A short while later, in the back mountain of Yunhai Academy, Yang Yunhai received word that Ning Fengzhi had come to visit.
"Virtuous nephew Yang, I'm relieved to see you safe." Upon meeting, Ning Fengzhi immediately let out a look of relief, before heavily criticizing Tang Hao. "To think that the mighty Clear Sky Douluo would stoop to such petty tricks—it's truly disgraceful."
"He's done it more than once or twice." Dugu Bo replied blandly.
Ning Fengzhi nodded slightly, then asked, "I wonder what Brother Dugu plans to do next?"
"What else? Stay home, cultivate, and wait." Dugu Bo shrugged. "If Sect Master Ning is willing, you could help spread the word. Since Tang Hao entered Heaven Dou City with a human-skin mask, Tang San must be here as well. Yesterday's search revealed that Moon Pavilion has multiple secret passages connected to the sewers, and the one under Tang Yuehua's room had just been cleaned of footprints."
"I think, even without direct evidence, anyone could guess that Tang Yuehua released Tang San."
"Once the word spreads, the Clear Sky Sect will have two choices: either remain hidden like turtles, or try to flee. The first leaves us without a strong enough excuse to act; moving rashly would seem baseless. The second, however, would be tantamount to admitting guilt. Fleeing out of fear would be treated as treason. That would give us the perfect reason."
"Either way, it's to our benefit."
"Good. Then leave this matter to me." Ning Fengzhi agreed readily.
He had originally wanted to raise the issue of marriage alliances, but with Yang Yunhai present, it wasn't appropriate. After some more small talk, he took his leave.
About an hour later, a large troop of Royal Knights surrounded Moon Pavilion.
"By order of His Majesty: Moon Pavilion is to suspend operations and undergo rectification. The Royal Knights are to demolish all excess sewer channels within, and reconstruct them to meet the Empire's unified standards." The knight commander announced publicly.
"Ahh!" The crowd erupted in uproar.
Such an order meant that even Emperor Xue Ye suspected Tang Yuehua of aiding Tang San's escape.
'Damn it, even Xue Ye is moving against my Clear Sky Sect?' Tang Yuehua was furious but dared not protest. She could only bow and accept the decree.
Meanwhile, across Heaven Dou City, the events of last night had already spread like wildfire.
"I also think it was Tang Yuehua who let Tang San escape. Tang Hao came to Yunhai Academy in disguise with a human-skin mask, surely worried for his son's safety. Where would be safer than in the Moon Pavilion his own sister created?"
"I agree. Didn't the Royal Knights find freshly cleaned footprints in the sewer under Tang Yuehua's bedroom?"
"Wait, how do you know that?"
"I have a friend…"
In an instant, the city was ablaze with outrage, especially among commoner soul masters.
Yang Yunhai's soul master theories—especially the Cloud Sea Cultivation Method and the theory of surpassing one's level to absorb soul rings—had given them immense benefits, almost like being reborn. For Tang Hao to attempt Yunhai's murder, how could they not be enraged? And since Tang San escaped, many believed it was Tang Yuehua who had harbored and released him. Wouldn't that mean the Clear Sky Sect supported Tang Hao and his son?
The reason was simple: Tang Hao and his son had grudges with Yang Yunhai, and the sect feared being implicated. By eliminating the threat, they protected themselves!
Such treachery! To harbor a fallen soul master was a crime worthy of exterminating nine clans!
Staying temporarily in a hotel, Tang Yuehua trembled as she listened to the heated discussions in the ground-floor restaurant. Her body quivered with fury, yet there was nowhere to vent it.
Taking a deep breath to calm herself, her mind raced.
'I must not return to the sect right now, or others will only fan the flames further. I'll first have my confidants deliver word to Big Brother—at this time, we must not panic.'
'As for Xiao San, seeing that Moon Pavilion is sealed, he'll likely hide himself and wait for another chance to meet me.'
'If he were dead, the news would already be shouted across the city. Since it hasn't, that must mean he's still alive.'
'As for Second Brother's corpse…' At the thought, tears welled up again. She bit her lip, then turned and walked into her room.
Time passed quickly, and soon it was midday.
At the southern marketplace of the city, clang, clang, clang—a troop of soldiers escorting a cart mounted the platform.
Below, the crowd was packed densely.
A military officer stepped forward, unrolled a scroll, and loudly declared Tang Hao's crimes from the previous day.
"Shameful! A Titled Douluo sneaking into a private residence to attack a junior—utterly shameless!"
The voice sparked the crowd, and murmurs spread rapidly.
"That human-skin mask! Every mask represents an innocent life taken. Tang Hao slaughtered indiscriminately! How is that different from his fallen soul master son, Tang San?"
"Master Yang devoted himself to the Empire and us commoner soul masters, painstakingly researching theories and even sharing a top-class cultivation method with the world. His contributions benefited everyone—even Tang Hao's sect! And yet Tang Hao tried to kill him? He's an animal! No wonder he raised a fallen soul master like Tang San. They're vermin from the same nest."
"A dragon begets a dragon, a phoenix a phoenix, but rats only birth more rats that burrow in the dirt."
…
Hidden in the crowd, disguised, Tang Yuehua trembled. Her fists clenched tight.
"Slander, all slander! How could Master have done such a thing?" Nearby, Tai Tan gritted his teeth, his face dark.
But he dared not shout too loudly.
Soon, after the officer finished speaking, soldiers began their work. They lifted Tang Hao's pale, lime-coated body onto a post, tied his hands, feet, and neck with ropes, and hoisted him high for all to see.
Tears streamed uncontrollably down Tang Yuehua's face as she covered her mouth to stifle her cries.
Tai Tan's eyes bulged with rage, veins pulsing on his forehead.
"Huh, why is Clan Chief Tai Tan here?" someone suddenly whispered in the crowd.
"I heard that when Tang Hao infiltrated the Heaven Dou Royal Academy to steal Master Yang's training equipment and deliver it to Yu Xiaogang at Shrek, it was the Strength Clan that secretly helped construct them. Could it be that Tai Tan has once again pledged allegiance to Tang Hao, becoming his accomplice?"
"I remember him publicly calling Tang San 'young master' and even referring to Tang Hao as 'Master'."
"Utter nonsense! Who's spouting such slander?!" Tai Tan roared, glaring furiously into the sea of faces. But there were too many heads—he couldn't tell who spoke.
The crowd turned to look, and those with family backgrounds frowned.
Excuses meant concealment. Anger meant guilt. To them, Tai Tan now looked suspicious indeed.
"Clan Chief…" one disciple whispered nervously, feeling the hostility around them.
"Hmph!" Tai Tan snorted coldly and stormed off.
Tang Yuehua's eyes flickered, and with a clenched jaw, she also left.
---
That night, in the Strength Clan's compound—
Clang, clang, clang, disciplined footsteps echoed as countless armored soldiers surged in. Dark shadows streaked across the sky.
"Who are you?!" a disciple shouted after opening a door at the noise.
"The Strength Clan is suspected of harboring the fallen soul master Tang San. Cooperate with the investigation, or resist and be slain!"
At the command, countless soul masters rushed in.
"Enemies!" someone cried, and the compound erupted into chaos.
"What's going on?!" In the back courtyard, Tai Tan awoke, leapt from his bed, and ran out.
Puff! A shadow appeared in front of him, and in his vision, a long bone spike flashed.
"Gu Rong?!" Tai Tan's face twisted in shock. He crossed his fists instinctively—
Puff! His body was pierced through.
"Leave none alive." Gu Rong's eyes swept coldly across the clan. His tone was flat.
"Yes!" came the response as shadows scattered.
"Ahhh!" screams tore through the night.
But the Strength Clan's compound was remote. In the stillness of the night, the sound did not travel far.
Before long, corpses were carried out one by one.
---
An hour later, at the southern marketplace of Heaven Dou City, Tang Yuehua appeared calmly and openly. With a composed face, she laid Tang Hao's body down, stored it in her soul tool, and left.
"What a pity." Whispering from the shadows, onlookers dispersed.
Far away, hidden within the bustling streets, Tang San activated his Purple Demon Eyes, watching everything with clenched fists.
"Father, I swear I'll avenge you!"
Biting his teeth, he turned and left.
Given the current situation, Aunt Tang Yuehua would certainly be under close watch. He could not risk meeting her.
Since he was already branded a fallen soul master, if caught, he'd be paraded like his father. If not caught, silence would prevail. That was enough for his aunt to know he was still alive.
'Right now, what I need most is strength. Once I reach Aunt's requirements, I'll ask her for the map. By then, the storm will have passed, and the risk will be lower.'
His gaze lingered in the direction Tang Yuehua had left.
'Father, forgive me. To avenge you, I may need to go against what you once told me.'
To grow strong quickly, he had no choice.
Taking a deep breath to calm himself, a cold glint flashed in his eyes as he turned away.
'To Sunset Forest. There are many poison-attribute soul beasts there, especially in the Poison Miasma Zone.'
With a leap, his figure disappeared into the shadows.
---
The night passed. The next morning, at the southern marketplace, more than ten corpses hung from wooden posts.
"Confirmed by Ning Rongrong of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, as well as former Shrek team members Jiangzhu, Huang Yuan, Jing Ling, and many teachers present at the time: Tai Tan indeed once kneeled before the fallen soul master Tang San, calling him 'Young Master,' and even addressed Tang Hao as 'Master.'"
"Last night, with the aid of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, the Empire carried out a raid. Under interrogation, the truth was confirmed. The Strength Clan was indeed accomplice to Tang Hao and his son."
"Today, the leaders' corpses are displayed here. The rest of the accomplices have all been executed."
"To harbor or conspire with fallen soul masters is a crime of clan extermination. Let the world take heed."
The officer declared sternly.
"Good kill!" cheers erupted from the stage.
"To think there were allies of fallen soul masters within Heaven Dou City. If they struck suddenly, who knows how many of us would have died."
"To betray good lives and serve Tang Hao's family of beasts—truly deserved death!"
…
"What? The Strength Clan was wiped out last night?" Tang Yuehua soon received the news, her face filled with shock.
At Yunhai Academy, Dugu Bo, Yang Yunhai, and the others received word as well.
"This time, Ning Fengzhi acted decisively." Chrysanthemum Douluo nodded.
He didn't need to think twice—it was clear that yesterday's string of events had all been orchestrated by Ning Fengzhi alongside Xue Ye. From temporarily shutting down Moon Pavilion to fuel suspicion, to spreading rumors, to linking the Strength Clan, and finally wiping them out that very night.
Each step followed the last, a seamless chain.
Dugu Bo nodded slightly. "So be it. Saves us the trouble of thinking of ways to clean them up ourselves."
"Things should settle down for a while now. Let's focus on cultivation." Yang Yunhai's gaze swept across the girls.
"Agreed." Dugu Bo nodded. "I should also attempt to condense my first soul core."
Stuck at rank 96 for a long time, he had decided to try condensing a soul core to push for rank 97.
"We'll stabilize for a while before attempting ours." Chrysanthemum Douluo added.
And so, the group either returned to their rooms or headed to the simulation training grounds, beginning another day of cultivation.
(End of Chapter)
---
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