Two Divine Beasts in Shock

Yan Shaozhe unleashed his Soul Power and flew straight toward the steepest peak. The closer he drew, the stronger its oppressive presence became. Towering and immense, it stood like a Heavenly Pillar connecting sky and earth.

At last, he reached a gentle slope. The Cloud Sea seemed to drift just above his head, close enough to touch if he raised a hand.

Yan Shaozhe tried to probe the surrounding terrain with his spiritual power, only to startle himself. Before his eyes lay a steep path climbing toward the heavens, but to his senses, everything around him was empty, as though he were suspended in midair.

"No wonder the Clear Sky Sect became a hidden sect. Almost no power on the continent could find this place. The terrain really is extraordinary."

Yan Shaozhe could not help clicking his tongue. The Tang Sect, which Tang San had founded with his own hands, had declined beyond recognition over ten thousand years and had nearly been wiped out not long ago. Yet the Clear Sky Sect, whose ties to him were not nearly as close, remained high above the world, living in seclusion. The difference was absurd.

Rather than continue climbing, Yan Shaozhe released pale golden light from deep within his body. A clear phoenix cry rang through the mountains. A phantom spread its wings behind him: a half-formed Bright Phoenix. Fine golden markings spread from its forehead across its body, and with a beat of its wings, Yan Shaozhe shot toward the clouds.

Inside Clear Sky Castle.

A middle-aged man with long blue-green hair draped over his broad shoulders sat in the seat of honor. He suddenly opened his eyes, puzzlement filling his blue-green gaze.

"Er Ming, we have a visitor. Go take a look."

Da Ming smiled faintly. He did not know whether this "visitor" was friend or foe, but barging into the Clear Sky Sect's territory like this was already rude. Sending Er Ming was just right.

"Sure thing, big brother. I'll give our guest a proper welcome."

A powerfully built middle-aged man cracked his knuckles as he answered. A faintly savage smile crossed his face, and golden light glimmered in his amber eyes.

Er Ming strode out of Clear Sky Castle, reached the edge of the cliff, and leaped into the misty Cloud Sea whose depths could not be seen.

Golden light flashed within the white Cloud Sea. White flames poured in every direction, churning the once-calm clouds into turmoil.

Damn it. I was careless.

Yan Shaozhe cursed his luck. Who would have thought a whole flock of flying Soul Beasts lurked in the Cloud Sea, including Ten-Thousand-Year Soul Beasts? He had barely flown any distance before they attacked, leaving him bogged down here.

Dodging another attack, Yan Shaozhe looked up. Even with the spiritual power of a Titled Douluo, he could barely tell up from down in this place.

Soul Power surged within him. As Yan Shaozhe used his fifth Soul Skill, white flames erupted around his body. His wings beat, and he rose sharply. He had no intention of staying entangled with them.

It was too undignified. He was here representing Shrek Academy, after all. He could not visit the Clear Sky Sect looking filthy from head to toe.

Golden flames streaked across the sky as Yan Shaozhe soared upward.

Just then, the sky shuddered, and a vast shadow fell over him.

Er Ming descended from above. Seeing Yan Shaozhe dare to use a Soul Skill right on his doorstep, his eyes darted about. He instantly changed his trajectory and aimed his right palm at the growing point of light below.

BANG!!!

A thunderous collision rang out. Yan Shaozhe's protective flames burst apart, and before he could steady himself, a mountain-like force drove him toward the ground at terrifying speed, wind howling around him.

"Ah!"

Yan Shaozhe's head was about to explode—literally. Er Ming held his entire head in a giant hand like a palm-leaf fan.

Only when they were about to hit the ground did Er Ming finally jump off him and land heavily. Yan Shaozhe managed to steady himself, stopping a hair's breadth above the ground.

"Who are you?"

Yan Shaozhe glared furiously at the burly man before him, though uncertainty gnawed at him. The Clear Sky Sect has someone this strong?

"You've got the nerve to ask me that? I'm the Clear Sky Sect's second sect master. You came here uninvited, kid. What are you plotting? Don't tell me you're invading the Clear Sky Sect."

Er Ming stared at Yan Shaozhe and curled his lip as he accused him.

"I'm the dean of Shrek Academy. Who would think of invading the Clear Sky Sect?"

Yan Shaozhe tried to calm his anger as he straightened his hair.

"The dean of Shrek Academy is this weak? I wonder if she'll be safe there."

Er Ming looked astonished. He and his big brother had stayed out of worldly affairs for years, so he knew little about Shrek Academy's current state. Instead, he worried about Wang Dong's safety there.

Yan Shaozhe said nothing more. He could sense abyssal power beneath the man's bulging muscles. And this was only the second sect master. How strong was the first? Was he a Limit Douluo like Yan Shaozhe's teacher?

"I did offend the Clear Sky Sect. Please accept my apology."

"But Lord Sea God instructed Shrek Academy to deliver this to the Clear Sky Sect. Please take me to meet the first sect master so I can explain the situation."

A smile appeared on Yan Shaozhe's face as he cupped his hands in apology, as though his anger had never existed. He then took a blue pearl from his Storage Soul Tool and spoke politely.

"Lord Sea God?"

Er Ming scratched his head. Had Tang San descended upon Shrek Academy again? Gods were not supposed to interfere lightly with the lower world, yet that fellow kept running around everywhere.

"Fine. Follow me."

Er Ming paid no further mind to what Yan Shaozhe had done. He leaped toward the summit, the ground exploding beneath his feet, and quickly vanished into the Cloud Sea.

Watching Er Ming disappear, Yan Shaozhe felt his head ache even more. Someone like that managed to reach that level? The heavens must be blind. Without saying another word, he hurried after him.

Everything went smoothly. Yan Shaozhe soon met Da Ming and explained Shrek's current situation.

"Tang San has another son?"

Even the usually composed Da Ming could not help blurting out in shock. He tried to calculate the timing, but the more he calculated, the more tangled it became. No matter how he worked it out, the dates did not match.

Xiao Qi had spent several years in the Divine Realm before coming to Douluo Continent, and she was only twelve now. But one day in the Divine Realm was one year on the continent. Only six days had passed there, so how could another six-year-old son have appeared?

"But Wulin is the name he said he'd use back then."

Er Ming scratched his head, unable to make sense of what had happened.

"Could Tang San have done something to betray Sister Xiao Wu?"

As the thought struck him, Er Ming flew into a rage. He punched out, and the air cracked with a sharp BANG.

"Don't talk nonsense. Twin Martial Souls—the Clear Sky Hammer and the Soft Bone Rabbit. That makes him even more unmistakably their child than Xiao Qi."

Da Ming shot Er Ming a glare, then turned to the dumbstruck Yan Shaozhe with a genial smile.

"My second brother's head isn't quite right. He likes talking nonsense. Please don't take any of it to heart."

Feeling the immense pressure radiating from Da Ming, Yan Shaozhe looked hard at the two of them before slowly nodding. They called him Tang San so casually. Just who were these two...?

Da Ming took the blue pearl Yan Shaozhe offered. He paused in surprise, then swiftly received the information Tang San had sent.

"Er Ming, pack your things. We're going back with Dean Yan to visit Shrek Academy. We've been allies for ten thousand years, after all."

Da Ming came back to his senses and clapped Er Ming heavily on the shoulder, his face breaking into a delighted smile.