Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Zhao Deng continued to search for a few days, but he could not find any traces of Ling Tian at all.
In the end, he could only return in despair.
‘I hope father doesn't return so soon. Otherwise, I really don't know how to inform him of this matter! His love for Ji'er has reached a state where he just spoils him all the time. If he learns of Ji'er's death, he won't be able to accept it all!' Zhao Ji thought to himself on his journey back.
However, he was destined to be disappointed. The moment he returned, he discovered his father had also returned.
“I heard Ji'er has finally come back? Where's he now?” These were the first words Zhao Jin said as soon as he saw Zhao Deng.
Thud!
The moment Zhao Deng heard his words, he immediately kneeled in front of Zhao Jin with an anguished expression before he lowered his head. “F-Father, Ji'er… Ji'er i-is dead!”
Boom!
Zhao Deng's words sounded as loud as a clap of thunder when it entered Zhao Jin's ears. Horror dawned on his face as his eyes widened.
Subsequently, he looked at Zhao Deng and asked loudly, “What happened? I've only left a while ago. How could this happen?”
“Father, it's like this…” Zhao Deng continued to recount what had happened to Zhao Jin. This included how Zhao Ji had obtained the Inheritance from a Prehistoric Devil Beast and how his cultivation base had entered the Early Divine Saint Stage.
Zhao Jin was supposed to feel overjoyed when he learned that his grandson who had yet to turn forty years old had already entered the Early Divine Saint Stage. However, he did not even have the chance to feel happy when he was told his grandson who had a fortuitous encounter had died. He was killed by having his soul destroyed by a Divine Consciousness attack.
Finally, Zhao Deng took Zhao Ji's body out from his Spatial Ring.
“Ji'er…” Upon seeing Zhao Ji's body, Zhao Jin's tears streamed down his face. He gently reached out to caress Zhao Ji's face before his gaze suddenly turned cold and piercing. “Does this mean Ling Tian is the indirect cause of Ji'er death?”
“Yes!” Zhao Deng nodded his head and said furiously, “If it wasn't for Ling Tian leaving the Mystical Sky Mansion, Ji'er wouldn't have left to chase after him. If Ji'er didn't leave to chase after him, he wouldn't have died! This is why Ling Tian is the indirect cause of Ji'er's death!”
“Is it possible that it's Little Gu who has found a powerhouse who specializes in Divine Consciousness attack to protect Ling Tian when he left and that person killed Ji'er using the Divine Consciousness attack?” Zhao Jin speculated with a grave expression on his face.
“That's possible!” If it was not Zhao Jin words, Zhao Deng would not have thought about this possibility.
“Let's go! Follow me to look for Gu Li!” The moment Zhao Jin's words left his mouth, he proceeded to bring Zhao Deng along to look for Gu Li.
Gu Li had gathered a group of powerhouses using Gu Ci Yun's connection to restrict the Zhao Clan's members who were at the Divine Saint Stage and above from leaving the estate!
Zhao Jin could not do anything to him since he was only protecting his friend. In regards to this, their Zhao Clan was in the wrong. However, if Gu Li had really asked someone to protect Duan Ling Tian during his journey and had killed his grandson, it was a completely different matter.
When they found Gu Li, he denied this. “I merely looked for people to monitor the Zhao Clan's members at the Divine Saint Stage and above, and I didn't ask for any powerhouse who specializes in the Divine Consciousness attack to protect Junior Brother Ling Tian… Junior Brother Ling Tian was alone when he left! I can swear on the lightning penalty oath if both of you don't believe me!”
After Gu Li swore on the lightning penalty oath and nothing happened, Zhao Jin and his son, Zhao Deng, realized they had guessed wrongly. Gu Li did not look for anyone to protect Ling Tian at all.
Then, who was the person who killed their grandson — their son — then?
After Zhao Jin and Zhao Deng left, Gu Ci Yun could not help but sigh. “I can't believe Zhao Ji died outside. However, he's only a Refined Saint Stage Martial Cultivator, so why did he go out for? To kill Little Tian?”
“Hurmph! He's just seeking death by pursuing Junior Brother Ling Tian with his strength!” Gu Li snorted disdainfully. “In my opinion, Zhao Ji must have been killed by Junior Brother Ling Tian!”
“It can't be Little Tian's doing. Earlier, they said that Zhao Ji was killed by a powerhouse who specialized in Divine Consciousness attack. There's no injury on his body at all! As far as I know, Little Tian doesn't have the Divine Consciousness attack!” Gu Ci Yun said as he shook his head. He had a different opinion from his son.
“No matter what, Zhao Ji deserved to die! Now that he's dead, there's one less problem in the Mystical Sky Mansion,” Gu Li replied nonchalantly. Not only did he not feel sympathetic, but he was actually happy about Zhao Ji's death.
“Li'er, you can only say these words here. If your words spread out, I'm afraid Zhao Jin and Zhao Deng won't leave this matter alone! To them, Zhao Ji is their life. Even if Zhao Deng goes out to find a woman to bear him another son, it would take him several dozens of years to nurture that son to Zhao Ji's level!” Gu Ci Yun could understand Zhao Jin and Zhao Deng's feelings very well.
If Gu Li had died, he would react the same as Zhao Jin and Zhao Deng. Not only that, but he might be even worse than them. He might lose his sanity and go into a frenzy.
“Yes, father!” Gu Li knew Gu Ci Yun's words were said for his benefit so he easily agreed to it.
“Li'er, where did Little Tian go? I thought he said he'll go to the Upper Province of the Dao Martial Saint Land with you after you've broken through to the Divine Saint Stage? Don't tell me he has abandoned you and gone to the Upper Province on his own?” Gu Ci Yun asked curiously.
At this moment, Zhao Jin and Zhao Deng were not around so he could speak without holding back in front of his father. However, he did not intend to reveal Duan Ling Tian's ident.i.ty immediately. Instead, he decided to slowly ease his father into what he was about to tell him. “Father, Junior Brother Ling Tian's surname is not Ling!”
“Isn't he called Ling Tian? Why is his surname not Ling?” Gu Ci Yun was baffled.
“Ling Tian is his name. As for his surname… Father, can you guess what it is?” Gu Li said, and when he reached the end of his sentence, he dragged the words longer.
“The world's so huge, and there are so many surnames! How can I possibly guess his surname!” Gu Ci Yun said in frustration, “Enough, stop teasing me. Tell me, what's Ling Tian's surname?”
“He shares the same surname with the current Mansion Master of Azure Cloud Mansion.” Gu Li smiled.
“The current Mansion Master of the Azure Cloud Mansion? Duan Ru Feng? Little Tian's surname is Duan?” Gu Ci Yun was slightly stunned. “Then, this means his full name is not Ling Tian but Duan Ling Tian. Wait a minute! Duan Ling Tian… Duan Ling Tian… It seems like I've heard of this name somewhere. However, I can't recall where I've heard it!”
“The Devilseal Tablet!” Gu Li reminded him.
The Devilseal Tablet!
The moment Gu Ci Yun heard Gu Li's words, the fog in his mind cleared. “I remember now. He's the lucky boy who caused a commotion and obtained the Devilseal Tablet. I can't believe Little Tian shares the same name with that Duan Ling Tian! Duan Ling Tian… This name is not a common name after all.” Gu Ci Yun smiled.
The reason he did not think the Duan Ling Tian he knew was that Duan Ling Tian was because he was certain that Duan Ling Tian did not disguise his appearance. He had also seen the portrait of the other Duan Ling Tian before.
Although they were both handsome, they were completely different people.
Gu Li was momentarily speechless when he saw his father still could not piece the puzzle together after he had given him clues. He finally said, “Father, Junior Brother Ling Tian is that Duan Ling Tian who has obtained the Devilseal Tablet!”
“What?” Gu Ci Yun was, naturally, baffled. Soon after, he shook his head. “Impossible! I've personally seen the portrait of that Duan Ling Tian. He looks completely different from Little Tian! I'm also very certain Little Tian didn't disguise his appearance. It's impossible unless that portrait of Duan Ling Tian was drawn after Little Tian had changed his appearance!”
Gu Li sighed. He knew his father would not be able to connect the dots if he did not tell him about it in a direct manner.
He had already asked Duan Ling Tian's permission before he told Gu Ci Yun about this matter. Duan Ling Tian did not have any objection if he only told it to Gu Ci Yun.
Finally, Gu Li began to disclose what he found out from Duan Ling Tian. Gu Ci Yun was so shocked his mouth hung open for a very long time.
That monstrous genius Li Fei who had disappeared the moment he appeared in the Rising Sky Mansion's district previously was not Duan Ling Tian's senior brother but Duan Ling Tian himself who was in disguise. It was the same case with Ling Tian.
Duan Ling Tian's original appearance was identical to the portrait that was being spread around previously.
Not only did Gu Ci Yun see that portrait before, but he currently even had that portrait with him.
Rustle!
Gu Ci Yun mused emotionally as he opened the portrait and looked at the handsome young man on it. “So this is actually Little Tian's true appearance. He's indeed very lucky. To think he managed to obtain the Super Saint Weapon, the Devilseal Tablet, one of the Ten Great Saint Weapon Ranking… The Devilseal Tablet is a Super Saint Weapon that could kill Devil Cultivators!”
“Li'er!” Gu Ci Yun's expression suddenly turned solemn as he looked at Gu Li. “You must never reveal Little Tian's real ident.i.ty to anyone else. Once news of this spreads out, he'll become everyone's target! At that time, his enemies won't only be the people from Zhao Clan but the entire Lower Province of the Dao Martial Saint Land, possibly even in the entire Dao Martial Saint Land!”
Gu Ci Yun knew the temptation that the Devilseal Tablet possessed. If he did not treat Duan Ling Tian as his own, he would definitely think of killing him to obtain that treasure as well.
The temptation of the Devilseal Tablet was just too powerful!
“I know.” Gu Li nodded. “I've asked for Junior Brother Ling Tian's permission before I told you about this matter. As for the others, I won't tell them unless I have his permission!”
“Good.” Gu Ci Yun nodded his head in satisfaction before asking again, “You haven't told me yet… What was the reason Little Tian left in a haste without waiting for you? Has he gone to the Upper Province first?”
“No.” Gu Li shook his head. “He has gone to the Azure Cloud Mansion. As for me, I stayed behind so I can tell you that I'll also be going to the Azure Cloud Mansion to look for Junior Brother Ling Tian in a few days before we leave the Lower Province for the Upper Province!”
“Azure Cloud Mansion? What's he doing in the Azure Cloud Mansion?” Gu Ci Yun frowned, “Could it be that he has been persuaded by someone from the Azure Cloud Mansion and decided to switch side?”
