"Zhexian, you're finally back."
Dugu Bo rose to greet him.
"If you'd been any later, this old man might've gone to the Extreme North to drag you back myself."
"I must apologize for letting Senior Dugu worry."
Li Zhexian had no doubt that Dugu Bo's words were entirely sincere.
The two stepped into the pavilion and sat facing one another.
Dugu Bo lifted a jade-green wine pot, poured out a cup of shimmering spiritual liquid, and placed it before him.
"Here, Zhexian — taste this. It's my own brew of spirit essence.
It may not match your fine wine, but it has its own charm."
Li Zhexian accepted it with both hands and downed it in one gulp.
As Dugu Bo had lifted his hand to pour, the flow of his aura had been deep and steady, his spirit round and complete—he now carried the bearing of a true grandmaster.
Setting the cup down, Li Zhexian's gaze paused briefly on the streaks of green and red in the elder's hair.
"Zhexian congratulates Senior Dugu on his success."
"Hahaha! It's all thanks to that Ten Headed Fierce Yang Serpent core you gave me."
Dugu Bo laughed heartily, then waved his hand dismissively.
"Enough about this old man.
Zhexian, your aura…"
The present Li Zhexian's Spirit Power, body, and spiritual strength had merged seamlessly into one.
If he did not deliberately release his power, even Dugu Bo could not perceive its depth.
As he looked across at the young man in white, a faint trace of awe flickered through the elder's mismatched eyes.
Though he could not fathom Li Zhexian's exact strength, the brilliance in that youth's gaze was so piercing it made even him avert his eyes slightly.
Li Zhexian's hand paused upon the wine pot—
A vast pressure surged outward.
Flowers and leaves in the courtyard whirled up as if in a storm.
Level 65 Spirit Power!
After absorbing the hundred-thousand-year Spirit Ring, Li Zhexian's Spirit Power had leapt straight to level 65!
"This…"
Dugu Bo's eyes narrowed sharply.
"Five levels in one month?!"
He clearly remembered:
when Li Zhexian had been taken by the Snow Maiden, he had just reached Level 60 —
they had even discussed finding his next Spirit Ring.
And now—
Level 65!
Dugu Bo understood all too well what that meant.
He took a sip of his Spirit Essence, suppressing his inner shock, and sighed.
"When this old man first met you, I merely admired your extraordinary talent and your purity of heart—unfettered by the world.
"I never imagined that in just a few short years, you would stand among the top experts of the continent.
"At Spirit King, you could already defy and slay a Spirit Douluo.
"Now as a Spirit Emperor, with your strength rising once more… even an ordinary Titled Douluo may not easily defeat you."
Li Zhexian only smiled, saying nothing.
"Zhexian," Dugu Bo continued, "you now have the qualifications to intervene in the struggles of the highest circles."
"Have you heard? The Spirit Hall has convened a Seven Sects Re-Selection Assembly."
Li Zhexian's expression grew more solemn.
"I just returned to the city and heard rumors along the way."
"The Spirit Hall suffered defeats at both the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan and in the Star Dou Forest.
"This assembly is partly to reestablish their authority—and partly to purge those who refuse to submit."
Dugu Bo nodded approvingly.
"The Upper Three Sects all have Titled Douluo to guard them—making them the Spirit Hall's primary targets.
"As for the Lower Four Sects—Feng Bailong has broken through to Titled rank; the Wind Sword Sect is now the foremost of the four —
and the only one that still refuses to submit to Spirit Hall."
"Spirit Hall won't let them go."
Li Zhexian's sword-brows furrowed.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, and the Wind Sword Sect—these were the three obstacles the Spirit Hall most wished to eliminate.
"Were it not for Seniors Chen Xin, Feng Bailong, and Yu Yuanzhen's protection, I might already have perished at Bibi Dong's hands.
"This Seven Sects Re-Selection—I cannot, and will not, remain a bystander."
At that thought, Li Zhexian lifted his eyes and asked solemnly,
"Senior Dugu, in what form will this re-selection take place? Will it be the disciples competing?"
If it were merely a contest among the younger generation, he would gladly have those youths stand together.
Dugu Bo looked at the white-clad youth before him—his aged face showing both helplessness and deep admiration.
He had long known it would be so.
Li Zhexian would never stand idly by.
And that was precisely why he, Chen Xin, and Feng Bailong were willing to protect this youth's path.
As the saying goes—
"True friendship is proven in hardship; only fire and snow reveal a heart of gold."
"The re-selection of the sects determines the status of each clan—it concerns the entire balance of the continent. It's no childish game like the Spirit Master Tournament."
Dugu Bo paused, then said slowly,
"This old man does not yet know the specific rules—but it will surely be a contest among each faction's top combatants."
Li Zhexian frowned slightly.
"The Upper Three Sects and Wind Sword Sect each have a Titled Douluo in command.
"Even if the Spirit Hall's vassal powers covet their positions, how could they possibly be a match?"
This re-selection had already diverged entirely from the original timeline.
In the original, the Spirit Hall had first annihilated the Blue Lightning Clan and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan—then used that momentum to reselect the Seven Great Sects.
But now, with the Upper Three Sects still standing, what would the Spirit Hall attempt?
Dugu Bo shook his head.
"This old man knows not either—but the Spirit Hall must have some unknown means prepared."
After a while longer of discussion, the two agreed—
Three days hence, they would go together to Spirit City to witness the Seven Sects Re-Selection Assembly.
"Stay here tonight!"
"Hahaha! We must drink till dawn, you and I!"
But as he laughed, his expression suddenly grew serious.
"Zhexian, in recent days… about three hundred miles east of Heaven Dou City, in the mountain ranges there, large numbers of Spirit Masters have been appearing."
"That place—'Where Clouds Lie Deep'—few know it, but it is the hidden domain of the Clear Sky Clan."
"The number-one sect under Heaven—the Clear Sky Clan—is about to emerge once more."
"The Strength Clan once belonged to the Clear Sky Clan, and some old ties remain.
"Zhexian—you must tread carefully."
Li Zhexian nodded.
"This junior understands."
As they spoke, light footsteps suddenly sounded outside.
The doors swung open.
Dugu Yan, Ye Lingling, and the seven members of the Emperor Team filed in one after another.
The instant they saw the youth in white—
All seven faces lit up.
"Zhexian!" / "Zhexian-ge, you're finally back!"
After a month apart, that night Li Zhexian feasted and reminisced joyfully with his friends at the Dugu residence.
Meanwhile—
Three hundred li east of Heaven Dou City,
in the place called Where Clouds Lie Deep,
within a vast stone hall of rough grandeur—
The Clear Sky Sect's Second Elder spoke, his voice like a heavy bell.
"Tang San, you have knocked upon our gates many times. This time the sect permits you to enter—but that does not mean we have forgiven your father's past sins."
"If you wish to return to your ancestral clan, you must complete three tasks."
"First—within ten years, raise your Spirit Power to level eighty."
"Second—obtain a hundred-thousand-year Spirit Ring."
Standing below, Tang San's hands clenched tightly within his sleeves. He nodded.
"I accept."
He had no true confidence in fulfilling either condition, but in his current weakness, as long as there remained a sliver of hope, he could only agree.
"Do not rush—I have not finished."
The Second Elder lifted his rugged face; his gaze was as heavy as a thousand catties.
"Though the Clear Sky Sect has remained hidden from the world, ever since you first came knocking, we have watched your every step.
"Your talent is acceptable—but do you know why only now have we allowed you entry?"
Tang San's eyes flickered.
"Please enlighten me, Elder."
"The Clear Sky Sect is the number-one sect under Heaven!
"The Clear Sky Hammer is the number-one Tool-Type Martial Soul!"
"And yet, because of you—it has been shamed!"
The Second Elder's eyes narrowed. Each word struck like a hammer.
"The third task—"
"Within ten years… slay the one who slaughtered the Strength Clan—"
"Li Zhexian."
Tang San's head snapped up, his face turning ashen.
...
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