Yang Wudi finally emerged, and by then it was already late at night.
Seeing someone still waiting outside, he frowned slightly.
"What are you doing here? Did something happen within the family?"
The clansman hurriedly replied, "Clan Chief, the Young Clan Chief asked me to inform you that two people from Spirit Hall have arrived. One is a disciple of the Supreme Pontiff, and the other is a disciple of the Second Consecrator of the Hall of Worship. Moreover, one of them is said to be the boyfriend of Qiangu Yunying, who came to our Yang Family of the Breaking Clan to learn spear techniques years ago."
A disciple of the Supreme Pontiff… and a disciple of the Second Consecrator?
Yang Wudi's eyes flickered. He didn't know much about Spirit Hall's internal factions, only that the Consecrators of the Hall of Worship were all terrifying figures with spirit power exceeding level ninety-five. True top-tier experts.
The Second Consecrator… that should be level ninety-seven, right? he thought.
Outwardly, however, he maintained the dignity befitting a clan chief.
"Very well. Where are they now? Take me to them—don't keep the guests waiting too long."
As he walked, his thoughts grew complicated.
"There is no deep blood feud between our Yang Family and Spirit Hall," he muttered inwardly, "but it was precisely because of Spirit Hall that our Breaking Clan was labeled as traitors and ostracized by the other three single-attribute sects."
"Now that people from Spirit Hall have come again… are they here to recruit us?"
Impossible.
Yet despite his words, Yang Wudi's feelings toward Spirit Hall were anything but simple.
If Spirit Hall had not spared the Yang Family back then, their fate would have mirrored that of the other three single-attribute sects. Abandoned by the Clear Sky Sect, they would have been mercilessly purged, suffering devastating losses.
Even now, more than a decade later, the other three sects had yet to recover their former vitality. Even combined, their low- to mid-tier combat strength barely matched that of the Yang Family alone.
Because the Breaking Clan had avoided that catastrophe, their internal strength remained intact. Yang Wudi himself, his brother Yang Wushuang, and another elder had all reached the Spirit Douluo level.
Three Spirit Douluos—each wielding the Soul-Breaking Spear. Fighting above their cultivation level was not difficult for them.
Among the four single-attribute sects, the Yang Family's overall strength was unquestionably number one.
And it was precisely because of this that the other three sects harbored even deeper resentment.
They accused the Yang Family of defecting to Spirit Hall, of betraying the Clear Sky Sect and the four-attribute alliance—but at the root of it all was jealousy.
Jealousy that the Yang Family had survived intact, while the three of them together still couldn't suppress a single Breaking Clan.
Yang Wudi understood this perfectly, which was why his attitude toward Spirit Hall was so conflicted.
That said, if one were to ask whom he held the most goodwill toward within Spirit Hall, the answer was clear: Qiangu Yunying.
If not for her, the Yang Family's fate would have been no better than that of the other three sects—perhaps even worse, given their stronger resistance.
Because of her, and because of the stark contrast with the other sects, Yang Wudi had gradually developed a sense of curiosity—and even faint goodwill—toward the Hall of Worship faction within Spirit Hall.
Inside the assembly hall.
Yin Zhang and Hu Liena had been waiting for some time. Since his father had yet to arrive, Yang Tianxia chatted with them, recounting trivial stories from when Qiangu Yunying had stayed with the Yang Family to train. The atmosphere was relaxed and pleasant.
Tap. Tap.
Footsteps echoed outside.
The three turned to look and saw a burly, middle-aged man approaching, his appearance carrying a faint hint of ferocity.
"Father, you're finally here!" Yang Tianxia said with a smile.
Yin Zhang and Hu Liena both stood up and cupped their hands politely.
"Greetings, Clan Chief Yang."
Yang Wudi's expression was calm and unreadable. He merely nodded and took the main seat.
After a brief glance at Yin Zhang, who seemed ready to speak but held back, Yang Wudi spoke first.
"Two prodigies of Spirit Hall," he said flatly, "I have already guessed your purpose in coming."
"You are here to persuade me to lead the Yang Family of the Breaking Clan into Spirit Hall. That is possible—but I have one condition."
Yin Zhang, Hu Liena, and Yang Tianxia were all stunned.
Yang Tianxia's heart skipped a beat.
Father? What are you saying? Haven't you always firmly rejected Spirit Hall's recruitment?
Yin Zhang, however, felt a surge of joy. If the Yang Family could be secured quickly, it would save a great deal of time and effort.
He stepped forward slightly.
"Clan Chief Yang, please state your condition."
Yang Wudi raised a single finger, his gaze sharp.
"My requirement is simple," he said slowly.
"As long as you can fight me for the duration of one incense stick without being defeated, I will agree to bring the Yang Family of the Breaking Clan into Spirit Hall."