The Xing Luo Empire's training of its future successor was extraordinarily harsh. Before ascending to the throne, no one would be dispatched to protect the heir. Only through constant trials and tribulations could one grow. The strong survived, the weak perished.
That was precisely why the Xing Luo Empire had gone from occupying only a third of the continent's territory to standing as an equal rival of the Tian Dou Empire. Even the regional power bases within the country were being gradually suppressed.
If not for Spirit Hall's interference, the Xing Luo Empire might have already become a fully unified great empire by now.
Ning Rongrong and
His office was spacious enough to seat everyone without any issue.
Dai Mubai turned to Tang San. "Xiao San, now you should tell us how you ended up looking like this. I'm dying of curiosity. How exactly does one become more handsome?"
Ma Hongjun spoke up. "You already have a pretty-boy face — what more do you need? If anyone should be changing their appearance, it should be me! Poor me, still all alone. Not a single girl willing to give me the time of day."
Dai Mubai laughed. "Weren't you trying to court
Ma Hongjun pulled a long face. "She stopped talking to me after she found out my real age. Is being young really such a crime?"
Watching him put on that exaggerated expression, the fat on his face bunching up together, everyone burst out laughing.
The Great Master was seated beside Tang San. "Xiao San, tell everyone about your experiences. Last time we only met briefly — I've been curious too."
Tang San nodded. His experiences over these past few years were undoubtedly tinged with a certain legendary quality. He began recounting everything from the moment his father had taken him away, hiding nothing — not even
Listening to Tang San's calm narration, each person felt a thrill of astonishment run through them.
The separation from Xiao Wu, the grueling training, the dangers of the City of Killing, his mother's origins, the trials upon returning to the sect — in a mere five years, Tang San had endured so very much.
Even Dai Mubai, who was immersed in power struggles day in and day out, couldn't help but marvel. In terms of the perils faced and the impact on one's heart, what Tang San had been through clearly surpassed his own.
After hearing Tang San describe the process of his
"...I've received the sect's provisional recognition for now. The Sect Master — my uncle — told me to return after I reach the Soul Douluo rank, at which point he will pass on the true abilities of the Clear Sky Sect. Right now, my main martial soul is Blue Silver Grass, which isn't well-suited for cultivating some of the sect's proprietary techniques."
After hearing Tang San's words, Ning Rongrong and Zhu Zhuqing both had reddened eyes. Whether it was Tang San's background or the helplessness of his separation from Xiao Wu, everything about his story was deeply moving.
Ning Rongrong had originally thought she had suffered enough herself, but compared to Tang San, at least she still had a complete family. She still had a father who doted on her and relatives who cared. Tang San, on the other hand, had to bear the responsibilities left by his father's generation — no mother, and a father who had crippled himself. What kind of bitter hardship was that?
After a brief silence, the Great Master let out a sigh. "Let the past stay in the past. Everything must move forward. If my guess is correct, the three conditions the elders of the Clear Sky Sect put forward were actually a test of you. Your talent must have already won them over. Those three conditions each test a different aspect of your ability. Reaching rank eighty by the age of thirty tests your perseverance. Killing a Titled Douluo of Spirit Hall and obtaining a hundred-thousand-year Soul Ring — those test your courage and your wisdom. It seems they are laying the groundwork for the Clear Sky Sect's resurgence. If I'm not mistaken, the moment you fulfill all three of their conditions will be when the Clear Sky Sect makes its return to the world."
Tang San was the Great Master's disciple — what the Great Master could think of, he had naturally thought of as well.
Truth be told, he had never coveted the position of Clear Sky Sect Master. Having come to this world, his greatest dream was to rebuild the
Flandre chuckled. "Let's not dwell on all that for now — there are still ten years to go. What seems impossible for others may not necessarily be a problem for Xiao San. Speaking of which, how are all you little monsters doing with your strength? And what about that fellow Xiao Ao? Why didn't he come?"