Grandfather? My Grandfather Kong Deming! (Seeking Collections and Updates)

"Would you be willing to accept such a result?" Kong Deming looked at Xu Tianyao and asked, enunciating every word.

Xu Tianyao shook his head instinctively, his face twisting as he retorted, "How could anyone possibly be willing?"

"Even though I haven't officially started school yet, I have spent these years devouring the classics in the palace. I know just how earth-shattering the benefits of Twin Martial Souls are for a Spirit Master."

"The very reason the Sun Moon Empire's armies haven't wiped out the three kingdoms across the border is that Shrek Academy has always possessed Limit Douluo-level powerhouses, while we do not."

"The influence such a powerhouse has on the scales of war cannot be ignored."

"Those who possess Twin Martial Souls are naturally the most likely to become such powerhouses. I imagine that is one of the reasons why Father bestowed such rewards upon me; he hopes the Sun Moon Empire will also produce a Limit Douluo."

Seeing that Xu Tianyao had such a profound understanding of the power of Twin Martial Souls, Kong Deming nodded with a smile.

"Well said. If your Sun Moon Martial Souls could be cultivated simultaneously, relying on the strength of our Sun Moon Imperial family's inherited martial soul, becoming a Limit Douluo would be a near certainty."

"But these are, after all, just hypotheses. By the way, after saying so much, you still haven't told me how you intend to solve the problem of the Sun Moon Martial Souls being unable to be cultivated together."

"Everyone knows how powerful they are, but with the reality staring us in the face, how is it to be solved?"

"Aren't you here to solve this very problem?" Xu Tianyao did not give a direct answer, for he had none himself.

Kong Deming had spent his entire life researching this, and even he wouldn't dare claim a hundred-percent solution; how could he possibly solve it?

His understanding of this path could not possibly be stronger than Kong Deming's.

Furthermore, since Kong Deming had come to find him today and proactively brought up this topic, he must have come to resolve this issue.

Kong Deming seemed not to have expected this response; he froze for a split second before bursting into laughter.

"What a formidable youngster. Well said. That's right, I came here for this very reason. Since you know that, are you willing to cooperate with me to solve this problem together?"

Xu Tianyao stood up, faced Kong Deming, and to the latter's surprise, knelt heavily and kowtowed.

"Tianyao pays respects to Master!"

That was right; Xu Tianyao had taken the initiative to apprentice himself. Kong Deming had avoided the subject for so long that Xu Tianyao assumed he was concerned about his pride and didn't want to bring it up himself.

Since you are too embarrassed, I will do it myself.

This sudden act of obeisance left Kong Deming stunned.

Apprenticeship? Had he come here today to take on a disciple?

Well, it certainly looked that way, but he truly hadn't come for that purpose.

Kong Deming reached out, gently helped him up, and shook his head.

"Xu Tianran said you were honest and steady, but I don't think so. You have quite a few little schemes of your own."

Tianran? Xu Tianyao's heart skipped a beat at the mention of the name. Kong Deming had actually sought out his elder brother beforehand; he had been in private contact with him.

No wonder that in the original story, after Xu Tianran's coup succeeded, he faced almost no resistance and seized control of the nation's political machinery and military with lightning speed. Xu Tianyao had never believed that could happen without the support of a heavyweight.

However, what did his head shake mean? Was he not here to take him as a disciple?

Are you kidding me?

If you aren't here to take a disciple, why come here and say so much?

Could it be that you just wanted to share your thoughts?

"You aren't here to take me as a disciple?"

Xu Tianyao looked at the strange, half-smiling expression on Kong Deming's face and finally couldn't help but ask.

"Take a disciple?"

Kong Deming stared at him steadily and repeated the words in a questioning tone.

He shook his head again, then turned and pulled an album from a drawer in the corner.

He then extracted a photograph from the album and handed it to Xu Tianyao.

"If your mother knew I had taken her son as a disciple, she would likely turn the heavens upside down."

Xu Tianyao took the photo and looked down. It was indeed his mother, who had passed away early, appearing as she did in her youth.

Standing next to her was a middle-aged man—none other than the Kong Deming standing before him.

Seeing this photo, combined with what Kong Deming had just said, Xu Tianyao was struck with horror.

A bold and absurd conclusion welled up in his mind uncontrollably.

He jerked his head up, looked at the old man, and asked in disbelief, "What do you mean by this? How is this possible? You and Mother..."

Facing Xu Tianyao's inquiry and the search for truth in his eyes, Kong Deming looked at the photo, a trace of sorrow flashing across his face, and finally nodded calmly.

It was a confirmation of the thought in Xu Tianyao's mind.

"You are my grandfather? My mother's father? This is too absurd! Why has no one ever told me about this?"

Xu Tianyao roared; he couldn't believe it!

Kong Deming actually shared blood with him; he shared blood with Xu Tianran.

If that were true, how could Kong Deming have allowed Ju Zi to later bear Huo Yuhao's son and replace the rule of the Xu family of the Sun Moon Empire?

How could he just watch his own grandson be murdered by a scheme, and watch his grandson's empire be usurped by an outsider?

He had even gone so far as to become the teacher of his enemy's child!

Xu Tianyao stared blankly at Kong Deming, his heart a whirlwind of conflicting emotions and bewilderment; he no longer knew what to say.

Although he knew there must be more to this, some hidden story, no matter what the circumstances or the secrets involved, the situation itself was simply too absurd.

"You seem surprised, to the point where you find it hard to accept."

Kong Deming caught the trace of confusion and terror in Xu Tianyao's eyes.

He did not understand; he had only seen Xu Tianyao and Xu Tianzhen a few times when they were young, and had never visited again once they were old enough to remember.

Their understanding of him should be minimal. Yet, why did his eyes show such confusion and fear?

Could it be because of Xu Tianran?

At the thought of that grandson, a flicker of strange emotion and disgust flashed through Kong Deming's eyes.

Before he could ask another question, Xu Tianyao stumbled to his feet and bowed respectfully toward Kong Deming.

Suppressing the emotions in his heart, he called out reverently, "Tianyao greets Grandfather!"

"Tianyao simply finds this too incredible, I am too overwhelmed."

"In my memories, you are a figure akin to a god. I never dared to imagine that the person I have idolized since childhood could actually be my own grandfather."

Xu Tianyao's mind raced; whatever grievances this grandfather might have had with the imperial family or his imperial brother had nothing to do with him.

Since Kong Deming was willing to seek him out, he must have decided to focus on cultivating him.

He absolutely could not let baseless speculation cause him to doubt this goodwill and make the man despise him as well.

"So that is how it is," Kong Deming narrowed his eyes, casting a look at Xu Tianyao that was neither fully trusting nor fully skeptical.