Chapter 3798: Ding Yan’s Story
“I’m certain I didn’t see you during the qualifying test. Moreover, you should’ve seen us as well. Even if it was inconvenient for you to greet us, you could’ve sent us a message,” Hou Qing Ning took the lead to say.
“I didn’t partic.i.p.ate in the qualifying test,” Ding Yan shook his head and said, “I didn’t even partic.i.p.ate in the entrance examinations for the inner disciples.”
Duan Ling Tian, Hou Qing Ning, and Murong Yin Yue were naturally shocked by these words. All of them had the same thoughts in mind. How did Ding Yan obtain the ident.i.ty token if he did not take the entrance examinations? Did he have a connection to the Flying Dragon Sect?
Upon seeing the trio’s suspicious expressions, Ding Yan shrugged and said, “I received the ident.i.ty token today so I can partic.i.p.ate in the Latent Dragon Grand Contest.”
Duan Ling Tian looked at Ding Yan intently and said, “During the Ten Stars students’ trial, you once asked me to follow you because the king-grade forces wouldn’t dare to act against me as long as you were around if they knew your ident.i.ty. Do you have connections in the Flying Dragon Sect?”
The trio was certain that Ding Yan must have connections in the Flying Dragon Sect since he was able to become an inner disciple of the sect without having to take the qualifying test and the entrance examinations.
“That’s right.” Ding Yan nodded. Then, a complex expression appeared on his face as he let out a long sigh. He remained silent until Hou Qing Ning prompted him to explain himself.
After listening to Ding Yan, Duan Ling Tian and Hou Qing Ning finally understood what had happened.
As it turned out, Ding Yan’s father was a sectless cultivator who was a Lord of G.o.ds. His father was also his only relative in this world. Alas, his father died. After his father pa.s.sed away, a good friend of his father took him under his wings when he was still a child. His father had such a good relations.h.i.+p with that person that they even arranged a marriage for their children. His father’s good friend kept the promise even after his father pa.s.sed away. As it turned out, his father’s good friend was a Black Dragon Elder in the Flying Dragon Sect.
Initially, Ding Yan had felt it was suffocating to stay with the Black Dragon Elder. This was because his daughter would look down on him and mock him behind his back. If it were not for the fact that the Black Dragon Elder had treated him really kindly, he would have left a long time ago. However, when the Black Dragon Elder entered closed-door cultivation, his daughter did something that crossed the line, which resulted in Ding Yan leaving the Flying Dragon Sect.
After leaving the Flying Dragon Sect, Ding Yan joined the Skywind City’s Hidden Fog Sect and slowly rose in ranks until he became a Ten Stars student. 30 years ago, the Black Dragon Elder emerged from his closed-door cultivation and brought him back to the sect. In order for him to focus on his cultivation, the Black Dragon Elder had confiscated his spatial ring.
Finally, Ding Yan said with a wry smile, “So that’s what happened. Uncle Sikong wants me to join the Flying Dragon Sect officially. Previously, I was just like his nephew with no official ident.i.ty in the Flying Dragon Sect.”
“No wonder your bloodline power is extraordinary. As it turns out, your father is a Lord of G.o.ds,” Hou Qing Ning said. He was rather envious of Ding Yan’s Berserkification Veins that could boost Ding Yan’s strength tremendously.
“It doesn’t matter since he’s pa.s.sed,” Ding Yan said with a sigh, “I didn’t know how strong my father was when I was young. I only remember he would carry me everywhere when I was a child in search of Divine Pills that could help me. After he pa.s.sed away, Uncle Sikong brought me to the Flying Dragon Sect.”
A hint of nostalgia could be seen in Ding Yan’s eyes when he spoke.
Hou Qing Ning switched the topic and asked, “Ding Yan, what’s your cultivation base now?”
“I’m just a rudimentary King of G.o.ds,” Ding Yan replied.
“Me too!” Hou Qing Ning said with a smile, “Are you ready for the Latent Dragon Grand Contest? If you’re partic.i.p.ating, I hope to meet you so I can show you my progress after all these years! You weren’t my opponent in the past.”
Ding Yan looked at Hou Qing Ning in surprise and said, “I’m surprised you’re a rudimentary King of G.o.ds now. I was only able to break through because Uncle Sikong took great care of me. He found me various Divine Pills and Divine Fruits. However, I doubt the Ten Thousands Leaves Sect and the Hidden Fog Academy would be able to provide you with such good cultivation resources.”
“I left the Hidden Fog Academy a long time ago,” Hou Qing Ning shook his head and said, “Before I came to the Flying Dragon Sect, Duan Ling Tian helped me to join the Murong clan. I only managed to become a rudimentary King of G.o.ds in such a short time because of Duan Ling Tian’s Divine Pills.”
Hou Qing Ning was aware of his limit. With his innate talent and comprehension skills, he would not be able to become a rudimentary King of G.o.ds in such a short time without Duan Ling Tian’s help.
Ding Yan’s eyes brightened when he heard Hou Qing Ning’s words. He instinctively looked at Duan Ling Tian and said, “Duan Ling Tian, I heard you’re able to refine G.o.d-grade Limit Divine Pills! I didn’t know you’re skilled in alchemy as well since you didn’t mention anything about it in the past.”
“I dabbled in alchemy when I was in the mundane realm and the Devata Realm. I decided to try my luck and refine pills in the Realm of G.o.ds. As it turns out, it’s quite fruitful,” Duan Ling Tian replied casually.
Ding Yan looked at Duan Ling Tian incredulously as he said, “Not all alchemists in the Devata Realms can become outstanding divine alchemists in the Realms of G.o.ds. To be outstanding here, not only do you have to be skilled in refining, but you must also be skilled in detecting and extracting vitality energy from the Heaven and Earth Spirit Energy.”
There was no doubt that Duan Ling Tian was highly skilled in alchemy.
At this moment…
“Ding Yan?”
A voice rang out, attracting the attention of Duan Ling Tian and the others.
Duan Ling Tian looked over and saw Murong Sui Feng, the Vice Sect Leader of the Hidden Fog Sect and the dean of Skywind City’s Hidden Fog Sect.
Murong Sui Feng was clearly shocked when he saw Ding Yan. After all, Ding Yan had abruptly left the Hidden Fog Academy more than 20 years ago after sending him a hasty message about dropping out. Ever since then, he had been unable to contact Ding Yan. He had been wondering about what happened to Ding Yan since then. Through a few teachers of the academy, all he knew was that Ding Yan was not dead since his Soul Pearl was intact.
Ding Yan’s eyes lit up. “Dean Murong! You’re here as well?!”
On the contrary, Murong Yin Yue looked around vigilantly as she bit her lips before she finally called out softly, “S-sixth Uncle!”
“Sixth Uncle?”
Duan Ling Tian and Hou Qing Ning were slightly taken aback.
Duan Ling Tian had thought about the possibility of Murong Sui Feng being related to the Murong clan since the clan was located quite near to the Hidden Fog Sect. However, during the qualifying test, he noticed that the members of the Murong clan and Murong Sui Feng did not greet each other in any form; it was as though they were strangers. Hence, he dismissed his speculation. Hence, he was caught off guard when Murong Yin Yue addressed Murong Sui Feng as Sixth Uncle.
Murong Sui Feng’s expression changed slightly when Murong Yin Yue greeted him. He looked around vigilantly as well.
Upon seeing this, Murong Yin Yue said, “Don’t worry, Sixth Uncle. There aren’t any members of the clan around us.”
“Little Yue, even if that’s the case, you shouldn’t talk to me so openly. We can speak through Voice Transmission. You know very well that when I was expelled from the clan, the clan leader forbade the clan members from approaching me. Those who even dare to speak a word to me would be expelled as well. You should pretend like you don’t know me,” Murong Sui Feng admonished gently. However, his expression was stern.
“I understand,” Murong Yin Yue said when she saw Murong Sui Feng’s stern expression.
With this, Duan Ling Tian finally understood why the Murong clan and Murong Sui Feng acted as though they were strangers. As it turned out, it was under the order of the Clan Leader of the Murong clan. He could not help but wonder what Murong Sui Feng had done for him to be expelled from the clan.
Although Duan Ling Tian was usually not interested in gossip, he was very curious about this matter. Hence, he said to Hou Qing Ning through Voice Transmission, “Ask the Third Miss what happened between the dean and the Murong clan when you have the time.”
Duan Ling Tian could not imagine what kind of crime Murong Sui Feng committed for him to be treated in such a manner by the Murong clan.
“Why don’t you ask her?” Hou Qing Ning replied. After all, he did not know if it would be inappropriate for him to ask her such a personal question.
“I’m giving you a chance to deepen your relations.h.i.+p with her,” Duan Ling Tian said with a smile, “You can tell her that I’m the one who asked about it.”
“You…” Hou Qing Ning was rendered speechless by Duan Ling Tian’s words.
While Murong Sui Feng and Ding Yan were talking, the moderator for the Latent Dragon Grand Contest finally appeared at the Flaming Dragon Arena.
Two people followed behind him. One of them was Dongfang Yan Nian, one of the two White Dragon Elders of the Flying Dragon Sect whom Duan Ling Tian was familiar with.