Tang Family

Biodata

Background / History

The Tang Family was originally one of Starfall City’s four great families, alongside the Qin, Lin, and Ye Families. The four powers were regarded as evenly matched, though the Tang and Lin Families had maintained a long-standing hostile relationship. Tang Lingyun served as the Family Head and was recognized as Starfall City’s strongest expert. 3 5

Fifteen years before the story, the Tang and Qin Families formed a marriage alliance by betrothing Tang Tian to Qin Yuexi. The alliance collapsed when Qin Tiande and Qin Yuexi demanded that the Tang Family surrender one-third of its Starfall City businesses and allow Qin Yuexi to control the family after marriage. Tang Tian destroyed the marriage contract, ending the arrangement. 3 4

The conflict with the Lin Family escalated after Lin Baoquan disappeared in Starfall Forest and Lin Yichen proposed marriage to Qin Yuexi immediately after her engagement was annulled. Tang Tian’s later life-and-death duel with Lin Yichen ended in Lin Yichen’s death, prompting Lin Changdong to attack Tang Lingyun and igniting open war between the Tang and Lin Families. 5 36 40 41

When the Qin Family joined the Lin Family in battle, the Tang and Ye Families fought together against them. Qin Tiande and Lin Changdong were killed, the Qin and Lin Families were wiped out as major powers, and the Tang and Ye Families became Starfall City’s two dominant families. 42 43 46 47

Organization

Internal Dynamics

Tang Tian’s former weakness made him a target of contempt within his own household. The entrance guards, Tang Feng, Tang Li, and other younger members viewed him as an undeserving young master who consumed substantial family resources despite remaining in the Meridian Refining Realm. Tang Tian nevertheless received one thousand Lower-Grade Yuan Stones and cultivation pills each month as the Family Head’s son. 3 9 10

The family was divided in its treatment of Tang Tian, but it closed ranks against outside humiliation. Tang Xiaohai defended Tang Tian when Lin Yichen tried to force him to kneel, while Tang Lingyun repeatedly chose his son’s safety and dignity over political advantage. 6 7 8

Tang Tian’s victories over Tang Li, Tang Feng, and Lin Yichen overturned his reputation. During the war with the Lin and Qin Families, Tang Xiaohai led the family to Tang Tian’s aid, while even Tang Feng and Tang Li fought for the Tang Family’s survival. Witnessing this solidarity causes Tang Tian to fully accept the Tang Family as his lineage. 35 41 44

Relationships

• Qin Family — Former marriage ally through Tang Tian and Qin Yuexi’s childhood betrothal. The alliance ended after the Qin Family attempted to seize Tang Family businesses and authority; the Qin Family later joined the Lin Family in war and was destroyed. 3 4 42 46
• Lin Family — Long-standing rival family. Lin Yichen’s death at Tang Tian’s hands triggered full-scale war, ending with the Lin Family’s collapse. 5 40 41 46
• Ye Family — Initially maintained little contact with the Tang Family. Ye Qingyuan’s support of Tang Tian and Ye Ruxue’s bond with him lead to a battlefield alliance and shared dominance of Starfall City. 32 42 47
• Falling Star Sect — Hostile after Tang Tian kills inner disciple Lin Yichen. The sect later offers Tang Tian membership or a fifteen-day survival trial in Starfall Forest in exchange for leaving the Tang Family alone. 40 47 48

Notable Resources

• Monthly young-master stipend — Tang Tian receives one thousand Lower-Grade Yuan Stones and cultivation pills each month. 9
• Cultivation arts — The family’s known techniques are, at most, Profound-tier, placing it at a disadvantage against sect inheritances such as the Falling Star Sect’s Earth-tier sword arts. 37
• Hidden sword inheritance — Elder Li possesses advanced sword-cultivation knowledge and entrusts Tang Tian with the Mortal Sword Art in secret. 49