Chapter 2843: Test

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

As soon as Duan Ling Tian finished speaking, silence descended on the entire place. Nobody expected Duan Ling Tian would suggest such a bold bet.

Even He Shan, the Old Ancestor of the Tai Yi Celestial Sect, and the three prominent Celestial Alchemists of the sect, Situ Ming, Yang Chong, and Yu Zhong Jing, were stunned by Duan Ling Tian’s sudden decision. They did not expect Duan Ling Tian would try to obtain double-trait and triple-trait Celestial Methods and Divine Abilities from the major Celestial Sects in the Six Southeastern Regions before the Alchemy Conference even started. He really did not play by the rules! Did they not agree that they would only put their plan in motion during the Alchemy Conference?

Realization dawned on He Shan at this moment. ‘No wonder he asked me about the Supporting Sun Celestial Sect and the Thousand Leaves Celestial Sect’s Celestial Methods and Divine Abilities before we came out of the shop. As it turns out, he was already scheming to obtain the double-trait Celestial Method and Divine Ability from the two sects.’ Duan Ling Tian had asked, and he had told Duan Ling Tian about the Supporting Sun Celestial Sect’s offensive-defensive Duke Grade Celestial Method and the Thousand Leaves Celestial Sect’s offensive-movement Duke Grade Divine Ability.

“Master Duan…” Situ Ming, Yang Chong, and Yu Zhong Jing smiled wryly when they returned to their senses. They really did not think Duan Ling Tian would take advantage of the two people’s pettiness.

“Are you saying…” Guan Qi Fei, who had returned to his senses first, looked at the three prominent Celestial Alchemists from the Tai Yi Celestial Sect before looking at Duan Ling Tian and coldly asked, “Are you saying that you want the Supporting Sun Celestial Sect and the Thousand Leaves Celestial Sect to give you to an offensive-defensive Duke Grade Celestial Method and an offensive-movement Duke Grade Divine Ability respectively if you successfully refine an Overarching Heaven Pill in front of us? If you fail, the Tai Yi Celestial Sect will compensate us with one Duke Grade Celestial Technique and two Duke Grade Divine Abilities?” He stared at Duan Ling Tian’s expression intently as though he was trying to read Duan Ling Tian’s mind. Alas, there was nothing he could glean from Duan Ling Tian.

Duan Ling Tian’s gaze and expression were calm from beginning to the end. He stood motionlessly like an old monk.

“Yes, how smart of you to understand what I mean,” Duan Ling Tian said derisively, “How about it? Do you have the guts to gamble with me? If not, just scram! Go summon the representative of the major Celestial Sects in the Six Southeastern Regions. At that time, even without a reward, I’ll refine an Overarching Heaven Pill in front of everyone to clear the accusations toward the Tai Yi Celestial Sect!” He ignored Guan Qi Fei whose expression had turned gloomy. Instead, he looked at Tan Zheng Ye and said with a smile, “Vice Sect Leader Tan, please invite the representatives of the major Celestial Sects of the Six Southeastern Regions here.”

Then, Duan Ling Tian turned to Huan’er and said softly with a smile, “Huan’er, let’s return to the shop. We’ll wait for Vice Sect Leader Tan and Master Guan to invite the representatives from the major Celestial Sects in the Six Southeastern Regions here.” Then, he turned around and entered the shop with Huan’er.

After Duan Ling Tian entered the shop, his voice and laughter rang clearly from inside. “Unfortunately, I think they would only be able to gather everyone by tomorrow!”

Tan Zheng Ye and Guan Qi Fei’s expressions soured even more as they exchanged a glance.

Tan Zheng Ye asked Guan Qi Fei through Voice Transmission, “Master Guan, you’re a prominent Celestial Alchemist… Do you think there’s a possibility that he might be a prominent Celestial Alchemist capable of refining Overarching Heaven Pills?” Regardless of his question to Guan Qi Fei, he really did not think Duan Ling Tian was a prominent Celestial Alchemist, let alone a prominent Celestial Alchemist capable of refining the Overarching Heaven Pill. After all, Duan Ling Tian was not even 100 years old, how could he be so skilled in alchemy? When Duan Ling Tian said he wanted to bet with them, his first thought was Duan Ling Tian was trying to call their bluffs and scare them. Moreover, although they were just single-trait Celestial Method and Divine Abilities, he was still tempted by Duan Ling Tian’s offer. After all, none of the top sects in the Six Southeastern Regions would refuse getting their hands on more Celestial Methods and Divine Abilities. He did not agree to Duan Ling Tian’s bet immediately because he was just being cautious.

“Impossible!” Guan Qi Fei said confidently, “He’s not even 100 years old. Even if he’s lucky enough to obtain a prominent Celestial Fire, it would take him years upon years to gain the experience to refine the Overarching Heaven Pill. There has never been a prominent Celestial Alchemist who can refine Overarching Heaven Pill before they reach the age of 100 in the history of the Southern Heaven Territory, let alone the Six Southeastern Regions. In fact, there’s no one who has successfully become a prominent Celestial Alchemist before the age of 100. Like I said earlier, at most, there are some who managed to obtain a prominent Celestial Fire. However, they could hardly be considered as prominent Celestial Alchemists since they didn’t have the skills to refine ordinary prominent Celestial Pills, let alone the Overarching Heaven Pill. I can’t deny there are prominent Celestial Alchemists younger than 100 years old, but they are few and far in between in all of the Spirit Overarching Heaven. Even then, I’ve never heard of a prominent Celestial Alchemist younger than 100 years old who’s capable of refining the Overarching Heaven Pill! Well, that’s just my ignorant opinion. After all, I’m just a prominent Celestial Alchemist who had spent more than 100 years in the central area of the Southern Heaven Territory before returning to the borderlands. What do I know?” He did not forget to blow his own horn at the end of his speech.

Indeed. Guan Qi Fei had left the Six Southeastern Regions and the borderlands to go to the central area of the Southern Heaven Territory 200 years ago. When he was there, he discovered that he, a revered prominent Celestial Alchemist in the borderlands, was a nobody in the central area. After all, prominent Celestial Alchemists were a dime in a dozen in any clans or sects that had even the slightest bit of standing, let alone the strong forces. Although the central area broadened his horizons and had superior cultivation and alchemy resources compared to the borderlands, he returned to borderlands because he did not get the attention and recognition that he thought he would get there. Moreover, his cultivation base was only average. All he had was his skills in alchemy. As the saying went, ‘It’s better to be the head of a dog than the tail of a lion’. After his return, he joined the Supporting Sun Celestial Sect of the Shadow Region as a Celestial Alchemist.

Tan Zheng Ye, as the Vice Sect Leader of the Thousand Leaves Celestial Sect, was privy to this. Therefore, he had decided to ask Guan Qi Fei for his opinion. After all, in regard to alchemy, he was indeed less knowledgeable compared to Guan Qi Fei. He asked for confirmation again, “So this young man is just deliberately trying to stall for time and calling our bluffs?”

“Of course!” Guan Qi Fei replied without any hesitation. Then, his eyes lit up as he added, “Vice Sect Leader Tan, I don’t know if you noticed… When that brat said he wanted to bet with us, the Old Ancestor and the prominent Celestial Alchemists of the Tai Yi Celestial Sect looked stunned. It’s obvious they were blindsided by the brat’s words. With that, I’m even more certain that brat is only putting up an act to scare us away. He probably thinks we won’t dare to accept the bet. However, if we don’t agree to his bet, we would only be embarrassed.”

Then, Guan Qi Fei tried to persuade Tan Zheng Ye. “Vice Sect Leader Tan… If you plan to accept his bet, I’ll return and persuade my sect leader to agree to the bet as well. Not only will this prevent us from embarrassing ourselves, but we’ll be able to gain one Celestial Method and two Divine Abilities for our respective sects as well. Even a sect as strong as the Profound Heaven Celestial Sect wouldn’t refuse more Duke Grade Celestial Methods and Divine Abilities, right?” Although he was keen to accept Duan Ling Tian’s bet, he knew he would need Tan Zheng Ye’s agreement as well. If Tan Zheng Ye refused, Duan Ling Tian would not agree to bet with him alone.

Seeing Tan Zheng Ye hesitating, Guan Qi Fei hastily said, “Vice Sect Leader Tan, if you don’t feel at ease… I’m willing to take the risk and test the brat. I’ll tell him the Thousand Leaves Celestial Sect won’t get involved, but the Supporting Sun Celestial Sect would accept his bet. Naturally, if he agrees to it, when I win the bet, the Thousand Leaves Celestial Sect will have no part of the reward. However, if he declines and insists on betting with two sects or none at all, it’ll show that he’s only calling our bluffs and trying to stall for time. At that time, you can agree to the bet without any worries!”

Tan Zheng Ye was inclined to agree to Duan Ling Tian’s bet. However, after much consideration, he decided to play it safe. “In that case, you should test him first.”

Meanwhile, the crowd who was unaware of Tan Zheng Ye and Guan Qi Fei’s conversation through Voice Transmission was baffled when they saw both of their inaction.

“No way!”

“The Vice Sect Leader of the Thousand Leavens Celestial Sect and the prominent Celestial Alchemist of the Supporting Sun Celestial Sect are going to let that kid off just like this?”