Tang Heng paused for a moment. Yun Ming's words somehow didn't sound out of place at all.
He was the Sea God Pavilion Master, after all, a man of lofty status. He was apparently even more impressive than the bastard who'd said those words in Tang Heng's previous life.
He turned to look at Di Tian.
Di Tian was taken aback as well, but quickly recovered and nodded.
A meal from the Venerable was a gift!
Tang Heng took a can from the portion he'd brought for Wulin and handed it to Di Tian.
"Master, if it gets cold, remember to heat it up before eating. It'll taste better that way."
"You're thoughtful."
Yun Ming watched the scene, his feelings a tangled mess.
He'd clearly been here first!
But there was nothing he could do. Tang Heng didn't acknowledge him as his master.
And after their recent spar, Yun Ming had also recognized the strength of this man called Emperor Venerable. With his abilities, he was absolutely qualified to be Tang Heng's master.
Though he was rather cold and seemed distant from human feeling—he barely seemed human at all.
Still, the Sky-Prop Spear in his hand had given Yun Ming his answer. This Emperor Venerable was definitely no Evil Soul Master or the like.
"Hahaha! Mr. Di, if we get the chance to meet again someday, I hope we can have another match. This one was too rushed—not satisfying or exciting enough!"
Di Tian didn't reply, only nodding silently.
It had been a long time since he'd met an opponent this powerful. The last time was ten thousand years ago, just as Spirit Ice Douluo Huo Yuhao was about to ascend. Di Tian had chosen to stop him, and a battle had broken out.
Of course, that had been a fight to the death. Both he and Huo Yuhao had given it everything they had.
This time, though, it had only been a simple spar. Neither side had used their true strength.
Without Battle Armor, the Yun Ming before him might not be as strong as Huo Yuhao.
But in a real fight, who would hold back and refuse to use their stronger abilities?
This battle had shown Di Tian that the odds of directly opposing humanity were, as expected, vanishingly small. They could only follow the Venerable's plan and take things one step at a time.
They weren't seeking total victory, only for humanity to recognize that the Soul Beast Clan had a reason to exist.
That was the only way to lay the groundwork for the two races to leave each other in peace in the future.
After saying goodbye to Yun Ming, Di Tian prepared to leave with Gu Yue as well.
"You can start with the Spirit Pagoda in Eastsea City. Just pay them a visit. The Eighteen Cities of Tianhai are behind other regions of the federation in the quality of their Soul Masters, so they badly need powerful 'Soul Masters' like you to support them."
"Besides, the Eastsea faction is also a supporter of the Phoenix Family. That'll let you get closer to Sky Phoenix Douluo Leng Yaozhu more quickly."
"Understood."
Tang Heng yawned, walked somewhere out of sight, and teleported Xiong Jun and the others back from the Minecraft Plane.
"Go with Di Tian. Just handle your own duties."
"We obey your decree!"
The Ferocious Beasts bowed their heads. They had just experienced many strange new things in the Minecraft Plane, and had also seen just how terrifying the potential of their new Venerable was.
If they followed him loyally, not only might the Soul Beasts be restored to glory, but they might even ascend to godhood themselves.
Before leaving, Di Tian handed Tang Heng a black scale edged in gold.
"Venerable, this is my reverse scale. You can think of it as a clone of mine."
"Of course, I don't doubt your strength, Venerable. But for now, you're still weak, and there are Evil Soul Masters among humanity. I simply don't want anything to happen to you."
Di Tian spoke earnestly, almost pleading.
Tang Heng sighed inwardly. He knew Di Tian was still consumed by regret—regret that he hadn't been able to help the Dragon God back then, and could only watch the old Dragon God die.
That foolish, love-struck Dragon God. How could he have faced the Nine Great Dragon Kings and all those loyal dragons who'd followed him?
Tang Heng knew exactly what the reverse scale could do. Ten thousand years ago, Di Tian had given one to Dai Yuhao as well, and it had served as his bodyguard for a while.
"I understand. Just contact me if anything happens."
"The rest of the way is up to you. I can't take care of everything."
Tang Heng accepted the reverse scale. The instant it touched his hand, it melted into his palm and became a Black Dragon Mark on his right forearm, which he could hide or reveal at will.
Di Tian and the others said their farewells and left with Gu Yue.
As she went, Gu Yue couldn't help glancing back, wanting to look at Tang Heng a little longer.
"Bye-bye, big silver dragon, and Uncle Di Tian~~"
Na'er waved at them, her face beaming with joy.
Seeing Gu Yue staring at her big brother, Na'er refused to be outdone. She wrapped both arms around Tang Heng's arm and, while no one was paying attention, stuck her tongue out at Gu Yue.
"All right, let's head back."
"Wulin's probably so hungry his back and stomach are touching."
Tang Heng pulled his arm out of Na'er's embrace and started walking home.
Na'er walked beside him for a few steps, then suddenly reached out and pinched the corner of his sleeve, just as she had when she first met him at the mouth of that alley.
Her lashes drooped, casting two faint shadows in the yellow lamplight.
"Brother Heng," Na'er said, her voice lighter than the evening breeze. "Thank you."
After a pause, she looked up at Tang Heng. Moonlight filled her purple eyes, and she managed a small smile. "Without you, I wouldn't be who I am now... You gave me a new life, big brother."
As she said this, the fingers clutching his sleeve tightened, her knuckles paling slightly, as if she were holding on to something about to slip away.
Tang Heng looked at her serious expression and only shook his head. "Why think so much? You're my only little sister. If I don't help you, who will?"
"That brat Tang Wulin still needs me to look after him. It's fine if you rely on me a little more, too."
At the words "only little sister," Na'er's pace faltered.
She lowered her head, her silver bangs covering her eyes, leaving only the corner of her mouth visible—a faint smile slowly blooming there.
When she looked up again, the smile hadn't quite faded, and a familiar mischievous glint had returned to her eyes.
Na'er stopped and turned to face him. She walked backward for two steps, hands clasped behind her back, head tilted as she gazed at him.
"Brother Heng, close your eyes~"
Tang Heng looked at her in confusion.
"What's wrong?"
Na'er reached out and nudged his shoulder, pouting. She looked exactly as she had when she used to act cute.
Seeing that, Tang Heng didn't ask again and closed his eyes.
In the darkness, he felt Na'er suddenly draw very close—close enough for him to smell the faint, unfamiliar floral scent in her hair.
There was a rustle of fabric, then something climbed onto his shoulder—probably her hand.
Then a soft, cool touch landed lightly and briefly on his cheek.
It wasn't quite a peck. It was too light, too brief. More like a raindrop sliding off the eaves and landing on his face.
Tang Heng's eyes flew open, but Na'er had already run ahead. She stood with her back to him, a few steps away in the moonlight.
Na'er walked ahead, her whole face burning.
That light kiss had been all the courage she could dredge up from the depths of her heart. Now she had none left—only a heart pounding wildly in her chest and eyes that didn't dare look back.
Come on, little sis!
I've got Spirit Abyss Realm spiritual power. I know exactly what you just did.
Tang Heng screamed inwardly, but didn't dare say it out loud.
Forget it, forget it. We're all struggling here.
Tang Heng sighed and hurried to catch up with Na'er. In a quiet voice, he said, "Don't do that again... At least, don't do it to anyone but me."
Na'er's face reddened. She didn't dare look at Tang Heng and could only nod over and over.
The atmosphere was a little strange, and the siblings didn't speak again as they walked.
Tang Heng felt like a sinner beyond redemption.
Come to think of it, Na'er had only just been reborn. So she'd only been alive for a short while...
Oh no. Wasn't he basically a total creep?
If he posted this on the forums from his previous life, wouldn't all those righteous netizens tear him to shreds?
Before you continue