Chapter 153: The Choice of the Clear Sky Sect
The next morning, at the Clear Sky Sect.
The figure of Tang Xiao appeared at the back mountain of the Sect.
The journey from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School to the Clear Sky Sect was long, and he had traveled through the night, only arriving back at the Sect at this moment.
Upon returning, he did not even have time to catch his breath before heading straight to the back mountain to find his grandfather, Tang Chen, to report on the matter regarding the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School.
Tang Xiao did not go to find Sect Master Tang Wei.
Because ever since the news of Tang Hao's death had reached the Clear Sky Sect, Sect Master Tang Wei had seemed like a man whose very spirit had been drained away.
Overwhelmed by grief and indignation, his health had deteriorated day by day, and now he could not withstand any further shocks.
If Tang Xiao were to rush over and tell him about Tang Hao, and it caused him to have some sort of mishap, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Furthermore, the words spoken by Ning Fengzhi were, in the end, only speculations, and he could not produce any concrete evidence.
As for the matter of forming an alliance with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, there was even less need to consult Sect Master Tang Wei or the other Elders.
Because in the Clear Sky Sect, Tang Chen was the will of the Sect.
His decision was the decision of the entire Sect.
On this point, there had never been an exception.
Even though Tang Chen had now been in seclusion for many years, living deep in the back mountain and detached from worldly affairs.
Soon, Tang Xiao followed the familiar bluestone path until he reached a tightly closed wooden door, where he stopped his steps.
He called out in a clear voice: "Grandfather, your grandson requests an audience."
As soon as his voice fell, there was a faint creaking sound, and the wooden door opened on its own without any wind.
Tang Xiao took a deep breath and stepped inside.
He had only taken a few steps when his vision suddenly blurred, and he saw a burly figure appear silently in the courtyard.
This person was none other than Tang Chen.
He stood with his hands behind his back, his expression calm: "Xiao'er, why have you come today?"
Tang Xiao first bowed, then straightened up and recounted everything that had happened at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, point by point.
Tang Chen just listened quietly, without saying a word.
But as Tang Xiao narrated, his brows furrowed deeper and deeper, and his gaze, which had been as calm as water, gradually became sharp.
It had to be said that Ning Fengzhi's words were not entirely without merit.
As his grandfather, he knew Tang Hao's strength better than anyone.
The Clear Sky Hammer in Tang Hao's hands was like an extension of his own arm, wielded with ease.
Even in the Slaughter City where Spirit Abilities were restricted, relying on that masterful Clear Sky Secret Arts, it was by no means easy for those fallen ones to take his life.
In fact, back in the Slaughter City, he had harbored great doubts in his heart.
It was just that a place like the Slaughter City was not only chaotic but also isolated from the outside world, with blocked information, so he couldn't find any clues at all, and in the end, he could only reluctantly believe the words of the Slaughter King.
But now, Ning Fengzhi's words had unearthed all the doubts he had buried in his heart.
If Su Mo happened to be in the Slaughter City at that time, possessing a hundred-thousand-year Soul Bone, even if he could not use Spirit Abilities, it would likely have been easy for him to act against Tang Hao.
Thinking of this, a surge of anger, mixed with the pain of losing his grandson and the feeling of being deceived, rose suddenly from the bottom of Tang Chen's heart.
Seeing that Tang Chen's face was as gloomy as water and he remained silent for a long time, Tang Xiao finally could not help but tentatively ask: "Grandfather, what... what do you think of this matter?"
Tang Chen snorted coldly: "That brat Ning Fengzhi certainly has a good scheme!"
He was not unable to see through Ning Fengzhi's intentions.
The speculation regarding Tang Hao's death was merely a pretext he had found to incite the Clear Sky Sect to form an alliance; he could not produce any solid evidence at all.
Yet, Ning Fengzhi's words had struck the most painful thorn in his heart.
Tang Xiao asked cautiously: "Grandfather, then what do you mean..."
Tang Chen did not answer directly, but instead asked in return: "Xiao'er, what do you think, given the current strength of the Clear Sky Sect, if we were to go to war with Spirit Hall, what are our chances of winning?"
Tang Xiao was stunned and thought carefully for a moment: "Qian Daoliu's strength is on par with yours, Grandfather. Spirit Hall also has Golden Crocodile Douluo and a host of other Title Douluo, plus that unfathomable Su Mo. If we go to war, I'm afraid our chances... are less than thirty percent."
"Thirty percent?" Tang Chen sneered, "You certainly think highly of us."
He stood up, turning his back to Tang Xiao, his voice lowering a few degrees: "You don't know, but a few years ago, I truly experienced Qian Daoliu's strength."
"That unfathomable power, which transcends Soul Power, still makes me feel lingering fear when I think about it even now."
"And in that battle, I lost..."
"What!" Tang Xiao exclaimed, his eyes widening in disbelief.
His grandfather was the strongest person on the continent; how could he have lost to Qian Daoliu?
"The fact is just that; Qian Daoliu had not used his full strength before, which is why I was able to defeat him."
He sighed: "And the current Clear Sky Sect, apart from me, what top-tier combat power can it bring out?"
"Your father has become decadent because of the matter with Hao'er, and the highest cultivation among the few Elders is only at the Soul Douluo level."
"Although you have already taken over the position of Sect Master, you are only at level eighty-five. As for the other Disciples, there is even less to be said."
"If we truly go to war, relying only on ourselves, our chances of winning are less than ten percent."
"By then, let alone taking revenge, I'm afraid we won't even be able to preserve the Sect's Legacy."
Tang Xiao lowered his head, remaining silent, his hands tightly clenched into fists.
A moment later, he suddenly raised his head and said anxiously: "Grandfather, does that mean... we are not going to take revenge?"
Tang Chen's eyes suddenly flashed with a fierce look: "Tang Hao is my grandson! If he truly died at the hands of Su Mo, if I do not avenge this, how could I, Tang Chen, have the face to call myself Clear Sky Douluo?"
Following that, he changed the subject: "But our strength alone is indeed not enough. How about this: you may agree to the alliance with Ning Fengzhi."
"However, my Clear Sky Sect is the number one Sect in the world; how can we be subordinate to others?"
"Go tell Ning Fengzhi that an alliance is possible, but the position of Alliance Master must be held by someone from the Clear Sky Sect."
"If he agrees, then the matter is settled; if he does not agree, then there is nothing to talk about."
"Yes, your grandson understands." Tang Xiao nodded in response.
Tang Chen nodded slightly and added: "I need to go out for a trip; handle the matter of the alliance as you see fit."
Tang Xiao's heart tightened, and an ominous premonition surged into his mind: "Grandfather, are you going to Spirit City..."
"You do not need to concern yourself with this matter." Tang Chen waved his hand, his tone brooking no argument, "I have my own sense of proportion."
"But Grandfather..."
Tang Xiao wanted to say something more, but was suppressed by a single look from Tang Chen.
"Your current task is to manage the Sect well; the rest is not for you to worry about."
As his voice fell, without waiting for Tang Xiao to say anything more, his figure dissipated silently in the cold courtyard like a ghost.
Tang Xiao stood where he was, looking at the empty courtyard, and did not move for a long time.
He did not know whether his grandfather was going to investigate the cause of Tang Hao's death or to settle the score with Spirit Hall directly.
After a long while, Tang Xiao took a deep breath, suppressed the distracting thoughts in his heart, and turned to walk out of the courtyard.
He still needed to convene a meeting regarding today's events, inform the Sect Elders, and then reply to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School as soon as possible.