Hold the Clear Sky Sect Accountable

"Change back, damn it!"

The handsome but frail middle-aged man lying on the bed turned into a man with a crew cut—Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang!

"Ow! Not so hard! I'm still injured! I'll change back!"

After trying several appearances, he finally settled on one Bibi Dong found pleasing.

His dark hair was tied back, framing a handsome face with gentle brows and relaxed features. A hint of cunning lay hidden in his eyes.

"When you're out in public, keep this appearance."

"I'm now Spirit Hall's new elder, Delusion Douluo!"

"And my martial soul is the Delusion Angel!"

Qian Xunji summoned his new "martial soul," the Delusion Angel.

Compared with his original Six-Winged Angel, it had only two wings, and its entire body was red and pink.

"All right. I'm going to summon Spirit Hall's priests and elders to hold the Clear Sky Sect accountable. Are you coming?"

"I'm the future Pope. Of course I'm coming."

Bibi Dong answered excitedly, her eyes shining. In her countless past lives, no one had killed her more often than the Clear Sky Sect. How could she miss the chance to take revenge herself?

Papal Palace, council chamber.

Golden Crocodile, Azure Luan, Mighty Lion Douluo, Guang Ling, Qian Jun, Jiang Mo, Liu Hong—who had fallen to the Soul Douluo rank—Xiao Tian, Ming Zhong, and Yue Guan and Gui Mei, who had just reached level ninety but had yet to obtain their Spirit Rings, were all present.

Most wondered why the Pope had suddenly summoned every one of them to a meeting.

At the back, Xiao Tian and Ming Zhong were a little nervous. They had a rough idea of what was happening.

Golden Crocodile was the most puzzled. Not long ago, his elder brother had told him through a voice transmission that Tang Hao had killed the Pope. He had gone to hunt Tang Hao down himself and told Golden Crocodile to watch over Spirit Hall.

Yet only a few hours later, someone had come to announce that the Pope had called a meeting.

While everyone was still wondering what was going on, two people entered the chamber.

One was the current Saintess, Bibi Dong.

No one had seen the other before, and every gaze turned toward him.

They could sense that he was a Titled Douluo too.

Since when did Spirit Hall have another Titled Douluo?

The man was handsome, with gentle brows, but his bearing lent him an effortless, quiet authority.

To everyone's astonishment, he sat in the Pope's seat! Even Bibi Dong took only the seat beside it.

Mighty Lion Douluo, the most hot-tempered of them all, slammed the table and shot to his feet. Pointing at Qian Xunji, he unleashed a surge of violent Soul Power at him.

He was now a level ninety-six Super Douluo, still one level short of the level ninety-seven he would reach in the original story.

"Who the hell are you? How dare you sit in the Pope's seat?!"

He pointed at Bibi Dong next. "Is this pretty boy someone you brought here? Don't think being close to the Titled Douluo rank means you can challenge Spirit Hall! So what if you're talented? I could crush you with one hand!"

None of the other Titled Douluo stopped him. Shocked, furious, and confused, they too glared at Qian Xunji.

Xiao Tian and Ming Zhong had their suspicions, but could hardly believe them.

Golden Crocodile found the man's aura faintly familiar. Remembering certain secrets of the Angel family, he began to suspect the truth as well.

"Everyone, Pope Qian Xunji is dead. I am Spirit Hall's current Pope, and Bibi Dong beside me will be its future Pope."

"What?! The Pope is dead?!"

"Did you and Bibi Dong kill him?! You shameless pair!"

"What kind of Pope are you supposed to be?! Where's the Grand Priest?! Where is he? If he isn't here, I'll kill you myself!"

Mighty Lion Douluo unleashed his full power, ready to strike. But familiar Angel Soul Power met his own and held it in check.

"Haha! Fourth Uncle, didn't recognize me?!"

Laughing at the success of his prank, Qian Xunji changed back to his original appearance.

"Pope?!"

"You're alive? Then why did you say you were dead?"

"You called me here in such a hurry just to mess with me?!"

"Heh, Your Holiness, how did you change your appearance? Can I try it?"

The room erupted in chatter, questions, and teasing.

Golden Crocodile puffed out his chest and narrowed his eyes, looking rather pleased with himself, as though he had known all along.

"All right, quiet down!"

"After discussing it with the Grand Priest and the Saintess, we unanimously decided to announce that Tang Hao killed me. Saintess Bibi Dong will then succeed me as Pope."

"From now on, watch what you say. Do not let this information slip by accident!"

"Why? This will damage Spirit Hall's authority..."

The others continued to question him. Even Golden Crocodile cast him a doubtful look.

Guang Ling Douluo was the only one who raised no objection.

"Quiet! The Grand Priest and I settled this long ago. It is for Spirit Hall's grand plan for the ages. In the coming decades, Spirit Hall will rise to greatness once more! If you have objections, you can discuss them with the Grand Priest afterward. But he has already gone to hunt down Tang Hao. For now, we will hold the Clear Sky Sect accountable in my name and take our revenge!"

That silenced their objections for the moment. When they heard they were going after the Clear Sky Sect, they sprang to life.

"I've had enough of the Clear Sky Sect for years! Just because they have Tang Chen, they think they can challenge us at every turn!"

"Clear Sky Sect disciples are the most arrogant bullies out there. Even the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan isn't as bad!"

"Everyone in the Clear Sky Sect has a screw loose!"

"But what if Tang Chen retaliates?"

"Quiet!"

"For years, the Clear Sky Sect has shown no respect for Spirit Hall. Its people are arrogant, violent, and quick to shield their own. They've committed evil across the continent and earned everyone's hatred! Their heir, Tang Hao, even roamed about with a hundred-thousand-year soul beast, posing an endless threat to the continent. He injured Spirit Hall Elder Liu Hong in the process!"

"Holding them accountable is the righteous thing to do!"

"As for Tang Chen? According to reliable information, he has troubles of his own. He definitely won't appear."

With that last worry gone, everyone was eager to act. They had disliked the Clear Sky Sect for years!

"Your Holiness! When do we leave? My blade has been itching for a fight!"

"No rush. Spirit Hall upholds order across the continent. We cannot attack without warning."

"So, Xiao Tian, take the Papal Decree to the Clear Sky Sect and demand that they hand over Tang Hao at once and offer reasonable compensation! Give them three days!"

"When the time comes, the Saintess will lead us!"

"As you command!"

Clear Sky Sect.

Its current patriarch, Tang Zhong, was anxiously discussing Spirit Hall's demand for accountability over the Pope's death with the elders.

Just moments earlier, Spirit Hall Elder Xiao Tian Douluo had arrived with the Papal Decree and immediately begun berating them. They had nearly come to blows. Just as a fight was about to break out, Xiao Tian Douluo revealed shocking news: Tang Hao had killed the current Pope, Qian Xunji!

The news threw the entire Clear Sky Sect into an uproar. After they had learned the basic circumstances, Xiao Tian delivered Spirit Hall City's demands.

They were to hand over the criminal Tang Hao and his Hundred Thousand Year Soul Bone. They also had to pay five Spirit Bones over fifty thousand years old, ten between ten and fifty thousand years old, a hundred Thousand-Year Soul Bones, and ten billion Gold Soul Coins.

Setting aside the demand to hand over Tang Hao, the Clear Sky Sect could not scrape together that many Spirit Bones and Gold Soul Coins even if they sold everything they owned. They might be able to borrow the Gold Soul Coins from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, but even the combined resources of the Upper Three Sects and the Two Great Empires might not be enough to produce those Spirit Bones!

Spirit Hall meant to destroy the Clear Sky Sect!

"Damn that Tang Hao! Instead of training properly, he went out and fell in love with a Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast! Now look at the disaster he's brought upon us!"

"At least that beast sacrificed herself to Hao. That much worked out well!"

"What good does it do us? He brought this disaster upon us for the sake of a beast! Can he come back and save the sect now?!"

"Spirit Hall has gone too far! If the old sect master were still here, they'd never dare do this! Even Qian Daoliu would have to keep his head down!"

"Silence! Spirit Hall is coming after the entire Clear Sky Sect. Even without Hao's actions, they would have found another excuse."

"Then what do we do, Sect Master?"

"Only two days remain before their deadline. There's no time to ask the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, or the Two Great Empires for help. They might not help us anyway."

"Our only choice is to retreat to the refuge Father left us when he fought Qian Daoliu. We'll stay out of Spirit Hall's way for now and settle this score when Father returns!"

"But..."

"No buts! It's decided! Go organize the sect's promising disciples. They're to travel light and leave tonight! Keep it secret! And don't tell Tai Tan or the other Four Great Clans!"

"Also announce that Tang Hao has been expelled. He has nothing to do with the Clear Sky Sect!"

"Yes!"