Chapter 250

Tang Yuehua clapped her hands, the sharp sound cutting through the haze that lingered around the two elders beside her. They still struggled to fully understand what they had seen, their faces shadowed with disbelief, while the siblings drifted in their own world, laughter and teasing softening the edges of the moment.

"Ceremony, come you two. The others are waiting," she said and then nodded as the Twins and the other two came along. When they were back amongst the other elders, the second elder and the others cornered the seventh and fifth elder.

Tang San’s heart clenched, a knot of hope and fear twisting inside him. Yet as the ceremony began, he let out a slow, careful breath. This was the first step—maybe the only step—toward forgiveness for his father, a chance to reclaim the right to honour their grandparents, to kneel before their ancestors and be seen. Tang Yin leaned against his side, her presence a quiet comfort. She wasn’t nervous; he could feel it in the easy way she stood. This wasn’t her tradition, not in the marrow-deep way it was his, but she was here for him, and that was enough.

The ceremony itself was simple, almost stark in its solemnity. When it ended, Tang San felt the weight of acceptance settle over him, heavy and unfamiliar. If anything happened to him, to his father, even to Jiang, Yin would have the strength of the Clear Sky Clan behind her. That

knowledge was a shield, one he had never dared to hope for.

The second elder turned to them. "Since it is now like this, we will require you to do three tasks for the Clan. As long as you complete these tasks, you will gain forgiveness for your father; he may also return to the sect if he wishes to do so and offer his prayers alongside you to the old sect master together with you."

"What?" Tang San's eyes widened. His father might have said nothing, but he knew what it would mean to him if he could return to the sect and pray to his grandfather, his father.

This was more than he had dared to hope for. Still, he knew the second elder’s demands would not be easy. Whatever was asked of them would be steep, perhaps nearly impossible.

"I agree." He said, but was immediately punched by Yin into his side, turning to her.

"I want to hear what you wish for us to do before we can agree." She said. "You shouldn't agree to things when you do not know what they are. You were the one who taught me that, or have you forgotten?"

He blinked and wanted to refute when the second elder looked at Tang Yin. "She is right, as they will also concern her."

He drew in a slow breath. "Since it is impossible for you to fulfil these tasks as you are now, I will give you a long time to achieve them. The first task: reach rank eighty within the next ten years."

For someone in the lower ranks, gaining ten levels in ten years was nothing. But from sixty to eighty, the climb was a sheer cliff. Most would spend a lifetime and never reach such heights.

If either of the Tang twins managed it, it would be nothing short of terrifying. ℴ

"Fine. I believe we can manage that," Yin said, nodding with quiet certainty. She was sure they could do it, but a flicker of worry lingered beneath her calm. She already held too much spirit energy; if she advanced too quickly, her body might not withstand it. Ten years was enough—barely. She would have to push herself harder than ever, forging her strength to keep pace with her spirit.

"The second task is within those ten years you must bring back the head of a Spirit Hall Title Douluo. It does not matter how you do it, the result counts." He looked at them as Tang Yin pressed her lips together and Tang San nodded.

"The third task is that we will require your eight-ring to be a century millennium spirit ring."

"What?" Tang San’s voice cracked. The first two tasks were hard, but this—this was a legend, a story told to children. He glanced at Tang Yin, who shifted restlessly, her hand rising as if to steady herself. Still, he gave a third, resolute nod.

"Alright."

The second elder nodded, his gaze steady. "It is possible. You have already broken through the limit once, raised your level beyond what was thought possible. Absorbing a century millennium spirit ring is within your reach. We will not help you, but you may seek aid from outside as you wish. If you truly achieve this in ten years, and with the spirit bones your father has returned, the sect will be yours. You will become sect master, and no one will dare question your worth. You will have proven it to all."

Tang San closed his eyes, letting the words settle. "I will do it," he said quietly, "but I do not wish to lead the clan. I have Tang Sect. I do not need another. Instead, I ask you to promise—whatever happens, protect my sister at any cost. No matter what it takes."

"San!" Yin objected when Tang San smiled at her.

"Sis, you’re strong, but the world is dangerous—especially for you. I’ll feel better knowing you have someone powerful behind you, someone who will protect you if I’m not there."

"I can protect myself!" She argued.

"I know, but it’s a brother’s right to want to protect his sister. You’ll have to live with it," he grumbled. "That’s not something you can change. Do we have a deal, second elder?"

"We do." He nodded. "Although it is not the result I would have expected."

"Will you promise in front of all the other elders and the ancestors?" Tang San enforced, and the second elder hesitated before he nodded. "If you two can truly fulfil my three requests, then yes, I swear to the ancestors I, we, the Clan will protect your sister at any price. We will let you two and your father pray to the old sect master."

"Good." Tang San said, nodding. Tang Yin lifted her hand, the gesture oddly formal, as if she were back in a classroom. The second elder’s gaze shifted to her, while Tang Xiao remained silent and Tang Yuehua’s lips twitched, amusement barely contained. Yin asked her questions.

"Does it have to be specifically the eight spirit ring that is a century millennium spirit ring? Is any ring before that also permitted? Oh, and as for killing a spirit hall douluo, how are we to prove that if we got a lot of outside help for it? Would a letter from another douluo do? Or do we need, like, to present the scalp?"

"I am sorry." The second elder sounded like he was missing something serious right now as his seventh brother behind him put his hand on the second brother's shoulder. "She is serious about that."

"Ah." The second elder faltered, confusion flickering across his face as he lost his legendary composure.

"Old two." The seventh elder said, the glee at being able to do so not quite as well hidden as he would have probably liked. "As you know, there is no love lost between Tang Hao's children, but she is serious, incredibly so about that question." Then he turned to Tang Yin. "I think you have already fulfilled the third task and I believe the second as well...but proof is necessary."

"Awesome, that’s two off the list. Who needs protection, bro?" She looked up at Tang San, warmth blooming in her chest despite her words.

"Honestly, I’d rather they promise to protect you. You attract more trouble than I ever could."

She turned to the second elder, drawing out her Blue Silver Emperor. "Just so you know, I don’t want this to become too public. It’s not a top super secret thing, but it shouldn’t be common knowledge either." Her spirit rings rose around her, glowing with quiet power. The second elder closed his eyes, face paling, while Tang Yuehua stifled a cough.

The two red rings circled around her.

"As for the killing of a douluo, I can ask for another douluo to write me a confirmation that we did indeed kill the Vermillion Elder of Spirit Hall two vs one during the attack of Spirit Hall on Blue Lighting Tyrant Dragon."

The second elder faltered and suddenly settled on a nearby stone bench. "I see." He wrenched out. "I see. It seems the sister is a bigger monster than the brother."

Tang Yuehua was quite gleeful when she added as a side comment, "There is another one." The second elder turned to her. "Her boyfriend is just as big a monster as those two."