The Clear Sky Sect, built from hard stone like a fortress, had gathered all its disciples in the sect leader's main hall. The resentment they had felt upon first arriving at this secluded place, their determination to grow stronger through humiliation, their diligent cultivation, and their eager hopes for a new future were all gone. Their faces were filled with deep sorrow, and tears glimmered in their eyes.
Because they had gone into seclusion, they had not brought enough mourning supplies to arrange the proper rites. Thus, Tang Xiao and the several elders of the Clear Sky Sect could only lead all the disciples in standing neatly in formation, mourning their deceased sect leader together as a show of utmost respect.
At that moment, the Clear Sky Sect disciples mourning their sect leader's death had no idea that amid the bitter cold wind and goose-feather snow of the Clear Sky Sect mountain range, a massive green serpent dozens of meters long was coiling around the mountain again and again as it slithered toward the Clear Sky Sect above.
That enormous green serpent was the Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor, the Martial Soul Avatar of Dugu Bo, a Soul Douluo who cultivated poison and wished to join Spirit Hall.
When Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan encountered Chrysanthemum Douluo, Ghost Douluo, and especially Qian Daoliu atop the five-hundred-meter mountain at the center of Sunset Forest, his first thought had been to offer the place to Spirit Hall in exchange for the lives of himself and his granddaughter, especially Dugu Yan.
Dugu Bo understood the extraordinary nature of the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well. If any faction discovered such a place, it would certainly seek to monopolize it. Anyone else who entered and learned of this treasure ground would immediately be killed to prevent news of it from leaking out.
But afterward, Qian Daoliu pointed out the flaw in the Dugu Family's Jade Phosphor Serpent Martial Soul. On the continent, only Spirit Hall had the ability to detoxify the Jade Phosphor Serpent, provided Dugu Bo and his granddaughter joined Spirit Hall.
With Limit Douluo Qian Daoliu making the offer, could Dugu Bo refuse? Refusing meant waiting for death. Did he really think Qian Daoliu was kindhearted just because he was handsome and had a mild temperament?
Rumor had it that Qian Daoliu was Spirit Hall's foremost executioner. In his younger days, every faction on the continent that opposed Spirit Hall had been slaughtered under Qian Daoliu's command. He was practically a hobbyist of wiping out entire clans.
The main reason the Jade Phosphor Serpent Martial Soul harmed both others and its wielder was that its Soul Power contained poison. A snake might carry potent venom, but its own resistance to poison was not necessarily strong. Snake venom was generally stored in venom sacs and injected through fangs. If a large amount of venom from the sacs flowed into its mouth, the snake could be poisoned to death by its own venom.
The Jade Phosphor Serpent Martial Soul released Soul Power, and its poisonous Soul Power flowed through the meridians rather than being injected through fangs like a snake biting someone. This caused the poison within the Soul Power to enter the body. That was why the Jade Phosphor Serpent Martial Soul harmed its own wielder when using poison.
To resolve the toxins within the body, Qian Daoliu offered three solutions: the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and the Infernal Delicate Apricot. By consuming these two extremely cold and extremely fiery poisonous immortal herbs, one could fight poison with poison.
The unique environment of the Ice and Fire Yin-Yang Well could suppress Dugu Bo's poison. Its spring constantly emitted spiritual energy of extreme cold and extreme heat, making it equivalent to consuming the Octagonal Mysterious Ice Grass and Infernal Delicate Apricot, just a much weaker youth version.
The second method was to remain beside the Aromatic Silk Beauty at all times, breathing in its fragrance over a long period so that the fragrance could circulate through the limbs and bones, slowly detoxifying the body.
The third method was to channel Soul Power with powerful purifying abilities into the body and gradually cleanse the toxins. In other words, the powerful purification of the Angel Martial Soul.
After learning two of these three methods for treating snake venom, Dugu Bo had nearly felt the urge to smash his head against a wall. Two perfectly clear solutions had been right before his eyes all along, yet he had never known.
But now, all three Immortal Grade Herbs had been taken by Spirit Hall, and two had been consumed by Qian Daoliu's granddaughter.
The purifying power of the Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul was also the inherited Martial Soul of Spirit Hall's Qian Family. Kidnapping a Qian Family heir and forcing them to detoxify him through strength? He was not insane.
Dugu Bo had lived freely all his life and truly did not wish to join any faction and be at their beck and call. His own death did not matter, but his beautiful granddaughter could not be allowed to die after enduring endless torment. With no other choice, he could only join Spirit Hall.
Naturally, Spirit Hall was not so easy to join. Qian Daoliu had ordered him to complete a task as his admission token: poison the mountain range where the Clear Sky Sect was located and dye it a different color.
The massive Jade Phosphor Serpent reached a point less than a hundred meters from the summit and sighed softly. "Clear Sky Sect, I'm sorry. For my granddaughter to grow up healthy, I can only ask all of you to die."
Yellow, purple, and black light flared around the Jade Phosphor Serpent. Eight Soul Rings—two yellow, two purple, and four black—encircled it. One, two, three, four, five, six. The first six Soul Rings lit up in sequence, and its first six soul skills were unleashed one after another.
Inside the Clear Sky Sect.
Tang Xiao and the Six Elders of Clear Sky stood before the disciples.
The highly respected Second Elder said, "Fine sons of the Clear Sky Sect, do not grieve. Spirit Hall forced us to come here, and then came to our doorstep to kill us. On the surface, it was indeed humiliating—an utter disgrace."
"But in truth, our Clear Sky Sect has not suffered any substantial losses. Ancestor Tang Chen was right. Qian Daoliu is indeed a coward. He was terrified by Ancestor Tang Chen's Clear Sky Hammer, and his useless son, Qian Xunji, was crippled by Little Hao's Clear Sky Hammer in a one-against-three fight! This mountain range still carries Ancestor Tang Chen's lingering might. Spirit Hall does not dare set foot here."
Hearing the Second Elder's somewhat humorous words, most Clear Sky Sect disciples restrained their grief, while some could not help laughing aloud.
The Second Elder continued, "As long as we cultivate diligently, when Ancestor Tang Chen returns or Little Hao reaches Rank 99 and comes for us, we will let the Spirit Master World once again witness the might of the world's number one tool Martial Soul, the Peerless War Soul Hammer. Spirit Hall will repay the humiliation it brought upon the Clear Sky Sect tenfold, a hundredfold!"
"The Second Elder is right! Spirit Hall, I, Tang Tian, will make you pay the price in blood sooner or later!"
"Spirit Hall, if I do not avenge this hatred, I am unworthy of being a descendant of the Clear Sky Sect!"
"Spirit Hall, if you can leave even one son alive in the future, then I won't be surnamed Tang!"
Hearing the Second Elder's words, countless Clear Sky Sect disciples roared, declaring their resolve to slaughter everyone in Spirit Hall.
"Sect Leader Tang Zhen has passed away. Our Clear Sky Sect needs to select a new sect leader."
Tang Xiao's body trembled. Under the normal succession order, a son succeeded his father. The position of Clear Sky Sect leader should have fallen directly to him. Tang Zhen had said as much while he was still alive.
Tang Xiao said, "Second Elder, according to the decision made by my grandfather and father while they were alive, the next sect leader of the Clear Sky Sect should be Little Hao. Since Little Hao is absent, I, Tang Xiao, should be the one to serve as sect leader."
The Second Elder's expression remained calm, but his gaze was sharp. "Little Xiao, Sect Leader Tang Zhen did indeed say before his death that he would pass the position to you. However, the Clear Sky Sect respects strength above all else. Only the strongest person can inherit the position of sect leader."
Seeing the eyes of several elders blaze with desire, Tang Xiao immediately understood. These elders had grown covetous of the sect leader's position and the authority it possessed.
That was only natural. Who would not want to become the sect leader and be in charge for once?
Tang Xiao shouted, "Fine! The Clear Sky Sect honors strength above all else. Since all of you elders wish to become sect leader, then let us spar together. Whoever is the final victor will become the new sect leader of the Clear Sky Sect."
When the Clear Sky Sect disciples in the rear heard that Tang Xiao and the elders were going to spar, they became excited. They wanted to witness a battle between Soul Douluo-level powerhouses and see Tang Xiao and the elders wield their Clear Sky Hammers.
Because Tang Zhen had died, the Clear Sky Sect disciples had all gathered together. First, they had been immersed in grief, then their attention had shifted to the selection of the next sect leader. Therefore, none of the Clear Sky Sect disciples—including Tang Xiao and the Six Elders of Clear Sky—realized that Dugu Bo's Jade Phosphor Serpent poison had already entered the mountain through its cracks, the hidden passages carved out by the Tang Family, and the ventilation openings. It continued swallowing the Clear Sky Sect and surged toward the Clear Sky Main Hall.
Not only that, but vast poisonous miasma was also climbing up and down the mountain range, preparing to envelop the entire mountain.
From the sky, the mountains were green as far as the eye could see.
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