The Declining Tang Sect

In the East District of Tiantou City, the black-lacquered gates of the garrison headquarters stood wide open.

A few sentries at the entrance wore their military caps askew, their long spears propped carelessly against the ground as they huddled together, spitting and shouting while debating the wins and losses of last night's gambling session, failing to notice even when someone walked right up to them.

Of course, in normal times, no one dared to approach the territory of these "military lords."

Xue Yuheng pulled Xiao Xiao to a stop in the shade of a nearby tree, raising his hand to ruffle her hair: "Xiao Xiao, wait for me here. I'm going inside to handle something; I'll be out soon."

Xiao Xiao nodded sensibly.

Xue Yuheng turned and walked into the barracks, but instead of the stern, killing aura a military camp should possess, he was met with the heavy stench of alcohol and body odor.

Broken wine jars and gambling tools were scattered across the open ground, and several soldiers sat shirtless in a circle, throwing dice and shouting loud enough to make one's ears ache.

From the barracks in the distance, the sounds of women's cries drifted out from time to time; the entire camp was as chaotic as a marketplace.

Two patrolling soldiers swayed over with slanted eyes, their scabbards dragging and clattering against the ground: "Where did this little brat come from?

Is a military restricted zone somewhere you can just wander into? Get lost!"

Xue Yuheng didn't waste words with them; with a flip of his palm, a black iron token appeared in his hand.

The token shimmered with a dark luster under the sunlight, and the golden character "Tian" on the front made the two soldiers instantly snap to attention.

"The... the Tianhun Token?"

This item was possessed only by His Majesty the Emperor and a few princes.

The commander of the city defense force had one, and the soldiers had seen it many times while he was boasting.

The soldiers who had been arrogant and domineering just a moment ago suddenly felt their legs go weak. Their long blades clattered to the ground as they knelt, kowtowing like they were pounding garlic: "This lowly one has eyes but failed to recognize a superior! Please forgive me, my lord! I will take you to see the commander right now!"

In the commander's tent, Vista was sitting in a chair with his legs crossed, leering as he watched several new, fair-skinned young soldiers perform push-ups before him.

He was contemplating how to "consume" them tonight.

He was the younger brother of the Heaven Dou Empire's Emperor, Vister.

He lacked ambition and was fond of men, which was precisely why Vister felt comfortable handing the Tiantou City defense force over to him.

Upon hearing his subordinate report that Prince Gan of the Douling Empire had arrived, the interest on Vista's face instantly faded.

He waved his hand impatiently to dismiss the young soldiers, straightened his wrinkled clothes in a leisurely manner, and only then raised his eyes to look at the incoming Xue Yuheng.

"I don't know what brings Prince Gan to such a crude place?" His tone was perfunctory, and he was too lazy to even stand up.

Xue Yuheng got straight to the point, his gaze fixed directly on him: "I received news that your city defense force is planning to move against the Tang Sect recently?"

"Does His Majesty know about this?"

Vista's expression changed abruptly, his hand subconsciously gripping the armrest.

The destruction of the Tang Sect had been secretly authorized by his brother; a sect that had been in decline for thousands of years was useless to the Heaven Dou Empire, and destroying it would allow them to swallow up their hidden weapon techniques and remaining assets.

But since this Prince Gan had come to his door holding his brother's imperial Tianhun Token, could it be that his brother had changed his mind at the last minute?

He calculated rapidly in his mind, but on the surface, he feigned ignorance: "Tang Sect? What Tang Sect? What happened to the Tang Sect? Does the Prince have old ties with this Tang Sect?"

Watching the shifting expressions on his face, the bad premonition in Xue Yuheng's heart grew stronger.

He stopped beating around the bush with Vista, and the shadow beneath his feet stirred slightly.

A black-and-white sword light flashed suddenly, and the cold edge of a blade was already resting steadily against Vista's shoulder.

"The Tianhun Token is here. I will ask you one last time: what exactly is going on with the Tang Sect?" Xue Yuheng's voice was icy, pressing down on Vista until he couldn't breathe.

Vista stiffened, cold sweat instantly soaking his back.

He was a level 76 Soul Saint, yet he hadn't even noticed when this youth—no, this person—had made their move!

The long sword pressed against his neck, the cold sword qi nearly cutting his skin.

He had no doubt that if this seemingly delicate youth had a single thought, his head would hit the floor immediately.

He couldn't use his status to suppress him; his own life was more important.

"Spare me, Prince! I'll talk! I'll tell you everything!"

Vista's voice trembled, his teeth chattering: "It was that disobedient captain of mine! Tonight, he plans to lead three hundred city defense soldiers to coordinate with the Iron Blood Sect in a surprise attack on the Tang Sect! They have already set out!"

Xue Yuheng frowned and said in a low voice to the Heavenly Dancing Maiden: "The five of you, go to the Tang Sect first. You must stop them."

As soon as he finished speaking, five black shadows split from the feet of the Heavenly Dancing Maiden, and the aura of five Soul Douluo-level experts erupted without reservation, streaking toward the depths of the East District like five bolts of black lightning.

Vista watched this scene, completely stunned.

Five Soul Douluo! The trump cards of this Prince Gan were terrifying to such an extent!

This meant that the peak strength of the Heavenly Dancing Maiden had already reached the level of a Limit Douluo.

This was also the reason why Xue Yuheng dared to come here alone.

Xue Yuheng snorted coldly, his eyes sweeping over him with icy disdain: "Ten thousand years ago, the Tang Sect helped your Tiantou Empire overthrow the Spirit Empire, which is why you have the land you hold today."

"I never expected that ten thousand years later, you would be the type to kick someone when they are down. If the Tang Sect suffers even the slightest harm, you, as the commander of the city defense force, and everyone under your command... will die sooner or later."

After saying this, he turned and left, leaving Vista slumped in his chair, his face ashen.

Xue Yuheng met up with Xiao Xiao at the entrance of the city guard barracks, where Moon and Shadow were already waiting. The four of them transformed into a streak of light, flying rapidly toward the direction of the Tang Sect.

From far away, they could see that a street in the East City, near the suburbs, was engulfed in towering flames.

Billowing black smoke obscured half the night sky, and shrill screams and cries were carried over by the wind, tightening the hearts of those who heard them.

The vermilion gates of the Tang Sect had been smashed to pieces, and the courtyard was littered with blood and corpses.

There were Tang Sect disciples dressed in green, members of the Iron Blood Sect in black, and even a few soldiers from the city guard.

Several unarmed elderly, weak, women, and children lay on the bluestone floor, blades and swords embedded in their bodies as blood flowed through the gaps in the stones, pooling into small, dark red streams.

Disciples of the Iron Blood Sect were burning, killing, and looting everywhere, ransacking the place in search of the Tang Sect's secret manuals and wealth.

The sounds of cruel laughter and agonizing screams intertwined; the once tranquil sect had now turned into a living hell.

Just then, the cold moonlight suddenly became exceptionally bright.

A stunningly beautiful white fairy hovered in mid-air. The Heavenly Dancing Maiden slowly raised her slender hand, and a silver domain instantly enveloped the entire Tang Sect.

As the moonlight flowed, time seemed to have been slowed down countless times. Everyone's movements became incredibly stiff; even the sparks dancing in the air stopped in mid-flight, refusing to fall.

This was the combined domain soul skill created by the seven women of Moon Shadow, derived from the essence of wind and space within the Hall of Inheritance.

A domain at the level of a Limit Douluo—Wind Flower Snow Moon.

The broadsword in the hand of Tieli, Sect Master of the Iron Blood Sect, was less than two meters away from the chests of Tang Sect Master Tang Lin and his wife, the cold glint of the blade already reflecting on Tang Lin's face.

At this critical moment, a blue-and-white ice chain tore through the air like a viper striking from its den, precisely binding Tieli's right arm.

Countless sharp ice thorns instantly erupted from the chain, digging fiercely into his wrist, and a bone-chilling cold spread through his entire body along his arm.

"Ah—!"

Tieli let out a miserable shriek, his broadsword dropping to the ground as his entire right arm was instantly frozen into a block of ice, losing all sensation.

This was the ice chain manifested from Xue Yuheng's Ice Jade Empress Scorpion external spirit bone, which normally appeared as an Ice Jade Scorpion tattoo on his wrist.

Whenever Xue Yuheng needed it, it could transform into any weapon form.

It was the first time Xiao Xiao had seen such a bloody and tragic scene. Her small face flushed red with anger, and the soul power in her body surged uncontrollably as she prepared to rush forward to punish those evildoers.

Xue Yuheng reached out to hold her back and shook his head gently: "Don't be impulsive, just leave it to them."

He couldn't let Xiao Xiao's hands get dirty.

The Heavenly Dancing Maiden in mid-air descended slowly, her white dress fluttering gently in the night breeze. She radiated a suffocating pressure, as if a goddess from the nine heavens had descended to the mortal world, making everyone present afraid to look up.

"Iron Blood Sect, you have some nerve!"