Ten Years Ago, Yuan'en Tiandang's "Hero Saves the Beauty"

(These two chapters are intended to make the characters' emotional development feel less abrupt; it will conclude in two chapters. There will be a third update tonight, a major chapter that pushes the plot forward.)

Ten years ago, the Yuanen Clan.

"Father, I have reached the rank of Spirit Douluo, and I wish to go out and see the world."

Yuanen Tiandang knelt on one knee before the Yuanen Clan head, Yuanen Zhentian, and spoke.

At that time, Yuanen Tiandang had just broken through to the rank of Spirit Douluo at the age of twenty, becoming the next young clan head of the Yuanen Clan.

"Good, good, good."

"Flowers in a greenhouse can never grow into towering trees."

"Now that you are already an eight-ring Spirit Douluo, it is time for you to go out and gain some experience."

Yuanen Zhentian looked at his son, who was already half a head taller than him, feeling more satisfied and pleased the more he looked.

"The Douluo Continent is not like our clan; outside, Shrek Academy, the Tang Sect, the Spirit Pagoda, and the recently emerging War God Temple are all incredible organizations."

"Remember, do not be arrogant or complacent. You must know that there is always someone better, and even I have encountered existences I could not defeat."

"Yes, Father, I will keep that in mind."

Yuanen Zhentian continued to give instructions on various matters before finally saying.

"Go now. First, go to the ancestral hall and report to our ancestors so they may bless your safety."

Yuanen Tiandang knelt to bid his father farewell and headed toward the Yuanen Clan ancestral hall.

The exterior of the Yuanen Clan ancestral hall was simple and elegant, giving a sense of solemnity, but inside, it was resplendent with gold and jade, decorated with extreme sophistication.

At the front of the hall stood a massive, tiered incense altar. Rows of spirit tablets were arranged upon it, forming a pyramid shape from top to bottom.

At the very top of the tablets was the seat of the ancestor, Xiong Xiaoling, and beside the tablet sat a small, hand-carved wooden ape.

The ape was not large, only about as tall as the spirit tablet, posed with its hands beating its chest, looking somewhat cute and foolish.

Yuanen Tiandang respectfully offered a stick of incense.

He performed the grand ceremony of three bows and nine kowtows, saying, "Your descendant, Tiandang, reports to the ancestors. I am now twenty years old and have achieved the rank of Spirit Douluo. I must go out to train, and I humbly request that the ancestors bless your descendant with a smooth journey."

After speaking, Yuanen Tiandang kowtowed respectfully a few more times and replenished the incense.

The outside world, here I come.

"That was Tiandang, wasn't it?"

"Indeed. That child is truly remarkable. Achieving the rank of Spirit Douluo at twenty—in our clan's history, only the very first few clan heads have done so."

"Yes, when Tiandang returns, our clan will surely reach even greater heights."

The members of the Yuanen Clan whispered among themselves as they saw Yuanen Tiandang leaving the ancestral hall.

"..."

Yuanen Tiandang unleashed his eight-ring Spirit Douluo cultivation, flying rapidly through the air.

During his journey, he saw the towering Spirit Pagoda and the vast Shrek City. The towering Golden Ancient Tree also left him in awe.

The novel and diverse Soul Tools of the Tang Sect also amazed him, a spirit master coming from a reclusive clan.

Father said that the Douluo Federation's War God Temple is the weakest among the four major powers and has the fewest restrictions. Perhaps I can go to Ming City and take a look.

Yuanen Tiandang made up his mind and flew toward Ming City.

Ming City, the former capital of the Sun Moon Empire, had transformed over ten thousand years from a capital city into a city that blocked Inner Court students of Shrek Academy from going to Devil Island for training.

It was a case of regressing as it developed.

However, as a former capital, its foundation remained, and Ming City was still ranked among the top five cities on the Douluo Continent.

Yuanen Tiandang did not disguise himself; he merely concealed his cultivation level before entering Ming City.

After inquiring in the city, he learned that the War God Temple was located in the Ming City Mountains to the west of the city, not within the city itself.

Never mind. Since I am already here, I might as well tour this former capital.

Yuanen Tiandang wandered around Ming City, and in the blink of an eye, he moved from the bustling district to a more remote area.

"Ye Hui, come with us. You were born for this."

"Become one of us. With your aptitude, you will surely break through to the Title Douluo level. If you serve the sect master well, achieving the level of Super Douluo is not a dream."

As Yuanen Tiandang wandered, he suddenly saw three men surrounding a woman of exquisite beauty. The woman was naturally gifted, and her waist-length purple hair added to her charm.

"And if I refuse?" The woman's attitude was cold and firm as she turned to leave.

"Refuse? That is not for you to decide."

The three men simultaneously revealed their martial spirits, displaying their eight-ring cultivation, while the woman was only a Spirit Douluo who had just broken through to the eight-ring level.

"Since you have such delicate skin and tender flesh, you might as well be a treat for us brothers first."

"Hehehe."

After the man spoke, the three of them surrounded the woman with sinister laughter.

Since his birth, this was the first time Yuanen Tiandang had traveled, and he could not stand to watch such behavior. He shouted, "Audacious villains! How dare you commit such acts of bullying women in broad daylight!"

As he spoke, his Titan Giant Ape martial soul manifested, and he stepped forward to assist the woman named Ye Hui.

"Who are you, kid?"

The leader was somewhat wary, but upon seeing the newcomer's martial soul, he burst into laughter.

"A Great Strength Demon Ape martial soul, and you dare to play the hero here?"

"Brothers, let this kid know whose road this is."

The leader attacked Ye Hui, while the other two men surrounded Yuan'en Tiandang, intending to take him down quickly before joining the assault on Ye Hui.

Ye Hui glanced at the man who had intervened halfway, offering no thanks, and simply unleashed her Fallen Angel martial soul to battle the leader.

The leader possessed an Earth Demon Bear martial soul and was equipped with Two-Word Battle Armor, fighting to a stalemate against a top-tier martial soul like the Fallen Angel.

Gradually, as the exchange of blows intensified, the Earth Demon Bear soul master found it difficult to parry, shouting, "What are you two doing? Why haven't you finished him off yet?"

There was no response.

The man sensed something was wrong and looked back to see his two companions already lying on the ground.

"How did you...?"

The man was momentarily stunned, and Ye Hui seized the opportunity, her Magic Sword striking his body.

"This mark is too tough, the wind is picking up, let's bolt!"

Seeing the situation, the man retreated in a hurry, abandoning his companions and fleeing in a panic, adhering to the principle of sacrificing others to save himself.

"What about them?"

Yuan'en Tiandang walked toward the woman and pointed at the two men lying on the ground.

The woman frowned slightly and said, "I don't like killing people."

With that, she turned and left without looking back.

Finding this woman quite strange—and being the first beautiful member of the opposite sex he had truly encountered—Yuan'en Tiandang curiously stepped forward to ask.

"What is your name? My name is Tiandang. Why were these people chasing you?"

"Hey, I come from a family in the deep mountains and old forests to the east. Where is your home?"

"Are you hungry? I'm an outsider; is there anything good to eat around here?"

"..."

Yuan'en Tiandang chattered incessantly the entire way until the woman finally couldn't take it anymore and said with some annoyance, "My name is Ye Hui. Thank you for saving me earlier, but I'm going home now."

How could she change her expression so quickly? She really is strange.

Yuan'en Tiandang watched Ye Hui's retreating figure as she headed west, feeling a bit dazed and aggrieved in his heart.

Forget it, I might as well tidy up and get ready to check out the War God Temple.

Yuan'en Tiandang quickly put the episode behind him, found a hotel to stay the night, and prepared to set off for the Ming City Mountains tomorrow.