Divine Emperor Demon Emperor

Chapter 284: Chapter 284: Tang Chenming

After Lin Yun left, Tang Qing sighed helplessly, and his expression immediately turned severe. Since Lin Yun refused to budge an inch, Tang Qing could only harden his heart for the sake of the Royal Family.

Seeing Tang Qing’s expression, Elder Bai, who was standing to the side, opened his mouth as if to speak but ultimately said nothing. He knew that no matter what he said now, Tang Qing wouldn’t listen.

Tang Qing stood, called for the Crown Prince and the Second Prince, and led them out of the small courtyard. The three of them made their way to a secluded area deep within Celestial Eagle Peak, the residential area for the Main Seat Elders of Celestial Eagle Valley. Everyone who lived here was an existence beyond the Primordial Ocean Realm, and each of their disciples was a Direct Disciple.

They found one of the courtyards. It appeared very simple, but one would be mistaken to think it ordinary. From its design to its construction, every material used was of the highest quality.

He knocked lightly on the courtyard gate. A moment later, a young man emerged. Upon seeing him, Tang Qing spoke respectfully, ”I am Tang Qing from Yanhuang Academy, here to visit Elder Tang.”

At his words, the young man gave a slight nod and gestured for him to enter. Tang Qing stepped into the small courtyard, but as he did, the young man blocked the Crown Prince and the Second Prince.

”My master dislikes noise. You two will wait outside the gate.”

With that, the young man unceremoniously barred them from entry, showing the Crown Prince and the Second Prince no deference whatsoever. Yet the two, who were normally so arrogant, dared not show the slightest anger. The Elder Tang inside was an existence who had surpassed the Primordial Ocean Realm.

Walking into the small courtyard, Tang Qing moved with familiarity toward one of the houses. The building seemed plain and unremarkable, but upon approaching, one would discover that its surroundings were covered in carved Spirit Gathering Arrays. Heaven and Earth Primordial Power converged endlessly around the structure.

As he reached the door, another young man spotted Tang Qing and called out with a smile, ”Second Grand-uncle.”

”Haha, Tang Ao. It’s only been a few years, and you’re already at the Second Layer of the Primordial Ocean Realm.” Tang Qing smiled at the young man in admiration.

The young man bore a slight resemblance to the Crown Prince. He was, in fact, Tang Ao, the fourth son of Yanhuang Country’s reigning His Holiness. Three years prior, Tang Ao’s aptitude had caught the attention of Celestial Eagle Valley, and he had become one of its disciples at a young age.

Furthermore, Tang Ao’s master was also a member of the Yanhuang Royal Family. However, for those who had reached such a high Realm, a small nation like Yanhuang Country was beneath their notice. Their only concern was how to break through to an even higher Realm.

”Is my uncle inside?” Tang Qing asked Tang Ao.

”Yes. Master said for you to go straight in,” Tang Ao replied.

The man Tang Qing had come to see was named Tang Chenming. He was Tang Qing’s uncle, the grandfather of the reigning His Holiness, and a member of the Yanhuang Royal Family. However, over a century ago, Tang Chenming had joined Celestial Eagle Valley. After breaking through the Primordial Ocean Realm to reach the Celestial Spirit Realm, he had rarely concerned himself with the affairs of Yanhuang Country. The world was unaware that the Royal Family had a figure like Tang Chenming in its ranks.

He knocked respectfully. Only after a voice from within responded did Tang Qing push the door open and enter. Tang Ao, however, did not follow.

The room’s interior was simple. Aside from four cushions and a table, it was empty. An old man with a youthful complexion and crane-white hair was seated cross-legged on one of the cushions, quietly sipping tea.

”Uncle.” Tang Qing bowed to the old man and addressed him respectfully. The elder was indeed Tang Chenming.

”You’re here. Sit,” Tang Chenming said lightly, his eyes never once shifting to look at Tang Qing.

Tang Qing sat down nervously beside him. Even though they were family, he always felt tense around Tang Chenming. It had nothing to do with their blood ties; it was purely due to the oppressive difference in their strength.

Although Tang Chenming emanated no aura and appeared to be an ordinary old man, Tang Qing knew that a figure of his caliber was capable of annihilating all of Yanhuang Country.

”Uncle, your nephew has come this time to...” Tang Qing chose his words carefully as he began to speak to Tang Chenming, but he was cut off before he could finish.

”Lin Yun, is it? He’s a decent kid. His aptitude is comparable to that of a Demon Fiend.”

As he spoke, Tang Chenming’s clouded eyes gazed blankly forward, and he sighed as if to himself.

”As one of the Main Seat Elders of Celestial Eagle Valley, I ordinarily shouldn’t concern myself with such matters. But in this life, who is without attachments? No matter how high your Cultivation, there are always things you cannot cast aside.”

”Take that child, Ao’er, for example. I took him as my disciple and brought him to Celestial Eagle Valley because I wanted to leave a safeguard for the Tang Family.”

Tang Chenming continued to muse aloud, completely ignoring Tang Qing beside him. And Tang Qing, for his part, did not dare to interrupt, forced to wait until Tang Chenming had finished.

As he spoke, Tang Chenming’s gaze suddenly fell upon Tang Qing. His once-clouded eyes sharpened, and that single glance was enough to make Tang Qing, a master at the Ninth Layer of the Primordial Ocean Realm, feel a suffocating pressure.

Beads of sweat formed on his forehead. Tang Qing sat tensely, not daring to move a muscle. After a long moment, Tang Chenming reverted to his earlier state, retracting his aura.

”I will handle this boy. However, you have all gone too far this time. Antagonizing a Demon Fiend is a dangerous affair. Once he is fully grown, even I will be helpless against him. Go back and tell the others that while our Tang Family may be unrivaled in Yanhuang Country, we are as insignificant as ants in the greater Eastern Domain. In the future, you must not be so arrogant and overbearing.”

Hearing Tang Chenming’s words, Tang Qing hurriedly replied, ”Thank you, Uncle. We will be sure to take your teachings to heart from now on.”

”Go. The major powers won’t take a fancy to Lin Yun. They still have to give me, Tang Chenming, that much face. It’s just...”

As he spoke, a faint killing intent emanated from Tang Chenming. ”It’s just that since matters have reached this point, there can be no mercy. We must eradicate him, root and stem.”

The faint wisp of killing intent from Tang Chenming instantly plunged the entire room into an icy chill.

After respectfully exiting the room, Tang Qing’s heart was still pounding from the killing intent Tang Chenming had released.

”Grand-uncle, how did it go?” Seeing Tang Qing emerge, Tang Ao, who had been waiting outside the entire time, asked with a smile.

With a slight nod, Tang Qing signaled that the matter was settled. He then said to Tang Ao, ”Let’s go. Your eldest and second brothers are outside. Go say hello.”

He led Tang Ao away from Tang Chenming’s small courtyard.

Few people in Yanhuang Country knew of Tang Chenming’s existence. Even within the Royal Family, knowledge of him was restricted to the Direct Lineage; those from collateral branches, like Tang Wushuang, were completely unaware he even existed.

This was the deep foundation of the Royal Family that Tang Qing had mentioned. A royal Tang Family with a thousand-year history was naturally not so simple. Otherwise, how could they have controlled Yanhuang Country for a millennium?

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