'If I'm able to devour Bu Hong's Innate Spiritual Root, at the very least my Innate Spiritual Root will turn dark blue, if not indigo!' Duan Ling Tian thought to himself as he looked at the unconscious Bu Hong with a hint of greed in his eyes. 'My Innate Spiritual Root is merely a step away from transforming into an indigo Innate Spiritual Root!' He was excited when he thought about this.
Duan Ling Tian did not waste any time as he used the Divine Ability, the Elementary Devouring Tactic, with Elder Huo's help, to devour Bu Hong's Innate Spiritual Root so he could improve his own Innate Spiritual Root!
Earlier, Duan Ling Tian had asked Elder Huo to check if there were any cultivators at the Third Form of the Saint Celestial Stage or above watching since they would be able to see through his 10,000 Swords Territory with their Spiritual Eyes. He would not be able to devour Bu Hong's Innate Spiritual Root if such powerhouses were present. However, he was in luck since there were no powerhouses at the Third Form of the Saint Celestial Stage or above present on the scene. Since he had nothing to worry about, he began to devour Bu Hong's Innate Spiritual Root.
Just as Duan Ling Tian had expected, his Innate Spiritual Root had transformed into a dark blue one. It was on the verge of turning indigo.
'Who would've thought I would encounter a windfall right before I leave the Fire Wors.h.i.+p Sect. I think I'll be able to turn my Innate Spiritual Root into an indigo one if I devour one or two more blue Innate Spiritual Roots!' Duan Ling Tian's heart raced when he thought about this.
"Bu Hong, you only have yourself to blame for this. I hope you won't go crazy when you discover you're nothing but trash now!" Duan Ling Tian said calmly as he looked at Bu Hong. He did not feel guilty devouring Bu Hong's Innate Spiritual Root. Since Bu Hong had intended to humiliate him, it was only just that Duan Ling Tian crippled his Martial Dao innate talent!
In Dao Martial Saint Land, people were considered trash if they did not possess Innate Spiritual Roots since it meant they would not be able to cultivate.
Meanwhile, Duan Ling Tian withdrew his 10,000 Swords Territory. He reappeared before Wen Yan and the Saint Land disciples.
Everyone was shocked by what they saw. Not only was Duan Ling Tian unharmed, but he even held an unconscious and bleeding Bu Hong in his hands.
"This…"
Most of the Saint Land disciples were shocked speechless by what they had seen.
"Senior Brother!" Wen Yan cried out. She was the first to regain her senses. Her expression changed dramatically as she said in a trembling voice, "Duan Ling Tian… What have you done to my senior brother?"
"Relax," Duan Ling Tian said calmly as he looked at Wen Yan. His expression was indifferent as he continued to say, "Your senior brother is not worth breaking the sect's rules for. He's just unconscious. However, if no one stops his bleeding soon, I can't guarantee he won't bleed out and die."

When Duan Ling Tian finished speaking, he tossed Bu Hong over to Wen Yan as though he was tossing trash.
Wen Yan immediately caught Bu Hong and staunched his bleeding once she confirmed he was alive. She would not be implicated if Bu Hong had already died. However, Bu Hong was handed back to her alive. If he bled out and died, she would be responsible for his death. This was not a crime she could bear.
"Second on the True Ranking? 421st on the Supreme Saint Ranking? He's grossly overrated," Duan Ling Tian said disdainfully in front of everyone. He left as soon as he finished speaking and continued his journey back to his residence.
The Saint Land disciples finally regained their senses after Duan Ling Tian left.
"I can't believe this! Duan Ling Tian managed to severely injure Senior Brother Bu Hong to the point that he's unconscious?" A Saint Land disciple said with great difficulties.
"I'm not dreaming, am I?"
Slap!
The person who had spoken was slapped by his friend. His friend asked him innocently, "Does it hurt?"
Slap!
He retaliated by slapping his friend as well. "Does it hurt?"
"Ouch!" His friend was almost in tears and said in an aggrieved tone, "It seems like we're not dreaming."
Their conversation caused many Saint Land disciples to laugh. Apart from that, their conversation also proved that they were not dreaming.
Everything they had seen was real!
"Hmmph! Didn't I tell you Senior Brother Ling Tian would emerge victorious?"
"That's right! Senior brother Duan Ling Tian hasn't lost once since he joined the Fire Wors.h.i.+p Sect!"
"Senior Brother Duan Ling Tian wouldn't lose to anyone weaker than a Silver Flame Elder… In fact, he might even be able to hold his ground if faced with a Silver Flame Elder!"
"I agree with you."
The few Saint Land disciples who had faith in Duan Ling Tian felt vindicated. No one believed them earlier. Currently, no one could contest their words.
Meanwhile, Wen Yan had left in a hurry with an unconscious Bu Hong in tow. Her expression was dark. She could feel everyone looking at her with a strange gaze as she left. She felt as though she was going to explode from anger.
'Duan Ling Tian, I won't let this matter go!' Wen Yan thought to herself angrily as she left in a huff.
Wen Yan suddenly turned to look at the unconscious Bu Hong as though she had thought of something. 'If I cripple senior brother, will the Enforcement Hall punish Duan Ling Tian?'
Wen Yan was about to act on her plan when she thought to herself again, "Wait! If Duan Ling Tian swears on the lightning penalty oath that he did not cripple senior brother, won't the blame fall on me?' She quickly dismissed her earlier idea when she thought of this. If the Enforcement Hall suspected her and she could not prove her innocence by swearing on the lightning penalty oath, she would be in deep trouble.
Based on this, one could see what kind of person Wen Yan was. It was no surprise she would report Gan Ru Yan.
"Useless tras.h.!.+" Wen Yan vented her frustration on the unconscious Bu Hong.
How would Bu Hong feel if he knew the junior sister he cared for so deeply thought of crippling him to place the blame on Duan Ling Tian and even called him trash? However, it was destined that he would remain unaware of this.
...
After Duan Ling Tian returned to his residence, news of him defeating Bu Hong who was ranked second on the True Ranking swept through the Fire Wors.h.i.+p Sect like a storm. It shocked everyone in the sect.
"Duan Ling Tian defeated Senior Brother Bu Hong? Is there any truth to this news?!"
"Duan Ling Tian was ranked fourth on the True Ranking and 537th on the Supreme Saint Ranking. However, I still had my doubts about his strength before this. Who could've guessed he's able to easily defeat Senior Brother Bu Hong!"
"What sort of monster is Duan Ling Tian? He grew so strong within a year of joining the Fire Wors.h.i.+p Sect!"
"Senior Brother Bu Hong was ranked second on the True Ranking and 421st on the Supreme Saint Ranking… Duan Ling Tian will take his place now that he has been defeated!"
"That's true. Senior Brother Bu Hong's going to drop a place on the True Ranking. However, on the Supreme Saint Ranking, they'll swap rankings. Senior Bu Hong's lucky that Senior Brother Duan Ling Tian is already ranked on the Supreme Saint Ranking. Otherwise, he would be kicked out of the Supreme Saint Ranking!"
Everyone in the Fire Wors.h.i.+p Sect was excitedly discussing the rankings on the True Ranking and the Supreme Saint Ranking.
No one in Fire Wors.h.i.+p Sect doubted Bu Hong's defeat in Duan Ling Tian's hands. However, if outsiders heard about this, they might find it hard to believe.
…
In the evening.
A green-clad old man appeared on the island Duan Ling Tian was living on. He had appeared out of thin air as though he was a ghost.
The old man had long flowing white hair but his face was as smooth as a baby's skin. He looked kind. From a distance, he looked like an immortal.
"This little fellow is quite strong. Not only was he not bullied in the Enforcement Hall, but he even defeated Bu Hong who was ranked second on the True Ranking after leaving the Enforcement Hall… Is there a need for Ru Yan to send someone to pa.s.s a message to me so that I can look out for him?" The old man looked at the mansion on the island as he muttered to himself, "I wonder if this little fellow is interested in becoming my disciple?"