Tang Xiao, Tang Yuehua, and the Six Elders of Clear Sky all nodded. Not informing the affiliated clans would, first, prevent the information from leaking and reaching Spirit Hall, prompting Spirit Hall to immediately dispatch a Soul Master legion to attack the Clear Sky Sect. Second, they could prepare for the Spirit Hall Soul Master legion's assault a month from now, using the affiliated clans as cannon fodder to buy time for every member of the Tang family to evacuate and wear down part of Spirit Hall's strength.
As for using the affiliated forces to mislead Spirit Hall, making them cannon fodder and buying time for the Tang family to withdraw, none of the Tangs thought there was anything wrong with it. Their own clan was facing disaster; who would care whether these outsiders lived or died?
The affiliated clans should have long been mentally prepared to be abandoned by the sect at any time. Otherwise, what use did the Clear Sky Sect have for these affiliated clans?
As for whether selling out these affiliated sects would utterly ruin the Clear Sky Sect's reputation, leaving no affiliated clans willing to attach themselves to it when it emerged again in the future, the Tangs did not care in the slightest. In the Spirit Master World, strength was the only truth.
Once the Clear Sky Sect emerged again, suppressed Spirit Hall, or even destroyed Spirit Hall and became the true number-one force under heaven, countless clans would come begging to affiliate themselves with the Clear Sky Sect.
In the most prosperous area at the heart of Heaven Dou City stood an elegant five-story building.
The overall architectural style was somewhat antique, yet extravagantly luxurious. Even a single cup inside was something ordinary people could not afford after a lifetime of labor. There were only two simple characters on its plaque: Moonlight Pavilion.
At Moonlight Pavilion's entrance, people came and went without end. They all shared one trait: lavish clothing and refined bearing.
Upon entering Moonlight Pavilion, a faint fragrance washed over them.
The first thing one saw was a screen wall carved from premium boxwood, still emitting a faint woody scent.
Before the screen wall stood two strange orchids, each two meters tall. Standing among them, one immediately felt the chaos and distractions outside melt away.
"Madam Yue."
"Greetings, Madam Yue."
As soon as Tang Yuehua returned to Moonlight Pavilion, the maids bowed to her. Quite a few noble guests also greeted her.
Tang Yuehua merely gave a slight nod. Without even glancing at those noble guests, she headed upstairs. The guests were not offended, for it was said that Madam Yue had an ambiguous relationship with Xue Ye.
The fifth floor of Moonlight Pavilion was Tang Yuehua's private domain.
It was an enormous hall, decorated even more elegantly than the fourth floor. Every furnishing was made of agarwood, filling the entire floor with a faint fragrance.
There were four doors around the hall, though no one knew where they led. The place felt comfortable, tranquil, and refined. It was not overly ornate, yet the faint woody fragrance naturally soothed one's heart.
"Yuehua, how did it go? Father, eldest brother, and the elders... if it truly comes to it, just hand me over."
A tall man with hair as messy as a bird's nest, a face covered in stubble, and a foul smell clutched his fists tightly, his face full of unwillingness.
This tall man, who looked somewhat like a vagrant, was Tang Hao. Tang Hao had already decided to sacrifice himself in exchange for the Clear Sky Sect's peace. It would also be a fitting chance to go see Ah Yin.
Tang Yuehua showed no disgust whatsoever toward Tang Hao, who had not cleaned himself up in nearly a month. She said gently, "Brother Hao, don't worry. The sect has decided to temporarily retreat into the mountain range where Grandfather once defeated Qian Daoliu and live in seclusion. All sect disciples will devote themselves wholeheartedly to cultivation."
"When your cultivation breaks through rank 99 and you reach the same realm as Grandfather, you will lead the Clear Sky Sect out into the world again and let Spirit Hall witness the might of the Peerless War Soul Hammer and the Majestic Clear Sky Sect!"
Break through rank 99? In his current condition, how could he possibly break through rank 99?
Tang Hao blinked, his expression slightly blank. The divine technique created by his grandfather, the Great Sumeru Hammer's Ring Detonation, was indeed terrifying. Relying on Ring Detonation, he had fought three opponents alone, turned defeat into victory, and blasted his way out of the encirclement. He had slaughtered a great number of Spirit Hall's minor soldiers, hammered one of the two Title Douluo at Qian Xunji's side to death, crippled the other, and left Qian Xunji half-dead as well. If he had wished, he could have hammered Qian Xunji to death too.
But after three days of Ring Detonation, the power of the detonated rings had flooded his body. That immense energy had caused enormous damage. He had no idea how many hidden injuries he carried; even his internal organs had shifted out of place, and his meridians were in chaos.
The only reason he was still alive with such injuries was the powerful vitality of a Title Douluo, as well as the life-filled ninth Soul Ring Ah Yin had left behind through her sacrifice.
With injuries like these, he might not even live to Tang Zhen's age before his hidden wounds left him gravely ill and killed him. How could he possibly break through rank 99?
Tang Yuehua's heart stirred, and she quietly changed the way she addressed Tang Hao. "Hao, you and Little San can stay here from now on. Many nobles come and go at my place; Spirit Hall would not dare search here."
"I will take care of Little San. You can devote yourself completely to cultivation."
She had always loved Tang Hao. Even though Tang Hao was her brother, he was the most perfect, outstanding, handsome, upright man she had ever seen in her life.
Ah Yin was dead, the Clear Sky Sect was entering seclusion, and Tang Hao was single once more. If he stayed here, there would always be a chance for sparks to fly.
Ever since hearing the story of Yu Xiaogang and Liu Erlong, the cousins from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, she had gradually begun to let go of the feelings she had kept suppressed for so long. Why couldn't she and Tang Hao be together!?
They could not be together openly, but they could do it in secret.
Tang Hao suddenly spoke. "No, Yuehua. I can't stay here. Little San is Ah Yin's and my son. I have to take him with me."
Tang Yuehua's face became incomparably sorrowful. She grabbed Tang Hao's arm. "Why, Hao? You can leave, but leave Little San behind. You're a grown man, and you still need to cultivate. Can you really take good care of a child?"
As long as Tang San remained with her, Tang Hao would come back to see his child sooner or later. Then she would have a chance.
"There is no reason, Yuehua. When the full moon is incomplete, the shadow of an old friend returns. When the time is right, I will come back to see you."
Tang Hao instantly vanished from where he stood and appeared beside the cradle where Tang San lay, scooping him up in one motion.
Tang Hao knew that his physical condition made it impossible for him to break through to rank 99 as a Title Douluo. To avoid ruining the Clear Sky Sect's plans and dampening Tang Xiao's and the elders' enthusiasm for cultivation, what else could he do besides run away?
Otherwise, if he remained at Moonlight Pavilion and the Clear Sky Sect disciples sent someone to ask what realm he had reached, how could he answer?
Once his body could no longer hold on, he would have Tang San take the Soul Bones from his body back to the Clear Sky Sect. That way, he would neither dampen the Clear Sky Sect's enthusiasm for cultivation nor undermine its goal of becoming even stronger when it emerged again.
When Spirit Hall learned that his Soul Bones had returned to the Clear Sky Sect, it would also believe that he was dead and would have no excuse to attack the Clear Sky Sect after it emerged again.
"Second Brother—"
Tang Yuehua cried out and rushed forward. Perhaps because she moved too quickly, her court dress actually let out a tearing sound. In the next instant, Tang Hao's figure faded before her eyes and quietly vanished.
Tang Yuehua stood there as tears streamed silently down her face, her heart aching so badly that she could barely breathe.
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