Over half a month later.
On this day, Tang Wulin once again arrived at the location of the Golden Ancient Tree in the Inner Court. The figure of Tree Elder also reappeared before him.
"Wu Lin, you've come."
A faint smile graced Tree Elder's face.
"Tree Elder."
"I came to check on Zi Xin's condition."
Tang Wulin grinned respectfully.
As he spoke, his gaze drifted into the distance, landing on Ouyang Zixin, who was seated cross-legged in cultivation. A glimmer of anticipation flickered in his eyes—it seemed Zi Xin was nearly done!
"Mmm."
"Your girlfriend's absorption is in its final stages. It should be completed by today."
Tree Elder responded lightly, smiling knowingly.
"Great!"
"I've really troubled you these past days, Tree Elder."
Tang Wulin nodded sincerely.
The fact that the elder before him had been willing to help both him and Zi Xin, even expending his own energy, was a kindness he would never forget.
"No need for formalities."
"However, I still look forward to your future achievements. Your talent is the strongest among this generation. What you'll accomplish in the years to come…"
"I hope I'll live to see it."
Tree Elder shook his head with a chuckle, his tone tinged with emotion as his eyes lingered on the young man. He couldn't help but murmur to himself.
What a fine child!
Not at all like that selfish and domineering God King Tang San. If this little one were to grow into the Child of Nature, perhaps it wouldn't be such a bad thing.
"But…"
"Could it really be him? On the Douluo Continent, is there truly no one outside the Tang family…"
"Who could possess such qualifications?"
The hesitation in Tree Elder's heart had been steadily diminishing, yet his resentment toward Tang San remained as fierce as ever.
He understood that the shifts in his state of mind were being influenced by the wife of the God of the Realm. Slowly but surely, he was losing his own thoughts entirely.
Even if the last tree spirit of the Golden Ancient Tree didn't vanish, it would likely end up as nothing more than a lapdog for the Tang family.
"Tree Elder, your praise…"
"I truly don't deserve it. Among the younger generation, my talent only ranks…"
"First, second, third, fourth—at best, I'm fourth."
Tang Wulin shook his head repeatedly, speaking bluntly.
First place was undoubtedly his brother Luo Chuan. Second was Gu Yue-jie, third was Na'er-jie, and fourth…
Wu Siduo was slightly weaker than him, so naturally, he took the fourth spot. Surely this wasn't overconfidence, right?
"Fourth?"
"You only rank fourth?"
Hearing this, Tree Elder froze, his face blank with astonishment.
Fourth…
How could that be?
The boy before him was Tang San's son, blessed with absolute advantages on the Douluo Continent. Even if he had no memories of his birth parents and had never met the God of the Realm, Tang Hao…
Being Tang San's child alone should have placed him far above his peers. If he was only fourth, then what kind of monsters were the top three?
Yet soon, the embers of hope in his heart flared anew. Did this not mean that those outside the Tang lineage also had the potential to become the Child of Nature?
"That's right."
"Tree Elder, my brother Tang Luochuan is the most talented genius of our generation. At the same age, he's already a Soul King."
Tang Wulin grinned.
"..."
Tree Elder fell silent, his lips twitching slightly.
No wonder he was more powerful than the person before him...
Tang Wulin's brother!
"To think..."
"In this generation, Tang San actually has two sons. Two sons, damn it all..."
"How could this be!"
Tree Elder gritted his teeth, momentarily unable to hold back his frustration.
One member of the Tang family was already enough to turn the Douluo Continent upside down, but two? And it's not even Tang San...
Are you even human?!
"Your brother..."
"He's also outstanding. What about the other two? What are their Martial Souls?"
Suppressing his emotions, Tree Elder looked at the young man before him and pressed further.
"Hmm? The other two? They're my sisters-in-law. One is Gu Yue, the other is Na'er..."
"Both are incredibly powerful Soul Masters. One has the Silver Dragon King as her Martial Soul, while the other wields the Silver Dragon Spear. They're both Soul King-level experts."
Tang Wulin patiently explained.
"Gu Yue... Na'er..."
Upon hearing these names, the Golden Ancient Tree froze momentarily. The names felt eerily familiar.
Ten thousand years ago, when Huo Yuhao—before his name change—was still on the Douluo Continent, he had collaborated with a certain figure from the forest. That figure's name seemed to be... Gu Yuena...
"Wait."
"Gu Yue... her Martial Soul is the Silver Dragon King?"
Hearing this, Tree Elder was even more shocked. Beneath his outwardly calm demeanor, his heart trembled uncontrollably.
Silver Dragon King!
It really is the Silver Dragon King...
She has actually emerged! And she's become a woman of the Tang family? No, how could he hesitate now?!
"Even the Silver Dragon King has chosen the Tang family..."
Tree Elder thought silently to himself.
The Tang family held an unparalleled status among humans, serving as the true absolute leaders. If even the Silver Dragon King had aligned herself with them, then what of the Soul Beasts...
Wouldn't they just become playthings of the Tang family?
"That's right."
"Gu Yue-jie's Martial Soul is the Silver Dragon King, and it pairs almost perfectly with Brother's Spirit Golden Dragon King. It's incredibly div—Tree Elder, are you alright?"
Tang Wulin didn't notice the other's mood and continued speaking calmly. But before he could finish, Tree Elder suddenly stiffened, his figure appearing right in front of Tang Wulin, mere inches away.
"You..."
"What did you say his Martial Soul is? What is it?!"
Tree Elder no longer maintained his earlier calm and amiable demeanor. Pressing his lips together, he couldn't help but demand an answer.
"Golden Dragon King."
"It's an incredibly powerful Martial Soul, far surpassing mine by more than a tier..."
Tang Wulin said with a smile. He didn't mention how, after his brother received the Godhood Inheritance, he could sense his Martial Soul advancing even further.
Because just the Golden Dragon King alone was already overwhelmingly strong!
"Golden Dragon King..."
"How could this be...?"
Tree Elder's entire body trembled!
Golden Dragon King! Silver Dragon King!
Don't tell him these two great deities had reincarnated together and descended upon the Douluo Continent!
Child, is that really your blood brother?
That's the Golden Dragon King! How could a member of the Tang family possibly have the Golden Dragon King as their Martial Soul...?
"Wu Lin."
"Is your brother... really your brother?"
Tree Elder took a deep breath and asked.
"Huh?"
Hearing this, Tang Wulin froze, silently marking a question mark in his mind.
Tree Elder, what do you mean by that?!
"Just..."
"Well, I mean, is your brother your real brother?"
Tree Elder also felt his words were a bit odd and somewhat impolite, but he pressed on regardless.
"Of course he's my real brother!"
"It's not like my brother was picked up from somewhere."
Tang Wulin replied helplessly.
"..."
At that moment, Tree Elder understood.
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