War Sovereign Soaring The Heavens

“After becoming human, he’s slightly over 500 years old?” Duan Ling Tian frowned slightly upon hearing Qi Tian Ming’s words. “This means the age restriction in the middle realm doesn’t count the years before they gained human forms?”

If this was the case, it meant that it was the same for Celestial Beasts as well. Did this not mean Celestial Beasts would have an advantage? After all, powerful Celestial Beasts could only gain a human form after a long time. When they finally gained human forms, their abilities were already comparable to Celestial beings.

Qi Tian Ming nodded. “Plants absorb the essence of the sun, the moon, the heavens, and the earth. In order to gain human forms, they’d need to be incredibly lucky. After they gain human forms, they have no cultivation base at all so they have to start cultivating from the beginning. Nevertheless, since they absorbed the essence of the sun, the moon, the heavens, and the earth, the speed of their improvements is heaven-defying. Even their comprehension skills are incredibly high.”

Duan Ling Tian was enlightened after hearing Qi Tian Ming’s words. In this regard, plants were different from Celestial Beasts that could instinctively cultivate and retain their cultivation bases after gaining human forms. For this reason, Celestial Beasts would still retain some of their strength after gaining human forms.

“So does the age restriction apply to Celestial Beasts as well or their treatment is the same as plants?” Duan Ling Tian asked.

“Yes.” Qi Tian Ming nodded and replied, “In this aspect, Celestial Beasts aren’t like plants who have gained sentience. The age restriction still applies to Celestial Beasts. If a Celestial Beast only gained a human form at 900 years old, it would only have 100 years left to enter the middle realm. The Southern Celestial Lord had taken this into consideration before he created the Southern Heaven Ancient Realm. Otherwise, it would be unfair to humans and other beings.”

Duan Ling Tian was relieved upon hearing these words. If that was the case, then it was fair.

“Although Hua Xiao is only slightly over 500 years old, he’s comprehended six profundities and is in the process of comprehending the seventh profundity from the law of water. Moreover, the profundities he has comprehended are the more powerful and practical profundities from the law of water. Due to the advantage he has from his origin, he’s above his peers in all grade-six Celestial Mansions. For this reason, he’s ranked in the top 30,” Qi Tian Ming explained.

Duan Ling Tian gained a deeper understanding of Hua Xiao after listening to Qi Tian Mings’ words.

“Initially I thought that after Zhou Hong Jie reaches 1,000 years old, Hua Xiao will be the only pillar of strength the Profound Nether Mansion could rely on in the middle realm. I didn’t expect to find you in the Simplicity Celestial Sect. With your presence, the Profound Nether Mansion will definitely outperform the others in the middle realm of the Southern Heaven Ancient Realm! It’s only a matter of time before you rank first.” It was clear Qi Tian Ming thought Duan Ling Tian needed some time before he would be able to rank first.

Duan Ling Tian could tell Qi Tian Ming was not confident of his current strength. However, he did not take offense. Moreover, he knew actions spoke louder than words. He would prove his ability by ranking first. After a while, he asked, “Old Qi, do you have a map that marks the bases of every grade-six Celestial Mansions in the middle realm of the Southern Heaven Ancient Realm?”

Although Qi Tian Ming had mentioned waiting at the bases of Celestial Mansions to eliminate their disciples was a blatant sign of provocation and would spark retaliation, Duan Ling Tian did not care. His only concern was ranking first. Moreover, even if they wanted to seek revenge from him, they could only do so in the middle realm of the Southern Heaven Ancient Realm or secretly seek revenge outside the middle realm. If it were known that they tried to seek revenge outside of the middle realm, their reputation would be tarnished since it showed that they had no sportsmanship!

“Why? Do you still plan to wait in the vicinity of the bases?” Qi Tian Ming was shocked. Naturally, he could guess Duan Ling Tian’s intention.

Duan Ling Tian smiled before he asked in return, “This way, I’ll be able to accumulate points faster, right?”

Qi Tian Ming took in a couple of deep breaths to calm down before he said, “Duan Ling Tian, this approach is inadvisable. Although the Celestial Mansions can only seek revenge in the middle realm, if you cross their bottom lines, they wouldn’t let things slide. They might not attack you in the open, but they can easily hire an assassin to get the job done.” He shook his head, feeling Duan Ling Tian was rather naive. He tried to persuade Duan Ling Tian by saying, “Moreover, even if you’ve comprehended the law of space’s Teleportation Profundity, any Ten Directions Celestial Duke who has comprehended two movement profundities of a law can easily catch up to you. In my opinion, it’s best if you keep a low profile. Don’t repeat what happened at the Martial Battle Mansion’s base.”

“Old Qi, I understand where you’re coming from. However, I’d still love to have a copy of the map. How about this? I won’t wait for them close to their bases. I’ll observe from afar and only make my move once they travel a distance away from their bases.” Duan Ling Tian knew Qi Tian Ming’s words were borne out of concern for him so he made a compromise. Nevertheless, he was determined to get his hands on the map. With the map, he would be able to accumulate points efficiently, and there would be no need for him to wander aimlessly looking for targets.

Qi Tian Ming shook his head and said, “I’m sorry to disappoint you, but such a map doesn’t exist.”

“It doesn’t exist?” Duan Ling Tian furrowed his brows. “Nobody drew a map of the bases at all? I remember the way to the Martial Battle Mansion’s base from our base. When I enter the middle realm again, I should be able to find their base again.”

“You won’t be able to find it.” Qi Tian Ming shook his head once again.

“I won’t be able to find their base?” Duan Ling Tian’s frown deepened. An ominous feeling rose in his heart instantly.

“At the end of the month, when the rankings of the middle realm of the Southern Heaven Ancient Realm resets, the terrains change as well. Based on what I know, the locations of the bases change as well. They never appear in the same location. Therefore, it’s pointless even if you remember the location of the base. You won’t be able to find it even if you follow the route when you enter the middle realm again. Now that I’ve explained everything clearly, you should understand what I mean, right?”

“Yes.” Duan Ling Tian smiled wryly. “I didn’t expect this. No wonder there’s no map of the bases.”

How could there be a map when the locations of the bases of the grade-six Celestial Mansions changed every month?

Suddenly, several voices rang in the air. Their tones were rather casual and not reverent or respectful like the tone the disciples and the elders used.

“Inspector Qi!”

Qi Tian Ming shook his head. “Well, well, well, these old fellows are here before the mansion master…” Then, he looked at Duan Ling Tian and said with a smile, “Duan Ling Tian, these people are my old friends. Except for one of them, all of them are from the Three Sects and Two Clans.”

The Three Sects and Two Clans consisted of the Simplicity Celestial Sect, the Cloud Platform Celestial Sect, the Coupling Celestial Sect, the Zhangsun Clan, and the Gongyang Clan.

At the entrance of the lower realm of the Southern Heaven Ancient Realm, Duan Ling Tian had met with several high-ranking officials from the Three Sects and Two Clans. One of them was Bihai Mingfeng, the Third Sect Leader of the Coupling Celestial Sect and an inspector of the Profound Nether Mansion.

“They must have come over since they knew you’ve come out from the middle realm,” Qi Tian Ming said with absolute certainty.

Indeed, these people, inspectors of the Profound Nether Mansion from the Three Sects and Two Clans, had come because of Duan Ling Tian. Currently, Duan Ling Tian was famous in the Profound Nether Mansion. The only people who had not heard of him were those in closed-door cultivation. These few inspectors, like the others, were curious about Duan Ling Tian. Therefore, once they learned that Duan Ling Tian had come out from the middle realm, they immediately came to look for Qi Tian Ming. These inspectors were mostly old men from the same generation as Qi Tian Ming and had a good relationship with Qi Tian Ming. Therefore, they did not hesitate to look for Qi Tian Ming to satiate their curiosity. Moreover, they treated Duan Ling Tian kindly as well.

Duan Ling Tian, naturally, knew these few inspectors treated him kindly due to their good relationship with Qi Tian Ming. Apart from that, he knew it was also due to his performance in the middle realm of the Southern Heaven Ancient Realm and his achievements. After all, a Ten Directions Celestial Dukes who had comprehended at least six profundities from the law of space before reaching 100 years old was more than enough to cause a stir in the Ten Major Clans and Top Five Clans in the Southern Heaven Territory, let alone a grade-six Celestial Mansion like the Profound Nether Mansion.

Meanwhile, the Vice Leader of the Blood Skull Gang, Chen Yuan Shan, received a message.

“Duan Ling Tian, a Ten Directions Celestial Duke who’s suspected to have comprehended at least six profundities from the law of space before reaching the age of 100 has been brought to join the Profound Nether Mansion by Inspector Qi Tian Ming. Qi Tian Ming originally came from the Simplicity Celestial Sect.”