Chapter 236
Tang San shared his sister's unease, and both of them glanced around with Purple Demon's eye active. When an enormous bird appeared out of the clouds. Its route going directly through the iron chain.
Any bird flying this high had to be strong, and the chain, already damaged from being frozen and brittle, moved as if in a storm from the
giant bird's wingbeats. Yin kneeled on the chain, keeping her balance and reducing the mass affected by the wind, her hand covered in spirit energy, gripping the chain.
"Careful." And Tang San shouted and moved while Yin cut herself loose from the harness with spirit power, and on her back, her wings snapped open, flapping to find purchase a moment before the bird collided with the chain.
Beneath the tremendous force of the collision between the bird and the chain, the chain snapped. And the two younger men in grey could only try to grab the chain, but failed. The oldest one, who had already arrived at safety, could only watch the disaster happen.
What followed was the unspoken communication between the Tang Twins.
Tang Sans, blue river ranks coiled around one end of the chain as he swung into the bottomless abyss, while Yin folded her wings and barreled down. Her hand stretched out to catch the one further away. His grip firmly grasping hers, she shifted the weight, snapped her wings open and slowed their fall before beating them in quick succession and heading upwards. Twisting her body, glowing in spirit power, she smoothly kicked the second person upwards towards her swinging brother.
Tang San grabbed them by the waist before he swung the rest of the way upwards to the flying rock, where the leader was already waiting for them. Letting go at the perfect moment to come to a stuttering halt on the last mountain next to the grey-clothed leader. Yin, meanwhile, settled down her charge and landed right next to Tang San, folding back her wings as they vanished, as a mirage might vanish.
"T..." The leader said, but Tang Yin forced him to silence as she let her energy slip.
While it was true she had no sixth spirit ring so far. An issue that had been put aside for the meeting with the Haotien sect, and due to the fact she was currently avoiding Jiang who was giving her the silent treatement, she was far beyond level 60 in terms of pure spirit pressure, closer to the seventieth rank. It was clear that once she received her sixth ring, she would jump ahead by leaps and bounds.
Unprecedented for someone her age, and that was something the three men from the Clear Sky Clan were now keenly aware of as they mustered her with a slight silver of fear in their eyes and one of awe when their gaze wandered to Tang San. Tang Yin sends them a dazzling and very toothy smile, yes, go ahead, be a bit afraid of the less scary person here and forget conveniently that the actually scary person is the one you find so totally awesome.
"Thank you both." The leader said and bowed his head.
Tang San smiled wryly. "You are welcome."
The leader slapped Tang Sans's shoulder hard, and then hesitated before he gently patted Tang Yin's shoulder. As if he was afraid to hurt her or to be hurt, it was not certain.
"I am Tang Long." He finally introduced himself. "These are Tang Tian and Tang Yu..." He nodded at the two whom they had saved. "They are my brothers, thank you for saving their lives."
Tang Tian and Tang Yus' faces were filled with gratitude as they bowed to the siblings. "I don't think we can ever repay you." Tang Tian said.
"Well, technically, we are related." She said and shrugged. "I would have counted on you doing the same for me."
Tang Yu's expression turned a bit regretful. "We certainly would if we had the ability to. We knew one of you had twin spirits. I assume it is Tang San, but the spirit bone is a huge surprise" His gaze turned to Tang Yin with a feaked out gaze and then to Tang San, choosing him was the safer option in the man's eyes, she guessed. "Was that your main spirit, Blue Silver Grass?"
Tang San nodded.
Tang Long shook his head, smiling.
"Second Aunt boasted about you two. I didn't believe it at first, but now...Now I do. Being at your level of cultivation." His gaze now wandered to Tang Yin. "Even with such losses at your age. It is impressive, you both have broken through the fiftieth rank?"
Tang Tian and Tang Yu looked at each other, keenly aware that Tang San had even helped them before.
Tang San then nodded. "Yes, although my sister is a bit stronger, on the verge of breaking through the sixtieth rank. The issue of her sixth spirit ring has been put on hold for meeting Clear Sky this time."
All three eyes widened, their gazes fixated on Yin. She shrugged her shoulders. "I am a bit better in terms of spirit power, yes. I had to make up for missing a limb to keep up, and I have been stuck at the fifty-ninth rank for longer than expected, as I fell behind in training, or I would have already broken past. Gotta keep up with Bro no."
All three of them swallowed at those words of hers, the nonchalance as if her level was nothing special but expected. Their minds were asking them what kind of environment she had grown up in to explain her spirit power so naturally.
Tang Long turned to the chain, deeply determined that this was not a question he even wanted to ask. "This worn-out thing should have been changed a while ago. We were quite unlucky as well. I should have noticed the bird beforehand and not been so careless."
"Big Brother. I don't think you will find yourself in trouble." Tang Tian said. "Nothing serious happened, fortunately."
Tang Long sighed. "You are probably right. Still, the next time we get to drink, the drinks are on me." Then he turned to the siblings. "Let us continue."
Then he continued, and behind the next corner, a castle-like building came into sight. There were no pavilions, no kiosks or anything around, still, the imposing sight almost occupied the entire mountain.
"Wow." Yin whistled. "This is impressive."
"How do you get supplies up here?" Tang San asked, meanwhile, while he let his sister admire her fill. "Also via those chains?"
Tang Long nodded.
"Yes. It is also considered a special training method. Every disciple over sixteen will participate. Normally, we also have more security than today for the younger ones. Tang Tian, here, the first time he had to cross, was crying and wailing because he was afraid."
Tang Tian glared at his brother. "That was so damn long ago. Why are you still bringing it up? Especially in front of Tang San and Tang Yin? Let us return; we can't keep the headmaster waiting too long."
Tang San understood that bringing them in via an iron chain had probably been to test their strength. He smiled a bit, wondering what the hell his Aunt had told them that they did so, despite their straightforwardness. Then they continued in the atmosphere, clearly better now. Less hostile.
The castle-like building was like a fort. The main gate giant. Clearly announcing proudly who resided here.
Clear Sky School.
Next to Tang San Yin muttered. "A plus for the show. Damn, I really want to sketch this place."
He glanced at her. "I am sure you will get around to doing that."
"Hopefully." She agreed as two grey-couthed youths bowed in respect before looking at the siblings.
"Please display your sect credentials." They said, and both siblings blinked in surprise.
"Cerdentials?" Tang San asked, looking at Tai Long.
"Your Clear Sky Hammer." Tang Long explained, grinning. "There is nothing better to prove that we are related than the Clear Sky Hammer. They don't know you after all. Just show them, those are the rules. Only directly related sect siblings are allowed to enter. All others have to remain in the village outside."
Tang San hummed in understanding, then summoned his hammer in his mind, realising how and why the sect stood as it did now. It must have been much different once upon a time. Next to him, Tang Yin whinched.
The two disciples looked at each other, confused. There was no spirit ring to Tang Sans' hammer, despite having expected him to have a lot of power due to his being accompanied by Tang Long. Then their gaze turned to Tang Yin, who smiled wryly and then shrugged at Tang Long and the other two. "I don't have the Clear Sky Hammer. I cannot show any credentials except looking like the female version of him." She pointed at Tang San, stupefying the others.
"I assumed...since you were like him." Tang Long was confused, and she shook her head.
"Twin spirits, alright, but...I'll just show you." She summoned her swords. Their appearance shone like two silver beacons. "No Clear Sky Hammer, unfortunately. My Spirit is the twin moonflower swords." She too did not display a single ring on the swords, causing them to look surprised.
"I see...Normally, I would say it is impossible for you to enter, but since you come invited...I vouch for her." Tang Long told the disciples. "Get out of the way."
"Yes." Both guards looked at each other, confused. These two were weak. Why was Tang Long treating them with such respect then, when there was obviously no reason to? They kept their doubts close to their hearts, though, and said nothing.
Past the gate, the first thing was a spacious courtyard followed by a stone building.
Tang Long started explaining. "There are about four generations here, adding to approximately a bit over two hundred people. We are considered the third generation and the largest group, too. This is the front courtyard. Only used when the Clan Master gathers everyone, although the back courtyard is bigger. That is the training area. We mostly do combat training, so that also sets the ranking within the sect."
Tang Yu, the youngest, smiled. “The boss has been our third generation's representative for several years. He's a bit afraid one of you might contest that, which is why he looked so grim before."
Tang Long laughed and then clapped Tang Sans's shoulder. "Can't deny that. I am quite sure you could do it if you wanted to. We need to exchange pointers later, alright."
"I don't think I would be your match, though." Tang San said. He knew that the leader of the third generation meant being in the succession line of the next Clan Master. He had no interest in that; he was already Head of the Tang Clan, which he had founded with his sister. Even if it was silly to put that position over an honourable one in Clear Sky, he knew in his heart he wanted none other.
He had also come to get to know his own ancestors and his father's clan, hoping to redeem his father someday. Not to be an important person here.
"Don't be so modest. You will understand later on. Now we have truly waited too long. Tang Yu, go send word to Fourth Uncle, you need to inform him about the destroyed chain."
"Alright." Tang Yu hurried off. Tang Tian and Tang Long, meanwhile, led the twins into the Clear Sky School. The building was simple, just massive in every sense of the word. They encountered a lot of students, everyone was dressed in grey, making them truly stand out like sore thumbs.
Tang Long and his brother stopped on the second floor, before an arched door.