The medicinal pill that was currently Duan Ling Tian refining was a poison removal pill the Rebirth Martial Emperor invented after researching a myriad of different poisons. This pill was divided into nine grades.
Duan Ling Tian was only a Grade Nine Alchemist at present, so he was only able to refine a Grade Nine Spirit-Cleansing Pill.
Duan Ling Tian pushed open the room door and instantly saw Xiong Quan, who gazed at him with a face full of agitation.
Duan Ling Tian casually tossed the three Spirit-Cleansing Pills to Xiong Quan before indifferently saying, "Consume one pill first. The medicinal effect will probably require a month to completely manifest. After a month, consume the second pill, and after two months, consume the third pill. After three months, you will be able to recover one third of the strength you had at your prime."
"Thank you, my liege." Xiong Quan didnāt hesitate to pop the Spirit-Cleansing Pill into his mouth and swallow it.
As for the other two pills, he put them away inside his Spatial Ring as if he would a treasure.
"Keep in mind that Iāve mixed a highly toxic poison within the medicinal pill, and if you donāt behave yourself, then only death awaits you!" Duan Ling Tian added.
"Yes, my liege." Xiong Quan had long ago been mentally prepared for this.
In the following days, Duan Ling Tian stayed in the inn, as the living conditions of the Iron Blood Army campsite were too inferior to the inn.
Duan Ling Tian had already started to charge towards the fourth level Core Formation Stage threshold.
"Once I step into the fourth level of the Core Formation Stage, my Origin Energy will undergo a qualitative change and directly increase my strength by two ancient mammoths." Duan Ling Tianās eyes abruptly started shining brightly.
"At that time, even if I donāt use a spirit weapon, I can still possess the strength of 11 ancient mammoths with just my bare hands; thatās comparable to an eighth level Core Formation martial artist! As expected of the Nine Dragons War Sovereign Technique which is at the same level as the Three Lives Rebirth Technique that Rebirth Martial Emperor cultivated! Once I break through to the ninth level of the Core Formation Stage in the future and complete the final fleshly body tempering of the Raging Python Form, I will be able to possess the strength of 23 ancient mammoths!"
"Without the assistance of external forces such as spirit weapons, an ordinary ninth level Core Formation martial artist only possesses the strength of 12 ancient mammoths. I, however, will have an extra 11 ancient mammoths compared to them due to my fleshly body being far stronger than an ordinary personās."
"Even a first level Origin Core martial artist only possesses the strength of 20 ancient mammoths! Thus, at the ninth level of the Core Formation Stage, I can firmly defeat a first level Core Formation martial artist!"
"However, a second level Origin Core martial artist would possess the strength of 30 ancient mammoths, and thus only when I step into the first level of the Origin Core Stage will I be able to battle with such a martial artist!" Duan Ling Tianās surging state of mind quickly returned to a calmed state.
Cultivate seriously!
Nine Dragons War Sovereign Technique, Raging Python Form!
Origin Energy continuously circulated within Duan Ling Tianās body in an effort to break through to the fourth level of the Core Formation Stage as soon as possibleā¦
Although Duan Ling Tian had currently obtained the proof of qualification to enter Paladin Academy and thus could return home directly, he didnāt return because he wanted to know the results of Xiao Yuās, Meng Quanās, and Luo Chengās missions.
Ten days later, another person finally returned.
It was Su Li. He completed his mission and obtained the proof of qualification.
"Duan Ling Tian, I want to challenge you!" Su Liās gaze stared fixedly at Duan Ling Tian.
"Su Li, youāve broken through?" Duan Ling Tian smiled as he asked.
Hua!
Su Liās body lightly trembled as seven ancient mammoths silhouettes flickered above him.
"Su Li, are you sure you want to battle me?" Duan Ling Tian had a face full of smiles as he took a step forward.
Hua!
The energy of heaven and earth trembled above Duan Ling Tian as eight ancient mammoths silhouettes condensed into form.
"Youā¦youā¦" Su Li had a lifeless expression as a sense of loss arose in his heart, but he recovered before long.
"I understand now."
Su Li took a deep breath and looked at Duan Ling Tian with a gaze that had a battle intent as it did before. "Duan Ling Tian, Iām inferior to you now, but Iāll work hard to catch up to you! See you at Paladin Academy one year from now."
After he finished speaking, Su Li left the Iron Blood Army campsite as if he had transformed into a gust of wind.
"This Su Li is interesting as well." Duan Ling Tian lightly smiled.
In the following days, both Tian Hu and Yu Xiang returned.
"Duan Ling Tian, my Yu Clan will absolutely not let you off!" Yu Xiang threatened Duan Ling Tian just when he was about to leave.
"What, you arenāt afraid Iāll take care of you on your journey back?" Duan Ling Tianās eyes narrowed and killing intent flashed within them.
Yu Xiangās face went ghastly pale, as he was truly shaken by what Duan Ling Tian said. Although he had obtained the proof of qualification to enter Paladin Academy, he temporarily was too afraid to leave.
He went to look for one of his brotherās former best friends, Centurion Fang Chun, as he wanted him to send him away from Iron Blood City to prevent Duan Ling Tian from trying to kill him.
"Yu Xiang, Iāve been quite busy lately and Iām afraid I wonāt have the time to send you home." Unexpected to him, however, Fang Chun refused his request.
What a joke!
Since the moment Duan Ling Tian killed Yu Hong, he had long ago sworn in his heart that he would absolutely not offend a malefic existence like Duan Ling Tian.
Presently, he even suspected that Centurion Bai Feng had died by Duan Ling Tianās hand the other day. Or else, with his strength, how could Bai Feng have vanished into thin airā¦.
Yu Xiangās face slightly sank
"Yu Xiang, how about this: since youāre worried about Duan Ling Tian coming after you, why donāt you temporarily stay at our Iron Blood Armyās campsite and wait for Duan Ling Tian to leave? When heās gone, you can take a detour and leave under the cover of the night. How about it?" Fang Chun pondered for a moment. He was good friends with Yu Hong after all, and thus he made this suggestion to Yu Xiang out of that friendship.
Yu Xiangās expression was as unsightly as it could possibly be. He was the dignified genius disciple of County Cityās Yu Clan, and he had even obtained the proof of qualification to enter Paladin Academy, but he actually had to leave in such a cowardly manner.
Nevertheless, he knew that he had no choice.
Duan Ling Tian naturally wasnāt aware that a single threat from him had actually caused Yu Xiang to be so distressed as to only dare leave after he leaves Iron Blood City.
A few days passed by before Duan Ling Tian finally met Xiao Yu, who had returned after completing his mission.
"Xiao Yu, youā¦ broke through?" Duan Ling Tian was slightly surprised when he saw Xiao Yu once again.
"How did you notice?" Xiao Yu was stunned.
"It isnāt hard to guess when youāre in such high spirits." Duan Ling Tian laughed.
"Accompany me for a while." Xiao Yuās eyes flickered as he slowly spoke.
"What?" Duan Ling Tian was dazed.
"I want to go challenge Yu Xiang." There was a trace of icy coldness mixed within Xiao Yuās voice.
Yu Xiang was afraid of Duan Ling Tian but not of Xiao Yu, and thus he naturally agreed upon being challenged by Xiao Yu.
In the end, Xiao Yu relied upon his Sleeve Dimension and gained a slight advantage to take the victoryā¦
Xiao Yu recalled the enmity from before and flicked his sleeve, blasting Yu Xiang away and causing him to be heavily injured to the point of fainting.
Duan Ling Tian laughed as he asked, "Finished venting?"
Xiao Yu nodded as a wide grin appeared on his faceā¦
Before long, as the one year deadline approached, all of the remaining Centurions returned one after the other, whereby most of them returned alone and only a few of them brought with them a Genius Camp youth.
In the end, the Centurions that left with Luo Cheng and Meng Quan had returned.
Howeverā¦
Meng Quan and Luo Cheng were nowhere to be found!
Duan Ling Tianās and Xiao Yuās hearts sank, and they eventually got an answer.
Meng Quan and Luo Cheng had lost their lives!
Meanwhile, all of the Centurions had returned, and the number of youths who passed the test were only seven including Duan Ling Tian and Xiao Yu.
"Duan Ling Tian, Xiao Yu!" Just after Duan Ling Tian and Xiao Yu had received news, Vice Commander Qiao Qing Shan appeared before themā¦ And in his hands were two letters.
Meng Quan and Luo Chengās wills!
"Meng Quan and Luo Cheng both prepared two wills when they were still amongst the living. Among Meng Quanās two wills, one was addressed to Xiao Yu; and one of Luo Chengās wills, on the other hand, was addressed to Duan Ling Tian." Qiao Qing Shan passed the two wills to Duan Ling Tian and Xiao Yu.
"You have my condolences." Qiao Qing Shan sighed before turning around and leaving.
He had seen too many partings in his life, and thus knew how Duan Ling Tian and Xiao Yu were feeling at this moment.
Duan Ling Tian took a deep breath and opened up Luo Chengās will.
Luo Chengās writing was beautiful; it seemed like it was written by a young girl.
Duan Ling Tian, when you receive this letter, it means I probably didnāt pass the final testā¦ Sigh, I still failed in the end. However, I donāt regret it because Iāve tried my best.
Being able to meet you, Meng Quan, and Xiao Yu was the happiest thing in my life. It was all of you that let me realize how to be a true man, so thank you. Help send my regards to Meng Quan and Xiao Yuā¦ Thatās if theyāre still alive when you read this letter.
Besides that, I still have a matter I canāt let go of. This matter was the drive that urged me to come to the Genius Camp. If possible, I hope that you can help meā¦.
ā¦.Luo Cheng signing off.
Crush!
Duan Ling Tianās hand trembled as he crushed the letter in his hand into a ball.
Although heād only been acquainted with Luo Cheng for three months, but in his heart he had already taken Luo Cheng as a friendā¦
Now, this friend of his had parted with him forever.
Duan Ling Tian took a deep breath as he solemnly said in his heart, "Luo Cheng, donāt worry, Iāll surely help you on that matter!"
"Meng Quan!" Xiao Yu, who was standing to the side, had also finished reading Meng Quanās will, and his ice cold face emitted a trace of melancholy.
"Meng Quanā¦" Duan Ling Tianās eyes flickered as he couldnāt help himself from recalling how full of high spirits Meng Quan was when they were still in Aurora Cityā¦
Meng Quan, rest in peace.
Xiao Yu took a deep breath as he looked at Duan Ling Tian and said, "Duan Ling Tian, I plan to leave today and return to help Meng Quan finish his unfulfilled wish."
"I need to make a visit to Luo Chengās clan as well." Duan Ling Tian nodded.
The two of them went to see Vice Commander Qiao Qing Shan and took along the other wills that Meng Quan and Luo Cheng had prepared before leaving Iron Blood City.
Xiong Quan silently followed behind the two of them, protecting his liege, Duan Ling Tian.
A month had passed and he had finished dissolving the medicinal strength of the first Spirit-Cleansing Pill, so he had regained his Origin Energy, and his cultivation recovered to the Origin Core Stage.
Luo Chengās clan was situated at Pine City.
Pine City was in between Iron Blood City and Aurora City, so it was on the way.
Duan Ling Tianās group of three veered off their course halfway towards Aurora City and entered Pine City.
The Luo Clan was only a small clan in Pine City.
Duan Ling Tianās group of three arrived outside the Luo Clan Estate and bribed a Luo Clan disciple. They thus smoothly entered the Luo Clan Estate and met Luo Chengās younger sister, Luo Qian.
At first sight, Duan Ling Tian had a slightly breathtaking feeling.
Luo Qianās age was similar to his, and she was very pretty and charming, delicate and appealingā¦
In terms of appearance, Luo Qian was only slightly inferior to Ke Er, Li Fei, and Xiao Yan, but she surpassed Li Shi Shi.
"You allā¦"
Luo Qian had only just opened her mouth when she was interrupted by Xiong Quanās stern shout.