"Spirit Hall, don't push us too far! The Clear Sky Clan is not afraid of you!" Seventh Elder Tang Haien's face turned red with fury as he stepped forward, pointing at Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan and the other Spirit Hall members hovering in the sky.
"Oh? Is that so? Does the Clear Sky Clan wish to declare war on Spirit Hall then?" Yue Guan's cold, mocking smile was enough to silence the Clear Sky disciples who knew all too well how their last confrontation with Spirit Hall had ended.
Tang Haien's defiant stance faltered. The clan had already lost a major battle with Spirit Hall before; how could they hope to win now?
"Hmph! Tang Hao is a sinner of the Clear Sky Clan. We didn't shelter him before, and we won't now!" Tang Haien's tone shifted quickly, moving from defiance to a pragmatic declaration. His words rang out, reinforcing Tang Hao's status as a traitor to the clan.
"Father!" Tang San's heart clenched with anxiety as he tugged on Tang Hao's sleeve. His father had brought them here hoping for help, but it seemed the Clear Sky Clan wasn't willing to risk facing Spirit Hall for them.
Tang Hao, however, remained calm. He gave Tang San's hand a reassuring squeeze, signaling that he had already prepared for this possibility.
"Brother," Tang Hao addressed Tang Xiao directly, his voice steady despite the pressure from Spirit Hall, "we're being hunted by Spirit Hall. Only five Titled Douluo have caught up for now, but more are coming. I need your help to hold them off so I can take Tang San to the City of Slaughter. Once we're there, Spirit Hall won't dare to follow. If the Clear Sky Clan won't help, we're as good as dead today."
Tang Hao's request was earnest. He wasn't asking for the clan to shelter him forever—just to delay Spirit Hall long enough for him and his son to escape to safety.
"Little Hao..." Tang Xiao's voice softened. He wanted to help his brother, but the decision wasn't his alone.
"Master, please don't forget the position of the Clear Sky Clan!" Tang Haien jumped in immediately, alarmed by Tang Xiao's hesitation. "We can't risk going to war with Spirit Hall for this traitor and his son—especially for that... beast-born child!"
"That's right! The Clear Sky Clan must think carefully!" echoed other elders and disciples from the clan.
Many among the Clear Sky Clan still held Tang Hao responsible for the calamity that had befallen them years ago. To them, helping Tang Hao was not only foolish but inviting disaster back to their doorstep.
Tang San's anger flared as he listened to the Clear Sky disciples. Their stubborn refusal to see the truth of the situation enraged him. The live broadcasts had revealed the full story of what had happened, yet these people still blamed his father. It was their own decisions that had driven his mother away, and now they dared to call his father a sinner.
Seeing how quickly the sentiment in the clan had turned against them, Tang Xiao's face darkened. Was this what the proud Clear Sky Clan had become? A shadow of its former self, too scared to stand up to Spirit Hall?
"Enough!" Tang Xiao's voice boomed with authority as he glared at the crowd. "You all want to hand over Tang Hao and his son to Spirit Hall? Do you think that will end our feud with them?"
He continued, his voice heavy with frustration, "Our ancestor's teachings were clear. Anyone with the Clear Sky Hammer spirit is part of this clan. We are meant to stand united, to protect our own! Tang Hao bears the Clear Sky Hammer—he is one of us! Surrendering him won't make Spirit Hall back down. It will only show them we are weak, and they'll keep pushing!"
Tang Xiao's fiery words reminded the elders of the strength and resolve the Clear Sky Clan had once held, especially during their peak when Tang Chen had led them.
Some of the elders began to shift uneasily. They couldn't deny the truth in Tang Xiao's words.
"But, Master," Tang Haien persisted, trying to keep his voice steady, "we are not as strong as Spirit Hall right now. We can't fight them and win. You know the clan's current standing—and you can't act against the wishes of the whole clan, can you?"
Tang Xiao's face tightened at this. As much as he wanted to stand by his brother, he knew the clan wasn't ready for an all-out war with Spirit Hall. And without the support of the elders, even he couldn't make the decision alone.
As the tension rose, the arrival of more enemies complicated matters. From the distance, Demon Bear Douluo, Blazing Eagle Douluo, Snake Lance Douluo, and Porcupinefish Douluo closed in, joining the already formidable force from Spirit Hall.
"Master, look!" Tang Haien pointed to the sky where the additional Spirit Hall Titled Douluo was arriving. "Four more Titled Douluo. That makes nine now! I know you want to protect your brother, but you can't risk the lives of the entire clan!"
Tang Xiao clenched his fists. He understood the gravity of the situation, but his options were limited.
"What do you propose then?" Tang Xiao's voice was tight with frustration.
Tang Haien's expression shifted to one of smug satisfaction as he offered his solution. "It's simple. Tang San recently obtained the formula for the Hundred Herb Pill, did he not? Have him hand over the original formula to us. With that, the clan will have something of great value, and no one will object to lending some assistance."
Tang Haien's words carried a sly edge. By asking for something so valuable, he was essentially forcing Tang San to buy his father's safety.