On the way back, Bibi Dong couldn't help snickering. Seeing Qian Xunji fly into a rage yet not dare lay a hand on her had made this the happiest day of her life.
But now that it was over, she would have to be even more careful. Being given a hard time was a minor concern; what mattered was that she had no idea how he might retaliate.
After returning to Spirit Hall, Qian Xunji followed Li Pu's advice and put renewed pressure on the Clear Sky Sect. He even issued a proclamation to the entire continent.
"The Clear Sky Sect's Tang Hao, one of its twin stars, has been bewitched by the Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast Blue Silver Emperor. He intends to overthrow human rule and has slain a Titled Douluo from Spirit Hall. This is not merely a matter concerning Spirit Hall—it concerns the entire Douluo Continent and all of humanity. We call upon every power to apprehend the Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast Blue Silver Emperor and the Clear Sky Sect's Tang Hao!"
That proclamation sent the entire continent into an unprecedented upheaval.
Although there was no explicit ban on consorting with Soul Beasts in the human world, humans and Soul Beasts were natural enemies, fundamentally incompatible. The union of humans and Soul Beasts was considered an outrage against the natural order.
After all, they were two species locked in absolute opposition.
Every faction was stunned!
They had thought Spirit Hall was simply being overbearing and shamelessly targeting a once-in-a-century genius from the Clear Sky Sect. They hadn't expected this to be the reason.
"So that's why. A Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring, a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone—such precious things. No wonder Spirit Hall was willing to endure the criticism and act under all that pressure!"
"Tang Hao really has no shame, and that Soul Beast is even worse. It actually seduced a genius of the Clear Sky Sect. Why didn't it bewitch me instead?"
"But why is Spirit Hall revealing this now?"
That was what none of the factions could make sense of.
By exposing the truth, Spirit Hall had given everyone a chance to claim the Soul Ring and Soul Bone held by that Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast.
Would Spirit Hall really be willing to share?
Or were they trying to use everyone else as cannon fodder?
Either way, the opportunity stirred every faction's greed. It was worth taking a risk.
What if they succeeded?
Even if they couldn't get the Soul Bone, they could at least grab a little something for themselves.
"No wonder. I was wondering how Tang Hao's father died. Turns out he was angered to death! His own son got together with a Soul Beast. How could the old man not be furious?"
"I have a question. What kind of Soul Beast did Tang Hao get together with? An animal or a plant?"
"What a stupid question. They said it was a Hundred-Thousand-Year Blue Silver Emperor. Obviously, it was Blue Silver Grass."
"Blue Silver Grass can actually cultivate to the Hundred-Thousand-Year level? That's ridiculous. But it's still a plant! It doesn't even have a hole, so how could he—"
"Ugh! That's disgusting! Get that thought out of my head!"
After Spirit Hall further explained that a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast could take human form and cultivate anew, everyone finally understood what they were dealing with.
"Oh, I see. I thought the whole thing would be too awful to look at, but it's just that? Boring!"
"Ugh! You're disgusting! Go die!"
In any case, once the news broke, factions from all over the continent rushed to the Clear Sky Sect to demand an explanation. Had it really happened?
More importantly, this was a chance to kick them while they were down and seize benefits beyond their wildest dreams.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
"Spirit Hall is trying to use us to kill with a borrowed knife."
When Ning Fengzhi, the newly appointed sect master, heard the news, he merely smiled calmly. The two Douluo who protected the sect, however, were far from unruffled.
Sword Douluo Chen Xin said, "This is no small matter. Plenty of minor sects are using Tang Hao's disgraceful affair with a Soul Beast to condemn the Clear Sky Sect for raising such a disciple. On the surface, they're demanding that the Clear Sky Sect explain itself to all the people who have died at the hands of Soul Beasts. In truth, they all want to tear a chunk out of the Clear Sky Sect."
Bone Douluo Gu Rong said loudly, "Fengzhi, don't give me that nonsense about the Upper Three Sects standing together. Don't tell me you aren't tempted by a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast."
Ning Fengzhi was always going on about the Upper Three Sects standing together, but a merchant put profit above all else.
When absolute interests were at stake, the Upper Three Sects standing together didn't mean a thing.
Ning Fengzhi shook his head. "I'm just worried Spirit Hall will use this as an excuse to go after the Clear Sky Sect."
Gu Rong didn't understand. "How bad could it get? If they really wanted to attack the Clear Sky Sect, they would have done so already. At worst, this will leave the sect battered. It won't bring them down."
Ning Fengzhi thought it over carefully and eventually decided to go after the Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast. He didn't want Spirit Hall or the Clear Sky Sect to get it. Better to make it his own.
A Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast might let their Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's Martial Soul, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda, break through its limits and evolve into the Eight Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda—or even the legendary Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda.
Otherwise, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda would forever be stuck at level seventy-nine, the Soul Saint rank.
Ning Fengzhi naturally wouldn't pass up this opportunity.
It wasn't just the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan wanted the Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast too. Even if it wasn't a dragon-type Soul Beast, they still needed one.
Who could turn down a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring and a Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone?
The Clear Sky Sect was in even greater turmoil, an invisible pressure weighing on its entire leadership.
They had originally thought Spirit Hall would go after that Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast despite the condemnation from every side. At the same time, they assumed Spirit Hall wouldn't make an announcement to the whole world out of respect for their sect master, Tang Chen.
They hadn't expected Spirit Hall to expose everything so soon—and even specify the type of Soul Beast.
As the sacred ground of the Soul Master World, Spirit Hall would hardly lie about something like this.
Spirit Hall had made it public, but if the Clear Sky Sect admitted it, the consequences would be unbearable for the title of the greatest sect under heaven.
One of their own had betrayed humanity and consorted with a Soul Beast—a beast!
It would have been one thing if he were an ordinary disciple. But he was their youngest and most gifted disciple, and the grandson of their sect master, Tang Chen.
Several Clear Sky Sect elders who knew the truth cursed furiously.
"Damn Spirit Hall! Why did you have to say it? Now you're the ones who'll take the blame!"
"Exactly! Your reputation is already bad. It can't get much worse."
"Damn Tang Hao! Of all people, you had to fall for a Soul Beast! Now the whole Clear Sky Sect has to take the blame with you!"
Although the sect had Tang Chen, a level-ninety-nine Peerless Douluo known as invincible on the continent, he had vanished without a trace years ago. The Clear Sky Sect had relied on his lingering reputation and didn't believe anyone would dare come knocking to demand answers.
But the affair itself was disgraceful, and being condemned over something so shameful was miserable.
It was fair to say:
One rotten apple had spoiled the whole barrel.
Tang Hao was that rotten apple.
He had brought shame upon the entire Clear Sky Sect.
Having a Peerless Douluo in the family wasn't enough to excuse it.
Only if you yourself were a Peerless Douluo at the very peak could you love whoever you pleased. Even if your wife were a stray dog, no one would dare interfere.
Yet Tang Hao had angered his own father to death over a Soul Beast and had even been branded a traitor who had betrayed his master and ancestors.
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