Chapter 277: Dealing with Tang San? Deceiving Him into Revealing the Ring-Exploding Technique!

Looking at this completely unexpected outcome, the Seventh Elder's shock was quickly replaced by a sense of satisfaction. He flashed forward, instantly appearing before Tang Chuan, urgently asking,

"Tang Wei! What...what exactly happened?"

"What happened in the dust just now? How could Tang San..."

Hearing this, Tang Chuan sneered inwardly, but on the surface, he appeared shaken and bewildered. He swallowed hard, stammering,

"Seventh...Seventh Elder, I...I don't know what happened! As soon as the dust rose, I couldn't see anything. I only...I only saw Tang San struggling and rolling around in pain, and then...then he suddenly collapsed!"

"Was it...was it that he forcibly used that Ring-Exploding Technique and suffered a backlash?"

His explanation completely absolved him of any responsibility, attributing all the anomalies to the backlash from Tang San's Ring-Exploding Technique and his mental breakdown.

Upon hearing this, the Seventh Elder had no doubt and was even more convinced of his judgment. He threw his head back and let out a hearty laugh: "Hahaha! That's right! It must be so!"

"That damned beast, overestimating himself, forcibly detonated his spirit ring, especially a ten-thousand-year spirit ring. If he didn't suffer a backlash, who would? He deserved it! Retribution!"

At this point, his laughter stopped abruptly. He first glanced with disgust at Tang San, who was lying unconscious on the ground like a rag doll, then suddenly turned his head and looked coldly at Tang Xiao, whose face was extremely ugly on the high platform. His voice carried an undeniable meaning:

"Sect Master! Everyone heard it!"

"Just now, Tang San said himself that if he lost, he would be at the mercy of others! Now that he has been defeated by Tang Wei, his fate should be decided by the victor, by our sect!"

"In my opinion, this boy is wicked, having defiled the sect's martial spirit to such an extent, and has even secretly learned forbidden techniques of the sect. His crimes are unforgivable! We should go all the way and cripple his Clear Sky Hammer martial spirit, then imprison him in the forbidden area of the back mountain until he dies of old age! Only in this way can we uphold the sect's prestige and comfort the spirits of the sect disciples who died unjustly because of his father!"

"No!"

Upon hearing this, Tang Xiao's face turned deathly pale, and he suddenly stood up, his voice hoarse with urgency,

"Seventh Elder! This is too much! Xiao San... he is, after all, Hao Di's only bloodline, the old sect master's grandson! He is still young and has gone astray. As elders, we should guide and educate him. How can we be so cruel as to sever his foundation and imprison him for life?! How can I face Hao Di in the future? How can I face my father in the afterlife?!"

"Guide? Educate?" The Seventh Elder sneered, pressing further:

"Sect Master! How long are you going to deceive yourself?"

"Look at him! Look at his martial soul! Look at the evil methods he used! And look at his insane nature! This kind of scoundrel is rotten to the core; how can guidance save him? Keeping him alive is the greatest danger to the sect!"

Tang Xiao argued, trying to find various reasons to exonerate Tang San, saying,

"Little San... he does have twin martial souls, and his talent is extraordinary! As long as we solve the problem of his Clear Sky Hammer's soul ring and he focuses on cultivation, he might be able to..."

"Future?" The Seventh Elder rudely interrupted him, angrily saying, "A Soul Emperor who can't even beat a Soul Sect in the future? Tang Xiao! Wake up! Don't let that pitiful family affection blind you! If we don't punish him severely today, how can we convince the masses? How can we explain this to the entire sect?!"

"I have my own plan! This matter needs to be discussed further!"

"Discuss further? Wait until this scoundrel becomes like his father and drags the sect into an abyss of no return? We must settle this today!"

The two argued back and forth, their voices rising higher and higher, their emotions growing increasingly agitated.

In the very council hall, which had just witnessed a great battle, they were arguing fiercely like commoners in front of all the sect's disciples, neither able to convince the other.

Seeing the sect leader Tang Xiao and the Seventh Elder's argument escalating, the atmosphere tense and on the verge of a complete falling out, the Second Elder, who had been silently observing, finally spoke again:

"Sect Leader, while the Seventh Elder's words are harsh, they are not entirely without reason. This young man is ruthless and reckless, acting without regard for consequences, and has even defiled the Clear Sky Hammer Martial Soul to such an appalling degree—a disgrace unprecedented to the sect! If he is not severely punished, how can we uphold the sect's rules? How can we comfort our ancestors?"

The Second Elder's statement was like pouring hot oil on a raging fire.

He was highly respected, and his opinion carried considerable weight within the entire Clear Sky Sect.

Tang Xiao's expression immediately darkened. He took a deep breath and said in a low voice, "Second Elder, Seventh Elder! Let's put today's matter aside for a few days! Don't forget, Sect Master Ning of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School and Bone Douluo are still alive. Our most urgent task is to discuss the important matter of forming an alliance to fight against the Spirit Hall! Tang San's matter is an internal affair of the sect and will be discussed later!"

He tried to use the overall situation to pressure them and buy Tang San some time.

However, as soon as he said this, not only the Seventh Elder and the Second Elder, but even the Third Elder, Fourth Elder, and Fifth Elder, who had previously remained neutral or observing, all changed their expressions!

The Third Elder stepped forward, his tone filled with strong dissatisfaction, and said, "Sect Master! What do you mean by this? Do you really intend to act unilaterally and favor this wretched child to the end?!"

"Sect Master! The sect rules are paramount! How can we disregard the sect rules because of an outsider?"

The Fourth Elder also echoed in a low voice.

The five elders stood up simultaneously, forming an invisible encirclement around Tang Xiao, who sat at the head of the table. Though their five powerful auras, belonging to Title Douluos, hadn't fully erupted, they surged and churned within the hall like undercurrents, subtly merging and pressing down on Tang Xiao!

The implication of a coercive stance was undisguised!

They would not rest until Tang San was dealt with today!

Tang Xiao felt the overwhelming pressure, his face turning ashen, his fists clenched, veins throbbing on his forehead. As the sect leader, though powerful, he felt incredibly overwhelmed and isolated facing the combined pressure of the five elders.

Just as the atmosphere reached its peak, almost spiraling out of control, a clear, anxious female voice rang out—it was Tang Yuehua!

"Uncles and elders! Please calm down!"

She quickly stepped between the two sides, bowed deeply to the elders.

"Yuehua knows you uncles are angry, and it's for the sake of the sect's reputation. But please understand, my elder brother... he has his reasons, after all, we are blood relatives."

She then shifted her tone, proposing a compromise.

"I have a suggestion, but I'm not sure if I should say it."

She turned her gaze to the unconscious Tang San on the ground and slowly said, "Our Haotian Sect's Exploding Ring Technique has been unmastered since my grandfather's disappearance. Currently, only my second brother knows this technique. Now, he has passed it on to my youngest brother."

"In my opinion, it would be better to wait until Tang San wakes up and order him to hand over the cultivation instructions and insights of the Exploding Ring Technique, returning it to the sect! This could atone for his sins and perhaps offset some of his mistakes. What do you uncles think?"

Upon hearing this, the elders exchanged glances, their eyes flashing with thoughtful consideration.

The importance of the Exploding Ring Technique to the sect was self-evident.

If they could reclaim it through this opportunity, it would undoubtedly be a tremendous achievement for the sect.

But the Seventh Elder still snorted coldly, saying, "Hmph! The Exploding Ring is a sect item, it's only right that he hand it over! How can that be considered offsetting his mistake?"

Tang Yuehua seemed to have anticipated his words, and calmly explained,

"Seventh Uncle is absolutely right. The Exploding Ring is indeed a sect item. But... if we really punish Tang San severely today, even... cripple his martial soul, please think about it, with Second Brother's stubborn nature, would he still return the complete Exploding Ring technique to the sect? At that time, this supreme secret technique passed down by our grandfather will probably be completely severed along with him and his father!"

Her last words struck the hearts of every elder like a hammer blow!

Yes!

If Tang San were forced to his death, or completely crippled, Tang Hao, far away, would inevitably sever all ties with the sect, perhaps even becoming its mortal enemy! How could he possibly hand over the Exploding Ring Technique so easily?

Losing Tang San could mean losing the chance to reclaim the Exploding Ring Technique forever!

The thought of this possibility left even the most radical Seventh Elder speechless, his expression shifting unpredictably.

An eerie silence fell over the hall.

No one had expected that the tense atmosphere of the impending coup would be temporarily deflated by Tang Yuehua's reasonable and incisive words.

Now, everyone's gaze was focused on the unconscious Tang San.

Seeing the elders fall silent because of Tang Yuehua's words, their anger subsiding slightly as they weighed the pros and cons, Tang Xiao knew this was the crucial moment to break the deadlock.

The next second, he immediately suppressed his agitation from the argument with the Seventh Elder, regaining the composure befitting a sect leader. He pressed his advantage, saying,

"What Yuehua said is indeed what I've been thinking, and it's for the long-term benefit of the sect."

"The Exploding Ring is the very foundation of our Haotian Sect, a supreme and profound technique; it must not be lost."

"Tang San has made a mistake and should be severely punished, but if punishing him leads to the extinction of this secret technique, we will all become sinners of the sect, unable to face our ancestors."

He paused slightly, giving everyone time to consider.

"Perhaps we should follow Yuehua's suggestion. Once Tang San awakens, I will order him to hand over the Ring-Destroying Secret Technique to atone for his sins. As for his impure martial soul and improper character, we can expel him from the sect after he recovers, banishing him from ever using the Clear Sky Hammer again. There's no need to take back his martial soul."

"After all, if stripping a genius of their martial soul results in a significant loss of strength and a broken talent, is that what you elders would want to see? Regardless, he carries the blood of our Clear Sky Sect, a fact that none of you elders can deny."

Tang Xiao's words were reasonable and well-founded.

He affirmed the necessity of punishment while emphasizing the urgency of preserving the secret technique, offering a seemingly compromise solution while also adopting a much more conciliatory stance.

Hearing this, the elders exchanged glances again.

The Second Elder pondered for a moment, then slowly nodded, saying,

"What the Sect Master and Yuehua said is not without reason. The inheritance of secret techniques concerns the foundation of the sect and must be handled with utmost care. Let's proceed as agreed. We'll first withdraw the Ring-Destroying Instruction, and then deal with the matter accordingly."

Even the most stubborn Seventh Elder, after letting out a heavy snort, did not object, which was tantamount to acquiescence. Although he hated Tang Hao and his son to the extreme, he also knew the significance of Ring-Destroying for the sect and ultimately dared not bear the eternal sin of causing its loss.

Seeing that the elders had finally reached a consensus, Tang Xiao secretly breathed a sigh of relief. This most troublesome hurdle had finally been temporarily overcome. He immediately turned his gaze to Ning Fengzhi and Bone Douluo, who had been waiting on the sidelines for a long time, and bowed apologetically, saying,

"Sect Master Ning, Bone Douluo, I am truly sorry. These are trivial matters within the sect, which have caused you both to laugh and have delayed our important business."

Ning Fengzhi had been calmly observing the turmoil within the Clear Sky Sect with a smile. Now that Tang Xiao apologized, he returned the bow gracefully, his voice gentle and refined:

"Sect Master Tang, you are too kind. Every family has its own troubles, and Fengzhi understands. Now that your sect's internal affairs have been temporarily resolved, we can continue to discuss our grand plan to unite against the Spirit Hall."

He adopted a humble posture, giving the Clear Sky Sect ample face, while also cleverly steering the conversation back to the most important topic of the day.

"Exactly." Tang Xiao nodded, gesturing, and said,

"Sect Master Ning, Bone Douluo, please take your seats. Let's discuss this in detail."

Soon, everyone's attention shifted from the unconscious Tang San on the ground, refocusing on the alliance that concerned the future of the two major powers and even the entire continent.

The elders of the Clear Sky Sect also returned to their places. Although they might still harbor resentment about Tang San, they temporarily suppressed their personal emotions in the face of the sect's survival and began to discuss the specific details with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School.

The atmosphere in the hall finally shifted from the previous tense atmosphere to a serious and pragmatic negotiation, while the unconscious Tang San was silently carried away by two disciples.

Watching Tang San being carried away by the two sect disciples, the Seventh Elder outwardly reverted to the meeting with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, just like the other elders. However, a cold and ruthless glint flashed deep in his lowered eyes.

"Hmph, you little beast, I'll let you live a few more days! Once you obediently hand over the Ring-Exploding Secret Technique and are no longer of any use, dealing with you will be as easy as crushing an ant for me!"

"At that time, I'll make you pay for all your old and new grudges with interest!"

...

Half a day later, in a secluded stone chamber in the back mountain of the Clear Sky Sect.

Tang San slowly awoke, the excruciating pain throughout his body almost causing him to faint again. He discovered that his soul power was sealed and he was in an unfamiliar environment, his heart sinking.

Soon, a sect disciple came and coldly informed him of the sect's decision.

Handing over the Ring-Exploding Secret Technique would temporarily save his life, with further punishment to be determined later.

If he refused, his martial soul would be immediately destroyed, and he would be thrown into the death row.

Forced by circumstances, Tang San, despite his immense resentment and unwillingness, had no choice but to grit his teeth and agree in order to survive. He requested paper and pen to memorize the incantation and asked to see either Sect Master Tang Xiao or his aunt Tang Yuehua to ensure the sect would keep its promise after he handed over the secret technique.

However, neither Tang Xiao nor Tang Yuehua appeared.

A few minutes later, the stone chamber door was pushed open, and a figure walked in. His appearance, clothing, and even his aura were unmistakably those of the Seventh Elder!

However, this person was not the real Seventh Elder, but Tang Chuan!

The fake Seventh Elder's face remained gloomy, but a hint of complexity and impatience deliberately flickered in his eyes. He snorted coldly, tossed the paper and pen onto the stone table in front of Tang San, and said in a hoarse voice,

"Boy, the Sect Master and Yuehua are discussing important matters with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School and are unable to attend to you. Although I dislike you, the sect's reputation is paramount."

"Quickly write down the secret technique. I guarantee in the name of an elder of the Clear Sky Sect that as long as you hand over the complete and accurate incantation for exploding the rings, the sect will spare your life as promised. Don't try anything funny!"

(End of Chapter)