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Almost at the moment these four figures stepped into the courtyard, a sharp sound of breaking air came from above. Flender landed in the center of the courtyard like a falcon, his gaze behind his wide glasses sharp as a knife. His spirit power was hidden but already locked onto these uninvited guests. Who is there? How dare you intrude upon Shrek! Flender's voice was full of vigilance. Nowadays, the situation was treacherous, and any strange visitor could mean trouble.
The leader did not answer, only raising his hand to slowly lift the cloak covering his head. Next, a young face, weathered yet with deep and calm eyes, was revealed. There was fatigue from a long journey between his brows, but even more, a settled determination. Dean, it's me. Tang San's voice was a bit hoarse, yet exceptionally clear.
Little San?! Hearing this, Flender's pupils constricted, and his face was instantly filled with unbelievable pleasant surprise. His tense aura suddenly relaxed as he spoke in absolute disbelief. At the same time, the three people behind Tang San also quickly pulled back their hoods.
On the left was Tai Tan, with hair and beard standing on end and a body as majestic as a mountain. On the right was Bai He, with a lean face and sharp eyes. And between the two, they were supporting a heavily broken man.
That person's figure was exceptionally tall but hunched severely. A mess of gray-white hair hung down, his face was haggard, his eye sockets sunken, and traces of dark red blood that hadn't been wiped clean remained at the corner of his mouth. His breathing was so weak it was almost undetectable.
Only the vaguely recognizable silhouette and the trace of disdain remaining in his brows allowed one to identify him. This was actually the Clear Sky Douluo Tang Hao, who once dominated the continent and made the Spirit Hall uneasy.
Only at this moment, his breath had withered to the extreme, like a candle in the wind, relying entirely on Tai Tan and Bai He's infusion of spirit power to barely maintain a thread of life. He looked completely like someone whose oil had run dry and lamp had gone out, a dying man.
Clear Sky Excellency?! Flender gasped, the joy on his face replaced by immense shock. He immediately understood that things were far from as simple as Tang San's return. What on earth happened to him? The next second, Flender suddenly looked up, focusing his spirit power toward the depths of the academy, and shouted with a voice trembling with excitement. Xiaogang! Xiaogang! Come quickly! Come out and see who's back!
The loud voice echoed in the empty academy. In just a few breaths, the sound of hurried footsteps came from the direction of the teaching building. A thin and upright figure wearing a simple robe appeared under the corridor pillars at an almost sprinting speed. It was none other than Yu Xiaogang.
When he clearly saw the people in the center of the courtyard, especially the supported and barely alive Tang Hao, Yu Xiaogang's footsteps came to a sudden halt. His usually calm face was instantly filled with disbelief. Just who could turn the dignified Clear Sky Douluo into this state? Little San, what on earth is going on? How could His Excellency Clear Sky become like this?
Hearing this, Tang San's fists clenched tightly, his knuckles turning white. His eyes suppressed a towering rage and pain. His voice squeezed through his teeth as he said, It's Tang Chen. That bastard did this! He even laid such a cruel hand on his own biological father.
He used eerie methods to heavily damage father's foundation, wasting his spirit power, and severing his meridians. He's simply worse than a beast! At this point, Tang San's voice choked up, and he could no longer continue, his body only trembling slightly with anger.
Yu Xiaogang and Flender's expressions changed drastically upon hearing this. Although they knew there must be a conflict between Tang Chen and the Clear Sky Sect, they never expected this person to be so ruthless as to treat even his own biological father so cruelly! Flender hurriedly stepped forward, and together with Tai Tan and Bai He, they carefully placed the unconscious Tang Hao on a stone bench under the corridor, infusing spirit power to temporarily stabilize his heart pulse.
Tang San took a few deep breaths, forcing down his churning emotions. His gaze swept over the desolate academy and the faint white mourning colors visible in the distant city, then he turned to Yu Xiaogang and Flender, saying, Teacher, Dean, we traveled stealthily all the way and saw the city covered in mourning white everywhere, heavily guarded, and the atmosphere extremely oppressive. What exactly happened in Heaven Dou City?
Hearing this, Yu Xiaogang and Flender looked at each other, both seeing the heaviness and helplessness in the other's eyes. Flender sighed, shook his head, and explained, Half a month ago, there was a major upheaval in the palace. Crown Prince Xue Qinghe was actually an impostor from the Spirit Hall. He colluded with several Spirit Hall Enshrines to launch a coup, intending to assassinate the monarch and seize the throne.
Hearing this, Tang San's pupils shrank. At the critical moment, Tang Chen and his Spirit Hall forces intervened, repelling the Spirit Hall Enshrines. But Emperor Xue Ye was afflicted with a strange poison and eventually died from it, unable to be saved.
Afterwards, Yu Xiaogang paused, looking at the nearby Tang Hao with some reluctance but having to speak, saying deeply, The Elders of the Clear Sky Sect arrived under the leadership of Sect Master Tang Xiao and broke into conflict with Tang Chen and his subordinates. Tang Chen, with lightning-fast methods, ice-sealed and killed Sect Master Tang Xiao, along with the second, third, fourth, fifth, and seventh, the Five Elders, all upon the ruins of the palace.
Now, the new emperor Xue Beng has ascended the throne, but the government and military affairs of the Heaven Dou Empire are, in fact, fully controlled by Tang Chen and his Spirit Hall.
Just as Yu Xiaogang finished speaking, the body of the previously unconscious Tang Hao on the stone bench suddenly jolted. He actually spat out a large mouthful of dark red blood mixed with fragments of internal organs. Although his eyes didn't open, his haggard face twitched violently due to extreme grief, indignation, and intense pain! Father! Tang San lunged forward in horror, his voice trembling. Master! Hao'er! Tai Tan and Bai He's expressions also changed upon seeing this, as they cried out in concern.
The next second, Tang Hao's body convulsed violently a few times, his head tilted, and he completely lost consciousness. his breath was even weaker than before, almost non-existent. This series of blows, being crippled himself, the sect being slaughtered, and his elder brother and the elders all perishing, finally crushed the last heart pulse of this Clear Sky Douluo who once looked down upon the world.
Inside the courtyard, there was a deathly silence. Only the autumn wind swirled withered leaves, making a rustling sound. Tang San slowly knelt before Tang Hao, head lowered, hands digging hard into the cracks of the stone slabs on the ground, his shoulders shaking silently. Little San, what are your plans next? Yu Xiaogang asked.
Anger and grief are motivations, but if you are consumed by them, your reason will be blinded. Tang Chen's strength is unfathomable, his forces have already matured, and he even has the power to control the Heaven Dou Empire. The path of revenge is definitely not something that can be achieved with just a burst of blood and courage.
Tang San slowly raised his head, his eyes bloodshot, and said in a hoarse voice, I understand, Teacher. Therefore, I must become stronger, ten times, a hundred times stronger than I am now! I will use every method to cultivate and improve my strength as quickly as possible! Tang Chen must die! For Xiao Wu, for Father!
Hearing this, Yu Xiaogang did not immediately agree. He frowned slightly, pondered for a moment, and slowly shook his head. I see your determination, Little San. But, with your current spirit power rank and physical condition, relying only on conventional bitter cultivation to gain enough power to contend with Tang Chen in a short time is difficult.
It could even be said to be almost impossible. Time, I'm afraid, is not on our side. After Tang Chen takes control of Heaven Dou City, what will his next step be? How will the Spirit Hall react? There are too many variables, we cannot afford to wait.
Hearing this, Tang San's body jolted, a flash of anxiety and unwillingness in his eyes as he said, Then is there really no other way?
Yu Xiaogang turned his back, looking at the gloomy sky in the distance, and said slowly, If the conventional path doesn't work, then we must take an unconventional one. Perhaps there is a place that can allow you to undergo a transformative improvement in the shortest time. What place? Tang San asked curiously.
Yu Xiaogang thought for a moment and said, That place is a spirit beast forest. But it is different from any spirit beast forest you know. Because it is an island, and many peculiar spirit beasts live there. There are also many peculiar spirit masters. Only a few people in the spirit master's world know about this place. It's called Sea God Island!