When Bai He heard Niu Gao’s words, he couldn’t keep his eyebrows from shooting up,
“Excellent, you old bastards, deliberately not giving me anything just now was in order to cheat me.”
Niu Gao and Tai Tan couldn’t help laughing. Tai Tan said:
“Someone as arrogant as you, if we didn’t knock you down a peg, how could you accept it so easily? Old whitebird, haven’t we old brothers not lived together for so many years? I’m very familiar with young master’s character, you’ve seen his talent. I believe you’ve also discovered that young master’s spirit isn’t the Clear Sky Hammer? It’s not that he didn’t inherit the bloodline of the Clear Sky School, but rather because young master has twin spirits. As long as we assist him properly, the young master will definitely lead our Tang Sect to strike our own claim on the Spirit Master world in the future. Spirit Hall is admittedly strong, but as long as we lean back on the two great empires, there’s basically no need to fear them. Come, old whitebird, doesn’t your Speed Clan thirst for power? With our Tang Sect hidden weapons as guarantee, do you still fear your strength not increasing. The hidden weapons you’ve seen today are only the foundation, we’ll still make even more formidable hidden weapons later.”
Bai He found it somewhat difficult to digest this rapid assault of information. Suddenly getting rid of the wine in front of him, looking over Niu Gao, again looking over Tai Tan, for a moment the expression in his eyes was still somewhat hesitant.
It wasn’t that he didn’t trust Niu Gao and Tai Tan, they were all old brothers. Even if they cheated him before, it was with good intentions. But, he still had no choice but to consider some other elements.
“About this, does old Yang know?”
Bai He asked in a low voice.
Niu Gao and Tai Tan looked at each other. Tai Tan said:
“Not yet, when the old goat comes, we’ll fight to win him over as well. But with his character, it really won’t be easy. No matter how it’s put, young master is still from the Clear Sky School. The old goat’s complaints to the Clear Sky School are too deep. I fear he’ll be difficult to persuade.”
Bai He sighed, saying:
“I understand, you both have good intentions too. My Speed Clan also really has some hard times. But, you don’t know the favors old goat has done for me over the years. Their Breaking Clan’s income is the best, and the old goat has always supported me, letting me retain this final shred of dignity. If old goat and his clan doesn’t join, I can’t do it alone.”
Among the four chiefs of the single attribute clans, Tai Tan and Niu Gao had the best relationship, but Bai He and the Breaking Clan’s chief were even closer. But the Breaking Clan’s chief was reclusive, not to the liking of Tai Tan and Niu Gao, so while their relationship was tolerable, it wasn’t too familiar.
Hearing Bai He say this, the two old clan chiefs both frowned. They could understand how Bai He felt, but if they gave up like this they really would feel a bit unreconciled. Bai He was clearly empted. The Tang Sect hidden weapons had a large attractive force to him, and there were still these old brothers of his.
At this moment, Tang San spoke up,
“Senior Bai He, you’re saying that, if the Breaking Clan agrees to join our Tang Sect, you will also bring the Speed Clan to join?”
Bai He shot Tang San a glance, and after thinking deeply, said:
“If you can persuade the Breaking Clan, what can I still say? Don’t say our Speed Clan could still fly alone? Only, youngster, don’t say I didn’t warn you. The old goat isn’t so easily persuaded as old orangutan and old rhino. I know him the best, and he’s not only antisocial, but obstinate and self-opinionated. If not for this, perhaps the Breaking Clan’s losses wouldn’t have been so large back then. If you want to convince him, it absolutely won’t be easy!”
Tang San pondered, then said:
“Leave it to me. I’ll do my utmost to convince the Breaking Clan to join. If I really succeed, the four single attribute clans can join together again.”
Among the four single attribute clans, through Tai Tan’s introduction, Tang San regarded the Strength Clan and Breaking Clan as the most important. The Strength Clan’s forging, the Breaking Clan’s medicine, they were both the supports the Tang Sect needed the most. Therefore, he was determined to win over the Breaking Clan. He also wanted to subdue the group with the greatest hatred for the Clear Sky Clan.
Tai Tan and Niu Gao didn’t know why Tang San was so confident, they both knew that the old goat couldn’t be conquered by force.
Starting to speak, Tang San again simply introduced Bai He to the future development plans of the Tang Sect, and also introduced some Tang Sect hidden weapon characteristics in detail, making Bai He’s understanding of the Tang Sect a lot deeper. In time, Tang San hinted, he wanted to pass on the Ghost Shadow Perplexing Step he used to dodge Bai Chenxiang to the Speed Clan, improving Bai He’s mood a lot. All that remained was worries about the Breaking Clan. On the surface it seemed like he was already inclined to join the Tang Sect.
Even though the Speed Clan didn’t have the foundation of the Mysterious Heaven Skill, their superiority in speed really was too clear. Tang San would only need to teach them some techniques of the Ghost Shadow Perplexing Step to have an effect.
Once the wine made three rounds, and five flavors of dishes, everyone brought their own different moods back to rest in their rooms. Just before leaving the dining hall, Bai He called out to Tang San.
“Sect master Tang, may I ask, how old are you this year?”
Tang San stared blankly a moment,
“Junior is twenty.”
Bai He looked deeply at him, nodded, then brought a shocked granddaughter away.
* * *
[1] A Matrix dodge
Chapter 177: Crystal Blood Dragon Ginseng
Ma Hongjun moved up next to Tang San, whispering:
“Third brother, it seems we really are scary people at our age! This won’t do, I’ll immediately go cultivate to the sixtieth rank, the feel of seeing six spirit rings is different from five. That Bai Chenxiang really looks pretty good, tell me, after I become the vice sect master, will there be some secret rules for chances on her?”
Tang San glanced at Ma Hongjun, patting his shoulder,
“Fatty, if you want to truly gain someone’s love, you have to start with investing your own love. Even though you might not get the corresponding return on your investment, if you don’t invest anything at all, you definitely won’t get any returns. If you want to truly pursue someone, you have to bring out a bit of sincerity.”
Ma Hongjun really hadn’t thought that Tang San would actually lecture him on relationships, when it came to women, he had a lot more experience.
Tang San really was only moved by Xiao Wu alone, but what he knew about relationships really was more than Ma Hongjun. Ma Hongjun regarded women with desire, while Tang San had pure love. It was just because he saw Xiao Wu again today that he spoke some of his thoughts to Ma Hongjun.
An eventless night.
Early morning, Tang San still woke from cultivation before dawn. Lowering his head to look at Xiao Wu lying next to him, sleeping soundly, her plump body like a white little ball. It seemed as if the golden color at the roots of her fur had grown stronger. When looking at it suddenly, it seemed to give a feeling of gold and silver splendor.
Softly stroking Xiao Wu’s fur, Tang San stood, opening the window and letting the fresh and clean air stream into the room.
He didn’t look at Xiao Wu again, because he was afraid he wouldn’t be able to keep himself from summoning Xiao Wu from his spirit ring again. Carefully placing Xiao Wu in the Wishful Hundred Treasure Purse, he then moved onto the roof, conducting his daily routine of cultivating Purple Demon Eye.
The distant east gradually revealed a smear of marble white, the familiar purple qi pulsing along with Tang San’s breathing. Ever since Tang San absorbed that mind condensing wisdom skull bone, his Purple Demon Eye had reach
ed a bottleneck. Even though Tang San was still constantly cultivating it, he still didn’t feel a bit of progress. But Tang San still didn’t stop. Cultivating Purple Demon Eye had long since become a part of his life, and absorbing that purple qi also had benefits for his Mysterious Heaven Skill.
With his spirit power stabilized at the sixty sixth rank, even though Tang San always cultivated painstakingly, it was all to stabilize his spirit power, without accelerating his pace in breaking through. He knew that being at his current level at his age was already remarkable, and he definitely couldn’t forge ahead blindly, if not for him then for Xiao Wu.
“To possess great strength certainly isn’t just a matter of luck. Sect master Tang, you are the most hard working youth I have seen.”
Tang San turned his head to the side with some surprise, to find Bai He standing on a rooftop about twenty meters away, just now stretching. Worthy of being the Speed Clan’s chief, while his spiritual force wasn’t released to examine his surroundings, he had still arrived without Tang San hearing a sound.
“Clan chief Bai He is polite. Junior is just accustomed to cultivating every morning.”
Bai He had arrived already when Tang San was cultivating Purple Demon Eye, and even though he didn’t know what Tang San was cultivating, but he could see the purple golden beams of light shooting almost two chi from his eyes, and he could feel the intangible pressure even twenty meters away. Twenty years old, six spirit ring Spirit Emperor. Bai He had thought deeply last night, and Tang San’s display in the daytime was on his mind.
Bai He smiled faintly, with a flash already reaching Tang San,
“Is your father still well?”
Tang San stared blankly a moment. He hadn’t expected Bai He to actually ask him about his father, didn’t they hate the Clear Sky School? What happened back then had been caused by his father.
He sighed lightly,
“Not too good. In order to repay the Clear Sky School, to repay the wrongs he committed to the sect back then, he cut off two limbs to return the spirit bones to the sect.”
“Ah!”
Bai He cried out,
“He’s still so impetuous. It’s just because of those bad habits that……”
Looking at Tang San, he seemed to again see the high-spirited Tang Hao from back then. The clan chiefs of the four single attribute clans could be said to have watched Tang Hao grow up. Among them, Tang Hao and the Strength Clan chief Tai Tan were the closest. Besides cultivation, he had spent the majority of his time together with Tai Tan. Bothering him to learn forging. But besides Tai Tan, Bai He and Tang Hao were also fairly close.
“Little San. Can I call you that in private?”
Bai He said in a low voice.
Tang San nodded,
“Of course you can, you’re senior.”
Bai He sighed lightly:
“The old orangutan and old rhino, those fellows, already knew I would compromise. Those Tang Sect hidden weapons of yours really are outstanding, but they’re still not the true reason for my compromise. Do you know why I want the Breaking Clan to agree to join your Tang Sect?”
Tang San looked somewhat startled at this proud elder, and shook his head.
Bai He said:
“Because, in terms of family relations, you should call me granduncle. Your grandmother was my elder sister.”
“What?”
Tang San was shocked, and his gaze at Bai He immediately changed a lot. His father had never said anything about the family relationships within the Clear Sky Clan, and he had no idea that clan chief Bai He in front of him was actually his relative.
Bai He’s eyes revealed a light of recollection,
“My sister died early, at that time your father was still young. Tang Xiao and Tang Hao, we saw these children grow up. They were the pride of a generation of the Clear Sky School. Especially your father’s talent was unusual, his cultivation fast, leaving us subsidiary clan people not knowing how to evaluate it. When the Clear Sky School originally declared itself in seclusion, we subsidiary clans left voluntarily. But I have never blamed your father. I know that, even if he’s impulsive, he absolutely wouldn’t do something so impertinent out of impulse. There was inevitably some reason that led to him and Spirit Hall having such a profound hatred. Seeing Tang Hao have a son like you, I truly feel gratified. The Breaking Clan will definitely arrive this morning, but before they arrive, I’ll tell you something about Yang Wudi[1]. Eh, Yang Wudi is the Breaking Clan chief. He’s half a year older than me.”
Tang San focused his attention. He had long ago heard from Tai Tan that Bai He and Yang Wudi had a very good relationship.
Bai He said:
“Yang Wudi has a great many shortcomings as a person, obstinate and self-opinionated, even prouder than me. His strength is the greatest among our four single attribute clans. Don’t look at his spirit power only being at roughly the same level as mine, in a true fight, I’m afraid old orangutan and old rhino might not be his opponent. Because their defense still isn’t enough to resist Yang Wudi’s ‘Breaking’ word.”
“Besides cultivating, Yang Wudi only has one pleasure, and that’s the Breaking Clan’s inherited medicine compounding skills. He has a close to zealous interest when it comes to refining all kinds of medicines. Therefore, medicine can be said to be his only weak point. If you want to persuade him, appealing to strength or emotions is useless. Besides, right now there’s still no small gap between you and him in strength. Only in medicine might you be able to make him give in. Take this.”
While speaking, Bai He pulled out a case from his spirit tool and handed it to Tang San.
That was a pure white jade case, half a meter long, a third that in width, completely lustrous and glossy, carved from top quality sheep fat white jade.
“Granduncle, this is?”
Because of Bai He’s relation to him, Tang San had already changed his form of address.
Bai He smiled slightly, saying:
“This is something I got by accident. It’s also an heirloom of the Speed Clan. After I obtained it, I’ve always been hoarding it, most afraid that fellow Yang Wudi would see it. This time I have no choice but to take it out in order to persuade him. I think that, with it, you can at least improve that old fellow’s opinion of you a bit, giving us a much greater chance. Even if Yang Wudi is headstrong, he’ll still at least give the three of us old fellows’ some meager face.”
Tang San carefully opened the jade case. Immediately, a sweet scent wafted from the box, penetrating deep into the heart. Within that jade box quietly lay a one chi long ginseng.
Ginseng wasn’t enough to surprise Tang San. Even though this ginseng wasn’t small, that still wasn’t rare. What shocked Tang San was the color of this ginseng.
This was a blood red human shape, and moreover a sparkling and crystalline blood red. On the surface was a layer of protrusions that connected together, forming a peculiar design. This design was like a five clawed dragon flying to the ninth heaven.
Swallowing, when Tang San again raised his head to look at Bai He, Bai He was no longer visible, only his voice could be heard,
“Don’t refuse. Little San, this counts as granduncle’s gift for meeting you for the first time. Granduncle will hereafter entrust you with the Speed Clan’s future. I believe you won’t let me down. You’re even more outstanding than your father.”
Tang San’s heart was bursting, absolutely not just a bit of excitement. This particular ginseng was something he didn’t even find back around the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well. He was very clear on just how immensely valuable this ginseng was. This was a Crystal Blood Dragon Ginseng. If the Ten Thousand Year Ninth Grade Ginseng King was the emperor among ginseng, then the Crystal Blood Dragon Ginseng was their empress.
There was a theory regarding the Crystal Blood Dragon Ginseng, and that was that the Crystal Blood Dragon Ginseng was naturally eighth grade, evolving over ten thousand years.
What was called a Ten Thousand Year N
inth Grade Ginseng King was really an immortal ginseng that had grown for more than ten thousand years, but when the Crystal Blood Dragon Ginseng was just recently grown, it was already eighth grade, and it only needed ten thousand years of cultivation to turn into ninth grade. That clearly showed how precious it was. Tang San looked at the slender blood colored ginseng roots, he understood that this Crystal Blood Dragon Ginseng he held was at least five thousand years old. Even though it was placed in the jade case, since the jade case had absorbed the essence of heaven and earth, it was still slowly growing. Compared to the Ten Thousand Year Ninth Grade Ginseng King he had to find, this Crystal Blood Dragon Ginseng was really only half a grade away.
Such a precious item couldn’t be weighed with money. That Bai He hadn’t taken it out even when the Speed Clan was suffering, clearly showed how much he valued it. But he had actually handed it over to him. It was no wonder his granduncle would be so confident in being able to move the Breaking Clan chief with this Crystal Blood Dragon Ginseng. Also studying medicine, Tang San equally understood the effect of this thing.
Douluo Dalu - Volume 01-48 Page 313