Chapter 42: Monster
Translator: / KurazyTolanzuraytor Editor: Lucas
In the following days, Duan Ling Tian would often bring Ke Er along to the martial arts practice field to cultivate her movement technique.
They slowly blended into the Aurora City Li Clan, winning over the respect of many main clan disciples.
In this world, the strong were always respected no matter where they went.
Half a month’s time passed in the blink of an eye.
Although Duan Ling Tian and Ke Er's cultivation had not broken through, their strength had undergone a heaven-shattering transformation.
First of all was the defense martial skills.
Under the assistance of the Blood Lingzhi Body Refinement Liquid, Duan Ling Tian's Greater Teleportation and Ke Er's Stealth Substitution were both successfully cultivated to the initial stage.
As for the offensive martial skills, Duan Ling Tian didn’t dip into any of them. Ke Er, on the hand, continued her painstaking cultivation of the Sword Drawing Arts without stopping.
If Duan Ling Tian’s Sword Drawing Arts was considered to have stepped into the perfection stage, then Ke Er’s Sword Drawing Arts could be considered to have reached the mastery stage.
Of course, the reason Ke Er progressed so quickly was due to her painstaking cultivation.
Since the day she started cultivating the Sword Drawing Arts until now, she spent at least five hours a day practicing it.
People who put in painstaking effort were always rewarded.
This was something even Duan Ling Tian did not find unexpected.
Something worth mentioning was that during this past month’s time, due to Duan Ling Tian and Ke Er always cultivating their movement techniques in the martial arts practice field, they became familiar with Li Shi Shi.
Especially Ke Er; her and Li Shi Shi started calling each other sisters.
Martial arts practice field.
Duan Ling Tian’s figure flashed as if he had no bones. He stopped for a moment and then moved at swift speeds like a spirit serpent that was flying out in a flash…
He was indeed cultivating the Spirit Serpent Movement Technique!
The beautiful young girl stood at the side, silently watching him with a slightly smiling expression of happiness.
“Little Sister Ke Er.”
Abruptly, a voice sounded from afar.
Another beautiful young girl walked over with quick strides. Her hand grasped a sheathed Fine Steel Sword, making her seem valiant and heroic.
“Big Sister Shi Shi.”
Ke Er lightly smiled as she greeted the person.
“Little Sister Ke Er, I’m going to the trade market to buy some things. Come with me.”
The person was indeed Li Shi Shi.
Hearing what she said, Ke Er unconsciously looked towards the youth whose figure was flashing about, but she didn’t disturb him. Instead, she silently waited.
“Duan Ling Tian, I’m borrowing Ke Er for a while. You don’t mind, right?”
Li Shi Shi looked at the youth.
Whoosh!
Duan Ling Tian’s figure lightly jerked, taking advantage of force exerted to come to a stop. His forehead was emitting hot sweat.
A fragrant smell entered his nose as Ke Er walked forward to help him wipe his sweat.
She was like a lovely little wife.
“I really can’t stand the two of you.”
Li Shi Shi had a nauseated expression.
At this moment, no one noticed that deep within her gaze, a feeling of loss flashed quickly before disappearing.
“Ke Er, go ahead. Take care of yourself.”
Duan Ling Tian smiled towards the young girl beside him.
Besides himself, Ke Er had finally gotten a similar aged friend. Duan Ling Tian naturally would not restrict their contact.
“Don’t worry, your Ke Er won’t even lose a hair.”
Li Shi Shi gave Duan Ling Tian a look before grabbing Ke Er’s hand and walking off.
On the way, they attracted many gazes from lascivious men.
After the two girls left, Duan Ling Tian continued his cultivation…
Spirit Serpent Movement Technique!
If anyone with a keen gaze was present, they would notice a barely visible defensive chi barrier on the surface of Duan Ling Tian’s body.
Defensive Martial Skill!
Duan Ling Ting seemed to have forgotten the time as he cultivated…
Every time his figure flashed about, he felt a comfortable feeling spreading through his entire body.
“Duan Ling Tian!”
Suddenly, a loud shout interrupted Duan Ling Tian’s cultivation.
Duan Ling Tian frowned as he saw the two familiar faces coming over shoulder to shoulder.
It was indeed Li Yuan and Li Xiao.
In fact, Duan Ling Tian hadn’t seen them for the past half month.
He originally thought that they were scared stiff from the killing intent he emitted the other day and would not dare to cause trouble for him anymore.
But now it seemed that it was not the case.
“What?”
Duan Ling Tian looked at them with a calm expression.
“Duan Ling Tian, hand over what we want, or else today you will have to crawl home from here,” Li Xiao said, in a cold voice.
“You want my things? Sure…”
Duan Ling Tian smiled indifferently.
“Huh?”
Li Xiao and Li Yuan were dumbstruck.
Since when was this Duan Ling Tian so easy to deal with?
Duan Ling Tian stopped for a moment better he added, “Defeat me!”
“OK, I’ll make you sincerely hand everything over.”
Li Xiao walked out quickly, standing face to face with Duan Ling Tian.
At this moment, the people in the martial arts practice field noticed the commotion over here and came over to spectate.
The deserted corner of the martial arts practice field was quickly surrounded by people.
“It’s Li Yuan!”
“Li Yuan and Big Sister Shi Shi are the same; they are the top three strongest disciples in our outer court. Is he going to battle Duan Ling Tian?”
“I think so…”
“Although Duan Ling Tian is only a branch family disciple, his sword skills have reached perfection; even Big Sister Shi Shi felt like she was inferior. Even though his cultivation is weaker than Li Yuan’s, he’s not necessarily not a match for Li Yuan.”
“You mentioned sword skills… Didn’t you notice that Duan Ling Tian doesn’t have a sword with him?”
“He can’t be thinking of fighting Li Yuan empty-handed, right? Even though his Howling Tiger Fist has broken through to the mastery stage, everyone knows that Li Yuan’s middle grade Profound Rank martial skill, Heart Destruction Palm, has also been cultivated to the mastery stage.”
“More importantly, Li Yuan is at the ninth level of the Body Tempering Stage, whereas Duan Ling Tian is only at the eighth level!”
……
The crowd’s discussion didn’t look favorably upon Duan Ling Tian, who didn’t have a sword in hand.
Some people who had swords wanted to lend them to Duan Ling Tian but were afraid of offending Li Yuan.
Li Yuan was not simply a main clan disciple, he was also a Clan Elder’s nephew.
This was also the reason why even though he was only an outer court disciple, he cultivated the offensive martial skill, Heart Destruction Palm; defensive martial skill, Golden Bell Cover; and movement technique, Unfettered Steps, which were all middle grade Profound Rank martial skills!
Others could only be envious of it.
“The two of you come at me together.” Duan Ling Tian shot a glance at Li Yuan before looking at Li Xiao.
“Don’t overestimate yourself. Against you, I am more than enough.” Li Yuan got angry from embarrassment as Duan Ling Tian looked down upon him.
His figure abruptly moved…
Unfettered Steps!
Li Yuan’s legs stepped in a peculiar manner, quickly moving forward, arriving in front of Duan Ling Tian in a blink of an eye.
Heart Destruction Palm!
His palm struck out and shook the air as it brought along the force of heart destruction, flying straight towards Duan Ling Tian.
At the same time, a strand of white mist congealed into an ancient mammoth silhouette above Li Yuan.
“Initial stage Unfettered Steps and mastery stage Heart Destruction Palm!”
Exclamations sounded from within the crowd of spectators.
Duan Ling Tian’s eyes flickered as his upper body inclined backwards, his arms pulled back into the shape of a bow, and at the very moment he completed this action, he abruptly trembled.
Collapsing Fist!
Duan Ling Tian swung out his Collapsing Fist to intercept Li Yuan’s Heart Destruction palm.
Bang!
The fist and palm collided!
Immediately, Duan Ling Tian felt that Li Yuan’s palm strike strength was stronger than his Collapsing Fist.
Furthermore, a strand of a strange force actually followed through his fist, trying to enter into his arm…
Greater Teleportation!
Without any hesitation, Duan Ling Tian activated his defensive martial skill, directing the strand of strange force, teleporting the force around, and causing it to shoot out in reverse.
Do unto another what they do unto you!
Bang!
Duan Ling Tian stayed rooted as if he was a mountain, but Li Yuan, on the other hand, retreated two steps, and his expression was filled with disbelief.
“How could this be possible!?”
Li Yuan was absolutely sure that his strength earlier was stronger than Duan Ling Tian’s, and his heart destruction force was just about to flow into Duan Ling Tian’s body…
But just at this moment, Duan Ling Tian’s body emitted a defensive qi barrier that was actually capable of reflecting his heart destruction force back!
It was like a mirror.
“What defensive martial skill is that?”
Li Yuan was shocked in his heart. This was the first time he had heard of such a bizarre defensive martial skill.
“Looks like your Golden Bell Cover has already stepped into the initial stage.” Duan Ling Tian’s eye narrowed slightly.
LI Yuan’s Heart Destruction Palm’s might was in no way inferior to his Collapsing fist; combined with Li Yuan’s cultivation being higher than his and possessing the strength of an ancient mammoth, in a head on battle, he was inferior to Li Yuan.
But with Greater Teleportation reversing Li Yuan’s heart destruction force, which suppressed him, he was still able to gain the upper hand in a head-on battle.
Of course, although reversing the heart destruction force did force Li Yuan back, Li Yuan was able to execute Golden Bell Cover in time to block it.
Based on the circumstances from before, it could be said that he and Li Yuan were equally matched.
But, he still had an even stronger trump card…
“Li Yuan’s defensive martial arts has also stepped into the initial stage? He really is a monster!”
The crowd sounded with exclamations.
“If Li Yuan is a monster, then what would Duan Ling Tian be? He’s got the upper hand.”
After this last voice spoke, the crowd became deathly silent.
It was true that Li Yuan took the initiative and attacked, and Duan Ling Tian passively took him head on, but he still had the upper hand.
As far as they were concerned, the superior and inferior side was instantly determined.
In terms of attack, Li Yuan was inferior to Duan Ling Tian.
“Brother Li Yuan, I’ll come help you!”
Li Xiao had the exact same thoughts as the others, so he wanted to join the battle.
“No need.”
Li Yuan took in a deep breath as he stopped Li Xiao.
Only he who had experienced it for himself knew the true reason why he was at a disadvantage. If he had circulated his defensive martial skill in time, he wouldn’t have been forced back by his own strength.
“I have to say, your defensive martial skill is really bizarre, but everything is over now…”
Li Yuan sneered.
Unfettered Steps!
His legs movement sped up and stepped in a peculiar manner, spinning around Duan Ling Tian’s body. He seemed like he was trying to distort Duan Ling Tian’s line of sight.
“Li Yuan’s Unfettered Steps is a middle grade Profound Rank martial skill. Although it’s only at the initial stage, it’s comparable to a low grade Profound Rank martial skill at the mastery stage… If Duan Ling Tian’s speed is inferior to his, then he will certainly lose!”
A voice abruptly sounded from within the crowd.
This voice received the acknowledgement of most of the people present.
Of the martial skills under the heavens, only speed was unbeatable!
Li Yuan being able to cultivate three types of martial skills to such high stages indeed placed him at the top of his peers, as there were hardly any peers of his capable of such a feat.
In the outer court, there were only two people who were comparable to Li Yuan.
Duan Ling Tian’s offensive martial skill was strong, and his defensive martial skill was not bad either…
It was this reason that in most of the people present’s view, Duan Ling Tian’s movement technique should be his weak point.
“Want to compare in speed with me?”
Duan Ling Tian laughed.
His pupils abruptly constricted and his legs shook.
Spirit Serpent Movement Technique!
This high grade Profound Rank martial skill at the initial stage, comparable to a middle grade Profound Rank martial skill at the mastery stage, exceeded Li Yuan’s movement technique by an entire stage.
Whoosh!
Duan Ling Tian’s figure moved like an agile spirit serpent, spinning around Li Yuan in reverse.
No matter how Li Yuan’s palm strikes whistled through the wind, they were unable to touch him in the slightest!
The surrounding crowd was struck dumb.
This Duan Ling Tian…
This speed…
Was simply monstrous.
“Li Xiao!”
LI Yuan’s expression was extremely ugly. Although unwilling, he still chose to request help from Li Xiao.