"Brother Hao!"
The deep, earnest voice snapped Tang Hao out of his daze.
He lifted his head and there, not far away, stood a broad-shouldered, powerfully built man. His frame exuded strength and calm authority.
Who else could it be but his elder brother—Tang Xiao!
"Brother, I knew you hadn't gone far… Tell me, is Ah Yin truly gone?", Tang Xiao's voice trembled slightly.
"Big Brother!"
Tang Hao's throat tightened. His eyes reddened in an instant.
This stretch of mountain forest was not far from the Clear Sky Clan. It was the same place where the two brothers had shared countless memories of their youth.
Unconsciously, Tang Hao had wandered here drawn by that nostalgia and pain.
Tang Xiao strode forward and pulled his brother into a firm embrace.
"Big Brother… I lost Ah Yin. Her soul bone was meant for Little San—but now, it's gone too!", Tang Hao's voice cracked, full of guilt and anguish.
The moment he saw his brother, the dam of emotions broke. Years of pain and self-blame poured out like a flood.
Tears glistened in his crimson eyes.
Tang Xiao sighed softly.
It had been six years since the two brothers last met.
Back then, Tang Hao had returned to the sect full of excitement, bringing good news, his son, Tang San, had awakened twin spirits: the Blue Silver Grass and the Clear Sky Hammer.
That night, the brothers had sat right here in this very forest, eating meat, drinking wine, laughing, and crying until dawn.
At the time, they thought there was still hope.As long as Tang San grew strong, vengeance would one day come.But fate had played another cruel trick.
"Brother, tell me everything," Tang Xiao urged, his tone grave. "From the sect's exposure to Ah Yin's disappearance...it's all connected. This isn't coincidence."
Tang Hao's eyes dimmed.
"Little San became Master's disciple. After graduating from the beginner academy, Master sent him to Shrek Academy in Soto City to study under Flender, one of the Golden Iron Triangle.
It was Little San's first time leaving Notting City. I secretly followed to protect him. Once he settled in safely at Shrek, I returned to check on Ah Yin's resting place…But her soul bone was gone.
On the ground, someone left a line of words— 'Thirty years in Hedong, thirty years in Hexi. I'll be waiting for the seven Titled Douluos of the Clear Sky Clan.'
I lost all reason at that moment. That's why I destroyed the nine Spirit Hall branches. Later, I feared Spirit Hall's retaliation against the sect, so I rushed back here."
Tang Xiao's brows furrowed tightly.
"Taking the spirit bones and leaving suchwords there—their intentions to sow discord are too obvious!"
Tang Hao nodded grimly.
"After destroying the branches, I calmed down. But besides Spirit Hall, who else could have been searching for me all these years?"
Tang Xiao's face darkened further.
"No… this isn't right. Brother—Little San is in danger! You were too careless!"
His voice boomed like thunder.
Tang Hao's killing intent surged instantly, his eyes flashing blood-red.
"Go. We're heading to Soto City!"
Tang Xiao didn't hesitate. He grabbed Tang Hao's arm, and the two shot into the sky, flying toward Soto like twin comets.
"Think about it," Tang Xiao said grimly as the cold wind howled past them. "The thief struck right when you were escorting Little San to Soto. That means they knew your every move and even Little San's true identity as well. Whoever it was… they bear deep hatred toward you!"
The higher they flew, the colder it felt. But it was not just from the wind, but from the weight in their chests.
Tang Xiao fell silent. He dared not voice the thought forming in his mind. He feared it would break his brother completely.
He knew Tang Hao too well.
Beneath that iron exterior—domineering, proud, unyielding—was a heart far more fragile than most would ever imagine.
From birth, Tang Hao had been a prodigy—the pride of the Clear Sky Sect. Loved by all, he had never known failure or humiliation.
That very pride, that untouchable self-confidence, had led to the choices that changed his fate and also the sect's.
The tragedy of Ah Yin had shattered him once.
Now, if something happened to Tang San…
Tang Xiao feared his younger brother might collapse completely.
The two streaked across the night sky and soon hovered over Shrek Academy.
Through Tang Hao's powerful spiritual sense, they quickly found Tang San.
Tang Xiao finally exhaled. "He's alive."
But in the next breath, his expression turned solemn.
Tang San sat cross-legged in meditation but his complexion was pale, his aura weak, like one recovering from a grave illness.
"Brother, calm yourself. He's fine," Tang Xiao said quickly, grabbing his brother's arm before he exploded.
But Tang Hao's eyes already burned with fury.
"I told Flender and Zhao Wuji to take care of him. And this is how they protect him?! Unforgivable…"
He gritted his teeth so hard the air around him trembled.If Tang Xiao hadn't restrained him, he might've already slammed his Clear Sky Hammer down on the academy itself.
"Brother," Tang Xiao said sharply, "with your ties to Flender and the Master, they wouldn't neglect him. Something must have gone wrong unexpectedly."
He looked down again. Tang San's spirit power still circulated smoothly.
"He's weak, but not in danger. That's something."
The brothers exchanged a glance and descended silently, appearing in Flender's office.
Flender, who was hunched over his desk trying to balance the academy's collapsing finances, nearly jumped out of his chair at their sudden appearance.
Two towering figures, each exuding the pressure of a Titled Douluo, stood before him.
His face went pale.
"H-Haotian Your Excellency… Sect Master Xiao… please, let me explain!"
He instantly realized why they were here. The look on Tang Hao's face was enough to tell him that!
"It's like this…" Flender began nervously. "During a training session, Little San's mutation drew everyone's attention. None of us had ever seen anything like it—eight spider legs growing from his back!
Just then, a Dark Soul Master appeared and kidnapped him. That man had a burrowing spirit skill so we couldn't track him. Zhao Wuji and I searched for days and found nothing…"
Flender's tone was bitter, full of guilt.
Tang Hao's hands clenched into fists.
"And how was Little San saved?" he demanded, his voice trembling with rage.
"It was Xiao Wu," Flender replied. "She returned not long after and brought Tang San back. I… didn't ask her how."
Tang Hao froze, stunned.
"External spirit bone…External Spirit Bone... eight spider legs…It was an exeternal spirit bone!!!" Tang Xiao murmured, his face tightening. "Brother... Little San suffered a huge loss."
Flender hurried to add, "According to the Master's examination, Little San lost some of his life force but his Blue Silver Grass has incredible regenerative power. Give him a few months, and he'll be fully recovered."
He looked at Tang Hao with pleading eyes, terrified that the Clear Sky Douluo would unleash his wrath then and there.