DD Spiritual Sword [506-507] (Patreon)

Chapter 506: Tang Yuehua's Scheme to Sow Discord — Morally Blackmailing the Grandmaster

Within the Clear Sky Sect, Yu Xiaogang arrived at the sect and handed the two ores in his possession to Tang Xiao.

"To forge the Ice-Fire Meteor Needles, these two ores must first be smelted. In this world, only the Clear Sky Hammer or the Ultimate Fire can accomplish that."

Taking the two ores, Tang Xiao said, "Rest easy, Grandmaster. I, Tang Xiao, will do everything in my power to assist Tai Tan in forging the hidden weapons you described."

"Many thanks, Your Grace Tang Xiao. These hidden weapons are our trump card against the Spirit Empire and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Please devote extra attention to them," Yu Xiaogang requested.

With that, he prepared to take his leave.

"Grandmaster, please wait!" A woman's voice called out—it was Tang Yuehua.

She had been having people keep a close eye on the Grandmaster's movements. The moment he entered the Clear Sky Sect, a messenger from the Moon Pavilion would notify her. She was sure he would turn up.

Tang San had told Tang Yuehua about the hidden weapons. The crafting of the higher-grade hidden weapons required the aid of the Clear Sky Hammer. Now that Tang Hao was dead, he could only come to them.

"Pavilion Master Tang, what guidance do you have?" Yu Xiaogang bowed.

"I wouldn't dare call it guidance—only something I wish to ask the Grandmaster." Tang Yuehua smiled. "Just now you said you intend to use hidden weapons to oppose the Spirit Empire and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. I've seen the power of these hidden weapons. Ordinary ones are enough to threaten Soul Ancestor–level and below, which is impressive. But whether they can kill a Titled Douluo—no one has seen that. Are we really going to rely on such conjecture to take on two behemoths?"

"There's no helping it. A sliver of hope is better than doing nothing." Yu Xiaogang said helplessly. He, of course, understood exactly what Tang Yuehua meant.

In truth, they were just consoling themselves. Relying solely on hidden weapons, being able to stave off the Spirit Empire's offensive would already be good; annihilating them was out of the question.

Especially against top-tier experts like Bibi Dong and Jun Tianlin—even the Torrential Pear Blossom Needles, the strongest single-target hidden weapons, might not be able to do anything to them.

"I do have a plan that could eradicate both forces," Tang Yuehua said with confidence.

"What plan?" The Grandmaster spoke at once. He longed to destroy those two forces—they were the reason his disciple had died so tragically.

Tang Yuehua's gaze swept across Liu Erlong and Flender, indicating there were outsiders present.

The Grandmaster was quick on the uptake and grasped her meaning. He turned and said, "Erlong, Flender, would you wait for me in the main hall?"

"Alright. Erlong, let's go," Flender agreed easily. He was only here as a bodyguard; he had no interest in the power struggles of these major forces.

Besides, he didn't want to get involved. After all, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was his disciple's sect, while the Grandmaster was his longtime close friend. Helping either side would be wrong; he could only remain neutral and aid neither.

Liu Erlong, however, was very displeased. What could they possibly not say in front of her? Was there supposed to be secrets between her and the Grandmaster?

Still, this was the Clear Sky Sect. She had to give her man some face, so she obediently went downstairs—though not before shooting the Grandmaster a fierce glare, promising to settle accounts with him later.

The Grandmaster broke out in a cold sweat. This she-dragon was truly not to be trifled with.

"Well then, Pavilion Master Tang, we can speak freely now. We're practically family—you're Tang San's aunt, and I am his teacher. Please speak your mind."

Tang Yuehua smiled. "Very well. Grandmaster, let me ask you: what forces in this world can contend with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?"

"Forces?" The Grandmaster froze. "If only it were 'forces.' In truth, there is only one: the Spirit Empire."

"Exactly. So, if we want to annihilate the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, we must have the Spirit Empire act. The reverse is also true. Now the Spirit Empire acts against heaven and slaughters the innocent. To destroy them, we need the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's strength. But at this moment, the two sides are tactfully leaving each other alone. This is precisely the situation none of us wants to see," Tang Yuehua said.

The Grandmaster gave a bitter smile. "As if I didn't know that. But we can't command Ning Fengzhi or Bibi Dong. To make them go to war—easier said than done."

"Others can't do it. You can. I, Tang Yuehua, have few talents, but I've perfected the art of manipulating the human heart. Grandmaster, you and Bibi Dong once shared a romance, didn't you? And I know she still has feelings for you," Tang Yuehua murmured mysteriously in his ear.

The Grandmaster started. Few knew his secret with Bibi Dong. Had Tang San told her? No—Tang San wouldn't casually divulge his teacher's private affairs.

"Don't be so surprised. Don't forget: when you and Bibi Dong were together, the Speed Clan was still under the Clear Sky Sect. Back then, our intelligence network was the best on the continent. Your mutual understanding and love in Yelin City—I knew it clearly. Bibi Dong was a Saintess then, after all. We paid very close attention to her."

Hearing this, the Grandmaster understood. The Speed Clan's intelligence network was indeed first on the continent. It was perfectly normal that they watched the movements of the Spirit Hall's Saintess.

"So what? I admit Bibi Dong still has feelings for me. But I can't influence her now. If I could persuade her to immediately act against the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, I would have done it already," the Grandmaster said helplessly.

"Persuasion won't do. We need to give her a fierce dose that utterly rekindles her hatred of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect—for example: your life." Tang Yuehua let out a cold laugh and spoke ruthless words. "Grandmaster, as long as you die at the hands of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, given how much Bibi Dong cares for you, she will go mad avenging you."

"What? You want me to die?" A chill ran through the Grandmaster. He wanted revenge, yes—but not to die for it. He still had ambitions to fulfill.

"Yes, I want you to die. Grandmaster, I know your ambitions are unfulfilled—but this is the only way. All you need to do is write a heartfelt farewell letter to Bibi Dong, saying that to avenge your disciple, you're going alone to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to fight to the death. Knowing you'll never return, you write to bid her farewell. Fill the letter with your beautiful memories together, and promise that in the next life you'll be husband and wife again, never to part—evoke her love for you as much as possible."

"After it succeeds, I guarantee the Clear Sky Sect will verify and publish your Ten Great Core Spirit Competencies in your name, so your name resounds through history. How about it?" Tang Yuehua tempted.

She was indeed adept at grasping people's hearts. She understood Bibi Dong: for all her brilliance, she was a lovestruck brain when it came to love, and when that took over, her IQ plummeted. The Grandmaster's death would certainly inflame her hatred.

She also understood the Grandmaster: what he cared about most was his theories. Now that Tang San was dead, no one could help him verify them. Becoming a true master of theory had become an empty promise. If, at this time, the Clear Sky Sect—and even the Three Upper Sects—verified and published them, then his theories could truly be carried forward.

"Grandmaster, this is our only chance. If it succeeds, you will not only avenge your disciple, but also use the mutual destruction of the two forces to wipe out the Spirit Empire and save the common people. Then you will be a savior, revered by countless generations for your sacrifice. Please, put the greater good first!" 

Tang Yuehua went straight to her knees—a pure act of moral coercion.

Chapter 507: Tianlin's Counter-Scheme

The Grandmaster fell into deep thought. Destroy the Spirit Hall to rid the world of evil and make a name for himself; destroy the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to avenge his disciple; carry forward the Ten Great Core Spirit Competencies—these were things he dreamed of accomplishing.

Now it would cost only his life to have a chance at achieving them. Why not?

No wonder Tang Yuehua had sent Liu Erlong and Flender away just now. They would never agree. Besides, the fewer people who knew the truth, the better.

But there was still a problem—he didn't want to die. If Tang San were still alive, he might risk his life for his disciple. But Tang San was dead. He couldn't commit suicide for him.

The Grandmaster thought it over. He didn't necessarily have to die. As long as he entered Seven Treasures Mountain in full view and then disappeared, that would suffice.

This would require Tang Xiao's help. As long as they avoided Jun Tianlin, Chen Xin, and Gu Rong, with Tang Xiao's level 97 strength, spiriting him away without a sound wouldn't be difficult. After all, the gap between Yin Yang, the Dragon Duke, and Dugu Bo versus Tang Xiao was still considerable.

"Very well, I agree. But…" The Grandmaster nodded and stated his terms to Tang Yuehua.

Tang Yuehua frowned. Even now, this man clung to life—he wanted Tang Xiao to preserve his life. That would reduce the plan's chances of success. A death needs a body; to make it a fait accompli, you need a corpse.

But there was no helping it. The key to this plan was the Grandmaster. If he refused, nothing else mattered.

"Alright. My elder brother and I will do our utmost to rescue you, Grandmaster. Please rest assured!" Tang Yuehua promised.

Only then did the Grandmaster nod in satisfaction. He proposed to execute the plan in three days, then departed.

Seeing this, Tang Yuehua—for the first time—let a trace of disdain cross her elegant features. The reason the Grandmaster wanted three days—did she really not see through it?

It was a threat. The man was too weak. After he finished the letter to Bibi Dong and sent it, he would have little value left. To ensure the plan's success, the Clear Sky Sect could renege on saving him—or even kill him outright—to make it a fait accompli.

To prevent that, he would write a second backup letter, recording the entire truth, and give it to someone he could leverage. If he survived, the second letter would never see the light of day. If he died, it would mean Tang Yuehua had broken her promise, and that person would expose the truth about his death.

Then the blade of the Spirit Empire would turn from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to the Clear Sky Sect. They were all smart. The Grandmaster knew Tang Yuehua would see through his intent. It was naked intimidation.

As for who would receive that second letter, three candidates were most likely: Liu Erlong, Flender, and Tai Tan. But precisely because they were the most likely, they were the least likely—if everyone could guess it, how would it be safe?

With the Grandmaster's intelligence, he wouldn't overlook that.

Therefore, the recipient had to be someone both useful and unexpected, to avoid being silenced.

When they returned to the main hall, Liu Erlong hurried over. "Xiaogang, what took you so long?"

Yu Xiaogang shook his head. "It's nothing. The matter of the ores has been settled. Let's go back."

Seeing Yu Xiaogang still unwilling to talk, Liu Erlong looked unhappy. What she hated most was the lingering barrier between her and Yu Xiaogang—their inability to be completely open with each other.

Are blood ties really that important? If worst came to worst, they could ignore the wars of the continent and find a place to live in seclusion. No one would know them. They could live as an ordinary couple.

In fact, when Yu Luomian had taken Liu Erlong back, she had slipped away again shortly afterward—with Yu Yuanzhen's consent. Otherwise, how could she, only a Soul Emperor then, have escaped one of the Three Upper Sects, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan?

Yu Yuanzhen did so to fulfill the two of them. As long as they lived incognito and didn't disgrace the family name, he could turn a blind eye.

It was his way of compensating the Grandmaster. After all, not only did he fail to pass on the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon to him, but his martial soul mutated into a useless one.

When the Grandmaster was expelled by the clan's elders, his father was helpless. Yu Yuanzhen had always felt guilty toward this son.

Unfortunately, Yu Xiaogang did not appreciate Yu Yuanzhen's goodwill, intent only on promoting his theories.

The three left the Clear Sky Sect. Watching their receding figures, Tang Xiao asked his sister, "Yuehua, who do you think the Grandmaster will entrust with the letter meant to keep us in check?"

Tang Yuehua shook her head. "I can't guess yet. We need some time. For now, probably only he himself knows. It won't be Tai Tan, nor Flender, and certainly not Liu Erlong—they're far too obvious."

…

Outside the Clear Sky Sect's mountain gate, a disciple of the Speed Clan saw the trio depart and immediately went back to report to Yin Yang, who in turn informed Tianlin and Ning Fengzhi.

"Fengzhi, Xiao Tian, Yu Xiaogang has left the Clear Sky Sect and returned to Heaven Dou City. Will that Tang Yuehua really use the Grandmaster to scheme against Bibi Dong, as you predicted?"

"Don't worry. Tang Yuehua prides herself on mastering people's hearts, not knowing that while she manipulates others, she herself is being manipulated," Tianlin smiled. "At present, the only force capable of dealing with our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is the Spirit Hall. But to make the Spirit Hall abandon the two empires and start a war with us ahead of schedule, the Grandmaster is the only fuse. Two 'onlys' colliding—she has no other choice."

"Sigh. I hadn't intended to target the Grandmaster—he's Yu Yuanzhen's own son," Ning Fengzhi sighed. "But because of his relationship with Bibi Dong, the Evil Sword Immortal has his eye on him. To prevent the Evil Sword Immortal from using him, I have no choice but to kill him."

"If we kill him directly, Bibi Dong will go mad. I still want to buy time, and I'm not ready to clash with the Spirit Hall so soon. So we'll trouble the Clear Sky Sect to force him to his death. When Bibi Dong seeks revenge, let her go after the Clear Sky Sect. She's fighting the Heaven Dou Empire already, isn't she? The Clear Sky Sect, as an ally, ought to lend the empire a hand anyway."

Tianlin nodded. "A soft heart cannot command troops. Though we owe Senior Yu an apology, there's no better way."

"Grandpa Eagle, I have three tasks to trouble you with. First: soon a letter will be sent from Heaven Dou City to the Spirit Hall. You must have people intercept it. This letter is the key to severing the Grandmaster's association with us. Second: find the Grandmaster's second letter. This is the key to shifting the blame onto the Clear Sky Sect. Third: once the above two steps are done, act decisively—kill Yu Xiaogang on the spot!"

After hearing this, Yin Yang said, "Xiao Tian, the first and third tasks are simple for us. But the second—you'll need to give me some clues. Otherwise, how will I know who the Grandmaster gave the letter to?"

Tianlin smiled slightly. "It's simple. First, the second letter is useless if the Grandmaster lives. Publishing it early would only prevent a war between the Spirit Hall and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Therefore, the holder must hate both us and the Spirit Hall, ensuring he won't publish the letter early to stop the war.

"Second, the Grandmaster must ensure that, if he dies, the holder will publish the letter immediately. Therefore, this person must want the Clear Sky Sect exterminated even more than the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

"Thus, the one who wishes both the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the Spirit Hall destroyed, but desires the Clear Sky Sect's extermination even more—and who is near the Grandmaster yet not so close as to arouse suspicion—that is the holder of the second letter. We don't need to seize the letter. We only need to protect its holder."