The Rich Second-Gen's Thirty-Sixth Day

In the first year of the sect's seclusion, they blamed Tang Hao for acting too rashly and disregarding the sect.

In the third year of the sect's seclusion, they lamented how difficult things had been for Tang Hao. If they had been in his place, they too would have fought Spirit Hall to the death.

In the fifth year of the sect's seclusion, they were stifled beyond endurance, yet they did not know whom to blame.

In the tenth year of the sect's seclusion, they felt that if they had confronted Spirit Hall head-on back then, they might not have lacked the strength to fight.

Tang Xiao had gone from being a puppet when the sect decided to seal itself away to a sect master with real authority. He now had his own confidants and diehard supporters, as well as the advantage of public opinion to contend with the Enshrined Elders.

Second Worship watched the impassioned young people below discussing how to wage war against Spirit Hall, and, unusually, fell into a daze.

When news had arrived that Tang Hao had severely wounded Qian Xunji, what had he been thinking?

He had thought that the sect master's position had only recently changed hands, that the sect was unstable within, and that they could not go to war with Spirit Hall.

He had thought of Qian Daoliu, Spirit Hall's Ultimate Douluo. He would never spare the man who had killed his son, while Tang Chen, Clear Sky Sect's Ultimate Douluo, had vanished without a trace. They could not give Spirit Hall an excuse to strike.

He had thought that the sect's strength had to be preserved and that there could be no sacrifices.

Had he considered then whether Tang Hao needed the sect's help? Too much time had passed. He could no longer remember.

He turned to look at the talented new generation below, Tang Yunhua, who faced Sixth Enshrined Elder with effortless composure, Ming Zhen, seated beside Tang Yunhua yet utterly unaffected by the pressure, Tang Yuehua, contentedly enclosing herself within her domain, and finally Tang Xiao, seated firmly in the seat of honor.

I wasn't completely useless either, he thought.

"Enough." Second Worship pressed his hand downward, and the discussions below ceased. "What happened back then has already become a muddled account. Times have changed, and the sect will ultimately belong to you young people. Do as you wish."

"Second Brother!" Sixth Enshrined Elder withdrew his martial soul, unable to understand why he was letting them off so easily.

The other Enshrined Elders exchanged glances and said nothing more.

Tang Xiao's expression remained unchanged. "Second Worship, you flatter us. No matter what, you preserved the sect back then. Everyone owes you a debt of gratitude."

Tang Yunhua also put away her martial soul. She took a box from her Soul Tool and presented it. "Second Brother felt he had let the sect down, so over the past few years, he found several soul bones outside and entrusted me to bring them back for the Enshrined Elders."

Second Worship gave Tang Yunhua a surprised glance. He had thought this girl would argue with him to the bitter end, but he accepted the box nonetheless. When he opened it, four lustrous soul bones lay inside.

Everyone had sharp eyes and keen ears, so naturally they saw them as well.

Four soul bones! Not just anything, but four soul bones! One of them was even an External Soul Bone!

Second Worship had not expected Tang Hao to be so generous. The other Enshrined Elders clenched their teeth in secret. If you had soul bones, why didn't you take them out earlier? Why wait until now, when they had already lost all face? Their faces reddened one after another.

The younger generation below whispered among themselves. "As expected of Brother Hao. Four of them..."

Second Worship stared blankly at the soul bones in the box again, no one knowing what he was thinking. Only after a while did he come back to himself.

He closed the lid. "Then Tang Hao's matter shall be put behind us within the clan."

The other Enshrined Elders still looked dissatisfied, but since Second Worship had spoken, they could only nod.

"Since we are all here, there is something I should tell everyone in advance." Tang Xiao smiled. "My nephew has Twin Martial Souls and inherited both his parents' martial souls. He will be cultivating in the sect for a while. If he causes too much of a stir, I hope everyone will bear with him."

What was his nephew? What martial souls did he have?

The contemptuous expression on Sixth Enshrined Elder's face froze. He slowly turned his head. "Your nephew? Who? That little brat from Tang Hao's family?"

A million curses gathered in Sixth Enshrined Elder's heart, condensing into a single sentence. "He's from Spirit Hall!"

Twin Martial Souls! Twin Martial Souls!

Clear Sky Sect's Twin Martial Souls!

His surname was Tang!

He had inherited his parents' martial souls!

Twin Martial Souls with the Clear Sky Hammer!

Damn it, if they had said so sooner, would he have doubted the boy's bloodline? How much would that hurt the child's feelings?

Sixth Enshrined Elder's face looked like a general store had opened on it. Black turned to white, white to red, red to green, green to yellow, and yellow back to black.

The other Enshrined Elders also came to their senses. Their expressions no longer looked so unpleasant, and they were no longer as opposed to accepting Tang Hao's family.

Second Worship's expression also eased somewhat. He looked at Tang Xiao. "In that case, choose an auspicious day and enter the child into the clan register."

With Second Brother's matter resolved and the Enshrined Elders making concessions, the Tang Siblings had gained enormously. Tang Yunhua looked positively radiant.

Tang San heard the footsteps of his aunt and uncle, while the other two unfamiliar sets seemed to belong to his eldest uncle and younger aunt. He looked at the sulking Ming Sui and sighed. She had been angry with him all afternoon, and he still had not managed to coax her.

Ming Sui, who was playing with Nian Nian, heard his sigh and felt a little guilty.

That afternoon, her brother had brought her snacks and handed her Lotus Leaf Dew. She truly could not stay angry anymore, but for some reason, she did not want to lower her head either. So she continued being angry in a vague, half-hearted way.

Even she thought she was being unreasonable. Ming Sui turned around and secretly glanced at Tang San, only for him to catch her at once. Her face reddened, and she could no longer remain angry at all.

Tang San let out a long breath. He had finally coaxed her around. Just as he was about to say something, the elders entered.

Tang Xiao's joyful voice swept away the atmosphere filled with the secret thoughts of young boys and girls. Tang San and Ming Sui exchanged a glance, both feeling an inexplicable awkwardness.

That night, Ming Sui still went to the Goddess of Life for extra lessons, while Tang San was summoned by the elders to an empty courtyard.

Ming Zhen was still the one speaking to him. The three Tang Siblings stood to one side like three decorative flowers of utterly different styles.

Ming Zhen forced himself to speak. "Xiao San, last time, we told you about the grudge between your parents and Spirit Hall."

At this, Tang San raised his head, his gaze sharp. "Do you need me to do something?"

Ming Zhen was left speechless. After a moment, he finally said, "There is a decision that requires you to make it."

"Your mother's condition has not improved much. We found a way, and all the other preparations have been made, but one condition has yet to be met."

Tang San asked anxiously, "What else is needed? What can I do?"

Ming Zhen looked toward the three people beside him. They still showed no intention of speaking, so he continued, "Her soul fluctuations are not strong enough. We found a method that can barely be called a method. You are her bloodline, so she should be more familiar with your aura. There is a chance she may react."

Before Tang San could speak, Ming Zhen continued, "We want to ask whether you can awaken the Blue Silver Emperor bloodline within your body ahead of time."

Tang Yunhua immediately followed up. "Xiao San, don't agree in a hurry. Listen to me explain the pros and cons first."

Tang San quieted down, determination written across his face.

"Originally, bloodline awakening had to wait until at least after you reached level fifty. By then, your Soul Power reserves would be sufficient, and your body would be strong enough to withstand the impact of such great power. But the Angel Heart we retrieved from Spirit Hall for Ah Yin is about to fail."

The Angel Heart required special storage conditions. They did not possess angelic Soul Power to maintain its vitality. If they did not use it soon, the Angel Heart would wither on its own.

Ming Zhen looked at Tang San. "If you awaken now, we will use the origin essence your mother left behind to activate it. Although you are younger, the Second Awakening will transform your body more thoroughly and produce better results, but the danger will also be greater, just as your aunt said."

"Although Ah Yin's side is indeed in some trouble, we still believe we should ask you. This was also your father's intention. He is too ashamed to ask you himself. After all, ever since you were born, we elders have never fulfilled much of our duty as elders. You had to live on your own at such a young age, and you even had to take care of your father..."

Thinking of this child, Tang Yunhua felt it had been so hard for him. How had she and Ming Zhen treated Sui Sui? How had Sui Sui grown up? And what about Xiao San?

The others also remained silent.

Tang San was deeply shaken as he listened to the elders' words.

Whether in this life or his previous one, this was the first time anyone had apologized to him, and it was because they believed they had failed as elders.

In his previous life, he had had no family from the time he could remember. The elder who had picked him up and brought him into the Tang Sect had not treated him especially well, as though he had merely taken in a stray cat or dog.

After he became more sensible, he saw an outer sect senior brother study and train diligently, earning praise from the elders. The young Tang San suddenly understood. He had to train hard too. Only then would the elders like him.

When his fellow disciples played, he did not go. When they relaxed together, he did not go. When they sparred and competed, he did not go either. He simply devoted himself to training.

He did take first place, but the elders did not treat him as they had treated that senior brother. They merely patted his shoulder, praised him with a faint smile, and sent him away.

Was he still not working hard enough?

Yet his talent was indeed extraordinary. The superficial teachings of the outer sect soon ceased to be enough for him. Tang San thought it over and set his sights on the inner sect manual forbidden to outer sect disciples, the "Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record."

Although he was not good at socializing, he often cultivated near a small forest where many outer and inner sect disciples came to relax and rest, so he had gathered a great deal of information.

Heaven helps those who help themselves. Obtaining the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record proved remarkably easy. The cultivation methods, knowledge, and Hidden Weapons techniques within fascinated him.

He found a new pursuit. He no longer fixated on the elders' praise and affection, instead immersing himself in the world of Hidden Weapons.

Bone-Piercing Needles, Sleeve Arrows, Godly Zhuge Crossbows, Yama's Invitations, Rainstorm Pear Blossom Needles... and Buddha Fury Tang Lotus.

Then there was the unfathomable bottom of Ghost Worry.

When he awoke again, he had a father. Though this father spent every day drunk, doing nothing but drink and forge, having someone who could bear the title of father still gave Tang San a sense of belonging in this strange world. Yet he always wanted more, regretting that he had never met his mother.

His father would hold him to cool his fever when he was sick, eat every bit of food he made no matter how badly it turned out, and teach him forging.

Just as he had hoped in his previous life, there was an elder who started with smithing and taught him to make Hidden Weapons, who would be angry at his laziness and happy at his success.

Later, he gained a teacher, an aunt and uncle, Sui Sui, and everyone at Shrek.

He had wonderful elders who cared for him, understood him, and told him how regretful they were that they had come too late and failed to care for him properly.

His eyes grew moist, and he did not know what to say. He truly had never thought his life in this world had been particularly difficult. The elders might have considered him a child, but in truth, he had long since become an adult.

Were these the elders who loved him? They always knew how wronged you had been. They always felt they owed you.

Love was always feeling indebted. Tang San felt that he, too, had been loved once.