Spirit Hall's prestige reached its peak in an instant.
But at the same time, another rumor began circulating quietly.
"Do you know how those monsters got out?"
"How did they get out?"
"I heard someone released them on purpose!"
"Who?! Who could be so depraved?!"
"Someone from the Clear Sky Sect! The Clear Sky Douluo!"
The rumor spread farther and farther, growing more and more outrageous.
Some said Tang Hao had colluded with monsters and wanted to destroy humanity.
Some said Tang Hao was actually a monster in disguise, who had infiltrated human society as a spy.
Others said the Clear Sky Sect had colluded with the monsters. Otherwise, why would they have hidden away in that frozen wasteland for all these years?
For a time, public outrage ran high.
"The Clear Sky Sect? Pah! The so-called number one sect under heaven is nothing but the number one den of demons!"
"The Clear Sky Douluo released monsters to kill people. How could the Clear Sky Sect not have known?"
"They have to answer for this!"
"That's right! We want answers!"
Every day, people gathered outside Spirit Hall Branches in the major cities, demanding that Spirit Hall uphold justice.
The small sects and families that had once relied on the Clear Sky Sect were even quicker to sever ties, drawing a clear line between them overnight for fear of being implicated.
Clear Sky Sect.
The council hall.
Tang Xiao sat in the seat of honor, his face grim.
Below him, several elders exchanged glances, none daring to speak first.
A stack of reports fresh from the foot of the mountain lay spread across the table. Each one described the tide of public opinion beyond their gates.
"Colluding with monsters..."
"Depraved..."
"Den of demons..."
Each glaring phrase pierced their hearts.