Chapter 1682: A Conspiracy?

If that person did not kill the disciple from the Rising Sky Mansion, he would have been willing to put aside his arrogance to recruit him into the Rising Sky Mansion as well.

Duan Ling Tian smiled at Ren Zhong and Liu Hong Guang before telling them his fake name. At the same time, he added, "Thank you for thinking so highly of me, Vice Mansion Master Ren and Elder Liu. As for joining the Sky Hurdle Mansion and Raging Wave Mansion, this is an important matter to me. Is it okay for me to think it over and give both of you an answer after the Rising Sky Ranking Battle has ended?"

Think it over?

The moment Duan Ling Tian's words left his mouth, Ren Zhong and Liu Hong Guang's eyes lit up immediately.

Naturally, they knew what his words implied. He did not reject them so there was still a chance!

Ren Zhong and Liu Hong Guang looked at each other immediately, and they could see the sparks in each other's eyes.

Although Duan Ling Tian did not reject their invitations, ultimately he would have to choose between the two of them. Due to this reason, the scent of gunpowder seemed to fill the space between them.

They, naturally, knew even if Duan Ling Tian had the intention of joining a sect, he would also need to consider the conditions they both offered. Just as the saying went, 'A wise bird carefully selects its tree.' Due to this reason, both of them began to think of the limit of the things they could offer.

"Li Feng! You're indeed not simple!" The Flowery Monk confirmed Duan Ling Tian was not a simple person after the Golden Brilliance Territory that was impenetrable by most people's eyes formed around him. He could not see through Duan Ling Tian's Territory at all. It was his first time encountering such a peculiar Territory. In the end, the disciple from Rising Sky Mansion had even vanished without a trace.

This Li Feng was not an ordinary person!

Among the group of people from Pure Yang Shrine, Jing Xu Zi's eyes had brightened as he looked at Duan Ling Tian.

Previously, he had taken notice of Duan Ling Tian. However, it was only because Duan Ling Tian was alone, making him look very conspicuous.

At this moment, he realized that in terms of strength, this person who was as eccentric as Zhong Gu was most likely not inferior to Zhong Gu at all.

Zhong Gu stared at Duan Ling Tian with a complicated gaze.

Since Duan Ling Tian had made his appearance, he had a good impression of him. However, based on Duan Ling Tian's words, it seemed as though he was willing to join either the Sky Hurdle Mansion or Raging Wave Mansion. It made his impression of Duan Ling Tian drop immediately.

He did not like those huge and powerful sects. Otherwise, he would not have remained a sectless cultivator for so long.

With his innate talent, it was not impossible for him to enter a fourth-rate force. Moreover, if he was willing to swear on the lightning penalty oath, the force would even nurture him wholeheartedly.

Duan Ling Tian was, naturally, unaware of Zhong Gu's thoughts. Currently, he was puzzling over the absence of Xu Jing, the Young Mansion Master of Rising Sky Mansion.

It was almost noon now. The only people who had yet to enter the ring seemed to be the Flowery Monk and Jing Xu Zi.

'Rumor has it that Xu Jing is wildly ambitious and covets the position of Mansion Master in the Rising Sky Mansion. It's impossible for him to not come.' The moment Duan Ling Tian thought of this, he relaxed again.

He had been in the Rising Sky Mansion's district for quite some time, and he had been enquiring about Xu Jing, the Young Mansion Master of Rising Sky Mansion. He knew that other than being a playboy and a good-for-nothing rich kid, he was pompous and wildly ambitious as well.

When Duan Ling Tian regained his senses, he looked at the Flowery Monk and Jing Xu Zi, wondering which of them would enter the ring first.

Other than these two people, he did not think anybody from the crowd would enter the ring anymore.

After all, none of the ten Ring Masters, including him, was weak.

However, it was beyond Duan Ling Tian's expectation to see another figure rising up into the sky.

Duan Ling Tian had some impression of this man.

"Xu Gang?" Duan Ling Tian frowned. He did not expect Xu Gang who had lost to Yin Xu Zi would come out again. If he was not mistaken, Xu Gang was merely a Martial Cultivator at the peak of the Pristine Saint Stage. Entering the ring at this moment was just like seeking trouble for himself.

"Xu Gang? Why's he going up again?" Xu Gang's presence also baffled the group of spectators in the surrounding.

"Xu Gang is merely a Martial Cultivator who's at the peak of the Pristine Saint Stage. Moreover, he has been defeated by Yin Xu Zi earlier. All the Ring Masters are above the Refined Saint Stage currently. Don't tell me he actually thinks he stands a chance of winning?" Many people mocked.

"According to the rules, he can challenge anyone he likes apart from Yin Xu Zi who has defeated him," somebody said.

"Well, it's true. However, we need to be aware of our own capability as well, right? He's a Martial Cultivator who's at the peak of the Pristine Saint Stage. It's obvious he's no match for any of the ten Ring Masters. Not only is he looking for trouble by doing this, but he's wasting everyone's time as well." Many people were unhappy with Xu Gang's action.

Ren Zhong and Liu Hong Guang frowned as well. They both thought Xu Gang had overestimated himself.

Everyone was wondering who Xu Gang was going to challenge when he landed firmly in the middle of one of the chess pieces.

"T-This..." Everyone was dumbfounded the moment they saw the chess piece Xu Gang had landed on. This was because the opponent he had chosen was none other than Xu Can who was a disciple of the Rising Sky Mansion. Moreover, he was also Xu Cen's biological grandson.

"Xu Gang actually dares to challenge Xu Can?" Many people were stunned. They found this sight unbelievable. Many of them even slapped themselves or pinched their thighs to see if they were dreaming.

As it turned out, they were not dreaming.

Xu Gang had indeed wanted to challenge Xu Can whose cultivation base was at the Intermediate Refined Saint Stage.

"They're both Rising Sky Mansion's disciples, but Xu Gang actually wants to challenge Xu Can. Moreover, he's only at the peak of the Pristine Saint Stage, but he wants to challenge Xu Can who's at the Intermediate Refined Saint Stage... Could it be that he has some enmity with Xu Can?"

"Even if he has, with his current strength, he's no match for Xu Can at all! It's impossible for him to seek revenge now!"

"Perhaps he just wants to provoke Xu Can?"

"That's possible."

One had to admit the power of the people was impressive. In just a short time, someone had managed to 'guess' Xu Gang's intention.

"Just how big is their enmity for him to provoke such a disciple from the Rising Sky Mansion during such an occasion? Isn't Xu Gang worried about bringing shame to the Rising Sky Mansion?" Many people shook their heads. They felt that Xu Gang was behaving irrationally.

As for Duan Ling Tian, he did not think Xu Gang had appeared again for such an absurd reason. He frowned as he lifted his head to look at Xu Cen, the Grand Elder of the Rising Sky Mansion.

If Xu Gang really challenged Xu Can over such an absurd reason, Xu Cen's expression would definitely be grave right now. However, Duan Ling Tian noticed there was a scheming smile on Xu Cen's face at this moment.

Xu Cen's eyes were even staring at him intently like a poisonous snake, eliciting chills from Duan Ling Tian's heart.

"There's a conspiracy!" Duan Ling Tian's heart jolted when he realized something was afoot.

At this moment, something happened that shocked everyone.

Originally, the crowd felt Xu Can would easily defeat Xu Gang. However, the outcome was beyond their expectation.

"I surrender." Xu Can's icy voice resonated in the air, causing an uproar.

At this moment, some of the more rational people, including Ren Zhong and Liu Hong Guang, regained their senses. They turned to look at Duan Ling Tian simultaneously as though they had thought of something.

"What's going on?" This puzzled many people present on the scene.

"Xu Can actually surrenders? He's an Intermediate Refined Saint Stage Martial Cultivator!" Many people exclaimed.

"Don't tell me that he going to use this method to give way to Xu Gang so he can be ranked in the Rising Sky Ranking?" Many people looked at Xu Can strangely.

"He's crazy! How can he let Xu Gang rank in the Rising Sky Ranking with such a method? In fact, there were a few Early Refined Saint Stage powerhouses among the people who had been disqualified earlier. If these people go up now, Xu Gang would still be defeated and lose his place!" Many people discussed among themselves. They thought Xu Can was crazy for doing something like this.

However, soon after, they fell silent.

This was because after Xu Can admitted defeat, they saw he did not return to the group of people from the Rising Sky Mansion. Instead, he flew to one of the huge chess pieces and gradually descended on it. He stood directly opposite his opponent. It was clear he was issuing his challenge to his opponent.

"I see!" At this moment, many people knocked their own heads as realization dawned on them. "They're going around in such a big circle just to have Xu Can challenge Li Feng!"

Li Feng was the fake name Duan Ling Tian was currently using.

Not only did he kill a Rising Sky Mansion's disciple earlier, but he had even provoked the Grand Elder of Rising Sky Mansion and ignored Xu Can.

The people on the scene could smell the scent of gunpowder emanating from Xu Can's body. They knew Xu Can wanted to fight Duan Ling Tian and possibly kill him.

"Looks like Li Feng really angered him. Otherwise, he wouldn't be so eager to fight him! In fact, he would still be able to fight Li Feng after the ten people are finalized for the real Rising Sky Ranking Battle since they would still need to fight for the specific rank," somebody said.

"You're wrong. Actually, it's very wise of Xu Can to do this. Don't forget that once the ten names for the Rising Sky Ranking have been decided, the moderators would be able to intervene in the battle to decide the ranking later. There are rarely any deaths in the real Rising Sky Ranking Battle," someone chimed in.

"You're right. I've forgotten about this. Indeed, this is the best time to kill someone during the Rising Sky Ranking Battle. After all, the ten names have not been decided on yet." Many people began to realize what was going on.

Faced with Xu Can, Duan Ling Tian's expression remained as calm as ever since he knew this would happen from the scheming smile on Xu Cen's face.

"Aren't you afraid your grandson will follow in the footsteps of that disciple from the Rising Sky Mansion earlier?" Duan Ling Tian asked as he looked at Xu Cen with an indifferent smile. His tone was filled with confidence as well.

Xu Cen who originally had a smile on his face felt his heart jolt when he saw the confidence on Duan Ling Tian's face. "T-This Li Feng is actually s-so confident?"