"Why? Second Uncle, isn't this what you have always wished for?" Tang Xiao didn't understand, but the Second Elder's gaze fell upon Tang San and Tang Sui, his eyes holding deep meaning.
Following the direction of their gaze, Tang Xiao suddenly understood, "Is it because Xiao San and Sui Sui haven't fully recovered yet?"
The Second Elder nodded, "Precisely. Sect Master, although your Clear Sky Hammer has reached great mastery, twenty years of forbearance have eroded your former sharpness. The Clear Sky Sect needs a leader who can guide the sect to explore and advance with keen determination."
"We are old, and you are gradually aging. But these two children are different. At such a young age, they both possess twin martial spirits, one a Soul King, the other a Soul Emperor, with strategic minds. They even possess innate domain abilities and several soul bones."
"Such exceptionally gifted talents, we absolutely cannot overlook them for the sake of the sect's premature rise. They now need tempering and recuperation. The sect's current hidden state will better allow for their cultivation. Of course, I absolutely do not wish to see a repeat of what happened to Tang Hao back then."
The last sentence was a bottom line that no one wanted to see again, nor wished to happen.
Hearing this, Tang Xiao fell silent for a few seconds, his voice a little hoarse, "...Second Uncle, regarding what happened to Brother Hao back then..."
The Second Elder's gaze was calm, "I do not deny that I still harbor some resentment. However, do you recall the three conditions I mentioned earlier? Those are also three trials for these two children."
"If they can accomplish these three tasks, it will prove they are qualified as your heirs. We old ones will also support them wholeheartedly. Therefore, I hope the Sect Master can support the conditions I have proposed."
With that said, the Second Elder's lips moved, transmitting some message to Tang Xiao.
Hearing this, Tang Sui thought, "..."
She exchanged a glance with her brother, seeing an expression of speechless exasperation in each other's eyes.
To be honest, the qualification for the Clear Sky Sect's successor and disciple status were all external matters to them, and in a sense, also a hot potato. Whoever took it would find themselves in a difficult position.
She still had the Slaughter City to manage. As for her brother... if nothing unexpected happened, he would likely establish the Tang Sect, and he would have plenty on his plate then.
In short, neither of them wanted to take on the hot potato that was the Clear Sky Sect.
On the other side, the two who had finished their exchange of words turned their gazes towards them simultaneously. The Second Elder, standing with his hands behind his back, spoke, "Tang San, Tang Sui, since you have won this competition, after tomorrow's ceremony of returning to your ancestors, you will be a part of the Clear Sky Sect."
Tang San, finally hearing something he wanted, let out a shallow sigh of relief and asked, "Then can we also pay respects to grandfather?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the expressions of several elders turned somewhat somber.
Perhaps it was a reminder of the late Sect Master's unwillingness to accept defeat at the time of his death.
The other elders remained silent, especially the Seventh Elder, whose face was as dark as if water could be squeezed out of it.
The Second Elder said lightly, "Not yet. Because of your father's mistakes, you are not yet qualified to pay respects to the Old Sect Master. But you both said before that you would atone for your father's wrongdoings and serve the sect, didn't you?"
Here it comes, the conditions are about to be laid out.
Tang Sui sighed inwardly. Tang San's expression became solemn, "Yes, we said that. Then what must we do to be able to pay respects to grandfather?"
The Second Elder said, "Since that is the case, we will require you to accomplish three tasks for the sect. As long as you complete these three tasks, it will be considered as you atoning for your father's sins, and all debts will be settled from then on, never to be mentioned again. Moreover, not only will you be able to return to your ancestors, but we will also allow your father to return to the sect and pay respects to the Old Sect Master together with you."
The reward offered, Tang Sui pursed her lips and fell into thought.
So this was how it was going to be said?
But she recalled that in the original fate line, although her brother had completed the three conditions, but...
Tang Sui remained silent. Tang San, however, found the conditions impossible to refuse and immediately looked seriously at the Second Elder and asked, "Second Elder, may I ask what the three tasks are?"
The Second Elder said with a faint smile, "These three tasks are currently impossible for you to complete. Of course, you do not need to worry, we have given you a very long time."
"The first task is that you must break through to Rank 80 in soul power within ten years."
Ten years to break through to Rank 80!
Even with Sui Sui's astonishing talent, she was only a Soul Emperor, and he was still stuck at the peak of Soul King.
But the process in between was the result of countless efforts.
One must know that the further one progresses in soul master cultivation, the slower the progress becomes!
Ten years... thirty levels, was this truly possible?
Tang San fell silent for a moment, glanced at Tang Sui, and Tang Sui nodded at him, responding proactively, "We agree."
The Second Elder nodded with satisfaction and then began to describe the second condition, "The second task is that within ten years, I want you to bring back the head of a Titled Douluo from the Spirit Hall. We only care about the result, regardless of what methods you use."
Tang San's pupils slightly contracted. Killing a Titled Douluo?
He recalled that even Sui Sui, in her exchange with the Seventh Elder earlier, hadn't had an easy time. However... they still had an ultimate trump card, their martial soul fusion skill, that hadn't been used. Moreover, people always grew stronger.
If it wasn't possible now, it didn't mean it wouldn't be possible in the future!
Thinking of this, Tang San's slightly turbulent gaze calmed down, and he nodded steadily, "This is also not a problem."
The Second Elder paused. Even Tang Xiao raised his eyebrows slightly, but he still said nothing, listening as the Second Elder continued to describe the third condition.
"The third task... I require you to obtain a hundred-thousand-year soul ring each for your eighth soul ring."
The Second Elder said indifferently. The calmness on Tang San's face was once again broken, revealing astonishment and a sense of absurdity, as if he were being toyed with.
Tang Sui chuckled, her voice somewhat ambiguous, "If we accomplish all three of these tasks, will you, Second Elder and the others, truly allow Father to pay respects to grandfather together?"
Hearing Tang Sui's words, Tang San turned his head and looked at his sister, whose expression remained unchanged. His lips moved slightly, as if about to say something, but he ultimately closed his mouth. Sudan Novel Network
Sui Sui, are you trying to probe something?
Or does it mean the elders of the Clear Sky Sect are untrustworthy?
With years of tacit understanding, Tang San understood Tang Sui's distrust of the Clear Sky Sect without needing her to explicitly state it.
This distrust could not be erased, even with Uncle Tang Xiao and Aunt Tang Yuehua present.
The Second Elder nodded, "Naturally. As long as you complete them, all that I have promised will be fulfilled."
"Then I have no issues. Brother, do you?" Tang Sui looked at her own brother.
Tang San was silent for a moment. Thinking of the conditions offered by the Second Elder, his fists, clenched at his sides, gradually relaxed as he exhaled.
"I have no issues either."
—Author's Note—
Digging a hole, preparing the elder council in advance.