"Was she born with the right to compete for the throne?"
Lan Hua murmured, her gaze complicated as it settled on the silver-veined Blue Silver Grass in Tang Shan's palm.
Born a queen?
As she wondered, she raised her own palm, and a thick strand of Blue Silver Grass shimmering with blue light appeared.
She had just turned sixteen, yet her Soul Power had already reached level thirty-six. Even among the direct line of the Blue Silver Sacred Heart Sect, she was considered exceptionally talented.
The elders had always called her a genius. But seeing Lan Yu and Tang Shan now, she finally understood what it meant that there was always someone greater, and a sky beyond the sky.
Yet only now, looking at the Soul Rings beneath Lan Yu and Tang Shan, did she understand what it meant that there was always someone greater, and a sky beyond the sky.
Lan Ya noticed her daughter's unusual expression. She reached out and gently guided her head onto her shoulder, silently comforting her.
Seeing that they had achieved what they came for, Lan Yu rose and announced that they should take their leave.
"Xiao Yu, you and Xiao Shan are Ah Yin's children. Sooner or later, you'll return to the Blue Silver Sacred Heart Sect.
"You've only just arrived in Heaven Dou City, and I doubt you've found a proper place to stay. Why not live with your aunt for now?"
Lan Ya ruffled Tang Shan's hair and warmly tried to persuade them to stay.
She could tell that Lan Yu was a boy with a mind of his own, and that Tang Shan was influenced by his every word and action.
"Thank you, Aunt, but we'll have to pass. The situation within the Blue Silver Sacred Heart Sect is complicated right now. If Xiao Shan and I stay here, we might cause unnecessary trouble."
Lan Yu thought it over for a moment, then politely declined.
Hearing this, Lan Ya knew he had a point. She could only nod helplessly, then smiled and said,
"Even so, you have to stay for a meal before you go. I can't let Ah Yin's children leave my Lanya Pavilion on empty stomachs."
Before Lan Yu could refuse again, she motioned for Lan Hua to arrange dinner, determined to give the two children a proper welcome.
During the meal, Lan Yu held his chopsticks and suddenly remembered something.
Since the Clear Sky Sect had affiliated forces like the four single-attribute clans, did the Blue Silver Sacred Heart Sect have any as well?
Thinking this, he looked up at Lan Ya.
"Aunt, the Blue Silver Sacred Heart Sect is revered as the greatest sect under heaven. Does it have any affiliated forces?"
The moment he finished speaking, the atmosphere at the table fell abruptly silent.
Lan Ya's hand, which had been picking food for Tang Shan, froze. Lan Hua also stopped eating, and odd expressions appeared on both mother and daughter's faces.
Had I guessed wrong?
Seeing their reactions, Lan Yu couldn't help but feel puzzled.
Tang Shan, however, paid little attention to their conversation. She kept her head down and focused on the food in her bowl, her cheeks puffed out.
In her heart, even if the sky fell, her brother would hold it up. From childhood until now, he had always taken care of everything. Knowing she had someone to rely on gave her tremendous peace of mind.
"Ah..."
After a long silence, Lan Ya finally sighed. She looked up at Lan Yu, her eyes concealing memories of the past and a trace of sorrow.
"Back then, the Blue Silver Sacred Heart Sect had four affiliated clans: the Strength Gate, the Defense Gate, the Break Gate, and the Speed Sect."
"After the Blue Silver Sacred Heart Sect shut its gates and withdrew from the world, the Strength Gate was the first to change its name to the Strength Clan. It broke away from the sect completely and established itself as an independent clan."
"As for the Speed Sect and the Defense Gate..."
Lan Ya paused, her voice growing heavy.
"The situation back then was different from now. The sect and the various forces may seem to coexist peacefully today, but back then, they came with the resolve to wipe out the sect.
"On the eve of the great battle, the former clan leader of the Speed Sect ventured deep into enemy territory to scout their movements. She was ambushed and, in the end, died in battle.
"The clan was left without a leader and had suffered heavy losses. It could only retreat alongside the Defense Gate, which had also been badly battered, to Longxing City in the Star Luo Empire.
"They've kept their clans running all these years through intelligence gathering and contracts for city defense construction."
"As for the Break Gate..."
As Lan Ya spoke, her voice carried a hint of regret and admiration.
"The current clan leader of the Break Gate, Yang Wudi, is your mother Ah Yin's maternal uncle.
"Back then, as he protected the sect master's escape, he took a combined strike from several Titled Douluo. Though he survived by sheer luck, he was left with a lifelong injury. He'll never be able to break through to Titled Douluo in this lifetime.
"Now he lives in seclusion with the Break Gate in Heaven Dou City. He's made a living through his skills in alchemy and poison-making, and rarely associates with outside sects."
After explaining all this, Lan Ya looked at Lan Yu, who was deep in thought, and said solemnly, "When you and Xiao Shan break through to Titled Douluo in the future, you must look after the Defense Gate, Speed Sect, and Break Gate.
"They didn't leave the sect back then. They were forced to by the circumstances."
"What about the Strength Clan?" Lan Yu asked gravely.
Lan Ya's expression turned cold at once, and the pressure of a Soul Douluo faintly emanated from her.
"The Strength Clan couldn't withstand the pressure from the various forces and was the first to defect and surrender."
"If they'd simply surrendered, that would have been one thing. But to prove their loyalty to the forces laying siege to us, their clan leader, Tai Tan, personally joined the hunt and killed one of our Soul Douluo elders."
"The Blue Silver Sacred Heart Sect has never forgotten that debt."
"If the sect's Titled Douluo had not all been held back within the sect by the various forces, unable to leave, how could Tai Tan still be alive today!"
Lan Ya's brows rose sharply, her voice ice-cold.
After a moment, her anger eased and her tone softened. "Xiao Yu, I know your talent is unmatched, and you'll never be content to live under anyone else. I imagine you'll establish your own faction someday.
"If you ever need people, I hope you'll choose from the Defense Gate, Speed Sect, and Break Gate."
In Lan Ya's eyes, Lan Yu's talent even surpassed that of the Blue Silver Sacred Heart Sect's founding ancestor, the Undying Douluo!
With a genius of such once-in-an-era caliber, the three clans would have boundless prospects if they followed him.
Lan Ya paused, then continued, looking at Lan Yu, who seemed deep in thought.
"Of course, I hope Xiao Shan will return to the Blue Silver Sacred Heart Sect one day and take over as sect master."
"But... won't the elders in the sect object?" Lan Yu asked with a frown.
He remembered how Tang San had been repeatedly challenged by the elders in the original story, and how he had gone up to the sect three times to clear Tang Hao's name.
"Object?"
Lan Ya was taken aback, then broke into laughter like silver bells. Only after a while, with all three looking at her in confusion, did she explain, "The Blue Silver Sacred Heart Sect needs the Blue Silver Emperor. The Blue Silver Emperor doesn't need the Blue Silver Sacred Heart Sect!"
"Remember, within the Blue Silver Sacred Heart Sect, the Blue Silver Emperor's commands are like imperial edicts issued by a ruler to her subjects—sacred and not to be disobeyed!"
The great Blue Silver Emperor would eventually arrive at her most loyal Blue Silver Sacred Heart Sect!
An hour later, Lan Yu and Tang Shan finished their feast. Before they left, Lan Ya handed Lan Yu an old-fashioned jade card and said, "If you're ever in danger, channel your Soul Power into it. I'll come to you right away."
After again turning down Lan Ya's offer to see them off, Lan Yu and Tang Shan walked alone along the bustling streets of Heaven Dou City.
It was already night. Lights shone everywhere, but there weren't many people around.
Tang Shan looped her arm through Lan Yu's and gently rested her head on his shoulder. "Brother, Aunt just said I'll inherit the position of sect master of the Blue Silver Sacred Heart Sect one day. Is that true?"
"Of course it is~"
Lan Yu smiled faintly and affectionately tapped the girl on the nose.
Ah, what a pity. Why wasn't my Martial Soul Blue Silver Grass?
If it were, that'd be great. Then I could order him around as much as I wanted~
Just as Tang Shan was indulging in her daydream, a sudden sound tore through the air in the distance!