Chapter 197: Start Out With a Bang, and End With a Whimper
Translator: KurazyTolanzuraytor Editor: Lucas
Xiao Yu and Xiao Xun were helpless, as no matter how they persuaded, Duan Ling Tian persisted on acting willfully and was determined to leave.
At dusk, Xiao Yu and Xiao Xun accompanied Duan Ling Tian to walk out the gate.
Duan Ling Tian had only just walked out when he noticed a fierce gaze descend onto his body and lock onto him.
"You’re Duan Ling Tian?" Far off in the distance, City Guard Army Commander Xue Lu’s gaze was like lightning as he stared fixedly at Duan Ling Tian, as if he was extremely afraid that Duan Ling Tian would vanish from his sights.
Among the Paladin Academy students, even a grade 1 student would ordinarily be around the age of 20, and an 18-year-old student was extremely rare. Most importantly, this youth wore violet clothes, exactly similar to the Duan Ling Tian of rumor. Thus, Xue Lu easily recognized Duan Ling Tian.
"You two go home first." Duan Ling Tian smiled to Xiao Yu and Xiao Xun.
However, Xiao Xun and Xiao Yu didn’t leave. As friends, how could they leave at this time?
Friends go through difficulties together!
Duan Ling Tian smiled and didn’t persuade the two of them. In any case, as far as he was concerned, everything before him was only just a farce and nothing to be worried about.
"Exactly, I’m Duan Ling Tian." Duan Ling Tian walked out in large strides towards Xue Lu with a carefree expression as if it wasn’t a ferocious tiger that was before him but instead only a docile little cat.
Xue Lu’s focused his fierce gaze to descend onto Duan Ling Tian. "You actually used an offense inscription to cripple my son’s Dantian, destroying his future and his entire life…Before you did this, did you ever think of what consequences it would bring about?"
Duan Ling Tian shrugged. His gaze was calm and a smile was constantly there on the corners of his mouth. He said, as he rotated the Spatial Ring on his right hand around, "Commander Xue, I and your son were complete strangers to each other before today. Why don’t you him ask why I crippled his Dantian?"
"Humph!" Xue Lu’s face sank as he shouted coldly. "I don’t want to know why you crippled my son’s Dantian, and I’m not interested to know…I only know that today, you, Duan Ling Tian, will surely die!"
"Are you that certain?" The speed at which Duan Ling Tian revolved the Spatial Ring in his hand went faster, and his eyes revealed a trace of disdain.
"You’ll immediately know why I’m so certain!" Xue Lu’s eyes emitted killing intent as he abruptly took a step forward with an imposing manner that pierced thru the sky!
"Xue Lu!" Right at this moment, a figure instantly flashed out of Paladin Academy like a ghost and descended before Duan Ling Tian to protect Duan Ling Tian and confront Xue Lu.
Seeing that Xue Lu desired to make a move against him, Duan Ling Tian was already prepared to activate the Bone Corrosion Inscription to annihilate Xue Lu…. But the appearance of the figure before him made Duan Ling Tian stop the movements of his hand.
"Vice Dean!" Duan Ling Tian was slightly surprised when he saw the old man, but he still greeted him.
"Duan Ling Tian, you are really good at causing trouble." The grey-clothed old man, or in other words, the Vice Dean of Paladin Academy, Zhan Xiong, shook his head with a smile.
Duan Ling Tian extended his hand to rub his nose as he laughed embarrassedly.
"Zhan Xiong!" Xue Lu’s movements stopped and slowed down as well, and his face sank as he looked at Zhan Xiong, "I respect Paladin Academy, and thus didn’t forcefully charge in to kill this Duan Ling Tian… Now, you still want to stop me outside of Paladin Academy?"
Zhan Xiong lightly smiled. "Commander Xue, you're being excessive. I would naturally not take notice of matters outside the Paladin Academy.
"Then why haven't you moved aside?" Xue Lu's eyes went cold when he interrupted Zhan Xiong with a low voice.
Right at this moment, a large, luxurious carriage, came from afar and attracted the attention of everyone present. Even Xue Lu couldn’t help but frown.
The carriage directly charged towards the gate; however, it was stopped by the City Guard Army's officers.
"F**k off!" The old man man that acted as the carriage drive's face sank, then he pushed out his palm and his vast Origin Energy condensed into a palm print and whistled out before blasting the City Guard Army officer that blocked his path flying.
"Go!" The old man swung the horse-whip in his hand and the three large horses pulled the carriage and directly charged in.
"Hmm?" Duan Ling Tian gazed at the old man with a slightly surprised expression.
If he wasn’t wrong, this old man was precisely the Duan Clan's third elder. To be able to make the Duan Clan's third elder drive the carriage, then the person within the carriage would surely have an extremely respected identity.
Duan Ling Tian was extremely curious.
Who could it be?
"Xue Lu, what dominance you show!" An aged voice that contained rage sounded from within the carriage.
Subsequently, Duan Qiu stood aside and greeted the old man that came out of the carriage.
"Grand Elder!" Duan Ling Tians eyes focused when he saw the old man man that came out. He was slightly surprised.
The Duan Clan's Grand Elder was completely different from the Grand Elders of the Su Clan and Xiao Clan.
The Duan Clan's Grand Elder Duan Zhen was the previous Patriarch of the Duan Clan and had an extraordinary status. His status within the Duan Clan surpassed that of the Patriarch and was similar to the other Supreme Elders.
Xue Lu's face sank when he saw the old man appear, as although he'd heard of Duan Ling Tian returning to the clan and acknowledging his ancestors, never had he imagined that this old man would personally come for the sake of Duan Ling Tian.
"Greetings, Senior Duan Zhen." Xue Lu took a deep breath, and he looked at Duan Zhen as he lightly bowed.
"Xue Lu, you made such a great display just to deal with an 18-year-old youth of our Duan Clan?" Duan Zhen's calm gaze descended onto Xue Lu.
Instantly, Xue Lu felt a wave of pressure, and he took a deep breath as he firmly said, "Senior Duan Zhen, Xue Lu came here this time to take revenge for my son...I know this Duan Ling Tian is a genius disciple of your Duan Clan, but he's crippled the Dantian of my son and destroyed his entire life!"
"I've pledged before my son that as long as I, Xue Lu, have a breath within me, this Duan Ling Tian will not live past tomorrow! So, Senior Duan Zhen, once I've taken revenge for my son, then I'll come apologize to you."
Xue Lu's tone didn’t contain a trace of courtesy.
"Humph! Xue Yun really has a good son...Good, good!" Duan Zhen's eyes focused and a trace of a fierce light flashed within. "Then let me see how you make my Duan Clan's Duan Ling Tian be unable to live past tomorrow with me, Duan Zhen, here!"
"Senior Duan Zhen, I respect you as an elder, but you better not go too far!" Xue Lu's face sank and completely turned hostile.
"Going too far? Hahahaha...." Duan Zhen started laughing, and within his unrestrained laughter, there seemed to be traces of a terrifying aura mixed within.
Duan Ling Tian noticed the difference in this aura at the first possible moment, and his eyes focused, as he was shocked inwardly. "This Grand Elder is actually an existence at the Half-step Void Stage...Yeah, he is an older generation powerhouse of the Duan Clan after all."
Half-step Void Stage!
Xue Lu’s pupils constricted, and he looked at Duan Zhen with an astonished expression. "You…You’re actually a martial artist at the Half-Step Void Stage!"
"Humph! I and your father, Xue Yun, are people of the same generation. That old goat has broken through already, could it be that I would be inferior to him?" Duan Zhen couldn’t help but sneer when he saw Xue Lu’s expression.
Meanwhile, the surrounding Paladin Academy students that were spectating all had gazes that shone.
Of course, they didn’t understand what a Half-step Void Stage martial artist was and only thought that Duan Zhen was a Void Stage powerhouse.
"The Duan Clan’s Grand Elder is actually a Void Stage powerhouse!"
"As expected of the Duan Clan’s previous Patriarch, his strength is truly shocking."
"Duan Ling Tian will probably be fine today, as a Void Stage powerhouse had appeared. Although this Xue Lu is the City Guard Army Commander, I’m afraid he’s probably going to be helpless."
...
Under the sounds of discussion from the crowd of Paladin Academy students, Xue Lu’s expression turned more and more unsightly.
Never had he expected that the Duan Clan would actually send a Half-step Void Stage powerhouse for the sake of Duan Ling Tian!
With the presence of this Half-step Void Stage powerhouse, not to mention him, even if he were to lead the 1,000 City Guard Army behind him, he would still be unable to stop Duan Zhen….And if Duan Zhen wanted to take Duan Ling Tian to leave with him, it would be extremely easy!
"Let’s go!" Thinking up to this point, Xue Lu chose to retreat for the sake of advancing, and his icy cold gaze that had killing intent hidden within flashed past Duan Ling Tian’s location.
Duan Ling Tian’s brows knitted, and didn’t take Xue Lu’s threat to heart. As far as he was concerned, if Xue Lu were to dare come looking for him, it would be outright suicide!
However, the appearance of Grand Elder Duan Zhen today did, however, allow him to save a Bone Corrosion Inscription.
The City Guard Army had arrived in full fury, but now they all retreated, causing some of the people who came to watch the show to be unable to stop themselves from sighing.
"I originally thought this Commander Xue Lu would go all out, but I never expected that he would only start out with a bang but end with a whimper."
"Yes, it’s really not worth talking about, and it’s just a waste of my time."
"It isn’t really a waste of time, at least we know the cause and effect of the matter…This Duan Ling Tian is really too courageous, actually daring to cripple the only son of Commander Xue Lu!"
"Yeah, this isn’t something just anyone would dare do."
...
After the City Guard Army retreated, the crowd that came to watch the scene dispersed as well.
"Thank you, Grand Elder, for coming to my rescue." Duan Ling Tian smiled to Duan Zhen. Even though he was still confident in escaping if Duan Zhen hadn’t come, since Duan Zhen had arrived, it saved him a Bone Corrosion Inscription, so it was necessary for him to express his gratitude.
"You really know how to stir up trouble, kid." Duan Zhen shook his head before his gaze descended onto the grey-clothed old man at the side. "Zhan Xiong, long time no see."
"It’s really been a long time…It’s at least been more than 10 years, right?" Zhang Xiong nodded, and he obviously knew Duan Zhen.
"I’ll be taking my leave first." Duan Zhen nodded to Zhan Xiong, before looking at Duan Ling Tian "Kid, should I send you home?"
"Grand Elder, it isn’t necessary, I’ll return home myself." Duan Ling Tian shook his head.
Duan Zhen nodded and didn’t say anything before returning into the carriage and directly leaving.
"Duan Ling Tian, aren’t you worried that Xue Lu will turn around and catch you off guard?" Zhan Xiong looked at Duan Ling Tian as he asked with a smile.
"I hope he does return." Under Zhan Xiong’s stupefied expression, Duan Ling Tian said his farewells to Xiao Yu and Xiao Xun before leaving.
Xiao Yu and Xiao Xun heaved a sigh of relief.
"I never expected the Duan Clan’s Grand Elder would come personally…Could it be that Duan Ling Tian knew of it beforehand? No wonder he was so composed." Xiao Yu’s brows lightly moved as he guessed.
"To think I was still worried about him." Xiao Xun shook his head with a bitter smile on his face.
Meanwhile, the crowd of students at the gate dispersed.
Within their hearts, however, shock arose.
The Duan Clan actually kept Duan Ling Tian in such high regard!
Even asking a Void Stage powerhouse to come forward for Duan Ling Tian….