Chapter 4145 — Full Retreat

Di Xingdao truly lived up to his name as the ruthless figure who had once run rampant across Zhongding Island—a full-fledged expert of the early Xuan Ascension stage, and just like that, killed off with a single effortless punch. His reputation for slaying foes above his own level was indeed no empty boast!

Amid the shock of the whole assembly, Si Haitao—who had until then been on the closest terms with Nan Tian Liuguang—caught a glance from Di Xingdao from afar and felt his scalp go numb with fright. Unwilling to linger a moment longer, he hurriedly led his people in pursuit down the mountain.

Though Nan Tian Liuguang had been struck off Zhongding Mountain with a single punch and could not possibly escape grave injury, he was not necessarily dead just yet. If he could be found in time, there might still be a thread of hope—after all, he was an expert of the early Xuan Ascension stage, and his vitality was far tougher than a cockroach's.

Among the crowd fleeing in panic behind Si Haitao, Wei Zhao unexpectedly spotted the figure of an old adversary—none other than Old Ancestor Xuanchen!

This sudden discovery caught Wei Zhao off guard, though not entirely without preparation. After all, Xueli had said earlier that Old Ancestor Xuanchen had been transported to Zhongding Island along with them, and back in the secular world, Xuanchen had gone out of his way to curry favor with Nan Tian Liuguang. Now that he was on Zhongding Island, following Nan Tian Liuguang around was hardly surprising.

Judging by Xuanchen's attire now—the same uniform as the several others around him—barring any surprise, he must be one of the cultivator academy's people.

Watching Xuanchen's retreating back, Wei Zhao's lips curved into a slight arc. Had the occasion not been so sensitive, crowded as it was with so many great figures, he would certainly have struck out and detained the man.

Still, now that he knew the other was from the cultivator academy, dealing with him another time would pose little difficulty. With Wei Zhao's present strength at the early Golden Core stage, Xuanchen should no longer be his match anyway.

A dead silence hung over the assembly for a long while. Under the gaze of all present, the Lord of Zhongding Island had no choice but to announce, "Di Xingdao's challenge is successful. As Lord of this island, I declare that from this day forth, Di Xingdao shall once again assume the post of Deputy Lord of Zhongding Island."

The crowd immediately erupted into another clamor. Though this was only to be expected, they had come today intending to cheer Nan Tian Liuguang on and lend him their support. Who could have imagined that in the blink of an eye the leading man would become Di Xingdao instead? How were they supposed to face this?

Still, having risen to the top of their various factions, these people were hardly lacking in depth or thick skin. They promptly suppressed their discomfort and crowded around to congratulate Di Xingdao.

After today's battle, Di Xingdao's strength was beyond doubt. At the realm of Nascent Soul Grand Perfection, he already stood among the very few at the pinnacle, and with the halo of authority as Deputy Lord of Zhongding Island, no faction would dare to make an enemy of him lightly.

Even if they could not befriend and win him over, they at least must not let today's events leave Di Xingdao bearing a grudge against them—otherwise they would be bringing great disaster upon themselves out of thin air.

Yet faced with these hollow flatteries from the great personages, Di Xingdao could not be bothered to pay them any mind. He strode straight over to Wei Zhao, and the two clasped arms in joyful reunion.

"Brother Tian, we'll have to celebrate properly when we get back today—killing Nan Tian Liuguang in a single move and reclaiming the post of Deputy Lord, that's a joyous occasion of the highest order!" Wei Zhao greeted him with a laugh.

"Need you even say it? We'll go back and drink our fill. But whatever I have today, I owe entirely to you, Brother Wei Zhao—I'll have to toast you a good few cups for it!" Di Xingdao laughed heartily.

"Brother Tian, you're too serious. I'm nothing more than your quartermaster. That you could reach this point—your own strength is the foundation of it. To be honest, I was really rather worried just now," Wei Zhao said, still somewhat shaken.

At only the early Golden Core stage, his eyesight was not yet sharp enough to see through a contest at such a level. When Di Xingdao had been hammered by Nan Tian Liuguang a moment ago, driven back under a barrage with seemingly no power to fight back, his palms had truly been sweating.

"Heh heh, no need to be astonished, brother. The ferocity of our Creation Battle Art is no empty talk—crushing those of the same level, or even above it, is entirely normal. A half-baked early Xuan Ascension like Nan Tian Liuguang is not worth taking seriously at all. Once you reach this level, you'll understand what I mean," Di Xingdao explained with a smile.

"Hearing you say that, Brother Tian, I'm actually looking forward to it. But right now I'm only at the early Golden Core stage—who knows how long I'll have to wait to reach Nascent Soul Grand Perfection," Wei Zhao said, both excited and rueful.

The higher the realm, the longer the cultivation process, and the harder the breakthroughs become. For an ordinary person at the Golden Core level, being stuck for decades or even a century without the slightest progress was entirely normal—let alone the Nascent Soul stage above it.

"Others might have to wait until the cows come home, but you, Brother Wei Zhao—I'd bet anything it won't be long at all!" Di Xingdao said with absolute certainty.

After all that had happened before, Wei Zhao in his eyes was now even more of a madman than Zhang Lifeng, the Pill God—if even a freak like him got stuck at the mere Golden Core and Nascent Soul realms, Di Xingdao would sooner cut off his own head and kick it around like a ball.

"I can only hope so. Then I'll take your kind words, Brother Tian!" Wei Zhao laughed.

Watching the backs of Wei Zhao and Di Xingdao as they departed, the assembled great figures—the Lord of Zhongding Island included—all wore complicated expressions. Only Chu Wentian, who had done Di Xingdao a favor in advance, looked utterly at ease.

Among the crowd, the grandfather and grandson Zheng Dongjue and Zheng Tianshuo looked especially grim. They had come today hoping to watch Di Xingdao lose the post of Deputy Lord and make a fool of himself—never expecting such an unforeseen twist.

More to the point, killing Nan Tian Liuguang in a single move—such appalling, ferocious strength was heavy on the mind just to think about. As Deputy Hall Master of the Pill Hall, even Zheng Dongjue could not help his calves trembling before such a monster.

"I say we let the matter of Tian Chan drop. Tianchu, you'd best not go looking for trouble. Di Xingdao is a brute—if he's truly provoked, there's no telling what he might do, and when that time comes, even your grandfather won't be able to protect you." Zheng Dongjue sighed helplessly and spoke in a low, somber voice.

This was the plain truth. Before, having never seen Di Xingdao truly fight, he had not known how much of his strength the man had recovered, and so he had clung to a shred of hope. But to keep harboring such illusions now would be sheer idiocy.

"Grandfather, your grandson... your grandson understands," Zheng Tianshuo answered through gritted teeth, utterly unwilling, yet however foolish he was, he was not foolish enough to be hopeless.

Zheng Dongjue's words were no idle threat. After today's battle, Di Xingdao had once again become the legendary expert who ran rampant across Zhongding Island, his prestige soaring once more. If Zheng Tianshuo truly dared provoke Tian Chan and got himself killed by Di Xingdao, not a single soul would speak up for him—Zheng Dongjue would even have to apologize on his behalf! R1152