Chapter 104 – 121. Could You Give Me Some Face, Then?
"Damn it!" Tang Kai's eyes were red, his breathing heavy with rage. "That dog Tang Hao caused all this trouble, and now my Clear Sky Sect must bear the consequences. Looks like we have no choice but to fight to the death today!"
"Sect Master Tang Kai, wait." Ning Fengzhi stepped forward calmly. Tang Kai frowned. "Let me, Ning Fengzhi, try to mediate first. Perhaps today I can spare your Clear Sky Sect from catastrophe."
"You think that's possible?" Tang Kai asked skeptically.
"With only a few words from me," Ning Fengzhi said confidently, "the Spirit Hall will withdraw its army. The crisis of the Clear Sky Sect will resolve without a fight."
"Oh?" Yu Yuanzhen asked curiously. "What clever plan does Sect Master Ning have to resolve this?"
Ning Fengzhi smiled lightly. "You'll see soon enough. Elder Kuang Xi, Elder Man Niu, would you accompany me to meet the two Worshippers of Spirit Hall?"
Kuang Xi and Man Niu hesitated briefly before nodding. "Alright."
As Qian Jun and Jiang Mo commanded the Spirit Hall troops to advance, two immense waves of soul power suddenly erupted at the gates of the Clear Sky Sect.
"Seventh Soul Skill—Martial Spirit Avatar!"
"Seventh Soul Skill—Martial Spirit Avatar!"
"Seventh Soul Skill—Martial Spirit Avatar!"
A massive black rhinoceros emanating blue light stood to the right, a mighty wild bull radiating yellow earthy soul power stood to the left, and between them rose a towering seven-tiered Glazed Pagoda.
The three figures blocked the path of the Spirit Hall army.
"Oh?" Qian Jun and Jiang Mo both grew intrigued, watching Ning Fengzhi's group without attacking immediately.
Ning Fengzhi cast a sequence of soul skills to fully amplify Kuang Xi and Man Niu's power, raising the two Level 95 Title Douluo to a state comparable to Level 96 Douluo.
Still, in the eyes of the two Worshippers, this was far from enough. Even one of them alone could deal with the trio easily, to say nothing of the two combined—whose joint power could match even a Level 98 Super Douluo.
Jiang Mo twirled his Dragon-Subduing Staff casually. "Even the Clear Sky Sect hasn't made a move yet, and yet you, Ning Fengzhi, jump out so eagerly. What, do you plan to make yourself an enemy of Spirit Hall?"
Facing the two Worshippers, Ning Fengzhi remained unshaken. He spoke evenly, "The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has no intention of opposing Spirit Hall."
"Then what exactly do you intend to do?" Qian Jun asked coldly.
"Perhaps there are some misunderstandings between Spirit Hall and the Clear Sky Sect," Ning Fengzhi said, spreading his hands. "There's no need for this conflict to escalate to bloodshed. Could you give me, Ning Fengzhi, a bit of face—and stop the fighting here? Let both sides make peace again. After all, it's clear that all of this stems from Tang Hao. When Tang Hao went into hiding, he destroyed multiple Spirit Hall branches, killed the Pope, and murdered multiple elders."
"In my view, it makes little sense for Spirit Hall to hold the Clear Sky Sect accountable for his actions. Sect Master Tang Kai has already publicly declared that Tang Hao was expelled from their sect—he is no longer one of their own. If Spirit Hall wishes to avenge its fallen, then isn't it more reasonable to go after Tang Hao himself?" Ning Fengzhi said calmly.
His plan was quite elegant—redirect Spirit Hall's hatred toward Tang Hao. With Tang Hao's power as a Contra, and his potential after reaching the Title Douluo level, pursuing him would cost Spirit Hall greatly. His own Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect could safely remain in the middle, sitting atop the proverbial fishing platform, watching while Spirit Hall's overwhelming strength gradually diminished. Thus, the power balance among the continent's forces would be restored.
Qian Jun sneered. "It seems the new Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has quite the sharp tongue. Then let me ask you: when Tang Hao rampaged across the land destroying Spirit Hall branches—what was his identity at the time?"
Ning Fengzhi fell silent.
Qian Jun's tone hardened. "You can't answer, can you? Tang Hao was the heir to the Clear Sky Sect. When he killed our Elders, he was still a Clear Sky disciple. All his crimes were committed under that identity. And now you tell me that simply cutting him off washes the Clear Sky Sect clean of guilt?"
Jiang Mo continued, "Even leaving that aside—what's Tang Hao's surname? Tang. And his Martial Spirit? The Clear Sky Hammer. As long as those two things are true, it doesn't matter whether he resigned or not. Everything he's done will still be counted as part of the Clear Sky Sect's sins. Otherwise, what would stop any of you from letting a rogue Title Douluo commit atrocities, then pretend to sever ties just to avoid Spirit Hall's retaliation? What kind of justice would that be?"
At those words, many from the Clear Sky Sect could no longer stay calm.
"What?! Tang Hao made the mistakes, and we have to bear them?"
"Damn it! That beast Tang Hao—this is all his fault!"
"After ten thousand years, the Clear Sky Sect gave birth to a monster like this. Truly, our sect's greatest misfortune!"
Ning Fengzhi's expression darkened. He hadn't expected Spirit Hall to be so intent on attacking the Clear Sky Sect regardless.
He shifted tactics. "Then perhaps I may propose another solution. Spirit Hall bears blood enmity with Tang Hao—and so does the Clear Sky Sect. You share a common enemy. Why not set aside your differences and work together to hunt Tang Hao down?"
"There's no need," Qian Jun said coldly. "We will settle Tang Hao's debt eventually. But today, we'll settle the one with the Clear Sky Sect."
Jiang Mo raised his staff, pointing it at Ning Fengzhi. "Ning Fengzhi, this is between Spirit Hall and the Clear Sky Sect. I'll give you one last chance—walk away while you still can, or don't blame me for what comes next."
Being so openly threatened left Ning Fengzhi visibly displeased. His tone hardened. "Worshippers, the Three Upper Sects have always stood together, sharing honor and disgrace. If you strike at the Clear Sky Sect, neither my Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect nor the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect will stand idly by. Today, all three sect masters are present. Are you sure Spirit Hall truly wishes to start a war with all three of us?"
At this, the two sect masters behind him reacted differently.
Tang Kai was deeply moved—So this is true loyalty through hardship. I never expected that in our darkest hour, Ning Fengzhi would step forward for us.
Yu Yuanzhen, however, almost cursed aloud. I thought you were going to offer some brilliant strategy, and this is what you come up with? If the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect wants to side with the Clear Sky Sect, that's your business—but who said you could speak on behalf of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Sect?!
"So you're threatening Spirit Hall, then?" Qian Jun asked with a dangerous look.
Ning Fengzhi stood tall, unyielding. "The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect does not seek enmity with Spirit Hall. But the Three Upper Sects are united—we will not turn a blind eye while the Clear Sky Sect burns. It is Spirit Hall who must decide whether it truly wants war with us all."
The Three Upper Sects together could barely balance Spirit Hall's might. Ning Fengzhi would never allow Spirit Hall to uproot the Clear Sky Sect, for that would only strengthen it further and doom the others in turn.
Qian Jun and Jiang Mo both smiled faintly. They did not move. But behind them, two unseen arrows silently shot forth—one piercing straight through Kuang Xi's heart, the other through Man Niu's.
(END CHAPTER)
Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.
Read 30 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/LightKira10