Three days later.
The clash between Tang Hao and the Martial Soul Hall had already spread like wildfire. Rumors raced across the continent faster than any courier could run. From the heights of the great sects, to the alleys where low-ranked spirit masters drank, everyone knew now:
Tang Hao stormed Martial Soul City. Taunted the Pope. Fought the Pope. And left alive.
The continent erupted with speculation.
What drove him to suddenly appear after lying low for more than ten years?
The common consensus wavered between disbelief and hilarity.
Some whispered that Tang Hao simply lost his mind.
But the juiciest—and most scandalous—rumor soon emerged.
Martial Soul Hall had stolen… Tang Hao's wife.
Yes. Actually stolen.
The moment the gossip trickled down, thousands of jaws hit the floor.
Papal Palace, Martial Soul City
Bibi Dong stood cold and regal before the towering doors of the Pope's Palace, her brows furrowed in palpable irritation.
Tang Hao. This reckless mad dog.
He had endured silence for over a decade without surfacing. Then, out of nowhere, he barged into Martial Soul City three days ago roaring about his wife, savaging her Title Douluos, and even attacking her.
"Have you uncovered the truth yet?" she asked, her voice sharp as a blade.
Yue Guan bowed slightly, his usually proud figure now faded, lips pursed bitterly. "Not yet… under the Pope's crown."
His teeth ground with silent rage.
Who knew what madness gripped Tang Hao's brain? Charging straight into Martial Soul City and accusing their Hall of abducting his wife of all things! Everyone knew his wife had already sacrificed herself years ago. For this lunacy they had to bear such humiliation?
Gan! When had the great Martial Soul Hall ever been degraded to cow-napping wives?
Bibi Dong exhaled a long breath, her amber eyes icy.
"Send spies. Keep a close watch on the Clear Sky Sect."
Tang Hao could not have done this without cause. She did not believe his so-called "missing wife" was reason enough. No, there had to be something brewing beneath the name of the Clear Sky Sect. She would root it out.
"Yes, Your Holiness."
Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect
Inside the ornate halls of the Seven Treasure Glazed Sect, word of Tang Hao's duel against Bibi Dong had arrived.
Ning Fengzhi, the cultured Sect Master, set the scrolls down onto the round table. Across from him sat two of the continent's strongest protectors—Sword Douluo Chen Xin and Bone Douluo Gu Rong.
"Fengzhi," Gu Rong groaned loudly, "have you heard the latest? The news says Martial Soul Hall abducted Tang Hao's wife. His wife!"
Chen Xin slammed his palm onto the table, the solemn man uncharacteristically heated. "Absurd! Truly absurd! Martial Soul Hall, with all its pride and power, reduced to stealing wives? Outrageous! Do they lack women of their own?"
Ning Fengzhi rubbed his temples. Only two days ago, the rumor reached the Sect. At first even he, who'd heard countless absurdities, found himself gagging on tea.
"There are still people stealing other people's wives these days?"
The phrase became a refrain echoing around the table.
Chen Xin leaned back, disgust etched into his features. "What a disgrace. To think—the mighty Martial Soul Hall, reduced to a lecherous band of beasts!"
Gu Rong furrowed his brows fiercely. "I agree for once. Near pig becomes dirty, near ink becomes black. A group who steals wives can't possibly be righteous."
The two rarely agreed, yet today anger united them.
But Ning Fengzhi, ever the calm strategist, raised a hand. "Uncle Bone, Uncle Sword… calm yourselves. The authenticity of this matter has not been confirmed. Better to wait for further information before branding the Martial Soul Hall as wife-thieves."
Still, his expression betrayed unease. If the rumor was true, even partially, the Hall's dignity would be tattered.
"Send people," he commanded at last, "to investigate Haotian Sect. Should there be any clue, I want it brought back immediately."
Clear Sky Sect, Council Chamber
Atop the lofty mountain fortress of the Clear Sky Clan, the storm had arrived as well.
Inside the stone chamber, Tang Xiao sat tall on the sect leader's seat. The burly man radiated power and prestige—yet his expression was tired, shadowed. Around him, five white-haired elders sat in a semicircle, voices rising in waves.
"Sect Leader!" one elder thundered. "That wicked brat Tang Hao, who knows what medicine he's taken, has insulted the Martial Soul Hall again—storming into their city, even smashing against the Pope herself!"
"It isn't just that," another spat. "His chaos drags us in too! Because of Tang Hao, eyes from every Sect and the Hall are now fixed squarely on us!"
"Bah! Repay the Sect? That ungrateful wretch! It would be mercy enough if he didn't keep dragging us into trouble!"
"And let's not forget," another elder growled, "Tang Hao still carries two of Clear Sky's soul bones. Rather than honoring his Clan with them, he waves them arrogantly in enemy faces. And we suffer the consequences!"
"Already, the towns below our mountain bristle with spies! Martial Soul Hall, Seven Treasure Glazed Sect, Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan—every Sect has stationed eyes upon us, watching our every move."
The weight of their fury pressed against Tang Xiao like a mountain.
At last the head elder rose. Standing at Tang Xiao's right side, his position alone declared his influence. His bony hand pressed to the table.
"Sect Leader. We, the Five Elders, have discussed. It must be declared publicly: Tang Hao has no relation to our Clear Sky Sect. Every action of his bears no tie to us!"
The room silenced.
Tang Xiao's eyes lowered.
His brother.
That reckless, stubborn younger brother who had once claimed to sever himself from the Sect. In truth, Tang Xiao had hoped, year after year, that one day Hao would return… return to the homeland, to the family, to the Sect he was born to.
But what would this announcement mean?
Forcing Tang Hao's last tie to Haotian Sect to sever… for good.
The memory of their battle against Martial Soul Hall burned Tang Xiao's heart. Their Six Elder slain. Allies obliterated. The Sect crippled. All due to Tang Hao's killing of Pope Qian Xun Ji.
And now? Now that same brother had once again stormed into Martial Soul Hall to fight another Pope.
Was he addicted to this?
Behind their grief, the elders' voices carried venom.
"Sect Leader! The entire continent whispers Tang Hao's madness links to us. If we don't separate, disaster will find us again!"
"Ten years ago, we nearly fell. We cannot stand a second calamity!"
Tang Xiao's hands clenched.
"I said enough!" His fist slammed heavily against the wood.
The chamber stilled. His thundering voice cut clean through the din.
"The Sect Leader of Clear Sky is still me! A decision will be made—by me alone. I will give you your answer soon."
He turned away, his broad shoulders silhouetted in the torchlight. His eyes held pain, a torn man between brotherhood and duty.
With a cold flick of his sleeves, he stormed out.
The five elders sat motionless, staring after him.
At last, one muttered, "Then what do we do now?"
The chief elder's lips thinned.
"Send out scouts. Listen for every whisper. Prepare our defenses. Should war return… Clear Sky must at least be ready."
A heavy silence fell over the chamber.
Outside, the mountain winds howled endlessly, carrying with them the storm Tang Hao had unleashed across the continent.
--
Unlock 50 exclusive advanced chapters for just $10 – don't miss out! Check the synopsis/description for the link! 🚀
Loved this fic? 🔥 Then you'll absolutely binge my other hits — "Douluo Dalu: Ten Thousand Years Early System!" & "Douluo Dalu: My Harem System is Bugged!" — don't miss out!