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Tang Chen's surrender felt like an invisible giant hammer that ruthlessly struck Tang Hao's heart. Hearing his grandfather's words, Tang Hao immediately fainted. Even though his soul power was sealed, due to his overwhelming emotions, the suppressed power in his dantian clashed violently, causing blood to flow out of his facial orifices.

Looking at Tang Hao in this state, Tang Chen suddenly felt a pang of regret.

However, it wasn't regret for admitting defeat. Instead, he regretted saying that Tang Hao resembled him. Staring at Tang Hao now, Tang Chen felt as if his past words had turned into a heavy boomerang that had slammed back into his face, leaving his cheeks burning with shame.

With a flick of his sleeve, Tang Chen's soul power swept up Tang Hao's prison cart and created distance between them and the surrounding crowd. Once they were far enough to avoid prying eyes, Tang Chen's soul power surged briefly, and the specially crafted metal prison cart instantly shattered into irregular fragments scattered on the ground.

Tang Chen placed a palm on Tang Hao's dantian, and with a slight nudge of his soul power, the seal on Tang Hao's dantian was destroyed. Under Tang Chen's guidance, Tang Hao's soul power began to circulate, slowly pulling him out of his unconscious state.

When Tang Hao woke up, Tang Chen had already withdrawn his soul power. With his back turned, he gazed into the distance like a reclusive sage.

"Grandfather…" Tang Hao murmured as he looked at Tang Chen's back. Tears streamed down his face, and his voice carried a choking sob.

"Life is unpredictable," Tang Chen said. "I had once imagined that after leaving the Clear Sky Sect, I might fall on the path to godhood. I also pondered what would become of the sect after my departure—whether it would flourish or face decline.

"I thought about it a lot. I knew the sect's internal struggles, which was why I fought Qian Daoliu and forced him to vow that the Spirit Hall would never set foot on Clear Sky Peak. I did all this to avoid conflicts between the Clear Sky Sect and the Spirit Hall. Before I left, I even spoke to Zhen'er about this, hoping to prevent the situation we face today."

The "Zhen'er" Tang Chen mentioned was his son, Tang Zhen, who was the father of Tang Xiao, Tang Hao, and Tang Yuehua. Tang Zhen was a titled Douluo with decent talent but had lived his life overshadowed by Tang Chen's legacy, which stifled his potential.

Tang Zhen's most notable trait was his sharp mind, a rare quality within the otherwise reckless members of the Clear Sky Sect. Though prideful, he was also measured and composed. While he didn't inherit Tang Chen's extraordinary talent to elevate the sect to new heights, he was, by typical standards, an adequate leader—capable of stabilizing the sect after Tang Chen's departure. Otherwise, Tang Chen wouldn't have dared to leave so readily.

Hearing his grandfather's words, Tang Hao fell to his knees in shame, pressing his forehead to the ground. His entire body trembled, and he dared not speak a word.

Tang Hao knew how his father, Tang Zhen, had died. He knew why the Clear Sky Sect had fought the Spirit Hall so fiercely, to the point where the sect was now forced into seclusion.

He was painfully aware that he was the greatest sinner in the sect's history. Yet until now, he had never thought he needed to repay the sect with his life.

He had always considered himself untouchable as a Titled Douluo with a hundred-thousand-year soul ring. Moreover, his elder brother, Tang Xiao, was the current sect master. He believed that no one had the right or ability to demand his life. At most, he would pay some price but never his life.

If he didn't want to repay, then he simply wouldn't.

But facing Tang Chen, Tang Hao felt as though a blade was pressed against his neck. The aura of death lingered in his chest, as though one foot had already stepped into the realm of the dead.

"Xiao Hao, tell me the truth," Tang Chen said.

At these words, Tang Hao began pouring out the story he had rehearsed in his heart:

He and Ah Yin were truly in love. They had a child together and planned to return to the Clear Sky Sect to introduce her to his father. But Ah Yin's aura was accidentally exposed, attracting the pursuit of the Spirit Hall. In the end, Ah Yin had no choice but to sacrifice herself. Enraged, Tang Hao killed Qian Xunji with one strike of his hammer.

After finishing his story, Tang Hao nervously looked at Tang Chen. Tang Chen still had his back turned, but his expression darkened further.

"Do you truly love this Ah Yin?" Tang Chen asked.

"Yes, Grandfather. Ah Yin is the love of my life!" Tang Hao answered without hesitation.

"Do you respect me as your grandfather?"

"Of course! You are the person I respect most in this world!" Tang Hao replied, again without hesitation.

"Then tell me, when you struck Qian Xunji, did you truly strike with killing intent? Or did you hold back?"

"This…" Tang Hao's pupils shrank, and he didn't dare answer.

Hearing this, Tang Chen turned around and looked at Tang Hao indifferently.

"Then let me ask you again: was everything that happened back then truly an accident? Do you dare, in the name of the one you love most, the person you respect most, the Clear Sky Hammer, and the honor of the Clear Sky Sect, to repeat your story?"

"I…" Tang Hao opened his mouth wide, sweat pouring down his forehead. After a long time, he collapsed to his knees, sobbing uncontrollably.

"I don't dare…"

"Coward! How could someone as spineless as you be my grandson? A true man should live without shame. As a son, you should honor your parents and respect your elders. As a husband, you should protect your wife and shoulder the responsibilities of the family. As a father, you should be a role model for your children. You, coward, have failed in every way!"

Tang Chen finally erupted in fury. His roar echoed for over ten miles, startling birds and beasts. Even Spirit Hall soul masters in the distance stumbled, feeling as though their minds had been struck by a hammer.

This roar, at such close range, could have shattered Tang Hao's organs and killed him outright. Yet Tang Chen deliberately spared his life.

Looking at the collapsed Tang Hao, Tang Chen's eyes were filled with disappointment. He prepared to hand over this useless grandson to Qian Daoliu for judgment.

If Tang Hao had boldly admitted the truth or confessed that he had made a grave mistake out of a moment of madness, Tang Chen might have risked his dignity to protect him. But Tang Hao's cowardice completely crossed Tang Chen's bottom line, leading him to abandon all hope for his grandson.

Tang Chen prided himself on his flaws—his arrogance, his temper—but he valued strong will and conviction above all else. Only those who upheld their principles, in his eyes, were truly strong.

He despised hesitation and cowardice. Even someone as powerful as Qian Daoliu had earned Tang Chen's disdain for his indecisive nature.

Tang Hao's behavior—his cowardice, hesitation, and scheming—was everything Tang Chen loathed.

If Tang Hao had simply admitted that he killed Qian Xunji out of spite, Tang Chen would have fought Qian Daoliu to protect him. Even if Tang Hao confessed to sacrificing his loved ones intentionally without regret, Tang Chen would have disapproved but acknowledged his resolve.

But Tang Hao's actions—sacrificing his lover for a soul ring, causing his father's death, leading to his clan's downfall, and failing to kill his enemy—were a dance upon all of Tang Chen's principles.

As Tang Chen grabbed Tang Hao by the collar, ready to take him away, Tang Hao sobbed uncontrollably. At that moment, he finally remembered Tang San. Just before Tang Chen could act, Tang Hao revealed Tang San's existence.