Chapter 861: If I Could Make the Radiance Shine Brighter

Tang San turned toward the elders. His heart was filled with admiration. There were more than forty of them here, all of them tenth-order powerhouses, and each of them exuded an overwhelming aura of life. Standing among them, Tang San felt as though his body was constantly being washed by an immense torrent of life energy.

He had endured the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths Divine Extinguishing Tribulation, but the process had been extremely dangerous, and he had been struck multiple times by heavenly lightning the likes of which no being in this plane had ever seen. And under such pressure, even Tang San’s body had sustained damage. After the tribulation, his body had become much stronger, and so had his divine consciousness; at the same time, however, his very life essence had been damaged and that would take a long time to repair. With his divine seat, it was really just a matter of time—he had to build up his strength before he dared to attempt breaking through to the twelfth order—but sadly, time was what he lacked most right now.

𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

But in just the short amount of time he had spent here, Tang San could clearly feel that he was recovering, and he was recovering at his very core. The sensation was indescribably comfortable. The level of the life energy was so high that even someone at his cultivation level could benefit from it directly; his life essence was being nourished, and at this rate, it would be back to normal in no time at all.

When he first arrived, he was simply curious about the Blue Gold Tree clan. But now, he felt that he truly needed to acquire the Ancestral Tree’s inheritance. His bloodline was perfectly pure, of course, because he had absorbed it from the Ancestral Tree’s direct heir, so in that respect, there would be no problem.

All the elders of the Blue Gold Tree clan focused their gazes on Tang San, waiting for him to speak.

Tang San swept his gaze over them and smiled.

"After being away for many years, returning and feeling the radiance of the Ancestral Tree once again reminds me that this is my true home. Life has been harsh for me; I was a stranger in a strange land, but even though I longed to return home, I didn’t dare to do so without having accomplished anything. It wasn’t until recently, after a series of unexpected events allowed me to gain some insights, that I finally felt qualified to come back."

At this point, Tang San paused briefly, and the eight spikes on his back stood upright.

Even though he had barely used them for an hour or so, he was perfectly familiar with their functions. After all, in his previous life, one of his most useful abilities had been the Eight Spider Lances, which these spikes very much resembled. Controlling them now was not only effortless but also filled him with a nostalgic longing for his past life.

"Because the Ancestral Tree has not passed on its inheritance in this generation, our clan does not have an Emperor right now[1]. But that may not necessarily be a bad thing. In fact, simply relying on the Ancestral Tree's inheritance to give birth to an Emperor could very well end up causing trouble for the clan. After all, becoming an Emperor purely through life force would result in being the weakest among Emperors, and whoever did so would easily attract the covetous eyes of other Emperors. I believe this is what you are concerned about."

Hearing his words, the elders couldn’t help but nod. This was indeed their main concern. Unless they reached the level of the Ancestral Tree, a Blue Gold Tree Emperor would indeed be the weakest among Emperors. At the same time, their body would be the most sought-after treasure. If another Emperor devoured a Blue Gold Tree Emperor, their strength and lifespan would skyrocket, likely to the very pinnacle of the twelfth order. In fact, had it not been for the protection of the Ancestral Tree, the Blue Gold Tree clan’s estate would have been invaded countless times. And if the Ancestral Tree’s inheritance fell on a single clan member, even if they did become an Emperor, could they really protect the Blue Gold Tree clan? If the Ancestral Tree’s inheritance was passed on, its protective power would greatly diminish for a while, putting the clan at significant risk.

"Secondly, because the Ancestral Tree’s power remains, its radiance continues to shine upon Skytree City. Every single one of our clansmen benefits from the nourishment of this life force, and the higher one’s cultivation, the greater the effect. I believe you are concerned that if I accept the Ancestral Tree’s inheritance, this radiance will disappear. It only makes sense for you to be worried."

Jin Miaosen was stunned. She had assumed that her brother, having been away for so long, wouldn’t understand the situation, but she hadn’t expected him to be so perceptive. As she listened to him, her anxiety slowly faded away.

The Grand Elder’s eyes narrowed. Since Jin Miaolin seemed to understand everything, could he really have a solution to this problem?

The elders of the Blue Gold Tree clan were also rather surprised. Seeing his calm and composed demeanor, their initial sense of rejection began to soften as their attention was fully drawn to him.

Tang San continued, "As a member of the Blue Gold Tree clan, it is my pride to carry on the bloodline of the Ancestral Tree. However, I would never be willing to pass on the Ancestral Tree’s power at the cost of the entire clan’s wellbeing. If that were the case, I wouldn’t have needed to seek opportunities elsewhere; I could have stayed here and taken on the inheritance directly. In other words, as far as I’m concerned, the premise for inheriting the Ancestral Tree’s power is resolving the issues at hand. Otherwise, there’s no need for you to vote. I wouldn’t be qualified."

This time, even the Grand Elder’s face showed a look of surprise, and he couldn’t help but ask, "Do you mean to say you have a way to resolve these two problems?"

Tang San smiled slightly and said, "At this point, words are useless. We can discuss inheritance and whatnot once these things are settled. Elders, allow me to first demonstrate that my return will only benefit the Blue Gold Tree clan."

As he spoke, he walked slowly toward the massive Ancestral Tree. At the same time, a soft blue radiance began to emanate from his body.

This blue light was something none of those present had ever seen before. It was clear and crystalline, as if shining from within a sapphire, yet it also had a mysterious feeling to it, as if being illuminated by it could reveal some of the profound truths of the universe. The elders of the Blue Gold Tree clan were simply looking at Tang San and were not touched by this radiance directly, yet they immediately felt something. In some mysterious way, their perception and understanding of life force seemed to be subtly changing, as if their awareness of life itself was being elevated.

What kind of power is this?

They were sure of one thing—this was life energy, but at the same time, it was not ordinary life energy. They knew best; after all, no being on this planet was more familiar with life energy than they were. Indeed, the blue light emanating from Tang San carried a strange quality, deep and majestic. As he walked toward the Ancestral Tree, it didn’t feel as if he was approaching it with reverence; instead, there was a sense of equality, as though he stood on even ground with the tree.

The elders of the Blue Gold Tree clan instinctively parted to either side, creating a path for Tang San to approach the Ancestral Tree. The Grand Elder opened his mouth, intending to stop him, but in the end, he couldn’t bring himself to speak. Tang San’s earlier words, combined with the sudden aura he now emitted, caused even the Grand Elder to feel a sense of apprehension.

Tang San was perfectly correct: the greatest problem of the Blue Gold Tree clan was their lack of combat abilities. Despite the presence of so many tenth-order powerhouses, their actual battle strength was ordinary at best. This was why, even with their numbers, they were often bullied by other races and rarely dared to leave the inner city. Each Blue Gold Tree clan member was a living treasure, incredibly valuable to both demons and nymphs, which made them highly attractive targets. As a result, they were naturally timid by nature.

Even the peak eleventh-order Grand Elder found himself retreating under the force of Tang San’s aura. He felt... fear and awe.

1. The raws actually say "never had an Emperor," but this directly contradicts 857. ☜