Always Stay on Guard

That's why the Tang Sect was able to grow and recruit tens of thousands of disciples, while the Clear Sky Sect could only manage a few hundred at most.

A small population means a low margin for error and limited development potential.

This is the first limitation of the Clear Sky Sect: its lineage is too narrow.

Another issue is that the Clear Sky Sect's attack methods are too simplistic; they just swing hammers all the time. They are incredibly powerful in close combat, but completely helpless at long range.

When facing a ranged attack-type Soul Master, such as Control System or Support System, they can unleash their skills from a distance. What's the use of having a powerful hammer if you can't reach them?

Of course, disciples of the Clear Sky Sect generally possess Soul Skill such as teleportation, which allow them to quickly close the distance with their enemies.

But what if you encounter one that's exceptionally fast?

Or what if you encounter a large-scale attack?

Before you even got close, you were blasted to smithereens.

Furthermore, while the Clear Sky Hammer Clear Sky Hammer Martial Soul is powerful, not everyone who possesses it can become a master.

The Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer eighty-one strikes; how many people can master it to perfection? Most people can only manage thirty or forty strikes at most.

Without sufficient talent, even if you swing a hammer like a pro, it won't make a difference.

This is why the Clear Sky Sect has produced geniuses generation after generation, but very few can truly reach the top.

In ten thousand years, there will only be one Tang Chen and one Tang San.

The most important thing is that it's been ten thousand years, and the martial arts of the Clear Sky Sect are still the same few things, without any innovation.

The Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer is still the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer as before, and the Clear Sky Body Protection is still the same Clear Sky Body Protection as before; there isn't even an improved version.

Look at other sects. Even the most closed-off sects or forces will keep up with the times. Even the most conservative forces like the Tang Sect have started to come into contact with Soul Tool to some extent.

The Clear Sky Sect, on the other hand, clung to their hammer, acting as if they were the best in the world and didn't need to change.

But times have changed, sir.

This is the era of Soul Tool. If someone sets up a level nine Soul Guidance Cannon, no matter how powerful your Clear Sky Hammer is, how many shots can it withstand?

Clinging to outdated methods will inevitably lead to being left behind by the times.

Of course, even a starved camel is bigger than a horse.

Even if the martial arts of the Clear Sky Sect are outdated, their foundation is still there.

Especially in close-range combat, its burst damage is absolutely top-tier on the continent.

If someone from the Clear Sky Sect gets close, basically no one of the same level can withstand it.

Furthermore, the Clear Sky Hammer has a hidden attribute: it counters all Evil Soul Master.

Because the Clear Sky Hammer is an extremely powerful and yang Martial Soul, it has a natural suppressive effect on evil spirits.

The Evil Soul Master of the Holy Spirit Cult lose half their fighting power when they encounter the Clear Sky Hammer.

This is why it's said that the Clear Sky Sect was one of Tang San's trump cards left for Huo Yuhao.

When it comes to fighting the Holy Spirit Cult, the people of the Clear Sky Sect are more useful than anyone else.

In general, the martial arts of the Clear Sky Sect have both obvious advantages and disadvantages.

Its advantages are strong explosive power, invincibility in close combat, solid foundation, and ability to suppress evil spirits.

The downsides are a narrow range of applications, a limited range of attacks, a high reliance on talent, and a lack of innovation.

Like a heavy hammer, it has tremendous power, but it is not flexible enough and has limited applicability.

As for whether this hammer would still be effective in the era of the Peerless Tang Clan, we'll have to wait until the Clear Sky Sect truly makes a comeback to find out.

Anyway, it seems a bit outdated right now.

If you spend ten thousand years working in isolation, how can you avoid falling behind?

Shrek Academy, Female Dormitory.

Xiao Xiao sat on the bed with her knees drawn up to her chest, watching with great interest.

"Wow, there's so much more to the Clear Sky Hammer than I thought..."

She only knew that the Clear Sky Hammer was very powerful and a top-tier Weapon Martial Soul, but she never imagined it had so many intricacies.

"But then again, it seems like there's nothing else to do besides swinging a hammer."

Xiao Xiao pouted. "Isn't the attack method too one-dimensional?"

She possesses Twin Martial Souls: the Three-Life Soul-Suppressing Cauldron- Nine-Phoenix Ceremonial Flute, one for control and the other for support, resulting in a diverse range of attack methods.

She couldn't stand swinging a hammer every day.

"And only those with the Tang Family bloodline can learn it, that's too exclusive."

Xiao Xiao shook her head. "No wonder it hasn't developed."

Unlike Shrek Academy, which embraces all kinds of talents and has all sorts of Martial Soul souls.

Then look at the Clear Sky Sect, they just stay in their own little corner of the world, spending their whole lives with their hammers.

"But speaking of which, the Clear Sky Hammer seems quite powerful against Evil Soul Master?"

Xiao Xiao's eyes lit up. "Then if we encounter people from the Holy Spirit Cult in the future, we can just call out the people from the Clear Sky Sect, right?"

One hit and one kill, so convenient.

Xiao Xiao was happily thinking about it, without considering whether Clear Sky Sect was willing to come out.

They've been hiding for ten thousand years; do you think you can just shout it out like that?

However, with Huo Yuhao around, anything is possible.

Xiao Xiao rolled over and continued reading.

Having said all that, let's finally discuss the most crucial question:

What role does the Clear Sky Sect play in Tang San's grand, long-term scheme?

Is it simply a family legacy? A hidden trump card? Or does it serve a deeper purpose?

Its most superficial function is inheritance.

This is easy to understand. Tang San ascended to the Divine Realm, so the Tang Family still needs to leave some bloodline in the Douluo Continent, right? Someone has to guard their ancestral home, right?

The Clear Sky Sect is the root of the Tang Family in the Douluo Continent and the carrier of the Tang Family's bloodline.

As long as the Clear Sky Sect exists, the Tang Family's lineage will never be broken.

A slightly deeper level involves keeping it as a trump card; the Tang Sect is in the open, while the Clear Sky Sect is in the shadows.

The Tang Sect is responsible for developing its influence, cultivating talent, and drawing enemy fire, while the Clear Sky Sect is responsible for accumulating strength, concealing its power, and providing backup in critical moments.

It doesn't matter if the Tang Sect falls, there's still the Clear Sky Sect; it doesn't matter if the overt power is gone, there are still hidden trump cards.

Double insurance, very reliable.

Going a step further, it's about building a talent pool.

What are the Clear Sky Sect doing hiding in the mountains? Are they really just loafing around waiting to die?

It's probably not that simple.

Over the course of ten thousand years, the Clear Sky Sect has accumulated not only resources and wealth, but also talent.

Generation after generation of talented disciples have devoted themselves to cultivation within the sect, avoiding involvement in external conflicts and focusing solely on improving their strength.

These people are usually quiet, but if they were released, they would be a terrifying force.

It's like Tang San has hidden a special forces unit in the Douluo Continent, which can be mobilized at any time when needed.

A deeper reason is the alternatives for the Godhood Inheritance.

There are many Godhood in the Divine Realm. As God King and the enforcer of the Divine Realm, Tang San needs to have his own legion to compete with other God King.

So where did his team come from? Didn't they come from the Douluo Continent?

Those Godhood can't remain vacant forever, can they?

The direct descendants of the Clear Sky Sect are all undoubtedly talented, and it wouldn't be difficult to pick out one or two with the potential to become gods from among them.

Another layer of insurance is to prevent problems from happening to Huo Yuhao and the Sea God Inheritance from failing. It's okay, there are still people from the Clear Sky Sect.

The deepest layer is checks and balances.

Whom are they checking and balancing?

To check and balance Huo Yuhao!

That's right, it's to check and balance Tang San's chosen successor.