Meanwhile, Tianlin arrived at the main hall to meet the so-called unexpected guests.
There were four people:
An imposing old man—instantly recognized as a Title Douluo.
A beautiful woman—Tang Yuehua.
Two others—Meng Shenji and Bai Baoshan, deans from the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy (leaving only Zhi Lin to watch over the school).
"Xiao Tian, you're here," said Yin Yang, introducing the old man. "This is the Clear Sky Sect's Grand Elder, Ling Tian Douluo Tang Ling, a level-94 Title Douluo. They've come specifically to see you."
Tianlin had already guessed their purpose. Tang Yuehua was smart enough not to bring large numbers of sect disciples, otherwise Ning Fengzhi would see it as a provocation. Bringing only one elder was enough to converse with Ning Fengzhi and Tianlin, and no one would think they were there to cause trouble. As for the two deans, they had probably asked the Heaven Dou Empire for help in pleading their case. Tang Yuehua's skill with relationships was clear from her actions at the wedding; in Tianlin's eyes, her words carried ten times more weight than even the emperor's edict.
"So it's the deans. Sorry to keep you waiting—I've been away on business recently," Tianlin greeted.
Meng Shenji and the others quickly stood to salute. "Not at all, Your Excellency."
"Deans, please don't bow to me." Tianlin hurriedly stopped them. "You are my elders. There's no need for such ceremony. And there's no need to call me 'Your Excellency' or any title. I also owe you an apology—at the wedding, I had no choice but to knock you out. Please pass my apologies to Dean Zhi Lin as well."
Bai Baoshan sighed, "Ah, you're a good kid, but why must you sometimes act so overbearing?"
Tianlin's strength now dwarfed Bai Baoshan's, but his attitude remained respectful, which gratified the old man. For a spirit master, virtue mattered even more than strength.
The problem was, Tianlin's virtue was double-standard—he respected those he recognized, no matter his own level. But for those he didn't, like Xue Beng, it ranged from insults to beatings, or even just drawing his sword.
"Hmph, good kid? He doesn't even greet people." Ling Tian Douluo said coldly. Having lost his seventh brother, Lieyang Douluo, to Tianlin, it was all he could do not to attack.
"Sorry, I don't even know you. Why should I greet you?" Tianlin replied dismissively. His feud with the Clear Sky Sect was beyond reconciliation—no need for pleasantries.
"Grand Elder, Your Excellency, please calm down. We're not here to argue." Tang Yuehua intervened, perfectly displaying her etiquette. She understood Tianlin's earlier remark about titles was aimed at the deans, not her. As a mere rank-nine spirit master with no close relationship to Tianlin, she properly maintained etiquette with the Title Douluo.
Tianlin sat at his deputy sect master seat. "Mistress Tang, let's get to the point. You're here about Tang Hao and Tang San, right?"
"Exactly. If you know my brother and nephew's whereabouts, please tell me. I'll do my best to mediate the grudge between our sects. After all, endless revenge leads nowhere. Spirit Hall is our true common enemy. By now, all the small sects and more than a dozen kingdoms and duchies have been consolidated by them. If I'm not wrong, they'll soon try to declare their own state." Tang Yuehua showed her broad perspective, willing to set aside revenge for Tang Hao and Tang San's sake.
"Mistress Tang, if not for the differences in strength and gender, I'd say you're even more suited than Tang Xiao to be sect leader—you have vision. But today, that vision is useless, because Tang Hao and Tang San are both dead—and I watched them die."
"What?" Ling Tian Douluo and Tang Yuehua were shocked. After a long silence, Tang Yuehua asked in a pleading tone, "Your Excellency, you must be joking with me? I know we've offended you before, but this has nothing to do with my brother and nephew. Please don't hold it against them."
She desperately wanted Tianlin to deny it, but unfortunately, he was telling the truth.
"Don't believe me? When Tang San died, a hundred-thousand-year Blue Silver Emperor right leg bone fell from his corpse. Tang Hao had six soul bones—apart from your sect's two inherited bones, I can tell you exactly what the others were, if you like."
Hearing this, the two could no longer doubt him. No one could know such details unless they'd witnessed it themselves. Tang Yuehua collapsed in despair, unable to bear the blow.
"You—you killed them, didn't you? Die!" Ling Tian Douluo could no longer hold back. With so many of their strongest killed by Tianlin, his rage took over.
"Ling Tian Strike!"
Blinded by anger, Ling Tian Douluo swung his hammer at Tianlin, ignoring the vast difference in strength.
Tianlin remained unmoved, but Yin Yang was furious. "Tang Ling, how dare you!"
As Yin Yang prepared to act, a blood-red spear shot through the hall, smashing against the Clear Sky Hammer and knocking it aside. The force made Ling Tian Douluo's arm tremble, shocking him—this newcomer was even stronger than he was, and wielded a spear, not a sword.
"No one harms my master!" A cold man in dark red armor leapt into the hall, kneeling before Tianlin. "My king, Demon Spear is late. Allow me to handle this."
"Go ahead," Tianlin nodded.