Exploding God

Chapter 1171 I have a favor to ask

On a bright morning, Tantai Villa fell into a deathly silence.

No one expected to hear such earnest words; they couldn't even dream of it... Someone dared to speak so kindly and gently to the head of the family and the Supreme Elder, urging them to remember their hatred.

However, these few words had an impact on these hundreds of people that was no less than a mental storm of natural disaster level!

Tantai Dapan never imagined that he would have such a day. He had already lived through three cycles of sixty years and witnessed too many partings and deaths. He thought that he had long ago achieved true freedom of doing as he pleased and not overstepping the bounds before the last stage of his life.

But when he heard what Lu Ze said quietly, he suddenly realized that he was still far from that state of freedom and ease.

He has worldly emotions, including anger, shame, and longing; he also has many aspects that belong to ordinary people.

The pursuit of harmony between humanity and nature seems like a joke...

With a self-deprecating smile, Tantai Dapan's expression gradually returned to calm after his initial surprise. He met Lu Ze's gaze, whose eyes remained as calm and profound as ever.

Tantai Dapan broke the deathly silence, and also suppressed the commotion that was about to erupt around them.

"Young friend Lu, would you mind accompanying this old man for a walk?" The old man gently made way for him, his gaze sincere.

"Of course," Lu Ze nodded without hesitation.

The Supreme Elder's reaction and Lu Ze's willingness to accept the invitation brought the clansmen, whose hearts were already filled with anger, to the brink of explosion. However, at this moment, the clan head, Tantai Daoxue, stood firmly behind the Grand Elder, once again using his prestige to forcefully suppress all doubts and dissatisfaction.

Seeing the patriarch's actions, the atmosphere in the manor returned to an eerie calm. Most people dared not act rashly because of the prestige that Tantai Daoxue had accumulated over the years, while some retainers and elders keenly sensed something was amiss.

The Supreme Elder's invitation and Tantai Daoxue's tacit approval, their harmonious cooperation, were like the calm before the storm.

The head of the family must know something!

The Supreme Elder would never just wander around aimlessly!

……

"Dongshu~ Dongshu!"

At that moment, heartbroken cries came from the direction of the artificial hill on the northwest side.

The guards of Tantai Wuwei straightened up and looked at Tantai Daoxue with questioning eyes.

It's Madam Qu!

Madam Qu is here to seek justice for her "son," Tantai Dongshu.

Everyone knew that Tantai Daoxue doted on this beautiful and charming Madam Qu, and always readily agreed to her requests.

But now the Supreme Elder is here...

"Muze, stop Madam Qu and escort her to the Jingxin Hall to recite the Tantai Family Precepts," Tantai Daoxue said calmly, his tone devoid of any emotion.

Two meters behind him, a thin man with his hands always tucked into his sleeves looked surprised. After confirming that the head of the family was not joking, he responded and silently passed through the crowd with a light step.

Several exclamations came from afar, and Madam Qu's voice could be heard as filled with anger. Just when everyone thought they were about to hear Madam Qu explode, there was a sudden silence.

Everyone felt a chill and lowered their heads in unison.

At no time should the authority of the head of the household be questioned.

Perhaps it was Tantai Daoxue's consistently refined and easygoing demeanor that made people forget his iron-fisted methods.

This incident attracted the attention of hundreds of people around, but it didn't bother the three people at all.

Lu Ze and Tantai Dapan didn't glance at the noisy area once in the entire process.

The other person was Tantai Daoxue himself. His gaze remained fixed on the back of the Supreme Elder. After seeing the Supreme Elder and Lu Ze walk three steps side by side, he quietly followed.

This silent scene contrasted sharply with the commotion that had just erupted in the distance, inspiring even greater awe in the other members of the clan. The hundred or so clansmen lined up on both sides silently followed in the footsteps of their clan leader.

No one knew what the Supreme Elder and the Patriarch were up to; for now, they were merely humiliated, living corpses as their attendants.

……

It really was just a walk?

The hundreds of clansmen were somewhat bewildered and dazed as they watched the Supreme Elder meticulously explaining to Lu Ze the origins of every scene in the manor—traces of the condensed history of the Misty Plains.

"Young friend Lu, this is Fengting Pavilion. It was built under the supervision of the eleventh generation ancestor of my Tantai family. It has a history of more than 1,200 years and contains many well-preserved authentic works by famous calligraphers from the early Tang Dynasty."

"Young friend Lu, take another look at this garden within a garden; it's related to the wife of the nineteenth ancestor..."

The Supreme Elder had lived long enough to have a clear understanding of history, and was able to tell the stories behind each scenic spot in detail. Lu Ze, as an observer, nodded from time to time. Their interaction was clearly that of old friends reuniting, and there was no trace of any deep-seated hatred between them.

Does the Tantai family have to offer up our right cheek after being slapped on the left?

The tribesmen behind them watched the laughing and talking in front of them, gritted their teeth and lowered their heads, their bodies trembling slightly. This was an unprecedented humiliation.

As they walked and talked, they passed by artificial hills, through the lakeside pavilion, admired the garden, and walked past the magnificent buildings of the Tantai family... Suddenly, their view opened up.

The white walls and black tiles of the manor have fallen behind us. The thin mist dissipates under the sunlight. Lush trees and ancient vines that have lived for thousands of years extend from both sides to the cliff. The three-tiered terrain makes the people who have just come out feel as if they are on the top of a mountain.

"This is the back mountain of Tantai Manor. Few people know about the scenery here. It is mostly the place where the elite disciples of our clan practice martial arts, watch the sunrise and sunset, and receive the baptism of heaven and earth. Many of our clan's martial artists have broken through their limits and entered higher realms here." Tantai Dapan pointed to the huge, flat area below with one finger and smiled, "Ancestral land, also the clan's martial arts ground."

This is a martial arts arena hidden among the mountains and rivers.

Neatly arranged wooden dummies and various weapons lined the edge of the field. The ground was paved with some kind of black, jade-like stone, and those with exceptional eyesight could see the dense fine marks on those stones.

But at most, they were just fine marks, which shows how hard the ground was.

"A place of exceptional beauty and talent." Lu Ze nodded in agreement. The density and purity of the star energy here were even greater than in the manor. For cultivators, this place was probably an unparalleled holy land.

"Yes... It has existed for a thousand years, witnessing the rise of the family and supporting its continuation." Tantai Dapan's tone was full of emotion, and his gaze was distant, as if he had crossed the white clouds and mountains and looked to the distant horizon.

The old man seemed to be lost in some kind of memory. Lu Ze did not interrupt him, but stood side by side with him, gazing at the mountains with the same distant look.

Climbing to a high place to express one's feelings, such a stunning view, unobstructed by mist, can only be seen here.

After about ten seconds, Tantai Dapan smiled freely and looked at Lu Ze, saying, "People tend to reminisce about the past when they get old. I remember when I was three years old, I was thrown into this place by the clan elders to learn martial arts. Just now, the scene from back then was still vivid in my mind."

"I understand," Lu Ze replied with a smile. "I suppose I won't be any different when I reach your age."

"Hahaha." Tantai Dapan laughed loudly, seemingly in a very good mood.

However, the mood of the tribesmen who had followed them there grew increasingly worse.

Tantai Dapan's laughter startled countless birds in the distant mountains and forests, sending them soaring into the air and piercing the clouds higher in the sunlight.

This is a vibrant and beautiful scene.

The old man's hearty laughter created waves of air that blew through the trees and spread into the distance.

Lu Ze did not disturb the old man, acting like a quiet observer.

Tantai Dapan let out a long breath and turned around, looking directly at the hundred or so tribesmen with different expressions.

At first, the tribesmen didn't take it seriously, thinking that they weren't being looked at. But when the invisible pressure swept over their bodies, they were shocked and all turned their gazes toward it.

The Supreme Elder was actually looking at us?

These people suppressed their own thoughts, put their masks back on, and responded with the same routine, respectful attitude as before.

Tantai Dapan shook his head slightly. His eyes were bright, so bright that every clansman who insisted on looking at him couldn't help but lower their heads.

After the hundred people looked up and then looked down again, Tantai Dapan's calm and powerful voice rang out.

This time, the voice carried a sense of freedom, pride, and an overwhelming power that touched their very souls!

"My children, these words are for you. If you happen to remember them at some point in the future, then my life on earth will not have been in vain..."

"My Tantai family has always been proud, but you must remember that true pride that transcends the world is called humility."

Hundreds of people looked up in horror!

These earnest words awakened their memories of their first time entering the martial arts arena as children. They were full of aspirations, their hearts were set on the highest goals, and they were willing to train hard for the glory of their families and to follow in the footsteps of their ancestors in the cause they had established...

But why did the Supreme Elder suddenly say such a thing at this moment?

A strong sense of unease rose from the soles of my feet, arose from the palms of my hands, and spread throughout my entire body.

This left them somewhat bewildered, and the sense of the unknown gave rise to a slight sense of unease.

"Elder..." Tantai Daoxue's eyes reddened, and his voice trembled uncontrollably.

The outcome we least wanted to happen is about to occur.

The Supreme Elder chose the path he least wanted to take.

Once upon a time, Tantai Daoxue was also arrogant and domineering, but now he couldn't even utter a word of advice.

He could ruthlessly abandon his most beloved wife, but he couldn't calmly face the impending consequences.

The Tantai family has already lost a Grand Elder, and cannot afford to lose another true pillar of strength.

"Daoxue, I should have left the ancestral hall sooner; I haven't done well in this respect." When Tantai Dapan uttered the words "I am your teacher" for the first time, it revealed that he was Tantai Daoxue's mentor.

Tantai Daoxue's eyes were red. He shook his head, still making a final effort, hoping that the old man would change his mind.

Tantai Dapan saw it, but responded with a carefree smile.

Then, the Supreme Elder of the Tantai family turned to face Lu Ze and gently pressed down with the peach wood staff in his hand.

The peachwood staff seemed to fall like a hot knife onto butter, silently sinking into the black stone, which was harder than steel, with the edge of the staff fitting perfectly into the edge of the black stone.

Tantai Dapan clasped his fists and performed a common martial arts salute to Lu Ze.

"Young friend Lu, I should have been quietly waiting to die in the ancestral hall, but my family has suddenly suffered this calamity, with my prized student and blood relatives dying one after another. As the Supreme Elder, I cannot pretend not to see it... So in the end, I swallowed my pride and left the ancestral hall."

"If it had been earlier, we could have become close friends despite our age difference, but unfortunately, fate has played a cruel trick on us, and we never had that chance."

"Below is the best training ground in this Misty Plains. I have a favor to ask today. As an elder of the clan, I wish to ask for a few moves on behalf of the children who died. I hope you will not refuse, young friend Lu."

It was described as an inquiry, but it was actually a statement.

It may seem like an unreasonable request, but it is one that cannot be refused.

No one expected that after calmly accepting all the insults directed at the Tantai family, Tantai Dapan would utter such "inappropriate" words at this last moment.

That polite face reflected the domineering aura of the Tantai family that had endured for millennia.

In an instant, it seemed that only the whistling of the wind could be heard on the back mountain.

Those young clansmen who had previously harbored deep resentment towards the Supreme Elder were all stunned. Their once-cooled passion suddenly surged from the bottom of their hearts and rushed straight to their brains.

They had never felt their hearts beating so powerfully as they had ever done so!

All the lost dignity was regained in those words from our ancestor!

"Just asking for advice?" Lu Ze looked at the old man calmly, his true emotions completely undetectable to outsiders.

"Just asking for your guidance." Tantai Dapan nodded, his tone calm and steady. The mountain wind blew through his white robe, giving him an air of otherworldly elegance.

Lu Ze nodded slightly as if he understood, but said something that was somewhat difficult to understand: "People can do what they want, but they cannot control what they want."

If one has received a systematic academic education on Earth, one would likely be familiar with this famous quote by Schopenhauer. However, for Kirihara Riku, who lives in isolation and develops on his own, this is the first time Tantai Daipan has heard it.

He pondered for a moment, understood the true meaning, and exclaimed, "Young friend, your insightful opinion is profound."

"It's just parroting what others have said."

"However, since I started learning martial arts at the age of three, I have never taken back what I said."

"Elders come first, but follow your heart." Lu Ze said with one hand behind his back and the other outstretched, looking carefree and elegant.

"please."

Tantai Dapan stared intently at Lu Ze, then threw his head back and laughed loudly, his powerful voice booming from all around the mountain peak.

With a light touch of his toes, Tantai Dapan's figure instantly transformed into a streak of white light, tearing through a thousand meters of space and appearing directly above the giant martial arts arena.

First, a layer of distorted, transparent gale appeared on its surface. When the gale was thicker than the width of a hand, a layer of blue mist began to rise from the transparent and distorted edge. The blue mist expanded to half a meter thick as soon as it appeared!

Like ferocious flames, it envelops the whole body and soars towards the sky!

Tantai Dapan placed his hands in front of his abdomen, one in front of the other, his white hair flying wildly. A hundred meters below, rolling waves of energy spread outwards layer by layer, endless and inexhaustible!

The crowd looked up in horror, and before they knew it, a colossal dome had descended, silently enveloping the entire manor!

One person, two powerful attacks!

A kilometer-long area!

This is the true Tantai Dapan, who has protected his family for centuries with his domineering ways!

**

P.S.: My wife tested positive and is suffering from a high fever of 40 degrees Celsius. I'm currently isolating at home and taking care of her around the clock, as well as helping the kids with their homework... I'm mentally prepared to test positive at any time. If I don't update or send any messages in the next couple of days, don't be surprised if I've transformed.

(End of this chapter)