Ambition Is Not Determined by Age

"Father, Brother Hao is currently at my Moonlight Pavilion. What should we do? Are we really going to hand Brother Hao over?"

Tang Yuehua had barely sat down when she asked anxiously. If Tang Hao fell into Spirit Hall's hands, there was no need to say more—Spirit Hall would never spare him. Whether out of familial love or romantic love, she did not want this to happen. She even vaguely hoped Clear Sky Sect would not be destroyed.

Tang Xiao hurriedly said, "Father, we absolutely cannot hand Brother Hao over. Spirit Hall has always regarded the Upper Three Sects as thorns in its side, especially us, the number one sect in the world. Even if we hand Brother Hao over, Spirit Hall will never spare Clear Sky Sect."

Tang Lie retorted, "Then what do we do? If we do not hand Tang Hao over, are we supposed to let Clear Sky Sect be destroyed? That is ten Title Douluo, not even counting Qian Daoliu and Spirit Hall's vast number of Soul Masters. How can Clear Sky Sect possibly withstand them?"

"Of all things, Tang Hao had to fall for a beast. He has brought such a disaster upon Clear Sky Sect!"

After witnessing Spirit Hall's ten Title Douluo, Tang Lie's attitude had taken a one-hundred-and-fifty-degree turn. He had gone from praising Tang Hao to constantly blaming him. If Spirit Hall truly attacked and caused Clear Sky Sect grievous losses or even destruction, he would probably sweet-talk Tang Hao while endlessly berating him, perhaps even wanting to hammer him to death himself.

Tang Xiao rose furiously. "Seventh Uncle, who are you calling a beast? Ah Yin has already reached maturity—she is a real person now! Spirit Hall is the one with wolfish ambitions, coveting Ah Yin's Soul Ring and Soul Bone. Brother Hao was merely defending himself!"

Tang Lie continued to snap back without mercy, "A beast is a beast. What maturity? Can humans sacrifice themselves like soul beasts? When humans die, do they drop Soul Rings and Soul Bones?"

Tang Xiao stood up in fury. "Seventh Elder..."

Bang!

Tang Zhen slammed his palm onto the table. A handprint appeared on the granite table as he barked, "Seventh, Xiao'er, both of you, quiet down! With a great enemy before us, you are still arguing here. What kind of behavior is that?"

Faced with the authority of their elder and sect master, Tang Xiao and Tang Lie reluctantly quieted down.

At that moment, the Second Elder, whose prestige within Clear Sky Sect was second only to Tang Zhen's, spoke. "Sect Master, make the decision."

Tang Zhen took a deep breath and slowly said, "Xiao'er is right. Spirit Hall will not spare Clear Sky Sect. Even if we hand Hao'er over and escape this crisis for the moment, Spirit Hall will find all sorts of excuses to weaken Clear Sky Sect in the future, until we can no longer threaten them—or until we are destroyed."

"I propose that before the one-month deadline arrives, the entire Clear Sky Sect relocate to the sanctuary Father left behind and temporarily avoid their edge. Qian Daoliu once made an agreement with Father: no one from Spirit Hall beneath him may set foot in those mountains."

"Qian Daoliu was Father's defeated opponent, and he is also a coward. His son was beaten so badly by Hao'er that he fled in disgrace. With Father's lingering might still present, he will never dare violate his agreement with Father."

"When Father returns after becoming a god, or when Hao'er reaches level ninety-nine through cultivation, attaining the same realm as Father, it will be time for Clear Sky Sect to emerge once more."

The Second Elder said, "Sect Master, you mean we should preserve our strength and wait for another chance?"

Tang Zhen nodded. "Ambition is not determined by age; without ambition, one may live a hundred years in vain. Father was able to lead us in establishing the number one sect in the world. So long as our bloodline endures, once the opportunity comes, we can recreate that glory."

Tang Zhen's gaze swept over Tang Xiao and the Six Elders of Clear Sky one by one. "Xiao'er, Second Brother, Third Brother... Seventh Brother, all of you possess the talent to break through to Title Douluo. As long as Clear Sky Sect temporarily goes into seclusion and you devote yourselves wholly to cultivation, I believe that within twenty years, all of you can become Title Douluo and stand alongside Hao'er."

"When Father returns as a god and Hao'er reaches level ninety-nine as a Title Douluo through dedicated cultivation, it will be time for Clear Sky Sect to reemerge and let Spirit Hall experience the might of the number one Tool Martial Soul in the world!"

Tang Xiao and the Six Elders of Clear Sky were all stirred by Tang Zhen's words. In twenty years, the seven of them, together with Tang Hao, would make eight Title Douluo. Although their number of Title Douluo would still be fewer than Spirit Hall's, they must not forget that they possessed the Clear Sky Hammer, the number one Tool Martial Soul in the world. They were not comparable to those worthless Title Douluo outside.

When Tang Chen presided over Clear Sky Sect, he had been its only Title Douluo. These juniors had still been Soul Saints and Soul Douluo, yet Clear Sky Sect had still stood shoulder to shoulder with Spirit Hall, which possessed at least four Title Douluo, including Qian Daoliu, Golden Crocodile Douluo, and the two guardian Douluo of Pope Hall.

Once all seven of them broke through to Title Douluo, what would Spirit Hall's ten Title Douluo amount to? They would smash Spirit Hall's ten Title Douluo to pieces, while Tang Hao would smash Qian Daoliu and his son to pieces.

Cough, cough, cough...

Tang Zhen coughed several more times. A smile remained at the corners of his mouth, though regret appeared on his face. "It is only a pity that this old man's condition will not allow me to see that day."

Tears welled in Tang Yuehua's eyes. "Father, do not say such unlucky things."

Tang Zhen lovingly, yet somewhat reluctantly, rubbed Tang Yuehua's head. "Yue Hua, while Clear Sky Sect is in seclusion, I will have to trouble you to supply the sect with resources from outside."

Tang Yuehua nodded firmly and grasped Tang Zhen's withered hand. "Father, I am your daughter and a member of Clear Sky Sect. There is no question of hardship. For the sake of the sect, this is what I should do."

At the thought that, after Clear Sky Sect went into seclusion, they would need a woman—a junior of theirs—to earn money and support them, five of the Six Elders of Clear Sky showed varying degrees of shame on their faces.

Tang Lie's expression remained unchanged. It seemed that, in his eyes, Tang Yuehua supporting the sect—and supporting him—was only natural.

In his view, it was only right. As a member of the sect who had grown up under its care, it was Tang Yuehua's duty to contribute to the sect's growth. Besides, though he had not been present when Moonlight Pavilion was established, it was not as if he had done nothing behind the scenes.

A man is innocent, but possessing a treasure invites blame. Moonlight Pavilion earned such an enormous number of Gold Soul Coins every year, bringing in wealth by the day. Who would not be envious?

If Clear Sky Sect had not stood behind her, how could Tang Yuehua have established Moonlight Pavilion so smoothly and turned it into Heaven Dou Empire's hall-level training ground for noble etiquette? If an ordinary person had grown up looking like this and dared enter noble circles, they would likely have been devoured by the nobles without even their bones remaining the moment they entered. How could they possibly establish any Moonlight Pavilion?

Clear Sky Sect's strength included his contribution. He was an elder of Clear Sky Sect, one of its pillars.

"Good. Go make preparations." Tang Zhen said solemnly, "This matter must be kept absolutely secret. Other than members of the Tang family, do not reveal it to any affiliated family or sect disciple!"