Spirit Hall's Defeated Return

Clear Sky Sect.

Tang Yuehua sat there alone, still holding the Soul Tool Di Hong had given her back then. Ever since Di Hong had sent her back that time, she had never seen him again. The most recent news she had heard of him was that he had killed a Soul Saint of the Star Luo Empire on the battlefield.

To be honest, she had been terribly worried when she first heard the news. But when she learned that Di Hong was safe, she finally breathed a sigh of relief and felt happy for him as well.

Tang Hao had just finished cultivating when he saw his little sister sitting there alone, lost in thought again. He could not help but feel helpless.

Beside him, a burly middle-aged man with a chiseled face also shook his head helplessly. Ever since she had been rescued that time, Tang Yuehua had often been like this.

In the end, Tang Hao could no longer stand watching.

"Little Yuehua, if you really want to see him, why not just go to the Silves Kingdom?"

Tang Yuehua put away the Soul Tool, rose to her feet, and gave the middle-aged man a slight bow.

"Big Brother."

"Mm." The man nodded slightly. He was Tang Hao and Tang Yuehua's eldest brother, Tang Xiao. Though they were blood siblings, he was fifteen years older than Tang Hao.

His bright, piercing eyes softened somewhat whenever he looked at Tang Yuehua. She was his own little sister, after all. If he, as her eldest brother, did not spoil her, then who would? Although Tang Yuehua could not become a Soul Master, that did not affect his feelings for her.

"Yuehua, if you truly want to see him again, perhaps you'll have a chance during the Soul Master Exchange Meet."

"Will he attend?" Tang Yuehua looked at Tang Xiao expectantly.

Tang Xiao nodded. "Yes. The Royal Family has announced the list of people attending the Soul Master Exchange Meet, and Di Hong's name is on it."

"To be honest, I also want to meet this young man you've been pining for day and night. Just what did he do to utterly captivate our dear little sister?"

"Big Brother!" Tang Yuehua protested shyly, turning away her completely flushed face. She was now looking forward to the Soul Master Exchange Meet.

"I want to meet him too, to see which of us is stronger. They all say he's a genius, but I, Tang Hao, specialize in beating up geniuses."

Tang Hao clenched his fist, his tone brimming with confidence.

Tang Yuehua rolled her eyes at him.

"He became a Spirit King at twelve, while you haven't even reached Soul Emperor yet."

"So what? Our Clear Sky Hammer is unmatched in the world." Tang Hao did not care when the other party had become a Spirit King. In his view, all geniuses were nothing before the Clear Sky Hammer. One smash with it would immediately reveal whether someone was a true genius or not.

Tang Xiao and he would also attend the Soul Master Exchange Meet. At that time, they could see just how many geniuses there were across the continent, and whether the younger generation had any true powerhouses.

For all these years, he had been cultivating in the sect with his eldest brother. He was bored to death.

Half a year passed in the blink of an eye.

Over the past six months, Di Hong had been training in the deep mountains. After training, he would spar with Di Yuan. A Soul Douluo-level Soul Master could help him improve tremendously.

Over those six months, his strength had advanced by leaps and bounds. Though his Soul Power had only risen by one level, his combat ability had undergone a qualitative leap.

Beneath a waterfall deep in the mountains.

Di Hong sat cross-legged on a smooth boulder, completely bare from the waist up. His nearly perfect muscle definition was on full display—broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and eight defined abs. Di Hong was now the sort of man who looked lean in clothes but was all muscle beneath them.

Water from the waterfall crashed onto his body, yet the powerful impact did not affect him in the slightest. He sat motionless upon the rock. He could now fully withstand the force of the water pressure, and his physical strength was no longer what it had once been.

Half an hour later, he slowly opened his eyes. The instant they opened, a sharp glint shot out from them.

He stood and swept his gaze over the surroundings before leaping onto the shore.

The moment he landed, blazing flames ignited all over his body. When the flames faded, his previously drenched body had been instantly dried by the fire.

He took out a fiery red robe from his Soul Tool. The instant he put it on, his sturdy muscles were completely concealed.

On a nearby stone lay a crimson longsword. He had specifically had this sword forged from Fire Essence Iron by a blacksmith. It was incomparably sharp, but not particularly useful. When fighting high-level Soul Masters, a sword like this could easily shatter.

Especially when facing a Soul Master with the Seven Kill Sword martial soul.

After all, it was not a divine artifact.

Looking at the Di Hong who had cultivated here for half a year, he unexpectedly felt a trace of reluctance to leave.

He loved this place too much. The mountains layered one upon another, the scenery was beautiful, and the air was fresh. Far from the mundane world, the birdsong in the mountains was especially pleasant, and from time to time, he could hear the clear calls of deer. Best of all, no one came to disturb him.

Unfortunately, he could not stay here forever.

"It's time to leave."

The Soul Master Exchange Meet would begin in just over a month. He had to set out.

After returning to the Royal Palace, he explained the situation to Di Yuan.

Di Yuan did not say much, merely nodding. Over the past six months, he had been busy planning reforms. He was not particularly interested in the Soul Master Exchange Meet. After all, he was already at such an advanced age, and the drive of his youth had long since faded.

Besides, he was already a Soul Douluo-level Soul Master and could not participate in such an event.

Afterward, Di Hong went to see Shen Ning. Shen Ning gave him many instructions, while naturally not forgetting to urge him to get married.

He was fourteen now. In Shen Ning's view, he could get married in another two years.

Di Hong fled in disarray.

After seeing his eldest brother and Second Brother, he left Silvis City for Heaven Dou City. Of everyone in the family, he was the most idle. Di Ming was busy building an Intelligence Organization, while Di Yang, like Di Yuan, was busy with reforms.

Thus, he went to Heaven Dou City alone this time.

He had come to terms with it now. Sometimes, he could not be too cowardly. He had been too fearful and too conservative all these years, which was why things had turned out this way.

Over the past six months, aside from preparing for the Soul Master Exchange Meet, another incident had taken place within Spirit Hall.

Spirit Hall had suffered a crushing defeat. Though the news had not spread, all the top powers knew about it.

Not long ago, Spirit Hall discovered an island overseas inhabited by many Sea Soul Masters. Qian Xunji decided to subdue the Soul Masters there and dispatched two thousand Soul Masters to attack it. They returned in defeat, suffering devastating losses.

Of the two thousand Soul Masters, fewer than a hundred made it back, and two Titled Douluo had perished as well.

They had underestimated the strength of the Soul Masters there. There were actually several Titled Douluo on that island.

Spirit Hall named the place Devil Island, but its true name was Sea God Island.

This battle was undoubtedly a tremendous blow to Qian Xunji, who had only recently become Pope. Not long after taking office, Spirit Hall suffered such grave losses that his prestige within Spirit Hall plummeted.

If Qian Daoliu had not been there, even his position as Pope might have become unstable.

The losses from this battle directly alarmed Qian Daoliu, who had stepped down and become the Grand Priest.

After learning the details, Qian Daoliu concluded that the island must possess extraordinarily powerful Soul Masters. He decided to investigate personally. To be safe, before setting out, he wrote to invite Tang Chen, the former Sect Master of the Clear Sky Sect.

As relations between the two major powers had gradually improved during this time, and Spirit Hall had stopped suppressing the Clear Sky Sect after the new Pope took office, Tang Chen gladly accepted the invitation. Thus, the two Level 99 Peerless Douluo personally headed there.