Celestial Dragon Sword Venerable-Chapter 98: Bargaining with a Tiger for Its Skin
"Qingyu Fairy, this young man?"
The old man’s expression was cold and detached, and he made no effort to conceal his sinister aura, even when facing Lin Qingyu.
"Master Guan, this man is a Loose Cultivator. I captured him after he attempted to assault me on my journey. I know you enjoy studying Bloodline Power. Although he is only at the First Heaven of Sword Spirit, his battle power is quite impressive. Furthermore, his physical defense is astonishingly high. He was completely unscathed even after taking a blow from me at half my strength."
Lin Qingyu promptly relayed the information.
Of course, she had also deliberately concealed a portion of the truth.
"A powerful physique?"
The sinister old man, Master Guan, suddenly had his eyes light up. His viper-like gaze slithered over Ye Tianling’s body twice before he frowned slightly and added, "His soul is too weak, his Bloodline Power is faint and indistinct, and I can’t sense a Qi Sea Pillar in his Dantian. Are you sure his physique is that strong?"
Lin Qingyu nodded earnestly. "How could I dare deceive you, Master Guan? Why don’t you test him for yourself and find out?"
The sinister old man nodded slightly. His viper-like eyes suddenly turned blood-red, and a crimson light shot out like a sharp sword, stabbing viciously toward the spot between Ye Tianling’s eyebrows.
If Ye Tianling could block it as Lin Qingyu claimed, then he would naturally have "research" value.
If he couldn’t, he would die.
This attack was only at the level of the First Heaven of Sword Soul. Ye Tianling could have withstood it even without activating his Golden Bell Shield and Iron Cloth Shirt cultivation techniques.
But this ruthless strike was suffused with killing intent. If he failed to block it, it would not only split his skull but also shatter his soul; the technique was vicious to the extreme.
The Great Prohibition Talisman was no longer effective on Ye Tianling, and the Celestial Net Talisman merely restricted some of his physical movements. He was now able to circulate the Innate True Qi within his body.
Ye Tianling frowned slightly, allowing the attack to strike the spot between his eyebrows without activating his Golden Bell Shield or Iron Cloth Shirt cultivation techniques to block it.
TING—
Sure enough, the attack was blocked.
Although it didn’t leave so much as a scratch between his eyebrows, the Vibrating Power was still piercingly painful, and anger began to smolder within Ye Tianling.
"Huh? His physique really is this powerful!"
The old man’s eyes shone like two divine lamps, emitting a dreadful crimson glow as he stared intently at Ye Tianling.
Ye Tianling activated his Soul Mirror Talent, and information about the old man immediately presented itself.
’Guan Tianya, Sword Void Seven Transformation Realm. He was injured while undergoing a Tribulation at the Sword Tribulation Realm, and has been re-cultivating ever since his Realm dropped. His Sword Soul is damaged. He excels at the Clear Void Alchemy Skill. Sword Dao Talent? Bloodline Talent?’
After sensing this partial information about Guan Tianya, Ye Tianling couldn’t help but feel a chill.
’This man was once a peerless expert at the Sword Tribulation Realm! Even though his Realm dropped significantly after failing his Tribulation, he’s managed to cultivate all the way back to the Sword Void Seven Transformation Realm.’
’A Realm like that is enough to kill anyone in an instant!’
Ye Tianling’s expression grew grave, and he immediately began to plot his escape.
Ye Tianling then turned his gaze to the other three young men and two young women.
He quickly discovered that all five were True Disciples of the Celestial Sword Sect, their Realms being either the First or Second Heaven of Sword Soul.
They were Yang Qingyun, Zhou Qinghao, Xu Qingchen, Yang Qingyue, and Lin Qingxi.
The "Qing" generation of True Disciples from the Celestial Sword Sect held a status nearly equivalent to the top True Disciples of the Nine Swords Sect.
’Though they held a similar status, the likes of Xiao Zhengnan, Qin Tianzhao, and Wang Yufei from the Nine Swords Sect seemed to be more than a step below them.’
’However, Ye Tianling also knew that when he fought Xiao Zhengnan and Qin Tianzhao nearly two months ago, he had used Dragon Blood Burning and the Tree Cutting Slaughter Technique—his ultimate trump cards. Those techniques were overwhelmingly powerful and directly consumed his Dragon Soul Divine Blood, which was the only reason Xiao Zhengnan and the others had seemed so pathetic in comparison.’
’If he were to unleash those moves now, the six people before him would likely meet the same fate: instant death.’
’Besides, two months was a long time. Every True Disciple would have grown significantly in that period, so the gap between the top True Disciples of the two major sects probably wasn’t that large after all.’
As Ye Tianling sorted through these thoughts, the look of satisfaction in Guan Tianya’s eyes intensified.
A sinister smile spread across his face, making him look even more ghoulish and wicked.
"Excellent, excellent."
Guan Tianya sized up Ye Tianling’s body for a long moment before exclaiming in admiration.
"A physique like this is truly superb."
Lin Qingyu immediately agreed.
Just then, from the group of five, Lin Qingxi spoke up. "Since this young man’s physique is so powerful, his origins must be extraordinary. If there isn’t some deep-seated hatred between you, it would be better to make peace and let him go."
Guan Tianya shot Lin Qingxi a cold glance. "If it weren’t for Xiao Qingzhu, you’d be dead for that sentence alone! Who do you think you are, little girl, to interfere with someone I, Guan Tianya, have taken an interest in?"
Guan Tianya’s harsh words made the expressions of Yang Qingyue and Xu Qingchen, who stood beside Lin Qingxi, turn ugly.
"Master Guan, what do you mean by that?!"
Xu Qingchen snapped coldly.
Guan Tianya gave Xu Qingchen an indifferent glance. "You little brats had better behave. In my eyes, the Celestial Sword Sect is nothing special. Back when I dominated the Sword Tribulation Realm, even that old fool, the Thousand Tribulations Wanderer, wouldn’t have dared to get out of line in front of me!"
Yang Qingyun sneered. "A pity that was then, and this is now. Some old fossils just can’t face reality. Our Master is in constant contact with us. Since you’re so incredible, Master Guan, please, feel free to keep acting high and mighty. As for the secret entrance to the Celestial Dragon Sword Tomb, I guess we can just forget about cooperating!"
Guan Tianya’s expression instantly darkened.
Lin Qingyu quickly stepped in to mediate. "Everyone, this collaboration is a massive opportunity. Peerless treasures will emerge from that hidden entrance to the Celestial Dragon Sword Tomb. And Master Guan has both the experience and the reputation for this; he’s just a bit aloof."
With Lin Qingyu having spoken, neither side said anything more.
Lin Qingyu added, "Besides, what’s the big deal? He’s just a lowly Loose Cultivator. Even if he has some Bloodline Talent and a strong constitution, what kind of background could he possibly have? He wouldn’t have ended up like this if he hadn’t tried to use his despicable tricks to assault and humiliate me. A Demon like him being captured by Master Guan for research is exactly what he deserves. Junior Sister Qingxi, there’s no need to plead for him."
After Lin Qingyu finished, Guan Tianya also reined in some of his ferocity, concealing the killing intent he had been suppressing.
Ye Tianling saw this and sneered inwardly. ’Trying to negotiate with a tiger. These people are simply courting death.’
’And this Lin Qingyu... her motives are far from pure.’
’In contrast, Yang Qingyue and Lin Qingxi seem much more straightforward and kind-hearted.’
