Both Sides Won Big

"But the world was unpredictable. Just as my ancestor's forging skills made another breakthrough and he eagerly prepared to answer the ten-year challenge, he received unfortunate news. Senior Titan had already passed away, and Senior Tang San, the Tang Sect's founding ancestor, had vanished without a trace. My ancestor thus became the only Divine Craftsman of that era. So... there was no one in the Strength Hall who could fight in their master's stead, and the matter simply came to nothing."

Qian Chaoguang's facial expression was rather wistful, his face full of nostalgia.

"Of course, my ancestor did not make the ancestral rule absolute afterward. He said that if a future Tang Sect Strength Hall Master could defeat our Qian Family Head in forging, then the matter would be considered settled, and the restriction barring future descendants from joining the Tang Sect could be lifted."

By this point, Beibei and Tang Ya were completely dumbfounded.

Qian Chaoguang's bragging was one part truth and nine parts lie. The names had definitely existed, but every event was fabricated, and even the timeline did not quite add up.

For example...

If Titan had really died as he claimed, then that fictional ancestor of his could not possibly have been the only Divine Craftsman of that time.

And there were Tang Hao and Tang San as well.

Even if Tang San had truly ascended, with Tang Ritian's Level 97 Soul Power during the bloody battle at Jialing Pass, combined with the Clear Sky Hammer, he could have been considered invincible throughout the forging world at the time.

But the problem was that the Tang Sect had never recorded the details of Titan's life. There were only a few sparse mentions of him in the archives of past hall masters.

Moreover, even in the Tang Sect before it scattered, few people knew the names Titan and Strength Hall.

That was because the final generation of the Tang Sect Strength Hall Master had existed over three thousand years ago.

Not long after the Sun Moon Continent brought the new profession of Soul Engineer to the Douluo Continent, the blacksmithing trade had completely declined.

No one bought hidden weapons from the Tang Sect, so the dissolution of the Strength Hall had become inevitable.

Thus, even Tang Ya had only learned those two names as a child, when listening to her parents tell stories of the Tang Sect's glory ten thousand years ago. Even Beibei did not know about them.

This was exactly what it meant to have no witnesses left alive.

As for why Qian Chaoguang was certain that the Tang Sect's four halls had been disbanded thousands of years ago?

Naturally, it was because Ma Xiaotao, the Agility Hall and Agility Clan's sole descendant, was not even in the Tang Sect.

Do not forget that Ma Hongjun had once been the Tang Sect's vice sect master. Old White Bird had been the Agility Hall Master and Tang Hao's uncle.

If the two sides had maintained even slightly closer ties, this situation could never have happened.

After asking Tang Ya what Titan and the Strength Hall were, Beibei finally sighed. "This... I never expected little brother Chaoguang's ancestor to have such ties with our Tang Sect..."

The Tang Sect could not even gather four people now, let alone retain its four halls. There were no blacksmiths or Soul Engineers either. Who could compete with Qian Chaoguang in forging?

"The Strength Hall... has long been gone... The Tang Sect only has Beibei and me left now. I am the current generation's sect master."

After hearing Qian Chaoguang's account, Tang Ya's mood visibly fell.

Qian Chaoguang also appeared somewhat downcast.

"Isn't my family the same? I'm the only one left..."

Beibei suddenly thought of something and asked, "Eh? Wait, little brother Chaoguang, you said your family only has you left. What about the younger sister you mentioned?"

"She isn't my biological sister. My sister and I grew up together. Her mother unfortunately died of illness when she was seven, and my grandpa adopted her afterward."

"Then does that mean..."

"Big Brother Beibei, I know what you're thinking. My sister can join the Tang Sect."

Qian Chaoguang laughed again in his heart.

Everything was proceeding according to the script he had written.

"My sister's Martial Soul is the Body Martial Soul Eyes, also called the Spiritual Eye. She has Innate Level Nine Soul Power and specializes in Spiritual Power. She is currently a Level 27 Control Type Battle Soul Master. If my ancestor's records are correct, she should be very suited to a Tang Sect eye-training method called... uh, I think it was something Purple... Pupil? I forgot the name."

"Purple Demon Eye?" Beibei supplied.

Qian Chaoguang scrambled to his feet and lightly slapped his thigh.

"Yes, yes, Purple Demon Eye. That's the name. Sister Tang Ya, how about letting my sister join your Tang Sect? Would that be alright? If you round it up, I can count as half a Tang Sect member too..."

"Yes, yes, of course! We couldn't ask for more!"

Tang Ya was overjoyed and abruptly stood up.

She had thought she had already missed a perfect opportunity to recruit someone, yet the situation had suddenly turned around.

Moreover, he had even named Purple Demon Eye. Did that not further prove that Qian Chaoguang's previous words were true?

A spiritual-type Body Martial Soul master with Innate Soul Power Level Nine had the potential to reach Titled Douluo. The Tang Sect had absolutely struck gold.

What was more, that astonishing Level 27 Soul Power was nearly catching up to her own!

"But little brother Chaoguang, can't you really join the Tang Sect?"

Qian Chaoguang smiled bitterly. "Sister Tang Ya, please don't make things difficult for me..."

Beibei tugged at Tang Ya and smiled. "Teacher Xiaoya, don't make things difficult for little brother Chaoguang. He has his own hardships."

"Fine..."

Tang Ya pouted.

Beibei said, "Little brother Chaoguang, although you are not a member of our Tang Sect and cannot use an exemption slot, we do have some influence at Shrek Academy. Since your sister is joining the Tang Sect, we are family now. Don't worry. I'll persuade the academy to give you a chance to take the Entrance Exam, but whether you can stay will depend on you."

"Really? Thank you so much, Big Brother Beibei and Sister Tang Ya!"

Qian Chaoguang wore an expression of delighted surprise, unable to conceal his joy.

This time, he was genuinely happy. He was not pretending.

Without Beibei's promised help, with no connections or way in, getting into Shrek Academy would likely have been extremely difficult.

"Of course."

Tang Ya grinned smugly, returning to how she had been when they first met.

"You did not know this, but Beibei can practically walk sideways around the academy."

"Wow, Big Brother Beibei is that amazing!"

Qian Chaoguang promptly offered some flattery. The two of them played off each other so well that Beibei became terribly embarrassed and hurriedly changed the subject, asking about Qian Chaoguang's physical condition.

After learning that he was fine, Beibei also explained why he and Tang Ya had come to the Star Dou Great Forest.

After several exchanges, both sides were extremely satisfied, each believing they had won big.

The Tang Sect had gained Huo Yutong, such an excellent prospect, as a new recruit, expanding its future strength.

Qian Chaoguang, meanwhile, obtained the qualification to take Shrek's Entrance Exam and found Huo Yutong a good place to go.

Getting five cultivation methods for free was still quite a bargain. Purple Demon Eye could provide an Epic Grade enhancement to the Spiritual Eye.

Both sides won, so who lost?

Oh, it turned out to be the Star Dou Great Forest.

The Star Dou Great Forest had lost everything. It had lost a high-quality charging bank, lost a Wind Baboon that dared to slay gods, and was about to lose a thousand-year Mandala Snake as well...

After discussing it for a while, the three decided to head deeper into the Star Dou Great Forest together to hunt a soul beast for Tang Ya.

Along the way, Beibei also explained some matters regarding admission to Shrek and the possible exam events to Qian Chaoguang.

Just like the new student assessment, aside from talent, the largest portion of the admission standards was actual combat. That was also why he was certain Qian Chaoguang would be able to stay.