Tang Xuan was the Sect Leader of Fire Worship Sect and a cultivator at the Ninth Form of the Saint Celestial Stage who was ranked fourth on the Supreme Saint Ranking. Such a person was currently made to kneel before Duan Ling Tian like a devout worshiper who was worshiping God. Upon closer inspection, one would be able to see Tang Xuan was slightly trembling as he tried to break free from the force that bound him. Naturally, all his struggling was in vain. The force was like the ocean and he was like a single lonely boat in the middle of the sea. If it capsized, it would not be able to turn over.
The people from the Fire Worship Sect, including the high-ranking officials, who just regained their senses were thoroughly shocked and baffled when they saw their sect leader kneeling before Duan Ling Tian.
"This… this..."
"What's Lord Sect Leader doing?"
"Why's he kneeling before Duan Ling Tian? W-what's happening?"
Tang Xuan was their sect leader. They never doubted his power and his authority. However, it did not change the fact that he was currently kneeling before that purple-clad young man obediently like a dog. How could they not be shocked? The lofty image of the sect leader in their hearts shattered at this moment.
The four Guardians cried out in shock when they saw this, "Sect Leader!"
This person who was kneeling was their sect leader after all. Not only that, but he was also at the Ninth Form of the Saint Celestial Stage and was ranked fourth on the Supreme Saint Ranking! Four of them turned to look at Duan Ling Tian before shifting their eyes to the old man who had just returned to his position behind Duan Ling Tian. Naturally, they were aware that this old man who had appeared out of thin air before their sect leader earlier was a lot stronger than them. They remembered the old man had addressed Duan Ling Tian as his master earlier and turned to look at Duan Ling Tian again with widened eyes.
"It's obvious Lord Sect Leader is not willingly kneeling before Duan Ling Tian. Look at his body! He's trembling! He's obviously struggling to break free!"
"In other words… Lord Sect Leader is being forced to kneel before Guardian Ling Tian?"
"Even an Eminent Celestial isn't capable of such a feat, right?"
"Why would someone who's at least a Three Tribulation Bodiless Celestial address Guardian Ling Tian as master? What happened to Guardian Ling Tian during these few years when he was away?"
The four Guardians spoke to each other through Voice Transmission. All of them suspected the old man was a Bodiless Celestial. Since the old man was clearly stronger than an Eminent Celestial, he had to be a Third Tribulation Bodiless Celestial at the very least. They were bewildered.
After Tang Xuan who was forced to kneel realized his effort of trying to break free was in vain, he stopped struggling immediately. He took a deep breath with great difficulty before he asked with his head lowered, "Sir… Who are you?"
Tang Xuan's question was obviously directed at Chen Yi Ru, but Chen Yi Ru did not deign to reply to him. After all, Tang Xuan was only a cultivator at the Ninth Form of the Saint Celestial Stage. He was as weak as an ant. He was too lazy to pay attention to someone so insignificant.
An indifferent voice suddenly rang in the air. "Since he wants to know who you are, you should tell him..."
Chen Yi Ru was slightly startled when he heard this, but he hurriedly replied, "Yes, master!"
The person who had spoken was, naturally, none other than Duan Ling Tian. He looked at Tang Xuan who was kneeling before him emotionlessly. He would have been shocked by the sight of the Sect Leader of Fire Worship Sect who was a cultivator at the Ninth Form of the Saint Celestial Stage kneeling before him if this was a few years ago. However, currently, it caused nary a ripple in his emotions. This was, naturally, due to his increase in strength. It would be as easy as killing an ant if he wanted to kill Tang Xuan now.
"Master?" The elders and disciples of Fire Worship Sect were stunned by the way Chen Yi Ru addressed Duan Ling Tian. At this moment, all of them knew their sect leader was made to kneel before Duan Ling Tian by the old man in just a blink of an eye. It was clear that the old man was much stronger than their sect leader.
"How did Guardian Ling Tian gain such a strong servant?"
"The old man must be an Eminent Celestial to be able to force Lord Sect Leader to kneel, right?"
"An Eminent Celestial? Are there any Eminent Celestials in the Dao Martial Saint Land? Perhaps, only Nie Wu Tian who's ranked first on the Supreme Saint Ranking is an Eminent Celestial!"
"A-are you saying this old man is Nie Wu Tian?"
"Impossible! I've seen Nie Wu Tian's portrait before. Unless this old man is wearing a disguise, he's definitely not Nie Wu Tian!"
To most members of the Fire Worship Sect, Eminent Celestials stood at the peak of the food chain in the Dao Martial Saint Land. Only the Sect Leader and Guardians of Fire Worship Sect knew the old man was much stronger than an Eminent Celestial.
Since Duan Ling Tian had spoken, Chen Yi Ru, naturally, did not dare to disobey him. He looked coldly at Tang Xuan who was kneeling as he said indifferently, "I'm Chen Yi Ru. Most people call me Chen San Dao!"
The people from the Fire Worship Sect were confused when they heard this. Chen Yi Ru? Chen San Dao? They had not heard of these names before so they assumed he was a recluse.
"Chen Yi Ru? Chen San Dao? I haven't heard of him!"
"It seems like he's really not Nie Wu Tian. He must be a reclusive powerhouse!"
"This is the only explanation. Otherwise, why didn't we hear about him before this?"
On the other hand, Tang Xuan's eyes widened immediately when he heard this. He asked in a trembling voice, "C-Chen Yi Ru? Chen San Dao? Are you the same Chen Yi Ru who was ranked second on the Supreme Saint Ranking 5,000 years ago?" As the Sect Leader of Fire Worship Sect, he was, naturally, very knowledgeable. He had briefly read through the previous issues of Supreme Saint Ranking from the last 10,000 years.
"Yes," Chen Yi Ru replied nonchalantly.
"Chen Yi Ru who was ranked second in the Supreme Saint Ranking 5,000 years ago? Chen San Dao? It's him?"
"B-but didn't he fail the Celestial Ascension Tribulation about 5,000 years ago? Why is he here?"
"He should've died after failing the Celestial Ascension Tribulation, right? I-is he a ghost?"
"Is it possible that he's a fake?"
With Tang Xuan's words, a few people from the Fire Worship Sect began to remember Chen Yi Ru. However, they were baffled since they thought he had long died. Was this person trying to impersonate Chen Yi Ru? How could someone who had failed the Celestial Ascension Tribulation be here?
The four Guardians exchanged a knowing look. They saw the shock and disbelief in each other's eyes.
"Since he failed his Celestial Ascension Tribulation about four to five thousand years ago… This means he's a Four Tribulation Bodiless Celestial!"
A Four Tribulation Bodiless Celestial! The old man was actually a Four Tribulation Bodiless Celestial!
The high-ranking officials who knew about Bodiless Celestials took it upon themselves to inform those who were unaware of Bodiless Celestials. Many of them felt as though the door to a new world had been opened when they learned about this. As it turned out, Eminent Celestials were not the strongest in the Dao Martial Saint Land. There were Bodiless Celestials who were much stronger!
"He's a Four Tribulation Bodiless Celestial. This means he's even stronger than those Three Tribulation Bodiless Celestials who are stronger than Eminent Celestials. Why would he address Guardian Ling Tian as master?"
This was a common question among the people who were present. A Four Tribulation Bodiless Celestial was a lofty being, and yet, this person addressed Duan Ling Tian as master.
Meanwhile, Tang Xuan who was kneeling on the ground deflated immediately as though all his strength had drained out of him. If Chen Yi Ru's force did not prop him up, he would have fallen to the ground. He said "Duan Ling Tian, I surrender."