As soon as Seventh Elder Tang Haien) suggested that the Clear Sky Clan would only help Tang Hao if they could appease the clan's growing discontent, he made one thing clear: Tang San would need to hand over the recipe for the Hundred Herb Pill.
The other six elders quickly agreed. They understood that while Tang Xiao might wish to help his younger brother, the clan couldn't afford to take on Spirit Hall without gaining something in return. Helping Tang Hao was a risk, but with the potential value of the Hundred Herb Pill recipe, the Clear Sky Clan could significantly increase its strength. Only then would they be willing to help.
The Hundred Herb Pill recipe? Tang Xiao turned his gaze to his younger brother, Tang Hao, whose expression mirrored his uncertainty. Both men understood the recipe's incredible value—not only for the clan but also for Tang San's future.
Tang San, on the other hand, was seething inside. This despicable clan, he thought, refused even to protect their own, and now they demanded something as precious as the Hundred Herb Pill recipe. It was utterly shameful. The Hundred Herb Pill wasn't just an ordinary formula; it came from a different world entirely, and its crafting process couldn't be written down.
In Tang San's heart, resentment blossomed. The Clear Sky Clan wasn't worth his father's loyalty. Still, Tang San knew they were trapped. Without the clan's help, they would surely fall to Spirit Hall's forces.
After a long pause, Tang San reluctantly reached into his Twenty-Four Moonlit Bridges and withdrew a piece of parchment, handing it to his father, Tang Hao.
As Tang Hao accepted the parchment, he felt the weight of the decision. The bond between father and son was strong, and he could sense Tang San's bitterness. But this was their only choice.
Handing the parchment to his elder brother, Tang Hao explained, "This is no ordinary recipe. You can't read it with your eyes alone. You must inject a bit of spirit power into the parchment to access the full instructions on how to craft the Hundred Herb Pill."
Tang Xiao, after hearing his brother's explanation, injected his spirit power into the parchment. As the other elders examined it, they all nodded in agreement. This was indeed a great boon for the clan, a compensation for the risk they were about to take in helping Tang Hao and Tang San.
Meanwhile, in the skies above the Clear Sky Clan, Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan, still waiting impatiently, furrowed his brows and shouted down at the clan, "Clear Sky Clan! Will you hand over Tang Hao and his son, or are you truly willing to make an enemy of Spirit Hall?"
At that moment, Tang Xiao made his decision. With the recipe now in hand, and the elders appeased, he turned to his brother. "Hao, take San and the others and go. We'll hold them off."
Without hesitation, Tang Hao grabbed both Tang San and Yu Xiaogang under each arm and soared into the sky, heading towards the City of Slaughter as fast as his weakened body could manage.
"You have some nerve, Clear Sky Clan!" Chrysanthemum Douluo hissed in fury as he watched the escape.
"Haha! Spirit Hall, we're just following orders. We only need to delay you," Clear Sky Clan's Second Elder roared with laughter, his voice filled with defiance.
The five elders of the Clear Sky Clan each summoned their spirits—the mighty Clear Sky Hammer—and revealed their impressive spirit ring configurations: yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black, black—each showcasing their power as Titled Douluo.
Tang Xiao led the charge, brandishing his own Clear Sky Hammer and displaying his Titled Douluo status with a formidable set of spirit rings, matching the elders with his own nine rings. The battle-ready atmosphere crackled with energy as the Clear Sky Clan stood against the might of Spirit Hall.
Though they were slightly outmatched, the elders of the Clear Sky Clan were determined. They may have fewer Titled Douluo than Spirit Hall, but they wielded the strongest Tool Spirit in the world—the Clear Sky Hammer. With this advantage, they were confident in holding back some of Spirit Hall's forces.
With a fierce battle cry, Tang Xiao led the five elders into the sky, rushing towards the advancing Spirit Hall Douluo. Tang Xiao, alongside the Second Elder, engaged Jiang Jun Douluo and Jiang Long Douluo, the most powerful of the enemy Titled Douluo.
Meanwhile, the other elders took on Demon Bear Douluo, Snake Lance Douluo, and Porcupinefish Douluo in separate skirmishes.
"Clear Sky Clan!" Bibi Dong, watching from a distance, muttered coldly. She could crush them quickly, but there was a complication: the ancient agreement between the Spirit Hall's former Pope, Qian Daoliu, and the former patriarch of the Clear Sky Clan. By this agreement, Spirit Hall was forbidden from entering the Clear Sky Clan's sacred grounds.
This restriction had saved the Clear Sky Clan during previous conflicts, and Bibi Dong, though ruthless, would not violate the treaty. After all, Spirit Hall's honor was on the line.
"Let's go," Bibi Dong commanded. "We chase after Tang Hao." She turned, her Pope's Scepter gleaming as she led Chrysanthemum Douluo, Ghost Douluo, and Blazing Eagle Douluo in pursuit of the fleeing Tang Hao.
As she departed, Bibi Dong's voice echoed across the battlefield: "Do not let Tang Hao escape again!"
In the distance, Tang Hao pushed his body to its limit, flying towards the City of Slaughter with Tang San and Yu Xiaogang. He knew Bibi Dong and her Douluo wouldn't stop until they caught up to him.
But the City of Slaughter offered sanctuary—no one, not even Spirit Hall, could breach its walls.
For now, their journey continued. However, Tang Hao knew this wouldn't be an easy escape.