Conditions

"Today, the Clear Sky Sect must pay the price."

The carriage curtain was slowly lifted.

Pei An, dressed in a white Pope Robe, stepped down from the carriage while holding Xiao Qian Renxue. Bibi Dong followed behind him, somewhat displeased as she looked at the little angel clinging to Pei An and ruining their time alone.

This was Tang Xiao's first time seeing Spirit Hall's new Pope in person.

His first impression was that Pei An was young.

He recalled the intelligence he had heard before:

Spirit Hall's new Pope had reached the cultivation of a Soul Douluo at the age of nineteen.

Tang Xiao had not truly believed it before.

He had thought Spirit Hall must have falsified the new Pope's age to build his reputation.

After all, even his extraordinarily talented Second Brother had already been in his forties when he became a Title Douluo.

Yet now that he saw him, it seemed to be true.

The youthfulness Pei An gave Tang Xiao was not merely one of appearance, but a feeling.

It was absolutely not a feeling that someone who had preserved his looks despite being much older could give him.

Tang Xiao looked at Pei An, his attitude still fairly cordial as he cupped his fist in salute. "May I ask what the Pope wants from my Clear Sky Sect?"

Although Tang Xiao did not wish to lower his head, the situation was right before him. The current Clear Sky Sect had no room to refuse.

At first, he had thought there was only Chrysanthemum Douluo, and with Pei An, there were at most two Title Douluo-level combatants.

But now, that clearly was not the case.

Bibi Dong, standing beside Pei An, and the several people standing alongside Chrysanthemum Douluo all gave him the feeling of being at least Title Douluo-level.

In other words, including Pei An, Spirit Hall had deployed a full six Title Douluo-level combatants this time.

Among them, the elderly man in an azure robe even gave him a sense of oppression.

That meant the old man was at least a Super Douluo above Rank Ninety-Five!

Most likely, he was one of the worshippers from the Worship Hall.

Such a lineup was far beyond what the current Clear Sky Sect could contend against.

Unless absolutely necessary, Tang Xiao truly did not want to fight Spirit Hall.

Pei An smiled faintly. "Very simple. Four Ten Thousand Year Soul Bones, five hundred million Gold Soul Coins, the Clear Sky Sect sealing itself away for ten years without leaving, and one Direct Disciple from the sect master's line coming to Spirit Hall as a guest. Once that is done, this matter between us and the Clear Sky Sect will be settled."

Tang Xiao's expression turned livid upon hearing Pei An's words.

Simple? Not a single one of these demands was simple!

The Clear Sky Sect might have been able to produce four Ten Thousand Year Soul Bones in the past.

However, several of the Clear Sky Sect's inherited soul bones had already been given to Tang Hao. They simply did not have four Ten Thousand Year Soul Bones left.

The five hundred million Gold Soul Coins were nearly equivalent to seventy percent of the Clear Sky Sect's total assets.

They would most likely have to sell off a large portion of their properties to make up the amount.

Sealing the sect for ten years was an even greater slap to the Clear Sky Sect's face.

If they were forced to seal the sect, one could imagine how much the Clear Sky Sect would become the subject of idle chatter among soul masters afterward.

As for the demand that one Direct Disciple from the Clear Sky Sect's sect master line be sent to Spirit Hall as a guest, Tang Xiao found it completely unacceptable.

Though Pei An called it a visit, everyone knew perfectly well that it meant a hostage.

And there were only three Direct Disciples in the Clear Sky Sect's sect master line.

Himself, his Second Brother Tang Hao, and his Younger Sister Tang Yuehua.

Tang Hao had already fled to some unknown place, while Tang Xiao, as the Sect Master, could not possibly go to Spirit Hall as a hostage.

That left only one person: his Younger Sister, Tang Yuehua.

Tang Xiao had always doted on this Younger Sister. How could he possibly send her to Spirit Hall as a hostage?

Yet with Spirit Hall's Large Army at their gates, outright refusal was clearly impossible.

After a long silence, Tang Xiao looked at Pei An and slowly spoke.

"Pope, the Clear Sky Sect truly cannot produce four Ten Thousand Year Soul Bones. At most, we can offer two, along with five Thousand-Year Soul Bones."

"Agreed." Pei An did not press the matter. He had known from the start that the Clear Sky Sect could not produce them.

The entire Clear Sky Sect might not even possess as many Ten Thousand Year Soul Bones as Tang Hao did on his own.

When negotiating terms, one generally started high before gradually lowering the demands.

Seeing Pei An agree, Tang Xiao could not help but let out a sigh of relief.

He continued, "We will provide the five hundred million Gold Soul Coins within ten days. The Clear Sky Sect also agrees to the condition of sealing the sect."

The moment he said this, several elders became agitated.

"Sect Master!"

Five hundred million Gold Soul Coins were still acceptable, but sealing the sect for ten years was undoubtedly difficult for people as concerned with face as they were to accept.

Tang Xiao glanced at them and sneered coldly. "Do the elders have objections, or do you have other conditions that can satisfy the Pope?"

Silence.

What could they possibly do?

A group of old fools who only knew how to shout.

Seeing this, Tang Xiao was deeply dissatisfied with the elders' behavior.

He turned to Pei An again, and rare traces of pleading entered his tone. "Pope, could the matter of the Direct Disciple be dropped?"

A faint smile appeared on Pei An's Handsome face, as otherworldly as an Immortal's.

"It seems Sect Master Tang has some misunderstanding about me. You appear to think I am especially easy to talk to."

Tang Xiao's heart skipped a beat, and a bad feeling rose within him.

Pei An slightly raised his hand, and eight soul rings that completely defied the optimal soul ring configuration slowly rose around him.

His voice was calm and indifferent.

"Since the Clear Sky Sect has no sincerity, there is no need for us to continue talking."

Behind Pei An, the soul masters of Spirit Hall released their martial souls one after another.

The nine soul rings around Chrysanthemum Douluo and the other Title Douluos were especially conspicuous.

At the sight of several nine-ringed Title Douluos, the Clear Sky Sect's elders instantly panicked.

What were they supposed to fight with—their heads?

"Sect Master!" They all looked toward Tang Xiao.

To them, Tang Yuehua, with only Ninth Rank Soul Power, was clearly not worth throwing their lives away for.

The Clear Sky Sect revered strength, so it was also quite realistic.

Though Tang Yuehua, as the Sect Master's Younger Sister, usually appeared to hold a noble status within the sect.

In truth, not many in the Clear Sky Sect genuinely thought highly of her.

To these elders, this was a choice that required no hesitation.

They all believed this was the easiest of Pei An's conditions to accept.

Feeling the pressure from the elders, Tang Xiao still refused to relent.

He still could not bring himself to hand his own Younger Sister over as a hostage.

"Sect Master!" Seeing Tang Xiao remain silent while the killing intent from Spirit Hall grew increasingly intense, the Clear Sky Sect elders called out again.

Just as Tang Xiao did not know how to choose, a gentle voice sounded.

"I agree."

Tang Yuehua stepped gracefully out from the crowd of the Clear Sky Sect.

She cast a disappointed glance at the elders.

Though she had expected it long ago, when Tang Yuehua truly saw the elders' utterly unhesitating attitude, she could not help but feel a chill in her heart.

Then, her beautiful eyes turned toward Pei An. "Pope, I agree to go to Spirit Hall."

"I am the daughter of the previous Sect Master, as well as a Direct Disciple of the sect master's line. I meet your requirements, Pope."

Pei An said calmly, "Agreed."

"Yuehua!" Tang Xiao wanted to stop Tang Yuehua, but several elders held him back.

"The greater good comes first, Sect Master! The greater good!"

A mournful smile appeared on Tang Yuehua's exquisitely beautiful face. "Big Brother, do not stop me. I also want to do something for the sect."

With that, Tang Yuehua no longer lingered and walked toward Spirit Hall.

"Since that is the case, once the Clear Sky Sect fulfills the other conditions, this matter will be put to rest."

Pei An's indifferent words allowed the people of the Clear Sky Sect to breathe a sigh of relief.

Yet the shadow of this day would continue hanging over their heads.

After this matter, the dissatisfaction ordinary Clear Sky Sect disciples held toward Tang Hao would reach its peak.

If Tang Hao showed any signs of returning to the Clear Sky Sect afterward, those disciples might become excellent informants.

This was also one of Pei An's calculations.