A week had passed.
During this week, Tang Xiao had been experimenting with the detonation technique.
Knowing exactly what he wanted to verify, he did not rashly detonate all his soul rings at once. Instead, he proceeded slowly and steadily, breaking only one or two rings at a time, carefully sensing every change occurring within his martial soul.
Just yesterday, he had detonated his seventh and eighth soul rings and examined the results with utmost caution. After days of disappointment, this finally gave him a glimmer of hope.
Still, he did not rush to make a decision based on such a vague feeling. Instead, he chose to wait for the 36-day cooldown period to pass once more, planning to detonate his rings one by one again.
If the sensation he felt yesterday was genuine, then he at least had a chance to replace his eighth soul ring. With sufficient effort, perhaps even the seventh soul ring could be replaced—but he could clearly sense that doing so would require him to pay a heavy price.
Then again, all of this was merely conjecture.
To confirm his hypothesis for a second time, he would need to wait another 36 days. Only then would he know whether this path was truly feasible, or whether it was nothing more than a hallucination born from obsession.
Only time would give him the answer.
Fortunately, while pondering soul ring configurations and the detonation technique, Tang Xiao had not neglected his cultivation. After a week of steady training, he was now only an extremely minuscule step away from level 90. Most likely, within another week, he would break through.
However, today, he had a far more important matter to attend to.
The second council meeting.
---
Council Hall
By the time Tang Xiao stepped into the magnificent hall, everyone had already arrived.
Fifteen people in total—seven elders, four subordinate clan leaders, and four elders from those subordinate clans.
Yet the hall was eerily silent.
Everyone sat upright, bodies tense, not even daring to whisper among themselves.
Seeing this, Tang Xiao chuckled inwardly.
He knew the reason for their obedience.
Although he had spent the past seven days cultivating, researching techniques, and indulging in married life with his wife, he had also subtly allowed certain information to leak—through his father Tang Zhen and others.
Information such as him mastering the Great Sumeru Hammer technique.
Information such as his martial soul evolving to the celestial level.
Now that these people finally understood Tang Xiao's true prowess, it was only natural that they would become even more obedient.
After all, if they were not obedient, Tang Xiao would make them obedient.
Not to mention that he had mastered the Great Sumeru Hammer and broken through the ceiling of Titled Douluo combat power—just the fact that his martial soul could suppress them to the point where they could not even make a sound was more than enough.
The reason these old men had never dared to slander Tang Hao when he fell in love with Ah Yin was precisely because Tang Hao had learned the Great Sumeru Hammer technique.
At its core, it was because he was stronger than them.
And now there was Tang Xiao—more talented, stronger, and more terrifying than Tang Hao.
Even a child would know what choice to make.
Tang Xiao's current prowess was already on par with Tang Chen—if not above him. That was the result of absolute martial soul suppression.
Even if some were unwilling to bow their heads, they still had to bow.
That was the truth they had realized over the past seven days.
Tang Xiao was not the man they thought him to be.
Even the First Elder—who once believed he understood Tang Xiao's nature—had been forced to accept this reality.
---
As Tang Xiao entered the hall, everyone stood up simultaneously.
"Greetings, Sect Leader."
"Hm. Everyone, take your seats. No need for such formalities."
Walking to the main seat, Tang Xiao waved his hand with an amiable smile, as if he truly did not care about such trivial etiquette.
Yet not a single person dared to take his words at face value.
They cautiously returned to their seats only after thanking him.
The domineering aura leaking unintentionally from Tang Xiao surged through their bodies like electric currents, making it difficult to breathe.
"Dear elders and esteemed guests," Tang Xiao said calmly.
"You all remember why we are holding this second meeting, correct?"
"So then, what are you waiting for? Starting with the First Elder—tell me how you plan to lead the sect to the next level."
The amiable smile never left his face as his gaze finally settled on the First Elder, encouragement evident within it.
The First Elder's eyes instinctively turned evasive.
He opened his mouth as if to speak, but in the end, he could only lower his head in shame, remaining silent.
It was not that he lacked ideas—but he knew that what he had conceived was mediocre at best, certainly not what Tang Xiao wished to hear.
Aware of his own limits, he chose not to make a fool of himself in front of Tang Xiao.
Tang Xiao understood immediately.
Truth be told, he had hoped this elder—over 120 years old—might surprise him.
But it seemed he had overestimated him.
Disappointed that his favorite elder, whom he had once given a "two-star rating," had failed the exam, Tang Xiao shifted his gaze to the Second Elder.
The moment their eyes met, the Second Elder also lowered his head in shame.
Since even the First Elder had chosen silence, how could he dare embarrass himself by voicing his own shallow ideas?
One by one, all seven elders lowered their heads, their aged faces flushed red.
Tang Xiao shook his head.
His judgment of these people had been correct.
They had ruled the sect through strength and seniority alone, learning nothing of true value from the world.
On Earth, even a fool who lived for a hundred years could come up with countless ideas—let alone those wise enough to play with nations and manipulate the world itself.
But Tang Xiao did not blame them.
In this continent, their way of life was not wrong.
When strength could solve everything—managing the sect, acquiring resources—why waste time sharpening one's mind?
Living such a domineering and comfortable existence, no one bothered to train their brains, allowing them to rust away.
Compared to that cunning Ning Fengzhi, his damned little brother, and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, these people were worlds apart—heaven and earth.
Disappointed, Tang Xiao turned his attention to the subordinate clans.
But they, too, lowered their heads.
How would they dare speak?
Even if someone truly had an idea they believed in, seeing the elders' reactions was enough to make them doubt themselves into silence.
Tang Xiao let out a heavy sigh.
"Alas…"
"I thought you people might surprise me today. But once again, you have proven me wrong."
"Sect Leader—"
Everyone looked up, meeting Tang Xiao's disappointed expression. Shame and an inexplicable guilt flooded their hearts.
Yet what could they do?
They genuinely did not know how to take the Clear Sky Sect to another level.
After weeks of thought, whether internal management or external expansion, everything seemed to have reached a bottleneck.
The simplest solution they could imagine was Tang Chen's return, or Tang Xiao and Tang Hao breaking past level 95—only then could they rival Spirit Hall.
But none of them dared to say this aloud.
If Tang Xiao had known their thoughts, he would have knocked some sense into them.
Rivaling Spirit Hall in strength did not place one on the same level as Spirit Hall.
Spirit Hall was Spirit Hall.
If the Clear Sky Sect wished to rival it, its reputation—its influence in the hearts of every soul master on the continent—must reach the same level.
That was the true foundation of Spirit Hall.
That was why, generation after generation, Spirit Hall never lacked top-tier combat power. When the old fell, the new rose to replace them.
Unlike sects and clans.
"Today's silence," Tang Xiao said lightly,
"I hope you all understand what right you have lost because of it."
Every heart clenched.
They understood perfectly.
Since they chose silence today, they had forfeited the right to speak in the future.
Seeing that none were foolish enough to force him to spell it out, Tang Xiao chuckled softly.
"It seems you are all aware of what you've lost. Heh."
"Now listen carefully. I want only two simple things from you. I hope you can at least accomplish these."
Everyone immediately straightened, vowing inwardly to do their utmost.
"First—rebuild the Clear Sky Sect. Its appearance must be as magnificent as possible. As for the location and detailed requirements, consult Yuehua in two days. She will explain everything."
His index finger tapped the table rhythmically.
"Second…"
Another tap.
"I want an academy."
"An academy not for our sect alone, but for the entire continent."
"It must be equally magnificent."
"It will be built in Dawn Town, near the Sunset Forest. Acquire all surrounding land—hundreds of miles—under the name of the Clear Sky Sect."
"This—"
Some elders instinctively wished to question him, but the moment they met Tang Xiao's authoritative gaze, they swallowed their words.
Still, being forced to act without understanding the purpose left them deeply uncomfortable.
Rebuilding the sect.
Establishing an academy.
They had no idea what Tang Xiao's true objective was.
And that was exactly what Tang Xiao intended.
He would not explain himself.
No matter how uncomfortable they felt, he did not care.
"That is all," Tang Xiao said calmly.
"In a week, I will break through to level 90. However, I have recently gained deeper insights into cultivation and will remain in seclusion for some time afterward."
"Before entering seclusion, I will brief Tang Yuehua on all matters. I expect full cooperation from everyone—and do not put her in a difficult position."
Before leaving the hall, Tang Xiao delivered one good piece of news.
For these old men, knowing he was only a week away from level 90 was enough to wash away all bitterness they felt for him.
Tang Chen's absence and Tang Zhen's inevitable death had weighed heavily on them after the previous meeting.
But learning that Tang Xiao was the hidden dragon of the Clear Sky Sect had rekindled their hope.
Now, hearing that he stood on the threshold of level 90—so close, so imminent—the sense of security and joy swelling in their hearts knew no bounds.