Xu Tianran

In the months after Tang Ya arrived in Bright Capital, Huo Yuhao would visit her whenever he had time. He still deeply cherished this older sister who had helped him when he first entered the Star Dou Great Forest.

With Huo Yuhao around, Tang Ya gradually lost her initial unease and settled down in Bright Capital with peace of mind.

Following Jiang Shengyu's instructions, Old Hong ordered the various Venerable Ones of the Soul Hall to select suitable candidates from the Sun Moon Empire and the Original Douluo Continent Three Kingdoms, then bring them to Bright Capital for Tang Ya to choose from.

Inside the Tang Sect Office at Soul Hall headquarters.

Tang Ya looked at the several dozen youths standing behind Old Hong, her expression one of surprise.

"Tang Sect Master, these are the disciples I selected for the Tang Sect according to the Hall Master's instructions. Take a look. If any are suitable, accept them into the sect." Old Hong pointed at the young men and women behind him as he spoke to Tang Ya.

Most of these several dozen people were from the Sun Moon Empire. It was still somewhat difficult to send people over from the Original Douluo Continent Three Kingdoms. However, these children had only just awakened their martial souls, and Old Hong had already brought them here.

After Old Hong finished speaking, the young men and women behind him stepped forward one after another, cupped their hands to Tang Ya, and greeted her, "Greetings, Sect Master!"

Seeing so many people call her Sect Master left Tang Ya in a daze. Ever since she could remember, apart from her parents, the Tang Sect had consisted of only herself. She had never seen the bustling sect described in legends.

But now, she had only been in the Sun Moon Empire for a few days, yet so many people were calling her Sect Master.

Tang Ya suppressed the excitement in her heart and carefully asked, "May I accept them all?"

Tang Ya knew full well that she was in no position to pick and choose disciples. The Tang Sect had fallen so far that having anyone join would already be good enough. Besides, she believed that anyone sent over by the Soul Hall had already had their talent tested.

"Of course!" Old Hong nodded. Knowing Jiang Shengyu's plans, he wished Tang Ya would accept every one of them. After all, these were all youths carefully selected by the Soul Hall. They had talent, and they were loyal as well.

At Old Hong's prompting, these people introduced themselves one by one. Then Old Hong said, "From today onward, you are disciples of the Tang Sect! In the future, you must follow the Sect Master's instructions!"

"Yes!" everyone replied with nods.

Old Hong turned back to Tang Ya and said, "There is one more matter. The Hall Master has already ordered people to choose a sect site for the Tang Sect within Bright Capital. There should be results soon. I hope the Tang Sect Master can also establish the Tang Sect's foundation as quickly as possible, so that this sect with a ten-thousand-year legacy can shine brilliantly once again!"

"Thank you, Senior! Please also thank Young Master Jiang for me." Tang Ya could not hide the excitement and emotion in her heart as she repeatedly thanked Old Hong.

"I will not disturb you any longer. Farewell." Seeing Tang Ya's grateful expression, Old Hong gave a slight nod before leaving the Tang Sect Office.

Tang Ya took a deep breath and looked at her newly inducted disciples, beginning to tell them about the Tang Sect's past and the various matters they needed to keep in mind.

Several months later, this batch of new disciples had gradually gotten on track. Tang Ya began teaching them the Tang Sect Secret Arts, while Jiang Shengyu acquired a plot of land in Bright Capital for the Tang Sect and began constructing its sect grounds.

Kong Deming took some time to find Jiang Shengyu, who was busy researching his own martial soul and Soul Rings.

"Teacher, you were looking for me?" Seeing Kong Deming arrive, Jiang Shengyu asked in confusion, "Aren't you very busy? You had time today?"

"His Majesty wishes to see you." Kong Deming spoke directly.

"Ah?" Jiang Shengyu froze for a moment.

"Come with me." Kong Deming beckoned to Jiang Shengyu and took him to the Imperial Palace.

Jiang Shengyu had met the emperor of the Sun Moon Empire before. When he had become Kong Deming's disciple, Kong Deming had taken him to meet the emperor. However, after that, he rarely entered the Imperial Palace.

Within the Imperial Palace, the aged emperor sat upon the dragon throne, looking at Kong Deming and Jiang Shengyu below. He coughed several times, then asked, "I heard that you brought the Tang Sect Master from the Douluo Continent to Bright Capital and even had her reopen the Tang Sect here?"

Jiang Shengyu nodded. "Yes, Your Majesty."

The emperor's expression was full of satisfaction. He smiled and nodded. "Good! Very good! Even a sect like that has come to settle in my Sun Moon Empire. Doesn't that prove that my Sun Moon Empire is the true recipient of heaven's mandate?"

The emperor laughed heartily. The attendants and court officials around him, as well as Crown Prince Xu Tianran seated to one side, also began to laugh. Xu Tianran said ingratiatingly, "Congratulations, Father Emperor! I imagine it will not be many years before the Original Douluo Continent Three Kingdoms are completely destroyed by our Sun Moon Empire!"

Yet after hearing Xu Tianran's words, the emperor waved a hand and shook his head. "Do not be rash! The Original Douluo Continent Three Kingdoms have deep foundations, and they are supported by an academy as formidable as Shrek Academy. Their strength is formidable. Before we have absolute confidence, we must not act recklessly. Peaceful coexistence is best."

The emperor's words also reflected the thoughts of most Nobles in the upper ranks of the Sun Moon Empire today.

After losing that war thousands of years ago, the Sun Moon Empire had gone through an era of sharpening its weapons and strengthening its forces. Yet by now, its past drive and glory had been forgotten by most Nobles. Many of them felt that maintaining the current situation between the Sun Moon Empire and the Original Douluo Continent Three Kingdoms was not bad either.

After all, the technological advantage of Soul Tools was not so easily surpassed.

Xu Tianran's expression darkened slightly, but he concealed it well. He nodded and said, "Father Emperor is right. This son will remember it."

The emperor rewarded Jiang Shengyu with several items, then had people help him away. After the emperor left, Kong Deming and Jiang Shengyu also prepared to take their leave.

In a corridor of the Imperial Palace, Xu Tianran called out to Kong Deming and Jiang Shengyu.

"Silver Moon Crown, may I have a few words with Shengyu?" Xu Tianran cupped his hands to Kong Deming in greeting before asking.

Kong Deming looked at Xu Tianran. Naturally, he knew what Xu Tianran intended, but he did not want Jiang Shengyu to become involved in the imperial family's struggles. Thus, he asked, "Crown Prince, did His Majesty send you to find Shengyu?"

Xu Tianran smiled and shook his head. "Father Emperor has gone to rest. It is only a conversation. His health is poor, so there is no need to disturb him."

"Crown Prince, you should understand that enshrinees of the Hall of Enshrinement should not grow close to any prince. That is the law." Kong Deming reminded Xu Tianran.

As the Sun Moon Empire's foremost Soul Engineer and a member of the imperial family, Kong Deming's status was second only to the emperor's. Even though Xu Tianran was the Crown Prince, he was merely a junior in Kong Deming's eyes.

Seeing Kong Deming's utterly uncompromising attitude, Xu Tianran clenched his hand beneath his sleeve, veins rising on its back.

"Crown Prince, if there is nothing else, this old man shall take Shengyu and excuse ourselves." After saying this to Xu Tianran, Kong Deming turned and left with Jiang Shengyu.

Xu Tianran was left alone, his gaze gradually turning deep and somber.