Clear Sky Sect Backs Down

Qian Xunji's final ultimatum, cold as iron and brimming with murderous intent, swept across the silent Clear Sky Sect plaza like the most biting gale of midwinter, ruthlessly scouring the hearts of every surviving sect member.

"This time next year will be the anniversary of your entire Clear Sky Sect's demise!"

This sentence, like a heavy iron hammer, shattered the last remnants of hope in their hearts.

Despair, terror, resentment, grief...

A myriad of emotions intertwined in the eyes of the surviving Clear Sky Sect disciples.

They looked at the corpses of their fellow disciples scattered around, at their sect master kneeling on the ground in critical condition, and at Pope Qian Xunji, who stood suspended in the air like a god, radiating an irresistible pressure, flanked by the bloodthirsty, murderous powerhouses of the Martial Soul Hall.

A bone-chilling cold surged from the soles of their feet straight to their skulls.

They did not doubt for a moment that Qian Xunji would do exactly as he said.

The current Clear Sky Sect, having lost Tang Chen—their pillar of stability—was like a tiger stripped of its claws and fangs.

It possessed a massive frame and a storied reputation, yet lacked the ultimate force required to truly deter a formidable enemy.

Facing the pressure of a behemoth like the Martial Soul Hall, they simply lacked the capital to resist.

The Martial Soul Hall truly possessed both the capability and the audacity to wipe the Clear Sky Sect from the map of the Douluo Continent entirely!

"Sect Master! Please reconsider!"

"Sect Master, as long as the green hills remain, there will be firewood to burn! We must prioritize the survival of the sect!"

"This disaster was brought about by those two in the first place. The other side... they are only asking for one of their arms; that is already... already considered an act of mercy!"

"Indeed, Sect Master! An arm can be severed, and with the sect's foundation, we may yet find a way to reattach it or find a substitute. But if the sect is gone... then everything is lost!"

The few surviving elders, crushed by the immense pressure of death and the desperate fear for the sect's survival, finally broke.

They spoke one after another, their voices trembling with urgency as they pleaded with Tang Zhen, whose face was ashen and whose eyes were filled with struggle.

Their words, while seemingly spoken for the sake of the sect, in reality, shifted all responsibility and pressure onto Tang Hao and Tang Xiao.

The subtext could not have been clearer: if you cannot defeat an outsider, you must sacrifice your own to appease the situation.

Since you caused the trouble, you should naturally bear the most severe consequences.

Moreover, from the most realistic and utilitarian perspective, these elders...

Were not actually wrong.

If Tang Hao and Tang Xiao had plundered treasures from second-rate or even minor first-rate factions, the Clear Sky Sect would not have blamed them; they would likely have praised their courage, lauded them for bringing glory to the sect, and perhaps even mocked the victims for lacking the strength to protect their own treasures.

The law of the jungle was the default rule of the continent.

But they had happened to provoke Sea God Island!

A mysterious, ancient, transcendent power that stood alongside the Martial Soul Hall and was backed by a true god!

This was no longer a matter of the strong preying on the weak; they had kicked an iron plate.

Thus, the shift in the elders' attitude was a classic example of judging people by their status.

If they were weaker than you, you mocked and bullied them.

If they were stronger than you, you blamed and accused those who caused the trouble.

The hypocrisy and cold reality of these elders, who prided themselves on being the pillars of the sect, were on full display at this moment.

As expected, upon hearing these elders—who had always been respectful and held high expectations for them—now openly urging their father to sacrifice them to preserve the sect, their words laced with subtle accusations, the expressions of Tang Hao and Tang Xiao turned ghastly.

A raging fire ignited in Tang Hao's eyes.

His nature was inherently unyielding; how could he endure such accusations and the demand for a sacrifice that felt like betrayal?

Sever an arm?

How could he!

He was a once-in-a-century genius of the Clear Sky Sect, the successor personally recognized by his grandfather Tang Chen and taught the profound art of Ring Detonation, the very hope of the Clear Sky Sect's future!

Losing an arm would not only mean a massive loss in combat power and a maimed body, but it would also have an incalculable impact on his future path of cultivation, potentially even severing his chance to reach higher realms!

This was more agonizing than death itself!

Although Tang Xiao was relatively more composed, his eyes were also filled with resentment and humiliation.

He, too, understood what the loss of an arm meant for a Spirit Master, especially for Clear Sky Hammer users who relied on their strength.

The two brothers turned their gazes simultaneously toward their father, the current Sect Master of the Clear Sky Sect—Tang Zhen.

Their eyes were filled with complex emotions: a plea for help, a sense of grievance, and a final glimmer of hope.

At this moment, Tang Zhen's heart was being torn apart, his face gray with despair.

He knelt on the ground, the Clear Sky Hammer in his hand feeling as heavy as a thousand jun.

On one side lay the sect's foundation, built over ten thousand years, and the lives of hundreds of disciples.

On the other side were his two exceptionally talented sons, in whom he had placed all his hopes.

Agree?

How could he personally push his own sons' futures into the abyss?

How could he have the heart to order them to mutilate themselves?

Disagree?

Could he really just watch as the Clear Sky Sect flowed with blood today, its foundations destroyed and its people slaughtered, becoming nothing more than history?

This choice was too difficult, too cruel.

"Sect Master Tang!"

Just then, Qian Xunji spoke up.

He looked down at Tang Zhen, whose expression was shifting in indecision, and at the Clear Sky Sect elders who had already begun to turn on one another, a flash of impatience and mockery crossing his eyes.

"This Seat's patience is limited. I will give you ten breaths of time to consider."

He paused, his tone seemingly softening slightly, yet the underlying threat grew even heavier:

"If it were not for the sake of your sect's senior, Tang Chen, who was once a hero of his generation and brought glory to our continent's spirit master world, do you think This Seat would even grant you the opportunity to choose?"

Qian Xunji's words were half-truth and half-deception.

He did indeed have his reservations.

It was not entirely due to Tang Chen's prestige, but rather out of practical considerations.

Although Sea God Island and Martial Soul Hall were currently aligned due to the matter of Ye Qing, their relationship was far from a solid bond.

The two sides were engaged in a cooperation based more on shared interests and a certain tacit understanding.

If he were to truly exterminate the Clear Sky Sect today, there would be no turning back.

What if...

Tang Chen was not dead and returned in the future?

How terrifying would the vengeful rampage of a furious, unburdened, ninety-nine-level Peerless Douluo at the pinnacle of the mortal realm be?

Martial Soul Hall had vast assets and branches spread across the continent; it was not like Sea God Island, which occupied a remote corner and was easy to defend but difficult to attack.

When that time came, Martial Soul Hall would inevitably bear the brunt of Tang Chen's most insane retaliation, and the losses would be immeasurable.

More crucially, the Sea God and the Angel God were currently "competing for people," and their relationship was delicate.

If the extermination of the Clear Sky Sect led to a blood feud with Tang Chen, and the Sea God side—wishing to spite the Angel God—chose to let Bo Saixi and Ye Qing stand aside rather than help fend off Tang Chen, wouldn't Martial Soul Hall be utterly screwed?

To become a blade in the hands of Sea God Island, only to face the most terrifying retaliation alone?