Although Xuan Yuan Zhi had heard about Duan Ling Tian killing the Nine Tribulation Bodiless Celestial from the Heavenly Wave Mansion when he returned from the Beyond Heaven Secret Zone, he did not witness it himself. He had only watched it through a Mirror Image Talisman and was not very shocked. Now that he had witnessed Duan Ling Tian's strength with his own eyes, he felt thoroughly shocked.
Xuan Yuan Zhi was amazed when he watched Duan Ling Tian forced Gongsun Wen Tian, the old ancestor of the Gongsun family and the strongest Nine Tribulation Bodiless Celestial in Yan Huang Realm, to commit suicide and killed the other Nine Tribulation Bodiless Celestial of the Gongsun Family. Duan Ling Tian was now someone whose strength surpassed Nine Tribulation Bodiless Celestials in the mundane realms.
Previously, Xuan Yuan Zhi had thought Duan Ling Tian's only flaw was his weak soul as an Eminent Celestial. It made him vulnerable to soul attacks from Bodiless Celestials, after all, despite his immense strength. However, now Duan Ling Tian possessed an object that could even counter soul attacks from Nine Tribulation Bodiless Celestial who cultivated the Soul Congregation Embodiment technique!
After Duan Ling Tian and Xuan Yuan Zhi left the Mystical Ancient Galaxy that was ruled by the Gongsun family with Su Li in tow, Xuan Yuan Zhi looked at Duan Ling Tian and asked with a bitter smile on his face, "Brother Ling Tian, why didn't you tell me earlier that you aren't afraid of Gongsun Wen Tian's Soul Attack? Do you know I was so frightened that you wouldn't be able to survive his soul attack?"
Duan Ling Tian shook his head and smiled. "Older Brother Zhi, why didn't you trust me?"
Xuan Yuan Zhi replied, "It's not that I don't trust you. However, it's difficult to imagine an Eminent Celestial would be able to deal with a soul attack from a Nine Tribulation Bodiless Celestial who has cultivated the Soul Congregation Embodiment technique. Oh, yes, is that defective metal piece you used to block Gongsun Wen Tian's soul attack a soul defense Celestial Supreme Treasure?" In the end, he could not help but ask curiously.
"A soul defense Celestial Supreme Treasure? There's such Celestial Supreme Treasures?" Duan Ling Tian was confused.
"Y-you don't know about this? Does this mean your metal piece is not a type of soul defense Celestial Supreme Treasure?" Xuan Yuan Zhi was taken aback.
Duan Ling Tian took the defective metal piece that emitted a mysterious light out and began to study it. However, he did not sense the aura of a Celestial Supreme Treasure from it. "I obtained this by chance, and I don't think it's a Celestial Supreme Treasure."
Duan Ling Tian replied, "He's a clever man. The scene of me killing the Heavenly Wave Mansion's Nine Tribulation Bodiless Celestial is recorded by a Mirror Image Talisman. I think he has watched the recording. Otherwise, he wouldn't be so cooperative. Regardless, he was much more respectable than that Gongsun Hong who tried to run away. Gongsun Wen Tian was willing to sacrifice his life for the sake of his family!" A hint of respect could be seen in Duan Ling Tian's eyes when he spoke about Gongsun Wen Tian.
Despite how greedy Gongsun Wen Tian was or the despicable method he used to achieve his goal, the fact that the old ancestor of the Gongsun family, the strongest person in Yan Huang Realm, was willing to die for the Gongsun family was enough for Duan Ling Tian to respect him. After all, not everyone would be able to do this. Gongsun Hong, the other old ancestor of the Gongsun family, was a good example of this.
"Indeed. Since I've seen the recording, he must have seen it too," Xuan Yuan Zhi replied. After a while, he discovered Su Li who had been quietly healing himself had finally opened his eyes. He asked worriedly, "Elder Su Li, are you alright?"
"I'm fine." Su Li shook his head lightly. After that, he turned to look at Duan Ling Tian with a smile, but he did not express any word of gratitude. There was no need for such words between them.
Duan Ling Tian carried Su Li and followed Xuan Yuan Zhi back to the Yellow Thearch Mansion. He decided to temporarily stay in the Yellow Thearh Mansion as well.
As time passed, Duan Ling Tian's feat in the Mystical Ancient Galaxy that was ruled by the Gongsun family had begun to circulate widely. The speed of the news spreading was even faster compared to when Duan Ling Tian killed the Heavenly Wave Mansion's Nine Tribulation Bodiless Celestial. After all, the person who was killed was Gongsun Wen Tian, the old ancestor from the top force of Yan Huang Realm, the Gongsun family. He was also the strongest person in Yan Huang Realm! It, naturally, caused a commotion.
However, when the news was just beginning to spread, many people still did know about the outcome. Many of them thought Duan Ling Tian was just seeking death by provoking the Gongsun family.
"Did you hear? Duan Ling Tian from the Saint Province Realm is causing problems again in our Yan Huang Realm. After he killed the Heavenly Wave Mansion's Nine Tribulation Bodiless Celestial, he went to look for trouble with the old ancestor from the Gongsun family in the Mystical Ancient Galaxy!"
"The Gongsun family is much more powerful than the Heavenly Wave Mansion. One of the two Nine Tribulation Bodiless Celestials is the strongest person in our Yan Huang Realm! Isn't Duan Ling Tian seeking death by looking for trouble with them?"
"That's right! The strongest person in our Yan Huang Realm is Gongsun Wen Tian, the Nine Tribulation Bodiless Celestial of the Gongsun Family. He's also a Bodiless Celestial who has cultivated the Soul Congregation Embodiment technique. Although Duan Ling Tian is stronger than all Nine Tribulation Bodiless Celestials in Yan Huang Realm in terms of physical strength, he's vulnerable against soul attacks!"
"He won't even be able to withstand one of Gongsun Wen Tian's soul attacks!"
When they finally learned of the entire story, they were thoroughly shocked.
"Duan Ling Tian wasn't afraid of Gongsun Wen Tian's soul attack?"
"He's an Eminent Celestial who hasn't even turned 100 years old, but he managed to easily block Gongsun Wen Tian's soul attack? What is the item he used?"
"Is it possible that it's a kind of soul defense Celestial Supreme Treasure?"
"I think only soul defense Celestial Supreme Treasures are able to help him block Gongsun Wen Tian's soul attack. I really didn't expect him to own a soul defense Celestial Supreme Treasure!"
"Well, I find it unexpected that the two Nine Tribulation Bodiless Celestials from the Gongsun family provoked Duan Ling Tian first. I had thought Duan Ling Tian was causing trouble in the Mystical Ancient Galaxy. As it turns out, those two old ancestors from the Gongsun family were greedy and coveted Duan Ling Tian's technique that can snatch Celestial Supreme Treasures away."
"I don't think they expected they would lose their lives because of this matter!"
The news caused an uproar wherever it spread. Gongsun Wen Tian, the strongest person in Yan Huang Realm, had died. Moreover, he was killed by an Eminent Celestial who had not even turned 100 years old. What was even more shocking was Duan Ling Tian was completely unafraid of soul attacks!
"Duan Ling Tian's name will certainly go down in history in our Yan Huang Realm."
"Of course. He killed three of our realm's Nine Tribulation Bodiless Celestials despite being an Eminent Celestial. Moreover, some of the Nine Tribulation Bodiless Celestials had even cultivated the Soul Congregation Embodiment technique. Most importantly, one of them was the former strongest person in Yan Huang Realm!"
Similar comments could be heard everywhere in Yan Huang Realm.
Since the Yellow Thearch Mansion was located in a remote area, news would reach here slower compared to other places.
Duan Ling Tian only heard about all the rumors about him after a while. He was not surprised. After all, the person he killed was widely acknowledged as the strongest person in Yan Huang Realm. Since he was capable of forcing Gongsun Wen Tian to commit suicide, it would, naturally, cause waves in Yan Huang Realm.
…
One day, Duan Ling Tian was in his room as usual. He was studying the defective metal piece that emitted a mysterious light, but he still did not discover anything unusual about it.
All of a sudden, a spiritual light flashed in Duan Ling Tian's mind. His eyes widened as though he had sensed something. "Hmm?" At this moment, he clearly sensed a mysterious force from all directions, shrouding him. It gave him a wonderful feeling and seemed as though it was trying to bring him somewhere. Most importantly, he could sense a dense energy similar to the Celestial Origin Energy.
'The Celestial Ascension Force?' A thought appeared in Duan Ling Tian's mind. This seemed like the highest possibility.
Duan Ling Tian instinctively mobilized his energy to touch the force that came from all directions. The force grew stronger and stronger, ignoring his energy. However, in the next moment, he felt his body being squeezed by this force to the point where he felt he was going to faint.
'It seems this is truly the Celestial Ascension Force, and I'm about to ascend…' At this time, Duan Ling Tian had no doubt this force was going to help him to ascend when he recalled Tang Xiao Xiao's ascension!