Just as everyone was beginning to relax, a loud explosion suddenly echoed from the distance.
Li Xun and Dugu Bo were about to investigate when Sword Douluo returned, trailing a long rainbow-like aura.
"How did you get back so quickly?" Dugu Bo asked, surprised to see Sword Douluo and his companion return empty-handed.
Sword Douluo glanced at the three captives below—Yu Xiaogang and the others—and coughed awkwardly. "The Clear Sky Sect's Ring Detonation is indeed as formidable as its reputation suggests. Although Tang Hao's cultivation isn't as high as mine, I couldn't stop him when he was determined to escape."
"However, he did leave something behind," Sword Douluo added, tossing something he had been floating with his Soul Power onto the ground.
Li Xun and Dugu Bo looked over and were shocked to see that it was an ear, still attached to a piece of skin.
"Whose is it?"
"Tang Hao's. He was too focused on escaping with his people, so I took advantage of the situation," Sword Douluo chuckled.
Dugu Bo clicked his tongue. "Tsk tsk, one ear. Who would have thought that one of the Clear Sky Twin Stars would end up like this."
"What should we do with them?" Dugu Bo pointed at Yu Xiaogang and the other two.
"Let's take them back for now. They were our main target this time, after all," Li Xun said after a moment of thought. "I'll go to Qian Renxue later and add some fuel to the fire. We'll just wait for the flames to grow."
Far from the outskirts of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School.
"Xiao San, you acted too recklessly this time. You knew this was the territory of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, yet you still dared to act right under their noses?"
Tang Hao set Tang San and Xiao Wu down, his face pale with anger. Although the wound where his ear had been severed was sealed with Soul Power, traces of blood still remained on his face.
"You need to stay calm and composed in any situation. Even if you act, you must leave no trace," Tang Hao's voice was cold, his fists clenched tightly. He wanted to discipline his son several times but held back.
"Father, I know I was wrong."
Tears streamed down Tang San's face as he thought about how his impulsive actions had led to his father's injury. He was filled with regret for losing his composure over the Hidden Weapon.
Then he thought of his Teacher and the Dean.
"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School won't let this go easily. What are you planning to do?" Tang Hao sighed as he saw the guilt on Tang San's face.
Tang San took out the token Yu Xiaogang had given him. "Teacher just handed me this token and told me to go to Spirit City to find the current Pope, Bibi Dong, and inform her that he's been captured."
"Nonsense! Didn't Tai Tan and Bai He tell you about the feud between our Clear Sky Sect and the Spirit Hall?" Tang Hao's expression darkened at the mention of the Spirit Hall. "Besides, that token was given to Yu Xiaogang by me. He's not an honorary elder of the Spirit Hall."
"Father, you've been protecting me all along," Tang San said, realizing that Tang Hao even knew about his meetings with Tai Tan and Bai He.
Thinking of his usually stoic father, who had been silently watching over him, Tang San was overwhelmed with emotion.
Tang Hao was momentarily stunned and fell silent.
"Father, please listen to me first," Tang San said with a hint of mist in his eyes, offering a faint smile to Tang Hao. "I once heard indirectly from Teacher Erlong about the story between Teacher and Bibidong. Since Teacher has spoken like this, he must have his reasons."
"Moreover, I've always presented my Martial Soul as Blue Silver Grass to the outside world. Even if Spirit Hall suspects me, they couldn't possibly connect me to the Clear Sky Sect."
As he spoke, a glint of determination flashed in Tang San's eyes. "And don't you think this is also an opportunity for us to use Spirit Hall to our advantage?"
"Hmm?" Tang Hao was momentarily taken aback, then gestured for Tang San to continue.
"Father, the conflict between us and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School has already arisen. Since it can't be resolved, why don't we divert their attention to other forces?" Tang San played with a token in his hand, letting out a cold laugh.
"Are you planning to use Yu Xiaogang to provoke Bibidong?" Tang Hao pondered for a moment before asking with some doubt. "But how can you be sure Bibidong still has feelings for her old flame?"
"We'll find out by trying. As long as Bibidong agrees to rescue Teacher, the rest will be easier to handle." Tang San finished speaking, his gaze shifting toward the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, his eyes gradually deepening with thought.
Seeing his son's confidence, Tang Hao nodded. "Then I'll take you near Spirit City, but this time, Xiao Wu will have to stay behind."
At the Crown Prince's residence in Heavenly Dou City.
Xue Qinghe sat in the main seat, looking somewhat incredulously at Li Xun, who was seated below. "Junior Brother, are you saying these three really dared to set fire near the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School?"
"Your Highness, the world is full of wonders. One's thoughts and actions can't always be predicted by others," Li Xun replied, taking a sip of tea. "I wonder if the empire has any laws applicable to this situation?"
In truth, Hidden Weapons had always been something of little importance to Li Xun. Playing with them was one thing.
On the other hand, he intended to use Tang San's emphasis on Hidden Weapons to draw them out, and then slowly expose Bibidong's past with Yu Xiaogang to Qian Renxue's attention.
This would lead to more changes…
The latest novel is first published on 69shu!
On one side was the Crown Prince's daughter, who had been undercover for years and was beginning to see results. On the other side was her old flame, Yu Xiaogang. Now, it was up to Bibidong to decide how to resolve this matter.
Li Xun already had an answer in his heart, but this was also the outcome he desired.
"If they are nobles, they can pay to redeem their crimes. If they are not nobles, after paying compensation, depending on the severity of the case, they could be sentenced to hard labor, conscription, or execution."
"However, it seems there's no precedent in the law for executing Soul Saint-level experts. Those two Soul Saints should be sentenced to hard labor first," Xue Qinghe said with a faint smile. "Do you know how much damage the three of them caused to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School?"
"Roughly estimated, over two million Gold Soul Coins. The most critical part is that they killed four of our patrol members and two Soul Masters."
Li Xun set down his teacup and handed the list of damages to Xue Qinghe. "This is calculated based on raw materials for the factory. If calculated based on finished products, it would be even more."
"Hmm! That much?"
Xue Qinghe began to feel a slight curiosity about the factory Li Xun mentioned. However, given her current identity, she decided to avoid further contact with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School as the Crown Prince.
It would be better to wait until later, when she could switch back to her identity as Qian Renxue, to inquire about the factory matters.
Xue Qinghe took the list and carefully examined it, noticing that it indeed contained only raw materials. However, these materials accounted for a small portion of the total losses, with the majority stemming from building damages and compensation for the families of the deceased.
"The fine is usually ten times the amount. Can they afford it?"
Qian Renxue pondered for a moment upon seeing the compensation for the families of the deceased: "And that Level 21 Soul Master, we could execute him publicly to give the families some closure."
"They should be able to. They have a student who recently completed a transaction worth over twenty million
with us."
Li Xun chuckled, seemingly quite satisfied with the outcome: "It all depends on whether that student is willing to part with that sum of money."
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