You have been sold by the Clear Sky School

At the gate of the Clear Sky Mountain Range, the collapsed stone statues had been cleared away. The shattered gate of the Clear Sky Sect had been restored, and a plaque bearing the three large characters of the Clear Sky Sect hung above it.

It was early morning, just as the sun began to rise. The dense vegetation was still veiled in a layer of morning mist, and the cool air provided a refreshing sensation. Upon closer inspection, however, this coolness carried a bone-chilling, icy intent.

Looking closely at the gate, the three clan leaders of the Clear Sky Sect's most formidable forces—Yang Wudi of the Breaking Clan, Niu Gao of the Defense Clan, and Tai Tan of the Strength Clan—stood guard with their respective clansmen. Their sharp, dangerous gazes were fixed upon the Spirit Temple spirit masters led by Salas.

Salas stood as straight as a javelin, his thin frame clad in a tight-fitting outfit. The five-pointed crown he usually wore had been tucked away into his storage soul tool. Though his expression remained calm and composed, a sliver of doubt lingered in his heart. The spirit master army of the Martial Soul Hall had yet to appear; it seemed the Martial Soul Hall truly intended to dispatch their Title Douluo elders to raze the Clear Sky Sect to the ground.

A sorrowful sigh echoed from within the Clear Sky Sect as Yang Wudi spoke, "Old White Crane, are you afraid?"

Bai He replied, "Afraid? Of course this old man is not afraid. As a part of the Clear Sky Sect, how could I retreat when the sect faces such a catastrophic disaster?"

"Well said, Old White Crane! Our Four Single-Attribute Clans have been attached to the Clear Sky Sect for generations. When the sect is in trouble, we must never retreat. Trust in the Sect Master and the elders. The fact that they have not arrived at the gate yet means they must have a solution for this war."

Tai Tan laughed heartily. Even if there were no solution, and even if the Clear Sky Sect were destined to be annihilated by the Martial Soul Hall, he would not retreat. He believed his master, Tang Hao, would not sit idly by and watch the Clear Sky Sect be destroyed. To die alongside Tang Hao would be the honor of a servant like him.

At that moment, four figures appeared in mid-air, drawing everyone's attention. Since no spirit rings flickered beneath their feet, it meant that at least one of them was a Title Douluo, carrying the others through the air.

Salas watched the four approaching figures, his eyes narrowing slightly. He was very familiar with three of them, having dealt with them many times: Sword Douluo Chen Xin, Bone Douluo Gu Rong, and Ning Fengzhi.

The fourth figure was a spirited young man dressed in a brilliant golden robe, his long black hair held in place by a simple hairpin. Though Salas was unfamiliar with him, he quickly guessed the man's true identity: Yu Yuanzhen, Sect Master of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.

"Sect Master Ning, Sect Master Yu, you have both come?"

Ning Fengzhi, Sword Douluo, Bone Douluo, and Yu Yuanzhen landed before the gate of the Clear Sky Sect.

Salas let out a cold snort. "Sect Master Ning, Sect Master Yu, do you intend to interfere in the conflict between my Martial Soul Hall and the Clear Sky Sect?"

Ning Fengzhi smiled gently, his refined and easygoing voice ringing out, "Bishop Salas, you cannot represent the entire Martial Soul Hall."

"The Upper Three Sects are connected like branches of the same tree. The Martial Soul Hall is the most powerful spirit master force on the continent, and the Clear Sky Sect is the number one sect in the world. Fengzhi truly does not wish for both sides to engage in a great war over a minor misunderstanding, causing turmoil in the Spirit Master World."

Salas said coldly, "A misunderstanding? What other misunderstanding could there be? Tang Hao coupled with a transformed spirit beast and sired an ominous creature. He killed numerous spirit masters of the Martial Soul Hall, including Title Douluo elders. How can the Martial Soul Hall not eliminate such a traitor to humanity!"

"You old bastard, who are you calling a traitor to humanity?!"

Hearing Salas insult Tang Hao, Tai Tan's eyes widened like copper bells. His gaze turned blood-red, and he prepared to rush forward to kill Salas.

"Old Ape, don't be impulsive. The Upper Three Sects are no match for the Martial Soul Hall. Do not escalate the conflict and give them more reasons to strike."

Bone Douluo instantly flashed in front of Tai Tan, holding him back while transmitting his voice directly into his mind.

Under normal circumstances, Tai Tan would not have given anyone face if they tried to stop him from defending Tang Hao's honor. But because it involved Tang Hao's life, he believed that if given time, Tang Hao would eventually reach the realm of Tang Chen and flatten the Martial Soul Hall. Thinking of Tang Hao's glorious future, he chose to endure.

At this moment, Sword Douluo transmitted his voice to Ning Fengzhi. Ning Fengzhi observed that there were only a few elderly, frail Tang family members and some young men at the gate; the Sect Master and elders were nowhere to be seen, nor could Sword Douluo's spiritual power detect them. He frowned slightly.

Logically, today was the deadline of the one-month grace period given by the Martial Soul Hall. With the Title Douluos of the Martial Soul Hall arriving at any moment, the Sect Master and elders should have been at the gate. Regardless of whether they could win, they had to defend the dignity of the Clear Sky Sect. But where had they gone?

Ning Fengzhi had no intention of entering to look for them, as he and Yu Yuanzhen had come with the consensus to persuade Tang Hao to turn the conflict into a dispute over treasures, and for Tang Hao to kill that hundred-thousand-year Blue Silver Emperor.

Having witnessed the strength of the Martial Soul Hall, which far exceeded that of the Upper Three Sects, they truly did not want to clash with them.

Could it be...

Ning Fengzhi felt a glimmer of expectation. He hoped the Clear Sky Sect had found Tang Chen, and that when the Martial Soul Hall arrived and began their aggressive posturing, Tang Chen would lead the Sect Master and elders out of the sect with unparalleled dominance, suppressing the Martial Soul Hall and slapping them hard in the face.

That would explain why the Sect Master and elders were currently so far from the gate.

Just then, five figures appeared in the sky. Ning Fengzhi was slightly stunned, muttering to himself, "Why did only five come?"

"Qian Daoliu."

Beside him, Sword Douluo's murmur reached his ears. The Sword Douluo's expression was incredibly grave.

Upon hearing that name, Ning Fengzhi immediately understood. He stared at the golden-haired middle-aged man; the man's face was very handsome, bearing a sixty to seventy percent resemblance to Qian Xunji.

"We are in trouble. Qian Daoliu has come. Unless the Clear Sky Sect has found Tang Chen, this matter will likely not end well without handing over Tang Hao."

When Salas saw those five figures, his already javelin-straight posture straightened even further, as if one more ounce of effort would snap his spine. He felt immensely excited and honored. "Salas, Platinum Bishop of the Spirit Temple, pays respects to the Grand Elder, the Holy Maiden, the Young Master, Chrysanthemum Elder, and Ghost Elder."

Salas and the spirit masters of the Spirit Temple hurriedly bowed in unison.

Ning Fengzhi, Sword Douluo, Bone Douluo, Yu Yuanzhen, and the large group of Clear Sky Sect disciples at the entrance all felt their bodies tense up involuntarily. A tremendous pressure weighed upon their hearts.

That golden-haired figure was simply standing there, releasing no aura, appearing like an ordinary person. Yet, in their eyes, this figure seemed infinitely tall, as if he could crush them to death with a mere wave of his hand.