Xia Tenglong, the Pavilion Master of the Wanbao Pavilion.
The undisputed number one figure within the Wanbao Pavilion.
Yet this old man before them addressed him in such a manner.
Ye Chen, Abenue, and the Corpse Devouring Insect Emperor all looked suspiciously at the old Divine King. Judging by his address, the latter seemed to have a deep connection with the Wanbao Pavilion.
"Esteemed elder, do you know the Pavilion Master?" Elder Gu Tian asked cautiously.
"I never expected that after leaving for so many years, that kid has become the Pavilion Master. Back then, he absolutely refused to become the Pavilion Master." The old Divine King sighed with emotion, recalling many past events.
It was precisely because of this that Elder Gu Tian's expression suddenly changed, further confirming the guess in his heart. He spoke with a hint of respect, "May I ask, esteemed elder, who you are—"
"This old man is Tong Tian," the old Divine King chuckled, responding somewhat casually.
"Tong Tian—"
Hearing this name, Elder Gu Tian seemed to recall something. After a long moment, he suddenly remembered a title that had once shaken the world but had disappeared for a long time. When he truly remembered, he stared in shock at the decrepit old Divine King before him: "Tong Tian... you are the Heaven-Piercing Divine King!"
When this title was uttered from Elder Gu Tian's mouth, it exploded like thunder throughout the entire third-floor Medicine Hall.
Aside from Ye Chen and his group, everyone stared in shock at this white-haired, utterly aged old fellow—he was actually a Divine King.
Moreover, Elder Bo Yan, Elder Ruo Ya, and other Wanbao Pavilion personnel recalled that person who had once left a glorious mark on the Wanbao Pavilion. In his time, he was extremely illustrious, hailed as the Heaven-Piercing Divine King, a stunning talent said to be capable of piercing the heavens, treading the Heaven-Piercing Path, and becoming a supreme Heaven-Piercer.
The Heaven-Piercing Divine King of old was renowned throughout the Ten Heaven Realm Ancient Domain, one of the strongest of his era.
When Sovereigns did not appear, his combat power pierced the heavens.
However, back when the current Wanbao Pavilion Master Xia Tenglong successfully stepped into the Divine King realm, the Heaven-Piercing Divine King left freely. It was said he sought the true Heaven-Piercing Path, pursuing the elusive path of the Heavenly Dao.
That departure was many years ago, and there had been no news since, leading many to suspect he had perished or passed away outside.
No one expected that today, in the third floor of the Wanbao Pavilion's Medicine Hall, they would unexpectedly encounter the legendary Heaven-Piercing Divine King of yore.
"Are you truly the Heaven-Piercing Divine King?"
Elder Gu Tian looked at the old Divine King with disbelief.
He couldn't help but doubt. When the Heaven-Piercing Divine King departed all those years ago, he was merely a vibrant young talent. Tens of thousands of years had passed since then. Back then, the Heaven-Piercing Divine King was in his prime, with boundless vigorous blood energy and a will that soared to the heavens—how heroic and high-spirited he was.
In the vast world, with the imperial clan Sovereigns not appearing, he was invincible under the heavens.
But the current Heaven-Piercing Divine King was far too different from the past, far too aged. If one didn't look closely, one might even think he was an old fossil ready to lie in a coffin at any moment. It made it somewhat hard to believe.
The Heaven-Piercing Divine King smiled, took out a token. It was wooden in structure, appearing ancient and majestic, engraved with the three characters of the Wanbao Pavilion—it was an extraordinary token of the Wanbao Pavilion.
Upon seeing this Wanbao Pavilion token, Elder Gu Tian immediately became certain. This old Divine King before him was truly the Heaven-Piercing Divine King, because while identity could be faked, that kind of identity token could not be counterfeited.
Only two people in the entire Wanbao Pavilion could possess it.
One was the Pavilion Master, Xia Tenglong.
The other was the Heaven-Piercing Divine King who had left many years ago.
If this old man before them wasn't the Heaven-Piercing Divine King, then who could he be?
"Gu Tian pays his respects to the Heaven-Piercing Divine King!" Elder Gu Tian immediately bowed in salute.
"We pay our respects to the Heaven-Piercing Divine King!"
Behind him, Elder Bo Yan, Elder Ruo Ya, and the other Wanbao Pavilion personnel all bowed in salute, offering great courtesy.
At the same time, Elder Bo Yan was terrified. He had actually slandered those young people who had been following the Heaven-Piercing Divine King.
"No need for such formalities," the old Divine King chuckled, but his tone turned somewhat cold. "However, I saw everything that happened just now. Right and wrong, truth and falsehood—it's all clear to me. I must say, I'm rather disappointed that within the Wanbao Pavilion now, some people, for their own selfish gain, would not hesitate to slander Brother—Young Friend Ye and his companions."
"Please rest assured, Lord. I will definitely give these young friends a satisfactory explanation," Elder Gu Tian said. Then he looked at Elder Bo Yan and said coldly, "Elder Bo Yan, you had better explain everything to me, leaving nothing out!"
Hearing this, Elder Bo Yan's face turned completely pale, for he knew he had landed himself in a huge disaster this time.
He had no choice but to kneel down and explain the truth of the matter in full detail.
He dared not say anything wrong, because the Heaven-Piercing Divine King had witnessed everything just now.
The more Elder Gu Tian listened, the angrier he became. Even disregarding the Heaven-Piercing Divine King's presence, this matter alone—daring to slander Ye Chen and his group, canceling a major transaction worth eight billion—was a grave mistake.
Elder Ruo Ya also gave Elder Bo Yan a cold look. This time, if not for the Heaven-Piercing Divine King being present, even she might have been implicated.
But this time, Elder Bo Yan had also stirred up serious trouble by offending the Heaven-Piercing Divine King. This matter would not be easily resolved.
"Effective immediately, Elder Bo Yan is stripped of his Elder position. For ten generations, his lineage may not hold important positions within the Wanbao Pavilion. Furthermore, he is to pay a fine of three billion and be assigned to serve as an attendant at the Wanbao Pavilion in Hou'an City, Third Heaven Realm Ancient Domain, for three thousand years before he may return—"
Elder Gu Tian directly issued a severe punishment against Elder Bo Yan.
Being stripped of his Elder position and barred from important posts for ten generations meant that for ten generations, Elder Bo Yan's lineage could only be an ordinary branch within the Wanbao Pavilion, with no significant say in matters.
Moreover, the fine of three billion was equivalent to forcing him to hand over all the wealth he had embezzled over the years.
And being sent to the Third Heaven Realm Ancient Domain was akin to exile to the frontier.
But Elder Bo Yan could only swallow his bitterness, accepting the punishment with a grim expression before retreating.
At the same time, Elder Gu Tian looked at Dan Xian and the other talented prodigies of the Dan Emperor Clan and said coldly, "The Dan Emperor Clan is powerful, but my Wanbao Pavilion is not to be bullied either. Let today's matter end here. But if you dare act like this again in the future, this old man will personally visit the Dan Emperor Clan to demand justice."
Dan Xian and the others could only leave in disgrace, their faces ashen.
Regarding this, Ye Chen and his group had no objections. After all, Dan Xian and the others ultimately represented the Dan Emperor Clan. Although the Wanbao Pavilion did not fear them, it also did not wish to easily offend a major imperial clan.
The old Divine King looked at Ruo Ya and smiled, "This young lady is quite good. This old man quite likes her character. She can be promoted."
Hearing this, many Wanbao Pavilion personnel looked at Elder Ruo Ya with considerable envy and jealousy. They never expected she had managed to climb onto the big tree that was the Heaven-Piercing Divine King.
Elder Gu Tian then looked at Ruo Ya, his authoritative face full of amiable kindness, and smiled, "Ruo Ya, you did well this time. From now on, you will be in charge of the third floor of the Wanbao Pavilion."