Xiong Quan relied on his own hard work to grow into the guardian elder of the Boundless Sect from a kid that grew up in the mountains.
This was a shocking feat!
Moreover, after heād become the guardian elder of the Boundless Sect, Xiong Quan was able to remember his roots and take care of his own hometown, and this was even more difficult to come by.
He was truly respectable!
It was precisely because of this that Xiong Quan was able to obtain the acknowledgement of all the villagers in his hometown.
Because of their relationship with Xiong Quan, the villagers love for Xiong Quan extended onto Duan Ling Tianās group, and they obtained an extremely passionate welcome from the villagers.
After staying in the village for a few days and enjoying the rural life, Duan Ling Tianās group were prepared to leave.
Before they left, Duan Ling Tian went to meet Xiong Quan.
"Xiong Quan, this is the antidoteā¦ In the future, you donāt have to worry about the poison in your body recurring every six months as this antidote is sufficient to completely remove the poison within your body." Duan Ling Tian withdrew a medicinal pill and passed it to Xiong Quan.
That day, for the sake of controlling Xiong Quan, heād added poison into the grade nine Spirit Cleansing Pill he gave Xiong Quan.
It was a type of slow poison, and so long as one didnāt consume the antidote for a period of time thatās more than six months, then one would undoubtedly die!
Now, Duan Ling Tian gave Xiong Quan the antidote to completely remove that poison.
"Thank you, Young Master." Xiong Quan took a deep breath before accepting the medicinal pill and consuming it, then he said sincerely. "Young Master, Xiong Quan canāt be by your side in the future, so you must take good care of yourself, and protect yourself wellā¦ Young Master doesnāt have to feel guilty about what has happened to me, as everything is fate."
"Fate?" Duan Ling Tian shook his head. "Xiong Quan, let me ask you, what is fate?"
Xiong Quan was dumbstruck when he heard this.
He didnāt know how to explain it.
"Xiong Quan, remember this. Never ever believe in the so-called āfateāā¦ Now, although your Dantian has been crippled, your Advanced Sword Force is still present. Since youāve opened the door to Force, even if you donāt have your Origin Energy, youāre still able to continue comprehending the Sword Concept!" Duan Ling Tian slowly said to Xiong Quan.
"Itās all not important anymore." Xiong Quan shook his head and smiled, seeming extremely free and easy.
Without Origin Energy, even if he comprehended Sword Concept, what good would that do?
At most, the sword in his hand and his attacks would be formidable.
In terms of speed, he would be no different than a ninth level Body Tempering Stage martial artist.
Duan Ling Tian had a serious expression as he said to Xiong Quan. "Xiong Quan, I know that your Dantian being crippled has caused you to be without hopeā¦ But, I still want to tell you that I have a way to restore your Dantian!"
"What?!" Xiong Quan was startled by what Duan Ling Tian said, and he was like a frightened bird as he asked. "Young Master, you said you have a way to restore my crippled Dantian? Is it true?"
Currently, Xiong Quan had lost his previous composure and his free and easy appearance.
He instead had an excited expression and had forgotten himself.
The only reason he feigned such an appearance earlier was because he didnāt want Duan Ling Tian to be worried and guiltyā¦
Actually, his heart hadnāt walked out from the shadow of his Dantian being crippled since the beginning.
After living together with Duan Ling Tian for these few years, Duan Ling Tian had never once taken him to be a servant because of the poison that controlled him, and instead, Duan Ling Tian had taken him to be like a family member. This caused him to have always had gratitude in his heart.
Now even when he wasnāt controlled by the poison, he still tried his best to be considerate of Duan Ling Tian.
"Youāve followed me for a few years, have I ever said something meaningless?" Duan Ling Tian wasnāt surprised by Xiong Quanās excitement, as if there was a choice, then no one would choose to become a cripple.
Xiong Quanās face flushed red when he obtained confirmation from Duan Ling Tian and he was extremely excited.
"However, even though I have a way to restore your Dantian, Iām afraid it will still require some timeā¦ It will take anywhere from five to even 10 plus years." Duan Ling Tian poured a bucket of cold water when he saw Xiong Quan being so excited.
But, Xiong Quan paid no attention to it, and he grinned. "Young Master, I can wait."
Duan Ling Tian nodded, then patted Xiong Quan on the shoulder. "Then Iāll be leaving firstā¦ You donāt have to send me off. Work hard in comprehending your Advanced Sword Force. With your comprehension ability, comprehending Sword Concept isnāt difficult. I hope that when I see you next, you would have already comprehended Sword Concept."
"I will, Young Master. I will absolutely not let you down." Xiong Quan hurriedly nodded.
Duan Ling Tian smiled in satisfaction, then turned around and left. He converged with Li Fei, Zhang Shou Yong, and Wang Qiong before leaving the remote mountains.
"Scoundrel, are you still thinking about Xiong Quan?" Li Fei couldnāt refrain from asking when she noticed Duan Ling Tian being silent all the way.
Duan Ling Tian sighed. "I am responsible for what happened to Xiong Quan."
Li Fei held Duan Ling Tianās hand and consoled. "Donāt blame yourself, you were helpless at that time as wellā¦ That withered old man was too strong. However, Big Brother Zhang has killed that withered old man and it can be considered to have taken revenge for Xiong Quan."
Duan Ling Tian nodded then looked at the young man on the other Ferghana Horse. "Big Brother Zhang, thank you."
Zhang Shou Yong shook his head and smiled. "Brother Ling Tian, donāt mention itā¦ That day, when I saw you for the first time in Drainpool Inn, I felt as if Iād met an old friend. The facts prove that our tempers agree with each other and we were bound to become friends."
"Yeah." Wang Qiong who sat in front of Zhang Shou Yong nodded. "I and Little Sister Li Fei hit off well from the beginning as well, and Iāve taken her to be my own younger sister in my heartā¦. Youāre not allowed to bully her in the future. Otherwise, even though Iām not a match for you, Iām able to ask Brother Yong to help me teach you a lesson." As she finished speaking, Wang Qiongās contained a slight protective tone.
"Then wouldnāt I be fully controlled by this little girl in the future?" Duan Ling Tian exaggerated with a laugh.
"Hmph! Scoundrel, letās see if you dare bully me in the future." Wang Qiongās words caused Li Fei to beam, and her beautiful face held a complacent expression.
In the following leg of the journey, Duan Ling Tianās group of four didnāt travel quickly as they wandered about to enjoy the beauties of nature all along the way towards the Seven Star Sword Sect.
An event worthy of mention was that when they were about to arrive at Black Bamboo City, Duan Ling Tianās cultivation broke through once again.
The ninth level of the Origin Core Stage!
"Presently, Iāve broken through to the ninth level of the Origin Core Stage and my strength is comparable to the strength of 131 ancient mammothsā¦ Compared to an ordinary ninth level Origin Core Stage martial artist, I possess an extra strength of 11 ancient mammoths!
"The Nine Dragonās War Sovereign Techniqueās third form, the Wyrm Python Form, has finally attained perfection!
"The scope of effect of the Quake Energy has already advanced to the limit at as wellā¦ So Long as the strength of my opponent doesnāt exceed my own strength by the strength of 100 ancient mammoths, then Iām not afraid!" Since he broke through, Duan Ling Tianās mood was always slightly agitated.
"Liu Shi Ge!" Duan Ling Tianās gaze flickered with a cold light, and a cold smile appeared on the corners of his mouth. "When I return this time, itās time to properly settle the accounts between usā¦"
That day, Liu Shi Ge had heavily injured him and even knocked him out.
Heād always taken this to be a humiliation.
He hoped that one day, he would be able to rely on his own strength to make Liu Shi Ge pay tenfold, no, a hundred fold!
Now, although he hadnāt broken through to the Nascent Soul Stage, after his cultivation stepped into the ninth level of the Origin Core Stage he was already unafraid of an ordinary first level Nascent Soul Stage martial artistā¦
"So long as Liu Shi Ge hasnāt broken through to the second level of the Nascent Soul Stage, then my current strength is completely sufficient to completely destroy him!" As Duan Ling Tian thought about this, his eyes emitted a trace of yearning.
When he returned to his senses, Duan Ling Tian smelt the fragrance of Li Feiās hair and felt the strong breeze that blew at him while the horse galloped forward, and his eyes slightly narrowed as an extremely gentle expression appeared on his face.
Presently, it had already been an entire year since he left the Seven Star Sword Sect.
This time, not only had his cultivation broken through once again, Li Feiās cultivation had broken through half a month ago to advance to the seventh level of the Origin Core Stage!
Of course, the reason Li Feiās advancement was so swift, following closely behind Duan Ling Tianās footsteps, was because of the 10,000 Year Stalactite Milk sheād consumed that timeā¦
Presently, Li Feiās natural talent in the Martial Dao was similar to Duan Ling Tian and had arrived at the limit of what a martial artist could arrive at.
One year had passed.
Duan Ling Tian was already 21.
Zhang Shou Yongās gaze descended onto the small black dot in the distance as he asked slowly. "Brother Ling Tian, the city ahead is Black Bamboo City?"
"Yes." Duan Ling Tian nodded. He knew that arriving at Black Bamboo City would also mean that they were about to go their separate ways from Zhang Shou Yong and his wife.
On the journey here, he, Li Fei, Zhang Shou Yong, and Wang Qiong had formed a deep friendship.
Reluctance was hard to avoid.
"After weāve arrived at Black Bamboo City, weāll have a meal together." Zhang Shou Yong looked at Li Fei and Duan Ling Tian as he suggested.
Duan Ling Tian and Li Fei naturally had no objections.
Wang Qiong said to Li Fei with a face covered in tender affection, "Little Sister Li Fei, Iāll surely come visit you with Brother Yong when Iām free in the future."
Li Feiās beautiful eyes became faintly misty as she said in a light voice, "Big Sister Wang Qiong, Iāll miss you."
Duan Ling Tian consoled Li Fei. "Alright, all good things must come to an end, cheer up. Whatās more, it isnāt like there isnāt a chance to meet again in the futureā¦ Besides that, we have to eat together in a while, and your current appearance will surely cause Big Sister Wang Qiong to feel bad when she sees it."
Li Fei lightly nodded and she was barely able to force out a trace of a smile.
During this half year, she and Wang Qiong had hit off from the beginning and were close like sisters. Now that they were about to separate, she was naturally extremely reluctant.
The small black dot far away gradually became bigger, and in the end it transformed into a city.
This city stood in the distance. It was like it had transformed into an enormous beast that swallowed the streams of wagons and people that entered.
After Duan Ling Tianās group of four entered the city, they casually found a restaurant before finding a place that was adjacent to the window.
Subsequently, they ordered their food.
"Brother Ling Tian, they seem to be looking at you?" Suddenly, Zhang Shou Yongās voice entered into Duan Ling Tianās ears.
Only now did Duan Ling Tian notice that the crowd of customers within the restaurant were all looking at him with a slightly strange gaze.
Actually, heād noticed when heād just entered the city that some people seemed as if theyād seen money when they saw him, as their eyes gleamed and they had greedy expressions.
"Whatās going on?" Duan Ling Tian completely didnāt know what had happened.
Shi Clan Estate.
"Patriarch, I want to see the Patriarch!" An incomparably swift figure flashed into the Shi Clan Estate, then dashed violently all the way to finally charge to the Shi Clan Audience Hall.
Within the Shi Clan Audience Hall.
An old man in embroidered clothes had a cold expression as he gazed indifferently at the middle aged man before him and asked. "There still isnāt any news of that Duan Ling Tian lately?"
The middle aged man was precisely the Patriarch of the Shi Clan, Shi Li.