The night Bai Chenxiang and the others left.
The moonlight, as clear as water, bathed every palace and pavilion in the Cloud Mist Mountain.
A gentle night breeze carried the crisp, refreshing scent unique to the mountains, yet it could not dispel the gloom in Bai He's heart.
Bai He sat alone by the window, his thoughts churning.
Tang Xiao and Tang Hao were his eldest sister's only two sons. Tang Xiao was unmarried and had no children, so Tang San was his eldest sister's only bloodline in this world.
Bai He closed his eyes, and three years ago, that young face appeared in his mind.
Thinking of Tang San's Clear Sky Hammer spirit being destroyed, a complex light flashed in his aged eyes.
Bai He gently took out an item from his Storage Soul Tool.
It was a translucent, blood-red ginseng, about a foot long, with intact roots, and a faint blood-red aura flowing throughout.
Crystal Blood Dragon Ginseng.
The treasure passed down through the Speed Clan was something he was reluctant to use even during the Speed Clan's most difficult times.
The Crystal Blood Dragon Ginseng contains a vast amount of life essence, enough to give a severely injured body a new lease on life.
If it were used to repair Martial Soul...
Bai He held the blood ginseng, his aged fingers trembling slightly.
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. When he opened his eyes again, a resolute look was in them.
Bai He put away the Crystal Blood Dragon Ginseng and went out through the door.
Tang Xiao's residence is a quiet little courtyard on the east side of the main peak of Cloud Mist Mountain.
As soon as the Bai He reached the courtyard gate, the door opened silently.
With Tang Xiao's Level 98 strength, he had already sensed the arrival of the Bai He.
At this moment, Tang Xiao was sitting at a desk, browsing through various classic texts.
Bai He entered the room, closed the door, and came to Tang Xiao's side.
When Tang Xiao saw Bai He enter the room, he stood up and asked, "Uncle, is there something you need so late?"
As the head of a sect, Tang Xiao naturally addresses Elder Bai He in public, but in private, he would respectfully call him Uncle.
The Bai He entered the room and gently closed the door.
He walked to the desk and saw the ancient books; the meaning became clear to him.
Tang Xiao was also searching for a way to repair his Martial Soul. After all, Tang San was the only descendant of his lineage.
Bai He paused for a moment, then got straight to the point:
Three years ago, Hao'er and Little San came to the sect to acknowledge their ancestors. Little San Clear Sky Hammer Martial Soul was destroyed, and I... was tormented.
His voice carried a hint of heaviness:
"Three years have passed now, and the five-year mark is not far off. I've heard there's still no sign of his Martial Soul being repaired."
Upon hearing this, Tang Xiao also sighed.
Bai He took out the Crystal Blood Dragon Ginseng again from his Storage Soul Tool.
In an instant, a powerful life force filled the entire room!
The aura was gentle yet rich, like a spring breeze blowing across frozen earth, making every inch of one's flesh and blood feel relaxed.
Tang Xiao's pupils contracted slightly, and he exclaimed in disbelief, "This is..."
" The Speed Clan's ancestral treasure, the Crystal Blood Dragon Ginseng."
The Bai He spoke with unusual solemnity, "It contains immense life essence, said to have the power to bring the dead back to life. Perhaps... it can help Little San repair his Martial Soul."
He raised his head and looked at Tang Xiao, a hint of earnestness in his aged eyes:
"My eldest sister only has this one bloodline. I can't bear to see her only descendant sink into despair like this. I hope that this can help restore his Martial Soul and allow him to return to the sect."
Tang Xiao stared blankly at the blood ginseng, feeling the vast life force contained within it, and for a moment he didn't know what to say.
After a long silence, he bowed deeply and solemnly said, "Thank you, Uncle! We, your nephews, have failed your Speed Clan."
Bai He quickly helped him up and shook his head. "We're all family, why say such things?"
"There's no time to lose. Make the arrangements, and let's head to Star Luo City immediately."
Tang Xiao straightened up, a resolute glint in his eyes.
He nodded, pushed open the door, and went out, briefly explaining the sect's affairs.
A moment later, two figures rose into the air from the Cloud Mist Mountain and disappeared into the vast night in an instant.
Star Luo City is about 6,000 kilometers away from Cloud Mist Mountain.
With Tang Xiao's Level 98 strength, traveling at full speed, he could easily cover two to three thousand miles a day. The Speed Clan is known for its speed, and even if the Bai He went all out, it could keep up with his pace.
At this time, in the Star Luo Empire, Star Luo City, Tang Sect and pavilions stood tall, exuding an extraordinary grandeur.
Since the Tang Sect helped Dai Mubai suppress rebellions in various places, the sect's status in Star Luo City has been at its zenith, with a constant stream of visitors.
However, at this moment, a fierce argument broke out in the residence of Sect Master Tang San.
Those were Tang Hao and Tang San.
"Foolish! You're trying to negotiate with a tiger!" Tang Hao's voice was hoarse and angry.
Tang San stood by the window, his back to his father, without saying a word.
Tang Hao lost his right arm and left leg, and his body was somewhat hunched, but his eyes remained sharp.
He stared at his son's retreating figure and continued:
"Anyone with eyes can see that Dai Mubai has already sided with the Spirit Hall! You're still cooperating with him; isn't that aiding the enemy?"
Tang San finally turned around, his face showing no anger, only a stubborn rebuttal:
" Mubai told me privately that this is just a temporary measure. The Spirit Hall is powerful, so we'll feign compliance first, and then plan a counterattack once we've grown stronger."
"A stopgap measure?" Tang Hao sneered, his smile full of mockery. "I, Tang Hao, have seen more people in my life than you've eaten salt. That Dai Mubai is ruthless and vicious; he's no good!"
"The death of the Star Luo Emperor must be related to him. How can the words of such a person who murdered his father and seized power be trusted?"
Tang San frowned slightly. "I've already asked Mubai about this. He said it was the Spirit Hall's doing, and he knew nothing about it."
"Unaware?" Tang Hao trembled with rage.
" Little San, when did you become so naive? The Spirit Hall helped him get rid of Dai Weisi and put him in power, how could he not know? If he hadn't sided with the Spirit Hall, why would the Spirit Hall help him?"
Tang San fell silent.
Tang Hao continued his harsh persuasion, " Little San, stop now! That's a bottomless abyss that devours people without spitting out the bones! Cooperating with them will only lead to being swallowed whole, leaving not even bones behind! Let's close down the Tang Sect and leave Star Luo Empire!"
A flicker of emotion crossed Tang San's eyes, but he quickly suppressed it, replying calmly, "Dad, I have my own judgment."
"Your judgment?" Tang Hao's anger flared even more. "Your judgment is that you believe that scoundrel who murdered his father and seized power? That you secretly colluded with the Spirit Hall?"
Tang San's brows furrowed even more deeply.
"Dad, please stop interfering in my affairs."
His voice began to harden, and years of suppressed emotions finally erupted:
"From childhood to adulthood, you've neglected me. You've been drinking all the time, getting yourself completely drunk, leaving me, a mere child, to fend for myself. You hid our grudges with the Spirit Hall, telling me nothing, which led to my carelessness in revealing the Clear Sky Hammer, ultimately resulting in my Martial Soul being destroyed!"
Tang Hao's face turned deathly pale instantly.
Tang San didn't stop; his voice grew louder and louder, his eyes flashing with resentment that had been suppressed for many years.
"Now that I've finally established the Tang Sect and it's thriving, why are you constantly interfering? What are you trying to achieve? Do you expect me to risk my life for that Clear Sky Sect?"
He stared at Tang Hao: "The debt of the Clear Sky Sect is yours. What does it have to do with me?"
Tang Hao opened his mouth, but no sound came out.
Tang San continued, his voice filled with fanatical fervor. "Now, with the support of the Star Luo Imperial Family, our Tang Sect has become the number one sect in the Star Luo Empire! Our future is limitless!"
He clenched his fist. "I swear, sooner or later I will lead the Tang Sect to surpass the Clear Sky Sect! I will make them despair at their past rejection of me!"
Tang Hao stared at him blankly.
Looking at this son who was sensible and filial since childhood, who never caused him any worry; looking at this face that was once full of naivety and dependence, but now only shows stubbornness and indifference.
He suddenly felt a sharp pain in his chest.
The internal injury that he had suppressed for many years suddenly erupted at this moment!
"Puff!!"
Tang Hao spat out a mouthful of blood and fell backward.
Tang San's pupils contracted sharply, and he instinctively stepped forward to support him.
But he stopped.
Tang San looked at Tang Hao lying on the ground, at the blood constantly flowing from the corner of his mouth, and at his pale face, when a thought suddenly came to mind.
A thought that terrified even himself.
The teacher once said...
He shook his head violently, suppressing the thought.
"Someone! Carry him to a side room to rest."
Two Tang Sect disciples stepped forward, carefully lifted Tang Hao, and carried him outside.
Tang Hao was already in a semi-conscious state, but his cloudy eyes remained fixed on Tang San's direction.
In those eyes, there was disappointment, heartache, and a hint of disbelief.