War Sovereign Soaring The Heavens - Chapter 1238
Chapter 1238: The Coming of the Han Clan’s Powerhouse
At the Ling Tian Sect, southward of the northern desert.
Ever since the Sect Leader, Duan Ling Tian, had left, the group of senior officials in the sect remained low-spirited.
The Gold Thug and Xiong Quan who once followed Duan Ling Tian did not know whether he was dead or alive because they could not enter the Lost Stone Forest.
To the Lost Stone Forest, Duan Ling Tian’s break-in was undoubtedly a taboo. The Martial Emperor Shi Qi had personally ordered a gag order so that no Martial Emperor’s disciple or followers dared to spread the word.
Under such dire circumstances, Ling Tian Sect had kept a lower profile compared to before.
However, losing Duan Ling Tian was akin to losing the pillar of the Ling Tian Sect. As time passed, the sect somewhat lost its cohesion.
Those who bore the brunt were the grade one weapons craftsmen and grade one alchemists. They had gone to the Ling Tian Sect mainly to improve their Weapons Refinement Dao and Medicine Refinement Dao.
In the beginning, they felt that it was worthwhile when they had just arrived at the Ling Tian Sect and received guidance from the Sect Leader, Duan Ling Tian.
However, after Duan Ling Tian’s disappearance, many grade one weapon craftsmen and grade one alchemists had the intention of leaving the sect.
They would have left if it not for their reluctance to be the one to stand out and bear the label of being ungrateful.
Today, the Ling Tian Sect had an uninvited guest.
It was a tall, skinny, old man in a gray robe with an indifferent expression. His eyes seemed clouded, but they were laced with an intention to kill.
“This… Is this the sect controlled by Duan Ling Tian who killed He’Er?” The old man in gray muttered while looking out at the peak below him.
“As someone from the outer lands who managed to become a leader of a first-rate force in such a short time, that’s pretty impressive even if it were merely a lower level first-rate force… Unfortunately, you’ve killed someone you’re not supposed to,” muttered the old man while killing intention shot out of his eyes.
“Duan Ling Tian, I’ll give you ten breaths to appear in front of me… Or else, I’ll destroy your sect!” When the old man spoke, his voice which contained Origin Energy spread loudly as if it could break rocks and shatter the sky. The whole of the Ling Tian Sect was shaken.
In the Ling Tian Sect estate, at Ling Tian Peak, everyone below the ranks of the senior officials looked in horror.
“This voice… It’s him!” In a wooden house at the north side of Ling Tian Peak, a figure flew out. His face was extremely dismal.
It was a youthful man. While his face was gloomy, his eyes were filled with chilling hatred. It was a hatred that came from the depths of his heart.
The youthful man was Lu Bai.
Ever since his clan was destroyed, the Second Young Master of the Lu Clan that once existed crossed the Ruo Shui River to the inner lands and to the Ling Tian Sect.
After that, he stayed in the Ling Tian Sect and went into closed-door cultivation until a few days ago.
“I’ve to go warn Duan Ling Tian.” Lu Bai moved towards the south of Ling Tian Peak.
Lu Bai did not know that Duan Ling Tian had gone missing for a long time because he had just come out from his closed-door cultivation a few days ago. Until he met the Gold Thug and Xiong Quan, then he learned that the Sect Leader was not there.
“You know that person?” The Gold Thug lifted his head and looked towards the summit of Ling Tian Peak. Although he could not see the situation up there, judging from the voice, the person came with ill intentions.
“He’s a powerhouse from the Han Clan. He destroyed my Lu Clan… It seems like he’s found Duan Ling Tian, that’s why he came to Ling Tian Peak,” Lu Bai said in a deep voice. He speculated so from the fact that the other party managed to find their way here.
“Lu Clan?” The Gold Thug frowned.
“I know something about that,” Xiong Quan said.
When Lu Bai came to the Ling Tian Sect, he had learned that the Lu Clan had been destroyed from his Young Master’s mouth. He also knew the reason the Lu Clan had been destroyed.
It was because his Young Master had killed Cheng He, the Guild Master of the Alchemist Guild’s Main Guild in the Southern Outer Land of Cloud Continent.
Cheng He himself was nothing, but the problem his uncle who was a powerhouse from the Han Clan!
The Han Clan was one of two largest Ancient Clans of the Cloud Continent which was also one of two behemoths on the Cloud Continent. Even Martial Emperor Powerhouses and Demon Emperor Powerhouses on the Cloud Continent would avoid them.
The Han Clan had been passed down for tens of thousands of years. It was already a powerful first-class first-rate force on the Cloud Continent ten thousand years ago. After ten thousand years, the strength of their foundation and resources were unknown to all.
No one would believe that there were no Martial Emperor powerhouses in the Han Clan.
Of course, there were no Martial Emperor powerhouses in Han Clan on the surface.
Even so, the Martial Emperor powerhouses and Demon Emperor powerhouses on Cloud Continent would not easily offend the Han Clan. No one knew when a freak powerhouse would appear from the Han Clan.
“The Han Clan you’re talking about wouldn’t happen to be one of the two largest ancient clans of the Cloud Continent, would it?” Then, the Gold Thug finally recovered from his shock. His face changed dramatically as horror and uneasiness filled his eyes.
“That’s right. It’s that Han Clan.” Lu Bai nodded.
“The powerhouse of Han Clan… How did Master offend him?” Out of fear, the Gold Thug broke out in a cold sweat.
After all, the Ancient Han Clan was famous. Looking at the entire Cloud Continent, even Martial Emperor powerhouses and Demon Emperor powerhouses would not be able to shake it.
Otherwise, it would not have survived until today as a first-class force on the Cloud Continent.
After all, the nail that stuck out the most would be hammered down. After so many years, there must be many Martial Emperor powerhouses and Demon Emperor powerhouses who did not agree with the clan and attacked it with the intention to destroy it.
Even so, it had survived till that day. As such, one could only imagine the extent of its strength.
“At this point in time, we can only face it calmly,” Xiong Quan sighed.
The summit of Ling Tian Peak was quickly filled with people. A group of Ling Tian Sect senior officials and disciples had gathered. All of them looked at the gray figure high up in the sky with fear evident on their faces.
The figure was the old man in a gray robe who was also the powerhouse from the Han Clan, Han Jing.
“There’s only three breath’s time left.”
Han Jing stared at the people before him calmly and said faintly, “If Duan Ling Tian still doesn’t appear in three breaths, I’ll destroy the Ling Tian Sect and kill everyone!”
“Of course, you could choose to desert the Ling Tian Sect before that… Once you leave, you’ll be able to escape death,” Han Jing continued saying.
The group of people from the Ling Tian Sect looked at each other, but no one wanted to be the one who stood out.
“I forgot to introduce myself. I’m Han Jing from the Ancient Han Clan. Naturally, I’m just a nobody at the Han Clan.” Noticing that no one bothered, Han Jing squinted his eyes as the Origin Energy in his body stirred and caused the Heaven and Earth Energy in the void above to surge. A Heaven and Earth Phenomenon formed in the blink of an eye.
An ancient black dragon’s silhouette in addition to the silhouettes of 2,000 ancient horned dragons gradually appeared.
“Ninth Level Martial Monarch stage!” Listening to the old man’s introduction and then witnessing the Heaven and Earth Phenomenon formed by the Heaven and Earth Energy that the old man’s Origin Energy ignited, the expressions of many changed dramatically.
The group of Ling Tian Sect senior officials including both the Vice Sect Leaders, Luo Ping and Zhang San, had extremely gloomy expressions.
They never thought that the old man would turn out to be a Han Clan powerhouse and a Ninth Level Martial Monarch stage martial artist.
The cultivation base of a Ninth Level Martial Monarch stage martial artist was apparent, and the Profundity he comprehended would not be weak as well.
Ignoring the identity of the old man, his strength alone was sufficient to render the current Ling Tian Sect helpless.
Ever since their Sect Leader, Duan Ling Tian, had left, the Ling Tian Sect had no other powerhouse who was strong enough. The reason the sect still existed that day was due to their Sect Leader’s fame acting as a deterrent.
Naturally, the fact that Duan Ling Tian had disappeared was not spread widely, so not many people knew about their state of helplessness.
However, now there was someone who was not afraid of their Sect Leader, Duan Ling Tian, and had come to threaten to destroy the Ling Tian Sect!
“Senior Han, our Sect Leader left the sect a while ago. He hasn’t returned.” Zhang San took a deep breath and looked at Han Jing anxiously.
“Duan Ling Tian isn’t around?” Han Jing lifted his eyebrows and then squinted his eyes. “If that’s the case, I’ll give you all another ten breaths… After that, I’ll kill all those who haven’t deserted the Ling Tian Sect to stand behind me.” As Han Jing spoke, the killing intent in his eyes was firm.
It seemed to support his statement. The milky-white flames on his body were entwined with powers of various colors in the blink of an eye. Soon, the flames also instantly transformed into various colors.
Hua!
Under everyone’s watchful eyes, a broader Heaven and Earth Energy appeared and formed into an even more terrifying Heaven and Earth Phenomenon in the void above Han Jing.
In the blink of an eye, five ancient black dragons’ silhouettes in addition to 6,000 ancient horned dragons’ silhouettes appeared in the void above Han Jing. It was the Heaven and Earth Phenomenon before Han Jing utilized his spirit weapon.
Once he utilized his spirit weapon and exerted his full strength, his strength definitely exceeded the force of six ancient black dragons in addition to 6,000 ancient horned dragons.
“So mighty!”
At once, the pupils of many Ling Tian Sect members shrunk and shock was apparent on their faces.
Sou! Sou! Sou!
…
Soon, many people bit the bullet and flew out to stand behind Han Jing.
Those people were the grade one weapons craftsmen and grade one alchemists who had joined the Ling Tian Sect earlier. They already had the intention of leaving the Ling Tian Sect, and now that a powerhouse like Han Jing had forced them, it was only a matter of time that they did so.
Seeing all the grade one weapons craftsmen and grade one alchemists apart from himself and another person leave in such a short while, Zhang San’s face darkened as he scolded, “You all… You are all ungrateful!”
“Vice Sect Leader Zhang, I’d advise you to come over with us… The Sect Leader has been missing for more than half a year. We don’t even know if he’s coming back.” Some of them who stood behind Han Jing persuaded Zhang San.
“What?! Sect Leader is missing?”
For a time, there was a commotion among most of the Ling Tian Sect elders and disciples. Their faces changed dramatically as it was their first time hearing that news.
Their Sect Leader had been missing for half a year?
At once, they did not hesitate anymore and hurried behind Han Jing.
In a short while, only a handful of people remained opposite Han Jing
grade Origin Stones plus 5,000,000 high-grade Origin Stones,” Nangong Yi said nonchalantly.
“Hmph! I won’t lose!” The middle-aged man retorted.
“Then, does this mean that you want to bet with us empty-handedly? Do you think that there really is such a thing as a free lunch in the world?” Nangong Yi snorted.
“It looks like you guys have no intention to bet at all.” The middle-aged man smirked.
Of course, he was unable to take 300 supreme grade Origin Stones and 5,000,000 high-grade Origin Stones out at all.
In addition to that, he was certain that nobody there could take so many Origin Stones out in just one go, not even the three old men who seemed to be Martial Emperor’s disciples of Ling Tian Peak.
“It seems like they had no intention to bet from the beginning after all. They already knew that this guy wouldn’t be able to take so many Origin Stones out as compensation.”
“And here I was, thinking that they had faith in their companion, but It actually turned out otherwise.”
…
Many people were whispering to one another.
“Not intending to bet at all?” Nangong Yi grinned with a smile so bright that his eyes became slits instantly. “How about this? We’ll still place our bets and if we lose, you can take all of our Origin Stones away. If you lose, besides leaving behind your Spatial Ring, your life is ours too!”
As Nangong Yi reached the end of his sentence, a devilish smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
The moment his words left his mouth, everyone else including the three old men, were taken by shock. Only Duan Ling Tian and Nangong Chen remained calm.
Of course, among those stunned included the middle-aged man who had offered to be the banker.
With a flash in his eyes, the middle-aged man asked in a deep voice, “You want me to put my life on the line?”
“Dare you?” Nangong Yi asked indifferently.
At once, both of them were waging a tit for tat stalemate against each other.
Most of the people had their gazes fixed on them as well.
“Why not?” Soon, the middle-aged man gritted his teeth and agreed to the challenge.
At the same time, he looked towards the three old men who seemed to be Martial Emperor’s disciples of Ling Xuan Peak. “Sirs, please be the witness of this wager between them and me.”
The leading middle-aged man among the three of them nodded coolly. “Sure.”
The old man looked at the two Nangong Brothers and warned them, “If you lose and aren’t able to take that many Origin Stones out for him, I’ll cripple your Dantian and banish all of you from Ling Xuan Peak!”
Then, he turned to the middle-aged man again. “If you lose, your life is theirs.”
At this moment, the middle-aged man looked at the old man and asked respectfully, “Sir, if somebody insists on joining the Selection of the Martial Emperor’s disciples and followers that will be held six months later, what will happen to him when that time comes and he chickens out at the final moment?”
“Once you’ve decided to join the Selection of the Martial Emperor’s disciples and followers six months later, retreat is not an option… Nobody is allowed to regret his decision. Even if he does, he’d need to at least join one round of the Selection. Otherwise, he’ll be treated as making fun of the Ling Xuan Peak. Whoever who makes fun of Ling Xuan Peak will only have one consequence: death!” When the old man reached the end of his sentence, he emphasized the last word and at the same time, he deliberately cast a glance at Duan Ling Tian who was standing quietly by the side, trying to warn him.
This man was a First Level Martial Monarch Stage who dared to come to join the Selection of the Martial Emperor’s disciples and followers.
In his opinion, this man did not even respect their Ling Xuan Peak at all!
As a Martial Emperor’s disciple of Ling Xuan Peak, he felt like Ling Xuan Peak, which he viewed as a Saint place, had been defiled. Thinking of that, the flame of fury inside him threatened to break out anytime.
“Haha… Awesome! I’ll make a bet with them then!” Upon hearing the old man, the middle-aged man burst out laughing and agreed readily.
In his eyes, his avarice was even more apparent as though he could already see the thirty supreme grade Origin Stones and 500,000 high-grade Origin Stones entering his pocket.
“What are you so happy about? Do you really think that you’ve won?” Nangong Yi smirked before looking at the old man. “We’ll bet with him as well.”
The old man nodded and at the same time, he looked towards Duan Ling Tian who was standing by the side. He announced, “Do you insist on joining the Selection of the Martial Emperor’s disciples and followers that will be held at Ling Xuan Peak in six months? If you insist on joining, withdrawal is prohibited. You’ll need to at least join one round of the Selection. It could be either a life-or-death test designed for a Martial Monarch or even a battle against a Martial Monarch.”
To him, if this purple-clad young man in front did not want to die, he definitely would not insist on joining the Selection.
A First Level Void Interpretation martial artist joining the Selection of the Martial Emperor’s disciples and followers would very likely end up dead!
The rest of the crowd had their attention trained on Duan Ling Tian as well.
Everybody else, except for the two Nangong Brothers, felt that he would definitely give up joining the Selection of the Martial Emperor’s disciples and followers.
“I’ve won! I’ve won already!” The moment he saw the slight twitch of Duan Ling Tian’s lips as he was about to open his mouth, the middle-aged man’s eyes lit up immediately
An extremely dazzling smile appeared on his face.
However, the moment Duan Ling Tian spoke, his smile froze at once.
“Count me in,” Duan Ling Tian looked squarely at the old leader of the three elderly men and replied nonchalantly.
Boom!
Duan Ling Tian’s words struck down on most of the crowd like a thunderbolt, particularly the middle-aged man. Other than having his smile froze on his face, his eyes were filled with dread as well. He feared the death that he was going to face soon.
“You’re crazy! You’re absolutely insane!” The middle-aged man cursed Duan Ling Tian out loud before suddenly speeding off without warning as he tried to leave the scene.
He did not want to lose his life!
However, would he be able to just leave as he wished?
The second the middle-aged man moved, a worn figure appeared out of thin air before him and blocked his path.
It was one of the two men from the trio apart from the old man.
“Okay. Very good.” After the old leader was taken by surprise, his face turned grave before he stared at Duan Ling Tian coldly. “I’ll watch over every action of yours in the next six months! Before you join at least one round of the Selection of the Martial Emperor’s disciples and followers, don’t even think of leaving Ling Xuan Peak at all!”
“I’ll count on you then,” Duan Ling Tian shrugged and replied indifferently.
His casualness took the crowd, who was coming to their senses one by one, by bewilderment.
“This guy doesn’t seem to fear death at all.”
“He doesn’t just stare death in the face, but he also seems to be full of confidence as well. Don’t tell me that he’s actually confident that he’ll be able to survive one round of the Selection and live?”
“How’s that possible?! Forget the fact that he’s a First Level Void Interpretation Stage martial artist. Even if he’s a First Level Void Transformation Stage or a Ninth Level Void Transformation Stage martial artist, he’ll most likely still die in the Selection of the Martial Emperor’s disciples and followers held at Ling Xuan Peak!”
“Then, is this guy intentionally seeking death?”
“Well, given the circumstances now, he must be!”
…
At once, the group of people present were convinced that Duan Ling Tian was deliberately looking for death.
After all, to them, Duan Ling Tian was merely a First Level Void Interpretation Stage martial artist.
By right, even if a First Level Void Interpretation martial artist had a high level of comprehension, he could only grasp the Void Interpretation Stage Concepts.
Such a person was no different than an ant in their eyes.
“I hope that you’ll still be this calm in six months. I’m looking forward to it,” the old man commented in a deep voice.
After saying that, he no longer had his attention on Duan Ling Tian. In a flash, he appeared in front of the middle-aged man who had made a bet with the Nangong Brothers. His eyes were as cold as ice and were devoid of emotions.
The middle-aged man glanced at the leading old man standing close to him and said with a terrified expression, “Sir! I-I was merely joking! I withdraw my bet! I don’t want to bet anymore!”
At this moment, his eyes were filled with dread that originated from the bottom of his heart and his soul.
The fact that another person had no fear towards death did not mean that he shared the same sentiments.
If he had known earlier that this purple-clad young man was so gutsy, he would not have accepted the bet with the two Nangong Brothers.
Boom!
In the face of the man’s begging, the leading old man did not give a damn. With a raise of his hand, he quickly blasted him to death.
As for the Spatial Ring and Profundity Fragments that were left behind by the middle-aged man, he guided it towards the Nangong Brothers using an invisible force with just a flick of his hand.
The scene made the crowd gasp in horror. This ending was far from their imagination.
“Thank you, Sir.” After Nangong Yi had stored the Spatial Ring and the Profundity Fragments, he smiled and thanked the old man who nodded nonchalantly.
In the next instance, he swept a glance around and his gaze landed on the few martial artists who were on the Seventh Level Martial Monarch stage and above, including Nangong Chen. “The few of you, follow him to where you’ll be staying for the next six months.”
As he reached the end of his sentence, he looked wordlessly at one of the old men beside him.
At once, the old man brought Nangong Chen and the few of them away.
“All of you, follow him.” Then, the leading old man looked at Nangong Yi and a few more others before turning to the other old man.
The group of people, including Nangong Yi, were all between the Fourth and Seventh Level Martial Monarch Stages.
“Duan Ling Tian, I’ll leave first.” Before Nangong Yi left with the group of people and the old man, he smiled and acknowledged Duan Ling Tian as though he was not worried about the situation that the latter was facing.
Upon seeing this, confusion filled the depths of the old man’s eyes right away.
Was this guy not worried about his companion at all?
Was it because he had absolute faith in his companion?
Or did he just not care about the life or death of his companion?
At once, the old man’s gaze shifted towards Duan Ling Tian unknowingly and his heart jolted.
He felt that it must be the latter.
“If a First Level Void Interpretation Stage martial artist can set a hurricane or something off at Ling Xuan Peak, that would be extremely strange,” he thought to himself.
Soon, the old man looked at the few people, including Duan Ling Tian before he announced, “All of you, follow me.”
