Chapter 3520: ‘Privilege’
Compared to Ling Jue Yun who had an extraordinary background, people thought Duan Ling Tian had relied on his own strength to come this far. Therefore, the crowd was more impressed and shocked when Duan Ling Tian revealed the strength of a Six Star God of War.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Ling Jue Yun and Tang San Pao continued fighting a fierce battle. After exchanging 300 moves, both of them were still evenly matched. None of them could gain the upper hand. Unlike the match between Yu Dong Fang, the third true disciple of the Heavenly Emperor of the Pavilion Shaft Heaven, and Zhong Gui Yu where both opponents were evenly matched in the beginning, but the balance tilted when Yu Dong Fang acted rashly, the duo was very patient and level-headed.
“Ling Jue Yun,” Tang San Pao called out as he distanced himself from Ling Jue Yun. “Why don’t we call it a tie since it’s difficult to decide on a winner? Although the Title Temple gave me a divine artifact, based on your status, you should have a divine artifact as well. I’m sure you’ve yet to bring it out because you want to defeat me relying on your own strength. If we end the match in a tie, you’ll still rank ahead of me…”
Ling Jue Yun nodded in agreement because it was truly difficult to decide on a winner unless they continued to battle to see who would get exhausted first or who would make a mistake first. However, that would be meaningless. Based on their temperament and experience, it could continue on for months before any one of them made a mistake.
“However…” Tang San Pao continued to say, “My goal in participating in the Battle of the Geniuses is to rank first so I can obtain the Exploding Element Celestial Fruit. I don’t care about the rank, but I can’t allow you to have the Exploding Element Celestial Fruit. Hence, I hope you’ll concede the Exploding Element Celestial Fruit to me… Naturally, I’ll compensate you for this. Alternatively, we can draw lots to decide who gets to have the Exploding Element Celestial Fruit.”
Tang San Pao sighed after he finished speaking. Initially, he had been confident he would be able to obtain the Exploding Element Celestial Fruit. He did not expect Ling Jue Yun would be evenly matched with him. Moreover, there was also Duan Ling Tian who was as strong as a Six Star God of War. In the end, his intuition was right: Duan Ling Tian and Ling Jue Yun were his greatest obstacles to obtaining the Exploding Element Celestial Fruit in the Devata Realms’ Battle of the Geniuses.
“Let’s draw lots to decide,” Ling Jue Yun said, “I want the Exploding Element Celestial Fruit as well.”
“Alright.” Tang San Pao nodded. This was the best way to deal with the matter since they were both evenly matched.
“However, don’t you think it’s too early for us to discuss this matter?” Ling Jue Yun said as he glanced at Duan Ling Tian. “Do you think we’ll be able to defeat him?”
Tang San Pao’s eyes glinted as he said, “We’ll see soon enough.”
Just as the duo was about to leave the battle ring, a voice rang in the air.
“Wait.”
A figure flew out of a floating island and appeared before everyone’s eyes.
“It’s the legendary Heavenly Emperor, Feng Qing Yang!”
“What’s Heavenly Emperor Feng Qing Yang trying to do?”
“Who knows?”
The crowd was naturally curious.
At the same time, Xu Kong Hai, the Vice Temple Master of the main Title Temple, raised an eyebrow and asked, “Heavenly Emperor Feng Qing Yang, what are you trying to do?”
“Vice Temple Master Xu,” Feng Qing Yang said with a faint smile, “An urgent matter suddenly came up so my disciple and I have to leave earlier than expected. Therefore, I hope his matches with Tang San Pao and Ling Jue Yun can be brought forward…”
“Heavenly Emperor Feng, if that’s the case, you can leave with your disciple first. After all, even if he doesn’t participate in the upcoming matches, he’ll likely still rank third. I’m sure everyone agrees with my judgment,” Xu Kong Hai said tonelessly. Inwardly, he was relieved because this meant his junior nephew, Tang San Pao, would have one less opponent to contend with. Since Duan Ling Tian’s strength was heaven-defying, he was not 100% certain his junior nephew would win. After a moment, he added, “You should be familiar with the rules of the Battle of Geniuses…”
“Of course,” Feng Qing Yang nodded and said, “That’s why I know it’s not against the rules for my disciple’s matches to be brought forward. If I’m not mistaken, there’s a rule that states that under special circumstances, the top 30 participants are allowed to issue a challenge at any time.”
“Special circumstances? Are you saying that…” Xu Kong Hai trailed off as an expression of shock and disbelief appeared on his face.
“That’s right.” Feng Qing Yang nodded. “My disciple will challenge both Tang San Pao and Ling Jue Yun who rank higher than him at the same time. Naturally, Tang San Pao and Ling Jue Yun can rest until they recover their strength before we proceed with the match.”
Silence descended on the venue of the Devata Realms’ Battle of the Geniuses as soon as Feng Qing Yang’s voice fell.
Indeed, such a rule existed for the Devata Realms’ Battle of the Geniuses. The top 30 participants could issue a challenge at any time during the bout to determine the final rankings if they were willing to fight against two opponents at once. Naturally, such a ‘privilege’ was only given to those who were truly outstanding.
“Heavens! So this was Heavenly Emperor Feng Qing Yang’s intention? He wants his only true disciple to fight Tang San Pao and Ling Jue Yun at the same time?”
“Although Duan Ling Tian is as strong as a Six Star God of War, so are Tang San Pao and Ling Jue Yun!”
“Why is Heavenly Emperor Feng Qing Yang so confident that Duan Ling Tian will be able to take on two opponents at the same time?”
Everyone, including the Heavenly Emperors of the various Devata Realms and the high-ranking officials of the Title Temple branches, were shocked by Feng Qing Yang’s work.
Even Ding Fu, the Heavenly Emperor of the Primeval Heaven, who was seated next to Feng Qing Yang did not see this coming.
Wei Qi’s eyes shone as he said, “Master, it seems like Junior Uncle Feng is confident Junior Brother Duan will win even if he has to face two opponents at the same time…”
Ding Fu nodded. “If I’m not mistaken, Brother Feng must have given Junior Nephew Duan Ling Tian a weapon he found in the Asura Hell. Naturally, there’s also the possibility that Junior Nephew Duan Ling Tian still hasn’t shown his full strength…”
“He’s still hiding his true strength?” Wei Qi was shocked. “Don’t tell me he’s as strong as a top Six Star God of War? Is that possible when he’s not even 700 years old?”
Ding Fu shook his head. His eyes gleamed brightly as he said, “Even if he’s as strong as a top Six Star God of War, it’d be difficult for him to face Tang San Pao and Ling Jue Yun at the same time. After all, Tang San Pao and Ling Jue Yun’s strength is almost comparable to a top Six Star God of War. The only he’ll be able to win is if he’s as strong as a Seven Star God of War!”
“A Seven Star God of War?” Wei Qi inhaled sharply. Then, he said skeptically, “Is that possible? How can someone who has yet to reach 700 years old possess the strength of a Seven Star God of War? It’s unprecedented in the history of the Devata Realms, right?”
“That’s why I think it’s likely that Brother Feng has given Junior Nephew Duan a secret weapon from the Asura Hell. Perhaps, it’s a prominent divine artifact with an artifact soul… Divine artifacts are divided into primitive, mediocre, prominent, supreme, and the peerless grade,” Ding Fu said.
At the same time, Xu Kong Hai looked at Feng Qing Yang meaningfully as he said, “Indeed, the Title Temple has such a rule in place for the Devata Realms’ Battle of the Geniuses. However, there’s a condition for that rule. During the match, no external tools are allowed. This means Tang San Pao, Ling Jue Yun, and Duan Ling Tian are prohibited from using their Celestial Weapons or any external tools during their match.”
Similar to Ding Fu, Xu Kong Hai assumed Feng Qing Yang must have given Duan Ling Tian a secret weapon that he had obtained from the Asura Hell that would give Duan Ling Tian an edge over his opponents. Therefore, he had quickly made up a condition on behalf of the Title Temple.
“As you wish.”
Upon hearing Feng Qing Yang’s response, the corners of Xu Kong Hai’s lips twitched slightly. He did not expect Feng Qing Yang would easily agree to this condition. He began to wonder why Feng Qing Yang had so much confidence in Duan Ling Tian.