"What did you say?"
The Elders glared at Tang Yuehua with furious indignation.
"Girl, you must have been away from the sect for too long, forgetting our clan's rules."
"Do you dare to say we are inferior to some brat?"
Tang Xiao, originally seething with anger, changed his expression upon seeing the Elders truly angered by Tang Yuehua.
He rebuked, "Yuehua, stop causing trouble, quickly apologize to the Elders."
"I haven't said anything wrong, why should I apologize?" Tang Yuehua stood tall with her captivating figure, beautiful eyes showing no submission or fear, only pride, a woman's confidence in a man.
Tang Xiao gave a respectful gesture towards the many Elders.
"My younger sister has spoken hastily, I hope the Elders can be magnanimous."
"This matter, we should discuss further and more carefully."
"Ha, Tang Xiao, you truly have a good sister there, defying the Elders outright." The seventh Elder said sarcastically, "Where should we put our old faces, then?"
Tang Xiao gave a wry smile, "I apologize on my sister's behalf for her offense."
Seeing her older brother speaking up for her, Tang Yuehua, who was someone aware of propriety, softened her gaze.
"Big brother, you don't have to apologize for me."
"What I said was indeed the truth, not a shred of falsehood."
Just as Tang Xiao opened his mouth to speak, he was interrupted by the seventh Elder.
"Ha, you're saying that all of us Elders are inferior to a mere brat?"
"Among us seven Elders, four are Titled Douluos."
"Your older brother himself possesses the supreme power of a Hyper Douluo."
"All of us inferior to some kid? What a joke."
"Don't talk about several decades from east to west of the river, even if that kid has potential, let him cultivate for another twenty years, he would still not be worthy to carry our shoes."
Tang Yuehua's beautiful eyes seemed to be shooting flames.
But she quickly calmed down.
"Seventh Elder, you should watch how you speak, otherwise, you might have to eat your words later."
"What do you mean? Do you truly believe that your little lover will be our match in twenty years?" the seventh Elder's face darkened, "Then let him cultivate for another twenty years before we talk.
"Enough!"
At this moment, Tang Xiao's aura surged, his powerful presence suppressing the entire hall.
There appeared exactly nine Soul Rings at his feet.
The oppressive might, far surpassing that of an ordinary Titled Douluo, reverberated throughout the area.
The noise in the air abruptly quieted.
His eyes revealed the unique authority of a Sect Master.
"There's no need to argue about this any longer."
"Yuehua, you must stop this nonsense."
"If the four Titled Douluo Elders were to join forces, even I would have to avoid their edge, let alone your young lover would not be their match even after another forty years of cultivation."
"You've now lost your reason; it's better you don't leave the mountain and stay here instead."
Tang Yuehua's expression changed.
"Big brother, you too stand with the Elders?"
"Are you confining me?"
Tang Xiao softened his expression, his tone gentler, "It's not confinement, but for you to calm down on the mountain, to prevent you from being deceived and wronged.
Tang Yuehua's beautiful face turned sour.
"Big brother, you have been isolated in the mountain for too long, too long out of touch with the outside world."
"Even your thoughts have become conservative."
How could such a good sister of the past now talk back like this?
Tang Xiao felt heartbroken and said, "Big brother will not let you be with that man who has wronged you so deeply again."
"You can't stop me; I'm already his woman," Tang Yuehua answered resolutely, "both heart and body."
"What?"
The seven Elders stood there stunned; Tang Yuehua, who had always been the most rule-abiding, had given herself entirely to someone before marriage?
Tang Xiao seemed possessed by a madness, his eyes instantly turned red compared to the Elders who were struck by lightning.
He flashed to Tang Yuehua's side.
"Sister, what are you saying?"
"That thief has taken your body?"
"Ah!"
Tang Xiao roared, "Tell me, where is that thief? Big brother will capture him and bring him back for you."
Tang Yuehua replied indifferently, "Big brother needn't be angry; it was all my willing choice."
"Hiss—"
A series of sharp intakes of breath could be heard in the room.
Tang Xiao felt a cold tremor of despair.
"Beyond cure, beyond cure!"
Tang Yuehua wore a look of confusion.
"Big brother, why do you and the Sect Master also refuse to believe in my judgement?"
"Why so mercenary?"
"He truly is a unique man in the world."
"Oh? Then tell me, what's so special about that kid?" the third elder folded his arms.
The seventh elder showed disdain, "Third Elder, have you lost your mind? A youngster like you, what capabilities could you possibly have that would catch our attention?"
"Let's first listen to what Yuehua has to say." The third elder seemed to be offering help but was in fact arrogant.
"Look!"
Tang Yuehua said, then stimulated her Martial Soul.
One by one, Soul Rings rose.
Yellow, Yellow, Purple, Purple, Black.
A total of five Soul Rings, the cultivation level was not high, but the air seemed to freeze in that instant.
Tang Xiao's shocked eyes went wide, forgetting Luo Yu's matter entirely.
"Yue... Yuehua... weren't you born with a flawed Martial Soul?"
"Right, weren't you never supposed to break through level ten?" the third elder also faltered.
Tang Yuehua sneered.
"What you should care about, you don't, and what you shouldn't care about, you worry blindly."
"I've been back for so long, haven't any of you noticed I've become a Soul King?"
Tang Xiao asked anxiously, "How did you break through the shackles of your Martial Soul? It's inconceivable."
Tang Yuehua lifted her smooth and fine neck proudly.
"Naturally, it is thanks to the grace of my man."
"He just lifted his hand, and the problem with the shackles of my Martial Soul was solved."
"No, that's impossible."
The seventh elder shook his head repeatedly, but he couldn't help but believe.
After all, the evidence was right before his eyes.
Tang Xiao was dumbfounded. He considered himself exceptionally strong, with high status and authority, yet he had never heard of anyone who could solve the innate defects of a Martial Soul.
Tang Yuehua, seeing everyone's shock, was very pleased with this effect.
These people had just used seniority to pressure her, dismissing her man without waiting for her to finish introducing Luo Yu, just because they heard he was young and had no sect.
The seventh elder felt a sting of embarrassment at this time, not expecting to be proven wrong so swiftly.
However, in a rush to cover himself, he still said, "Maybe that kid just got lucky and found some treasure."
"It seems that he is just a lucky youngster."
"To be worthy of our Hao Tian Clan, he is still far too lacking."
Tang Yuehua became annoyed, thinking, who are you to be sarcastic here?
She wished she could deal the old man a blow, as he was clearly trying to make things difficult for her.
Unable to contain her dissatisfaction, she said:
"There, I'll be straightforward. My man's strength is not just on par with a Titled Douluo; the forces he has connections with are beyond any of your imaginations."
The whole room first fell silent, then erupted into laughter.
The seventh elder laughed loudly, "They say a woman in love loses her mind, but you shouldn't be this delusional."
"How can such a young man's strength be on par with a Titled Douluo? Dreaming of advancement isn't this fast."
"Indeed, as the owner of the top-tier Martial Soul and the Hao Tian Clan, I've practiced for over seventy years and have just barely become a Titled Douluo. What makes that kid qualified?" the third elder expressed disbelief, "By boasting alone?"
Tang Xiao tried to reason, "Yuehua, even if it's for the sake of saving face, we can't just say unreliable things!"
"Claims without evidence can't just be bandied about." the fifth elder added.
"I..." Tang Yuehua, trembling with anger, couldn't find the words to retort.
"Where is that kid?" Tang Xiao asked, "Bring him here to meet us, then won't everything become clear?"
Tang Yuehua pursed her red lips and looked down, "I... I don't know where he is?"
"He took advantage of you and then ran off?" the seventh elder reprimanded angrily.
"No, he's not that kind of person," Tang Yuehua countered.
"He told me before he left that he was going to save our great ancestor."
Tang Xiao and the others were first stunned, then scolded:
"Yuehua, have you lost your mind?"
"How can you believe whatever others tell you?"
"Where our great ancestor is, we don't know; how could an outsider claim to know?"
"What cultivation level does our great ancestor have, to be in a situation where he's in danger? What can that kid possibly do to help?"
The seventh elder spat coldly, "It's clear he's just deceiving you, Yuehua."
"I... won't be, he would absolutely not deceive me," Tang Yuehua said with a pale face, but her eyes were resolute.
The elders shook their heads and sighed, full of sympathy, convinced that Tang Yuehua had been duped emotionally.
Tang Xiao was uncontrollably angry.
At this moment, the entire hall suddenly shook violently, and a strong light shot towards them from afar.
Boisterous laughter followed.
"Hahaha."
"Hao Tian Clan, your great ancestor has returned; aren't you coming out to welcome me?"