Tang Sect

It was a rest day at Red Mountain Soul Master Academy. In the faint morning light, Tang Wutong watched Tang Wulin practice basic fist techniques in the courtyard and weighed her plans. There's no need to force Wulin to formally join the Tang Sect, but it is, after all, the foundation Father established. Its Cultivation Technique and resources would be a tremendous help to him. Besides, he should at least become a familiar face there, so those old monsters living in seclusion know the Tang Sect's little junior brother has returned.

"Wulin, I'm taking you somewhere today." Tang Wutong clapped her hands, drawing Tang Wulin's attention back to her.

"Where?" Tang Wulin's eyes lit up. Unfamiliar places always filled him with curiosity.

"You'll know when we get there." Tang Wutong gave a mysterious smile, then turned to Jiang Nannan, who was tending the flower beds nearby. "Nannan, come with us."

Jiang Nannan straightened and nodded with a smile. "Sure. It's been ages since I last visited the Tang Sect Headquarters."

The three made a few simple preparations, then headed toward the Tang Sect Headquarters on the other side of the city.

The Tang Sect Headquarters nestled in a quiet valley. An ancient gateway stood half-hidden among verdant pines and cypresses, exuding a weightiness steeped in the passage of years. Beyond the winding mountain path, a magnificent complex of buildings came into view.

They had barely entered the Tang Sect's reception hall when a familiar figure came forward to greet them.

"Wulin! You're here!" The newcomer affectionately ruffled Tang Wulin's hair.

Tang Wulin immediately broke into a radiant smile. "Teacher Xiaoya!"

It was Tang Ya. Although she had relinquished the heavy responsibilities of Tang Sect Leader to devote herself to teaching at Shrek Academy, in the hearts of the Tang Sect disciples, she would always be their beloved Young Master. Taking Tang Wulin's hand, she turned to Tang Wutong and Jiang Nannan with a smile. "Wutong, Nannan, you're here too! Come on in!"

They exchanged pleasantries as they entered the inner hall.

Tang Wutong looked at Tang Wulin and explained gently, "Wulin, although Teacher Xiaoya is no longer the sect leader and now focuses on teaching at the academy, the Tang Sect will always be her home, and our strongest support."

Tang Wulin nodded, only half understanding, but his affection for Tang Ya remained undiminished.

"Wutong, you're here." A deep, resonant voice came from a side door of the inner hall.

Everyone turned to see two figures approaching at an unhurried pace. One stood straight as a pine, his expression stern, a chill radiating from him that kept others a thousand miles away. The other had a refined bearing and gentle eyes, like a spring breeze brushing against the face.

Tang Wutong immediately stepped forward with a solemn expression and introduced them to Tang Wulin. "Wulin, come pay your respects to these two seniors. This is the man currently at the Tang Sect's helm, Ruthless Douluo—Cao Dezhi, Sect Leader Cao. And this is Amorous Douluo—Zang Xin, Vice Leader Zang."

Young as Tang Wulin was, he knew these were important people. He promptly bowed with good manners. "Hello, Sect Leader Cao! Hello, Vice Leader Zang!"

Cao Dezhi nodded slightly. His gaze flashed like lightning as it swept over Tang Wulin, finally settling on his clear eyes, as though trying to see through to the child's very essence. His expression remained stern, but a barely perceptible trace of satisfaction flickered in his eyes.

Zang Xin smiled gently and stepped forward to give Tang Wulin's shoulder a light pat. "Good boy, no need to be nervous. Now that you've come to the Tang Sect, this is your home. Whatever you want to learn or do, just say the word."

Watching this, Tang Wutong thought, With Elder Cao and Elder Zang watching over him, along with Teacher Xiaoya's care, Wulin's safety in the Tang Sect is assured on every front.

After bidding farewell to the Tang Sect's elders, Tang Wutong took Tang Wulin's hand. Rather than leaving directly, she led him deeper into Shrek Academy's Inner Court. As they passed along a lush, tree-lined path, the surrounding bustle gradually faded, giving way to a solemn stillness.

Ahead, towering statues stood in the morning light on a square carpeted with green grass, exuding the weathered dignity and majesty of years gone by.

On the path leading to the statue square, a tall, solitary figure approached them. He wore a dark, long robe, his face stern, his eyes holding a lingering melancholy and arrogance. A faint chill seemed to wreathe his entire body.

Tang Wulin instinctively shrank behind his sister. The coldness emanating from the man made him feel an instinctive pressure.

Tang Wutong merely cast the man a brief glance, her eyes distant and unfamiliar. Although she had seen his portrait in the academy's records or glimpsed him from afar and knew he was one of its teachers, their paths had never crossed. They had never even exchanged a word.

The man looked straight ahead, paying the siblings no heed. Only as they passed did his deep eyes seem to linger on Tang Wulin for half a second before he withdrew his gaze and walked on.

"Who was that, Sis? He felt so cold." Tang Wulin waited until the man's figure vanished at the end of the path before asking quietly.

"Just one of the academy's teachers, I suppose. Don't worry about him." Tang Wutong shook her head. Her knowledge of him was superficial at best, and she gave him no further thought.

Holding Tang Wulin's hand, she continued forward until they reached the seven statues in the center of the square.

Tang Wutong stopped, her expression more serious than ever before. She released Tang Wulin's hand and pointed toward the seven statues, her voice cool and solemn.

"Wulin, bow three times to these seven statues."

Although Tang Wulin did not understand why his sister had suddenly become so serious, he obediently stood before the statues, straightened his clothes, and bowed respectfully three times.

Only after he straightened did Tang Wutong speak slowly, her tone carrying a hint of reminiscence and mixed emotions.

"Wulin, these seven statues are the First-Generation Shrek Seven Devils. From left to right, they are Dai Mubai, Zhu Zhuqing, Oscar, Ning Rongrong, Ma Hongjun, Tang San, and Xiao Wu. They were both the Tang Sect's first elders and the founders of Shrek Academy."

She paused, her gaze settling on the two statues holding hands in the middle. Then she turned to Tang Wulin, her eyes softening while remaining resolute.

"Wulin, remember this. Those two in the middle, Tang San and Xiao Wu, are our parents. Our birth parents."

Tang Wulin's eyes flew wide. He stared at the female statue in disbelief, then looked at his sister. His mouth parted, but no sound came out.

Tang Wutong reached out to straighten his slightly tousled bangs and continued, "I know you're still young, and there's a lot you don't understand. You don't have to make a special effort to memorize their achievements, nor do you have to go out of your way to please them or win their favor when you meet them. But there is one thing you must remember—"

Her voice suddenly grew firmer, every word etching itself clearly into Tang Wulin's heart.

"They are our parents. No matter what happens, that will never change."

Tang Wulin looked into his sister's eyes, so full of hope and seriousness. Although he still did not fully understand what this meant, he nodded emphatically, a trace of resolve in his young voice.

"Yes! I'll remember, Sis! They're our dad and mom!"

Sunlight fell upon the siblings, stretching their shadows long. In that moment, the inheritance of their bloodline seemed to span time and space, completing a silent passing of the torch before those seven statues.

Tang Ya showed tremendous enthusiasm for teaching Tang Wulin. In her eyes, since the Tang Sect's blood flowed through his veins, its secret arts were naturally his birthright.

"Wulin, this Mysterious Heaven Skill is the foundation of the Tang Sect. It emphasizes inward restraint, self-cultivation, and nurturing your character." Tang Ya sat cross-legged opposite Tang Wulin, her expression earnest. "Although you're still young, beginning to cultivate it will greatly help you control the power within your body."

Tang Wulin nodded obediently and followed her instructions. He discovered that although the Cultivation Technique was somewhat at odds with the Golden Dragon King bloodline within him, it did indeed have a wondrous soothing effect.

Next, Tang Ya began teaching him the Mysterious Jade Hand. As his soul power circulated, a faint, jade-colored sheen gradually appeared on his hands.

"Excellent! You have a real gift for understanding this!" Tang Ya praised him, delighted.

Watching Tang Wulin practice with proper form under Tang Ya's guidance, Tang Wutong finally felt the great stone weighing on her heart settle to the ground. With Tang Ya teaching him personally, Wulin would take no wrong turns in learning the Tang Sect's Cultivation Technique.

Yet while Tang Wulin was immersed in the joy of cultivation, Tang Wutong recalled a suggestion the old man had made when she previously took Wulin to see Tang Hao.

That day, on their way back after leaving the Tang Sect, Tang Hao had suddenly said, "Cultivating soul power alone isn't enough for this child. Since he's at Shrek, why not have him learn forging?"

Tang Wutong had been somewhat puzzled, so Tang Hao explained, "Blacksmiths hold an esteemed position on the Douluo Continent, no lower than powerful soul masters. Besides, this child was born with extraordinary strength. Nothing could suit him better than forging. Although I stopped concerning myself with sect affairs long ago and have no interest in competing for the position of sect master, I was, after all, once granted the title of Divine Craftsman. My skills may be rusty now, but teaching this child of yours the basics is still well within my abilities."

Recalling this, Tang Wutong watched her younger brother practicing and made up her mind.

That evening, Tang Wutong found Tang Hao wiping down his hammer.

"Grandfather," Tang Wutong said, bowing respectfully, "I've thought over the matter of Wulin learning to forge. Since you think it suits him, let's do as you suggested."

Tang Hao stopped what he was doing, a sharp gleam flashing through his eyes. "Oh? You've come around?"

"I have." Tang Wutong nodded. "Learning another craft will be good for him. And it's something you want for him, too."

Tang Hao rose and hoisted the enormous iron hammer onto his shoulder, his face revealing a long-absent air of bold vigor. "Good! Since it's decided, we'll start tomorrow. I'll whip this boy into shape!"

And so Tang Wulin's life grew busy. During the day, he cultivated the Mysterious Heaven Skill and Mysterious Jade Hand under Tang Ya's guidance, exploring the intricacies of the Tang Sect Secret Arts. In the evenings, he began learning the fundamentals of forging from Tang Hao.

Author's note: Let me add something here. First, the level of forging in Douluo I and Douluo II should be about the same. But in Douluo III, it's different. "Divine Craftsman" here doesn't mean the same thing as "Divine Craftsman" in Douluo I. It's like comparing weapons forged in the Tang dynasty with weapons forged today. Are they comparable? No. That's why I say Tang Hao was once a Divine Craftsman, but isn't one by Douluo III's standards.