Investigate at any cost!
Clearly, the old man felt the Clear Sky Sect had been challenged. Someone had trampled its authority underfoot.
Killing a member of the Clear Sky Sect was a slap in the sect's face.
And a slap in the Clear Sky Sect's face was a slap in Tang Chen's!
How could he not be furious?
His name carried weight across the continent. Who would dare make a move against him?
He had sat at the summit for so long, and now someone dared challenge his authority. Tang Chen would not allow it.
He was old, not useless.
"Heh. It seems I haven't made a move in so long that every stray cat and dog thinks it can climb onto the Clear Sky Sect's head."
"Zhan, don't hold back. The Clear Sky Sect's dignity isn't something anyone can trample."
Tang Chen's tone turned hostile, and killing intent flashed unbidden in his eyes. He wanted to see who dared challenge the Clear Sky Sect's authority.
Tang Zhan was Tang Chen's son, but facing his father put him under immense pressure. Feeling the killing intent radiating from Tang Chen, he began to tremble.
He did not want to react this way, but Tang Chen's reputation was overwhelming. Being his son brought pressure enough.
When he faced Tang Chen, what he felt most was fear and timidity.
Tang Zhan swallowed and shrank his neck. "F-Father, I'll see this matter through!"
Tang Chen said nothing more. He waved a hand, feeling more helpless than anything toward his son.
He had worked so hard to build the Clear Sky Sect into what it was today. Why had his son inherited none of his commanding spirit?
The boy was so weak that Tang Chen sometimes wondered whether he was truly his son.
What Tang Chen did not know was that Tang Zhan's death would be even more pitiful. Tang Hao would anger him to death—literally—though he would certainly have fought Spirit Hall as well.
That would not stop the rumor from spreading that Tang Hao had angered him to death.
But Tang Zhan was his only biological son. What else could he do?
That was also why Tang Chen would like Tang Hao so much. Tang Hao was domineering; otherwise, he would never have inherited Tang Chen's title later on.
For now, the Clear Sky Douluo was Tang Chen!
His Ring Detonation had reached a level of breathtaking mastery.
But Tang Hao had not yet been born, so Tang Chen could only pin his hopes on this son.
"Qian Daoliu, if Spirit Hall is behind this, don't blame me for what happens next."
Tang Chen snorted. He did not fear Spirit Hall in the slightest. If anything, he wanted to fight Qian Daoliu.
Neither of them had gone to Sea God Island yet. They had not met Bo Saixi, nor had they truly fought each other. Tang Chen very much wanted to change that last part.
News that the Clear Sky Sect had been challenged soon reached the ears of the major powers.
In Spirit Hall, Qian Daoliu paid it little mind. The Clear Sky Sect? He simply had no desire to make a move. He was a divine envoy, after all!
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect merely watched the spectacle, paying it little attention. It had nothing to do with them.
The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan reacted most strongly. When Yu Luomian learned of Tang Lie's death, he was so frightened that he nearly wet himself and rushed to find his father.
"What! You're saying you met Tang Lie before he died?" Yu Mingkai, Yu Yuanzhen's father and still the clan leader, stared at his second son in disbelief.
Damn it, damn it. With the Clear Sky Sect's domineering ways, even if we had nothing to do with it, they'll make us bleed for this!
Anxiety gripped Yu Mingkai. He had few years left to live and had hoped to spend them in peace. How had this happened?
"Call your elder brother. We're going to the Clear Sky Sect right now!"
Yu Mingkai made the decision on the spot. Better to go to them than wait for them to come knocking. Even if the clan had to pay, it would not have to pay as much.
"Father, Tang Lie's death has nothing to do with me!" Yu Luomian said, baffled.
Yu Mingkai roared, "I told you to go, so go! Enough nonsense!"
How could this foolish son of his still not understand?
Did the Clear Sky Sect care about the truth? As long as Yu Luomian was connected to the matter, Tang Chen would make him shed a layer of skin even if he spared his life.
Yu Mingkai sighed deeply, his knitted brows refusing to relax.
On the way there, Yu Yuanzhen heard Yu Luomian's explanation and sighed deeply as well.
"Second Brother, this isn't your fault. But the Clear Sky Sect is too powerful. We have no choice but to bow our heads."
"Let's go!"
Yu Mingkai took both his sons to the Clear Sky Sect in person to apologize.
Weakness was the original sin. That was how the Douluo Continent worked.
If you were weak, you had no rights. If I was strong, I could do as I pleased.
More than the Clear Sky Sect itself, it was Tang Chen's overwhelming power that pressed down on them.
Tang Chen was surprised when he learned that people from Blue Lightning had arrived. Still, Yu Mingkai was a clan leader, so he agreed to see him.
"Your Excellency Haotian!" Yu Mingkai and his sons bowed and stood respectfully before him.
Tang Chen chuckled. "So it's you, Mingkai. After all these years, how are you still only a Soul Douluo?"
The contempt was unmistakable. To Tang Chen, a mere Soul Douluo was hardly worth looking at.
Hearing the mockery, Yu Yuanzhen clenched his fists without realizing it. I must become a Titled Douluo!
Yu Mingkai greeted him with a smile. "This old man has reached the limit of his talent. There's no hope of a breakthrough. I've made a fool of myself before Your Eminence."
Tang Chen raised a hand to cut him off. "Enough. Spare me the nonsense. Why have you come to the Clear Sky Sect?"
Yu Mingkai was embarrassed, but he had no choice. Under another man's eaves, one had to bow one's head.
After a moment's hesitation, Yu Mingkai said, "This old man heard that your nephew Tang Lie was murdered by a villain. My son met him in the Star Dou Forest, so we came to provide a lead."
Yu Mingkai kept his manner humble, afraid Tang Chen might strike without a second thought.
Tang Chen lifted a hand, and Soul Power clamped tightly around Yu Luomian's throat. "Speak. What happened?"
"Y-Your Eminence... it... it happened like this..."
With his throat caught in that grip, Yu Luomian haltingly recounted his encounter with Tang Lie...
Tang Chen snorted and flung Yu Luomian away. He slammed into the wall and spat blood, then lowered his head, not daring to look at Tang Chen.
At the sight, Yu Mingkai felt a measure of relief. It seemed his clan would be safe.
If Tang Chen had intended to move against the clan, his response would not have stopped there.
"You'll be spared death, but you won't escape punishment. Yu Mingkai, within three days, deliver a third of Blue Lightning's resources to the Clear Sky Sect!"
Tang Chen's voice was cold.
Yu Mingkai felt miserable. He could not accept such a result, yet he had no choice.
If he refused, then once Tang Chen's investigation reached Blue Lightning, the price would be far more than a third of its resources.
Sighing inwardly, Yu Mingkai nodded his agreement.
Tang Chen snorted. "Get out!"
Yu Mingkai had Yu Yuanzhen help Yu Luomian to his feet. The three had arrived in a rush, and they left in disgrace...
At the gates of the Clear Sky Sect, Yu Yuanzhen glanced back coldly. One day, I'll repay today's humiliation!
Yu Yuanzhen swore he would become a Titled Douluo!