Douro Continent

Chapter 489 Roaring Sky Douluo (Part 2)

Tang Xiao looked at Tang San, a change in his gaze. "You look like your mother, but your personality is more like your father's. Yuehua, don't cry. Perhaps this will make Hao-di feel better. Tomorrow we'll hold a ceremony for Xiao San to recognize his ancestors. You make the arrangements."

Tang Yuehua wiped away her tears, her brows furrowing slightly, and said, "Brother, don't you need to greet the sect elders first? After all, they..."

Tang Xiao waved his hand at her, "Go ahead and make the arrangements. I know what I'm doing. It's better to be open about it than to inform them privately. Take Xiao San to rest first. Xiao San, tomorrow is the ancestral recognition ceremony. Remember, the Haotian Sect is different from the outside world, and you can't gain a foothold in the sect just by using the etiquette you learned from your aunt. I'll give you two words: be tough. Here, strength is power. If you want to do more for the sect in place of your father, you must first prove yourself to the sect with your own strength. Otherwise, you can't do anything."

After leading Tang San out of the sect leader's room, Tang Yuehua was still grieving. Just imagine how dashing her second brother had been back then—the youngest Soul Douluo on the Douluo Continent, whose feat of killing the Pope amidst an attack brought unprecedented shame upon the Spirit Hall. But now, he had mutilated himself, no longer possessing his former prowess, and could only await his death in the mountains. What a tragic end.

The Haotian Sect's castle houses the sect's second-generation disciples and the sect's first-generation elders. The third and fourth-generation disciples live in stone houses built behind the castle.

Tang Yuehua arranged accommodations for Tang San before carefully inquiring about his entire experience of returning and meeting Tang Hao. Only after listening to Tang San's recounting of the whole affair and hearing that Tang San's mother had hope of recovery did she calm down somewhat.

The rooms arranged for Tang San were very simple: a small living room, only about seven or eight square meters, a bedroom of ten square meters, and a small bathroom, with basic necessities provided. This was the standard accommodation for a third-generation disciple of the Haotian Sect.

"Xiao San, I really want to go see your father," Tang Yuehua said with a sigh.

Tang San sighed softly, "I was also very sad when I saw my dad's severed limbs. But then I thought about it, and maybe this way, he can be with my mom every day without any worries, which is the best thing for him. Let's go again when you have time in a while. After all, it's quite far."

Tang Yuehua nodded. "Alright, let's not talk about your father anymore. Let's talk about you. What are your plans now that you've returned to the sect?"

Tang San said, "My father hopes that I can pay my respects to my grandfather and then do as much as I can for the sect."

Tang Yuehua said, "The situation in the sect is very complicated right now. From your father's perspective, the sect is divided into two factions. One faction, led by your uncle, believes that the initial incident was not your father's fault, but rather caused by the arrogance of the Spirit Hall. Although the Pope of the Spirit Hall is dead, your mother has also passed away. The Spirit Hall, relying on its powerful influence, pressured the Clear Sky Sect, intending to harm the sect, which is why we had to distance ourselves from your father. In reality, your father did nothing wrong. The other faction, led by the few remaining elders, believes that your father acted without careful consideration, mating with a spirit beast, which caused the later conflict, almost leading to a direct confrontation between the sect and the Spirit Hall, resulting in irreparable consequences. Furthermore, he angered your grandfather to death, a crime that is unforgivable. Tang Long and the others you met today belong to your uncle's side. Tang Long is your uncle's adopted son from his cousin. He is the number one person in three generations."

Tang San's eyes gleamed with contemplation. "Aunt, are you telling me that my attempt to rejoin the clan will be obstructed by the sect elders?"

Tang Yuehua nodded. "That's right. I'm afraid things won't go so smoothly tomorrow. Even if your father returns the two soul bones, it will be difficult to gain their forgiveness. Your second brother has also left the sect and severed ties. I'm afraid they won't easily allow you to return to your ancestral clan."

Tang San frowned slightly. "What will happen if the elders disagree?"

Tang Yuehua's face darkened. "The worst outcome would be to expel you from the sect and cripple your martial spirit. They might even use you as a pretext to find your father and hold him accountable for his past crimes. Of course, this is almost impossible. After all, my elder brother is the sect leader, and the elders will have to give him some face. If I'm not mistaken, the elders will eventually compromise and expel you from the sect, forbidding you from recognizing yourself as a member of the Haotian Sect."

Tang San looked at Tang Yuehua and said, "Then what should I do? Since you've allowed me to come back, you must have already thought of a plan, right?"

Tang Yuehua nodded. "Although the elders are old-fashioned, they always prioritize the sect. To gain their recognition, you must first prove your strength to them, as your uncle said. Conquer them with your power. Then, make some contributions to the sect. That way, they won't be able to object to your recognition as a member of the sect. The reason your uncle advised you to be assertive is to tell you that in our Haotian Sect, we always respond to force, not softness. Back then, your uncle and father's positions in the sect were entirely earned through fighting. Anyone who disagreed was beaten until they submitted, which is how they established their authority. When your uncle returned to the sect to inherit the position of sect leader, the elders also questioned it because he had always been with your father. Your brother defeated all the elders with his own strength, which is how he gained their unanimous approval and became the new sect leader of the Haotian Sect. Therefore, your process of recognizing your ancestors tomorrow will not be easy. You might as well be assertive and prove with your strength that you have the ability to help the sect rebuild its glory."

Tang San slowly nodded. "Aunt, I understand."

Tang Yuehua stood up, patted Tang San's head, and said, "Then you should rest well and conserve your energy. I still have some things to prepare. There will be a sect conference tomorrow morning, and your aunt will be watching your performance then."

After saying this, Tang Yuehua told Tang San that meals would be delivered by a special person and that he should get some rest.

Tang Yuehua left, and Tang San sat cross-legged on his bed, reflecting on his return to the sect that day. His uncle and aunt clearly favored his father. It was evident that his uncle had been suppressing his emotions when mentioning his father, but when he said he looked like his mother, the tenderness in his eyes was undeniable. It seemed that although his father had suffered, he had at least shared love with his mother. Although his uncle was the sect leader, the pain he endured was no less than his father's.

Whether or not my father's wish can be fulfilled will likely depend on tomorrow.

Thinking of this, Tang San took a deep breath, slowly closed his eyes, and entered a meditative state. During his year at Yuexuan, although his progress had slowed, he had thoroughly mastered what he had learned. Especially now that his eight extraordinary meridians were fully open, although his overall strength hadn't increased much, his internal energy flowed like a mighty river, far surpassing that of opponents of the same level.

evening.

A soft knock sounded on the door.

Tang San slowly opened his eyes. "Please come in."

The door opened, and a head peeked in first. It was a little girl with two cute little braids in her hair, who looked about thirteen or fourteen years old.

"Are you Uncle Three?" The clear voice was very pleasant, and a pair of bright eyes looked at Tang San curiously.

Tang San smiled slightly. "Who are you? Come in."

The little girl pushed open the door, carrying a food box in her hand. "You still haven't told me if you're my third uncle."

Tang San smiled and said, "If you're here to bring me food, then that's right. That's me."

The little girl giggled, her big eyes scrutinizing Tang San. "Third Uncle, you're so handsome. Much more handsome than my dad."

Tang San was taken aback. "Who is your father?"

The little girl said, "My dad's name is Tang Hu, and he's the third-generation chief disciple of the sect."

Tang San asked in confusion, "Isn't the third-generation chief Tang Long?"

The little girl shook her head and said, "The third-generation chief is my dad, not Uncle Tang Long. My dad always says that Uncle Tang Long can't beat him. He only lost to Uncle Tang Long last time because he was unlucky." As she spoke, she placed the food box on the table next to Tang San's bed and looked at Tang San with some dissatisfaction in her big eyes.

Tang San smiled and said, "Sometimes, luck is also a part of strength. I don't know your name yet."

The little girl said, "My name is Tang Tiantian. Third Uncle, you can call me Tiantian."

Tang San smiled and said, "Okay, thank you then, Sweetie." Looking at the little girl with clear and pure eyes in front of him, Tang San couldn't help but recall himself when he was her age. Back then, he had already met Xiao Wu and the other members of the Shrek Seven Devils. They were all diligently cultivating together.

Sweetie smiled at Tang San, "Third Uncle, I'm leaving now. Goodbye. You look so beautiful when you smile." With that, the little girl skipped and hopped away.

Dinner was simple: a plate of beef, four steamed buns, a stir-fried vegetable dish, and a large bowl of egg drop soup. Tang San ate with great relish; it was his first meal back at the sect. After all, this place was, in a way, his home in this world.

Nothing happened that night. The next morning, Tang San got up at dawn as usual and went out of his room.

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(End of this chapter)