Chapter 2859
Chapter 2859: The Duan Clan of the Crimson Sky
It was at this moment that Duan Ling Tian deeply felt the insignificance of his existence in the Devata Realm, the Overarching Spirit Heaven. A Nine Palaces Celestial Duke like Li An, one of the Old Ancestors of the Blissful Sect, could easily crush him like an ant. Moreover, there were other mighty powerhouses such as Celestial Emperors and Celestial Lords whom he had yet to encounter.
“I’m still too weak… I need to find a way to break through and become a Celestial Duke as soon as possible!” Duan Ling Tian muttered under his breath. After witnessing how He Shan, the Old Ancestor of the Tai Yi Celestial Sect, had to submit like a tamed cat in front of Li An, the Old Ancestor of the Blissful Sect, he was overwhelmed by a sense of crisis. After all, He Shan was currently his strongest supporter.
Meanwhile, the people from the Thousand Spiders Celestial Sect and the Martial Dragon Celestial Sect, including their sect leaders, remained silent from the beginning until now. Even if the two sect leaders were blinded by Li An, they still would have accepted it without retaliating. In the Devata Realms, the strong ones were revered, and the weak could only be subservient to survive.
Li An, whose displeased expression had vanished, looked at Duan Ling Tian as a smile bloomed on his face. “So you’re Master Duan from the Tai Yi Celestial Sect?”
“Yes, I am.” Duan Ling Tian nodded. Inwardly, he sighed at the attention his new reputation had brought him. Currently, everyone knew he was a prominent Celestial Alchemist capable of refining the prominent Celestial Pill, the Overarching Heaven Pill, even though he had not even reached the age of 100. Even the vicious Li An who had just blinded He Shan was smiling at him and treating him politely.
Li An maintained the smile on his face as he bluntly asked, “Master Duan, are you interested to join our Blissful Sect?”
If Duan Ling Tian did not witness how ruthless Li An had treated He Shan earlier, he would have assumed Li An was an amiable and modest monk. He replied, “Senior Li An, I’m afraid I won’t be staying for long in the Six Southeastern Regions… After the end of the Alchemy Conference, I plan to leave the Six Southeastern Regions for the central area of the Southern Heaven Territory. It’s been quite some time now, it’s time for me to return,” Duan Ling Tian said.
Upon hearing the last part of Duan Ling Tian’s words, He Shan, Situ Ming, Yang Chong, and Yu Zhong Jing were shocked. Only Huan’er remained calm and unsurprised
Li An asked in shock as well, “You’re… You’re returning to the central area? Master Duan, d-do you mean you’re f-from the central area? Your clan is based in the central area?”
“Yes,” Duan Ling Tian nodded and said with a straight face, “There’s a rule in our clan; before the direct descendants reach the age of 100, we must leave the central area to train and prove ourselves in the borderlands before we’re allowed to return to the clan. I plan to make a name for myself during the Alchemy Conference before returning to the clan.”
Naturally, Duan Ling Tian was only making this up. He had to come up with a fake identity that would make Li An wary. Even if Li An did not completely believe his story, Li An would still think twice before attacking him. Since it carried with it a certain risk, Li An certainly would not feel it was worth it to take such a risk.
Before Li An could speak again, Duan Ling Tian turned to the people from the Tai Yi Celestial Sect and looked at them apologetically as he said, “Old Ancestor, Master Situ, Master Yang, Master Yu… I’m sorry I concealed all of this from you and didn’t tell you about my plans of leaving the Six Southeastern Regions after the Alchemy Conference.”
Chai Kong Yu, the Sect Leader of the Martial Dragon Celestial Sect, did not give a chance for the people of the Tai Yi Celestial Sect to speak as he exclaimed, “As it turns out, Master Duan is from a big clan in the central area! It’s just as I’ve said, how’s it possible for there to be a prominent Celestial Alchemist under the age of 100 who’s capable of refining the Overarching Heaven Pill in the borderlands!” In fact, when he learned about Duan Ling Tian’s capabilities, he had been worried about a shift of power in the Wasteland. Now that he learned Duan Ling Tian would be leaving the borderlands after the Alchemy Conference, he was, naturally, relieved.
Jian Qiu Luo, the Sect Leader of the Thousand Spiders Celestial Sect, felt the same way as Chai Kong Yu as well.
‘He’s from the central area? That makes a lot of sense. It’s no surprise he’s so talented if he’s from the central area. After all, he hasn’t even reached the age of 100, but he’s already become a prominent Celestial Alchemist capable of refining the Overarching Heaven Pill.’ Zhou Shu Qiu was also shocked to learn that Duan Ling Tian was from the central area of Southern Heaven Territory. Although she knew about the affairs between him and her best friend, Murong Bing, she was clueless about his background. ‘Furthermore, his strength and cultivation base are extraordinary… He’s also a Great Overarching Golden Celestial before he reaches the age of 100 and managed to survive after entering the Little World. I bet such a genius is also rare in the central area of the Southern Heaven Territory.’ The more she thought about it, the more frightened she was. What kind of clan could produce such a talent? Duan Ling Tian had to be the clan’s most cherished treasure. There must be many incredibly strong powerhouses secretly protecting him, right? Zhou Shu Qiu instinctively scanned her surroundings, feeling as though they were under surveillance.
Li An narrowed his eyes and asked skeptically, “Master Duan, you’re from the central area? May I know which clan in the central area you’re from?” Then, he continued to say, “The previous ancestors of the Blissful Sect regularly ventured between the central area of the Southern Heaven Territory and the Six Southeastern Regions before they became Celestial Kings… Therefore, our sect has many records regarding the central area, including a list of powerful forces in the central area. I like reading so I’ve read through many of the records. Who knows if I’ve read about your clan as well?”
Duan Ling Tian knew Li An was suspicious, but he calmly replied, “I come from the Duan Clan of the Crimson Sky.”
The Duan Clan of the Crimson Sky!
Duan Ling Tian had heard from Situ Ming that powerful clans in the central area would include their birthplaces as part of their clans’ names. He was from the mundane realm, and he was born in a small town in the Crimson Sky Kingdom. That was how he had come up with the Duan Clan of the Crimson Sky.
Duan Ling Tian asked, “Have you heard of my clan, Senior Li An?”
“No,” Li An shook his head before he said with a smile, “The central area is vast. Although my predecessors had been to the central area, it’s impossible for them to know all the clans there. However, it seems like the Duan Clan of the Crimson Sky isn’t one of the top ten famous clans in the central area.”
Duan Ling Tian replied, “Of course. The Duan Clan of the Crimson Sky is not comparable to the top ten clans in the central area.” He had heard about the top ten clans in the central area from He Shan. The clans had closed relations to the titled Celestial Lord who was in control of the central area.
Li An looked at Duan Ling Tian intently as though he was trying to read Duan Ling Tian’s mind as he said, “Perhaps, Master Duan’s clan isn’t comparable to the top ten clans in the central area. However, I believe your clan can’t be an ordinary clan either. After all, your clan has a genius like you. Master Duan, I believe you must have a high cultivation base as well, right?” It was clear he was trying to extract as much information as he could from Duan Ling Tian. After all, no one could say for sure if Duan Ling Tian was lying about his identity and origin. Moreover, based on the reactions of He Shan and three prominent Celestial Alchemists from the Tai Yi Celestial Sect, they were clearly unaware that Duan Ling Tian was from the central area as well.
Before anyone could reply, Chai Kong Yu chimed in, “Master Li An, Master Duan is not only gifted in alchemy, but his cultivation base is high as well for his age. He’s not even 100 years old but he’s already a Great Overarching Golden Celestial.”
A Great Overarching Golden Celestial who was not even 100 years old? Despite his outward appearance, Li An was inwardly shocked. Although the Blissful Sect had many Great Overarching Golden Celestials younger than 100 years old, none of them were also prominent Celestial Alchemists who could refine the Overarching Heaven Pill. How was it possible for one person to be skilled in alchemy and also cultivation?