The group of elders from the Linghu clan was still stunned by the divine rocks and divine crystals that filled the hall when Duan Ling Tian said loudly, “Elders, there are more than a million divine crystals here. After you convert them, there would be more than 100 million divine rocks. I’ve now fulfilled my words from back then. I hope you’ll fulfill your promise.”

The expressions of the elders changed slightly upon hearing Duan Ling Tian’s words.

“Duan Ling Tian…” Linghu Ren Jie did not expect that Duan Ling Tian asked him to summon all the elders here because Duan Ling Tian wanted to return the divine rocks from back then. Just the divine crystals that Duan Ling Tian had brought out had far exceeded the 100 million divine rocks.

Moreover, even if the value were the same, not many people would exchange a million divine crystals for 100 million divine rocks. Divine crystals were precious and rare, after all.

Linghu Ren Jie looked at Duan Ling Tian with a complicated but grateful expression on his face. Back then, he had taken great care of Duan Ling Tian because he felt that Duan Ling Tian had a bright future. He felt that he would not suffer a loss from investing in Duan Ling Tian. Later on, after spending time with Duan Ling Tian and understanding Duan Ling Tian, he greatly admired Duan Ling Tian. Hence, he decided to help Duan Ling Tian when he could.

Later on, when Linghu Ren Jie was removed from his position as the Clan Leader of the Linghu clan because of Duan Ling Tian, he did not complain nor blame Duan Ling Tian. After all, it was something he did sincerely so he did not regret it. Even if he could turn back time, he would not do anything differently.

When he met his sister, Linghu Ren Feng, Linghu Ren Jie also learned that his sister had another daughter apart from Linghu Chu Yin. As it turned out, his other niece was Duan Ling Tian’s wife. This meant that Duan Ling Tian was his nephew-in-law. As his sister’s son-in-law, they were a family. With this revelation, he was even more convinced that his decision was the right one.

Finally, Linghu Ren Jie said with a wry smile, “You don’t have to do this, Duan Ling Tian, Like I said before, I’ve grown tired of being the Clan Leader of the Linghu clan after so many years. Now, I can focus on my cultivation and also relax… Being stripped of my position is a good thing to me, not a bad thing. You must’ve borrowed these divine crystals from the elders of the Pure Yang Sect, right? Return these to them. You can return the divine rocks to the Linghu clan in the future. It doesn’t matter if it takes longer than 100 years. I have no wish of becoming the Clan Leader of the Linghu clan again. It’s really not necessary for you to do this…”

Based on Linghu Ren Jie’s words, it was clear he thought that Duan Ling Tian had borrowed the divine crystals. He was even more convinced when he saw Zhen Ping Fang looking at the elders of the Linghu clan sect with great interest. After all, even the Sect Leader of the Flying Dragon Sect would find it difficult to bring out so many divine crystals in one go, let alone Duan Ling Tian who was just an inner disciple of the Flying Dragon Sect.

Meanwhile, after recovering from the shock, the elders from the Linghu clan looked at each other, feeling embarrassed. A bitter smile could be seen on their faces as well. If it were before, they would have been happy that Duan Ling Tian gave them so many divine crystals. However, they did not feel happy now. After all, after repaying the debt, it meant that Duan Ling Tian had severed all ties with the Linghu clan, with the exception of Linghu Ren Jie. It did not matter even if Linghu Ren Jie became the Clan Leader of the Linghu clan again.

Just when two elders were about to speak, in hope of rectifying the situation, Zhen Ping Fan, the Nirvanic Elder from the Pure Yang who had been watching the show, looked at Linghu Ren Jie and said, “These divine crystals are a welcome gift from me to Duan Ling Tian on behalf of the Pure Yang Sect. He didn’t borrow them so he can do as he pleases with them. You can rest assured about this…”

Upon hearing this, not only Linghu Ren Jie, but the other elders from the Linghu clan were stunned as well.

‘A welcome gift for Duan Ling Tian?’

They were not surprised that the Pure Yang Sect gave Duan Ling Tian a welcome gift. After all, it was only normal for one of the top emperor-rank forces in the Eastern Ridge Mansion to do so. However, despite the sect’s wealth, it was truly unusual for them to give such a generous welcome gift to Duan Ling Tian, a newcomer. This showed that the Pure Yang Sect highly valued Duan Ling Tian.

The people from the Linghu Clan were unaware that it was indeed impossible for the Pure Yang Sect to be so generous with Duan Ling Tian’s welcome gift. It was only because Zhen Ping Fan had looked for the Sect Leader of the Pure Yang Sect and suggested such a welcome gift that Duan Ling Tian received such a generous gift.

After all, the Sect Leader of the Pure Yang was the junior brother of Zhen Ping Fan’s father. Zhen Ping Fan’s father had raised him and taught him since he was young. The duo had also gone through many life-or-death situations that strengthened their bond. They were even closer than blood brothers.

Hence, it was not surprising that the Sect Leader of the Pure Yang Sect treated Zhen Ping Fan like a son. It was just as Qin Wu Yang had said to Deng Kui, the Silver Marionette Elder from the Green Province Mansion.

Duan Ling Tian looked at the elders, who wore complicated expressions on their faces, as he asked again, “Elders, now that I’ve fulfilled my end of the bargain, don’t you think it’s time for you to do so as well?”

As soon as Duan Ling Tian’s voice fell, an elder, who had been chosen by the other elders to speak on their behalf, walked out. He was an old man dressed in a light blue robe, and he had a ruddy complexion. A bitter smile could be seen on his face as he said, “Duan Ling Tian, the elders of the clan only hoped to motivate you back then. It’s the same as when we removed Ren Jie from his position. It’s evident considering that from that time until now, we didn’t find a new clan leader. Forget about the deal from back then. You should keep the divine crystals for yourself. Whether they’re used for cultivation or obtaining things you need, they’ll be of use to you in the future. As for Ren Jie, we’ll reinstate him immediately. I speak for all of the elders of the clan when I say these words…”

Duan Ling Tian was slightly surprised. He did not expect the elders from the Linghu clan would come to this decision. He could remember everything that happened back then. The elders said they were trying to motivate him by removing Linghu Ren Jie from his position and agreeing to his deal, but back then, they did not even tell him when they removed Linghu Ren Jie from his position. Moreover, he was the one who came up with the idea of keeping the clan leader’s position empty for 100 years before he returned the divine rocks. The excuse the elders gave about trying to motivate him was clearly nonsense.

Linghu Ren Jie, Linghu Zheng Xing, Linghu Huan, and Linghu Heng felt the same way as Duan Ling Tian as well. The corners of their lips twitched when they heard the elders’ excuse. They thought the elders of the Linghu Clan truly liked to lie.

Apart from that, they naturally knew the reason behind the elders’ action. The elders did not want Duan Ling Tian to sever ties with the Linghu clan. If they accepted the divine crystals, it would mean that Duan Ling Tian no longer had anything to do with the Linghu clan, except for Linghu Ren Jie. As such, how could they benefit from Duan Ling Tian?

‘These old geezers are really shameless,’ Linghu Ren Jie complained inwardly. He was forcibly removed from his position as the clan leader previously. At that time, they did not say anything about motivating Duan Ling Tian at all.

“This…” Even Qin Wu Yang, the Spirit Void Elder from the Pure Yang Sect, was rendered speechless by the elders’ shamelessness. He had known about what had happened in the past and the agreement; he had even told Zhen Ping Fan about it.

At this moment, the elders from the Linghu clan spoke up one after another.

“That’s right! It was all to motivate you, Duan Ling Tian!”

“Duan Ling Tian, you must understand our good intentions. If you have any dissatisfaction, you can vent it on me! I’ll be your punching bag!”

“That’s right. Moreover, you were a former member of our clan after all. How can we deprive you of the divine crystals?”

Clearly, the elders of the Linghu clan really did not want to accept the divine crystals.

At this time, the blue-clad old man, who had been selected to represent the elders, said, “Duan Ling Tian, if you’re really unwilling, why don’t you think of this as the Linghu clan giving you the divine crystals after you returned them to the clan? You’re the first prodigy from our clan who managed to join the Pure Yang Sect. You naturally deserve such a gift!”