What Else Could I Think?

The pupils of all four gatekeepers contracted simultaneously.

The Clear Sky Hammer is proof of the Clear Sky Sect's bloodline; it cannot be faked.

The leading disciple immediately clasped his hands in a fist salute, his attitude becoming more polite. "I am Tang Hu, a third-generation disciple. I will take you to see the sect master now."

Tang San put away the Clear Sky Hammer and nodded slightly. "Then I'll trouble you to lead the way."

Tang Hu nodded, turned and walked towards the mountain gate, with Tang San and the four girls following behind him.

Tang Hu led Tang San and the others through the mountain gate. In front of them was a wide set of blue stone steps that stretched from the foot of the mountain all the way to the middle of the mountain.

The steps were lined with pine and cypress trees, but they were all small saplings, clearly planted recently.

After walking for fifteen minutes, at the end of the steps was a wide square.

The square is paved with smooth bluestone, and twelve huge stone pillars stand around it. Each pillar is as thick as two people can hug, and the pillars are carved with the pattern of the Clear Sky Hammer, making it solemn and majestic.

At the end of the square stood a brand-new hall.

The architectural style of the main hall is consistent with that of the mountain gate, with black and dark gray as the main colors, strong lines, and a magnificent presence.

Upon arriving at the main hall entrance, Tang Hu said, "Tang San, the sect leader and all the elders are inside. Let's go in together."

Tang San nodded and stepped into the main hall.

The interior of the main hall appears more spacious than the exterior, with a high platform at the far end.

A huge black chair was placed on the high platform; it was the sect leader's seat.

But at that moment, no one was sitting in that chair.

Tang Xiao, Tang Hao, and the five elders stood in a circle below the platform, seemingly discussing something.

Tang San's gaze first fell on Tang Xiao.

Four years later, when Tang San saw Tang Xiao and Tang Hao again, he felt that their auras were even more fierce than they had been four years ago.

What Tang San didn't know was that Tang Xiao had already reached the peak of level 96, and Tang Hao had reached the peak of level 97. The two of them should not be far from breaking through.

Tang San's gaze quickly shifted to the five old men.

The five men all appeared to be at least in their eighties, but they were all in excellent health and had ruddy complexions.

Tang San had a general idea of what was going on. These were the five Titled Douluo- level elders of the Clear Sky Sect.

At this moment, all seven of them noticed the arrival of Tang San and his companions.

Tang Xiao smiled and immediately came forward.

"The Xiao San is here!"

Tang Xiao's voice was full of satisfaction and pride. He walked up to Tang San, put his hands on Tang San's shoulders, and looked him up and down several times. "Good lad, you've grown taller and stronger in four years."

Tang San bowed slightly and clasped his hands in a fist salute. "Tang San greets Uncle."

He then turned to Tang Hao, who was standing next to Tang Xiao, and called out in a nonchalant tone, "Dad."

Tang Hao stood there, his expression unchanged, only nodding and uttering a soft "hmm".

The four girls behind Tang San bowed slightly at the same time, their voices in unison and gentle. "Greetings, Uncle. Greetings, Uncle."

Tang Xiao nodded with a smile, his eyes full of praise, and said with the loving kindness of an elder, "Good, good, good children."

Tang Hao remained expressionless, merely nodding slightly in response.

Tang San smiled, turned to the five elders beside him, and looked at them with a question in his eyes.

Tang Xiao immediately introduced the two parties.

Although Tang San wasn't there to curry favor with anyone, he still had to observe proper etiquette, and the group formally bowed to each elder.

After the introductions, Tang San turned to Tang Xiao and said sincerely, "Uncle, the reason I came to the Clear Sky Sect this time is to go to my grandfather's memorial tablet, offer incense to him, and pay my respects. I hope you can grant my request."

Tang Xiao was very happy, and his smile became even brighter.

"Okay, okay, I'll take you there now."

Tang San was, after all, the only descendant of Tang Xiao and Tang Hao.

Tang Xiao had no children, and Tang Hao only had one son Tang San.

The continuation of their lineage rests solely on Tang San.

But just then, the Second Elder walked to Tang Xiao's side and raised his hand to stop Tang Xiao.

"Sect Master, offering incense to the former Sect Master is not urgent."

Tang Xiao frowned slightly and turned to look at the Second Elder.

The Second Elder's gaze fell upon Tang San, and he slowly said, "I have often heard the Sect Master praise Tang San's talent, saying that he is the most outstanding genius in the Clear Sky Sect in the past hundred years. This is Tang San's first time returning to the sect, and I have a few questions I would like to ask Tang San."

Tang Xiao frowned and said, "Second Elder, Xiao San has just returned to the sect. Why don't we wait until he finishes paying respects to my father before asking him?"

Tang San turned around, smiled, and said calmly, "Uncle, it's alright. Second Elder, please feel free to ask any questions. I will answer them to the best of my knowledge."

The Second Elder nodded, looking directly into Tang San's eyes, his voice becoming solemn.

"Back then, your father, Tang Hao, forged a blood feud with the Spirit Hall for your mother's sake, which forced the Clear Sky Sect to close its gates for more than a decade, resulting in heavy losses."

He paused, then continued, "Although Tang Hao has already apologized to the sect and admitted his mistake, and we have forgiven him, it is indeed inappropriate to bring up this old matter again. However, this matter involves all the disciples of the sect, and you will inevitably face some criticism when you move around the sect in the future."

"Therefore, we elders would like to know your opinion on this matter?"

After the Second Elder finished speaking, he stared intently at Tang San, waiting for his reply.

The atmosphere inside the hall suddenly became heavy.

The gazes of the five elders simultaneously fell upon Tang San, their expressions a mixture of scrutiny, probing, and anticipation.

Tang Xiao and Tang Hao both frowned slightly, but neither of them interrupted.

This is a problem Tang San will have to face sooner or later, and his answer will directly affect the elders' attitude towards him.

A faint smile curved at the corners of Tang San's lips.

"The Second Elder asked me what I thought?"

Tang San's voice was calm, but beneath that calmness lay an unwavering determination.

"What can I say? They wanted to kill my mother, and my father fought to the death to protect her. What's wrong with that? Should I let him hand my mother over to someone else to kill?"

Tang San's gaze swept across the faces of the five elders.

"If there's any problem, it's simply a lack of strength. If my father had possessed the strength of my Tang Chen back then, how could the Spirit Hall have dared to act so boldly?"

As for whether he would want to return to the Clear Sky Sect in the future, Tang San scoffed at the criticism he would face if he did, not even wanting to mention it.

The Soul Master World is a world where strength reigns supreme, especially in sects like the Clear Sky Sect, where whoever has the strongest fist is the boss.

There are criticisms? Then we'll beat you until you dare not criticize. Do you expect me to persuade you with virtue here?

The hall fell silent for a moment.

The five elders frowned, each with a different expression.

The Seventh Elder sat on the far right, his eyes wide like copper bells, and the muscles on his face twitched slightly.

His son died at the hands of the Spirit Hall, a fact known to everyone within the Clear Sky Sect.

After Tang San finished speaking, the Seventh Elder snorted.

"That's easy for you to say. Do you know how much the Clear Sky Sect has lost because of your father? How many disciples have died in battle? How many resources have been destroyed? How much have we lost during the more than ten years of closure?"

His voice carried an barely suppressed anger.

Tang San turned his gaze to the Seventh Elder, calmly meeting his angry stare, and asked in return, "Then I would like to ask the Seventh Elder, if it were you in his shoes back then, what would you have done? Would you have stood by and watched your wife be killed? Or would you have knelt down and begged the Spirit Hall for leniency?"