Chapter 1981: A Lurking Danger

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Two days later, Duan Ling Tian who was in the Punishment Zone of the Four Symbols Sanctum’s First Mine met with the Black Turtle Sanctum’s Enforcement Elder Guo Xiong again.

However, Guo Xiong had a grave expression on his face.

“Elder Guo Xiong?” Upon seeing Guo Xiong, an ominous premonition rose in Duan Ling Tian’s heart.

“When I arrived, the Hong Clan is already in ruins! The entire Hong Clan has been annihilated!” Guo Xiong said in a deep voice, “Actually, I’ve already suspected this to be the case even before I arrived at the Hong Clan. As far as I know, Li An is a meticulous and ruthless person! It’s possible he didn’t plan to let go of the Hong Clan the moment he planned to use Hong Xu to deal with you! There’s no way he would have let the Hong Clan go even if Hong Xu managed to kill you! He’s probably worried the Hong Clan would seek revenge from him in the future. After all, there isn’t a wall in the world that doesn’t have a crack! The Hong Clan would eventually suspect Li An has something to do with Hong Xu’s death. As it turns out, Li An has made his move first and annihilated the Hong Clan before I even arrived at the Hong Clan!”

“How cruel!” Duan Ling Tian narrowed his eyes. He became deeply aware of how ruthless Li An was.

A sense of danger rose in his heart immediately.

Duan Ling Tian thought to himself. ‘Hong Xu, I’ve immediately carried out the favor you’d asked of me… Unfortunately, Li An has beaten me to it and made his move on your clan first! However, rest assured, I’ll definitely send Li An to meet you soon!’ A hint of coldness could be seen in his eyes when he thought about this.

He would kill Li An sooner or later!

Suddenly, as though he had just recalled something, Guo Xiong said to Duan Ling Tian, “I plan to head to the Saint Land Enforcement Hall today and file a complaint against Li An for threatening Hong Xu and sending him to the Four Symbols Sanctums’ First Mine to kill you. However, you’ll have to prepare yourself. The Saint Land Enforcement Hall will probably only give Li An a light punishment, and the matter will not spread out all!”

“Can we spread this news ourselves?” Duan Ling Tian recalled the incident last time. Due to the reason news had leaked out about Wei He, Li An’s Great Direct Disciple, he was sentenced to death.

“Don’t be reckless!” Guo Xiong instantly rebuked him as soon as he finished speaking. He said with a sullen expression, “This matter is completely different from before. Previously, the Saint Land Enforcement Hall had acted that way to protect their sanctity. After all, Wei He had provoked the sanctity of the Saint Land Enforcement Hall! This matter, on the other hand, is not like that. Even if news spread out, it’s impossible for the Saint Land Enforcement Hall to execute Li An! After all, Li An is a Silver Flame Elder, and he didn’t personally make a move to kill you! The most important thing is, nothing happened to you!”

Guo Xiong’s haze became complex when he looked at Duan Ling Tian as he said, “Well, maybe the Saint Land Enforcement Hall might consider sentencing Li An to death if you involve the dragon clan!”

Previously, Guo Xiong did not know that Duan Ling Tian was a Nine-clawed Dragon Warrior! He only learned about this when he returned.

With Duan Ling Tian’s identity as a Nine-clawed Dragon Warrior, his position would not be low in the dragon clan. It would be equivalent to the position of an Eight-clawed Divine Dragon.

“The dragon clan?” Upon hearing Guo Xiong’s words, Duan Ling Tian could not help but smile wryly as he shook his head. “Elder Guo Xiong, I have no relationship with the dragon clan at all. Not only that, but up until now, I don’t even know where the dragon clan is located. It’s impossible for me to ask the dragon clan to intervene in this matter.”

“Looks like the speculations are right. You obtained the legacy of a Nine-clawed Divine Dragon outside.” Guo Xiong sighed emotionally.

Duan Ling Tian did not say anything. In Guo Xiong’s opinion, Duan Ling Tian’s silence meant that he agreed with him

“If I’m not mistaken, you must have obtained the Nine-clawed Divine Dragon’s legacy from the Lower Province of the Dao Martial Saint Land, right? As far as I know, after the Dao Martial Saint Land was split into two, there’s no Nine-clawed Divine Dragons in the Dao Martial Saint Land before ever since!” Guo Xiong speculated.

Ever since the Dao Martial Saint Land was split into the Lower Province and the Upper Province, no Nine-clawed Divine Dragon had ever appeared since?

Upon hearing Guo Xiong’s words, Duan Ling Tian seemed to have recalled something as a horrified expression appeared on his face.

‘W-why didn’t I think of this before?!” The reason Duan Ling Tian’s expression turned horrified was due to Guo Xiong’s words.

He was not surprised when other people speculated that he had obtained a Nine-clawed Divine Dragon’s legacy. However, what did Guo Xiong just say?

Guo Xiong actually managed to guess he obtained the Dragonization technique from the Lower Province of the Dao Martial Saint Land!

Duan Ling Tian knew what this meant. If Guo Xiong could come to this conclusion, Li An, naturally, could come to this conclusion as well. Moreover, this applied to Yang Chong, the fifth elder of the Northern Plethora Sect as well.

‘Damn it! Why didn’t I think that transforming into a Nine-clawed Dragon Warrior would expose the fact that I came from the Lower Province of the Dao Martial Saint Land. I’d have used the Jasper Celestial Sword rather than transforming into a Nine-clawed Dragon Warrior!’ Duan Ling Tian thoroughly regretted his decision at this moment.

He knew that he had invited trouble for his family and his friends by doing so. He has given a clue about his own background to Li An and Yang Chong!

“Duan Ling Tian, are you…” Guo Xiong was puzzled when he saw Duan Ling Tian’s expression had suddenly turned grave.

“It’s alright… I-I’m alright,” Duan Ling Tian shook his head before flashing an apologetical smile at Guo Xiong. “Elder Guo Xiong, thank you for everything that you’ve done for me. I, Duan Ling Tian, will remember this favor!”

“It’s nothing.” Guo Xiong shook his head with a smile before he said solemnly, “Duan Ling Tian, with your strength, you’ll be able to participate in the Saint Land’s assessment and become a Saint Land disciple. However, when you become a Saint Land disciple, you must be even more careful! Right now, you’ve already revealed your identity as a Nine-clawed Dragon Warrior. Li An will probably not rest until you’re dead. He won’t fear you. Instead, he’ll spare no efforts in killing you. As long as you’re alive, he’ll feel threatened by you. For this reason, he won’t show you any mercy!”

“I understand.” Duan Ling Tian nodded. Naturally, he knew this, but he was not bothered by it. He was not worried about his own safety but his family’s safety!

“Elder Guo Xiong, I’d like to ask another favor from you.” Duan Ling Tian took a deep breath as though he had just made up his mind.

Then, he prepared a Voice Transmission jade token and asked Guo Xiong to hand it over to Zhu Lu Qi.

The content of the jade token asked Zhu Lu Qi to make a trip back to the Lower Province of the Dao Martial Saint Land and ask his family to leave the Azure Cloud Mansion as soon as possible and look for somewhere safe and undiscoverable. He would come and get them in the future when he had dealt with the danger. Apart from that, Duan Ling Tian also asked Guo Xiong to help send Zhu Lu Qi to the Inter-province Transportation Formation secretly without letting Li An know about it.

“You’re from the Lower Province of the Dao Martial Saint Land?” Although Guo Xiong found it a little surprising, he did not find it so strange.

After all, he had already suspected that Duan Ling Tian must have obtained the legacy to transform into a Nine-clawed Dragon Warrior in the Lower Province since a Nine-clawed Divine Dragon’s legacy would usually only exist in the Lower Province.

As for Duan Ling Tian’s favor of asking him to send somebody to the Inter-province Transportation Formation, he could also guess the reason for it. “You’re worried Li An and Yang Chong, the fifth elder of Northern Plethora Sect, will go to the Lower Province to investigate and harm your family?”

“Yes.” Duan Ling Tian trusted Guo Xiong.

At the very least, there was no dispute between him and Guo Xiong. Not only that, Guo Xiong usually stood against Li An as well so there was no reason for him to betray Duan Ling Tian.

“Please help me with this, Elder Guo Xiong… Once this matter is done, combined with the favor that I owe you before this, I’ll owe you a really big favor!” Duan Ling Tian said solemnly. He put an emphasis on the words ‘big favor’.

Even Guo Xiong had no idea why, but when he heard Duan Ling Tian said the words ‘big favor’, he was overwhelmed with emotions. Perhaps, he could see how boundless Duan Ling Tian’s future was and the significance of the ‘big favor’ that Duan Ling Tian promised him.

“This matter is not a big deal to me. I’ll send him off immediately!” After Guo Xiong accepted the Voice Transmission jade token from Duan Ling Tian, he left the Fire Worship Sect’s First Mine and headed to the White Tiger Sanctum to look for Zhu Lu Qi.

Duan Ling Tian stared at Guo Xiong when he left. It was only until Guo Xiong’s silhouette had disappeared that he sighed in relief.

‘With Palace Master Zhu’s warning, I’m sure Father will know what to do. It’s fortunate Elder Guo Xiong reminded me earlier with his words. Otherwise, I would’ve been unaware of the danger!’ When Duan Ling Tian thought of this, he could not help but break out in cold sweat.

This danger might lead to deaths if things did not go well!

In fact, Duan Ling Tian wanted to personally return to the Lower Province. However, when he recalled how he was still serving his sentence in the Four Symbols Sanctum’s First Mine and would not be able to leave, he dismissed the idea immediately.

Not only that, but even if he successfully comprehended the number one defensive Divine Ability, the Black Turtle’s Barrier, in the Fire Worship Sect a few days later, he would still be targeted after he entered the Saint Land.

One could say that it would be impossible for him to leave the Fire Worship Sect and head to the Lower Province without alerting Li An!

‘I’ll just continue comprehending the Black Turtle’s Barrier. In another five to six days at most, I’ll definitely be able to comprehend it successfully! At that time, I’ll be able to leave this Four Symbols Sanctum’s First Mine and head to the Saint Land to become a Saint Land disciple!’ The moment Duan Ling Tian thought of this, he returned to the Primus house and entered the fourth level of the Seven Treasures Exquisite Pagoda.

The five to six days that Duan Ling Tian meant referred to the time in the outside world. That meant that it would be 50 to 60 days in the fourth level of the Seven Treasures Exquisite Pagoda. In other words, Duan Ling Tian was confident he could successfully comprehend the number one defensive Divine Ability, the Black Turtle’s Barrier, in the Fire Worship Sect in two months!