Chapter 1038: Tarnished

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

The voice that came out of nowhere caused Duan Ling Tian’s expression to change.

Even Feng Tian Wu beautiful face that could entice all men gradually changed.

“That voice sounds quite familiar… Who is it?” Duan Ling Tian frowned as he looked at the sky where the voice came from. He could not recall where he had heard that voice before.

His face turned somber when he saw three silhouettes appearing out of thin air. One of the two men at the back caught his attention.

“Zuo Yue!” At this moment, the young man in the distance seemed to be the only person left in Duan Ling Tian’s eyes.

That young man had escaped from him previously. He was the most powerful young man in Anicca Sect, Zuo Yue!

He still remembered the time when they entered the fourth level of Qing Feng Palace that Martial Emperor Qing Feng left behind after entering the Martial Emperor’s secret treasure. He, Zuo Yue, and the most powerful young man in North Nether Sect, Xu Qing had passed the test and entered the fourth level’s central zone.

Zuo Yue and Xu Qing had cooperated in an attempt to kill him.

When he was at the brink of death, he had unintentionally activated the Inscription Formation on the fourth level. Fortunately, he survived after he had successfully distracted the duo.

After that, he consumed the Spirit Fruit which was the reward for passing the test on the fourth level without Zuo Yue and Xu Qing noticing and achieved a major breakthrough in his cultivation base.

After the breakthrough in his cultivation base, he killed Xu Qing who had attempted to kill him for consuming the Spirit Fruit in one blow.

When he was about to kill Zuo Yue, his Origin Energy caused a major injury in his body due to the breakthrough and stopped him from chasing after Zuo Yue.

Zuo Yue who should have died in his hands managed to escape and live because of that.

Duan Ling Tian knew Zuo Yue would bring disaster to him after he had escaped!

That was because he knew Zuo Yue would spread the news of Duan Ling Tian killing Xu Qing and the news of him entering Qing Feng Palace’s fifth level and obtaining the Profundity Fragments in Martial Emperor Qing Feng’s body.

“He’s finally here.” Duan Ling Tian knew whatever was about happen would begin when he saw that person standing behind a mysterious old man.

“I’m afraid this old man’s ability is not inferior to Tong Shan!”

Tong Shan was the person he had just killed with the last talisman his miserly father left him. He was the only Martial Monarch powerhouse in Izumo Sect.

“He… should be the Martial Monarch powerhouse in Anicca Sect! He must be Zuo Yue’s master.” Duan Ling Tian tried his best to maintain the calm expression on his face, but he could not help the wave of fear that rose from within.

He managed to keep calm when he faced Tong Shan since he had a plan.

It was easy to kill Tong Shan with the talisman his miserly father left him, but it was difficult to create the atmosphere to chase away the three Anicca Sect elders.

After Duan Ling Tian came up with a plan, he was confident when he faced Tong Shan, the Martial Monarch powerhouse.

That was the only reason he managed to keep calm in front of Tong Shan even after discovering his identity.

However, it was a different story now.

‘I’m afraid they overheard what I said to Tian Wu earlier,’ Duan Ling Tian thought to himself as he recalled his conversation with Feng Tian Wu.

Duan Ling Tian heard Zuo Yue’s voice right after he told Feng Tian Wu he used the last talisman to kill Tong Shan.

It was obvious Zuo Yue had overheard the conversation that he did not bother to conceal with Feng Tian Wu.

Duan Ling Tian’s heart sank when he realized that.

It was natural that he was not afraid of a Martial Monarch when he had the talisman in his hands.

However, the problem was he had used up all the talismans that he had. Without the help of the talisman, the only thing that he could depend on when fighting a Martial Monarch powerhouse was his own ability.

His current ability could be considered good since his strength was equivalent to 3,500 ancient horned dragons with the aid of the Quasi Royal Grade Spirit Sword, but he was nothing compared to a Martial Monarch who could unleash the strength of 6,000 to 7,000 ancient horned dragons.

“Supreme elder, this is Duan Ling Tian! He’s the one who killed Lei Zhong and Xu Qing,” Zuo Yue said respectfully to the old man standing before him.

The expression of the old man dressed in white was cold, and his eyes were devoid of emotion. His eyes gleamed when he heard what Zuo Yue said.

“You’re Duan Ling Tian? The lucky man who obtained three Profundity Fragments from the Martial Emperor’s body in the Martial Emperor’s secret treasure?” The old man asked slowly as he stared at Duan Ling Tian calmly.

“Yes, I’m Duan Ling Tian… It seems a little arbitrary that you would bring up the matter of me obtaining three Profundity Fragments from the Martial Emperor’s body in the Martial Emperor’s secret treasure,” Duan Ling Tian replied as he fearlessly looked into the old man’s eyes.

“Duan Ling Tian, stop pretending!” Zuo Yue said mockingly before the old man could reply. “Only you, me, and Xu Qing managed to successfully go through the Bumpy Road before arriving at Qing Feng Palace’s fourth level.”

“I made a move after you killed Xu Qing… You were the only one left on Qing Feng Palace’s fourth level and had the opportunity to enter the fifth level! Who could have obtained the three Profundity Fragments from the Martial Emperor’s body if it’s not you?” Zuo Yue grinned.

‘He made his move?’

Duan Ling Tian’s expression became a little odd after he heard Zuo Yue’s words.

He remembered clearly that Zuo Yue was afraid he would be killed and had escaped right before his eyes.

Now Zuo Yue was saying he made a move first?

“Zuo Yue, I know you’re jealous my ability is higher than yours after you saw me kill Lei Zhong… Moreover, you even attempted to take away the Profundity Fragment I obtained at the outer ring of the Martial Emperor’s secret treasure,” Duan Ling Tian said as he looked at Zuo Yue calmly. “However, you fabricated facts and slandered me for your own selfish desire. Isn’t that a little too much?”

“You… You’re saying that I slandered you?” Zuo Yue turned pale from rage after he heard what Duan Ling Tian said. He could not stay calm.

“Didn’t you?” When Duan Ling Tian saw Zuo Yue’s expression turned uglier and uglier, he did not plan to let him go just yet and proceeded to say with a grin, “Did you see me at Qing Feng Palace’s fifth level with your own eyes? Did you see me obtain the three Profundity Fragments in Martial Emperor Qing Feng’s body with your own eyes?”

Duan Ling Tian asked again and again. Zuo Yue was rendered speechless. He did not know what to say in response to all the questions.

“What? You no longer have any excuses left?” When Duan Ling Tian saw Zuo Yue gaping wordlessly, he continued to say sarcastically, “Zuo Yue, I have to say you’re pretty capable!”

“Not only did you slander me, but you also used your own master, the Martial Monarch of Annica Sect, as your tool to satisfy your enmity against me.” Every single word that Duan Ling Tian said hit the nail on the head. It caused Zuo Yue’s expression to turn ugly from rage.

After Duan Ling Tian finished speaking, the old man and the middle-aged man next to Zuo Yue instinctively looked at him from the corner of their eyes.

“Master, don’t listen to Duan Ling Tian’s nonsense!” Zuo Yue’s expression changed drastically when he noticed his master looking at him. He quickly said, “Everything I said is true.”

“Judging by the situation at that time, he was the only one with the opportunity to get to the fifth level to search Martial Emperor Qing Feng’s body for the three Profundity Fragments.”

Zuo Yue was really scared his master would believe Duan Ling Tian’s words and misunderstand him.

“So, what you’re saying is everything you’ve said is pure speculation on your part.” Duan Ling Tian smiled coldly.

Zuo Yue was no longer scared when he saw his master nodding at him to show his trust. He stared at Duan Ling Tian fearlessly as he said in a deep voice, “I admit the last part was my personal speculation… However, there’s no way you can deny you were the only one left at Qing Feng Palace’s fourth level after you killed Xu Qing and I left!”

“Why would I deny that?” Duan Ling Tian said calmly. “Besides, don’t you think you’re playing it down too much by saying you left? Are you sure you gave up the opportunity to explore Qing Feng Palace’s fifth level and left willingly?”

Zuo Yue turned even paler. Duan Ling Tian did not plan to let him go at all. Instead, he ripped the last fig leaf on his body apart. “It’s strange because I remember… somebody ran away in fear?”

“Hmph! Stop trying to change the topic. I’m sure you have all three Profundity Fragments from the Martial Emperor’s body,” Zuo Yue said after he took a deep breath to calm his emotion.

“Are you sure about that?” Duan Ling Tian could feel his goosebumps rising when he looked at the Martial Monarch from Anicca Sect and the middle-aged man who was probably an Anicca Sect elder. However, he tried his best to maintain the calm expression on his face.

“Of course!” Zuo Yue answered without thinking twice.

“What if I take the Ninety-Nine Heavenly Tribulation oath… and swear that I didn’t take the three Profundity Fragments from the Martial Emperor’s body?” Duan Ling Tian asked.

“Do you even dare to do that?!” Zuo Yue said with disdain and arrogance.

However, he was dumbstruck when he saw Duan Ling Tian prick his finger to take the Ninety-Nine Heavenly Tribulation oath with his blood and swore that he did not take the three Profundity Fragments from the Martial Emperor’s body.

‘Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!’

…

Nine claps of thunder were heard one after another. The sound was deafening, and it was clearly heard by Duan Ling Tian, Feng Tian Wu, and the three people from Anicca Sect. Everyone in the palace heard it too.

Everything went back to normal after the nine claps of thunder sounded.

The thunder penalty did not come as Zuo Yue had expected.

“How’s this possible?!” Zuo Yue’s expression changed. He was unwilling to believe the ‘truth’.