Chapter 321: A Warning! A Choice?
A stick of incense later, on the top floor of the Moon Pavilion.
Sword Douluo's figure arrived silently like a sharp sword, bringing news of a dramatic change in the palace.
After listening to Chen Xin's concise yet heavy narration, Tang Xiao and several accompanying elders, who were originally discussing sect affairs, all changed their expressions drastically.
"What?! Emperor Xue Ye has been placed under house arrest? The palace guards have all been replaced? Even Sect Master Ning's guest elder token is ineffective?!" The hot-tempered Seventh Elder suddenly stood up, his hair and beard bristling, and roared, "This isn't a crown prince overseeing the country, it's clearly a coup!"
"It must be Spirit Hall that made the move!"
The more composed Second Elder frowned, tapping his fingers on the table, and said in a deep voice, "Only Spirit Hall could have silently and completely taken control of the core area of the palace in such a short time, even replacing the Royal Knights. Perhaps the crown prince has also been taken hostage."
"Sect Master Ning means..."
At the same time, Tang Xiao took a deep breath, suppressing his shock, and looked at Sword Douluo.
"The sect leader hopes that the Clear Sky Sect can take immediate action and intervene with overwhelming force, at least to ensure the safety of Emperor Xue Ye and forcibly break the current blockade of the palace." Sword Douluo said solemnly, "The Heaven Dou royal family is about to form an alliance with us. If Emperor Xue Ye is harmed at this time, the empire will be thrown into chaos, the alliance will become empty talk, and it will only embolden Spirit Hall."
As soon as he finished speaking, a debate broke out in the hall.
"Attack! We must attack immediately!"
The Third Elder slammed his fist on the table and stood up, saying, "Since our Clear Sky Sect has decided to fight against Spirit Hall, how can we sit idly by and watch our ally suffer? This is the perfect opportunity to raise the prestige of Clear Sky and severely crush Spirit Hall's arrogance! We must immediately gather our elite forces and launch a direct assault on the palace to rescue Emperor Xue Ye!"
"Don't be reckless!" Upon hearing this, the Fourth Elder immediately objected,
"The palace has become a trap set by Spirit Hall. The enemy is in the dark while we are in the light. We know nothing about their troop deployment or the number of experts. A direct assault is too risky. If the enemy has already laid an ambush, our sect's elite forces may suffer heavy losses! We should first contact Marshal Ge Long and other military forces loyal to the royal family, and coordinate an attack from within and without. That would be the best strategy."
"Wait? Is it too late? Emperor Xue Ye's life hangs by a thread, and Marshal Ge Long is far away on the border, unable to reach here!" The Seventh Elder stepped forward and retorted.
"We can't sacrifice the lives of our sect members! Spirit Hall is full of tricks; who knows if this isn't a diversionary tactic to lure our main force deeper before annihilating them?" The Fourth Elder refused to budge.
"We can send a small group of elite experts, led by the Sect Master himself, to infiltrate the palace and investigate, then act accordingly." Just then, someone proposed a compromise.
"Infiltrate? The palace is now impregnable; how can we infiltrate? Discovery means death."
At this moment, everyone in the hall argued endlessly, each holding their own opinion.
Not far away, Tang Xiao listened silently, his fingers unconsciously stroking the rim of his teacup. After a moment, his gaze swept over the agitated elders, then looked at Sword Douluo Chen Xin, who stood quietly to the side, his sword aura subtly emanating from him, and finally looked up at the palace outside the window.
After a moment, the argument gradually subsided.
Everyone looked at Tang Xiao, awaiting his decision as the Sect Master.
"The elders' words are all reasonable. Spirit Hall has been plotting for a long time, and the Imperial Palace is undoubtedly a den of dragons and tigers. A direct assault would certainly not be wise." Tang Xiao slowly rose from his chair, his tall figure casting a long shadow under the lamplight, and spoke in a steady voice. "However, the life and death of Emperor Xue Ye concerns the survival of the Empire and the grand plan of our sect's alliance. Our Clear Sky Sect cannot stand idly by. Marshal Ge Long is too far away to help in this immediate crisis, and Sect Master Ning needs time to provide support from outside, and His Majesty... may not have that much time."
At this point, he took a deep breath and made a decision.
"We cannot wait, nor can we blindly force our way in. But we can use this as a warning!"
Hearing this, everyone's spirits lifted, and they listened intently.
"I suggest we immediately gather all our disciples of Soul Saint rank and above in Heaven Dou City, and I will personally lead them to the main gate of the Imperial Palace!"
"We will not launch a direct assault, nor will we infiltrate. We will openly and honorably, as the Sect Master of the Clear Sky Sect and an ally of the Empire, request an audience with Emperor Xue Ye to inquire about His Majesty's illness!"
"If those guards dare to openly obstruct us in the name of the Crown Prince, then they have a guilty conscience and are confirmed to be usurpers! At that time, we will have ample reason to launch an attack, and even if it leads to conflict, we will be on the side of righteousness, which can incite other observing forces in the city!"
"If he lets us pass..."
Tang Xiao sneered at this point.
"We'll go in and see His Majesty with our own eyes to confirm his safety. Once we see His Majesty, many things will have room for maneuver, and we can seize the opportunity to act."
"This plan is both offensive and defensive."
"It demonstrates our stance without being overly risky. At the same time, it buys time for Sect Master Ning and Marshal Ge Long, who may arrive, and creates external pressure."
Finally, Tang Xiao looked at Chen Xin, "Sword Douluo, please return immediately and inform Sect Master Ning of our sect's plan, and ask him to cooperate in creating momentum outside, contacting all possible forces to put pressure on the palace."
"Sect Master Tang's insight is brilliant, I will go immediately!" Chen Xin's eyes flashed with approval, and he clasped his hands in thanks.
After Sword Douluo left, Tang Xiao looked around at the elders and said, "Everyone, prepare immediately. Gather at the main gate of the palace in half an incense stick's time! Remember, we are not going to launch a sneak attack, but to visit the sick, to fulfill our alliance! Someone, raise the Clear Sky Sect's banner!"
"Yes! Sect Master!"
Upon hearing this, the elders responded in unison.
Meanwhile, at Tianxing Academy.
Dugu Bo sat in his quiet room, filled with the faint scent of medicine, a note urgently sent by Ning Fengzhi through a secret channel between his fingers. His face was ashen.
The information on the note was brief, yet alarming.
It stated that Emperor Xue Ye had been placed under house arrest, and the Heaven Dou Empire might change hands.
"Grandpa, what did Sect Master Ning say? Should we immediately join the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and try to enter the palace?" Dugu Yan stood beside him, her pretty face filled with anxiety and worry.
She knew that Tianxing Academy and she and her grandfather had long been considered thorns in the side of Spirit Hall due to their positions and relationship with Tang Chuan. Now, with the Heaven Dou royal family in turmoil, she felt the crisis was even more imminent.
Upon hearing this, Dugu Bo slowly stood up. He placed the note over the candle flame, watching it turn to ashes before speaking:
"Yanyan, don't be anxious."
"What Ning Fengzhi said is most likely true. The palace is probably a den of dragons and tigers right now; Spirit Hall must have laid heavy troops and traps."
"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has just suffered a great calamity and hasn't recovered its strength. Although Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo are strong, they can't fight alone. Their contact with us now is both a request for help and a test."
"If we rashly respond and rush in, we might not only fail to save anyone but also get ourselves killed, becoming a target for Spirit Hall's annihilation."
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