After Tang Xiao left the council hall, discussions immediately erupted.
With the suffocating pressure finally gone—the kind that had stolen their very breath—everyone relaxed. Voices overlapped as they eagerly discussed Tang Xiao's inevitable breakthrough. Only after their excitement gradually faded did the topic shift toward the two plans he had proposed.
"I don't know what came over the Sect Leader," the First Elder said, stroking his beard in contemplation. "He suddenly wants to rebuild the sect."
"Yes… I truly can't see the reason either," the Seventh Elder added. For once, there was no trace of arrogance in his tone—only restraint. "And where exactly are we rebuilding? Here, or somewhere else?"
"Most likely here, right?" Bai He, the Speed Clan leader, said hesitantly. "Clear Sky Sect is the heart of Clear Sky City. If we move, the losses would be enormous."
"I can no longer predict the Sect Leader's thoughts," the Third Elder muttered with a bitter smile. "All these years, watching him grow… it seems my understanding of him was completely wrong."
"And that academy plan…" another elder chimed in. "He claimed it's for the people of the continent…"
The discussion dragged on, one voice after another, yet no one could truly grasp Tang Xiao's intentions.
And not a single person thought of asking him directly.
…
On the other side.
After leaving the council hall, Tang Xiao went straight back to his mansion and summoned Tang Yuehua, who was still staying within the sect and had yet to return to her Moon Pavilion.
"Yue'er," Tang Xiao said slowly, seated at the head of the hall, his gaze fixed on her. His eyes were gentle, tinged with faint helplessness. "This may be selfish of me… but I want you to stay in the sect from now on and assist me with sect affairs."
Tang Yuehua did not hesitate.
"I will listen to you, Big Brother."
Over the past week, she had already learned much from the elders about Spirit Hall and its potential threat. Since it came from her honest elder brother, she believed it without doubt.
She had long prepared herself to remain in the sect. Now that Tang Xiao personally asked, she accepted naturally.
To her, although leaving behind the Moon Pavilion she had painstakingly built pained her heart, Clear Sky Sect mattered far more.
More importantly, she had only built that pavilion during her brothers' eight-year absence. Now that they were both here—especially Tang Hao—she had no desire to leave again.
"I'm glad you agreed, Yue'er," Tang Xiao said with a faint smile. "Otherwise, I would've tied you up and forced you to stay."
"As you know… since becoming Sect Leader, the responsibility on my shoulders is no longer just you two—it's the entire sect."
"You must have heard many things from the elders recently. If not for Hao creating that incident, and if I had never become Sect Leader, I would never have revealed Spirit Hall's threat to them. That was Grandfather's intention as well. But now that Spirit Hall is eyeing Hao and Ah Yin… everyone needs to understand what we're truly facing. Acting arrogantly as we always have will only invite disaster."
He sighed, his tone heavy—like someone willing to bear any price for his family.
Tang Yuehua felt her heart stir. Since childhood, her eldest brother had shouldered everything alone, never allowing them to share his burdens. Now that she had grown, it was finally her turn.
"Big Brother," she said solemnly, her beautiful eyes filled with resolve, "just tell me what to do. I'll do my utmost to assist you."
Tang Xiao smiled.
This was exactly what he wanted to hear.
In his view, although Tang Yuehua's cultivation was weak, she possessed abilities those pig-headed elders never would.
Her weakness was, in fact, an advantage.
He would be the one standing at the top—the CEO. She would merely be the secretary.
Her competence needed no explanation. Founding and managing the Moon Pavilion alone was proof enough. Even with Clear Sky Sect backing her, she had refused to use the sect's name even once during its establishment.
Her world was small—centered entirely around her family.
Unlike the sect fanatics who placed Clear Sky above everything else, for her, it came only second.
She was still a fanatic—just not to a maddening degree.
These traits pleased Tang Xiao.
The more everyone cherished the sect, the easier they were to guide… and use.
"Yue'er," Tang Xiao continued, "from now on, you'll be my personal assistant. Choose capable people within the sect and form a team dedicated solely to carrying out my instructions."
"I must focus on cultivation. Strength is the best way to protect Hao, you, and the sect. I can't waste time on endless council meetings and trivial matters—especially when some elders are becoming increasingly displeasing to look at."
He paused, then softened his tone, carefully choosing words he knew would resonate with her.
Tang Yuehua had long disliked the elders' rigid methods. Hearing this, she raised her thumb enthusiastically.
"Don't worry, Big Brother. Leave it to me."
"Mmm. I know you'll handle it well."
"Given our current situation, I've found a breakthrough path for the sect—to become a neutral organization. At least on the surface. But before that, we need an impeccable reputation across the continent, one that can rival Spirit Hall. That will take time."
"The first step is to establish an academy—one that rivals Spirit Hall Academy, and eventually surpasses it hundreds of times over."
"All of our long-term plans will revolve around this academy. It will be the foundation for replacing Spirit Hall one day. Even if it doesn't happen in my era, leaving a path for the future will be enough."
Now that Tang Yuehua would be working directly under him, Tang Xiao didn't mind revealing parts of his vision.
Of course—not all of it.
The final sentence was a lie.
He was confident he could rival Spirit Hall's reputation within two decades.
For others, such a feat would be nearly impossible. But he knew the geniuses of this era. Recruiting them, nurturing them, and harvesting their future glory would be effortless.
In his plan, this academy would resemble future Shrek—leveraging legacy to monopolize talent across generations. Graduates would spread across every empire and every profession.
More importantly…
It would instill ideology. (Brainwash)
"For the glory of Shrek."
Villainous?
Perhaps.
Tang Xiao didn't care.
He would be the founder of an academy that replaced Shrek and endured for tens of thousands of years.
Even if he failed to become a god, his name would still be worshipped by the world.
That was his goal.
And he would never speak it aloud.
…
As Tang Xiao continued explaining his plans for the academy and the sect's future, Tang Yuehua was utterly awestruck.
She had never imagined her brother possessed such terrifying vision and wisdom.
If even half of it succeeded, then sooner or later, Clear Sky Sect would stand equal to—if not above—Spirit Hall.
She hurriedly wrote down his requirements for the academy's location and construction, preparing to relay them to the council exactly as instructed.
Afterward, Tang Xiao explained the purpose behind rebuilding the sect.
Clear Sky Sect would eventually close its doors, only reemerging when the time was right.
As for grandeur?
Appearance always came before strength. Even in seclusion, the sect had to awe the world—so it would never fade into obscurity as it once did.
"I also plan to erect a ranking monument," Tang Xiao added. "A symbol of honor for the entire continent. For now, it will rank martial souls. In the future, it will include cultivation and strength."
More ideas followed—monuments, publications, attractions.
Everything served one purpose:
To ensure the world remembered Clear Sky Sect for countless years.
And Tang Xiao.
He had no intention of hiding his genius or his martial soul. Why would he?
After hours of discussion—and a few carefully crafted excuses about the glory of Clear Sky Sect—the conversation finally ended.
Tang Xiao stood and walked over to Tang Yuehua, gently patting her head.
"Yuehua… as long as I draw breath, I will safeguard our family and our sect. Nothing will happen to those I cherish."
Her eyes moistened. She stood and hugged him tightly.
"Big Brother… I'll help you bear the burden."
Tang Xiao embraced her as well—his tall frame enveloping her smaller body.
He inhaled her scent, felt her softness press against him.
But hidden from her view, his eyes were cold and detached.
This incestuous bitch…
He had stopped seeing her as his sister long ago.
After feeding her enough fabricated brotherly affection and encouragement, Tang Xiao turned and headed toward his room.
There, he intended to vent the fire burning within him—
On his wife.