"Huh?" Yuan Kuang's action naturally caught Duan Ling Tian's attention and made him come to a sudden halt.
At this moment, he figured out what was going on when Yuan Hong sneaked an attack and slapped him.
Bang!
At the moment when Duan Ling Tian noticed Yuan Hong's sneak attack, it was already too late for him to evade the attack. All he could do was mobilize the Sun Saint Energy through his 99 Saint Veins to protect his body and to prevent himself from being sent flying from Yuan Hong's slap.
Since Yuan Hong did not use his full force, coupled with the fact that Duan Ling Tian's Sun Saint Energy had formed a protective layer around his body, he only suffered minor injuries.
Although Duan Ling Tian's injuries were minor, it upset his internal organs causing him to throw up a mouthful of blood.
"Who are you? Why did you sneak an attack from me?" Duan Ling Tian took a deep breath and wiped the blood off the corner of his mouth as he stared coldly at the Vermilion Bird Sanctum's disciple standing nearby.
Duan Ling Tian was certain he had not met this person before, therefore, he was certain he had not offended this person as well. Why would this person attack him for no reason?
Duan Ling Tian could not figure it out at all.
"It's Senior Brother Yuan Hong!"
"Why would Senior Brother Yuan Hong attack a Black Turtle Sanctum's disciple? Don't tell me this Black Turtle Sanctum's disciple has offended Senior Brother Yuan Hong?"
…
When Yuan Hong attacked Duan Ling Tian, it had attracted the attention of many Vermilion Bird Sanctum's disciples.
Soon after, more and more Vermilion Bird Sanctum's disciples walked out of their residences to watch the show.
"Yuan Hong?" Duan Ling Tian's frown deepened when he heard the Vermilion Bird Sanctum's disciples' words.
Not only had he not seen the other person prior to this, but he had not even heard of his name before.
"Junior Brother Ling Tian!" A familiar voice suddenly rang in Duan Ling Tian's voice, causing him to be pleasantly surprised.
"Senior Brother Gu Li?"
However, when he turned to look at the source of the voice, his expression turned grave immediately.
In the near distance, he saw the Vermilion Bird Sanctum's disciple who was heading to Gu Li's Quartus house earlier carrying Gu Li in the air as though he was carrying a potato sack as he made his way over.
Both of Gu Li's cheeks were swollen as fresh blood covered his face. With just a glance, one could tell he was just recently given a beating.
"Leave now! Yuan Hong's planning to beat you up! He's Li An's grand disciple! He's a Martial Cultivator at the Early Quintessential Saint Stage!" Gu Li roared out loud with his red and swollen face.
If he did not hear Duan Ling Tian's voice and worried about Duan Ling Tian being put in a disadvantageous position, he would not be lured out by Yuan Kuang.
The numerous beatings he had endured had taught him to protect himself better now.
Li An's grand disciple?
At this moment, the questions in Duan Ling Tian's head vanished immediately. Since the other party was Li An's grand disciple, everything made sense now.
Slap!
At this moment, the crisp sound of a slap rang in the air. Yuan Kuang who was carrying Gu Li slapped him before he scolded him loudly, "Tras.h.!.+ Did I give you permission to speak?"
"You're seeking death!" When Duan Ling Tian saw this, his expression turned grim immediately. He quickly mobilized his Sun Saint Energy and cast his Golden Crow's Wings. With just a flash, he charged toward Gu Li and Yuan Kuang. His speed was so fast it was like a bolt of lightning.
"You're the one that's seeking death!" Yuan Hong made his move at the same time. He charged toward Duan Ling Tian immediately.
Yuan Hong fully unleashed his speed at the Early Quintessential Saint Stage. Moreover, he even managed to stop Duan Ling Tian.
At this moment, Duan Ling Tian did not cast the Divine Ability, the Elementary Devouring Tactic, yet. Naturally, his speed was not comparable to an Early Quintessential Saint Stage Martial Cultivator like Yuan Hong.
"Duan Ling Tian, you'll have to go through my big brother first if you want to rescue Gu Li!" Yuan Kuang laughed unreservedly when he saw this.
Slap! Slap! Slap!
After that, Yuan Kuan proceeded to slap Gu Li a few more times in front of Duan Ling Tian, causing Gu Li's face to swell up even more.
Gu Li's eyes were as wide as saucers when he glared at Yuan Kuang as he tried his best to endure this.
However, he was merely a Divine Saint Stage Martial Cultivator. The moment his Saint Energy began to form in his body, it had already been nullified by Yuan Kuang's Saint Energy.
Yuan Kuang was an Exemplary Saint Stage Martial Cultivator, it was only natural that he was stronger than Gu Li. Gu Li clenched his teeth so hard they almost broke. At this moment, he only hated himself for being weak. Not only was he no help to Junior Brother Ling Tian, but he even became a burden to him.
This time, Duan Ling Tian no longer said anything. However, he looked at Yuan Kuang as though he was looking at a dead man.
"Remember that both of you forced me into a corner…" Duan Ling Tian said in a hoa.r.s.e voice after a while. A terrifying tone could be heard in his voice, sending s.h.i.+vers up the spines of the Vermilion Bird Sanctum's disciples present on the scene!
At the same time, killing intent surged out continuously from Duan Ling Tian's body.
"Duan Ling Tian?"
"He's Duan Ling Tian? Duan Ling Tian from the Black Turtle Sanctum?"
"He's wearing the exclusive uniform of a Black Turtle Sanctum's disciple so you must be right!"
"I heard Duan Ling Tian has even killed a martial genius at the peak of the Exemplary Saint Stage in the Black Turtle Sanctum ten days ago. Due to the reason that the other party was the one who initiated the attack, he was found not guilty!"
"Rumor has it that even though his cultivation base is not at the Quintessential Saint Stage yet, he can be considered as an elite powerhouse among the powerhouses at the peak of the Exemplary Saint Stage."
A commotion broke out immediately when people ascertained the person in front of them was the Black Turtle Sanctum's disciple, Duan Ling Tian.
All the Vermilion Bird Sanctum's disciples stared at Duan Ling Tian with a burning gaze as though they were a group of hunters who had just seen their prey.
Currently, Duan Ling Tian was not only famous in the Black Turtle Sanctum, but he was also famous in the Four Symbols Sanctums.
For this reason, after learning the Black Turtle Sanctum's disciple was Duan Ling Tian, other than the group of Vermilion Bird Sanctum's disciples who were already present on the scene looking at him curiously, more disciples began to walk out of their residences to look at Duan Ling Tian.
"I've long heard that Elder Li An is actually Senior Brother Yuan Hong's Grand Master. Judging from Senior Brother Yuan Hong's actions, it seems like he plans to teach Duan Ling Tian a lesson on behalf of his Grand Master."
"Senior Brother Yuan Hong is an Early Quintessential Saint Stage powerhouse. Although Duan Ling Tian is strong, he's only considered as an elite powerhouse among Martial Cultivators at the peak of the Exemplary Saint Stage. I'm afraid he's doomed!"
They would not have thought this way if news of Duan Ling Tian defeating Zhang Ji, an Early Quintessential Saint Stage disciple in the Black Turtle Sanctum, today had spread here.
In terms of strength, Zhang Ji was very close to breaking through to the Intermediate Quintessential Saint Stage and had even mastered a high-grade offensive Divine Ability. He was not someone Yuan Hong, this trash who had only broken through to the Early Quintessential Saint Stage, could compare to!
It was not just the group of onlooking Vermilion Bird Sanctum's disciples who was not informed about the incident of Duan Ling Tian defeated Zhang Ji, even Yuan Hong was unaware of it. Otherwise, he would not have dared to offend Duan Ling Tian even if he was given more courage.
"We forced you into a corner?" Due to his ignorance, Yuan Hong flashed a disdainful look and smiled mockingly when he heard Duan Ling Tian's words. "So what if we want to force you into a corner? Don't tell me you think you're a match for us? Today, in addition to beating Gu Li, we're going to teach you a lesson as well. If you want to blame someone, blame yourself for your terrible judgment and offending my Grand Master!"
As soon as he finished speaking, he charged out at Duan Ling Tian.
"The two of you deserve to die!" A hoa.r.s.e voice reverberated in the air again.
At this moment, a terrifying whirlpool appeared around Duan Ling Tian and began to completely devour the surrounding Heaven and Earth Spirit Energy.