“What?!” Although Sun Liang Peng, as the Sect Leader of the Simplicity Celestial Sect, had experienced and seen many things in life, he was still shocked when he heard Duan Ling Tian’s words. Beads of cold sweat could be seen on his forehead after he found out someone had hired an assassin from the Blood Skull Gang to kill Duan Ling Tian. He had assumed that some powerhouse had appeared at the critical moment and saved Duan Ling Tian. Not even in his wildest dreams did he expect Duan Ling Tian to say that he had killed the assassin. The Blood Skull Gang was one of the top three assassin organizations in the Southern Heaven Territory; even the weakest assassin was a One Basic Celestial King. Most, if not all, of the One Basic Celestial Kings in the Blood Skull Gang had comprehended a few profundities of a law so they were much stronger than ordinary One Basic Celestial Kings in the regions under the Profound Nether Mansion’s control. Moreover, the Blood Skull Gang was comparable to a grade-five force. For this reason, they were not lacking King Grade Celestial Methods and Divine Abilities.

After a moment of silence, Sun Liang Peng looked at Duan Ling Tian and tentatively asked, “Duan Ling Tian, y-you’re joking, right?”

“Sect leader, there’s no reason for me to joke about this,” Duan Ling Tian replied with a shrug. At the same time, he released his formidable Divine Consciousness and let it shroud Sun Liang Peng.

As soon as Sun Liang Peng sensed Duan Ling Tian’s Divine Consciousness, his expression changed drastically. He felt the domineering aura easily confining him, making him feel like a helpless and lonely boat in the middle of a storm that would capsize at any moment.

‘T-this… I-isn’t this the Divine Consciousness of a Ten Directions Celestial King?!’ Sun Liang Peng’s heart thumped wildly in his chest. It felt similar to the time when he felt pressured by the Divine Consciousness of a Vice Mansion Master of the Profound Nether Mansion. His expression soon changed to one of incredulity as he looked at Duan Ling Tian.

After a brief moment, Duan Ling Tian withdrew his Divine Consciousness.

When Sun Liang Peng regained his senses, he asked in shock, “Duan Ling Tian, w-why is your Divine Consciousness so powerful?!”

Duan Ling Tian stared at Sun Liang Peng and asked, “Sect Leader, would you believe me if I say my Divine Consciousness was even more powerful than this when I killed the assassin from the Blood Skull Gang?”

“More powerful than this? Does this mean your Divine Consciousness was comparable to the Divine Consciousness of a Celestial Lord at that time?” Soon after, realization dawned on Sun Liang Peng, and he quickly asked, “C-could it be that you possess a consumable Royal Grade Celestial Weapon?”

Although there were some powerful Celestial Talismans capable of raising one’s Celestial Origin Energy and Divine Consciousness to those of a Celestial Lord, the effects would only last a short while before one’s strength reverted to its original state. However, consumable Celestial Weapons were different. The improved strength would decrease according to one’s usage of it. For example, when Duan Ling Tian first used his consumable Royal Grade Celestial Weapon, his strength was that of a Celestial Lord. After killing the assassin, his strength had dropped to that of a Ten Directions Celestial King.

“Isn’t that obvious?” Duan Ling Tian asked in return.

After Sun Liang Peng recovered from his shock, he asked, “Duan Ling Tian, did you obtain your consumable Royal Grade Celestial Weapon in the lower realm of the Southern Heaven Ancient Realm?”

“No. I obtained it elsewhere.” Duan Ling Tian shook his head.

“How many times can you use it?” Sun Liang Peng asked solemnly.

Duan Ling Tian feigned a grim expression as he replied, “Twice… This is my second time using it so I’ve used it all up.” He had deliberately hidden the fact that he still had one more use. Who knew if Sun Liang Peng would covet his consumable Royal Grade Celestial Weapon? After all, consumable Royal Grade Celestial Weapons were tempting even to sect leaders of grade-seven sects such as Sun Liang Peng. It was not surprising since the consumable Royal Grade Celestial Weapon could raise one’s Divine Consciousness and Celestial Origin Energy to the level of a Celestial Lord.

Upon hearing Duan Ling Tian’s words, Sun Liang Peng smiled wryly and said, “What a waste… Duan Ling Tian, you should have informed me about it. I could’ve secretly protected you… Since you’re just a peak Overarching Heavenly Supreme Celestial, it’s likely that the Blood Skull Gang had sent an assassin weaker than me. He wouldn’t have discovered my presence even if I were to follow you there.”

Duan Ling Tian looked at Sun Liang Peng meaningfully and said, “What if the person who hired the assassin is from the Simplicity Celestial Sect? What if he came to look for you and found you missing? It wouldn’t have taken much for him to guess where you’ve gone.”

“Duan Ling Tian, are you saying that you suspect someone from our Simplicity Celestial Sect hired an assassin from the Blood Skull Gang to kill you?” Sun Liang Peng was shocked by Duan Ling Tian’s words.

“That’s a possibility…” Duan Ling Tian said....

“Do you have evidence to prove your suspicion?” Sun Liang Peng asked as his eyes glinted coldly. If it was true that someone from the Simplicity Celestial Sect was behind this assassination attempt, he would not let that person get away with it.

“Unfortunately, no.” Duan Ling Tian shook his head.

“Did you have any conflict with anyone since you arrived in the Simplicity Celestial Sect?” Sun Liang Peng asked.

“There isn’t any conflict… However, I think my presence has negatively affected some people’s interests. It’s possible they want me dead because of a conflict of interest,” Duan Ling Tian said.

“A conflict of interest? You’ve only arrived in the Simplicity Celestial Sect a few months ago… How could this be?” Sun Liang Peng asked, puzzled.

Duan Ling Tian looked at Sun Liang Peng meaningfully and slowly spat out two words, “True disciple…”

Sun Liang Peng’s eyes narrowed as soon as he heard Duan Ling Tian’s words. “Indeed. This might cause a conflict of interest. Before you came along, there were three potential candidates for the position of the final true disciple. There’s my direct disciple, Zheng Hong Yi. However, the cost of hiring an assassin from the Blood Skull Gang is too high. Based on what I know about him, he can’t afford the price. Then, there’s Wang Hong. She’s the granddaughter of the Grand Elder of our Simplicity Celestial Sect. I don’t think she’s capable of hiring an assassin from the Blood Skull Gang as well. Finally, there’s Zhuang Fan. He’s rather mysterious. We found nothing even after we tried to investigate his identity and background. In fact, the grand elder wanted to recruit him as a direct disciple, but he rejected the grand elder,” Sun Liang Peng said.

“Mysterious?” Duan Ling Tian cocked an eyebrow. “Does this mean you think Zhuang Fan is most likely to be the one who hired the assassin from the Blood Skull Gang?”

“Not necessarily… Although Zhuang Fan’s origin is a mystery, he’s not as… passionate as Zheng Hong Yi and Wang Hong in regard to becoming the sect’s true disciple,” Sun Liang Peng said, “Naturally, it’s possible that he’s only putting up a front.”

As though he had just recalled something, Sun Liang Peng suddenly turned to look at Duan Ling Tian and said, “The Blood Skull Gang is one of the top assassin organizations in the Southern Heaven Territory. Half of the price has to be paid upfront as a deposit before the assassins make a move. If it’s really one of those three who had hired the assassin, they must have already paid the deposit. The Profound Nether Mansion only has prominent Celestial Crystals, but the Blood Skull Gang wouldn’t be interested in prominent Celestial Crystals…” He paused for a moment before he continued to speculate out loud, “This means whoever hired the Blood Skull Gang must have used something else as payment. In my opinion, it has to be King Grade Celestial Weapons, at least, or possibly King Grade Celestial Weapons that had been nurtured by Celestial Lords…”

“King Grade Celestial Weapons that had been nurtured by Celestial Lords? Am I worth such a price?” Duan Ling Tian was slightly taken aback. He was just a peak Overarching Heavenly Supreme Celestial, why would his life be worth so much?

“The Blood Skull Gang is one of the top assassin organizations in the Southern Heaven Territory. Therefore, their price is, naturally, higher compared to other ordinary assassin organizations. Moreover, they need to travel quite a distance to kill you so the price would, naturally, be higher,” Sun Liang Peng explained. It seemed like he was rather knowledgeable about the Blood Skull Gang.

“This is the assassin’s Spatial Ring.” Duan Ling Tian took out a Spatial Ring and emptied the contents out of the ring. In just a moment, a pile of items appeared on the ground. “Sect leader, please have a look and see if there’s anything you find familiar…”

Upon hearing Duan Ling Tian’s words, Sun Liang Peng wasted no time in looking through the items.

“Hm?” When Sun Liang Peng shifted his gaze to one of the items, his eyes narrowed immediately.

Although Sun Liang Peng had tried to conceal his reaction, it did not escape Duan Ling Tian’s notice.

Duan Ling Tian watched as Sun Liang Peng deliberately looked away from the item that had clearly caught his attention. Then, he picked up an armor glowing with green light before he said in a leisurely tone, “Sect leader, it seems like you’re familiar with one of the items…”