Ning Fengzhi's Secret Letter Informed the Clear Sky Sect; Tang Xiao Convened the Five Great Elders

Although they had found no direct evidence that Spirit Hall was behind this.

Who else but Spirit Hall would target the Strength Clan?

Could it have been the Clear Sky Sect?

The answer was obvious.

Ye Xian had barely ascended to the position of Pope before he could no longer restrain himself.

Xue Ye knew full well that the Strength Clan was only the beginning.

Wiping out an entire clan right under the Heaven Dou Imperial Family's nose—was that not a provocation against their authority, a test of their bottom line?

He simply could not endure it any longer.

Yet there was nothing he could do.

The Empire might have a million mighty soldiers, but its lack of Titled Douluo-level experts was a crippling weakness.

"Your Majesty, please take care of yourself!"

The Chief Eunuch and several Imperial Physician Spirit Masters rushed forward in panic.

"Cough, cough, cough..."

Xue Ye coughed violently twice more.

Now, he had the will but not the strength.

Looking at his son Xue Beng kneeling not far away, Xue Ye spoke in a hoarse, urgent voice.

"Issue my decree. Xue Beng will temporarily serve as Regent Prince. Summon Sect Master Ning for a council meeting. Investigate Spirit Hall's conspiracy. Protect... protect me. Protect Heaven Dou!"

"Your son accepts the decree! I will not fail Father Emperor's trust!"

Xue Beng abruptly raised his head, his eyes already blazing with unrestrained ambition.

At last, he had obtained the power of regency.

Watching this unfold, the Guard Captain felt a chill run through his heart.

His Majesty's mind was clearly on the verge of collapse, while Fourth Prince Xue Beng's ambition was plain for all to see.

And the true enemy—the Pope Ye Xian, seated high in Spirit City.

No one could predict his next move.

After receiving the Imperial Family's secret report, Ning Fengzhi immediately led Sword Douluo Chen Xin to the palace.

Deep within the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace, inside a secret chamber isolated from Soul Power.

Xue Ye was no longer able to attend.

Sitting in the seat of honor in Xue Ye's place was none other than Regent Prince Xue Beng.

A trace of deliberately feigned grief still lingered on his face, yet in those deeply sunken eyes flickered undisguised ambition, along with a hint of dread toward an unknown and powerful foe.

He looked toward the figure seated to his left, dressed in luxurious purple robes. The man's features were gentle, but he could not conceal his exhaustion and gravity.

This man was Ning Fengzhi, Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

"Sect Master Ning."

Xue Beng's voice carried a solemnity he was deliberately suppressing.

"The massacre of the Strength Clan is no longer the Empire's affair alone."

"We have learned that Tai Tan, Clan Leader of the Strength Clan, left Heaven Dou City two days ago for Dragon Rise City to attend the Four Clan Council. It seems he had already made contact with the Clear Sky Sect."

"I suspect Spirit Hall acted because of this."

"Spirit Hall's new Pope, Ye Xian, is far more ruthless and brutal in his methods than Bibi Dong ever was!"

"That bastard treats the Heaven Dou Empire as if it were nothing. He dared to exterminate an entire clan in the imperial capital. His wolfish ambitions could not be more obvious!"

"This... is a naked declaration of war!"

Ning Fengzhi's gaze sharpened in alarm.

"Your Highness means that Spirit Hall struck so viciously to prevent the Four Clans from continuing to serve the Clear Sky Sect."

As though he had thought of something, a flash of fear crossed his face.

"Then the other three clans...?"

Xue Beng's brow also furrowed tightly.

"This happened too suddenly. The Imperial Family's intelligence network has yet to bring back all the information."

"If Spirit Hall truly dares to go so mad as to wipe out all Four Clans, I believe the Clear Sky Sect will not stand idly by. Neither will the Two Great Empires."

Sword Douluo Chen Xin sat with his eyes closed, motionless as an old monk in meditation, but the condensed sword aura around him trembled faintly.

He slowly opened his eyes, his gaze like cold lightning.

"Ye Xian ascended the throne, reestablished the Saintess, then immediately used thunderous means to destroy the Strength Clan and intimidate the world!"

"This boy's schemes are unfathomable, and his ambitions extend far beyond a single city or territory."

He looked at Xue Beng and Ning Fengzhi, his voice resolute.

"Neither the Heaven Dou Empire nor our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect can withstand that bastard's edge alone."

"Whether Spirit Hall has attacked the other three clans or not, the urgent matter is to inform the Clear Sky Sect and join forces with them."

"The Clear Sky Sect has remained hidden for many years, and its foundations are unfathomable. With the Clear Sky Hammer, the number one weapon Spirit in the world, it is the only force capable of directly contending against Spirit Hall's top-tier strength."

"The Strength Clan is their vassal, and Tai Tan is their retainer. The Clear Sky Sect will never ignore this. The news must reach them at once. We must ask them to emerge from seclusion and resist this powerful enemy together."

"Uncle Sword is absolutely right!"

A sharp gleam flashed in Ning Fengzhi's eyes.

"The Strength Clan's catastrophic destruction is the heaviest alarm bell that could knock upon the Clear Sky Sect's gates."

"Though the Clear Sky Sect has sealed its mountain, it is not cut off from the world. The Upper Three Sects all have designated methods of contact."

"I will inform the Clear Sky Sect of the Strength Clan's fate as quickly as possible. Your Highness, please remain calm."

"Spirit Hall has only just caused such a tremendous disturbance in Heaven Dou City. Presumably, it will not strike again anytime soon."

"Besides, our sects are not comparable to minor clans like the Strength Clan!"

The lamps in the secret chamber cast wavering shadows across the grim, resolute faces of those present.

A Divine Eagle that had never been put to use before departed the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace carrying a secret letter from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

This Divine Eagle had been raised from infancy by the Clear Sky Sect, then specially placed within the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect in case of emergencies.

It knew the location of the Clear Sky Sect and could deliver the secret letter at the fastest possible speed.

The Divine Eagle soared over high skies and mountain peaks, like a cloud-piercing arrow carrying the scent of blood, and finally reached the mist-shrouded outskirts of the Clear Sky Sect.

The moment it was spotted by sect disciples, it immediately drew attention.

Such Divine Eagles existed only within the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.

If one appeared again, it meant that an emergency had occurred.

Very soon, a Clear Sky Sect elder brought the secret letter before Tang Xiao.

His expression grave, Tang Xiao opened the letter and skimmed it twice before freezing on the spot.

Tang Xiao's hands trembled involuntarily. He rose to his feet and forced himself to remain calm.

"Notify the sect's Five Great Elders. Have them come to the council hall!"

"Yes!"

Inside the council hall, only Sect Master Tang Xiao and five core elders with white hair and beards, their auras deep and solemn, sat around an enormous round table of black stone.

Candlelight flickered, stretching their shadows across the cold stone walls.

Seeing the doubts on everyone's faces, Tang Xiao finally spoke.

"Everyone, prepare yourselves. What I am about to say may be somewhat beyond your expectations."

The five elders exchanged glances, utterly confused.

For the Sect Master to summon all five of them with such fanfare, it could not possibly be a trivial matter.

"Earlier, I received a secret letter from the Seven Treasures Glazed Tile Sect..."

Before he could finish half the sentence, the five elders' pupils contracted in unison.

They naturally knew what that meant.

"Last night, the Strength Clan was exterminated in Heaven Dou City. Not a single person survived!"

"After a brief discussion, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the Heaven Dou Imperial Family concluded that Spirit Hall was most likely responsible."

What?!

The moment those words fell, all five elders shot to their feet almost in unison.

Their faces were filled with shock.