Accepting Reality, Each Clan's Thoughts

Things had come to this.

No matter how dissatisfied, furious, or loudly Hun Miesheng raged.

With the Heavenly Dao Gold Ranking's results already determined.

He could only accept reality.

His roars and howls merely made the Hall of Souls look ridiculous and incompetent, raging impotently without changing the outcome.

In the end.

He could only stare at the Gold Ranking with bloodshot eyes.

He watched as it awarded the Hall of Souls the third-place prize.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

As countless streaks of Golden Light burst from the Heavenly Dao Gold Ranking.

They plunged into him, the many Hall of Souls higher-ups before him, and the members under the various branch halls scattered across the Dou Qi Continent. Everyone began breaking through in cultivation.

Not long after.

Once the cultivation blessings ended.

Hun Miesheng had advanced from Early Five-star Dou Saint to Early Six-star Dou Saint.

The Deputy Hall Master advanced to Late Four-star Dou Saint, while the Great Heavenly Venerate and Hun Qing Saint advanced to Two-star Dou Saint. The Second Heavenly Venerate and Third Heavenly Venerate advanced to One-star Dou Saint...

Although their cultivation had risen and the Dou Qi in their bodies had surged.

Hun Miesheng and the others were not happy.

The reason was that they had failed to meet the expectations their clan had placed on them.

Just then.

Three scrolls containing a Heavenly Grade High-level Cultivation Method, a Heavenly Grade High-level Dou Technique, and a Soul Attack Secret Method.

Along with five Ninth-Grade Profound Pills and a Black Banner that was constantly emitting black smoke, suddenly descended from the sky and landed before Hun Miesheng and the others.

Seeing this.

Hun Miesheng waved his hand.

He first collected all the rewards before him.

Then he tore open the Void Crack with his backhand and said to the Deputy Hall Master and the others beside him, "I'm going back to see the clan leader. Immediately recall all the Dou Zun Experts the hall can mobilize. Prepare for a battle that may break out at any time."

As soon as he finished speaking.

Hun Miesheng charged into the Void Crack and disappeared.

Since the Hall of Souls' headquarters was not far from the Soul Clan Soul Realm.

It did not take long for Hun Miesheng to appear before Hun Tiandi, the Soul Clan Patriarch, Nihility Devouring Flame, and the Soul Clan's peak combatants.

Looking at Hun Tiandi's gloomy face.

Hun Miesheng first presented the rewards the Heavenly Dao Gold Ranking had bestowed upon the Hall of Souls.

Then he bowed and pleaded guilty. "The Hall of Souls failed to rank first on the Sect Power Ranking, disappointing the clan's expectations. Hun Miesheng has come to accept punishment. I hope the clan leader will punish me!"

After glancing at the Heavenly Dao Gold Ranking's rewards floating in the air.

"Rise," Hun Tiandi said indifferently. "The Hall of Souls failing to rank first cannot be blamed on you!"

"It can only be said that the Pill Tower and the other force hid themselves too deeply. Besides, the Heavenly Dao Gold Ranking did not include my Soul Clan in its assessment of the Hall of Souls' combat strength."

After saying this.

Hun Tiandi paused.

Cold light flickered in his eyes as he said quietly, "Things have come to this. Complaining any further is useless. Give the orders. Have the Soul Clan and Hall of Souls experts prepare at any moment."

"If the Pill Tower and that Mysterious Force rank first on the Power Ranking!"

"If they obtain the Emperor Grade Pill, or a treasure that can allow This Clan Leader to become a Dou Emperor, then attack directly and seize it at all costs."

"Yes!"

At the same time.

After the many living beings on the continent saw the Hall of Souls rank third.

Their reactions differed greatly.

Of course, most forces applauded, because they had all once been bullied and oppressed by the Hall of Souls.

"Wo Cao, I never expected that the Hall of Souls, which committed countless evils in my Northwest Continent, was merely a branch of the Central Continent's Hall of Souls!"

"Because of the Alliance Agreement of the Ancient Eight Clans, the Hall Master of the Hall of Souls, who was actually Late Five-star Dou Saint, deliberately disguised himself as Late Four-star Dou Saint. Good heavens, the Hall of Souls really is completely opposite to the other forces!"

"How devious..."

"The third-place reward actually includes a Special Soul Artifact that can collect attacking souls."

"That really suits the Hall of Souls, which captures Soul Bodies everywhere."

"Does the Hall of Souls also set up formations everywhere?"

"How have we never noticed?"

"Hahaha, justice really has eyes. The Hall of Souls was placed behind the Pill Tower."

"Fourth place gets a Ninth-Grade Treasure Pill, and third place gets a Ninth-Grade Profound Pill... Following this order, wouldn't second place get a Ninth-Grade Golden Pill, and first place... Hiss~ I don't dare imagine it!"

"..."

Inside a pavilion atop a mountain in the Central Continent.

After Gu Yuan and the other six clan leaders saw the Hall of Souls' ranking.

They were stunned at first, then mocking laughter suddenly burst from Yan Jin, Lei Ying, and the others.

"Hahaha!"

"I never expected the Hall of Souls to rank third."

"This Clan Leader can already imagine how pitch-black Hun Tiandi's face must be right now..."

"What a satisfying sight!"

"..."

After a round of sighs.

Yao Dan, the Yao Clan Leader, came to his senses and could not help saying, "I also never expected the Pill Tower to rank above the Hall of Souls in the eyes of the Heavenly Dao Gold Ranking. Could it be because of the Pill Tower Ancestor's Six-star Dou Saint cultivation?"

Hearing this.

The Shi Clan Patriarch instinctively replied, "That doesn't make sense either!"

"Apart from the Pill Tower Ancestor, the strongest person in the Lesser Pill Tower seems to be only Lin Laoguai, a Two-star Dou Saint. The other Lesser Pill Tower elders are, at most, High-level Half-Saints, while the Pill Tower Three Giants are merely Peak Dou Zun."

"Based on these people alone, they seem insufficient to contend with the Hall of Souls."

"Could it be that the Heavenly Dao Gold Ranking only considers High-Level Combat Strength?"

"Or has the Pill Tower, like Burning Flame Valley and the other forces, hidden its strength?"

As everyone discussed.

Gu Yuan suddenly stood up beside them, his face solemn. "Everyone, I think the few of us should return to our clans and prepare to welcome the storm that is about to arrive."

Hearing this.

Lei Ying instinctively asked, "Brother Gu, are you worried about that Mysterious Force that has yet to reveal itself?"

"No!" Gu Yuan shook his head and said gravely. "I'm not worried about that Mysterious Force. I'm worried that the first-place pill reward will drive the Soul Clan completely mad."

"Did you not notice that fourth place received a Ninth-Grade Profound Pill, while third place received a Ninth-Grade Golden Pill?"

"If this continues, second place will receive a Golden Pill, so wouldn't first place be..."

"Emperor Pill!"

"Whether it is the Pill Tower or that Mysterious Force that ranks first."

"Neither of them may be able to withstand the Soul Clan's attack... You all know Hun Tiandi's temperament. If he successfully takes that step, then the fate of our clans can be imagined."

"So, regardless of whether my guess is correct, our Several Great Clans must make preparations in advance..."

"Even if we have to destroy the opportunity to become Dou Emperors, we cannot let the Soul Clan obtain it."

!!!

Gu Yuan's words.

Were like a bolt from the blue, exploding in the minds of the several clan leaders.

Earlier, they had been too busy gloating to notice the pill rewards...

If the first-place reward truly was an Emperor Grade Pill.

Then the Dou Qi Continent would inevitably erupt into a Shocking the World battle!

After all.

The words "Dou Emperor."

Were not only enticing to the Soul Clan.

Everyone present belonged to a Dou God Clan that had existed since ancient times. Who would not want to restore their clan's former glory?

After coming to their senses.

The several clan leaders rose one after another and cupped their fists toward Gu Yuan. "Thank you for the reminder, Brother Gu. This matter is of immense importance. We must return to our clans and prepare now. We absolutely cannot allow the Soul Clan to dominate alone."

"Farewell!"

As soon as they finished speaking.

The clan leaders of the Lei Clan, Yan Clan, Yao Clan, Ling Clan, and Shi Clan departed one after another.

Looking at the place where the Five Clan Leaders had left.

Gu Yuan, who remained in the pavilion, raised the corners of his mouth slightly and said quietly, "Apart from my Ancient Clan and the Soul Clan, none of the other Several Great Ancient Clans has a Nine-star Dou Saint. Even if there truly is an Emperor Pill, they won't be able to compete for it!"

"The Soul Clan has stood at the peak of the Dou Qi Continent's clans since ancient times. The Dou God Bloodline in their family shows no sign of drying up even now. The threat they pose is truly too great..."

"Perhaps..."

"This is an opportunity to eliminate them."

After murmuring this, Gu Yuan glanced at the Heavenly Dao Gold Ranking. His figure slowly faded until he disappeared completely.