War Sovereign Soaring The Heavens

Bai Ping and Situ Ming, the Sect Leader and the Supreme Elder of the Tai Yi Celestial respectively, had come to receive the party from the sect that had gone to participate in the Alchemy Conference because Situ Ming, the prominent Celestial Alchemist of the Tai Yi Celestial Sect, had sent them a Communication Celestial Talisman. Through the talisman, Situ Ming had told them about the death of He Shan, the Old Ancestor of the Tai Yi Celestial Sect, during the Alchemy Conference and that they would be returning with the party from the Thousand Spiders Celestial Sect.

Upon receiving the Communication Celestial Talisman, Bai Ping brought Tie Tai He to the border to wait for Duan Ling Tian and the others’ return. They waited at the border of the Wasteland and the Barren Land for three days before Duan Ling Tian and the others arrived.

Tie Tai He said, “This is only to be expected. After all, with the death of the Old Ancestor, our Tai Yi Celestial Sect no longer has an Eight Trigrams Celestial Duke. This makes our sect weaker than the Thousand Spiders Celestial Sect. Therefore, the attitude of Sect Leader Jian is rather normal.”

“Yes.” Bai Ping nodded faintly. He, naturally, understood this. He had only said such words to relieve himself of the adverse feelings swirling in him. Then, he looked at Situ Ming and grimly asked, “Master Situ, in the talisman, you said that the Old Ancestor killed the Young Master of the Profound Heaven Celestial Sect, and thus, was killed by Bai Wu Ji, the Sect Leader of the Profound Heaven Celestial Sect. However, you didn’t go into details. Why would the Old Ancestor kill the Young Master of the Profound Heaven Celestial Sect? Moreover, why would he leave behind such a huge loose end if he really killed the Young Master of the Profound Heaven Celestial Sect?!”

He Shan, the Old Ancestor of the Tai Yi Celestial Sect, had lived for a long time and had many experiences. If he were to kill someone, he definitely would not leave any clues behind that would point to him.

Situ Ming said, “According to the young man who accused the Old Ancestor, the Old Ancestor had thought he had successfully killed him. However, the young man’s heart was located slightly to the side so the Old Ancestor’s attack missed, and he survived.”

“His heart is positioned slightly to the side?” Upon hearing Situ Ming’s words, Bai Ping’s expression turned blank for a moment before he sneered. “Master Situ, do you think the Old Ancestor would make such a rudimentary mistake? If he truly did kill the Young Master of the Profound Heaven Celestial Sect and his companion, do you think he wouldn’t have confirmed if they were truly dead or alive with his Divine Consciousness?”

Situ Ming remained silent. In fact, he had also found the entire incident rather suspicious.

Bai Ping turned to look at Duan Ling Tian and asked, “Master Duan, do you think the Young Master of the Profound Heaven Celestial Sect was killed by the Old Ancestor?”

Duan Ling Tian had been standing at the side, listening to Bai Ping and Situ Ming’s conversation. Upon hearing Bai Ping’s question, he shook his head and said, “Sect leader, in my opinion, it’s unlikely that the Old Ancestor killed the Young Master of the Profound Heaven Celestial Sect. When the young man first arrived in the Alchemy Square and before he made his accusations, the Old Ancestor’s expression showed that he didn’t recognize the young man at all. The Old Ancestor likely had no knowledge about the death of the Young Master of the Profound Heaven Sect. There’s a possibility that the death of the Young Master of the Profound Heaven Celestial Sect was only a means to kill the Old Ancestor.” Then, he paused for a moment before he continued saying with a sigh, “Regardless of my suspicion, in the absence of evidence, there was nothing I could do. Moreover, Bai Wu Ji, the Sect Leader of the Profound Heaven Celestial Sect, is a Nine Palaces Celestial Duke. When he attacked the Old Ancestor, I couldn’t stop him.”

Bai Ping’s eyes flashed murderously as he said in a cold voice that made one feel as though winter had arrived, “Master Duan, if you think the Old Ancestor didn’t kill the Young Master of the Profound Heaven Celestial Sect, then, it must the case. The Tai Yi Celestial Sect will not take this lying down. We’ll investigate the matter and seek justice for the Old Ancestor!”

The atmosphere turned somber and only dissipated until Bai Ping spoke again. He inhaled deeply, trying to suppress his anger. His furious expression was replaced with a faint smile as he looked at Duan Ling Tian and said, “Master Duan, I heard Master Situ said you gained a lot during the Alchemy Conference. However, he didn’t say exactly what you gained.”

“Yes, the gains are pretty good.” Duan Ling Tian nodded slightly before he told Bai Ping about the double-trait Duke Grade Celestial Method and Divine Ability he won from the Supporting Sun Celestial Sect and the Thousand Leaves Celestial Sect respectively. Then, he also told Bai Ping about the triple-trait Duke Grade Celestial Method and Divine Ability he won from the Blissful Sect and the Profound Heaven Celestial Sect.

It was still within Bai Ping’s expectation for Duan Ling Tian to best the Supporting Sun Celestial Sect and the Thousand Leaves Celestial Sect. After all, even before He Shan and Duan Ling Tian left for Alchemy City, they were all certain Duan Ling Tian would be able to win some high-grade Celestial Methods and Divine Abilities. However, he did not expect Duan Ling Tian to win an offensive-defensive-movement Duke Grade Celestial Method and Divine Ability as well. This triple-trait Duke Grade Celestial Method and Divine Ability were rare among Duke Grade Celestial Methods and Divine Abilities, after all.

An expression of awe could be seen on Tie Tai He’s face as he said, “The Blissful Sect’s Immobilization King Method and the Profound Heaven Celestial Sect’s Eastern Purple Qi… This Celestial Method and Divine Ability are highly coveted in the Six Southeastern Regions and the borderlands! I didn’t expect Master Duan to win both of them!” Then, he added with a sigh, “With this, to a certain extent, at least the Old Ancestor did not die in vain.”

Bai Ping seemed to be stunned speechless by Duan Ling Tian’s gains as well. The fury in his heart due to He Shan’s death seemed to have been temporarily flung to the back of his mind at this moment.

Duan Ling Tian looked at Bai Ping and said, “Sect Leader, according to our prior agreement, I’ll share the Celestial Method and Divine Abilities I won during the conference with the Tai Yi Celestial Sect. After I’ve mastered them, I’ll leave them for the sect before I leave.”

“Master Duan, you……are going to leave?” Bai Ping’s expression changed drastically. Duan Ling Tian was going to leave? If Duan Ling Tian left, the sect would be receiving another blow.

“Yes.” Duan Ling Tian nodded slightly.

At this moment, Situ Ming who was standing at the side told Bai Ping about Duan Ling Tian’s identity.

“The Crimson Sky’s Duan Clan in the central area?” Bai Ping jolted when he found out Duan Ling Tian was from a powerful clan in the central area. With this, he seemed to accept Duan Ling Tian’s impending departure. Since Duan Ling Tian was from the central area, it was inevitable that Duan Ling Tian would leave at some point. Moreover, he was also keenly aware that with Duan Ling Tian’s alchemy skills and talent, even if Duan Ling Tian were not from the central area, Duan Ling Tian still would not stay with the Tai Yi Celestial Sect.

Soon after, under Bai Ping’s lead, all of them returned to the Tai Yi Celestial Sect’s estate.

Alchemy City, the Barren Land.

After the top sects of the Six Southeastern Regions finally left Alchemy City, Bai Yu Xuan, the Young Master of the Profound Heaven Celestial Sect, returned to his father, Bai Wu Ji.

“Father.” Bai Yu Xuan kowtowed as soon as he appeared in front of Bai Wu Ji. He kept his forehead to the ground, too afraid of lifting his head.

“This… What’s going on?” Bai Wu Ji’s dull gaze turned into one of confusion. Over the past days, he had already come to terms with the fact that his son had been killed by He Shan. He was even thinking of having another son after returning to the Profound Heaven Celestial Sect to ensure the continuity of his bloodline. How could he not be dumbfounded when he saw his son alive and well?

“Master He…” Bai Wu Ji looked at He Pei Yuan, the supreme Duke Grade Celestial Alchemist of the Profound Heaven Celestial Sect, with a bewildered expression on his face.

“Sect leader, I only recently found out the young master is alive.” He Pei Yuan sighed as he looked at Bai Yu Xuan who was still kowtowing. “Young master, the sect leader is your father, after all. As the saying goes, ‘Even a tiger wouldn’t eat its cubs’. Why don’t you tell your father everything?”

“Yes, Master He.” Bai Yu Xuan trembled slightly before he disclosed how he and Xiao Liu had plotted against He Shan. Then, he concluded the story by saying, “Father, I’ve lived for so long but I’ve never felt so angry before. I… I really hated He Shan! When I recalled my Soul Pearl would be running out of energy at that time, I came up with the plan.” He did not dare to lift his head and meet his father’s gaze at all when he spoke.

“You faked your death and put the blame on He Shan so you could borrow my hands to kill him?” Upon hearing Bai Yu Xuan’s explanation, Bai Wu Ji’s body trembled from anger. He pointed at Bai Yu Xuan and angrily roared, “You should know once news of you being alive spreads out, the Tai Yi Celestial Sect will surely make you pay for it with your life!”

Bai Yu Xuan replied, “F-father, I’ve already thought about this. We can just say that He Shan failed to kill me, similar to how he failed to kill Xiao Liu. We can just say I was grievously injured but survived due to luck.”

Bai Wu Ji sneered. “You think the Tai Yi Celestial Sect will believe such nonsense? He Shan was an Eight Trigrams Celestial Duke! You’re saying he failed to kill two people? It’s still somewhat believable if one survived, but you want me to tell the world that both are alive and kicking?”