Chapter 2898: The Old Ancestor of Blissful Sect, Li Ping.
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Naturally, Duan Ling Tian did not know about the commotion that broke out once he left the Tai Yi Celestial Sect’s estate and the Wasteland. He, Huan’er, Tie Tai He, the Supreme Elder of the Tai Yi Celestial Sect, and Ji Fan, the Arhat of the Blissful Sect, were making their way to the Blissful Sect in the Cross Region. With Tie Tai He carrying them, he was able to comprehend the Duke Grade Celestial Method, the Immobilization King Method, that he had gained from the Blissful Sect. He planned to leave the borderlands and venture into the central area after completely mastering this Celestial Method.
Now that Duan Ling Tian had used the consumable Royal Grade Celestial Weapon, he had temporarily gained the strength, soul, and the Celestial Original Energy of a Celestial King. In all manners, he was a Celestial King for now until the effect faded. To conserve his energy, he had asked Tie Tai He to bring them to the Blissful Sect. After all, the effect would grow less and less every time he used it until it was completely depleted.
‘After a round of attack, I can clearly feel my Celestial Origin Energy and soul had dropped from that of an ordinary Celestial Lord to that of a Ten Directions Celestial King.’ Duan Ling Tian sighed inwardly. The Ten Directions Celestial King was just one stage away from becoming a Celestial Lord, but the gap in their strength was extremely wide. He consoled himself inwardly, ‘It’s fine. With this strength, it’s still more than enough for me to dominate the Six Southeastern Regions if I wish.’ Feeling much better, he continued focusing on comprehending the Immobilization King Method while Huan’er recuperated from the injuries.
On the other hand, Ji Fan, the Arhat of the Blissful Sect, was like a mindless zombie during their journey to the Blissful Sect. Tie Tai He had been constantly keeping a sharp eye on him. He truly regretted begging Li An, the Old Ancestor of the Blissful Sect and his grandmaster, to bring him to the Tai Yi Celestial Sect. His expression was grim as he thought to himself, ‘News of grandmaster’s death should’ve reached the sect by now, right?’
Ji Fan was not saddened by Li An’s death at all. Previously, he had respected his grandmaster. However, when he saw his grandmaster deserting him and trying to escape on his own, all his respect for Li An had vanished. Although he would probably have done the same if he were in Li An’s shoes, he still could not and would not forgive Li An for attempting to desert.
…
In the Blissful Sect’s estate in the Cross Region.
The estate was located high on the mountains that were shrouded by a mist all year round. It was the effect from an illusory Formation.
The Blissful Sect was always peaceful, however, unbeknownst to them, chaos would soon descend on the sect.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
All of a sudden, the buildings in the Blissful Sect’s estate began to shake as though there was an earthquake.
“What’s going on?”
“Is it an earthquake?”
“Impossible! Our estate is protected by many Formations. There’s one that will protect us from the shockwaves of an earthquake.”
“Then, what’s the cause of this?”
“I’ve no idea.”
Due to quaking building and ground, many members and disciples halted their cultivation and came out to have a look. All of them wore a confused expression on their faces.
At this moment, an earth-shattering cry that was angry and mournful rang through the Blissful Sect’s estate. “Brother An!”
“Isn’t that Old Ancestor Li Ping’s voice?”
“He sounds angry… Did something happen to Old Ancestor Li An?”
“That’s impossible!”
“Old Ancestor Li An has gone to the Wasteland to look for Duan Ling Tian. I don’t think there’s anyone in the Wasteland who’s a threat to him, right?”
“That’s right! Unless… Duan Ling Tian truly comes from an extraordinary clan in the central area, and his clansmen acted against Old Ancestor Li An when Old Ancestor Li An tried to kill Duan Ling Tian. Otherwise, no one from the Wasteland is a threat to Old Ancestor Li Am at all!!”
Meanwhile, when the high-ranking officials from the Blissful Sect heard the cry of Li Ping, another Old Ancestor of the Blissful Sect, they knew something was amiss. They fervently discussed among themselves as they rushed toward Li Ping.
“Let’s find out what happened!”
“Come on!”
One by one, the high-rank officials of the Blissful Sect, including their sect leader, rushed toward Li Ping’s direction. Although they could not say for certain, based on Li Ping’s words, it was not difficult to guess what had happened.
“Old Ancestor Li An hasn’t returned from the Wasteland, and Old Ancestor Li Ping just cried out Old Ancestor Li An’s name in anger… He must have discovered something wrong with Old Ancestor Li An’s Soul Pearl!”
“Is… is it possible that Old Ancestor Li An is dead? That’s the only reason Old Ancestor Li Ping would be so angry!”
“Old Ancestor Li An? Dead?”
“I hope that’s not the case… Anyway, we’ll find out what happened once we see Old Ancestor Li Ping.”
All of them wore a gloomy and tense expression on their faces as they rushed over to Li Ping. After all, the Blissful Sect would be tremendously affected in a negative manner if Li An was dead. Li An was, after all, the strongest Nine Palaces Celestial Duke in the Six Southeastern Regions; he had a very high possibility of breaking through and becoming a Ten Directions Celestial Duke. How could the Blissful Sect not suffer if they lost such a person?
As the disciples from the Blissful Sect continued to discuss among themselves, the high-ranking officials of the sect finally arrived at Li Ping’s courtyard.
The Blissful Sect had two old ancestors, Li An and Li Ping. They were not biological brothers but paternal cousins. The duo had been through thick and thin together so their bond was even stronger than most biological brothers. Needless to say, they both cared about each other a lot.
The Sect Leader of the Blissful Sect, a tall and stout middle-aged monk with a jade-like complexion who was wearing a red kasaya, asked with an unsightly expression on his face, “Senior uncle… What’s wrong?”
Meanwhile, the other high-ranking officials of the Blissful Sect bowed and greeted Li Ping in unison. “Greetings, Old Ancestor Li Ping.”
Li Ping was a skinny old man. As he stood before the high-ranking officials of the Blissful Sect, his robes fluttered violently in the wind due to his surging Celestial Origin Energy. At this moment, he was staring intently at a shattered Soul Pearl in his palm. Rage could be seen flashing in his eyes. He was consumed in anger that he did not reply to the others. After a while had passed, he finally looked at the Sect Leader of the Blissful Sect with bloodshot eyes and said in a trembling voice that was brimming with anger, “Kong’er… Your master is dead!”
“Master!” The Sect Leader of the Blissful Sect, Liu Xuan Kong, had prepared himself for the worst, but he was still shocked by Li Ping’s words. He was devastated as he fell to his knees and cried. Tears streamed down his face as he slammed his fists on the ground, overwhelmed by grief, as he cried out, “W-what happened? What happened?”
Li Ping looked at the other high-ranking officials of the Blissful Sect and grimly asked, “Tell me… Where’s Brother An? Based on his shattered Soul Pearl, he has been dead for a while. Before I started my closed-door cultivation, he had gone to Alchemy City to attend the Alchemy Conference… ”
Since Li Ping had been in closed-door cultivation before this, he was not aware that Li An had returned to the sect before setting out again.
Upon hearing Li Ping’s question, Liu Xuan Kong quickly recounted the events that happened while Li Ping was in closed-door cultivation.
“A prominent Celestial Alchemist under 100 years old is capable of refining the Overarching Heaven Pill? He’s acknowledged as the top Celestial Alchemist in the Six Southeastern Regions during the Alchemy Conference, and he’s also an Overarching Heavenly Supreme Celestial? He’s just someone who has ascended from the mundane realm not too long ago?” Li Ping was, naturally, shocked to hear the Tai Yi Celestial Sect in the Wasteland had such an outstanding elder. He was so shocked that he temporarily forgot about Li An’s death. When he regained his senses, he looked at Liu Xuan Kong and solemnly asked, “So Brother An went to the Tai Yi Celestial Sect in the Wasteland to kill him?”
“Yes.” Liu Xuan Kong nodded tentatively.
“Fools!” Li Ping glared at Liu Xuan Kong and barked, “Even if he’s a transcender, you should’ve been more thorough with your investigation. In the Spirit Overarching Heaven, there are many powerful factions that have relations with those from the mundane realms.”
“Senior uncle,” Liu Xuan Kong said with a bitter smile, “If he really has an extraordinary background, his clan would’ve picked him up as soon as he ascended to the Spirit Overarching Heaven… Based on our investigation, he has been alone all this time. He’s come so far by relying on his own effort. Previously, he was almost killed by an elder from the Compassionate Celestial Traveler Sect… However, that elder is still alive and well today.”