The night was as black as ink, and the moonlight was swallowed by thick, heavy clouds.
After a full day and night of racing at full speed, the vanguard led by Bibi Dong arrived at the Speed Clan's stronghold.
The Speed Clan's stronghold was located deep within a dense forest. The terrain was complex, making it easy to hide and escape. But before overwhelming strength, even the finest terrain was useless.
After Qian Xunji returned to Spirit City gravely wounded, Golden Crocodile had already begun investigating the Four Great Clans' strongholds and their locations. As a result, Bibi Dong didn't have to spend much time on such matters after taking the throne.
"Your Holiness, the encirclement is complete."
Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan's effeminate voice sounded beside Bibi Dong. "Two thousand Soul Masters have sealed off every escape route within five miles. Not even a fly can get out."
"Very good."
Bibi Dong sat in her war chariot, her gaze coldly fixed on the seemingly peaceful camp ahead.
This was a one-sided slaughter.
The Speed Clan excelled at reconnaissance and speed. Although their Martial Souls were of decent quality, they were no match in a head-on battle for Power Attack System Soul Masters of the same rank—or even Agility Attack System Soul Masters.
Moreover, the entire Speed Clan, including their families, numbered fewer than five hundred. They had less than three hundred fighters.
Spirit Hall had brought two thousand Soul Masters. It was an overwhelming disparity in both numbers and strength.
"Remember my orders."
Bibi Dong turned to look at the two elders behind her, Chrysanthemum and Ghost. Her voice was cold and grim:
"The Speed Clan excels at running away. Their Sharp-Tailed Rain Swallow Martial Soul is unrivaled in speed among those of the same rank. Once they take to the sky, they'll be difficult to catch."
"So move fast! Be ruthless!"
"Seal off the airspace first, then advance on the ground!"
"The two of you are to launch a surprise attack."
"I want you to charge into the central area as quickly as possible and take Bai He and the direct descendants with Sharp-Tailed Rain Swallow Martial Souls under control."
"These people are the best bait—and potential bargaining chips in the future. Capture them alive if possible."
"As for the rest..."
A cold glint flashed in Bibi Dong's eyes as she planted her scepter heavily on the ground.
"If they resist or try to break through, kill them without mercy!"
"Yes!"
Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo exchanged a glance. Though their injuries had yet to heal, dealing with a Speed Clan that excelled at speed but was pitifully fragile would be more than manageable.
"Move out!"
At Bibi Dong's command,
Whoosh!
Two figures shot forward like ghosts, vanishing into the darkness in an instant. One hundred elite Soul Kings followed close behind. Like reapers in the night, they silently pounced on their unsuspecting prey.
At the Speed Clan's stronghold, in the clan chief's residence,
Bai He sat in his study, reading a report in his hands, his brows tightly furrowed.
Spirit Hall had been making too many moves lately. A new pope had ascended the throne, Tang Hao was wanted across the entire continent, and Spirit Hall had even threatened to raze the Clear Sky Sect. A powerful sense of unease constantly weighed on him.
"Have we still heard nothing from the Clear Sky Sect?" Bai He asked the trusted aide beside him.
"Not yet, Clan Chief." The aide shook his head. "The sect is in a state of unrest lately, too. I heard the sect master has ordered heightened security, but no special instructions have come down in the past few days."
"Alas..."
Bai He sighed and rubbed his brow. "Tang Hao really is a troublemaker. He's gone and pierced the heavens, and now he's dragged all of us relatives into worrying along with him."
"Clan Chief, don't worry too much," the aide reassured him. "No matter how overbearing Spirit Hall is, they wouldn't dare actually move against us, would they? We're only an affiliated clan, and we had no part in that incident..."
Boom!!!
Before the aide could finish, an explosion suddenly erupted outside the residence!
In the next instant, flames soared into the sky, and screams and battle cries tore through the night's silence.
"What's going on?!"
Bai He sprang to his feet in alarm.
"Enemy attack!!!"
"It's Spirit Hall!! They've broken in!!"
A disciple, drenched in blood, stumbled through the door. His eyes were filled with despair. "Clan Chief! Run! There are so many of them! They're everywhere!!"
"Spirit Hall?!"
Bai He's mind went blank. The thing he had feared most had happened after all.
"How dare they..."
"Old bird, long time no see!"
Just then, an effeminate, mocking voice rang out from the roof.
Bai He looked up sharply. A figure in golden armor stood there, holding a Singular Velvet Sky Chrysanthemum and gazing down at him. The delight in his eyes was that of a cat toying with a mouse.
"Chrysanthemum Douluo... Yue Guan?!"
Bai He's heart sank.
A Titled Douluo!
Spirit Hall had actually sent a Titled Douluo to deal with their small Speed Clan?!
"Run! Hurry!!"
Bai He reacted swiftly. Without the slightest hesitation, wings unfurled behind him, and he became a streak of light as he tried to burst through the roof and escape.
He knew he had no chance against a Titled Douluo.
His only hope was to rely on his world-renowned speed to escape and deliver the news to the Clear Sky Sect!
"Run?"
Yue Guan covered his mouth and chuckled. "Do you think you can get away right under my nose?"
"Old Ghost!"
"Kehehehe..."
A sinister, chilling laugh sounded behind Bai He.
A bone-deep chill swept over him. Before he could react, a dark ghostly shadow had already coiled around his legs like a parasite clinging to bone.
Ghost Douluo, Gui Mei!
"Spirit Hall! You've gone too far!!"
Bai He roared and frantically urged his Soul Power as he tried to break through. But under the combined suppression of two Titled Douluo, the speed he prided himself on was useless.
Below, screams and cries rose one after another.
The Speed Clan members were fast, but against a hundred elite Power Attack System Soul Masters, each at least a Soul King, with nearly two thousand Soul Masters closing in around them like an iron barrel, they were nothing more than lambs waiting to be slaughtered.
"Cough, cough..."
After a fierce battle, Bai He was gravely wounded by Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo. He lay on the ground, gazing at his clan members sprawled in pools of blood and at his direct descendants being snatched up by Spirit Hall Soul Masters like chicks. Tears of blood welled in his eyes.
"Spirit Hall... you'll get what's coming to you!!"
"The Clear Sky Sect won't let you get away with this!!"
"The Clear Sky Sect?"
Yue Guan descended from the air and planted a foot on Bai He's back. He pressed down slightly, making Bai He's bones crack.
"Give it a rest, old bird."
"Your good nephew Tang Hao has pierced the heavens. The Clear Sky Sect can barely protect itself now."
"And as for saving you?"
Yue Guan scoffed. "Guess whether Tang Xiao, that cowardly turtle, would dare crawl out of his shell for you pack of homeless dogs."
"Take them away!"
Yue Guan waved a hand. "His Holiness is waiting."
On the outskirts of the stronghold,
Flames lit up half the sky.
Bibi Dong sat in her war chariot, impassively watching the prisoners being led out.
Less than an hour had passed.
The Speed Clan's main forces had been almost entirely wiped out. Apart from a few quick-witted scouts Bibi Dong had deliberately let escape, the rest were either dead or captured.
"Your Holiness, the mission is complete."
Chrysanthemum Douluo tossed Bai He, who was limp as a dead dog, down in front of the war chariot.
"Very good."
Bibi Dong glanced at Bai He on the ground, her eyes devoid of pity.
"Spread the word for me—"
"If Tang Xiao doesn't come within three days, I'll kill one direct descendant of the Speed Clan for every hour that passes!"
"I want to see just how long he, their nephew, can hold out!"
"You... you'll die a horrible death!!" Bai He trembled with rage and spat out a mouthful of blood.
The following morning,
In the Clear Sky Sect's conference hall,
The atmosphere was so heavy it felt as if water could drip from it.
Several of the Speed Clan's fastest scouts, deliberately allowed to escape by Bibi Dong, had already arrived here and informed Tang Xiao of the Speed Clan's attack by Spirit Hall.
Bang!
Tang Xiao slammed his palm down on the table. The sturdy Black Iron Wood table instantly shattered into pieces. His eyes were bloodshot, and his entire body radiated a palpable killing intent as he stared at the Speed Clan scout kneeling before him, drenched in blood.
"Chrysanthemum and Ghost Douluo?! More than a thousand Soul Masters?!"
"Spirit Hall... how dare they?!"
"Are they trying to wipe out the Speed Clan?"
Tang Xiao's chest heaved violently. As the Clear Sky Sect's sect master and Tang Hao's elder brother, he had never felt such fury and humiliation.
Spirit Hall's retaliation had come too quickly and too ruthlessly. They had acted in a way that defied all expectations!
He had already been prepared to fight Spirit Hall. He had never imagined they wouldn't attack the Clear Sky Sect directly, but instead target the weakest clan—the one most closely related to him by blood.
They were slapping him in the face! Forcing him to fight to the death!
"Sect Master! Save our Clan Chief!"
The scout sobbed uncontrollably. "Spirit Hall has announced that if you don't go, they'll kill one direct descendant every hour! They're your... they're your cousins!"
"Bastards!!"
Tang Xiao roared and leapt to his feet. The terrifying Soul Power of a Level 93 Soul Master erupted from him, shaking the entire hall.
"Pass down the order! All Clear Sky Sect disciples are to assemble immediately!"
"This sect master will go to the Speed Clan in person! I'll tear those Spirit Hall bastards to pieces!!"
"Please wait, Sect Master!"