing Yang and Meng Luo. However, his eyes lit up when he heard Meng Chuan’s words. He asked tentatively, “Senior Meng Chuan… Are you serious?”
“I, the Jade Bow Celestial Emperor, am a man of my word,” Meng Chuan said with a faint smile, “Since you’re our Lord Heavenly Emperor’s successor in the mundane realm, you can be considered as half his disciple. Since we don’t know when Lord Heavenly Emperor will return, I’ll follow you back to the Heavenly Pool Palace since I can tell the matter is urgent.”
“Thank you, Senior Meng Chuan,” Duan Ling Tian expressed his gratitude.
Meng Hao Xuan was also delighted that Meng Chuan was willing to help Duan Ling Tian. After all, one of the people Duan Ling Tian wanted to rescue was his Eldest Senior Brother.
…
Duan Ling Tian had arrived at the Solitary Destructive Heaven alone, but he left with another person.
During their journey, Duan Ling Tian recalled something and asked, “Senior Meng Chuan, is it possible for you to get the Palace Master of the Heavenly Pool Palace to release them without revealing my identity?”
Initially, Duan Ling Tian planned to meet the Palace Master of the Heavenly Pool Palace with Meng Chuan. However, after giving it some thought, he thought it was not necessary to reveal his identity if Meng Chuan could get the Palace Master of the Heavenly Pool Palace to agree to release Huan’er’s parents for the sake of Feng Qing Yang. After all, if his identity was revealed, there was no doubt his relationships with Xu Lang and his seniors would be estranged. If his identity was not revealed, he would still be able to maintain a good relationship with Xu Lang and seniors even if he had to leave eventually.
“That’s not a problem,” Meng Chuan said without any hesitation. He did not care about the reasons Duan Ling Tian wanted to conceal his involvement in the matter. He only cared that Duan Ling Tian was possibly the successor that Feng Qing Yang had mentioned to his elder brother in the past. Even if Duan Ling Tian was not the successor whom Feng Qing Yang had mentioned, Duan Ling Tian was still someone who comprehended and mastered Feng Qing Yang’s Sovereign Heart Sword. Even Feng Qing Yang’s two nominal disciples did not comprehend or master the Sovereign Heart Sword.
When they were about to arrive at the Heavenly Pool Palace, Duan Ling Tian exchanged Soul Pearls with Meng Chuan.
At this moment, a voice suddenly rang in the air.
“Duan Ling Tian!”
Soon after, a figure appeared near Duan Ling Tian and Meng Chuan. It was an old man.
As soon as Duan Ling Tian saw the old man, he exclaimed in surprise, “Dugu Wu?”
The old man was none other than Dugu Wu, the Indestructible Celestial Emperor. He was one of the two titled Celestial Emperors who was hired to assassinate Duan Ling Tian. His brother, Dugu Wen, the Hundred Variant Celestial Emperor, was killed by Duan Ling Tian during their assassination attempt.
Duan Ling Tian did not expect to meet Dugu Wu at all. ‘It’s obvious Dugu Wu has been waiting for me here for a long time. How did he know I left the Heavenly Pool Palace’s estate?’
It did not take long before the answer came to Duan Ling Tian. His eyes glinted coldly as he thought to himself, ‘Lei Jun!’
Apart from Lei Jun, he could not think of anyone who would constantly keep a close watch on him and waited for him to leave the Heavenly Pool Palace. Moreover, Lei Jun was the one who had gotten Dugu Wu involved by hiring him and his brother to assassinate him.
“Senior Meng Chuan.” Duan Ling Tian wasted no time in sending Meng Chuan a Voice Transmission. “This old man is a titled Celestial Emperor. His name is Dugu Wu, and he’s known as the Indestructible Celestial Emperor. He’s an assassin in the Boundless Heaven, and he was previously hired to kill me.”
Meng Chuan’s eyes flashed coldly upon hearing Duan Ling Tian’s words. A sword appeared in his hand as he stepped forward. In just a second, his formidable aura permeated the entire place. At the same time, countless energy swords appeared around him.
“His aura…” Duan Ling Tian was taken aback when he sensed Meng Chuan’s aura. It was as though Meng Chuan had turned into a different person. With this, he also realized he had underestimated Meng Chuan’s strength. Although he was not wrong when he assumed Meng Chuan was weaker than You Feng Yu, the Palace Master of the Heavenly Pool Palace, he was wrong in his assumptions that Meng Chuan’s strength was on par with the Profound Heaven Celestial Emperor. In fact, Meng Chuan was stronger than the Profound Heaven Celestial Emperor and only slightly weaker than You Feng Yu.
“Who are you?” Dugu Wu’s eyes narrowed when he saw Meng Chuan stepping forward with an Emperor Grade Celestial Sword in hand to protect Duan Ling Tian.
“Someone who’ll stop you from killing him,” Meng Chuan replied indifferently.
Dugu Wu’s expression turned unsightly as he said coldly, “Heed my advice and stay out of this matter. Duan Ling Tian killed my brother, and I’ll kill him today to avenge my brother!”
“We’ll see if you’re capable of that.” As soon as Meng Chuan finished speaking, blue energy surged from his body and shrouded him. Based on this, it was obvious he had comprehended the law of water. When the energy swords were boosted by the law of water, they turned turquoise under the sun. In just a moment, the dazzling bow-like energy swords shot out.
Duan Ling Tian finally understood Meng Chuan’s title, the Jade Bow Celestial Emperor. When he had first heard Meng Chuan’s title, he thought it was more suited for a moment. However, at this moment, he thought this title suited Meng Chuan perfectly.