After receiving Zhen Ping Fan’s urgent message, Duan Ling Tian mulled over Zhen Ping Fan’s question for a moment before he replied slowly, “I’m confident I’m able to defeat him, provided he doesn’t have any hidden trump cards. In fact, even if he hid his strength, I’m confident I’m able to defeat him unless his strength is beyond monstrous. Worse comes to worst, I think we’ll be able to fight to a draw. However, Elder Zhen, I think you should discuss this with Elder Yun Feng first.”

Upon hearing Duan Ling Tian’s reply, the eyes of Zhen Ping Fan, who was staying in the courtyard nearby, lit up immediately. He replied excitedly, “Alright!”

Initially, after learning about Wanqi Hong’s strength, Zhen Ping Fan did not have much hope that Duan Ling Tian would be able to defeat Wanqi Hong. He did not expect such a positive response from Duan Ling Tian even after he told Duan Ling Tian about Wanqi Hong’s approximate strength in the first 100 years after Wanqi Hong became an advanced Lord of Gods and Wanqi Hong’s current strength. He really did not expect Duan Ling Tian to be as confident as Hercules.

At the same time, Zhen Ping Fan thought to himself, ‘Duan Ling Tian, I hope you’re lying to me. I’ll believe you this time. If you lose, that old geezer is definitely going to skin me alive even if he doesn’t kill me. Forget it. If it really doesn’t work out, I’ll escape together with you. Aren’t I loyal? After all, if I run away, that old geezer might vent his anger on you since he has no one to vent his anger on.’

After taking a deep breath, Zhen Ping Fan sent a message back to the Pure Yang Sect’s Cloud Peak faction.

When Zhen Yun Feng heard Zhen Ping Fan’s message, he replied, “Are you crazy?! You want Duan Ling Tian to fight Wanqi Hong and bet using my prominent divine artifact with an incomplete artifact soul? Are you sure there’s nothing wrong with your brain? Believe it or not, I’ll break your legs!”

Zhen Yun Feng was truly enraged by Zhen Yun Fang’s message. If Duan Ling Tian fought against the three prodigies from the Seven Kills Valley, he was certain of Duan Ling Tian’s victory. However, his son wanted to take such a huge risk by pitting Duan Ling Tian against Wanqi Hong from the Wanqi clan and using his prominent divine artifact with an incomplete artifact soul to bet on the fight.

“Are you my son or Wanqi Jue’s son?! You’re essentially giving away my prominent divine artifact to that old man, Wanqi Jue!”

“Father, listen to me…”

Zhen Ping Fan felt a little helpless when faced with his father’s anger. However, he knew that his father’s reaction was normal. He said, “The people from the Seven Kills Valley and the Wanqi clan aren’t stupid. You know this very well. The Seven Kills Valley is unwilling to gamble because they’re not confident about winning. However, the Wanqi clan definitely doesn’t lack confidence in Wanqi Hong. Moreover, with Wanqi Jue’s temper, even if his clansmen disagree, do you think he’ll refuse if I deliberately anger him?”

Zhen Yun Feng sneered. “Of course, he won’t refuse! If I were him and someone is essentially giving me a prominent divine artifact with an incomplete artifact soul, I wouldn’t refuse as well!”

At this moment, Zhen Yun Feng wondered if he had spoiled his son too much in the past. If he were not certain that Zhen Ping Fan was his biological son, he would have suspected that Zhen Ping Fan was the illegitimate son of someone from the Wanqi clan. How could his son propose such a ridiculous thing when he only possessed one prominent divine artifact with an incomplete artifact soul?

Zhen Ping Fan smiled bitterly as he replied, “Father, that’s only if Duan Ling Tian’s defeated. However, think about it. What if Duan Ling Tian wins?”

After receiving this message, Zhen Yun Feng fell silent for a moment before he bellowed, “Impossible!”

Zhen Yun Feng was aware that Duan Ling Tian had broken through and become an intermediate Lord of Gods. If Duan Ling Tian had already stabilized his cultivation base, he believed Duan Ling Tian would be able to defeat ordinary advanced Lords of Gods. However, the problem was that Duan Ling Tian had only broken through two years ago, which was not nearly enough time to stabilize his cultivation base at all. After two years, Duan Ling Tian’s cultivation base was likely only just beginning to stabilize. No matter how talented Duan Ling Tian was, it would be difficult for Duan Ling Tian to completely stabilize his cultivation base in roughly ten years, give or take, after becoming an intermediate Lord of Gods.

“Look! Even you think it’s impossible. The Wanqi clan and Wanqi Jue will definitely think it’s impossible as well! They won’t be able to resist the temptation of a prominent divine artifact with an incomplete artifact soul,” Zhen Ping Fan said. Without giving his father a chance to reply, he said, telling his father about what he had learned over the past few days, “Over the past few days, I learned about Wanqi Hong’s current strength. I’ve spoken to Duan Ling Tian and told him everything I found out as well. He said that as long as Wanqi Hong isn’t hiding his true strength, he’s confident he’ll be able to defeat Wanqi Hong. Moreover, even if Wanqi Hong hid his strength, as long as Wanqi Hong isn’t unreasonably strong, Duan Ling Tian said that at worst, he would fight to a draw with Wanqi Hong. Father, I know you don’t trust me, but can’t you trust Duan Ling Tian? Didn’t you say that although Duan Ling Tian is young, he’s more mature than I am? Are you going to deny you said these words before?”

It took a while before Zhen Yun replied, “Duan Ling Tian said that?”

Although Zhen Yun Feng did not have many interactions with Duan Ling Tian, he could see that Duan Ling Tian was not one to brag. With Duan Ling Tian’s character, he was certain Duan Ling Tian would not mess around with such an important matter.

Zhen Ping Fan said confidently, “Yes! Why don’t I come back now? I’ll help you exchange your Soul Pearls with Duan Ling Tian so you can speak to him directly.”

Zhen Yun Feng fell silent for a moment before he said, “That’s not necessary. What else did you learn about Wanqi Hong? I’ll ask around for more information as well. As for Duan Ling Tian, ask him about his strength as well. I want to compare their strengths. If I find that it isn’t too risky, then I’ll agree to your request.”

At this moment, Zhen Yun Feng was also slightly tempted, but he still wanted to confirm the matter personally. After all, his prominent divine artifact with an incomplete artifact soul would be used as a stake. It had taken his prominent divine artifact many years before giving birth to an incomplete artifact soul. There was a chance he might not have survived his previous once-in-1,000-year Heavenly Tribulation if his prominent divine artifact did not give birth to an incomplete artifact soul.

“I understand,” Zhen Ping Fan replied. He knew his father was extremely cautious. Then, he did not hold back and recounted everything he learned about Wanqi Hong to his father. At the same time, he also sent a message to Duan Ling Tian, asking about Duan Ling Tian’s strength.

After receiving Duan Ling Tian’s reply, Zhen Ping Fan told Zhen Yun Feng about Duan Ling Tian’s strength.

After listening to Zhen Ping Fan’s message about Duan Ling Tian’s strength, Zhen Yun Feng’s eyes widened slightly as he inhaled sharply. Then, he said, “Brat, no wonder you’re so confident. I had no idea, I really had no idea…”

…

In just a blink of an eye, half a month had passed since Duan Ling Tian and the others arrived at the Seven Kills Valley.

On this day, Yu Chang Lian, an elder from the Seven Kills Valley, came to the valley where the members of the Pure Yang Sect were staying. He was here to lead them to the Trading Conference’s venue. He hovered in the sky above the valley as he waited for them. This time, he came alone without his disciple, Dao Wei.

The Trading Conference would last for three days. Three days were not a long time, but they were enough for the top five emperor-rank forces in the Eastern Ridge Mansion to trade.

The people from the top five emperor-forces in the Eastern Ridge Mansion brought many things along, ready to sell or exchange them for the things they needed.

“Elder Zhen, Elder Ye, let’s go,” Yu Chang Lian said with a smile after Zhen Ping Fan and the others from the Pure Yang Sect flew into the air.

At this time, Duan Ling Tian noticed that Yu Chang Lian was staring at the sky above another valley nearby.

An elder from the Seven Kills Valley could be seen in the distant sky with a group of people.

“Elder Zhen, Elder Ye, the people from the Wanqi clan are about to set off as well.Let’s go over there to greet them. What do you think?” Yu Chang Lian asked Zhen Ping Fan and the Hidden Sword faction’s Nirvanic Elder for their opinions.

“Alright.”

Upon hearing Yu Chang Lian’s words, Zhen Ping Fan looked at Yu Chang Lian from the corners of his eyes for quite a while.

Yu Chang Lian wasted no time in leading the people of the Pure Yang Sect over to meet those from the Wanqi clan.

There were about 100 people in attendance from the Pure Yang Sect, and similar to the Pure Yang Sect, there were also about 100 people in attendance from the Wanqi clan.

When Duan Ling Tian’s group drew close, the other group that was just about to set off stopped moving as well,

“Greetings, Elder Wanqi,” Yu Chang Lian took the initiative to greet the burly old man leading the Wanqi clan.

Following that, Zhen Ping Fan said, “Senior Uncle Wanqi, it’s been a long time since we last met. You look as energetic as ever.”

The burly old man with distinct features and a dignified air was dressed in a loose dark golden robe. When he heard the greetings, he only looked at Yu Chang Lian indifferently. However, when his eyes shifted to Zhen Ping Fan, a faint smile could be seen on his usually stern face as he said, “Senior Nephew Zhen, so it’s you. Are you leading the entourage from the Pure Yang Sect this time?”

The old man was none other than Wanqi Jue, the Golden Seat Elder of the Wanqi clan.

‘Wanqi Jue? So he’s the person whom Elder Yu held a grudge against for 30,00 years?’ Duan Ling Tian, who was standing in the crowd, looked at Wanqi Jue with a hint of pity at this moment.

“Mmm,” Zhen Ping Fan replied with a smile. Then, his eyes lit up when he shifted his gaze to the silver-clad young man standing side by side with a few elders behind Wanqi Jue. He asked, “Senior Uncle Wanqi, this must be your great-great-grandson, the prodigy, right?”

The handsome silver-clad young man looked stern and cold as he met Zhen Ping Fan’s eyes.

“Hong’er, this is your Junior Uncle Zhen. He’s the strongest among those at and below the realm of a rudimentary Emperor of Gods in the Pure Yang Sect,” Wanqi Jue said. Although he did not look back, it was clear he was speaking to the young man.

Upon hearing Wanqi Jue’s words, a very slight smile appeared on the young man’s stern face as he cupped his fists together and said, “Greetings, Junior Uncle Zhen. I’m Wanqi Hong.”

“Greetings,” Zhen Ping Fan nodded and said with a smile, “He’s truly outstanding. However, he’s no match for our Pure Yang Sect’s Duan Ling Tian.”

No one expected Zhen Ping Fan to say such a thing. It was abrupt and rather out–of-line. Everyone present, excluding Duan Ling Tian and Yu Chang Lian, was momentarily stunned.

Just as Wanqi Hong’s expression changed, the smile on Wanqi Jue’s face vanished immediately. Anger surged in his eyes as he looked at Zhen Ping Fan and demanded, “Zhen Ping Fan, what do you mean by that?!”