It went without saying that the Four Supreme Laws were mysterious and powerful. Not all four laws were offensive laws, but their inherent superiority could easily breach the law of earth’s defenses. For this reason, the Martial Battle Mansion elder came to that conclusion.
“You’re right, Elder Liu. He has comprehended the law of space, one of the Four Supreme Laws,” Liu Xiao Zhou replied.
“The law of space!”
As soon as Liu Xiao Zhou finished speaking, everyone, apart from those who had just arrived from the middle realm of the Southern Heaven Ancient Realm, was stunned.
‘A Ten Directions Celestial Duke who has comprehended seven profundities from the law of space? Moreover, he’s less than 1,000 years old! Where did the Profound Nether Mansion find such a monstrous talent?’
‘If all of you know that Duan Ling Tian is not even 100 years old, all of you would be even more shocked,’ Liu Xiao Zhou thought to himself as he looked at the reactions of the Martial Battle Mansion elders and disciples. After that, he sent his father a message. Others might doubt him if he revealed Duan Ling Tian’s age, but his father was, naturally, different.
“The Profound Nether Mansion’s outer court disciple, Duan Ling Tian, is a Ten Directions Celestial Duke even though he’s not even 100 years old? Most importantly, he has comprehended seven profundities from the law of space?” Liu Xiao Zhou’s father, one of the Vice Mansion Masters of the Martial Battle Mansion, was shocked upon receiving his son’s message.
“Father, do you think… Is it possible that he came from the Seven Upper Provinces?” Liu Xiao Zhou asked.
However, Liu Xiao Zhou’s father was still in shock over the first message that he did not even realize his son had sent him another message.
…
Meanwhile, a huge commotion broke out in the Martial Battle Mansion when news of eleven people, including Heng Feng and Liu Xiao Zhou, being eliminated from the middle realm of the Southern Heaven Ancient Realm spread.
They were further shocked when they learned that someone managed to breach Heng Feng’s defenses even though Heng Feng had successfully comprehended the seventh profundity, the Defense Profundity, from the law of earth during the critical moment.
“Now that Senior Heng Feng has comprehended the Defense Profundity, Among those who are qualified to enter the middle realm, I estimate there aren’t more than a handful of people who could breach his defenses…”
“That’s right! It’s likely that only those Ten Directions Celestial Dukes who have comprehended eight profundities, at least, would be able to breach Heng Feng’s defenses now that Senior Heng Feng has successfully comprehended the seventh profundity from the law of earth.”
“I’m more curious if the Profound Nether Mansion truly sought external help… Did the Profound Nether Mansion really recruit him just so they could rank at the top of the scoreboard?
“Currently, there are only a few days left before the scoreboard resets. Regardless of how powerful he is, it’s unlikely he’ll be able to make it into the top 30 unless he manages to obtain points from the Green Spirit Mansion’s Leng Yun You or the Han Qing Mansion’s Liu Ji.”
“That’s right! If he manages to defeat Liu Ji and obtain Liu Ji points, he’d be propelled into the top 30. If he manages to defeat Leng Yun You, it’s not impossible for him to enter the top 10!”
“Although the middle realm of the Southern Heaven Ancient Realm isn’t particularly big, it would still be like searching for a needle in a haystack for Duan Ling Tian to search Leng Yun You and Liu Ji in such a short time.”
Based on the conversation, it was obvious that the people from the Martial Battle Mansion had assumed Duan Ling Tian was the external help hired by the Profound Nether Mansion. Otherwise, how was it possible that someone so powerful and talented was only an outer court disciple?
There were other grade-six Celestial Mansions who had recruited external help in the past. However, none of them had ever topped the scoreboard. At most, they would rank in the top 20.
For this reason, Duan Ling Tian, whom many regarded as hired help, garnered a lot of attention in the Martial Battle Mansion for being able to breach Heng Feng’s defenses, especially after Heng Feng had comprehended seven profundities from the law of earth. Many of those who usually did not care about the rankings of the middle realm of the Southern Heaven Ancient Realm began to pay attention to the scoreboard as well.
“The scoreboard will be refreshed in a few days… I wonder how far Duan Ling Tian will be able to go.”
At this moment, a large crowd had gathered at the site of one of the Transporting Formations in the Martial Battle Mansion’s estate. All of them were staring intently at the name that was ranked 45th. It seemed as though the 45th place was even more interesting than the first place.
…
Meanwhile, the other grade-six Celestial Mansions that were paying attention to Duan Ling Tian were shocked as well.
In the Profound Nether Mansion’s estate.
Since the other grade-six Celestial Mansions were shocked by Duan Ling Tian’s performance, it was only natural that the Celestial Mansion Duan Ling Tian currently belonged to was shocked as well.
Needless to say, Duan Ling Tian entering the top 50 caused quite a stir in the Profound Nether Mansion.
In the beginning, when Duan Ling Tian was on his way to the middle realm of the Southern Heaven Ancient Realm, many assumed Duan Ling Tian was only a young master from a prominent family who wanted to visit the middle realm to sightsee. They arrived at this conclusion when they discovered he was not even 100 years old and when they saw he was personally accompanied by Qi Tian Ming, an inspector of the Profound Nether Mansion. After all, how could a young man who was not even 100 years old possess enough strength to participate in the competition?
When Duan Ling Tian entered the top 100, many of them concluded that Duan Ling Tian had cheated or had gotten lucky. However, after news of him killing Gongsun Jin spread and his ranking rose to the 52nd place, coupled with the confirmation from a few elders who had friends in the Azure Green Mansion, no one thought he was cheating or was lucky anymore. Most of them were fervently discussing Duan Ling Tian’s origins at that time.
The three sites of the Transporting Formations in the Profound Nether Mansion’s estate were buzzing. The commotion was even bigger than the Martial Battle Mansion. This was especially true in the site of the Transporting Formation that Duan Ling Tian had used to travel to the middle realm of the Southern Heaven Ancient Realm. Many people were hounding the elder who had issued the Accumulative Point Jade to Duan Ling Tian for answers.
“Elder, is Duan Ling Tian really less than 100 years old?”
“Elder, why’s Duan Ling Tian so special? Is he even human?”
“Elder, did you know this would happen when you gave him the Accumulative Point Jade?”
At this moment, that elder was like a movie star on earth who was surrounded by paparazzi.
“Where did Inspector Qi find someone like Duan Ling Tian?”
As time passed, news from the Martial Battle Mansion traveled to the Profound Nether Mansion since there were many elders from the two grade-six Celestial Mansions who were friends. Therefore, it did not take long before special details such as Duan Ling Tian eliminating eleven disciples from the Martial Battle Mansion within 15 minutes reached the ears of the people from the Profound Nether Mansion. Needless to say, the people from the Profound Nether Mansion were shocked and impressed by this feat. After all, they knew Heng Feng and Liu Xiao Zhou who were eliminated had consistently ranked above the top 100 every month.
“Duan Ling Tian comprehended seven profundities from the law of space. Similarly, Heng Feng comprehended seven profundities from the law of earth, including the Crystal Barrier Profundity and the Defense Profundity. Even then, Duan Ling Tian managed to breach his defenses. If Duan Ling Tian didn’t show mercy, he could’ve easily killed Heng Feng!”
“I heard Heng Feng almost died even after he managed to comprehend the Defense Profundity at the critical juncture!”
“Heavens! Duan Ling Tian is a Ten Directions Celestial Duke and has comprehended seven profundities from the law of space before even reaching 100 years old… Is his age real?”
“There are many credible sources who have confirmed Duan Ling Tian is less than 100 years old. There’s no doubt his age is real. I really wonder where Inspector Qi found a person like him…”
“If you ask me, I don’t think Inspector Qi is capable of recruiting such a peerless genius. In my opinion, Lord Mansion Master has to be the one who found Duan Ling Tian. Lord Mansion Master probably tasked Inspector Qi with bringing Duan Ling Tian to the Transporting Formation to the middle realm of the Southern Heaven Ancient Realm.”
“Well, you have a point as well.”
As the discussion continued, more and more people grew convinced that Duan Ling Tian had been recruited by the Mansion Master of the Profound Nether Mansion instead of Qi Tian Ming.
Naturally, these people were unaware that the Mansion Master of the Profound Nether Mansion was as shocked as they were by Duan Ling Tian’s ability and performance in the middle realm of the Southern Heaven Ancient Realm.
“Inspector Qi, who’s this Duan Ling Tian?” The Mansion Master of the Profound Nether Mansion was a tall and well-built middle-aged man dressed in a long green robe. He had a dignified air about him that made him look imposing. As soon as he learned about Duan Ling Tian’s existence, he sent a message to Qi Tian Ming. Prior to this, he did not even know there was such a person in the mansion.
After listening to Qi Tian Ming’s reply a few moments later, his eyes lit up! It seemed like after 30,000 years, there was going to be an Imperial Tutor of the Profound Nether Mansion! However, when he heard about the test Duan Ling Tian had to pass before he could become an Imperial tutor, his eyes dimmed, and a bitter smile appeared on his face. He muttered to himself, “Why would he come up with such a test? He knows Duan Ling Tian isn’t even 100 years old…”
With this, he left his residence in a haste and made his way to the Imperial Tutor Pavilion.
…
Meanwhile, Duan Ling Tian who was still in the middle realm of the Southern Heaven Ancient Realm was, naturally, unaware of all these things.
“It would be great if I have a map that marks all of the grade-six Celestial Mansions’ bases in the middle realm… At that time, I’d only need to wait at the bases.”
Duan Ling Tian who figured a way to earn points quickly at the Martial Battle Mansion’s base began to search for other grade-six Celestial Mansions’ bases. Similar to before, he planned to intercept disciples who were returning to the bases. Alas, after searching for two days and two nights, he did not encounter another base.