4655 Duan Ling Tian, the God Defying Sword

"Your moves are flashy, but they're useless," Duan Ling Tian said when faced with the Ascending Clouds Sage's fierce attack. He raised his hand, and a small sword ray shot out of his finger. The sword ray was like a small star compared to the Ascending Clouds Sage's gigantic Heaven Soaring sword ray.

However, the seemingly insignificant sword ray exploded with a powerful force when it collided with the Heaven Soaring sword ray, instantly crushing the latter. Then, it continued shooting toward the Ascending Clouds Sage without showing any signs of slowing down.

"The seventh Dao Establishment stage?!" the Ascending Clouds Sage exclaimed in shock. In the next moment, the anger in his eyes was replaced with shock and despair. He quickly pleaded, "I admit defeat! Please spare me, senior!"

The Ascending Clouds Sage hurriedly retreated and begged for mercy when he sensed the murderous that Duan Ling Tian's attack emitted. He formed layers of protection with all his might, but they were all easily destroyed by Duan Ling Tian's sword ray. After all, the gap between the seventh and the sixth stage of the Sword Dao was too big. He had been studying the Sword Dao for many years and had not been making any progress, but Duan Ling Tian had reached the stage of the Sword Dao that he had been dreaming of.

Duan Ling Tian scoffed coldly.

In the next moment, the sword ray shot past the Ascending Clouds Sage, grazing the side of his head and taking away a few strands of his grey-and-white hair before vanishing into thin air.

"Thank you for sparing my life, senior!"

The Ascending Clouds Sage trembled in fear as his unkempt hair fluttered in the air. He deeply regretted his earlier arrogance at this moment. As the strongest person in the Distinct Province, his arrogance had been deeply engraved in his bones, after all. Although there were another two level-six Dao Establishment cultivators in the Distinct Province, none of them was a match for him. He naturally did not expect the person who came to challenge him today to be at least a level-seven Dao Establishment powerhouse. Not only that, but the other party seemed to be stronger than ordinary level-seven Dao Establishment powerhouses.

At this moment, the other members of the Misty Cloud Sect, who were shocked by the turn of events, also apologized to Duan Ling Tian one after another after returning to their senses.

"Senior, please forgive us for offending you earlier!"

"Senior, please forgive me!"

Duan Ling Tian looked at the Ascending Clouds Sage and asked indifferently, "So, did I win the challenge today?"

"Of course!" the Ascending Clouds Sage said hastily as he nodded, "Senior, your strength far surpasses mine. It's only right to say that you're now the strongest powerhouse in the Distinct Province!"

"Very good," Duan Ling Tian said as he nodded in satisfaction, "I came to challenge you to make a name for myself, after all…"

After a pause, Duan Ling Tian said in a voice that echoed in the entire Misty Cloud Sect, "Remember. My name is Duan Ling Tian. I'm known as the God Defying Sword among my friends and opponents. Spread the word that I, the God Defying Sword, am now the strongest person in the Distinct Province. Those who are dissatisfied are welcome to challenge me at the Soaring Wind Inn in the capital city."

Duan Ling Tian had given himself the title, the God Defying Sword, because he was worried that his other family members and friends might think it was just a person who shared the same name as him when they heard about him. However, with the title God Defying Sword, they would have no doubt that it was him.

After that, Duan Ling Tian turned around and left in just a blink of an eye.

"Duan Ling Tian, the God Defying Sword?" the Ascending Clouds Sage muttered under his breath after he regained his senses. He had never heard of Duan Ling Tian before. As such, he assumed that Duan Ling Tian was a wandering cultivator who had just come out of seclusion, shaking the entire Distinct Province as soon as he appeared.

At this moment, a high-ranking official of the Misty Cloud Sect approached the Ascending Clouds Sage. He said respectfully with a flattering expression on his face, "Senior granduncle, Lord Duan said earlier that he's staying in an inn in the capital city. It seems like he doesn't have his own place yet because he had just come out of seclusion. Our sect owns several properties in the capital city. Why don't we give him one of our properties as a gesture of goodwill? After all, when his reputation spreads, it'll be very unlikely for him to accept our gesture of goodwill. There's no doubt many of the prominent families in the capital city will be scrambling to show their goodwill to him at that time…"

The Ascending Clouds Sage's eyes lit up upon hearing this suggestion. He patted the man's shoulder and said with a satisfied expression, "What a brilliant idea! An Yu, it seems like I've underestimated you in the past."

Then, the Ascending Clouds Sage turned to look at the dignified middle-aged man next to him and said, "Sect Leader, prepare the best property our sect owns in the capital city and follow me to the Soaring Wind Inn in the capital city to meet Lord Duan."

After a moment, the Ascending Clouds Sage added, "An Yu, you should come with us as well."

"Yes, grandmaster."

"Yes, senior granduncle."

An Yu could barely conceal his excitement. He could sense the envious gazes of his senior brothers.

After the Sect Leader of the Misty Cloud Sect made the arrangements, they quickly departed for the Soaring Wind Inn in the capital city.

…

"Did someone want to challenge me so soon?"

Duan Ling Tian raised an eyebrow. Only two days had passed since he returned from the Misty Clouds Sect. When he saw the Ascending Clouds Sage and another two men, he assumed they came to inform him that someone wanted to challenge him.

The Ascending Clouds Sage said with a smile, "That's not it, Lord Duan. We came to offer you a property of ours. Previously, you said you were staying in an inn. Considering that you just came to the Distinct Province, I asked the sect leader to prepare a property for you as a gift from us."

Then, the Ascending Clouds Sage said to the Sect Leader of the Misty Cloud Sect, "Tell Lord Duan about the property."

The Sect Leader of the Misty Cloud Sect stepped forward and bowed respectfully before he said, "Greetings, Lord Duan. I'm Wu Dan Qing, the Sect Leader of the Misty Cloud Sect. My lord, the property we prepared for you is located…"

Duan Ling Tian naturally understood their intention. It was obvious that this was a gesture of goodwill. Since he had just arrived in the capital of the Distinct Province, it was true that he needed a place of his own. After all, his family members were with him. With a permanent residence, they could also settle down properly. They would be staying here for a while since he planned to wait and see if any of his other family members and friends would look for him.