Chapter 446: Threats
"Half-step Void Stage and only a step away from the Void Prying Stage... As expected of the figure that is ranked third amongst the five great young masters, this Zither Young Master's natural talent is actually so terrifying!"
"Senior Brother Duan Ling Tian hasn't even stepped into the seventh level of the Nascent Soul Stage... Yet this Zither Young Master has already broken through to the Half-step Void Stage, he's halfway into the Void Prying Stage! The two of them are utterly not on the same level."
"Senior Brother Duan Ling Tian is probably in danger."
...
At this moment, the confidence of the disciples that were filled with confidence towards Duan Ling Tian had now shattered.
Could a martial artist that hasn't even stepped into the seventh level of the Nascent Soul Stage be able to defeat a Half-step Void Stage expert?
They didn't dare believe it was possible as this was something that was practically impossible to happen.
The Half-step Void Stage was too strong!
Even if Duan Ling Tian was a sixth level Nascent Soul Stage martial artist, his strength would only be comparable to the strength of 800 ancient mammoth silhouettes when not utilizing a spirit weapon...
Whereas as a Half-step Void Stage expert, even if he doesn't utilize a spirit weapon, Zither Young Master currently possessed the strength of 1,500 ancient mammoths!
The two of them were utterly not on the same level.
Most importantly, Zither Young Master possessed a grade give spirit zither.
At this moment, not only did these thoughts arise in the hearts of the group of Seven Star Sword Sect disciples, even the higher-ups of the Seven Star Sword Sect had similar thoughts.
"Half-step Void Stage... Zither Young Master actually broke through to the Half-step Void Stage!" The Mizar Peak's Master, Zheng Fan, revealed an expression of fear.
Most of the Seven Star Sword Sect higher-ups including Linghu Jin Hong had slightly unsightly expressions.
Although Duan Ling Tian had repeatedly created miracles in the past, when Duan Ling Tian created those miracles, the opponents that he defeated and even killed didn't have quite as large a gap in cultivation from him.
At this moment, the strength of Zither Young Master was instead almost double that of Duan Ling Tian!
There was no way to compare the two, and it was practically impossible for a miracle to appear!
"Sect Leader!" Elder Bi looked at Linghu Jin Hong with a worried expression.
Duan Ling Tian was the man of the disciple she doted on the most, and she had the responsibility to protect Duan Ling Tian's safety.
Linghu Jin Hong nodded, then took a step forward and stood in the sky as he looked down at the two people on the life and death arena, and he said resolutely. "Zither Young Master, I'll represent Duan Ling Tian to admit defeat to you for the battle today."
As soon as Linghu Jin Hong said this, the crowd of people that were worried of Duan Ling Tian, like Zheng Song, Mo Yu, Zuo Qing, He Dong, and the others all heaved a sigh of relief.
But there was always people whose expression became extremely unsightly.
"Dammit!" Zhao Lin revealed a savage expression, and his eyes were filled with unwillingness.
"Duan Ling Tian!" At the side of the life and death arena, the face of the personal disciple of the Merak Peak's Master, Hu Xue Feng's, sank. "The Sect Leader actually took the initiative to represent Duan Ling Tian and admit defeat for the sake of protecting Duan Ling Tian!"
Since he'd incurred enmity with Duan Ling Tian during the outer court martial competition, Hu Xue Feng had hated Duan Ling Tian to the limit.
Although his Master asked him to forget all past grievances with Duan Ling Tian, he only agreed in words, yet the hatred in his heart to Duan Ling Tian only increased.
Today, he felt a wave of happiness when he saw Duan Ling Tian was about to die in the hands of Zither Young Master...
Now, when he saw the Sect Leader standing out for Duan Ling Tian, his chest was filled with the flames of envy and hatred then seemed as if it would explode out at any moment!
"Admit defeat?" Duan Ling Tian was stunned when he heard Linghu Jin Hong.
He never expected that the Sect Leader would suddenly make this decision, but with a quick thought, he came to an understanding.
Exactly, with Zither Young Master's Half-step Void Stage cultivation, no one would look favorably upon him.
Even if it was half a year ago, and if he knew that Zither Young Master's cultivation would actually break through to the Half-step Void Stage when the two year agreement arrived, he would probably feel despair as well...
Not to mention he hadn't broken through to the seventh level of the Nascent Soul Stage now, even if he had broken through to the seventh level of the Nascent Soul Stage, in terms of both strength and in speed, he would still be far from being a match for Zither Young Master who had broken through to the Half-step Void Stage.
"Hahahaha..." Zither Young Master laughed loudly when he heard Linghu Jin Hong. "Sect Leader Linghu, allowing Duan Ling Tian to admit defeat is only a small matter to me... But, you must agree to one thing."
"What?" Linghu Jin Hong's brows raised as he asked in a deep voice.
"I want to marry Peak Master Qin Xiang's personal disciple! If you're willing to be the witness for our marriage, then I can accept Duan Ling Tian's admission of defeat, and not make it difficult for him anymore..." Zither Young Master stared fixedly at Linghu Jin Hong as he spoke word for word.
Linghu Jin Hong's face went gloomy. "That's out of the question! Change it to a different request."
Linghu Jin Hong was extremely clear of the relationship between Duan Ling Tian and that disciple of Peak Master Qin Xiang.
"I only have this request... If Sect Leader Linghu is unwilling, then I can only carry out a life and death battle with Duan Ling Tian! Sect Leader Linghu, although I'm at the Seven Star Sword Sect today, I'm confident that for the sake of the Seven Star Sword Sect, you ought to not act rashly..." Zither Young Master spoke indifferently, and as he finished speaking, there was no lack of an intention to threaten. "My Master has heard of the two year agreement that I've come to fulfil in the Seven Star Sword Sect... If anyone in the Seven Star Sword Sect dares stop the two year agreement between me and Duan Ling Tian, then I presume he wouldn't be happy."
Linghu Jin Hong's face became even more grim when he heard Zither Young Master.
Amongst the five great young masters of the Azure Forest Imperial Kingdom, the background of Zither Young Master was the more fearsome.
Although the clan behind Zither Young Master could be considered to be a great clan in the Azure Forest Imperial Kingdom, there was still some distance compared to the Seven Star Sword Sect
The Seven Star Sword Sect wasn't afraid of the clan behind Zither Young Master!
However, the Seven Star Sword Sect had to be afraid of the mysterious Master behind Zither Young Master.
Supposedly, the Master of Zither Young Master was a recluse expert of the Azure Forest Imperial Kingdom, and his strength wasn't inferior to the top experts of the Azure Forest Imperial Kingdom.
According to rumor, even the expert of the Azure Forest Imperial Kingdom's imperial family that was called the number one person in the Azure Forest Imperial Kingdom was reverent and respectful when facing Zither Young Master's Master.
"Zither Young Master, is there really no way to discuss it?" Linghu Jin Hong took a deep breath and asked again.
Zither Young Master simple didn't pay any more attention to Linghu Jin Hong, his mocking gaze descending onto Duan Ling Tian. "Duan Ling Tian, we were originally not people of the same level... Only I, Zither Young Master, Zi Shang, am worthy of Ke Er! You are bound to become a ghost under my zither." Zither Young Master looked at Duan Ling Tian with a gaze as if he was looking at a dead person.
"The Sect Leader seemed to be extremely afraid of the Master behind Zither Young Master."
"Two years ago, when Zither Young Master arrived here, he'd once said to Peak Master Qin Xiang that he was willing to ask his Master to gift a grade five spirit sword as the betrothal gift... Presumably, even if his Master isn't a grade five weapons craftsman, then he's an expert that possesses an extremely good relationship with a grade five weapons craftsman."
"No matter if he's a grade five weapons craftsman or an expert with an extremely good relationship with a grade five weapons craftsman, I'm afraid he's isn't someone our Seven Star Sword Sect can easily offend."
"There are a few grade five alchemists within the entire Azure Forest Imperial Kingdom... But there are no grade five weapons craftsmen."
...
Extreme fear towards Zither Young Master's background was contained within the words of the surrounding crowd of Seven Star Sword Sect disciples.
"Zither Young Master's Master is sufficient to deter all the higher-ups of our Seven Star Sword Sect and make them not dare interfere in this battle!"
"Duan Ling Tian is probably going to suffer misfortune this time."
"Unfortunately, a peerless genius in the Martial Dao like Senior Brother Duan Ling Tian had appeared in our Seven Star Sword Sect with great difficulty, but today he's probably going to lose his life here!"
...
Many Seven Star Sword Sect disciples looked at Duan Ling Tian with expressions of pity.
Most of the Seven Star Sword Sect higher-ups had unsightly expressions.
Only the corners of Zhao Lin's mouth curled into a smile. "Duan Ling Tian, looks like you're bound to die here today... It's saved me some trouble as well."
"Junior Brother Duan Ling Tian!"
"Senior Brother Duan Ling Tian!"
Zheng Song, Zuo Qing, Mo Yu, and all the other people acquainted with Duan Ling Tian had hearts that burned with anxiety, yet were powerless to help.
Moreover, not to mention the mysterious Master behind Zither Young Master, even Zither Young Master himself wasn't someone they were able to go against.
Everyone knew that Duan Ling Tian was unable to avoid this battle with Zither Young Master!
"Duan Ling Tian!" Linghu Jin Hong looked at Duan Ling Tian and a sheathed sword appeared with the raise of his hand. "This sword is my Seven Star Sword Sect's Sect Guarding spirit sword, it's a grade give spirit sword... You..."
Linghu Jin Hong hadn't finished speaking when Duan Ling Tian interrupted him. "Thank you for your good intentions Sect leader. But, I have no use for this grade five spirit sword!"
I have no use for it!
Duan Ling Tian used a short string of words to refuse Linghu Jin Hong's actions of lending the sword to him.
This actions gave rise to another mighty uproar.
"That is a grade five spirit sword... Senior Brother Duan Ling Tian refused it just like that?"
"Perhaps, as far as Senor Brother Duan Ling Tian is concerned, even if he possesses a grade five spirit sword, he would have any chance of winning."
"If it's me, if I'm able to utilize a grade five spirit sword before I die, then it could be considered to have not spent my life in vain."
...
Many Seven Star Sword Sect disciples whispered in discussion.
At this moment, no one felt that Duan Ling Tian had any chance of winning.
After all, the difference between Duan Ling Tian and Zither Young Master was too great.
Linghu Jin Hong sighed and put away the spirit sword in his hand, and his eyes flickered with traces of unwillingness...
He didn't dare gamble with the Seven Star Sword Sect.
If he really offended that mysterious Master of Zither Young Master, then it would very likely be complete annihilation for the Seven Star Sword Sect.
Within the Seven Star Sword Sect, the strongest people were the three great sixth level Void Initiation Stage martial artists that included him and Elder Peng.
So long as a seventh level Void Initiation Stage martial artist comprehended a Concept that wasn't weak, then he was sufficient to sweep through the entire Seven Star Sword Sect...
There was only one existence that was at the seventh level of the Void Initiation Stage or above in the Azure Forest Imperial Kingdom.
It was the person of the imperial family that was called the number one person in the Azure Forest Imperial Kingdom.
Whereas Zither Young Master's Master was able to make that person treat him respectfully, so his strength was surely no inferior to that person.
As the Sect Leader of the Seven Star Sword Sect, even if he was unwilling, he still had to know how to make a choice sometimes.
He wasn't a single person.
He represented the entire Seven Star Sword Sect.
"Duan Ling Tian, it's my Seven Star Sword Sect that has let you down." Linghu Jin Hong's voice transmission entered into Duan Ling Tian's ears in a timely manner.
Duan Ling Tian's brows raised, then glanced at Linghu Jin Hong and smiled, yet he didn't say anything further.
He'd vaguely guessed the considerations in Linghu Jin Hong's heart, so, he didn't blame Linghu Jin Hong.