The atmosphere in the grand hall of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was exceptionally solemn, so silent you could hear a pin drop.
Sect master Ning Fengzhi sat straight-backed in his seat. Usually mild and graceful in appearance, his face was now slightly ashen.
In his hand was not the Titled Douluo List produced by his sect and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, but a newly published list: Douluo Heavenly Rankings.
Its cover was unadorned, but the four names signed in order at the lower right were as weighty as mountains: Wisdom Brain Douluo, Spirit Tree Douluo, Broad Spirit Douluo, and Azure Luan Douluo!
This meant the list had been co-created by both Body Sect and Spirit Hall, each contributing two Title Douluos.
Its authority far surpassed the previous, privately edited Registers—this was now the most valued ranking in all Douluo Continent.
The most eye-catching fact was that the legendary Tang Chen, once always at the top, was missing entirely from this new divine ranking.
To the editors, this perhaps showed Tang Chen had been confirmed dead, or else had slipped so far as to no longer count among the world's top beings.
With the reshuffling, someone who had once ranked fifth now leapt to third, overtaking the Golden Crocodile Douluo of Spirit Hall—an amazing shift.
Another striking change: Spirit Hall's Spider Emperor Douluo, Bibi Dong, now ranked fifth, just after Qian Daoliu, Chu Shanhe, and the other recognized pinnacle powers of the continent.
But none of these were what made Ning Fengzhi feel as if he'd fallen into an icy cave.
No—the real chill came from seeing five more names added to the list compared to before—
The five elders of the Clear Sky Sect, each revealed as a Title Douluo!
They were listed as external titles, ranked from thirty-fifth onwards…
The blow struck Ning Fengzhi's mind like thunder.
Five!
Five concealed Title Douluos!
Before, Tang Xiao had refrained from a direct confrontation, publicly claiming the sect had weakened after Tang Hao's fall.
But now, this list had mercilessly exposed the truth: Far from declining, the Clear Sky Sect had been hoarding terrifying power in secret.
Even if the five were only newly advanced, the presence of six Title Douluos was enough to fundamentally change the balance of the three great sects.
And yet, their Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, completely ignorant, had foolishly served as a pawn, acting against other factions on the front lines, suffering even greater losses.
How many resources and people have we lost these years? How many forces have we insulted? Even the Heaven Dou royal family have we made into enemies?
"Clear Sky Sect! Tang Xiao! How dare you treat us this way!"
Ning Fengzhi slammed the list on the table, a dull boom echoing as his face turned ashen, a growl squeezing through gritted teeth.
By his side, Sword Douluo Chen Xin and Bone Douluo Gu Rong wore equally ugly expressions.
All were men of pride—how could they bear such ridicule, duped so like fools by their supposed allies? Better to lose on the battlefield than to be treated as pawns.
"Why do people insist on being cowards?" came a cold, indifferent voice from the other end.
A middle-aged man stepped forward, bearing some resemblance to Ning Fengzhi, but with a colder and harsher bearing.
This was the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's Grand Elder, Ning Fengyu, a level seventy-nine Soul Sage.
Ning Fengyu's gloomy gaze swept Ning Fengzhi, Chen Xin, and Gu Rong before falling to the list, fury burning in his eyes.
"Cousin…" Ning Fengzhi drew a deep, calming breath, speaking hoarsely.
"This mistake… Not recognizing the truth and considering the consequences has cost our sect dearly. I will personally answer to the clan."
"Answer? Answer for what?"
Ning Fengyu interrupted roughly, voice laced with long-suppressed anger.
"Look what you've done! First you angered the Body Sect, then our once-warm ties with Heaven Dou's royal clan have become emptiness!"
Growing ever more agitated, Ning Fengyu pointed at Ning Fengzhi, "And now what? Our strongest ally stabbed us in the back, all while hiding power we fools never suspected! Our very foundation, built up over a thousand years, is on the verge of collapse—because of you!"
This harsh rebuke lashed Ning Fengzhi's heart like a whip, leaving his cheeks alternating crimson and pale. He was momentarily speechless.
Despite his frantic efforts, even the other elders were sharply critical—though the Sword and Bone Douluo still stood by him, which silenced most.
Gu Rong could no longer bear it, sneering coldly, "What's to fear? With Old Sword and me, the Seven Treasure Sect will remain top three. Let them try to invade!"
"Hah!" Ning Fengyu laughed coldly, meeting the gaze of the storied Bone Douluo head-on.
"You are a Title Douluo—yes, I respect that. But what can you two do against the monsters of the Body Sect and Spirit Hall?
Can you protect the disciples and recover our lost allies and honor?"
Ning Fengyu's words struck home, landing like hammers. Gu Rong and Chen Xin, proud as they were, were not blind. Harsh as it sounded, it was the truth.
In front of overwhelming power, even Title Douluos seemed pale.
Finally, Ning Fengyu fixed his gaze on Ning Fengzhi, seeing how things had collapsed. However much blame he cast, what was done could not be undone. A look of bitter disappointment flashed in his eyes as he spoke coldly,
"Sect master, take care of yourself."
He looked at no one else, swung his sleeves and strode out of the hall.
Out in the fresh air of the corridor, he gazed across the distant pavilions of the sect—his sharp mind now whirring.
It can't go on this way… If Ning Fengzhi keeps pushing this path, the sect's thousand-year foundation will be lost. A new road must be found!
After he left, the hall's atmosphere grew even heavier.
Sword Douluo Chen Xin looked to Ning Fengzhi—who seemed to have aged several years in a heartbeat. He hesitated before speaking,
"Fengzhi, as for cooperating with Clear Sky…"
In Chen Xin's view, now that the true face and deviousness of Clear Sky Sect was exposed, cutting ties immediately and drawing a clear line was the only wise move.
But Ning Fengzhi slowly lifted his head, bloodshot eyes terrifyingly cold.
He said nothing, fixing his gaze on the direction of Heaven Dou City beyond the many buildings.
"Uncle Sword, Uncle Bone," his hoarse voice said calmly, "Come with me… to Moon Pavillion."
Without waiting for questions, Ning Fengzhi straightened and strode out of the palace.
The rules of the sect decreed that the twin guardian Douluos could never leave together except when the very life or death of the clan was threatened.
So for Ning Fengzhi to summon both at once—the anger at that moment had truly reached his core.