War Sovereign Soaring The Heavens

“Three assassins from the Blood Skull Gang?” The Branch Leader of the Phantom Fox Clan raised an eyebrow upon hearing the words of the Mansion Master of the Profound Nether Mansion. “Mansion Master Zhong, why do you allow the assassins from the Blood Skull Gang to linger outside of your mansion’s estate?”

“There’s nothing we can do since they haven’t done anything wrong. Moreover, the Blood Skull Gang is one of the top assassin organizations in the Southern Heaven Territory; there’s no need to offend them for no good reason,” the mansion master replied.

“Are they here because of Duan Ling Tian?” the branch leader asked, “Your Profound Nether Mansion’s Duan Ling Tian is so remarkable that even I who seldom leave the Phantom Fox Clan has heard he’s a Ten Directions Celestial Duke who has comprehended all nine profundities from the law of space even though he’s not even 100 years old. Moreover, he has even comprehended the Cross-Dimensional Slash Profundity to the initial stage.”

“Branch Leader Zhang, it seems like you’re rather knowledgeable about Duan Ling Tian. However, your information is slightly outdated. Duan Ling Tian is no longer a Ten Directions Celestial Duke; he has had a breakthrough and is now a Celestial King,” the mansion master said with a smile.

“He’s broken through and become a Celestial King?” The branch leader was taken aback. After a while, realization dawned on him. “No wonder there’s no news about him entering the middle realm of the Southern Heaven Ancient Territory. I thought he just didn’t enter the middle realm because no one there is a match for him. I didn’t expect him to have become a Celestial King. Mansion Master Zhong, I wonder if I can meet him?” the branch leader asked with a glint in his eyes.

The two members from the Phantom Fox Clan who died outside of the Profound Nether Mansion’s estate had said they suspected a woman who was a Ten Directions Celestial Duke even though she was not even 100 years old to be a Thousand Phantoms Ice Fox. Although the two deceased members said that it was a woman, the Branch Leader of the Phantom Fox Clan in the Southern Heaven Territory could not help but suspect the monstrously talented Duan Ling Tian from the Profound Nether Mansion might be the Thousand Phantoms Ice Fox. After all, the previous Thousand Phantoms Ice Fox that appeared more than a million years ago was a man. It was obvious that he did not hear about Duan Ling Tian becoming a Ten Directions Celestial due to him consuming the Heaven Sacrificial Divine Fruit. Otherwise, he would not have suspected Duan Ling Tian.

“He’s currently cultivating in the Imperial Tutor Pavilion. I’ll need to ask the Pavilion Master of the Imperial Tutor Pavilion if it’s convenient for him to come over,” the mansion master replied.

“The Imperial Tutor Pavilion?” The branch leader was shocked. “Has Duan Ling Tian become the Imperial Tutor of the Profound Nether Mansion? Well, I guess I shouldn’t be so surprised. After all, with his innate talent and comprehension skills, he’s more than qualified to become the mansion’s Imperial Tutor.”

“Yes, he’s our mansion’s Imperial Tutor.” The Mansion Master nodded before he sent a message to the Pavilion Master of the Imperial Tutor Mansion to check if Duan Ling Tian was willing to meet with the Branch Leader of the Phantom Fox Clan.

“I’ll meet him.” Duan Ling Tian had just awoken from cultivation. He did not expect the Branch Leader of the Phantom Fox Clan in the Southern Heaven Territory would arrive at the Profound Nether Mansion so quickly. Moreover, the branch leader even wanted to meet him.

“There must be a reason why he wants to meet me.” Duan Ling Tian decided to meet with the branch leader since the branch leader was a potential threat to Huan’er. Who knew if he had to fight the branch leader in the future? This was a good opportunity for him to learn about his opponent.

Soon enough, an elder sent by the mansion master brought Duan Ling Tian to where the mansion master was entertaining the branch leader.

“Mansion Master,” Duan Ling Tian greeted the mansion master as he snuck a look at the three men standing at the sides from the corners of his eyes.

A young man with white hair and eyebrows was sitting while two old men flanked him like bodyguards.

“Duan Ling Tian, this is Branch Leader Zhang from the Phantom Fox Clan. He has heard many things about you so he’s curious about you and wants to meet you,” the mansion master said with a smile.

“Branch Leader Zhang,” Duan Ling Tian greeted after he shifted his eyes to the white-haired young man.

At the same time, the mansion master’s Voice Transmission rang in Duan Ling Tian’s mind. “Duan Ling Tian, the fox is a cunning creature… You must be careful when you interact with Zhang Dong Nan, the branch leader.”

“Duan Ling Tian, I’ve heard a lot about you. After meeting you, I have to say you really do live up to your reputation as a peerless genius!” Zhang Dong Nan exclaimed enthusiastically as he looked at Duan Ling Tian. As soon as Duan Ling Tian arrived, he had already ascertained Duan Ling Tian was not a Thousand Phantoms Ice Fox. In fact, there was no trace of the aura of a Phantom Fox on him at all. If a Thousand Phantoms Ice Fox had reached the stage of a Ten Directions Celestial Duke, it would be difficult for one to tell if one’s cultivation base was too low. However, this was not the case for him.

The Mansion Master of the Profound Nether Mansion had sent a Voice Transmission to warn Duan Ling Tian because he was afraid Duan Ling Tian might unintentionally say something he should not in front of Zhang Dong Nan. He did not expect Zhang Dong Nan to converse casually with Duan Ling Tian. In fact, Zhang Dong Nan did not even bother to probe Duan Ling Tian at all. He found this rather baffling.

Meanwhile, Duan Ling Tian found the situation rather strange as well. Zhang Dong Nan seemed genuine in his intention to know more about him.

About half an hour into their conversation, Zhang Dong Nan appeared to have recalled something before he said, “Ah, that’s right. Mansion Master Zhong, did the Profound Nether Mansion accept any new disciples recently? To be precise, did a white-clad lady who’s younger than 100 years old join the mansion recently?”

The mansion master replied, “There’s only one person who joined the Profound Nether Mansion recently, and that’s Duan Ling Tian. Branch Leader Zhang, you should be aware that the Profound Nether Mansion doesn’t accept disciples except when it’s recruitment time. Of course, this rule doesn’t apply to monstrously talented cultivators like Duan Ling Tian. Otherwise, there won’t be an exception.”

Zhang Dong Nan nodded slightly. Then, he rose to his feet and bade farewell to the mansion master and Duan Ling Tian. Before he left, he looked at Duan Ling Tian meaningfully as he said, “Duan Ling Tian, do visit us if you have the time. There are many beautiful girls in the Phantom Fox Clan. Who knows you might meet your other half there….”

The corners of the mansion master’s lips curled into a disdainful smile. Naturally, he could tell that Zhang Dong Nan was trying to lure Duan Ling Tian into joining the Phantom Fox Clan with beauties. He was not worried about Duan Ling Tian being tempted since his grandmaster had already told him about the peerless beauty whom the two deceased members from the Phantom Fox Clan were tailing. Over the past 30,000 years, his grandmaster had seen countless women. For his grandmaster to call a woman a peerless beauty, he had no doubt the woman was beautiful beyond words.

“Branch Leader Zhang, I’m a married man with a son and a daughter. I don’t seek affairs between men and women,” Duan Ling Tian replied with a smile.

Zhang Dong Nan continued to look at Duan Ling Tian meaningfully and said, “It’s only natural for capable men to have many wives and concubines. Take me for example, I’ve just recently married my 16th concubine.”

Zhang Dong Nan was clearly not discouraged by Duan Ling Tian’s refusal. He sent a Voice Transmission to Duan Ling Tian before he left. “Duan Ling Tian, remember my words… Visit the Phantom Fox Clan when you have the time…”

Duan Ling Tian only smiled wryly upon hearing the Voice Transmission. Why did the Branch Leader of the Phantom Fox Clan suddenly turn into a matchmaker?

After Zhang Dong Nan left, the mansion master looked at Duan Ling Tian and asked curiously, “Duan Ling Tian, Zhang Dong Nan is here because of the death of his two men… I’m really curious. Who’s the woman next to you?”

“Mansion Master,” Duan Ling Tian shook his head and said, “It’s inconvenient for me to say anything because her identity is complicated. Please forgive me.” He knew with more people being privy to Huan’er’s identity, the more danger she would be in. Therefore, it was better if fewer people knew about her identity.

Outside of the Profound Nether Mansion’s estate.

Zhang Dong Nan and the two old men did not return to the Phantom Fox Clan immediately after they left the Profound Nether Mansion.

“Mansion Master Zhong said there are three assassins from the Blood Skull Gang lingering outside the estate. There’s a possibility they might have seen Zhang Qi Yu and Zhang Li Zhong,” Zhang Dong Nan said to the two old men as his eyes glinted, “Let’s split up and look for the assassins!”

“Understood!” The two old men took off upon hearing Zhang Dong Nan’s words.

Zhang Dong Nan was a Celestial Lord, and the two old men he brought with him were rather capable as well.

The two old men were Ten Directions Celestial Kings who had mastered a profundity to the initial stage. The duo was rather well-known in the upper realm of the Southern Heaven Ancient Realm as well.

About 15 minutes later, Zhang Dong Nan received a message from one of the old men informing him that he had discovered the three assassins.

North of the Profound Nether Mansion’s estate.

A man was facing off against three men on the side of a towering mountain.

The three men were clad head to toe in black. A middle-aged man with a cold expression seemed to be the leader of the group.

At this moment, the middle-aged man’s eyes flashed with fear as he looked at the old man in front of him.

“Situ Yu, I didn’t expect you to be the one who accepted the mission. Your target isn’t a simple person.” The old man was clearly surprised when he saw the middle-aged man. Based on his words, it was clear he was familiar with the middle-aged man.

“Zhang Zhen Hai, what are you doing here?” Situ Yu, the middle-aged man, asked solemnly.

“Zhang Zhen Hai?” Upon hearing Siyu Yu’s words, the eyes of the two black-clad men standing behind him widened immediately.

If Duan Ling Tian were here, he would be able to recognize the two men standing behind Situ Yu. The two men were the assassins who were sent to the Jade Emperor to kill him previously.