Chapter 1435: Zhou Qi’s Shock

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

The death duel invitation had to have the thumbprints of both parties in addition to the thumbprints of two outer court elders.

If the other party accepted the invitation, then it would be a fight to the death!

They could reject it, but it would be perfectly justifiable for the party who sent the death duel invitation to battle them and teach them a lesson. As long as the latter did not kill or cripple them, they could do anything they want.

This was the death duel invitation.

As for the general duel invitation, once it was sent out, the other party must accept it as soon as they see it when they come out of closed-door cultivation.

If one were to refuse, it would be perfectly justifiable for the person who sent the duel invitation to break in and fight even if one was still in closed-door cultivation.

The duel invitation was one of the specialties in the Moon Illumination Sect.

…

The Moon Illumination Sect’s entrance exam ended close to evening.

In addition to the twelve young prodigies at the Paramount Mortal Shedding Stage who had passed the entrance exam earlier, there were three people at the Mastery Mortal Shedding Stage who managed to pass the exam as well.

Among the hundreds of young prodigies at the Perfection Mortal Shedding Stage, apart from three people who were eliminated, the remaining entered the outer court of Moon Illumination Sect as well.

When the outer court elder, Dong Chong, and the two outer court deacons returned to the outer court with hundreds of young prodigies at the Perfection Mortal Shedding Stage, they also learned about the incident that caused an uproar in the outer court.

Duan Ling Tian, an outer court disciple at the Mastery Mortal Shedding Stage who had recently joined the sect had thoroughly crushed and defeated Ceng Zhi who was ranked no.85 in the outer court. Moreover, he had taken over Ceng Zhi’s independent courtyard.

“How’s that possible?!”

“He’s just at the Mastery Mortal Shedding Stage. How can he defeat a someone nearing the peak of the Paramount Mortal Shedding Stage… Impossible!”

“Even if it’s true, he must have planned it with Ceng Zhi beforehand. They definitely know each other and decided to put on a show.”

…

The group of young prodigies at the Perfection Mortal Shedding Stage who just joined the Moon Illumination Sect was rattled. Most of them did not believe Duan Ling Tian really defeated Ceng Zhi.

In the crowd, Ling Yun and Xiong Hu looked at each other and saw the shock in each other’s eyes.

“Senior Brother Duan… He defeated the person who was ranked No.85 in the outer court?” Xiong Hu gasped in surprise.

Not only were the new disciples of Moon Illumination Sect surprised, but even the outer court elder, Dong Chong, and the two outer court deacons were shocked as well.

At this moment, they also suspected that Ceng Zhi knew Duan Ling Tian.

In their opinion, this matter was unbelievable!

‘If Zhou Qi finds out, perhaps he’ll feel that he was senseless to have only brought away Su Qi away,’ Ling Yun thought to himself as his eyes gleamed.

Zhou Qi was a personal disciple of the Moon Illumination Sect’s inner court elder, Liu Huan. He came to the City Governor’s Estate of Mound Hill City six months ago, killing two Saint Rudiment Stage powerhouses in the estate and severely injuring the City Governor of Mound Hill City. He even brought Su Qi, the oldest disciple of the City Governor of Mound Hill City, away.

Ling Yun still remembered, in Zhou Qi’s eyes, whether it was him, Xiong Hu, Jin Yuan Bao or Duan Ling Tian, none of them was worth mentioning.

In Zhou Qi’s eyes, Su Qi was the important one.

‘Senior Brother Duan’s innate talent is not weaker but better than Su Qi… I’m really curious what will Liu Huan and his disciple’s expressions will be like when they find out about this,’ Ling Yun thought to himself.

Ling Yun’s speculations and thoughts came true that night.

Due to the animosity between the Moon Illumination Sect’s inner court elder, Liu Huan, and the City Governor of Mound Hill City, Fang Hui, Fang Hui’s every move in the past few years did not escape the surveillance of those on Liu Huan’s side.

Today, someone from Liu Huan’s side had paid attention to the entrance exam of Moon Illumination Sect and the new disciples who had joined.

Therefore, Liu Huan’s favorite disciple, Zhou Qi, received the news at night.

In the Moon Illumination Sect’s inner court area, in the front yard of a spacious residence.

“You, retreat,” Zhou Qi said in frustration.

“Yes.” The person who came to report the matter immediately left the residence.

“I didn’t expect Fang Hui to be so lucky… First, a Su Qi, and now, there’s a Duan Ling Tian.” Zhou Qi’s face darkened slightly.

Even he had to admit that Fang Hui was outrageously lucky.

Su Qi who came from the Mortal Continent was very promising. Even Zhou Qi had to admit Su Qi’s innate talent was higher than his.

Due to this reason, Su Qi had been given special attention by his master, Elder Liu Huan, as soon as he was brought back. His strength had improved by leaps and bounds.

Currently, he had even entered the peak of the Paramount Mortal Shedding Stage.

Based on his strength, he would be ranked at the top in the outer court.

In the past six months, Zhou Qi had begun to grow envious of his master’s attention toward Su Qi.

However, Su Qi’s improvement in the past six months and his innate talent seemed ordinary compared to Duan Ling Tian.

Zhou Qi’s mentality had changed because of Duan Ling Tian.

“To be able to thoroughly defeat Ceng Zhi who was ranked No.85 in the outer court even though his cultivation base is only at the Mastery Mortal Shedding Stage… I’m certain Ceng Zhi didn’t know him prior to this,” Zhou Qi murmured.

“To be able to thoroughly defeat someone who’s almost at the peak of the Paramount Mortal Shedding Stage with a cultivation base at the Mastery Mortal Shedding Stage… Even the most monstrous person wouldn’t be able to do that. A battle against an opponent who’s two levels higher is not simple.”

“Naturally, there’s also a possibility that Duan Ling Tian has broken through to the Perfection Mortal Shedding Stage after his cultivation base was confirmed by the outer court deacon.”

“Although it’s still outrageous for him to be able to thoroughly crush Ceng Zhi with a cultivation base at the Perfection Mortal Shedding Stage, it’s not entirely impossible.” In Zhou Qi’s heart, he was certain that Duan Ling Tian’s current cultivation base was at the Perfection Mortal Shedding Stage. This was because he found it inconceivable for someone at the Mastery Mortal Shedding Stage to thoroughly defeat someone near the peak of the Paramount Mortal Shedding Stage.

Someone who was ranked No.85 in the outer court would not be an average person.

If he was average, he would have been booted out from the independent courtyard by the others.

“I have to inform master about this… However, I should look for Junior Brother Su first. I’ve never heard him mention Duan Ling Tian before this.” Zhou Qi went to look for Su Qi with that thought in his mind.

Half a year ago, after Su Qi was brought to the Moon Illumination Sect by Zhou Qi, he had become an inner court disciple under the recommendation of an inner court elder, Liu Huan.

The power of recommendation was granted to the senior officials, inner court elders or those with a higher position in the sect.

Although the outer court deacon’s position was equal to the inner court deacon, the former could not recommend someone to become an outer disciple, let alone an inner disciple.

The young prodigies that the outer court elders discovered had to pass the entrance exam to join the sect.

Although there was only a level of difference between the outer court elders, inner court deacons and inner court elders, the gap was considerably wide!

In the Moon Illumination Sect, only inner court elders or above were considered as senior officials and decision makers.

Although the inner court elders enjoyed a lofty status, they had to possess superior strength… They had to be powerhouses at the Paramount Saint Stage in order to become an inner court elder.

Only Saint Stage powerhouses could enter the top management of the Moon Illumination Sect and laugh in the wind

After becoming the Moon Illumination Sect’s inner court disciple, Su Qi stayed in Liu Huan’s estate… He had an independent courtyard to himself in the estate.

During the past six months, he had lived in seclusion, and his cultivation base had improved by leaps and bounds due to the guidance and special attention from Liu Huan.

“Junior Brother.” Su Qi who was practicing his Saint Grade Martial Tactic in the courtyard suddenly heard a voice outside. He paused and looked around, puzzled.

He, naturally, recognized the owner of the voice.

However, he was curious as to why the other party would come looking for him.

In the past six months, the other party did not look for him after he had brought him here.

In fact, as time passed, the other party seemed to be alienating him even though he was not sure if it was intentional or not… It was not difficult for him to guess the reason. There was no doubt he was jealous of the attention Master had been paying him.

“Senior Brother.” Su Qi did not dare to put on airs in front of Zhou Qi. He immediately opened his gate and welcomed Zhou Qi once he heard his voice.

“Junior Brother, after half a year, have you gotten used to living here?” Zhou Qi asked with a smile.

However, his smile seemed contrived.

“En,” Su Qi answered but did not nod.

There was a flash in Zhou Qi’s eyes as he stared at Su Qi. He bluntly asked, “Junior Brother, you should know that there’s a disciple under the City Governor of Mound Hill City called Duan Ling Tian, right?”

Duan Ling Tian!

When Su Qi heard this name again, he felt something in his heart.

Back then, even his original master, Fang Hui the City Governor of Mound Hill City, thought he was not as good as Duan Ling Tian. He even advised him to not fight with Duan Ling Tian over the title Great Senior Brother.

Due to that reason, he had challenged Duan Ling Tian to a duel.

Before the result came out, Zhou Qi had appeared and interrupted them.

Although there was no clear result, he had to admit the innate talent and strength of Duan Ling Tian who came from the Mortal Continent like him were better than his.

Naturally, he was no longer like his former self from half a year ago.

In the past six months, his strength had improved by leaps and bounds!

If he met Duan Ling Tian again, he was confident he would definitely win.

“I know him.” Su Qi nodded in response to Zhou Qi’s question.

He secretly did some calculations earlier. Today seemed to be the day of the Moon Illumination Sect’s entrance exam that was held every five years. Duan Ling Tian must have come, representing Mound Hill City.

‘It seems that Duan Ling Tian’s performance during the entrance exam is pretty good… Otherwise, it wouldn’t have alarmed Zhou Qi.’ It was not difficult for Su Qi to guess this.

“Once he entered the sect, he defeated Ceng Zhi who was ranked No.85 in the outer court. He’s an outer court disciple near the peak of the Paramount Mortal Shedding Stage,” Zhou Qi said.

“What?!” Su Qi’s eyes widened, and his expression turned tensed when he heard Zhou Qi’s words.