Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
“Hm?” Tu Feng’s expression darkened when Duan Ling Tian returned the Soul Pearl to him. His eyes glinted coldly as he said, “Duan Ling Tian, are you going to trample on my and my master’s dignity by refusing us?”
“You can say whatever you want,” Duan Ling Tian shrugged as he said, “I’ll decide the path I’ll take in life. There’s no need for others to interfere.”
Tu Feng asked frostily, “Do you really think I won’t attack you?”
With that, an aura of destruction swept out of Tu Feng’s body. Clearly, he had comprehended the law of destruction. Moreover, based on the Divine Energy rising from his body, he was a King of Gods.
Tu Feng, the chief disciple of the second inner elder of the Hidden Fog Sect, was a rudimentary King of Gods. He had yet to reach the age of 10,000. Although he was not the most outstanding among the younger generation, he was still considered rather outstanding.
“Oh? So you dare to attack me in the Hidden Fog Academy?” Duan Ling Tian smiled mockingly. There was no fear to be seen in his eyes at all as he looked at Tu Feng. He had already familiarized himself with the rules of the academy. Outsiders were prohibited from trespassing into the academy. Most importantly, those who harmed students on the academy grounds would be punished with death.
Although members of the Hidden Fog Sect might be able to gain entry into the Hidden Fog Academy, it did not mean they could simply attack the students. Attacking or killing disciples with no good reason was punishable by death.
Tu Feng, who had lost his composure, was about to attack Duan Ling Tian when another young man suddenly called out, “Eldest Senior Brother!”
The grey-clad young man stepped out from behind Tu Feng before he said through Voice Transmission, “Eldest Senior Brother, there are rules in the academy. Even disciples of the Hidden Fog Sect aren’t exempted from punishment if caught breaking the rules. We’ll be killed if we attack or kill a student. Many disciples were sentenced to death for breaking this rule. One of them was even a disciple of a Supreme Elder. The Supreme Elder didn’t even dare to protest when the Vice Sect Leader executed his disciple. In fact, he even apologized profusely to the Vice Sect Leader!”
The vice sect leader that the grey-clad young man mentioned was none other than Murong Sui Feng, who was also the dean of the Hidden Fog Academy.
Upon hearing these words, Tu Feng returned to his senses. He restrained his energy as he looked at Duan Ling Tian icily. “Duan Ling Tian, you’ll join the Hidden Fog Sect sooner or later. At that time, I’ll settle the account with you. I hope you’ll be able to live until then.”
Tu Feng sneered when he finished speaking. He had already received the news about Duan Ling Tian offending the Zhong clan, a king-rank force in Skywind City. With his understanding of the Zhong clan, he knew they would not let the matter slide so easily. He thought there was a rather high chance that Duan Ling Tian would die before he even had a chance to join the Hidden Fog Sect.
Duan Ling Tian watched expressionlessly as Tu Feng before he returned to his cultivation.
…
During this time, many people from the Hidden Fog Sect came to the Hidden Fog Academy to look for Duan Ling Tian. However, he did not even open the door. He stayed behind closed-door, cultivating.
He only left the building and the courtyard on the day of the trial for Ten Stars students.
Before leaving for the trial, the Ten Stars Pavilion would distribute divine pills that could restore energy and heal injuries to the students. Naturally, the pills distributed to the Ten Stars students were not the same and were distributed according to their ranks.
Ten Stars students were divided into ranks according to the courtyards they lived in. Needless to say, the better the grade of one’s courtyard, the better the pills one would receive.
For example, the pills Duan Ling Tian would receive were the highest grade divine pills among all the Ten Stars students.
When Duan Ling Tian entered the Ten Stars Pavilion, he did not attract much attention. Not many recognized him. However, things changed as soon as he strode into the Ten Stars Hall., causing quite a stir.
“It’s Duan Ling Tian! He’s here!”
“After so many months, Duan Ling Tian finally made an appearance!”
At this time, Liu Jin stepped forward with an uneasy expression on his face before he forced a smile and said, “You’re finally here…”
Duan Ling Tian nodded and smiled. “Did you come to collect the divine pills as well?”
“Yes.” Liu Jin felt relieved when he saw that Duan Ling Tian’s attitude toward him did not change. The smile on his face no longer looked forced.
“Duan Ling Tian!”
At this time, another one of Duan Ling Tian’s acquaintances walked over. It was Ding Yan whom he had defeated previously.
Duan Ling Tian smiled and nodded in response as well. Since Ding Yan had helped him out previously, his impression of Ding Yan was not bad.
When Ding Yan arrived in front of Duan Ling Tian, his expression was solemn as he said through Voice Transmission, “I advise you to skip the trial this time. No one’s going to say anything even if you don’t participate in the trial. No one in the academy doubts your strength, after all.”
Under normal circumstances, it was mandatory for students to participate in the trial. Failing that, they would be expelled from the Hidden Fog Academy.
However, with Duan Ling Tian’s innate talent and comprehension, Ding Yan believed an exception would be made for Duan Ling Tian. In his opinion, the Hidden Fog Academy would definitely feel reluctant to expel such a prodigy.
“Why?” Duan Ling Tian asked.
“Hey, stop pretending to be dumb,” Ding Yan said, somewhat annoyed, “Everyone in Skywind City knows you’ve offended the Zhong clan. If you participate in the trial, the Zhong clan will definitely seize the chance to deal with you. Moreover, there might be other king-rank forces who’ll harm you in order to push the blame to the Zhong clan as well.”
Ding Yan’s voice grew more and more solemn as he reached the end of his words.
“They’re so bold? Do you really think they have the guts to attack me after I leave the sect for the trial?” Duan Ling Tian raised an eyebrow. Although it was not completely unexpected, he did not think the Zhong clan would dare to attack a Ten Stars student during a trial.
“Under normal circumstances, they naturally dare not do such a thing,” Ding Yan said as he shook his head, “However, during the trial, students would be separated from the teachers leading their teams. Those from the Zhong clan or other king-rank forces only need to hide and wait for a chance to act. After getting rid of the evidence, who would know they killed you?”
Ding Yan’s words managed to sway Duan Ling Tian, who was determined to grow stronger as soon as possible. Slightly. Hence, he began to consider Ding Yan’s suggestion. When a thought appeared in his mind, he asked, “As far as I know, those stronger than Kings of Gods can’t enter the trial grounds, right?”
“That’s right.” Ding Yan nodded. “There’s a Formation at the periphery of the grounds. An alarm will sound if a King of Gods or those who are stronger appear. However, the Formation does nothing to keep advanced gods out. These king-rank forces in Skywind City have no lack of advanced gods in their respective ranks. I know you’re strong enough to handle an advanced god. However, do you think you’ll be able to deal with a group of advanced gods at the same time? No matter how strong you are, it’d be difficult for you to deal with all of them at once.”
Duan Ling Tian asked again. “So you’re certain it’s impossible for Kings of Gods to enter the trial grounds to harm me?”
Ding Yan nodded. “That’s right. The teachers will be us until we enter the trial grounds; they’re quite strong as well. As long as you don’t leave the trial grounds, it’s impossible for Kings of Gods or those who are stronger to get to you.”
Duan Ling Tian sighed in relief inwardly upon hearing Ding Yan’s words. With that, he decided to go ahead and participate in the trial. It would be too troublesome to skip the trial unless it was absolutely necessary. After all, he would have to see the dean to obtain the dean’s permission to skip the trial. Apart from that, if one ranked at the top, one would be rewarded with many rare treasures. Naturally, these rewards were only useful to ordinary gods. They had no effect on Kings of Gods or those who were stronger.
“What are the rewards for the trial this time?” Duan Ling Tian asked Ding Yan.
Duan Ling Tian learned that the reward for the Ten Stars trial this time was a Dragon Mark Divine Herb that could help improve ordinary gods’ cultivation bases. Its effect was not as good as the effects of the three divine pills he had obtained from the auction, but it was still useful.
Since he had already consumed the three divine pills, even if he managed to get another three, they no longer had any effect on him. On the contrary, the Dragon Mark Divine Herb that he had never tried before was sure to help him improve.
‘Even if the Dragon Mark Divine Pill can’t help me to break through immediately, it’d still bring a step closer to becoming an advanced god!’
Duan Ling Tian grew even more determined to obtain the reward.
Duan Ling Tian had considered the threats. Even if the Zhong clan or other king-rank forces sent a group of advanced gods to deal with him, he was confident he would be able to deal with them as long as he went out with strength. If he was cornered, he could always use his prominent divine artifact, the Seven Orifices Exquisite Sword. Now that he had become an intermediate god, he could harness more of the sword’s power.
Moreover, the Seven Orifices Exquisite Sword’s artifact soul, Huang’er, had definitely gotten stronger as well.
When Ding Yan saw Duan Ling Tian was tempted by the Dragon Mark Divine Hern and intended to participate in the trial, he said again, “Duan Ling Tian, if you really want the Dragon Mark Divine Herb, you can just ask for it from the dean. He’d definitely give it to you considering your innate talent and comprehension skills.. There’s no need for you to risk your life for it.”
