Chapter 162: Why Are You Delivering Bad News?
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Xue Luochuan smiled, a flicker of imperceptible depth flashing through his eyes.
Maintaining his relationships with his siblings was, after all, merely a means to an end in his bid for the position of Crown Prince.
Those two fools—Xue Haizang and Xue Qinghe—didn’t even grasp this simple concept.
As for that fourth brother of his, Xue Beng...
A look of disdain flashed across Xue Luochuan’s eyes.
The boy was practically mindless.
He was just about to speak when the sound of light footsteps drifted in from outside the door.
A figure of regal elegance stepped inside, moving with graceful strides.
It was a beautiful woman.
She wore a long, silver court gown with a hem that trailed along the floor; a sash of matching silk was tied around her waist, accentuating her slender figure.
Her raven-black hair was coiled high atop her head, secured by a white jade hairpin, revealing a smooth, unblemished forehead and a long, elegant neck.
At first glance, she appeared to be no older than twenty-seven or twenty-eight.
Yet, her eyes seemed to have seen through the entirety of the mortal world—deep and serene in their gaze—possessing a profound maturity that no ordinary woman of twenty-seven or twenty-eight could possibly match.
Tang Yuehua.
The mistress of the Moon Pavilion, the most renowned etiquette master in Heaven Dou City, and a distinguished figure whom countless noble youths vied to take as their mentor.
Of course, she possessed another identity—one known to only a select few: she was the younger sister of Tang Xiao, the Sect Master of the Clear Sky Sect, and of Tang Hao, the Clear Sky Douluo.
Upon seeing Xue Ke clinging to Xue Luochuan’s embrace, a smile of gentle helplessness flickered in Tang Yuehua’s eyes. She spoke softly, "Xue Ke, have you let your composure slip again?"
Upon hearing this, Xue Ke hurriedly released Xue Luochuan, turned to face Tang Yuehua, and offered a slight curtsy.
Then, with a playful flick of her tongue, she said, "Hehe, Teacher, wasn’t I just a little too excited to see my Third Brother?"
Tang Yuehua shook her head helplessly; her voice was gentle, yet carried a distinct tone of instruction.
"Even so, you shouldn’t have lost your composure like that right here in the classroom."
Xue Ke nodded obediently. "I know, Teacher. I won’t do it again next time~"
Tang Yuehua knew this was merely a perfunctory promise, yet she found herself utterly powerless against this mischievous and spirited student.
She turned her gaze toward Xue Luochuan and offered a slight curtsy. "Greetings, Third Prince."
Xue Luochuan hurriedly stepped aside, unwilling to accept her full bow, and simultaneously cupped his hands in return salutation.
"Sister Yuehua, what are you doing? I, a junior, am hardly worthy of such deference."
Being addressed as "Sister" pleased Tang Yuehua immensely. After all, what woman would ever object to being made to feel a little younger?
She smiled faintly and spoke in a gentle tone, "I heard that you, Third Prince, traveled to Spirit City a few days ago to attend the new Supreme Pontiff’s coronation ceremony?"
Xue Luochuan nodded. "Indeed. The Spirit Hall’s coronation ceremony this time around was even grander than any in the past."
"Furthermore, they also appointed a new Adjudication Elder."
"An Adjudication Elder?" Both Tang Yuehua and Xue Ke were momentarily taken aback.
Xue Luochuan cast a fleeting glance at Tang Yuehua, his mind quietly weighing the situation.
He had heard Emperor Xue Ye mention Tang Yuehua’s true identity before, and he knew that she belonged to the Clear Sky Sect. Although Tang Yuehua had never publicly acknowledged this fact, such things could hardly remain a secret from those with a keen eye.
At this moment, he had deliberately brought up the subject of Spirit Hall precisely to observe Tang Yuehua’s reaction.
"Speaking of which," Xue Luochuan said slowly, "this Elder of Judgment is quite extraordinary."
Tang Yuehua responded, "Oh? Just how extraordinary?"
Xue Luochuan took a deep breath and said, "This Elder of Judgment is named Jiang Bai. His Martial Soul is a nine-story pagoda, though its specific abilities remain unclear for now. However, he possesses..."
He paused, emphasizing his next words: "Nine 100,000-year Spirit Rings!"
"What?!"
Xue Ke cried out in astonishment, her eyes widening into perfect circles!
Tang Yuehua, too, stiffened slightly; upon that face—usually the picture of elegance and composure—a trace of undisguised shock finally surfaced!
"Nine... 100,000-year Spirit Rings..."
She murmured, her voice laced with disbelief. "How... how is that possible?"
Xue Ke nodded vigorously in agreement. "Exactly! Third Brother, you aren’t just trying to pull a prank on me and Teacher, are you?"
Xue Luochuan gave a wry smile. "How could I do such a thing?"
Recalling the scene from that day, a flicker of lingering dread flashed through his eyes.
"Back at the investiture ceremony, Elder Jiang manifested his Martial Soul and Spirit Rings right there in front of everyone. That aura... that sheer pressure..."
He shook his head. "It was so overwhelming that it nearly left your Third Brother gasping for air."
Those nine blood-red Spirit Rings—that all-encompassing, crushing pressure—remained deeply etched in his mind to this very day.
"Everyone who attended the ceremony that day witnessed it," Xue Luochuan added.
"Before long, the news will likely have spread across the entire continent."
Tang Yuehua fell silent.
She still found it difficult to believe that such a powerhouse could actually exist in this world.
Nine 100,000-year Spirit Rings... What did that signify?
It meant that this man had slain—at the very least—nine 100,000-year Spirit Beasts!
100,000-year Spirit Beasts—they were beings that stood at the very pinnacle of the Spirit Beast hierarchy!
A single one was enough to force even a Title Douluo—a powerhouse of the highest caliber—to risk their very life in battle!
Nine of them...
She dared not even contemplate it.
But why... why did such a man have to belong to the Spirit Hall?!
She repeated the question silently in her heart, all the while striving to maintain her elegant demeanor on the surface.
However, Xue Luochuan’s very next sentence caused her composure to shatter completely. "Moreover..."
Xue Luochuan gazed at her and spoke slowly: "This Elder Jiang... it seems he personally slew the Clear Sky Douluo, Tang Hao."
Tang Yuehua’s body gave a sudden, violent shudder!
The color drained instantly from her exquisite face!
"You... what did you just say?!"
For the first time, her voice lost its elegant composure; it trembled slightly, tinged with utter disbelief.
Observing her uncharacteristic loss of composure, Xue Luochuan felt a secret sense of satisfaction.
Outwardly, however, he wore an expression of concern: "It appears that Elder Jiang may have killed the Clear Sky Douluo."
He paused, then asked with feigned puzzlement: "Sister Yuehua, are you alright?"
In truth, he had mentioned this on purpose.
Tang Yuehua belonged to the Clear Sky Sect, and he simply did not believe that the Clear Sky Sect was truly indifferent to Tang Hao.
Although Tang Hao’s actions years ago had forced the Clear Sky Sect to seal its gates and retreat from the world—leaving the sect severely weakened—he was, after all, a direct-line disciple of the Clear Sky Sect, and a Clear Sky Douluo at that!
If he were to die, could the Clear Sky Sect truly remain indifferent?
If this incident could be used to draw the Clear Sky Sect out of seclusion and pit them against the Spirit Hall, nothing could be better.
After all, the Spirit Hall’s momentum was currently far too formidable.
Across the two great empires and the various major sects, there were few forces capable of truly standing against the Spirit Hall in any significant matter.
If the Clear Sky Sect were to step forward...
A sharp glint flashed through Xue Luochuan’s eyes.
Tang Yuehua took a deep breath, striving to regain her composure.
Her voice still trembled slightly, yet she struggled to maintain a calm demeanor: "Did... did that Elder Jiang say this with his own lips?"
Xue Luochuan nodded: "He did."
He added: "Furthermore, he produced a complete set of Soul Bones, claiming he had stripped them from the Clear Sky Douluo’s body. He even designated these six Soul Bones as the grand prize for the next All-Continent Advanced Spirit Master Academy Elite Tournament."
A complete set of Soul Bones?!
Tang Yuehua’s fingers clenched violently!
Her slender, jade-like fingers turned white at the knuckles!
Her mind went utterly blank, leaving only a single thought spinning wildly within her head:
Could it be... could it truly be Brother Hao?! No... it can’t be...
Brother Hao is so powerful—how could anyone possibly slay him?!
He is the Clear Sky Douluo, after all!
But that complete set of Soul Bones...
She knew that Tang Hao possessed a full complement of Soul Bones; if they didn’t belong to Tang Hao, then whose could they possibly be?
The Soul Bones of the limbs could be detached, but the skull and torso bones... those could only be extracted after death!
Tang Yuehua’s body trembled ever so slightly.
Seeing her in such a state, Xue Luochuan knew that his objective had been achieved.
He took Xue Ke’s hand and said in a gentle voice, "Sister Yuehua, please carry on with your work. We shall take our leave now."
Xue Ke still did not understand what had transpired; she simply offered Tang Yuehua a polite, obedient bow:
"Goodbye, Teacher!"
Tang Yuehua nodded mechanically, not even noticing as the two of them departed.
She stood rooted to the spot, tightly clenching her trembling hands.
A long time passed.
"Someone!"
Her voice had regained its composure, yet it carried a distinct note of urgency: "Prepare the carriage! Immediately!"
Though puzzled, the attendants dared not ask questions; they hurriedly withdrew to carry out the arrangements.
...
The Clear Sky Sect.
Once the foremost sect in the land, it now lived in seclusion amidst the mountains, cut off from the outside world.
The sect gates remained towering and majestic; the stone steps remained steep and precipitous. Yet, the sect grounds—once bustling with activity—now appeared eerily desolate.
Inside the Clear Sky Sect’s main hall, the atmosphere was heavy and solemn.
The Sect Master, Tang Xiao, sat upright upon the seat of honor.
He appeared to be in his fifties; his features were stern and resolute—bearing a strong resemblance to Tang Hao, yet his demeanor was far more steady and reserved. His eyes were as deep and unfathomable as an abyss, betraying not a single emotion.
To either side, the five Elders sat in their respective seats.
From outside the hall, the sound of hurried footsteps rang out.
Clad in simple, unadorned robes, Tang Yuehua strode swiftly into the main hall.
Gone was the elegance and composure she typically wore; her face now held nothing but anxiety and distress.
"Brother! Elders!"
She advanced to the center of the hall, offering a slight bow in salutation, her voice trembling with urgency: "Something terrible has happened!"
"Second Brother... it seems Second Brother has been killed!"
As her words fell, A deathly silence descended upon the hall.
Tang Xiao’s pupils contracted ever so slightly.
The Elders, too, wore expressions of varying degrees of shock and consternation.
"Heh."
A cold sneer shattered the silence.
A tall, gaunt-looking elder slowly spoke up, his voice chilling and biting.
"Isn’t that a good thing? Why are you wailing as if you’re in mourning?"