“I’ve heard of her,” Duan Ling Tian said, “She’s the third miss of the Zhou Clan, Zhou Shu Dong’s elder biological sister… However, I heard she left a few years ago to travel with her master, right?” A few days ago, Duan Ling Tian had heard about the Zhou Shu Qing, the third miss of the Zhou clan, while he was dining in one of the famous restaurants in the Soaring Dragon Celestial Kingdom. She was the most talented genius that the Soaring Dragon Celestial Kingdom had seen in 1,000 years and was accepted as a disciple of the former Sect Leader of the Thousand Spiders Celestial Sect. She had become a Great Overarching Golden Celestial when she was roughly around 100 years old. Currently, she was a powerful Overarching Heavenly Supreme Celestial. Her senior sister had taken over the position of the Sect Leader of the Thousand Spiders Sect after their master, the former sect leader, had retired. He had been concerned when he first learned about her existence, hence, he was relieved when he later found out that she had left to travel with her master a few years ago. He had thought he would have left the Soaring Dragon Celestial Kingdom or the Wasteland by the time she returned.

“Indeed, she was away previously. However, she returned a month ago… Based on what I know, she returned due to the Martial Competition of the Wasteland that will be held in a year. The Three Major Celestial Sects of the Wasteland must be keeping a secret regarding the martial competition. Although this is not the first time the Three Major Celestial Sects of the Wasteland have held a martial competition, previously, they’d never imposed an age restriction and specified that the participants have to be younger than 100 years old. I’ve always felt that there’s something fishy with this Martial Competition of the Wasteland,” Long Fei Yun said in one breath.

“There was no age restriction previously?” Duan Ling Tian cocked an eyebrow.

“Exactly.” Long Yun Fei shook his head. “Age didn’t matter previously as long as you’re talented and strong enough to participate in the martial competition. Most of the time, as long as you perform well in the competition, you’ll be able to join one of the three Celestial sects. It’s normal to see outer disciples of the Three Major Celestial Sects who are thousands or 10,000 years old. Naturally, these disciples would be expelled after the age of 10,000 if they aren’t able to pass the assessment to become formal disciples of the sects.”

Duan Ling Tian nodded before he returned to the topic at hand. “Since Zhou Shu Qiu has returned, my companion and I will follow you back to your residence, thirteenth prince. Sorry for the inconvenience.”

Zhou Shu Qiu, the last disciple of the former Sect Leader of the Thousand Spiders Celestial Sect and the junior sister of the current sect leader, had a higher position compared to the fourth prince, Long Xiang Yun. It would be easy for her to check Duan Ling Tian’s background with the Thousand Spiders Celestial Sect’s wide information network. At that time, he and Huan’er would be in danger. Although entering the Imperial palace to stay with Long Fei Yun had its risks as well, Duan Ling Tian knew he could count on Long Fei Yun to protect him. After all, he might have offended Zhou Shu Dong, the fourth miss of the Zhou clan, but no harm came to her. For this reason, Long Fei Yun would still be able to protect him. He told Long Fei Yun that Huan’er was just a friend. There was no need for him to pretend in front of Long Fei Yun and say she was his junior sister since Long Fei Yun already knew he was not from a powerful sect outside the Wasteland.

“No problem… Both of you are welcome to stay with me,” Long Fei Yun said, pleased, “Well, there’s no point wasting time here. Brother Duan, let’s go get your friend.” He rose to his feet after he finished speaking.

“Sure.” Duan Ling Tian nodded and stood up as well. Both men left the First Heaven Room in the Nian clan’s auction house with Qiu Ling, the middle-aged man, in tow.

As soon as they stepped out, a burst of hearty laughter rang in the air. “Thirteenth brother, the auction hasn’t ended, why are you leaving in such a hurry?”

An arrogant young man dressed in a green robe with gold trimmings appeared with the person in charge of the Nian clan’s auction house and an old man dressed in black robes. The young man wore a wide grin on his face as he greeted Long Fei Yun. Based on the way the green-clad young man had addressed Long Fei Yun, it was not difficult for Duan Ling Tian to guess that the young man was Long Qing Yun, the Seventh Prince of the Soaring Dragon Celestial Kingdom!

“Seventh brother.” Long Fei Yun greeted the green-clad young man in return. Then, he sent Duan Ling Tian a Voice Transmission. “Brother Duan, if I’m not mistaken, my seventh brother came because of me. To be more precise, he came because of Qiu Ling. The person in charge of the Nian clan’s auction house must have noticed that Qiu Ling is a heaven-rank Overarching Heavenly Supreme Celestial and informed my seventh brother about it. After all, it’s not in my seventh brother’s interest if there’s a heaven-rank Overarching Heavenly Supreme Celestial by my side.” A hint of ridicule could be heard in his voice.

At this moment, Long Qing Yun, the seventh prince, turned to look at Duan Ling Tian and greeted Duan Ling Tian enthusiastically. “Brother Duan, I heard about you from my fourth brother. I was going to visit you in the Fleeting Time Inn. I truly didn’t expect to run into you here…” Similar to Long Xiang Yun, the fourth prince, he was also under the impression that Duan Ling Tian was from a powerful sect outside the Wasteland. Such a person should not be provoked. Naturally, it was just casual talk about him wanting to visit Duan Ling Tian at the Fleeting Time Inn. If it were true, he would have long visited Duan Ling Tian. He did not want to be subjected to the cold treatment that his fourth brother had received from Duan Ling Tian.

“Seventh prince.” Duan Ling Tian greeted Long Qing Yun nonchalantly. His nonchalance made Long Qin Yun think that he was an arrogant disciple of a powerful sect outside the Wasteland.

Then, Long Qing Yun shifted his attention back to Long Fei Yun. He said with a nod, “Thirteenth brother, that person behind you… It’s my first time seeing him.” Then, he turned to look at Qiu Ling before he said meaningfully in a tone laced with ridicule, “I don’t think father bestowed you heaven-rank Overarching Heaven Supreme Celestial, right?”

The fourth and seventh prince were each given a heaven-rank Overarching Heavenly Supreme Celestial to guard them. Although the thirteenth prince was not inferior to them, in fact, he might have surpassed them, his treatment was clearly inferior. Like the rest of the unfavored princes, he was only given an earth-rank Overarching Heavenly Supreme Celestial as his guard.

Long Fei Yun replied, “His name is Qiu Ling. He’s a powerhouse I met outside.”

As soon as Long Fei Yun finished speaking, Long Qing Yun’s gaze turned cold as he said in a tone brimming with hostility, “You’re an outsider with unknown origins. What’s your motive of lingering by my thirteenth brother’s side?!”

At this moment, the black-clad old man standing behind Long Qing Yun with his eyes closed suddenly opened his eyes. “Thirteenth prince, this person with an unknown origin might pose a threat to you. You can’t let him stay by your side. Let me ease your worry by killing him!” As soon as he finished speaking, he moved at the speed of lightning toward Qiu Ling.

Before Duan Ling Tian could regain his senses, the old man was already exchanging blows with Qiu Ling.

Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

A series of thunderous explosions rang in the air. However, it seemed like both men were considerate enough to erect a light shield that cut them off from their surroundings.

The battle was already in full swing when Duan Ling Tian and the others regained their senses. Their movements were too fast to be seen with the naked eyes. All they could see was two forces raging inside the light shield.

Crack!

After fifteen minutes, a dull but loud noise rang in the air.

Fine lines began to show on the light shield. They grew and covered the shield like a spiderweb. Eventually, the light shield shattered.

Whoosh!

A gust of strong wind blew in the air as Qiu Ling returned to Long Fei Yun’s side. Apart from his tattered robes, he seemed unharmed.

Swoosh!

At the same time, a black figure could be seen flying backward before it landed heavily on the ground with a loud thud. After he rose to his feet, it could be seen that he was in a bad condition. He was clearly embarrassed by his loss as well when he returned to Long Qing Yun’s side.

Long Qing Yun’s expression was unsightly. He did not expect the heaven-rank Overarching Heavenly Supreme Celestial by Long Fei Yun’s side was stronger than the one his father had assigned to him!

Long Fei Yun said with a grin to the black-clad old man, “Wu Lao, Qiu Ling has been with me for a year. With his strength, if he intended to kill me, he would’ve already made a move… There’s no need for you to worry about my safety.”

The black-clad old man only scoffed in return. There was nothing he could do since he was defeated. Although the thirteenth prince was not favored by the emperor, it did not mean he could challenge his authority. Moreover, the thirteenth prince now had a heaven-rank Overarching Heavenly Supreme Celestial by his side who was even stronger than him!