Chapter 553: Azure Forest Imperial Kingdom’s Emperor
Translator: KurazyTolanzuraytor Editor: Jay
"Yeah, long time no see…" Duan Ling Tian recovered from his shock, and although his expression was calm, his eyes contained traces of excitement mixed within.
"Su Li, I truly never imagined that the place we meet again would be here." After a long time, Duan Ling Tian sighed faintly.
Su Li!
The red clothed young man that had appeared now was none other than the friend Duan Ling Tian was acquainted with in the Crimson Sky Kingdom.
Duan Ling Tian still remembered that when he saw Su Li for the first time, it was at the Iron Blood Army’s Genius Camp’s campsite.
At that time, Su Li could be said to be the strongest young genius after him.
Later on, Su Li had entered the Paladin Academy that was at the Imperial City of the Crimson Sky Kingdom with him, and they’d formed a deep friendship.
Further on after that, Su Li was forced to leave by the Grand Elder of the Su Clan, and from then on, he was never heard of again!
Duan Ling Tian had never imagined that when he saw Su Li again, it would actually by in the Azure Forest Imperial Kingdom’s Imperial Palace.
Moreover, Su Li actually possessed a shocking cultivation now…
This was something Duan Ling Tian had never expected.
Duan Ling Tian could guess that Su Li had surely encountered a great fortuitous encounter during these past few years!
Otherwise, it would be impossible for such a great change to occur on Su Li.
"Su Li?" When they saw Duan Ling Tian was extremely familiar with this red clothed young man and both of them seemed to have a good relationship, the people present were astonished.
At the same time, he found out the name of the red clothed young man.
It turned out that this young expert was called Su Li!
"Su Li? Have all of you heard of this figure?"
"No! I’ve never heard of him before today."
"When did such a figure appeared in our Azure Forest Imperial Kingdom? Not only does Saber Young Master know him, even Duan Ling Tian knows him."
"Duan Ling Tian seems to be extremely familiar with him."
…
The surrounding crowd of spectators whispered in discussions.
Whoosh!
Subsequently, the people present saw to their astonishment that with a raise of his hand, a gold bill with a denomination of 10,000 had appeared in Su Li’s hand.
Along with the raising of Su Li’s hand, the gold bill flashed out to descend towards Duan Ling Tian.
"What is this Su Li doing?" All the people present were stunned.
Why is Su Li giving Duan Ling Tian money?
"Haha…" Duan Ling Tian laughed as he received the gold bill, then put it away before sighing with emotion. "Su Li, so many years have passed, yet I never imagined that you’d still remember."
At that time, before Su Li left under the pressure from the Grand Elder of the Su Clan, he’d once borrowed one million silver from Duan Ling Tian.
One million silver was equivalent to 10,000 gold.
Now, Su Li was precisely returning what he owed from that day.
"I naturally remember," Su Li said with a smile. There seemed to be slight excitement deep within his eyes as he said, "Duan Ling Tian, have you been well during all these years?"
"Yes." Duan Ling Tian nodded. "What about you?"
"I’m extremely well." Su Li nodded as well before sighing. "I guessed that I might be able to encounter you in the genius competition at the Imperial Palace of the Azure Forest Imperial Kingdom today… As expected."
Duan Ling Tian smiled. "Your appearance has indeed slightly exceeded my expectations."
"Duan Ling Tian, this is?" Chi Ming looked at Duan Ling Tian and asked in wonder.
For a time, numerous gazes descended onto Duan Ling Tian.
Even if it was the Saber Young Master, Long Yun, he frowned as he looked at Duan Ling Tian now. "How does this Duan Ling Tian know this fellow, Su Li?"
In the eyes of Long Yun, Su Li had always been extremely arrogant.
Even if it was when facing him, Su Li had always regarded him as beneath his notice.
But before Duan Ling Tian, this cold expression Su Li seemed as if he was a different person.
"Vice Dean Chi, this is my friend, and he’s from the same Kingdom as me," said Duan Ling Tian to Chi Ming.
"So that’s how it is." Chi Ming came to a sudden understanding, and a bright light flashed within his eyes as he said, "I never imagined that besides the five great young masters, there was still such a genius figure in the territory of our Azure Forest Imperial Kingdom…"
"You’re too kind." Su Li nodded to Chi Ming, and his face returned to his cold appearance from before.
"This Su Li is actually a genius from the same Kingdom as Duan Ling Tian?"
"Looks like many talented people are concealed within the territory of our Azure Forest Imperial Kingdom."
"Yeah, this person’s natural talent feels to be not inferior to the five great young masters."
…
The surrounding crowd of spectators sighed with emotion.
Of course, the expressions of many people were extremely unsightly.
These people were precisely Chai Jin and the others who were intending to compete for the final position.
However, the appearance of Long Yun and Su Li caused them to feel a wave of powerlessness in their hearts.
"Dammit!" Zhang Heng’s expression was extremely gloomy. "He’s actually a friend of Duan Ling Tian’s… Isn’t he intentionally making trouble by coming at this time? Also that Saber Young Master, he didn’t come earlier or later, but just had to appear at this moment."
Originally, Zhang Heng had hope in his heart towards himself being able to obtain a position.
But after Su Li and Long Yun appeared, he knew that he was bound to not have any fate with that fifth position.
"I never imagined that Saber Young Master would hurry over in time. I presume the genius competition today ought to be slightly worth seeing."
"That Su Li as well. Amongst the group of Void Prying Stage martial artists, his age is only older than Duan Ling Tian and is younger than the rest… Most importantly, he’s the Senior Brother of Saber Young Master!"
"I’m able to discern that Saber Young Master seems to be slightly afraid of this Su Li, and he’s obviously afraid of Su Li’s strength."
"This Su Li isn’t simple!"
"I originally thought that Duan Ling Tian, Crazy Young Master, Sword Young Master, and Flame Young Master would firmly occupy four positions… Now that there’s an extra two variables, Saber Young Master and Su Li, there will probably be some change in these positions."
"Only like this would it be spectacular."
…
Those young geniuses of the various powers that were below the Void Prying Stage desired to see an intense battle.
To them, no matter if Saber Young Master and Su Li appeared or not, they weren’t fated to obtain any of those five positions.
Now, the appearance of Saber Young Master and Su Li fitted exactly with their wishes, and it caused them to be even more delighted.
Because in this way, the genius competition today would surely be even more spectacular!
This was something they were happy to see.
"Revered Elder Chi!" Suddenly, Prince Shen took a step forward and looked at Chi Ming as he said in a low voice, "This Saber Young Master and Su Li haven’t passed the threshold that is the Dragon and Phoenix Academy. I’m afraid it’s improper for them to directly participate in the genius competition now, right?"
Prince Sheng’s words caused Chai Jin and the others to heave a sigh of relief.
Whereas those young geniuses that wanted to watch the show frowned and were slightly worried.
They were really worried that the Imperial Family would drive Su Li and Saber Young Master out, and disallow them from participating in the genius competition.
In that way, they were undoubtedly going to be disappointed.
For a time, the gazes of everyone shot at Chi Ming.
"Chen Ci, what do you think?" Chi Ming looked at the old man by his side and asked.
This old man had come here with Chi Ming and had always been silently standing by Chi Ming’s side with his eyes closed, and he didn’t speak a word.
Now, when Chi Ming spoke, it caused the old man to slowly open his eyes.
The old man glanced at Prince Sheng indifferently before saying. "The Dragon and Phoenix Academy is actually only a format… The genius competition this time intends to unearth the most outstanding young geniuses in the Azure Forest Imperial Kingdom to fight on the road towards the Martial Competition of the Ten Dynasties!"
"This is also the original intention of the genius competition! So long as the two of them have the ability to seize those five positions, then I presume even his Majesty the Emperor wouldn’t say anything about it." The old man’s words were spoken reasonably and justifiably, and I caused most of the people present to gasp in admiration.
Prince Sheng frowned. "Revered Elder Chi, shouldn’t we ask Imperial Brother’s opinion on this matter?"
"There’s no need!" At almost the instant that Prince Sheng finished speaking, a sonorous voice suddenly sounded out from the distance.
Everyone present saw that high above in the distance sky, a middle aged man in a dragon robe was controlling the air to move over here.
Behind the middle aged man in a dragon robe was an old man that followed him like a shadow, and when the old man stood there, he gave out an unfathomable aura.
"Fifth level of the Void Initiation Stage! Sixth level of the Void Initiation Stage!" Duan Ling Tian’s brows raised.
His Spiritual Force had discovered the cultivation of the two people at the first possible moment.
The middle aged man in the lead who wore a dragon robe was a martial artist at the fifth level of the Void Initiation Stage.
The old man behind him was instead an existence at the sixth level of the Void Initiation Stage.
Presumably, he was one of the five great Revered Elders of the Imperial Family.
As for the middle aged man wearing a dragon robe.
"Greeting your Majesty!" The people present bowed to the middle aged in a dragon robe, and many people even groveled to the point their heads were about to touch the floor.
Only Duan Ling Tian, Su Li, and Luo Rong stood ramrod straight, and they stood out in the crowd.
"The Emperor of the Azure Forest Imperial Kingdom!" Duan Ling Tian sized up the middle aged man in a dragon robe before him, and a flowing light flickered within his eyes.
He was slightly curious towards the Emperor of the dignified Imperial Kingdom.
"In terms of strength, the Emperor of the Crimson Sky Kingdom is much inferior to this Emperor." Duan Ling Tian thought to himself.
The Crimson Sky Kingdom’s Emperor was only an ordinary Void Prying Stage martial artist.
Whereas the Emperor of the Azure Forest Imperial Kingdom was instead a formidable existence at the fifth level of the Void Initiation Stage.
The difference in strength between the two was like the difference between the heaven and the earth.
"Audacious!" It was at this moment that a voice that was like a thunderclap sounded out by Duan Ling Tian’s ear.
It was that Prince Sheng who glared angrily at Duan Ling Tian and Su Li as he said coldly, "Duan Ling Tian, Su Li, why do you not bow in greeting when you see the Emperor? Could it be that both of you think the Emperor doesn’t have the qualifications to make the two of you bow in greeting?"
Needless to say, Prince Sheng bringing such an accusation onto Duan Ling Tian and Su Li was indeed ruthless.
Duan Ling Tian frowned, then said indifferently, "Prince Sheng, his Majesty hasn’t said anything, yet you’re crying and yelling here. Aren’t you slightly disrespecting his Majesty?"
"You!!" Prince Sheng’s face sank as he shouted angrily. "Duan Ling Tian, don’t change the subject!"
"I’m changing the subject?" Duan Ling Tian started laughing and was about to continue refuting him.
Right at this moment, the nearby Luo Rong spoke out. "Prince Sheng, I think Brother Ling Tian is right, his Majesty the Emperor hasn’t said anything, why are you getting anxious for? Is it because you want to seek personal vengeance in the name of the Emperor?"
Because Duan Ling Tian had instructed him beforehand, Luo Rong didn’t call Duan Ling Tian as Master before outsiders.
Luo Rong speaking to protect Duan Ling Tian was beyond Prince Sheng’s expectations.
He was afraid and reverent towards Luo Rong.
Now he didn’t dare continue.
"Guild Master Luo." The middle aged man in a dragon robe, the Emperor of the Azure Forest Imperial Kingdom looked at Luo Rong and lightly smiled. "Long time no see, your body is still strong as always."