Chapter 3303: Duan Ling Tian’s Plan
Duan Ling Tian only knew his mysterious Eldest Senior Sister was Xu Lang’s daughter. He had heard that she was even stronger than his Second Senior Brother, Lu Ji. However, he did not expect her to be capable of killing a t.i.tled Celestial Emperor. Since her cultivation base was weaker than that of a t.i.tled Celestial Emperor, this meant that she had other techniques up her sleeve to be able to kill a t.i.tled Celestial Emperor just like him.
“Little Junior Brother, you better not think you’re the strongest among us just because you managed to kill Dugu Wen. Eldest Senior Sister didn’t get a t.i.tle from the t.i.tle Temple, but she had killed a t.i.tled Celestial Emperor in the past. In fact, her current strength is comparable to our teacher’s strength,” Hu Mei said teasingly. When she finished speaking, she glanced at Xu Lang.
Meanwhile, a hint of affection and warmth could be seen in Xu Lang’s eyes when Hu Mei mentioned her Eldest Senior Sister. It was only natural since she was his daughter after all.
Hong Fei laughed before he said, “Little Junior Brother, Eldest Senior Sister always call us a useless bunch, even Second Senior Brother gets criticized by her! Now that we have you, Eldest Senior Sister can’t scold us anymore once she finds out you killed Dugu Wen!”
Upon hearing these words, Ouyang Qi Fei shook his head and said with a smile, “Sixth Junior Brother, that’s impossible. Even if she finds out about Little Junior Brother, she won’t scold him, but she’ll still continue to scold us.”
Lu Ji who had remained silent since the beginning nodded at the end of Ouyang Qi Fei’s words. The corners of lips curled up into a rare smile as he said, “Little Junior Brother, I’ll take my leave first. There’s something I need to attend to.” After bidding farewell to everyone, he left in what seemed to be the direction of the cultivation ground.
After Lu Ji left, Hu Mei glared at Ouyang Qi Fei and Hong Fei as she said, “Look at what both of you have done!”
“Second Senior Brother has always been pressured due to Eldest Senior Sister’s strength. It seems like Little Junior Brother’s presence has increased the pressure on him. He must have left to cultivate,” Wen Wan’er said casually.
Hong Fei shook his head. “Second Senior Brother is too hard on himself… If I were him, I wouldn’t bother comparing myself to Eldest Senior Sister and Little Junior Brother. They’re both monsters.”
Ouyang Qi Fei smiled and said, “Sixth Junior Brother, it’s because of this mentality you can’t compare to Little Junior Brother.”
“Fifth Senior Brother, it’s not just me… Can you compare to him?” Hong Fei retorted.
Ouyang Qi Fei was rendered speechless by Hong Fei’s words. When he recovered from his embarra.s.sment, he said with a smile, “Indeed, I can’t compare to Little Junior Brother, but I’m at least stronger than you!”
“You!” Hong Fei cried out indignantly. Alas, he could not refute Ouyang Qi Fei’s words. It was a fact that he was the weakest among Xu Lang’s prodigious disciples.
Meanwhile, Duan Ling Tian who was standing at the side smiled as he watched his Fifth Senior Brother and his Sixth Senior Brother teasing each other. He had begun to treat them like his family. He did not expect his teacher, senior brothers, and senior sisters to expend so much effort for his sake. As he had found out through Voice Transmission, even Huan’er was unaware of everything they had done for him.
After he ascended to the Overarching Spirit Realm, there was only a handful of people he cared about in the Devata Realm before he joined the Heavenly Pool Palace. At this moment, he discovered there were more people he cared about now, such as his teacher, Xu Lang, his senior brothers, and his senior sister.
As though she had just recalled something, Hu Mei suddenly exclaimed at this moment, “That’s right!”
Everyone s.h.i.+fted their attention to her immediately.
Hu Mei looked at Duan Ling Tian and continued to say, “Little Junior Brother, Dugu Wu will most certainly inform Han Yun Jin and Lei Jun of Dugu Wen’s death. Do you think Han Yun Jin will still have the guts to go through with the life-or-death battle in three years after finding out you killed Dugu Wen?”
Duan Ling Tian fell silent. Indeed. If Dugu Wu informed Han Yun Jin and Lei Jun about this matter, Han Yun Jin would most likely refuse to fight him. It was only natural that Han Yun Jin would choose to preserve his life over his reputation.
At this moment, Xu Lang asked, “Old Seventh, did you collect Dugu Wen’s Spatial Ring? From what I know, Dugu Wen had always been in charge of liaising with their clients. Therefore, it’s likely that Han Yun Jin and Lei Jun’s Soul Pearls are in his Spatial Ring.”
Upon hearing Xu Lang’s words, Duan Ling Tian quickly brought out Dugu Wen’s Spatial Ring before he brought out three Soul Pearls. Then, he said, “I’ve gone through his Spatial Ring previously. There are only these three Soul Pearls in there.”
Wen Wan’er narrowed her eyes as she looked at the Soul Pearls. She pointed at one of the Soul Pearls as she said, “That’s Han Yun Jin’s Soul Pearl.” She knew this because she was familiar with Han Yun Jin’s energy.
After that, Duan Ling Tian turned to look at Huan’er and asked, “Huan’er, I remember Lei Jun had exchanged Soul Pearls with you, right?”
Huan’er nodded as she brought out a Soul Pearl from her Spatial Ring.
As soon as Huan’er brought the Soul Pearl, Duan Ling Tian and the others could sense the energy from it was similar to another one of the Soul Pearls in Duan Ling Tian’s hands.
“This confirms our suspicion,” Hong Fei said solemnly.
Xu Lang’s eyes glinted coldly upon hearing these words.
At the same time, Huan’er’s emitted a chilling energy that caused the temperature in the surroundings to drop. Her eyes shone with killing intent as though she was going to kill Lei Jun right away. Earlier, she had been enraged when she heard Lei Jun was the culprit behind this matter. However, with this confirmation, she grew even more enraged. How could she endure this?
“This evidence isn’t sufficient to prove Lei Jun and Han Yun Jin hired a.s.sa.s.sins to kill me. After all, they can easily deny this and accuse me of framing them,” Duan Ling Tian said to the others as he held Huan’er’s hand. He could sense her fury and was trying to calm her down.
Hong Fei said with a dark expression, “Han Yun Jin and Lei Jun have really gone too far!”
Hu Mei, Wen Wan’er, and Ouyang Qi Fei’s expressions were rather unsightly as well.
After a moment, Ouyang Qi Fei said as he looked at Duan Ling Tian, “It seems like what our teacher said is true… Han Yun Jin and Lei Jun must still be unaware of Dugu Wen’s death since Dugu Wu doesn’t have their Soul Pearls. Under these circ.u.mstances, Han Yun Jin is likely to proceed with the life-or-death battle…”
“Since Dugu Wen had their Soul Pearls, it’s likely that they have Dugu Wen’s Soul Pearl,” Duan Ling Tian narrowed his eyes and said, “Therefore, it’s likely that they already know that Dugu Wen is dead. Saying that, it probably didn’t cross their minds that I’m the one who killed Dugu Wen.”
After a beat, Duan Ling Tian looked at Xu Lang and asked, “Teacher, you didn’t tell Pavilion Master Lei Ying that we met Dugu Wen and Dugu Wu, did you?”
“No.” Xu Lang shook his head. “Initially, I planned to ask for reinforcement from the t.i.tled Celestial Emperors in the Heavenly Pool Palace of this matter. However, considering that by the time they arrive it’d be too late, I called Zheng Yu Yi instead.”
“Zheng Yu Yi? The Copper Mountain Celestial Emperor?” Duan Ling Tian was taken aback. He only discovered at this time that Xu Lang had asked Zheng Yu Yi for help. When he regained his senses, he speculated out loud, “If that’s the case, those two are probably unaware that Dugu Wu and Dugu Wen had already come looking for me. When they saw Dugu Wen’s shattered Soul Pearl, it’s likely they a.s.sumed Dugu Wen was killed by someone else. As long as they don’t meet Dugu Wu, they won’t find out that I killed Dugu Wen…”
After a brief pause, Duan Ling Tian looked at Xu Lang and said, “I think it’s necessary for us to spread the news that we were attacked by Dugu Wen and Dugu Wu and say that we were lucky that two t.i.tled Celestial Emperors appeared at the crucial moment and killed Dugu Wen.”
Xu Lang could guess the thought in Duan Ling Tian’s mind as soon as he heard Duan Ling Tian’s words. “You’re trying to deter Han Yun Jin and Lei Jun from boldly meeting up with Dugu Wu after learning that you’re alive?”
“That’s right.” Duan Ling Tian nodded. “If they were unaware that Dugu Wu and Dugu Wen had already looked for me, they’d definitely look for Dugu Wu to find out what happened and to make sure Dugu Wu would still complete the mission. However, if they hear the news we spread, it’s unlikely that they’ll take the risk to seek Dugu Wu out. Since Han Yun Jin hired a.s.sa.s.sins to kill me, he won’t dare to look for Dugu Wu for fear of being found out. Lei Jun won’t act recklessly as well if he’s not stupid. With this, Han Yun Jin would remain unaware and proceed with the life-or-death battle…”
“Then we’ll do as you say,” Xu Lang said as he nodded. After that, he sent a message to Lei Ying, the Pavilion Master of the Sword Trial Pavilion. In the message to her, he said, “Lei Ying, it wasn’t convenient for me to reveal this to you previously due to my investigation. However, I can tell you now that during our journey back, we were intercepted by Dugu Wen and Dugu Wu…”
Lei Ying was quick to reply. A hint of curiosity could be heard in her voice as she asked, “Did you find out anything from your investigation?”
“Yes. Although I don’t have concrete evidence, the culprit with the greatest motive should be Han Yun Jin, the disciple of the Profound Sky Celestial Emperor.”