Chapter 3238: Best Friends Reunited

“Su Li?”

Upon hearing the commotion, Duan Ling Tian could not help but turn around and looked at the distance curiously.

Duan Ling Tian knew Su Li was a prodigy from the Thousand Tribulations Sword Sect. Before he entered the Formation Spirit Pagoda and climbed the Peak of Gravity again after being in closed-door cultivation for eight years, Su Li was ranked first in both places. With this, one could imagine how strong Su Li was. Most importantly, when he saw the name Su Li, he was reminded of a teenager in his hometown in the mundane realm, the Saint Province Realm, whose name was also Su Li. He had become best friends with Su Li when they were participating in the Iron Blood Genius Camp that was organized by the Crimson Sky Kingdom. Before he left the Crimson Sky Kingdom, he had met Su Li a few times and was surprised by the rate of Su Li’s growth. Alas, after he ascended to the Devata Realm, he had lost all contact with Su Li.

Meanwhile, everyone, including Feng Qi Qi, the most outstanding young prodigy from the Ancient Phoenix Clan, was looking at Su Li.

“That’s Su Li? The young prodigy from the Thousand Tribulations Sword Sect who’s stronger than Yu Tian Xing?”

“Yu Tian Xing is old news… Su Li is now the most outstanding young prodigy in the Thousand Tribulations Sword Sect!”

“Su Li will lead the Thousand Tribulations Sword Sect into a new era!”

A hint of excitement could be seen in Feng Qi Qi’s eyes as she looked at Su Li.

Upon seeing Feng Qi Qi’s reaction, a slight frown appeared on Baili Hong Fei’s face. When he turned to look at Su Li again, a hint of hostility could be seen in his eyes.

“Su Li.”

The young prodigies from the Thousand Tribulations Sword Sect, including Yu Tian Xing, regarded Su Li with complex emotions brewing in their eyes. After all, Su Li’s achievements had surpassed theirs despite being the latest to join the sect.

While everyone’s eyes were trained on Su Li, he was staring intently at a purple figure standing in the crowd.

Similarly, Duan Ling Tian was staring intently at Su Li.

Swoosh! Swoosh!

Su Li stepped off his sword to descend to the ground while Duan Ling Tian rose to the air and flew toward Su Li.

Huan’er, who was left standing alone, looked slightly confused by Duan Ling Tian’s action.

Everyone watched as Duan Ling Tian and Su Li stood across from each other with less than 10 meters between them.

“What’s… What’s going on?”

“Are the two strongest prodigies in the Genius Secret Realm going to have a duel now?”

“Are they going to put on a good show for us?”

Upon seeing this, the young prodigies assumed Duan Ling Tian and Su Li saw each other as rivals.

Huan’er was the only one who saw the joy on Duan Ling Tian’s face when he flew to Su Li earlier. She could tell he was genuinely happy to see the black-clad young man.

Following that, the prodigies present on the scene were dumbfounded when they saw Duan Ling Tian and Su Li hugging and patting each other on the back. Both men had a wide smile on their faces. Su Li who was known for being aloof was smiling? Even the prodigies from the Thousand Tribulations Sword Sect had never seen Su Li smiling before!

“They know each other?”

With this, the onlookers could naturally tell the duo was acquainted. In fact, based on the duo’s actions, the duo was clearly more than mere acquaintances.

Meanwhile, Duan Ling Tian and Su Li could sense each other’s joy even though both of them did not speak. It had been a very long time since they had last met; it was almost 200 years ago since they last saw each other. When they first met, they were both in their teens, and the last time they met, both of them were only a few decades old; they were not even 100 years old at that time. It was their longest separation yet.

After separating from the hug, Su Li said emotionally, “Duan Ling Tian, when I first saw your name in the Peak of Gravity Ranking, I couldn’t help but wonder if it was you… However, after giving it some thought, I thought it was unlikely…”

“At least, you had the courage to think it was me… After entering the Genius Secret Realm, I spent eight years in closed-door cultivation. When I saw your name in the Formation Spirit Pagoda Ranking and the Peak of Gravity Ranking, I didn’t dare to hope it was you,” Duan Ling Tian said with a smile as he shook his head. Although they had been separated for so long, their friendship remained strong and indestructible.

“Most importantly, your performance is too brilliant! You never cease to amaze me since our time in the Crimson Sky Kingdom’s Iron Blood Genius Camp. Although I’ve grown stronger, I always thought you’d achieve greater things than me. And based on the current situation, it seems like I’m right,” Su Li said sincerely. Although Duan Ling Tian was far stronger than him, he did not feel jealous at all. He was genuinely happy for Duan Ling Tian.

Duan Ling Tian said with a sigh, “I didn’t expect you to have ascended to a Devata Realm and become a prodigy of the Thousand Tribulations Sword Sect, a grade-one force in the Jade Emperor Heaven’s Nan Dou Territory.”

“It’s a long story… I’ll tell you all about it after we leave the Genius Secret Realm,” Su Li said with a smile.

“Alright.” At this moment, Duan Ling Tian discovered they had become the center of attention. He nodded to Su Li, gesturing to Su Li to follow him, before he returned to Huan’er’s side.

“Huan’er, this is Su Li. He’s my best friend.” Duan Ling Tian introduced Huan’er to Su Li with a smile on his face. He was eager to share his joy with Huan’er after reuniting with Su Li.

“Miss Huan’er? You’re just as beautiful as the rumor says,” Su Li said. After he took a look at Huan’er, he winked at Duan Ling Tian meaningfully.

Duan Ling Tian kept a straight face when faced with Su Li’s reaction.

“Big Brother Su Li.” Huan’er greeted Su Li with a smile.

“Big brother?” Su Li was startled and seemed slightly embarrassed. “Actually, I’m only slightly above 200 years old.”

“What’s wrong? Are you hurt because Huan’er addressed you as big brother?” Duan Ling Tian laughed faintly before he said, “Huan’er is not even 200 years old…” He had expected this response from Su Li because he knew Su Li thought Huan’er was older than him.

“She’s not even 200 years old?”

Duan Ling Tian’s words did not only shock Su Li, but the prodigies in the surroundings who overheard their conversations were shocked as well when they heard that Huan’er, the woman who set a new record in the 10,000 Elephants Illusory Formation, was not even 200 years old.

At this moment, a young prodigy from the Thousand Tribulations Sword Sect could not help but ask Su Li, looking confused, “Su Li, do you know Duan Ling Tian? As far as I know, since you ascended to the Jade Emperor Heaven with Senior Uncle Dugu, you didn’t leave the sect at all. In fact, this is the first time you’ve left the sect…”

“Duan Ling Tian is my best friend from the mundane realm,” Su Li replied with a smile. Then, he proceeded to introduce Duan Ling Tian to the Thousand Tribulations Sword Sect’s young prodigy. “Duan Ling Tian, this is Senior Gongsun Jing from the Thousand Tribulations Sword Sect’s Yellow Thearch Progeny.”

After exchanging a quick but enthusiastic greeting with Duan Ling Tian, Gongsun Jin said to Su Li, “Su Li, since Duan Ling Tian is your friend, you should invite him to join our Thousand Tribulations Sword Sect.”

Su Li shook his head and replied, “Although Duan Ling Tian is my best friend, I respect his decision. Whether he joins the Thousand Tribulations Sword Sect or not, it won’t affect our friendship at all.”

Meanwhile, the prodigy from the other grade-one forces thought there was no chance of Duan Ling Tian joining their respective forces after witnessing his close friendship with Su Li. However, their eyes lit up with hope when they heard Su Li’s words.

On the contrary, apart from Gongsun Jin, the prodigies from the Thousand Tribulations Sword Sect, including Yu Tian Xing, frowned slightly upon hearing Su Li’s reply. In their opinion, it should be a matter of course that Duan Ling Tian and Huan’er joined their sect since Su Li had a good relationship with Duan Ling Tian. However, based on Su Li’s words, it seemed like he did not even have the intention of inviting Duan Ling Tian and Huan’er to join their sect.

At this moment, Yu Tian Xing stepped forward and looked at Su Li before he said in a lowered voice, “Su Li. If Senior Uncle Dugu knows about this, he’d surely want you to invite Duan Ling Tian to join our Thousand Tribulations Sword Sect…”

Su Li glanced at Yu Tian Xing before he replied, “Yu Tian Xing, I understand your thoughts. However, I believe Leader Dugu will respect my decision…”

Dugu Zui, the Leader of the Thousand Tribulations Sword Sect’s Shadow Support Progeny, was the one who brought Su Li to the Jade Emperor Heaven to join the Thousand Tribulations Sword Sect.

“You…” Yu Tian Xing knew Su Li was right. Dugu Zui, the Leader of the Shadow Support Progeny, treated Su Li like a treasure. How could he be displeased with Su Li because of such a trivial matter? However, he was unwilling to give up so he resorted to using the name of Yu Jian Cheng, the Sect Leader of the Thousand Tribulations Sword Sect. “Su Li, the sect leader treats you well, right? It’s your duty to recruit talents into the sect…”

Indeed. Since Su Li joined the Thousand Tribulations Sword Sect, Yu Jian Cheng, the Sect Leader of the Thousand Tribulations Sword Sect, had treated him very well. In fact, Yu Jian Cheng had also given him preferential treatment.

Upon hearing Yu Tian Xing’s words, Su Li frowned slightly. Then, he turned to look at Duan Ling Tian.

As though he could read Su Li’s thoughts, Duan Ling Tian said with a smile, “Su Li, Huan’er and I will join the Thousand Tribulations Sword Sect.”

“Duan Ling Tian, you don’t have to…” Su Li thought Duan Ling Tian decided the Thousand Tribulations Sword Sect because of him and wanted to dissuade him.

However, before Su Li could finish his sentence, Duan Ling Tian quickly interjected, “Huan’er and I planned to join a grade-one force anyway. Since you’re in the Thousand Tribulations Sword Sect, there’s no reason for me not to join the sect. Moreover, we can have fun together.”

This was indeed Duan Ling Tian’s plan. It was the main reason he decided to enter the Genius Secret Realm, after all. He wanted to join one of the three strongest grade-one forces in the Nan Dou Territory, the Ancient Phoenix Clan, the Baili Clan, and the Thousand Tribulations Sword Sect. Out of the three grade-one forces, the Thousand Tribulations Sword Sect had been his first choice even before he found Su Li was a member of the sect as well. Now that he found out Su Li was also in the sect, he was more than happy to join the Thousand Tribulations Sword Sect.