Chapter 1036: Who'll Be Killing Who?
Although he had long realized the sturdy old man standing before him was a Martial Monarch, Duan Ling Tian still could not help but be taken aback when that old man demonstrated his Martial Monarch Stage's Origin Energy.
"Duan Ling Tian, you're doomed from the moment you killed Lei Zhong! I'll send you to the other world, and you can be Lei Zhong's slave there!" Tong Shan's thunderous voice filled the entire palace of Crimson Sky Kingdom and took everyone by surprise.
"C-Commander Duan is back?" The people in the palace were shocked, and they could not help but break out in cold sweat since they felt anxious on Duan Ling Tian's behalf.
There were many among them who had never met Duan Ling Tian before. However, in these few years, Duan Ling Tian had risen as high as the sun and became the representative of the Crimson Sky Kingdom. As a result, he became the national idol in the Crimson Sky Kingdom.
The people from the Crimson Sky Kingdom only needed to say — "Duan Ling Tian is from our Crimson Sky Kingdom" — when they encountered people from the Azure Forest Imperial Kingdom or the Darkstone Empire to elicit envy and hatred.
They could not help but feel smug whenever that happened.
Duan Ling Tian had unwittingly become the spiritual pillar for most people in the Crimson Sky Kingdom. Due to this reason, many people were worried about him when they saw him faced with such a crisis.
"Huh?" Duan Ling Tian frowned. It was because he saw the milky-white flame on Tong Shan's body had changed into an overwhelming crimson flame the moment his words left his mouth.
A fierce and intense flame soared and skyrocketed. It was as though Tong Shan had transformed into a fiery gigantic beast.
The fiery crimson mane on the gigantic beast fluttered as it opened its bloody mouth. It looked as though it was poised to attack.
Whoosh!
The Heaven and Earth Energy swirled above Tong Shan's head. Another 2,000 silhouettes of ancient horned dragons appeared next to the 2,000 silhouettes of ancient horned dragons that were mobilized by the First Level Martial Monarch Stage's Origin Energy.
The First Level Emperor Stage Fire Profundity!
4,000 silhouettes of ancient horned dragons appeared above Tong Shan and writhed as they descended in an overbearing manner, exuding an aura of oppression.
However, that was not the end.
Soon after, streaks of lightning appeared around the overbearing flame on Tong Shan's body. Gusts of solidified saber chi followed closely like a shadow and integrated harmoniously with the flame.
Another 2,000 silhouettes of ancient horned dragons materialized next to the 4,000 silhouettes of ancient horned dragons.
The 2,000 silhouettes of ancient horned dragons made their appearance separately. 1,000 silhouettes appeared first before the other 1,000 appeared.
"Ninth Level Advance Thunder Concept! Ninth Level Advance Saber Concept!" Duan Ling Tian raised his brows when he saw the 6,000 silhouettes of ancient horned dragons above Tong Shan's head. He was not particularly surprised by the sight.
After all, if a powerhouse at the peak of the Void had only comprehended two types of Ninth Level Void Transformation Concepts, it would be hard for him to comprehend the Emperor Stage Profundity that a Martial Monarch usually possessed.
Naturally, there were exceptions as well. For example, a powerhouse at the peak of the Void who had simultaneously comprehended two Ninth Level Void Transformation Concepts such as the Fire and Water like Qi Yu, the Peak Master of Wood Peak from the Five Element Sect.
Water and Fire were conflicting elements and were extremely resistant to each other.
Due to the resistance, the Concepts would easily overcome the adverse ascension process and become Emperor Stage Profundities!
At that time, one's cultivation base would be able to break through to the Martial Monarch Stage as well!
A martial artist who had reached the peak of the Void like Qi Yu was destined to break through to the Martial Monarch Stage. It was only a matter of time.
Once that time arrived, everything would come naturally come to fruition.
Tong Shan was a powerhouse at the peak of the Void who had seemingly comprehended three Ninth Level Void Transformation Concepts. Due to the pressure from the other two Concepts, the Fire Concept had completed its transformation first and became the First Level Emperor Stage Fire Profundity!
The strength of 6,000 ancient horned dragons that Tong Shan displayed was the strength he possessed without the use of any spirit weapon. Once he used his spirit weapon, his strength would definitely increase.
A Martial Monarch like Tong Shan might not have a grade one spirit weapon because he was from a third-rate force in the Foreign Lands, but he might possess a grade two spirit weapon.
A grade two spirit weapon would usually grant a 77% or 78% strength boost.
Tong Shan's Origin Energy that had the strength of 2,000 ancient horned dragons would have at least an additional 1,500 ancient horned dragons after the boost.
In other words, Tong Shan would have the strength of over 7,500 ancient horned dragons if he used a grade two spirit weapon!
The strength of 7,500 ancient horned dragons?
Even Duan Ling Tian who had comprehended the Fifth Level Advance Sword Concept, thanks to the word 'Sword' that Saint Sword Feng Qing Yang left behind in the Cloud Continent, only had strength that was equivalent to 3,500 ancient horned dragons even after he unleashed his full strength with the help of his Quasi Royal Grade Spirit Sword.
A cultivation base at the Sixth Level Void Transformation Stage had the strength of over 800 ancient horned dragons.
The Quasi Royal Grade Spirit Sword's boost granted another 800 silhouettes of ancient horned dragons.
The First Level Advance Thunder Concept was equivalent to the strength of 200 ancient horned dragons.
The Third Level Advance Wind Concept and the Third Level Advance Fire Concept each had the strength of 400 ancient horned dragons. With the Wind Concept fueling the Fire Concept, the Fire Concept would have an additional 200 ancient horned dragons. There would be 1,000 ancient horned dragons after it was all added up.
The Ninth Level Intermediate Earth Concept had the strength of 100 ancient horned dragons.
The Fifth Level Advance Sword Concept had the strength of 600 ancient horned dragons.
In total, Duan Ling Tian's full strength would amount to the strength of 3,500 ancient horned dragons.
However, it was not entirely accurate to say that amount was his 'full strength'.
After all, the Earth Concept could communicate with the Earth and borrow the Earth Energy. Based on the Earth Concept Duan Ling Tian had comprehended, the Earth Energy he could borrow by communicating with the Earth would grant him an additional 50 ancient horned dragons.
However, Duan Ling Tian was currently hovering in the sky so there was no way for him to borrow the Earth Energy.
Nobody in their right mind would casually battle a martial artist who had comprehended the Earth Concept on the ground unless it was at a place similar to the environment at the Martial Emperor's secret treasure that Martial Emperor Qing Feng left behind.
"It looks like you're really not afraid of death!" Tong Shan enunciated each word clearly. He had 6,000 silhouettes of ancient horned dragons above him as he stared at Duan Ling Tian with a cold gaze.
"Is there any use in fearing death?" Duan Ling Tian responded.
"You have really big balls! I've changed my mind! I'm still going to kill you. However, I'll cripple your Dantian first and make you watch as I flay you alive! I want you to witness your legs and arms turning into bones after it has been stripped of flesh and drained of blood. If you pass out, I'll wake you up so you can watch as you die from exsanguination," Tong Shan hissed. He sneered as his eyes gleamed coldly.
The three Izumo Sect elders standing behind him immediately shivered involuntarily the moment the words left Tong Shan's mouth.
They could feel chills running down their spines just by imagining the scene the supreme elder had described. There was no need to mention the person who had to experience it.
The eyes they used to look at Duan Ling Tian had a hint of pity in them.
"It seems like the supreme elder is really angry!"
"I did not expect the supreme elder to have such a bloody and ferocious side to him! I never knew he has this side to him at all!"
...
The three Izumo Sect elders talked to each other secretly through their Voice Transmission. Genuine fear could be heard in their voices.
As for Duan Ling Tian, he could not help but be taken aback as well when he heard Tong Shan's words.
Crippling his Dantian and make him watch as Tong Shang flayed him alive?
"So? Are you scared now? Feeling regret?" Tong Shan sneered when he noticed the changes in Duan Ling Tian's face. "You should've expected this moment to come the second you killed my direct disciple, Lei Zhong."
"Scared? Regret?" The instance Duan Ling Tian heard Tong Shan's words, he immediately regained his senses. His face turned calm as he stared at Tong Shan coldly. "Geezer, are you out of your mind? Before I killed Lei Zhong, I already knew he's from your Izumo Sect. I also knew he was the direct disciple of a Martial Monarch!"
Duan Ling Tian said unhurriedly, "If I was scared, do you think I would kill him at that time? IDIOT!"
As Duan Ling Tian reached the end of his sentence, Tong Shan and the three elders were shocked when he spat out the last word and looked at Tong Shan in disdain.
"T-This Duan Ling Tian just called the supreme elder an i-idiot? D-Did I hear it correctly?" One of the Izumo Sect elders asked hesitantly through Voice Transmission as he looked at his two companions.
"Yeah, you heard it correctly." The other Izumo Sect elder shook his head. At this moment, he could feel chills running up his spine. "Don't tell me Duan Ling Tian feels that his death is not quick enough?"
"Perhaps he really fears that he won't die fast enough. After all, if supreme elder really does what he described earlier, Duan Ling Tian would be flayed alive. At that time, he would be so miserable that he would probably beg for death since he would no longer have his cultivation base!" The last Izumo Sect elder voiced out his opinion.
The other two nodded their heads. They found his explanation reasonable.
"Hurmph!" Tong Shan, who was initially enraged by Duan Ling Tian to the point he wanted to kill him off instantly, snorted to vent his aggravated emotion.
"Duan Ling Tian, do you think I'll fall for your words? The more you wish to die faster, the slower I'll let you die!" Tong Shan's eyes gleamed coldly as he stared at Duan Ling Tian. "Today, no matter how you enrage me, I won't change my original intention at all! I'll cripple your cultivation base and make you watch as I flay you alive!"
Duan Ling Tian was rendered speechless after he heard Tong Shan's words.
"Tong Shan, don't you think you're overestimating yourself too much? Do you really think the reason I called you an idiot was to enrage you so that you'll kill me quickly?" Duan Ling Tian sneered, and his eyes were filled with killing intent.
He swept a glance over at the three Izumo Sect elders who were also staring at him before he finally shifted his attention back to Tong Shan.
"I want to see between the two of us, who's going to be the one who does the killing!"