People from the Four Symbol Sanctums were not unfamiliar with the name Duan Ling Tian.
How could they not be familiar with that name?
First, he offended the Black Turtle Sanctum's First Silver Flame Elder Li An and publicly opposed him as soon as he arrived in the Fire Worship Sect.
After that, he even killed Li An's grand disciple, Yuan Hong, who was a Vermilion Bird Sanctum's disciple! Not only that, but apart from killing Yuan Hong, he even killed Yuan Kuang, Yuan Hong's younger brother as well!
Everyone thought he would be sentenced to death for intentionally killing Yuan Kuang when the Black Turtle Sanctums Enforcement Elder Guo Xiong protected him. Not only that, but even the Saint Land Enforcement Hall had protected him as well.
Just with these few incidents alone was enough for Duan Ling Tian to become famous in the Four Symbols Sanctums.
Based on the news they received, it seemed like the Black Turtle Sanctum's disciple, Duan Ling Tian, had caused another incident? Moreover, this incident was related to Sun De who was currently the cause of a huge commotion.
"Duan Ling Tian defeated Sun De on the day he arrived at the Four Symbols Sanctums' First Mine? This is a joke, right?!" Whether it was people from the Azure Dragon Sanctum, White Tiger Sanctum, Vermilion Bird Sanctum or the Black Turtle Sanctum, when they heard this news, all of them found it hard to believe. However, the news was confirmed by some Four Symbols Sanctum's elders so they had no choice but to believe it.
"Duan Ling Tian's cultivation base is actually the peak of the Exemplary Saint Stage?"
"Then, does this mean he did not use all his strength when he fought with Yuan Hong back then?"
"He's really good at concealing his strength, don't you think?"
Similar discussions could be heard in every corner of the Four Symbols Sanctums.
It was not an exaggeration to say that everyone from the four Sanctums had learned of Duan Ling Tian's cultivation base at the peak of the Exemplary Saint Stage when he fought in the Four Symbols Sanctums' First Mine.
At once, they decided that Duan Ling Tian had concealed his cultivation base from the beginning until the end.
"Don't tell me he's still concealing his cultivation base, and it's not actually at the peak of the Exemplary Saint Stage?" Many people had such a question.
However, their question was soon refuted by other people. "Impossible! Don't forget he only has a yellow Innate Spiritual Root! It's the limit for a commoner with a yellow Innate Spiritual Root to reach the peak of the Exemplary Saint Stage! It's even more difficult than rising to Heaven for them to break through to the Quintessential Saint Stage!"
The fact that Duan Ling Tian had a yellow Innate Spiritual Root had long spread in the Four Symbols Sanctums. For this reason, most people thought Duan Ling Tian had reached his limit in regard to his cultivation base. It would be difficult for him to progress in the future!
However, there were also people in the Four Symbols Sanctums who knew that Duan Ling Tian did not possess a yellow Innate Spiritual Root but a blue one instead! Among them was the Black Turtle Sanctum's First Silver Flame Elder Li An!
Li An had also heard about Sun De, the Black Turtle Sanctum's disciple, successfully comprehending the treasured Divine Ability from the Black Turtle Sanctum, the Black Turtle's Barrier.
He was taken aback by the news and was filled with jealousy. Although Li An was the Black Turtle Sanctum's First Silver Flame Elder, he was still unable to successfully comprehend the Black Turtle's Barrier.
An ordinary Black Turtle Sanctum's disciple had comprehended the most treasured Divine Ability in the Black Turtle Sanctum, the Black Turtle's Barrier. How could he not feel jealous?
"Duan Ling Tian's cultivation base is at the peak of the Exemplary Saint Stage? He defeated Sun De?" This shocking news had also shocked Li An. His expression turned grave immediately when he heard it. "That little brute's cultivation base is already at the peak of the Exemplary Saint Stage since a long time ago or did he just recently make a breakthrough?"
Duan Ling Tian's cultivation base filled Li An's mind with all kinds of thoughts. No matter what it was, Duan Ling Tian's existence definitely posed a threat to him.
He knew that Duan Ling Tian possessed a blue Innate Spiritual Root. This meant that Duan Ling Tian's accomplishment would not be inferior to his. Moreover, with Duan Ling Tian's ability to easily comprehend Divine Abilities, he would most likely become an outstanding person in the Fire Worship Sect who was on par with a Golden Flame Elder in the future when he had grown stronger.
A Golden Flame Elder was someone whose position was higher than him. If Duan Ling Tian managed to obtain that position, Li An would be doomed.
"No way! I can't let this go on! Duan Ling Tian must die!" Li An muttered to himself. After he regained his senses, his breathing quickened. His eyes flashed coldly like a poisonous snake that was about to strike.
Li An was not really bothered about Duan Ling Tian who possessed a yellow Innate Spiritual Root despite the fact that he had a heaven-defying ability in comprehending Divine Abilities. However, Duan Ling Tian currently possessed a blue Innate Spiritual Root, coupled with his talent in comprehending Divine Abilities, Li An could not help but feel afraid.
He was almost certain someone like Duan Ling Tian was going to bring him trouble when he grew stronger!
'However, he's currently in the First Mine, it won't be easy for me to kill him! Moreover, his current strength is almost on par with an ordinary Mastery Quintessential Saint Stage Martial Cultivator!" The moment Li An thought of this, horror dawned on him.
Apart from the First Mine's elders, the Four Symbols Sanctum's First Mine only allowed Enforcement Elders and the criminals who were brought by Enforcement Elders to enter.
It was impossible for Li An to enter the First Mine, let alone killing someone inside!
"Duan Ling Tian, did you really think that I can't get to you just because you're hiding in the First Mine?!" Li An left his residence with a cold smirk on his face.
He traveled quickly to an unknown destination before he came to a halt. His destination was the residence of the Black Turtle Sanctum's disciples. To be more specific, he stopped right in front of a Primus house.
"Elder Li An!"
"It's Elder Li An!"
Li An's appearance attracted the attention of many Black Turtle Sanctum's disciples.
"Hong Xu!" After Li An stopped in front of the Primus House, he extended his Divine Consciousness and transmitted his voice to a Black Turtle Sanctum's disciple.
"Who are you?!" The Black Turtle Sanctum's disciple who was originally cultivating in the Primus house was abruptly awakened. It was only natural he had a grave expression on his face. His eyes were burning with rage, and he felt like slapping the person who woke him up from his cultivation.
"It's Li An!" The Voice Transmission resonated again, causing the Black Turtle Sanctum's disciple to change his expression instantly. His expression was no longer grave. Instead, a forced smile that was uglier than a crying face appeared on his face. The rage in his eyes had also vanished.
Creak...
Under Li An's gaze, the door to the Primus house opened and a Black Turtle Sanctum's disciple walked out. He bowed respectfully at Li An. "Good day, Elder Li An!"
This Black Turtle Sanctum's disciple was a middle-aged man with an ordinary appearance with a medium build. He would be difficult to pick out in a crowd of people.
"It's Senior Brother Hong Xu!"
"Why did Elder Li An come looking for Senior Brother Hong Xu?"
The Black Turtle Sanctum's disciples who had not returned to their residences also saw the middle-aged man whom Li An called out.
Upon seeing this middle-aged man, respect could be seen in their eyes.
Hong Xu was the Great Senior Brother widely acknowledged by the Black Turtle Sanctum's disciples in these recent years.
The reason he was widely acknowledged as Great Senior Brother was due to his strength. He had long broken through to the Mastery Quintessential Saint Stage.
Currently, Hong Xu was also the only Mastery Quintessential Saint Stage disciple in the Black Turtle Sanctum!
However, when they found it strange that Li An was looking for Hong Xu. From what they know, both of them did not have any relationship at all.
As the Black Turtle Sanctum's disciples were pondering over this...
"Follow me!" Li An said to Hong Xu indifferently before he turned and left the residence of the Black Turtle Sanctum's disciples. His silhouette gradually disappeared before the eyes of the Black Turtle Sanctum's disciples.
As Li An's silhouette disappeared, Hong Xu followed after him despite feeling skeptical.
Li An was the Black Turtle Sanctum's First Silver Flame Elder after all.
Before he participated in the Saint Land assessment that was just around the corner, he was still a Black Turtle Sanctum's disciple so he did not dare to simply offend Li An.
The Black Turtle Sanctum's disciples finally looked away after Li An and Hong Xu's figures disappeared.
Although they were curious, none of them dared to follow them since they were afraid of Li An.
Li An finally came to a halt outside of the residence of the Black Turtle Sanctum's disciple where a secluded bamboo grove was located.
"Elder Li An, is there a reason you came looking for me?" Li An asked with a puzzled expression.
"Hong Xu, I want you to head to the Four Symbols Sanctums' First Mine and kill someone!" Li An said without beating around the bush as his eyes flashed coldly.
Swoosh!
The moment Hong Xu heard his words, horror dawned on him. "E-Elder Li An, you want me to head to the First Mine to kill Duan Ling Tian?"
Although Hong Xu spent most of his time in closed-door cultivation, he would still come out once in a while. For this reason, he knew about Duan Ling Tian.
Due to this reason, when Li An told him to kill someone in the First Mine, Hong Xu instantly thought of Duan Ling Tian.
"That's right!" Li An nodded in response to Hong Xu's question.
"Elder Li An, I'm sorry, but I can't do that!" Hong Xu took a deep breath before he directly rejected Li An's request.
Put aside the fact that he was not confident he was able to kill Duan Ling Tian, so what if he could kill Duan Ling Tian? Would he not be sentenced to death for violating the Fire Worship Sect's rules?
Li An did not seem surprised by Hong Xu's rejection. He said nonchalantly, "Hong Xu, I suggest you think about this. If I'm not mistaken, Hong Clan is in the Western Province, right?!"
When he finished speaking, he looked at Hong Xu meaningfully.
Horror dawned on Hong Xu immediately. "Elder Li An, are you t-threatening me?"
"You can regard it as a threat." Li An's tone was calm as though he was speaking about some insignificant matter. "You better think about it carefully. Is your life more important? Or are the lives in Hong Clan more important?"