Chapter 1316: Chapter 1316

"Of course I need it, there is no limit to learning, I must study diligently and improve every day."

Tang Ming solemnly nodded and said with a sigh, "As for being the leader of the so-called Tenth Great Family, it’s just a flower in the mirror, the moon in the water, a mere empty title. If one day I fall, the Liu Family would collapse instantly like the Sun Family. Wouldn’t you agree?"

"I’m not sure either."

Su Xiaoxi frowned slightly, looking uncertainly at Tang Ming, "It seems that none of the nine great families in the Imperial City have a nine-star martial master sitting in them, but each family has existed for a long time, and none has perished as quickly as the Sun Family has!"

"That is indeed an issue."

Hearing this, Tang Ming also grew puzzled, "The nine great families of the Imperial City have a long history, and it seems that none of them has an extraordinarily powerful presence, yet they have managed to stand firm throughout the years. This is quite unusual."

"Don’t think too much about it for now. When we return to the Su Family, you can ask my grandfather. He will surely understand the reason behind it."

Su Xiaoxi thought for a while, but couldn’t figure out the key to it.

"Alright, then I’ll wait for a chance to consult Old Master Su."

Tang Ming nodded, deciding not to waste more brainpower.

After breakfast, Tang Ming took Su Xiaoxi back to the Su Family, where they received a warm welcome.

During this turmoil, the Su Family experienced the most upheavals, first because Tang Ming, their son-in-law, was abolished and disappeared, and then because Sun Zhuangjia launched a fierce attack.

The Su Family, compelled, had to let Su Xiaoxi marry Sun Zhuangjia, but to their surprise, Tang Ming returned forcefully and turned the situation around completely. These ups and downs were more thrilling than a roller coaster ride.

Su Xiaoxi was pulled aside by a group of female members, who asked all sorts of questions, curious about whether anything had happened between her and Tang Ming the previous night.

In the study of the Su Family, the Old Master and Su Tianyu personally received Tang Ming. Both were very satisfied with the relationship between Tang Ming and Su Xiaoxi, but alongside their appreciation, there was also a hint of fear towards Tang Ming.

After all, Tang Ming was now a nine-star martial master, and his brutal methods in dealing with Sun Zhuangjia at the wedding were indeed chilling.

"Little Tang, should we call you Tang Ming or Tang Xin now?"

After some small talk, Old Master Su asked Tang Ming with great interest.

"Grandfather Su, you flatter me. Previously, I used the identity of Tang Xin to avoid trouble and get involved in the disputes between the Ming Group and the Dark Group. Now that I have the strength to remain neutral between the two factions, there is naturally no need to fake an identity."

Tang Ming responded with a faint smile, maintaining neither humility nor arrogance.

"Good lad, the bearing of a nine-star martial master is indeed extraordinary."

Old Master Su laughed heartily, looking at Tang Ming with deep emotion. "But you make a good point. A nine-star martial master indeed has the qualification to establish his own sect and secure a place among the top ten."

"Establishing my own sect is unnecessary. I just want to avoid unnecessary strife."

Tang Ming shook his head and sighed, "I wasted too much time on meaningless things before. From now on, I will focus my energy on essential matters."

Old Master Su asked, puzzled, looking at Tang Ming.

"They are personal matters, inconvenient to disclose." Tang Ming vaguely replied. Things to do in the future include breaking off the engagement, investigating his own origins, and finding the whereabouts of Xia Wei’er.

"Alright, if you don’t want to say, I won’t press you, but now that Xiaoxi and you have both the name and reality of husband and wife, if my Su Family encounters any crisis in the future, you must not stand by idly."

Old Master Su half-jokingly quipped.

Tang Ming nodded seriously and said, "Xiaoxi has done so much for me, and this friendship is etched in my heart."

"That’s good to hear! So, what are your plans next?"

Old Master Su asked with a satisfied smile.

"After handling matters in the Imperial City, I plan to return to Songlan to continue my studies."

Tang Ming thought for a moment, responding honestly, "After all, I am still a student and still young, preferring a simple and ordinary life."

"Your mindset of being detached from fame and fortune is commendable, but now that you are already well-known, it might not be easy to return to a peaceful life."

Su Tianyou looked at Tang Ming with concern.

"Uncle Su, what do you mean by that?"

Tang Ming frowned slightly, looking uncertainly at Su Tianyu, "Given my nine-star martial master strength, the Ming Group faction shouldn’t foolishly come to bother me, right?"

"Father, is it time to tell Little Tang now?"

Su Tianyu looked to Old Master Su for his opinion.

"Little Tang is already the leader of the Tenth Great Family, so he naturally has the right to know these things."

Old Master Su nodded, looking gravely at Tang Ming, "Little Tang, do you think the nine great families in the Imperial City are really only as powerful as they appear on the surface?"

Tang Ming’s face grew serious. It seemed this topic was related to his question about why the nine great families could endure for so long.

"The fact that the nine great families have lasted so long demonstrates there is definitely a reason behind it, and absolute force is the foundation for a family’s lasting prosperity."

Old Master Su looked at Tang Ming with profound eyes, "The Sun Family had the qualifications to become the Tenth Great Family of the Imperial City but was destroyed in the blink of an eye by you, which shows the Sun Family lacked profound strength."

"I understand that. The rise of the Sun Family relied entirely on Sun Zhuangjia alone. Once I defeated Sun Zhuangjia, the Sun Family naturally reverted to its original state. But do the nine great families all have stronger patrons than Sun Zhuangjia?"

Tang Ming frowned, looking inquiringly at Old Master Su.

Old Master Su slowly stood up, looking at the window with deep eyes, "Both the Ming Group and the Dark Group have nine-star martial masters stationed in them. Do you think the nine great families have no reliance at all?"

Hearing this, Tang Ming’s expression changed slightly. Upon consideration, both these huge organizations, the Ming Group and the Dark Group, have strong nine-star martial masters stationed in them.

Knowing that the nine great families, on the surface, don’t even have an eight-star martial master, it would indeed be very abnormal if they had no reason for this.

"The nine great families may seem to call the shots, but in reality, they are merely intermediary powers. Above them is an even more formidable, super martial power that leads the entire martial arts world."

Just when Tang Ming pondered over this, Old Master Su continued slowly.

"A power enough to deter the martial arts world? What is that?"

Tang Ming looked at Old Master Su in shock.

"This organization has only one word as its name, ’Dragon’. We usually refer to it as the Dragon Group."