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Chapter 163 Mysteries Unveiled, Suspicion Arises; Blood Pool Surges, Father and Son Plot [Part Two]

Even with prior precautions, and only taking a small sip of water, it still couldn't prevent it from turning into a fountain.

"Is the clue related to the Tang family?"

Tang Hao wiped his mouth, carefully examined the other party's expression, and cautiously said, "Senior Feng, you don't want to settle scores with me, do you? There's no need for that. I wasn't even born back then."

Seeing his expression, Feng Mingyang smiled slightly, thinking to himself that this was a case of tit for tat; it was better for two people to criticize him than for one.

“How could that be? Fellow Daoist Tang, there’s no need to worry. I am naturally aware of what you’re talking about.” Feng Mingyang picked up his water glass, thought for a moment, and then put it back down. “In this matter, there might be something we can do to cooperate.”

"Oh? What do you say?"

Tang Hao set out the tea set, boiled water, and prepared to listen carefully to what the other party had to say.

Watching his movements, Feng Mingyang said quietly, "The princes and nobles of Shengjing often secretly kidnap people to use as tools for passing on their bloodlines. It seems that Fellow Daoist Tang's mother was also a victim."

"What did you find out, senior?" Tang Hao paused, his eyes narrowing slightly. He hadn't expected that someone would start investigating for him before he even made a move.

"You don't seem surprised?"

Feng Mingyang noticed his expression and asked, somewhat puzzled.

Since the other party came seeking cooperation, Tang Hao frankly stated, "This time, I discovered a problem with my origins during my Foundation Establishment stage, and I came back specifically to investigate."

As he spoke, he briefly described the anomalies he remembered.

"That's great!"

Feng Mingyang slammed his fist into his palm, a look of joy on his face, before noticing the strange expression on Feng Mingyang's face.

He cleared his throat and said, "What I mean is, isn't this perfect? ​​We now have a foundation for cooperation."

Then, without waiting for Tang Hao to ask, she recounted in detail how she had pursued clues after their parting in Cangyun City.

"Since you've already investigated the Tang family, why haven't you continued?" Tang Hao didn't believe that the other party was worried about his relationship with Bai Jue.

He poured the other person a cup of tea and said casually, "Just arrest the Duke of Rong, search his soul, and you'll have the clues."

"Duke Rongguo, Tang Ling, is still your father, yet you don't seem to care at all," Feng Mingyang said, looking at him with a strange expression.

During the investigation, intelligence indicated that Tang Hao's relationship with the Tang family was indeed not very harmonious, but unexpectedly, he didn't care at all about the life or death of the Duke of Rong.

"Father? Heh..."

Tang Hao sneered. He had originally thought that the Tang family had treated the original owner quite well, and that they still held some lingering affection for him.

Unfortunately, he gained complete memories during the Foundation Establishment stage, so tricks that could fool children had no effect on him, a transmigrated adult man.

"You only know the surface of how the Tang family has treated me. Rest assured, even if the Rongguo Duke's Mansion is destroyed, I will not care."

Because of the Tang family, he was burdened with a mountain of karma, which disgusted him. He thought it would be better if the Tang family disappeared, which would make things much easier.

“If things were that simple, I wouldn’t have needed to cooperate with you.” Feng Mingyang took a sip of tea with a slightly embarrassed expression. “All high-ranking officials in the Dongling Kingdom are protected by the nation’s fortune.”

"The Duke of Rong's status is extraordinary. Whether I kill him or search his soul, I will suffer a backlash from my luck. At that time, let alone finding my sister, I might even lose my life." He gave a bitter smile.

"Is there such a thing?"

Tang Hao was unaware of this situation, and his brows furrowed for a moment.

Thinking of something, he asked in confusion, "Then why is the Grand Princess unharmed after being injured by the senior? In terms of status and position, as the royal guardian, shouldn't she be more protected by the nation's fortune?"

“No, the Immortal of Longevity is a Nascent Soul cultivator and cannot exist within the national fortune system,” Feng Mingyang said, shaking his head.

Seeing that Tang Hao was still confused, he pondered for a moment and said, "The reasons for this are somewhat complicated."

"The reason why high-ranking officials are protected by the fortune of the country is mainly because after receiving the imperial edict, the emperor's edict will condense in their souls."

"If a Core Formation cultivator wants to break through to the Nascent Soul realm, their soul must be refined and pure, and such foreign objects cannot exist. The first thing they must do is to disperse the edict."

“Those with the potential to reach the Nascent Soul stage generally do not agree to receive the imperial edict. Otherwise, if the emperor does not issue an edict to rescind the edict, they will be trapped in the Core Formation stage forever.”

"No wonder!" Tang Hao suddenly exclaimed, a look of realization crossing his face. "With Ninth Brother's talent, he only holds the title of prince. Given his age, he should have been granted a royal title and given his own fiefdom long ago."

Then he asked curiously, "So, after the Nascent Soul stage, one can no longer receive imperial edicts?"

"No, um... at least not in the three kingdoms of Cangnan." Feng Mingyang first denied it firmly, but then changed his mind midway through, as if he had thought of something.

He patiently explained, "After breaking through the core and forming the nascent soul, the cultivator's level of magical power and its connection with the laws of heaven and earth have far exceeded the carrying limit of the national fortune system."

"What do you mean by saying that it's not feasible in the Three Kingdoms of Cangnan?" Since he had some new knowledge to share, Tang Hao wanted to learn more about it.

Feng Mingyang didn't mind telling him, and slowly said, "The carrying limit of a nation's fortune system depends on many factors such as national strength, territory, and what the nation's fortune carries."

“If the three kingdoms were to unite, perhaps there would still be a sliver of a possibility.” He smiled, a hint of reminiscence flashing in his eyes. “Back in the Northern Region, I encountered cultivators from the Central Plains and heard some stories from them.”

"It is said that there is a celestial dynasty in the Central Plains called Dazhen, where Nascent Soul cultivators can receive imperial edicts, and there are even methods to help Core Formation cultivators break through their realms by receiving imperial edicts."

Having finally understood why Feng Mingyang hadn't taken action, Tang Hao nodded knowingly and said, "You really are very patient. If I hadn't come, would you have stopped investigating?"

"After finding out about the Tang family, I went to Qingmu Immortal City to look for you and Fellow Daoist Bai Jue, but I couldn't get in touch with you. I returned to Shengjing these past two days and happened to hear that you were here, so I came looking for you."

Feng Mingyang spoke with a face full of resentment.

After finding out the time, Tang Hao was somewhat speechless.

Bai Jue returned to Qingmu Immortal City and then went to the desolate sea with Yan Yumin to seek a breakthrough. They are still on the desolate island and naturally cannot find it.

During that time, he was also in the desolate sea.

"What a coincidence." Tang Hao shook his head, without explaining their whereabouts. "So, what exactly did you find out, senior, and how do you intend to cooperate?"

Upon hearing this, Feng Mingyang immediately said, "I found out that the person who led the people to wipe out that stronghold back then was your second uncle, but he was besieged and killed by blood cultivators not long after."

"Now that you mention it, I do recall something. Hmm, long before I went to the Qinghua Sect, or even longer, the Tang family's older generation was reduced to just the eldest branch." Tang Hao frowned as he recalled.

He exchanged a glance with Feng Mingyang and said, "Thinking about it now, it seems that..."

"It looks like they were being silenced one by one."

Feng Mingyang's conclusion was similar to his. Tang Hao nodded and said, "He probably found out about your sister's identity and is worried about being retaliated against."

“But if that’s the case, and it really was the Duke of Rong who did it, wouldn’t he be the only one left who knows the truth?” He scratched his head, looking somewhat troubled.

Feng Mingyang knew it wouldn't be easy, so he sighed and said, "After you return to the Rongguo Duke's Mansion, talk to the elders in your family more often. Combine that with your memories, and you might be able to gain some insights."

"Alright! I'll play it by ear."

Tang Hao reluctantly agreed, inwardly grumbling, "This trip back has been incredibly busy."

Meanwhile, in the study of the Rongguo Duke's mansion late at night.

Duke Rongguo, Tang Ling, returned to his residence looking exhausted. Just as he sat down, a young man burst in.

"Father, are you really going to give the engagement of Princess Fu'an to Tang Hao? Wasn't it supposed to be for me?" The boy ran to Tang Ling anxiously and tugged at his sleeve.

With a frown, Tang Ling scolded, "Why aren't you resting so late? Are you just waiting to tell me this? And what Tang Hao? That's your fifth brother!"

"Tch, just a bastard born out of wedlock, what right does he have..." The boy was full of indignation.

"Snapped!"

A resounding slap landed on the boy's face. He stared at his father in disbelief, tears welling in his eyes: "Father, you actually did this because of a lowly child..."

Seeing Tang Ling raise his hand again, the boy shrank back and stopped talking.

"Tang Hui, remember this: don't mention the past again. From now on, when you see Tang Hao, you must respectfully address him as Fifth Brother." Seeing that the boy didn't seem to care, his voice turned stern, "Did you understand?"

Tang Hui jolted awake and lowered his head, saying, "I...I remember."

Seeing his expression, Tang Ling sighed and said earnestly, "Tang Hao is now an inner disciple of the Qinghua Sect, and his cultivation has reached the peak of Qi Refining. If you disrespect him, you will only be asking for trouble."

Filled with resentment, Tang Hui hesitated for a moment before finally speaking. His chest heaved.

“But Princess Fu’an and I are in love. I know that Father values ​​Tang Wu’s talent and wants him to continue the bloodline. You can find another suitable noble lady. Why do you have to steal my marriage?”

Tang Ling's gaze grew increasingly stern, and by the end, Tang Hui's voice was barely audible.

After a long while, until his legs were trembling and he could barely stand, he finally let out a cold snort: "My mind is made up on this matter. Go back and rest!"

Tang Hui wanted to continue explaining, but intimidated by his father's authority, he ultimately dared not speak.

"My child, please leave."

Leaving the study and walking quite a distance, Tang Hui glanced back at the window that was still lit.

He gritted his teeth and said, "What kind of 'Fifth Brother' is this? You're just a lowly bastard born of a refugee, how dare you call me brother?"

"You are nothing but a stud for the continuation of my Tang family's bloodline. You stole my identity as the heir apparent and now you want to steal my Princess Fu'an. I will never let you get away with this!" By the end, his eyes were filled with resentment and venom.

In the study, after watching Liu Zi leave, Tang Ling sat blankly for a long time before getting up and going to a portrait of a woman.

She stood quietly for a moment, then murmured, "Ayin, if only our Hong'er hadn't died."

He shook his head, then opened the hidden door behind the bookshelf. One by one, braziers lit automatically, illuminating the steps leading down to the ground.

As you step inside, the hidden door silently closes itself.

The sound of footsteps, "tap tap tap," seemed somewhat eerie in the quiet passageway.

The passageway winds downwards, extending hundreds of feet underground.

After a long while, Tang Ling finally arrived at the secret underground chamber.

He has already converted this place into individual rooms.

Most of the rooms were open and empty, with only a few doors tightly closed, and it was unknown what was being held inside.

He walked without stopping until he reached the deepest part of the room, where he stopped outside a door that was clearly different from the others.

There were hand seals, incantations, and even a mechanism to lock the talisman.

After passing through several checkpoints, they finally managed to push open the heavy door.

The scene inside was quite peculiar; it did not imprison any ferocious beasts, nor any highly skilled cultivators.

Instead, it was something that occupied most of the room, like solidified flowing light.

The exterior of this object resembles crystal-clear amber, while the interior is a wondrous ring structure woven from countless flowing curves.

Tang Ling reached out and placed his palm on it, unleashing a powerful burst of mid-Foundation Establishment mana.

However, the surface of the amber was completely undamaged, showing no signs of change whatsoever.

"Hmph! So what if you seal yourself inside?" Tang Ling's eyes flashed with a cold light. "You think this will ruin my plan? How naive!"

“What I wanted was not you as the mother.” He shook his head and sighed. “Even if a mare of excellent bloodline is very fertile, she still has to give birth one calf at a time. How can she compare to a stallion?”

He laughed somewhat nervously: "You don't know yet, do you? Your son, Tang Hao, is quite talented, far surpassing the talent of my eldest son whom I had conceived after exhausting my potential."

"Tsk tsk, in just over seven months, he went from an ordinary mortal to the peak of Qi Refining. He's only slightly inferior to the true disciples of the Qinghua Sect." Tang Ling was full of admiration.

“Unfortunately, even the heavens are on my side.” He gazed at the flowing light within the amber: “If his talent had been just a fraction higher and he had become a true disciple, he would probably have already reached the Foundation Establishment stage by now.”

"Once they remember things they shouldn't remember, they will always have doubts about my Tang family."

At this point, Tang Ling clapped his hands excitedly: "But he hasn't! He hasn't even reached the Foundation Establishment stage yet. He's still my son, Tang Ling's son, the heir of my Rongguo Duke's Mansion, hahaha!"

"Peak Foundation Establishment, powerful physique, inexhaustible energy, what a perfect realm, what a perfect stallion." He laughed maniacally, slapping Amber hard.

"Oh, right! I've got something good to show you."

Tang Ling turned around and opened the door to the room next door: "Ta-da! Look what this is? That's right, it's a blood pool!"

"When Tang Hao returns this time, I will arrange for him to marry Princess Fu'an. Then... all the women in my Tang family will be fertile fields for him to sow his seeds. My Tang family will have countless outstanding talents!"

Finally, he looked at Amber with a broad smile and licked his lips: "Perhaps saying that is a bit inappropriate, because, before the wedding, I will..."

"Take their place!"

Bathed in the amber light, Tang Ling, though only seventy years old, had a face that was already aged and filled with madness.

The next day.

Tang Hao, disguised as Helian Chengyu, led his flesh and blood puppet and nine women disguised as guards through the city in a swaggering procession.

They had morning tea, browsed shops, and strolled around until nearly noon before finally returning to their private residence.

Then he left alone and strolled towards the Rongguo Duke's Mansion.

Ever since they received news of his return to Beijing yesterday, someone from the Tang family has been keeping an eye on his private residence.

As soon as he arrived at the Rongguo Duke's Mansion, the mansion received the news.

When Tang Hao arrived, there were already two neat rows of maids and servants on both sides of the mansion gate.

Standing in front of the main gate were Rongguo Gong Tang Ling, several concubines and mistresses, and Tang Hao's brothers and sisters.

Seeing him approaching from afar, Tang Ling quickly descended the steps, with his concubines and mistresses following closely behind, their faces beaming with smiles.

Those brothers and sisters, though their faces were full of reluctance.

At this moment, all we can do is put on a show of joy and welcome.

(End of this chapter)