If one were to ask who the Tang Clan's greatest talent was, it would be undeniably be Tang Zhilei. At the age of eight, he embarked on the path of cultivation. In that same year, he completed a perfect cleansing and became a Spirit Waking cultivator. Four years later, he formed his dao and manifested his ethereal spirit.

Everyone expected Tang Zhilei to complete his ethereal spirit immediately, but for some reason he decided to take his time. It took six years for him to complete his ethereal spirit, much to the confusion of many. While forming a complete ethereal spirit in six years still classified one as a genius, many had higher expectations for the young prodigy. However, he shocked everyone once again when he broke through the virtue and vice realms in the span of twelve years!

The virtue and vice realms were the stages that separated the pseudo cultivators from the true cultivators. With the exception of certain geniuses, most cultivators in this realm were old men or those reaching their late middle-ages.

This was why Tang Zhilei was held in such high regard by not just the Tang Clan, but the entire Tang Province. Just reaching his thirties, he had already tamed two of his vices and was a hairs breadth away from mastering the third. Even the Clan Head gave him special treatment, bestowing upon him status equal to that of royalty.

Tang Mei had a gloomy expression on her face as Tang Jiao crawled towards Tang Zhilei's palace. Unlike the rest of the chosen who resided in luxurious palaces in the most scenic areas of the capital, Tang Zhilei lived near a dark and desolate mountain that isolated himself from the rest of the clan. This mountain was located behind the main palace and was solely inhabited by him.

As the two approached the steps of Tang Zhilei's palace, Tang Jiao stopped his advance.

"What are you doing? This isn't the first time you've come here. What's the problem with seeing him one more time? Ah, forget it. I'll walk in myself." Tang Mei got off Tang Jiao's back and walked up the stairs towards the palace doors. She pulled the chain around Tang Jiao's neck, forcing him to follow closely behind her.

With the exception of the lanterns dimly lighting the area, the entire mountain was dark and murky. While Tang Zhilei's palace looked quite clean and well-kept, it radiated a sense of dread that filled the atmosphere. It didn't feel like the residence of a talented genius, but the lair of a powerful demon that could not be provoked!

Once they reached the doors, Tang Mei clasped her hands and lowered her head.

"Brother Zhilei! This junior sister Tang Mei has something to discuss with you!"

After a brief moment, the doors opened and black smoke escaped from the widening crevice. It filled the air with a thick smell of incense mixed with the iron-like stench of blood.

"I am in the meditation chamber on the top floor. You and the young lord may come see me. I'll disable the defensive formations." The message was transmitted directly into Tang Mei and Tang Jiao's minds through spiritual sense.

The interior of the palace was pitch black. Nothing could be seen except the faint outline of stairs that led to the upper levels.

As the two of them went up the steps, they heard faint screams that grew louder with every floor they passed.

"What does he do in this place? Why is every floor filled with these miserable cries?" Tang Mei wondered.

While the Tang Clan's chosen were all fairly acquainted with each other, Tang Zhilei was an exception. Even the most talented geniuses did not know much about him, other than the rumors of his tremendous power.

There was once a clan member who thought Tang Zhilei was merely a figurehead set up by the Clan Head to inspire the other chosen. He ventured off to his residence and openly challenged him to a duel. No one knew the details of the confrontation, but the challenger was never seen again. Seeing that the Clan Head did not pursue the incident, no one dared to challenge Tang Zhilei ever again.

[I should not have come back. Especially not with Tang Mei. If she ends up angering Lord Zhilei, I will suffer greatly.]

At the age of thirty, Tang Zhilei was still considered a member of the younger generation since he did not reach his middle ages yet. Out of respect, as well as a great deal of fear, Tang Jiao carried out the punishment set by his father starting with him.

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

When Tang Jiao came previously, the screams were present then as well. At the time, he tried to use his spiritual sense to investigate the cause, but couldn't detect anything. Whatever the cause of the screams, Tang Zhilei clearly did not want him to know about it.

Reaching the top floor, Tang Mei opened the door to the meditation chamber and the figure of a young man could be seen sitting in front of a purple flame.

"Welcome Junior Sister Mei, it has been a while. The same goes for you too young master Tang Jiao. It is my honor to see the future successor of the Tang Clan a second time." Tang Zhilei said with his back still turned.

His voice was deep and powerful, but there was also a slight hiss in his tone, similar to that of a snake.

Tang Jiao immediately got on his knees and bowed before Tang Zhilei, but Tang Mei stood firm.

"You took all of this loser's treasures when he came to you did you not? Some of the treasures he possessed were of great value to me! I don't care what your status in the clan is or your power. I want a share of those treasures!" She said stalwartly.

"Haha..." Tang Zhilei let out a crooked smile and turned to face the two visitors.

Even with the poor lighting in the room, Tang Zhilei's features were extremely defined and visible. His face was similar to that of a snake, and he had long black hair that extended halfway down his back. However, what stood out the most was his unnaturally pale skin and crimson eyes. If snake was the first word people would use to describe his appearance, the second one would undoubtly be demon.

While handsome in all aspects, Tang Jiao noticed that Tang Zhilei looked slightly different since the last time he came. During his previous visit the day before, Tang Zhilei did not have the slight snake-like features he had right now. Even though his skin and eye colors were the same, he had the face of an ordinary human. Though it was barely noticeable, Tang Jiao found it odd that his appearance would change at all in such a short amount of time.

"Xiao Mei, unlike the other chosen, you are strong-willed and fearless. That is why I have a much more favorable impression of you compared to the rest of the so called geniuses of the clan. Because of that, I'll offer you one treasure of your choosing. Which treasure do you want? A treasure to help fuse your ethereal spirit into your body and break into Virtue Seeking? Life-saving protection?"

"I want... The Twin Orchids."

Tang Zhilei frowned when he heard Tang Mei's choice.

"How boring." He said with a displeased tone.

Tang Jiao's eyes widened when Tang Mei said she wanted the Twin Orchids.

Out of all the treasures he had accumulated, the Twin Orchids could hardly be considered anything special. It was a defensive treasure for cultivation couples and its power depended on the strength of the bond between the two who possessed them. The ones holding the flowers needed to be in perfect sync and even the slightest waver in love could weaken the defensive properties of the orchids drastically.

Tang Zhilei waved his hand and two elegant pink orchids the size of a thumb flew into Tang Mei's open palms. She looked at them with affection before putting them into her bag of holding.

"May I ask which dashing soul has caught your eye Xiao Mei...?"

A cold shiver went up Tang Jiao's back when he heard the word 'soul'. Whoever this person was, it seemed like they had already made an enemy of Tang Zhilei. This didn't seem to be out of jealousy either. Tang Jiao felt no love coming from Tang Zhilei's voice.

"Love is only a temporary satisfaction Xiao Mei. I do not wish to see you lose your great inner strength for something so trivial. Tell me who this person is and you will remain the true beauty you currently are."

"Forgive me Brother Zhilei. I cannot disclose that information to you. I believe we have disturbed your meditation enough already. We will be on our way." Tang Mei gave a quick bow before leaving the palace with Tang Jiao.

Tang Zhilei stared at Tang Mei coldly as the two of them left. Afterwards, he let out a scoff.

"Tch... Seems like all of the chosen really are just trash. I really thought you were different Tang Mei. Unfortunate..."

Upon returning to the main area of the capital, Tang Mei released Tang Jiao.

"Alright loser, you're free to go. One warning though. If you tell anyone what happened at Zhilei's palace, what you experienced today will be heaven compared to what I'll do to you next."

"Yes..." No matter what he was in the past, the current Tang Jiao was nothing. Before someone like Tang Mei who was above him in all aspects, all he could do was lower his head.

After dealing with Tang Mei, Tang Jiao had no more energy to fulfill any additional requests. He returned to his palace to find a messenger waiting at his front door.

"Sigh... I'm only taking a short break. At first light on the next day, I'll head back out and continue fulfilling the requests of the younger generation." Tang Jiao said as he approached the messenger.

"Young master Tang Jiao, that's not what I'm here for."

"Oh?"

"Your father wants to see you. There is news about a missing slave---" Before the messenger could finish the sentence, Tang Jiao was already on his way to the main palace.

[No matter what kind of news it is, if it concerns Yin Hui, I don't care if I have to go through hell to hear it!]

This time the messenger let out a sigh.

"Apparently, the slave boy has evaded young master's Tang Li and Tang Bian. Not only that, but a squad of peak Spirit Manifestation cultivators have been killed as well. Right now, Lord Clan Head is furious and is deciding their punishment. I hope he knows what he's rushing into..."