Chapter 531: Number One
No matter how Chi Ming and the others thought, Duan Ling Tian had indeed killed the fifth level Void Prying Stage First Leader of the bandits.
Although the process was bizarre, they were unable to discern that Duan Ling Tian had used an external source of strength.
Once the bandit's First Leader perished, the remaining bandits were only strays that were scattered all about, and they were unable to cause any more trouble.
In next to no time, the mission this time was officially brought to a successful close.
The group of students once again gathered outside Blackwind Ridge and prepared to return to the Dragon and Phoenix Academy in the Imperial City.
"Eh, where're Liu Yue and the others from the Azure Forest Tri-Sect?" Before long, some students noticed that some people were missing.
Amongst the people present, besides the few disciples from the Azure Forest Tri-Sect, everyone had arrived.
"It's true... Liu Yue and the others have gone missing!" Many students exclaimed in surprise.
Duan Ling Tian's brows raised and he imperceptibly met gazes with Chi Ming.
"You were responsible for recording the score of Liu Yue's group... What's going on?" Chi Ming looked at a middle aged man in black clothes and asked in a low voice.
The black clothed middle aged man sighed. "Vice Dean, early this morning, those Azure Forest Tri-Sect disciples didn't heed my advice and wandered arbitrarily in Blackwind Ridge... I didn't follow after them."
Chi Ming frowned, then said with a low voice, "You and a few more people go look for them again."
"Yes." A few black clothed middle aged men left together.
These black clothed middle aged men were the people that followed behind the group of students into Blackwind Ridge and were responsible to record the mission results of the students.
"Let's return first." Under Chi Ming's lead, Duan Ling Tian and the other left Blackwind Ridge and headed towards the Imperial City.
All along the way, Duan Ling Tian could notice the gazes that frequently descended onto him.
Besides the Vice Dean, Chi Ming, the owners of these gazes was Crazy Young Master, Sword Young Master, Flame Young Master, and Flute Fairy.
Especially that Flute Fairy, Zi Yan, looked at him with a slightly complicated gaze.
Duan Ling Tian was able to guess that perhaps Flute Fairy already knew about the matter of him killing the First Leader of the bandits.
Duan Ling Tian wasn't wrong. Flute Fairy did indeed already know of this matter, and it was Flame Young Master that told her via voice transmission.
"His demonic technique is actually able to help him kill the Fifth Leader of the bandits that's at the fifth level of the Void Prying Stage?" Flute Fairy's heart trembled as her beautiful face slightly went grim.
Although she wasn't the only one in the academy that agreed that Duan Ling Tian knew demonic techniques anymore, she was instead unable to feel happy.
The stronger Duan Ling Tian's strength was, it would mean the more danger her brother, Zither Young Master, was in.
After all, her brother's goal was precisely to overcome Duan Ling Tian's demonic technique and defeat Duan Ling Tian...
Whereas now, Duan Ling Tian was actually even able to kill a fifth level Void Prying Stage martial artist, and her heart was filled with worry towards her brother, Zither Young Master.
Blackwind Ridge wasn't far from the Imperial City, and Duan Ling Tian and the others quickly returned to the Imperial City and to Dragon and Phoenix Academy.
At the center square of Dragon and Phoenix Academy, besides the students from the Azure Forest Tri-Sect, all the other students were gathered here.
Whereas now, the Vice Dean, Chi Ming, stood before everyone, and he held a small book in his hand.
On it was the records of everyone's scores.
Presently, besides Crazy Young Master, Sword Young Master, Flame Young Master, and Flute Fairy, everyone was looking at Chi Ming in anticipation.
They wanted to know who exactly obtained the number one position in the experience mission this time!
After all, the person that obtains the highest points during the experience mission this time would be able to obtain a Void Refining Fruit...
"I wonder which Void Prying Stage student obtained the number one position?"
"At any rate, it surely isn't Chai Jin!"
"Eh, you've heard of the incident with Chai Jin as well?"
"Of course! I'm afraid amongst the people present now, there's probably only a few people that don't know Chai Jin mistakenly entered into a bandit lair and almost died at the hands of the bandit's Fifth Leader..."
"Chai Jin is really unfortunate. Almost 100 points are gone with the wind just like this."
...
Many Outer Hall students discussed animatedly.
Chai Jin stood in the ranks of the Inner Hall students, as he listened to these irritating whispers of discussion, it caused him to be angered to the point his figure trembled, and his expression as unsightly to the extreme.
At this moment, he felt too ashamed to show his face.
As a Void Prying Stage Inner Hall student, he'd obtained a zero in the experience mission this time, and he was bound to become a joke.
"Everyone did well this time... Besides some people that didn't heed advice and wandered arbitrarily in Blackwind Ridge!" Chi Ming spoke slowly, and an expression of rage appeared on his face as he finished speaking.
Duan Ling Tian couldn't help but laugh to himself when he saw this scene.
If that Liu Yue and the others were to hear Chi Ming's words now, then even if they were on the path to hell, they would probably be enraged to the point their lungs exploded, right?
"Calm your anger Vice Dean Chi, there's no need to be angry for the sake of a few people that don't abide by the rules." Many students persuaded Chi Ming.
Chi Ming's gloomy expression gradually eased up, and this caused Duan Ling Tian to be unable to refrain from sighing with emotion.
This Vice Dean Chi really knows how to act. Just from the surface, one can't perceive a single flaw.
If he wasn't a concerned party, perhaps he would be deceived.
"The person that obtained the number one rank in the experience mission this time has already been decided..." Chi Ming spoke once more, and he stopped at the critical moment, successfully attracting the gazes of everyone.
"The person whose points is the highest obtained 736 points! It's precisely the Inner Hall student, Duan Ling Tian!" Chi Ming announced in one go.
Instantly, the gazes of everyone including Crazy Young Master and the others who were mentally prepared since long ago had descended onto Duan Ling Tian.
736 points!
Number one!
Duan Ling Tian had become the center of attention as expected.
"736 points... Duan Ling Tian is really abnormal!"
"Yeah! I and my small team worked together and used all out energy, yet we only gathered 32 points. Moreover, it's team points. Duan Ling Tian instead obtained 736 points by himself."
"As expected of the matchless genius martial artist of our Azure Forest Imperial Kingdom!"
...
The sounds of praise rose and fell.
The gazes of all the Outer Hall students were filled with reverence as they looked at Duan Ling Tian.
Perhaps, if Duan Ling Tian was only slightly stronger to them, and they had the chance to chase after Duan Ling Tian, they would rouse feelings of envy within them.
But Duan Ling Tian's current accomplishments were something they were too behind to catch up to.
So they only had reverence when facing Duan Ling Tian.
"Duan Ling Tian's natural talent in the Martial Dao had always been exceedingly monstrous... Once he consumes the Void Refining Fruit this time, I wonder what extent his strength will attain?"
"Yeah... At that time, on the stage of the Darkstone Empire, Duan Ling Tian might have the chance to head to the Darkhan Dynasty to obtain the qualifications to compete at the Martial Competition of the Ten Dynasties."
"If he's really able to advance to the Darkhan Dynasty, then our Azure Forest Imperial Kingdom would obtain great honor!"
...
At the same time that many Outer Hall students whispered in discussion, they had expressions of anticipation.
"As for the others, so long as you have points, you can head to the Swimming Dragon Hall tomorrow and exchange for cultivation methods, martial skills, medicinal pills, spirit weapons, etc... At that time, the points of every one of you will be displayed on the bulletin board at the door of the Swimming Dragon Hall." As Chi Ming finished speaking, he waved his hand. "Disperse."
The group of students dispersed, and for a time, only Duan Ling Tian and Chi Ming remained.
"Duan Ling Tian, I'll make a trip to the Imperial Palace to get the Void Refining Fruit now, I'll pass it to you in the afternoon," said Chi Ming to Duan Ling Tian.
"Thank you, Vice Dean Chi." Duan Ling Tian nodded, then said, "Vice Dean Chi, may I know what type of grade four spirit weapon you want?"
Grade four spirit weapon!
Chi Ming's gaze blazed, and with a raise of his hand, a glove appeared in his hand...
"Grade six spirit weapon." With just a glance, Duan Ling Tian had recognized the grade of this spirit weapon glove.
The glove was dark gray and made of special materials that were very extraordinary.
"If it's possible, I hope you can tell that Weapons Craftsman to refine a grade four spirit weapon for me according to this glove." Chi Ming passed the glove in his hand to Duan Ling Tian.
"Alright." Duan Ling Tian nodded. "In another few days, I'll go look for that Weapons Craftsman and see what materials he needs..."
"Sorry for troubling you." Chi Ming smiled lightly, then bid his farewells before turning and leaving.
When he left, Chi Ming's face revealed slight excitement.
Although he was a Revered Elder of the Azure Forest Imperial Kingdom's Imperial Family, he only had a grade six spirit weapon with an amplification of 38%.
Presently, he had the opportunity to obtain a grade four spirit weapon that provided a 60% amplification, and it caused him to be wildly delighted.
So long as he changed his spirit weapon, his strength would be able to improve by the strength of almost two ancient horned dragons...
What sort of notion was that?
After Chi Ming left, Duan Ling Tian returned to the Inner Hall.
He'd only just entered into the Inner Hall when he noticed a burning gaze...
It was precisely Flame Young Master.
"Duan Ling Tian!" Suddenly, a sonorous voice sounded out by Duan Ling Tian's ears.
Subsequently, Duan Ling Tian saw that Flame Young Master left his own courtyard and walked over, then looked at him. "I'm interested in that Void Refining Fruit... State a price."
Duan Ling Tian stopped his footsteps and raised his head to look at Zhang Yang before saying indifferently. "I'm extremely interested in the Void Refining Fruit as well... If you're able to find one more for me, you can state any price."
"You..." Zhang Yan's face sank and was slightly angry from embarrassment.
"If you don't have anything else you need, then don't block my way." Duan Ling Tian's gaze seemed to have an extra sense of coldness.
Zhang Yan's heart jerked.
Only now did he remember the scene of Duan Ling Tian killing the First Leader of the bandits at Blackwind Ridge this morning...
This Duan Ling Tian was even able to kill a fifth level Void Prying Stage martial artist.
At this moment, even though Zhang Yan was unwilling, he could only move aside.
This morning, after the First Leader of the bandits was killed by Duan Ling Tian, he knew that he was far from a match for Duan Ling Tian.
Even to the extent that Duan Ling Tian had already held back when fighting him the other time.
Otherwise, once Duan Ling Tian executed that demonic technique, he would probably be completely crushed by Duan Ling Tian in a single move.
"Looks like Little Gold is really tired." After he returned to his room, Duan Ling Tian grabbed the little gold mouse that lay on his shoulder and lightly placed her on the table.
"It was all thanks to Little Gold today... Otherwise, it would be impossible for me to kill the bandit's Fifth Leader! I truly never imagined that the First Leader of the bandits was actually a fifth level Void Prying Stage martial artist." When he recalled the scene from this morning, Duan Ling Tian couldn't help but sigh.
"But, it was fortunate that the First Leader of the bandits wasn't an Inscription Master at the first level of the Void Initiation Stage or above, or an ordinary martial artist at the second level of the Void Initiation Stage..."