Exploding God

Chapter 1170: How many grudges are now just a laughing matter; matters of the martial world should be settled with a single stroke of the sword.

Supreme Elder, Tantai Dapan.

Whether in his past or present life, Lu Ze was certain this was the first time he had ever heard this name.

The profound heritage displayed by the Tantai family truly deserves its reputation as a thousand-year-old aristocratic family—not only does it have a Grand Elder, but also a Supreme Elder.

The old man before him exuded a state of harmony between man and nature as he walked, giving Lu Ze a feeling that surpassed that of Tantai Zhongyi.

The reason he had never appeared before: was he living in seclusion? Was he avoiding the world?

Lu Ze did not sense any sharpness or hostility from the other party, which surprised him.

Logically speaking, given his strength, he should be one of the most influential figures who dominated the realms after the tower was erected in his previous life. However, whether he was fighting in the Shadow Domain or rising in the realms, he had never heard of Tantai Dapan's name.

As for the limitations of human lifespan?

Beyond the boundaries, human cells evolve from the inside out, making it not uncommon for lifespans to be greatly extended. Furthermore, with the tower erected, many realms possess various methods for extending lifespan. Unless…

That person had already perished long ago.

Looking at the white-haired, youthful-looking Supreme Elder, Lu Ze was more inclined to the last conjecture.

"Mr. Lu, please forgive me for explaining. Daoxue was with this old man in the ancestral hall these past two days and hasn't personally overseen any clan affairs. I did receive a report from Chongjin earlier, but I didn't expect you to arrive so quickly, young friend." Tantai Dapan spoke in a calm tone, his deep eyes revealing goodwill.

"I have said all this only to clarify the attitude of my Tantai family, not to show any disrespect. These younger generations are arrogant and ignorant, and have been neglected in their upbringing. They are used to being domineering. It is already a great blessing for them to receive guidance from Mr. Lu."

Tantai Dapan speaks like a wise man, his words are impartial and unbiased.

Before Lu Ze could even react, the faces of the clansmen who heard the story changed.

Puzzle, doubt, anger, shame... a mix of emotions surfaced, but in the end no one dared to utter a single word in front of the patriarch and the Supreme Elder. They all lowered their heads, appearing to be listening attentively to instruction.

Judging from their words and actions at their first meeting, the temperament of this Supreme Elder was completely opposite to that of Tantai Zhongyi. Whether you call him shrewd or cunning, the Supreme Elder did not give Lu Ze the impression of being unpleasant.

So Lu Ze smiled and waved his hand, indicating, "It's alright."

If it weren't for the fact that Wu Riguang had led the way and that the Tantai family was a real entity, he would have suspected that the old man wasn't a member of the Tantai clan but rather a highly respected elder professor from the academy.

Since Tantai Dapan was willing to put on such a kind and benevolent elder's act, he was happy to cooperate and treat it as a show.

Lu Ze's detached attitude caught Tantai Dapan's attention. His deep gaze fell on the young man's angular face, as if trying to see something, but in the end, he only received the young man's carefree smile.

Tantai Dapan withdrew his gaze and calmly glanced at the tribesmen around him who were unwilling to submit, each harboring their own thoughts. A trace of loneliness flashed deep in his eyes.

The Tantai family has achieved its current status through the hard work and dedication of generations of martyrs, but the environment can change people. With the highest power and status, people's mentality is no longer what it used to be.

With a domineering figure like Tantai Zhongyi, who is unparalleled in the world, leading the family, how could the younger generation like Tantai Zang and Tantai Dongshu not follow suit? There is no one stronger than me, no one richer than me...

If it weren't for the respectful Tantai Daoxue standing beside him, these younger members of the family would probably have already started gossiping.

The family is still the same family as before.

However, the blood in the family lineage no longer carries the spirit of those who once lived there.

Shaking his head, Tantai Dapan had become indifferent to the world after experiencing so many years, and the clumsy performance of these younger generation members could not stir his mind.

However, she was ultimately a member of the Tantai family.

Nothing more...

With a sigh, Tantai Dapan looked up at Lu Ze again and spoke gently:

"I wonder what brings you here, Mr. Lu? Since you are here, I, Daoxue and this old man, will be able to give you an answer."

These words were spoken calmly and gently, yet they made the young clansmen who had been hiding their thoughts and bowing their heads raise their heads in indignation. After all, how could someone of your status utter such words, which were meant to be friendly?

How can you still greet someone with a smile when they step on your face? You're clearly an old-fashioned person who's been scared out of their wits!

This is the voice of the young people!

But as soon as they looked up, they saw the patriarch's cold gaze, which startled them so much that they lowered their heads again, but their resentment only intensified.

Why make everyone else suffer because you're the one who's embarrassing yourself?

These clansmen failed to see the disappointment behind Tantai Daoxue's indifferent gaze.

During his reign, this refined and scholarly patriarch used a tough approach to oversee the development of the ancient lands and forbidden areas. After suffering heavy casualties, he acquired many high-level fog soldiers and focused on developing the role of special fog soldiers, including the Dragon Pendant. Ultimately, he created an unprecedented golden age for the Tantai family.

He just didn't expect that when he encountered a truly powerful person, all the prosperity was just a castle in the air, and that the younger generation he had painstakingly nurtured... had such a narrow vision!

You don't even know what the Supreme Elder is supposed to do...

His heart ached and felt cold.

So his eyes were indifferent, and even more disappointed.

……

Tantai Dapan did not pay attention to the brief eye contact between Tantai Daoxue and the group of young clansmen, nor was he interested in sensing the thoughts of those hundreds of clansmen.

His departure from the ancestral hall was not to instruct the younger generation, nor did it serve to demonstrate his power or status. He was merely fulfilling his most basic responsibility as the Supreme Elder... to save the family from collapse at a critical juncture.

The sea is often calmer before a storm.

Lu Ze had no interest in the thoughts and actions of those tribesmen. When he heard Tantai Dapan ask a question, he smiled, revealing his white teeth, and said something that made the hundreds of Tantai tribesmen present turn pale.

"Just a day ago, I killed your family's eldest elder and arbitrarily decided to place him in the wilderness as a warning to future generations. However, his name does contain the characters 'Tantai,' so I think it's best to go and explain things clearly to avoid any unpleasant misunderstandings in the future."

Lu Ze spoke clearly, with a kind smile on his face.

Regardless of how the Tantai people in front reacted, the two people behind Lu Ze, Xie Pangzi, suddenly froze with their simple smiles, and then sweat poured out like mud. He couldn't help but raise his arm to wipe away the sweat, and the sweat just wouldn't stop... to the point that his arm was trembling.

Uriguang, who was two meters tall, was shrinking to almost 1.7 meters, and his face was deathly pale.

Here we go again... Killing someone is just a matter of beheading them, but this repeated mental torture is more than just whipping a corpse over and over again.

This is clearly a case of repeatedly resurrecting the dead only to kill them again and again. I'm afraid I can't escape the label of "traitor Tantai" now.

Wu Riguang wailed inwardly, having already planned out 100 ways to die.

……

The eyes of those hot-blooded young Tantai people turned red instantly. Unable to hold back any longer, they all raised their heads, their faces filled with murderous intent, despite their fear of Tantai Taoism!

Tantai Daoxue's simple step to the left and forward was enough to make his back appear like a mountain looming before them, his silhouette enveloping the hearts of all the clansmen.

These clansmen trembled inwardly and stopped all their next movements, but they did not lower their heads. Instead, they stared straight at the current patriarch and the Supreme Elder.

Tantai Daoxue stood respectfully half a body length behind the Supreme Elder on the right, his left hand on his right, bowing slightly, his posture extremely respectful.

However, if you look closely at his palm, you can see that his right hand, which is pressed down by his left hand, is trembling slightly.

thump.

As Tantai Dapan walked out of the ancestral hall, the peach wood cane he was pulling landed on the ancient stone slab with a crisp sound.

Tantai Daoxue stopped trembling in his right hand and lowered his head slightly. He knew that from this moment on, the only person in this vast manor who could truly talk to Lu Ze was the Supreme Elder.

Tantai Dapan narrowed his eyes and looked at Lu Ze.

"It is said that heroes emerge from among the young, and the ancients were right."

The Supreme Elder's words sent a shiver down the spine of Tantai Daoxue, who was standing quietly with his head bowed. Why did he suddenly say this?

Ancestor, what were you thinking? How could someone with such an amazing ability to maintain their youthful appearance possibly be the young man you described...?

In Tantai Daoxue's view, these words were extremely abrupt and even somewhat inappropriate, perhaps they were angry words spoken by the ancestor.

However, the wisdom of our ancestors should not be like this!

Complex thoughts interfered with Tantai Daoxue's judgment, making the next move by both sides even more unpredictable.

Lu Ze looked at Tantai Dapan with his bright eyes, then smiled and nodded.

"The old gentleman understands."

He didn't mention any family positions again; he was just an ordinary old man, yet his words were more agreeable than anything he had said before.

"Zang'er... was the last time I saw him seven years ago? Will I never see him again?" The Supreme Elder seemed to be pondering for a moment before uttering a sentence unrelated to the previous one.

"I won't see him anymore."

"Inferior in skill?"

"My eyesight isn't good, well, it's a very simple reason," Lu Ze replied casually, but he added an extra sentence to emphasize the reason, which seemed extremely offensive to others.

"Hmm..." Tantai Dapan murmured, glanced back at the group of clansmen whose eyes were gleaming, shook his head and looked away, "The clan's discipline is lax, and they have only themselves to blame."

Tantai Daoxue's hands trembled, and he lowered his head even further.

Tantai Zang was his most valued son; he had watched him grow up and nurtured him with great care...

He died, but all he got was the comment that "his eyesight was bad".

At this moment, the sorrow in his heart welled up, unrelated to the shrewdness of a family head, but simply the grief of a father.

The young clansmen were enraged, feeling that this white-haired old man had been terrified. They were about to utter some harsh words, but as soon as they opened their mouths, they felt an invisible pressure that filled the sky and earth lock them in all directions, freezing all their movements and making it impossible for them to utter even half a syllable.

"May I call you Young Friend Lu?" Tantai Dapan spoke in a friendly tone. The two did not seem to be negotiating with opposing sides, but rather chatting like old friends who had not seen each other for many years.

"Sure." Lu Ze smiled.

"The Dragon Pendant must have already come into your hands, young friend. Rare treasures are meant to be obtained by those with the right fate, and it is likely that it will be even more useful in your hands, young friend." Tantai Dapan said something that was quite unexpected, and of course, it was a loss of sovereignty and humiliation for the young clansmen.

"The old gentleman has a discerning eye." Lu Ze was a man of good manners, especially when it came to praise from elders. He always accepted it humbly and offered a compliment in a measured way to make the atmosphere more friendly.

Tantai Dapan's expression remained unchanged, and he even nodded in response.

In Lu Ze's view, Tantai Dapan was also well-mannered.

So since the other party was so polite, he didn't mind cooperating with the old man to give a lesson on etiquette to these hundreds of "students".

"Today, I hit it off with young friend Lu. I have a favor to ask: may my clansmen be allowed to collect the remains of Zhongyi? The Tantai family will certainly provide a reward that will satisfy you." Tantai Dapan spoke softly, which made the restless clansmen tremble and fall silent in unison, all looking at him!

"It's that simple?"

"It's that simple." The old man's voice was calm and his attitude solemn.

"Sorry, no way." Lu Ze shrugged and said casually.

An uproar ensued!

Manager Xie grabbed Wu Riguang's arm to keep himself from falling to the ground, but after grasping Wu Riguang's dark arm, he realized that this towering man's arm was covered in cold sweat, slippery and wet, and he almost couldn't hold on.

Wu Riguang glanced at Steward Xie with a pale face, his body tilting slightly... He also needed to rely on Fatty Xie's strength, as he felt like he couldn't even catch his breath.

"..." Tantai Dapan's expression froze for the first time.

This elderly man, who had experienced the vicissitudes of life, prided himself on being empathetic and humbled himself in front of countless eyes. He even handed over the initiative to the other party to ask for what they wanted, all in exchange for a trivial request. No one would refuse such a benefit that was offered to them.

However, it was precisely in this matter, which he had put the most effort into, that the biggest mistake occurred.

Lu Ze's simple and straightforward answer blocked all the major paths Tantai Dapan had conceived, leaving only the narrowest and most hopeless road.

Lu Ze calmly looked at Tantai Dapan, then at Tantai Daoxue whose eyes were red-rimmed, and then swept his gaze across the faces that were gradually approaching, revealing expressions of hostility, shame, anger, and a desire to kill. Suddenly, the corners of his mouth curled up.

"Sir, there's no need to worry. This time, things are very simple and not complicated. Everyone doesn't need to suppress their emotions. You should let them out when you need to, because getting angry is bad for your health."

Lu Ze gave a startling answer, but when the next sentence came out, everyone instantly turned pale!

No one will forget this day. In the early morning at the summit of Bijia Mountain, sunlight shone through the thin clouds onto that young face. He was smiling and seemed to be glowing.

"I killed Tantai Zang, I killed Tantai Mingze, and I even made Tantai Zhongyi into a road sign and erected it in the wilderness. This is not only to remind the world, but also to remind you... that there is a blood feud between us."

"Please remember these hatreds, because only in this way will you cultivate yourselves without regard for anything else."

"I hope that one day you will be able to stand bravely before me."

(End of this chapter)