Seeing Tang Yuehua's heart-wrenching outburst, Ning Fengzhi sighed deeply.
The Moon Pavilion had been Tang Yuehua's labor of love for nearly twenty years.
As an ordinary person with no martial soul—save for her unique domain—building an institution recognized by the nobility in the imperial capital was an unimaginable struggle.
To put it into perspective, it was like returning home to find the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan gone.
Ning Fengzhi couldn't fathom how he would react in such a situation.
"Sigh…"
"Who is this Tang Yin, anyway?"
To dare humiliate the Heaven Dou Empire so brazenly in public—such malice!
Ning Fengzhi and Ning Rongrong watched silently. Even Dugu Yan, despite having spent over a month with Tang Yuehua, didn't know how to comfort her.
After some time, Tang Yuehua gradually regained composure—or rather, buried her grief deep inside. She staggered toward Ning Fengzhi.
"Sect Master Ning, my apologies for my earlier outburst."
Though tears still glistened in her eyes, her voice betrayed no sorrow.
"I'm afraid I won't be able to continue instructing Miss Dugu Yan for the remaining half-month. In my current state, I'm unfit to guide her properly."
Elegance was tied to one's mental state. Even if she forced herself to ignore events in Heaven Dou, she couldn't calm her mind enough to teach.
Her innate domain, the Noble's Ring, might even carry traces of sorrow, affecting Dugu Yan.
"Madam Yuehua, there's no need to apologize. Disasters—natural or man-made—are often unpredictable."
Ning Fengzhi spoke gently,
"If anything, the fault lies with me. Had I not invited you to the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan, perhaps the Moon Pavilion wouldn't have suffered this tragedy."
"Sect Master Ning, this isn't your fault." Tang Yuehua shook her head.
"The one who destroyed the Moon Pavilion was that vile Tang Yin. Even if I had been there, I'd likely have fallen victim. Instead, you saved my life."
A Soul King capable of killing a Soul Emperor and escaping Zi Ji's grasp?
Tang Yuehua couldn't imagine surviving such an encounter.
Rather, she should be grateful for this month at the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan—it had spared her life.
Truthfully, she couldn't fathom what she had done to provoke such a person.
Not only had they killed her steward and numerous nobles at the Moon Pavilion, but they also shared her surname—Tang.
Truly born evil, deserving of death! A disgrace to the name Tang!
Tang Yuehua bowed slightly. "Sect Master Ning, I must return to Heaven Dou at once. My disciple, Xue Ke, is reportedly on the brink of death."
"Madam Yuehua, rest assured. On behalf of the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan, I guarantee your safe passage to Heaven Dou City."
Ning Fengzhi retrieved a gold card and several vials from his storage tool, handing them to her.
"This is your payment for the two months of instruction, along with some medicinal pills."
"This…" Tang Yuehua hesitated.
"Sect Master Ning, I—"
"Madam Yuehua, please don't refuse." Ning Fengzhi pressed the items into her hands.
"Though the term wasn't completed, your contributions to the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan were immense. Given the circumstances, it would be dishonorable to exploit your misfortune."
"Indeed, Madam Yuehua, please accept them." Dugu Yan added.
Though she knew Tang Yuehua was from the Clear Sky Clan, principles were principles. This was the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Clan's way.
"Then I'll accept graciously." With both insisting, Tang Yuehua took the items. Whether for the Clear Sky Clan or rebuilding the Moon Pavilion, funds were urgently needed.
"Sect Master Ning, when can we depart?" Tang Yuehua was anxious. Given the time it took for the letter to reach Ning Fengzhi, much had likely already transpired.
That born-evil Tang Yin had probably long since vanished.
"Madam Yuehua, please wait another hour." Ning Fengzhi sighed. "Xue Ke's situation is complicated. We'll need Dugu Bo and Ye Renxin to accompany us. I also need to brief the clan."
"Understood, Sect Master Ning." Tang Yuehua nodded.
As the former daughter of the Clear Sky Clan's master, she understood the preparations required for a major sect's departure.
Moreover, Xue Ke's condition necessitated experts like Dugu Bo and Ye Renxin.
She could wait. After so long, an hour wouldn't change much.
Thus, Ning Fengzhi and the others left first.
Sword Douluo went to notify Ye Renxin and Dugu Bo, while Ning Rongrong remained in the hall.
"Rongrong, you were silent earlier. Do you know something about Tang Yin?"
A father knows his daughter best. Ning Fengzhi could tell Ning Rongrong had insights they lacked.
"I'm not sure if my guess is correct." Ning Rongrong shook her head. "The enemy is a plant-type Soul Master who can absorb blood and life force, with what seems like a sinister domain."
The name "Tang Yin"...
Had this not been the Douluo Continent, Ning Rongrong might not have recognized it.
But here, only one person had used that alias—Tang San.
Yet one question puzzled her: "Since when could Blue Silver Grass absorb life force and blood?"
Wasn't that the hallmark of an evil Soul Master?
It was almost like Tokisaki Kurumi, who devoured time.
Though, in the current era, the term "evil Soul Master" didn't yet exist.
At least, before The Unrivaled Tang Sect, Soul Masters were simply categorized as good or bad—those who upheld mainstream values were "good," while indiscriminate killers were "evil."
Of course, such labels were subjective.
"Rongrong, what are you thinking?" Ning Fengzhi's voice snapped her back to reality.
"I…"
Under everyone's gaze, Ning Rongrong hesitated before speaking.
"I'm uncertain about the nature of that domain. But even if my guess is right, we cannot be the ones to voice it."
"Oh?" Bone Douluo raised an eyebrow. "So you do know something?"
"I can't confirm the Soul King's martial soul, but the domain he used against Zi Ji…"
"…was likely the Asura God's Domain, obtained in Slaughter City."
"The Asura God's Domain?!"
After two and a half years, Ning Fengzhi and the others weren't ignorant of Slaughter City's secrets.
Historical records mentioned nine individuals who had acquired the Asura God's Domain.
But that wasn't the point.
The critical detail was that the Asura God's Domain was under the Clear Sky Clan's control.
Did that mean the Moon Pavilion's destroyer was from the Clear Sky Clan?
Had a flood washed over the Dragon King's temple?
How absurd was that?