Tragically Abandoned

The resistance on the mountain path was finally crushed.

Some disciples of the sects, as well as members of the Four Single-Attribute Clans, had neither the means of evacuation like the Clear Sky Sect, and were also used as cannon fodder.

The casualties were heavy, and the surviving disciples had lost the will to fight and were scattering and fleeing along the mountain path.

Just as Qian Xunji was about to order a full-scale advance, he suddenly stopped in his tracks.

On the mountaintop, a giant black rose is silently blooming.

Yue Guan landed behind him, following his gaze to the mountaintop, his expression grave. "Your Dean, what is that? The Clear Sky Sect doesn't seem to have this kind of Martial Soul."

Qian Xunji did not answer Yue Guan's question, but instead sensed a strong fluctuation of dark attribute coming from the direction of the Black Rose.

Others could not perceive it, but the Divine Light Power within him was incredibly sharp.

In an instant, six wings suddenly unfolded, and the person soared into the sky, heading straight for the mountaintop.

Just as he flew halfway up the mountain, a figure shot out from the side, blocking his path.

The Sixth Elder of the Clear Sky Sect, possessing the strength of Soul Douluo.

He held a massive Clear Sky Hammer, his hair and beard stood on end, his eyes were bloodshot, and his Soul Power burned violently throughout his body.

"The scum of the Spirit Hall, their eighth Soul Skill, Earth-Shattering Strike!"

The Sixth Elder roared and the enormous Clear Sky Hammer slammed down on him.

Qian Xunji's speed did not decrease; he swung his sword backhand.

"First Soul Skill, Angel Light Blade."

Dozens of golden blades shot out from the sword's edge, slashing towards the Sixth Elder.

The Sixth Elder's Clear Sky Hammer shattered the first few light blades, but more light blades bypassed the hammer from both sides, blocking all his escape routes.

His eyes widened suddenly as the blade of light approached.

Puff!

Those light blades pierced through his body simultaneously.

The Sixth Elder's body went limp in mid-air, and the Clear Sky Hammer tumbled and fell from his loosened hand, his body following closely behind, crashing onto the mountain path.

Qian Xunji didn't even glance at him, and continued rushing towards the mountaintop.

The higher we flew, the clearer the scenery on the mountain became, and the quieter it grew.

He landed on the mountaintop plaza, only to find it completely deserted.

He stood there, his blond hair fluttering slightly in the mountain breeze.

The Head Soul Bone the Spirit Vision Crane lit up between its eyebrows, and its Spiritual Power swept out in all directions, across every house and every inch of the mountain.

Nobody...

Thousands of the Clear Sky Sect disciples vanished completely in a very short period of time.

He withdrew his Spiritual Power, his brows furrowed. "Why is there dark energy? The Clear Sky Sect shouldn't have any dark attributes."

"What is going on?"

At the foot of the mountain, the battle continues.

The remaining disciples of the Four Single-Attribute Clans formed a final defensive formation back to back, surrounded layer by layer by the Spirit Hall's Soul Master Legion.

Most of them were injured, and without Titled Douluo to guard them or the support of the Clear Sky Sect, they had endured for so long by relying on the elite characteristics of their single-attribute Martial Soul.

This is the scene that Qian Xunji saw when she flew down from the mountaintop.

He stopped in mid-air, looking down at the remaining troops struggling to hold on below.

Then he amplified his voice with his Soul Power and shouted, "The Clear Sky Sect is completely deserted; there's not a single person left!"

Upon hearing this, the Soul Master of the Spirit Hall halted their attack, retreated several steps, and lined up to await orders.

The members of the Four Single-Attribute Clans looked at each other, doubting their ears, and then all looked towards the mountaintop.

It was eerily quiet there; there were no beacon fires, no signals, no deafening shouts of battle.

Tai Tan, the patriarch of the Strength Clan, faced the direction of Clear Sky Peak and his knees buckled, causing him to kneel on the ground.

His large, round Big Eye were bloodshot, and his calloused hands gripped the soil tightly, veins bulging on the back of his hands.

"We fought to the death, and you ran away!"

In an instant, all the disciples of the four clans who were still struggling stopped what they were doing.

They followed the Clear Sky Sect, leading the charge and standing at the forefront, sacrificing their lives to stop the Spirit Hall's advance. But what about the Clear Sky Sect?

They all ran off without even saying goodbye.

Qian Xunji looked at Tai Tan, who was kneeling on the ground with trembling shoulders, and remained silent for a few seconds before saying, "People of the Four Single-Attribute Clans, lay down your weapons and withdraw your Martial Soul. I promise that any of you who are not dead can be saved."

A deathly silence fell over the battlefield...

The disciples of the four clans looked at each other, their eyes filled with both anger and hesitation.

The still hesitant group all turned to look at Tai Tan and Niu Gao of the Defense Clan.

Tai Tan remained kneeling on the ground, his eyes glaring at Qian Xunji. "So many of my Strength Clan have died, all at the hands of your Spirit Hall! And now you want us to surrender?"

"This is a matter between me and the Clear Sky Sect."

"You're the ones who chose the wrong side; what do my casualties have to do with you?"

Tai Tan and Niu Gao exchanged a glance in the deathly silence.

They both saw the same thing in each other's eyes.

Surrender, and you can at least prolong your life; your four clans can at least preserve their bloodlines.

If we fight to the death, everyone will die here.

The Clear Sky Sect, which they risked their lives to protect, had already fled without looking back.

"I... surrender." Tai Tan lowered his head in frustration.

"The Defense Clan surrenders." Niu Gao closed his eyes.

The sounds of weapons falling to the ground rang out one after another, and the Martial Soul were also withdrawn.

"Gui Mei, take your men and escort them back. Arrange for Soul Master to treat the wounded."

"Yes." The Gui Mei bowed and began making arrangements.

Yue Guan landed behind Qian Xunji, gazing at the empty mountaintop, a hint of solemnity appearing on his usually composed face.

He lowered his voice and asked, "Your Dean, is there really no one left on the mountain?"

Qian Xunji hummed in agreement.

Yue Guan was completely baffled. "It's really strange. So many people from the Clear Sky Sect just vanished into thin air."

Qian Xunji pondered for a moment, then instructed, "There are still so many disciples of the Clear Sky Sect; they can't just leave like that."

"Take some men and search the surrounding area for any secret passages, hidden rooms, or signs of relocation."

"Yes."

Yue Guan accepted the order and left. In mid-air, he waved and led more than two thousand Soul Master to search the mountains and forests surrounding Clear Sky Peak.

Qian Xunji stood alone atop the mountain.

His gaze lingered on the Black Rose in the corner of his eye, directly above the square.

The image of the Black Rose blooming kept replaying in his mind...

Why did it disappear?

"Could it be... a harbinger of Dark Turmoil?"

Tang Xiao carried his father Tang Yin, and stepped out of the dark tunnel.

Behind him, thousands of the Clear Sky Sect disciples poured out of the tunnel like ants, each with a bewildered expression of surviving a catastrophe.

They were just on Clear Sky Peak when, in the next second, they were entangled by black vines, and when they opened their eyes again, they found themselves in a mountain forest in the Star Luo Empire.

Afterwards, Xiao Wu opened the tunnel that had been prepared beforehand, leading them to this completely unfamiliar land.

Tang Xiao gently placed his father on a flat rock, letting him lean against the tree trunk.

Tang Yin's breathing was weak, but his aged face had regained some color than before, and his Soul Power was slowly circulating within his body.