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Three hundred miles east of Heaven Dou City lay a vast mountain range, its peaks blanketed in snow and shrouded in mist. Figures moved busily along the slopes, reinforcing the iron chains that connected the cliffs on either side.
Beyond these smaller peaks stood an imposing mountain, its interior hollowed out and transformed into an impregnable fortress. This was the hidden stronghold of the Clear Sky Sect—the very battlefield where Tang Chen and Qian Daoliu had fought their final duel.
Years ago, Qian Daoliu had been defeated by Tang Chen in a single strike on this very ground. He had sworn that until he could surpass Tang Chen, no member of Spirit Hall under his command would be permitted to step foot into this mountain range.
Suspended in midair, hands clasped behind his back, an elderly man with a head of white hair watched over the Clear Sky Sect disciples as they reinforced the chains. If an accident occurred, he would intervene. He was the last remaining Titled Douluo of the Clear Sky Sect—its Sixth Elder.
He lifted his gaze toward the main peak of the Clear Sky Sect and let out a long sigh.
"I wonder how the sect is faring now..." he murmured.
Inside the Fortress
Within the main peak of the Clear Sky Sect, Tang San sat cross-legged, frantically cultivating. Thanks to the sect's healing-type soul masters and a wealth of rare medicinal herbs, his injured right leg had completely recovered.
A gentle, melodious voice called from outside the door.
"Xiao San, it's time to eat."
"Auntie, you go ahead. I'd like to train a little longer," Tang San replied with a smile as he opened his eyes.
Tang Yuehua stepped inside, ruffling his hair with a soft chuckle.
"Silly child, working hard is good, but you need to eat well to have the strength to cultivate properly. You're still growing, and since we've only just settled here, we need a lot of energy to build things up. Those little ones are starving—they might even take your portion if you don't hurry."
Hearing this, Tang San nodded and followed Tang Yuehua to the dining area.
Since word of the Clear Sky Sect's downfall had yet to reach them, the disciples who had relocated to this harsh environment remained confident in their sect's strength. They believed they would eventually drive Spirit Hall back and return home victorious. Because of this, they harbored little resentment toward Tang San.
After finishing his meal, Tang San returned to his quarters and retrieved an exquisitely crafted silk pouch from Twenty-Four Moonlit Bridges at his waist. This was something Tang Xiao had given him before he left for the mountains, instructing him to keep it safe and never open it unless absolutely necessary.
Outside the Clear Sky Sect's Hidden Grounds
In a small village near the sect—home to its affiliated clans—disciples carried hoes over their shoulders, making their way toward the houses where cooking smoke curled into the sky, ready for their midday meal.
Just then, three figures approached the village from the outskirts. They were clad in golden armor.
The man on the right had short hair, an average build, and a muscular frame. The one in the center was tall and thin, resembling a bamboo pole. The man on the left wore heavy makeup, his skin as smooth as a newborn's.
A moment later, a shadowy figure emerged from the ground, wearing a mask that concealed all emotion. He gave a silent nod to the three men beside him.
These four were none other than Chrysanthemum Douluo, Ghost Douluo, Snake Spear Douluo, and Porcupinefish Douluo—Titled Douluo who had been cast out of Spirit Hall.
A burly middle-aged man stepped forward, eyeing the fully armed strangers warily. He spoke firmly, his tone guarded.
"Please leave. Outsiders are not welcome here."
Even as he spoke, his hand instinctively moved toward his back.
Chrysanthemum Douluo chuckled, a hint of amusement in his voice.
"Outsiders? Oh, but we are not outsiders."
Hearing this, the man's tense expression eased slightly.
"Are you here to take us away?" he asked hesitantly.
Chrysanthemum Douluo shook his head with a smile.
"No. We're here to send you away—to the afterlife."
"You're from Spirit Hall!"
The man's face contorted in fear, and he bellowed, "Enemy attack! Enemy attack!"
Chrysanthemum Douluo's nine soul rings—two yellow, two purple, and five black—flashed into existence as he soared into the sky, his Strange Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum martial soul radiating an eerie light over the village below.
"Ninth Soul Skill—Chrysanthemum Remnants, Scattered Wounds, Flowers Fall, Hearts Break!"
Chrysanthemum Douluo's ninth soul ring flared beneath him as his Strange Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum bloomed radiantly. Its delicate petals rained down over the village, but in the blink of an eye, they transformed into razor-sharp blades, sweeping through every house and alley.
Blood splattered. Agonized screams filled the air.
In mere seconds, the once-peaceful village was reduced to a slaughterhouse. Hundreds of people were annihilated in a single strike, and most of the village's homes were shredded by the relentless storm of petals. The tranquil settlement, which had moments ago been filled with warmth and life, was now nothing more than a hellscape of ruin and corpses.
With the Clear Sky Sect's affiliated disciples wiped out, the four Titled Douluo shot into the sky, heading straight for the main peak.
---
Clear Sky Sect's Main Peak
Within the fortress, the Clear Sky Sect disciples felt four overwhelming soul power fluctuations descending upon them. A wave of panic spread through the crowd. Instinctively, everyone rushed toward the main hall like ants scrambling in a pot, their fear growing by the second.
"Gu Gu, this kind of soul power… they must be Titled Douluo! Could it be Spirit Hall?!"
Tang San's face turned pale with despair. Four Titled Douluo were attacking, and their sect only had one—a single 91st-ranked Titled Douluo, the Sixth Elder. If a battle broke out, it would be a massacre. Did this mean he would never have a chance to avenge his father?
"Calm down, Xiao San."
Tang Yuehua remained composed, her noble temperament unwavering. Activating her Noble's Halo, she soothed the restless disciples around her, dispelling their fear.
"Remember, Tang Chen and Spirit Hall's Grand Worshipper, Qian Daoliu, made a pact long ago—no one from Spirit Hall is allowed to step foot in this mountain range. Qian Daoliu is a coward; Spirit Hall wouldn't dare break the agreement."
Her words steadied some of the disciples, but uncertainty still lingered in the air.
"Everyone, remain calm!"
The Sixth Elder's voice boomed as he soared out of the fortress, facing the four approaching Titled Douluo. However, as he locked eyes with them, his heart clenched.
Each of these four was stronger than him.
Suppressing his unease, he took the initiative and spoke coldly, "Chrysanthemum Douluo, Ghost Douluo, Snake Spear Douluo, Porcupinefish Douluo—what is the meaning of this? You should know that our ancestor, Tang Chen, has a pact with Grand Worshipper Qian Daoliu. No one from Spirit Hall is allowed to enter this mountain range. Do you intend to violate that agreement?"
Though he desperately wanted to ask about the fate of the sect, his top priority at this moment was ensuring the survival of the younger disciples.
Chrysanthemum Douluo let out a faint chuckle.
"Tang Wei, do you even have the right to speak of agreements?"
His golden eyes narrowed as he continued, his voice laced with resentment.
"If it weren't for your Clear Sky Sect and Tang Hao, we wouldn't have been cast out of Spirit Hall by His Holiness the Pope. We're not here for Spirit Hall today—we're here for revenge."
Tang Wei's expression froze.
"You're… not with Spirit Hall anymore? What do you mean?"
Ghost Douluo's eerie voice drifted through the air.
"Your Clear Sky Sect's Tang Hao committed treason and smashed Spirit Hall's very foundation. We failed in our mission to stop him, and His Holiness lost all faith in us. We were expelled."
Snake Spear Douluo sneered.
"We have nothing left—no status, no resources, not even a place in the Spirit Master world. We've lost everything because of your Clear Sky Sect. Someone has to pay for that."
Porcupinefish Douluo flashed a sharp grin, revealing his gleaming white teeth.
"But the Pope made us an offer—if we exterminate your Clear Sky Sect, we can atone for our failures. Not only will we be reinstated, but we'll also be rewarded with a spirit bone."
His grin widened.
"So, Tang Wei… your sect's fate is sealed."
(End of Chapter)