Chapter 2863: Laying It Out In The Open

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

‘After all, she’s the one who sent the Celestial Duke after me. That Celestial Duke not only knows my name, but she knows how I looked as well. It’s not difficult for her to draw a portrait of me since she has seen me.’ Taking all these things into consideration, Duan Ling Tian did not find it surprising that Nangong Xiu, the Sect Leader of the Compassionate Celestial Traveler Sect, had recognized him.

‘Her eyes were brimming with killing intent when she looked at me earlier, it only dissipated after she looked at Zhou Shu Qiu. Zhou Shu Qiu must have recounted what happened earlier to her… Since even Li An, the Old Ancestor of the Blissful Sect, didn’t dare to simply make a move against me, it’s likely that she won’t recklessly make a move against me as well. As the Sect Leader of the Compassionate Celestial Traveler Sect, she won’t act recklessly until she thoroughly confirms my background. After all, if I’m truly from a clan in the central area, and she acted against me, it’d bring calamity to the Compassionate Celestial Traveler Sect.” Having seen the lightning-fast exchange between Nangong Xiu and Zhou Shu Qiu, it was not difficult for him to deduce the conversation between the duo.

At this moment, a voice rang in Duan Ling Tian’s mind. “Brother Ling Tian, she… Is she Sister Bing whom you told me about?”

The person who had spoken was none other than Huan’er.

“Yes.” Duan Ling Tian nodded faintly. As he looked at Murong Bing again, Huan’er followed the direction of his gaze as well. He noticed that Murong Bing had intentionally avoided Huan’er’s gaze. He thought to himself resolutely, ‘I have to think of a way to persuade her to come with me. The Alchemy Conference is a good opportunity. If I miss this chance, it’ll be extremely difficult to find another chance.’

Meanwhile, Nangong Xiu led the people from the Compassionate Celestial Traveler Sect to the people from the Tai Yi Celestial Sect and the Thousand Spiders Celestial Sect. She greeted He Shan, the Old Ancestor of the Tai Yi Celestial Sect. “Junior Uncle He Shan, it’s been a long time since we’ve met.” Since He Shan had a higher seniority than her, she had to address him as junior uncle.

“Little Xiu, we haven’t seen each other since you’ve become the Sect Leader of the Compassionate Celestial Traveler Sect, right?” He Shan looked at Nangong Xiu and sighed. He recalled the last time he had met her was years ago. At that time, she was just a young girl and had yet to become the Sect Leader of the Compassionate Celestial Traveller Sect. In just a blink of an eye, she had grown up. Not only did she become the Sect Leader of the Compassionate Celestial Traveller Sect, but her cultivation base had also surpassed his.

“Indeed, it has been a few years. Junior Uncle He Shan, have you been well these years?” Nangong Xiu asked with a faint smile. Her master and He Shan had a friendly relationship. Although their friendship was not deep, she still had to give him his due respect since he was her master’s friend. It should be known that with her current status and cultivation base, even if she did not take the initiative to greet He Shan, he would still have to greet her. After all, this world was one where strength was the most important.

“Well, it’s the same as always,” He Shan replied, not daring to put on any air. He knew Nangong Xiu was already being considerate by taking the initiative to greet him and address him as junior uncle. Although he was friendly with her master, they were just mere acquaintances after all. Even if Nangong Xiu was not considerate or respectful, there was nothing he could say or do.

At this moment, Jian Qiu Luo, the Sect Leader of the Thousand Spiders Celestial Sect, called out, “Junior Aunt Nangong!” Similar to Zhou Shu Qiu, she addressed Nangong Xiu as junior aunt.

Upon hearing this, Nangong Xiu faintly nodded at He Shan before she turned her attention to Jian Qiu Luo. She said with a faint smile, “Qiu Luo, it’s been thirty years since we last saw each other. It was during the previous Alchemy Conference, right?”

“Indeed. Thirty years passed in just a blink of an eye, but Junior Aunt Nangong’s appearance didn’t change in the slightest,” Jian Qiu Luo said with a smile.

The two made some small talk for a little while.

Then, Nangong Xiu’s eyes eventually shifted to Duan Ling Tian. She asked with an indifferent smile on her face, “This gentleman, you’re the Chief Celestial Alchemist of the Tai Yi Celestial Sect, right?”

Duan Ling Tian smirked faintly, radiating a cold air. He bluntly said, “Sect Leader Nangong, you should know that very well. After all, didn’t you send a powerhouse to kill me?’

Nangong Xiu, naturally, did not expect Duan Ling Tian to lay everything out in the open. For a moment, she was at a loss for words.

On the other hand, Murong Bing’s expression changed drastically as she hastily sent a Voice Transmission to Duan Ling Tian. “Why are you mentioning this matter? Are you seeking death?” Her tone was laced with anxiety, and it was obvious she was worried about him.

“She knows who I am. If it weren’t for your best friend, she would’ve made a move earlier,” Duan Ling Tian replied. Then, a brilliant smile bloomed on his face as he asked, “Are you worried about me?” Naturally, their conversation was carried out through Voice Transmission.

“O-of… Of course not!” Murong Bing stammered. Her beautiful face that was partially hidden under the veil flushed red. Then, she quickly averted her eyes from Duan Ling Tian before she looked at Zhou Shu Qiu and spoke to Zhou Shu Qiu through Voice Transmission.

Meanwhile, Duan Ling Tian’s words to Nangong Xiu caused a commotion among the people from the Tai Yi Celestial Sect and the Thousand Spiders Celestial Sect.

“Sent someone to kill him?”

“Sect Leader Nangong actually dared to send someone to take Master Duan’s life?”

“Is… this true? With Master Duan’s background, she still dares to go after him? Is she not afraid that the Duan Clan of the Crimson Sky would annihilate the Compassionate Celestial Traveller Sect?”

None of them had expected there was such a huge grudge between Duan Ling Tian and the Compassionate Celestial Traveler Sect!

Duan Ling Tian scoffed. He looked at Nangong Xiu coldly and said, “If it weren’t for Murong Bing’s sake, I wouldn’t have stopped my clansmen from killing that Celestial Duke from your sect. You should know that to stop my clansmen from killing that old woman, I had to waste a Shadow Void Escaping Talisman!” His eyes were brimming with confidence, and not a hint of fear could be seen in them at all.

Upon hearing Duan Ling Tian’s words, Nangong Xiu’s expression changed dramatically. When Zhou Shu Qiu had told her about his background earlier, it had also crossed her mind that if Duan Ling Tian was truly from a powerful clan in the central area, he must have strong powerhouses secretly guarding him. She had been confused about why he had escaped at that time. After all, the powerhouses guarding him would definitely step forward to protect him if he was being attacked. Now that she heard Duan Ling Tian’s words, her questions were answered. ‘Although I still don’t completely believe him, what he said makes sense. Moreover, if he has an ordinary background, it would be difficult for him to obtain a Shadow Void Escaping Talisman.’

Then, Nangong Xiu said, “If that’s the case, I thank you for showing mercy to my subordinate.” At the same time, she began to study Duan Ling Tian before she nodded inwardly. ‘Indeed. He’s a peerless talent. He’s not even 100 years old, but he’s already become a prominent Celestial Alchemist capable of refining the Overarching Heaven Pill and has already become a profound Overarching Heavenly Supreme Celestial. Even if his background isn’t extraordinary, he can still be considered as a good match for Bing’er.”

Although no one knew Nangong Xiu was Murong Bing’s biological aunt, the latter being the daughter of Nangong Xiu’s twin sister, she had always treated Murong Bing like her niece. If there were no way to kill Duan Ling Tian, it would not be bad if her niece could live a happy life with this man.

“If you want to thank someone, then, you should thank her,” Duan Ling Tian said. He could clearly see the killing intent in Nangong Xiu’s eyes had disappeared and was replaced by a hint of tenderness.

At this time, Murong Bing finally learned about what happened from her best friend, Zhou Shu Qiu. She still did not dare to meet Duan Ling Tian’s gaze as she asked through Voice Transmission, “You… are you really from a powerful clan in the central area?” She clearly remembered when she first met this purple-clad young man, his strength was rather pathetic. However, in just three years, he had successfully become a profound Overarching Heavenly Supreme Celestial. Moreover, he was also a prominent Celestial Alchemist capable of refining the Overarching Heaven Pill. He had achieved all these feats even before reaching the age of 100. A person like him had to be rare like a dragon horn or a qilin’s feather even in the Southern Heaven Territory. How could she not be shocked?

Duan Ling Tian’s eyes flashed briefly as he asked in return, “If I am, are you willing to come with me?”

“I…I…I’ll have to ask my master…” Murong Bing replied as she lowered her head.

In the beginning, when they met, Murong Bing was standing high up while Duan Ling Tian was at the bottom. Currently, he had climbed high enough that he was, at least, standing on equal ground with her if not higher. After all, even if his cultivation base was not as high as hers yet, he was also a prominent Celestial Alchemist capable of refining the Overarching Heaven Pill.

“Your master?” Duan Ling Tian cocked an eyebrow when he heard Murong Bing’s reply. He asked in a grim tone, “What if she disagrees and wants you to atone for your supposed sin with your life?”

“Then I’ll atone with my life!” Murong Bing replied, filled with conviction. It was as though she did not place much value in her life.