That was right. This man was Tang Hao.
As for how he had survived Lan Minghua's Holy Spear, he had his wife to thank.
Or, more accurately, the Blue Silver Emperor Right Leg Bone he carried with him had saved him.
Normally, once a Soul Bone had been fused, it couldn't be replaced.
But in special circumstances, Soul Bones in the limbs could be swapped out.
After the Holy Spear struck, Tang Hao had been on the brink of death. The Soul Bone in his right leg had been shattered, but his leg itself hadn't been completely severed.
At death's door, he absorbed the Blue Silver Emperor Right Leg Bone.
The Blue Silver Emperor Right Leg Bone not only granted him the ability to fly, but also powerful self-healing and regeneration.
Although its attributes weren't a good match for Tang Hao, the Soul Bone still granted him the Soul Bone Skill "Wildfire Never Dies; Spring Winds Bring It Back to Life."
It was this skill that had kept Tang Hao clinging to life.
However, the mismatch in attributes still limited the Blue Silver Emperor Right Leg Bone's healing ability.
When Tang Hao awoke, his injuries were still severe.
He knew full well that the only way to survive was to return to the Clear Sky Sect.
So he pushed himself to the limit, made it back to the Clear Sky Sect, and showed them his Clear Sky Hammer.
That alerted the Clear Sky Sect's disciples, who eventually brought him inside—leading to the scene that had just unfolded.
Tang Xiao reacted swiftly. He caught the unconscious Tang Hao in his arms and rose to leave.
But at that very moment, an angry shout rang out from behind him.
"Tang Hao, go to hell!"
The Seventh Elder attacked in a fit of rage. The Clear Sky Hammer in his hand instantly swelled into a massive black hammer.
Then, wrapped in an endless aura of black light, it came crashing down toward Tang Hao in Tang Xiao's arms.
The hammer wind howled, and the entire hall trembled beneath the blow's oppressive force.
But Tang Xiao reacted even faster.
Terrifying Soul Power erupted from him, and nine Soul Rings appeared in an instant.
Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black, black—their dazzling light swirled around him.
With a wave of one hand, he condensed a thick barrier of Soul Power and forcibly blocked the Seventh Elder's furious attack.
"Boom!"
The Clear Sky Hammer slammed into the barrier, unleashing a deafening roar as shock waves swept through the hall.
The weaker disciples were sent staggering back several steps, their faces pale.
The elders narrowed their eyes against the blast. They hadn't expected Tang Xiao to have grown so powerful.
The Seventh Elder was forced back two steps by the recoil, his expression frighteningly dark.
After all, Tang Xiao was now a Level 96—or perhaps even Level 97—Titled Douluo.
The difference in Soul Power between each level of a Titled Douluo was enormous.
"Tang Xiao! Why are you protecting this traitor?!"
The Seventh Elder glared furiously, his voice brimming with resentment. "He killed my son and brought shame upon the Clear Sky Sect, and you still intend to shield him?!"
Tang Xiao didn't answer. He merely lowered his eyes to look at Tang Hao, who was barely clinging to life in his arms.
He had only one thought: no matter what, he had to save Tang Hao.
He raised his head and fixed the Seventh Elder with a cold gaze. "Seventh Elder, we can discuss this later. Saving him comes first."
"Save him? Save this traitor?!"
The Seventh Elder laughed in fury, his voice shrill and grating. "Tang Xiao, don't forget—he's a sinner of the Clear Sky Sect! As Sect Master, are you really going to make an enemy of the entire sect for this traitor?!"
Tang Xiao's expression gradually turned cold. He slowly lifted his head, his gaze fixed on the Seventh Elder like a blade.
When it came to Tang Hao, he wouldn't back down.
The next moment, Soul Power erupted around him once more.
An even more terrifying aura swept across the hall, and the light from his nine Soul Rings nearly illuminated the entire place.
Tang Xiao's voice was low, carrying an unquestionable authority. "Seventh Elder, I'll say it again. Saving him comes first."
The Seventh Elder's expression shifted slightly under the pressure of that terrifying Soul Power.
But he was still unwilling to give in. Gritting his teeth, he said, "Tang Xiao, don't think you can do whatever you please just because you're Sect Master! You have to give me an answer today, or else—"
"Or else what?" Tang Xiao's voice rose sharply, exploding like thunder.
He took a step forward, and his Soul Power surged toward the Seventh Elder like a tide, nearly leaving him unable to breathe.
His gaze was icy as he enunciated each word. "Seventh Elder, I am the Sect Master of the Clear Sky Sect. You don't get to tell me what to do!"
The Seventh Elder was driven back again and again by that imposing force, his face livid, but he could no longer speak.
He glared at Tang Xiao, his eyes filled with resentment and unwillingness, but in the end, he didn't dare take another step forward.
The other elders remained silent. For the moment, they didn't know whose side to take.
Tang Xiao ignored the Seventh Elder and strode away with Tang Hao in his arms.
A deathly silence settled over the hall, broken only by the Seventh Elder's heavy breathing and the disciples' hushed murmurs.
The Seventh Elder clenched his fists, his nails digging deep into his palms. A vicious glint flashed in his eyes.
"Tang Xiao, this isn't over! Let's see how long you can protect him!"
The other elders of the Clear Sky Sect didn't immediately state their positions on Tang Hao's return.
Still, the Clear Sky Sect had become busy again for the first time in a long while.
Several days passed, and the matter continued to stir.
Balak Kingdom, Shrek Academy.
Lan Minghua was lounging on the roof, basking in the sun, but his face was full of worry.
No one had come looking for trouble, and that made no sense.
"This is strange. Where are the people from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect? Ning Fengzhi died at my hands. Shouldn't they have come charging over to avenge him? Why haven't they made a move?"
Actually, Lan Minghua could understand why the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect hadn't come for revenge.
After all, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's position among the Upper Three Sects wasn't secured by its own strength, but by Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo.
Now that Sword Douluo had both arms broken, he was practically crippled.
Even with the Soul Power of a Titled Douluo, he was little better than a cripple.
Bone Douluo was even less of a concern. He was a little weaker than Sword Douluo to begin with.
If Sword Douluo couldn't stand against him, then Bone Douluo would only be sending himself to his death by seeking revenge.
What Lan Minghua couldn't fathom was why Spirit Hall still hadn't reacted.
"Something's off. Very, very off. Why hasn't Spirit Hall come looking for trouble? Are they afraid?"
Lan Minghua narrowed his eyes, sensing a whiff of conspiracy.
I crippled Yue Guan and Gui Mei. By rights, Spirit Hall—or Bibi Dong, at least—should never let this go.
After all, the chrysanthemum and Ghost Shadow on the Pope's Edict referred to Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan and Ghost Douluo Gui Mei.
Attacking the two of them was tantamount to slapping Spirit Hall in the face.
So why hadn't Spirit Hall made a move, even after all this time?
Could Spirit Hall have failed to find out where I was?
No, impossible.
Lan Minghua had barely entertained the thought before dismissing it.
There was no way Spirit Hall didn't know where he was.
In fact, he must have already drawn Spirit Hall's attention when he attacked Tang Hao that day.
Otherwise, Yue Guan and Gui Mei wouldn't have invited him to become an Elder of Spirit Hall.
Just as Lan Minghua was puzzling over it, he noticed Yu Xiaogang instructing Tang San and the others to run with stones on their backs.
Suddenly, Lan Minghua realized something.
"Yu Xiaogang? Yu? Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan?!"
Lan Minghua suddenly recalled a saying, and it might have been the key.
The Upper Three Sects shared a common cause!
"The saying 'the Upper Three Sects share a common cause'—I think Ning Fengzhi said that. Though the Upper Three Sects are on good terms, in reality, their relationship isn't as close as those words make it sound."
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