Both Sides Won Big

"But fate was fickle. By the time Ancestor made another breakthrough in his forging skills and excitedly prepared to answer the Ten-Year Battle, he received unfortunate news instead. Senior Titan had already passed away, and Tang San, the Tang Sect's first-generation founder, had vanished without a trace. Ancestor became the only Godsmith of that era. And so, with no one in Strength Hall able to fight in their teacher's place, the matter came to nothing."

Qian Chaoguang's expression was rather wistful, his face full of reminiscence.

"Of course, Ancestor did not later bind the Ancestral Edict completely. Ancestor said that if a later Tang Sect Strength Hall Master could defeat our Qian Family Head in forging skill, then the matter could be considered settled, and the restriction forbidding later descendants from joining the Tang Sect could be lifted."

Hearing this, Bei Bei and Tang Ya were completely dumbfounded.

Qian Chaoguang's bragging was one part truth and nine parts lie. The names had definitely existed, but the events were all fake, and even the timeline did not quite match up.

For example—

If Titan had really died the way he said, then that fictional Ancestor could not possibly have been the only Godsmith at the time.

There were also Tang Hao and Tang San.

Even if Tang San had truly ascended, with Tang Hao's level 97 soul power during the bloody battle at Jialing Pass plus the Clear Sky Hammer, he could be called unmatched under heaven in the forging field of that era.

But the problem was that the Tang Sect had never recorded the details of Titan's life. There were only a few scant strokes about him in the archives of successive hall masters.

Besides, even back then, when the Tang Sect had not yet scattered, not many people knew the two names Titan and Strength Hall.

Because the final master of the Tang Sect's Strength Hall had been from more than three thousand years ago.

Not long after the Sun Moon Continent brought the new profession of Soul Engineer to Douluo Continent, the blacksmithing industry had completely declined.

With no one buying Hidden Weapons from the Tang Sect, the abolition of Strength Hall became inevitable.

Because of that, even Tang Ya had only learned these two names as a child when listening to her parents tell stories of the glory from ten thousand years ago. Even Bei Bei did not know them.

This was exactly what it meant for the dead to tell no tales.

As for why Qian Chaoguang was certain the Tang Sect's four halls had definitely been abolished thousands of years ago?

Of course it was because Ma Xiaotao, the only descendant of Agility Hall's Agility Clan, was not in the Tang Sect.

Do not forget that Ma Hongjun had been the Tang Sect's Vice Sect Master back then, and Old White Bird was the Agility Hall Master, as well as Tang Hao's uncle.

If the two sides had been even a little close, this kind of situation absolutely could not have happened.

After asking Tang Ya what Titan and Strength Hall were, Bei Bei said with feeling, "I really didn't expect little brother Chaoguang's ancestor to have such a connection with our Tang Sect."

Right now, forget four halls—the Tang Sect could not even gather four people, and it had neither blacksmiths nor Soul Engineers. Who could compete with Qian Chaoguang in forging?

"Strength Hall... has long since ceased to exist. The current Tang Sect only has me and Bei Bei left. I am the Tang Sect's current sect master."

After listening to Qian Chaoguang's account, Tang Ya's mood visibly sank.

Qian Chaoguang's mood also seemed somewhat low.

"How are things any different for my family? I'm the only one left too..."

Bei Bei suddenly thought of something and asked, "Eh? Wait, little brother Chaoguang, you said you're the only one left in your family, but that Younger Sister you mentioned?"

"She isn't my biological sister. My Younger Sister and I grew up together. When she was seven, her mother unfortunately died of illness, and after that my grandfather adopted her."

"Then does that mean..."

"Big brother Bei Bei, I know what you're thinking. My Younger Sister can join the Tang Sect."

Qian Chaoguang laughed again in his heart.

Everything was proceeding according to the script he had written.

"My Younger Sister's martial soul is a Body Martial Soul, her eyes. It's also called Spirit Eye. She has Innate Level 9 Soul Power and mainly cultivates Mental Power. She is currently a Level 27 Control System Battle Soul Master. If Ancestor's records were not wrong, she should be very suited to an Eye Training Method of the Tang Sect called... uh, I think it was called Purple something Eye. I forgot the name."

"Purple Demon Eye?" Bei Bei supplied.

Qian Chaoguang scrambled up and lightly slapped his thigh.

"Right, right, Purple Demon Eye, that was the name. Sister Tang Ya, why don't you let my Younger Sister join your Tang Sect? Do you think that would work? If you round it off, I can be considered half a Tang Sect member too."

"Yes, yes, of course! I couldn't ask for more!"

Tang Ya was overjoyed and shot to her feet.

She had already missed a good chance to recruit someone, but she had never expected things to take a turn, bringing light after darkness.

What was more, the other party had even said the name Purple Demon Eye. Did that not prove even more that what Qian Chaoguang had said earlier was true?

A spiritual-type Body Martial Soul soul master with Innate Level 9 Soul Power—this talent already had the possibility of reaching Titled Douluo. The Tang Sect had definitely picked up a huge bargain.

Not to mention that soul power as high as level 27. She was almost catching up to Tang Ya herself!

"But little brother Chaoguang, can you really not join the Tang Sect?"

Qian Chaoguang smiled bitterly. "Sister Tang Ya, please don't make things difficult for me..."

Bei Bei tugged at Tang Ya and smiled. "Teacher Tang Ya, don't make things hard for little brother Chaoguang. He has his own difficulties too."

"Fine."

Tang Ya pouted.

Bei Bei said, "Little brother Chaoguang, although you are not a member of my Tang Sect and cannot take the Exemption Quota, we still have a little face over at Shrek Academy. Since your Younger Sister has joined the Tang Sect, we can count as one family now. Don't worry, I'll persuade the academy to give you an Exam Qualification. But whether you can stay will depend on you."

"Really? Then thank you so much, big brother Bei Bei and sister Tang Ya!"

Qian Chaoguang's face showed delighted surprise, his joy overflowing beyond words.

This time, his happiness was real, not an act.

Without Bei Bei's promised help, he had no connections or way in. Getting into Shrek Academy would probably have been extremely difficult.

"Of course."

Tang Ya laughed smugly, returning to how she had been when they had first met.

"You don't know this, but Bei Bei can strut around the academy like he owns the place."

"Wow, Big Brother Bei Bei is that amazing!"

Qian Chaoguang delivered a timely bit of flattery. The two of them chimed in one after another, leaving Bei Bei unbearably embarrassed. He hurriedly changed the subject and asked about Qian Chaoguang's physical condition.

After learning that there was nothing seriously wrong with him, Bei Bei also explained why he and Tang Ya had come to the Star Dou Great Forest.

After several rounds of conversation, both sides were very satisfied, each feeling as if they had won big.

The Tang Sect had gained a promising seedling like Huo Yutong as a new recruit, expanding its future strength.

Qian Chaoguang, meanwhile, had obtained the Exam Qualification for Shrek, and had also found Huo Yutong a good place to go.

Getting five cultivation methods for free was still pretty sweet. The Purple Demon Eye could provide an Epic-Level enhancement to the Spirit Eye.

Both sides won, so who lost?

Oh. So it was the Star Dou Great Forest.

The Star Dou Great Forest had lost so badly it didn't even have its underwear left. It had lost a high-quality power bank, lost a Wind Baboon that had dared to slay a god, and was about to lose a Thousand-Year Mandala Snake as well.

After some discussion, the three decided to head deeper into the Star Dou Great Forest together to hunt a soul beast for Tang Ya.

On the way, Bei Bei also gave Qian Chaoguang a rundown of some matters concerning Shrek's admissions, as well as the possible items that might appear on the exam.

Like the freshman assessment, aside from talent, the admissions standard placed a large weight on actual combat. That was also why he was certain Qian Chaoguang would definitely be able to stay.