Six Years Guarding a Grave

March 16th, 4043 (New Celestial Calendar), at Tang Household Huangyang Thatched Cottage on the northern slope of Dragon-Gazing Lake Desert.

Tang Yuan, with his white hair, looked at his fourth son, Tang Tiandong, kneeling on the ground, and forced a smile, "My son, Tiandong, get up."

Tang Tiandong wiped away his tears and stood up. "Father, won't you go back to Dangwu Village to see my mother, or visit your eldest son and grandson, my elder brother's son— Tang Wenxuan?"

"I'm not going." Tang Yuan shook his head helplessly. "He wants to go, and he especially wants to pay his respects at his eldest son Tang Tiansong's grave, but he can't go to avoid being misled by fortune tellers."

"Father, the Tianshu disappeared last month when we held a full-moon celebration for Wenxuan."

According to the information we have so far, the person who stole the Heavenly Book was an ordinary martial artist in his sixties, not even a cultivator. He spoke with a southern accent from the Purple Mother Continent. After stealing the Heavenly Book, they headed south.

"My brother Tang Miao has already gone south to search for him." Tang Tiandong's lips trembled.

"It's not your fault, it's Lao Liu's fate."

"The Tianshu is quite clever and unpredictable. He has already taken the [Aperture-Opening Pill] and can now cultivate immortality. With a little bit of fortuitous opportunity, he should be able to kill that mortal martial artist. He shouldn't be in any danger," Tang Yuan comforted his son.

"Father, I plan to marry Tong Lingling, the daughter of the Tong Household family, Foundation Establishment cultivator Lineage located on the southern slope of the Dragon-Gazing Lake Desert."

Tang Yuan nodded.

"Father, Mother has agreed to my third sister's marriage to Cui Xueyong."

"Although Cui Xueyong may seem like a spoiled brat, he is truly devoted to Tianzi. As long as Tianzi is willing, I, as her incompetent father, have nothing to say." Tang Yuan smiled.

"Father, Tianya became a disciple of the Azure Origin Sect last July." Tang Tiandong poured Tang Yuan a full cup of tea.

Tang Yuan nodded. "Azure Origin Sect is considered the strongest prestigious sect on the Purple Mother Continent. It's a good thing that Tianya has become a disciple of the Azure Origin Sect."

However, the Azure Origin Sect has many disciples, and if Tianya wants to stand out, he will need more resources from you.

"I've discussed it with my second and third sisters, and we'll make sure that any surplus resources at home go to Tianya." Tang Tiandong nodded.

"Although I have some Spirit Stone, I cannot give them to you."

"Your path of cultivation still needs to be walked by yourselves." Tang Yuan sighed softly and lowered his voice, "Tiandong, your father is currently at the Qi Refining Eighth Layer and plans to go into seclusion to reach the Qi Refinement Great Perfection, which will probably take fifteen years."

I am in seclusion on Golden Shell Island in the Western Spirit Ten Thousand Islands Region. I am a senior guest elder of the Xi Household of immortal Aristocratic Clan, and the sect I belong to is a large sect.

If the Tang Household truly encounters a crisis that you cannot resolve, you can come to Golden Shell Island to find me.

Mystic Spoon, I want to take it with me.

Tang Yuan took Mystic Spoon Mystic Spoon so that he could use it to go to the Demon Realm: the Earth Flood Dragon inside Mystic Spoon has half of Tang Tiansong's soul and spirit. According to the Earth Flood Dragon, there might be a way to revive Tang Tiansong in the Demon Realm.

Tang Tiandong nodded.

"I can't stay here any longer." Tang Yuan stood up and patted Tang Tiandong on the shoulder. "Tiandong, take good care of your family. Don't be too demanding of yourself, do what you can."

Tang Tiandong's lips trembled slightly, and he nodded...

Time flies, and life is like a song.

In March of the year 4048 of the New Immortal Calendar, on Worry-Free Mountain in the Northern Heaven Nether Cold Continent, there was a thatched hut.

Looking at the dying old Daoist priest, sixteen-year-old Tang Tianshu had tears in his eyes and his expression was full of sorrow, but there seemed to be a trace of relief.

There are always higher heavens and more capable people.

"One should always be more modest..." The old Daoist priest, who was about seventy years old, lay on the bed with a huge wound on his lower abdomen.

The wound was horrific, almost cutting him in two.

If it weren't for the fact that he already possessed the True Qi of Early-Stage Martial Venerable, he would have died long ago.

His face was bright and his eyes were filled with resentment.

"Master, rest assured, even if I am shattered to pieces..."

"I will definitely wipe out the Diancang Sect to avenge you!" Tang Tianshu cried.

"Shut up!" the old Daoist priest snapped. "As long as the green hills remain, there's always firewood to burn."

Tang Tianshu, you are now only at the Peak Martial Warrior cultivation. How can you possibly avenge your master?

Even though I'm only at the Early-Stage Martial Venerable cultivation, I still fell victim to the Diancang Sect's ambush! The Diancang Sect leader is only at the Middle-Stage Martial Venerable cultivation!

"Master, please don't get agitated. I was just saying it casually."

"If you conserve your energy, you might survive today." Tang Tianshu scoffed.

"You! Pfft!" The old Daoist priest was so angry that he spat out a mouthful of blood.

"Hehe, this is exactly the effect I wanted." Tang Tianshu was secretly delighted.

Damn it, five years ago, in Dangwu Village the Purple Mother Continent, Tang Tiansong's son, Tang Wenxuan, celebrated his 100th day birthday.

Tang Tianshu, the uncle, had a sudden idea. He went to Three Graves Mountain to find a special kind of Yuhua stone to give to his nephew, but it was stolen by a passing old Daoist priest.

Led by the old Daoist priest, they first traveled south for several days, then west, and finally north to this Nether Cold Continent.

Although the old Daoist priest cast a sinister curse on Tang Tianshu in an attempt to erase his memories, Tang Tianshu's memories were not erased because the Earth Flood Dragon Earth Flood Dragon took half of Tang Tianshu Tang Tainanshu's soul and spirit when he took the [Aperture-Opening Pill] given to him.

The old Daoist was just a powerful mortal martial artist. Tang Tianshu certainly wanted to escape, but he couldn't: the old Daoist had also poisoned Tang Tianshu with a vicious Gu worm. When the Gu worm took effect, it directly gnawed at Tang Tianshu's flesh and blood, making him wish he were dead.

Tang Tianshu had never dared to run away before, but now that the old Daoist priest was about to die, he couldn't help but feel joy.

I'm finally free!...

"Master..." Tang Tianshu said in a sob, "Don't worry, although I can't avenge you now."

I only have one Martial Meridians, and it's a useless Martial Meridians. But I believe that with diligent practice, plus the "Spirit Gathering Art" you had me learn, I will definitely reach the Late-Stage Martial Venerable realm within fifty years.

I will avenge you.

So, Master, you...

The old Daoist priest, his face grim, snapped, "Spit it out!..."

"Master, please remove the Gu worms from my body..."

Otherwise, after you pass away,

Six years from now, the Gu worms inside me will awaken, and I will be devoured by them and die.

"Won't anyone avenge you?!" Tang Tianshu knelt down and kowtowed.

"Hmph..." the old Daoist sneered, "What are you thinking, you little rascal?"

Do you think your master doesn't know? I removed the Gu worm from you, and you'll definitely run away immediately, leaving your master to rot in the wilderness."

"Disciple wouldn't dare..." Tang Tianshu felt a pang of regret: If only he hadn't let that old man get so deeply poisoned.

Since the old Daoist priest had cast a Gu worm on him, Tang Tianshu, adhering to the principle of "you reap what you sow," prepared "fine wine" for the old Daoist priest.

Besides being obsessed with improving his martial arts skills, the old Daoist's only hobby was drinking, specifically wine.

However, if this wine is stored in copper or iron containers, it will develop a rusty taste over time;

Using wooden containers will cause it to turn sour;

However, ceramic containers are inconvenient to carry when traveling around the country;

Tang Tianshu used lead pots specifically made of lead to store wine, which not only allowed it to be stored for a long time, but also made it sweeter.

Of course, Tang Tianshu wouldn't tell the old Daoist priest that this would lead to chronic lead poisoning.

Because Tang Tianshu loved reading as a child, Tang Yuan wrote some popular science notes based on his memory, and Tang Tianshu happened to come across "The Dangers of Lead"...

Given the old Daoist's usual focus on health and his Initial-Stage Martial Venerable cultivation, he should have lived to be eighty or ninety years old without any problem.

But even the best body can't withstand chronic lead poisoning, especially since it can drive people insane. So when Tang Tianshu heard that the old Daoist wanted a treasure from the Diancang Sect,

Taking advantage of the old Daoist's madness, they encouraged him to go directly to the Diancang Sect to steal treasures.

The Diancang Sect, even in the Great Chu Country of the Nether Cold Continent, is considered a second-rate martial arts sect.

There are no disciples who have reached the Peak Martial Venerable cultivation, but there are a few disciples who have reached the Initial-Stage Martial Venerable cultivation.

As expected, the old Daoist priest went to steal the treasure, but was immediately beaten up by the group.

"My disciple, we have been master and disciple for so long. I hope that after I die, you will guard my grave for six years." The old Daoist looked at Tang Tianshu with anticipation...