Chapter 2102: Malicious Gaze

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Lu Tie seemed as though he had been struck by lightning after he tried to sense Bu Hong’s Innate Spiritual Root with his Divine Consciousness. His eyes were wide open and an expression of disbelief and horror appeared on his face as he cried out, “H-how this possible?!”

Upon seeing Lu Tie’s reaction, Bu Hong trembled in fear. “Master! M-my… Is there something wrong with my Innate Spiritual Root?”

If there was something wrong with his Innate Spiritual Root, it would make sense why his cultivation speed was so slow. What mattered the most was if he could fix his Innate Spiritual Root! If it could be fixed, he would be able to regain his innate talent and his cultivation speed would return to normal. He would still be a prodigy in the Fire Worship Sect with his indigo Innate Spiritual Root. As long as he had time, he would be able to avenge himself and kill Duan Ling Tian in the future!

“There’s nothing wrong with your Innate Spiritual Root…” Lu Tie answered as he shook his head stiffly.

Bu Hong’s eyes lit up immediately when he heard Lu Tie’s words. “There’s nothing wrong with my Innate Spiritual Root?” In his opinion, as long as there were no problems with his Innate Spiritual Root, there would certainly be a way to resolve the issue regarding his cultivation speed. He sighed in relief.

“There’s nothing wrong with your Innate Spiritual Root…” Lu Tie hesitated for a moment before he eventually said in a low voice, “Because you no longer have an Innate Spiritual Root! Your Innate Spiritual Root is gone”

Your Innate Spiritual Root is gone!

When Bu Hong heard these words, it was as though he had been struck by lightning. He was so shocked that he crumpled to the ground in despair. Earlier, although he was afraid and uncertain, he still held a sliver of hope in his heart. However, Lu Tie’s words had completely cut off all his hopes.

He had lost his Innate Spiritual Root and innate talent!

“H-how’s that possible?” Now that Bu Hong had lost all hopes, he had fallen to the depths of despair.

At this moment, Bu Hong heard his master, Lu Tie, growled as he said through clenched teeth, “Duan! Ling! Tian!” This was his first time seeing his master so angry.

“Don’t worry, Hong’er. I’ll avenge you!” Lu Tie promised Bu Hong solemnly as his eyes glinted coldly.

“Master, y-you think the disappearance of my Innate Spiritual Root is related to Duan Ling Tian?” Bu Hong heard the hidden meaning behind Lu Tie’s words.

“It has to be him!” Lu Tie said in a cold voice, “Previously, when Duan Ling Tian was still in the Black Turtle Sanctum, First Silver Flame Elder Li An had brought his direct disciple, Gu Chun, to question Duan Ling Tian. He had accused Duan Ling Tian of destroying Gu Chun’s Innate Spiritual Root! At that time, no one, including me, believe Duan Ling Tian’s capable of that. After all, apart from the fact that cultivators below the Saint Celestial Stage aren’t able to sense Innate Spiritual Roots, even powerhouses at the Saint Celestial Stage can only sense Innate Spiritual Roots. They can’t destroy them without damaging the owner’s soul!”

Lu Tie paused before he continued to say, “Since Li An and Gu Chun have no evidence, and Gu Chun wasn’t entirely sure Duan Ling Tian had destroyed his Innate Spiritual Root, Gu Chun didn’t dare to swear on the lightning penalty oath. The matter ended just like that. Originally, I thought it was just a joke, and Li An and Gu Chun were trying to frame Duan Ling Tian. However, it seems like Duan Ling Tian knows a technique to destroy Innate Spiritual Roots. I don’t believe it’s a coincidence that your Innate Spiritual Root has disappeared after you fought him!”

Lu Tie was right in his speculations.

“Apart from me, he has also destroyed someone else’s Innate Spiritual Root?” After listening to Lu Tie’s explanation, Bu Hong was certain Duan Ling Tian had used the same technique to destroy his Innate Spiritual Root.

“Hong’er, I’ll seek revenge for you. Stay here and wait for my good news,” Lu Tie said before he vanished into thin air. He did not even wait for Bu Hong to respond to him.

Lu Tie left in a rage. Although he had two direct disciples, he had high hopes for Bu Hong. However, everything was ruined now. When Lu Tie Left, his anger was at its boiling point! Currently, there was nothing he wanted more than to kill Duan Ling Tian to vent his anger! Since he was certain Duan Ling Tian was the one who destroyed his direct disciple’s Innate Spiritual Root, there was no need for him to tread carefully. Whether he had to forcefully use the Soul Searching Secret Tactic or some other techniques, he must destroy Duan Ling Tian!

Unfortunately, Lu Tie was destined to be disappointed.

Currently, Duan Ling Tian was not even in the Fire Worship Sect. He had to wait for Duan Ling Tian to return before he could seek revenge from him.

And that was how Lu Tie discovered Duan Ling Tian had left the Fire Worship Sect!

Meanwhile, Dong Yuan Jin, one of the Vice Hall Masters of the Enforcement Hall, also learned about this. “Duan Ling Tian has left the Fire Worship Sect? How’s that possible?!” He found it hard to believe. He had ordered his men to keep a watch on Duan Ling Tian who had humiliated his son, Dong Lin, several times. How did he manage to leave the Fire Worship Sect without alerting anyone? Even if he refused to believe it, the fact remained that Duan Ling had left.

Dong Yuan Jin found out about this because Lu Tie, the Sanctum Leader of Azure Dragon Sanctum, had gone to the Enforcement Hall to accuse Duan Ling Tian of destroying Bu Hong’s Innate Spiritual Root. The Enforcement Hall had sent Enforcement Elders along with Lu Tie to break into Duan Ling Tian’s residence, but they did not see Duan Ling Tian. They searched for him in the sect, and still, they could not find him. They could only come to the conclusion that Duan Ling Tian had indeed left the Fire Worship Sect despite Dong Yuan Jin’s men keeping a watch on him.

“Don’t worry, father… Since we are sure Duan Ling Tian has destroyed Bu Hong’s Innate Spiritual Root, he won’t be able to escape the severe punishment that awaits him when he returns!” Dong Lin laughed sinisterly, “Moreover, according to Sanctum Leader Lu, Black Turtle Sanctum’s First Silver Flame Elder Li An’s direct disciple, Gu Chun, also had his Innate Spiritual Root destroyed by Duan Ling Tian back then… With these two crimes, it’s enough for us to sentence him to death!”

Dong Lin paused for a moment as though he had recalled something. He said warily, “However, many people from the Enforcement Hall know about Duan Ling Tian destroying Bu Hong’s Innate Spiritual Root. If word of this spread out and Duan Ling Tian learns about it, I’m afraid he won’t return to the sect!”

If Duan Ling Tian did not return to the Fire Worship Sect, regardless of how serious his crime was, there was nothing the Enforcement Hall of the Fire Worship Sect could do. They could not even convict him of being guilty before they confront him, which meant they could not simply send men out to hunt for him. After all, it’s impossible to convict Duan Ling Tian based on the words of one man!

“Lin’er, I’m pleased that you thought about this.” Dong Yuan Jin looked delighted when he heard Dong Lin’s words. “I’ve thought about this too. I’ve already issued a gag order on our men. News of this will not spread beyond the Enforcement Hall before Duan Ling Tian returns. As long as we contain the news, Duan Ling Tian will be unaware of it.” Dong Yuan Jin said confidently.

“Father, you’re brilliant!” Dong Lin’s eyes brightened and he had a reverent expression on his face.

After a while, a frown appeared on Dong Yuan Jin’s face. “However, I still can’t figure out how he managed to leave the sect without alerting anyone.” Dong Yuan Jin was hung up over the fact that Duan Ling Tian managed to leave without his knowledge even though he had his men keeping watch over him.

…

Currently, Duan Ling Tian who was in Sin City was unaware that a trap had been set for him in Fire Worship Sect. They were just waiting for him to fall into the trap.

“I’ve finally broken through!” It was just as Duan Ling Tian had expected. He had taken almost two months to break through to the peak of the Exemplary Saint Stage!

Naturally, for Duan Ling Tian to be able to break through so quickly in an environment without a Spirit Gathering Formation was all due to his Innate Spiritual Root that was close to turning indigo, the fourth level of the Seven Treasures Exquisite Pagoda, and his hard work.

‘About fifty days have passed on the fourth level of the Seven Treasures Exquisite Pagoda. This means a little more than five days have passed in the outside world,’ Duan Ling Tian thought to himself, ‘In the next few days, I’ll work on mastering the Divine Abilities… Once the ten days I paid for are up, I’ll leave the inn and look for my next prey! It’s about time for my Innate Spiritual Root to turn indigo.’ The ten days he meant clearly referred to the time in the outside world.

Four days in the outside world were equivalent to more than a month on the fourth floor of Seven Treasures Exquisite Pagoda. After a month, Duan Ling Tian left the Seven Treasures Exquisite Pagoda.

Although Duan Ling Tian did not break through again while he mastered his Divine Abilities, he became extremely skilled. Moreover, he was also very close to another breakthrough.

Duan Ling Tian walked out of the room and breathed in the fresh air that contained the smell of flowers. He had a contented expression on his face. After a while, he left the room with a courtyard that he had been staying in for ten days to check out. He left Welcome Inn immediately after he checked out.

After Duan Ling Tian left the inn, he was deeply aware of a few people surreptitiously looking at him. They would look at him briefly before turning away. “Hm?”

If Duan Ling Tian was not a Weapon Specialist who mastered the art of reconnaissance in his past life, he would not have been able to notice the malicious gazes that were trained on him even though he had an extraordinary cultivation base.