Chapter 184: Duel Agreement Part 1

In the Epstein Family, there were some elders that had E:3 graded talent and even a couple with E:2 graded talent, but none of them were labelled as worthy by the crystal or wanted the position of the family head.

Being an elder meant there was much less responsibility than being the family head and although they wouldn't get to enter the hidden underground room, most of the elders were satisfied with their life and their position.

"Next candidate please step up," said the great elder.

He had previously wanted his son to be last so that the anticipation could add to the shock that the other elders experienced and hoped that it would impress them more, but Cole was the last to join them, so was going to be the last to be tested.

The great elder's son was also 18, just like the others that were tested and they would hold a ceremony each year where those that were 18 or older could be tested to see if they were suitable for becoming the next family head.

Most times it would be only 18-year-olds getting tested as that was the minimum age and since there was a ceremony every year to test the family members, it became something that Epstein Family members that turned 18 would take part in.

The family head's son, also known as Mason Epstein, the young prodigy of the Epstein Family, was everything that his father had hoped for. He had an E:2 graded talent and E:2 graded fire elemental affinity, making it so that it would be very difficult for others to compete with him when it came to talent and elemental affinity.

He was also the nephew and grandson of the two previous family heads and his father was currently the temporary family head, so was the obvious choice that most of the family agreed with for the next family head, but Cole's sudden appearance threw a spanner in the works.

The great elder was so close to accomplishing what he had been seeking for decades and he wasn't willing to allow that to be taken away by Cole, who he had thought wouldn't have been a threat anymore.

After killing his sister and his father, he was enraged that William had managed to get away with Cole who was most likely going to become the heir to the position of the family head if he stayed in the family.

However, since his father had lost all of his cultivation and would die very prematurely because of the poison that he had used on him and since they didn't have any resources or support, he believed that they wouldn't dare to return to the family/.

He had searched for them for years, but he always found traces of them all over the world, which was thanks to William. The great elder also had to be careful not to offend any large cultivation families that were more powerful than his, which could be found around the world, so he made sure not to extend his search too far.

After there was no trace of them for over a decade, the great elder was quite sure that they weren't going to return, but of all days for them to return, they returned when his son was about to become the family head.

Cole and William were thorns in the great elder's side and he wanted to get rid of them, but that didn't seem possible with some of the elders wanting to allow him to take the test, so all he could do was hope that his son surpassed Cole.

The great elder's son was widely respected as the most talented youth in the family and stepped up to the special crystal that was in the centre of the hall-like ceremony room. The rest of the family members that were in high positions formed a ring around the centre, making it so that there was a lot of pressure on Cole.

But after what his father and mother had experienced, and all the pressure that had been placed on him at once, it was easy for Cole to deal with.

Mason withdrew a blade that was strapped to his waist, then made a small cut on his left hand.

Upon doing so, he placed his hand on the special crystal and his blood, elemental affinity and talent grading were tested all at once to see whether he was worthy or not of becoming the family head.

The crystal did not react to his touch like it did for the others and usually it would merely vibrate to signify that they were a member of the family, but with Mason, it was glowing.

"That means that my son is worthy and is going to be the next family head" exclaimed the great elder joyously as he greedily thought about everything he would gain after his son became the family head.

It was known that the special crystal glowing meant that somebody was worthy of becoming the family head, but the crystal would no longer accept that individual if a more suitable candidate tested themselves.

Becuase of that, any family head can lose their position at any moment and would have nothing that they could do about it.

"Wait, he cannot be declared the family head until I am also tested" interrupted Cole, who was confident in his own ability and wasn't willing to allow his mother and father's sacrifices to be for nothing.

"There is no point, my son has already been deemed worthy by the crystal" refuted the great elder, who didn't want to give Cole the chance to ruin everything that he had worked towards his entire life.

"According to the family rules, on the rare occasion that there are two worthy candidates for the family head position, they should be voted for or the candidate that caused the crystal to glow more would become the family head as it signifies that they are more worthy. Because of that, I can still be tested" stated Cole confidently.

"Are you planning on going against the family rules?" asked Cole.