Yu Xiaogang, You Have No Heart!

In the great hall, Tang San stepped forward.

As a son who had lived two lives, he could see the bind Tang Hao was in.

The Clear Sky Sect had to rebuild from the ground up. It needed people everywhere, especially those with powerful Martial Souls and those with a strong grasp of theory.

After all, both were indispensable if they wanted to fight Spirit Hall and avenge their dead.

"Tang San! It's not your place to speak here!" an elder snapped.

Tang Hao, seated at the head of the hall, gave him a cold look. The message was clear: You think you can scold my son?

Yet he said nothing. The Clear Sky Sect could not withstand his Iron-Blooded Methods, and the elder was his senior.

"As the sect master's son, I have every right to speak." Tang San faced the elder without a trace of fear. Meeting his eyes, he said firmly, "Everyone knows what Spirit Hall wants. Not just Soul Masters—even ordinary people with no Soul Power can see it. They're demanding we hand people over for one reason..."

Tang San argued his case before the assembly. Yu Xiaogang and Ning Rongrong looked at him gratefully; even Tang Hao had not spoken up for them.

Their predicament spoke for itself.

Outside the great hall, the Clear Sky Sect disciples had already surrounded the people of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan of their own accord.

They were certain those people would be handed over. If Tang Hao truly had the Clear Sky Sect's interests at heart, he had no other choice.

Otherwise, Spirit Hall would keep them surrounded until they could barely survive, let alone take revenge someday.

It was because they understood this that they dared act without the sect master's orders.

"Ah." Tang Hao sighed, cutting Tang San off. He was no fool. How could he fail to see it?

Spirit Hall would never have sent people to surround the Clear Sky Sect without Qian Daoliu's tacit approval.

They had never done anything like this in all the years before.

It was not that they did not know where the Clear Sky Sect was. They simply could not take such action.

Now that the Clear Sky Sect's Saint-Hunting Operation had failed, it was only natural for Qian Daoliu to allow this to avenge his dead son. After all, it did not technically break their agreement.

Spirit Hall had not entered the Mountain Peak where the Clear Sky Sect resided. It had only surrounded it.

At Tang Hao's sigh, Tang San's expression changed drastically. He realized his arguments had been a waste of breath.

Yu Xiaogang and Ning Rongrong turned deathly pale.

Yu Xiaogang had less to fear. For one thing, Bibi Dong would not truly do anything to him. For another, Tang Hao still needed him to train the Clear Sky Sect's disciples.

Ning Rongrong was not so fortunate.

Spirit Hall had asked for her by name.

That was Bai Ye's doing. He had long since considered the possibility that the Clear Sky Sect might try to pull a trick when handing people over.

They would hand people over, certainly, but never all of them.

After all, neither the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect nor the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan had registered with Spirit Hall.

Without a registry, Spirit Hall could not know how many of them there were.

But with its resources, it could certainly identify the important ones.

"Hand them over." At Tang Hao's command, elders immediately moved to seize Yu Xiaogang and Ning Rongrong.

Tang Hao stopped them from taking the former, but not the latter.

"Don't worry. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda will live on." Tang Hao made the promise to Ning Rongrong, whose eyes brimmed with tears. Then he turned away, unable to meet her gaze.

The girl had suffered even more than he had back then. Her father and grandfathers were dead, and now she, too, faced death.

He could hardly bear it, but there was truly no other way.

Ning Rongrong trembled. Clever as she was, she knew this was the best outcome possible. She bowed deeply to Tang Hao's back.

"Thank you, Sect Master."

Those three simple words made Tang Hao shudder. Ning Rongrong had not called him Sect Master Tang. From this day forward, there would be no Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect within the Clear Sky Sect—only Clear Sky Sect disciples whose Martial Soul was the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.

For a moment, the way everyone in the hall looked at Ning Rongrong changed again and again.

And so, on Tang Hao's orders, more than half the people from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan were restrained.

Most did not resist. Some did.

The fiercest resistance came from Yu Xiaogang's nephew, Yu Tianheng.

"Second Uncle! Second Uncle!" Yu Tianheng shouted to Yu Xiaogang nearby. "Father and Grandfather are both dead! I'm the only one left! Second Uncle, I don't want to die!"

Yu Tianheng knew full well what awaited him if he was taken away. As Yu Xiaogang's nephew, he had thought he would be granted a place among the half allowed to stay.

The sight pained Yu Xiaogang deeply. Of course he did not want to hand over his elder brother's only surviving son. But Spirit Hall had asked for Yu Tianheng by name; even as an elder, Yu Xiaogang could not keep him here.

Yu Tianheng cared nothing for that. Faced with death, all he wanted was to live, so he could one day take revenge on Spirit Hall.

He believed Yu Xiaogang could protect him if he was an elder, and he began crying out for help again.

The Clear Sky Sect disciples around them watched with cold smiles. They had never been happy about Yu Xiaogang becoming an elder.

A Soul Grandmaster who had passed fifty without breaking through level twenty-nine—how was he fit to be an elder of the foremost sect under heaven?

The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan disciples, both those allowed to stay and those about to be handed over, glared at Yu Xiaogang with hatred.

As they saw it, Yu Xiaogang refused to save Yu Tianheng because he envied his nephew's talent.

"Pah! Are you really the clan head's youngest son?"

"Tian Heng is so young and has so much potential, yet you won't save him!"

"Yu Xiaogang, you're the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's disgrace!"

Yu Xiaogang's face darkened. He wanted to shout that it was not like that, but with the crowd so furious, nothing he said would do much good.

"Sect Master, could you spare my nephew?" Yu Xiaogang looked at Tang Hao pleadingly. In truth, he held no hope at all. He was only going through the motions.

After all, Yu Tianheng could not compare to Ning Rongrong.

Even Ning Rongrong is being handed over. How am I supposed to save you, Yu Tianheng?

"Elder Yu, you know Spirit Hall's demands." Tang Hao understood what Yu Xiaogang was doing. He turned to the others. "I trust you all know what Spirit Hall demands as well. I don't want to hand anyone over, but circumstances leave me no choice. This is all I can do. Go without worry. I'll look after your families."

At those words, Yu Tianheng and the others fell into utter despair.

At this point, Yu Tianheng no longer cared that Yu Xiaogang was family. He only wanted to curse him and vent his anger.

After all, if he was going to die, he might as well let loose first.

"Yu Xiaogang! You're inhuman! Grandfather and Father treated you so well, and this is how you repay them?"

"And you're a member of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan too! You're from the direct line! Why aren't you being handed over?"

"Yu Xiaogang, you have no heart!"

This time, few joined in. Yu Xiaogang's reputation as a good-for-nothing was known to all. What threat could someone like him pose to Spirit Hall? Naturally, they would leave him to fend for himself.

The problem was that Yu Xiaogang refused to admit it, especially with people throughout the hall calling him useless.

His face flushing crimson, Yu Xiaogang blurted out a staggering revelation.

"Because Bibi Dong, Spirit Hall's Supreme Pontiff, is my former lover. Of course Spirit Hall won't arrest me."

The entire hall fell silent.

No one had expected Yu Xiaogang to say such a thing.

Tang Hao and Tang San both stared at Yu Xiaogang in astonishment and confusion.

Their expressions said it all: You?

Whether they had seen Bibi Dong in person or not, nearly everyone looked at Yu Xiaogang in disbelief.

Yu Xiaogang found their reaction immensely satisfying.

But the next instant, a tidal wave of doubt came crashing down on him.

"Wait, what? You? You think you're worthy of being the Supreme Pontiff's lover?"

"Damn, you'll say absolutely anything to save your skin."

"Seriously, go take a piss and look at your reflection. You think the Supreme Pontiff would like that face?"

Not a single person believed Yu Xiaogang. Spirit Hall's Supreme Pontiff was not blind.

He was not handsome, and his strength was pitiful.

"Quiet!" Tang Hao said, and the hall instantly fell silent. He did not believe Yu Xiaogang either, but now was not the time to discuss him. He promptly ordered the captives from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan escorted down the mountain.

Once Spirit Hall had them, its Titled Douluo ordered Hu Liena and the others to kill everyone except Ning Rongrong on the spot.

Those were Bai Ye's orders. He had not killed Ning Fengzhi with his own hands, so he certainly would not let Ning Fengzhi's daughter go.

Besides, was Ning Rongrong not the Little Demoness?

A Little Demoness was perfect. That was exactly what he wanted.

In Sunset Forest, Bai Ye had cultivated for two and a half months. His Soul Power had risen naturally from level fifty-eight to level sixty. It was time to obtain his Sixth Soul Ring.

"Finally, level sixty." Bai Ye let out a long breath. Cultivation had been dull beyond measure, but thankfully, hard work had borne fruit.

"Congratulations, Holy Son." The three Titled Douluo—Yue Guan, Ghost, and Dugu Bo—appeared at once.

They had been protecting Bai Ye from the shadows all along and would only intervene if his life was in danger.

Yet they had never had a chance to act. After absorbing Xiao Wu's Soul Ring and Soul Bone, Bai Ye's strength had undergone a qualitative leap.

He could now protect himself even against several Titled Douluo at once. Sunset Forest did not have so much as a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, so Bai Ye's life was in no danger.

"Holy Son, your Sixth Soul Ring..." Yue Guan began. Bai Ye's fifth Soul Ring was already at the hundred-thousand-year level. Absorbing a ten-thousand-year Soul Ring next would hardly be suitable.

In Yue Guan's view, Bai Ye should no longer need a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast to sacrifice itself. He could simply absorb its Soul Ring and Soul Bone.

That was indeed the case.

"That's right. But there's no rush to obtain my Sixth Soul Ring just yet," Bai Ye said calmly. Even so, the three Titled Douluo were stunned.

Thinking it themselves was one thing. Hearing Bai Ye say it was another.

Besides, the idea that he could withstand a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring and Soul Bone at level sixty was extraordinary even to them.

Bai Ye was in no hurry to obtain his Sixth Soul Ring because the Sky Azure Bull Python and Titan Giant Ape were not going anywhere.

And those two Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts were formidable.

In the original story, even Bibi Dong had needed considerable time and effort with several Titled Douluo at her side, only for Tang San to swoop in and snatch her prize.

So if Bai Ye went with only these three Titled Douluo, even his Honor Blessing might not be enough to kill them.

The two Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts were fierce and unyielding. They would sooner kill themselves than become someone else's Soul Rings and Soul Bones.

Bai Ye also had a bold idea.

If he made his move, he would kill both beasts at once, rather than kill one now and save the other for level seventy.

That was why he wanted to raise his Soul Power as much as possible first.

His Soul Power Level would not rise before he obtained his Sixth Soul Ring. But once he did, all he had accumulated would burst forth. With the further boost from absorbing a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring and Soul Bone, he could reach level seventy in one leap.

After all, in the original story, Tang San had risen from level sixty to level sixty-six after Xiao Wu sacrificed herself.

"It could work." Bai Ye saw no flaw in his plan. The only difficulty was stopping the Sky Azure Bull Python and Titan Giant Ape from killing themselves.

But for the Spirit Hall Holy Son, that was hardly an insurmountable problem.

"Oh, right, Uncle Poison." Something occurred to Bai Ye. Sunset Forest was not far from Heaven Dou City, and Dugu Yan should be at Heaven Dou Royal Academy. Naturally, he ought to cure her poison.

Yu Tianheng was gone now. Bai Ye did not know whether Yu Tianheng and Dugu Yan had already consummated their relationship, but that did not matter. What mattered was that Dugu Yan was, in a sense, a widow now.

Dugu Yan's Martial Soul was a snake, too. Bai Ye would not mind becoming a hero like Xu Xian, who had married a snake spirit.

The Strength Clan was also in Heaven Dou City. If he meant to build his own force and become a god through faith, he needed to expand his power.

The Strength Clan was one possible target.

Of course, Bai Ye did not dwell on it. If he could bring them under his command, all the better. If not, he would wipe them out.

After all, they were Tang Hao's lackeys.

Still, he was confident he could win them over.

Tai Tan had acknowledged Tang Hao as his master for no reason beyond Tang Hao's focus on pure strength.

And Bai Ye's Apocalypse Hammer far surpassed the Clear Sky Hammer.

He understood pure strength. It was just a matter of hitting harder.

"It's time to cure your granddaughter's poison." Bai Ye looked at Dugu Bo.

"Thank you, Young Master Ye." Dugu Bo bowed slightly. This time, he did not refuse.

Concern for his granddaughter was part of it. More importantly, he could tell Bai Ye wanted a break. After cultivating for so long, it was time for him to enjoy himself.

And so Dugu Bo led Bai Ye and the others to Heaven Dou City.

On the way, Bai Ye told the three Titled Douluo what he had in mind. Far from objecting, they supported him.

When they reached Heaven Dou City, Bai Ye went straight to the Spirit Sacred Hall.

"Holy Son!"

Platinum Bishop Salas was overwhelmed by the honor and received the Spirit Hall Holy Son with the highest ceremony.

Considering Bai Ye was only twelve, he provided everything at the highest standard except beautiful women.

Food, drink, clothing, supplies, entertainment—everything.

He even planned to accompany Bai Ye around Heaven Dou City.

"No need. You'd draw too much attention." Bai Ye declined the offer. He was not especially interested in sightseeing anyway, and life in Sunset Forest had been hard.

After getting another taste of comfort, Bai Ye settled in to rest at the Spirit Sacred Hall.

That evening, Dugu Bo brought Dugu Yan to Bai Ye's room.

"Young Master Ye, I've brought my granddaughter. Please cure her poison." With that, Dugu Bo tactfully left.