"Tang Hao, why don't you sever this ill-fated relationship while their feelings are still shallow?"
After Sword Douluo finished speaking, he stared directly into Tang Hao's eyes: "You also know the allure of a hundred-thousand-year Spirit Ring for a Soul Master, so why make such an unwise choice?"
Having been single for decades, he had never experienced love, so he was slightly puzzled.
"Ill-fated? Haha, you call it ill-fated?" Tang Hao suddenly burst into laughter, but his expression quickly turned from amusement to anger. The Clear Sky Hammer appeared in his hand, and the God of Slaughter Domain rapidly expanded. His ninety-fifth level Soul Power surged violently.
"Since when does my family need to act according to others' opinions? What does the Spirit Hall matter? What does the world matter? What does falling in love with a Soul Beast matter?
"As long as I exist for even a day, I will never let what happened between me and A Yin befall my son." After saying this, Tang Hao's gaze fell on Ning Rongrong.
The main reason he had lured Chen Xin here was to make him keep Tang San's identity and Xiao Wu's secret.
Although the Clear Sky Sect and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School shared a common enemy in the Spirit Hall, ultimately, they prioritized their own interests. Mere words might not dispel Chen Xin's curiosity about Xiao Wu.
Moreover, the fact that Xiao San was his son might be exposed. He now needed to use some warnings to restrain the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School and Chen Xin.
Tang Hao's gaze passed through the crowd, focusing on the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda in Ning Rongrong's hand.
The glazed pagoda in the young girl's hand was extraordinary, having broken through the level restrictions of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School to become the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.
She was either a rare genius or the daughter of the current sect master, Ning Fengzhi.
Judging by Chen Xin's earlier advice, it seemed his interest in Xiao Wu had not waned. He would use this girl to warn him.
"Tang Hao, what do you mean?" Sensing Tang Hao's gaze, Sword Douluo's eyes turned cold, and his aura spread around him. The Seven Kill Sword at his feet trembled slightly.
He hadn't expected Tang Hao's temperament to change so suddenly in just a few words, and now he was even using Rongrong to threaten him.
As his aura solidified, Sword Douluo's Seven Kill Domain slowly expanded, and his ninety-seventh level Soul Power surged forth.
"Brother Jian Chen, your purpose for coming here is to protect that girl below, isn't it?"
Tang Hao felt the surging Soul Power fluctuations from Sword Douluo and his gaze froze. He hadn't expected Chen Xin to have already broken through the barrier to the ninety-seventh level.
If they were to truly fight, given his current physical condition and the need to protect Tang San and Xiao Wu...
Thinking this, Tang Hao's gaze intentionally or unintentionally fell on Zhu Zhuqing, who was standing beside Ning Rongrong.
He noticed that this girl's talent was also remarkable, and her Martial Soul was something even he had never seen before. Moreover, she exuded a unique aura, likely making her another key figure in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School.
He would add another bargaining chip.
"I never thought the once mighty Clear Sky Douluo would stoop to using two children to threaten others." Sword Douluo's face was as cold as frost, and anger rose in his heart: "Such low tactics!"
Although the Clear Sky Douluo was powerful and possessed the Clear Sky Sect's secret technique of Ring Detonation, which could temporarily boost his combat power and allow him to fight above his level,
a strong expert like Sword Douluo would never yield to mere threats or an opponent's strength. Moreover, his cultivation had already reached the ninety-seventh level.
"Tang Hao, has the Spirit Hall shattered your composure and courage?" Sword Douluo sneered, his hair fluttering without wind, and nine Spirit Rings—two yellow, two purple, and five black—appeared beneath his feet.
Tang Hao remained silent for a moment, and nine Spirit Rings also appeared beneath his feet. However, unlike Sword Douluo, his final ring was a blood-red 100,000 Year Soul Ring.
There was a time when he had indeed considered living out his days as a drunken wreck. This thought stemmed partly from the overwhelming power of the Spirit Hall and partly from his own mental exhaustion.
Qian Xunji was dead, though not by Tang Hao's hand. Yet, the Spirit Hall had pinned the blame on him, and in a way, he had indirectly avenged A Yin.
But when Tang San raised his Martial Soul high before his eyes, Tang Hao understood.
He decided to live a few more years, to protect Tang San, nurture him into greatness, watch him restore the glory of their sect, and help him and A Yin seek revenge against the Spirit Hall.
"Brother Jian Chen, I may indeed be powerless against the Spirit Hall, but can the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School withstand my relentless retaliation?" Tang Hao pondered for a moment before adding more to his demands.
He needed a promise from Sword Douluo: "All I ask is that your Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School never reveal a word about Tang San and Xiao Wu, and that you never take action against them in the future."
Sword Douluo felt a mix of emotions. He hadn't expected the once-mighty Clear Sky Douluo to abandon all dignity before him.
But if he continued to act now, it could lead to an outcome neither side wished to see.
Yet, if he didn't act... Tang Hao's demand that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School neither reveal information about Tang San and Xiao Wu nor take action against them was clearly unreasonable. It wasn't that he was unwilling to part with a 100,000 Year Soul Beast, but the sect's current strategy was to align with the Spirit Hall.
Moreover, he had already revealed his Martial Soul, Spirit Rings, domain, Soul Power, and killing intent. To withdraw now would make it seem as though he were truly afraid of Tang Hao.
If Tang Hao sensed his hesitation and realized that the two children below were his weakness...
Sword Douluo's mind raced, and then his body stiffened. His expression turned blank, and his neck twisted rigidly as he turned his gaze and aura toward Tang San and Xiao Wu.
In that moment, he understood!
"You—"
Tang Hao's expression changed, and his heart skipped a beat. He hadn't expected someone as dignified as Sword Douluo Chen Xin to resort to using children as leverage, just as he had.
Sword Douluo turned his stiff neck to look at Tang Hao: "If the mighty Clear Sky Douluo is willing to use such lowly tactics, what's wrong with me learning from him?"
The two top-tier powerhouses of the continent stood in silence, locked in a tense standoff.
"Your Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School's girl is about to be at a disadvantage, Brother Jian. Are you just going to stand there and watch?"
At that moment, Zhu Zhuqing was engaged in combat with Dai Mubai, whose shockwave was heading straight for Ning Rongrong.
Sword Douluo's eye twitched, and his fingers trembled slightly as he prepared to act. But then, the situation took a turn.
Seeing that Zhu Zhuqing not only saved Ning Rongrong but also injured Dai Mubai, Sword Douluo burst into laughter: "There's no need for the Clear Sky Douluo to worry on my behalf. I believe the disciples of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School are no weaker than anyone else."
Tang Hao's stiff face twitched slightly. Just as he was about to act, the situation below took another sudden turn—Tang San and the others were preparing to join forces.
"Brother Jian Chen, it seems the two girls from your Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School are about to be at a disadvantage," Tang Hao said, his usually expressionless face breaking into a rare smile.
He had won.
Sword Douluo's eyelids twitched, and he clenched his fist tightly within his sleeve, his mind racing to come up with a countermeasure.
Before he could devise a plan, he caught a glimpse of a familiar figure rapidly approaching Cao's Inn in the distance.
Though the figure had changed slightly, possessing a demeanor and appearance far beyond ordinary, Sword Douluo immediately recognized him as Li Xun.
Sword Douluo felt a sense of relief and let out a long breath, offering a smile to Tang Hao. "No rush, Clear Sky Douluo. If you're in a hurry, you can go down and take a look first."
Tang Hao was momentarily taken aback. Naturally, he couldn't go down before Chen Xin. He furrowed his brow and fell into deep thought.
But how could two young girls—one an agility-attack type and the other a support type—possibly stand a chance against Xiao San and his three companions? Could it be that the agility-attack girl, with the assistance of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, had some hidden trick up her sleeve to deal with the current predicament?
"If Brother Jian Chen isn't in a hurry, then I'm even less so. Let's wait and see," Tang Hao said.
Sword Douluo chuckled, a slight curve forming at the corner of his mouth as he gazed at the figure below.
At that moment, Li Xun was swiftly moving through the streets of Suotuo City.
He was already far behind the agreed-upon time. If he didn't pick up the pace, the inquiries and investigations at home would surely pile up one after another.
"Cao's Inn—the map shows it's just ahead," Li Xun muttered as he put away the map.
This agreed-upon location was something he had stumbled upon by chance while examining an intelligence map.
(End of Chapter)