Chapter 89: Meeting of a Lifetime
"He actually beat Nidhogg..."
The being with red eyes was shocked as he stared at the shallow pond in front of him displaying the battle between Nidhogg and the human, that could turn into a dragon.
"But it seems, he can't normally access that power without the help of Yggdrasil."
The being started to get lost in thought as he reviewed the events that he just saw.
#
Tang Wulin was moving up the World Tree with his full speed, as he wasn't certain if his battle with Nidhogg had undoubtedly hastened the destruction of Yggdrasil or not. He began maneuvering himself over the ice-shaped crystals and spikes that were protruding from Yggdrasil.
He then kicks off the bark of Yggdrasil and summoned his light-wings. Which were different from normal as there were four wings instead of two.
'Old Tang did say my Light Wings spirit bone fused with my Golden Dragon King wings.' Thought Tang Wulin as he presses his foot onto the air and shot off upward.
'Apocalypse King Dragon Soars.'
The figure of Tang Wulin started changing into a grand golden and black dragon. The two dragons roar out as they started to create gold and black streaks of glimmering light as they were shooting up towards the top of the World Tree.
Gold and Black streaks of light could be seen breaking through the impenetrable mist that was hiding the top half of Yggdrasil. Luckily, it was just mist and nothing else as Tang Wulin was able to safely soar past the mist.
It merely took him a few minutes to reach the top and as he began landing, Sleipnir appeared next to him.
"Amazing." Said Sleipnir as she began looking around. She could see grass all around with roots coming out at some of the areas and in the middle of the grassy patch of land was a soaring tower.
The distinctive tower was made out of roots that shot up straight up into the sky and around the tower were branches that seem to be piercing through the space around it.
"Is that the road of time up there?" Questioned Tang Wulin.
"Not exactly, what you are seeing are branches that connect to the other worlds or dimensions. The road of time is inside of the tower." Said Sleipnir.
Tang Wulin said nothing as he began making his way toward the tower. Yet before he could enter the tower, Old Tang voice rang out.
"Wulin... Stop for a second."
"What is it?" Questioned Tang Wulin as he knew Old Tang wouldn't try to disturb him if it wasn't important.
"I don't know why but I have a feeling that branch over there is calling out to me. I know we don't have a lot of time but could you do me a favor and check it out?"Questioned Old Tang.
Tang Wulin furrowed his brows but without a pause, he went towards the branch that Old Tang mention. This was the first time Old Tang ever ask for any favors and like Zeref, he has been there for him whenever he needed him.
'I guess I can spare some time.' Thought Tang Wulin as he made his over to the branch.
The branch wasn't anything special as it looks smilier to the branches below the top of the tree except it had streaks of white around it.
'You feel anything else Old Tang?' Questioned Tang Wulin yet Old Tang said nothing.
Tang Wulin stayed still for a while without saying anything and as he was about to questioned Old Tang again, his voice rang out.
"Touch it, Wulin." Said Old Tang but Tang Wulin could tell his voice was different this time.
'You ok Old Tang?' Thought Tang Wulin as he narrowed his eyes but he wasn't given a response. He contemplates not touching it and diving into his Spiritual World to see what was up with Old Tang but decided against it.
'Watch out for me guys.' Thought Tang Wulin toward Zeref and Sleipnir as he began moving his hand towards the roots.
Sleipnir and Zeref were standing next to Tang Wulin with a serious expression on their face. As they saw Tang Wulin, touch the branch, their eyes widen when a Golden Trident appeared on his forehead.
#
Tang Wulin blinks his eyes and saw he was in an illusionary world. The world was a black void with only darkness.
Then a Trident Mark appeared on Tang Wulin forehead and then a person started to appear in front of him. Tang Wulin narrowed his eyes as he started assessing the person in front of him, as his figure began to fully appear.
It was a handsome man who was wearing a dashing blue robe, with long blue hair that was fluttering messily behind his back. On the man forehead was a golden trident that shined and he possessed deep blue eyes that seems as if it could see through everything.
Tang Wulin could see a golden trident in his hand and to his surprise, the man started to smile softly at him.
"Old Tang... is that you? Is that your true form?"Questioned Tang Wulin causing the man eyes for a split second to widen in surprise but go back to being calm.
"How can you tell?" Questioned the man who had a tender look show up on his face.
"Your aura for one feels similar to his, and you have a little bit of his scent. The rest of you smell like seawater and rabbit?" Said Tang Wulin causing the handsome man the chuckle.
"At least I now know who you took after the most, although my little rabbit won't be so thrilled." Mumble the man as he put his hand on his chin and a small smile sprouted on his face. Yet Tang Wulin said nothing as he waited for the man to confirm his suspicions.
"Well you are right, I'm Old Tang or more of who he took after. You see little Wulin, Old Tang was a small piece of my consciousness that I left behind so you would have someone to help and guide you." Said the man causing Tang Wulin eyes to narrow.
"...Who are you?" Questioned Tang Wulin even though he could feel the answer at the back of his mind.
"I'm am your biological father little Wulin." Said the man causing Tang Wulin to blanky stare at the man.
"My name is Tang San!"
"Tang San, the founder of Tang Sect!"
"Tang San, one of the five God King of the Divine Council!"
"Poseidon God Tang San!"
"Asura God Tang San!"
"I am your father!"
The silence was the answer to Tang San declaration as Tang Wulin just gaze at him with no change in his emotion or expression. Tang San expected this as he quietly waited for his son to respond to him with a faint smile on his face.
"Explain." Said Tang Wulin causing Tang San to nod his head.
"I guess we can start with how I'm speaking to you now? When you came in contact with that branch, the mark I left on you as a child was able to resonate with mine. Allowing us to form a connection through space and time, giving us a chance to communicate." Said Tang San causing Tang Wulin to nod his head.
"Your name is from your mother Xiao Wu and me. Hence, you are called Tang Wulin, meaning the little unicorn of Tang San and Xiao Wu. You have a sister called Tang Wutong and her husband called Huo Yuhao."
"Huo Yuhao and Tang Wutong? Isn't that the Spirit Ice Douluo and Dragon Butterfly Douluo that were alive ten thousand years ago." Said Tang Wulin causing Tang San to nod his head.
"Yes, kinda similar to you. I sent your sister down to the Douluo Continent ten thousand years ago to gain some experience and also to train my future successor Huo Yuhao. Sadly that didn't work out but in the end, they both married each other and came to the god realm." Said Tang San causing Tang Wulin to nod his head and motion for him to continue.
"Our family of five should have lived happily in the realm of the gods, but a catastrophe caused us to have to separate. The realm of the world was swept away in a distant place. We were almost destroyed but it was stopped by the sacrificed of two of the God-kings to preserve the realm of God."
"Those Gods Kings willingly sacrifice themselves?" Questioned Tang Wulin in surprise.
"...Let's just say they did what they had to." Said Tang San with a bitter smile and sorrow in his eyes.
"Anyway because of this, the Golden Dragon King that was sealed in the depths of the gods broke free from the seal. With its eternal rage, it started raging in the realm of the gods and tried to obliterate everything. We tried our best to destroy it, but it did a despicable act before it died. The Golden Dragon King took his God Core and transfer it into your body that was recently born, to end you. To prevent this from happening I place 18 seals on your body. Which divided the power of the Golden Dragon King." Said Tang San.
'So that is why I have those seals.' Thought Tang Wulin.
It wouldn't be wrong to say he has always wondered what kind of being could seal the Golden Dragon King. From what Old Tang has been saying, the Golden Dragon King is one of the most capable beings in the God Realm.
"We couldn't allow you to stay in God Realm to absorb the divine energy, or it would accelerate the opening of the seal, and your small body wouldn't have been able to withstand such an impact. So, in desperation, we knew we had to send you away from the Divine realm, so the speed of the seal breaking would slow down. Also, the Golden Dragon Spear is left to you by your sister Wutong, and your brother Yuhao sent you to Douluo Continent." Said Tang San as he watches his son expression.
Tang Wulin was processing everything he has been told by Tang San. From how he was able to gain the Golden Dragon King inside his body and how he was able to gain the bloodlines of the gods. Also where the Golden Dragon Spear came from and who exactly his siblings were.
"Did my Mom and Dad know about this?" Questioned Tang Wulin, causing Tang San eyes to reveal a hint of sorrow but he still began to talk.
"Yes, when we sent you to Douluo Continent, I made sure to inform your parents about some things." Said Tang San causing Tang Wulin to fall in thought.
"You said you guys were trapped?" Questioned Tang Wulin.
"Yes. You see on the other side were experiencing a lot of troubles from encountering other gods and colliding with them. We want to come back but that requires the power of other gods. Or if you can become capable enough to be able to create your own realm, then you can find a way to find us." Said Tang San but then Tang Wulin gaze became serious.
"I will help you with getting out of the space you are." Said Tang Wulin causing a smile to sprout out from Tang San face but then.
"It's not because I want to see my 'Mother' or 'Sister'. No, it has to deal with helping you." Said Tang Wulin causing Tang San to furrow his brows.
"Why me and not them? Do you not believe you are our child?" Questioned Tang San.
"No, I believe in you, as it explains some of the questions I have always had. As for the other questions, it's because I don't care for them." Said Tang Wulin and yet Tang San still calmly gaze at him.
"I don't know them. You, on the other hand, are still the same Old Tang to me even with your differences. To me, you are one of the people who has been by my side since I could remember." Said Tang Wulin.
'I see now.' Thought Tang San as he began realizing his sons thinking.
To his little Wulin, he couldn't bring himself to care for people he doesn't know. Even if Tang San himself says many good things about them, it still wouldn't do anything to Wulin who has no long-lasting personal experience with them.
'How ironic.' Thought Tang San as a bitter smile made its way on his face.
He began remembering his interactions with his own father and the absent of his mother. He had to admit he didn't really care about his mother until he heard the story of her death from his father and felt her love from him when he awakens his Blue Silver Emperor.
As for his father? He had to admit it was only because of his prior life experience and his thirst for a family that he didn't begin to resent his father. After all, in the beginning, his relationship with his father wasn't that great, it could be said they were no different from strangers.
"I understand but Wulin, at least answers me this." Said Tang San causing Tang Wulin to raise a brow.
"If you met them, could you find it in your heart to try and start to care for them?" Questioned Tang San causing Tang Wulin to furrow his brows and get lost in thought.
"...I don't know." Said Tang Wulin but that didn't stop Tang San from smiling at him.
"I can tell it's hard for you to find it in your heart to care about a family that you barely know. So I will leave it up to them to earn your love and care." Said Tang San, causing Tang Wulin to raise a brow.
"How are you so sure they would be able to earn my love?" Questioned Tang Wulin causing Tang San to chuckle.
"Because your mother and sister have this unusual ability to worm themselves into one's heart. Besides, I am confident they will move heaven and earth to show their love for you." Said Tang San with a huge smile.
Tang Wulin said nothing but after a while, he slowly nodded his head. Tang San slowly moved his eyes over his son face and body, inspecting him.
"I won't say anything more as their still things I need to on my end. But Lin Lin even if you don't call me dad or father, I want you to know I will always love you. Even if you become lost to the Golden Dragon King madness or something else happen, father promise he and everyone will come to save you." Said Tang San as he gradually moved his hand towards Wulin face.
"I'm glad I was able to meet you so soon and am happy that you are surrounded by people who care about you. I will leave Old Tang to continue to help you as I could tell he has been training you in the arts of the spear." Said Tang San as he notices both his and Wulin body was started to glow.
"... Tell me something before you go at least." Said Tang Wulin.
"What is it?"
"...If there was another way... Would you have-."
"Yes." Said Tang San with absolute confidence in his voice as his gaze at Tang Wulin. Tang Wulin didn't fully understand why but he could feel his body was trembling and he felt somewhat warm inside.
"My Lin Lin."
"I promise we will meet again."
"Regardless of how much time may pass."
"We will one day be reunited."
"As a family."