Chapter 1373: Extortion

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

‘Xue Nai gave me fourth-grade Saint Stones as well… The durability of a fourth-grade Saint Stone is equivalent to 10 fifth-grade Saint Stones according to the conversion ratio between the various grades of Saint Stones in the Dao Martial Saint Land,’ Duan Ling Tian thought to himself.

‘With my current cultivation base and cultivation speed, a fifth-grade Saint Stone will still have a lot of leftover energy even after helping me to break through from the Early Mortal Shedding Stage.’ Soon after, Duan Ling Tian closed his eyes again to cultivate.

The Heaven and Earth Spirit Energy from the second level of the Seven Treasures Exquisite Pagoda and the fifth-grade Saint Stone kept flowing into his body…

The Tenth Form of the Nine Dragons War Sovereign Technique, Nine Dragons Form cultivation method, had transformed into nine dragons and carried the Heaven and Earth Spirit Energy along the 15 Saint Veins to circulate the great Qi circulatory cycle before it transformed into True Energy and integrated with the Qi Sea in the middle of Duan Ling Tian’s eyebrows.

The True Energy kept increasing in the Qi Sea that was as big as a pigeon’s egg.

Although the increase was minimal, sooner or later it would be full after it had accumulated.

The day it was completely filled would be the day Duan Ling had broken through to the Intermediate Stage of the Mortal Shedding Stage.

“To cultivate from the Early Mortal Shedding Stage to the Intermediate Mortal Shedding Stage is much easier than breaking through from the peak of the Martial Emperor Stage to the Early Mortal Shedding Stage…” Duan Ling Tian knew this very well.

After all, the latter had to integrate the Profundities into the Origin Energy and then transform it into True Energy. Moreover, it had to open up the Saint Veins. It was extremely inconvenient.

The former was much simpler. It would be done once the Qi Sea was completely filled with True Energy. He would then break through and open up his Saint Veins.

Time passed by very quickly when one was cultivating. In just a blink of an eye, two and a half months had passed. Duan Ling Tian who was roused by Elder Huo left the Seven Treasures Exquisite Pagoda and returned to cottage No.12.

After keeping the Seven Treasures Exquisite Pagoda, Duan Ling Tian opened the door. It did not take long before Guo Li showed up in front of his door.

“Duan Ling Tian, we should go and receive our Saint Stones,” Guo Li said to Duan Ling Tian.

“It’s today?” Duan Ling Tian asked.

“From today onward, we have three days to pick them up… The place where they are distributing Saint Stones is very near. It’s at the pavilion next to the Thirteen Gangsters’ cottages,” Guo Li said.

“That pavilion?” Duan Ling Tian was surprised. He remembered seeing that pavilion when he first arrived at the Latent Dragon Camp.

Back then, he had wondered what that place was.

It seemed like that place was where the powerhouse from the City Governor’s Estate resided. That powerhouse was also responsible for guarding the members of the Latent Dragon Camp.

There were rules in the Latent Dragon Camp after all, and rules only worked when there were supervision and enforcement.

“Let’s go.” Duan Ling Tian stepped out of his room and walked toward the pavilion with Guo Li.

During the journey, both of them caught a lot of people’s attention.

“That’s Duan Ling Tian and Guo Li?”

“That’s right! A month ago, they entered the ranks of the Thirteen Gangsters.”

“They seem like a perfect match… Are they a couple?”

…

Many people saw Duan Ling Tian and Guo Li and began to gossip about them. Some of them even thought they were a couple.

Duan Ling Tian did not take the remarks to heart and merely laughed it off…

However, it was different for Guo Li as she began to blush.

“Hi! Duan Ling Tian.” When they arrived near the pavilion, Duan Ling Tian heard someone greeting him. Upon closer inspection, he discovered it was Zhu Lang.

“Zhu Lang, why are you alone? Where’s Hu Jie?” Duan Ling Tian asked, puzzled, when he realized Zhu Lang was alone.

“Hmph! He has climbed the social ladder… The person ranked No.5 among the Thirteen Gangsters, that Mastery Mortal Shedding Stage powerhouse, is his distant cousin brother.” Zhu Lang said with a snort.

“Isn’t that good? You’re pretty close to him, right? He can look out for you in the future,” Duan Ling Tian said with a smile.

“Look out for me? It’ll be good enough if he doesn’t kill me.” Zhu Lang laughed self-deprecatingly and looked at Guo Li before he said, “Guo Li, you’re also from a ninth-rate family, you’ll know better… Maybe Hu Jie and I are close because we were in the same boat, but once he found protection, how do you think he’ll treat me?”

“Kill you for his family,” Guo Li said bluntly.

Zhu Lang and Hu Jie were a bit like her and Ye Man, the prodigy of the Ye Clan from Fuyu Town, whom Duan Ling Tian replaced.

“Anyway, I’ll go first.” Zhu Lang jumped down from the high platform and returned to his cottage after he greeted both of them.

Duan Ling Tian shook his head and entered the pavilion with Guo Li.

The person responsible for distributing the Origin Stones was the person who was guarding the Latent Dragon Camp, the Heavenly Harm Guardian… The Heavenly Harm Guardian ranked No.14 among the 36 Guardians.

“Guo Li. 100 eighth-grade Saint Stones.”

“Duan Ling Tian. 200 eighth-grade Saint Stones.” The Heavenly Harm Guardian’s face was solemn from the beginning until the end as he handed Saint Stones woodenly to Duan Ling Tian and Guo Li. Both of them received the Origin Stones and thanked him.

“Perfection Stage of the Mortal Shedding Stage?” During that period of time, Duan Ling Tian used the Divine Eye to probe the Heavenly Harm Guardian and discovered his strength.

In this regard, Duan Ling Tian was not surprised.

Without a cultivation base above the Perfection Mortal Shedding Stage, he would not be able to guard the Latent Dragon Camp… At least, he would not be able to overpower the top few Thirteen Gangsters.

Duan Ling Tian did not notice that when he and Guo Li turned to leave, the Heavenly Harm Guardian had actually lifted his head to look at him. He looked different from before.

After Duan Ling Tian and Guo Li left the pavilion, they went back.

“Duan Ling Tian, the members of Latent Dragon Camp will have a chance to go out once every three months… Are you preparing to go out as well?” Guo Li asked as she looked at Duan Ling Tian.

“No.” Duan Ling Tian shook his head. “I have nothing to do even if I go out.”

“I don’t plan to either… Who knows if the two clans sent anyone to lurk outside of the City Governor’s Estate to kill me,” Guo Li said.

“They dare to kill you in Mound Hill City?” Duan Ling Tian was surprised.

“Why wouldn’t they… If they have the chance, they’ll even sneak into the City Governor’s Estate to kill me,” Guo Li replied.

“They aren’t afraid of the punishment from the City Governor’s Estate?” Duan Ling Tian frowned.

As far as he knew, Fuyu Town was under the jurisdiction of Mound Hill City.

“Punishment?” Guo Li shook her head. “Currently, I’m still not qualified to ask the City Governor’s Estate for any favor… Even if I am killed now, the City Governor’s Estate won’t blame the two largest clans of Fuyu Town just because of me.”

“I’ll be truly safe only when the City Governor’s Estate acknowledges my worth,” Guo Li continued saying.

Duan Ling Tian nodded.

“You’re Duan Ling Tian? The one who defeated Li Han and became the new No.12 of the Thirteen Gangsters? Give me half of the Saint Stones you received.” Duan Ling Tian and Guo Li had just arrived at the cottage when a voice sounded from nearby.

Following that, both of them saw a black-clad youth from cottage no.6 walking toward them.

The black-clad youth was tall and muscular. His gait was similar to a dragon’s gambol and a tiger’s prowl.

“It’s Zhang Ji Long! He’s ranked No.6 among the Thirteen Gangsters.”

“This Zhang Ji Long usually extorts the Thirteen Gangsters ranked behind him for Saint Stones with his strength… However, doesn’t he usually start with the last one?”

“It’s probably because she’s a female that’s why he’s showing compassion.”

…

At this time, the eyes of the youths beneath the high platform landed on Duan Ling Tian, Guo Li, and Zhang Ji Long.

Many people came out from their cottages regardless if they were on the high platform or below the high platform. They had heard the commotion and came out to watch the show.

Duan Ling Tian was calm even when he was faced with Zhang Ji Long who came bearing ill-intention.

He silently opened the Divine Eye.

Zhang Ji Long, 32 years old. His cultivation base was at the Intermediate Stage of the Mortal Shedding Stage.

“Why should I give it to you?” Duan Ling Tian sneered as he glanced at Zhang Ji Long.

“I don’t just want you to give me half of it now… I want all the Saint Stones you received earlier! 200 Saint Stones. Hand it over.” Zhang Ji Long stood in front of Duan Ling Tian calmly, but his tone was insolent and domineering.

“Idiot!” Duan Ling Tian spat out the word as he stared at Zhang Ji Long coldly.

Idiot!

There was an uproar after Duan Ling Tian spoke.

“Is this Duan Ling Tian crazy?”

“He… he dares to call Zhang Ji Long an idiot? I’m not dreaming, am I? Ah! It hurts! Why did you pinch my thigh?”

“Let’s watch something fun!”

The group of young men and women beneath the high platform were looking at the high platform with great interest.

Usually, they would only cultivate. It was quite boring… They were always in high spirits whenever conflicts arose.

On the high platform, apart from the top five Thirteen Gangsters at the Mastery Mortal Shedding Stage, the rest of the Thirteen Gangsters at the Intermediate Mortal Shedding Stage also came out of their cottages.

They watched the confrontation between Duan Ling Tian and Zhang Ji Long with great interest. Similar to the group of youth beneath the high platform, they also came out to watch the action.

Naturally, these people had one thing in common.

That was… they were all victims of Zhang Ji Long’s extortion.

They had given half of the Saint Stones they received today to Zhang Ji Long.

They were also unwilling to give up their Saint Stones. However, they had no choice but to comply. Otherwise, they would definitely be beaten up by Zhang Ji Long and would not be able to get out of bed for a month. That would only impede their cultivation. In this case, the loss outweighed the gain.

Therefore, they would honestly give half of the Saint Stones they received to Zhang Ji Long every month.

“Boy, don’t think you’re so amazing just because you defeated Li Han a month ago… In front of me, Li Han won’t even last half a move.” Zhang Ji Long looked at Duan Ling Tian calmly. Although he spoke calmly, people who were astute could detect his anger.

If one were to say Zhang Ji Long was a volcano, then currently he was a volcano on the verge of erupting.

In his eyes, no matter if it was Li Han or Duan Ling Tian, they were not worth mentioning at all.

However, today, one of them dared to disobey him!

He felt as though his dignity was challenged!

“So what?” Duan Ling Tian still had a sneer on his face. “Come and get it yourself if you want the Saint Stones in my hands… If you dare not, then just get out of my sight.”

“No… Don’t get out of my sight. I almost forgot. You… You’re ranked No.6 among the Thirteen Gangsters, right?” Duan Ling Tian suddenly asked. He seemed to have recalled something.