Soul Land 5: The Rebirth of Tang San

Chapter 268: You Are My Successor

"Little Mei, I took you into seclusion this time without informing any of our kin. However, the moment you and I began this seclusion, you became the next Peacock Great Demon King."

When the Peacock Great Demon King uttered these words, Mei Gongzi's eyes instantly narrowed. This was the ultimate goal she and her mother had aimed for, and now, hearing it was about to be realized so suddenly and unexpectedly filled her with disbelief.

The Peacock Great Demon King looked at her meaningfully and said, "Therefore, whether for the sake of our Peacock Demon clan or humans, you must strive hard. Only you can help our clan take charge of Kali City and bring glory to our kind."

Mei Gongzi's breathing became slightly rapid. "Is it decided? But..."

The Peacock Great Demon King waved his hand dismissively, "There are no 'buts.' This decision was made a long time ago. I have been pushing in this direction for many years. Rest assured; since fate has granted me some time, I will arrange everything properly."

Mei Gongzi slightly lowered her head. She offered no false modesty, as she could not afford to be modest. Despite being only fourteen years old, she was acutely aware of the heavy burden she carried on her shoulders.

The Peacock Great Demon King said solemnly, "However, I need you to make a vow. You will be the Peacock Great Demon King as long as you live. No matter what contributions or help you provide to humans, you must not harm the interests of the Peacock Demon clan. When you are about to leave this position, whether through death or abdication, the throne of the Peacock Demon clan must be returned to our people."

Mei Gongzi suddenly raised her head, her gaze carrying a hint of determination, "Did you figure it out from the beginning?"

The Peacock Great Demon King looked at her intensely and said, "Figure it out? No, there was nothing to figure out. Your mother never hid anything from me. She clarified her intentions when she accepted me, and I agreed. From our first day together, I knew she was the Saint Mother of the Redemption Society. In fact, it was precisely because I agreed to her terms and let you inherit the throne of the Peacock Great Demon King in the future that she was willing to be with me."

Mei Gongzi was stunned; she had never heard this from her mother. She had always believed that her mother was the most important member of the Redemption Society, having infiltrated the high ranks of the demon race and willing to sacrifice herself for the organization. But the words of the Peacock Great Demon King completely overturned her understanding.

Seeing her shocked gaze, the Peacock Great Demon King gave a bitter smile and said, "Do you find it strange? How could there be such a foolish demon king? Let me tell you, not only do they exist, but there's more than one—at least two. Honestly, you have no idea how charming your mother was in her youth. Her charm was so irresistible that I couldn't refuse. I agreed to her request, and I am a man of my word. I will fulfill my promise."

"At that time, I had only one thought: as long as she was willing to be with me, I would give up the whole world. I didn't have much of a sense of belonging to my kind. So, I agreed. I thought I would do everything in my power to win her love. I would naturally have the chance as long as she was with me. I know more than you might imagine, my little Blue Class child."

Mei Gongzi stared at him, dazed, as if only from this moment that she genuinely saw her father for who he was.

The Peacock Great Demon King stood up, approached her, and gently patted her head. "Silly girl, don't overthink. Just do what you want to do. The vow I asked you to make is also the most important thing I've done for our people. It's also for the sake of our people's legacy. In the future, you will understand why I made this choice. If not for this choice, perhaps our race might face the danger of extinction. I'm not a good person, but I bear no malice toward you and your mother; there is only love."

Then, the voice of the Peacock Great Demon King became serious again. "Make your vow now."

Mei Gongzi took a deep breath, calming the storm within her heart, and looked at the Peacock Great Demon King with clear eyes. "Father, can I trust you?"

"Yes."

Mei Gongzi nodded and said, "I swear, if I inherit the throne of the Peacock Great Demon King in the future, throughout my life, I will never do anything to harm the Peacock Demon clan. If I die or abdicate, I will first pass the throne to a member of the Peacock Demon Clan. Should I break this oath—"

"That's enough," the Peacock Great Demon King interrupted her last words. "You are very much like your mother and me. You might be young, but your word is your bond."

Mei Gongzi looked at him, and he once again put his hand on her head. "Let's go, I'll take you to a place. Starting today, I will teach you the secret techniques of the Peacock Demon clan. When you come out of seclusion, it will be the moment for you to dance with the heavens and the earth."

A silver light shone at their feet, quickly enveloping the father and daughter. Between the flickers of light, the two figures instantly vanished.

***

Night fell.

Kali Academy returned to peace. Within the tranquil academy, only the occasional sounds of insects and birds echoed.

Tang San was sitting cross-legged in the secret room of the academy's store, absorbing the spiritual energy here to cultivate.

Thanks to his soul and spirit cores, his cultivation speed increased every day, and his physical strength, nourished by the life energy of the treasure plants here, far exceeded that of his peers. He no longer appeared like a malnourished ten-year-old, but rather like a strong and fit young man of sixteen.

Had the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor not retreated, he might have had to sweep the academy store clean and flee with Mei Gongzi. For now, at least, he could continue cultivating here for a short while longer. The locked vault of the store, filled with amazing herbs and fruits, greatly benefited his cultivation progress.

Mei Gongzi's cup of milk tea had awakened all his senses, filling his heart with emotion and resolve.

All he had to do was wait for her return. Since she said she would return to check on his cultivation progress and seek Asura again, then she would return to do exactly that.

Even though he couldn't see her, knowing she was in Kali City was enough. She hadn't gone far; she was still by his side.

Meanwhile, he couldn’t just waste his time while she wasn’t around. Her seclusion with the Peacock Great Demon King was to enhance her strength. With her talent, she would undoubtedly be far stronger upon her return.

The Peacock Great Demon King's willingness to take her into seclusion meant she was one step closer to inheriting the throne. The only issue was the threat from the Crystal Phoenix Demon Emperor.

To resolve all of this, the most direct method was to become strong enough to stand by her side, to acquire sufficient strength to protect her.

Therefore, during her period of seclusion, Tang San's most crucial task was naturally to enhance his own strength. If he could return to the god level and truly awaken his divine consciousness, thus recovering the various abilities from his previous life, he would have the power to face any enemy.

Nurturing spiritual power and improving cultivation level. Preparing for the breakthrough to the god level.

For Tang San, after the consolidation of the two cores, reaching the pinnacle of the ninth order was now simply a matter of time. All he had to do was elevate the bloodlines of his companions so they could advance in cultivation, so he could benefit from it as well. The biggest issue, however, was breaking through to the god level.

Ever since his understanding of this world deepened, he had contemplated how to solve the problem of breaking through to the god level.

He did not belong to that plane, and once his divine consciousness became powerful, truly stepping into the god level, he had to communicate with that world. In other words, he would inevitably be affected by the plane.

The planar ruler maintained the entire plane by instinct, and its purpose was to ensure the plane's balance and protection from external threats. Given that the Falan Planet could give birth to beings of the twelfth order, First Class Gods, the strength of that plane could be imagined—it was not inferior to a proper divine realm. It was just that it hadn't taken that step just yet.

In the future, Falan's growth was destined to be closely linked with the growth of the entire plane. Naturally, excluding any and all foreign elements was an important self-defense mechanism and thus inevitable.