The discussion among the three men about Tang Hao defeating a Rank 95 Super Douluo right after advancing to the Title Douluo level had come to an end.
Although Ning Fengzhi was deeply shocked by the news, he didn't dwell on it too much.
Due to inherent flaws in his martial soul, he would never be able to break through to the Spirit Douluo level, let alone Title Douluo.
That was simply not a realm he could ever reach—or needed to concern himself with.
What truly occupied Ning Fengzhi's mind was the news that the Spirit Hall had declared war on the Clear Sky Clan.
Just the thought of it made him frown in worry and anxiety.
To be honest, Ning Fengzhi had never wished for a clash between Spirit Hall and the Clear Sky Clan.
He didn't want the fragile balance of the continent to be broken.
Currently, Spirit Hall and the Clear Sky Clan were the two most powerful factions on the continent.
Their delicate balance of power was extremely favorable for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan.
The clan needed time—time to grow, to strengthen.
Only with a stable world could he seize that time to expand the clan's influence.
If war broke out between Spirit Hall and the Clear Sky Clan, it would inevitably lead to a bloody conflict with no end in sight. No matter who won—or if both sides suffered heavy losses—the balance would be shattered.
And for the relatively stable current situation of the continent, that would spell disaster.
It also ran counter to the interests of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan.
If either side emerged victorious, it would mean the weakening—or even destruction—of the other.
And the victor would grow stronger.
Naturally, their next target would be none other than the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan.
After all, they were the second-ranked sect in the entire realm.
If both Spirit Hall and the Clear Sky Clan ended up severely wounded, it would embolden the other sects to make their moves.
Even the Star Luo Empire, which had long coveted the Heaven Dou Empire, might take the opportunity to launch a war. The continent would be engulfed in flames, and countless innocents would suffer.
As a loyal supporter of the Heaven Dou royal family, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan would not be spared. They would inevitably be dragged into the chaos, with no chance to continue developing their strength.
Ning Fengzhi had a keen strategic mind. He could see far into the future.
But no matter how he looked at it, once war erupted between Spirit Hall and the Clear Sky Clan, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan would only lose.
"Uncle Sword, Uncle Bone," Ning Fengzhi turned to the two elders who had now calmed down. "What do you make of Spirit Hall's declaration of war on the Clear Sky Clan? Do you think there's any chance of reconciliation between them?"
Even though he understood in his heart that the two sides had already torn off all pretense of civility, he still clung to a sliver of hope.
Ning Fengzhi wanted to play the mediator, to bring peace through diplomacy.
After all, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan was, in essence, a support-type sect.
Despite Ning Fengzhi's incredible talent and wisdom—having led the clan to unprecedented heights at a young age and securing its rank as second among the Upper Three Clans—they were, in truth, not particularly powerful on their own.
The clan's prestige rested almost entirely on him and the two Guardian Douluos.
Sword Douluo lowered his head and pondered briefly, then replied in a deep voice:
"It's unlikely. After all, killing the former Supreme Pontiff and several elders is an unforgivable crime. Spirit Hall will never let Tang Hao off. The only way to reconcile is if the Clear Sky Clan hands over Tang Hao themselves. But that's nearly impossible. You know better than anyone how the Clear Sky Clan is—unyielding, forceful, and fiercely protective of their own."
Bone Douluo nodded and added:
"Spirit Hall's attitude is also unusually resolute. They've made it clear they won't back down. There's no sign of compromise. It seems they're fully prepared for an all-out war with the Clear Sky Clan."
"They even issued a threat—any faction that maintains contact with the Clear Sky Clan will be considered an enemy. They're ready to go to war over it."
Bone Douluo was visibly displeased and sneered coldly:
"Hmph! Spirit Hall really knows no bounds. They're domineering to the extreme—now they want to dictate terms to us, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan? They're treating us as if we don't even matter!"
Sword Douluo spoke again, voice low and gruff:
"With Spirit Hall's strength, perhaps they really don't see us as a threat."
Ning Fengzhi's expression darkened. He too was unhappy with Spirit Hall's actions—especially since their threats directly involved the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan.
The clan had built its empire through commerce, and the wealth it controlled was comparable to that of a nation.
Naturally, they had extensive trade relations with the Clear Sky Clan—one of the major sources of their immense fortune.
Now, with just a single threat from Spirit Hall, they were expected to sever all ties? Though it wouldn't cripple them, it would still be a significant loss.
"Sigh..."
Ning Fengzhi let out a deep sigh. "This matter is beyond our ability to interfere in. Spirit Hall's fury is not something we can withstand. As for the Clear Sky Clan… we can only say we're sorry."
"Pass down the order—temporarily suspend all trade with the Clear Sky Clan. Send a letter to explain the situation afterward."
In the end, Ning Fengzhi chose to stay on the sidelines—fearing that taking a stand would bring disaster to his doorstep.
He decided to comply with Spirit Hall's demands.
Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan
Three sides surrounded by nine peaks, bordered by water on the fourth, the terrain was steep and majestic. The location was superb, and the scenery breathtaking.
Atop the highest of the nine peaks—
The clan's grand hall stood tall and proud.
Seated at the highest throne, carved with the lifelike image of a Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, was a tall, imposing elder clad in a regal blue dragon robe and crowned with a nine-spike True Dragon diadem.
His hair was graying, his beard thick, and his eyes sharp and domineering.
His name—Yu Yuanzhen.
He was the patriarch of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
Currently, he was a Rank 92 Power Attack–Type Title Douluo.
His spirit was the legendary beast-type martial soul, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon—revered as the mightiest of beast spirits, imbued with supreme lightning attributes.
At this moment, he was reading the intelligence just delivered from Spirit City.
When he saw the report that Tang Hao had killed Qian Xunji, Yu Yuanzhen was also stunned—but that quickly gave way to bitter mockery.
The thought that a mighty Rank 95 Super Douluo like Qian Xunji had died at the hands of a newly ascended Title Douluo was simply laughable to him.
"Hahahaha—! Qian Xunji, what a joke! If I had your strength, even a hundred Tang Haos wouldn't threaten me. At Rank 95, I would be invincible among my peers. Those below me wouldn't even be worth my time—hell, even Rank 96 Super Douluos wouldn't scare me!"
Yu Yuanzhen firmly believed that, as the patriarch of the True Dragon Clan, he feared no one.
A True Dragon should reign supreme.
Then, when he read that Spirit Hall had declared war on the Clear Sky Clan, his laughter grew louder—his grin stretching to his ears.
Delighted by their misfortune, he sneered:
"Let them fight—fight to the death! Let them destroy each other!"
Unlike Ning Fengzhi, Yu Yuanzhen didn't think that far ahead.
He believed that the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, the oldest of the Upper Three Clans and deepest in heritage, was being treated unfairly by Spirit Hall—ranked third among the great sects.
To him, it was absurd that the noble True Dragon Clan should be overshadowed by Spirit Hall, the Clear Sky Clan, or the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan.
Now that Spirit Hall and the Clear Sky Clan were at each other's throats, Yu Yuanzhen saw only opportunity.
He chose to stay out of it—for now—and wait for a chance to fish in troubled waters.
"Hahahaha—!"
With his decision made, Yu Yuanzhen laughed heartily in the grand hall, his voice echoing through the mountains.