Chapter 1436: Crazy Zhou Qi
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Although Su Qi had become an inner court disciple once he joined the Moon Illumination Sect, he was still privy to the matters concerning the outer court.
The top 100 people in the outer court lived in exclusive independent courtyards… The weakest among them was near the peak of the Paramount Mortal Shedding Stage.
Accordingly, almost all of the outer court disciples who ranked in the top 50 in the outer court were at the peak of the Paramount Mortal Shedding Stage.
In fact, the top few people were actually ranked in the Earth Ranking!
The Earth Ranking was a list of 100 most outstanding Paramount Mortal Shedding Stage powerhouses in all the sects in the Nine Sect Alliances.
The Nine Sect Alliances was formed by nine seventh-rate sects to jointly resist the invasion of sixth-rate forces.
The Moon Illumination Sect was one of the seventh-rate sects.
Paramount Mortal Shedding Stage powerhouses that were ranked in the Earth Ranking were mostly at the peak of the Mortal Shedding Stage. The strength of those who ranked at the end was comparable to ordinary Martial or Dao Cultivators at the Early Saint Rudiment Stage.
Those ranked at the top could even defeat ordinary Martial or Dao Cultivators at the Early Saint Rudiment Stage.
‘It seems that even Su Qi is not aware of Duan Ling Tian’ strength.’ Zhou Qi figured this out as soon as he saw the expression on Su Qi’s face.
“When Duan Ling Tian defeated Ceng Zhi, he had thoroughly suppressed him from the beginning until the end… Ceng Zhi had no chance to strike back at all. I’m afraid he’s even stronger than you are, Junior Brother Su,” Zhou Qi continued saying, seemingly unintentionally provoking Su Qi.
Thoroughly suppressed?
Zhou Qi’s words shocked Su Qi again.
‘It seems that Duan Ling Tian has improved a lot in the past six months as well… He might be even stronger than I was six months ago. However, it’s definitely not by much!” Su Qi gasped inwardly.
Although his battle with Duan Ling Tian half a year ago did not have any result due to Zhou Qi’s appearance, he knew that Duan Ling Tian was slightly stronger than he was.
Naturally, Duan Ling Tian was only slightly stronger than him.
He had thought his strength would overtake Duan Ling Tian in these six months since his strength had improved by leaps and bounds… He did not expect Duan Ling Tian’s strength would also improve at such a terrifying rate.
Even then, he, naturally, did not think Duan Ling Tian was stronger than him.
He was confident he could also thoroughly suppress that person who was ranked No.85 in the outer court. Therefore, he felt his strength should be on par with Duan Ling Tian.
Zhou Qi frowned. He seemed displeased when Su Qi did not respond to him.
However, he quickly unfurrowed his brows and put on a fake smile on his face. “Junior Brother Su, you and Duan Ling Tian are formerly brothers after all… Are you interested in meeting him?”
“Senior Brother Zhou, I’m not close to him,” Su Qi said faintly. He could tell Zhou Qi was trying to provoke him. “If there’s nothing else, I won’t send you off, Senior Brother… I’m planning to return to my cultivation room.”
After saying that, Su Qi turned and returned to his room without waiting for a response from Zhou Qi.
Zhou Qi’s face darkened completely when he saw Su Qi closing the door behind him. ‘Su Qi dares to rely on Master’s favoritism and take me lightly… d.a.m.n it!’
Half a year ago, Su Qi was as gentle as a cat in front of him. However, the cat seemed to have transformed into a tiger and surpa.s.sed him now.
He found it somewhat unacceptable.
However, he also knew that Su Qi had gained sufficient support. With his master’s favor, he did not dare to openly bully Su Qi even if he was his Senior Brother.
He had no doubt that his master would disregard their relations.h.i.+p for this disciple whom he had accepted six months ago.
The things that matter the most to his master was his disciples’ Martial Dao innate talent.
He knew that better than anyone else.
If he and Su Qi were in danger, and his master could only save one person, his master who definitely save Su Qi. He did not doubt this at all.
“Perhaps… There’s no need to tell master about Duan Ling Tian for now. Ever since Su Qi came, Master has been rather elusive. No matter how the news spread, it’s possible master might not find out.”
A crazy idea suddenly appeared in Zhou Qi’s mind.
‘Destroy him!” Zhou Qi planned to destroy Duan Ling Tian.
“That Duan Ling Tian’s innate talent is even better than Su Qi… My position has fallen with Su Qi around. If there’s another Duan Ling Tian, will I have any position at all at that time?” Zhou Qi shuddered inwardly.
If his master discovered Duan Ling Tian was even more talented than Su Qi, and he was from the City Governor’s Estate of Mound Hill City, master would definitely accept Duan Ling Tian as his personal disciple.
He was unwilling to see that happen.
His current thought was simple. He wanted to destroy Duan Ling Tian!
Even if his master learned about Duan Ling Tian’s innate talent later, he would only scold him a little. On the other hand, Duan Ling Tian would never get the chance to be his master’s disciple.
‘Six months ago, Master asked me to bring Su Qi back to the Moon Illumination Sect. I didn’t have a choice but to raise a tiger… This time, I must destroy Duan Ling Tian before master discovers his innate talent!’ There was a cold gleam in Zhou Qi’s eyes.
By destroying Duan Ling Tian, he did not want to give Duan Ling Tian a chance to recover.
Certainly, the Moon Illumination Sect had its own rules prohibiting them from killing or crippling one another.
Generally, murderers would receive capital punishment, but those who caused permanent disability would be able to escape death. Although the punishment was severe, the punishment was not equal to the crime.
Zhou Qi wanted to crippled Duan Ling Tian.
At that time, no matter how talented Duan Ling Tian was, Zhou Qi’s master would not see him. As long as he was not seen, he could not compete for attention with Zhou Qi and step on his head as Su Qi did.
‘I think Su Qi wouldn’t be so silly as to mention Duan Ling Tian to master… In that case, my plan can be implemented smoothly.” Zhou Qi had a complete plan in his mind.
With that thought, he left the mansion and the inner court to the outer court.
Soon after, at a remote area in the outer court, someone appeared next to Zhou Qi. It was a middle-aged man. Judging by his looks, he could even be Zhou Qi’s father.
However, that middle-aged man seemed to be very respectful toward Zhou Qi.
“Lin Fu, you should know I won’t look for you if there’s nothing… Since I came looking for you, there’s something I need you to do for me,” Zhou Qi said faintly.
“Yes. Senior Brother Zhou, what’s your order?” Lin Fu asked respectfully.
“I heard there’s a new disciple called Duan Ling Tian in the outer court area. He only recently joined, but he defeated Ceng Zhi who was ranked no.85 in the outer court?” Zhou Qi asked.
“Yes, I’ve heard about it.” Lin Fu nodded. “I met Ceng Zhi after that… However, Ceng Zhi said he’s not necessarily weaker than Duan Ling Tian! The reason he was thoroughly suppressed was due to some demon method Duan Ling Tian used.”
“Demon method?”
Zhou Qi frowned. “What does that mean?”
“He said there were two instances when his attack was about to land on Duan Ling Tian, but it suddenly s.h.i.+fted to the side and missed Duan Ling Tian.”
Lin Fu recounted everything Ceng Zhi had told him, “Duan Ling Tian seized both opportunities to severely injure him so he could not strike back.”
“Humph! His skills are just lacking, and yet, he has so many excuses… What demon method? Who’d believe that!” Zhou Qi snorted.
“I don’t believe it as well.”
Lin Fu nodded. “I guess Ceng Zhi is unresigned to that fact so he thought of such a lousy excuse… However, he didn’t think through it. Even if he tells this to everyone, who would believe him?”
“Set this matter aside.” Zhou Qi went straight to the point. “Lin Fu, the thing I’m about to ask you to do is closely related to my master… Hence, you must do it properly!”
“It’s related to Elder Liu Huan?”
When Lin Fu heard that, he immediately brightened. “Senior Brother Zhou, please tell me.”
His master was an outer court deacon of the Moon Illumination Sect. When he was young, he was always at Elder Liu Huan’s side, and he was close to him.
The fact was, Lin Fu was just follower, but he was unwilling to admit that.
Due to this reason, he could be considered as being on Liu Huan’s side.
“Did you know that Duan Ling Tian is from Mound Hill City?” Zhou Qi asked bluntly.
“Mound Hill City?” Upon hearing Zhou Qi’s words, Lin Fu’s eyes widened in shock.
He was certainly no stranger to Mound Hill City.
It was impossible for those on Elder Liu Huan’s side to not know about Mound Hill City… It was not because Mound Hill City was one of the eighteen cities under Moon Illumination Sect. Instead, it was because of the animosity between the City Governor of Mound Hill City, Fang Hui, and Elder Liu Huan.
“Senior Brother Zhou, didn’t you bring Fang Hui’s most outstanding disciple, Su Qi, back to the sect six months ago? Why didn’t you bring Duan Ling Tian along? His innate talent doesn’t seem inferior to Su Qi?” Lin Fu asked, puzzled.
“Six months ago, I couldn’t tell his innate talent is better than Su Qi… However, I did intend to bring him back and ask him to join my master. However, he rejected it! Moreover, he rejected it resolutely and decisively!”
Zhou Qi made up a story as he continued saying, “If I knew then his innate talent is higher than Su Qi, I would’ve killed him then and there! It was my mistake for not killing him then.”
“I didn’t expect that one mistake in the past would raise a tiger!” Zhou Qi was obviously enraged.
“He really didn’t know how to appreciate favors!”
A glimpse of envy flashed in Lin Fu’s eyes as his face turned cold. He asked, “Senior Brother Zhou, the thing that you want me to do is related to Duan Ling Tian?”
“That’s right.” Zhou Qi nodded. “Your strength is at the peak of the Paramount Mortal Shedding Stage, and you’re ranked No.47 in the outer court… I want you to send a duel invitation to Duan Ling Tian and force him to battle you.”
“Senior Brother Zhou, since he thoroughly suppressed Ceng Zhi, he’ll be evenly matched with me at the very least. In fact, he might be even stronger than me. I.. I’m afraid I’m not capable of teaching him a lesson,” Lin Fu said awkwardly.