Chapter 103: Tang Yuehua
Yu Luomian's mouth curled up as he fanned the flames. "Yes, Big Brother. As early as when he left the Clan at 17, he had already joined Spirit Hall. No wonder he was so fearless about the Clan expelling him from the Sect this time."
He lowered his voice, making it sound conspiratorial. "It seems he decided to betray the Clan from the very beginning. It's highly possible that he caused such big trouble for the Clan under the instruction of Spirit Hall, as a way to curry favor with them."
"Impudent! Rebellious son! REBELLIOUS SON!"
Yu Yuanzhen was furious. A low rumble of thunder echoed from his body, and arcs of blue lightning crackled across the palace floor. The entire palace seemed to tremble. Outside, the river surged with turbulent waves.
"You've completely disgraced our Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan! Pass down the order: from now on, that beast is not allowed to step into the Sect again! Let him fend for himself!"
"Yes, Big Brother." Yu Luomian turned and walked out of the palace, a barely noticeable hint of sinister cunning on his lips.
He thought to himself, 'My dear nephew, if you must blame someone, blame yourself for offending the Supreme Pontiff.'
Compared to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, the atmosphere in the Clear Sky Sect was much more serious at this moment.
"Sect Master, now that the Old Sect Master is not here, that old dragon of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan is eyeing us covetously. And the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect... they now have two Titled Douluo! This Sect Competition is extremely disadvantageous for our Clear Sky Sect!"
"That's right, Sect Master!" another Elder exclaimed. "That old dragon, Yu Yuanzhen, has already spoken, saying that they want to seize the title of 'World's Number One Sect' from us in this Sect Competition!"
"It's too arrogant, simply outrageous! Do they think our Clear Sky Sect has no one? Back when Old Sect Master Tang Chen was here..."
At this moment, the six Spirit Douluo Elders of the Clear Sky Sect were as anxious as ants on a hot pan. Each of them was filled with righteous indignation, arguing incessantly.
Ever since Tang Chen left, although the Clear Sky Sect was still the 'World's Number One Sect,' its strength was far from what it used to be.
Although rising stars like the Haotian Twin Stars had appeared, neither of them had fully matured yet, and they were far from reaching the Titled Douluo realm.
The current Sect Master, Tang Tian, lacked the supreme talent to inherit the true title of 'Clear Sky Douluo' and learn the complete Great Sumeru Hammer.
Facing the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, which now had two Titled Douluo, in this Sect Competition, the pressure was immense.
It wasn't that Tang Tian, with his Level 95 Spirit Power, would necessarily lose to Yu Yuanzhen or Sword Douluo, who also possessed Level 95 Spirit Power, in a one-on-one situation.
Rather, the Clear Sky Sect absolutely had to win this Sect Competition.
If they didn't win, even a draw would mean the Clear Sky Sect's position as the 'World's Number One Sect' would be lost. And the Clear Sky Hammer's position as the 'World's Number One Tool Spirit' would be in jeopardy.
"The issue isn't just Sword Douluo," the Second Elder interjected, his voice heavy. "It's Bone Douluo. If Sect Master fights Sword Douluo, who will handle Gu Rong? His defense is strange and his control is absolute. He and Chen Xin make a perfect pair."
"If Sect Master Tang Tian draws with Sword Douluo—which is a likely outcome—the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect will use its numerical advantage in Titled Douluo to seize the title of 'World's Number One Sect' from us."
"A draw, for us, is a loss!"
From this, one could see how awkward the Clear Sky Sect's situation was at this moment.
Tang Tian, who looked very dignified, listened to the chirping noise beside him and said in a deep voice, "Silence."
Inside the Clear Sky Sect's grand hall, it instantly fell silent. The Elders were still very obedient to Tang Tian's words.
Then they heard Tang Tian say, "No matter what, this old man will preserve the Clear Sky Sect's honor this time, even if it costs me my life."
"Sect Master, do you mean to...?"
All the Elders were greatly astonished, and their faces showed looks of horror. Two words simultaneously appeared in their minds—Ring Detonation.
[Inorin's Note: Ring Detonation is the core skill of the Great Sumeru Hammer technique. It allows a Clear Sky Hammer user to detonate their own Spirit Rings for a massive, temporary burst of power. It is incredibly dangerous.]
"Sect Master, this must not happen!" The Second Elder, the white-browed old man who set the conditions for Tang San's return in the original work, stepped forward.
"Our Sect still has Hao'er and Xiao'er! If it doesn't work out, we can endure the shame. We can wait for the next session to reclaim the honor that rightfully belongs to our Clear Sky Sect!"
He understood the drawbacks of Ring Detonation all too well.
Ring Detonation, the secret of the Great Sumeru Hammer, endowed the Clear Sky Hammer with immense power, but it also came with great risks.
If one lost control and their own ability couldn't suppress the energy generated by the Ring Detonation, they could very likely be backlashed by its energy.
This was also why only successive, true 'Clear Sky Douluo' of the Clear Sky Sect—those with the absolute peak of the Spirit's potential, like Tang Chen—could cultivate the Great Sumeru Hammer.
Without that powerful, innate talent and deep foundations, performing this ultimate technique was no different from suicide.
Although Tang Tian was a Level 95 Titled Douluo, he was simply not strong enough to withstand the energy backlash of Ring Detonation. He was a Sect Master, but he was not a true 'Clear Sky Douluo' in the line of succession.
"There's no need for any more discussion, everyone. My mind is made up." Tang Tian stood, his aura suppressing the room.
"No matter what, the honor of the Clear Sky Sect cannot be destroyed in this old man's hands," Tang Tian said in a deep voice.
As soon as these words were spoken, the scene fell silent again. No one tried to persuade him further.
They knew that Tang Tian, as the Sect Master, always meant what he said. And they knew he was right. This Sect Competition, the Clear Sky Sect could not lose, and could not afford to lose.
Once they lost, it would be an unwashable disgrace for the Clear Sky Sect.
It was entirely imaginable what an embarrassing situation it would be when others learned that Clear Sky Sect Master Tang Tian had not defeated Yu Yuanzhen or Sword Douluo in the Sect Competition.
They seemed to already see everyone privately mocking the Clear Sky Sect, insulting the Clear Sky Sect, and ridiculing the Clear Sky Sect.
Even to the point where...
Those Sects and Spirit Masters on the Douluo Continent who used to revere the Clear Sky Sect began to look at them with strange eyes, believing they were unworthy of the title 'World's Number One Sect.'
And the Clear Sky Hammer would no longer deserve to be called the 'World's Number One Tool Spirit.'
"Sect Master, regarding the Sect Competition," the Second Elder finally asked, his voice heavy with resignation, "should we notify Xiao'er and Hao'er, who are currently out training?"
"How many years have they been out training?" When his two sons were mentioned, Tang Tian's originally solemn expression softened considerably, and he asked casually.
"Almost four years. There are still six years until the 10-year period you set," the Second Elder replied.
Tang Tian was silent for a moment, then said, "Send a message to notify them. Hao'er is the successor of the Clear Sky Douluo title. If he can observe this Sect Competition, it will be beneficial for both him and Xiao'er. Let them continue their training after watching the Sect Competition."
Just then, a light, clear voice suddenly rang out, breaking the oppressive, grieving atmosphere in the hall.
"Dad, Second Uncle, Third Uncle, Fourth Uncle, Fifth Uncle, Sixth Uncle, Seventh Uncle, what are you all doing? You all look so serious."
Click-clack. The sound of high heels scraping against the bluestone floor echoed as a young, graceful figure walked in.
This was a girl of about 15 or 16, with a face like an exquisitely beautiful Barbie doll, stunningly gorgeous.
Her waist-length sky-blue hair cascaded like a waterfall, and beneath her deep, star-like and moon-like pupils was a smooth, fair face.
Her conservative snowy-white dress could not conceal her slender figure. Her lips were like dotted cherries, and her eyes were like autumn waters. She was like a figure from a painting; it was hard to imagine how she would bewitch nations and cities when she grew up.
But strangely, there seemed to be no Spirit Power fluctuations on the girl's body; clearly, she was not a Spirit Master.
Yet, the moment she entered, the heavy, anxious aura in the hall, generated by six Spirit Douluo and a Titled Douluo, seemed to magically dissipate, soothed by her mere presence.
"Yuehua, your uncles and I are discussing matters regarding the Sect Competition."
Seeing the girl enter, even the stern Tang Tian couldn't help but reveal a gentle smile on his wrinkled, white-bearded old face.
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