Chapter 2025: Not Qualified

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

“If even a commoner with a yellow Innate Spiritual Root can enter the Enforcement Hall, outsiders might think the Enforcement Hall would just accept anyone if news of this spread out!” Dong Lin said in front of the Saint Land disciples in the Fire Remuneration Palace as he looked at Duan Ling Tian contemptuously, “We can’t allow the reputation of the Enforcement Hall to be tarnished by a commoner with a yellow Innate Spiritual Root. If we accept you, people might think there’s no one talented left in the Fire Worship Sect!” Dong Lin’s words clearly implied the reason for his actions was to safeguard the reputation of the Enforcement Hall and the Fire Worship Sect!

‘Yellow Innate Spiritual Root? Commoner?’ Duan Ling Tian had wondered what kind of excuse Dong Lin would come up with, but it did not cross his mind that Dong Lin would give this excuse.

Was this Dong Lin really an elder of the Enforcement Hall? The people from the Saint Land Enforcement Hall should know he possessed a blue Innate Spiritual Root, right?

Duan Ling Tian was baffled.

Based on the current situation, it was obvious Dong Lin did not know Duan Ling Tian possessed the blue Innate Spiritual Root. Otherwise, he would not have come up with this excuse to make things difficult for him.

Then, Duan Ling Tian looked at Chen Peng who was standing close to Dong Lin. He saw killing intent in Chen Peng’s eyes. Apart from that, he could see Chen Peng was obviously delighted over his misfortune.

‘Chen Peng doesn’t know I have a blue Innate Spiritual Root as well?’ Duan Ling Tian was surprised.

Previously, Wei He, Li An’s great direct disciple, did not believe Duan Ling Tian possessed a blue Innate Spiritual Root, and he had gone to the Enforcement Hall to accuse the Black Turtle Sanctum’s Enforcement Elder Guan Xiu of abusing his power. In the end, he was sentenced to death for violating the sanctity of the Enforcement Hall! Wei He’s death had undoubtedly revealed to Li An that Duan Ling Tian indeed possessed the blue Innate Spiritual Root!

‘It seems like Chen Peng did not discuss this matter with Li An before he came looking for trouble with me. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have let Dong Lin use such a poor excuse to make things difficult for me!’ It was not difficult for Duan Ling Tian to figure this out. ‘It’s obvious Dong Lin doesn’t know I have a blue Innate Spiritual Root. It seems like he didn’t pay much attention to the matter of Wei He, Chen Peng’s senior brother, being sentenced to death by the Enforcement Hall. Otherwise, he would’ve known I have a blue Innate Spiritual Root.’

The truth was exactly like what Duan Ling Tian had speculated.

Whether it was Dong Lin or Chen Peng, both of them did not know Duan Ling Tian possessed a blue Innate Spiritual Root.

Dong Lin did not know Duan Ling Tian possessed a blue Innate Spiritual Root because he was not in the Fire Worship Sect previously and had only returned a few days ago. He did not pay attention to the details of what had happened to Chen Peng’s senior brother, Wei He. If he had paid more attention, he would have found out from the dossier in the Enforcement Hall that Duan Ling Tian possessed a blue Innate Spiritual Root.

As for Chen Peng, he had only come out of closed-door cultivation recently. As soon as he came out of closed-door cultivation, he learned that his great Senior Brother Wei He had died because of Duan Ling Tian.

At that time, Duan Ling Tian had just arrived at the Saint Land and killed the true disciple, Yang Wen, and ruthlessly humiliated another true disciple, Wen Yan, who was much stronger than him. That was when Chen Peng realized it would be difficult for him to seek revenge for his senior brother if he had to rely on his own strength. Then, he coincidentally heard that Duan Ling Tian wanted to serve in the Enforcement Hall. That was when he went to the Enforcement Hall to look for Dong Lin who had just returned to the Fire Worship Sect and ask Dong Lin to ban Duan Ling Tian from serving in the Enforcement Hall. He had even come up with the idea of using Duan Ling Tian’s yellow Innate Spiritual Root as an excuse to ban him! All this led to the current situation in the Fire Remuneration Palace.

“Elder Dong Lin’s words make sense. Since ancient times, there’s no one in the Enforcement Hall who possessed only a yellow Innate Spiritual Root!” Many Saint Land disciples muttered to themselves in the Fire Remuneration Palace.

They knew Dong Lin was only using this as an excuse, but they found his excuse reasonable. It was acceptable in the Fire Worship Sect since everyone in the sect knew how strong Duan Ling Tian was. They did not find it strange for him to serve in the Enforcement Hall even though they knew he only possessed a yellow Innate Spiritual Root. However, outsiders did not know Duan Ling Tian. If they found out the Enforcement Hall had accepted a commoner with a yellow Innate Spiritual Root, they would think the Fire Worship Sect did not have any talented people left in the sect. This would undoubtedly be a great humiliation to the Fire Worship Sect!

“You can’t speak like this!” Naturally, there were also many Saint Land disciples who defended Duan Ling Tian against the injustice.

“Elder Dong Lin’s words are reasonable, but an exception should be made for Duan Ling Tian. Although he only possesses a yellow Innate Spiritual Root, he’s stronger than most of the Bronze Flame Elders and true disciples in our Fire Worship Sect!”

“If someone like that is not even qualified to serve in the Enforcement Hall, then who else is qualified?”

Many Saint Land disciples looked at Dong Lin with hints of displeasure and resentment. They felt that he had crossed a line.

“Even then, it’s a fact that Duan Ling Tian only possesses a yellow Innate Spiritual Root. Naturally, the people in the sect wouldn’t doubt Duan Ling Tian’s strength. However, if news of this spread out, outsiders who are not familiar with him would think less of the sect!” A Saint Land disciple chimed in.

“That’s right! Even if words of Duan Ling Tian’s deeds in the sect spread out, outsiders might not believe it. They might think it’s something the sect comes up with as an excuse!”

“You’re right. For this reason, the Enforcement Hall might not do anything even if Duan Ling Tian goes there to lodge a complaint against Elder Dong Lin for abusing his power!”

“Elder Dong Lin’s excuse is irrefutable. It’s true that everyone can see he’s only trying to make things difficult for Duan Ling Tian, but so what? Duan Ling Tian really is a commoner with a yellow Innate Spiritual Root.”

“If Duan Ling Tian doesn’t have a yellow Innate Spiritual Root, this incident wouldn’t have happened. No matter how you look at it, all this happened because of his low-grade Innate Spiritual Root!”

The group of Saint Land disciples discussed among themselves in the Fire Remuneration Palace. When they looked at Duan Ling Tian, they shook their heads as though they found the entire matter to be a pity.

“Although Duan Ling Tian only possesses a yellow Innate Spiritual Root, he’s still very strong. There’s no one like him in the history of the Fire Worship Sect!” A Saint Land disciple could not help but marvel.

“It’s not just the Fire Worship Sect! Even in the history of the Dao Martial Saint Land, I don’t think there’s anyone like Duan Ling Tian!”

“Duan Ling Tian only possesses a yellow Innate Spiritual Root, and his cultivation base is only at the peak of the Exemplary Saint Stage. However, he’s strong enough to kill a powerhouse at the First Form of the Saint Celestial Stage and defeat an elite powerhouse at the Second Form of the Saint Celestial Stage. His strength is definitely unprecedented in the Dao Martial Saint Land!”

“It’s indeed true that Heaven is jealous of geniuses! God has given Duan Ling Tian the peerless ability to comprehend Divine Abilities, but at the same time, He only gave him a yellow Innate Spiritual Root!”

“The yellow Innate Spiritual Roots are considered pretty good outside of the Fire Worship Sect. There are just too many people with yellow Innate Spiritual Roots in the sect that’s why it’s not worth mentioning at all here!”

Many Saint Land disciples still marveled at Duan Ling Tian’s current strength even though he only possessed a yellow Innate Spiritual Root. Although that might be the case, none of them thought he would have great achievements in the future. Moreover, they even thought his cultivation base would remain at the peak of the Exemplary Saint Stage forever!

“Duan Ling Tian!” At the same time, Dong Lin looked at Duan Ling Tian again and said with a mocking smile, “Do you still think I’m abusing power after listening to my reason?” Dong Lin acted self-righteously. It was as though he regarded Duan Ling Tian as an ant he could step on.

“Don’t tell me you’re not even sure if you’re abusing your power or not that you have to ask me this?” Duan Ling Tian smiled coldly.

“What? Don’t tell me you’re unwilling to accept this?” The mocking smile on Dong Lin’s face became even more apparent. “Could it be that I wasn’t clear enough with my words? You’re a mere commoner who possesses a yellow Spiritual Root. If you enter our Enforcement Hall, not only would you embarrass the Enforcement Hall, but you’d also embarrass the Fire Worship Sect! Don’t tell me you’re willing to tarnish the reputation of the Fire Worship Sect for your own selfish purpose?” Dong Lin even accused Duan Ling Tian of being selfish and not caring about the reputation of the Fire Worship Sect!

“Are you done?” Duan Ling Tian’s expression remained calm regardless of what Dong Lin said. It was as though Dong Lin’s words did not affect him at all.

“Why? Don’t tell me you still have something to say? What is it? Do you want to say that you’re stronger than most true disciples?” Dong Lin was, naturally, angry when he saw how calm Duan Ling Tian was. He smirked. “Don’t forget that outsiders are different from the people in the sect. They won’t believe that a commoner who only has a yellow Innate Spiritual Root is strong enough to be ranked in the top ten of the Fire Worship Sect’s True Ranking!”

Dong Lin’s excuse seemed flawless. However, that would only be the case if Duan Ling Tian really possessed a yellow Innate Spiritual Root.