Tang Hao can't be this stupid, right?

"Um... Grandpa Golden Crocodile."

"Why is Xue'er's mother, Bibi Dong, both the Pope's wife and the Holy Maiden?"

Lin Mo naturally knew why, but he still found it absurd and wanted to subtly remind them that there was something strange about those identities, wasn't there?

"Ahem... well..."

Golden Crocodile did not quite know how to explain it to Lin Mo either. But suddenly, as though he had thought of something, he sharply turned to look at Lin Mo.

"You brat, why are you so concerned about this?"

"Do you know something?"

Lin Mo looked at Golden Crocodile Douluo with a serious expression, shook his head, and said frankly, "I don't know. I've just always felt that Xue'er's family relationships are a little strange."

"Aunt Dong seems to dislike Xue'er, and I can tell that she really hates us."

Golden Crocodile said nothing in the end. He patted Lin Mo on the head and changed the subject.

"Tomorrow, go to the plaza in front of Offering Mountain and wait for me with Xue'er."

"I'll pick suitable soul beasts for the two of you and bring them back so you can absorb your soul rings."

Golden Crocodile Douluo leisurely left Lin Mo's room, leaving Lin Mo alone.

Lin Mo walked over to the window, gazed up at the moonlight that night, and fell into deep thought.

According to what Golden Crocodile Douluo had said, it might not be long before the major powers across the Douluo Continent sent invitations to probe the backgrounds of himself and Xue'er, the two top geniuses.

This seemed different from the original work. After all, very few people had known about Xue'er's origins in the original work, which meant this had never happened there.

There was not much time left before the original plot began—probably only a few months to a year, two years at most.

After all, Xue'er should be six or seven years older than Tang San. That meant that after Xue'er awakened her martial soul, Tang San would probably be born soon.

Judging by the timeline, a pregnancy lasted ten months.

So around this time, A Yin should have become pregnant with Tang San, while Tang Hao should have been somewhere between Rank 88 and Rank 89.

"The Clear Sky Sect should come, but the one they send should be Tang Xiao. Tang Hao probably won't come."

"Um... would Tang Hao really not come?"

As if he had thought of something, Lin Mo instantly froze where he stood.

After all, the Clear Sky Sect was currently short on talent. This visit from the major powers was both to investigate his background and to show off their own strength.

Among the younger generation of the Clear Sky Sect, Tang Xiao was probably only at the Soul Douluo level right now. As the number one figure of the younger generation, Tang Hao should logically make an appearance.

One had to know that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, the second greatest sect in the world, possessed two Title Douluo. Sword Douluo had already reached Rank 95.

Although Bone Douluo was inferior to Sword Douluo, he was still around Rank 93 or 94.

That directly threatened the Clear Sky Sect's position as the number one sect in the world.

"Grandpa Golden Crocodile said that the major sects seemed to be holding a competition too? Then the Clear Sky Sect..."

Lin Mo's expression grew increasingly strange. That old man Tang Zhen was not in very good health; otherwise, he could not have been angered to death outright in the original work.

Could they really lose their position in this competition?

That would be quite the spectacle.

The Clear Sky Sect, becoming the second greatest sect in the world?

But with Tang Hao's personality and his formidable strength, if he really came and took the field, it was not like he could not go head-to-head with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.

With the strength of a Soul Douluo, Tang Hao had the record of defeating one Super Douluo and two Title Douluo.

Still, Tang Hao should not be that foolish, right?

By this point, Tang Hao had long known that A Yin was a soul beast. And if A Yin was pregnant, then bringing her around everywhere at a time like this—

Wouldn't that be pushing her straight into a fire pit?

"Sigh, I shouldn't assume people are that stupid. At present, he's still the youngest Title Douluo. How could he possibly be that dense?"

Lin Mo shook his head, seemingly mocking his own baseless speculation. Yet something still felt off to him, because Tang Hao really did not seem all that clever.

Elsewhere, within the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, located beside Heaven Dou Imperial City within the Heaven Dou Empire, stood a grand hall decorated like an imperial palace.

A refined-looking man sat quietly in the seat of honor. Beside him, a handsome and imposing man, whose entire being resembled an unsheathed sword, drank tea with an indifferent expression.

Across from him sat a gaunt man, thin as dry bones and shrouded in black mist, staring at him without blinking.

"Hey! You old sword bastard, what are you thinking about this trip to Spirit Hall?"

"Now that the Clear Sky Sect only has Tang Zhen left among its Title Douluo, our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is fully capable of replacing them as the number one sect in the world."

"Our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's opportunity has arrived."

"Old sword bastard, don't tell me you're scared?"

"You're already Rank 95, yet you can't even beat an old bag of bones?"

The one who spoke was Bone Douluo.

Ning Fengzhi, seated in the seat of honor, said nothing more. Yet the smile across his face made it clear that he thought the same.

"Clear Sky Sect... I can handle that old fellow Tang Zhen."

"But there are others in Clear Sky Sect. Their younger generation's Tang Xiao and Tang Hao are not to be underestimated."

"Old Bones, you'd better be careful."

"Don't go losing to some youngsters."

Sword Douluo immediately shot back with sarcasm. Bone Douluo slammed his palm onto the table and rose to his feet, glaring furiously at Sword Douluo Chen Xin.

"Alright, alright, Uncle Bone, Uncle Sword, stop arguing."

"This trip to Spirit Hall truly is an opportunity for our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."

"We can both probe the strength of those two super geniuses."

"And take advantage of Clear Sky Sect's weakness to seize the position of the world's number one sect in one stroke."

Hearing this, both Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo could not help but nod in agreement.

"So, Uncle Sword, Uncle Bone, you should be even more united at a time like this. The future of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect depends on you."

Ning Fengzhi truly deserved his reputation as a shrewd man. With tears glistening in his eyes, he walked between the two Titled Douluo, took both their hands, and spoke earnestly.

"Haha, Fengzhi, your Uncle Sword and I have been fighting each other our whole lives."

"It's just a habit. It definitely won't affect the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's important affairs."

"And as for this tournament, leave it to us. There definitely won't be any problem."

Amid towering mountains shrouded in mist, a massive gate stood between two ravines like a mountain pass.

Three words were quietly carved upon it.

Clear Sky Sect!

"Big Brother, what exactly are those people from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect up to?"

"Exactly! If they just wanted to investigate our strength, then fine, but why did they propose a tournament?"

"I'd say the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect wants to take advantage of our ancestor's absence and seize our Clear Sky Sect's position as the world's number one sect in one stroke!"

"Hmph! They've gone too far. Even if our ancestor isn't here, we must show the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect that the title of the world's number one sect isn't so easy to take!"

Clear Sky Sect's main hall was in an uproar. Several elders pounded the tables, filled with righteous indignation and blazing with rage.

"So, which of you is planning to go?"

The moment Tang Zhen said this, the elders in the hall instantly fell silent. They looked at one another, unable to say a word.

After all, anyone could see the vast gap in strength between Clear Sky Sect and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. None of them believed they could defeat a Titled Douluo.

If they went, they would still lose.

What would the sect say afterward? Clear Sky Sect's reputation as the world's number one sect would be lost in their hands.

But if they did not go, they could shift the blame onto whoever did.

Tang Zhen let out a murky breath and looked at his old brothers with helplessness. These brothers of his were utterly hopeless.

"Forget it... When the time comes, I'll take Tang Xiao with me. The rest of you can stay behind and guard Clear Sky Sect."

After speaking, Tang Zhen waved his hand weakly and headed toward a side hall.

"Exactly. We should remain behind to guard Clear Sky Sect, in case other forces are watching us like tigers."

As soon as the Second Elder spoke, the others echoed him. This evasive approach was somewhat embarrassing, but it was clearly effective.