A Steadfast Heart

Heaven Dou Royal Academy.

Heavenly Class One.

As Qin Ming announced the end of class,

Tang Xuan stretched fiercely.

After sitting for an entire morning, even his body had inevitably grown stiff.

"Tang Xuan, Teacher Qin said we can arrange our own cultivation this afternoon. Do you have any ideas?" Yu Tianheng stepped forward and asked.

Tang Xuan's combat strength had already surpassed the limits of his understanding.

He genuinely wanted to see how Tang Xuan usually cultivated.

Tang Xuan thought carefully. "Is there a waterfall in the academy?"

"Huh?" Yu Tianheng froze for a moment before answering instinctively, "There is one, but only one. It is mostly used for sightseeing and relaxation, so it is not very large—only five meters wide and less than twenty meters high."

Heaven Dou Royal Academy was built amid the mountains.

Other than deserts and oceans, all kinds of terrain could be found there.

A waterfall was nothing unusual.

"As long as there is one. Twenty meters is enough. Please show me the way." Tang Xuan rose with a smile.

His Clumsy Intent Sword Art was still in its developmental stage.

He still needed the help of a waterfall to cultivate his Sword Momentum.

"No, I was asking about cultivation. When can't you look at a waterfall?" Yu Tianheng failed to react at first.

He had thought Tang Xuan wanted to go play beneath the waterfall.

"Ever since Brother Xuan underwent Martial Soul Awakening, he has always cultivated beneath the impact of waterfalls." Ning Rongrong took over with an air of great pride.

It was as though she were the one cultivating beneath waterfalls every day.

"What?" Yu Tianheng looked at Tang Xuan as if he had seen some terrifying monster.

It was not as though he had never heard of cultivating beneath waterfalls.

The direct disciples of the Clear Sky Sect all basically had such experiences.

Their Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan had also practiced it for a time.

However, they had abandoned it after discovering that it did not greatly improve Beast Martial Souls.

Yet whether it was the Clear Sky Sect or their Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan,

they only endured the waterfall's impact during a particular stage.

After all, the power of nature was absolutely not to be underestimated.

Someone like Tang Xuan, doing this day after day for years, was simply beyond what a human could accomplish.

"My Martial Soul is too heavy. A waterfall helps me control its weight very well." Tang Xuan released his Martial Soul.

He let the Mysterious Iron Heavy Sword fall freely from more than a meter above the ground.

With a bang,

the classroom tiles exploded.

Beneath the shattered tiles,

everyone could vaguely see a pit as wide as a bowl.

"Hiss—" Yu Tianheng sucked in a cold breath.

Even the ordinary ground of Heaven Dou Royal Academy

had been packed incomparably firm by Earth Attribute Spirit Masters.

Even he would find it difficult to damage the academy grounds without using Soul Skills.

Yet Tang Xuan had caused this much damage merely by letting his Martial Soul fall freely.

Did that not mean

the quality of Tang Xuan's Martial Soul was no weaker than the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon?

Perhaps it was even superior?

"I think I understand why you can stir the air into whirlpools despite having no attribute." Dugu Yan spoke dully.

Something that heavy, once swung around, was practically a giant windmill.

What she did not know was that

the Black Hole Attraction inherent to the Mysterious Iron Heavy Sword was the true key to forming those whirlpools.

"Enough. None of that is important. Take me to the waterfall quickly. I need to start cultivating." Tang Xuan said softly.

He had already rested for several days before enrolling.

It was time to return to a busy life.

Yu Tianheng and Dugu Yan exchanged a glance, then both gave bitter smiles. "You are already this strong, yet you still work this hard. How are we supposed to live?"

"There are always people stronger than you, and mountains beyond mountains. No matter how strong I am, there will always be someone stronger. There is never anything wrong with striving to improve myself." Tang Xuan's gaze was profound.

Not to mention Tang San, who possessed the Mysterious Heaven Skill and Twin Martial Souls,

even Qian Renxue, disguised as Xue Qinghe,

surpassed Tang Xuan by more than one level in both talent and cultivation speed.

Not to mention that lunatic who had already begun a God Trial.

To Tang Xuan, time had always been a luxury.

Yu Tianheng gave Tang Xuan a deep look upon hearing this.

Now, he finally understood where Tang Xuan's true strength lay.

That steadfast heart

was something he, the proud young sect master, had never been able to attain.

Perhaps becoming Tang Xuan's little brother was actually Yu Tianheng getting the better deal...

The group had only just stepped out of the classroom.

An unwelcome guest entered their sight.

"Oh? Xuan Bro, where are you going? I was just looking for you." The newcomer was naturally Xue Qinghe, the one who had tipped Tang Xuan off.

Tang Xuan sighed inwardly. The troublemaker is here again. Looks like I won't be cultivating today. "Brother Xue, I was planning to cultivate. Did you need something important?"

Big Brother?

Yu Tianheng and Dugu Yan both froze.

If they had not mistaken him,

the person before them should be the current Crown Prince of Heaven Dou, right?

Tang Xuan actually addressed him as a brother. Just who was he?

Unfortunately, no one could give them an answer right then.

Xue Qinghe gave a bitter smile and explained the entire matter to Tang Xuan in painstaking detail.

He told him everything, including Dugu Bo and how he could not intervene to protect Tang Xuan.

He did so to leave Tang Xuan with an impression of sincerity.

"Xuan Bro, I never expected Poison Douluo to owe Xue Xing a favor. This time, Big Brother miscalculated. Why don't you go home first? Once this is over, Big Brother will compensate you." Xue Qinghe said with a look of "guilt."

Originally, it had only been a matter of beating up Xue Beng.

As long as Tang Xuan revealed his identity before Xue Xing, even using Xue Beng as a punching bag would not have been a big deal.

But although he could think that,

he could not say it.

Otherwise, Tang Xuan would have to directly face the might of a Titled Douluo.

That would be the same as disregarding Tang Xuan's safety.

It would not benefit his plan to win favor.

"Oh? Then what compensation does Big Brother intend to give me?" Tang Xuan asked with an easy smile.

It was as if he did not care in the slightest that he was about to face a Titled Douluo.

Xue Qinghe feigned urgency. "At a time like this, you still care about that? Once the dust settles, whatever you want, as long as it is within Big Brother's abilities, I will get it for you."

He had not thought that much about it.

He only wanted to salvage Tang Xuan's and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's goodwill as much as possible.

He completely failed to notice the meaningful look in Tang Xuan's eyes.

"With Brother Xue's word, I am relieved. I will head home shortly. I guarantee nothing will happen." Tang Xuan said with a light laugh.

Xue Qinghe was stunned upon hearing that.

It seemed he had not expected Tang Xuan not to blame him at all.

This did not fit the reasonable reaction of a seven-year-old child.

"X-Xuan Bro, you don't blame Big Brother?" Xue Qinghe asked tentatively.

"What is there to blame? You did not do it on purpose. Besides, was this not part of our plan from the beginning? This was one of the risks we were supposed to bear." Tang Xuan said with a sincere expression.

In truth,

he had long seen through Xue Qinghe's attempt to win favor before him.

After all, when Xue Qinghe had used the excuse that they were his people to "force" him and Ning Rongrong to conceal their identities when enrolling, he had not cared about Tang Xuan's feelings.

Tang Xuan did not believe Xue Qinghe was unaware that Xue Xing had the ability to summon Dugu Bo.

The reason matters had developed into their current state

was, just as Xue Qinghe had said, because he himself had failed to account for Xue Xing making this open move against him.

Now, he was merely afraid that Tang Xuan would develop a grudge against him and was doing everything possible to make amends.

Xue Qinghe looked deeply moved upon hearing this. It was not an act; he truly was.

He believed every word Tang Xuan said came from the heart.

All that could be said was that Tang Xuan's childlike appearance was simply too deceptive.

After all, how could a child lie?

"Then Big Brother is relieved. How will you get home? Do you need me to take you?"

"No need. At a time like this, it is better for you to stay out of it. Xue Xing cannot do anything to me, but he can cause trouble for you." Tang Xuan hurriedly refused.

It was not that he did not want to cause Xue Qinghe trouble. Rather, he had never intended to leave in the first place.

What a joke. Dugu Bo was already right before him—how could he not seize the chance to make contact?

Was he supposed to wait for the Mandarin Duck Pot to deliver itself to his door?

Xue Qinghe was moved once again. Having such a "younger brother" who thought so much of him truly was a wonderful thing.

After expressing his apologies to Tang Xuan several more times, he finally left...