"Tang Xiao—! Is this how you speak to your elders? First Elder, did you hear how—"
The Seventh Elder had barely risen halfway from his seat when—
A mountain-like pressure descended upon him.
It came without warning, like heavenly thunder crashing straight into his soul.
The pressure was heavy. Absolute. Suffocating.
Before anyone could even process his words, the Seventh Elder was slammed back into his seat. His body trembled violently as he coughed out a mouthful of blood, his face drained of all color, eyes wide with naked terror.
"Seventh Elder," Tang Xiao's voice sounded—calm, steady, and chillingly indifferent.
"That is Sect Leader to you."
The hall fell deathly silent.
When everyone shifted their gaze from the collapsed Seventh Elder to Tang Xiao and met his eyes, their hearts clenched violently.
They hurriedly lowered their heads, unable to endure that gaze even for a breath.
It felt as if thousands of thunderbolts exploded in their minds at once.
Shock. Fear. Instinctive submission.
They did not understand what had happened.
Tang Zhen was not present.
No one had informed them of Tang Xiao's martial soul evolution.
Naturally, they could not comprehend it.
This was the most direct form of bloodline suppression.
"Heh…"
Tang Xiao let out a soft chuckle.
"Growing up under your care for more than fifty years… it seems none of you truly understood me."
He shook his head lightly, as if mildly disappointed.
"Never mind. I am not an unreasonable person."
"I'll say it again—clearly—so that everyone understands."
"Prove your worth."
"Prove that you can truly help me achieve my goal, instead of being parasites who only know how to leech off the glory my grandfather earned with his blood and sweat."
His voice rose slightly, sharp and clear.
"If you think I am wrong… if you believe I am accusing you unfairly—then speak."
"I am reasonable. I will listen."
"Tell me—how have you helped the sect advance in all these years after my grandfather laid the foundation?"
He paused.
Then continued—without waiting for an answer.
"Do you know how many Titled Douluo Spirit Hall possesses?"
"Do you know that just yesterday, some bastard from Spirit Hall strolled through our entire sect like it was his own private backyard?"
"Do you dare fight Spirit Hall if I tell you that they not only have a level ninety-nine Limit Douluo—but also a level ninety-eight peak Douluo, along with dozens of Super Douluo and Titled Douluo?"
"Heh… heh… heh…" A cold laugh escaped him.
"Do you even understand that if Qian Xunji has a sudden whim, our so-called 'number one sect under heaven' will become nothing more than a name recorded in history?"
"When my grandfather was here, he made our sect number one in the world and protected us by keeping Qian Daoliu in check."
"Now he has been gone for eight years. His life and death unknown."
"Do you realize the danger our sect is facing?"
Tang Xiao's voice lowered.
"I still remember that day eight years ago… when my grandfather spoke to me alone."
"He told me about Spirit Hall's true strength."
"In his heart, his only concern… was all of you."
"Perhaps he had already realized what you had become after our sect reached such a lofty position. Perhaps he didn't want to wound your pride."
"So he told none of you."
"He asked only one promise from me."
"If there ever came a day when he could not return home… he asked me to protect the Clear Sky bloodline from disappearing at the hands of that treacherous Spirit Hall."
Tang Xiao lowered his head.
His hands trembled slightly—as if weighed down by something heavy and ancient.
The First Elder looked at Tang Xiao, his heart growing heavier with each word.
At first, he had found Tang Xiao's words impolite and wanted to reprimand him.
Now—he had no words.
No courage.
Everything Tang Xiao said was true.
Every bit of today's glory had been earned by Tang Chen alone. They merely enjoyed the fruits of his labor, managing routine affairs that, in terms of merit, could not even be counted.
None of them could name a single achievement they had accomplished individually that truly elevated the Clear Sky Sect.
And more importantly—
He had never imagined Spirit Hall to be such a terrifying behemoth.
Even if it sounded unbelievable… Tang Xiao had spoken in Tang Chen's name.
There was no room to doubt it.
Who would dare lie using Tang Chen's name?
As for Tang Chen dying?
Impossible.
No one in this world could kill that man.
The hall sank into heavy silence.
No one paid attention to the Seventh Elder anymore—who sat pale and trembling, fear frozen in his eyes.
Shame and tension filled everyone's hearts.
They had also been shocked by Tang Xiao himself.
They never knew he possessed such a side.
Cold. Dominating. Absolute.
And that aura…
What was it?
When had his soul power reached level ninety?
That spiritual pressure, dense and overwhelming, could only be produced by someone who had already absorbed a ninth soul ring and stepped into true Titled Douluo realm.
How was this possible?
The elders, along with the subordinate clan leaders—Yang Wudi, Bai He, Tai Tan, Niu Gao—could not comprehend what they had seen and heard within just a few minutes of sitting in this hall.
Seeing their reactions, Tang Xiao smiled inwardly.
Good.
This was exactly the reaction he wanted.
At first, he had doubted whether he could truly command these old fossils.
After all, though this body was fifty-six years old, his soul was only twenty-four.
In his previous world, experience ruled politics.
But everything changed when his martial soul evolved.
When he realized that his strength alone was enough to crush everyone here.
Confidence surged like a rocket.
If he released his martial soul now, the bloodline pressure alone would halve the combat power of every Clear Sky Soul Douluo present.
The Seventh Elder, whose cultivation was the lowest among them, would fare far worse.
With his twenty-four-thousand-jin hammer, pseudo-Titled Douluo cultivation, and Abyss-level spiritual power—
Killing them would be no different than crushing chickens.
Strength gave confidence.
And confidence erased equality.
"Since none of you are in the proper state of mind to speak," Tang Xiao said calmly, "I will give you one week."
"At the next council, I expect logic. Facts. Concrete plans."
"Not meaningless shouting."
"My words today may sound harsh—perhaps even disrespectful. But I speak for the wellbeing of the sect and everyone within it."
"I do not seek your understanding."
"Remember this."
"From now on, anyone who obstructs the sect's progress, or contributes nothing of value, will be regarded as having two minds and will be dealed with by me accordingly"
Every expression stiffened.
Heads lowered further.
"Dismiss."
Tang Xiao waved his hand.
A powerful mental force swept through the hall, jolting everyone back to clarity.
They rose and left—silent, stiff, obedient.
Watching even those elders walk away with lowered heads, Tang Xiao felt satisfied.
Not bad.
At least his words had not gone to waste.
Not everything he said today was fabricated by him on whim.
Spirit Hall's power was real.
Ghost Douluo's infiltration was real.
Only the promise in Tang Chen's name was complete nonsense.
But it was necessary.
Some truths cannot be explained—only borrowed.
As for Tang Chen finding out?
That man was trapped in Slaughter City, facing a problem far greater than this.
Tang Xiao had no intention of saving him—at least not for decades.
Without Tang San, his fate was already sealed.
So why worry?
"Until my authority is fully established ," Tang Xiao thought with amusement,
"I'll borrow my grandfather's name whenever necessary."
"Oh, poor Grandfather…"
"While you suffer somewhere… your grandson lives quite comfortably using your reputation."
Tang Xiao smiled.