Chapter 4493: Grand Revered Elder
Although the test was brief, Duan Bing, the Clan Leader of the Duan clan, thoroughly confirmed Duan Ling Tian's strength. There was no doubt that Duan Ling Tian was close to the realm of peerless top advanced Supreme Gods. Moreover, in his opinion, even those monstrous prodigies with the same cultivation base in the Jade Tide Heavenly Mansion might not be able to defeat Duan Ling Tian in a one-on-one fight.
However, after a moment, Duan Bing calmed down and said, looking slightly skeptical, "I'm curious. With your strength, you can join the Jade Tide Heavenly Mansion, and you'll still be highly valued. Why did you choose to join our Duan clan?"
Duan Bing did not beat around the bush and was direct with his words.
Duan Ling Tian smiled and replied truthfully, "You're not wrong. However, I'm new to the Sacred Lightning Realm, and there are many things I'm not familiar with. It'll be more troublesome for me to join the Jade Tide Heavenly Mansion since their main estate isn't in Tourmaline Holy City. On the other hand, it'll be more convenient for me to join one of the three strongest demi-saint-rank forces in Tourmaline Holy City. As for why I chose the Duan clan... my surname is also Duan. In the future, if the Jade Tide Heavenly Mansion extends an invitation to me to join them, I'll definitely join them if it benefits me. It's good that you brought this matter up because I also want to make this clear to you, Clan Leader Duan."
Duan Ling Tian smiled wryly upon hearing these words. However, he also admired Duan Ling Tian's frankness. After all, most people, even if they had these thoughts, would not give voice to them.
"Ling Tian, you're quite honest," Duan Bing said. He was naturally not angered by Duan Ling Tian's words. After all, there was nothing wrong with Duan Ling Tian's words. There were quite a few members of the Duan clan who joined the Jade Tide Heavenly Mansion since the Jade Tide Mansion could give them things that the Duan clan could not.
Although demi-saint-rank forces were only below saint-rank forces, the gap between them was insurmountable.
Duan Bing smiled and continued to say, "In any case, it's a lucky coincidence that joined us at this time. As it happens, there'll be a great opportunity for you in the Duan clan in ten years. At that time, if you perform well and stand out, there's a high chance the Jade Tide Heavenly Mansion will invite you to join them."
Duan Ling Tian's eyes lit up as soon as he heard these words. It was naturally great if he could join the Jade Tide Mansion. He cupped his fists at Duan Bing again and said seriously, "Clan Leader Duan, you're a magnanimous person. Even if I only stay in the Duan clan for ten years, I will never forget my time in the Duan clan."
Duan Ling Tian had never been an ungrateful person, after all. Even if the Duan clan did not do anything else for him in the coming ten years, the opportunity that Duan Bing spoke about was more than enough for him to feel grateful. If there was a chance in the future, he would definitely repay the Duan clan.
After chatting for a while, Duan Bing finally asked Duan Tian Hong to bring Duan Ling Tian to complete the formalities to become a Revered Elder of the Duan clan. The main purpose of this was to obtain an identity token.
...
After helping Duan Ling Tian obtain an identity token, Duan Tian Hong led Duan Ling Tian to the cultivation ground for Revered Elders.
Duan Tian Hong said, "Ling Tian, with your strength, now that you're a Revered Elder, you can challenge the current Grand Revered Elder of our Duan clan. Needless to say, if you win, you'll become the new Grand Revered Elder of our Duan clan. The current Grand Revered Elder is skilled in the law of thunder. He's also comprehended the law of thunder to the perfect form, and he has comprehended the Mastery Dao to the third stage."
The Mastery Dao was one of the Four Daos of Heaven and Earth. In the past, when Duan Ling Tian was in the lower realm and was still weak, he had briefly comprehended the Mastery Dao. He had come across it from the legacy of a certain Heavenly Emperor of a Devata Realm. However, as he grew stronger, he found that the Mastery Dao was becoming increasingly useless to him so he eventually stopped comprehending it.
"Elder Tian Hong, I know that 'Grand Revered Elder' is a title given to the strongest Revered Elder. However, is there a difference between being a Grand Revered Elder and a Revered Elder?" Duan Ling Tian asked curiously.
"Of course, there's a difference. Moreover, the difference isn't small," Duan Tian Hong said with a smile, "For one, the cultivation ground is different. The cultivation ground of Revered Elders is located in one of the nine great spiritual springs in the Duan clan, and the Grand Revered Elder's cultivation place is actually right above the heart of the spring."
Duan Ling Tian knew that spiritual springs were formed by excess Heaven and Earth Spirit Energy after a number of divine crystals reached a certain level. The cultivation environment where the springs were located was perfect, and the Heaven and Earth Spirit Energy there was extremely rich. The closer one was to the heart of the spiritual spring, the better the cultivation environment would be. For cultivators below the realm of supreme powerhouses, cultivating at the heart of the spiritual spring could give them twice the result with only half the effort.
Duan Tian Hong continued to say, "Apart from that, the Duan clan would give cultivation resources to Revered Elders at a fixed time. Many of the cultivation resources are highly coveted. At that time, the Grand Revered Elders will be given priority and can choose three of the cultivation resources first. On the contrary, not only do Revered Elders have to wait for the Grand Revered Elder to choose first, but Revered Elders can only choose one cultivation resource each."
After that, Duan Tian Hong continued to talk about various benefits of being a Grand Revered Elder such as increased salary, the difference in status, and so on.
After listening, there was one thing that excited Duan Ling Tian the most. Every year, the Grand Revered Elder of the Duan clan would be given a chance to follow the Duan clan's demi Saint for three days. During the three days, one could ask for advice and so on from the demi Saint.
Duan Ling Tian's heart skipped a beat, and his eyes shone with determination as he thought to himself, 'I must become the Grand Revered Elder of the Duan clan!'
Soon after, they arrived at the cultivation ground for the Revered Elders of the Duan clan. Just as Duan Tian Hong said, it was where a spiritual spring was located.
A thick fog of Heaven and Earth Spirit Energy could be seen around and on the spiritual spring.
"Elder Tian Hong, the hut suspended in the middle of the spring is the cultivation place of the Grand Revered Elder, right?" Duan Ling Tian asked. His attraction was immediately attracted by a hut on a floating island just right above the heart of the spring, which looked beautiful and magnificent under the light. The thick and viscous liquid from the spring lapped against the floating island gently.
Duan Tian Hong nodded. "Yes. Ling Tian, do you plan to issue a challenge now or do you plan to wait? Every Revered Elder is given a chance to challenge the Grand Revered Elder, but if he or she fails, he or she can only issue another challenge after thirty years. This rule exists to prevent the Grand Revered Elder from being disturbed too much during cultivation."