Good people never live long.

"Old bastard, what are you doing!"

Gu Rong saw Chen Xin summon the Seven Kill Sword and rose to his feet with a grave expression, barking at him.

Chen Xin glanced at Gu Rong, his eyes brimming with murderous intent, and snorted coldly.

"Old Bones, Tang Hao already attacked Fengzhi and Rongrong. Am I supposed to just stand by and watch?

Does Tang Hao really think he's invincible? Where does that leave our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?"

Gu Rong seethed at those words, too. He also wanted to strike at Tang Hao.

There were only three people Gu Rong valued most in his life. One was Ning Fengzhi, who had recognized his worth, taken him in, and recruited him as an honored elder.

Another was his precious granddaughter Ning Rongrong, whom he had watched grow up. He had never had children of his own, and in his eyes, Rongrong was his own granddaughter.

The last was Chen Xin, his old friend who had sparred with him for decades. They bickered every day and came to blows at the slightest disagreement,

yet he had brought a splash of color to Gu Rong's otherwise monotonous life over those decades.

"You think I don't want to? Let me tell you, you old bastard, I want to act even more than you do. I wanted to kill Tang Hao right then and there."

"Then why didn't you? Do you know what would've happened if Rongrong had been hurt?"

Chen Xin's retort left Gu Rong momentarily speechless, before he shot Chen Xin a glare.

"You old bastard, the older you get, the less your brain works! To hell with practicing your sword. Find a hole and bury yourself!

Why didn't I act? If I had, what would have happened to Fengzhi? To Rongrong? To the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?"

Hearing Gu Rong's words, Chen Xin gradually calmed down. He put away the Seven Kill Sword and sat back in his chair.

"So we just swallow this humiliation? I've pursued the sword my whole life. No matter what, I cannot let this matter end here."

A swordsman lived by his pride.

Those who cultivated the sword pursued the ultimate heights throughout their lives, their pride unyielding. Chen Xin's father and grandfather had both died on the path of pursuing the sword.

The people of the Chen Clan would never back down, even in death!

Once Chen Xin had calmed down, Ning Fengzhi smiled and stepped in to smooth things over, rising to pour both men a cup of tea.

"All right, Uncle Jian, Uncle Gu. Please calm down."

After pouring the tea, Ning Fengzhi sat back down, his eyes narrowing slightly as a veiled gleam flickered within them.

"Fengzhi, what do you think we should do?"

Chen Xin took a sip of tea and asked Ning Fengzhi urgently.

Whatever the two of them said, Ning Fengzhi still had the final say.

Ning Fengzhi waved a hand at Chen Xin.

"Rest assured, Uncle Jian. If the Clear Sky Sect insists on being so arrogant, our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect won't simply suffer for it.

However, now truly isn't the time to act against Tang Hao.

We could kill Tang San, or even issue a kill order to hunt Tang Hao down.

That would certainly vent our anger, but it would bring endless trouble afterward!"

As he spoke, Ning Fengzhi stood and tapped the scepter in his hand against the floor.

"Tang Hao is only a lone man. If we push him too far, the sect itself naturally has nothing to fear with Uncle Jian and Uncle Gu guarding it.

But the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's shops and merchant associations outside would find it nearly impossible to keep operating.

At the same time, we would deepen the conflict between the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the Clear Sky Sect, letting the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon and Spirit Hall sit on the mountain and watch the tigers fight, reaping the benefits without lifting a finger."

After hearing Ning Fengzhi's analysis, both men fell silent.

Ning Fengzhi was right. If they fought like this, only the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would suffer.

When trouble arose, the Clear Sky Sect could retreat into seclusion and hide like a turtle withdrawing into its shell.

But the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect could not. It had started out as a family merchant association,

and only through the wealth and connections it accumulated across the continent had it risen step by step from seclusion to become the world's foremost support sect.

"Ah!"

Chen Xin let out a long sigh, a sense of helplessness welling up inside him.

He had to consider not only himself, but the entire Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

"Of course!"

Ning Fengzhi shifted his tone, looking at Chen Xin and Gu Rong.

"We certainly can't just swallow this."

Gu Rong raised an eyebrow and asked in puzzlement.

"Fengzhi, you mean..."

A faint smile curved across Ning Fengzhi's gentle face.

"The Upper Three Sects are branches of the same tree. Naturally, I cannot allow that bond to be damaged on my account.

However... prices in Heaven Dou City have been rising rather high lately."

At Ning Fengzhi's words, Chen Xin and Gu Rong both nodded in understanding.

That was right. They could not act openly, but that did not mean they could not trip them up.

The relationship between Moonlight Pavilion and the Clear Sky Sect was no secret to top powers like theirs.

The Clear Sky Sect's everyday supplies were all purchased through Moonlight Pavilion.

Meanwhile, the whole of Heaven Dou City, and even the Heaven Dou Empire, was controlled by several major financial groups. As it happened, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was one of them.

Of the others, one was the Heaven Dou aristocratic faction, and the other was the eight great families.

All had substantial business ties with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

"Excellent idea! If I can't hit Tang Hao, I'll make the Clear Sky Sect sick to its stomach!"

Naturally, Gu Rong happily clapped his hands in approval of Ning Fengzhi's idea.

Ning Fengzhi smiled and said casually.

"Don't tease me, Uncle Gu. There's another matter I need to discuss with you and Uncle Jian."

Chen Xin nodded in response.

"Go ahead, Fengzhi. What need is there to beat around the bush between us?"

Gu Rong chimed in as well.

"That's right, Fengzhi. What do you need us to do?"

With a smile, Ning Fengzhi uttered words that made both their hearts pound in alarm.

"I wanted to discuss with you and Uncle Jian how to eliminate the four great clans!"

Chen Xin rose to his feet in disbelief.

"Fengzhi, why would you do that?"

Gu Rong, seated on the other side, understood a little better. After all, he had been there at the time and naturally knew more than Chen Xin.

"Are you talking about Tang San, Fengzhi?"

Ning Fengzhi nodded gravely.

"That's right, Uncle Gu. Tang San's earlier conversation with Yu Xiaogang, along with Tang Hao's subsequent attack, gave me some suspicions.

There is a very strong chance that Tang San possesses twin martial souls. In the future, he is certain to become a Super Douluo!"

Gu Rong nodded in agreement.

"Indeed. Tang Hao may be staying so close to him precisely to protect him as he grows."

"Exactly!"

Ning Fengzhi let out a long sigh.

"A Super Douluo, together with the Clear Sky Twin Stars-the Clear Sky Sect's eventual return is already as certain as a nail driven into a board!

When that happens, the four great clans will probably return to the Clear Sky Sect as well.

Before today, that might not have been a bad thing. Unfortunately, Tang Hao's attack and the exposure of Tang San's secret have already made enemies of us and the Clear Sky Sect!"

As he spoke, his formerly warm gaze turned icy, and his tone lost its gentleness.

"Since we are enemies, we must strangle the danger in its cradle! We cannot allow Spirit Hall to grow unchecked, and the same goes for the Clear Sky Sect.

We cannot act against Tang San or Tang Hao, but surely we can deal with the Strength Clan right here under our noses in Heaven Dou City?"

Chen Xin began to waver. Although exterminating a clan gravely violated humanity, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's safety was clearly more important.

"But... each of the four great clans has a Soul Douluo guarding it. Wiping them out in a single strike would still be difficult, wouldn't it?

Besides, to finish Tai Tan off in one go, Old Bones and I would have to act ourselves. If someone recognized us..."

Chen Xin did not finish, but Ning Fengzhi and Gu Rong both understood what he meant.

"Uncle Jian, everyone knowing doesn't mean everyone would dare say it!"