A gigantic human silhouette that stood right there like a small hill appeared in front of Duan Ling Tian.
The human silhouette was an old man dressed in a golden robe. He had a golden mole between his eyebrows that looked like a tiny sun radiating brilliantly.
“They can’t block you, but how about me?” As a glimpse flashed across the phantom eyes of the silhouette of the golden-robed old man, his sharp gaze that seemed to pierce through the air landed on Chen Bei at once.
The moment his gaze landed on him, it was like a massive stone that crushed down onto Chen Bei till he turned pale right away.
“Great Island Master.” Taking a deep breath, Chen Bei took a deep bow towards the silhouette in the sky. A sense of dread appeared in his eyes as he replied anxiously, “I-I don’t dare to.”
At the same time, Fang Wen, the Third Island Master of the Hidden Fog Island, and the group of Hidden Fog Island elders and disciples each bowed towards the silhouette in the sky one by one. “Great Island Master!”
Hovering in the sky, he appeared extremely majestic.
“He’s the Great Island Master of the Hidden Fog Island? H-he doesn’t seem to be a real person… I wonder what technique he’s using.”
“I’ve long heard that the Great Island Master of the Hidden Fog Island’s strength is extremely deep and profound to the point that it isn’t something that can be easily comprehended by an ordinary person. After witnessing it for myself today, he really does live up to his name.”
“How terrifying! The real person isn’t even here and just a silhouette is already enough to pressure the others so forcefully!”
…
Everyone, including the Martial Emperors and Demon Emperors of the Cloud Continent, could now deeply sense the jaw-dropping power of the Great Island Master of the Hidden Fog Island.
Looking at the human silhouette on the sky, Duan Ling Tian could not help but mutter to himself, “He’s the Great Island Master of the Hidden Fog Island? What kind of technique is this?” Other than shock, he felt nothing.
“This old man is a powerhouse at the peak of the Innate Stage! Just another step further and he’ll be able to enter the Mortal Shedding Stage!” Right at that moment, a voice resonated inside Duan Ling Tian’s body. It was Wang Ba speaking.
“The peak of the Innate Stage?” Duan Ling Tian’s eyes narrowed at once.
“That’s right! In the words of your Mortal Continent, it’s the peak of the Martial Emperor Stage. In the Dao Martial Saint Land, he’s already considered to be at the peak of the Innate Stage. Just one more step and he’ll go to the Mortal Shedding Stage,” Wang Ba continued, “The technique he’s using now is the Innate Illusory. All Martial Cultivators who have attained the peak of the Innate Stage can master it.”
Innate Illusory!
Duan Ling Tian nodded excitedly. “What function does this Innate Illusory have?”
“In the Dao Martial Saint Land, other than using it to confuse others, there’s nothing much the Innate Illusory can actually do. However, in a place that’s controlled by the mortals, it could be used to bluff people, just like now,” Wang Ba added.
“Ah, so that’s how it works!” Duan Ling Tian finally understood what Wang Ba was telling him.
The Innate Illusory was very common in the Dao Martial Saint Land, but it was extremely rare in a place that was ruled by mortals such as the Cloud Continent and the Overseas Saint Islands.
However, when Duan Ling Tian looked at the golden-robed old man’s silhouette in the sky once again, his heart still surged with amazement.
The peak of the Martial Emperor Stage!
This old man in golden robes, the Great Island Master of the Hidden Fog Island, was actually at the peak of the Martial Emperor Stage.
“He’s most likely the one controlling the Hidden Fog Martial Competition… He’s already at the peak of the Martial Emperor Stage, so what does he actually want us to do for him?” Duan Ling Tian was perplexed about his true intention.
Just like that time when the Martial Emperor’s secret treasure was uncovered in the northern desert, forces such as the Skywolf Fort, the Blade Sect and the Five Elemental Sect had also mass recruited young powerhouses just for the sake of the Profundity Fragments in the secret treasure.
All of this was because all of the sect’s own powerhouses were not able to access the Martial Emperor’s secret treasure.
The Martial Emperor’s secret treasure only allowed those below forty years old to access it.
“This time, the Hidden Fog Martial Competition also has the same age requirement for participants to be below seventy years old. Don’t tell me that there’s a trove like the Martial Emperor’s secret treasure that’s about to be opened too?” The moment Duan Ling Tian thought of this, he shook his head again. “By right, there shouldn’t be such a coincidence. Then, what exactly does a person as powerful as the Great Island Master of the Hidden Fog Island want us to do?”
Duan Ling Tian could not think of an answer at all.
“Daren’t you? Is there anything you don’t dare to do, Chen Bei?” Right at this moment, the silhouette of the golden-robed man in the sky opened his mouth once again as he mocked Chen Bei, the Second Island Master of the Hidden Fog Island.
Taking a deep breath, Chen Bei replied, “Great Island Master, I just want to kill the enemy who murdered my son personally.”
“Chen Bei, although you aren’t the one in charge of the Hidden Fog Martial Competition, I believe that you were present when I made the rules of the competition. Do you need me to repeat them for you again?” The old man asked and his tone was cold as ice especially with the last sentence.
“Great Island Master, I’m sorry.” Chen Bei was seized with panic. At the same time, he lowered his head quietly like a kid guiltily admitting his fault in front of an adult.
“You should know your priorities! Remember! Other than being Chen Zhi’s father, you’re also the Second Island Master of the Hidden Fog Island!” With that, he disappeared right away.
The human silhouette on top of the sky had vanished without a trace.
Then, most of the people finally heaved a sigh of relief. Although the appearance of the old man in the golden robes was merely a silhouette, his aura still crushed them until they barely could breathe.
“Second Island Master, do you still want to continue?” Looking at Chen Bei, Fang Wen asked nonchalantly.
“Hmph!” Chen Bei snorted before glaring at Duan Ling Tian for a moment. After that, he suddenly pivoted on his heel and disappeared before everyone’s eyes.
“It looks like Chen Bei hasn’t given up on his plans yet. I really can’t stay on the Hidden Fog Island anymore. Now that the Great Island Master of the Hidden Fog Island has appeared himself, I don’t think he’ll dare to kill me for the time being. However, once I’m no longer worthy of being used, even the Third Island Master and the Great Island Master of the Hidden Fog Island won’t be able to protect me anymore. By that time, Chen Bei will definitely make his move and kill me directly.” Duan Ling Tian’s heart sank. He decided to find an opportunity to leave within these few days.
“The Great Island Master of the Hidden Fog Island is actually this horrifying! Now that Duan Ling Tian has obtained the first place in the Hidden Fog Martial Competition, he’s actually under his protection now. It looks like I can only wait for a better opportunity to arise to make my move on him.” Martial Emperor You Han’s face darkened a little as dread could be seen in her eyes. She feared the Great Island Master of the Hidden Fog Island.
At first, she thought that by killing Chen Zhi, Duan Ling Tian would start on the wrong foot with the Hidden Fog Island and would not fall under the Hidden Fog Island powerhouses’ protection.
It was only until just now that she realized how wrong she was.
“It seems like the intention that the Hidden Fog Island has to organize the Hidden Fog Martial Competition isn’t that simple after all…” Right at this time, Martial Emperor You Han also came to a conclusion.
No matter what, the Hidden Fog Martial Competition was officially over now, so everybody began to disperse.
Ten days later, they would release the rewards to the top thirty participants of the Hidden Fog Martial Competition. Other than Duan Ling Tian, the rest of the twenty-nine people were looking forward to it.
“Brother Yang, here are three pieces of Saint Stones for you.” On the way back, Duan Ling Tian handed Yang Hui a Spatial Ring that contained three pieces of Saint Stones with a lift of his hand.
Other than the ten Saint Stones that he had obtained from the rewards of the Hidden Fog Martial Competition, he had also obtained another two Saint Stones from Chen Zhi’s Spatial Ring, totaling up to a dozen pieces. Therefore, he decided to give three pieces to Yang Hui.
No matter what, it was all thanks to Yang Hui that he could journey to the Hidden Fog Island and join the Hidden Fog Martial Competition.
Yang Hui naturally wanted the three pieces of Saint Stones, but he still refused out of good manners.
However, after Duan Ling Tian constantly insisted on it, he finally accepted them and thanked Duan Ling Tian sincerely, “Thank you, Brother Ling Tian.”
Imperceptibly, Yang Hui had turned much humbler in front of Duan Ling Tian all because of the strength that he had demonstrated earlier on.
If he had only been speculating by himself at first, right then, Yang Hui was certain that Duan Ling Tian’s strength was definitely in no way inferior to his.
If they battled it out to the death together, he might not even be his match.
After going back to the southern island of the Hidden Fog Island, Duan Ling Tian did not instantly bring Ke’er and Li Fei away with him. Now that the Hidden Fog Martial Competition had just ended, leaving immediately would no doubt be an unwise choice.
“Ke’er, Little Fei’er… I’ll bring you two away from the Hidden Fog Island in five days and return to the Cloud Continent.” After informing the two girls, he entered the room and continued to cultivate.
Nine Dragons War Sovereign Technique — The Divine Dragon Form!
The Divine Dragon Form was the ninth form of the Nine Dragons War Sovereign Technique. It was also the last form of the technique.
According to the Rebirth Martial Emperor’s memory, the Divine Dragon Form could be cultivated until the peak of the Martial Emperor Stage.
“The Divine Dragon Form is a mental cultivation technique that I’ve been cultivating since the Martial Monarch Stage. Even if I could cultivate it all the way to the peak of the Martial Emperor Stage, what happens after the summit of the Martial Emperor Stage then? The peak of the Martial Emperor Stage is only the peak of the Innate Stage in Dao Martial Saint Land… There are still the Mortal Shedding Stage and the Saint Rudiment Stage after the Innate Stage! Not only that, but there’s also the Saint Stage following the Saint Rudiment Stage!” Previously, Duan Ling Tian still thought that the Martial Emperor Stage was the highest peak attainable. However, his eyes were now opened to the facts.
His field of vision was much broader than before now.
“This Saint Stone…” Raising his hand, Duan Ling Tian took a piece of Saint Stone out.
He had long learned about the function of the Saint Stone from Yang Hui. It could rapidly raise one’s cultivation base.
With his hand holding onto the Saint Stone for cultivation, he activated the mental cultivation technique — the Divine Dragon Form of the Nine Dragons War Sovereign Technique. He could clearly sense a gust of powerful energy surging out of the Saint Stone into his body.
After what felt like a while, the single step away from the bottleneck of breaking through the Second Level Martial Emperor Stage was obliterated with a crash.
In just the blink of an eye, the Origin Energy in his body had undergone a transformation.
His cultivation base had successfully climbed up to the Second Level Martial Emperor Stage.
“Did I just make a breakthrough?” Opening his eyes, Duan Ling Tian’s expression was a little dazed. The breakthrough this time gave him a sense of surrealism.
“I feel like the progress that my cultivation base has made with the help of this Saint Stone is even more exaggerated than the Rebirth Pill… However, it depletes very fast as well. Only a short time has passed, yet half of it has already been used up.” Duan Ling Tian could clearly see that when his cultivation base made a breakthrough to the Second Level Martial Emperor Stage, the Saint Stone in his hand had also dimmed. In fact, its energy levels had depleted substantially.
“I wonder how long did I spend cultivating? It kinda feels like it’s been a day or two.” After he left the house, he finally learned from the two girls that he had been cultivating for three days.
“It’s no wonder cultivating is said to be timeless… So, it’s true indeed,” Duan Ling Tian mused.
After bidding his goodbye to the two girls, Duan Ling Tian left.
“Zhou Yi…”