Tang Xiao's Bitter Heart

Tang Xiao had never expected the Great Elder to think so highly of him.

All this time, he had always been overshadowed by his younger brother, Tang Hao.

Everyone in the sect believed he was inferior to Tang Hao because he could not comprehend and master the Clear Sky Ultimate Technique, the Great Sumeru Hammer, while Tang Hao had mastered it. That was why the heir of the Clear Sky Sect was Tang Hao rather than him.

Even his younger sister, Tang Yuehua, seemed to prefer Tang Hao and be closer to him.

Although they were both known as the Clear Sky Twins, Tang Hao was the more famous one.

Even Ah Yin, whom they had both loved, had ultimately chosen Tang Hao instead of him. He could only withdraw and return to the sect in dejection.

His father was like that, his sister was like that, Ah Yin was like that, and everyone else in the Clear Sky Sect was the same.

In their eyes, Tang Hao had always shone brighter than him.

The Great Elder reached out and patted Tang Xiao on the shoulder, speaking slowly:

"I watched you grow up. I have seen the bitterness in your heart."

"Since childhood, you have always thought of Tang Hao first and yielded everything to him. As the eldest brother, you were like a father to him. There is nothing wrong with that."

"But not this time. You know the sect's current situation. You can no longer yield the position of Sect Master. Moreover, Tang Hao... is not suited to be the master of a sect."

"Go take part in the Sect Master selection tomorrow as well. Compared to the six elders, I would rather see you assume the position of Sect Master."

Tang Xiao opened his mouth in astonishment. He had not expected the Great Elder to understand him so well.

That was right.

He always put his younger brother Tang Hao first. After all, he was the elder brother.

Ever since they were young, as long as Tang Hao wanted something good, he would give it to him.

Whenever Tang Hao caused trouble, he cleaned up after him and settled every problem.

Tang Xiao looked as though he did not care, as though it was only natural and he did it willingly. But who knew the bitterness in his heart?

At last, someone understood him. Tang Xiao's eyes could not help moistening as warmth flowed through his heart, leaving him deeply moved.

The Great Elder did not want to become Sect Master himself and had even asked him to participate in the selection. From the Great Elder's words, he actually wanted him to become Sect Master?!

At that thought, Tang Xiao could not help asking in surprise:

"Great Elder, isn't there still you? You are a Level 95 Super Douluo, the strongest person in our Clear Sky Sect today. Aren't you participating in the selection?"

"I am already old, and I will not live much longer." The Great Elder sighed faintly and spoke helplessly. "The Clear Sky Sect will be entrusted to you from now on! I hope you can lead the Clear Sky Sect out of this predicament and restore its glory!"

The Great Elder patted Tang Xiao's shoulder, then hobbled away trembling with his hammer-headed cane.

Tang Xiao remained where he was, silent, contemplative, and incomparably moved.

The next day.

Because the Sect Master selection was about to take place, the old Sect Master, who had recently been angered to death by Tang Hao, was hastily buried.

To avoid drawing too much attention and damaging the sect's morale, the elders chose to conceal the matter. They merely announced within the sect that the old Sect Master had retired to recuperate and that a new Sect Master would be selected.

Thus, Tang Xiao was the only person in the entire sect dressed in mourning clothes, and even then, he mourned in secret.

The Clear Sky Sect's Sect Master selection tournament proceeded as scheduled.

In the end, Tang Xiao relied on his own strength to defeat the six elders one after another.

That day, with the Great Elder's full support, Tang Xiao became the new Sect Master of the Clear Sky Sect.

Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

Within the Seven Treasure Hall.

Seated in the chair at the very head was a refined and gentle middle-aged man in his thirties, with an elderly man standing on either side of him.

The middle-aged man had a face like polished jade, a straight nose, square lips, and dignified features. He wore an immaculate white robe, his smooth black hair cascading down his back. He held a Warm Jade Cane in his hand, his gaze gentle, and his bearing noble and elegant.

The middle-aged man was named—

Ning Fengzhi.

He was the current Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

He possessed the top-tier Tool Martial Soul, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, and was a Level 79 Support-type Soul Saint.

He enjoyed the reputation of being the number one Support-type Spirit Master on Douluo Continent and was an authority among Support-type Spirit Masters.

The elder to Ning Fengzhi's left wore a snow-white robe. His silver hair was combed with meticulous precision, and his pale face was clean-shaven. His expression was indifferent, and he stood like a sharp sword, giving off an air of supremacy.

The elder was named—

Chen Xin.

He was currently a Level 92 Power Attack Type Title Douluo and possessed the top-tier Tool Martial Soul, the Seven Kill Sword.

Because he was obsessed with the Sword Path and had spent his entire life studying only the Seven Kill Sword in his hand, he was known among Title Douluo as Sword Dao Chen Xin.

He was Sword Douluo, one of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's two Sect Protecting Douluo.

The elder to Ning Fengzhi's right had a gaunt face and a sharply protruding skeleton, giving his entire body a strange appearance. His name was—

Gu Rong.

He was also currently a Level 92 Title Douluo of both the Defense and Agility Attack Types, possessing the top-tier Beast Martial Soul, the Bone Dragon.

Because his Martial Soul possessed the exceedingly rare Spatial Power of the continent, he was also known as the Title Douluo with the most bizarre attacks.

He was Bone Douluo, one of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's two Sect Protecting Douluo.

He and Chen Xin were partners, close friends, and rivals who constantly undercut one another. They were also lifelong opponents.

At that moment, Ning Fengzhi finished reading the message in his hand.

The next instant.

With a swish, he stood up.

His eyes widened, his face filled with shock.

"Fengzhi, what is it?"

Seeing Ning Fengzhi's unusual reaction, Sword Douluo Chen Xin was the first to ask.

Ning Fengzhi did not answer immediately. He was still in shock.

Only after quite a while did he come back to his senses.

"Uncle Sword, Uncle Bone, take a look."

He handed the letter in his hand to Sword Douluo.

Sword Douluo Chen Xin picked it up. His sword-sharp gaze swept over it, and his pupils suddenly contracted.

He did not pay much attention to the part about Spirit Hall declaring war on the Clear Sky Sect.

At that moment, his gaze was fixed firmly upon the few lines describing how Tang Hao, having just advanced to the Title Douluo realm, had defeated and killed the Level 95 Super Douluo Qian Xunji.

Chen Xin was both shocked and impressed by this. At the same time, his eyes were filled with fighting spirit as he silently regarded Tang Hao as an opponent.

He felt an intense urge to measure himself against him.

"What is going on? Why do you both look so shocked?"

Watching their expressions shift, Bone Douluo could no longer stay put.

He stepped past Ning Fengzhi and went straight to Sword Douluo's side, snatching the letter from Sword Douluo's hand and reading it himself.

"This, this... it is fake, right?! How did he do it?"

After reading it, Bone Douluo felt thoroughly startled. Then came doubt and disbelief.

What he focused on was the same as Sword Douluo.

"Defeating a Level 95 Title Douluo immediately after advancing to Title Douluo... Uncle Sword, Uncle Bone, could you do that?"

Ning Fengzhi voiced the doubt in his heart.

His Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda Martial Soul had a flaw that prevented him from ever breaking through Level 79, so he did not know much about the distinctions between Title Douluo realms.

Sword Douluo shook his head and said:

"It is almost impossible. If I had only just advanced to the Title Douluo realm, I would not have had the courage to face a Level 95 Title Douluo, because victory would have been utterly impossible."