In the silent secret chamber, Ning Fengzhi's heart could not calm down.
If things really were as he suspected, then he had to take up the stone man's mission and pass the secrets of antiquity on to people in the future.
But now the demons had already revived, and the events of ancient times had been exposed to the continent. Everyone knew about them; there was no need for him to pass the information on.
So what use was he now?
Ning Fengzhi's pupils narrowed, his thoughts tangled like a ball of thread.
After thinking for a long time, he still had no answers, and could only let out a deep sigh.
Valmont, oh, Valmont. Do you know that the demons have revived, and all of human society is facing a crisis?
If you were alive now, what would you do?
With a head full of worries, Ning Fengzhi went to sit in the chair beside him and looked at the stone man before him.
Late that night, waves of exhaustion swept over him, and he drifted into a heavy sleep.
The next day.
In the secret chamber, Ning Fengzhi once again called Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo together.
After a night of deliberation, he had made up his mind.
"I've decided to establish a force to fight the demons and protect humanity."
"What?" Sword Douluo was stunned at first. Then he looked at him. "But, Fengzhi, aren't you the Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect?"
Ning Fengzhi nodded. "But what I'm doing could bring great trouble to the sect. So I have to act in secret and make sure the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect isn't implicated. As its Sect Master, I promise to protect the sect."
Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo fell silent for a long time.
There was something they both wanted to say, but neither of them spoke.
The safest thing for Ning Fengzhi to do, of course, was nothing at all—to live in peace as Sect Master.
But they also knew that if the demons truly descended in full and ruled the world, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would not escape the disaster either.
What Ning Fengzhi wanted to do now was not only to protect the world, but also to protect the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
"Then what do you plan to do, Fengzhi? Will you use people from the sect?"
"Mm. I want to use some of the sect's Dark Squad. But although the Dark Squad is loyal and discreet, they're still lacking in strength. You've both seen how powerful the demons are. Only Titled Douluo can fight them..."
"I understand." Sword Douluo nodded and said firmly, "I'm in."
"I'm in too." Gu Rong spoke from the side, looking at Ning Fengzhi with equal resolve.
They had followed Ning Fengzhi for so long and had long since formed a deep bond with him. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect could be destroyed, but Fengzhi could not die.
"Good. Thank you, Uncle Jian. Thank you, Uncle Gu." Ning Fengzhi clasped his hands in thanks.
Having gotten the answer he wanted, he began planning the next step.
Without these two Titled Douluo joining him, he truly wouldn't have had the courage to face the demons.
The most important thing now was to gather information about the demons. What he knew was still far from enough. He needed to send spies to gather intelligence from both the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and Spirit Hall.
He couldn't overlook the other places either.
Some places were obvious suspects, like the Clear Sky Sect and the two empires, which had been passed down for thousands of years. Even Sea God Island, out in the ocean, might have records of the demons.
He would have to make contact with them too.
Once Ning Fengzhi had arranged the plan, Sword Douluo suddenly thought of something and asked, "Fengzhi, this new force we've founded needs a name, doesn't it?"
Ning Fengzhi lowered his head in thought. The demons' information and Valmont's image flashed through his mind one by one.
"Since our force is hidden in the shadows, like a hand manipulating things from behind the scenes, we might as well call it the Black Hand."
The Black Hand?
Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo's eyes lit up at the name. It certainly suited their current role.
"Then I hereby declare the Black Hand officially founded. Welcome aboard, both of you." Ning Fengzhi held out his hand, and the three clasped hands tightly.
"Don't worry, Fengzhi. These old bones of mine can still keep going." Gu Rong thumped his chest as he promised.
"Though I'm old, my sword is still sharp!" Chen Xin stroked his beard and spoke with imposing confidence.
The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
Zhong Su soared freely through the sea of lightning in the sky, enjoying the electric massage.
"Hahaha! The feeling of freedom is simply wonderful. I'm never going back to that damned place!"
"Let the world feel the power of lightning! Lightning!"
Rumble—
Atop the towering mountain, several bolts of lightning struck down, wantonly laying waste to the earth.
The ground was pitted and cratered, wreathed in wisps of black smoke. Flowers, plants, and Soul Beasts alike had all been reduced to charcoal.
Nearby, Yu Luomian and Yu Yuanzhen came upon the devastation and stared in shock. Then they looked up at the sea of lightning, their eyes filled with awe.
In the sky, Zhong Su descended with his arms crossed. His gaze was cold, and he spoke with haughty pride. "What do you two want?"
"Old Ancestor." The two cupped their hands and bowed.
Yu Luomian took out several rolls of paper. "These are the designs for the palace we're building for you. Please take a look. This is the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's population record. And this..."
Zhong Su unleashed a bolt of lightning, blasting all the papers to scraps. He said in disgust, "Don't bring me this stuff. I only need to see the palace."
"Yes!" The two hurriedly answered.
Zhong Su rode the lightning back into the sky and entered the sea of lightning, leaving behind only a single sentence.
"From this day on, this place is no longer the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. It is Thunder City."
His domineering voice swept through the sky. Below, the two men turned pale.
He actually meant to strip them of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon name!
"How can this be?" Yu Yuanzhen said in shock.
But as soon as the words left his mouth, a bolt of lightning struck him, knocking him heavily to the ground.
"Impudent commoner! Do that again, and I'll punish you with the thunder!" A cold warning rang out from the sea of lightning.
Yu Yuanzhen clutched his chest and dared not speak again.
So strong. The gap between their strength was enormous.
He clenched his teeth in resentment.
Beside him, Yu Luomian helped him up, and the two left the mountain peak.
On the way down, Yu Luomian sighed.
"Ugh! We'd better think about how to tell the clan that its name has changed!"
A clan's name was its emblem and the pride of everyone in it. If they announced the name change, who knew what kind of uproar it would cause?
But they had no choice. It was the demon's order.
Ugh!
Yu Yuanzhen regretted releasing Zhong Su once again. He hadn't grown any stronger, and now the clan was being forced to change its name. He was a sinner to the clan!
And at a time when the clan was facing such a crisis, his so-called Clan Trial could not help him in the slightest.
In his mind, the third Clan Trial had already been activated. Its objective was—serve the demon.
When he saw the objective, he was instantly stunned. It didn't even say how far he had to go in serving him!
Even if he had to endure humiliation, there should at least be a time limit.
Yu Yuanzhen was utterly devastated. He couldn't tell whether their Old Ancestor had come to help him or harm him. Wasn't he supposed to bring glory to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan?
Now they'd even lost the clan's name. What the hell was there to be proud of?
Shendu knew nothing of his worries and had never paid them any attention.
Ever since Zhong Su was released, Yu Yuanzhen had lost his usefulness. Shendu was now talking with Hsi Wu across from him.
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