Based on the green-clad old man's words, it was obvious he was Gan Ru Yan's master. He was Qing Huo, one of the three great Guardians of the Fire Wors.h.i.+p Sect.
About a month ago, Qing Huo received a voice transmission jade token from someone his direct disciple, Gan Ru Yan, had sent. She had asked him to look out for a young man named Duan Ling Tian. At that time, Duan Ling Tian was serving in the Enforcement Hall.
Qing Huo had heard of Duan Ling Tian, but he did not pay much attention to him prior to that. After he received the voice transmission jade token from his direct disciple, he had investigated him. The result of his investigation had shocked him.
A new disciple who had joined the Fire Wors.h.i.+p Sect for less than a year had caused so many incidents in the Fire Wors.h.i.+p Sect! Moreover, he had also offended quite a number of high-ranking officials in the Fire Wors.h.i.+p Sect. He had even offended Dong Yuan Jin, one of the Vice Hall Masters in the Enforcement Hall. Dong Yuan Jin was stronger than most Golden Flame Elders in the Fire Wors.h.i.+p Sect.
Qing Huo had paid close attention to the happenings in the Enforcement Hall. However, he discovered Dong Yuan Jin did not make any move at all. Soon after, he learned that Dong Yuan Jin did not personally make a move but he had sent the First Silver Flame Elder in the Enforcement Hall to avenge his son, Dong Lin. However, the First Silver Flame Elder was cowed by Duan Ling Tian! In the end, the First Silver Flame Elder had stood by idly as he watched Duan Ling Tian beat up Dong Lin.
When Qing Huo learned about this, his interest in Duan Ling Tian whom he had never met began to grow. However, at that time, he had no thoughts of asking him to be his direct disciple.
Today, Duan Ling Tian had completely defeated Bu Hong who was ranked second on the True Ranking. This sparked Qing Huo's interest in accepting him as his disciple. For this reason, he had come here.
"Duan Ling Tian!"
Qing Huo was a straightforward man. He did not plan to beat around the bush and called out to Duan Ling Tian immediately. His voice that contained Saint Origin spread through Duan Ling Tian's mansion on the island.
"Hm?" Meanwhile, Duan Ling Tian who was cultivating in the fourth level of the Seven Treasures Exquisite PaG.o.da heard someone calling out for him.
Duan Ling Tian was still confused when Elder Huo suddenly appeared on the fourth level of the Seven Treasures Exquisite PaG.o.da and solemnly warned him, "This person's cultivation base is at the Seventh Form of the Saint Celestial Stage!"
"Seventh Form of the Saint Celestial Stage?" Duan Ling Tian's eyes widened when he heard Elder Huo's words. He did not doubt Elder Huo's words.
A powerhouse at the Seventh Form of the Saint Celestial Stage was not someone he could deal with at the moment. The Seventh Form of the Saint Celestial Stage was also known as the Heaven Defying Form! Once one had broken through to this stage, they would no longer be bound by mortality. One would have the lifespan of an immortal. Naturally, such powerhouses could still be killed.

"In the Fire Wors.h.i.+p Sect, there are only four people whose cultivation base is at the Seventh Form of the Saint Celestial Stage or above… They're Sect Leader Tang Xuan and the Wind, Fire, and Cloud Guardians!" Duan Ling Tian muttered to himself, "It seems likely that my visitor is one of the Guardians. I wonder which Guardian it is and why he came looking for me."
Duan Ling Tian left the fourth level of the Seven Treasures Exquisite PaG.o.da and his room. When he exited his mansion, he flew up into the air. After a few moments, he saw a green-clad old man standing before him.
Since Duan Ling Tian had entered the Fire Wors.h.i.+p Sect, regardless if they had a high rank or not, everyone he met was dressed in a white robe. The only difference would be the patterns embroidered on their robes. This was his first time meeting someone who was not dressed in white!
This was also one of the reasons Duan Ling Tian knew this old man had an extraordinary position in the Fire Wors.h.i.+p Sect. He was certain the green-clad old man was one of the Guardians in the Fire Wors.h.i.+p Sect.
Soon after, Duan Ling Tian appeared before the green-clad old man.
The old man did not emit any aura at all. He seemed like an ordinary old man. However, Duan Ling Tian knew very well that someone who could hide his aura so well was certainly very strong. It was no easy feat after all to hide one's aura.
"Greetings, Guardian!" Duan Ling Tian instantly cupped his hand and bowed respectfully to the green-clad old man.
Qing Huo was surprised Duan Ling Tian managed to guess his ident.i.ty so quickly. He could not help but ask, "How do you know I'm a Guardian of the Fire Wors.h.i.+p Sect?"
"In the Fire Wors.h.i.+p Sect, I'm afraid only the Sect Leader and the three great Guardians possess such n.o.ble bearing. It's not hard for me to figure this out." Duan Ling Tian flattered the old man without any hint of hesitation. He had confirmed his suspicion that the green-clad old man was one of the Guardians in the Fire Wors.h.i.+p Sect.
Naturally, Duan Ling Tian did not guess who the old man was based on his n.o.ble bearing. It was because Elder Huo had informed him the old man's cultivation base was at the Seventh Form of the Saint Celestial Stage. There were only four people in the Fire Wors.h.i.+p Sect who possessed such a cultivation base.
Sect Leader Tang Xuan of the Fire Wors.h.i.+p Sect was still in closed-door cultivation. There were only the Guardians left.
Nonetheless, Duan Ling Tian did not know which of the three great Guardians the green-clad old man was.
"You know how to flatter people as well? How curious. I thought you only know how to cause trouble." Qing Huo shook his head and smiled when he heard Duan Ling Tian's words.
"You must be joking, Guardian… I've never caused any trouble." Based on Qing Huo's words, Duan Ling Tian knew the other party was aware of what happened ever since he had joined the Fire Wors.h.i.+p Sect.
Duan Ling Tian meant it when he said he had never caused any trouble. It was other people who looked for trouble with him!
"Never caused any trouble?" Qing Huo shook his head and looked at Duan Ling Tian and said teasingly, "Perhaps, you didn't actively cause trouble with the others. However, as far as I know, Wen Yan didn't offend you in any way. Why did you humiliate her the first time you met her? How's that not causing trouble?" Qing Huo sounded amused when he spoke.
"It's not!" Duan Ling Tian shook his head firmly and said, "Wen Yan might not have provoked me. However, my sense of justice is very strict. Wen Yan is the sc.u.m of Fire Wors.h.i.+p Sect. I don't think it's wrong for me to beat up someone like that when I see them." Duan Ling Tian sounded very righteous when he spoke. It was as though he was doing the public a favor by beating up Wen Yan.
Qing Huo obviously did not believe Duan Ling Tian's words. He asked bluntly, "I didn't know you have such a strong sense of justice. Let's not beat around the bush. What's your relations.h.i.+p with Gan Ru Yan?" It seemed as though he knew Duan Ling Tian had beaten up Wen Yan for Gan Ru Yan.
"Guardian Qing Huo, why don't you ask your disciple that instead of asking me?" Duan Ling Tian asked with a wry smile. He no longer maintained his righteous facade.
"How do you know I'm Qing Huo?" Qing Huo was surprised when he heard Duan Ling Tian's words.
"Among the three great Guardians of the Fire Wors.h.i.+p Sect, you're probably the only one who would show a hint of emotion when Wen Yan is mentioned. After all, she's the reason your direct disciple is imprisoned in the Enforcement Hall," Duan Ling Tian said confidently.
Earlier, when Qing Huo had mentioned Wen Yan, Duan Ling Tian had sensed a tiny fluctuation in his emotion.
Duan Ling Tian was a Weapon Specialist in his past life after all. He was more astute than ordinary people.
Out of all three Fire Wors.h.i.+p Sect's Guardians, Qing Huo was the only one who would be prejudiced against Wen Yan. Wen Yan had caused his direct disciple to be imprisoned in the Enforcement Hall after all.
Qing Huo was momentarily stunned when he heard Duan Ling Tian's words. After a while, he began to laugh. After he stopped laughing, he looked at Duan Ling Tian intently and asked, "Duan Ling Tian, are you interested in becoming my disciple? I heard that your master is a sectless cultivator, but I don't mind. After meeting you, I have to say that I really like your att.i.tude. If you become my direct disciple, I promise I won't spare any efforts to nurture you. What I give Ru Yan will also be given to you!"
If Duan Ling Tian became Qing Huo's disciple, he would treat him as well he treated Gan Ru Yan.
"Huh?" Duan Ling Tian was stunned when he heard Qing Huo's words. He did not expect Qing Huo had come all the way here just to ask him to be his direct disciple!
...
Meanwhile, in the Lower Province of the Dao Martial Saint Land. In the quasi third-rate force, the Azure Cloud Mansion.
There was another uninvited guest who had shown up at the Azure Cloud Mansion. Instead of bringing a large group of men, this man had shown up alone. To be more accurate, the visitor was not a man but a monster. The monster was four meters tall. It possessed the body of a human and the head of an ox. It looked like a minotaur.
"What monster is this?"
Many Black Armored Guards were killed. The remaining Black Armored Guards retreated outside the Main Mansion of the Azure Cloud Mansion. They were all frightened.