Giving Up the Opportunity

Tang Tian shook his head. "Uncle, do you want the world to think that our Tang Family entered the Falling Star Sect only because we compromised out of fear? If we do not strive to become stronger ourselves and merely wish to rely on the sect's backing to throw our weight around again, then how are we any different from the destroyed Lin Family?"

"This..."

Tang Xiaohai had no answer, for he truly hoped the Lineage could borrow the Falling Star Sect's influence to flourish and grow.

But if they truly held such a mindset, then sooner or later, they would offend someone they could not afford to offend and bring about the destruction of their Lineage.

Old Master Tang Xiao's gaze flickered, but he said nothing.

No one noticed that a sharp glint flashed through Elder Li's cloudy eyes as he stood waiting at the side.

Tang Lingyun nodded. "Tian'er, you are right. If the Tang Family wants to grow stronger, we must rely on ourselves. Whatever decision you make, your father will support you. No one can force you to do anything—not even them."

As he spoke, his gaze fell upon Zhang Kairong and Weng Yuan.

Zhang Kairong remained perfectly calm, but Weng Yuan's expression was far less pleasant. Had Zhang Kairong not warned him beforehand, he likely would have been unable to stop himself from shouting abuse.

Tang Tian nodded, his expression turning solemn. "Since I will not choose the first option, yet have no way to avoid making a choice, then I can only choose the second. However, this junior would like to ask clearly: what level of expert will be coming to kill me? It will not be someone in the Soul-Emergence Realm, will it? Once I enter Starfall Forest, even if you send a Soul-Emergence Realm expert to kill me, no one will know."

There were no truly inexplicable good people in this world. Zhang Kairong might look all smiles, but one could not judge a person by appearance; hiding a knife behind a smile was perfectly normal.

"If disciples below the Organs-Hiding Realm were to make a move against you, they would only be delivering themselves to your doorstep. As for Soul-Emergence Realm experts, they are all true disciples of my Falling Star Sect and will not act lightly. Otherwise, my Falling Star Sect would only become the laughingstock of others. Therefore, I have decided to send inner disciples at the Organs-Hiding Realm. This will also count as tempering for them. If they truly die, it will only mean their skills were inferior."

Zhang Kairong smiled faintly, as though he had long expected that Tang Tian would not choose the first option.

After all, someone who dared to challenge an Advanced Bone-Forging Realm cultivator while only at the Meridian Refining Realm possessed pride in his heart and unyielding bones in his body. How could he so easily choose to compromise?

If Tang Tian had truly chosen the first option, Zhang Kairong would only have been disappointed. Even if Tang Tian entered the Falling Star Sect, Zhang Kairong would never place much importance on him.

Yet Tang Tian had chosen the second path, one he clearly knew could lead to death. Zhang Kairong greatly admired him for it.

Weng Yuan's expression changed drastically. His ultimate goal had been to kill Tang Tian, wash away his humiliation, and avenge his disciple.

Yet he had never expected Zhang Kairong to set such conditions.

With Tang Tian's strength, ordinary Organs-Hiding Realm cultivators would not be his match at all. Only those ranked among the top ten inner disciples might be able to contend with him.

After all, this world never lacked monstrous geniuses.

Tang Tian truly possessed extraordinary talent, but he had started somewhat late. He had only cultivated from the Meridian Refining Realm to the Bone-Forging Realm at the age of fifteen.

Among the Falling Star Sect's monsters, some had already become Organs-Hiding Realm experts at thirteen or fourteen.

For example, Ye Ruxue, who stood beside Tang Tian.

When Ye Ruxue heard that Tang Tian had chosen the second method of resolution, her lovely face paled. She wanted to persuade him, yet she opened her mouth and found herself unable to say anything.

"Fine! When do we begin?"

Tang Tian's expression was grave. He did not believe that, as an Initial Bone-Forging Realm cultivator, he could stand shoulder to shoulder with every Organs-Hiding Realm expert in the Falling Star Sect.

The Falling Star Sect was, after all, a great sect. Hidden dragons and crouching tigers were only to be expected there.

"You decide the time. I am not in a hurry."

Zhang Kairong wore a smiling expression, like a kind and amiable elder.

"Three days from now. In any case, once I enter Starfall Forest, you will know."

Zhang Kairong nodded, suddenly feeling somewhat expectant.

The death of inner disciple Lin Yichen this time was equivalent to sounding an alarm bell.

Many Falling Star Sect disciples relied on their status as sect disciples to commit all manner of evil, let alone use the tiger's might through the fox.

Each of them was proud and arrogant, with their eyes above their heads. How could they understand that beyond every person was another greater person, and beyond every sky was another higher sky?

This time, he would use Tang Tian to give those Organs-Hiding Realm disciples an opportunity for tempering.

"I have a condition as well. If I survive, I hope the Falling Star Sect will stop troubling my Tang Family from this day onward."

If this still could not settle the matter, and the Falling Star Sect continued pestering them in the future, then life would become impossible.

"No problem."

Zhang Kairong nodded, then looked at Ye Ruxue and smiled. "This young lady's aptitude is quite exceptional. I wonder if she has any interest in joining my Falling Star Sect?"

"Not interested."

Ye Ruxue answered with three crisp, decisive words.

Even Zhang Kairong, calm and composed as he was, could not stop the corner of his mouth from twitching.

What was going on today?

Since when had the Falling Star Sect completely lost its appeal to young people?

Tang Tian's rejection would have been one thing, but Ye Ruxue had rejected him outright without even thinking.

Tang Lingyun and the others could neither laugh nor cry. These two children were far too willful.

"Uh... what conditions would you require to join the Falling Star Sect?"

A fourteen-year-old Organs-Hiding Realm cultivator—Zhang Kairong did not wish to let such talent slip away so easily. He felt it was necessary to fight for her on behalf of the sect.

Ye Ruxue glanced at Tang Tian and said, "If he goes, I will go."

"Uh..."

Zhang Kairong looked awkward. It seemed all the more necessary to win Tang Tian over.

That way, the Falling Star Sect would gain two disciples of extraordinary talent.

"Fine."

Zhang Kairong could only nod. Looking at Tang Tian, he said, "Three days from now, I will await your arrival at the entrance to Starfall Forest."

Tang Tian cupped his fists in salute. "Thank you for your trouble, Senior."

Zhang Kairong laughed heartily. He looked at Tang Lingyun and cupped his fists. "Tang Family Head, your son is a straightforward man. If you can persuade him to enter my Falling Star Sect, everyone will be delighted. I shall not disturb you any longer. We will meet again in three days. Farewell."

"Take care. I will not see you out."

Tang Lingyun nodded.

Tang Tian had not expected Ye Ruxue to give up the opportunity to enter the Falling Star Sect for his sake.

As he looked at Ye Ruxue, he could not help feeling deeply moved.

In his previous life, Tang Tian had only known how to bury his head in pill refinement. All his life, he had never understood love between men and women.

But in this life, meeting Ye Ruxue had caused his feelings to slowly shift from hazy incomprehension to growing clarity.

If anyone in the Heavenly Dragon Empire learned that these two had unhesitatingly given up an opportunity to soar into the heavens, they would likely be so furious that they vomited blood.

After the two elders of the Falling Star Sect left, Tang Lingyun said with a grave expression, "Tian'er, the Falling Star Sect has been slapped in the face. Naturally, they will not let this go easily. Yet you agreed to this method of resolution. Is that not too risky?"

Tang Tian smiled. "Father, I also want to see just how formidable the Falling Star Sect's Organs-Hiding Realm disciples are. Besides, the rules only require me to survive for half a month. They never said I must fight them."

At those words, everyone's eyes immediately lit up.

[Author's note: Today's second update is here. The third will arrive shortly!]