Chapter 4675 The Temple of the Bitter Sea
Hong Dong Chuan looked at Duan Ling Tian in shock and disbelief. Although he had not known Duan Ling Tian for long, he knew that Duan Ling Tian was not someone who spoke carelessly. If Duan Ling Tian said that he had broken through, there was no doubt that it was true. Seeing Duan Ling Tian nod in response to his question, he still inhaled sharply even though he had already mentally prepared himself. Duan Ling Tian"s rate of improvement was too terrifying after all. It was shocking that Duan Ling Tian was now a level-nine Dao Establishment powerhouse.
Previously, when Hong Dong Chuan and Duan Ling Tian fought at the Towering Heaven Peak near the capital of River Province, Duan Ling Tian was only a level-eight Dao Establishment powerhouse. It had not been that long, but Duan Ling Tian was already a level-nine Dao Establishment powerhouse.
Duan Ling Tian explained with a smile, "A while ago, I followed my master to the Endless Sword Domain and achieved a breakthrough there."
Hong Dong Chuan knew about the Endless Sword Domain. He had also gone there before, hoping to achieve a breakthrough in his Sword Dao. Alas, he gained nothing there. In comparison, Duan Ling Tian"s visit allowed him to break through to the ninth stage of the Sword Dao and enter the ninth Dao Establishment level.
Finally, Hong Dong Chuan said, "If you"re a level-nine Dao Establishment powerhouse, there"s no doubt that you"ll be ent.i.tled to more rewards. However, I can"t make promises on behalf of the royal family. You"ll have to negotiate with them."
Finally, Hong Dong Chuan said, "If you"re a level-nine Dao Establishment powerhouse, there"s no doubt that you"ll be ent.i.tled to more rewards. However, I can"t make promises on behalf of the royal family. You"ll have to negotiate with them."
It was clear that if Duan Ling Tian could demonstrate his strength, the royal family would be very generous.
"Alright," Duan Ling Tian said with a nod. At this time, he did not have anything important to attend to so he decided to follow Hong Dong Chuan to the capital to meet the royal family.
…
When Duan Ling Tian arrived, he had a sparring match with the level-nine Dao Establishment powerhouse from the royal family. Although the match was short, the outcome was clear: Duan Ling Tian was the victor.
"Wow!" Hong Dong Chuan exclaimed in shock and disbelief again. He did not expect Duan Ling Tian, who had just become a level-nine Dao Establishment powerhouse, to be stronger than the level-nine Dao Establishment powerhouse from the royal family.
Jiang Hai Shan, the level-nine Dao Establishment from the royal family, was an elderly man. His hair and eyebrows were white, and he looked kind and gentle. He carried a staff with him at this moment. Although he had been defeated, he did not seem displeased, remaining calm and composed.
Initially, Jiang Hai Shan had been curious about Duan Ling Tian, who was known as the third strongest person in the kingdom. He did not think that Duan Ling Tian was a match for him. After all, Duan Ling Tian had just recently become a level-nine Dao Establishment powerhouse. Needless to say, he was shocked to discover that Duan Ling Tian was stronger than him.
Jiang Hai Shan said, "Brother Duan, with you, the Surging River Divine Kingdom is sure to win the Dao Establishment Compet.i.tion and the Dao Merging Tablet from the Temple of the Bitter Sea."
Jiang Hai Shan was one of the ancestors of the Surging River Divine Kingdom"s royal family. His grandfather was the Dao Merging powerhouse of the royal family.
"Senior Jiang, you"re overpraising me," Duan Ling Tian said modestly.
Duan Ling Tian did not even need to speak, and Jiang Hai Shan took the initiative to offer him more rewards, which included extending the time for him to comprehend the Dao Merging Tablet to 800 years. Previously, Hong Dong Chuan had told him that he would be given 300 years to comprehend the Dao Merging Tablet.
The main goal of the compet.i.tion between the Surging River Divine Kingdom and the Temple of the Bitter Sea was to win the Dao Merging Tablet and for the partic.i.p.ants to win a chance to comprehend the Dao Merging Tablet. The Dao Establishment Compet.i.tion was held every one thousand years. By giving Duan Ling Tian 800 years to comprehend the Dao Merging Tablet, it meant that the royal family only had 200 years with the Dao Merging Tablet before they had to use it as a stake in the Dao Establishment Compet.i.tion again.
"Brother Duan, if you help us win the Dao Merging Tablet this time and also win it again in another thousand years, the royal family is willing to grant you the Dao Merging Tablet you win in the second compet.i.tion," Jiang Hai Shan said, expression his wish for Duan Ling Tian to partic.i.p.ate in the Dao Establishment Compet.i.tion twice.
Although the temptation of the Dao Merging Tablet was high, Duan Ling Tian remained calm. He said, "If I"m still in the Surging River Divine Kingdom at that time, I"m willing to a.s.sist the royal family and compete with the Temple of the Bitter Sea again."
Duan Ling Tian"s response was not definite, but Jiang Hai Shan nodded in satisfaction. He felt that Duan Ling Tian"s response showed Duan Ling Tian"s maturity.
Then, Jiang Hai Shan turned to Hong Dong Chuan and said solemnly, "Brother Dong Chuan, let"s keep Brother Duan"s breakthrough a secret for now. He"ll be our trump card in our compet.i.tion with the Temple of the Bitter Sea."
"I understand," Hong Dong Chuan replied with a nod.
Jiang Hai Shan looked at Duan Ling Tian, and he understood Jiang Hai Shan"s meaning immediately. He said, "Rest a.s.sured, Senior Jiang. I"ll keep my breakthrough a secret as well."
A smile appeared on Jiang Hao Shan"s wizened face.
…
Duan Ling Tian returned to the Duan Residence in the Distinct Province and continued spending time with his family and friends. At the same time, he also continued to comprehend the Limitless Dao with the help of the Void Elder"s memories.
When it was almost time, Duan Ling Tian made his way to the capital and left with the royal family"s level-nine Dao Establishment powerhouse and three others for the Dao Establishment Compet.i.tion with the Temple of the Bitter Sea.
The previous venue for the compet.i.tion was in the Surging River Divine Kingdom so this time, it was the Temple of the Bitter Sea"s turn to host the compet.i.tion.
During the journey, Duan Ling Tian did not need to fly on his own. They traveled using the ma.s.sive bird-like creature with the strength of a level-seven Dao Establishment powerhouse. The creature reminded Duan Ling Tian of the nine creatures guarding the nine mysterious entrances in the Myriad Worlds whose strength was comparable to that of a level-eight Dao Establishment powerhouse.
"Brother Hong…"
Curious, Duan Ling Tian could not help but ask Hong Dong Chuan about the nine creatures guarding the entrances of the world created by the Life Creation Chart. However, he soon discovered that Hong Dong Chuan knew nothing about that matter. Therefore, he speculated that this matter likely had something to do with the powerful forces in the Divine Land that once kept parts of the Life Creation Chart in the past. The forces were all top-tier forces in the Divine Land with two or three Dao Merging powerhouses in their respective forces. One had to know that the number of Dao Merging powerhouses in the Divine Land was not high.
There were five people altogether in the group. Apart from Duan Ling Tian, Jiang Hai Shan, and Hong Dong Chuan, there were also two other individuals. Duan Ling Tian was only introduced to them by Jiang Hai Shan before their departure so he did not know them well.
One of them was a middle-aged man, and the other was an elegant and beautiful woman. The man was tall, imposing, and dignified while the beautiful woman was dressed beautifully, looking graceful and n.o.ble. Based on their appearances, it was clear that they had a high status in the Surging River Divine Kingdom.