Seeking Bo Saixi's Help

More than half a month had passed since the destruction of the Clear Sky Sect. During this time, Martial Soul Hall had been busy consolidating the fruits of their victory, allocating land to build new residences for the three single-attribute clans, arranging their positions, and constructing the Moonlight Pavilion.

After such a long period, Qian Xunji felt that the strength of the Death Spider Emperor had already surpassed his own. She treated Qian Renxue quite well, and because the Death Spider Emperor was a soul beast by nature—and soul beasts spent the vast majority of their lives cultivating, save for their three daily meals—her presence also drove Qian Renxue's own motivation for cultivation.

Qian Xunji gradually chose to temporarily forget the true identity of Bibi Zhu, focusing instead on assisting Qian Daoliu's plans, whether for the sake of Qian Renxue or for the sake of Martial Soul Hall.

Inside a quiet cultivation chamber within the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

A tall, middle-aged man wearing a cowhide trench coat sat cross-legged, his left sleeve hanging empty. Before him sat a refined and gentle young man in white robes, who was controlling a seven-storied glazed pagoda emitting seven-colored light above the middle-aged man's head, regulating his condition.

This middle-aged man and the youth were none other than Tang Xiao, who had narrowly escaped the Clear Sky Sect, and Ning Fengzhi.

Sword Douluo stood beside Ning Fengzhi, watching silently.

Tang Xiao had barely escaped the pursuit of Chrysanthemum Douluo, the Breaking Clan, and the Speed Clan. His soul power had been exhausted, and he realized that if things continued this way, he would be poisoned to death by Dugu Bo's Jade Phosphor Serpent venom. With a flash of thought, he had used his remaining strength to reach the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, pinning his hopes on their rescue.

As it turned out, Tang Xiao's judgment was correct. The idea that the Upper Three Sects should stand together had been proposed by Ning Fengzhi himself. Upon learning that Tang Xiao was severely wounded and riddled with toxins, Ning Fengzhi, along with Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo, had joined forces to purge the poison and treat his injuries, finally pulling Tang Xiao back from the gates of death.

The rich seven-colored light gradually dimmed as Ning Fengzhi retracted his Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda and let out a breath.

"Brother Tang Xiao, your external wounds have basically healed, but your heart and body have been corroded by the poison for too long. Your internal organs have sustained damage, and for these injuries, this humble one is powerless."

Hearing Ning Fengzhi's words—that his organs were damaged, his left arm destroyed, and his vitality compromised—Tang Xiao realized he would likely be stuck at level 89 as a Soul Douluo, finding it difficult to ever break through to the Title Douluo realm. Even if he relied on the soul bones left behind by Tang Zhen to reach that level, he would only ever be an ordinary Title Douluo. His talent had been thoroughly ruined by Martial Soul Hall!

Thinking of this, and of the Clear Sky Sect being wiped out, with the elders self-destructing to cover his retreat, Tang Xiao clenched his fists tightly, his eyes turning bloodshot and filling with tears.

After a long while, Tang Xiao composed himself, stood up, and cupped his hands. "Many thanks to Sect Master Ning and Senior Bone Douluo for your meticulous care during this time."

"Brother Tang Xiao, what exactly happened? Has the Clear Sky Sect been destroyed?"

Ning Fengzhi voiced the suspicion that had been lingering in his mind since the moment he first saw Tang Xiao.

Tang Xiao did not answer. He turned away and clenched his fists so tightly that his fingertips dug into the flesh of his palms. He remained silent, but his actions confirmed Ning Fengzhi's fears.

"How could this be? How many people did Martial Soul Hall send to ensure that you were the only one to escape? If you hadn't come to our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, I would still be kept in the dark about the sect's destruction."

Ning Fengzhi felt a chill run down his spine. He was certain that the hidden location of the Clear Sky Sect had a better geographical advantage than the Clear Sky Mountain Range and that they must have dug numerous escape tunnels. Yet, Tang Xiao was the only survivor. Just how much hidden strength did Martial Soul Hall possess?

Tang Xiao finally spoke, his voice sounding heart-wrenching and filled with infinite rage. "It was that despicable, treacherous, filthy, and shameless father-and-son duo, Qian Daoliu and Qian Xunji!"

"Qian Xunji stole my sister and caused my father to die of anger! When all the disciples of the Clear Sky Sect gathered to focus their energy on my father's funeral and the selection of the new sect master, Dugu Bo snuck into our hidden sanctuary and released a poisonous mist."

"By the time we discovered the mist, it had already completely enveloped the sect. Only I and seven sect elders managed to escape; the other disciples likely all perished from Dugu Bo's serpent venom."

"In the end, the sect elders all died at the hands of Martial Soul Hall while covering my retreat."

As he finished speaking, Tang Xiao bowed his head, two lines of tears falling onto the floor.

Ning Fengzhi gasped, his expression turning incredibly grim. "Martial Soul Hall... what a ruthless method. I never expected Dugu Bo to have joined them."

Ning Fengzhi was certain that the mastermind behind the destruction of the Clear Sky Sect must have been Qian Daoliu. Qian Xunji? He did not believe Qian Xunji possessed such cunning.

Tang Xiao took a deep breath and said, "The Clear Sky Sect is gone, and my talent is severely damaged. Unless my grandfather returns after reaching level 100 and becoming a god, I fear that even if younger brother Tang Hao reaches level 99 as a Title Douluo, he will be no match for those dozen or so Title Douluos of Martial Soul Hall."

Ning Fengzhi pondered for a moment. "Senior Tang Chen left the Clear Sky Sect over twenty years ago, and there has been no news of him on the continent. With such a major event occurring, Senior Tang Chen has not appeared. Brother Tang Xiao, this humble one does not wish to dampen your spirits, but rationally speaking, the possibility of Senior Tang Chen returning as a god is likely not high."

Sword Douluo also spoke up. "Fengzhi is right. My father was defeated by Qian Daoliu, and before he died, he told me that Qian Daoliu had also been striving toward level 100 for decades. Since both were breaking through, if Qian Daoliu could temporarily arrive at the Clear Sky Sect, Senior Tang Chen should have been able to spare some time if he had heard the news, yet he remains nowhere to be found."

Hearing Sword Douluo's words, Tang Xiao suddenly recalled his grandfather calling Qian Daoliu a coward who dared not risk his life to challenge the 100th level. His heart sank to the bottom. Could it be that his grandfather had truly perished while attempting to reach the level of a god?

Ning Fengzhi sighed. "Brother Tang Xiao, from now on, just stay at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Even if Tang Hao manages to cultivate to level 99 and rebuild the Clear Sky Sect, the enmity between Martial Soul Hall and your sect is now a blood feud. Martial Soul Hall will not sit idly by and watch the sect be rebuilt; they will inevitably mobilize a large force to wipe Tang Hao out."

"Unless Senior Tang Chen returns to deter Martial Soul Hall alongside Tang Hao, or another existence as powerful as Senior Tang Chen is willing to help, there is no hope for the sect's reconstruction."

After learning that Martial Soul Hall had recruited Dugu Bo and that he had slaughtered all the disciples of the Clear Sky Sect, Ning Fengzhi dared not openly assist them. If Martial Soul Hall unleashed Dugu Bo to poison the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, his family—who were not battle soul masters with powerful martial souls like the Clear Sky Sect—might truly be wiped out.

Suddenly, Tang Xiao's eyes lit up, and he blurted out, "There is! There is one senior who is on the same level as my grandfather and Qian Daoliu! She is also a friend of my grandfather!"