Proclaim the Order! Call Tang Xiao to Account, Level the Clear Sky Sect!

"Elder Gui Mei, stay here and protect the Saintess and Clan Leader Bai He!"

"Yes!"

At Ye Xian's command, Gui Mei respectfully bowed.

"Elder Yue Guan, take Tang Lie back to Spirit Hall's dungeon and interrogate him personally!"

"By your command, Your Holiness the Pope!"

A curve lifted at Yue Guan's lips. With a grasp of his hand, Tang Lie was instantly enveloped by his Soul Power.

Ye Xian nodded in satisfaction. With a flash, he transformed into an icy-blue streak of light and shot into the sky.

Yue Guan hurriedly followed after him.

Tang Lie was ruthlessly dragged behind him at will.

Like a pig or dog barely clinging to life.

Spirit Hall, dungeon.

Tang Lie's mangled body was casually thrown onto the frigid ice floor.

A layer of strange, deep-blue Ice Crystal covered his wounds, stopping the loss of blood while bringing an unceasing, bone-piercing agony of cold.

His breath was as faint as a dying candle in the wind. His eyes were unfocused, and unconscious groans of pain escaped his lips.

Ye Xian's pure Soul Power had kept him from dying, but a torment more terrifying than death had only just begun.

Creak—

The heavy cell door was pushed open, and Yue Guan appeared in the doorway.

A chilling smile, mixed with cruelty and excitement, hung on his delicate, handsome face.

Yue Guan gently closed the door and strode elegantly to Tang Lie's side. Looking down from above, he gazed at the ruined body that had once commanded the winds and clouds, but was now worse than mud.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Isn't this the mighty Seventh Elder Tang Lie of the Clear Sky Sect?"

Yue Guan's sharp voice carried undisguised mockery.

"How did you end up in such a state?"

"Oh, right. Our great Your Holiness the Pope swatted you aside like a fly."

He crouched down, his pale fingers lightly brushing the Ice Crystal along the edge of Tang Lie's wounds. A faint yet incomparably vicious strand of Soul Power seeped in through his fingertips.

"Aah—!"

Tang Lie's broken body convulsed violently, and a miserable scream tore from his throat.

His unfocused eyes instantly sharpened, filled with utmost pain and terror.

"Don't get so worked up, Tang Lie."

Yue Guan's smile became even more radiant, but his eyes were as cold as a serpent's.

"His Holiness showed mercy and spared your worthless life, not so you could lie here playing dead."

"There are some questions you need to answer honestly."

A strange golden light gathered at his fingertip, forming the phantom of a tiny golden chrysanthemum that contained terrifying Soul Power.

"For instance... who gave you the nerve to touch someone protected by Spirit Hall?"

"Did Tang Xiao, that turtle of a Sect Master, personally give the order?"

Yue Guan's voice was like a demon's whisper, instantly shattering the last of Tang Lie's mental defenses.

"It... it was the Sect Master! Tang Xiao!"

As if grasping at a lifeline, Tang Lie screamed without restraint, his voice twisted by agony and fear.

"The Sect Master received secret intelligence from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. He learned that the Strength Clan had been destroyed and the other three clans had pledged themselves to Spirit Hall."

"He and the four elders decided to kill a chicken to scare the monkeys. Bai He was the first name they chose. I was only following orders! Spare me... spare me..."

Tang Lie finally broke down. His eyes were bloodshot, tears and mucus streaming down his face as he cried out hoarsely with all his strength.

"The Sect Master ordered me to infiltrate the Speed Clan, eliminate Bai He, frame Spirit Hall, and drive a wedge between the other two clans and Spirit Hall..."

"Why Bai He?"

Yue Guan pressed him, his voice as cold as ice.

"Because he knows the location of the Clear Sky Sect's mountain gate..."

In fits and starts, Tang Lie revealed Tang Xiao's entire vicious scheme.

"Very good."

A satisfied expression appeared on Yue Guan's face, as though he were admiring a flawless work of art.

"Elder Tang Lie, His Holiness the Pope will know of your cooperation."

He rose to his feet, no longer sparing a glance at Tang Lie, who writhed on the floor like a maggot, and turned to leave the icy prison filled with pain and despair.

Papal Palace Council Hall.

A faint chill still lingered in the hall. Seven figures sat solemnly around the long council table.

Ye Xian sat at the head of the table, his deep-blue eyes calmly sweeping across the Seven Great Enshrined Elders.

The hall doors opened soundlessly, and Yue Guan quickly entered before dropping to one knee.

"Reporting to Your Holiness the Pope!"

Yue Guan's voice was slightly hoarse with lingering excitement.

"The traitor Tang Lie has confessed!"

He then repeated Tang Lie's words in full.

The moment he finished, killing intent filled the hall.

"What a Tang Xiao! What a Clear Sky Sect!"

Second Worship Golden Crocodile Douluo slammed his palm onto the cold jade table, a savage gleam flashing in his eyes.

"That turtle Tang Xiao actually dared to be so vicious!"

"Assassination and framing—he wanted to kill with a borrowed knife and obstruct Spirit Hall's grand plans! His crime deserves death!"

"Hmph!"

Fourth Enshrined Elder Mighty Lion Douluo let out a low roar.

"I knew those turtles were up to no good, hiding in the shadows and resorting to such despicable methods!"

"Your Holiness the Pope, this is no different from declaring war on Spirit Hall. We absolutely cannot tolerate it!"

Third Enshrined Elder Azure Phoenix Douluo frowned deeply.

"Tang Xiao's scheme is indeed vicious. If Bai He died and the framing succeeded, the Defense and Break Clans would certainly no longer trust us."

"If we do not answer such a provocation in kind, where will Spirit Hall's prestige remain?"

Qian Daoliu slowly opened his half-lidded eyes. His gaze flashed like lightning as he looked toward Ye Xian at the head of the table.

"Your Holiness the Pope, Tang Xiao's actions are no ordinary friction. They are an outrageous provocation against Spirit Hall's authority and a malicious attempt to sabotage your established strategy."

"With both testimony and evidence before us, the Clear Sky Sect must pay the price!"

Everyone's eyes focused on Ye Xian, awaiting his final judgment.

Ye Xian slowly rose to his feet. His gaze seemed to pierce through the walls of the hall and fall upon the distant, hidden Clear Sky Sect.

"Proclaim the order!"

"Tang Xiao, Sect Master of the Clear Sky Sect, dispatched an elder to assassinate Bai He, Clan Leader of the Speed Clan under Spirit Hall's protection. The evidence is conclusive!"

Ye Xian's voice suddenly rose, carrying an air of supremacy and icy killing intent.

"The Clear Sky Sect thinks that by hiding from the world, it can sleep peacefully and treat Spirit Hall as if it were nothing?"

"Today, I will level that turtle's mountain gate, personally take Tang Xiao's head, and hang it from the summit of Clear Sky Peak!"

His icy-blue eyes finally settled on Qian Daoliu, carrying absolute resolve.

"Great Enshrined Elder, from this moment onward, Spirit Hall shall enter a state of war!"

"Summon the elders of the Elder Hall!"

"Other than the Great Enshrined Elder and Second Worship, who will remain behind to guard Spirit City, the remaining five enshrined elders of Worship Hall shall follow me on this campaign!"

"Target—Clear Sky Sect!"

"Call Tang Xiao to account! Level the Clear Sky Sect!"

The final four words crashed through the Council Hall like thunder wrapped in ancient ice, carrying a chilling will to slaughter.

Azure Phoenix, Mighty Lion, Light Feather, Qian Jun, and Jiang Mo exchanged glances. They all saw the blazing battle intent in one another's eyes, then rose together and declared,

"By your command! We are willing to follow Your Holiness and level the Clear Sky Sect!"