Judgment and Asura

Xue Xiao Ran finished a day of training, stretched lazily, and faced north in his bedroom. A faint smile appeared on his calm face.

His father and mother had always lived in the northern Icebound Castle, the place where he had grown up.

Ice God, Judgment God Xue Leihan, his father, and Ice Empress Dugu Yan all lived there, but they often took Xue Xiao Ran out to play and meet his father's relatives and friends. Whenever they met, drinking was unavoidable.

Xue Xiao Ran originally possessed two Martial Souls: Extreme Ice from his father Xue Leihan, and Extreme Poison from his mother. His mother's Martial Soul seemed to have undergone some hereditary mutation, but after meeting his father's teacher, Master Yu Xiaogang, it was determined that the Martial Soul Mutation seemed to be developing in a favorable direction.

Although Xue Xiao Ran had not inherited his father's sword, which he found deeply regrettable, he still learned his father's swordsmanship.

During Xue Xiao Ran's Martial Soul awakening ceremony, Angel God Qian Renxue, who had been sitting there with a smile, suddenly acted and bestowed a third Martial Soul upon him before everyone's eyes.

This Martial Soul was called Ultimate Angel, a top-tier Martial Soul among Angel-type Martial Souls.

Qian Renxue had also been weakened for an entire year because of this divine bestowal, even missing the God Realm Conference for a year.

With Innate Full Soul Power, Xue Xiao Ran could not obtain his own Soul Rings in the God Realm, so he began to consider descending to the lower realm to grow stronger.

"The God Realm is still too small for me, after all."

Xue Xiao Ran reached out, trying to touch the bright moon beyond the window.

Whenever he listened to his uncles and aunts boasting to one another, the words Douluo Continent seemed to possess some kind of magic that firmly seized his attention. During one meal, he finally learned that his parents and uncles and aunts had all come from the Douluo Continent.

From then on, he had wanted to see the splendor of the Douluo Continent his parents had once seen.

"Is the moon there as gentle as the one in the God Realm?"

Xue Xiao Ran smiled calmly, pulled up his blanket, and quickly drifted into sleep. Tomorrow would bring another day of training.

Tang San smiled as he looked at the young man before him, carefully observing his calm features and resolute expression. Then he nodded, and the pressure bearing down on Xue Xiao Ran immediately vanished.

He really does resemble Lei Han, and Sister Yan too, Tang San thought with a smile.

Xue Xiao Ran wiped away his sweat and lowered his head somewhat ashamedly. "Uncle Tang, I was already having trouble holding on near the end."

"I had only used Soul Power at the fifteenth level to suppress you. You are only at level ten, Xiao Ran. It is normal for you to find it difficult."

"Is that so? It seems I still need to work harder."

He used the breathing method his father had taught him together with the Mysterious Heaven Skill to circulate his Soul Power, gradually dispelling the fatigue in his body.

Tang San sensed his strength gradually recovering and nodded. Then he clasped his hands behind his back and looked toward the sunlight in the distance.

"Xiao Ran, do you remember the rule from when I taught you the Tang Sect Cultivation Method?"

"The Tang family ancestral instruction: men...?"

Smack. Tang San slapped Xue Xiao Ran on the back, making him grimace in pain. "Who told you that?"

"Do you mean the general outline of the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record, Uncle?"

"No. The agreement the two of us made." Tang San smiled faintly, his voice calm. "Xiao Ran, you want to travel to the Douluo Continent for experience, am I right?"

"Exactly."

Xue Xiao Ran rose to his feet and stood behind Tang San.

"One day in the God Realm is one year in the mortal world. This is true for every plane. More than twenty years have passed in the God Realm, while ten thousand years have passed on the Douluo Continent, and yet the Tang Sect has already declined." Tang San's tone was light. Though the subject was heavy, there was not the slightest trace of negative emotion in his voice. "After all, I founded the Tang Sect with my own hands. I truly cannot bear to watch it disappear like this. And as a God Realm enforcer, I cannot interfere with the changes of a plane. However, a new star seems to have risen on the Douluo Continent recently, one with countless ties to my Tang Sect."

"May I ask who Uncle Tang is referring to...?"

Hearing the deliberate pause in Tang San's words, as though he were building suspense, Xue Xiao Ran could not help asking.

"That person is you, Xue Xiao Ran."

Tang San turned around with a smile. "When I began teaching you the Tang Sect ultimate techniques a year ago, I already saw it clearly. That new star was you, Xue Xiao Ran."

Xue Xiao Ran froze slightly, still finding it somewhat difficult to believe.

"Xiao Ran, do you remember the agreement we made when I taught you the Tang Sect ultimate techniques?" Seeing Xue Xiao Ran's disbelieving expression, Tang San did not get angry. Instead, he changed the subject.

"Yes. Uncle and I made an agreement that, if given the chance in the future, I would definitely join the Tang Sect."

"At that time, I was actually testing whether that new star was you."

Tang San smiled and stroked Xue Xiao Ran's short ice-blue hair. "The result surprised me, and made me very happy as well. I never expected my best brother's son to become the savior who would rescue my sect. I truly have to thank Lei Han for having such an excellent son."

Tang San's praise made Xue Xiao Ran blush slightly. He was still not used to being praised so directly.

"You wish to descend to the lower realm. I agree, and your father will surely agree as well. That young couple, Goodness and Evil, have a good relationship with us. Before the previous Asura stepped down, he went to the Five Elements Continent and personally took part in that young couple's trials. They will certainly agree, and Destruction and Life have no reason to stop you either."

"In fact, my beloved daughter also wants to descend to the lower realm and see the splendor of the Douluo Continent."

Xue Xiao Ran nodded calmly and waited for Tang San to continue.

"Since you are my beloved daughter's fiancé, betrothed to her before birth, then you must take on the responsibility of protecting her." Tang San's handsome face moved close to Xue Xiao Ran's, and the pressure he brought made Xue Xiao Ran quickly nod.

"Wu Tong's mischievous nature and poor memory are things I understand well, so unlike you, I will temporarily seal her memories." Tang San spoke as though to himself.

Only Tang San and Xue Xiao Ran were present, so he had no fear that anyone would overhear their conversation.

"She will awaken within the Clear Sky Sect, but she will still regard you as the one closest to her and as her fiancé. So do not worry about my daughter running off with someone else."

"Uncle..." Xue Xiao Ran hesitated before speaking. "Is it really necessary for me to know such a secret plan?"

Tang San nodded. "In the lower realm, you are the only one who can look after Wu Tong."

Xue Xiao Ran fell silent for a moment, then nodded calmly. "I will remember Uncle's words."

"Xiao Ran, your father and I will respect every choice you make. You are nearly eleven years old now. It is time for you to stand on your own."

"Yes, Uncle."

"Five days from now, I will send you and Wu Tong to Icebound Castle. There, together with your parents, we will send you down to the lower realm."

"Five days..." Xue Xiao Ran muttered. He had not expected this day to come so soon.

Tang San chuckled. "Are you getting a little impatient?"

Xue Xiao Ran smiled calmly and nodded.

"Well... I am not worried about your personality, kid." Tang San brushed his long hair aside. "You are exactly like your father when he was young, and you have inherited Sister Yan's pride as well. You should thrive on the Douluo Continent."

"Thank you for your auspicious words, Uncle."

"Take good care of my daughter. Do not bully her, or when you ascend back to the God Realm, I will beat you to death."

Tang San's kindly smile made Xue Xiao Ran nod hurriedly.

"Xiao San, threatening my son like this is not very appropriate, is it? Do you not fear Yan complaining to Xiao Wu?"

A clear voice rang out through the air, followed by the appearance of a young man carrying a sword on his back.

He had short ice-blue hair, icy violet eyes, and wore a white robe.

The instant Xue Xiao Ran saw him, he called out happily, "Father, you're here!"

The newcomer was Judgment Sword Ice God Xue Leihan.