Severe Injury to Clear Sky Sect

Watching the group depart, Bibi Dong's eyes were filled with a sense of gratification, as if her life only held meaning when these people were suffering.

Lin Beiya, observing all of this, felt deeply helpless. When one is in a position of weakness, properly accumulating strength and developing is the only logical path; was it really wise to act as such a lightning rod?

Sure enough, on the way back to the Douluo Hall, the hot-tempered Mighty Lion Douluo and Guangling Douluo could no longer endure Bibi Dong's provocations. With furious expressions, they spoke to Qian Daoliu:

"Big Brother, why not just kill her?"

"That's right, as long as you give the word, Big Brother..."

Ultimately, the killing intent of these elderly titled elders slowly dissipated under a look from Qian Daoliu. His meaning was clear: regardless of anything else, she held the status of being Xiao Xue's mother.

In their hearts, Qian Renxue was the only thing that truly mattered.

Back in her quarters, the little angel locked herself in her room once more. Understanding that the pain of losing a loved one required time to heal, Lin Beiya did not disturb her as he had before.

He believed she would be able to pull herself together, though he knew that by the time she appeared again, she would likely have to start contemplating her mission to infiltrate the Heaven Dou Empire.

Twenty days later, the entire Martial Soul Hall was bustling with activity, for everyone understood they were about to welcome a new leader. For the first time in history, the position of Pope would fall into the hands of someone outside the clan.

Yet, this all seemed to follow a logical progression, as Bibi Dong had been established as the Saintess decades ago. After the unexpected passing of the former Pope, everything seemed to fall into place naturally.

Due to the rushed schedule, the coronation ceremony was not held with great extravagance, but Bibi Dong only desired legitimacy and did not care much for the spectacle.

Lin Beiya met Qian Renxue again after many days of separation. Having endured such pain, she had matured significantly, though it was difficult to find that innocent smile of the past on her face.

The two watched the coronation ceremony from a corner behind the Pope Hall. Watching Bibi Dong walk step by step toward the high platform, don the crown, accept the scepter handed to her by Yue Guan, and swear to lead the Martial Soul Hall toward glory, neither Qian Renxue nor Lin Beiya felt a ripple of emotion in their eyes.

Once the ceremony concluded, regardless of how unwilling she was, Bibi Dong had to put on a show of seeking justice for the late Pope.

After all, it had been publicly declared that Qian Xunji had died from severe injuries sustained after a battle with Tang Hao of the Clear Sky Sect.

In front of all the members of the Martial Soul Hall, the new Pope, Bibi Dong, immediately announced retaliatory actions against the Clear Sky Sect.

"The Clear Sky Sect harbored their disciple Tang Hao, who consorted with a soul beast, and cruelly murdered the former Pope who was attempting to capture that transformed soul beast. The Martial Soul Hall will surely avenge this grievance."

"For this mission, the Pope Hall, the Elder Hall, and the Worship Hall will cooperate with all their might to make the Clear Sky Sect pay a bloody price, and to prove to the world that the majesty of the Martial Soul Hall cannot be violated."

It had to be said that Bibi Dong had a knack for inciting people's emotions. With just a few words, the members of the Martial Soul Hall were immediately filled with righteous indignation, lamenting the late Pope Qian Xunji while feeling deep resentment toward the actions of the Clear Sky Sect.

The elders of the Worship Hall had originally been unwilling to act, preferring to watch Bibi Dong make a fool of herself, as the forces currently under her command were insufficient to shake the Iron Hammer Gang, the head of the Upper Three Sects.

However, Qian Daoliu still wanted Bibi Dong to manage the affairs of the Martial Soul Hall while Qian Renxue was still growing into her own, so helping her establish authority was necessary.

This had become an unspoken understanding between Qian Daoliu and Bibi Dong, which was why she dared to declare war on the Clear Sky Sect immediately after her coronation, using the suppression of the sect to bolster her own prestige.

Watching the entire process, the little angel also successfully had her hatred directed toward the Clear Sky Sect. After all, in her eyes, while Bibi Dong might be heartless, the primary culprits behind her father's death were Tang Hao and the Clear Sky Sect behind him.

In the following days, the behemoth that was the Martial Soul Hall began to operate at full capacity, baring its fangs to the world.

The Clear Sky Sect's thousands of businesses across the continent were reduced to ashes within days. Those that did not resist were directly taken over by the Martial Soul Hall, while those that dared to resist were wiped out entirely.

Among the resistance, the four affiliated clans of the Clear Sky Sect—Strength, Defense, Break, and Agility—took the lead. They believed that as long as they could hold out for a while, the Clear Sky Sect, as their main sect, would surely come to their aid.

But to their shock, even as their clansmen died in droves and their core members perished, they did not receive even a single word of concern from the Clear Sky Sect.

In despair, the four clan heads had no choice but to jointly announce their withdrawal from the Clear Sky Sect and go into seclusion, which was the only way they could preserve the remnants of their people to recuperate.

Bibi Dong's governance showed a certain level of skill. She first threw out the narrative of the Clear Sky Sect colluding with a soul beast to injure the former Pope to guide public opinion, and then, while pruning the sect's wings, she left a sliver of hope for the survivors, preventing the public from feeling she was too ruthless. All the blame was directed squarely at the Clear Sky Sect.

Even the four affiliated clans felt more resentment toward the Clear Sky Sect than toward the Martial Soul Hall.

But in truth, the Clear Sky Sect was genuinely incapable of caring for their survival. The Worship Hall, led by Golden Crocodile, and the Pope Hall, led by Chrysanthemum and Ghost, struck directly at the Clear Sky Sect's mountain gate.

In this battle, the Iron Hammer Gang suffered heavy losses; even a Titled Douluo-level powerhouse was killed, not to mention the other experts of lower ranks.

The current Sect Master of the Clear Sky Sect was Tang Tian, the son of Tang Chen. Facing the formidable strength of Golden Crocodile, no matter how he resisted, he could not stir up much of a storm.

"Golden Crocodile, are you not afraid of violating the agreement between my father and the seniors of the Qian family by doing this?"

A trace of disdain flashed across Golden Crocodile Douluo's face. If Tang Chen were still around, he would have stepped out to defend the Clear Sky Sect long ago, rather than letting his clansmen be slaughtered.

"Hmph, if not for that agreement, do you think I would be wasting my breath on you?"

"Blame your good son for colluding with a soul beast and killing the Pope. If we don't seek justice, how can the Martial Soul Hall stand in the future?"

Watching more and more of his clansmen fall on the battlefield, Tang Tian's heart sank to the bottom. Suppressing the hatred in his heart, he said:

"Must you really exterminate us all?"

"That won't be necessary, but you must provide the accountability that is due. Otherwise, don't blame the Martial Soul Hall for being ruthless."

Seeing that Tang Tian was open to negotiation, Golden Crocodile waved his hand, signaling the forces of the three halls to cease their attack. Everyone's gaze turned toward the two men standing in opposition.

"What do you want me to do?"

After saying this, Tang Tian seemed to age several decades. His once-firm face was filled with a gray, defeated look. He knew the Clear Sky Sect was about to decline under his leadership, and even in death, he would have no face to see his ancestors.

But a fight to the death would only exhaust the sect's final strength. Preserving the foundation of the Clear Sky Sect was the only thing he could do now.

After pacifying the clansmen who had lost loved ones and were eager to fight to the death, Tang Tian looked at Golden Crocodile Douluo with hollow eyes, awaiting his judgment.

"The Clear Sky Sect shall seal its mountain from this day forth and not enter the world for a hundred years. During this period, wherever the Clear Sky Hammer martial soul appears on the continent, kill without mercy!"

Tang Tian's body trembled slightly for a moment. Even though he knew the Martial Soul Hall would not let the Clear Sky Sect off easily, he had not expected them to be so cruel. Without resources, how could a sect with so many soul masters survive? Even if they managed to survive, who would remember the Clear Sky Sect after a hundred years?

Though his heart was unwilling, this was the only path left before the Clear Sky Sect. Fighting to the death might take a few of the Martial Soul Hall's powerhouses with them, but the Clear Sky Sect would inevitably perish today. If there was anyone to blame, it was that his own sect's top powerhouses were inferior to those of the Martial Soul Hall.