Clear Sky Sect

Three hundred miles east of Heaven Dou City lay a series of precipitous peaks, each connected to the next by countless thick iron chains.

Atop the tallest and most treacherous peak sat rows of buildings; this was the location of the reclusive Clear Sky Sect.

Inside the sect, Sect Master Tang Xiao sat in his seat, staring at the latest news in the newspaper, momentarily at a loss for words.

Martial Soul Hall had seized the Heaven Dou Empire overnight and established the Spirit Hall Empire... even a novel wouldn't be written like this.

And wasn't Qian Daoliu supposed to abstain from worldly affairs? Why had he suddenly changed his temperament and taken down the Heaven Dou Empire?

Would they not revisit old grievances in a few days and finish off the Clear Sky Sect as well?!

With Tang Chen no longer guarding the sect, only he, Tang Xiao, remained to struggle on, and no one knew where Tang Hao had gone.

If Martial Soul Hall truly came for them, the fate of the Clear Sky Sect would be nothing but annihilation.

"It's all that unfilial Tang Hao's fault! His obsession with a Blue Silver Grass has forced our Clear Sky Sect to live with our tails between our legs!"

Tang Lie, the Seventh Elder of the Clear Sky Sect, roared. If not for Tang Xiao, he would have killed Tang Hao himself to remove the scourge from the sect.

Tang Xiao looked at the hysterical Tang Lie and sighed helplessly.

As Tang Hao's older brother, he could not bring himself to strike him. Furthermore, he had once loved Ah Yin as well; if he were to execute Tang Hao over this matter, it would be a grave injustice to her.

"Enough, Seventh Elder, say no more. What we should be discussing now is what our sect will do if Martial Soul Hall attacks. That is far more important than one Tang Hao."

Tang Lie snorted, still somewhat angry, but the survival of the sect was a major issue, and Tang Hao's affairs could wait for another day.

(Note: The following Clear Sky Sect characters will be based on their manga counterparts.)

Grand Elder Tang Ming nodded, stroking his white beard as he spoke.

"Indeed, Martial Soul Hall is the greatest threat to our Clear Sky Sect. Now that the Heaven Dou Empire has become the Spirit Hall Empire, we must make a decision regarding our survival."

"How about I go to Heaven Dou City to test the waters?"

Second Elder Tang Qingqing, the fastest among the elders, proposed her idea.

Tang Xiao felt it was a good plan. He decided to send someone to gather intelligence first, observe their attitude, and then make further plans.

"Then let it be done according to the Second Elder's suggestion."

The once-magnificent palace of Heaven Dou City had become desolate, with dried bloodstains still visible on some of the stones.

In the king's bedchamber, Golden Crocodile Douluo lazily rose from the bed.

He rubbed his eyes, preparing to enjoy another wonderful day.

In the Worship Hall, he had been constrained by Qian Daoliu, rising earlier than the roosters and sleeping later than the dogs, with his only task being to pray to the Angel God.

He had had no freedom at all. But now, he had been appointed as the temporary king of the Spirit Hall Empire, no longer under Qian Daoliu's thumb, free to do whatever he pleased.

In just these few days, he had visited every tavern in the city, enjoying all the beauties and fine wine he could desire.

No wonder so many people wanted to be emperor; this was truly exhilarating, ha ha!

Outside the room, Tang Qingqing pressed against the window, listening to the movement inside. It sounded as if the occupant had woken up.

Creak.

The door opened, and the figure of Qian Daoliu appeared before Golden Crocodile Douluo. At the sight of him, Golden Crocodile Douluo's heart trembled.

Truly, one fears what one expects.

"Big Brother, what are you doing here?"

Qian Daoliu looked at the disheveled Golden Crocodile Douluo and sighed helplessly, stepping forward to pat his shoulder.

"Golden Crocodile, you've been living a bit too freely these past few days. I've even heard about your tavern visits all the way back at Martial Soul Hall."

"Ha ha, Big Brother truly has ears everywhere; nothing can be hidden from you."

Golden Crocodile Douluo said, forcing a smile.

Seeing Golden Crocodile Douluo in this state, Qian Daoliu didn't know what to say.

"Enough, don't try to fool me. Golden Crocodile, I haven't come to punish you this time; I have another purpose."

Hearing this, Golden Crocodile Douluo let out a long sigh of relief.

So he had come for something else; he had worried for nothing.

"Then Big Brother, what is your business?"

"You must know that our sudden seizure of the Heaven Dou Empire to establish the Spirit Hall Empire has met with resistance from many factions. They call us bandits and want to drive us out of the Heaven Dou Empire. There are also some sects and clans that were once at odds with us who have united to boycott the Spirit Hall Empire. You know what must be done, Golden Crocodile."

Golden Crocodile Douluo nodded upon hearing this and said confidently.

"Rest assured, Grand Elder, I will certainly finish the job cleanly and leave no trace behind."

Outside the room, Tang Qingqing was startled. Were the sects "at odds" with them not the Clear Sky Sect?

It seemed that before long, she would be meeting Golden Crocodile Douluo at the Clear Sky Sect.

After hearing Tang Qingqing's report, Tang Xiao and the others remained silent. They had not expected that Martial Soul Hall would actually move against the Clear Sky Sect.

This violated the agreement between Tang Chen and Qian Daoliu!

"Damn the Martial Soul Hall! Why don't we strike first and catch them off guard?"

Tang Lie slammed his hand against the table and shouted.

"Absolutely not. Tang Lie, our Clear Sky Sect only has three Titled Douluo including myself, while the Martial Soul Hall has many. Even if we strike first, we cannot defeat them."

Tang Ming stroked his beard, refuting Tang Lie's whimsical idea.

If it were the Clear Sky Sect from over a decade later, they might be able to contend with the Martial Soul Hall, but for now, it was out of the question.

"Great Elder, then what do you suggest we do?"

"In my opinion, we should use internal erosion. If we place our people within their ranks, we can dismantle them from the inside and win without a fight."

Hearing Tang Ming's words, the others looked as if they had discovered a new world; this strategy was the lifeline of their Clear Sky Sect!

"Second Elder, please go and confirm once more which positions are vacant within the Spirit Hall Empire."

Tang Qingqing nodded and headed toward Heaven Dou City once again.

Qian Daoliu and Golden Crocodile Douluo were wandering aimlessly through the halls of the imperial palace.

It had to be said that the aesthetic of the Heaven Dou Imperial Palace was quite good; there were structures worth admiring everywhere.

They had been too busy killing people a few days ago to notice the scenery, but this time, they could finally settle down and take a look.

"Golden Crocodile, although this palace is large, it feels too desolate. We haven't run into a single person for ages."

Qian Daoliu sighed. It was far more desolate than the Martial Soul Hall; those who knew would recognize this as an imperial palace, but those who didn't might mistake it for a dead city.

Golden Crocodile Douluo nodded in agreement.

"Indeed. Big Brother, we killed all the nobles within the palace and didn't even spare their direct relatives, which is why it's so desolate. Therefore, I plan to recruit some people to sweep the floors and clean the toilets in the palace so that it won't be so empty."

Qian Daoliu nodded upon hearing this; recruiting caretakers was a good idea.

Tang Qingqing stood on the roof and nodded earnestly; so, the Martial Soul Hall was looking to recruit caretakers to sweep the streets and clean the toilets.

A gust of wind blew by. Qian Daoliu looked up and, finding no one there, scratched his head in confusion.

How strange. He kept feeling like a pair of eyes was watching him. Could it be that he had been so angered by Qian Renxue these past few days that he was suffering from nervous exhaustion?