abc-du-gratuit Chapter 322 A Warning! A Choice?
Chapter 322 A Warning! A Choice?
Chapter 322 A Warning! A Choice?
After an incense stick has burned, on the top floor of the Moon Pavilion.
Sword Douluo arrived silently like a sharp sword, bringing news of a dramatic upheaval 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 Xueye has been placed under house arrest? The palace guards have all been replaced? Even Sect Leader Ning's guest advisor token is ineffective?!" The hot-tempered Seventh Elder suddenly stood up, his beard and hair bristling, and roared, "This isn't a crown prince overseeing the country, it's clearly a coup d'état!"
"It must be the Spirit Hall that made their move!"
The usually composed Second Elder frowned, tapping his fingers on the table as he said in a deep voice, "Only the Spirit Hall could have so quickly and silently gained complete control of the core area of the palace, even replacing the Royal Knights. Perhaps the Crown Prince has also been taken hostage."
"What Sect Leader Ning means is..."
At the same time, Tang Xiao took a deep breath, suppressed 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 in trouble at this time, the empire will be thrown into chaos, the alliance will become empty talk, and it will only embolden the Spirit Hall."
As soon as he finished speaking, a debate erupted in the hall.
"Attack! We must attack immediately!"
The Third Elder slammed his fist on the table and stood up, saying, "Now that our Clear Sky Sect has decided to step out of seclusion to fight against the Spirit Hall, how can we sit idly by and watch our ally suffer? We should take this opportunity to raise the prestige of Clear Sky and severely crush the Spirit Hall's arrogance! We must immediately gather our elite forces, launch a direct assault on the palace, and rescue Emperor Xue Ye!"
"Don't be rash!" Upon hearing this, the Fourth Elder immediately objected:
"The palace has become a trap set by the Spirit Hall. The enemy is in the dark while we are in the light. We have no idea about their troop deployment or the number of experts. A direct attack is too risky. If the enemy has already laid an ambush, our sect's elite forces may suffer heavy losses! The best course of action is to first contact Marshal Ge Long and other military forces loyal to the royal family, and coordinate an attack from within and without."
"Wait? Is it even possible to wait? Emperor Xueye's life hangs by a thread, and Marshal Gelong is far away on the border, unable to reach him!" The Seventh Elder stepped forward and retorted.
"We can't use the lives of our sect's disciples to pay for this! The Spirit Hall is full of tricks; who knows if this isn't a diversionary tactic to lure our sect's main force deeper into our territory for a final encirclement and annihilation?" The Fourth Elder refused to back down an inch.
"We can send a small group of elite experts, led by the sect leader himself, to infiltrate the palace to investigate, and then act accordingly." Just then, someone proposed a compromise.
"Infiltrate? The palace is now as impregnable as an iron fortress. How can we infiltrate? If we are discovered, we will die."
At this moment, in the hall, everyone held their own opinions and argued endlessly.
Not far away, Tang Xiao listened silently, his fingers unconsciously stroking the edge of the teacup. After a moment, his gaze swept over the emotionally charged elders, then looked at Sword Douluo Chen Xin, who stood quietly to the side, his body radiating sword energy. Finally, he looked up at the direction of the palace outside the window.
After a short while, the argument gradually subsided.
Everyone looked at Tang Xiao, waiting for his decision as the sect leader.
"What the elders say makes sense. The Spirit Hall has been planning this for a long time. The palace must be a den of dragons and tigers. It is not wise to launch a direct attack." Tang Xiao slowly stood up from his chair, his tall figure casting a long shadow under the lamplight, and said in a steady voice.
"However, the life and death of Emperor Xueye is related to the survival of the empire and the grand plan of our sect's alliance. Our Haotian Sect cannot sit idly by. Marshal Gelong is too far away to help in this urgent situation, and Sect Master Ning needs time to provide support from the outside. As for His Majesty... he may not have that much time."
At this point, he took a deep breath and made a decision.
"We can't wait, nor can we blindly force our way in. But we can use this as a warning!"
Upon hearing this, everyone perked up and listened intently.
"I suggest we immediately gather all our disciples of Soul Saint rank and above in Heaven Dou City, and, under my personal leadership, proceed 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 Haotian Sect and an ally of the Empire, request an audience with Emperor Xueye to inquire about His Majesty's condition!"
"If those guards dare to openly obstruct us in the name of the Crown Prince, then they have something to hide 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 attract the attention of other observing forces in the city!"
"If he lets them pass..."
At this point, Tang Xiao gave a cold laugh.
"Then we will go in and see His Majesty with our own eyes to confirm his safety. Once we see His Majesty, there will be room for maneuver in many matters, and we can seize the opportunity to act."
"This strategy allows for both offense and defense."
"This demonstrates our stance without taking excessive risks. At the same time, it buys time for Sect Leader Ning and Marshal Golong, who may arrive, and creates external pressure."
Finally, Tang Xiao looked at Chen Xin and said, "Sword Douluo, please return immediately to inform Sect Master Ning of our sect's plan, and ask him to cooperate in creating momentum outside and contacting all possible forces to put pressure on the palace."
"Sect Leader Tang's insight is brilliant! I'll go right away!" Chen Xin's eyes flashed with approval as he clasped his hands in a fist salute.
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 and to fulfill our alliance! Men, raise the Haotian Sect's banner!"
"Yes, Sect Master!"
Upon hearing this, all the elders responded in unison.
...............
Meanwhile, at Tianxing Academy.
Dugu Bo sat in his quiet room, which was filled with a faint fragrance of medicine, with a note urgently sent by Ning Fengzhi through a secret channel between his fingers. At this moment, his face was as calm as still water.
The information on the note was brief, yet thrilling.
The sign read that Emperor Xueye had been placed under house arrest and that the Heavenly Dou Empire might change hands.
"Grandpa, what did Sect Leader Ning say? Should we immediately join the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School and try to enter the palace?" Dugu Yan stood to the side, her pretty face full of anxiety and worry.
She knew all too well that Tianxing Academy and the two of them, grandfather and grandson, had long been regarded as a thorn in the side by the Spirit Hall because of their stance and relationship with Tang Chuan. Now that the Heaven Dou royal family was 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 by now, and the Spirit Hall must have laid down heavy troops and traps."
"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile School has just suffered a great calamity and has not yet recovered its strength. Although Sword Bone Douluo is strong, he can't fight alone. Their contact with us now is not only a request for help, but also a test."
"If we respond rashly and rush in, we may not only fail to save people, but also get ourselves killed and become targets for the Spirit Hall to eliminate."
(End of this chapter)