Tang Hao's body trembled slightly, his heart filled with humiliation and resentment.
He slowly raised his head, and the humility, pleading, and pain that had been in his eyes had completely disappeared.
His gaze swept past the crowd and fixed on the cold-faced Seventh Elder Tang Lie, on the high platform.
Although he had severed one arm and one leg and removed two inherited Soul Bone, he believed he still had the strength to fight against ordinary Titled Douluo.
With a do-or-die determination, Tang Hao said hoarsely, "Yes. My son Tang San lost. He was simply outmatched. There's nothing more to say."
"But he is my son, Tang Hao's son! His mother is my wife, Tang Hao's wife! The word 'bastard'... I, Tang Hao, do not accept it!"
"Since the Little San lost and has no right to seek justice... then I, as her father, will seek it!"
Before he finished speaking, a white light, like a tangible killing intent, rapidly spread out from Tang Hao as the center!
Divine Slaughter's Domain!
The temperature inside the main hall plummeted, and a heavy stench of blood and a chilling killing intent filled the air. Disciples with lower cultivation levels even felt their souls tremble, as if they were on a battlefield of mountains of corpses and seas of blood!
"Seventh Elder! I, Tang Hao, challenge you with this crippled body!"
Today, only life and death matter, victory and defeat are irrelevant!
The moment the words left his mouth, the entire room erupted in astonishment!
"Second Brother! No!" Tang Yuehua exclaimed in shock, trying to step forward and pull him back.
" Brother Hao! You're being foolish!" Tang Xiao suddenly stood up and shouted sternly.
The elders all changed color, their eyes filled with astonishment and anger.
Tang Hao's actions undoubtedly severed the last vestige of any possibility of reconciliation!
The Seventh Elder, Tang Lie, laughed in fury. He stepped forward, standing at the edge of the platform, looking down at Tang Hao, who had activated his domain. "Fine! Fine! Tang Hao, you and your son have come to my Clear Sky Sect today, not only showing no remorse, but also becoming even more arrogant, repeatedly defying the sect's authority. Do you really think my Clear Sky Sect has no one to dare kill you?!"
As the last word fell, Tang Lie unleashed a terrifying aura ten times more ferocious than Tang Hao's!
Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black, red!
Nine Soul Ring rose fiercely from beneath his feet!
Especially the last one, that vibrant, Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring, radiating immense power and an aura of destruction!
At the same time, a purer, more domineering, and boundless killing intent-filled white domain surged into the sky from Tang Lie's body!
Both belong to the Divine Slaughter's Domain!
However, Tang Lie's Soul Power was far superior at this moment, his domain was obviously more condensed and wider in range, and his killing will that penetrated to the bone was more pure and terrifying!
The two domains collided in mid-air. Tang Hao's originally fierce Divine Slaughter's Domain was instantly suppressed and shrank, and in the end it could only be barely maintained within a three-foot range around his body. Its light dimmed and it was on the verge of collapse!
The Soul Power pressure of Level 97 Super Douluo enveloped the entire hall!
"Puff!!"
Tang Hao was already severely injured and had further depleted his vital energy by severing his own limbs. How could he possibly withstand such pressure?
He groaned, his mutilated body swaying violently. The barely maintained Divine Slaughter's Domain shattered instantly, and he staggered back several steps as if struck by a giant hammer. If Tang San hadn't stepped forward to support him in time, he would probably have collapsed to the ground.
Tang Hao struggled to lift his head, gazing at the nine dazzling Soul Ring on the high platform, especially the blinding 100,000-year red Soul Ring, and the terrifying Divine Slaughter's Domain that completely suppressed his own domain. His eyes were filled with disbelief, shock, and horror.
"A... Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring? The Divine Slaughter's Domain?"
Tang Hao's voice trembled as he practically forced out the words, "Seventh Uncle... you... how could you..."
He remembered clearly that the Seventh Elder, Tang Lie, was not particularly talented among the elders, and had a fiery and easily angered personality.
When... did it become so powerful?
This terrifying pressure, this perfect Divine Slaughter's Domain, this soul-chilling Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring... what exactly happened to the Clear Sky Sect?!
Looking down at Tang Hao's shocked, bewildered, and even slightly desperate expression, Tang Lie Lie's anger subsided, but a chilling disappointment settled in.
He withdrew most of his oppressive aura. " Tang Hao, even now, you're still so arrogant! Do you think you're the only capable person in the world? Do you still think the Clear Sky Sect is the same sect that used to let you do whatever you want and clean up your messes!"
Tang Lie stepped forward, his killing intent already locked onto Tang Hao: "Now, do you still want to challenge me?"
The coldness and powerful confidence in his words completely shattered Tang Hao's last remaining pride and resentment.
"Seventh Uncle, calm down!" Tang Xiao hurriedly spoke, trying to ease the tension.
Tang Hao lowered his head, which had been held high, and fell into deep self-doubt.
It turns out that I had already been abandoned by the times.
It turns out that the "sincerity" and "talent" that he cherished and thought were enough to move the sect are perhaps... truly insignificant in the face of the sect today.
He slowly knelt down, his forehead gently touching the cold ground.
" Tang Hao... admits his guilt."
The four words, hoarse and dry, seemed to have exhausted all his strength.
"Today... Tang Hao and his son... depart. They will never set foot in the Clear Sky Sect again."
After saying that, Tang Hao seemed to have lost his spine, collapsing to the ground and no longer moving.
" Brother Hao!"
"Second Brother!"
Tang Xiao and Tang Yuehua exclaimed in surprise at the same time.
Tang San, standing on the sidelines, watched his father kneel in humiliation. He almost ground his teeth to powder, and a burning, bone-deep hatred welled up in his eyes. The resentment burned wildly in his chest.
He thought angrily, "Seventh Elder, you've already chosen your own death!"
Tang San completely forgot that they had come to atone for their sins; instead, it seemed as if the Clear Sky Sect owed them something.
Just then, the Second Elder Tang Zhen's voice rang out again.
"Wait a minute."
All eyes were on him.
Tang Zhen exchanged a deep glance with Sect Master Tang Xiao, then his gaze swept across the entire room before he calmly said:
" Tang Hao's past transgressions cannot be forgiven with a few words or a single match. Today, in the battle between Tang Hu and Tang San, although Tang San was defeated, his talent and resilience are exceptional, as everyone present has witnessed."
" The Clear Sky Sect is not a heartless and ruthless place. With the Spirit Hall eyeing us covetously and the continent in turmoil, the sect is in dire need of manpower."
He paused, then looked at Tang Hao and said, "Today, on behalf of the sect leader and the elders, I am giving you and your son a chance."
"You and your son have five years. Within five years, if Tang San can find an opportunity to repair his Clear Sky Hammer Martial Soul and cultivate his Soul Power to the Level 70 Soul Saint realm."
His gaze swept over all the elders and disciples present. "Then, five years from now, you may return to Cloud Mist Mountain. At that time, the sect will allow Tang San to acknowledge his ancestors and return to the clan, and will also permit Tang Hao to pay homage to his forefathers."
Upon hearing this, the hall fell silent for a moment, followed by suppressed murmurs of discussion.
Apart from Tang Lie, the other elders nodded to each other, agreeing with the Second Elder's proposal.
Only Elder Bai He looked at his eldest sister's only bloodline, and as if he had thought of something, a strange emotion flashed in his eyes. He subconsciously touched his storage ring.
Tang Hao shuddered, abruptly raising his head to look at the Second Elder in disbelief, then at his elder Tang Xiao, his eyes rekindling with hope.
He pulled Tang San over, and together they knelt down on one knee facing the center of the hall.
"Tang Hao, I will obey the elder's order. Within five years, I will repair Tang San's Haotian Hammer and report back to the sect."
Looking at his younger brother and nephew kneeling below the stage, Tang Xiao felt the huge weight in his heart finally lift.
He understood the Second Elder's proposal; it was the biggest concession the sect could offer, at least providing a glimmer of hope.
The crowd gradually dispersed from the main hall, and the murmurs subsided like the tide, leaving behind an empty and solemn space.
Tang Xiao personally escorted Tang Yuehua, Tang Hao, Tang San, and Meng Yiran to the gate of Cloud Mist Mountain, his gaze sweeping over the four of them one by one.
With a hint of the melancholy of an elder brother, he said in a low voice, "Let's leave them here. Yuehua, take good care of Brother Hao and Little San."
Tang Yuehua's eyes reddened slightly, and she nodded gently. "Don't worry, Big Brother."
Tang Hao struggled to bow to his elder brother again, but Tang Xiao stopped him by raising his hand.
Tang Xiao's voice was very low, " Brother Hao, take care of yourself. Five years... that's not a long time, but it's not entirely hopeless."
"I will do my best to mediate with the sect; you know Seventh Uncle's temper. As for the method to repair the Martial Soul, I will also try my best to search for it. I will not let go of any possibility. If there is any information, I will send a message to Yuehua and have her pass it on to you."
Tang Hao's body trembled. He looked up and saw the concern and helplessness in his brother's eyes. His throat tightened, and a thousand words stuck in his chest. In the end, he could only manage a difficult nod.
Tang Xiao then looked at Tang San, his eyes filled with complex emotions. " Little San, the road ahead is difficult; you'll have to rely on yourself. Take care."
Tang San's eyes sharpened. "Thank you, Uncle. Tang San will remember this and will never let you down."
The group remained silent, and the carriage rumbled away into the distance.