Cheng Tao regained his composure quickly as they arrived at their destination. They would be safe now away from those people. He turned to face the elder ready to thank him profusely. Instead, he found himself hanging in the air. A hand around his neck keeping him there, and choking him slightly.
"Elder Clam." Tao tries to speak to him. The hand around his neck tightens slightly. This caused him to fall silent quickly. Well aware that this man would only need to squeeze the life out of him. If he didn't just squeeze until his throat was crushed.
"You had the idocay to make a move with Tang Chen nearby. A Limit Douluo who could potentially annihilate are entire work. Then you had the ghall to bring me into such stupidity." The man's voice was almost calm in tone. His face was a mask of controlled ice.
Yet Tao certainly did not feel safe. Well aware his life hung on the slightest edge. A very slight edge that could change at the slightest misstep. He could only hope he could survive this. The grip of the man lessens only slightly. Tao quickly speaks "I didn't know he was there."
The Titled Douluo snears heavily at his words. "Yet you summoned me, and then told me of his presence. Are you just grasping for an excuse?" his aura slipped out slightly. Threading a great deal of fear into the man he held at his tender mercy.
"Honored Elder I only learned a few minutes before your arrival." his words came out more rough this time. The man is choking him slightly more. He finds himself thrown not gently away.
"Then talk while you have the small chance you worm. Quickly my patience runs thin." the man says his face set in impatience. Better to get what information he could. Then he might still kill this fool for incompetence.
Tao recovers quickly than bows to the man. "Thank you Elder Clam for your generosity," he says first hoping to soften the man's stance. Or at least not be called ungracious by him later.
Tao then quickly launches into his explanation of events. How the three arrived in town with no sign of Tang Chen. He emphasised the latter part especially of course. "They of course managed to handle the first assassination. I believe it is a worthwhile cost to sacrifice the fools," he says of the bandits.
Tao had calmed down now his words were less shaky. "I was not hopeful that the fools would kill any of them. Instead, I hoped to make them believe the threat had been ended. Then I had a banquet thrown with a great many herbs. It worked all three of them fell asleep, vulnerable before me." Tao said trying to be as truthful as he could. Well aware of what might happen if he were caught lying.
Here he hesitated for only a moment or two. Then he continued revealing the secret of his fifth skill. Well aware he had no choice, but to reveal the truth in this situation. "I used the skill to enter the youngest inner realm. His spiritual sea as he called it. Yet he was somehow able to appear there, and even fight back." his voice continued to describe the battle.
Tao mused to himself not only to fight, but to do so better than himself. It was infuriating was what it was. "I activated my fifth skill again in rage. The effect allowed me to pass his defense it seems. I obtained parts of his memories in fragments. Which is how I learned his status as Tang Chen's Son, and said man's presence." Tao finishes as he awaits the verdict.
Clam Elder had calmed down after hearing the story. His interest had been caught by the concept of Tao's fifth skill. Such a useful skill, and the main reason he would be surviving. Even if he was not as incompetent as first thought. He had still brought the attention of Tang Chen onto them.
Tang Chen of the three Limit Douluos was the one he cared little about. Compared to that blasted priestess of that horrid Sea God. Then there was the Angel's priest who was hated nearly as much. Oh, the hatred he bore them and their lines for the acts against his own. Even as envy also clouds his thoughts towards them.
Yet now that Tang Chen had learned of them. Even if only a measure of their existence. Qian Diaoliu would no doubt learn quickly enough as well. That blasted descendant of the Angel would no doubt make moves. Even if he could not move himself for long periods of time.
"We will need to inform the Oracle of this matter." Elder Clam spoke out loud. He was pleased to notice Tao's visage turn several shades paler. Keeping his own displeasure off his face, and fear buried deep. "You will help brief them on this matter, of course."
Tao had to reluctantly nod at his elder's words. After all the Oracle would learn about this eventually. He only hoped he would survive this matter intact. As he reluctantly walked with the elder to their base. If both tried to take their time few would know.
Unknowing of the talk between their enemies Tang Yuan and the others worked. The members of the Angel clan worked on obtaining the statements of the villagers. As well as investigating the activities of Tao. Little is actually found by them in their questions.
Where Tao made his home was unknown to anyone. Most of his activities are not known either. Considering his spirit skill to reduce his presence that makes sense. The picture formed was of a very paranoid or cautious man. Though that had already been suspected by his plan.
Some of the angel clan members work to help the villagers. Using their healing abilities on injured villagers. Interestingly without charging anything, or asking anything in return. Perhaps out of the kindness of their hearts, or perhaps for reputation. Tang Yuan can't tell, nor does he suppose it truly matters.
Tang Yuan had spent a large part of his time asleep. The last twelve hours had been incredibly draining. The brothers were of course doing much better than he. He tried not to be too salty about that fact. The difference in their cultivation was just too radical.
When Tang Yuan had woke up it was to find that they were ready to go. The Angel clan members had finished their investigations. The brothers had long recovered though they seemed more on edge. Though he really was not one to talk.
Ever since waking back up from his sleep. Tang Yuan couldn't help second-guessing everything now. They were having a meal now at a small table. At least they are trying to have a meal. Yet Tang Yuan just found himself paranoid of everything.
Especially his food after his last experience. Every bite is something he is wary of. Even despite his father sitting right beside him eating the same. His drink was water, and not wine so he could detect abnormalities more easily. He never thought a harrowing experience could come from a normal meal.
The brothers weren't as bad as himself. At least they didn't seem to be, and yet they certainly were more subdued. Meanwhile his father just stoically ate his food. Honestly, it was a comforting sight to have right now. Logically that showed that the food was safe. Now if only his heart could believe that as true.
The experience with Tao was the closest he felt he had come to death. The battle with the jackals wasn't even considered. His battle with the sickle user was dangerous. Yet had he been endangered, Tang Hao or Tang Xiao would have stepped in. The same would have happened with the jackals if things had come to a head.
Come to think of it this was the first time he actually felt death was a possibility. Well, he had faced threats seeking his death. Though it never felt real or truly inevitable. After all both times they left for spirit rings his father was there. It was easy for a Limit Douluo to deal with a threat to him. Even a Titled Doulou or Hundred-Thousand-year soul beast would not cause such trouble. Thus what could truly… harm him??
The sudden thought settled into his mind like a ringing bell. It resounded out at the implications of his actions. He remembered his discussion with his father about the jackal battle. He couldn't help it as he put his head on the table beside his plate. He let out a groan of frustration aimed at his own naive stupidity.
"Little Uncle what is it?" Tang Xiao asks curious as his face shows concern.
"I just realized that I was a bit too sure of myself." Tang Yuan says with a bitter look on his face. Turning to his father "That was the mistake I made in the fight with the jackals. As well as the other dangerous situations. I was too assured that someone would always be there to help me." Tang Yuan was certain that his realization was correct.
He fell into a trap of his very own design. Almost as if dealing with was a protagonist complex. He had believed that he was not in danger of death. A Limit Douluo father and a powerful clan behind him. How could he be harmed, if he was in danger someone would step in. That was a thought that sometimes popped up in his mind.
"Yes, it would seem that you have placed it." Tang Chen's face is stern now though far from unkind. This was something that needed to be understood properly. "You took the battles seriously of course. You didn't truly have an overabundance of arrogance or naivety. You didn't look down on the danger or possibility of death."
He continued his words rife with an assessment born of wisdom. "Each battle so far you took seriously. Yet a part of you believed that you would always have an out. That I, your mother, or someone else would be there to help. Someone to save you in the worst-case scenario."
Here he takes a small pause his tone changing to assuring. "Though I will say this belief is not necessarily a bad thing. At least in regards to your faith in us your family. However, don't be reliant on the possibility of being saved. It should never be your final option." his face suddenly became stony at the end. His tone brokering no arguments.
"I won't always be there to protect you. Nor will there always be someone stronger to fall back on. Especially as you yourself grow stronger. If I'm always there then you might become more reliant on that fact." Tang Chen tells his son hoping that it strikes home.
"You are a naturally gifted child that much is clear. With wisdom far beyond your years. That has been Clear also for years. Yet you are still young and inexperienced there is still much to learn " an incredibly blunt statement. Tang Chen pulled no punches this time. Both a compliment and a warning to continue improving.
Tang Yuan could only nod at his words. Deep in his own thoughts now. He would need to consider those words carefully. The two brothers listening to those words began their own silent complementation. Wondering if they themselves ever had a similar problem.
Tang Chen left the three of them alone. They had survived a most harrowing experience. He doubted they would suffer for long. Instead this experience would spur them forward to being stronger. He could trust the three of them to be smart about it as well.
Only a few short minutes after that conversation. The wheels of the carriage left the village behind them. The four of them are on the way to Spirit City. The Angel Clan members followed with them. Tang Yuan was only partially paying attention to that.
His mind still wandered to the words of his father. As the carriage moved on through many biomes. His mind would continue to come to conclusions on those words. He paid so very little attention to the scenery as it passed them by.
Teamwork and relying on someone else is not in fact bad. So long as that does not become overdependence. That is something he still believes to be true. Yet he needs to keep and he won't always have help. Once more believing that someone will always save him would only hurt.
He himself needs to continue to grow stronger. To find more ways to grow stronger and more experienced. He had told himself he had years and years. Yet danger still presents itself. There would always be threats to his life, and his family's. He needed to step things up, experience more of the world.
Tang Yuan came to this conclusion several days after contemplation. Returning to brainstorming ideas for what to do. As well as the spars with his father. This time around pushing himself farther than ever before.
Traveling with the Angel Legion members turned out to be fortuitous. They had a sparing battle with them as well. Though Tang Yuan found himself overwhelmed often as the weakest. It was still a valuable experience to add to his growing list. Especially in the case of small team battles.
Traveling with them had its ups and downs. For one thing, most of them had healing skills. This led to everyone recovering quickly enough. On the other hand to downs were, well they were something.
If he were to describe them in a way it might be warrior priests. They are all highly trained that was for sure. They also had a habit of trying to convert others to the Angel God. They weren't really forceful about it, but they were indeed pushy. Tang Yuan wondered if the main reason they were so helpful to the villagers was for that reason.
Tang Yuan jumped to the side as spears of light pierced the ground. Four rings rotated around his opponent Yellow, Yellow, Purple, Purple. He was fighting the weakest of the seven angel members. It was an annoying experience perhaps the worst he experienced.
All seven of them had the same martial soul. The Holy Angel or merely the Angel as it's called for short. A much weaker form of the Seraphim martial soul. Yet still a high-quality martial soul. What makes them really annoying is that everyone has wings. Seriously aren't flying martial souls supposed to be rare?
Running away from his last position afraid to stay too long. More spears hit where he was all aimed to finish the fight. He runs directly towards his opponent. Noticing a tree in the vicinity he aims for it. Using his tree climbing he quickly reaches the top. Then jumping from it like a springboard board aiming for the enemy.
Closing the distance rapidly with his jump he primes his hammer. His opponent just simply flies higher up. The hammer passes by his opponent harmlessly. "Damit." Tang Yuan curses as he falls. Flying enemies are really annoying to fight. This thought fills his mind as he crashes to the ground.
The man lands on the ground beside him as his martial soul is desummoned. His opponent seems to become less fair in appearance. Perhaps the light is simply less ideal, or the pure aura diminishes. He would call the man careless or arrogant. But honestly, he is in no state to fight anymore.
Tang Yuan sighs as he lies in the small crater he made in the rock. His spirit power was drained from that fight. His spirit skills just continuously drained energy especially together. Not to mention enhancing his body with it too. His reinforcement of rocks didn't work well either.
Tang Yuan shakenly got up from the ground. His body ached from that landing, but nothing seemed broken. Still, that was very "ow". He heard a laugh come from away from the side. Turning to glare at the offender his own nephew. "I'd like to see you be better off after that Tang Hao."
The man in question holds his hands up in surrender. Though he can't quite keep the smirk off his face. Not after his uncle's last fairly crazy act in an attempt to attack. "Well, it's hard not to after that stunt plus your very succinct reaction." He and his brother have far less trouble fighting them. Thought the flying was still an annoyance.
Tang Yuan would step back from the battles for a while. He needed to regenerate his spirit energy. Watching the various battles as an audience was interesting. He could obtain ideas of how hammers should fight. Even if he couldn't simply copy what he saw. It could certainly give him insights.
The Angel Martials are all quite interesting. Each one has very similar spirit skills if in a different order. The healing skill is all but identical if of different strength. Their first skill was usually a single javelin. At least two had a binding skill as a ring of light. A horde of arrows or floating sword spears to attack the target. Arranged differently from higher-ranked rings, and with some specific cases.
It was certainly an interesting sight especially when two or three worked together. They would chain together skills into deadly combinations. With high synergy between each one as a result. Some would engage in melee combat, and others would use range bombardment. One could use group healing and another could activate a barrier. Their teamwork was practically flawless like watching a band.
The brothers were no slouches themselves of course. They worked well together, but compared to their opponents they fell short. That was only the result of two or a max of three. If all seven teamed up the brothers would quickly be crushed. Tang Yuan wondered how terrifying the entire force would be.
As the days passed by a great many spars would happen. Tang Yuan verses the weaker two of their guests. Him against one of the brothers instead. The three against Tang Chen instead, or the leader of the seven verses the latter. The brothers are against individual opponents or against duos or trinities. Time passed rather well that way as the scenery changed.
Then one day they had an interesting sparring session. A full ten-on-one battle with the one being a Limit Douluo. An impossible fight no matter how one looked at it. Still, no one walked away from it. Even if the outcome was all but decided from the start.
Tang Yuan wished he could say he was useful. Instead, he was the least useful of the ten. Nor was he knocked out from the start by his father. Instead, he used him as the weakest link to bring himself openings. Reducing the number down far more slowly than he could have. Yet still faster than any were comfortable with. Tang Yuan somehow found himself the second-to-last standing.
Tang Yuan certainly did not enjoy the feeling. Though it did carve home how much a weak link can bring others down. Best not to try to interfere in high-level battles. Still, he managed to see a good if short fight between the Soul Sage angel, and his dad. It would be something they discussed for a while.
Then the day had finally come, as Martial Soul City loomed in the distance. White walls surround the city as far as the eye can see. Made seemingly of marble or perhaps another material. As they draw closer he sees scratches and marks on the wall. Yet looking at them they just seem unassailable somehow.
Several meters away from the walls they stop the carriages. Tang Yuan notices soldiers stationed on the walls. He wonders if they were spirit masters or normal soldiers. Further soldiers stand at the large gates ready to act. A small group comes up to the carriage.
The carriage door is opened as his father steps out. Tang Yuan thinks he sees the guards standing taller or straighter. "Greetings Lord Clear Sky, welcome to the Martial Soul City. It is a pleasure to have you present." the guard begins talking slightly nervous. Then he steps back from the carriage slightly.
They quickly follow him stepping outside of the carriage. The guards are watching their movements closely. At least he can feel eyes watching. It was a rather nerve-racking feeling to have hundreds of eyes on them. A hand came to rest on his shoulder, his father's. Tang Yuan took a breath to calm down slightly.
Looking around he finds that other carriages are also stopped. The occupants out as groups of guards talked to them. An inspection zone it seems that must be gone through. Inspecting for what exactly enemies or perhaps contraband. What serious security this place has.
The second carriage stops a few steps from their carriage. From it step the members of the angel army. The guards all stood at attention at their presence. Suddenly Tang Chen looks in another direction. Matching his father's action out of curiosity Tang Yuan.
A man had appeared from somewhere on top of the wall possibly. He is a handsome man with blonde hair, and piercing black eyes. From his back come three pairs of wings spread in flight. Golden armor covered his body in places. A holy aura comes from him as he descends to the ground.
A member of the Qian family with six wings. Though not the overwhelming presence of the Seraphim. His martial soul is seemingly the same as the others. A single set at activation, two sets of wings at soul sage. Three sets must mean a Titled Douluo-level soul master.
The man walks forward bowing slightly to Tang Chen. "Greetings senior it is good to see you again. I would ask if you came to see the Grand Priest. But I can tell it is far more serious than this." he looks at the members of the angel clan. Who has all gone to attention at his presence before them?
Tang Chen steps forward with a smile on his face despite the serious words. "Yes we ran into them on are way here actually. Not in the best of circumstances." Tang Chen said with a hand on Tang Yuan to empathize.
This draws the man's gaze to Tang Yuan who slightly stiffens up at the gaze. After all, this was a Titled Douluo powerhouse. His father and brother were as well, but that was them.
"Oh, so this is the famous Tang Yuan in the flesh. I have already heard quite a lot about you. Your mother won't quit talking about you with pride. When she's not held up in the library, or entertaining that mischievous girl." the man says his face smiling in a friendly way. Which was surprising to Tang Yuan in a way.
Tang Yuan quickly drummed up a response "Nice to meet you, sir." It was a short greeting, but he felt it was polite. He wasn't sure if he was being too casual, or not. The man didn't seem to be formal, but you could never tell.
"Sir well now isn't that something?" The man started laughing slightly at the response. Tang Yuan couldn't help tilting his head at that. The man turns his head to Tang Chen. "Are we sure he's actually Nuan's child. Cause she was never this polite as a child." the man says with a slightly joking tone.
His father sighs at the question. "Every time I hear a statement like that I just get more curious." Tang Chen looks off as if he were imagining something. His smile curving slightly at an invisible image only he could see.
The blond-haired man laughed at the look. "Yeah, she is really different from what she was back then. To think she would become as ladylike as has. Even if she is still as strong-willed as ever." the man says with a similar far-off look.
Tang Yuan watched the two of them as they talked. His father was having a very casual conversation with the man. With seemingly more openness than all but his mother. The man did seem to have an air about him. Though he had not truly introduced himself yet.
Perhaps there was a confused look on his face, or merely a hint. The man turned to Tang Yuan with that smile. "I suppose I haven't introduced myself to you. My name is Qian Zhao a branch member of the Qian family. As well as the Sky Commander of the Spirit Halls Angel Legion. It's nice to meet you properly little one." the man says with that same smile on his face beaming with confidence.
Tang Yuan finds himself shocked to meet such an important person already. It was Spirit City basically the holy land of soul masters. So meeting Titled Douluo was highly likely.
The man put a hand on Tang Yuan's head ruffling his hair. "You kid can just call me Uncle Zhao. Your mother was basically the little princess of the Worship Hall. I was usually the one who had to pick up after her. She's basically like the annoying little sister I never asked for."
Tang Yuan tried to remove the offending hand from his head. That or at least try to stop it from moving. He could already tell that this new uncle would be interesting. "So does that mean you work closely with the Worship Hall?"
The smiling man just keeps on ruffling his hair. "As the commander of Angel Leign, I primarily serve the Grand Worship, Supreme Pontif, or Worships. Usually deploy alongside the last one or at the discretion of the first two. But enough about that come let's get inside." the man waves off the guards. Who steps back at his almost shewing method.
They re-enter the carriage as it quickly begins moving once again. This time Qian Zhao enters as well. "Open the gates, let them through." someone yells as others yell to pass it along. The large gates open allowing their admission into the city.
Tang Yuan sits at the window watching as they move. Various guards move about inside the city as well. Their carriage moves at a moderate pace. Yet they still move faster than those on foot. There are a large number of people walking the streets already. The hustle and bustle of a great prosperous city.
Other carriages are parked at the building as people offload. Traveling merchants or farmers delivering goods. The streets are made wide enough that two carriages can move in one direction. Larger than a two-lane highway from his previous life on either side. Once more sidewalks run on either side of the road.
Their carriage quickly moves down the main road of the city. Heading towards the large building in the middle of the city. It was built on a hill giving it a natural elevation. Even without that added height it was a truly towering building. Made of seemingly white marble same as the wall around the city. Yet this building was far more ornate and pristine than those walls.
The building was certainly a holy church of some design. Yet one might also call it a castle of a king or a pope in this case. The most eye-catching detail is the stone statue visible even from the gates. The other thing was how massive the building truly was. Gold and white were the predominant colors of the building.
Tang Yuan found himself focusing on the eye-catching building. Watching as the building came ever closer to them. He paid some attention to their surroundings as well. The buildings were all kept to a similar form as the great building. Spirit lamps dot the sides of the roads inactive at the moment.
The carriage eventually comes to a stop at the foot of the hill. As they step out of the carriage the number of guards has only grown. Once more a number were better armored than others. Before them was the Pope's Palace along with a very long staircase.
Tang Yuan looks at the steps with some slight trepidation. It would not be like climbing up a mountain rather a hill. Perhaps the equivalent of more than 10 stories in his past life. The group begins to walk up the steps to the core of this city. Tang Yuan meanwhile wonders what he might see and experience in this holy land of soul masters.