Chapter 53: Target, Champion!

The Nine Dragon War Sovereign Technique's first form, the Spirit Serpent Form, originally stressed upon allowing the cultivator's fleshly body to increase its strength while maintaining the body's flexibility and agility like spirit serpents.

Now, as the little black pythons movements reflected into Duan Ling Tian's eyes, it seemed to have ignited something...

Now he was suddenly enlightened about things he couldn't understand in the past.

Bang!

Seeming to suddenly be filled with wisdom and enlightenment, Duan Ling Tian's body slightly shook as he closed his eyes and circulated the Spirit Serpent Form mental cultivation method...

With a trace of understanding, he started cultivating.

Tonight was bound to be a sleepless night for Duan Ling Tian.

His mind completely merged with the changes happening inside his body.

Lifeblood increasing at a terrifying speed...

The fleshly body was even going through an extreme metamorphosis!

Duan Ling Tian himself was unaware of how long he cultivated for until a ray of sunlight passed through the window and descended upon him. Only then did he awaken.

Only now did Duan Ling Tian notice that the clothes on his body were extremely dirty!

A liquid similar to black oil had flowed out of his entire body. It was extremely sticky and rancid...

He removed his clothes and sat inside the bath barrel before cleaning his body with great effort.

After cleaning up, he clenched his fists, slightly using some strength!

Duan Ling Tian abruptly lifted his head.

Hua!

Above him, the forces of heaven and earth shook before developing into three ancient mammoth silhouettes. They were extremely lifelike.

Lightly reducing the amount of strength exerted, one of the ancient mammoth silhouettes vanished.

Reducing his strength once more, another ancient mammoth silhouette vanished.

"Perfect!"

Duan Ling Tian abruptly stood up and changed his clothes. His expression couldn't help but be filled with smiles.

He succeeded!

Before the Clan Martial Meet, he smoothly broke through to the ninth level of the Body Tempering Stage.

Possessing the strength of three ancient mammoths!

The crazy theory of Rebirth Martial Emperor had perfectly been accomplished.

Hiss hiss~

A sound entered his ears as the little black python transformed into a bolt of lightning, coiled around Duan Ling Tian's wrist, and started nodding towards him.

The little black python's actions, in Duan Ling Tian's eyes, seemed to be it seeking credit for his achievement.

"After the Clan Martial Meet ends, I'll get you something good to eat."

Duan Ling Tian lightly rubbed Little Black's body as he lightly smiled.

Little Black closed its eyes with an expression of enjoyment.

"Please leave, we don't welcome you here."

Suddenly, Ke Er's voice sounded from outside, containing a trace of anger.

Duan Ling Tian's face distorted.

Ever since Ke Er had started following him, it was the first time he heard her speaking with such a tone. Someone obviously had infuriated her.

After opening his room's door, Duan Ling Tian walked out in large strides.

With a glance, he noticed the two youths standing at the courtyard door. One of them was precisely the grey-clothed youth from before.

"Brother An asking you to follow him to the Martial Arts Practice Field is him thinking highly of you. I've already been courteous to you, now don't push your luck."

The other green-clothed youth looked at Ke Er, getting slightly angry out of embarrassment.

"Young Master!"

But in the young girl's eyes, only the Young Master that had just walked out of his room in large strides mattered.

The green-clothed youth's face turned grim as he shouted in a low voice, "I'm talking to you!"

"F**k off!"

Duan Ling Tian coldly swept the green-clothed youth with his gaze, his voice containing a trace of icy coldness.

"You're courting death!"

The green-clothed youth's gaze turned cold and he was about to enter the courtyard to fight Duan Ling Tian.

Smack!

Just at this moment, the grey-clothed youth's hand descended upon the green-clothed youth's shoulder, stopping him.

The grey-clothed youth looked at Duan Ling Tian in a condescending manner as he indifferently said, "You aren't worthy of her!"

"So you mean you're worthy?"

Duan Ling Tian laughed.

He had met arrogant people before, but never someone arrogant to this extent.

Li An's eyes flickered as he threateningly said, "Of course. I, Li An, at the age of eighteen, am the second strongest in the younger generation of the Clan. How could you, an uneducated bumpkin, compare to me? Kid, if you're sensible, hurry up and leave her side."

"Second? If someone didn't know better, after seeing how brazen you are, they would think you were number one. So it turns out you're only number two."

Duan Ling Tian laughed.

"Say what you want, but in the Clan Martial Meet, I will certainly drench my three foot blade with your blood! Don't think that you can look down on others just because you've broken through to the ninth level of the Body Tempering Stage. The Core Formation Stage is only the beginning of the path of Martial Dao...The current you is only an ordinary martial artist."

Li An ridiculed him before leaving with the green-clothed youth.

Duan Ling Tian's eyes narrowed and a cold light flashed within.

Drench his three foot blade with blood?

"Young Master, you broke through?"

Ke Er was slightly startled.

"Yes, I just broke through."

Duan Ling Tian lightly smiled as he nodded.

"Ke Er, what happened earlier?" Duan Ling Tian inquired.

"They asked me to go to the Martial Arts Practice Field with them. I rejected them, so the green-clothed youth kept pestering me."

While mentioning the two of them, Ke Er's eyes flashed with a trace of disgust.

"Next time, you don't have to bother with senseless people like them; just ignore them directly."

Duan Ling Tian smiled.

"OK, Young Master. I'll go help Madam in the kitchen."

Ke Er nodded before transforming into a gust of wind and entering the kitchen.

During breakfast.

"Tian, that Li An will certainly be gunning for you during the Clan Martial Meet. Be careful," Li Rou reminded Duan Ling Tian.

"I know, Mom," Duan Ling Tian replied with an unconcerned expression.

"Don't think that just because you killed Fang Qiang in Fresh Breeze Town you can act outrageously... Although Fang Qian was a martial artist at the first level of the Core Formation Stage and possessed the strength of two ancient mammoths, due to the limitations of his martial skills, his strength wasn't even half of Li An's," Li Rou continued.

Duan Ling Tian lightly smiled.

He naturally knew all this.

Maybe when Fang Qiang attacked, his overall state would have been the same as Li An's, both being first level Core Formation martials artists and therefore able to draw upon the forces of heaven and earth, developing it into two ancient mammoth silhouettes.

However, due to the difference between their martial skills, in a head on battle, Li An could kill Fang Qiang in a single move.

If Li An circulated his defensive martial skill, he could just stand there. Even if Fang Qiang hit him until he collapsed from exhaustion, Fang Qiang wouldn't be able to hurt a single hair on his body.

If Li An circulated his movement technique, Fang Qiang would only be able to eat his dust.

This was exactly the difference in martial skills.

The higher the martial art's rank is, the better its ability to perfectly exert the strength of the cultivator's entire body.

Duan Ling Tian lightly smiled. As Li Rou saw it, he was unconcerned and persisting to do things his own way.

"Ke Er, hurry up and persuade him."

Li Rou quickly decided to get Ke Er to help.

"Madam, I believe in the Young Master."

The young girl replied with a single sentence, showing her confidence towards Duan Ling Tian.

"I really wonder what magic potion Tian gave you."

Li Rou had a helpless expression.

"Mom, don't worry and be at ease. Your son will only let others suffer losses; he himself won't suffer any. After the Clan Martial Meet ends, I'll bring back the prize for the champion and let you see it properly."

After eating his fill, Duan Ling Tian left behind this short line before leaving with Ke Er.

They proceeded to the Martial Arts Practice Field.

"Young Master, it's Big Sister Shi Shi."

On the way, the two of them met Li Shi Shi.

The two became three.

"In the Clan Martial Meet, the 30 newly advanced inner court disciples will compete with the other 56 inner court disciples... According to what I know, five of the inner court disciples have already stepped into the Core Formation Stage."

Li Shi Shi shared the information that she knew of.

Duan Ling Tian lightly nodded.

"So we don't have any chance for the top three. The Core Formation Stage isn't something the Body Tempering Stage can compare to. What we can do now is strive to enter the top ten. To Little Sister Ke Er and you, it isn't really difficult. So how about it? Are you confident you can defeat Li Kuang and win over a spot in the top six?"

Li Shi Shi looked at Duan Ling Tian.

Sixth?

Duan Ling Tian shook his head and smiled.

"What?"

Li Shi Shi was puzzled.

"I'm not interested in being the sixth," Duan Ling Tian said indifferently.

"Then what position are you interested in?" Li Shi Shi asked.

"The champion!"

Duan Ling Tian's eyes flashed with a trace of confidence.

Li Shi Shi was instantly struck dumb.

Champion?

This Duan Ling Tian really dared to imagine.

"Hahahaha...."

Just at this moment, loud laughter sounded from behind the three of them. The laughter was filled with disdain.

Two figures quickly passed by the three of them.

It was precisely the two brothers, Li Zhong and Li Xiao.

Obviously they overheard what Duan Ling Tian said.

"Duan Ling Tian, if you want to be the champion, then you have to defeat me... I'll be waiting!"

Li Zhong glanced at Duan Ling Tian, his face filled with a mocking expression.

Duan Ling Tian ignored Li Zhong.

He liked to use facts to prove everything; debating was meaningless.

Duan Ling Tian and the two girls quickly arrived at the inner court Martial Arts Practice Field.

The thirty combat arenas remained.

Presently, the thirty combat arenas were fully surrounded by people. Some were inner court disciples who were participating in the Clan Martial Meet and there were some Li Clan disciples who came to join in the fun.

After a short moment, the three Chief Judges appeared.

The thirty judges, on the other hand, got each on the thirty combat arenas.

"Silence."

The white-eye-browed old man in the lead's voice clearly transmitted into the ears of everyone present.

For a moment, the noisy Martial Arts Practice Field became completely silent.

"Condensing Origin Energy into sound, this is something only a martial artist above the seventh level of the Origin Core Stage is capable of."

Duan Ling Tian looked at the white-eye-browed old man with a slightly startled expression.

"Today, the inner court disciples between the ages of sixteen and nineteen will carry out the final part of the Clan Martial Meet. This competition will decide the top ten, top three, and the champion, all of whom will obtain the generous prizes of the Clan," the white-eye-browed old man said slowly.

Subsequently, another Chief Judge started narrating the prizes for the top ten disciples of this year's Clan Martial Meet, the prizes of the top three, and finally the champion's prize.

Duan Ling Tian knew of this since long ago.

But the prizes that the Chief Judge spoke of still aroused the morale of most of the inner court disciples that were participating.

"Today's Clan Martial Meet will be conducted on a point basis where everyone begins with a single point. Every victory increases their points by one, while every defeat reduces their points by one. Finally, the ranking will be listed based upon the accumulated points. As for the question of fairness, you can all be at ease; out of the 86 inner court disciples, unless accidents happen, everyone will need to battle 85 times."

The Chief Judge explained the rules.

For a moment, many people drew in a breath of cold air.

85 battles...

Wouldn't that mean that they would have to battle every single inner court disciple?

That pace would exhaust people to death!

"This year's Clan Martial Meet will be divided into three days. The Clan has already planned out your battle order, pushing down the amount of battles per person per day down to thirty or below," the Chief Judge continued.

Only now did the crowd of inner court disciples heave a sigh of relief.

"Now, the people called upon by the judge, enter the relevant arena. If you don't appear within five minutes, it will be considered as a forfeit," the Chief Judge said.

The thirty judges on the combat arenas quickly started calling names.

The first battle of the first round had a familiar face to Duan Ling Tian.

Li Yuan.