Retirement or Revenge?

"Although the Spirit Hall is nominally Soul Master organization of our Heaven Dou Empire, in reality, it is similar to a country within a country within the Heaven Dou Empire."

After those words were spoken, the council chamber fell silent for a few seconds.

The headquarters of the Spirit Hall is located in Spirit City Spirit City, which is within the territory of the Heaven Dou Empire. However, the Spirit Hall has its own army and its own laws, and the Heaven Dou Royal Family has no control over a single tree or blade of grass in Spirit City.

This is a country within a country.

If this state within a state continues to expand, it will only be a matter of time before it launches an attack on the Heaven Dou Royal Family.

"Therefore," Prince Xue Xing looked around, "I believe that the alliance that Young Master Tang mentioned is indeed worth discussing."

"But I must remind you all—no single force can stand against the Spirit Hall alone."

"We must form an alliance; only through an alliance can we confront them."

What do you two think?

All eyes turned to Ning Fengzhi and Yu Luomian.

Yu Luomian assumed the position of clan leader after Yu Yuanzhen.

Yu Luomian tapped his fingers twice on the table and said, "But the Spirit Hall has four Peak Douluo."

"And there are also a group of elders and venerable elders, whose Soul Tool are becoming increasingly powerful. I ask you all, what do we have to do to resist them?"

utter silence...

Just then, a person stood up from the Star Luo Empire's representative seat.

Zhu Tiangang, the Head of the Zhu Clan, cupped his hands in greeting to Tang Xiao, then turned to Ning Fengzhi: "By the way, Sect Master Ning, I've heard that your sect has been cooperating with the Spirit Hall on Soul Tool for nearly ten years."

"What stage has the development of Soul Tool reached now? I wonder if Sect Master Ning could tell us a little about it?"

Ning Fengzhi a refined and scholarly appearance and always maintained a gentle demeanor.

Sword Douluo Chen Xin sat behind him. As soon as Zhu Tiangang asked the question, Ning Fengzhi knew what it meant.

The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the Spirit Hall were close, and everyone present was somewhat wary of this.

He smiled slightly, stood up, and said frankly, "Since Zhu Clan has asked, I will tell you the truth."

"The cooperation between my Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the Spirit Hall has indeed lasted for almost ten years."

"However, the Spirit Hall only opened up a relatively basic level of information to us."

Xue Xing asked, "What kind of content is included?"

"For example, the Spirit Hall generously provided our sect with blueprints and finished products for level one to Level 3 Soul Tool for study and reference."

"But starting from level four, we can no longer access the contents of the blueprints."

"The Spirit Hall has never opened up these key technologies to us, such as Core Array and Soul Tool materials."

This answer did not surprise anyone.

Friendships are friendships, but bottom lines are bottom lines, and the Spirit Hall has been impeccable in this regard.

Tang Xiao, who had been silent, finally spoke up and asked, "Sect Master Ning, what level has the Spirit Hall's strongest Soul Tool reached now?"

Ning Fengzhi remained silent for a moment, seemingly considering his words.

"It should be level seven."

"As far as I know, Level 7 Soul Tool is already capable of inflicting effective damage on Soul Saint."

A collective gasp filled the council chamber.

Most of the forces present would take anywhere from twenty to thirty years, or even forty to fifty years, to cultivate a Soul Saint, requiring a great deal of resources, cultivation techniques, and practical experience.

Each Soul Saint is a pillar of their respective faction; losing even one Soul Saint is a devastating blow.

However, if the Spirit Hall could mass-produce its Level 7 Soul Tool, the cost of killing a Soul Saint would be so low as to be unacceptable.

The other side is trading factory-made lumps of iron for your top-tier combat power that you've trained over decades. No matter how you look at it, it's a losing proposition.

Everyone fell silent, a deep sense of powerlessness welling up inside them.

Tang Xiao stood still, his gaze sweeping over every face, breaking the silence.

"So, among those present, who is willing to form an alliance with my Clear Sky Sect to jointly fight against the Spirit Hall?"

No one answered.

Everyone lowered their heads or looked away.

Ning Fengzhi looked troubled, while Yu Luomian simply lowered her head and pretended to be dead.

Tang Xiao waited for several seconds, but no hand was raised.

Ning Fengzhi coughed and said tactfully, "Young Master Tang, although the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the Spirit Hall don't have any deep-seated hatred, they also don't have any grudges."

"Since the cooperation on Soul Tool began, the Spirit Hall has treated our sect with sincerity, and Qian Xunji himself also has some personal ties with Feng Zhi."

"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect will not participate in or obstruct this matter. We hope Young Master Tang will understand."

Prince Xue Xing sighed, "I need to return and consult His Majesty. Military action and alliances are matters of national importance, and I have no authority to decide on them."

"However, I can guarantee that the Heaven Dou Empire will not stand idly by and allow the Spirit Hall to continue to grow stronger."

Zhu Tiangang of the Star Luo Empire said, "The Star Luo Empire also needs to return and consult His Majesty. The matter of forming an alliance is not something that this patriarch can decide on his own."

Representatives from the Three Elements Academy huddled together and whispered for a few moments. Finally, the vice dean of Tianshui Academy stood up and said, "Our academy is not a sect or faction, so we are not qualified to form an alliance, nor do we have the strength to confront the Spirit Hall. We can only follow the attitude of the Heaven Dou Empire."

Seeing that the bigwigs were all making excuses, the other smaller factions also largely chose not to take sides, not to get involved, and not to express their opinions.

Some said they would discuss it further when they got back, some said they were too weak and ineffective, and some simply remained silent, afraid of being singled out by Tang Xiao.

Tang Xiao's chest grew colder and colder.

His gaze swept over every face, and each person who came to pay their respects spoke with deep emotion and sincerity.

When it came to actually putting in the effort, they all shrank back.

He didn't blame them; the Spirit Hall's strength was indeed despair-inducing.

But what was cold was his heart. He thought at least someone would stand up, even if it was just to express their opinion or give an attitude.

Besides the Four Single-Attribute Clans under the Clear Sky Sect...

After the commotion subsided, the delegates took their leave one after another, and the hall was soon empty.

Tang Xiao sat alone in the first seat, motionless.

The Second Elder stepped forward slowly, and after a long silence, said, "Tang Xiao, let's go into seclusion."

"Retire into seclusion?!" Tang Xiao suddenly looked up.

The elders who hadn't left yet all looked at the Second Elder.

"Third Uncle... but what about my brother's revenge? His entire family of three died!"

"How can I swallow this grudge if I don't avenge it?"

"How do you plan to retire? Retire to the mountains and spend every day thinking about how my brother died?"

After Tang Xiao's question was uttered, the hall fell into a brief silence.

The First Elder sighed heavily.

He has been with the Clear Sky Sect for sixty years, since Tang Chen became the sect leader. He has seen the Clear Sky Sect at its most prosperous and also at its weakest.

"Tang Xiao, that's not what my third brother meant."

"We also want revenge. We wish we could storm the Spirit Hall and place Qian Xunji's head before Hao'er's spirit tablet."

"But have you considered this? The Spirit Hall has four Peak Douluo, but what about our Clear Sky Sect?"

Tang Xiao clenched his fists and remained silent.

The First Elder held up four withered fingers, "Qian Daoliu, level 99; Bibi Dong, level 99; Qian Xunji, level 99; Golden Crocodile Douluo, who broke through to level 99 a year ago."

"Four people, each of whom stands at the pinnacle of existence on the continent."

"Who does our Clear Sky Sect have? Your father is seriously ill in bed and can't even get up."

"Sect Master Tang Chen is indeed level ninety-nine, but he has disappeared for decades. No one knows whether he is dead or alive, so..."

"So we're just going to do nothing? Just watch my brother die in vain?" Tang Xiao interrupted and retorted.