The arm strength of this grey clothed man already on solid ground was extremely frightening. Even just half of a kilometer long iron cable was still astonishingly heavy, and there were still three people on top of that. But in his hands it was all like nothing, and the iron cable swiftly brought the trio up.
At last reaching the mountaintop, Tang San didn't feel anything, but those two grey clothed men he saved both had pale faces.
Returning from struggling at the edge of life and death, nobody would feel any better than them.
That leading grey clothed man also loosed a large breath, his gaze fixed on the still gracefully calm Tang San, and suddenly struck at his shoulder with a fist.
Tang San's shoulders shifted slightly, then stopped. He didn't block, because he clearly sensed that the grey clothed man's fist didn't hold any malice.
The fist landed on Tang San's shoulder with a thump, and the leading grey clothed man laughed out loud,
"Good brother, many thanks."
Tang San smiled wryly:
"Big brother, go a bit easier next time, your fist is really heavy!"
The grey clothed man forcefully clapped Tang San's shoulder,
"Give me a break, it's clearly your bones that hurt my hand. I really don't know how you've trained. I'm Tang Long. It's fine if you call me big brother. In our generation, I'm the oldest. These two are Tang Tian and Tang Yu, they're also our directly related brothers. This time you saved their lives."
Tang Tian and Tang Yu's faces were long since filled with gratitude, and the two nodded to Tang San. Tang Tian said:
"Brother, your favor can't be repaid in words."
Tang San valiantly said:
"We're all brothers, don't mention it. If you were in my place, you'd also have saved me just the same, no?"
Tang Yu had a bitter expression:
"We would if we had that ability! I heard you had twin spirits. Was that just now your main spirit Blue Silver Grass?"
Tang San nodded.
Tang Long smiled:
"Second aunt's boasted about you like a deluge of heavenly flowers, I didn't believe it before, but I do now. Being able to have your present cultivation at your age, really isn't easy. You seem to have broken through the fiftieth rank. Not any less than these two."
Tang Tian and Tang Yu looked face to face. Even though they didn't say anything, in their hearts they thought, 'How is it just 'no less', previously he could even spare spirit power to help us speed up.'
Without speaking of anything else, as three people fell simultaneously, he could react to save others and himself, this reaction speed wasn't something average people could compare to.
Tang Long looked over the broken iron cable, and said unhappily:
"This worn out thing should have been changed. Today really was unlucky, we actually ran into a bird. We can only blame my carelessness, if I paid a bit of attention and discovered it a bit ahead of time, there wouldn't have been such a careless mistake. I'll definitely be scolded back at the sect."
Seeing him dispiritedly hanging his head, Tang San couldn't help smiling a bit. This seemingly somewhat forthright sect brother really was straightforward.
Tang Tian said:
"Big brother, let's go back quickly. Don't keep the sect master waiting. This cable breaking also can't be blamed at you. We were just unlucky. If the sect master punishes anyone, we'll bear it together."
Tang Long grinned, saying:
"Good kids. The next time there's good wine, I'll invite you to drink. Let's go."
This fifth peak was also the final one to enter the Clear Sky School. The secluded sect was located on this mountain.
Even though there were no pavilions and kiosks, there was still a castle-like building. It was entirely grey, appearing as if part of the mountain. It occupied practically the entire mountaintop.
Somewhat more familiar with the three people, Tang San also no longer kept his distance from them like before, and couldn't keep from asking:
"Big brother Tang Long, with our Clear Sky School in this kind of rugged terrain, how are the necessary supplies brought in? Is it also via these iron cables?"
Tang Long nodded, saying:
"This is a special training method of the sect. Every sect disciple over sixteen will participate in moving supplies. Of course, ordinarily the safeguards used aren't just like what we use today. Then there's a kind of safety rope, so even if the iron cable breaks, it can at least guarantee your safety. Who could have thought that we'd be so unlucky today. I remember the first time Tang Tian was going to cross the iron cable. He was so scared he was crying and his nose leaking. Haha."
Tang Tian embarrassed looked at Tang Long, unhappily saying:
"That was so many years ago. Why are you still bringing up my embarrassing past in front of brother Tang San? Let's return to the sect quickly, don't keep the sect master waiting."
Tang San understood that them bringing him via the iron chain without giving him that safety was perhaps in order to test his strength. He smiled wryly at the same time, 'Aunt, what did you tell people to cause such hostility?' But now it seemed that these blood related brothers were very straightforward.
As the four set out once again, their relationship had clearly became a lot more harmonious, especially the leader Tang Long who clearly had a very direct character. His original assumed arrogance was now completely obliterated, and affectionately pulled Tang San towards the sect by the shoulder.
The enormous stone building was just like a fort. The main gate was five meters tall, and even though it couldn't compare to Spirit City, this stony edifice was extremely stocky. Above the gate, three words were boldly carved into the rock, with a grandness that could oppose the surrounding mountains —— Clear Sky School.
Before the gate, two equally grey clothed youths hastily bowed in salute as they saw the four approaching, but one of them still blocked Tang San's path,
"Please display your sect credentials."
"Credentials?"
Tang San stared blankly a moment. He of course didn't know what these so-called credentials were, and couldn't help somewhat puzzled looking to Tang long.
Tang long smiled:
"It's the Clear Sky Hammer! Don't tell me there's anything that could better prove that we're directly related sect disciples than the Clear Sky Hammer? They're not familiar with you, so just show them. Those are the rules. Let them have a look. Only us directly related sect disciples can enter here. The sect's subordinates and outer sect disciples are all in that village outside."
At this point, his mood fell somewhat, his gaze at Tang San also held something. Indeed, judging by the appearance of the village one could tell there were just a few hundred people. The subordinates of the Clear Sky School were already so few, it clearly showed how difficult the sect's situation was now.
The expression in Tang San's eyes darkened somewhat. He of course understood the reason why these brothers' looks at him changed. Even though it couldn't be said that the Clear Sky School's present situation could be completely blamed on his father, it was still inextricably linked to him.
Turning over his left hand, black light surging, the chi long Clear Sky Hammer appeared in his palm.
Tang Long's trio had already heard from Tang Yue-Hua that Tang San had twin spirits, and his current main spirit really wasn't the Clear Sky Hammer, and so it was nothing to them. But those two gatekeeper disciples didn't see it that way. Since Tang San was together with Tang long's trio, they originally believed Tang San's strength should be fairly high.
But he unexpectedly didn't even have one spirit ring on his Clear Sky Hammer.
Their originally respectful gazes immediately turned a bit indifferent.
In the Spirit Master world, especially the Spirit Master sects, strength often represented a great many things. Despite not saying anything, their gazes had already become strange.
Tang Long unhappily clapped one of them,
"What are you looking at, still not getting out of the way."
"Yes."
The two disciples then stepped aside, but inwardly thought that it was no wonder they'd never seen him before, he was a silver coated wax spear. His appearance was pretty good, but he didn't have any strength.
Past the gate, the first thing inside was a spacious courtyard, followed by a tall stone building. Tang Long gave Tang San an introduction:
"There are about four generations of the directly related sect disciples, adding up to over two hundred people. We're considered the third generation. We also boast the largest number of people, not far short of a hundred. This is the front courtyard, used when the sect master gathers everyone. The rear courtyard is even bigger, that's our training area. The sect emphasizes actual combat, and each month the third and fourth generation children will conduct real combat drills under the elders' supervision. That sets the strength ranking."
The youngest, Tang yu, smiled:
"Boss has already been the representative of our third generation several years in a row. He's afraid you've come to fight over his position, that's why he had that face before!"
Tang Long laughed out loud, forcefully clapping Tang San's shoulder,
"I won't hide it from you, that's really what I thought. Brother, we'll exchange pointers later."
"How could I be big brother's match, there's no need to compete."
With Tang San's intelligence, his mind was like a mirror. He knew that the position of third generation chief was definitely related to the sect master succession. He had never had any interest in the position of Clear Sky School sect master, and only hoped to be able to help the sect by relying on his own strength.
Even more, he'd come to know his ancestors and sect and even more importantly for his father's forgiveness, he couldn't be ambitious and competitive.
Tang Long's expression changed, gravely saying:
"Brother, don't be so modest. You'll understand later. Come, we'll quickly go see the sect master. I reckon we've kept him waiting. Tang Yu, you go speak to fourth uncle, the matter of the iron cable outside can't be delayed."
"Alright."
Tang Yu turned around and left, while Tang Long and Tang Tian brought Tang San into the Clear Sky School's main building.
The Clear Sky School's buildings didn't give the slightest impression of lavishness, but neither were they plain. their overall greatest characteristic was the word massive.
Entering the main building, also that castle-like place, passing through wide hallways, they ascended to the second floor via stairs inside.
On the way they saw a lot of Clear Sky School disciples, all dressed in grey clothing. The Tang Long brothers brought Tang San to a halt before an arched door in the innermost part of the second floor.