Mandala Manor
【Lingbo Microsteps (Level 1): Upon activation, speed increases by 50%. Each time it is used, it does not consume inner force; instead, it enhances inner force by 1 point.】
“Ding, Lingbo Microsteps perfected.”
Tang Xuan, already more of a cheat than Duan Yu, had the skill reach perfection instantly.
He opened the skill to inspect it.
【Lingbo Microsteps (Perfected): Upon activation, speed increases by 600%. Each use does not consume inner force; instead, it enhances inner force by 1 point.】
A direct speed increase of 600%!
Compared to a grade-four flying skill in its perfected form, which only boosts speed by 300%, this was double the effect!
If someone's lightness skill is twice as fast as another's, once it's deployed, the other will hardly be able to react!
It shows just how formidable Lingbo Microsteps, a grade-seven lightness skill, truly is.
Its ranking isn't just due to its exceptional speed; its most important feature is that it doesn't consume inner force but restores it with each use!
If engaged in combat, one could use lightness skills while simultaneously recovering inner force—almost like having an internal force cheat!
For example, the Dragon Subduing Palm, ranked as a grade-seven miraculous martial art, is only slightly stronger than the Mighty Vajra Palm in terms of power.
Yet, the Mighty Vajra Palm is grade-six, while the Dragon Subduing Palm is grade-seven, because those who practice it cultivate both internally and externally, allowing their attributes and inner strength to improve.
Lingbo Microsteps is similar. Some grade-five or grade-six lightness skills might rival its speed, but none possess its high rank or its ability to restore inner force.
With Lingbo Microsteps, Tang Xuan could roam the martial world with ten thousand times more security.
Even if he faced Jiumozhi again, he might not be a match, but with perfected Lingbo Microsteps, Jiumozhi would never be able to harm him; escaping unscathed would be easy.
His perfected Lingbo Microsteps surpassed Duan Yu's, who hadn't yet mastered it.
At this moment, Tang Xuan regarded Duan Yu with genuine friendliness.
He decided to reward Duan Yu with a favor.
He would arrange for Duan Yu to reunite with his sister!
Tang Xuan suddenly turned to look at the Murong family's steward, “Sun San.” He sniffed, then chuckled, “How odd. Why does your body carry a woman's fragrance?”
“Ah?”
Sun San’s expression changed, exclaiming in shock.
Both she and Abi blushed. Had he seen through them?
He’d even directly mentioned “fragrance,” such a mortifying term!
Tang Xuan smiled, “A young lady, I presume?”
Sun San smiled awkwardly, touched her face, and peeled off a thin leather mask, revealing a delicate, pretty face—a beautiful young woman.
Her cheeks were flushed, a bit embarrassed. “Azhu greets the two gentlemen.”
She hadn’t expected her disguise to be seen through so easily.
Judging by his demeanor, perhaps he’d known all along but simply hadn’t exposed her.
Duan Yu looked amazed; he hadn’t imagined such remarkable disguise techniques existed!
Tang Xuan smiled again, “So you are Azhu?”
Azhu was startled, surprised, “Young master knows Azhu?”
Tang Xuan laughed, “Of course I do. I even know your half-brother!”
He glanced at Duan Yu and nodded, “There he is!”
“What?”
Azhu, Abi, and Duan Yu were all stunned, utterly incredulous.
Was he joking? They had just met and barely knew each other!
Tang Xuan ignored their astonishment and recounted the amorous exploits of Duan Zhengchun.
Azhu was one of the daughters of the “Prince of Dali, Lord of Southern Town,” Duan Zhengchun, born to one of his lovers. She even had a full sister, A Zi.
Tang Xuan, however, didn’t mention A Zi.
As for Duan Yu, son of Duan Zhengchun, he was Azhu’s half-brother.
But this “brother” wasn’t truly a blood brother.
Duan Yu’s biological father was Duan Yanqing, leader of the Four Great Evildoers; Duan Yu’s mother, Dao Baifeng, had an affair and bore Duan Yu with Duan Yanqing.
Tang Xuan didn’t mention this either.
With no evidence, accusing Duan Yu’s mother of infidelity would only make him furious.
But Duan Yu did believe what Tang Xuan said about Azhu’s parentage.
He’d already experienced his father’s ways; Mu Wanqing and Zhong Ling were also daughters of his father’s lovers.
Azhu even had proof of her lineage, which Tang Xuan revealed, making it irrefutable.
So Duan Yu became Azhu’s half-brother.
What a tangled family!
“Brother.”
“Sister.”
Duan Yu and Azhu acknowledged each other as siblings.
Duan Yu, already with several sisters, wasn’t excited—just a bit speechless.
Azhu, upon learning the truth of her parentage, was deeply moved; meeting her half-brother brought complex feelings.
Tang Xuan smiled, “Actually, you have another half-sister—the Prince of Dali and Li Qingluo’s daughter, Wang Yuyan.”
“I have another sister?”
“What, cousin is also my half-sister?”
Duan Yu and Azhu exclaimed in disbelief.
Abi was equally shocked, “Oh, cousin as well?”
Duan Yu was utterly speechless.
At this point, he hadn’t yet met his “fairy sister,” Wang Yuyan. When he finally did, and learned she was his half-sister, he’d surely wonder what to think of his father.
Tang Xuan brought this up precisely because he wanted to meet Wang Yuyan, celebrated as one of the most beautiful women in “Great Wuxia.”
He’d already met Xiaolongnu—what would Wang Yuyan be like?
He proposed a visit to Mandor Manor.
He claimed it was to let Duan Yu meet his other sister, Wang Yuyan, and to let Azhu and Wang Yuyan, as half-sisters, recognize each other.
Duan Yu and Azhu agreed, and Abi had no objection.
So everyone took a boat from Melody Pavilion to Mandor Manor.
The journey by water was not far; just over half an hour later.
The boat rounded a row of drooping willows, and in the distance, by the water's edge, they saw a cluster of flowering trees, their blossoms reflected in the water, burning red like clouds.
Duan Yu gasped softly, “These are the camellias of Dali! How can there be such tea planted in Lake Tai?”
He thought of his half-sister Wang Yuyan and realized it must have been his father’s lover who planted them.
Azhu and Abi were long accustomed to Mandor Manor’s camellia groves.
Tang Xuan laughed, “It’s indeed related to the Prince of Dali. When he wronged Lady Wang, she was furious with that heartless man and the people of Dali, especially those surnamed Duan! She often captured people, brought them here, and used them as fertilizer for these camellias.”