In the spacious hall, the Clear Sky Sect elders and single-attribute four clan patriarchs sat silently with grave faces until Tang Xing appeared.
"Sect Master."
"Big Brother."
"Father."
Tang Xing's arrival gave them a backbone, and they rose to salute.
Tang Xing nodded slightly, slowly taking the main seat. He took a deep breath, then looked solemnly at everyone.
"Everyone, with the Spirit Hall's army at our gates, what are your thoughts?"
They exchanged glances; the Spirit Hall's forces were overwhelming and clearly not here for peace.
Tang Xing continued: "The Spirit Hall has wolfish ambitions. Today's actions aren't just for avenging Qian Xunji but to seize the opportunity to swallow all sects and chaos the world."
"Since my father Tang Chen, our Clear Sky Sect has dominated the continent, admired by all soul masters. Today, the Spirit Hall villains dare try to force our submission with might. Ha! Impossible. Today, I, Tang Xing, vow here to coexist or perish with Clear Sky City. Even in death, our Clear Sky Sect will bite a chunk out of the Spirit Hall."
"This sect master wants the world's soul masters to see why the Clear Sky Sect is the world's first. Will you all join me in a life-or-death battle against the Spirit Hall today?"
Silence fell, then the Strength Clan's patriarch Tai Tan rose first, fists clasped, face excited: "If Sect Master is willing to fight to the death, how could we lag behind? The Strength Clan follows our master to the end, without regret. Master killed that Qian Xunji; today, this old man will make blood flow like rivers."
"Well said," Speed Clan Patriarch Bai He rose: "Though the Speed Clan isn't great at offense, we're willing to perish with the Clear Sky Sect."
Defense Clan Patriarch Niu Gao and Breaking Clan Patriarch Yang Wudi also declared: "Where the Defense Clan stands is the Clear Sky Sect's safest barrier. The Spirit Hall wants to destroy the Clear Sky Sect? Only over our clan's dead bodies."
"To destroy the Clear Sky Sect, first ask if my Soul Breaking Spear agrees. The Breaking Clan is willing to die for Sect Master."
The aged Clear Sky Sect Second Elder stepped to the center, expression solemn.
"The Spirit Hall villains want to exterminate our Clear Sky Sect? Delusional! No matter how strong they are, our Clear Sky Sect has iron will!"
Seeing the four patriarchs declare, Tang Xing rose slowly, laughing with relief: "Our Clear Sky Sect is united, working together—what fear of the Spirit Hall! Pass the order: prepare the best wine and meat. After the lads are fed and drunk, join this sect master to clash with those villains."
"We obey ×4."
Watching the four patriarchs leave quickly, Tang Xing's eyes grew profound, then he looked at the burly man below.
"Little Xiao, how are the clan arrangements?"
The man was Tang Xing's eldest son, Howling Sky Douluo Tang Xiao.
Tang Xiao rose: "Father, as per your orders, all Clear Sky Sect direct line soul masters below level 50 have returned to the ancestral grounds in batches. Those guarding Clear Sky City now are all capable fighters."
Tang Xing nodded, inwardly praising his father Tang Chen's foresight in digging a tunnel from under the Clear Sky Sect grounds straight out a hundred km beyond the city when Clear Sky City was built.
Tang Xiao looked at his father, hesitant. Tang Xing glanced at him and said flatly: "Are you wondering why we didn't tell the single-attribute four clans?"
Tang Xiao nodded heavily: "The four clans are loyal to our Clear Sky Sect and are now fighting for its glory. I believe they deserve to know."
"Foolish!"
Hearing Tang Xiao's words, the Second Elder slammed the table, rising with a cold laugh: "You're a Titled Douluo, yet you say such naive things. If the four clans knew of the tunnel, would they still fight to the death? They'd probably turn on us for that sole escape route. How could we resist the Spirit Hall then? Do you want to see our Clear Sky Sect's fine sons littered as corpses?"
Hearing the heart-stabbing words, Tang Xiao frowned: "Tang Xiao has no such intent. But acting this way chills the four clans' hearts. If this leaks, the world will mock us—how can the Clear Sky Sect stand?"
"Stand?" The Fourth Elder sneered: "After this, our Clear Sky Sect will have two Douluos—who dares mock us? As for standing, when Uncle returns, we'll storm Spirit City and demand justice."
"Fourth Brother is right. The single-attribute four clans are just our Clear Sky Sect's slaves. Isn't it natural for slaves to shield their master?" The Fifth Elder said righteously.
"But..."
"No buts," the Seventh Elder looked at Tang Xiao with disgust, his words ice-cold: "If not for you covering for Tang Hao and that beast, bringing the beast back early, we wouldn't have this disaster."
His voice carried resentment—as the youngest elder, he had the best chance to break through to Titled Douluo on his own. If Tang Hao had brought that 100,000-year soul beast back, with Tang Xiao and Tang Hao already having full soul bones, he couldn't dream of the ring, but he had a good shot at the 100,000-year soul bone.
Thinking of missing that soul bone, his heart bled.
Seeing this, Tang Xing comforted Tang Xiao: "The four clans are willing to sacrifice for our Clear Sky Sect; the sect will never forget. In time, when your grandfather returns, they'll naturally be honored."
Tang Xiao fell silent. Raised under his grandfather Tang Chen's protection, he'd always tried to emulate him, aspiring to be a heroic figure. Sacrificing four clans for selfish gain today violated his principles.
Seeing Tang Xiao's silence, Tang Xing sighed. This eldest son had great talent and upright character but lacked flexibility compared to his younger brother. He said to Tang Xiao:
"The four clans each have strengths; together, even the Spirit Hall would pay a price to take them down. They have a chance to break out."
He didn't believe his own words—the Spirit Hall had laid a perfect trap, with the Angel Legion that had dominated the continent for millennia. This lineup was too much for the four clans, let alone with the Clear Sky Sect; breaking out was delusional.
But Tang Xiao lifted his head: "Then Uncle and them..."
Bai He's sister was Tang Xing's wife and Tang Xiao and Tang Hao's mother. The brothers had grown up under Bai He's watch, making their uncle-nephew bond close.
Tang Xing pondered: "Let him stay here. Don't forget his Needle-Tailed Swift martial soul is the continent's fastest. If he wants to leave, unless agility-attack Titled Douluos act, no one can stop him."