At those words, a sharp glint flashed through Tang Xiao's eyes.
"Dai Mubai? Why did you bring him back to the sect?"
"Big Brother, although the kid has become like this, his physical body is terrifyingly strong. His self-healing ability is practically monstrous."
Tang Hao's expression turned solemn as he said coldly, "Back then, I acted on my own. Though I forged Clear Sky Sect's great reputation, I also caused it irreparable harm."
"Now, I don't know how to atone for my sins, but at the very least, I can do what I can for Clear Sky Sect."
"I brought him back to the sect so the elders can study him."
"The Gene Serum from that world is extremely potent. If we can figure out even a little of its method for strengthening the body, it will be an enormous help to the disciples of Clear Sky Sect."
Dai Mubai was a Gene Serum test subject from that other world. He had been injected with a massive quantity of unfinished Gene Serum.
With Dai Mubai as a blueprint, they might be able to draw his blood and trace it back to the formula for that world's Gene Serum.
Even if they could only obtain an incomplete version, as long as they could ensure users would not undergo beastification like Dai Mubai, it would be an enormous aid in rapidly strengthening their forces.
Tang Xiao nodded in firm agreement.
Clear Sky Sect's inherited martial soul was the Clear Sky Hammer, which naturally possessed immense power. Most of the sect's disciples followed a pure strength-based path. If their physical bodies could rise to another level, the Clear Sky Hammer's power would multiply severalfold.
As the two spoke, a sect disciple dressed in gray came stumbling out from within the stone fortress.
The disciple's face was deathly pale. He rushed before Tang Xiao in a panic, then dropped to his knees with a thud, his voice carrying an uncontrollable sob.
"Sect Master! Something happened! Something terrible happened!"
Tang Xiao frowned, a bad feeling suddenly rising in his heart. "What are you panicking for? Get up and speak! What happened?"
The disciple trembled all over, his teeth chattering.
"An urgent message just came from the intelligence post at the foot of the mountain. The Second Elder and Third Elder who went to Suotuo City to seize the little girl named Cuihua... they..."
Tang Hao also sensed that something was wrong. He grabbed the disciple by the collar. "What happened to them?"
"The Second Elder and Third Elder died in battle!"
Boom!
The news exploded directly in Tang Xiao and Tang Hao's minds.
"How is that possible?!"
Tang Xiao could not believe it.
"They were both Title Douluo-level powerhouses. With the top-tier weapon martial soul, the Clear Sky Hammer, and Clear Sky Sect's core inheritance, they were among the strongest forces on the entire continent!"
"Even if they failed to seize that little girl, escaping should have been easy. How could they have been killed so easily?!"
The reporting disciple's voice shook. "It was Spirit Hall!"
"Our intelligence post reported that a high-ranking Spirit Hall Worshiper personally went to Suotuo City. With overwhelming force, he suppressed the war in Suotuo City, then hunted down the two elders after the battle!"
"Moreover, Spirit Hall displayed the two elders' headless corpses publicly from the gates of Spirit City!"
Tang Xiao froze where he stood.
The disbelief on his face vanished in an instant, replaced by a profound sense of helplessness.
A high-ranking Spirit Hall Worshiper?
At least a Title Douluo above Rank 95!
If so, then the deaths of the Second Elder and Third Elder made sense. Did that not mean that the Second Elder and Third Elder were already dead?
Then, an indescribably violent rage surged from his chest.
Bang!
The bluestone slabs beneath Tang Xiao's feet shattered inch by inch. His overwhelming Soul Power pressure burst out uncontrollably, forcing several lower-ranked disciples nearby to stagger back.
"Spirit Hall! You've gone too far!"
Tang Xiao threw back his head and roared, his eyes bloodshot.
Which elder of Clear Sky Sect was not a Title Douluo above Rank 90?
They were the sect's foundation and its pillars!
Now, two had been lost at once, and their corpses had been hung from the enemy's city gates for humiliation! If Clear Sky Sect could still swallow such rage, they might as well disband immediately!
Though Tang Hao was also grief-stricken upon hearing the news, he could only let out a helpless sigh.
His deep gaze rested on the Clear Sky Hammer emblem above the stone fortress.
Back then, his proposal had been to take advantage of Clear Sky Sect's peak strength, unite the seven great sects, secure the covert support of the two great empires, and wage open war against Spirit Hall.
As long as they could defeat Spirit Hall, they could divide Spirit Hall's resources and make Clear Sky Sect even stronger.
After all, Spirit Hall had already begun laying plans for certain matters at the time, gradually revealing its wolfish ambitions.
Yet everyone in Clear Sky Sect had opposed him.
For one thing, Clear Sky Sect and Spirit Hall had always stayed out of each other's affairs. They had even cooperated frequently and were not mortal enemies.
For another, rashly going to war with Spirit Hall would inevitably cost the lives of Clear Sky Sect disciples. Once a great war began, no one could guarantee that other sects would not secretly join forces and take the chance to ambush Clear Sky Sect while it fought Spirit Hall.
After all, if the seven great sects could join hands to eliminate Spirit Hall, they could also stab their allies in the back and join hands to eliminate Clear Sky Sect.
For all those reasons, Clear Sky Sect had ignored him back then, allowing him alone to face all of Spirit Hall. In the end, he was grievously wounded by Spirit Hall and became a wanted man.
That battle had also indirectly turned Clear Sky Sect into Spirit Hall's enemy, forcing Clear Sky Sect to seal off the mountain to avoid a direct conflict.
That was why things had turned out this way today.
It was precisely because of the hostile relationship between Spirit Hall and Clear Sky Sect that the high-ranking Spirit Hall Worshiper had shown no mercy in killing Clear Sky Sect's elders.
And it was precisely because of Clear Sky Sect's weakness back then that they had ended up sealing off the mountain and slowly dying as they were now.
"Big Brother, you are now the Sect Master of Clear Sky Sect. These matters are all yours to decide."
Tang Hao reached out and pressed a hand onto Tang Xiao's shoulder, calming the Soul Power aura spilling from him. He said coldly, "In my view, endlessly compromising and retreating is nothing more than waiting to die."
"Over the past decade or so, Spirit Hall has grown ever stronger, while Clear Sky Sect has gradually declined because of the mountain seal. It is no longer what it once was."
"Now, the deaths of two Title Douluo are merely the beginning."
"Today, they can kill Clear Sky Sect elders carrying out missions outside. Tomorrow, they can send an army to attack Clear Sky Sect."
"Think it over carefully and make a decision."
After speaking, Tang Hao seemed to remember something and gave another self-mocking laugh.
"I am no longer a member of Clear Sky Sect. I merely remember a trace of our old bond, so I brought Dai Mubai here, hoping to use him to strengthen Clear Sky Sect and repay a little of my sin from back then."
Tang Hao cupped his hands.
"Now that Dai Mubai has been delivered, I will take my leave."
Tang Xiao raised an arm, wanting to ask him to stay, but the words reached his lips. His mouth opened and closed, yet in the end, he could not say a single word.
What had happened back then.
It was not only Tang Hao who had wronged Clear Sky Sect. Clear Sky Sect had wronged Tang Hao as well.
Tang Xiao turned around. Just as Tang Hao had looked at the Clear Sky Hammer emblem above the stone fortress earlier, he gave it a deep look. Then, his gaze became incomparably resolute.
Back then, to preserve the sect, he had chosen to retreat again and again and announced the sealing of the mountain.
Yet all that retreat and endurance had not brought peace. Instead, it had brought Spirit Hall's ever-increasing humiliation. Back then, they had abandoned Tang Hao, Clear Sky Sect's most outstanding genius, as the price. Now, two more Title Douluo had died miserably and suffered humiliation.
Since there was no room left to retreat, they could only fight to the death!
Before you continue