Five days had passed since Zhuzhu returned to Spirit Hall. During this time, Tang Yu—no, Ye Hao—had diligently studied the Great Sumeru Hammer manual, gaining a deeper understanding of its secrets.
In contrast, Tang Xiao and the other Clear Sky Clan elders had truly begun treating him as the future leader, personally guiding his cultivation whenever possible.
Fortunately, "Tang Yu" was a hardworking disciple, earning praise from Tang Xiao and the others.
Meanwhile, our dear Tang San was having a much less pleasant time.
Lying on his bed in silent contemplation, Tang San seethed with rage. The announcement of Tang Yu as the next clan leader had struck him like a thunderbolt.
"Damn it!" Tang San gritted his teeth, his face twisting in fury.
"He humiliated me. If I don't kill him, I don't deserve to live. But now that he's the heir... does that mean I can't touch him?"
Tang San fell deep into thought.
He had to kill Tang Yu before leaving the Clear Sky Clan. Otherwise, he would never get another chance.
"I have the Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud. With its protection, I can escape safely."
At that moment, his decision was made.
He knew that killing Tang Yu would render his identity as Tang Hao's son meaningless.
By then, not just the Clear Sky Clan, but all five elders, Tang Xiao, and even Tang Yuehua would hunt him down relentlessly.
The entire continent would become his enemy.
"Kill! I must kill him!"
Tang San's eyes burned crimson, as if dripping blood. Murderous intent radiated from his body, chilling the air around him.
"If pushed to the brink, I'll just flee to Sea God Island. Once I inherit the Sea God's power, who on this continent could stand against me?"
A twisted smile crept onto his lips.
He had nothing left to lose—Xiao Wu was dead, his father gone, even his mother had perished. He was truly alone.
Having made up his mind, Tang San slowly rose from his bed. After days of recovery, his injuries were nearly healed, and his soul power had returned to peak condition. In just a few more days, he would be fully restored.
And then... it would be time to leave the Clear Sky Clan.
"That's when I'll strike."
As he stepped out of his room, his gaze locked onto Tang Yu, who had just exited the clan hall.
"Speak of the devil."
Tang San's face contorted with hatred.
Two Clear Sky Clan disciples stood guard outside his quarters—assigned specifically to monitor him.
The moment they saw Tang San emerge, their expressions darkened with disgust.
They tensed immediately. The man before them was no ordinary foe.
Tang San waited silently by the door, watching Tang Yu approach.
---
"I've mastered the Great Sumeru Hammer. With the clan's greatest secret in hand, there's no point staying any longer."
Ye Hao plotted silently, awaiting Zhuzhu's return with Spirit Hall's forces. Once they arrived, the Clear Sky Clan's destruction would begin.
As he walked, his eyes flicked to the side.
"Tang San?"
He paused, spotting Tang San standing rigidly by the entrance, staring at him coldly.
"Talk about bad luck."
Shaking his head, Ye Hao prepared to ignore him.
"Tang Yu."
Tang San's voice stopped him.
"Oh? If it isn't Tang San. What do you want? Need another 'massage'?"
Ye Hao smirked, taunting him openly.
"You—!"
Tang San's rage flared, the air between them crackling with tension.
The two guards immediately stepped forward, summoning their Clear Sky Hammers, their expressions stern.
Tang Yu was now the heir. Tang San, an outsider, held no status here.
If he dared act, these elite disciples wouldn't hesitate to intervene.
"Tang Yu, my injuries are almost healed."
"And?" Ye Hao crossed his arms, raising a brow. "Planning a rematch? Found the clan's food so delicious you want to stay another month?"
His words were a blade to the heart.
For a moment, Tang San nearly lost control, but he forced himself to calm down. His position was precarious.
"What I mean is... when I leave, I hope you'll personally escort me out."
Tang San forced an ugly smile.
"Who the hell do you think you are?!"
One guard sneered. "Demanding an escort from Tang Yu? Take a piss and look at yourself. You think you deserve that?"
"Exactly! A loser who got beaten twice still has the nerve to make requests? Get lost in a few days. I'm sick of babysitting you!"
Their mockery was relentless.
Tang San clenched his jaw. For the sake of his plan, he endured.
Ye Hao's eyes narrowed, studying Tang San carefully.
"Something's off. With his personality, he should be frothing at the mouth to kill me. Why is he talking like this? And asking me to escort him? There's definitely a scheme here."
Without responding, Ye Hao simply waved and walked away, ignoring Tang San completely.
The dismissal made Tang San tremble with suppressed fury.
Once at a safe distance, Ye Hao pondered further.
"Tang San wants me to escort him out? There's definitely a trap. That fake smile of his was downright creepy."
Though poorly executed, Tang San's smile couldn't hide the murderous glint in his eyes. A man like him would never let go of a grudge.
"Now that I'm the heir, and Tang Xiao has ordered him to leave once healed... this is his last chance for revenge."
After careful consideration, Ye Hao reached a conclusion.
"Is he planning to kill me during the escort? Would he really dare?"
The pieces fit.
"Whatever. I need to leave the clan soon anyway. If Tang San kills 'Tang Yu,' the entire Clear Sky Clan will hunt him down. I won't even need to lift a finger."
A slow smile spread across Ye Hao's face.
"Better yet, let him draw their attention while I take care of the rest."
After making his decision, Tang Yu agreed to Tang San's request.
This delighted Tang San immensely. He began preparing in secret, ensuring he could kill Tang Yu with a single strike while plotting his escape route from the Clear Sky Clan. Everything was ready—all that remained was for Tang Yu to take the bait.
Meanwhile, on the day before Tang San's departure...
Zhuzhu returned, bringing with him several elders from Spirit Hall. They waited at the foot of the towering cliff beneath the Clear Sky Clan's mountain stronghold.
Perched atop the mountain, the Clear Sky Clan's headquarters was naturally fortified, with sheer cliffs making it nearly impregnable. A fall from such heights would be fatal to any ordinary person.
Zhuzhu had led the Golden Crocodile Douluo, the Ghost Leopard Douluo, and the Falling Devil Douluo here. Along the way, they had identified many of the clan's hidden sentry posts—proof of their vigilance against a potential Spirit Hall assault.
However, before leaving, Zhuzhu had thoroughly mapped out the clan's defenses. Their infiltration went unnoticed.
After some time, Ye Hao—still disguised as Tang Yu—arrived.
"Young master," the four greeted with clasped fists.
"Welcome, everyone," Ye Hao smiled. He had waited too long for this day.
"Young master, the High Priest has ordered us to follow your instructions. When do we attack?" the Golden Crocodile Douluo asked.
"The plan is set for two days from now," Ye Hao explained. "Tomorrow, I'll escort Tang San out as promised. That's when he'll likely make his move. I'll play along—feigning death by falling from the cliff. This will trigger the Clear Sky Clan's relentless pursuit of Tang San, drawing away part of their forces. The next day, we launch our full assault."
The four nodded in understanding before dispersing to prepare. The coming battle would be brutal.
---
The next morning dawned bright and clear.
Outside the Clear Sky Clan's gates, a group traversed the snow-covered path down the mountain.
Tang San led the way, followed by Tang Yu, with three clan disciples bringing up the rear as escorts.
The descent was silent, the tension so thick it was suffocating.
At the entrance to the iron chain bridge, they halted.
"This is far enough," Tang Yu announced.
Tang San's heart sank. Here, he couldn't guarantee a clean kill. Only on the bridge itself would he have the perfect opportunity—after eliminating Tang Yu, he could sever the chains and escape, making pursuit nearly impossible.
"Brother Tang Yu," Tang San forced out through gritted teeth, "please accompany me a little further. I've reflected on my mistakes. For Aunt Yuehua's sake, grant me this final courtesy."
Just as I suspected. Still scheming.
Ye Hao sighed inwardly.
"Very well. Not like you could scheme anything here anyway," Tang Yu chuckled.
"Tang Yu, be careful!"
"Tang San is treacherous. If anything happens to you, how will we face the clan leader?"
The three disciples protested, wary of Tang San's intentions.
"Relax. With you all here, what can he do?"
As Tang Yu smiled, he secretly activated the Death God's Heart, channeling the Shura God's power in preparation for his "death."
Tang San bowed with feigned gratitude. The moment Tang Yu stepped onto the bridge—
His expression twisted. The triangular mark on his forehead glowed as murderous intent erupted unchecked.
"Vast Sea Cosmic Shroud—activate!"
A deep blue triangular object materialized in his palm—the Sea God's Heart, relic of the Sea God's inheritance.
"Ocean's Demolition!"
With a roar, Tang San poured all his soul power into the artifact. The blue light intensified, unleashing terrifying pressure upon Tang Yu.
"Tang San! You dare—!"
Tang Yu feigned shock. If this was a performance, he'd play his part perfectly.
"You're the one who's doomed!"
Tang San's grin was manic, his eyes alight with bloodlust.
"Did you really think I'd endure this humiliation? Die, Tang Yu! In your next life, learn who not to provoke!"
Laughing wildly, he unleashed Ocean's Demolition.
The three disciples stood frozen in horror. Never had they imagined Tang San would dare attack the clan heir at their very gates!
Summoning their Clear Sky Hammers, they charged forward—only to be blasted off the bridge by the devastating force, plummeting into the abyss below.
Tang Yu "fell" with them. Ocean's Demolition, one of the Sea God's Heart's abilities, bore eerie similarities to his Death God's Heart skill—Death's Descent.
The moment the attack landed, Tang Yu pretended to be grievously wounded, deliberately throwing himself off the cliff.
To any observer, it would appear Tang Yu had been struck down.
And from these heights? No one could survive the fall.
As the four figures vanished into the misty depths, more clan disciples arrived at the scene—just in time to see Tang San sever the iron chains with a single slash.
Standing triumphantly on the opposite cliff, Tang San smirked.
"Tang San! You'll pay for this!" a disciple roared, piecing together what had happened.
"No—you'll all pay. Just wait. I'll be back."
With those parting words, Tang San vanished into the distance.
"Alert the clan leader! Tang San has murdered Tang Yu! The Clear Sky Clan will have his life for this!"
The disciples' fury ignited like wildfire. The clan descended into chaos...
Meanwhile, at the base of the cliff—
Ye Hao shed his Tang Yu disguise, unharmed and smiling.