War Sovereign Soaring The Heavens

He Shan, the Old Ancestor of the Tai Yi Celestial Sect, took the initiative to greet the Arhat of the Blissful Sect out of courtesy. However, his greeting was rather casual. His attitude was similar to how he treated Bai Yu Xuan, the Young Master of the Profound Heaven Celestial Sect, previously. He was the strongest person and a key figure of the Tai Yi Celestial Sect. It would be absurd for him to bow down to a junior even if the Arhat was from a stronger sect.

The Arhat of the Blissful Sect was a young monk wearing a silver kasaya with nine ordination scars on his head and a mole on his glabella. The young monk had pleasant facial features and could be considered handsome if he had grown his hair out. However, the young monk carried an arrogant and domineering air that made him look unfriendly and unapproachable. The young monk asked, “So you’re He Shan, the Eight Trigrams Celestial Duke of the Tai Yi Celestial Sect?”

“Yes, I’m He Shan,” He Shan replied coldly. He was, naturally, displeased that the young monk had addressed him without using a title. It was a disrespectful gesture, after all. He had long heard about the Arhat of the Blissful Sect, but this was his first time meeting the Arhat of the Blissful Sect.

“Since you’re here, that’s great. The Blissful Sect wants the Tai Yi Celestial Sect to hand Duan Ling Tian over,” the Arhat of the Blissful Sect bluntly said, “Naturally, you’re allowed to refuse. However, you’ll have to bear the consequence. Please bear that in mind before you decide.” He blatantly threatened He Shan and looked at He Shan condescendingly, clearly unafraid of He Shan.

Upon hearing the threats from the Arhat of the Blissful Sect, He Shan burst out laughing.

“Why are you laughing?!” The Arhat of the Blissful Sect grimly said as killing intent flashed in the depths of his eyes.

When his laughter finally subsided, He Shan looked at the Arhat of the Blissful Sect and said, “If others no one mentioned you’re the Arhat of the Blissful Sect, I would have a hard time believing it. I can’t believe the people from the Blissful Sect are so blind to have chosen a brat like you to be the Arhat. Although the Tai Yi Celestial Sect is not as powerful as the Blissful Sect, we’re still one of the top sects in the Six Southern Regions. In terms of seniority, you’re a few generations younger than me… Upon meeting me, you disrespected me even though I’m your senior. That’s fine and all. But you even threatened me? Do you honestly think I’ll be scared by your threats?” A sneer and a disdainful expression could be seen on his face when he spoke.

Although the Blissful Sect was a force to be reckoned with, the Arhat of the Blissful Sect was not someone He Shan was afraid of.

“You!” The Arhar of the Blissful Sect was infuriated, temporarily rendered speechless. He was about to leap into a fit of rage when a mellow voice rang in the air. “Fan’er, why are you here alone?”

Soon thereafter, a middle-aged monk wearing a golden kasaya leading five people appeared. An old monk among the group of five seemed to hold the highest rank. The remaining four people must be the prominent Celestial Alchemists from the Blissful Sect.

“Grandmaster.” The Arhat of the Blissful Sect stepped forward and greeted with a bright smile on his face. His arrogance from earlier had vanished without a trace.

After that, the newly-arrived people from the Blissful Sect walked toward the groups of people from the Tai Yi Celestial Sect, the Martial Dragon Celestial Sect, and the Thousand Spiders Celestial Sect.

“Greetings, Senior Li An.” Chai Kong Yu and Jian Qiu Luo, the Sect Leaders of the Martial Dragon Celestial Sect and the Thousand Spiders Celestial Sect respectively, were the firsts to greet the middle-aged monk. Their tones were respectful. Based on this, it was clear the middle-aged monk’s status was high.

The middle-aged nodded faintly in response to Jian Qiu Luo and Chai Kong Yu before he turned to look at He Shan. “He Shan, do you feel a sense of accomplishment putting on airs in front of a junior?”

He Shan’s expression turned grave when the middle-aged monk appeared. Upon hearing the middle-aged monk’s words, he feigned a joking tone and said, “So this Arhat is your grand disciple?

Meanwhile, Duan Ling Tian turned to look at He Shan curiously. He Shan did not back down nor was he subservient when faced with Bai Yu Xuan, the Young Master of the Profound Heaven Celestial Sect, and the Arhat of the Blissful Sect. This was the first time he saw He Shan being tolerant of someone. Who on earth was this middle-aged monk? The good-looking middle-aged monk’s eyes were cold, causing an ominous feeling to rise in Duan Ling Tian’s heart.

After a moment, realization dawned on Duan Ling Tian when he recalled Situ Ming’s words to him during their journey to the Alchemy City in the Barren Land. ‘Li An? That’s right! Master Situ had mentioned that Li An is the strongest Nine Palaces Celestial Duke in the Six Southern Regions!’

Li An was one of the two Old Ancestors of the Blissful Sect and was widely regarded as the most powerful Nine Palaces Celestial Duke in the Six Southern Regions. The other Old Ancestor of the Blissful Act was a Ten Directions Celestial Duke, the only known existing Ten Directions Celestial Duke in the Six Southeastern Regions!

“He Shan, are you displeased with the Blissful Sect’s current choice of Arhat? In fact, I’m the one who personally selected Fan’er as the Arhat of the Blissful Sect… What was it you said about the Blissful Sect blind for choosing Fan’er as the Arhat of Blissful Sect? Do you think you have a better insight?” Li An said in a displeased tone as slowly approached the people from the Tai Yi Celestial Sect.

“Brother Li An, I…” He Shan was about to explain himself when…

Whoosh!

Li An scoffed as a powerful gust of wind surged out of his body and swept toward the people from the Tai Yi Celestial Sect, catching them off guard. However, when the wind was about to land on the people of the Tai Yi Celestial Sect, it suddenly turned into a gentle breeze.

It was clear that Li An deliberately displayed his fine control of his strength to show how he could manipulate it as he wished.

When Duan Ling Tian regained his senses, the breeze had already dissipated. Suddenly, he heard a painful grunt and turned to look instantly. He saw He Shan holding one hand to his eyes as blood trickled down his arm.

“Thank you for being merciful, Brother Li An,” He Shan said. He removed his hand from his eye, revealing a bloody and disfigured eye. His left eye had been blinded.

Although He Shan had thanked Li An for showing mercy, Duan Ling Tian could clearly see the rage brewing in the depth of He Shan’s right eye.

What a joke! How could it be possible for one to sincerely thank the person who blinded one’s eye? He Shan had only said such words as to not escalate the matter further.

“Indeed, I’m being merciful for not blinding both your eyes,” Li An said flippantly.

‘So this is the strength of a Nine Palaces Celestial Duke?’ Duan Ling Tian thought to himself.

Even He Shan, an Eight Trigrams Celestial Duke, could not retaliate after being blinded. This made Duan Ling Tian acutely aware of how formidable Nine Palaces Celestial Dukes were.

In the Six Southern Regions, rumors had been going around for years that the next person to become a Ten Directions Celestial Duke would most likely be Li An!

‘This is a world where the strong are revered… Although there might be some strong powerhouses secretly guarding the Tai Yi Celestial Sect, as long as the enemies don’t cross the boundaries, the powerhouses wouldn’t interfere. Moreover, who knows if the Blissful Sect has powerhouses secretly guarding their sect as well…’ Duan Ling Tian thought to himself.