Yang Kai’s expression was calm, his eyes utterly clear, obviously not playing any calculated retreat-to-advance tactic.
Yang Yinghao’s expression suddenly shifted, and he asked curiously, “So, this is your primary reason for participating in the Succession War?”
“Exactly!” Yang Kai nodded. “Only the Patriarch of the Yang Family has the power to restore Lingxiao Pavilion’s reputation.”
“Don’t you want to be the Yang Family Patriarch, commanding the world, able to make the clouds rain and the sun shine with a flip of your hand?” Yang Yinghao asked sternly.
Yang Kai curled his lips, a mocking smile appearing on his face. He said calmly, “What’s so good about being the Yang Family Patriarch? Buried in affairs, once you sit in that seat, you can’t even guarantee time for your own cultivation. Uncle, aren’t you the best example? Although you’re also above the Shenyou Realm, in my opinion, among those who have reached that level, your strength is probably on the lower end, isn’t it?”
“Insolent!” Yang Zhen shouted, his eyelid twitching. He had never seen anyone dare to speak so freely in front of Yang Yinghao.
Yang Yinghao waved his hand to stop Yang Zhen’s rebuke. The corners of his mouth turned up, and he nodded. “You’re right. Among those who have ascended above the Shenyou Realm, I’m indeed not much – I belong to the batch at the bottom. That is the sorrow of every Patriarch of the Yang Family. That you can see through this point is somewhat unexpected.”
He paused, then said meaningfully, “But do you know why every Patriarch of the Yang Family has ascended above the Shenyou Realm?”
“Why?” Hearing him say this, Yang Kai suddenly felt puzzled.
Indeed, according to the records, all previous Patriarchs of the Yang Family had reached the level above the Shenyou Realm, without exception. Ascending beyond the Shenyou Realm represented the pinnacle of this world; very few could reach this level, looking down upon the masses below.
It couldn’t be possible that every single Patriarch had that kind of innate talent and potential, could it?
Moreover, counting his years, Yang Yinghao wasn’t actually that old – at most around fifty. To have reached such a height at that age… how terrifying must his talent be?
But if his talent was so terrifying, why was he considered among the weakest at that level?
“Because the Yang Family possesses the heritage to enable its Patriarch to ascend above the Shenyou Realm!” Yang Yinghao stared straight at Yang Kai, his words startling.
Yang Kai’s expression changed slightly. He suddenly realized he seemed to have inadvertently overheard a secret of the Yang Family.
“Do you understand what I mean?” Yang Yinghao asked.
Yang Kai shook his head. Although he had a guess in his mind, he wasn’t daring to be too certain.
“Haha.” Yang Yinghao chuckled. “Did you think being the Yang Family Patriarch was just about exhausting your mind and body, pouring your heart and soul into the clan? Becoming the Yang Family Patriarch also comes with tremendous benefits. I won’t embarrass you, but my own talent, compared to your father’s, actually still has some gaps. However, your father has a stubborn ailment; his strength hasn’t progressed. Yet, recently, for some unknown reason, his cultivation has surged forward.”
As he spoke, he glanced at Yang Kai, intentionally or not, as if he had some suspicions. Yang Kai’s expression remained indifferent, revealing nothing.
“Let’s not talk about him for now. Just talking about me – if I cultivated on my own, the current me would probably only be at the peak of the Shenyou Realm. I know my own limits; the peak of the Shenyou Realm is my ceiling. Give me another fifty years, and I still wouldn’t reach the level above the Shenyou Realm. Many martial artists are like this; experts at the peak of the Shenyou Realm are common, but those who have ascended beyond it are exceedingly rare.”
“But after I became the Yang Family Patriarch, I ascended above the Shenyou Realm five years ago!”
Yang Kai’s expression stirred. “The Patriarch position… facilitated your current cultivation level?”
“You could say that!” Yang Yinghao nodded gently. “As for the exact mechanism or secret, it’s inconvenient for me to tell you. You just need to know this much.”
“Why is the Patriarch telling me all this?” Yang Kai was filled with confusion. Although hearing this did spark some interest in the position of Patriarch, that was as far as it went.
“Just casual talk, no need to take it to heart.” Yang Yinghao smiled faintly.
Yang Kai frowned, thinking it over, and silently shook his head. He said in a deep voice, “Then what about my request just now?”
Yang Yinghao replied, “I do have the power to restore Lingxiao Pavilion’s reputation. However, if I agree to your request now, I’m afraid it will lead people to misunderstand that I used this condition to make you withdraw from the Succession War. So… I won’t agree!”
Yang Kai’s expression darkened.
“Want to restore your sect’s reputation? Rely on your own ability! Or perhaps, you think you can’t win the Succession War without a few Blood Servants?”
Yang Kai’s expression remained calm. He shook his head. “Patriarch, goading tactics don’t work on me.”
“Then prove it with your own strength!” Yang Yinghao smiled faintly. “The Blood Servants must be recalled. Your losses will be compensated by the clan. State your request. I made time to come here today specifically to handle this matter.”
Yang Kai took a deep breath, knowing that with things said to this point, there was likely no turning back.
The clan had already made its decision. No matter how much he kicked up a fuss, the arm couldn’t twist the thigh.
He frowned, pondered silently for a long while, then suddenly looked up, his gaze piercing. “I want all the Blood Servants currently following and pledged to me, as well as any who pledge to me in the future, to belong entirely to me!”
Yang Yinghao straightened up, looking at Yang Kai with a mixture of surprise and astonishment. Yang Zhen and the other white-haired elders also had their mouths agape, seemingly none of them had expected Yang Kai’s appetite to be so immense.
“This request… is too unreasonable,” Yang Zhen snorted coldly.
The experts of the Blood Servant Hall had always been loyal only to the clan, not to any individual. But if Yang Kai’s request was granted, it would mean at least seven Blood Servants would fall under his direct control.
“That is my only request. Agree or not, Patriarch, that’s up to you,” Yang Kai reiterated, his face a mask of seriousness.
Even Yang Yinghao, as the Yang Family Patriarch, accustomed to great storms and waves, couldn’t help but feel a headache coming on.
No one had ever made such a request of him before; it could truly be said to be the height of impudence.