Chapter 3755 - Coercion

"Who are you?!" Hou Qing Ning cried out when he saw the black-clad break into his room.

The intruder waved his hand, sending a wave of terrifying energy his way. In just a blink of an eye, Hou Qing Ning was bound by the energy, and his Divine Energy was also suppressed, making him unable to mobilize it at all. When he tried to call for help, he discovered he could not make a sound at all. Even his eyes were forcefully shut by the energy. On top of that, he felt suffocated by the energy.

Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!

Hou Qing Ning knew he had been taken out of his room when he felt and heard the wind. Perhaps, he had even been brought out of the Hidden Fog Academy.

Hou Qing Ning speculated inwardly, 'Who is he? Is he an enemy of the Ten Thousand Leaves Sect? However, when did our sect have such a powerful enemy? Even my uncle, who's the strongest in the sect, won't be able to bring me away from the academy without alerting the dean. After all, the residence for Ten Stars students is near the residence of the dean and the teachers... Even if the teachers aren't alerted, the dean should've been alerted if there was an intruder since the dean is a Lord of Gods. This means the person who kidnapped me is at least a Lord of Gods. It's impossible for our sect to provoke such a person!'

Hou Qing Ning was filled with apprehensions at this moment. He continued to speculate inwardly, 'He could've easily killed me, but he didn't. This means I'm of use to him alive...'

With all these thoughts in mind, Hou Qing Ning grew even more anxious and confused. He really could figure out why such a person would kidnap him. Who did he or the Ten Thousand Leaves Sect offend? Thump!

While Hou Qing Ning was lost in his thoughts, a loud sound and the sharp pain in his back pulled him back to his senses. He had clearly been tossed to the ground. When he landed on the ground, he discovered that he had regained mobility, no longer bound by that energy. He could also see, and his Divine Energy was no longer suppressed. Nonetheless, he did not dare to rashly mobilize his Divine Energy. After all, the other party could easily crush him like an ant. Hence, he only opened his eyes to look at the person who kidnapped him. He wanted to see who was it that he or the Thousand Leaves Sect offended.

When Hou Qing Ning opened his eyes, he saw that he had been brought to a deserted place. He was now leaning against a tree trunk. Clearly, his back had hit the tree when the other party tossed him out earlier. When he saw the black-clad hooded man, a confused expression on his face.

"Senior, may I ask... who, who are you?"

The black-clad man did not respond to Huo Qing Ning's question. Instead, he said in a hoarse voice, "Look at the city in front of you."

Despite the other party deliberately making his voice sound hoarse, Hou Qing Ning could tell the voice belonged to an old man. When he heard the other party's words, he instinctively looked ahead. With just a look, he was stunned. "Ten, Ten Thousand Leaves City?"

How could Hou Qing Ning not recognize Ten Thousand Leaves City? This was the place he grew up in, after all.

The Ten Thousand Leaves Sect was the force behind Ten Thousand Leaves City. Although the city was not as large as Skywind City, it was still a fairly prosperous city.

"Why did you bring me from Skywind City to Ten Thousand Leaves City..." Hou Qing Ning trailed off as chills ran up his spine. Considering the time it took for him to arrive at this place from Skywind City, he knew even the strongest advanced King of Gods would not be capable of this speed. Hence, the other party was definitely a Lord of Gods at least. Hou Qing Ning shuddered inwardly with this revelation. He did not understand why such a powerhouse would kidnap him and bring him back to Ten Thousand Leaves City. He could tell the other party did not have good intentions.

Hou Qing Ning could not control the trembling in his voice as he asked, "S-senior, why, why did you... bring me here? What, what do you want from me? I don't think I or the Ten Thousand Leaves Sect have ever offended

you..."

Panic welled up in Hou Qing Ning's heart. Let alone killing him, such a powerhouse could easily destroy the Ten Thousand Leaves Sect.

The black-clad man slowly said, "Neither you nor the sect has offended me..."

Hou Qing Ning sighed in relief inwardly. Then, he asked, "Then, what business do you have with me, senior?".

"Are you friends with Duan Ling Tian?"

Hou Qing Ning, who had just heaved a sigh of relief, froze upon hearing these words. His expression changed drastically when he realized the other party targeted him because of Duan Ling Tian. Hou Qing Ning had always been proud of having a friend like Duan Ling Tian. Even when everyone in the Hidden Fog Sect scolded Duan Ling Tian for his betrayal and the people from the Skywind City's Hidden Fog Academy questioned Duan Ling Tian's character for joining the Linghu clan after his departure from the sect, his confidence in Duan Ling Tian did not waver. Although he did not know Duan Ling Tian for a long time, he was certain Duan Ling Tian was not an ungrateful person and would not betray the Hidden Fog Sect without valid reasons.

Moreover, since he was from a relatively influential sect, he knew the inner workings of a sect very well. Since Duan Ling Tian had killed Shangguan Xiong Feng and Long Xiao, who were the disciples of two Supreme Elders of the Hidden Fog Sect, he knew the Hidden Fog Sect would not let Duan Ling Tian go easily. Since Duan Ling Tian left for the Linghu clan, the two supreme elders must have failed to detain him.

When Qian Yin, the Sect Leader of the Hidden Fog Sect, stepped forward to clear Duan Ling Tian's name and wished Duan Ling Tian well in the Linghu clan, Hou Qing Ning knew Duan Ling Tian's feud with the Hidden Fog Sect had come to an end. At the very least, the Hidden Fog Sect would no longer openly make things difficult for Duan Ling Tian. Although he did not know the reason for the Hidden Fog Sect's sudden change in attitude, at that time, he thought that Duan Ling Tian was truly amazing

When Hou Qing Ning received news from Linghu City a few months later, he finally figured out what happened. As it turned out, Duan Ling Tian had refined the Limit Divine Pills. Even if they were just god-grade Limit Divine Pills, it proved that Duan Ling Tian was monstrously talented in alchemy as well. Even lord-rank sects like the Hidden Fog Sect did not have alchemists with such capabilities. After all, one had to be a lord-rank divine alchemist to be able to refine the Limit Divine Pills. He finally understood why the Hidden Fog Sect took a step back. To put it bluntly, the Hidden Fog Sect was afraid.

Hou Qing Ning had been sincerely happy when he heard the news. He was still worried about Duan Ling Tian after Duan Ling Tian joined the Linghu clan. With this news, he felt much more at ease. He had planned to send a message to Duan Ling Tian to enquire about his wellbeing, but when he thought about Duan Ling Tian's current status and his own status, he dismissed the idea. Before he knew it, his friend had completely surpassed him to the point that it seemed impossible to catch up. Moreover, there was nothing he could do to help Duan Ling Tian.

"I wouldn't say we're friends," Hou Qing Ning finally replied as he shook his head, "Before he joined the Hidden Fog Sect, he was a Ten Stars student as well. At most, we can be considered acquaintances..." "Hmm?" The black-clad man's voice changed slightly as he asked, "Do you have his Soul Pearl?"

"No." Hou Qing Ning shook his head. He was very cautious now that he knew the black-clad man's target was Duan Ling Tian. It was clear the black-clad man intended to use him to deal with Duan Ling Tian.

"I'll give you another chance," the black-clad man said icily, "If you don't answer truthfully, I'll bring you the head of the Sect Leader of the Ten Thousand Leaves Sect within 15 minutes. I heard he's your father..."

Upon hearing these words, Hou Qing Ning's expression changed drastically. He did not expect a Lord of Gods would stoop so low and threatened him using his father. He did not doubt the other party's strength and words. The black-clad man said again, "Tell me the truth."

"I have it." Although Hou Qing Ning was reluctant, he had no choice but to be truthful. His hands were tightly clenched as guilt overwhelmed his heart. 'I'm sorry, Duan Ling Tian. I don't have a choice.'

"Very good," the black-clad man said, satisfied, "Follow me to Linghu City. If you cooperate with me, I'll let you and the Ten Thousand Leaves Sect go. Otherwise, I'll destroy your sect..."

The other party's frosty tone sent chills up Hou Qing Ning's spine. His hair stood on end, and his eyes widened in fear. He looked at the black-clad man with a gloomy expression and asked, "Who are you? What do you want?"