C1 Tang Yuan

In the Sword Dynasty, within Jin City, Holy Mountain Town, there was the Tang family.

Bang!

A young man was sent flying, crashing heavily onto the ground with a foot planted firmly on his chest.

"Tang Yuan, how does it feel to be underfoot?" The owner of the foot, Tang Hsing, sported a smile as he leaned in to whisper in Tang Yuan's ear, "Feeling powerless? Unable to muster even a shred of your Spiritual Force?"

"Was it the pill from this morning?" Tang Yuan coughed up blood, his gaze filled with rage as he looked at Tang Ling standing below the Battle Platform. "Why?!"

"What do you mean, Mr. Tang Yuan? Ling Er is so confused!" Tang Ling's beautiful face was twisted into a mocking smile. "Mr. Tang Yuan, you've been defeated fair and square. Why take your frustration out on Ling Er?"

"That's right, that's right. The esteemed Young Master, and yet so little grace?"

"I see now, the so-called prodigy is just that, utterly powerless against Tang Hsing!"

Tang Yuan's icy stare swept over the jeering crowd. Their scornful laughter and once sycophantic expressions now overlapped, transforming into the visages of fiends from the depths of hell!

"Die already, Young Master, and leave the title to me!" Tang Hsing muttered darkly, as a tremendous force suddenly erupted from beneath his foot.

Crack!

...

"Where am I? Wasn't I dead?" Tang Yuan's eyes fluttered open, memories flooding his mind like an incoming tide.

It took a while, but he finally pieced together his current predicament. In his past life, he was the Essence Monarch, betrayed by all and ultimately slain by his own disciple! By some twist of fate, he was reborn into the body of a youth also named Tang Yuan.

With the young Tang Yuan's memories now his own, Tang Yuan couldn't help but smile at the striking parallels in their fates.

Tang Yuan was once the young chieftain of the Tang family. His father, Tang Xiu, had ventured into the Small Holy Mountain for a trial a year prior and had vanished without a trace. Raised single-handedly by Tang Xiu, Tang Yuan found himself the target of many after his father's disappearance. As the young chieftain of the Tang family, he was suddenly in a precarious position, as a cultivator at the Spirit Containing Stage had no right to lead the Tang family.

Today's events were nothing short of a conspiracy orchestrated by Tang Hsing and Tang Ling against Tang Yuan!

Tang Ling, Tang Yuan's cousin, had always been doted on by him. She, in turn, had always enjoyed clinging to Tang Yuan since childhood. Yet, it was this very cousin who had joined forces with Tang Hsing to deceive Tang Yuan into taking the Spirit Pill!

Subsequently, Tang Yuan witnessed Tang Hsing bullying Tang Ling. Outraged, the two decided to engage in a martial arts duel, signing a life-and-death agreement, with no regard for the outcome.

Due to the effects of the Spirit Pill, Tang Yuan was left powerless in the face of Tang Hsing. After enduring great humiliation, he was unceremoniously kicked off the Battle Platform by Tang Hsing!

"Rest easy now. Those who betrayed us will be crushed under my feet," Tang Yuan whispered, feeling the last vestiges of his soul fading away within him.

Upon examining his injuries, Tang Yuan managed a wry smile and shook his head. His ribcage was nearly completely shattered. Even if he survived by some stroke of luck, he would be left with a crippling disability. This was the cruel intention of Tang Hsing—to ensure Tang Yuan would never rise again.

"If it weren't for this youngster's scheme, I might have succeeded," Tang Yuan murmured, a smile gracing his face. The Essence Monarch Spell, a powerful cultivation technique he had developed after becoming a Monarch, promised a swift recovery. With it, his severe injuries would heal in just three days!

Over the following three days, Tang Yuan utilized the Essence Monarch Spell to fully heal his wounds, and his strength soared from the Level Five Heaven to the Level Six Heaven of the Spirit Containing Stage!

At one point, Tang Hsing's strength was also at the Level Five Heaven of the Spirit Containing Stage. Tang Yuan could have easily handled someone like Tang Hsing without breaking a sweat, but he never expected betrayal from the person he trusted the most.

"Tang Ling, Tang Hsing, are you prepared to face my wrath?" Tang Yuan felt his Spiritual Force swelling within him, his eyes glinting with a chilling resolve.

"Three days have passed. I wonder if that waste has perished yet!"

Footsteps echoed at the entrance, and Tang Yuan, who was deep in meditation, slowly opened his eyes to see two young men entering the room.

"Well, look who's still alive!" One of the youths, wearing a smirk, was Tang Meng, flanked by Tang Fei. Both were henchmen of Tang Hsing.

"Scram!"

Tang Yuan held these two in such low regard that, prior to his misfortune, he could have wiped them out single-handedly. Now, after his breakthrough, dispatching them would be even simpler!

The expressions of Tang Meng and Tang Fei turned icy. They had been sent to collect Tang Yuan's body, not expecting to find him very much alive!

"Brother Xing said that even if he's alive, he's nothing but a cripple now. Since he's not dead, let's help him along!" Tang Meng said with a cold sneer.

Tang Yuan was the Tang family's prodigy. At fifteen, he had awakened his spirit and within a year, ascended to the Level Five Heaven of the Spirit Containing Stage—a feat few in the Sword Dynasty could claim!

But now, Tang Yuan was seen as nothing more than a powerless has-been, someone even those who once admired him could now easily crush underfoot!

Delighted by this thought, the two men laughed heartily, envisioning Tang Yuan groveling at their feet.

"Your laughter is utterly revolting!" Tang Yuan rose to his feet, his Spiritual Force swirling around him, unleashing a formidable pressure that swept forward.

"What is this?!"

Feeling the overwhelming force, their faces drained of color.

Thud!

Like lightning, Tang Yuan charged at Tang Meng, landing a punch that collapsed his chest and sent a gush of blood spewing from his mouth before his eyes shut for the last time.

Tang Yuan wiped the blood from himself and turned his gaze to Tang Fei.

Tang Fei shuddered, knowing his Level Four Heaven strength was no match for Tang Yuan.

Run!

This single thought dominated Tang Fei's mind as he abandoned Tang Meng's body and bolted for the door.

"Do you think you can escape?"

Tang Yuan's icy voice rang in his ears, followed by the terrifying sound of the wind being torn apart.

"Wind Shattering Claw!"

Tang Yuan's fingers glowed, and three terrifying beams of light streaked by. Suddenly, Tang Fei's body bore three deep gashes from which blood spurted out in torrents!

"I'll let you live, but only so you can deliver a message to Tang Hsing. Tell him that in the family competition three months from now, I want his life!" With those chilling words, Tang Yuan turned and strode toward the Tang family's Martial Arts Hall.

Gritting his teeth against the searing pain, Tang Fei scrambled away, knowing he had to inform Tang Hsing of this encounter without delay.

Truth be told, Tang Yuan had the power to end Tang Hsing's life right then and there, but doing so would surely provoke Tang Hsing's father to seek vengeance. Hence, Tang Yuan was in search of a powerful ally to support him.