Dragon Tamer

Chapter 745: Chapter 749 The World Draws Closer

Linghu Ling furrowed her brows.

Zhu Minglang didn’t know how to respond either.

The will conveyed by Heaven to each person is different.

Even though Zhu Minglang and Linghu Ling had seen through it, this trial was man-made, but the Divine Pattern-bearing man was far stronger than they had initially estimated.

He was self-proclaimed an examiner,

posing questions for the Divine Chosen on Heaven’s behalf.

...

But he was merely toying with everyone according to his own preferences and interests…

“What, do you wish to be my enemies?”

“Do you wonder why, when I was little, I didn’t catch some wild dogs to play with, but chose ants instead?”

“I don’t make a fool of Superior Gods at higher places, yet I seek my amusement with you.”

“Two clever little fellows, continue on your way. I’m not someone you can handle at your current realm,” the Divine Pattern-bearing man smiled, his eyes projecting immense confidence.

Zhu Minglang wasn’t stubborn.

He walked towards the peak of a lone peak where evidently, there was no path, but suddenly, a majestic mountain unexpectedly emerged and sprawled towards Mount Zhi Tian, and along the way, one could no longer see the descending valleys; it was entirely connected to Mount Zhi Tian as a highland!

Linghu Ling hesitated, but in the end, she chose to follow Zhu Minglang, walking towards this true path up the mountain.

The Divine Pattern-bearing man kept his word and did not show hostility towards Zhu Minglang and Linghu Ling, but the look in his eyes as he watched the two leave was still the same as at first—just two clever little playthings.

…

“Assuming we trusted each other and joined forces to deal with him, what are our chances of success?” Zhu Minglang later asked Linghu Ling who was behind him.

“Less than thirty percent,” Linghu Ling answered the question seriously.

Being toyed with by a mysterious deity didn’t improve Linghu Ling’s mood much.

But for now, there was no point in vying with a deity of such a high realm.

“What realm do you think he belongs to in the outside world?” Zhu Minglang inquired further.

“At least God-principal level.”

“Oh, then he’s not bad.”

“…”

Zhu Minglang had also spent some days in the Dragon Gate, where deities gather.

Deities were ranked as well, in accordance with the hierarchy of Dragon Trainers and Divine and Mortal beings.

Godson, God will, God principal, Divine Monarch, Divine King.

In Dragon Gate, Zhu Minglang might not be too far behind this Divine Pattern-bearing man, but in the outside world, this guy was an invincible Heavenly God.

There was no need to provoke him.

The man was actually quite genial.

What he said made some sense.

If humans could have some peculiar interests, then why not deities?

“By doing this, he’s essentially blocked many Divine Chosen at the foot of the mountain; those we encounter next will either be high-rank deities or pioneers like us,” Linghu Ling said.

“Then it won’t be easy to do our fishing enforcement,” Zhu Minglang sighed lightly, but soon realized something and promptly stated in a serious tone, “Miss, from the sound of it, are you intending to travel with me? Just now, I was only worried about the obstructor being too powerful and temporarily teamed up with you, but as for the road ahead, we should still go our separate ways.”

Zhu Minglang had not yet emerged from the shadow of Yu Shanhan.

“This palace also dislikes traveling with men, it was just a brief conversation and analysis,” Linghu Ling said.

“That’s good then.”

“Did you understand the Sword Book? Need any pointers?” Linghu Ling asked.

“No need, it’s not hard.”

Linghu Ling smiled slightly, saying nothing more.

He was another proud and aloof man.

The Yuheng Star Palace Sword Book is divided into four levels: Heaven, Earth, Mystery, and Yellow.

The three sets of swordsmanship Linghu Ling gave Zhu Minglang—two were Earth-level Sword Scores, and one was a Heaven-level Sword Score. It’s not to mention that sword cultivators outside the Yuheng Star Palace have difficulty learning and comprehending them; even inside their Star Palace, many exceptional geniuses spend decades without being able to master them.

Not hard?

She didn’t know how he could say that with a straight face.

But since he insisted on being so proud and aloof, Linghu Ling didn’t have much to say.

…

Going their separate ways, Zhu Minglang headed in a direction he thought he would be able to climb Mount Zhi Tian more quickly, all while reviewing those complex sword forms in his own mind.

“Come to think of it, the swordsmanship of Yuheng Star Palace feels familiar to me, especially since each of their moves is like a stair step, which one must comprehend before continuing to ascend the mountain, all while integrating these techniques…”

“It’s a bit like, well, the stairway at the Miao Mountain Sword Sect, where each step is etched with a sword form.”

“Could it be that Yuheng Star Palace has a deep connection with Miao Mountain Sword Sect?”

Suddenly struck by this realization, Zhu Minglang hurriedly turned around, wanting to ask Linghu Ling and the others whether Yuheng Star Palace has branches elsewhere…

But it was clear that Linghu Ling had not chosen this rugged mountain path and instead had set off along an ancient wooded trail.

“Chasing after her to ask, wouldn’t that seem too humiliating? Never mind, if there really is a connection, I’ll find out about it sooner or later,” Zhu Minglang muttered to himself.

“Zhu Minglang, let me tell you, what I said to Yu Shanhan earlier isn’t without basis. As a candidate for True God, you should be thinking in the direction of what a deity ought to do, otherwise no matter how high a Destiny you attain here, you can never become a True God,” Mr. Jinli stated.

“Whether or not I become a True God isn’t so important, is it? As long as I am strong enough that even the deities dare not provoke me, that should be good enough,” Zhu Minglang replied.

“I’ve told you, Dragon Gate has nine levels, and this is merely the first one. Without the approval of the heavens, you will never be able to enter the next level, nor will you be able to see the full picture of this world,” Mr. Jinli explained.

“Alright then, be reliable and please clarify for me exactly how one becomes a True God,” Zhu Minglang said.

“I can only analyze slowly with you. Actually, I do recommend you travel with Linghu Ling, as at least you can learn something from her that we have not yet encountered, opening up some of my thoughts and possibly awakening some of my more distant memories,” Mr. Jinli suggested.

“She’s long gone,” Zhu Minglang quipped.

You should have said so earlier.

Zhu Minglang wasn’t someone who couldn’t swallow his pride.

“Perhaps we tend to complicate things too much, especially since the heavens have thrown us here and only given us some rather vague intentions. But in truth, from the beginning the heavens have told us exactly what we are supposed to do, for example, Mount Zhi Tian,” Mr. Jinli said.

“If you interpret it directly, Zhi Tian Peak is the mountain that supports the sky, the sky as the roof, the peak as the pillars… Does that mean, if Zhi Tian Peak were to collapse, would the Dragon Gate World also be destroyed?” Zhu Minglang mused.

Zhu Minglang remembered the words Mr. Jinli had said to Yu Shanhan before.

Take on the troubles of the heavens.

When Pangu split heaven and earth, his axe separated the chaos, with heaven above and earth below, and since the initial world was a mass of chaos, even after splitting heaven and earth, they were slowly coming back together. So Pangu used his own body as a gigantic pillar, pushing the heavens upwards and stamping down the earth below, and that was how the world of heaven and earth slowly gave birth to ancestors…

…

With this understanding, Zhu Minglang consciously observed the sky and the earth.

Then he began to climb higher, although it was a mountain leading to the sky, the mountain was vast, with all kinds of terrain…

Zhu Minglang passed through a snowy ancient forest, confirming that he was already at a relatively high position.

He looked up at the sky again, gazing at the earth.

If it weren’t for Mr. Jinli’s remarks, Zhu Minglang wouldn’t have felt there was anything strange about this Dragon Gate World, but now he felt increasingly that something was amiss!

Just like the feeling he had when he first entered Dragon Gate!

“I don’t know if it’s just my imagination, but I feel this place is narrower than the world outside,” Zhu Minglang said.

Zhu Minglang had felt that sense of constriction from the beginning.

The earth is boundless, the sky is vast, yet the distance between them seemed to have shortened a lot. Moreover, the view of heaven and earth when he first arrived at Dragon Gate and now seemed different.

“Whether it’s an illusion or reality, the truth will only be revealed from the highest point,” Mr. Jinli replied.

“Right, it’s impossible to judge whether the earth has risen, the only way is to ascend,” Zhu Minglang nodded.

…

After passing through a scorching mountain range, Zhu Minglang climbed to a new height. Although he encountered some divine beings and Divine Chosen along the way, most of them did not interact with others and appeared calm and composed yet with a hint of caution and hostility.

These people were also searching for something.

They seemed to be probing the secrets of the heavens, sharper and more powerful than those trapped at the foot of the mountain, but it was also apparent that they were wandering lost in these high mountains of Zhi Tian Peak.

Zhu Minglang was better off, with guidance from Mr. Jinli, he at least had a clear direction.

He stepped into the scorching mountain range and saw a stone spire extending outward. There was nowhere to land on the rock spire, just a very narrow, walkway-like band of rocks from which one could walk to the highest viewpoint.

Zhu Minglang was observing the distance between heaven and earth.

He needed to confirm that this world was indeed “narrow,” the narrowness between heaven and earth!

However, as Zhu Minglang was sidestepping towards the cliffside rock band, he saw someone blocking the path.

The person stood there, eyes fixed on Zhu Minglang.

“After further contemplation, this humble one advises the Dao Friend to turn back if you wish to avoid trouble,” the man said with a hint of arrogance, as if the courtesy was forced and his heart harbored other thoughts.

“Unfortunately, I also wish to contemplate here, could the friend share this place?” Zhu Minglang showed no intention of retreating.

The days and nights switch rapidly in this place, and Zhu Minglang hadn’t fought with others for some days now, his cultivation base hadn’t risen, and his supply of Spirit Pearl Fruits had been steadily depleting. Unsure if it was due to his own increased cultivation or the more intense suppression of cultivation at this high place, the Spiritual Fruit Rice that Peng Chen brought was not plentiful.

In this area, Zhu Minglang hadn’t encountered a single Demon God or Ancient Beast, so in such circumstances, he must take action against other Divine Chosen and divine beings in these high mountains.

“Hmph, refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit, then perish!” the arrogant divine being disdainfully retorted.