Chapter 129: My Nephew, Step Back!
"In addition, based on the discussions between this Supreme Pontiff, Crown Prince Xue Ye of Heaven Dou, Crown Prince Dai Tianfeng of Star Luo, and the two Titled Douluo Elders, Yue Guan and Gui Mei, the Clear Sky Hammer and Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon will retain their original rankings as the World's Number One Tool Spirit and World's Number One Beast Spirit, respectively."
"Congratulations to Sect Master Yu Yuanzhen for achieving the titles of World's Number One Offensive Titled Douluo and World's Number One Peculiar Titled Douluo. Congratulations to Sect Master Tang Tian for achieving the title of World's Number One Power-type Titled Douluo, and congratulations to Sect Master Ning Fengzhi for achieving the title of World's Number One Support-type Spirit Master."
As Qian Xunji spoke, his voice booming with magnanimity, he waved his hand. A Cardinal walked over, holding a golden brocade tray on which three tokens lay quietly.
Each token was a heavy, palm-sized disc of dark gold, engraved with six intricate patterns: a chrysanthemum (Yue Guan), an incomplete human figure (Gui Mei), a crown (Spirit Hall), a dragon (Blue Lightning), a sword (Seven Kills), and a hammer (Clear Sky).
These tokens were none other than the Pope Decrees.
Even before the battle between Tang Tian and Yu Yuanzhen began, Qian Xunji had already ordered the Clear Sky Hammer, Seven Kills Sword, and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Spirit to be engraved on them. They were a symbol that all power, all glory, flowed from Spirit Hall.
At this moment, Gui Mei, the referee for this Sect Competition, shouted, "Representatives from the Upper Three Sects, please come forward to receive your Pope Decrees!"
Sect Master Yu Yuanzhen of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan was the ultimate victor of this Sect Competition. He was now the Sect Master of the World's Number One Sect, and had even claimed the titles of World's Number One Offensive (originally belonging to Sword Douluo) and World's Number One Peculiar (belonging to Bone Douluo).
He naturally took the lead, his laughter booming as he ascended the VIP platform first.
Next was the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan.
They had originally intended to wait for the Clear Sky Sect to go up first, to at least maintain the illusion of their old hierarchy, but seeing the Clear Sky Sect's grim, unmoving demeanor, it seemed they were unwilling to accept the fact of their defeat.
Sword Douluo and Gu Rong glanced at the Clear Sky Sect's resting area, then simultaneously turned their gazes to Ning Fengzhi, saying in unison, "Sect Master, you go."
"Uncle Sword, Uncle Bone... this Sect Competition... it was Fengzhi's incompetence that caused you two to suffer," Ning Fengzhi said, his face full of self-reproach.
In previous Sect Competitions, any Titled Douluo who participated would receive a title of World's Number One.
In his opinion, World's Number One Offensive was undoubtedly most suitable for Sword Douluo, and World's Number One Peculiar was suitable for Bone Douluo.
Unfortunately, neither of them participated in the final ranking battle of the Upper Three Sects, nor could they. This allowed Yu Yuanzhen to gain a huge advantage. No one had expected that Yu Yuanzhen would use such a method—a "cowardly" method, guided by Qin Xuan—to wear down Tang Tian until his Ring Detonation backlash erupted, winning the final victory.
"Sect Master, you overstate it. Such empty titles are useless to me," Sword Douluo said indifferently, though his pale face showed the strain of the previous day's events.
Bone Douluo, however, had tears in his single remaining tiger-like eye. "Sect Master, all the mistakes are mine. If not for me, the Clan would not have fallen to this... this... mere third place."
Ning Fengzhi sighed, then offered a few words of comfort. He stepped forward to receive the Pope Decree.
Along with it, Qian Xunji bestowed upon him the title of "Honorary Elder of Spirit Hall," making him the first Elder in Spirit Hall's history with strength below Titled Douluo. It was a golden leash, and everyone knew it.
Finally, when it was the Clear Sky Sect's turn, no one came forward.
"What? Could it be that the Clear Sky Sect has some objection to this Sect Competition?" Qian Xunji frowned, his tone becoming somewhat displeased.
This Sect Competition was the grandest event he had organized since becoming the Supreme Pontiff. It had almost shaken the entire Spirit Master world. Apart from a few reclusive Sects, all forces with a Spirit Douluo were invited to participate.
Now that it had concluded successfully, the Clear Sky Sect's refusal to come forward was clearly a disrespect to him, Qian Xunji.
Tang Hao grunted, stood up, and glared angrily in the direction of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. Then, he looked towards Qian Xunji, cupping his hands and saying, "Your Holiness, please forgive Tang Hao's rudeness, but this Sect Competition was truly unfair!"
"If not for the Sect Master of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan taking advantage of the situation, how could my father have lost to him?"
As soon as these words were spoken, the entire audience was in an uproar.
Yu Yuanzhen, who had originally been beaming, feeling that he had led the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan to its peak, instantly turned grim and furious. His victory was being publicly challenged.
"Impudent! Tang Hao, what did you say? Have the guts to say it again!"
"Hmph." Tang Hao showed no respect to Yu Yuanzhen, snorting coldly and glaring disdainfully at him. "Did this junior say anything wrong? If you hadn't dragged out the fight with my father, cowardly attacking from a distance until his injuries flared up, how could the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon ever be a match for the Clear Sky Hammer in a true battle?"
Yu Yuanzhen was enraged but didn't know how to refute. Because... what Tang Hao said was true. His previous tactics, in the past, were indeed somewhat underhanded. He had won through strategy, not a head-on clash of power.
Qin Xuan, who had been watching the Tang brothers closely, naturally wouldn't let Tang Hao succeed in this narrative. He stood beside Qian Xunji and reprimanded Tang Hao, his voice sharp and cold.
"My nephew, step back!"
"You—" Tang Hao felt a mouthful of old blood block in his chest, almost spitting it out.
He couldn't help but deeply regret agreeing to the wager, calling Qin Xuan 'uncle' in front of thousands of Spirit Masters. He had solidified their 'uncle-nephew' relationship.
Qin Xuan snorted coldly and said, "It seems you are very unconvinced. To avoid gossip, nephew, I, your uncle, will ask you."
His voice, amplified by Spirit Power, boomed across the silent arena.
"You said Sect Master Yu took advantage of the situation. But before their battle, did your father have any injuries?"
Tang Hao said proudly, "Those mere Spirit Douluo from the Lower Four Sects couldn't injure my father."
"Good." Qin Xuan nodded. "Before your father entered the arena, had his Spirit Power not yet recovered?"
"It had already recovered." Although Tang Hao knew this was a linguistic trap, he couldn't lie in front of everyone.
Qin Xuan's voice suddenly turned to thunder. "SINCE THAT IS THE CASE, all of your father's injuries were sustained during his battle with Sect Master Yu. So how can there be any suspicion of Sect Master Yu 'taking advantage of the situation'?"
"What face do you have to bark wildly here, questioning the fairness of this Sect Competition? Are you, Tang Hao, so shameless?"
"Do you perhaps want your father, do you want your Clear Sky Sect, to end up with a reputation for being a sore loser, just like you?"
"Now, get out of my sight! Do you still think you haven't embarrassed your clan enough today? If you are unconvinced, you can wait until your father's injuries are fully healed, then fight Sect Master Yu again."
"If he can win, our Spirit Hall will still acknowledge your Clear Sky Sect as the World's Number One Sect."
"Right! The Second Majesty is correct!" Yu Yuanzhen was overjoyed to hear this. He said to Tang Hao, "If you are unconvinced, when your father's injuries are healed, this old man will be ready at any time!"
Although he didn't know why Qin Xuan would help his Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, it didn't hinder them from becoming the World's Number One Sect.
With the previous battle, he had a deep understanding of Ring Detonation. Even if Tang Tian's injuries recovered, he could still wear down the opponent.
At this moment, all the Sects and lone Spirit Masters looked towards the Clear Sky Sect's resting area, wondering if Sect Master Tang Tian would dare to accept the challenge.
Tang Hao's lips trembled with anger, but he didn't know how to refute.
Could his father's injuries truly heal?
The backlash from Ring Detonation was almost irreversible. His father was able to keep his life only because Ning Fengzhi, in a rare moment of pity, had intervened with his healing.
How could he possibly recover completely?
Moreover, even if his father did recover, he would no longer be able to use Ring Detonation. Using it again would undoubtedly lead to death.
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