Kong Deming Enters the World, Clear Sky Sect's Reaction

By the time Jing Hongchen and Xu Taiwang returned to their lodgings, night had already fallen deep.

The two remained silent throughout the journey.

What had happened in the Sea God Pavilion's main hall was too shocking, like a colossal boulder weighing heavily upon their hearts.

Only after entering the inner chamber and dismissing their attendants did Jing Hongchen slowly exhale a breath of stale air.

"Uncle Wang, what do you make of today's events?"

Jing Hongchen spoke, his voice somewhat deeper than usual.

Xu Taiwang did not answer at once.

He walked over to the table, poured himself a cup of cold tea, and drained it in one gulp before slowly speaking.

"Shrek does not intend to make enemies of us this time. It intends to bring the entire continent under its control.

If our Sun Moon Empire refuses to join this game, we will only be shut out of the continent's future order.

But if we join, we must step onto their stage and abide by the rules they set."

"Exactly. That is why I said little in the hall today.

This matter is far too significant. I alone have no authority to decide it."

As Jing Hongchen spoke, he took a silver-white soul tool communicator from his sleeve.

It was only palm-sized, its surface covered in dense, spiderweb-like patterns. It was Illustrious Virtue Hall's highest-grade long-distance communication device.

Its production cost was exorbitant, and every activation caused irreversible wear.

Unless something earthshaking occurred, it would never be used lightly.

"Uncle Wang, stand guard for me," Jing Hongchen said gravely.

Xu Taiwang nodded and shut the door behind him.

He stood at the entrance, slowly releasing Soul Power to envelop the entire inner chamber.

The room instantly fell silent, leaving only the faint hum of the soul tool communicator in operation.

Jing Hongchen activated it with Soul Power, and silver light immediately blazed from the communicator.

"Connect me to the Worship Hall," he instructed quietly.

A moment later, a soft voice came from the communicator.

It was not Kong Deming, but the old servant who had attended him for many years.

"Hall Master Jing? Elder Kong is currently focused on research in the laboratory and cannot take a call."

Jing Hongchen frowned slightly. "Connect me to Elder Kong immediately. This is urgent and cannot be delayed for even a moment.

Tell him I have a matter of utmost importance to report."

The old servant hesitated briefly, but ultimately did not dare delay. He answered in a low voice, "Please wait."

Silence fell on the other end of the communicator.

After a long while, an aged yet steady voice slowly sounded.

"What is it?"

There were no pleasantries, no preamble.

Jing Hongchen understood Kong Deming's temperament and did not dare waste time. He said directly:

"Elder Kong, Shrek gathered the various powers of the continent for discussion today.

Mu En publicly announced the official dissolution of Shrek's Inquisitorial Legion and the establishment of a new force called the Firmament Tribunal."

The communicator fell completely silent.

Jing Hongchen continued his grave report. "The Tribunal will have Shrek, Illustrious Virtue Hall, the Body Sect, and the Clear Sky Sect as its four Core Sects, with the headquarters rotating every five years.

Those serving within it may not concurrently hold positions of real authority in their original factions.

Each of the Four Core Sects will provide three members, while the Outer Pavilion elders will select nine, for a total of twenty-one Arbitration Seats.

Most importantly, the Firmament Tribunal's first major undertaking after its establishment will be to take full responsibility for the martial soul awakening of all children of appropriate age across the continent."

He finished in one breath, every word clear and every sentence solemn.

"Elder Kong, this matter has long exceeded the scope of what I can decide. This disciple does not dare act on his own authority."

The other end of the communicator remained silent for a long time.

Amid the stillness, Jing Hongchen could even clearly hear his own heartbeat.

After a long while, Kong Deming's voice slowly came through.

"Repeat the detailed regulations once more."

Jing Hongchen did not dare neglect the request. He once again recounted every provision in detail—the regulations concerning the four Core Sects, the allocation of Arbitration Council seats, Sea God Pavilion's one-vote veto power, and the prohibition against holding concurrent authority.

The silence from the other end of the communicator was even longer than before.

After some time, Kong Deming let out a soft sigh.

"I had thought the Taotie Douluo merely wanted to pave the way for his disciple. I did not expect him to lay out such a world-shaking plan."

His tone remained calm, yet a faint sharpness lay hidden within it.

"If this succeeds, the martial soul landscape and the order of power across the entire continent will be completely rewritten.

If Illustrious Virtue Hall remains uninvolved, it will forever be relegated beneath Shrek.

I must personally make a trip to this Firmament Tribunal."

The heart Jing Hongchen had been holding in suspense finally began to settle.

"Elder Kong, this disciple has one more matter to report.

Illustrious Virtue Hall has already secured one of the four Core Sect seats, but the nine Outer Pavilion seats must not be lost either.

This disciple believes Starry Sky Douluo can contend for an Arbitration Seat in the name of the Sun Moon Empire's Worship Hall.

With his strength and seniority, he is more than qualified."

"Ye Yulin."

Kong Deming softly repeated the name, then made his decision at once.

"I will bring him with me."

"Elder Kong, Sea God Pavilion has set a seven-day deadline..."

"There is no need for seven days," Kong Deming interrupted calmly.

"I can reach Shrek City within five days. You and Xu Taiwang need only wait."

As his words fell, the spiritual light of the communicator went out, and it fell utterly silent.

Jing Hongchen held the slightly cool communicator and slowly closed his eyes. Only after a long time did he let out a long breath of stale air.

"How did it go?"

Xu Taiwang pushed open the door and entered, his expression carrying a trace of tension.

"Elder Kong agreed," Jing Hongchen said gravely as he opened his eyes. "He will emerge from seclusion personally, and Ye Yulin will come as well."

Xu Taiwang's pupils contracted slightly before he nodded solemnly.

"With Elder Kong overseeing things, our Sun Moon Empire has a chance in this contest."

The Clear Sky Sect First Elder's message was sent out at night.

He had not used Sea God Pavilion's communication channels, nor had he entrusted the task to anyone else.

He had written the message talisman himself, sealing it with the unique insignia of a Clear Sky Sect core elder. Once the wax seal was stamped, it could no longer be altered.

The letter contained only a few lines, yet every word carried the weight of a thousand jun.

"Shrek has established the Firmament Tribunal. Of the four Core Sects, our sect cannot be absent.

This concerns the survival of the sect. I ask the Sect Master to decide personally."

The messenger carried the talisman letter out of the city beneath the cover of night, never stopping along the way.

The mountain gate of the Clear Sky Sect stood unchanged through the ages.

Deep within the clouds and mist, several stone halls had been built against the mountainside. They were plain and unadorned, yet possessed an aura as deep and vast as an abyssal sea.

Niu Tian and Tai Tan stood side by side at the edge of the highest training ground.

One stood with his hands behind his back, while the other folded his arms across his chest.

Mountain winds roared up from the deep valley, making their robes snap violently.

"Eldest Brother, the First Elder has sent a letter." Tai Tan handed over the already-opened message talisman.

Niu Tian took it, and after merely glancing over it, his brows furrowed.

"The Firmament Tribunal." He repeated the name quietly.

Tai Tan said, "Shrek has made quite a move.

Four Core Sects: Shrek, Illustrious Virtue Hall, the Body Sect, and the Clear Sky Sect.

They are clearly trying to drag our Clear Sky Sect out of seclusion and make us shoulder this burden together."

Niu Tian did not speak, his gaze still fixed on those few lines.

"The First Elder also sent word that his status is insufficient and he cannot hold that seat.

Among the four Core Sects, someone at the sect master level must appear.

Otherwise, even if the Clear Sky Sect goes, we can only stand outside and watch."

"At least he knows his place." Niu Tian gently set down the message talisman and looked toward the distant sea of rolling clouds.

Tai Tan waited for a while. Seeing that Niu Tian still did not speak, he could not help asking, "Eldest Brother, what do you say?"