In the end, Tang Hao and Tang Xiao fought for several rounds. Tang Xiao, afraid of injuring Tang Hao, didn't dare use his full strength and therefore held back at every turn.
Tang Hao, on the other hand, struck ruthlessly without any mercy.
In Tang Hao's heart, he always placed Meng Bei's orders first.
Meng Bei had ordered him to seize the Clear Sky Sect Master position, so Tang Hao showed no consideration for any feelings during the battle.
In this fight with Tang Xiao, Tang Hao comprehensively suppressed Tang Xiao from the start, pursuing and attacking fiercely. Not only did he use his ninth spirit skill to severely injure Tang Xiao, but in his final strike, he even used his spirit ring detonation technique, the Clear Sky Hammer charging straight at Tang Xiao's head.
This strike scared Tang Xiao out of his wits.
He never imagined his brother would actually try to kill him.
Fortunately, at the critical moment, the Second Elder urgently intervened and pulled Tang Xiao back, saving him from the brink of death.
Even so, when Tang Hao's Clear Sky Hammer fell, the wind from the hammer even shredded one of Tang Xiao's ears.
The watching Clear Sky Sect members were both shocked and angry. They hadn't expected Tang Hao to be so ruthless, disregarding familial affection and actually trying to kill Tang Xiao.
At this moment, even though they acknowledged Tang Hao's strength, due to the character flaws Tang Hao had exposed, many who originally supported Tang Hao defected and instead became very disgusted with him.
Fortunately, the Second Elder saved Tang Xiao. Otherwise, if Tang Xiao had truly been killed on the spot by Tang Hao, not only would Tang Hao not become Sect Master, he would have been hunted down by the Clear Sky Sect instead.
According to the original agreement, Tang Hao had won, so Tang Xiao should have followed Tang Hao's wishes and even given him the Sect Master position.
However, this was unanimously opposed by ninety percent of the Clear Sky Sect.
Including those who originally supported Tang Hao, many people believed Tang Hao was heartless and disloyal—someone who could even try to kill his own biological brother. If such a person became Sect Master, even if he could lead the Clear Sky Sect to develop in the short term, it couldn't last in the future.
Ultimately, except for less than ten percent who continued to support Tang Hao, the rest did not agree to let Tang Hao become Sect Master.
Many even demanded that Tang Hao get out of the Clear Sky Sect.
For this, Tang Hao tried every means to remedy the situation. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's think tank behind him frantically offered strategies, giving Tang Hao many remedial measures.
First, regarding the matter of trying to kill Tang Xiao.
Following the think tank's suggestions, Tang Hao falsely claimed that he hadn't really intended to kill, but rather that he had recently been researching a new self-created spirit skill, attempting to integrate the Killing God Domain into the Clear Sky Hammer's techniques. Since this technique wasn't yet perfected, he lost control during the battle, resulting in the lethal strike.
Although this explanation had many loopholes, it still succeeded in convincing some people and partially salvaged Tang Hao's image.
Secondly, to completely restore his image, Tang Hao staged a self-punishment act, cutting off his own left ear and kneeling before Tang Xiao to request his forgiveness.
This move successfully made Tang Xiao, who still cherished their familial bond, believe Tang Hao's story again. Tang Xiao reluctantly forgave Tang Hao.
Although many people still didn't want to believe Tang Hao, at least they no longer demanded he leave the Clear Sky Sect.
Finally, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect prepared many resources for Tang Hao to bring to the Clear Sky Sect and distribute as benefits. In plain terms, throwing money around.
Although this tactic wasn't highly efficient, it could at least genuinely reduce the Clear Sky Sect members' dissatisfaction with Tang Hao.
After this three-pronged approach, the situation finally had room for improvement.
Tang Hao's strength and contributions were, after all, genuinely there, so he still gained recognition from some people.
However, there were also some who remained suspicious of Tang Hao and didn't approve of the decision to let Tang Hao replace Tang Xiao as Sect Master.
For these people, after trying various methods to gain their trust without success, Tang Hao could only reluctantly resort to provocation.
Based on the Clear Sky Sect members' impulsive and hot-tempered personality traits, Tang Hao vigorously promoted his son Tang San within the Clear Sky Sect.
Tang Hao claimed his son Tang San was a once-in-a-generation genius—twin martial souls, innate full spirit power, naturally creating multiple self-created spirit skills from birth. In the entire Clear Sky Sect, no one could match him.
Even the current chief disciples of the Clear Sky Sect, Tang Long and Tang Hu combined, were no match for his son.
With his son around, the future would certainly lead the Clear Sky Sect back to its former peak, even creating greater achievements.
Once these remarks were made, the internal reaction in the Clear Sky Sect varied. Some were amazed, some were skeptical, but most importantly, it enraged Tang Long and Tang Hu, whom Tang Hao had trampled on.
These two, along with the forces behind them, happened to be the main forces opposing Tang Hao inheriting the Sect Master position.
Moreover, both Tang Long and Tang Hu were already over level sixty in cultivation. Their ages were a full generation older than Tang San—Tang Hu even already had children.
In this situation, Tang Hao publicly declared that his son Tang San could easily defeat Tang Long and Tang Hu. This was undoubtedly a great humiliation for the two of them.
Thus, under the effect of the provocation, a wager was born.
Tang Hao agreed with Tang Long and Tang Hu that after Meng Bei's wedding day ended, he would call Tang San back to the Clear Sky Sect and have Tang San publicly compete with Tang Long and Tang Hu.
As long as Tang San defeated the combined forces of Tang Long and Tang Hu, they would no longer oppose Tang Hao inheriting the Sect Master position.
Conversely, if Tang San lost, Tang Hao would never again compete with Tang Xiao for the Sect Master position.
It should be noted here:
Tang Long happened to be Tang Xiao's adopted son.
But Tang Long's opposition to Tang Hao inheriting the Sect Master position wasn't at Tang Xiao's instigation.
Tang Xiao had already forgiven Tang Hao and wasn't particularly opposed to letting his brother serve as Sect Master.
It was just that Tang Long never wanted to believe Tang Hao. Especially after Tang Hao nearly killed Tang Xiao in that day's battle, Tang Long held great hostility toward Tang Hao.
This was why Tang San was later targeted by Tang Long and Tang Hu.
As for whether Tang San could defeat Tang Long and Tang Hu—
Tang Hao wasn't worried about this at all.
Tang San had twin martial souls. The Blue Silver Grass alone definitely wouldn't be enough, but if Tang San trained with the Clear Sky Hammer early and added all those Tang Sect techniques, wouldn't that be almost enough?
Later, when Tang Hao told Meng Bei about this matter, Meng Bei thoughtfully took out a spirit bone and gave it to Tang Hao.
With this spirit bone, Tang San would have one more skill, increasing his chances of confronting Tang Long and Tang Hu by another notch.
For Meng Bei, although he lost a spirit bone, he had many spirit bones. Moreover, Tang San had a close relationship with him—consider it gifting Tang San a spirit bone for free. He didn't feel bad about it.
Not only that, Meng Bei also deeply understood that good deeds should be done anonymously.
After handing the spirit bone to Tang Hao, he specifically instructed Tang Hao not to reveal that he had given this spirit bone.
Because Meng Bei feared Tang San would be too grateful to him in the future.
That would be bad.
He wasn't giving Tang San a spirit bone to covet his gratitude.
He just wanted to... help his beloved Third Brother!
Thus, time slowly passed. Meng Bei's wedding was about to arrive, and under diligent and hard cultivation, Tang San's spirit power broke through to level forty.
(End of Chapter)