Forget About the Tang Sect and All That

Tang Ya smiled. "You've really got some nerve, coming alone to the danger-filled Star Dou Great Forest?"

Qian Chaoguang put on a slightly awkward smile and explained softly, "Well... things went a little differently from what I expected... but the result was still pretty good..."

There had indeed been a few mishaps.

Qian Chaoguang had estimated how difficult the breakthrough would be, but he had never expected the changes to his body afterward to be so drastic.

Compared to other soul masters, his breakthrough process could be summed up in two words.

Seeking death.

Oh, what?

Qian Chaoguang wasn't a normal soul master?

Then never mind.

As he spoke, the Soul Power vortex within Qian Chaoguang's body spun at high speed, while surging Soul Power raced wildly through his broad meridians.

A luminous white Soul Ring rose from beneath Qian Chaoguang and slowly ascended, encircling his entire body.

At the same time, the Extreme Ice Light Martial Soul underwent some changes as well.

After merging with Sky Dream Ice Silkworm, the Extreme Ice Light, whose temperature had originally risen somewhat, became icy cold once more. Even amid the warmth of the Star Dou Great Forest, its effect was incredibly obvious.

Beibei and Tang Ya almost instantly felt a coolness spread through their surroundings.

The icy-blue halo on Qian Chaoguang's chest shone even brighter than before. Even through his clothes, that circle of deep blue was plainly visible.

"This is... an ice-attribute Light-element Martial Soul?"

Even the ever-composed Beibei could not help but have his expression change slightly.

An ice-attribute Light-element Martial Soul?

This practically violated the fundamental principles of martial souls. How could two seemingly opposing attributes possibly form a martial soul?

And...

Why was his martial soul still located in his chest?

Could this be some kind of Body Martial Soul?

Beibei and Tang Ya exchanged a glance, and each saw the shock in the other's eyes.

Tang Ya could not help asking, "Little Brother Chaoguang, what kind of martial soul is that? How... how did it become like this?"

Qian Chaoguang gave an honest-looking grin. "I Don't Know Either. It was like this after it awakened. I gave it a name myself—Extreme Ice Light. If possible, I want to study at Shrek Academy. When my Grandpa was still alive, he always praised Shrek as the best academy on the entire continent. I thought they might know what kind of martial soul this is."

"When your Grandpa was still alive..."

Tang Ya repeated the words unconsciously, but before she could finish, Beibei hurriedly tugged at her from the side.

"Of course they can. Shrek is the holy land for soul masters across the world. If there is any place that can fully understand your martial soul, it would definitely be Shrek."

Tang Ya also realized she had said the wrong thing and hastily added, "Right, right. Shrek is the holy land for soul masters everywhere. They'll definitely be able to solve your problem."

"Then I'll borrow your good wishes, Brother and Sister. But with my talent... I'm afraid they won't accept me..."

Qian Chaoguang forced out a smile, pretending to be disappointed.

"My Grandpa told me that Shrek's admission requirement is to be under twelve years old and have cultivation above Level 15. But even at my absolute best, I'm only Level 13."

Seeing the regret and frustration in his eyes, Tang Ya secretly rejoiced and gave Beibei a meaningful look.

Beibei, who was completely devoted to his wife, understood at once and asked, "Little Brother Chaoguang, besides you, who else is in your family?"

Qian Chaoguang's gaze changed instantly, and a flash of hatred flickered through his eyes.

"Only my younger sister and me."

Beibei continued asking without changing his expression, "Then is your sister alone at home right now? Do you live nearby?"

"No, I sent her to Shrek City ahead of time. Her talent is far greater than mine. She'll definitely be accepted."

As he said this, Qian Chaoguang remembered Huo Yutong's little gesture before leaving and could not help smiling.

"If nothing unexpected happened, she should already be a Shrek student by now, right?"

The enthusiasm in Tang Ya's eyes grew even stronger. Since Qian Chaoguang said his younger sister could join Shrek, that meant she should already be above Level 15.

If she could draw both siblings into the Tang Sect...

Thinking of this, she hurriedly said, "Little Chaoguang, how about joining our sect?"

Qian Chaoguang feigned surprise. "A sect? What sect? Something like the Body Sect? My Grandpa told me before that if Shrek didn't want me, I should go to the Heaven Soul Continent and try my luck with the Body Sect, see if they recognized my strange martial soul. But they've always kept their whereabouts secret, so I don't know if I'll be able to find them."

Tang Ya nodded seriously. "Yes, a sect like that. Our sect was once the number one sect on the continent. You won't lose out by joining us. And our sect has several unique techniques. Once you master them, they're incredibly powerful."

"And don't you want to join Shrek Academy? As it happens, our sect has one quota every year that allows someone to enter Shrek without taking the entrance exam. You can use that quota to join Shrek. As long as you work hard enough, it shouldn't be difficult to meet the requirements to remain at the academy."

"Once the number one sect on the continent..."

Qian Chaoguang muttered softly, as though recalling something.

Suddenly, as if struck by inspiration, he asked tentatively, "Sister Tang Ya, your surname is Tang. Is the sect you belong to called the Tang Sect? The Tang Sect founded by Senior Tang San?"

Tang Ya and Beibei were genuinely shocked this time.

They had never expected that, in this day and age, someone would still recognize the Tang Sect's name.

Ten thousand years had passed. The once-glorious Tang Sect had declined beyond measure, and now only Tang Ya and Beibei remained.

It would have been strange if they were not surprised to be recognized by a "child."

"Little Brother Chaoguang, you've heard of the Tang Sect?"

Qian Chaoguang nodded seriously. At the same time, his gaze changed, becoming incomparably resolute while carrying deep apology.

"Of course. My ancestors had quite a few ties with the Tang Sect ten thousand years ago. If... Sister Tang Ya and Brother Bei really are members of the Tang Sect, then I cannot join. Although I'm the only one left in my family now... my ancestors' orders cannot be defied. Sigh..."

Join the Tang Sect?

Impossible. He would never join the Tang Sect in this lifetime.

If he really joined the Tang Sect, wouldn't that mean he had to acknowledge Tang San as his founding ancestor?

Then, if he went against him in the future, he would be committing the grave sin of betraying his master and destroying his lineage.

He could not do that.

He would just make up some excuse and muddle through it.

Tang Ya's expression changed slightly as she asked calmly, "Why? Does your family have a grudge against the Tang Sect?"

"No, no, it's not that serious. It's just some historical issue that became an irreconcilable old score."

Qian Chaoguang waved his hand and immediately began spinning his tale.

"You could only say that their beliefs differed. My ancestor's attainments in forging ten thousand years ago were among the very best, but during a forging exchange, he disagreed with Senior Titan, the head of the Tang Sect's Strength Hall, who had been at the height of his power at the time. There were some unpleasant exchanges during their discussion, and some disciples of the Strength Hall even mocked him."

"As a result, my ancestor flew into a rage and declared that ten years later, he would compete with Senior Titan in... in that place called... what was it... I think it was Gengxin City. At the same time, he wrote down a family rule: none of his descendants could ever join the Tang Sect unless Senior Titan could surpass him in forging."

Thanks to Osiris Obelisk and Shanjian Quanshi Songzi for their rewards.