Revealing His Strength

Countless tiny black vortices surged toward his dantian.

Tang Yan felt as though hundreds of millions of ants were devouring his dantian, the piercing pain relentlessly assaulting his nerves. Beads of sweat immediately appeared on his forehead. His brows knitted tightly as he struggled to endure the agony.

Pop, pop, pop...

Under the destructive force of the countless tiny vortices, a series of ruptures echoed inside his dantian. The increasingly piercing pain nearly made Tang Yan pass out.

Biting the tip of his tongue, Tang Yan held his mind steady. He knew the Dantian-Expanding Pill was restructuring his dantian. If he failed to endure it, his dantian would be ruined completely. But if he survived, he could rebuild from the wreckage and achieve a vortex dantian!

Pop, pop, pop... His dantian continued to rupture as the countless vortices began merging in pairs, forming larger vortices. Then those merged in pairs again, forming still larger vortices...

Every merger inflicted even greater damage. Tang Yan's body trembled constantly, the bouts of intense pain relentlessly tormenting his nerves. Several times, he nearly gave up.

Time passed, second by second. After an unknown stretch of time, the final two vortices began to merge, gradually spreading into every corner of his dantian. The pain also reached its peak.

Merge, damn you! Tang Yan roared inwardly.

Boom!

Tang Yan's body shuddered violently. The two vortices inside his dantian suddenly became one and began spinning with a thunderous roar.

At that instant, Tang Yan felt his dantian actually convey a message to him: Hungry.

It seemed desperately in need of spiritual energy!

At the same time, an ancient cauldron, weathered and imposing, suddenly blazed with light at the center of the vortex in his dantian. Countless streams of spiritual energy poured from its body, rapidly replenishing the spiritual energy within his dantian.

When Tang Yan opened his eyes again, he felt an incredible abundance of true qi within his dantian. He hurriedly examined himself inwardly and discovered that his dantian had become a constantly spinning vortex.

Although his strength remained at yellow tier sixth grade, the reserves of true qi in his dantian could probably rival those of someone at yellow tier seventh or even eighth grade.

With a faint smile on his face, Tang Yan pushed open the door and walked outside.

The Mid-Autumn Gathering would be held that evening. Tang Yan practiced the Extreme Six Forms several times, marveling inwardly at how extraordinary this vortex dantian truly was. Previously, he could only complete twenty repetitions in one session. Now, at the same level of strength, he could manage five more.

After training for a while, Tang Yan was summoned to the main hall by Old Master Tang.

All the Tang Family's senior members had gathered in the main hall. Looking around, Tang Yan discovered Zi Yun sitting in a seat of honor as well. She gave him a smug look, seemingly flaunting her position.

"Greetings, Grandfather!" Tang Yan would not neglect his manners in front of everyone, so he hurried forward to pay his respects.

"No need for formalities. Sit." Old Master Tang waved a hand. Only after Tang Yan had settled into his seat did he continue, "Today is the Mid-Autumn Gathering. Our Tang Family has few descendants, with only Yan'er and Yan Jun in the younger generation. There will certainly be petty scoundrels challenging our juniors today. How do you all think we should handle them?"

"The Tang Family's younger generation currently lags behind the other families in strength. Nothing good will come of entering the competition. Our overall strength still ranks fourth in Cloud City. We can simply sit out this gathering. Who would really dare do anything to our Tang Family?" a middle-aged man said gravely.

"Brother Li Hua has a point, but if we miss the competition three years running, our Tang Family's standing in Cloud City will plummet a thousand fathoms. Once our subordinate lineages lose confidence in us, the Tang Family may suffer a devastating blow," said Tang Shengping, who managed the cloth shops in the west of the city, with a frown.

At that moment, most of the people in the hall looked at Tang Yan with contempt. If he were not so weak, would the Tang Family have to lose face every year?

Sensing the atmosphere in the hall, Uncle Mo could not help speaking up. "The young master has exceptional natural talent. Even after his dantian was destroyed, he has already attained origin tier eighth grade. That may not be particularly strong, but his progress has been rapid. Let him sit out the martial competition this time and have Yan Jun take the field. He should mainly deal with disciples outside the four great lineages. If anyone from the four great lineages challenges him, he can simply ignore them."

Everyone nodded at Uncle Mo's suggestion. This was probably the safest course of action.

"Pfft!" Zi Yun, who had remained silent all this time, suddenly failed to suppress a laugh, immediately drawing every eye in the hall.

"Miss Zi, what are you laughing at?" Old Master Tang asked curiously.

"Tang Yan is already at yellow tier sixth grade. He even has the strength to contend for the top spot among the younger generation. Why are you all looking so miserable?" Zi Yun's words struck like a thunderclap that shattered stone.

The hall abruptly fell silent.

Crack! Old Master Tang tightened his grip and crushed the teacup in his hand. He did not even notice the scalding tea running down his fingers.

"Miss Zi, is what you said true?" Only after a long moment did Tang Ling manage to force out the question.

Everyone else in the hall fixed their eyes on Zi Yun. Although they did not know her identity, Tang Ling had told them she was an honored guest of the Tang Family and must never be treated discourteously. Any woman who commanded such respect from Old Master Tang could not have an ordinary background.

They found her words even harder to accept than Old Master Tang did. Tang Yan was a wastrel who spent his days learning nothing and accomplishing nothing. Reaching origin tier eighth grade already meant Heaven had finally opened its eyes. Now he had suddenly reached yellow tier sixth grade?

"Whether it's true or not, Old Master Tang, won't you know once you ask your grandson?" Zi Yun exposed Tang Yan's strength without the slightest hesitation.

"Yan'er, tell me the truth at once. What is your current strength?" Old Master Tang's aged face tightened as he questioned him sternly.

Tang Yan glared at Zi Yun. Knowing he could no longer hide it, he simply released the aura from his dantian. A remarkably pure presence immediately radiated from his body.

Old Master Tang's powerful frame shuddered as he stared at his grandson in disbelief. That aura was unmistakably yellow tier sixth grade!

The others all possessed some degree of strength as well. Sensing that powerful aura, they stared at Tang Yan in shock. When had this wastrel young master become so strong?

Zi Yun did not reveal that Tang Yan could fight above his grade. For one thing, she wanted to leave him a hidden trump card. For another, it was rather embarrassing that she could not beat him at the same grade.

"It really is sixth grade! Yellow tier sixth grade!" Old Master Tang felt more excited than he ever had before, nearly unable to hold back his tears. Over the years, his hopes for his grandson had turned to despair, and he had already resigned himself to fate. He had never imagined that his grandson would quietly cultivate all the way to yellow tier sixth grade!

He had never provided Tang Yan with any spirit herbs. How much hardship must he have endured to reach yellow tier sixth grade? Thinking of Tang Yan's terrifying training workload lately, Tang Ling finally lost control, tears streaming down his aged face.

"Wonderful! Truly wonderful! Heaven blesses the Tang Family!" Old Master Tang slapped the table loudly, praising him again and again.

Uncle Mo understood Old Master Tang's feelings perfectly at that moment. Smiling, he said, "I was worried Yan Jun wouldn't be able to bear the pressure of the competition alone. Now everything is settled. With the young master joining him, preserving our Tang Family's prestige this time is as certain as a nail driven into a board."

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. When they looked at Tang Yan again, all their contempt and disdain had vanished.