Chapter 3187: Crisis

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

“Are you sure?” Zhang Dong Nan, the Branch Leader of the Phantom Fox Clan, narrowed his eyes as soon as Leng Ye finished speaking.

“Yes, Lord Dong Nan.” Leng Ye nodded confidently. “Lord Dong Nan, if you don’t believe me, you can’t investigate this matter. In the borderland’s Six Southeast Regions, Duan Ling Tian has quite a bit of fame. There are many people who knew he was accompanied by a peerless beauty. Whenever they went out, she would always wear a veil and a bamboo hat. It’s not difficult to guess that she wore the veil and the hat to hide her beauty to avoid attracting unnecessary trouble.”

“Good. I’ll investigate this matter. Follow me back to the Phantom Fox Clan. If the matter is as you’ve described, I won’t treat you unfairly.” After a brief pause, Zhang Dong Nan’s gaze on Leng Ye turned frosty as he continued to say, “However, if I discover that you lied to me… Don’t even think about leaving the Phantom Fox Clan alive…”

Upon hearing these words, Leng Ye did not seem nervous. He said calmly, “Lord Dong Nan, I have no objections about following you to the Phantom Fox Clan. However, you’ll have to inform our organization first.”

“I have a way to contact your vice leader; I’ll inform him of this matter so you don’t have to worry about it,” Zhang Dong Nan said indifferently. Then, he nodded at Situ Yu before he and the two old men brought Leng Ye back with them to the Phantom Fox Clan.

Situ Yu remained silent when Zhang Dong Nan brought Leng Ye away. He knew it was pointless to say anything. After all, he did not have the capability to stop Zhang Dong Nan. Let alone Zhang Dong Nan, he was not even capable of stopping the two old men from the Phantom Fox Clan in a direct fight. The techniques from the Phantom Fox Clan were too mysterious. He had exchanged blows with Zhang Zhen Hai before. Although their cultivation base, Celestial Weapons, and the number of profundities they had comprehended were almost the same, Zhang Zhen Hai had the upper hand due to the Phantom Fox Clan’s innate Divine Ability.

After a while, Situ Yu finally said to the remaining assassin standing behind him, “Send a message to Vice Leader Chen and inform him of this incident.”

The assassin nodded and promptly did as he was told.

The Blood Skull Gang had more than one vice leader. Situ Yu was not sure which vice leader Zhang Dong Nan was acquainted with. In the end, he decided to report the matter to Chen Yuan Shan, one of the Vice Leaders of the Blood Skull Gang. This was because Chen Yuan Shan was currently in charge of overseeing the mission regarding Duan Ling Tian.

…

Meanwhile, Zhang Zhen Hai who was behind Zhang Dong Nan could not help but say, “Lord Dong Nan, if Leng Ye is telling the truth then that woman should be with Duan Ling Tian in the Profound Nether Mansion’s estate at this moment…”

Zhang Yun Ting chimed in, “Moreover, it’s likely the Profound Nether Mansion is responsible for the deaths of our two men!”

“Regardless, all these are just speculations without evidence. Don’t tell me you think we can just charge into the Profound Nether Mansion without any evidence?” Zhang Dong Nan said indifferently.

Upon hearing these words, the two old men fell silent.

Zhang Dong Nan continued to say, “There are many six-grade Celestial Mansions under the Ten Major Clans and Top Five Sects in the Southern Heaven Territory, but the only grade-six Celestial Mansion that makes me wary is the Profound Nether Mansion.” He paused for a moment before he said, “My father once told me there’s a powerful hidden Celestial Lord in the Profound Nether Mansion whose strength is almost comparable to a titled Celestial Lord. In fact, his strength is comparable to some of the leaders of the ten major clans.”

Upon hearing Zhang Dong Nan’s words, Zhang Zhen Hai, Zhang Yun Ting, and even Leng Ye widened their eyes in shock and fear.

It should be known that the leaders of the Ten Major Clans were all powerful Celestial Lords. Ordinary Celestial Lords could not hope to compare to them. How could they not be shocked and frightened when they heard that the Profound Nether Mansion might have a powerhouse with such strength?

Zhang Dong Nan said, “It’s said that the hidden powerhouse is the Pavilion Master of the Imperial Tutor Pavilion in the Profound Nether Mansion. In terms of seniority, he should be the grandmaster of the Mansion Master of the Profound Nether Mansion.”

“The Pavilion Master of the Imperial Tutor Pavilion?” Zhang Zhen Hai’s eyes widened as he said, “Branch leader, if I’m not mistaken, didn’t the Mansion Master of the Profound Nether Mansion say earlier that Duan Ling Tian is now the Imperial Tutor of the Profound Nether Mansion? Doesn’t this mean Duan Ling Tian is under the protection of that hidden powerhouse?” His eyes were filled with apprehension and wariness when he spoke.

“You’ve only thought about it now?” Zhang Dong Nan shook his head. “Not to mention we don’t have evidence, even if we have evidence, it won’t make a difference. To put it bluntly, the Profound Nether Mansion has no need to fear our Phantom Fox Clan at all. Even the combined forces of three branches of the Phantom Fox Clan might not be enough to threaten the Profound Nether Mansion…”

As the Branch Leader of the Phantom Fox Clan in the Southern Heaven Territory, Zhang Dong Nan was well aware of the Profound Nether Mansion’s strength. He knew the Profound Nether Mansion was one of the strongest forces in the Southern Heaven Territory under the fifth grade. Naturally, there were not many people who were aware of this fact.

“The Profound Nether Mansion is so strong, and yet, the Azure Green Mansion dares to oppose them?” Zhang Yun Ting asked. He had heard about the conflict between the Profound Nether Mansion and the Azure Green Mansion after all.

“Indeed, there’s enmity between the two grade-six Celestial Mansions, and their members would fight upon meeting each other. However, have you heard of any strong elites from either mansion dying? The conflict is merely a trivial matter. Do you think the hidden powerhouse from the Profound Nether Mansion would stoop so low and get involved in such petty matters?”

Zhang Yun Ting nodded. Indeed, how could a powerful elite comparable to titled Celestial Lords deign to intervene in such small matters?

Upon hearing the conversations between the members of the Phantom Fox Clan, Leng Ye felt chills running up his spine. He did not know the Profound Nether was so frightening. ‘The Profound Nether Mansion is so… strong? Their pavilion master’s strength is even comparable to some of the leaders of the ten major clans? Moreover, Duan Ling Tian is now the Imperial Tutor of the Profound Nether Mansion?’ He did not expect Duan Ling Tian to have such an identity.

Leng Ye continued thinking to himself as cold sweat appeared on his forehead, “If we had killed Duan Ling Tian outside of the Profound Nether Mansion’s estate, wouldn’t the pavilion master retaliate once he finds out about it? I have to inform the vice leader about this. We have to thoroughly investigate this matter before we make a move. I’m sure vice leader knows about the hidden powerhouse of the Profound Nether Mansion…”

…

When Chen Yuan Shan, one of the Vice Leaders of the Blood Skull Gang, received Leng Ye’s message, his expression changed drastically.

“What? Duan Ling Tian is now the Imperial Tutor of the Profound Nether Mansion? Based on what the Branch Leader of the Phantom Fox Clan said, it seems like that old man is still in the Profound Nether Mansion? It… it seems like we have to put the matter of assassinating Duan Ling Tian on hold… I’ll have to inform the leader about this and let him decide how we should proceed…”

…

Before Chen Yuan Shan left to look for the Leader of the Blood Skull Gang, he hurriedly sent a message to the remaining two assassins hiding outside of the Profound Nether Mansion’s estate.

Situ Yu and the other assassin were shocked when they received the message asking them to not make a move even if Duan Ling Tian left the Profound Nether Mansion alone. They could not help but wonder about what happened.

…

In the Profound Nether Mansion’s Imperial Tutor Pavilion.

After Duan Ling Tian returned from the residence of the Mansion Master of the Profound Nether Mansion, he continued cultivating. With the help from the Celestial Fruits and Celestial Pills given to him by the Pavilion Master of the Imperial Tutor Pavilion, his cultivation speed was incredibly fast.

When Huan’er woke up, she returned the Supreme Powerhouse Divinity to Duan Ling Tian so he could comprehend the law of space while sleeping.

The duo repeated this cycle as time continued to pass.

…

After half a month, Huan’er completely absorbed the efficacy of the Ice King Celestial Fruit and the Fire King Celestial Fruit and smoothly became a One Basic Celestial King.

‘As expected of a Thousand Phantoms Ice Fox. Not only is her cultivation speed fast, but she absorbed the efficacy of the Celestial Fruits just as quickly.’ Duan Ling Tian sighed emotionally upon discovering Huan’er’s breakthrough after he had woken up.

Duan Ling Tian was about to resume his cultivation when he suddenly received a message from the Mansion Master of the Profound Nether Mansion.

“Duan Ling Tian, I just received news regarding the Phantom Fox Clan. Upon his return to the clan, Zhang Dong Nan sent some of his men to the borderland of the Southern Heaven Territory. Does this have anything to do with the woman next to you?”

‘The borderland?’ Duan Ling Tian’s eyes narrowed into slits when he heard the message. ‘Seems like the branch leader knows something… I’m sure this has something to do with the Blood Skull Gang.’

It was not difficult for him to guess how the Phantom Fox Clan found out about his connection to the borderland.

His eyes flashed with killing intent as he muttered to himself, “If I knew this would happen, I should have let the pavilion master kill those three assassins!”

After a moment, he finally replied to the Mansion Master of the Profound Nether Mansion, “Mansion master, my companion and I came from the borderland.”

“Do you want to send someone to kill the members of the Phantom Fox Clan who are heading to the borderland? Since the branch leader sent them there, he must be privy to some information and sent his men there to verify the information,” the mansion master asked. It was clear that Duan Ling Tian only needed to say the word, and he would send people to deal with the members of the Phantom Fox Clan.

“There’s no need for that,” Duan Ling Tian replied to the mansion master’s message, “Let them investigate. Even if we kill their men, they’d only send more men to investigate the matter…”

Although Duan Ling Tian appeared outwardly calm, inwardly, he was feeling a sense of crisis.

‘The Blood Skull Gang really investigated my background thoroughly. Since they even investigated the borderland, they must know about Huan’er. The three assassins lingering outside the estate must have seen her when she was outside the estate as well… As long as the Phantom Fox Clan questions those three assassins, they would surely find out that Huan’er’s with me now. I’m afraid at this moment Zhang Dong Nan already knows that Huan’er is in the Profound Nether Mansion.’