If you opened Tang Shi's dictionary, the most frequent entries would probably be the characters "倒" (fall/misfortune) and "霉" (mold/bad luck); together, they spell "unlucky."
Back then, getting hit by a book and transmigrating was bad enough. He once thought that the thing on his palm would be something especially badass. But it didn't appear early or late—of all times, it had to show up at this crucial moment. Tang Shi even had the urge to smash his own palm flat with a hammer!
Even though he was full of complaints about that ancestor, the fact remained—he was an ancestor. If he caused any weird trouble here, who knows what kind of petty revenge someone like his father, Tang Ming, would take on him! That petty man!
Tang Shi had already known before coming here—this world simply had no such thing as familial affection. Everyone was a cultivator and could live a very long time. Respecting the strong might be the true principle. Family affection and the like couldn't compare to cultivation talent.
He quietly clenched his palm again and tucked it into his sleeve. Soon enough, that burning sensation began to fade, and in no time, it had already completely disappeared.
A layer of cold sweat appeared on Tang Shi's forehead. He quietly wiped it off while no one was paying attention to him. Only then did he have the time to listen to what others were saying.
"Ancestor, these few people are—" Tang Ming cautiously looked at the five young people the Tang Clan's ancestor had brought along. Three men and two women—also cultivators, with low cultivation levels—all in the Qi Refining stage. Just what was the ancestor planning by bringing them back?
The Tang Clan's patriarch sat at the seat of honor and said in a low, serious voice, "This time, I did not return for personal matters. It's just that the time has come for my Tianhai Sect's once-every-five-years recruitment of new blood, and so the sect master sent me to Dongshan to recruit disciples. Our Tang Clan has always enjoyed the protection of the Tianhai Sect. Naturally, we cannot fall behind in this disciple recruitment, so I took the opportunity to return while I was at it. These people behind me are all disciples of the Tianhai Sect. They will also assist me in recruiting new disciples tomorrow."
As he spoke, he casually pointed to the five people behind him.
Among those five, three men wore cyan (or blue-green) Taoist robes. Their hair was tied up with jade hairpins. Though they couldn't be said to have sword-shaped eyebrows and star-like eyes, they still looked as if they had a bit more of a cold, immortal aura than ordinary people. The two women were both dressed in light green clothes. They weren't particularly eye-catching or outstanding, nor were their outfits particularly ornate or elaborate. They gave off a very fresh and clean impression. Their style leaned toward simplicity and elegance. To be sent out on assignments like this, they surely weren't ordinary people.
From below, Tang Shi could barely make out their faces. This was actually his first time seeing cultivators who weren't part of the Tang Clan.
Lingchu Continent—just a traditional cultivation world.
The mainstream cultivation system followed the stages of: Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, Core Formation, Nascent Soul, Soul Departure, Spirit Transformation, Void Return, Tribulation Crossing, and Great Ascension.
Among them, the Qi Refining stage has nine levels, and it is considered the most basic stage within the entire cultivation system. The whole cultivation system formed a typical pyramid—many cultivators at the bottom, and very few at the top.
Tang Yu, the Tang Clan's steward, was merely a cultivator who had never been able to establish his foundation. Stuck at the ninth level of Qi Refining, he had attempted Foundation Establishment four times—and failed each time. Whenever Tang Shi was filled with hatred toward Tang Yu, he would recall this fact, and it would somehow bring him peace of mind.
Although Tang Shi didn't have great talent, he wasn't the most useless type either. Reaching Tang Yu's level shouldn't be a problem for him, so Tang Shi had always been optimistic.
However, someone like Tang Shi—this little guy who hasn't even stepped into the Qi Refining stage—definitely couldn't understand the cultivation levels of those few people standing beside his family's Ancestor.
But Tang Ming could. As the current head of the Tang family, he was one of the three Foundation Establishment stage cultivators in the clan. The Ancestor was the only one who had reached the Golden Core stage. Although Golden Core was only the third level in the cultivation system, it's already considered quite powerful on the continent. That's why he could be called "Ancestor." If there were a Nascent Soul stage cultivator, they would typically be referred to as an "Old Monster."
However, that kind of cultivation level is ultimately not something that the people of the Tang family can reach.
Tang Ming could tell that these young people in front of him were probably around the fifth or sixth level of Qi Refining. However, since they were still young, their cultivation talent must already be quite terrifying.
"The fact that Ancestor still thinks of the Tang family is truly a lifelong blessing for us juniors. The Tang Clan has received the grace of Tianhai Sect, and of course we're willing to serve Tianhai Sect. If the younger members of the clan can be selected to join, then it is naturally their good fortune. Ancestor, you speak too seriously…"
"Being able to enter the cultivation world is naturally a blessing for them. However, I took a rough look earlier, and in this generation of the clan, there are few with remarkable cultivation talent. Cultivation is a path that depends on talent. Don't get your hopes up too high. Even if the Tang family offers tribute to Tianhai Sect, those with poor talent still cannot be accepted into the inner sect. They can only become registered as outer sect disciples."
The ancestor's expression was indifferent as he stroked the beard on his chin, seeming not very willing to pay attention to Tang Ming.
Tang Ming wasn't even sure which generation descendant he was anymore. Besides, as a cultivator at the Golden Core stage, the mortal world no longer had anything to do with the ancestor.
Tang Ming also knew he had no right to speak in front of the ancestor. A Foundation Establishment stage cultivator in front of a Golden Core stage one was someone destined to be crushed to death.
He secretly wiped away cold sweat. Wanting to send someone from the Tang family into Tianhai Sect wouldn't be easy either. At this point, he could only bring out Wan'er.
"What Ancestor said is absolutely right. For them to be able to enter Tianhai Sect is a fate earned over several lifetimes of cultivation." This was his way of agreeing with what the ancestor had just said. Tang Ming then shifted the conversation and said, "Although the Tang family's male descendants have poor talent, there is one girl whose spiritual foundation is quite decent. The other day, an inner sect disciple from the Righteous Qi Sect came to propose marriage, hoping to form a Dao companion bond with my daughter. However… The Tang family is, after all, under the Tianhai Sect. I fear that agreeing rashly would be inappropriate…"
Tang Ming's concerns were not without reason. Even someone like the ancestor quietly furrowed his brows at the mention of Righteous Qi Sect. The five members of Tianhai Sect following behind him even exchanged glances with each other—but none of them knew where this "one girl" was.
The Lingchu Continent was divided into five regions—east, south, west, and north—the four mountains make up these four regions. At the center is the Central Wasteland, and its geographical layout bears similarities to what is recorded in the Classic of Mountains and Seas. As for the Righteous Qi Sect, it was one of the top-tier cultivation sects in the eastern region where the Tang Clan resided, and could be considered the overlord of the entire Eastern Mountain. The Tang Clan is merely a second-rate cultivation clan. To actually get involved with the Righteous Qi Sect would be reaching far beyond their standing.
If one were to ask the head of the family, Tang Ming, whether he was willing to marry off his daughter, Tang Ming would definitely nod like a chicken pecking at rice. But now, in front of the old ancestor, who would still dare to act rashly?
After all, the old ancestor was from the Tianhai Sect. A second-rate sect can't compare to a first-rate one, but it still has backbone. The Tang Clan offers them tributes, and they protect the Tang Clan—this was a relationship of sect allegiance. But now the Tang Clan has received an olive branch from the Righteous Qi Sect, they want to kick Tianhai Sect away with one foot, or become fence-sitters swaying between both sides. If Tianhai decided to pursue the matter, the Tang Clan would suffer for it.
In that moment, even the old ancestor was conflicted, nearly twisting off his own beard.
"Who is that girl?"
As soon as Tang Ming heard this, his face lit up with joy, and he quickly called Tang Wan forward. "Why haven't you greeted the old ancestor yet?"
Tang Wan immediately gave a graceful bow. "Wan'er greets the old ancestor. May the old ancestor enjoy blessings, longevity, and health."
Her voice was truly soft and delicate, indescribably crisp and pleasant to the ear.
Tang Shi, who was watching the scene from below, didn't know why, but he kept feeling cold sweat breaking out on the back of his neck. He quietly reached up and touched it. Then, when he opened his palm, he found that the originally black mark had already turned a faint vermilion red—something that resembled a small red book opened…
Damn it.
Now is not the time to study it. The wound on his hand was still there, and in order to not be discovered by others later, Tang Shi could only quietly channel the true energy within his body toward his palm, all while continuing to use his sleeve to cover his hand. Because of this, he completely failed to notice the mark in his palm emitting a faint light.
Up ahead, the elder ancestor took one look at Tang Wan and was momentarily stunned. This girl's natural talent was indeed outstanding, and her eyes also gave off a spiritual aura. But no matter how he looked at her, there didn't seem to be anything particularly special. Why, of all people, did a disciple of the Righteous Qi Sect take a liking to her? And an inner disciple at that…
The ancestor began to weigh his thoughts and didn't speak for a while.
Tang Ming, on the other hand, eagerly spoke up, "My humble daughter is skilled in dancing. A few days ago, upon hearing that the ancestor would be coming, she specially prepared a performance of music and dance on the water, right in the center of the lake. We humbly invite the ancestor to enjoy it."
Then Tang Wan gracefully gathered her robes and gave a formal bow, and without saying a word to anyone else, withdrew.
Soon after, a decorated pleasure boat sailed over the lake, and everyone's gaze turned toward it.
It was the same for Tang Shi. From this waterside pavilion, one could see the shimmering ripples on the lake. A thin mist enshrouded the scene. The scenery of Xisui Lake grew hazy—but its beauty lay precisely in that haziness.
As a man of the mundane world, it wasn't that Tang Shi couldn't see such the beautiful scenery, nor that he failed to notice Miss Tang Wan gracefully dancing with a silk scarf in front of the pleasure boat. It was simply that… his attention had been drawn by a very adorable creature.
"Ahem…"
Tang Shi covered his throat and coughed once, trying his best not to let himself show a strange expression.
At such an ethereal moment, he actually saw two big white geese by the lakeside. They were even plump, took two steps along the shore, then entered the water and swam toward the center of the lake.
He suddenly thought of a poem that, in his opinion, was far more fitting for this exact scene and mood than on the lake: First Sunny, Then Rainy.
Back when he took the Classical Poetry Appreciation exam, there was a question that showed a painting—a vast, misty lake scene. You were to compose a poem to match the painting. Whether you had learned it or not, any poem would do. Those with talent could even write their own. So Tang Shi had immediately picked up his brush and written a poem so classic, even a three-year-old would know it by heart.
—Ode to the Goose.
Tang Shi's attention was entirely on the big white geese now. His thin lips barely parted as he murmured, "Goose, goose, goose, your curved neck sings to the sky, white feathers…"
"Eh?"
Where did that goose honking come from…?
Tang Shi's gaze shifted and landed on the waters around the pleasure boat at the center of the lake. All of a sudden, he froze—many large white geese suddenly emerged from beneath the water, flapping wildly and surrounding the boat. Flapping their wings and paddling under the water with their large webbed feet.
Just moments ago, Tang Wan, who had just moments ago still been exuding an ethereal aura and dancing gracefully, suddenly froze. Standing at the front of the boat, she let out a loud scream—"Ah!"—and nearly fainted from anger. "Where did these big white geese come from? Hurry and catch them for this young lady! Catch them!"
Good heavens, how unlucky was Tang Wan? No one even knows when a flock of big white geese came underwater and ruined her performance!
Tang Shi nearly burst from laughter. As the crowd erupted into noise, he knocked on the table and called out,
"Geese, geese, geese,
With curved necks, they sing to the sky,
White feathers float on green water,
Red webbed feet stir the clear waves… Haha…"
The scene was completely out of control now. The people nearby all rushed to catch the geese. Unexpectedly, those big white geese were quite smart—they started flapping harder. This flapping caused a huge commotion. In an instant, white feathers were seen flying all over the surface of the water, some even stuck to Tang Wan's beautiful face. The geese's webbed feet moved across the water's surface, even creating ripples in the water, causing the small pleasure boat to start rocking and the people on board swayed with it. What was supposed to be a proper song-and-dance performance turned into a farce. It was absolute chaos—people falling, geese flying.
Even the old patriarch's face turned green. Clenching his teeth, he kept a straight face. He only said, "Just let her come back for now!"