That day, after everyone from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect left, Tang Zhen and the others hurriedly convened a meeting at their main hall.
After all, they still had not forgotten the second letter the Spirit Hall had sent them, which they received three days ago.
Due to the Ning Family's untimely visit, they had to postpone everything and sit quietly so as not to let the Ning Family catch wind of the news about Tang Hao and Ah Yin. But now that they had departed, they had to quickly think of a solution—or at least decide what stance they were going to take on the matter.
Clear Sky Sect main hall...
A heated argument had been going on for a few hours already.
Yet the Elders could not come up with a way to prove Tang Hao's innocence to Spirit Hall... nor avoid bearing the name of humanity's sinners who colluded with soul beasts.
Although some reckless Elders displayed arrogance and a fearless attitude, suggesting they directly confront Spirit Hall, under Tang Zhen's reminder—that Spirit Hall still had Qian Daoliu, a level 99 Limit Douluo, standing guard, while their own Limit Douluo, Tang Chen, had been missing for years—they, too, understood the gravity of the matter and joined the discussion more seriously.
Still, every deliberation ran into the same stumbling block... namely, Tang Hao's whereabouts remained unknown.
Only if they could locate him could they proceed with any course of action. Whether to have him slay the soul beast to prove his innocence, or devise another solution such as hiding Ah Yin and letting Spirit Hall believe she had returned to the Star Dou Forest.
For someone with talent comparable to Tang Chen, the Elders were even willing to let Tang Hao marry that soul beast and spend his life with her, if only it meant his return to the sect.
If he came back, they could still devise numerous ways to safeguard Ah Yin and allow them to live happily together.
But that damn Tang Hao had vanished without a trace and could not be found at all...
The Elders, including Tang Zhen, felt utterly disheartened.
Seeing the frustration on everyone's faces, Tang Xiao—who had remained silent the entire time—thought to himself with a laugh: "Even if they found my younger brother Tang Hao, I fear he still wouldn't be willing to return to the sect, hehe..."
Tang Xiao still remembered that in the novel, Tang Hao later went to meet Tang Yuehua. Since the Elders were so willing to accommodate Tang Hao and overlook his mistakes, Tang Yuehua, that incestuous girl, must have informed him about it... Yet still, he had not returned to the sect in the novel, right?
Although Tang Xiao did not know what made Tang Hao decide so back then... still, it was what happened in the novel. Thus, the likelihood of his return was slim.
Thinking this way, Tang Xiao stepped forward and addressed Tang Zhen, his current father:
"Father... if Brother Hao wishes to hide, I fear that unless we send people with his level of cultivation or higher, it will be impossible to find him.
Since every solution requires Brother Hao's presence, I am willing to search for him myself. With my understanding of him, the chance of locating him is high, and if I do, I could also persuade him to return to the sect with me."
Hearing Tang Xiao's words, everyone's eyes lit up with a spark of hope.
If Tang Xiao personally went to search for him, the likelihood of success was indeed greater compared to sending other disciples or members of the Speed Clan.
After all, although the Speed Clan excelled in reconnaissance and movement, they lacked high-level soul masters. And even if they did chance upon him, whether they could persuade Tang Hao remained uncertain.
The most troubling issue was that he never stayed in one place. By the time news of his location reached the sect, he would have already moved elsewhere.
Only Spirit Hall—who had multiple high-level soul masters spread across the continent—could possibly track Tang Hao's movements.
"Alright... Xiao'er, you may go. I hope you can find Tang Hao within a few months. If not, you must return within eight months, as your marriage is set for the start of next year..." In the end, Tang Zhen could not give up this glimmer of hope and decided to send Tang Xiao to search.
The Elders agreed as well... yet they still felt it unfair to Tang Xiao, as this would cost him eight months of precious cultivation time.
Traveling while cultivating was possible, but searching while cultivating was not. Because of Tang Xiao's sacrifice, everyone could not help but feel more goodwill toward him.
"Big Brother, you must take care of yourself and avoid danger... And if possible, try to cultivate whenever you can. Improving your cultivation is important." Tang Yuehua, who had stood silently beside Tang Xiao, could not help but speak with concern.
"Haha, don't worry Yue'er, I will heed your advice... But if I can bring Brother Hao back to the sect, what harm is there in losing a year of cultivation time?" Tang Xiao, with a righteous look, declared—appearing as though he truly intended to search for Tang Hao.
Hearing his words, Tang Yuehua and the others were moved. Such an elder brother... Tang Hao and Tang Yuehua must have accumulated immense karma in their past lives to have him as their elder brother in this one.
After further discussion, it was decided that Tang Xiao would depart that very night to search for Tang Hao.
Until his return, since they had no way to explain themselves to Spirit Hall, the Elders resolved to put the matter on hold... If Spirit Hall began hunting him within a month, they could only stand by helplessly.
That night, under the watchful eyes of Tang Zhen and the others, Tang Xiao departed the sect together with Tang Yuehua, who wished to return to her Moon Pavilion—in the name of searching for his younger brother.
But was Tang Xiao truly intent on searching for him? Not at all...
"Immortal herbs... I am coming for you." Sitting inside a comfortable carriage, Tang Xiao thought to himself, intense greed flickering in his eyes.
When he returned to the sect next time, his talent would undergo an earth-shaking transformation... perhaps even allowing him to stand foremost in the entire continent.