The Tortoise-Hiding Clear Sky Sect

The Tortoise-Hiding Clear Sky Sect

Xu Jiujiu watched Xu Jiawei's retreating figure in silence. She finally understood what her elder brother was thinking.

The empire appeared stable now, but in truth, it was like a rickety old house that could collapse at any moment.

Duke White Tiger's Mansion controlled the immensely powerful Northwest Army Group. There, even the emperor's sacred decree carried less weight than the Duke White Tiger's words.

The people of Spirit Cat Duke's Mansion were shrewd as well. If none of their clan members could perform a Martial Soul Fusion Skill with someone from Duke White Tiger's Mansion, they would not grow particularly close to them. But once such a person appeared, they immediately latched on, becoming inseparable.

Although the Hell White Tiger Martial Soul Fusion Skill was powerful, it was not enough to make them so wary. What the imperial family truly feared was what this Martial Soul Fusion Skill represented. It was like glue, binding together the empire's two largest noble factions.

Perhaps the White Tiger Family had no intention of rebelling, but that did not mean the Spirit Cat Family had none. The Hell Spirit Cat was not an especially powerful Martial Soul, merely a high-grade one at most. Their clan had endured for ten thousand years only because the White Tiger Family existed. The stronger the White Tiger Family became, the better their lives would be.

And what would be best for the White Tiger Family?

Do not forget that the former rulers of the Star Luo Empire bore the surname Dai.

The nobles who shared the Spirit Cat Family's thinking likewise hoped for the Dai Family to reclaim the Imperial Throne. Their conflict with the imperial family had existed since Four Thousand Years Ago. After all, among the Four Great Empires across the continent, the Star Luo Empire was the only one where nobles held no fiefs.

Not even the Dai imperial family, which had once been equally harsh toward nobles, had made such a choice.

"I'll handle this matter. Don't overthink it." Xu Jiawei turned around, interrupting Xu Jiujiu's thoughts. Looking at her, he asked, "The people from Shrek Academy went to Haifeng City?"

Xu Jiujiu nodded. "The waters near Haifeng City connect to the Sun Moon Empire. There are many islands there, which have bred a large number of pirates. The Shrek Academy Inspection Group went there this time to wipe out a group of pirates who enjoy coming ashore to burn, kill, and plunder."

"The pirate problem is too troublesome. Shrek Academy's willingness to help has eased some of my pressure." Although Xu Jiawei disliked Shrek Academy meddling in the empire's officials' affairs, he greatly appreciated their efforts in suppressing bandits everywhere.

"But pirates are like weeds. Wipe out one batch, and another will immediately take its place. Once the Shrek Academy Inspection Group leaves, they will all reappear. For now, this only provides temporary relief." Xu Jiujiu said solemnly, "I propose establishing a navy near Haifeng City to guard against pirates. At the same time, we can use this opportunity to train a powerful naval force. If we go to war with the Sun Moon Empire in the future and the land campaign proves difficult, we could take the sea route."

"Of course I've considered that. But have you thought about why there are so many pirates?" Xu Jiawei's expression was complicated.

"Why?" Xu Jiujiu froze for a moment.

Xu Jiawei sighed. "I can tell you clearly that at least sixty percent of those pirates were created by the Sun Moon Empire's Sea Soul King. The Sun Moon Empire understands the importance of the sea very well. Once we establish a navy, the pirates' rampage will likely multiply many times over. When that happens, every major city along the coastline will suffer."

"At the same time, the chances of merchant vessels traveling between us and the Sun Moon Empire being attacked will soar as well."

"That is why generations of emperors never established a navy, only coastal defense forces in the major cities along the shoreline. It is not that we did not want to do it. We simply had no way to."

Xu Jiujiu stood rooted to the spot. She had only been involved in state affairs for a year, and there was much she still did not understand. After Xu Jiawei explained it, she understood everything.

Xu Jiawei said in a low voice, "We are not the only ones who understand the importance of the sea. The Sun Moon Empire does too. Yet neither side has the ability to build warships capable of sailing the open ocean, so we are currently almost evenly matched. But the Sun Moon Empire is, after all, the empire with the strongest Soul Tool technology. The gap between us will likely grow ever wider in the future."

"To be honest, in a sense, if there were not so many powerful Sea Soul Beasts in the ocean, the Sun Moon Empire might already have developed ocean-going warships. And the reason I have consistently promoted Soul Tools is not merely because they represent the future of Soul Masters. More importantly, Four Thousand Years Ago, the strongest Soul Tools could barely threaten ordinary Titled Douluo. But what about today, four thousand years later?"

"They may even be capable of killing Super Douluo. The times are advancing. Perhaps one day, humanity will break through the sea's restrictions. When that time comes, the Soul Master powerhouses that the Three Empires of Douluo Continent once took pride in will no longer hold any advantage. Internal and external threats can no longer be underestimated."

"The Dou Spirit Imperial Family is fatuous and incompetent, and their entire empire is like a withered dead tree. The Heaven Soul Imperial Family may possess ambition, but the torrent of the times has already left them behind. No matter how they chase after it, they will only ever see the tail of the age—visible, yet forever beyond their grasp."

"As for our Star Luo Empire..." Xu Jiawei fell silent for once. He did not want to tell Xu Jiujiu that he had already dreamed several times of the empire's destruction.

Xu Jiujiu opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but in the end, no words came out. She understood her family's situation all too well.

"Though it is frustrating, we still have enough time—enough to make preparations in advance." The silence vanished from Xu Jiawei's face, replaced by a faint smile. "Jiujiu, continue leading the Star Guard in monitoring the major noble families. When the day of the tournament arrives, we will settle all accounts together."

"I understand." Xu Jiujiu nodded solemnly.

"But we are not the only ones in a hurry. They are too." Xu Jiawei turned back toward the map, looking at a massive city bordering the Star Dou Great Forest.

Xu Jiujiu clearly knew whom Xu Jiawei meant. After hesitating, she asked, "Imperial Brother, if war breaks out across the continent once more, do you think those hidden sects will emerge?"

"Some will, and some will not." Xu Jiawei spoke with mockery in his voice. "I do not know about the other sects, but the Clear Sky Sect, which has also existed for ten thousand years, definitely will not. They have been tortoises hiding in their shells for so long that their necks have atrophied and cannot stretch out anymore."

"Pfft."

Xu Jiujiu could not hold back her laughter upon hearing that.

Ten thousand years ago, Spirit Hall was overwhelmingly powerful, frightening the Clear Sky Sect into retreating home and not daring to venture out. In the end, they only came out to fight after the situation had greatly improved.

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, fellow members of the Upper Three Sects, had both dared to stand against Spirit Hall. One could say they were overestimating themselves, trying to stop a chariot with their arms, but they still stepped forward. Yet the Clear Sky Sect, the strongest sect, had actually retreated. It would have been one thing if they had lost after fighting, but the key was that they had not even fought before they were frightened limp.

Of course, if one insisted that the Clear Sky Sect had done so for self-preservation, hiding its strength and waiting for the right time to reemerge, then that was open to interpretation.

Then came the continental war Four Thousand Years Ago. The Clear Sky Sect remained secluded throughout the early stages. Only after Shrek Academy turned the tide and seized the upper hand did the Clear Sky Sect issue an order, and its members descended together. Well... it was precisely this incident that established Shrek Academy's status as the core of the continent.

In outsiders' eyes, the Clear Sky Sect was immensely great, after all, having produced a God.

But the Xu Family was different. Ten thousand years ago, they had already been a powerful hidden sect acknowledged by Spirit Hall: the Star Crown Sect. They possessed much historical material that had not been altered.

"Imperial Brother, you get back to work. I'll go see my sister-in-law and my little niece." After laughing for a while, Xu Jiujiu said seriously.

"Mm."

Xu Jiawei nodded.

Xu Jiujiu turned and left. In the enormous palace, only Xu Jiawei remained.

Looking at the various matters awaiting his attention atop the Dragon Writing Desk, Xu Jiawei could not help feeling his head ache.

A new emperor had far too much to face. He was somewhat tired.

Yet when he began seriously handling state affairs, his eyes immediately turned stern. His gaze lowered to the Dragon Writing Desk, where a proposal had been placed. Several large words were written upon it.

"Soul Beast Transformation Plan—Signed, Xu Jiujiu"

The Star Crown Sect possessed a secret known only to themselves: they could gather one hundred clan members at their ancestral grounds and activate the Star Crown Prayer Power.

The purpose of this prayer power was simple. At night, the stars would randomly guide them toward a worthwhile opportunity.

That opportunity might be finding a Soul Bone, discovering a highly valuable medicinal herb, or helping them locate the coordinates of a Soul Beast preparing to re-cultivate into Human Form.

This ability sounded extraordinarily impressive, but in reality, it was not particularly useful. Many of the opportunities it pointed them toward were not easy to obtain.

For example, a Soul Bone might be located in the deep sea. How were they supposed to find it?

Or take an extremely valuable medicinal herb. Every place where such things grew was fraught with danger. In the end, the most likely opportunity to succeed was learning the location of a Soul Beast about to re-cultivate into Human Form.

But over the past ten thousand years, they had only succeeded once, Four Thousand Years Ago. They had obtained a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone and a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Ring.

It was also during that occasion that they emerged from seclusion to help the empire defeat the invading Sun Moon Empire.

As the times advanced, they had also developed new methods to acquire this Shapeshifted Soul Beast.

But whether it would succeed remained uncertain.

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There is not much left of the Duke's Mansion plotline. After this section, the Duke's Mansion will not appear again until much later.

One more thing: regarding Huo Yuhao's hatred, my thoughts are the same as everyone's.

Those who deserve to die will die. Not a single one will be spared!