At this moment, Duan Ling Tian was not the only one who felt like a lifetime had gone by. All the high-ranking officials who were congratulating Duan Ling Tian for being promoted to a Guardian felt the same way.
A few years ago, Duan Ling Tian was merely a true disciple in the Fire Worship Sect. Regardless of how outstanding he was, he was just a true disciple. Who would have thought a true disciple would grow so strong in just a few short years and become a Guardian of Fire Worship Sect. The position of a Guardian was only second to the Sect Leader. It could be described as being above 10,000 people and only beneath one!
"Elder Guo Xiong, I will still keep my promise to you from back then... If you need my help in the future, please don't hesitate to let me know." Duan Ling Tian looked at Guo Xiong, the Enforcement Elder in the Black Turtle Sanctum, and sent him a Voice Transmission.
Previously, Duan Ling Tian had asked Guo Xiong for help to send Zhu Lu Qi away. He had promised Guo Xiong he would repay his favor in the future.
Guo Xiong was overwhelmed by excitement when he heard Duan Ling Tian's Voice Transmission. He hurriedly thanked Duan Ling Tian. "Thank you, Guardian Ling Tian."
Duan Ling Tian used to be an ordinary true disciple in the Fire Worship. However, his position was currently only below one person. Guo Xiong knew this promise from Duan Ling Tian was priceless.
After the high-ranking officials from Fire Worship Sect greeted and congratulated Duan Ling Tian, they turned to Leng Ying, the Hall Master of the Enforcement Hall, and now a Guardian, to congratulate him as well. Based on the order they congratulated the Guardians, it was obvious they regarded Duan Ling Tian highly in comparison to Leng Yin. It was only natural since they had all heard about Duan Ling Tian defeating Leng Ying with just three strikes. Duan Ling Tian was clearly stronger than Leng Ying.
In this world where the strong ones were revered, their actions were justified. Even Leng Ying did not show any signs of dissatisfaction. He was aware of his own strength.
"Senior Brother Liu Yun, Senior Brother Liu Mu! It's been a while..."
While the Fire Worship Sect's high-ranking officials were greeting and congratulating Leng Ying, Duan Ling Tian looked at two people in the crowd. It was none other than Liu Yun and Liu Mu. These two people were among the few friends he had made in the Fire Worship Sect.
The moment Liu Mu and Liu Yun heard Duan Ling Tian's Voice Transmission, they felt so excited that they could hardly speak. Duan Ling Tian did not forget about them!
"Let's catch up over drinks later." Duan Ling Tian sent another Voice Transmission to Liu Yun and Liu Mu who were still speechless.
Now that the Dong family had been dealt with, coupled with his status in the Fire Worship Sect, Duan Ling Tian no longer had to worry about endangering the Liu brothers by associating with them. They no longer had to act like they were not friends.
Although there was still the Sect Leader of Fire Worship Sect, Duan Ling Tian did not think he would act against the Liu brothers even if he was angry at Duan Ling Tian for taking Ke'er and their daughter away. Regardless, the Liu brothers were still disciples of the Fire Worship Sect.
On this day, news of Fire Worship Sect having two new Guardians swept across the western region like wildfire.
"Duan Ling Tian is a Guardian of the Saint Sect?"
"In order to become a Guardian in the Saint Sect, one's cultivation base has to be at the Seventh Form of the Saint Celestial Stage at least... Leng Ying, the Hall Master of the Enforcement Hall, has become a Guardian because he has broken through to the Seventh Form of the Saint Celestial Stage recently."
"I heard that Duan Ling Tian defeated Leng Ying with three strikes recently!"
"My goodness! Duan Ling Tian's strength improved so much in just a few years?"
"It seems like the news from Sin City is true... Duan Ling Tian really did kill Golden Lion King Xie Kang Xun, one of the four Great Karmapas of Black Kshetra, with three strikes!"
Everyone in the western region was talking about Duan Ling Tian. Naturally, they also talked about Tang Xuan, the Sect Leader of Fire Worship Sect.
"The Sect Leader of the Saint Sect is really wise to invite Duan Ling Tian back to the sect. Moreover, Duan Ling Tian is a powerful Guardian whose strength is not inferior to the leader of the three original Guardian, Guardian Zi Feng!"
Yes, the Sect Leader of the Saint Sect is really wise... When everyone else was questioning if Duan Ling Tian had really killed Xie Kang Xun, he had invited Duan Ling Tian back to the sect. His foresight is amazing!"
"Not only is the Sect Leader of the Saint Sect wise, but he has also broken through to the Ninth Form of the Saint Celestial Stage, the Celestial Ascension Form... The Saint Sect will definitely reach new heights under his guidance and the help of the five Guardians! It's not impossible for them to surpass the other two great sects!"
It did not take long before the news began to spread out from the western region. It spread to the central region, the southern region, and the northern region...
"Duan Ling Tian has returned to the Fire Worship Sect?'
"I heard that Sect Leader Tang Xuan personally asked for his return!"
"I think the latest Supreme Saint Ranking hasn't reached the western region... However, Sect Leader Tang Xuan invited Duan Ling Tian back to the sect even though everyone was questioning Duan Ling Tian's ability?"
"Tang Xuan, the Sect Leader of Fire Worship Sect, is really wise."
"Wise? I don't think so... I think he only invited Duan Ling Tian back because Duan Ling Tian has the Devilseal Tablet."
"Why do you say that? Didn't Tang Xuan promise to swear on the lightning penalty oath that no one in the Fire Worship Sect would be allowed to take the Devilseal Tablet away from Duan Ling Tian?"
Yes, no one is able to snatch it away... However, when the Devil Clans invade the Upper Province, he would definitely borrow the Devilseal Tablet from Duan Ling Tian. At that time, the Fire Worship Sect would be like a tiger with wings when they fight the Devil Clans!"
Compared to the shock and commotion in the western region caused by Duan Ling Tian's strength, people from the other areas had long seen the updated list of the Supreme Saint Ranking. They knew Duan Ling Tian had killed Xie Kang Xun, the Golden Lion King from Black Kshetra Sect. Therefore, they were not surprised by Duan Ling Tian's feat after he returned to the Fire Worship Sect.
However, they were surprised that the Sect Leader of Fire Worship Sect had invited Duan Ling Tian back to the sect and that Duan Ling Tian actually accepted the invitation.
Meanwhile, the updated list of the Supreme Saint Ranking had finally reached the western region.
"Xie Kang Xun, the Golden Lion King, from Black Kshetra Sect who was ranked 18th was killed by Duan Ling Tian with three strikes in Sin City..."
"Many people present on the scene are witnesses to that. If Duan Ling Tian did not decide to toy with Xie Kang Xun, he could have killed Xie Kang Xun with just one strike!"
"Now that Duan Ling Tian killed Xie Kang Xun, Duan Ling Tian would replace Xie Kang Xun and take over the 18th spot on the Supreme Saint Ranking."
The updated list of the Supreme Saint Ranking listed Duan Ling Tian at the 18th place.
"Duan Ling Tian really killed Xie Kang Xun, the Golden Lion King from Black Kshetra Sect!"
"Since it's in the updated list of the Supreme Saint Ranking, it has to be true."
"Humph! With Duan Ling Tian's current strength, he could easily rank in the top fifteen!"
"That's true. After all, some people claimed that Duan Ling Tian is not only stronger than Guardian Leng Yin, but he's also stronger than Guardian Hong Yun... Guardian Hong Yun is ranked 16th on the Supreme Saint Ranking."
The western region was in an uproar over this.
"Based on Guardian Ling Tian's achievements and his age, he can be considered as the number prodigy in the Dao Martial Saint Land!"
You're right. Even if the achievements of Pei Si Hai who's acknowledged by the sectless cultivators are true, he still can't compare to Guardian Ling Tian!"
"Guardian Ling Tian is the number one prodigy in the Dao Martial Saint Land!"
As time passed, apart from the people in the western region, many people from other areas also agreed that Duan Ling Tian was the number one prodigy in the Dao Martial Saint Land. After all, all of them knew about his background.
"He's not even fifty years old, and yet, he has achieved so much. Guardian Ling Tian is really amazing!"
"Was there anyone like him in the history of the Dao Martial Saint Land?"
"Even the Sword Saint's achievement seems slightly inferior compared to him."
"The Fire Worship Sect is so lucky! They managed to recruit such an amazing person!"
Similar remarks could be heard everywhere in the Upper Province of the Dao Martial Saint Land.
In the Black Kshetra Sect, it was absolutely chaotic.
"Since Duan Ling Tian has returned to the Fire Worship Sect, the Black Kshetra Sect won't let the matter of him killing Great Karmapa Xie go!"
"You're right. If we let this matter go, people are going to think the Black Kshetra Sect is afraid of the Fire Worship Sect!"
"We must avenge the Golden Lion King!"
Although they knew Xie Kang Xun was killed by Duan Ling Tian, they could not do anything since they could not locate Duan Ling Tian. Now that they found out Duan Ling Tian had returned to the Fire Worship Sect and became a Guardian, they were eager for action.