From beginning to end, the Liu Family's series of schemes against the Tang Family had been unraveled, layer by layer.
And as the Liu Family kept probing and attacking, the Tang Family gradually revealed a sharp edge that stunned countless people.
Although everyone knew there was still a considerable gap between Tang Yan and Liu Zhi, how old was Tang Yan this year? The road ahead was long. Given time, who would truly stand foremost in Cloud City was still an open question.
The previous gathering's top eight in Cloud City all watched the young man on the platform with complicated expressions. The one hailed as Cloud City's greatest wastrel had actually held his own against a Yellow Tier Ninth Grade fighter, even leaving Liu Zhi equally battered.
Searching their hearts, they honestly had no confidence that they could achieve such a feat.
"Well done!" Some of the families affiliated with the Tang Family suddenly erupted in cheers below the platform. By now, their confidence in their allegiance to the Tang Family had reached an unprecedented height.
"What are you so pleased about? Take one more move from me, and you'll lose for certain," Liu Zhi sneered.
"A loss is a loss." Tang Yan minced no words. With a cold laugh, he turned and walked off the platform.
He had accomplished his purpose at the Mid-Autumn Gathering and had no interest whatsoever in the remaining activities. After returning to the Tang Family's seats and greeting everyone, he stayed no longer. Under the moonlight, he unleashed Phantom Shadow Steps at full speed and soon returned to the Tang Family estate.
His battle with Liu Zhi that day had also made Tang Yan realize that he was still far too weak.
To grow stronger, he would have to keep practicing.
He entered his room, swallowed a High Spirit Pill, and began cultivating.
The next day, as the first light of dawn streamed through the window into his room, Tang Yan slowly opened his eyes.
After a night of recovery, he had replenished everything he had expended the night before.
"Young master, the old master said to go see him once you woke up," Xiao Cui reported in a clear, bright voice when she saw Tang Yan emerge from his room.
Tang Yan was puzzled. What did Grandfather want with me so early in the morning?
With that question in mind, Tang Yan went to Tang Ling's courtyard and knocked several times. Tang Ling's voice came from inside. "Come in."
When he saw Tang Ling, Tang Yan was somewhat startled. His grandfather sat at a table piled high with wine bottles.
Had Grandfather spent the entire night drinking?
"Why did you drink so much?" Tang Yan hurried over, took the wine cup from Tang Ling's hand, and poured him a cup of hot tea instead.
Tang Ling accepted the teacup with a broad smile. "You little brat, your grandfather hasn't had too much. When I was young, I drank far more than this."
"What did you want to see me about, Grandfather?" Tang Yan asked in confusion.
"You'll know in a moment. Wait here a little while!" With that, Old Master Tang went back to his room and changed into clean clothes, then came out and waved Tang Yan along as he headed outside.
Full of questions, Tang Yan followed Tang Ling. Before long, they reached the Tang Family's ancestral hall.
After leading Tang Yan inside, the grandfather and grandson knelt and bowed before the Tang Family's ancestors. Then Tang Ling said solemnly, "Yan, in all these sixteen years, I've never spoken to you about our family affairs.
"I've kept so many things bottled up for too long. Though I wanted to speak of them, I never dared. Now you've let your grandfather see hope, and I can no longer keep these secrets hidden."
Tang Yan's heart gave a jolt at Old Master Tang's words.
Although he was not truly someone from this world, his complete fusion with the Tang Yan of this life, along with Old Master Tang's meticulous care for him, had made him accept this family from the bottom of his heart.
Tang Yan had never experienced familial affection before. Now, hearing Tang Ling's words, he felt his heart tremble.
"Go ahead, Grandfather," Tang Yan said earnestly. "Your grandson is listening."
"Sixteen years ago, your mother met your father by chance. They felt like old friends from the moment they met, and then they had you.
"Her background was mysterious, and she had run away to escape an arranged marriage.
"The family behind your mother, along with the family she was betrothed to, forced their way into the Tang Family estate and tore your parents apart. Our Tang Family was shattered in that incident. If your mother hadn't threatened to take her own life, our entire family would have been wiped out."
Tang Ling sighed, a trace of helplessness flashing through his eyes. "After your mother was taken away, your father left the Tang Family to search for her whereabouts. There has been no word from him to this day."
"No one knows where my mother came from?" Tang Yan asked.
"No. But the people from your mother's family were incredibly powerful. They had even surpassed Heaven Tier..."
"Surpassed Heaven Tier?" Tang Yan could not help exclaiming.
"That's right. The Martial Dao has no end. On this continent, the Fragrance-Hearing Kingdom is merely a tiny corner. Once you truly grow strong, you'll understand that reaching Heaven Tier only opens the door to the Martial Dao."
"I'm telling you this because, although your strength is respectable in Cloud City now, you're still far from the true Martial Dao. Remember, you must never grow arrogant!" Old Master Tang gave Tang Yan a searching look, his eyes full of hope and encouragement.
"Our Tang Family wasn't in Cloud City before, was it?" Tang Yan asked.
Old Master Tang nodded. "That's right. Sixteen years ago, our Tang Family was still in the Northern Spirit Realm. After the upheaval caused by your parents' marriage, we feared retaliation and went into hiding in Cloud City."
"Don't worry, Grandfather. I'll find my parents." As Tang Yan looked at the old man before him, whose temples had turned white, an ache rose in his heart.
"Just do your best." Old Master Tang nodded. "There's another reason I called you here today. Come with me."
With that, Old Master Tang walked to the rear of the ancestral hall and struck a wall thirteen times with force. Suddenly, with a rumble, a stone door appeared in the previously smooth wall.
Tang Yan was astonished. The Tang Family actually has a secret chamber like this? How did I never know?
He followed Tang Ling inside and surveyed the chamber. A luminous pearl hung at each of the four corners, lighting the room as brightly as day.
There was only one table in the chamber, with a jade slip resting on it.
Old Master Tang solemnly picked up the jade slip and held it out to Tang Yan.
"This is..." Tang Yan accepted it curiously.
"This is a martial technique your mother left for you when she departed. I studied the jade slip before, but the procedure was extremely difficult. Even I could barely understand it. Your mother said that if you could learn it, you should keep practicing it. If you couldn't, you could give it up." Old Master Tang said solemnly, "Your mother's own strength had also broken past Heaven Tier. Since she left this martial art for you, its rank should be quite good."
Tang Yan examined the jade slip in surprise, sending a thread of divine sense into it.
"Flame Burst Palm." After reading the technique's name, Tang Yan continued reading.
Although his mastery of the Martial Dao in his previous life had fallen short of his mastery of the Pill Dao, he had still encountered many martial arts and seen countless exquisite cultivation methods.
After reading for a while, a hint of astonishment appeared on Tang Yan's face, and it only grew more pronounced.
The intricacy of this martial art was actually no less than that of the advanced cultivation methods he had seen in his previous life. It was even somewhat more complex!
Although the martial technique was obscure and difficult to understand, that only stirred Tang Yan's interest. Soon, he became engrossed in it.
Flame Burst Palm consisted of three forms: Flame Blaze Palm, Flame-Shattering Palm, and Burst-Shattering Palm. Each move was several times more powerful than the one before it.
When Tang Yan finished absorbing the contents of Flame Burst Palm recorded on the jade slip, wonder shone in his eyes.
"Did you understand it?" Tang Ling's expectant voice reached him.
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