Tang San: Blue Silver King, My Older Brother?!

The teachers around him all nodded, looking righteously indignant as they condemned Yu Xiaogang's shamelessness.

But Tang San could no longer hear what they were saying.

Scenes from the Soul Hunting Forest kept replaying in his mind.

That young man seated upon the throne.

The man with overwhelming strength, who had casually destroyed the Ten-Year Lone Bamboo and mercilessly exposed Yu Xiaogang's scam.

The powerful figure who had made him tremble.

He was... the Blue Silver King?

He was... his own older brother?

Tang San's heart pounded violently.

He recalled that although the man's words had been cold, everything he had done had actually been meant to stop Tang San from straying down the wrong path.

If he had not acted at that critical moment, destroyed the Lone Bamboo, and scolded him awake—

Then Tang San himself would likely have become a sacrifice to Yu Xiaogang's theories.

So that was it.

He had not been arrogant. He had not been rude.

He had been trying to save me!

He had been trying to keep that worthless teacher from ruining me!

For his sake, he had crossed half the Heaven Dou Empire and mobilized the Royal Knights.

He had even been willing to bear the infamy of being called overbearing, all to knock some sense into him.

What kind of bond was this?

Was this the family affection of blood being thicker than water?

Tang San had always believed he was an orphan, with only a drunken father who drank and forged iron all day.

He had never imagined that there was actually such a powerful older brother in this world, silently watching over him and protecting him.

An unprecedented warmth instantly enveloped Tang San's heart, which had long since turned cold and suspicious because of his experiences in his previous life.

Tang San's clenched fists trembled slightly, but this time, it was neither from anger nor fear.

It was from excitement.

From gratitude.

His eyes reddened slightly, and a mist of tears welled within them.

Across two lifetimes, this was the first time he had felt what it was like to be protected so unreservedly and forcefully by someone.

Even if he did nothing.

Even if he had once misunderstood him.

He had still stood before him like a mountain, sweeping away every obstacle.

Tang San took a deep breath and raised his head, unwilling to let his tears fall.

He silently swore in his heart.

He, Tang San, would remember this kindness—this brotherly bond.

No matter what, even if he had to face countless hardships.

He would find Lord Blue Silver King.

And call him Brother to his face.

And thank him in person.

At the center of the Royal Knights' encampment stood a massive temporary palace tent.

Though it had been erected only temporarily during the march, its grandeur did not pale in the slightest compared to the council hall of any city lord's manor.

Layers of golden curtains hung within, while a Royal Knight clad in heavy silver armor stood every ten paces around the perimeter. A chilling, murderous aura filled the air, so oppressive that even birds did not dare pass through this stretch of sky.

Tang San stood outside the tent and took a deep breath, calming his violently pounding heart.

He straightened his somewhat disheveled clothes. Though they were still stained with a little forest mud, he did his best to make himself look presentable.

"Go in. His Highness is waiting for you."

Ying Qi gave Tang San a cold glance at the entrance, then stepped aside to clear the way.

Tang San nodded and walked into the tent.

The inside was not as dim as he had imagined. Dozens of fist-sized Luminous Pearls were embedded overhead, illuminating the entire space as brightly as day.

The floor was covered in thick red Soul Beast-fur carpets, soft beneath his feet and utterly soundless to walk upon.

At the deepest end of the tent stood a raised platform.

Tang San lifted his head, and his gaze froze instantly.

Tang Yuan sat upon the broad chair atop the raised platform.

At this moment, Tang Yuan had shed his previous casual air. He wore a suit of dark golden armor that did not cover his entire body, protecting only the vital areas, with a deep blue formal robe beneath it.

The robe was embroidered with intricate, mysterious Blue Silver Grass patterns in silver thread. As Tang Yuan moved, those patterns seemed to come alive, flowing with a faint halo of light.

Dignified.

Noble.

Merely sitting there, he naturally exuded the pressure of one in authority, making others afraid to meet his gaze.

Tang Yuan held a crystal-clear jade cup in his hand, his calm eyes watching the youth who entered through the doorway.

His gaze was as still as an ancient well. There was neither his former mockery nor any deliberate warmth, as though he were looking at an ordinary visitor.

Looking at that youthful yet handsome face, Tang San felt a surge of reverence rise within him.

He hesitated no longer and quickly strode to the foot of the platform.

With a thud.

Tang San dropped heavily to both knees, pressing his forehead to the soft carpet in a grand bow unlike any he had ever made before.

"Tang San thanks Lord Blue Silver King for saving my life."

The youth's voice trembled slightly, but he bit down hard on every word, each one carrying an unwavering sincerity.

If he had not come here, if he had not performed this great bow, Tang San felt his conscience would never be at ease.

The great tent fell silent.

After a moment, Tang Yuan set down the jade cup in his hand.

He raised one hand slightly, palm facing upward.

Buzz—

A gentle yet irresistible surge of Soul Power appeared out of thin air. Like a soft cloud, it supported Tang San's arms and forcibly lifted him from the ground.

"It was merely a small effort."

Tang Yuan's voice rang out calmly, without much emotional fluctuation.

"That trash theory riddled with holes was unpleasant for This King to hear, so I cleaned it up along the way. You need not dwell on it."

Tang Yuan spoke lightly, as though he had merely swatted a fly to death.

Yet as Tang San straightened up and looked at Tang Yuan, his gaze grew even more fervent.

The other party could make it sound easy, but Tang San knew exactly what it meant.

To that so-called Master, Yu Xiaogang, it meant the destruction of a theory he had built his life around.

But to Tang San, it had saved his entire life.

Without Lord Blue Silver King, he would likely have already absorbed that Ten-Year Lone Bamboo and become a true cripple, struggling at the very bottom of the Soul Master World for the rest of his life, never able to rise.

This was the grace of being given a new life.

Tang San's lips moved as he tried to offer more words of gratitude, only to find that language seemed pale at this moment.

Tang Yuan watched the still somewhat immature Younger Brother before him, lightly tapping his fingers against the armrest.

"Since you are here, This King will speak plainly."

Tang Yuan leaned forward slightly, his gaze settling on Tang San.

"A remote backwater like Nuoding City does not suit you."

"That so-called Junior Soul Master Academy lacks capable teachers and has narrow horizons. Aside from Yu Xiaogang, who only knows how to deceive others with empty pretenses, there is nothing left but a group of mediocre fools muddling through their days."

"Your talent should not be buried in that filthy mire."

At this point, Tang Yuan paused and extended an olive branch to Tang San.

"Are you willing to return to Heaven Dou City with me?"

"There, you will have a better cultivation environment, the finest mimicry cultivation grounds, and guidance from true experts."