Chapter 3123: Zhou Hong Jie
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
“I agree.” As soon as Duan Ling Tian finished speaking, the valley seemed to regain its peace as the Pavilion Master of the Imperial Tutor Pavilion no longer spoke.
Duan Ling Tian waited for a moment before he called out, “Senior…”
Swoosh!
Before Duan Ling Tian finished speaking, a token flew out of the ancient palace. He raised his hand and caught it. After that, he lowered his head to look at the token. There were some complex patterns inscribed around the token’s edges. The center of the token was blank. When he turned it around, he saw three bold words: Profound Nether Mansion. Underneath the three words were three smaller words: Outer Court Disciple.
“This identity token proves your status as the Profound Nether Mansion’s outer court disciple. Inscribe your name on the blank space on the token and establish ownership by dripping a drop of your blood on it. With that, you’re officially an outer disciple of the Profound Nether Mansion… With this identity, you’ll be allowed to use the Transporting Formation that’ll bring you to the Southern Heaven Ancient Realm, obtain an Accumulative Jade, and enter the middle realm of the Southern Heaven Ancient Realm!” The Pavilion Master of the Imperial Tutor Pavilion’s voice rang in Duan Ling Tian’s ears again after he caught the order token. “You’re only allowed to stay in the middle realm for ten days every month. Ask the person who brought you here to arrange your accommodation in the mansion. Once you successfully maintain your position at number one for 12 months in a row, you’ll become the Imperial Tutor of the Profound Nether Mansion. At that time, you’ll enjoy the privilege and the cultivation resources that come with that position.”
Duan Ling Tian no longer said anything and contacted Qi Tian Ming immediately through a Communication Celestial Talisman. He had exchanged Soul Pearls with Qi Tian Ming during their journey to the Profound Nether Mansion so it was convenient for him to contact Qi Tian Ming.
…
“Maintain the first place on the scoreboard of the middle realm of the Southern Heaven Ancient Realm for 12 months in a row?” Qi Tian Ming was stunned when he learned about the Imperial Tutor Pavilion’s test from Duan Ling Tian. The test was too difficult! After all, Duan Ling Tian was not even 100 years old. In the history of the Southern Heaven Territory, there were no Ten Directions Celestial Dukes younger than the age of 100 who had placed first on the scoreboard. In fact, the number of Ten Directions Celestial Dukes below the age of 100 who had entered the middle realm was incredibly low as well. Moreover, the few Ten Directions Celestial Dukes under the age of 100 had only entered the middle realm for the experience. They would shatter their Accumulative Point Jades as soon as they met an opponent. And yet, the Pavilion Master of the Imperial Tutor Pavilion had said Duan Ling Tian could only become the Imperial Tutor of the Profound Nether Mansion if he managed to maintain the first place for 12 months in a row!
If that had always been the requirement to become an Imperial Tutor of the Profound Nether Mansion, Qi Tian Ming was no longer surprised there was no Imperial Tutor in the Profound Nether Mansion over the last 30,000 years. If he did not meet Duan Ling Tian, there would not even be a chance of someone being selected as an Imperial Tutor candidate even after another 30,000 years had passed.
“That’s right.” Duan Ling Tian nodded. “I think the test is rather difficult as well… However, there’s nothing I can do but to agree to it.”
“Indeed. Even Lord Mansion Master wouldn’t be able to change the mind of the Pavilion Master of the Imperial Tutor Pavilion, let alone someone like me,” Qi Tian Ming said with a sigh as he brought Duan Ling Tian back to his cultivation place, an independent courtyard located on another main island in the Profound Nether Mansion’s estate.
The cultivation environment in Qi Tian Ming’s residence was the best Duan Ling Tian had encountered since he ascended to the Spirit Overarching Heaven. Even the cultivation environment in the valley where the Pavilion Master of the Imperial Tutor Pavilion resided was not as good. Naturally, inside the pavilion master’s residence, the cultivation environment was undoubtedly superior.
“You can live with me temporarily.” Qi Tian Ming said.
“Elder Qi, will I bother you?” Duan Ling Tian could sense Qi Tian Ming’s kind intentions. “Since I’m an outer court disciple of the Profound Nether Mansion, I’m sure there is a residence for outer court disciples that I can stay in…”
“Of course, there’s a residence for the outer court disciples. However, the cultivation environment there can’t compare to the cultivation environment here,” Qi Tian Ming said, “It’s a waste of your talent to cultivate there. You can stay here for now. You’ll be able to live in the Imperial Tutor Pavilion once you pass the test. Although I’ve never been inside the Imperial Tutor Pavilion, I know the cultivation environment there is the best in the entire Profound Nether Mansion’s estate. Even the mansion master cultivates in seclusion there all the time.”
“The mansion master cultivated in seclusion in the Imperial Tutor Pavilion all the time?” Duan Ling Tian was taken aback when he learned that even the mansion master’s cultivation environment was inferior to the cultivation environment in the Imperial Tutor Pavilion.
Although Duan Ling Tian did not place too much importance on his cultivation environment since he had the Divine Tree of Life’s help, he still wanted to become the Imperial Tutor of the Profound Nether Mansion. He might not care about his cultivation environment, but he cared about the cultivation resources that could quickly improve his strength.
After a moment, Duan Ling Tian looked at Qi Tian Ming and asked, “Elder Qi, where’s the Transporting Formation to the middle realm of the Southern Heaven Ancient Realm?”
“Why? Are you planning on entering the middle realm of the Southern Heaven Ancient Realm now?” Qi Tian Ming was taken aback.
“During our journey here, didn’t you say the scoreboard would be refreshed at the start of the new month? There are only 7 days left before the start of the new month…” Duan Ling Tian said as his eyes flashed.
“You’re planning to spend these 7 days in the middle realm and rank first on the scoreboard?” Qi Tian Ming asked as he shook his head. “Duan Ling Tian, put aside the fact that the Celestial Dukes who enter the middle realm are all extraordinary, even if you’re so strong that you can defeat all of them, it’s impossible for you to rank first if you enter now.”
“Why?” Duan Ling Tian was puzzled.
“It’s because it’s almost the end of the month. Most powerful Celestial Dukes have already used up the ten days they could spend in the middle realm and have obtained their points. Usually, the competition is most stiff at the beginning and the middle of the month. Therefore, near the end of the month, there are very few people in the middle realm. With so few people, even if you’re invincible, you won’t be able to obtain enough points to rank first,” Qi Tian Ming said.
Since most of the stronger Celestial Dukes with a lot of points had used up their time in the middle realm of the Southern Heaven Ancient Realm, they could only wait for the scoreboard to be reset. It was not just strong Celestial Dukes, most Celestial Dukes had already used up their time in the middle realm at the end of the month. Therefore, just as Qi Tian Ming had said, even if Duan Ling Tian was invincible, he would not be able to rank first. How was he going to rank first if there was no one for him to defeat?
“I see.” Nonetheless, Duan Ling Tian still planned to enter the middle realm of the Southern Heaven Ancient Realm. Even if he would not be able to earn enough points to rank first this month, he would benefit from familiarizing himself with the middle realm. It would make things easier for him next month.
After Duan Ling Tian shared his thoughts with Qi Tian Ming, Qi Tian Ming agreed with him. “You have a point. I’ll bring you the Transporting Formation closest to us now…”
Each of the three main islands in the Profound Nether Mansion’s estate had a Transporting Formation that led to the middle realm of the Southern Heaven Ancient Realm.
Soon after, Duan Ling Tian and Qi Tian Ming arrived at their destination. They had arrived outside of a huge courtyard. Unlike Qi Tian Ming’s residence, the front yard was much more spacious.
At this moment, there were many people gathered in front of a screen in the middle of the yard. They would point at it occasionally as they spoke among themselves.
“Han Qing Mansion’s Liu Ji only entered the middle realm five days ago, but he has accumulated so many points. Moreover, his points are still increasing! I think it won’t be hard for him to rank in the top thirty this time.”
“I’m keeping an eye on the Green Spirit Mansion’s Leng Yun You. He’s the latest person to break into the top twenty. In just an hour, his time in the middle realm would be up, but he’s already in the eleventh place. He’s close to surpassing the person who ranks tenth. He’s only ten points away from overtaking the tenth place. I wonder if he’ll be able to do it with just an hour left!”
“I have my eyes on Leng Yun You as well… He ranked in the top ten quite frequently last year. I don’t think it’d be difficult for him to rank in the top ten again.”
The people discussing among themselves in the yard made for a very lively scene.
“I think Senior Brother Zhou Hong Jie hasn’t ranked in the top twenty for almost a year now, right?”
As soon as these words fell, everyone in the yard abruptly fell silent.
For this reason, the footsteps of Duan Ling Tian and Qi Tian Ming who were walking in at this moment were particularly loud. The sound caught everyone’s attention immediately.
Many of these people recognized Qi Tian Ming and greeted him immediately.
“Lord Inspector!”
“Lord Inspector!”
With this, even more people began to greet Qi Tian Ming.
The position of an inspector was rather high in the Profound Nether Mansion after all. They were only behind the mansion master and the pavilion masters. Although the position might be slightly lower than that of a vice mansion master, their strength was the same. After all, vice mansion masters only got their positions due to them being descendants of the Profound Nether Mansion’s founding fathers.
As Qi Tian Ming nodded in response to the greetings, he said to Duan Ling Tian through Voice Transmission, “Zhou Hong Jie is the disciple I mentioned previously. He’s the Ten Directions Celestial Duke from the Profound Nether Mansion who has comprehended seven profundities from the law of wood… He’s one of the few core disciples in the Profound Nether Mansion who has yet to become a Celestial King.”