Heaven Dou Empire, Heaven Dou Central District, Haotian Sect
Under the Heaven Dou Empire were five provinces, four kingdoms, one duchy, and the largest region of all, the Heaven Dou Central District, where the Imperial Capital was located.
Haotian Sect was located three hundred li northeast of Heaven Dou City, on the South Foothills of the Heaven Mountain Snowfield. Ringed by mountains and frozen year-round, it was a pass that blocked the snowmen of the Heaven Mountain Snowfield from moving south, and also the ancestral land of Haotian Sect.
Haotian Sect occupied five mountain peaks, all extremely steep. Between the mountains were ravines, and the cliffs were almost perpendicular to the ground. Two peaks were connected by iron chains as thick as an arm.
Each mountain peak was a defensive line. By the time one reached the fifth peak, Clear Sky Peak, it was already nearly three thousand meters above sea level. The towering snowy mountain pierced into the vast sky, majestic and magnificent.
The buildings on the mountain had not the slightest sense of luxury, but they could not be called simple either. Their greatest defining trait was weight; the huge stone structures resembled fortresses.
The main gate was ten meters tall. Though it could not compare to Pope's Hall or an imperial palace, this all-stone structure appeared especially solid and sturdy.
Above the main gate, three large stone-carved characters were vigorous and powerful, carrying a vast, awe-inspiring grandeur that seemed enough to stand against the surrounding mountains—Haotian Sect!
Only the three to four hundred direct disciples of Haotian Sect could enter the mountain. The sect's affiliates and Outer Sect disciples were all outside, in Clear Sky City at the foot of the mountain.
On a stone platform stood a youth one meter seventy tall, with the appearance of a thirteen- or fourteen-year-old.
His tall, straight, and sturdy figure was like a standard-bearer's pole; his brows were sharp as if cut by a blade, his nose bridge high, his skin glowing with a healthy bronze sheen, and his eyes shone like cold stars. He wore gray leather from head to toe.
At that moment, he was swinging the Clear Sky Hammer, building speed and force quickly yet steadily, each hammer stronger than the last, each blow stacking its power onto the next.
If his physical constitution had not been extraordinarily formidable, the enormous impact alone would have been enough to tear apart every muscle in his body.
Beside him stood a burly figure, over two meters tall, broad-backed and thick-waisted, with features as sharply carved as if by knives and axes, and short graying hair.
His bright, piercing eyes blazed like torches, vast and imposing. He was likewise dressed in plain gray clothes, yet as he stood there, he seemed like the very core of this castle.
Tang Yue, sect master of Haotian Sect, level 96 Super Douluo.
"Sect Master, an urgent message!" A disciple hurried over and handed him a note.
Tang Yue took it and quickly swept his eyes over it. Suddenly, an unrestrained and wildly imposing aura erupted from him without the slightest concealment, surging out like a storm and instantly enveloping Tang Chen, who had been practicing martial arts, in tremendous pressure.
"Grandfather, what happened?" Tang Chen slowly withdrew the Clear Sky Hammer. Like a young fierce tiger with its aura held within, every gesture he made seemed rather steady.
"Nothing much. A few old friends' families did something big." Tang Yue smiled calmly.
"Then will it affect us in any way?"
"Not really. Not bad, Chen'er. Your Chaotic Cloak has already been trained to sixty-three hammers. Your comprehension is exceptional. It seems taking the balanced path was indeed the right choice. How is your Clear Sky True Yang Force coming along?"
Clear Sky True Yang Force was one form of Haotian Sect's basic Meditation Method, the Clear Sky Nine Yang Skill.
Nine Yang Nine Forces; direct male disciples of Haotian Sect each chose one to cultivate.
"I've already entered the second stage. It could be considered that I've crossed the threshold." Tang Chen replied respectfully.
"Good. It's time to pass the Clear Sky Nine Wonders on to you." Tang Yue clapped his hands.
"Really?" After all, he was still a youth; the joy on Tang Chen's face was plain to see.
"How could Grandfather lie to you? However, in a month, go study at Heaven Dou Royal Academy." Tang Yue patted his shoulder.
"Grandfather, haven't we been refusing the Heaven Dou Imperial Family these past few years?"
"Storms are about to rise across the continent again. You will represent our Haotian Sect and go sift through the waves and sand, displaying the might of our Clear Sky."
"Yes. Your grandson will not fail the sect's reputation, and will restore the glory of Clear Sky! Outstanding Battle Soul Hammer, Majestic Haotian Sect!"
Heaven Dou Empire, Heaven Dou Central District, Glazed Tile City
Glazed Tile City was in the southeast of Heaven Dou City, not far away, situated on the main route between the Imperial Capital and the Heaven Dou Empire's largest plain, the Starfield Great Plains.
North of the Starfield Great Plains was Sunset Forest, while west of Sunset Forest was Heaven Dou City. The three formed a triangle, and Seven Treasure Glazed Tile City sat right in the middle of them, with green-tiled roofs and vermilion eaves, carved railings and jade steps, surrounded by mountains and forests.
Its geography was advantageous, its economy prosperous, its food supplies plentiful, and its population large. It was also the location of the Number One Under Heaven merchant guild—the Glazed Tile Merchant Guild.
Therefore, Glazed Tile City was the only fief among the Seven Great Sects to develop into a main-city-level sect city. For the others, reaching prefecture-city level was already quite good.
The Seven Great Sects had once dominated their era, yet the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's temperament was entirely different. In one word: rich!
Not only was their own martial soul strength formidable, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was also the wealthiest sect.
Even though they were actually very low-key, both the imperial family of the Heaven Dou Empire and the powerful Spirit Hall still had to show them some respect.
Their sect treasury, "World Warehouse," would astonish even Titled Douluo who had seen the wider world when they first arrived there. Gold and treasured swords were piled casually on the ground, with countless rare treasures displayed within.
The power accumulated over many years had given the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect an enormous system and close relations with the Heaven Dou Empire. The number of soul masters with other surnames who attached themselves to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect alone exceeded three thousand.
Adding the several hundred direct disciples who possessed the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda martial soul, as well as the soul masters they had cultivated themselves, the total number reached as many as five thousand.
In the Soul Master World, this was absolutely an extremely terrifying force.
In terms of numbers, the other six great sects were far from able to compare.
At the same time, as the strongest Support Type Soul Masters on the entire continent, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was someone other soul masters all wanted to win over and obtain help from. For that reason, none of them would go looking for trouble with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect; instead, they quite liked standing up for them!
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was on Glazed Tile Mountain behind Glazed Tile City, far from the clamor. The main building was shaped like a pagoda, and around it were orderly towers and pavilions similar to those of Blue Star's Chinese style.
What first entered the eye in the main hall were Pillar of the Heavens, Jade Pillar, and Purple Gold Beam Supporting the Sea. Calling it carved beams and painted rafters would not be an exaggeration at all.
The seats of the sect master and elders were all redwood furniture, their chair backs inlaid with jasper rings.
The long corridor leading to the sect master's seat was built over the water. The treasure chests on both sides actually held all kinds of gems and coral, while "Golden Lotus Leaf" lotuses were planted in the water—an undisguised flaunting of wealth.
Sect Master Ning Rui Ting listened to the report his subordinate had brought from Ning Ze.
He stood tall and elegant, his hair half bound beneath a crown, a belt at his waist, and a blue cloud-patterned forehead band across his brow. His clear eyes held a captivating smile, and as his gaze shifted, an impossible-to-hide charm shone through. The hems of his robes fluttered in the wind, adding a touch more graceful ease to his bearing.
"Mm. We still need to maintain good relations with them. They are our best external support."
"Yes, sir!"
"Send word to Ning Ze. He may begin negotiating that matter."
"Yes, sir!"
After his subordinate withdrew, Ning Rui Ting rose with his hands clasped behind his back and pondered quietly, "Whenever Soul Fighting City carries out punishment, it marks the end of the period of rapid, peaceful development following a great calamity. But this time, with Soul Fighting City making such a major move, I wonder what impact it will have on the entire continent afterward..."
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