"What does the letter say?" Seeing Liu Erlong remain silent for a long time after reading the letter, Tang Hao, who sat slumped in his chair with an exhausted demeanor, couldn't help but ask curiously.
"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda is questioning our intrusion into their elder's medicine refining. They also claim that the herb garden in Sunset Forest belongs to Dugu Bo and have warned us not to enter."
Liu Erlong met Tang Hao's gaze and sighed.
"Hmph, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda..." Tang Hao took the letter from Liu Erlong and unfolded it to read.
Moments later, an immense pressure surged, filling the room with an oppressive aura.
"Bang!"
His palm slammed onto the armrest of the chair, causing the entire seat to tremble slightly. Tang Hao's expression darkened. "You've got some nerve, Ning Fengzhi. You actually want Xiao San to apologize?"
The contents of the letter were simple. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda demanded that those who entered the herb garden be "critically educated" and requested that they come to the sect to apologize to Dugu Bo.
What was the meaning of this?
Did they want his son, Tang Hao's son, to bow his head to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda?
How daring of them!
Hmph! The inherently wicked Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda!
It seemed they had somehow learned that Tang Hao was injured and were now revealing their ugly true colors.
"Father..." Tang Hao tightly crumpled the letter in his hand, his right fist trembling. Seeing this, Tang San couldn't help but feel concerned.
"Xiao San, I'm fine." Tang Hao eventually sighed. "You must remember without strength, no principle holds any weight."
If his grandfather Tang Chen were still here, how would the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda dare speak to a member of the Clear Sky Sect to his son in such a manner?
No, if the Clear Sky Sect had never gone into seclusion, what would the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda even amount to?
"Yes, I understand, Father." Though Tang San didn't know what Tang Hao had read, he felt it was best to nod solemnly at this moment. He pointed at the letter. "May I take a look?"
Tang Hao didn't object. Tang San took the letter and carefully read through it.
After a while, Tang San took a deep breath, his chest rising and falling in barely suppressed agitation. He spoke to the group:
"The Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well may have been discovered by Dugu Bo, but it is a gift from nature not something that belongs entirely to him."
"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda and Dugu Bo merely had the advantage of finding it first." Tang San knew much about the Three Great Treasure Basins.
The fact that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda placed such importance on the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well even issuing a warning in the letter proved one thing: they understood the value of the herbs within.
But then again, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda possessed exceptional treasure appraisal abilities. Perhaps they had discerned its significance through that.
Tang San handed the letter to Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang, and it was passed around among the others.
Once everyone had finished reading, the letter returned to Tang San's hands.
Tang Hao remained silent, and Tang San was about to speak when another voice cut in.
"Lord Tang Hao, should we make the matter of Dugu Bo's herb garden public? That way, we can at least vent some of our frustration."
Yu Xiaogang gritted his teeth. Insulting him was one thing, but forcing his disciple and the revered Clear Sky Douluo to lower their heads? Absolutely unacceptable.
"Do you dare?" Tang Hao glanced at Yu Xiaogang.
He saw through the Grandmaster's plan to muddy the waters and drag the Spirit Hall into the conflict. But stirring chaos would only benefit the Spirit Hall the most. What good would it do them?
Moreover, it would only deepen their enmity with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.
If the Spirit Hall's Title Douluo came knocking, who would stand in their way?
"Tap, tap, tap."
Footsteps approached from a distance.
A young man in Shrek Academy's uniform entered the hall, first bowing to Liu Erlong and the others before handing a letter directly to Tang Hao in full view of everyone.
When Tang Hao saw the emblem engraved on the letter, his pupils contracted slightly.
With trembling hands, he tore open the envelope and read its contents.
Moments later
Tang Hao's body shook uncontrollably, and his dull eyes seemed to regain their light.
"Hahahaha! Hahahahahahaha!"
The sudden burst of laughter startled everyone present.
Tang Hao's injuries flared up from the exertion, causing him to cough up several mouthfuls of blood.
Carefully, he tucked the letter away into his pocket.
"Xiao San, now we have nothing to fear when going to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda."
After Tang Hao's words, the group exchanged bewildered glances.
"The Clear Sky Sect is about to emerge. Even the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda wouldn't dare try anything underhanded against us."
The Clear Sky Sect emerging?
The world's number one sect, the Clear Sky Sect, was finally baring its fangs?
"Um..." Flender hesitated for a long moment before deciding to press further. "Lord Clear Sky, could you explain in detail what exactly is happening?"
Tang Hao's mood had shifted like the weather in June one moment bitter and resentful, the next as cheerful as a husky.
"Hmph, don't worry. With me with the Clear Sky Sect backing us even the Spirit Hall will have to crawl before us!" Tang Hao declared confidently.
The world's number one sect, the Clear Sky Sect, had finally returned.
Though the letter mentioned certain shortcomings and possible delays before the sect could fully re-emerge, one thing was certain the Clear Sky Sect now had its pillar of support!
What did the Spirit Hall amount to? What was Qian Daoliu? Nothing more than a defeated foe of the Clear Sky Sect!
"In one day, we will head to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda."
The next day.
Heaven Dou City, Crown Prince's Residence.
"Tang Hao and Tang San's group are going to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda?"
Qian Renxue, disguised as Xue Qinghe, looked up from the memorials she was reviewing and turned her gaze toward the two Title Douluo standing beside her.
"Yes." Ci Xue nodded. "Those so-called 'monster' students accidentally let it slip, and our informant within Shrek Academy overheard them."
"The time is said to be today. Young Master, do you have any plans?"
When Qian Renxue posed as Xue Qinghe, She Long and Ci Xue typically addressed her as Young Master, whereas they called her Young Lady when she resumed her true appearance.
This was to avoid arousing suspicion among the imperial family.
After hearing Ci Xue's report, Qian Renxue set down the brush in her hand.
"Those troublemakers really love stirring up chaos." She chuckled. "My worthless younger brother seems eager to establish ties with Shrek Academy as well."
"Should we let him go?" Qian Renxue mused. "Since they've already mingled with the Star Luo Empire's prince and the Zhu Family, if Xue Beng gets involved, it'll give me an excuse to act."
"But..." She Long hesitated. "If they drag Shrek Academy into it, things could get troublesome for us."
"It's just the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect. Once the throne is secured, we'll deal with them." A cold glint flashed in Qian Renxue's eyes.
"Hmph, Yu Xiaogang!"
Her fist clenched slightly. "If not for that woman, I'd have killed you long ago."
At the mention of the Pope Bibi Dong, She Long and Ci Xue exchanged glances and sighed.
"Enough of this." Qian Renxue shook her head. "Xue Beng and Prince Xue Xing can wait. Emperor Xue Ye's time is almost up anyway there's no need to rush."
For now, consolidating political and military control over the Heaven Dou Empire took priority. Though the empire's decrees barely extended beyond the capital, did that even matter?
What mattered was legitimacy!
Qian Renxue pushed back her chair and stood up slowly.
"Let's go."
"We'll head to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda as well to see what game Tang Hao is playing."