Xue Hong Yu, the Heavenly Emperor of the Boundless Heaven, explained to You Feng Yu, the Palace Master of the Heavenly Pool Palace, “Feng Yu, Elder Huo is a subordinate of the Heavenly Emperor of the Solitary Destructive Heaven. Although he’s not a titled Celestial Emperor, his strength is almost on par with Meng Luo, the Heavenly Savage Celestial Emperor.”
In the past, when Xue Hong Yu visited Feng Qing Yang at the Heavenly Palace of the Solitary Destructive Heaven to congratulate Feng Qing Yang for regaining his throne, he met a few Heavenly Emperors there whom he had a bad relationship with. Those few Heavenly Emperors had provoked him and almost got him into trouble. At that time, Elder Huo had intervened and helped him. Although Elder Huo’s strength was inferior to all of the Heavenly Emperors, he was still Feng Qing Yang’s subordinate after all. After Elder Huo’s intervention, those few Heavenly Emperors no longer provoked him. For someone who had reached great heights like him, pride and dignity were the most important to him. Therefore, he was grateful to Elder Huo.
“What?! He’s a subordinate of the Heavenly Emperor of the Solitary Destructive Heaven?!”
The titled Celestial Emperors of the Heavenly Pool Palace, including their Palace Master, You Feng Yu, were stunned upon hearing Xue Hong Yu’s words. Through Xue Feng Yu, they knew how formidable Feng Qing Yang was. Although Feng Qing Yang was one of the youngest Heavenly Emperors, his strength was firmly ranked in the top 10; in fact, there was a possibility his strength was ranked in the top five as well. Most of them had comprehended powerful laws that allowed them to have total control of their respective Devata Realms. Moreover, some people suspected he had already attained godhood. If it were true, his strength would rank in the top three. After all, there was only a handful of Heavenly Emperors who had attained godhood.
“He’s a Celestial Emperor from the Heavenly Palace of the Solitary Destructive Heaven?”
Similarly, Xu Lang and his disciples were shocked upon hearing Xue Hong Yu’s words. They did not expect the old man who trailed behind Duan Ling Tian like a subordinate to belong to the force of the Heavenly Emperor of the Solitary Destructive Heaven. Feng Qing Yang was a prominent figure even among the 81 Heavenly Emperors after all; his reputation had spread far and wide.
“Since when did Little Junior Brother get acquainted with a Celestial Emperor from the Heavenly Palace of the Solitary Destructive Heaven?” Hong Fei asked in confusion.
Hong Me shrugged. “I don’t know…”
At this moment, Xue Hong Yu, the Heavenly Emperor of the Boundless Heaven, looked at Elder Huo and said tentatively, “Elder Huo, Duan Ling Tian is…”
Previously, Xue Hong Yu had been eager to tear Duan Ling Tian into pieces for embarrassing him. However, he did not expect Duan Ling Tian to be acquainted with Elder Huo. Nevertheless, despite feeling indebted to Elder Huo, he had no intention of letting Duan Ling Tian go. However, he did not dare to act recklessly. After all, You Feng Yu had informed him Elder Huo had been trailing after Duan Ling Tian like a subordinate. Perhaps, such an honor should be reserved only for Feng Qing Yang, the Heavenly Emperor of the Solitary Destructive Heaven. Moreover, even Meng Luo, the Heavenly Savage Celestial Emperor, would not act in such a manner toward Feng Qing Yang despite his unquestionable loyalty.
Upon hearing Xue Hong Yu’s words, everyone looked at Elder Huo curiously.
Under everyone’s curious gazes, Elder Huo replied lightly, “He’s the true disciple of our Lord Heavenly Emperor…”
Silence descended immediately as soon as Elder Huo finished speaking.
Duan Ling Tian was a disciple of Feng Qing Yang, the Heavenly Emperor of the Solitary Destructive Heaven? Moreover, he was a true disciple?
Many people in the Devata Realms, including Heavenly Emperors, had many nominal disciples and even direct disciples. However, normally, one would only have one true disciple.
“Elder Huo, are… are you sure?” You Feng Yu, who was the first to return to his senses, asked skeptically. His expression was sour when he looked at Elder Huo. “Did you make this up just to protect Duan Ling Tian?”
Elder Huo scoffed. “Is there a need for me to make this up? Why don’t you ask your grandfather if I’m joking or not?”
“It’s a serious matter to joke with the name of a Heavenly Emperor,” Xue Hong Yu said solemnly.
Others might doubt Elder Huo’s words, but Xue Hong Yu, the Heavenly Emperor of the Boundless, did not. This was because he knew Elder Huo would never lie or joke using Feng Qing Yang’s name.
You Feng Yu fell silent upon hearing Xue Hong Yu’s words. Anger flashed in his eyes as he shifted his eyes to look at Duan Ling Tian. He was unresigned; he knew the moment Elder Huo revealed Duan Ling Tian was Feng Qing Yang’s true disciple, they would not be able to lay a finger on Duan Ling Tian, and this included his grandfather, the Heavenly Emperor of the Boundless Heaven. If anything else, it was probably best for him to curry favor with Duan Ling Tian and pray that Duan Ling Tian would not seek revenge from him. It would not be a problem if it were those weaker Heavenly Emperors. However, the Heavenly Emperor of the Solitary Destructive Heaven was someone even his grandfather feared and had to curry favor with. When Feng Qing Yang returned from the Asura, he knew his grandfather even personally visited Feng Qing Yang to congratulate Feng Qing Yang.
“No! Impossible!” Gu Chang Jiang, the Martial Dragon Celestial Emperor, was in shock and disbelief.
Gu Chang Jiang was not the only one. The Misty Wave Celestial Emperor, the Cloud Gloom Celestial Emperor, and the Cloud Zither Celestial Emperor were in shock and disbelief as well.
“Little Junior Brother is the true disciple of the Heavenly Emperor of Solitary Destructive Heaven?” Hong Fei gulped.
“No wonder Little Junior Brother was so confident earlier. This brat, he should’ve told about this earlier. I was worried for nothing,” Hu Mei complained in a low voice as she stared at Duan Ling Tian.
With this reveal, the rest of Duan Ling Tian’s seniors felt a burden being lifted from their shoulders.
Xu Lang heaved a sigh of relief. However, the shock he felt had not abated. He did not expect Duan Ling Tian would become the true disciple of the Heavenly Emperor of Solitary Destructive Heaven.
Xu Ya Si raised an eyebrow slightly, amazed. ‘So his source of confidence is this… How unexpected that his master is the Heavenly Emperor of the Solitary Destructive Heaven who’s admired by many.’
“Elder Huo, I think this is all a misunderstanding,” Xue Hong Yu said with a smile as he looked at Elder Huo. He had come to kill Duan Ling Tian. However, there was nothing he could do now that it had been revealed that Duan Ling Tian was Feng Qing Yang’s true disciple unless he was ready to give up his throne as the Heavenly Emperor of the Boundless Heaven and live in seclusion. Feng Qing Yang would definitely not let the matter go if he killed Duan Ling Tian. Moreover, if the rumor about Feng Qing Yang attaining godhood was true, it would be easy for Feng Qing Yang to crush him like an ant. Even if the rumor was groundless, he was still no match for Feng Qing Yang.
“A misunderstanding?” Elder Huo glanced at Xue Hong Yu before he shifted his eyes to You Feng Yu and the titled Celestial Emperors from the Heavenly Pool Palace. “These people could hardly wait to kill my Young Master. Lord Xue Hong Yu, isn’t it a bit of a stretch to call it a misunderstanding?”
Xue Hong Yu’s expression changed slightly upon hearing Elder Huo’s words.
“Young Master, what do you think?” Elder Huo asked Duan Ling Tian.
At this moment, Xue Hong Yu quickly turned to look at Duan Ling Tian with a bright smile on his face as he said, “Junior nephew, we finally met. I should’ve prepared a gift for you for our first meeting. I’ll definitely prepare something for you the next time I visit the Heavenly Palace of the Solitary Destructive Heaven.” At this moment, he acted as though he had completely forgotten what Duan Ling Tian did that angered him.
“That’s unnecessary.” Duan Ling Tian shook his head. Then, he pointed at the two titled Celestial Emperors standing next to You Feng Yu and said, “Those two couldn’t wait to kill me. Oh, wait, this includes your grandson as well. Since he’s your grandson, I’ll let him go. However, those two aren’t related to you, right?” He looked at Xue Hong Yu meaningfully at the end of his words.
Duan Ling Tian was relieved; he had absolute control over the situation now. The two titled Celestial Emperors he had pointed out were the Martial Dragon Celestial Emperor and the Misty Wave Celestial Emperor. Even when he was still in the Heavenly Pool Palace, those two had been trying to kill him. He did not bother with the two female titled Celestial Emperors from the Heavenly Pool Palace, the Cold Gloom Celestial Emperor and the Cloud Zither Celestial Emperor, since those two were only following orders and harbored no ill intentions.
“You!”
The Martial Dragon Celestial Emperor and the Misty Wave Celestial Emperor looked at Xue Hong Yu anxiously, afraid You Feng Yu might kill them. However, they felt relieved when they saw Xue Hong Yu did not look at them and continued to look at Duan Ling Tian calmly.
Meanwhile, You Feng Yu could no longer hold back. He looked at Duan Ling Tian like a venomous snake and said, “Duan Ling Tian, you’ve crossed the line!”
“Lord Heavenly Emperor Xue.” Duan Ling Tian looked at Xue Hong Yu and shrugged. He said helplessly, “Look at your grandson’s attitude. I’ll spare his life if you slap him twice.”
“No! I…”
Before You Feng Yu could finish his words, Xue Hong Yu slapped his grandson twice, leaving his grandson’s face red and swollen.
“G-grandfather…” You Feng Yu was shocked.
Upon seeing this, the Martial Dragon Celestial Emperor and the Misty Wave Celestial Emperor hastily fell to their knees. Their bodies trembled uncontrollably as they pleaded, “Lord Heavenly Emperor, please have mercy!”