Every disciple of the Clear Sky Sect was a slave to the sect. To them, the sect's legacy was the most important thing.
The sect was now completely shrouded in Jade Phosphor Serpent venom. These disciples could not survive anyway, so for the sake of the sect's legacy, they had to be abandoned. They could not be allowed to block the path to the sect's secret passage and delay the elders' escape.
"Disciples, hurry to the secret passage and escape the mountains!"
Only after Tang Xiao and the Six Elders of Clear Sky had all entered the passage and confirmed that no one was blocking the way did the Second Elder's roar ring out from within the poisonous mist. The disciples finally reacted in panic and rushed into the poison.
Yet even the Soul Douluo elders believed it would be difficult for them to survive. Could these Clear Sky Sect disciples, none of whom had even reached Soul Douluo, truly break through the toxic barrier and escape the Clear Sky Sect? Even if they did escape, could they endure the Jade Phosphorous Serpent venom that had already invaded their bodies?
No matter what, these Clear Sky Sect disciples were undoubtedly dead. Soul Douluo Dugu Bo had single-handedly wiped out hundreds of rats whose Martial Souls were the Clear Sky Hammer, the world's foremost tool Martial Soul, and destroyed the Clear Sky Sect.
At the foot of the mountain, Chrysanthemum Douluo, Yang Wudi, and the other disciples of the Breaking Clan looked up at the verdant Clear Sky Sect mountain range. Yang Wudi burst into laughter. "Hahaha! Damn Clear Sky Sect, you're finished now! Die from the poison, all of you!"
"Old Poison, I never expected you to be this formidable."
Watching Dugu Bo flatten the Clear Sky Sect with a wave of poison, Chrysanthemum Douluo's heart trembled. For the first time, he gained a clear understanding of just how terrifying poison-attribute Soul Masters could be in group combat.
But what frightened Chrysanthemum Douluo even more was Qian Daoliu. This guardian deity of Spirit Hall not only had a keen eye for talent and a mind as cunning as a demon, but was also ruthless in his schemes. From beginning to end, he had merely moved his lips without lifting a hand, yet he had destroyed the Clear Sky Sect.
He had perfectly circumvented the promise made to Tang Chen, the Clear Sky Sect's ancestor: no one beneath him from Spirit Hall was permitted to set foot in the Clear Sky Sect.
Indeed, Spirit Hall had not acted. The one who acted was Dugu Bo, and Dugu Bo was not a member of Spirit Hall.
Spirit Hall had resolved the world's number one sect with zero losses and zero expenditure throughout the entire operation. Instead, its strength had increased considerably.
Thinking of Qian Daoliu's terrifying methods, then recalling the great achievements the Pope had made after taking office, Chrysanthemum Douluo could not help sighing. A tiger father had sired a dog of a son.
The Grand Pontiff was so intelligent and overwhelmingly powerful. How could he have a son like the Pope, such a wastrel?
At that moment, a gray-robed, green-haired figure leaped down from the sky and landed before the Spirit Hall Soul Masters. Who else could it be but Dugu Bo?
Dugu Bo said, "Chrysanthemum Guan, I handled the Clear Sky Sect as the Grand Pontiff instructed. As for the poison in Yanyan's body..."
Before he could finish, veins bulged on Chrysanthemum Douluo's forehead. "Old Poison, are you looking to die? As a Soul Douluo who has joined Spirit Hall, you should address me as Chrysanthemum Elder."
"Defying your superior in Spirit Hall means I can kill you at any time. As for that little girl's poison, whoever wants to cure it can cure it."
Dugu Bo cursed Chrysanthemum Douluo inwardly for meddling where he was not wanted, but he hurriedly said with a pleasant expression, "Chrysanthemum Elder, look at the tremendous service I have rendered Spirit Hall. You can cure my granddaughter's poison now, can't you?"
Hearing that, Chrysanthemum Douluo's expression eased. "Mm. I will cure that little girl's poison. Just have her inhale a few breaths of the Aromatic Silk Beauty's fragrance every day."
Chrysanthemum Douluo turned to Yang Wudi, who was clearly unwilling and worried that the Aromatic Silk Beauty would be damaged again. "Yang Wudi, from now on, the Grand Pontiff has ordered Dugu Bo, me, and your Breaking Clan to jointly handle Spirit Hall's knowledge of pharmacology."
Within Spirit Hall, the three of them were the ones most proficient in pharmacology. Most other pharmaceutical knowledge had been researched by predecessors and recorded in books for Spirit Hall to use. Few Soul Masters were interested in this field or continued researching it.
Just as Yang Wudi was about to say something, a ferocious gleam flashed in Chrysanthemum Douluo's eyes. Looking toward an ordinary-looking cliff ahead, he said, "Enough. Don't dwell on this for now. The last few little rats of the Clear Sky Sect are about to come out. Prepare yourselves."
After only a few breaths, a thunderous boom sounded as shattered rocks flew everywhere.
From the cliff ahead, the Six Elders of Clear Sky and Tang Xiao broke through the toxic barrier and escaped through the hidden passage carved by the Clear Sky Sect. Their bodies were all tinged green, though the shades varied in depth.
Chrysanthemum Douluo said teasingly, "Oh my, oh my, Clear Sky Sect. I believe I already conveyed the Grand Pontiff's order: anyone who dared leave that mountain range would be killed without mercy."
"Since you ran out, then do not blame Spirit Hall for breaking its promise and attacking you."
Tang Xiao and the Six Elders of Clear Sky saw the Spirit Hall Soul Masters, with Dugu Bo among them. Thinking of their brothers and sisters from the Clear Sky Sect who had died miserably, their eyes instantly turned bloodshot. They breathed heavily, their hatred soaring to the heavens.
"Spirit Hall!!!"
Tang Xiao and the Six Elders of Clear Sky roared as they raised their Clear Sky Hammers and charged forward.
Heaven Dou Empire, Fasinuo Province, Holy Soul Village.
It was a small village roughly the same size as the Clear Sky Sect's main gate, with only two or three hundred residents. At the center of Holy Soul Village stood a filthy, dilapidated stone pillar covered in moss.
A section was missing from the middle of the stone pillar. Judging by the marks, it appeared to have been blasted away by tremendous force.
The person who had left those marks was a Soul Saint produced by Holy Soul Village an unknown number of years ago. That was why the small village had been renamed Holy Soul Village.
In the sky above Holy Soul Village, Qian Daoliu quietly looked down at the village below. "It should be here. Strange, why can't I sense the aura of a powerful Title Douluo? Could Tang Hao not have come here?"
Qian Daoliu was not entirely certain, because the stone cave where Ah Yin was in the original story could not have been carved out without some time. Tang San also needed to drink milk. This place lay at the center of the two great empires, not far from Spirit Hall or the place where Tang Hao and Qian Xunji had fought.
In other words, if Tang Hao intended to live in seclusion, it should be in this village.
Beside Holy Soul Village stood three thatched cottages.
An elderly man around fifty years old, hunched over and holding a cane, shouted, "Tang Hao! Tang Hao! Where the hell did you go?"
"Someone came looking for you to forge iron. Why haven't you shown yourself all day?"
This old man was Old Jack, the village chief of Holy Soul Village.
A blacksmith had recently arrived in Holy Soul Village. His smithing skills were quite good, and the farming tools he made were exceptionally durable, so business had been nonstop. Yet Tang Hao had not been seen at all today.
Old Jack had not wanted to concern himself with the matter, but when he remembered that Tang Hao had a son and was a heavy drunkard, he guessed that Tang Hao might have drunk himself senseless and fallen asleep somewhere. Worried that Tang San might starve to death, he came to check the thatched cottages.
Yet there was not a single person inside.
Not here? Had he left with the child? What a coincidence.
Qian Daoliu looked at the extinguished charcoal fire inside the cottages, pondered briefly, and headed toward the back mountain of Holy Soul Village.
Very soon, Qian Daoliu arrived before a stretch of rolling mountains. On one side of the valley, a waterfall roughly twenty meters wide hung like a jade belt from a mountain wall nearly two hundred meters high. The rumbling roar came from it crashing into the pool below.
The waterfall poured down onto the pool, sending countless droplets splashing into the air. Under the sunlight, a seven-colored rainbow stretched across the pool in dazzling splendor.
The moment he arrived, a crisp spray of water rushed toward him. The moist air was refreshing and exceptionally pleasant.
Qian Daoliu extended his spiritual power toward the waterfall. Behind it lay a hidden stone cave. Within the cave was a small mound of earth, and atop the mound was a newly sprouted Blue Silver Grass seed.
"So that was it. Asura, how long can you protect her?"
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