“Zhen Ping Fan.”

Deng Kui, the Silver Marionette Elder from the Marionette Villa, looked at Zhen Ping Fan, the Nirvanic Elder from the Pure Yang Sect. A hint of fear could be seen in his eyes as his expression darkened.

The status of a Silver Marionette Elder in the Marionette Villa was like that of a Nirvanic Elder in the Pure Yang Sect. Similarly, one had to be a rudimentary Emperor of Gods at least to be promoted to those positions.

Zhen Ping Fan looked at Deng Kui and smiled meaningfully as he asked, “Deng Kui, you look good. It seems like you’ve fully recovered from your injuries. How’s your grandfather? Has he recovered as well?”

Upon hearing this, Deng Kui’s expression changed drastically.

1,000 years ago, Deng Kui and his grandfather had visited the Pure Yang Sect in the Eastern Ridge Mansion. At that time, they had taken an interest in an item in the Pure Yang Sect. For that reason, they put up two precious items as stakes before inviting the cultivators of the Pure Yang Sect to a duel. If they lost, the two precious items would naturally go to the winner.

At that time, Deng Kui’s grandfather’s opponent was an Ascension Elder, who was an intermediate Emperor of Gods. Their duel was very fierce. In the end, the Ascension Elder suffered minor injuries while inflicting heavy injuries on Deng Kui’s grandfather; needless to say, the Ascension Elder won. After the duel, Deng Kui’s father focused on recovering. However, when he was almost fully recovered, he had to face his Heavenly Tribulation. As a result, his injuries worsened. It was still uncertain if he would be able to survive the next Heavenly Tribulation.

As for Deng Kui, his opponent at that time was Zhen Ping Fan, who was already a Nirvanic Elder back then. Zhen Ping Fan had defeated him within three moves. After all, Zhen Ping Fan’s strength was truly extraordinary. Despite being a rudimentary Emperor of Gods, Zhen Ping Fan’s strength was on par or possibly stronger than the strongest intermediate Emperor of Gods in the Marionette Villa.

At that time, both grandfather and grandson lost very miserably in the Pure Yang Sect.

Back in the present, Deng Kui took a deep breath before he forced a smile on his face and said, “Thank you for your concern, Elder Zhen. My grandfather has fully recovered after returning to the Marionette Villa.”

Hatred flooded Deng Kui’s heart when he looked at Zhen Ping Fan. After all, it took him a long time to recover from the injuries that Zhen Ping Fang inflicted on him back then. He was fortunate enough that he had passed his Heavenly Tribulation 100 years prior. Otherwise, who knew if he would survive? Zhen Ping Fang looked very approachable, but he was ruthless and decisive with his actions during the duel. Not only did he destroy Deng Kui’s Heavenly Veins, but he also injured Deng Kui’s soul. As such, how could Deng Kui not hate him?

“That’s good to hear,” Zhen Ping Fan nodded and said, “Elder Deng, I’m afraid you’ll be disappointed. After all, Duan Ling Tian has agreed to join our Pure Yang Sect. Before the Imperial War between the Flying Dragon Sect and the Tai Yi Sect began, he had promised Little Yang that he’d join our sect if he decides to leave.” Then, he turned to Qin Wu Yang and said, “Little Yang, tell Senior Uncle Deng Kui about it.”

It did not take long for Duan Ling Tian to figure out that ‘Little Yang’ was Qin Wu Yang, whom he had exchanged Soul Pearls with in the past. The corners of his lips began to twitch at how absurd it was that a young man was addressing an old man as ‘Little Yang’.

Qin Wu Yang stepped forward and said, “Senior Uncle Deng, it’s the truth.”

Deng Kui said with a faint smile on his face, “It’s just a verbal agreement, right? That means he can still change his mind. After all, he has yet to join the Pure Yang Sect.” Then, he turned to Duan Ling Tian and said, “Duan Ling Tian, join the Marionette Villa. I’ll accept you as my direct disciple! Like I said earlier, your treatment will be the best among the disciples in Marionette Villa.”

Deng Kui thought Duan Ling Tian would find this offer difficult to resist, but he soon discovered that he was wrong when he saw the disinterested expression on Duan Ling Tian’s face.

At this time, Zhen Ping Fan nodded at Duan Ling Tian and said with a smile, “Duan Ling Tian, I’ve never accepted a direct disciple in my life nor do I intend to accept one because I’m too lazy. However, if you’re keen, I know an Ascension Elder who’ll be more than willing to accept you as a direct disciple. It’s naturally better to have a master who’s an intermediate Emperor of Gods than one who’s a rudimentary Lord of Gods.”

Deng Kui’s expression darkened. “Zhen Ping Fan, are you intentionally provoking me?”

Zhen Ping Fan ignored Deng Kui and continued to say, “If you don’t want to become anyone’s direct disciples, you can also join the Pure Yang Sect. On top of that, you can consider that I, Zhen Ping Fan, owe you a favor as well. If you need my help in the future, I’ll help you as long as it doesn’t contradict my principles. Apart from that, if you join our sect, not only will you be treated like True Martial Disciple, the highest-ranking disciples in our sect, but our sect will owe you a favor as well. Needless to say, it can’t contradict the sect’s interests and principles.”

Upon hearing this, Deng Kui scoffed. “Zhen Ping Fan, you’re just a Nirvanic Elder in the Pure Yang Sect. Do you really have the authority to make such decisions?”

Zhen Ping Fang smiled. “Elder Deng, it seems like you only know that I’m a Nirvanic Elder…”

Deng Kui frowned slightly upon hearing this.

“Little Yang, enlighten your Senior Uncle Deng,” Zhen Ping Fan said to Qin Wu Yang.

Everyone, including Duan Ling Tian and Long Qing Chong, looked at Qin Wu Yang in unison.

Hong Xiao Yun from the Seven Kills Valley was the only one who looked at Deng Kui as though Deng Kui was an idiot.

Qin Wu Yang looked at Deng Kui and said, “Elder Zhen isn’t just a Nirvanic Elder of our Pure Yang Sect. His father is the strongest Ascension Elder in our sect, and our sect leader, who’s the junior brother of Elder Zhen’s father, also treats Elder Zhen like a son. Apart from that, Elder Zhen is also an only son. In other words, Elder Zhen’s words hold a lot of weight in our sect.”

Deng Kui’s expression changed upon hearing Qin Wu Yang’s words. It was only natural that he did not know about Zhen Ping Fan’s extraordinary background. After all, he was not from the Eastern Ridge Mansion and did not know much about the Pure Yang Sect.

At the same time, many among the crowd began to curse inwardly again. How could this extraordinary person be named Ping Fan, which meant ordinary? All of them, including Duan Ling Tian, felt that it was truly ridiculous.

Zhen Ping Fan smiled and said to Duan Ling Tian, “Duan Ling Tian, join the Pure Yang Sect. If anyone in the sect dares to cause trouble for you, I’ll beat them into a pulp for you.”

Duan Ling Tian smiled wryly. “Elder Zhen, I’m just a nobody.”

Zhen Ping Fan waved his hand and said, “Enough. I hate to beat around the bush. Are you willing to join the Pure Yang Sect? I just need your answer.”

“Duan Ling Tian, joining the Pure Yang Sect is a good choice.”

Duan Ling Tian was surprised when he received Long Qing Chong’s Voice Transmission.

“The other four top emperor-rank forces in the Eastern Ridge Mansion sent people over, but they were all frightened away by Elder Zhen,” Long Qing Chong said.

Duan Ling Tian felt rather speechless when he heard these words. Clearly, Zhen Ping Fan was determined to recruit him.

At this time, Qin Wu Yang said, “Duan Ling Tian, trust me. You won’t regret joining the Pure Yang Sect. Our sect is famous in the Eastern Ridge Mansion for being protective of our disciples. Elder Zhen is also very famous for being protective of his people. Although he doesn’t have any disciples, he always stands up for his juniors…”

Duan Ling Tian looked at Zhen Ping Fan, recalling Zhen Ping Fan’s earlier promises. Then, he said solemnly, “Elder Zhen, I’m willing to join the Pure Yang Sect.”

The smile on Zhen Ping Fan’s face widened as he said, “Excellent!” Then, he raised his hand and tossed a spatial ring to Duan Ling Tian before he said, “This is a gift for you. I’ve heard of the matter between you and the Linghu clan. There are 100 million divine rocks in there. If there’s nothing else, after you settle the matter with the Linghu clan, you should follow us back to the Pure Yang Sect. We’ll accompany you to the Linghu clan as well. I want to see their faces when you settle the debt in such a short time.”