Tang Chen nodded.
The power of the Leaf of Life was far stronger than he had expected.
Not only had it healed Tang Yuan's old injuries, but it had also given the old man the chance to break through once more.
Tang Yuan looked in the direction of the Clear Sky Sect.
"The Seventh Elder sent people to kill us. Clearly, he had no intention of leaving any loose ends."
"They will not let this go easily."
"Grandfather, there is no need to worry."
Tang Chen drew the power of the Destruction Spear back into his body.
"We have already left the Clear Sky Sect."
"As long as we do not deliberately reveal our whereabouts, it will not be so easy for them to find us."
He lowered his head and glanced at his First Soul Ring.
"Now that I have obtained my First Soul Ring, the next step is to find my Second Soul Ring as soon as possible."
"My Soul Power has already reached level twenty."
"Once I obtain my Second Soul Ring, my strength will rise by another level."
Tang Yuan nodded.
"The Soul Beast forest is not far from here."
"Once Grandfather gets his bearings, we will set out."
The grandfather and grandson did not linger any longer.
Tang Chen put away the powerless short blade and left the woods with Tang Yuan.
Clear Sky Sect.
Main Peak Hall.
Tang Xiao stood in the hall, his expression displeased.
Tang Lie stood below, his head lowered as he listened to the reprimand.
"I heard that not only did you drive Tang Yuan and his grandson out of the sect, you also sent people to hunt them down?"
Tang Xiao looked at Tang Lie.
"Tang Yuan rendered merits to the sect back then."
"Tang Chen's parents also died on a sect mission."
"Once word of this gets out, what will outsiders think of the Clear Sky Sect?"
Tang Lie had not expected Tang Xiao to learn of this so quickly.
He was silent for a moment before explaining.
"Sect Master, I have already made the arrangements."
"The people I sent out are my trusted subordinates."
"As long as they die outside, no traces linking this to the Clear Sky Sect will remain."
Tang Xiao frowned.
"Before doing something like this, you should have informed me at the very least."
"The sect is not in a position to have another scandal spread."
Tang Lie lowered his head.
"I failed to consider it carefully enough."
Tang Xiao looked at him.
"Since things have come to this, we can only clean it up as quickly as possible."
"If you do this sort of thing again, inform me beforehand."
Tang Lie nodded.
"I understand."
Just then, hurried footsteps sounded from outside the hall.
A disciple dressed in Clear Sky Sect robes hurried into the main hall.
He stopped before Tang Lie, panic written across his face.
"Seventh Elder."
"The people you sent out... something happened."
Tang Lie raised his eyes to look at him.
"Explain clearly."
The disciple swallowed.
"Tang Ming, who was responsible for hunting down Tang Yuan and Tang Chen, is dead."
The hall instantly fell silent.
Tang Xiao and Tang Lie both looked at the newcomer.
Tang Lie's expression changed.
"What did you say?"
"Tang Ming is dead."
"His Soul Tablet has shattered."
A flash of shock passed through Tang Xiao's eyes.
Tang Ming was merely a Soul Elder, but there should never have been an accident when dealing with a cripple and a boy with level-two Soul Power.
Tang Lie clenched his fists.
"How is that possible?"
"Tang Yuan has lost all his cultivation, and Tang Chen's Innate Soul Power is only level two."
"Which of the two could have killed Tang Ming?"
Tang Xiao's expression gradually darkened.
"You could not even handle such a trivial matter."
"And you still dare claim that you made proper arrangements?"
Tang Lie lowered his head, his expression extremely ugly.
"Sect Master, there may have been an unexpected development."
"Please give me another chance."
Tang Xiao did not answer at once.
Tang Lie gritted his teeth.
"This time, I guarantee that I will kill them."
"I will never let that grandfather and grandson continue living."
Tang Xiao stared at him for a moment.
"What do you intend to do?"
Tang Lie raised his head.
"Tang Ming was only a Soul Elder. His strength was ultimately insufficient."
"I intend to send a Soul Saint down the mountain."
Tang Xiao fell silent for a moment.
"Bring Tang Li here."
Tang Lie immediately turned and instructed the disciple outside the hall.
"Go notify Tang Li."
"Tell him to come to the Main Peak Hall immediately."
Half an hour later.
A tall man entered the hall.
He wore a gray robe, his face solemn.
He came before Tang Lie and clasped his hands in salute.
"Seventh Elder."
Tang Lie looked at him.
"Tang Li, you have already reached level seventy-one Soul Power."
"I have a task for you now."
Tang Li raised his head.
Tang Lie told him the direction Tang Chen and Tang Yuan had taken after leaving the sect.
"Find them."
"Kill Tang Chen and Tang Yuan."
"No matter what methods you use, you must not let them leave alive."
Tang Li nodded.
"This subordinate understands."
Tang Xiao stood to one side, his gaze settling on Tang Li.
"Do not alert anyone else to this matter."
"Return to the sect immediately after completing it."
Tang Li clasped his hands again.
"Yes."
He turned and walked out of the main hall.
Tang Lie watched his retreating figure, the chill returning to his eyes.
The outskirts of the Star Dou Great Forest.
Tang Chen and Tang Yuan slowly made their way along a forest trail.
Ancient trees towered around them, their branches and leaves intertwining to block most of the sky.
The damp earth gave off the scent of grass and trees.
Leaning on a wooden staff, Tang Yuan raised his head and observed the surroundings.
"Chen'er, what age Soul Beast are you planning to seek?"
Tang Chen did not stop walking.
"At least eight thousand years old."
Tang Yuan paused.
"Eight thousand years?"
"Your Soul Power is only level twenty-three, yet you plan to absorb an eight-thousand-year Soul Ring as your Second Soul Ring. Is that not too hasty?"
Tang Chen turned around and looked at his grandfather.
"When Soul Masters absorb Soul Rings, they should naturally get as close to their limits as possible."
"Ordinary Soul Masters cannot endure it because their bodies are not strong enough."
"My Life Ancient Tree can repair my body, the Destruction Scepter can temper my meridians, and Destruction Force and Life Force can circulate in a cycle."
"An eight-thousand-year Soul Ring is still not enough to be my limit."
Tang Yuan pondered for a moment.
He had personally witnessed Tang Chen absorb a two-thousand-year First Soul Ring, so he naturally knew that his grandson's physique far surpassed that of Soul Masters at the same level.
Still, challenging an eight-thousand-year Soul Beast with his Second Soul Ring felt far too risky.
"As long as you are confident."
"If you encounter a Soul Beast you cannot endure, you must not force yourself to act."
"Do not worry, Grandfather."
Tang Chen nodded.
"I will not gamble with my life."
The two continued deeper into the forest.
Before long, a burst of hurried footsteps suddenly came from the woods ahead.
Branches and leaves snapped under impact.
Immediately afterward, shouts of battle reached their ears.
Tang Yuan's expression changed.
"Someone is fighting ahead."
Tang Chen stopped and looked toward the source of the sounds.
The dense trees blocked his view.
But the fluctuations of Soul Power were already extremely clear.
"Let's go take a look."
Tang Chen moved, charging into the forest first.
Tang Yuan followed close behind.
After passing through a patch of shrubs, the scene ahead gradually came into view.
A girl dressed in black was fleeing through the woods.
Her black Long Hair had been blown loose by the wind, several strands clinging to her fair cheeks.
Her black clothes were torn in several places, with wounds on both her shoulder and calf.
Blood dripped from the hem of her clothing, leaving specks across the muddy ground.
The girl was young, slender and tall, with a taut waist and legs that retained remarkable explosive power as she ran.
Her features were delicate, and her face was lovely.
Even as she was being hunted, her eyes remained clear and vigilant.
Several Soul Masters pursued her relentlessly from behind.
They wore matching black-and-gold attire, with the emblem of the Star Luo Imperial Family embroidered on their chests.
Three Soul Rings circled the leader.
Yellow, yellow, purple.
The others were all Soul Grandmasters or stronger.
The girl's figure swayed as her foot stepped on a dead branch.
She lost her balance and dropped to one knee.
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