Chapter 103 – 120. The Gathering of the Three Upper Sect Masters
"Old Goat, what are you doing? Pulling out weapons and shouting already? Don't ruin the harmony."
"Old Ape, you too. Our four single-attribute clans advance and retreat together. There's no need to let a small quarrel go this far."
Niu Gao and Bai He quickly rose to mediate between them.
Though his anger surged, Tai Tan knew he couldn't defeat Yang Wudi, so he reluctantly backed down.
Yang Wudi sat down, still furious, turning his head away in irritation.
"Old Ape," Bai He said, "Tang Hao had a child with a spirit beast. He crippled his own elder brother, murdered his fellow disciples, and killed his own father. You can't deny these facts, can you?"
Tai Tan stammered, "Master… Master must have had his reasons for acting that way."
"Reasons?" Yang Wudi sneered. "More like blinded by that hundred-thousand-year spirit beast's beauty and lost all sense of kinship."
"Old Goat, you—!" Tai Tan's temper flared again.
"Calm down, calm down," Niu Gao said quickly, trying to soothe him.
"I still don't understand," Bai He said in confusion. "After all that's happened, why are you still so loyal to Tang Hao, Old Ape?"
"Back then, I was Master's blacksmith teacher," Tai Tan said reverently. "But from the very beginning, I saw in him the same transcendent potential and insight that Tang Chen once had. So I pledged myself to Tang Hao as my master. Looking back now, how right my judgment was. What a magnificent man he is—to have slain multiple Title Douluo as a mere Contra. To follow behind such a powerful being is my greatest honor."
Bai He, Niu Gao, and Yang Wudi: "…"
So, you could have been Tang Hao's teacher, but you decided to make yourself his servant instead?
Yu Yuanzhen led his people into the Clear Sky Sect, both to attend Tang Tian's funeral and to assess how much strength the sect still retained.
After the battle at Sky Valley Ridge, the Clear Sky Sect's main force was decimated. Now only a few scattered disciples remained; as for the Title Douluo, there were only Tang Kai and—oh yes—one crippled Tang Xiao.
Their ranks were low; Yu Yuanzhen could crush them easily. But it wasn't yet time to seize control. When his Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect stepped into the Title Douluo realm in full force, that would be the moment to replace the Clear Sky Sect entirely.
"Sect Master Tang Kai, what has happened to your sect is truly unfortunate. My condolences," Yu Yuanzhen said in a tone feigning sympathy.
But everyone could hear the mockery concealed in his words.
Tang Kai forced a stiff smile. "Thank you, Sect Master Yu."
Ning Fengzhi arrived with Kuang Xi and Man Niu, two elders of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, bringing wreaths of condolence.
"Sect Master Tang Kai," Ning Fengzhi said sincerely, "my condolences. Though the Clear Sky Sect has faced such calamity, our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect will always remain your steadfast ally."
Tang Kai said, "Thank you, Sect Master Ning. True friendship reveals itself in times of hardship. For the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect to stand by us in our darkest hour—we are truly grateful."
Then Ning Fengzhi stepped forward, clasping the hands of both Yu Yuanzhen and Tang Kai, and said earnestly, "Now that the Clear Sky Sect has suffered such a setback, it no longer shines as it once did. Yet the Spirit Hall's power remains vast and its ambitions clear. Though the Hall lies dormant, any wise man can see its intent. Given the threat it poses, we— the Three Upper Sects—must stand united."
"Yes, yes, indeed," Tang Kai nodded eagerly. "We Three Upper Sects must unite and face Spirit Hall together."
Yu Yuanzhen, however, felt distinctly displeased. Yes, the Three Upper Sects should unite—but who are you, Ning Fengzhi, to make that suggestion? Such a declaration should come from me, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect, or from the Clear Sky Sect, not from a mere auxiliary sect master like you.
Still, though irritation burned in his heart, Yu Yuanzhen nodded with a thin, forced smile. "Yes, our Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect agrees that the Three Upper Sects must stand united."
The three sect masters then entered the council hall for discussion.
Suddenly, a disciple of the Clear Sky Sect burst into the hall, shouting, "Sect Master! The people of Spirit Hall are attacking our gates!"
"What? Spirit Hall?!"
At once, a violent tremor shook the mountain gates of the Clear Sky Sect.
Tang Kai rushed out of the hall. Sure enough, he saw that the two defensive checkpoints had been breached—two massive bursts of soul power, one red and one blue, had torn gaping holes through the barriers.
Countless Spirit Masters rushed through the gates, clashing with Clear Sky disciples.
Ning Fengzhi, Kuang Xi, Man Niu, and Yu Yuanzhen followed outside close behind.
"That is…" Kuang Xi Douluo narrowed his eyes, using the perception of a Title Douluo to focus on the two figures suspended midair above the gates, each holding a spiraled dragon staff.
"Uncle Kuang Xi, do you recognize them?" Ning Fengzhi asked.
"That's Qian Jun and Jiang Mo," Kuang Xi said bitterly. "When I first met those brothers, they were still juniors. I fought the two when they were only Contras—they could already fight me, a Title Douluo, to a standstill. I remember them well. Never thought they'd end up joining Spirit Hall."
From Kuang Xi's tone, Ning Fengzhi could sense his sorrow and resentment.
For the elders of an age gone by, watching their talents plateau while the younger generation surpassed them—to see those once behind rise to unreachable heights—was deeply painful.
Ning Fengzhi understood that pain. His suffering came not from talent but from his Martial Spirit. The limitations of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda destined him to remain a Soul Saint at best. Without that limit, perhaps he too could have reached the Title Douluo level.
"Qian Jun, Jiang Mo… Spirit Hall's people—why are they attacking the Clear Sky Sect?" Ning Fengzhi asked in confusion.
"Why else?" Tang Kai's eyes reddened, his breath heavy. "All thanks to that beast Tang Hao! While on the run, that monster attacked Spirit Hall across the land. After murdering his father, he went on to hammer two of Spirit Hall's Title Douluo to death! Qian Xunji was also fatally injured and later died. Now Spirit Hall has come to settle that blood debt—with us!"
As the Clear Sky Sect noticed Qian Jun and Jiang Mo, the two Worshippers also looked their way.
"So, the three upper sects are all gathered here," Jiang Mo said with a twirl of his dragon staff.
"Tang Hao, disciple of the Clear Sky Sect, killed our Spirit Hall elders, the Pope himself, and destroyed more than a dozen Spirit Halls, causing countless deaths of our members and innocent people alike. This cannot go unanswered. Today, under the order of the Great Worshipper, I, Qian Jun, come to collect this blood debt from the Clear Sky Sect!" Qian Jun declared.
Jiang Mo continued, "This matter has nothing to do with the other two sects. Do not interfere between us and the Clear Sky Sect. Leave now—or don't blame us for being merciless."
Their voices rolled through the entire Clear Sky Sect.
In an instant, emotion boiled within the sect—but not against the Spirit Hall. Their fury turned toward Tang Hao.
"Damn it, that mangy beast Tang Hao again! Does he mean to bring our Clear Sky Sect to ruin?"
"When the old Sect Master saw his awakening, he was so thrilled—said, 'What a glorious grandson! The future star of the Clear Sky Sect! He will bring prosperity to our generations!' Prosperity my ass! What future star? He's a curse upon us!"
"Tang Hao—this is all your fault, you damned beast!"
(END CHAPTER)
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