Chapter 1454: A Panic-Stricken Zhou Qi

“How’s this possible?!” The smile on Huang Cheng’s face had long disappeared and was replaced with a gloomy expression. He could not figure out why the outcome was like this no matter how long he pondered over it.

With his strength, he, naturally, did not miss any of Feng Fan’s movements.

It was obvious that Feng Fan’s attack was going to land on Duan Ling Tian earlier.

However, during the critical moment, Feng Fan’s attack had missed as it suddenly s.h.i.+fted next to Duan Ling Tian. It was as though he had deliberately exposed himself before Duan Ling Tian to be killed.

At this second, a thought appeared in his mind. Could it be that Feng Fan had wanted to die?

However, his train of thoughts changed its track, and he felt that it was impossible.

Feng Fan was an Earth Ranking’s powerhouse, and he had a bright future ahead of him. How could he possibly be depressed?

Moreover, he had heard of an unconfirmed rumor long ago about how the five outer court disciples who were ranked in the top 5 and the Earth Ranking had been secretly taken as direct disciples by those decision makers with the highest position in the sect.

Although he, Huang Cheng, was an elder of the outer court, he still could not become a decision maker with a high position in the sect.

Grand Elder Dongfang Quan was the only one from the outer sect who had become a decision maker and held a high position in the sect.

After Huang Cheng saw the Thousand Ma.s.s Saint Inscription on the Saint Weapon in Feng Fan’s hand, he was almost certain the rumor he had heard was true. Feng Fan must have had a teacher with a high position in the Moon Illumination Sect.

Due to this reason, he felt it was impossible that Feng Fan would commit suicide.

In that case, all of the bizarre things that had happened were all caused by the person who killed Feng Fan.

“Duan Ling Tian!” Huang Cheng’s eyes seemed as though they could shoot fire when he looked at Duan Ling Tian.

The moment he recalled how his 360,000 Merit Points now belonged to Duan Ling Tian, he felt a surge of demonic fire rising from the bottom of his feet to his head. ‘Yesterday, Duan Ling Tian only accepted my bet among all the outer court elders. It’s obvious that he’s trying to con me! However, do you really think that my Merit Points will be so easily taken by you, Duan Ling Tian?’ When Huang Cheng thought of this, his eyes shone with killing intent.

A few outer court elders standing at the side were shocked, and they simultaneously turned to look at Huang Cheng with hints of pity in their eyes.

“What a close call! It’s a good thing Duan Ling Tian didn’t accept my bet yesterday,” one outer court elder remarked fearfully.

“Exactly! Yesterday, I actually planned to bet 100,000 Merit Points. In hindsight, it’s a good thing I didn’t place the bet. Otherwise, that 100,000 Merit Points would’ve gone to Duan Ling Tian,” another outer court elder said.

“I think Duan Ling Tian knew from the beginning that Feng Fan was no match for him. That’s why he accepted the death duel invitation Feng Fan had issued… He must be incredibly smart to have such achievements at this age.” Another outer court elder sighed deeply.

“Indeed.” A few outer court elders, including Dong Chong, agreed with his words.

Huang Cheng had seen the strange scene earlier. Naturally, all of them had seen it as well. At the most critical moment, Feng Fan’s attack had mysteriously missed and presented Duan Ling Tian with an opportunity. Due to that, not only was Duan Ling Tian pulled back from the jaws of death, but he even had the chance to launch a deadly attack.

At that time, Feng Fan’s body had been pulled by the two Saint Weapons swiftly. That was why he could not cast a defense technique in time.

In front of Duan Ling Tian, he was just like a defenseless target.

Due to this reason, Feng Fan had died, contrary to everyone’s expectation.

“I wonder what kind of technique did Duan Ling Tian use? Spiritual Energy Attack? Or some other technique?” The outer court elders’ hearts were filled with questions.

Zhou Qi, the direct disciple of the inner court’s Elder Liu Huan, finally regained his senses from watching Feng Fan being killed. Horror dawned on his face as he muttered to himself, “H-How’s this p-possible?”

Even in his wildest dream, he did not expect such an outcome.

Feng Fan had died.

Naturally, he was not concerned about Feng Fan. However, things would become complicated now because of his death.

It was fine if he was just an ordinary outer court disciple, but as luck would have it, Feng Fan’s background was actually quite impressive. The person behind him was someone who was powerful enough to be ranked in the top three among the Moon Illumination Sect’s inner court elders. That person was even more powerful than his master, Liu Huan.

In front of that inner court elder, even his master, Liu Huan, would have to be polite and respectful.

Feng Fan was dead all because of him.

Zhou Qi could already imagine his bad ending when Feng Fan’s master, the inner court elder with a high position, found out this.

Put aside the fact that his master is now completely focused on Su Qi and no longer cared about him as much as he did before, his master still would not risk offending Feng Fan’s master for his sake even if it was before.

At this moment, Zhou Qi felt as though the sky was about to fall on him!

“Wait a minute!” When Zhou Qi almost lost all hope, he was. .h.i.t by a pang of realization, and he was instantly energized again. “It seems like only Feng Fan and I know the reason he had issued the death duel invitation to Duan Ling Tian. No one knows anything at all. Now that Feng Fan is dead, the only one who knows the truth is me… Doesn’t that mean I can make up a story?”

The moment Zhou Qi thought of this, all the dark clouds in his heart vanished without a trace. He felt as though the sun was s.h.i.+ning brightly in his heart, and he was delighted.

However, his face turned grave again when his eyes landed on Duan Ling Tian who was recovering after consuming a Healing Medicinal Pill. “What is Duan Ling Tian’s background? He actually managed to kill Feng Fan in that kind of situation. Don’t tell me knows a Demonic Technique?”

The moment Zhou Qi thought of that, he shook his head immediately. “It can’t be a Demonic Technique… It must be a Spiritual Secret Tactic or rather… It might be a Spiritual Secret Tactic that can confuse others and create illusions before turning into an attack.”

Whether it was the outer court elders, outer court deacons or Zhou Qi, all of them came to the same conclusion. All of them thought the technique Duan Ling Tian had cast earlier had to be a Spiritual Secret Tactic.

Could Feng Fan really change the direction of his attack even if he wanted to when he had unleashed his full strength?

Regardless of how taken aback everyone was, the fact remained that Feng Fan had died.

Duan Ling Tian had emerged victorious and alive in the death duel!

Although he was alive, he was not in a good condition. Cold sweat continuously formed on his forehead. “Even after I consumed the Three Star Healing Medicinal Pill that Teacher gave me, I’m afraid I’ll still need ten to fifteen days before I can grow back the chunk of flesh that had been torn off.”

However, he felt all of it was worth it the moment he remembered he had almost three million Merit Points in his Crystal Card.

“Three million Merit Points… Tsk, tsk… It looks like there’s nothing that I can’t exchange for in the Moon Illumination Sect now.” Duan Ling Tian was secretly pleased even though he was bathed in cold sweat.

“Oh, ya! Feng Fan’s Saint Weapons!” According to Moon Illumination Sect’s rule, all items, except for some special things, that the person who was killed in the death duel possessed would belong to the winner as a reward.

The moment Duan Ling Tian thought of this, he endured the pain and walked to Feng Fan’s body. He lifted Feng Fan’s Thousand Ma.s.s Sword and could dimly make out the special drawing that was carved on it. The striation was complicated and was almost similar to the Inscriptions on Cloud Continent even though they were two different things.

‘This must be the Two Star Saint Inscription, Thousand Ma.s.s Saint Inscription,’ Duan Ling Tian thought to himself.

“This broadsword must have cost at least 200,000 Merit Points… Now that it’s in my possession, it can be considered that I saved 200,00 Merit Points.” Duan Ling Tian put the Thousand Ma.s.s Sword away excitedly before reaching out for the Gale Hammer as well.

Although he already knew the Gale Hammer belonged to Zhou Qi, he pretended to be unaware.

“Hurmph! How dare you take my Saint Weapon?” The hammer suddenly disappeared when Duan Ling Tian’s hand almost made contact with it. At the same time, a mocking voice resonated in the air as a person emerged not far away in front of him.

“Zhou Qi!” Duan Ling Tian’s face turned grave. He knew he could no longer get his hands on the Gale Hammer now.

Now that Duan Ling Tian met Zhou Qi again after six months, he felt Zhou Qi’s personality was still similar to how it was six months ago. He was still arrogant and had no respect for anything. However, Zhou Qi did not dare to act as he pleased in the sect.

Duan Ling Tian had no idea that when he went to retrieve the Gale Hammer earlier, Zhou Qi could have made a move and cripple him even if he could not kill him.

After all, he had a good reason to do that — it was for the sake of protecting his Saint Weapon.

He did not make any move because he wanted to stay away from this incident where Feng Fan was killed by Duan Ling Tian. He did not want other people to think that he, Zhou Qi, wanted to kill Duan Ling Tian. Otherwise, they would be able to guess that it was him who had borrowed Feng Fan’s hand to kill Duan Ling Tian.

Feng Fan’s master would not let him go if he ever found out about this.

“I can’t believe that someone who was just like an ant six months ago can achieve so much today.” Zhou Qi glared at Duan Ling Tian coldly and snorted before he said through True Energy Voice Transmission, “However, all of Mound Hill City’s people are destined to have a short life in the Moon Illumination Sect… This is how it was for your predecessors, and it’ll be the same for you and the future generation.”

Contrary to Zhou Qi’s sneaky way of communicating, Duan Ling Tian said out loud, “You’re not the one who decides how long we get to live, Zhou Qi.”

Naturally, his words attracted many people’s attention.

Horror dawned on Zhou Qi. He realized somebody might suspect it was him who wanted to kill Duan Ling Tian if he continued to stay on. He quickly put away his Gale Hammer and left. He did not dare to stay a second longer.

In Zhou Qi’s opinion, it was of the utmost importance to stay away from today’s incident.

Zhou Qi’s sudden departure was beyond Duan Ling Tian’s expectation. It baffled him. “That Zhou Qi seems as though he’s afraid of something seeing how he left so quickly… What exactly is it that he fears?”