Chapter 185: Duel Agreement Part 2

Cole's heart was full of hate and killing intent, but his eyes were calm and so was his face. He had become skilled in after hiding the emotional pain and troubles that he was experiencing with a smile while making others think that he was happy.

He wanted to humiliate the great elder and his son before killing them when he gained the power of the Epstein Family. He wanted to make sure they paid for what they did to his parents and mostly for what that caused him

Cole had made sure to study the rules of the Epstein Family, and the rest of the elders were impressed by his confidence and how knowledgeable he was when it came to the family's rules.

"You may be tested, but you don't have a chance in hell of becoming the family head" permitted the great elder.

He knew that before the elders he couldn't act brazenly or do as he pleased, but he still wanted to intimidate Cole and deter him from getting tested, just in case he really was as talented as he said he was.

Cole stepped forth and walked over to the crystal in the centre. Mason was still stood there with a gloating expression and as he walked away from the crystal, barged into Cole with his shoulder.

Cole let Mason's nudge slide and didn't react as he reached the special crystal and slit his left palm with the knife that he had bought with him.

After doing so, he placed his hand onto the crystal and streamed his internal energy into it, which was how one would be tested. He had a weird feeling around his entire body, as if he was scanned by an unknown entity that spread throughout his body.

However, unlike with the others, the special crystal didn't react in the slightest to Cole's presence.

"Ha, he spoke so confidently and arrogantly, yet he couldn't even get the crystal to respond to him" mocked Mason, who was quite sure that Cole had failed after it didn't react for 30 seconds.

Just as the great elder was about to intervene and get Cole to leave, a few of the elders that were interested in Cole stopped him.

"Leave the kid for a while longer. Even if he wasn't an Epstein Family member, the crystal should at least react to show his talent grading. So leave him for a while longer" said one of the elders that was respected for his research in the anatomy of the body and how cultivation actually worked.

The great elder stepped back and left Cole for another minute but there was still no reaction from the crystal. 

Just as the elder was about to step in and get Cole to move away from the crystal, there was a sudden and extremely bright flash of light that was much brighter than the light that Mason had managed to cause.

"Amazing, it really was as he said. An E:1 grade talent and Wind Elemental Affinity" said the elders who were all amazed by how much the crystal glowed.

Seeing the bright light coming from the crystal, the great elder, Mason and their supporters that were mocking Cole were gob-smacked and didn't know how to react to such an incredible and unexpected occurrence.

"So what do you have to say now?" asked Cole to the great elder.

"I will be the next family head and will make sure that the family develops and I will not allow scum like you to stay within this family" declared Cole.

His words were harsh and unrealistic, but after seeing how bright the crystal shone, who knew what else Cole would be capable of and whether he would really be able to become the family head after suddenly appearing.

"He is clearly an Epstein Family Member and is extremely talented, but can we let him be the family head?"

"I think he should be family head. He is the reincarnation of the Ancestor"

"No, he randomly appeared out of nowhere and intruded on the ceremony. He is also too arrogant and can't just instantly become the family head"

The elders and higher-ups were split on those that supported the great elder's son and those that supported Cole, and although the crystal clearly preferred Cole, becoming the family head wasn't that easy.

Seeing the disarray that the family was in, the great elder didn't know what to do and he needed to figure out something that would get his son the position of family head and also make it so that the family respected that.

"Quiet down everybody. Usually, this is a straight forwards ceremony and there has never been such a split opinion on who should be the family head and there have never been two worthy candidates. I think that to decide who should be the family head, we should resort to a simple battle of power" suggested the great elder.

What he said made it seem that Cole and his son were similarly worthy, but it was clear to most of them that Cole was the superior talent. His suggestion seemed to be one that made sense until they realised that Cole's cultivation level was low when compared to that of Mason who had been cultivating since young.

None of the elders opposed the idea of a fair battle between them to see who was more capable, but it clearly wasn't fair and even if it was, it wasn't an accurate representation of their suitability for the family head position.

"Do you accept?" asked Mason to Cole with a mocking smile.

Cole knew that he didn't have much of a chance against Mason in a one on one direct battle, but he wanted to defeat Mason and his father so badly and it was the perfect chance to get rid of them both and get the family head position.

Looking around him and at those that seemed to be supporting him in his pursuit of the family head position, he decided to accept the duel, but had some conditions.