Direct Refusal

The Clear Sky Sect's secluded domain lay northeast of the Heaven Dou Empire.

It was covered in snow year-round, shrouded in mist and clouds, with treacherous mountains and scarcely any human presence.

At the foot of the mountain stood a small village. It appeared ordinary, yet it was an important outpost of the Clear Sky Sect.

Those living there were all members of the Clear Sky Sect's affiliated branch families.

It was noon, and cooking smoke curled up from the village.

Several children chased and played in the open space at the village entrance, creating a scene of peace and tranquility.

Just then.

An eerie spatial fluctuation suddenly rippled through the village entrance, forming a distorted black vortex.

Immediately afterward, Bone Douluo Gu Rong slowly stepped out from within.

He still wore his signature black robe, and his sunken, rigid cheeks made him look particularly sinister.

He looked around. This was his first time here.

Outsiders did not know the location of the Clear Sky Sect's secluded domain, but the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's intelligence network naturally knew its approximate whereabouts.

After carefully searching, he had finally arrived at the mountain village.

Because this place was exceptionally perilous, ordinary disciples could not deliver messages here. He could only make the trip himself.

"Title Douluo!"

Within the village, a burly middle-aged man abruptly raised his head. When he saw the nine Soul Rings beneath Gu Rong's feet, alarm bells rang in his heart.

Though this man appeared to be an ordinary villager, he was in fact a genuine Soul King powerhouse.

Following his low shout, more than a dozen figures instantly emerged from the village, each radiating a powerful aura.

"May I ask who Your Excellency is? This is the secluded domain of the Clear Sky Sect. Please leave at once!"

The leading middle-aged man said in a deep voice.

The man before them was a Title Douluo, someone they could not defeat. Thus, he directly invoked the Clear Sky Sect's name, hoping the other party would weigh the consequences.

Gu Rong's expression did not change as he slowly said, "Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, Bone Douluo Gu Rong. By order of my sect master, I have come to deliver a secret letter."

Upon hearing the names Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and Bone Douluo, everyone's expressions eased slightly.

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the Clear Sky Sect were both among the Upper Three Sects. They should not have come looking for trouble.

But... the Clear Sky Sect had remained secluded for many years. Why had someone from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect suddenly come here?

After pondering for a moment, the middle-aged man gave a meaningful look to another middle-aged man beside him.

The other man understood at once. He immediately turned and raced toward the mountain behind them.

The middle-aged man cupped his fists and said, "Please wait here for a moment, Your Excellency Bone Douluo."

Gu Rong gave a slight nod, standing with his hands behind his back without another word.

As he waited, Gu Rong silently observed the surrounding terrain.

The mountains stretched endlessly, occupying a strategically advantageous position that was easy to defend and difficult to attack.

It had to be said that the Clear Sky Sect had chosen a good location...

About half an incense stick's time later.

A black shadow swept down from the mountain peak, moving so quickly that it left streaking afterimages in the air.

The newcomer landed steadily before Gu Rong. He was an elderly man with white hair and beard, yet his aura was extremely powerful.

"Greetings, Your Excellency Bone Douluo. This old man is the Clear Sky Sect's Second Elder."

Second Elder cupped his fists, his voice loud and full of vigor.

"You are too courteous, Second Elder." Gu Rong returned the gesture. "I came here by order of my sect master to deliver a secret letter to Sect Master Tang."

As he spoke, he took the secret letter from his Soul Tool.

After Second Elder accepted it, Gu Rong said, "Now that the letter has been delivered, I shall take my leave."

With that, ripples once again spread through the space around him. Under everyone's gaze, he vanished from where he stood, as though he had never appeared at all.

Second Elder stared in the direction Gu Rong had vanished, his brows tightly furrowed.

He could sense that this matter was no small affair. Otherwise, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would not have sent Bone Douluo personally to deliver the letter.

He did not dare delay. He immediately turned, his figure flashing as he transformed into a streaking light and sped toward the mountain.

Inside the Clear Sky Sect's Council Hall.

Tang Xiao sat at the head seat while several elders sat along both sides. The atmosphere in the hall was solemn.

Since the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had suddenly sent a letter, something significant must have happened. Tang Xiao had immediately summoned all the elders to discuss the matter.

"Sect Master, the secret letter has arrived."

Second Elder strode quickly into the hall and presented the envelope.

Tang Xiao took it and opened it.

As he read further, his expression grew increasingly grave.

When he saw phrases like ten years old, Level Thirty-Four, Thousand-Year first ring, Ten-Thousand-Year third ring, and Spirit Hall—

Even as the sect master of the Clear Sky Sect, he could not help but draw in a sharp breath.

Spirit Hall had actually produced such a monstrous talent...

Several elders sat below. Though curious about the letter's contents, they remained silent.

Tang Xiao continued reading. When he saw that Golden Crocodile Douluo was personally protecting him, he inwardly sighed.

As the sect master of the Clear Sky Sect, he understood all too well what Golden Crocodile Douluo represented.

For a peak Level Ninety-Eight powerhouse to personally safeguard Ji Xuan, it was clear just how highly Spirit Hall valued him.

Across the entire continent, there were only a handful of people capable of defeating Golden Crocodile Douluo.

With him there, who could possibly harm Ji Xuan?

Could they only watch helplessly as this future grave threat grew stronger?

At the end of the letter, Ning Fengzhi tactfully proposed an alliance, hoping that the Upper Three Sects could join forces against the threat of Spirit Hall.

Tang Xiao set down the letter and remained silent for a long while.

The atmosphere in the main hall became especially heavy.

The Seventh Elder could not help asking, "Sect Master, what urgent matter does Ning Fengzhi have?"

"See for yourselves." Tang Xiao handed it to the elders below.

After everyone had finished passing it around—

"H-How is that possible?" the Seventh Elder said in disbelief.

The Second Elder's expression was grave. "If what Ning Fengzhi said is true, this child will surely become a great threat in the future."

"Hmph, Ning Fengzhi is obviously trying to drag us into this!" the Seventh Elder snorted coldly.

"Ever since that incident, the Clear Sky Sect has been severely weakened. We only just managed to recover somewhat, and now Ning Fengzhi thinks a single letter can make us leave seclusion and form an alliance with him?"

"Old Seven has a point." The Fifth Elder nodded in agreement, then looked at Tang Xiao. "Sect Master, what do you think?"

The other elders also turned their gazes toward him, and the hall immediately fell silent.

Tang Xiao's gaze swept over each elder as he slowly said:

"Reject him outright."

After a pause, he continued:

"Grandfather is no longer here. No one can stand against Spirit Hall's Qian Daoliu."

"Before Grandfather left all those years ago, in order to preserve the sect's legacy, he made an agreement with Qian Daoliu. As long as the Clear Sky Sect remained hidden from the world, Spirit Hall would not make things difficult for us."

The Third Elder let out a long sigh. "If the old sect master were still here, why would we need to fear Spirit Hall?"

"We shall follow the Sect Master's decision," the Second Elder said. "With Qian Daoliu's cowardly nature, he will certainly honor the agreement from back then. We need not worry too much."

The other elders nodded in agreement as well.

Seeing that none of the elders objected, Tang Xiao rose to his feet. "Then let us leave it at that. You may all go."

After returning to his study, Tang Xiao wrote a letter of refusal and handed it to a disciple, instructing him to secretly deliver it to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect through the hidden passage.

Though the Clear Sky Sect had withdrawn from the world, it was not completely cut off from it.

Otherwise, in this bitterly cold land, if they severed all contact with the outside world, even survival would likely become a problem.

The sect's intelligence network and supply of resources now relied entirely on his younger sister, Tang Yuehua, who oversaw Moonlight Pavilion.