Right after Dugu Bo returned to the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy—
In the Shrek dorms, Yu Xiaogang was still anxiously waiting for Tang Hao to defeat Dugu Bo and return to deliver the good news.
He was even hoping to get the correct soul power training method from Qi Lin.
But he waited and waited—Tang Hao never showed up.
As night fell, Flender finally turned to him with a helpless look.
"Xiaogang, give it a rest. What if the Titled Douluo who fought Dugu Bo wasn't the Clear Sky Douluo?"
"Impossible. If it wasn't Lord Clear Sky Douluo, who else would battle Dugu Bo at this time?" Yu Xiaogang shook his head firmly. "Flender, you go get some sleep. Maybe Clear Sky Douluo had his reasons for staying hidden. I'll wait a bit longer."
"Fine, suit yourself," Flender replied, turning in for the night.
Meanwhile, deep in Sunset Forest, Tang Hao emerged cautiously from a cave like a thief, his body hunched and movements slow.
Under the moonlight, his face was deathly pale—almost corpse-like.
Though he had managed to suppress his injuries with soul power, the poison Dugu Bo had inflicted far exceeded his expectations.
It wasn't as terrifying as Bibi Dong's poison, but if he didn't neutralize the residual toxins quickly, the aftermath could be disastrous.
Tang Hao had originally planned to return to Holy Soul Village and fuse Ah Yin's hundred-thousand-year Blue Silver Emperor right leg bone, using its formidable regenerative power to heal.
But then he remembered—Tang San was still at the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy. He wanted to get a message to him first.
However, he couldn't be sure Dugu Bo wasn't still lurking around the academy. That made returning far too risky.
Asking someone else to deliver the message wasn't an option either—he didn't trust anyone.
In the end, he had only one option: seek out his younger sister, Tang Yuehua, in Heaven Dou City.
Half an hour later, cloaked in a tattered black robe, Tang Hao silently made his way to the city's most luxurious district. There, he stopped in front of an elegant building.
The structure exuded a refined and classical style, and the sign above the entrance bore two graceful characters: Moon Pavilion.
Moon Pavilion was where the nobles of the Heaven Dou Empire were taught etiquette and manners. Tang Yuehua was its mistress.
In addition to handling the Clear Sky Sect's supply purchases, she also gathered intelligence across the continent, ensuring the sect stayed connected with the outside world.
Before Tang Hao could enter, two young attendants at the gate stopped him.
"Please halt," one of them said with a frown. "The Moon Pavilion does not welcome those who are improperly dressed."
Tang Hao reeked of blood and decay. Combined with his disheveled appearance, it was clear he didn't belong.
But before the man could finish his sentence, Tang Hao cast a cold glance his way.
"Step aside."
In an instant, the young man's body trembled. His mind was flooded with visions of carnage—mountains of corpses and oceans of blood. His face paled in terror, and cold sweat soaked his back.
His companion was no better off. The overwhelming pressure forced them to stumble back, instinctively clearing a path.
Inside the building, two elegantly dressed women looked up in confusion as Tang Hao walked in. How had someone like that gotten past the guards?
Just as they stepped forward to question him, Tang Hao's figure blurred like a ghost and vanished from sight. The next moment, he reappeared on the top floor, guided by memory.
He pushed open a door, revealing a graceful, noblewoman sitting behind a desk.
She appeared to be in her late twenties, dressed in a flowing silver court gown. Her aura was dignified, her beauty radiant.
She was Tang Yuehua—Tang Hao's younger sister.
The moment the door opened, Tang Yuehua instinctively looked up from her book. Upon seeing the figure in the doorway, her eyes widened in shock.
"Second Brother!"
Seeing his empty left sleeve and the near-ruined state of his face, she could hardly believe her eyes.
Was this really the proud, dashing brother she remembered from over a decade ago?
How had he ended up like this?
Without hesitation, Tang Yuehua rose and hurried over to him.
Even though Tang Hao looked like a battered vagrant, she didn't show the slightest hint of disgust. Her voice trembled with worry.
"Second Brother, what happened to you? With your strength, who could possibly injure you like this?"
"Was it the Pope of Spirit Hall?"
Tang Hao, now blind, couldn't see her, but his spiritual senses allowed him to feel her presence. A soft, almost tender expression appeared on his fierce face.
"Yuehua... It's been a long time."
Hearing his voice, Tang Yuehua's eyes reddened.
So much time had passed, and everything had changed.
"Second Brother, stay here and rest. I'll find a healing-type soul master for you right away."
But Tang Hao shook his head.
Right now, his strength was nearly gone. The fewer people who knew of his presence, the better.
And besides, ordinary healing-type soul masters couldn't treat wounds like his.
"I didn't come here for treatment," he said gravely. "I need your help with something else."
Tang Yuehua protested, "But your injuries—if you don't get treatment soon, they could leave lasting damage!"
Tang Hao smiled faintly. "Don't worry. Have you forgotten about the soul bone your sister-in-law left me?"
"The Blue Silver Emperor bone has incredible vitality. Healing isn't a problem."
"If I can find a left arm bone to match, I might even regenerate the limb."
Tang Yuehua's face lit up with joy.
But when she saw his mangled smile, something felt off.
His wife had sacrificed herself to become his spirit ring, and now her soul bone would become part of him too.
It was unsettling.
Yet the hope of healing his wounds eased her heart, and she smiled again.
"What do you need me to do, Second Brother?"
"I need you to deliver a message to Yu Xiaogang at the Heaven Dou Imperial Academy," Tang Hao said. "My son—Tang San—is studying under him there."
"What message?" Tang Yuehua asked seriously.
"Tell him Dugu Bo is far more dangerous than he appears. I've been severely injured and can no longer protect them from the shadows."
"If possible, ask them to leave the academy. Things will get dangerous soon."
Tang Yuehua's expression shifted to shock.
"Wait... are you saying it was Dugu Bo who did this to you?"
Tang Hao nodded.
Tang Yuehua was dumbfounded.
Wasn't Dugu Bo supposed to be the weakest of the Titled Douluo? How could he be this powerful?