Pompous and Grand, Worse Than Beasts

"Just now, I saw eight six-year-old children. Their attire seemed to be for the celebration?"

Dai Tianfeng frowned slightly, a trace of surprise in his tone.

"Alas, the stronger the martial soul, the harder it is to produce offspring. This year, our Clear Sky Sect only has eight children eligible for awakening."

Tang Zhen sighed, his tone heavy with helplessness.

As a major sect, it needed not only the foundation to suppress all rivals, but also a steady stream of disciples.

Once there was a gap between generations, the sect would not be far from destruction.

"Sect Master Tang, has Spirit Hall caused you any trouble?"

Xue Ye lowered his voice and asked the question everyone wanted answered.

"Hmph! The people of Spirit Hall are nothing but cowards!"

"They told Tang Hao to break his own hands and feet within five days and go to Spirit City to apologize?"

"It has already been seven days. Did Tang Hao go?"

"No!"

"Has Spirit Hall made any move?"

"No!"

Tang Zhen smiled disdainfully, his face full of mockery.

Spirit Hall was nothing more than a bunch of impotent ranters, not even worth as much as an ant by the roadside!

Hearing this, everyone exchanged glances and said nothing further.

Although Tang Zhen's words were extremely arrogant, Spirit Hall truly only knew how to talk big, which also confirmed that they were all bark and no bite.

"Gentlemen, let us not talk about that unlucky thing anymore."

Tang Zhen pointed toward the rear courtyard. "The celebration is about to begin. Let's go outside and watch the opening ceremony first!"

"We shall follow the host's arrangements!"

"Sect Master Tang, after you!"

"Please, everyone!"

Tang Zhen stood up first, and everyone followed behind him.

Led by Tang Zhen, the group arrived at the rear courtyard of the Clear Sky Sect.

A lavishly decorated red ceremonial platform had been set up there, with several red crossbeams suspended above it.

A large red embroidered ball hung at the junction of the beams, making the scene especially festive.

"Sect Master Tang, what is your opening ceremony?"

Yu Yuanzhen asked curiously.

"If the youth are strong, then the sect is strong! Naturally, the opening ceremony is a martial soul awakening!"

Tang Zhen smiled slightly, his tone carrying a hint of solemnity.

"So that's how it is. No wonder I saw those eight children dressed in formal attire."

Dai Tianfeng nodded.

"In that case, why not let us feast our eyes on the next generation of your esteemed sect?"

Ning Fengzhi stared intently at Tang Zhen.

"The time is about right, but some guests have yet to arrive. The Speed Clan is still not here."

Tang Zhen hesitated, clearly unwilling to start the celebration early.

"Sect Master Tang, you are mistaken there."

Yu Yuanzhen said with a disdainful expression, "All of us are here. What status do they have that we should wait for them?"

"That makes sense. Then let us begin early!"

Tang Zhen nodded and beckoned to a disciple in the distance.

The disciple hurried over, looking at Tang Zhen with a face full of admiration.

"Sect Master, what do you need me to do?"

"Inform the First Elder to begin the opening ceremony at once!"

Tang Zhen said in a deep voice.

"Understood!"

The disciple immediately turned and left.

"Everyone, please wait a moment!"

Tang Zhen said with a smile.

"Of course."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

Less than three minutes later, a voice infused with Soul Power rang out from the summit of the Clear Sky Sect.

"The opening ceremony for the 444th anniversary celebration of the Clear Sky Sect is about to begin. All honored guests, please proceed to the rear courtyard!"

The many guests, along with someone who had activated Return to Nothingness and brought along a group of underlings, also arrived at the Clear Sky Sect's rear courtyard.

Tang Zhong, the First Elder of the Clear Sky Sect, strode quickly onto the ceremonial platform.

Eight young children followed behind him. Though still very young, they carried an air of liveliness.

Tang Zhong deftly placed six round black stones on the ground, while holding a blue crystal ball in his right hand.

"Come forward in order, just as you normally do during cultivation."

As soon as he finished speaking, a powerful wave of Soul Power suddenly erupted from Tang Zhong's body, filling everyone present with awe.

A huge pitch-black hammer appeared in his hand, radiating a chilling pressure.

Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black, black—nine soul rings shone brilliantly as they slowly revolved around Tang Zhong.

As a Titled Douluo, there was naturally no need for him to summon the Clear Sky Hammer just to awaken the martial souls of a few children.

But...

"As expected of the Clear Sky Sect! Even the person responsible for awakenings is a Titled Douluo!"

"I heard that the Clear Sky Sect has seven elders. Half of them are Titled Douluo, while the rest are peak Soul Douluo."

"Too powerful! This is the foundation of the number one sect in the world!"

Everyone discussed it in low voices, their eyes filled with awe and envy.

Clearly, Tang Zhong had done this purely to show off!

Or perhaps to establish his authority, so the sects large and small attending the ceremony would understand the Clear Sky Sect's strength!

"Tang Guan, step into the space between those six stones."

Tang Zhong pointed at the black stones.

Tang Guan nodded and quickly walked inside.

With a light gesture from Tang Zhong, six streams of Soul Power flowed into the black stones on the ground.

In an instant, six pale golden beams of light burst forth from the stones, forming a pale golden barrier that enveloped Tang Guan.

"Hold out your right hand!"

Tang Zhong said solemnly.

"Okay!"

Tang Guan instinctively held out his right hand, his eyes filled with nervousness and anticipation.

All the points of light surged forward, and a small black hammer appeared in his palm.

"Very good. It is the Clear Sky Hammer. Now let's test your Soul Power!"

Tang Zhong took out the crystal ball and handed it to Tang Guan.

Tang Guan pressed his palm against it, and the crystal ball immediately shone with an intense light, illuminating the entire ceremonial platform.

"Tang Guan, martial soul: Clear Sky Hammer. Innate Soul Power: level 7.5!"

Tang Zhong nodded in satisfaction, motioning for Tang Guan to step aside before awakening the other children.

"Tang Mian, martial soul: Clear Sky Hammer. Innate Soul Power: level 8!"

"Tang Tang, martial soul: Clear Sky Hammer. Innate Soul Power: level 7!"

"Tang Huang, martial soul: Clear Sky Hammer. Innate Soul Power: level 8!"

"Tang Qin, martial soul: Clear Sky Hammer. Innate Soul Power: level 9!"

"Tang Shou, martial soul: Clear Sky Hammer. Innate Soul Power: level 8.5!"

"Tang Bu, martial soul: Clear Sky Hammer. Innate Soul Power: level 6!"

"Tang Ru, martial soul: Clear Sky Hammer. Innate Soul Power: level 7.5!"

"Good, good, good! One with level 9 Innate Soul Power, and three with level 8 Innate Soul Power. Naming them myself was not in vain!"

Tang Zhen beamed, satisfaction gleaming in his eyes.

"The names of these eight children, taken together, are Guan, Mian, Tang, Huang, Qin, Shou, Bu, and Ru!"

"Sect Master Tang, your naming is truly inspired, with profound meaning!"

Ning Fengzhi's tone carried a hint of admiration.

"Congratulations, Sect Master Tang. May your sect flourish for generations to come!"

Yu Yuanzhen said this aloud, but no one knew what he was truly thinking.

"The next generation of the soul master world will also have to follow the Clear Sky Sect's lead."

As emperor, Dai Tianfeng naturally would not reveal his true thoughts.

After all, none of them wanted another powerful force to emerge after Spirit Hall weakened.