Tang Sect, inner courtyard.
A figure, appearing somewhat desolate, stood in the yard.
Even though half a year had passed, whenever Tang San recalled what happened at his ninth birthday banquet six months ago, he felt a knot in his chest.
The humiliation he suffered at the Clear Sky Sect when he was six, and the shame at his ninth birthday banquet, had made Tang San thoroughly understand the importance of his own strength.
Therefore, for the past six months, Tang San had been cultivating like a madman, forcefully opening his meridians without regard for the risks.
Although the process was tortuous and dangerous, nearly resulting in the severance of his meridians and death.
At the critical moment, however, the yet-to-be-awakened Blue Silver Emperor Bloodline within Tang San helped him, guiding him through that crisis.
Risk and reward went hand in hand.
That perilous attempt directly allowed Tang San to open the Chong and Dai meridians among the eight extraordinary meridians.
With two of the eight meridians opened, the circulation speed of Mysterious Heaven Skill increased, effectively boosting Tang San's cultivation speed.
Furthermore, Tang San had registered at Heaven Dou Royal Academy of Spirit Masters under the name of Tang Yuehua's nephew, using this to get free access to the academy's Mimic Cultivation Ground.
Tang San broke through to level twenty at the age of eight and a half.
After absorbing a Sword Orchid Spirit Ring of over seven hundred years, nearly eight hundred years old, his Soul Power broke through to level twenty-two.
Now, a year had passed.
During this year, Tang San's attitude towards cultivation underwent a drastic change between the first and second halves.
In the first half, he was distracted by the creation of Hidden Weapons. While he cultivated diligently, it wasn't with extreme effort.
The second half was different. Awakened by Lin Rong, Tang San realized the importance of his own strength and became extremely fervent in his cultivation.
Coupled with opening two of the eight extraordinary meridians, the total Soul Power he gained in the latter half of the year was more than double that of the first half.
In total, Tang San had increased his Soul Power by four levels over the past year, and he was now a level twenty-six Soul Grand Master.
"At my current cultivation speed, in another five years, for the next All-Continent Advanced Spirit Master Elite Tournament, I should have a Soul Power cultivation close to that of a Soul King."
"And during this period, I should be able to open at least one more extraordinary meridian, further increasing my cultivation speed."
"By then, I will participate in the All-Continent Advanced Spirit Master Elite Tournament with the cultivation of a Soul King and claim the championship, restoring the prestige of my Tang Sect!"
"Once the name of the Tang Sect spreads across the continent, I will let those who court death experience the methods of my Tang Sect!"
"Several elders of the Clear Sky Sect, and the Lin Clan, just you wait!"
...
"Achoo!"
Deep within the estate, in a wooden house, Lin Rong, who was sitting on the sofa, sneezed.
"Young master, the spring nights are still chilly. Remember to cover yourself well when you sleep at night."
The old butler heard the sneeze and walked behind Lin Rong, draping a plush blanket over him.
"No, Grandpa Yu, you worry too much."
Lin Rong rubbed his nose and said, "Don't forget the effect of my Martial Soul. How could a mere spring chill give me a cold."
"It must be some ill-intentioned person thinking about me behind my back, plotting some wicked scheme."
"How strange, I only just returned to the manor yesterday, and someone's already thinking of me today. Who could it be?"
Lin Rong pondered, guessing that it was most likely that fellow Tang San.
"What a restless fellow. If he didn't still have some use, he wouldn't even see tomorrow's sun."
Then, as if remembering something, Lin Rong looked at the old butler and said, "Oh, right, Grandpa Yu, I won't be attending tonight's palace banquet."
"Have someone send a message to the royal family, saying I've entered deep meditation and am unable to attend tonight's dinner."
The night before the All-Continent Advanced Spirit Master Elite Tournament began, the royal family customarily held a grand palace banquet.
This royal palace banquet was of a large scale and had extremely high entry requirements.
Only hereditary nobles with the rank of Earl or above, and non-hereditary nobles with the rank of Marquis or above, were eligible to attend.
Although this banquet was high-class, it was essentially a decadent and extravagant pleasure activity, devoid of any real significance.
Lin Rong didn't want to waste his time on it.
Moreover, with the royal family hosting such a grand palace banquet, most of the palace guards would be concentrated in the royal gardens, leaving the guard forces in other areas at their weakest.
He intended to use this opportunity to infiltrate the palace and take that national treasure.
"This old servant understands."
The old butler responded, then left the wooden house, swiftly going to handle the matter.
...
After nightfall, the twilight deepened.
In the heart of Heaven Dou City.
The imperial palace gardens were brightly lit.
A gathering of nobles, dressed in their finest, reveled in the festivities.
Within the garden, Ning Fengzhi scanned the area but couldn't find the person he was looking for.
"Teacher," Xue Qinghe approached Ning Fengzhi and quietly asked, "Are you looking for Duke Lin?"
"Earlier today, Duke Lin's estate sent word saying he had entered deep meditation and would be unable to attend tonight's banquet."
"Deep meditation?" Ning Fengzhi sounded surprised.
"What a rare and fortunate opportunity for Duke Lin to encounter such a thing. His luck truly shines upon him."
Although the events at the Tang Sect half a year ago hadn't caused a huge stir, they hadn't escaped the notice of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, their business partners.
As the Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Ning Fengzhi naturally knew about the extermination of the Agility Clan and the Agility Clan's departure from the Tang Sect.
Through discreet investigations, Ning Fengzhi had uncovered some clues.
The extermination of the Agility Clan was suspected to be the work of Dugu Bo.
The reasons for the Agility Clan's departure were unclear, but it was highly probable that irreconcilable conflicts had arisen between the Agility Clan and the Tang Sect.
On that day, Gu Rong sensed a dangerous aura emanating from the old butler, Yu Yuan.
Gu Rong reported this matter to Ning Fengzhi.
Afterward, Ning Fengzhi combined the clues he had gathered with what Gu Rong had told him, and vaguely began to uncover a momentous truth.
However, these were merely Ning Fengzhi's conjectures, lacking any concrete evidence to support them.
It wasn't ideal to visit unannounced, and Lin Rong often traveled, which meant Ning Fengzhi had never found a suitable opportunity to meet him.
He had hoped this royal banquet would be a perfect chance, but to his surprise, Lin Rong hadn't shown up.
In another part of the garden.
Tang San stood there. Never one to miss an opportunity to promote the Tang Sect, he naturally wouldn't miss this unprecedented royal banquet.
To avoid encountering Lin Rong again at the banquet, Tang San had deliberately chosen a secluded corner. Unexpectedly, instead of meeting Lin Rong, he was cornered by a girl his own age.
"You're Tang San? You look so ordinary. Are you really Madam Yue's nephew?"
Princess Xue Ke, only nine years old, looked at the person before her with dissatisfaction. She thought to herself:
I thought Madam Yue's nephew would be handsome. I didn't expect him to be so plain, not at all fitting the image of the prince charming I had in mind.
But my father intends for me to marry him. No, I must find a way to ruin this marriage.
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