Within the Clear Sky Sect, Yu Xiaogang arrived at the sect and handed the two ores in his possession to Tang Xiao.
"To forge the Ice-Fire Meteor Needles, these two ores must first be smelted. In this world, only the Clear Sky Hammer or the Ultimate Fire can accomplish that."
Taking the two ores, Tang Xiao said, "Rest easy, Grandmaster. I, Tang Xiao, will do everything in my power to assist Tai Tan in forging the hidden weapons you described."
"Many thanks, Your Grace Tang Xiao. These hidden weapons are our trump card against the Spirit Empire and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Please devote extra attention to them," Yu Xiaogang requested.
With that, he prepared to take his leave.
"Grandmaster, please wait!" A woman's voice called out—it was Tang Yuehua.
She had been having people keep a close eye on the Grandmaster's movements. The moment he entered the Clear Sky Sect, a messenger from the Moon Pavilion would notify her. She was sure he would turn up.
Tang San had told Tang Yuehua about the hidden weapons. The crafting of the higher-grade hidden weapons required the aid of the Clear Sky Hammer. Now that Tang Hao was dead, he could only come to them.
"Pavilion Master Tang, what guidance do you have?" Yu Xiaogang bowed.
"I wouldn't dare call it guidance—only something I wish to ask the Grandmaster." Tang Yuehua smiled. "Just now you said you intend to use hidden weapons to oppose the Spirit Empire and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. I've seen the power of these hidden weapons. Ordinary ones are enough to threaten Soul Ancestor–level and below, which is impressive. But whether they can kill a Titled Douluo—no one has seen that. Are we really going to rely on such conjecture to take on two behemoths?"
"There's no helping it. A sliver of hope is better than doing nothing." Yu Xiaogang said helplessly. He, of course, understood exactly what Tang Yuehua meant.
In truth, they were just consoling themselves. Relying solely on hidden weapons, being able to stave off the Spirit Empire's offensive would already be good; annihilating them was out of the question.
Especially against top-tier experts like Bibi Dong and Jun Tianlin—even the Torrential Pear Blossom Needles, the strongest single-target hidden weapons, might not be able to do anything to them.
"I do have a plan that could eradicate both forces," Tang Yuehua said with confidence.
"What plan?" The Grandmaster spoke at once. He longed to destroy those two forces—they were the reason his disciple had died so tragically.
Tang Yuehua's gaze swept across Liu Erlong and Flender, indicating there were outsiders present.
The Grandmaster was quick on the uptake and grasped her meaning. He turned and said, "Erlong, Flender, would you wait for me in the main hall?"
"Alright. Erlong, let's go," Flender agreed easily. He was only here as a bodyguard; he had no interest in the power struggles of these major forces.
Besides, he didn't want to get involved. After all, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was his disciple's sect, while the Grandmaster was his longtime close friend. Helping either side would be wrong; he could only remain neutral and aid neither.
Liu Erlong, however, was very displeased. What could they possibly not say in front of her? Was there supposed to be secrets between her and the Grandmaster?
Still, this was the Clear Sky Sect. She had to give her man some face, so she obediently went downstairs—though not before shooting the Grandmaster a fierce glare, promising to settle accounts with him later.
The Grandmaster broke out in a cold sweat. This she-dragon was truly not to be trifled with.
"Well then, Pavilion Master Tang, we can speak freely now. We're practically family—you're Tang San's aunt, and I am his teacher. Please speak your mind."
Tang Yuehua smiled. "Very well. Grandmaster, let me ask you: what forces in this world can contend with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?"
"Forces?" The Grandmaster froze. "If only it were 'forces.' In truth, there is only one: the Spirit Empire."
"Exactly. So, if we want to annihilate the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, we must have the Spirit Empire act. The reverse is also true. Now the Spirit Empire acts against heaven and slaughters the innocent. To destroy them, we need the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's strength. But at this moment, the two sides are tactfully leaving each other alone. This is precisely the situation none of us wants to see," Tang Yuehua said.
The Grandmaster gave a bitter smile. "As if I didn't know that. But we can't command Ning Fengzhi or Bibi Dong. To make them go to war—easier said than done."
"Others can't do it. You can. I, Tang Yuehua, have few talents, but I've perfected the art of manipulating the human heart. Grandmaster, you and Bibi Dong once shared a romance, didn't you? And I know she still has feelings for you," Tang Yuehua murmured mysteriously in his ear.
The Grandmaster started. Few knew his secret with Bibi Dong. Had Tang San told her? No—Tang San wouldn't casually divulge his teacher's private affairs.
"Don't be so surprised. Don't forget: when you and Bibi Dong were together, the Speed Clan was still under the Clear Sky Sect. Back then, our intelligence network was the best on the continent. Your mutual understanding and love in Yelin City—I knew it clearly. Bibi Dong was a Saintess then, after all. We paid very close attention to her."
Hearing this, the Grandmaster understood. The Speed Clan's intelligence network was indeed first on the continent. It was perfectly normal that they watched the movements of the Spirit Hall's Saintess.
"So what? I admit Bibi Dong still has feelings for me. But I can't influence her now. If I could persuade her to immediately act against the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, I would have done it already," the Grandmaster said helplessly.
"Persuasion won't do. We need to give her a fierce dose that utterly rekindles her hatred of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect—for example: your life." Tang Yuehua let out a cold laugh and spoke ruthless words. "Grandmaster, as long as you die at the hands of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, given how much Bibi Dong cares for you, she will go mad avenging you."
"What? You want me to die?" A chill ran through the Grandmaster. He wanted revenge, yes—but not to die for it. He still had ambitions to fulfill.
"Yes, I want you to die. Grandmaster, I know your ambitions are unfulfilled—but this is the only way. All you need to do is write a heartfelt farewell letter to Bibi Dong, saying that to avenge your disciple, you're going alone to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to fight to the death. Knowing you'll never return, you write to bid her farewell. Fill the letter with your beautiful memories together, and promise that in the next life you'll be husband and wife again, never to part—evoke her love for you as much as possible."
"After it succeeds, I guarantee the Clear Sky Sect will verify and publish your Ten Great Core Spirit Competencies in your name, so your name resounds through history. How about it?" Tang Yuehua tempted.
She was indeed adept at grasping people's hearts. She understood Bibi Dong: for all her brilliance, she was a lovestruck brain when it came to love, and when that took over, her IQ plummeted. The Grandmaster's death would certainly inflame her hatred.
She also understood the Grandmaster: what he cared about most was his theories. Now that Tang San was dead, no one could help him verify them. Becoming a true master of theory had become an empty promise. If, at this time, the Clear Sky Sect—and even the Three Upper Sects—verified and published them, then his theories could truly be carried forward.
"Grandmaster, this is our only chance. If it succeeds, you will not only avenge your disciple, but also use the mutual destruction of the two forces to wipe out the Spirit Empire and save the common people. Then you will be a savior, revered by countless generations for your sacrifice. Please, put the greater good first!"
Tang Yuehua went straight to her knees—a pure act of moral coercion.