Shuo Organization, Ranked Seventh on the Faction Ranking! Leader Hai Yue!

(Hai Yue artwork)

Tang Xiao and the five Elders stood frozen in place, their faces blank as though they had been struck by five bolts of lightning.

The Seventh Elder, who had just mocked the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan,

now wore a twisted expression like a malevolent ghost, his lips trembling violently,

yet he could not utter a single word. Only strange clicking sounds emerged from his throat.

The world's number one sect, guarded by seven Titled Douluo, was actually ranked only eighth!

What did that mean?

It meant that if they failed to enter the top three, they would have no chance at the Divine Artifact capable of changing the landscape!

Without the Divine Artifact's support, what could they use to contend against the unfathomable Spirit Hall, which possessed a divine inheritance?

What could they use to avenge that blood-soaked hatred?

If Spirit Hall obtained the Divine Artifact, when would the Clear Sky Sect ever see the light of day again?

And when would that blood-soaked hatred ever be avenged?

At this moment, the Sect Master of the foremost of the Upper Three Sects

had tears in his fierce eyes, tears streaming down his face!

The immense disparity and the shattering of hope had nearly broken his spirit.

Heaven Dou Imperial Palace,

Xue Ye staggered. His movement was so abrupt that even his crown tilted to one side,

his voice trembling uncontrollably with a trace of fear:

"Eighth! Even the Clear Sky Sect is only ranked eighth!"

"Then what terrifying existences could the seven above it possibly be? Since when did the waters of this continent become so deep?!"

A flicker of genuine surprise passed through Xue Qinghe's eyes as well. This result had exceeded her expectations.

In her previous calculations, the Clear Sky Sect should have at least held steady within the top three with its supreme strength and foundations.

At that moment, the empire's marshal, Ge Long, a hardened man accustomed to thinking in terms of armies, spoke in a low voice with a hint of hope:

"Your Majesty, could it be... that our Heaven Dou and Star Luo Empires might rank among them through our million-strong armies?"

Hearing this, a trace of helplessness and mockery flashed through Dugu Bo's eyes.

As a Level 92 Poison Douluo, he was completely confident he could ensure that the so-called million elite soldiers, none of them Soul Masters, would never return—poisoning a thousand miles.

Let alone those top sects that possessed multiple Titled Douluo?

Before truly supreme individual strength, the number of troops was sometimes nothing more than a pale figure.

Xue Qinghe lowered her eyes, concealing the turbulent thoughts within them as she calculated rapidly in her heart:

"There are actually hidden sects stronger than the Clear Sky Sect... For Spirit Hall's grand undertaking of unifying the continent, are they an enormous obstacle, or... an opportunity to exploit?"

"We must uncover the details of these forces as soon as possible!"

Just as forces across the continent were still dumbfounded that the Clear Sky Sect had ranked only eighth,

the Heavenly Ranking in the sky did not pause in the slightest. Golden light flared brilliantly once more as the information for seventh place appeared with overwhelming force:

[Seventh Place on the Heavenly Ranking's Faction Ranking: Shuo Organization!]

[The strongest force within the Star Luo Empire! Its leader, Hai Yue, is a Level 98 Peak Douluo! She has several Titled Douluo under her command! Thus, it ranks seventh on the Heavenly Ranking!]

[Reward: Heavenly Treasure "Knowledge Gem"—the wearer's cultivation speed increases by ten percent; one Forty Thousand Year Soul Bone.]

"Boom—!"

The moment this ranking appeared, the continent, which had only just calmed somewhat, was once again thrown into a towering uproar. Every faction was shaken!

"Another hidden sect?! And it's within the Star Luo Empire!"

"Level 98! Just one step away from a Level 99 Limit Douluo! Who exactly is this Hai Yue?!"

"Such a colossal force was hidden within the Star Luo Empire?! Do they even know about it?"

Within the Heaven Dou Empire's imperial palace,

when Xue Ye saw the words "within the Star Luo Empire," his vision went dark. He staggered again and nearly collapsed on the spot, his face as pale as paper.

"Father Emperor!" Xue Qinghe swiftly stepped forward and firmly supported him, timely displaying concern on her face.

Xue Ye gripped Xue Qinghe's arm, his fingers trembling slightly, his voice hoarse with a hint of despair:

"The thing I feared most... has still happened!"

"It would be one thing if this Shuo Organization merely remained hidden from the world, but if... if the Star Luo Empire has long since secretly cultivated ties with them..."

"Or even formed an alliance... then wouldn't our Heaven Dou be completely suppressed by Star Luo, never knowing another day of peace?!"

He suddenly turned, fixing Xue Qinghe with a sharp gaze as he practically roared his order:

"Qinghe! Immediately! Use every covert asset we have in Star Luo. At any cost, investigate the Shuo Organization's background for me!"

"Include their leader Hai Yue, as well as their relationship with the Star Luo Imperial Family!"

"Yes, Father Emperor! Your son will see to it at once!"

Xue Qinghe lowered her head to accept the order, but a barely perceptible gleam flashed deep in her eyes.

The situation seemed to be getting more and more interesting.

At the same time, the Star Luo Imperial Family was likewise thrown into a tremendous upheaval.

The Star Luo Emperor stared at the Heavenly Ranking. He was first stunned, then overwhelmed by wild joy, only for it to be replaced by even greater misgivings.

What he had always found regrettable was that although the Star Luo Empire possessed formidable military strength and a million soldiers,

the Soul Master factions within its territory, especially the Lower Four Sects,

had always been firmly suppressed by the Upper Three Sects on the Heaven Dou Empire's side, leaving them consistently inferior in terms of peak combat power.

At this moment, he was both thrilled that such a powerful hidden force existed within his lands and alarmed that he, the emperor, had known absolutely nothing about it!

"Investigate! Investigate immediately! Where exactly is this Shuo Organization? Who is Hai Yue?"

"Make sure we establish contact with them before anyone else does!"

The Star Luo Emperor's voice carried an unquestionable urgency.

Yet at this moment, across the entire continent, only Lin Jiang in the small courtyard of King's Hall within that remote canyon understood everything clearly.

He looked at the names "Shuo Organization" and "Hai Yue" on the Heavenly Ranking,

his gaze complicated before it finally turned into a long sigh filled with helplessness and recollection:

"Hai Yue... After all these years, can you truly still not let go of the obsession in your heart?"

He raised his head toward the direction of the Star Luo Empire and muttered softly:

"I wonder how Fei and Goya are doing with the tracking... I hope they can make it in time."

Daji, standing beside him, spoke softly, her seductive voice carrying absolute loyalty:

"The Venerable One has planned far ahead. The arrangements began long ago."

"I believe Sister Hai Yue... will one day understand the Venerable One's painstaking intentions and return to the Venerable One's side."

Lin Jiang shook his head, his gaze turning deep and sharp:

"You don't understand. Hai Yue already has an obsession in her heart, one like an inner demon. Unless she achieves her goal, she will never turn back."

"Perhaps the day we least wish to see will ultimately arrive."

His tone suddenly became firm and powerful:

"It seems I must gather enough power to sweep aside everything for that day!"

"The Divine Artifacts bestowed by this Heavenly Ranking are the key! Ideally, every last one of them should fall into my hands!"

A sharp gleam flashed through Lin Jiang's eyes as he spun around,

an immense bearing born of long holding high office naturally emanating from him as he issued a world-shaking command: