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The steep mountain path of the Clear Sky Sect was quiet and cold. Tang Long led the way up the rocky trail. Behind him walked Ning Fengzhi, the Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, and the powerful Bone Douluo. A simple attendant followed them toward the deliberation hall at the peak of the mountain.
This attendant was actually Tang Chen. He used his Simulation Spirit Ability to change his face and hide his presence. He kept his head down and acted like a quiet servant, following Ning Fengzhi closely.
While he walked, Tang Chen used his mental force to check the area. His mind was very strong because it was nourished by the million-year energy of the Tianmeng Ice Silkworm. It worked like a radar, sensing everything nearby.
As they passed a quiet hallway leading to the guest rooms, Tang Chen felt something sharp. It was a cold killing intent. It was hidden well, but Tang Chen recognized the malice in it. It felt like someone he knew from his past.
Curious, Tang Chen sent a thin thread of mental power toward the source of the feeling. His mental force passed through the stone walls easily. Inside a quiet room, he saw Tang Yuehua. She looked tired and worried. Standing in front of her was Tang San. Tang San looked pale and his eyes were moving nervously.
Tang Yuehua spoke in a low, hushed voice. She looked confused and hurt. She told Tang San to stay in the room and warned him not to use his spirit power. She asked him how his Clear Sky Hammer could look so strange.
She was shocked by his white spirit ring and the weird things she saw on his spirit. Tang San stiffened and looked away. He could not give a good answer. He only mumbled that he had an accident while absorbing a spirit ring.
Tang Yuehua sighed. She knew there was no time to ask more questions. She told him that they had to keep his return a secret. She especially did not want the Elders of the Sect to find out about his condition. She promised that after her brother, Tang Xiao, finished meeting with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School, they would find a way to help him and bring him back into the family properly.
Tang Chen watched this through his mental power. A small smile appeared on his face. He thought to himself that they would not be able to hide this matter so easily. As the group turned a corner where the walls blocked the view, Tang Chen moved. A figure that looked exactly like Tang Long stepped out from the shadows.
A moment later, this fake Tang Long moved quickly through the corridors of the Clear Sky Sect. He looked just like the trusted assistant of Sect Master Tang Xiao. He went straight to the house of the Seventh Elder. This Elder was known for having a very bad temper. He hated Tang Hao more than anyone else in the Sect.
The fake Tang Long knocked on the door. He looked worried and out of breath. He called out to the Seventh Elder, saying he had urgent news. The door opened, and the Seventh Elder stood there with a grumpy face. He asked why Tang Long was not with the guests. The fake Tang Long lowered his voice and told him that Tang San had returned.
The Seventh Elder was shocked. The fake Tang Long continued his lie. He said he saw Tang San release his spirit. He told the Elder that the Clear Sky Hammer had a weak white spirit ring that was only ten years old. He also said the hammer was covered in gross, crawling maggots and smelled terrible. He claimed this was a huge insult to the Clear Sky Sect.
The Seventh Elder became incredibly angry. To him, a white ring and a hammer covered in maggots was a total disgrace. It was an insult to their ancestors. He asked if it was true, and the fake Tang Long promised it was. He told the Elder that Tang Yuehua was hiding Tang San in the west guest rooms.
The Seventh Elder roared in anger. He blamed Tang Hao for raising such a son. He was furious that Tang Xiao and Tang Yuehua were trying to hide the truth. His spirit power exploded around him. He ignored the fake Tang Long and ran toward the deliberation hall like a madman. Tang Chen, still in disguise, watched him go with a cold smile. The plan was working.
Inside the big deliberation hall, the air was very serious. Tang Xiao sat in the main chair. He was worried about Tang San, but he tried to look calm. Ning Fengzhi sat nearby with Bone Douluo standing next to him.
Ning Fengzhi explained why he had come. He told Tang Xiao that Spirit Hall had attacked his school and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. Both groups were destroyed.
Tang Xiao nodded. He said he was sorry to hear the news. He knew Spirit Hall wanted to rule the whole continent and would try to get rid of anyone in their way. Ning Fengzhi said that since two of the Upper Three Sects were gone, the Clear Sky Sect would be the next target. He told Tang Xiao that they needed to work together. He said that even a strong sect like the Clear Sky Sect could not stop Spirit Hall alone.
Ning Fengzhi said he was sent by Emperor Xue Ye of the Heaven Dou Empire. He asked the Clear Sky Sect to join an alliance. He wanted everyone to forget old fights and fight Spirit Hall together. Tang Xiao thought about it. He knew Ning Fengzhi was right. Alliance was the best way to survive. He told Ning Fengzhi that he agreed, but they needed to talk about the details of how to work together.
Suddenly, the heavy doors of the hall were kicked open. The loud bang stopped everyone from talking. The Seventh Elder marched in. His hair was messy, and he looked like a storm of fire. He ignored the guests and shouted at Tang Xiao.
He asked Tang Xiao how he could dare to hide Tang San. He yelled about the gross hammer and the maggots. He accused Tang Xiao of breaking the sect rules to protect his nephew.
Tang Xiao felt embarrassed and angry. He did not expect the Seventh Elder to cause a scene in front of the guests. Ning Fengzhi and Bone Douluo looked at each other. They seemed to know something was wrong.
Tang Xiao tried to act like he didn't know what the Elder was talking about. He told the Seventh Elder to stop talking nonsense and to leave because they were busy with important guests. He hoped to hide the scandal for now.
But the Seventh Elder would not stop. He laughed because he was so angry. He called Tang San a wretch and a disaster. He stepped forward and let out his spirit pressure. He told Tang Xiao that he had already sent people to grab Tang San. He said Tang San would be at the hall any minute.
Tang Xiao's face turned pale. He realized he could not hide the truth anymore. He looked at Ning Fengzhi and Bone Douluo with a look of shame.
He turned to the Seventh Elder and tried to beg him to wait. He said that the alliance against Spirit Hall was more important than an internal family matter. He asked the Elder to wait until the meeting was over.
The Seventh Elder would not listen. He shouted that the honor of the sect was the most important thing. He said the wretch who ruined their reputation had to be punished right now. He declared that all alliance talks had to wait. He wanted to deal with Tang San in front of everyone. Tang Xiao was shaking with anger, but he could not stop him.
Ten minutes later, the hall was crowded and noisy. Many disciples had come to see what was happening. Everyone was talking and looking around with angry eyes.
The other Elders were there too, looking very serious. The pressure in the room was very high. Tang Xiao sat with his hands clenched tight. Ning Fengzhi and Bone Douluo just watched quietly.
The crowd at the door moved aside. Tang Yuehua walked in. She looked very scared. Behind her was Tang San. He kept his head down and looked at the floor. The room was silent for a few seconds. Then, a disciple shouted that Tang San should get out. He called him trash from the Tang Hao family.
Suddenly, everyone started shouting. The disciples were angry about having to hide for many years. They blamed Tang San and his father for all their problems. They screamed at him to leave. Some even yelled to kill him to get revenge for the people killed by Spirit Hall. Tang San stood there, looking small and weak against the wall of hate.