At noon the next day, several figures of high-level flying-type soul masters streaked across the sky, appearing above the ruins that had once been the Clear Sky Sect's residence.
Seeing a familiar figure standing in front of the ruins below, wings of his martial soul vibrating behind him, the leading middle-aged man, who wore a swan insignia on his chest, descended from the air with his subordinates.
"Greetings, Sword Douluo, Your Majesty. We are members of the Imperial Royal Guest Elder Group. May I dare to ask if Your Majesty knows whose residence this place originally belonged to?"
After examining the scale of the ruined architecture before him, the middle-aged man respectfully stepped forward and asked.
Considering the violent fluctuations of soul power that had spread from this place last night, Emperor Xue Beng had dispatched several flying-type soul masters to investigate.
Chen Xin[ Sword Douluo] glanced at them but did not speak. He simply extended his hand and pointed to a spot not far away.
Following the direction of Sword Douluo's finger, the middle-aged man spotted a massive stone plaque lying shattered on the ground. Although broken into several pieces, he could still clearly tell that when intact, the plaque bore three large characters: Clear Sky Sect.
"What?! Clear Sky Sect?!"
The middle-aged man's pupils shrank violently, his heart shaken to the core.
Gulp—
He swallowed hard, disbelief in his tone as he asked, "Your Majesty, is this truly the hidden residence of the Clear Sky Sect? Doesn't the Clear Sky Sect still have the Titan Douluo in command? Moreover, even if they sealed the mountain and secluded themselves for years, the Clear Sky Sect's strength shouldn't be so weak, right?"
"Did you forget the commotion that spread from here last night? This place is over three hundred li away from both the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and Heaven Dou City, and yet the fluctuations could still be faintly sensed from such a distance. What level of power do you think must have clashed here?"
Sword Douluo replied, his expression dark.
Hearing this, the middle-aged man froze.
Yes, despite being three hundred li away, even Poison Douluo within Heaven Dou City had sensed the battle. The strength of those fighting here must have been extraordinary.
"Could it have been the Spirit Hall?"
The middle-aged man immediately locked onto the prime suspect.
"The old man does not know either."
Sword Douluo shook his head.
Truth be told, when he deduced that these ruins before him were indeed the Clear Sky Sect's hidden residence, he had been utterly shocked as well.
But beyond the shock came another realization that made his heart tremble.
What the hell was this damned Clear Sky Sect trying to do?!
One had to know that before going into seclusion, the Clear Sky Sect's stance had leaned toward the Star Luo Empire.
Although their relationship with the Star Luo Empire was not as close as that between the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the Heaven Dou Empire, in terms of political alignment, because of the opposition between the two great empires, the Clear Sky Sect was an enemy to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the Heaven Dou Empire.
It could be said that apart from cooperating against Spirit Hall, the so-called "Three Upper Sects sharing one breath" was entirely a false front—merely polite words from Ning Fengzhi's mouth.
The Clear Sky Sect's hidden residence was this close to both the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and Heaven Dou City, yet for so many years they had never disclosed it. Sword Douluo had every reason to suspect that if one day the Clear Sky Sect reemerged, they might very well strike first at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, or even collude with the Star Luo Empire to launch a sudden attack on Heaven Dou City!
Having sealed themselves away, the Clear Sky Sect must have been living quite a bitter life—strong but impoverished. Upon emerging, of course they would target their wealthy neighbors to replenish themselves!
Fortunately, last night the Clear Sky Sect suffered misfortune—most likely exterminated. Otherwise, Sword Douluo could foresee the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect facing a great disaster someday.
"Gentlemen, the matter is grave. This old man must take his leave first."
There was nothing more to see in the ruins of the Clear Sky Sect. After a brief word, Sword Douluo flew back toward the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
With the Clear Sky Sect destroyed, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect no longer needed to worry about being spied upon by them. But the implications of this incident were enormous, and he had to return quickly to consult with Ning Fengzhi.
After all, if even the Clear Sky Sect had been exterminated, who could say their sect wouldn't be the next target of the hidden hand behind this?
Three days later, an earth-shattering piece of news erupted from Heaven Dou City, spreading swiftly across the entire continent.
—One of the Three Upper Sects, once hailed as the world's number one sect: the Clear Sky Sect, had been annihilated by unknown powerful enemies!
But before this news had even fully spread across the continent, another shocking revelation followed.
Following the Clear Sky Sect, another of the Three Upper Sects: the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, was obliterated. Aside from a few disciples not present at the clan's residence, all members—including their patriarch, Thunderclap Douluo Yu Yuanzhen—had perished!
Moreover, unlike the Clear Sky Sect's destruction, the mastermind behind the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's annihilation pointed directly to the Spirit Hall.
According to insiders—subsidiary members living at the mountain's foot where the Clear Sky Sect resided—on the night of the sect's destruction, the attackers had not deployed large numbers, seemingly only a few powerful individuals.
But in the case of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, the mastermind had mobilized a vast number of soul masters, conservatively estimated at no fewer than seven or eight thousand.
Only the Spirit Hall, ruler of the soul master world, could possibly muster such a large force.
As for the two empires?
Though they each commanded soul masters in the thousands, mobilizing seven or eight thousand at once would have drained their foundations completely. Such a large deployment could never be kept secret from the continent's other powers.
Thus, even if the Spirit Hall did not openly admit it, the obliteration of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan could only be attributed to them.
As for the Clear Sky Sect's extermination, while the blame was not directly pinned on the Spirit Hall, they remained the prime suspect.
Of course, aside from these two explosive news items, another massive "scandal" recently spread across the continent.
The world-renowned Clear Sky Douluo had fallen within the Balak Kingdom, slain by none other than the Heaven Dou Empire's Elemental Sacred Academy's representative of the younger generation, previous Soul Master Tournament champion team captain, dual martial soul wielder, and possessor of martial soul fusion technique: Mu Yang.
Compared to the destruction of the Clear Sky Sect and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, this news caused far less impact.
Not because no one cared about Mu Yang, but rather because the story seemed far too exaggerated. Most who heard it dismissed it as boasting and did not believe.
What a joke—Clear Sky Douluo Tang Hao was a powerhouse renowned across the continent! The moment he advanced to Title Douluo, he had crushed the former Spirit Hall Pope, Angel Douluo Qian Xunji. No matter how talented a youth might be, even with twin martial souls and martial soul fusion techniques, how could he possibly defeat the Clear Sky Douluo?
One had to remember: just three years ago, during the Soul Master Tournament, Mu Yang had only been at the fifth ring, Soul King level. To claim he could now, three years later, slay Tang Hao? Unless witnessed with their own eyes, who could believe it? That was boasting to the heavens!
Thus, those who heard this news suspected it was a deliberate smear campaign, intended to elevate Mu Yang unrealistically in order to incite others to kill him—eliminating a potential future threat, as well as the Elemental Sacred Academy backing him.
After all, the Elemental Sacred Academy boasted four Douluo-level guardians. Though not among the strongest overall forces, they were undeniably a significant power. For someone to throw dirt on them and draw hatred their way was hardly surprising.
As for who exactly was behind this attempt to "praise and kill" Mu Yang? Well, the answer was obvious.
Many speculated that it was none other than the Spirit Hall—this tyrant of the soul master world. After exterminating two of the Three Upper Sects, they spread this rumor to divert attention from themselves.
For additional chapters
Versatile mage {40 chapters}
Douluo Dalu:This Soul Master is to Weird {30 Chapters}
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