Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
Everyone watched as the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the Clear Sky Sect successively appeared on the rankings.
Bang!
Yu Yuanzhen slammed his palm against the armrest and rose to his feet, roaring indignantly:
"Good! Very good! We're all among the Upper Three Sects, yet they're both standing over our heads!"
"Especially the Clear Sky Sect. They were crippled so badly back then, yet instead of declining, they've actually grown stronger!"
Several elders shuddered. After exchanging glances, they smiled sinisterly.
"Clan Leader, why get angry? Neither of the Clear Sky Sect's two representatives is Tang Chen, which means he might as well be dead!"
"With Tang Chen gone, Spirit Hall will no longer have any reservations about the Clear Sky Sect. Sooner or later, they'll send troops to attack. When that happens, we can reap the benefits!"
Hearing this, Yu Yuanzhen's mood immediately brightened.
They said the Upper Three Sects should stand united, but the Clear Sky Sect simply did not deserve it!
Everyone knew that when the Clear Sky Sect went into seclusion, it abandoned its four subordinate clans.
If they allied with the Clear Sky Sect, they might end up being abandoned just like those four subordinate clans.
So, using the Clear Sky Sect as bait to hook the big fish that was Spirit Hall would kill two birds with one stone.
Boom—
At that moment, a powerful aura suddenly erupted from Yu Luomian, who was absorbing a spirit bone, drawing everyone's attention.
They were shocked to discover that after absorbing the spirit bone, he had successfully broken through the level eighty-nine bottleneck and advanced to become a Title Douluo!
"Big Brother, I broke through! Level ninety!"
Yu Luomian leaped to his feet in excitement, only to quickly notice the Sky Screen Ranking's new placement.
The information about the Clear Sky Sect's six Title Douluo was like a bucket of ice water extinguishing his joy.
"Hahaha, congratulations, little brother!"
Yu Yuanzhen strode over happily, patted him on the shoulder, and laughed.
"Forget the rankings for now. Your big brother will take you to hunt a spirit ring. Let's go!"
Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
The atmosphere was so heavy that it seemed water could be squeezed from it.
"Six Title Douluo only ranked thirteenth. Tang Chen truly is gone."
Ning Fengzhi was the first to break the silence. He shook his head and sighed.
"The continent is really about to change. Before long, Spirit Hall will surely send troops against the Clear Sky Sect to avenge Qian Xunji's death."
Chen Xin slowly nodded and asked with a frown:
"The Upper Three Sects are supposed to stand united. Should we help them when the time comes?"
Ning Fengzhi froze for a moment and fell into deep thought.
Back then, everyone believed Tang Chen was still alive, and the Clear Sky Sect had not reached the point of Life and Death, so he had not offered aid.
But times had changed. If they did not help this time, the Clear Sky Sect truly might be erased from the continent.
After a moment, Ning Fengzhi slowly said:
"Let's see the Heaven Dou Imperial Family's attitude when the time comes. This is like a gamble. If we lose, we may lose everything."
As he spoke, Ning Fengzhi's gaze shifted to Gu Rong, who was absorbing a spirit bone not far away.
He prayed that Gu Rong would break through his bottleneck and increase his strength, giving the sect another measure of confidence against unknown dangers.
Spirit City, Worship Hall.
None of the worshippers could accept the news of Tang Chen's death for the moment.
Azure Luan was the first to speak, his voice filled with disbelief.
"How exactly did Tang Chen die? With his strength, no one in the world should have been able to threaten his life!"
Qian Daoliu stared at the Sky Screen again and again, his heart churning as he struggled to accept this reality.
He and Tang Chen had fought each other their entire lives—building influence, deciding superiority, competing for a woman. They had been rivals, but also close friends.
Yet that man had gone before him. His heart was filled with countless emotions: regret, melancholy, and an even deeper emptiness.
"Sigh. The facts are right before us. We have no choice but to believe them."
Qian Daoliu suppressed the turmoil in his heart and let out a heavy sigh.
The other worshippers nodded one after another, their faces full of regret.
The regret in Golden Crocodile's eyes lasted only an instant before turning sharp and fierce.
"In that case, shouldn't we settle Ji'er's death once and for all?!"
At these words, hatred instantly surged into the worshippers' eyes.
Like Qian Renxue, Qian Xunji had grown up under their watch. This debt had to be repaid!
Qian Daoliu guiltily waved his hand, his tone carrying a hint of evasion.
"There is no need for us to step in. Dong'er will surely handle it properly."
Pope Palace.
Unaware of the true cause of Qian Xunji's death, the elders Ju and Gui revealed delighted expressions upon seeing this.
"Congratulations, Your Holiness. Now that Tang Chen is dead, the Clear Sky Sect has lost its 'protective talisman.' We can avenge the former Pope!"
Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan and Ghost Douluo Gui Mei bowed at the same time and spoke joyfully.
Bibi Dong's expression darkened, as grim as water, though she still maintained a composed facade.
"Revenge is inevitable, but the Clear Sky Sect has grown stronger rather than weaker. We must consider this matter carefully, lest certain people reap the benefits."
As she spoke, her gaze unconsciously drifted toward the Worship Hall, and a flash of cold light flickered in her eyes.
In her view, the only people on the continent who could threaten her now were those old men.
Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo exchanged glances, each seeing confusion in the other's eyes.
The Grand Worshipper surely wanted to avenge his son as well. Why was the Pope still guarding against him at a time like this?
Heaven Dou Empire, inside a tavern in some remote town.
Tang Hao, who had been drinking merrily, froze the instant he saw the Sky Screen.
The wine cup slipped from his hand and shattered on the floor, its contents mingling with his tears.
"Grand... Grandfather... You... You're really dead?!"
Tang Hao's heart-wrenching roar exploded through the noisy tavern.
His crying immediately drew everyone's attention, but it was quickly drowned out by their discussion.
"What kind of drunken fit is that guy having? Forget him. What were you saying just now?"
"I was saying, where's Tang Hao, the one from the Clear Sky Sect who beat the Pope to death back then? Why didn't he make the rankings as their strongest fighter?"
"Eh, either he's dead, or Tang Xiao surpassed him. Whatever, let's drink! Cheers!"
Hearing their conversation, Tang Hao's heart sank into icy chaos.
Within the Clear Sky Sect, aside from his grandfather, he was the strongest. Since his grandfather had not made the rankings, then he should have been the one listed.
But why was it Tang Xiao who had made the rankings and received the reward? Had Tang Xiao truly surpassed him in just a few short years?
"I mastered every Clear Sky Secret Technique and possess a hundred-thousand-year spirit ring. How could I possibly be inferior to Tang Xiao? This is nothing but some wild ranking!"
Tang Hao suddenly slammed the table and rose to his feet, panting like a bull as he cursed furiously in indignation.
But to the people in the tavern, he was merely a drunk having a crazed fit.
Fortunately, the Sky Screen would not bother with an ant like him. Otherwise, even a hundred deaths would not have been enough to atone for his actions!
Suotuo City, Shrek Academy.
"The Clear Sky Sect currently has six Title Douluo, yet it's only third from the bottom?!"
Flender and the others knew almost nothing about Tang Chen, so their focus was naturally different from those major factions.
Now that they saw the Sky Screen reveal the Clear Sky Sect's ranking, all of them were stunned. Could the rankings be wrong?
Yu Xiaogang, however, was drawn to that conspicuous evaluation of the Clear Sky Sect and immediately burst into laughter.
"Look! The Sky Screen actually says the Clear Sky Hammer spirit is not top-tier, and that it is only powerful because of the Clear Sky Secret Technique passed down by the sect? Ridiculous! I already said this was a wild ranking. Do you believe me now?"
Zhao Wuji and Flender exchanged glances, and deep doubts toward the Sky Screen arose in their hearts.
They had witnessed the Clear Sky Hammer's power firsthand, especially Zhao Wuji, who had been brutally beaten for an entire night by Tang Hao.
And now it claimed that the Clear Sky Hammer could only be considered a top-tier spirit because of secret techniques? Wasn't that utter nonsense?
However, Zhu Zhuqing's cool voice suddenly rang out, instantly interrupting Yu Xiaogang's smug laughter.
"Isn't that true? According to widely known information across the continent, the powerful wielders of the Clear Sky Hammer throughout history never used spirit skills, relying instead on secret techniques time and time again!"
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