"That's mine!"
Yu Xiaogang stumbled, his eyes red as he watched the token being taken away. He had the gall to say:
"What gives you the right to take my Elder Token?"
Qian Daoliu hardly knew whether to laugh or cry. After all these years, Yu Xiaogang was still this ridiculous. No wonder even Xiao Ran on the Sky Screen had called him a waste of space.
Without a disciple like Tang San, what would Yu Xiaogang amount to?
"Get lost!"
There were plenty of people he wanted to kill, but killing Yu Xiaogang would only dirty his hands.
The roar shook Yu Xiaogang so badly that he fell flat on his backside.
Flender and Liu Erlong hurried forward to help him up.
"Xiaogang, don't push yourself!"
"Xiaogang, are you all right?"
Just then!
Ning Fengzhi stepped forward. Scarlet hatred surfaced in his eyes. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had been destroyed by Spirit Hall, and he wished every last one of its people dead.
But the balance of power was against him. He suppressed his hatred, took a deep breath, and spoke calmly:
"Great Enshrined, don't forget that this is the capital of the Heaven Dou Empire. You brought the six enshrined and the Angel Legion here to slaughter people. How will you answer to the empire's citizens?"
"Spirit Hall is sacred ground in the eyes of Soul Masters. It protects the peace of the Soul Master World. If you kill even one person today, Spirit Hall's name will be dragged through the mud tomorrow."
"Who would still trust Spirit Hall? And if His Majesty Xue Ye is killed, the flames of war will spread across the Heaven Dou Empire, leaving countless people homeless. Is that what Spirit Hall wants to see?"
Qian Daoliu's brows drew together. Ning Fengzhi had struck at the heart of it. Spirit Hall had always presented itself as an upright institution. If it launched a massacre in the empire's capital, its reputation would be ruined.
He cared about that reputation. Now his hands were tied.
Suddenly, something seemed to occur to him, and he looked around Ning Fengzhi.
"Sect Master Ning, where are your Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo?"
Ning Fengzhi opened his mouth but had no answer.
Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo had always guarded Ning Fengzhi at close range. With neither of them beside him today, no excuse would hold up.
Qian Daoliu burst out laughing.
"Everyone, sorry for disturbing you tonight!"
"Angel Legion, withdraw."
Golden Crocodile turned his head and asked quietly,
"Great Enshrined, why are we withdrawing? If you can't bring yourself to give the order to kill, let me do it. I'll shoulder all the blame."
Qian Daoliu patted Golden Crocodile on the shoulder.
"Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo always guard Ning Fengzhi. If neither of them is here today, where else would they be?"
"Tang San hasn't appeared either. They must be escorting him to Sea God Island."
"They can't have gone far. I'll go after Tang San now."
"As for the six of you, take the Angel Legion to the Clear Sky Sect and wipe it out completely."
"There are a hundred thousand troops in Heaven Dou Imperial City. We can't actually kill all hundred thousand of them. Neither I nor any of you can bear the weight of that heaven-reaching bloodshed and resentment."
"Let Bibi Dong bear it..."
"Back then, for Tang Chen's sake, I left the Clear Sky Sect one last refuge. But damn it, they went on to destroy Spirit Hall in the future."
"I have no reason to do Tang Chen any favors now. Wipe out the Clear Sky Sect. Leave neither chicken nor dog alive."
Understanding dawned on Golden Crocodile, and he looked at Qian Daoliu with admiration.
"As expected, Great Enshrined, you see the whole picture. Even if we slaughtered a hundred thousand troops today, the Heaven Dou Empire could recruit another hundred thousand tomorrow."
"A thousand soldiers are easy to find; one general is hard to come by."
"Only by wiping out the Clear Sky Sect and killing its high-ranking fighters can we truly weaken them."
"I'll take our people there now and erase the sect for good."
Qian Daoliu nodded and thought to himself,
Tang Chen, don't blame me for being ruthless. Your Clear Sky Sect intends to destroy my Spirit Hall, so I have no choice but to destroy your sect first.
In no time at all, Qian Daoliu, the other six enshrined, and the entire Angel Legion had withdrawn completely from Heaven Dou City.
Everyone in Heaven Dou Imperial City breathed a sigh of relief. They felt as though they had escaped death.
His Majesty Xue Ye sank back into his chair, cold sweat beading on his forehead. That had been far too close.
"Sect Master Ning truly is resourceful. With just a few words, you drove off Spirit Hall's seven enshrined and the Angel Legion."
Hearing His Majesty Xue Ye praise Ning Fengzhi, Yu Xiaogang shot him a jealous glance.
Hmph! That's only petty cleverness. I'm the one with true wisdom. I trained a god, while Ning Fengzhi can't even break past level seventy-nine Soul Power. What a waste.
Cold sweat had soaked Ning Fengzhi's back. He staggered a few steps backward and said with a bitter smile:
"My words weren't what made them leave. Qian Daoliu noticed that Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo weren't with me. He must have guessed they were escorting my young friend Tang San to Sea God Island."
"They've gone after him. I hope fortune favors my young friend. He's the successor chosen by the Sea God. Sea God Island should send someone to rescue him. I only hope they make it in time."
Just as Ning Fengzhi suspected, Bo Saixi had already left Sea God Island with her people and was hurrying toward Douluo Continent to rescue Tang San.
Faster. I have to go faster!
Tang San is Lord Sea God's chosen successor and Tang Chen's great-grandson. If Qian Daoliu kills him, I'll have failed both Lord Sea God and Tang Chen.
Tang Chen, don't worry. I'll help Tang San complete the Sea God Nine Trials as soon as possible, so he can go to Slaughter City and use the Sea God's Light to restore your mind.
Even if your body is ruined and you can never truly become a god, you're the only one in my heart. Qian Daoliu is a servant of a god, just like me. What right does he have to become a god?
My heart belongs to you. It always has.
At that very moment, every side was racing against time, struggling to change the future they had seen.
The Clear Sky Sect!
It lay in the Clouds-Deep-Unknown Place, surrounded by sheer cliffs and connected to the outside only by iron chains. Ordinary Soul Masters could never reach it. The terrain was the sect's natural defense.
Unfortunately!
The force that had come for the Clear Sky Sect today consisted of the six enshrined other than Qian Daoliu, along with the Angel Legion, whose members could fly.
The sect's natural defenses were useless against them.
"Kill!"
A fierce battle cry suddenly rang out. The Angel Legion attacked the Clear Sky Sect, killing everyone they encountered.
"Fuck you and your ancestors, Spirit Hall!"
"This is the Clear Sky Sect! Do you really mean to wipe us all out?"
Tang Xiao's eyes were bloodshot, and he panted like an ox.
Leading the seven Titled Douluo elders from the Second Elder to the Fifth Elder, he met the six enshrined—Golden Crocodile, Azure Luan, Lion, Guang Ling, Qian Jun, and Jiang Mo—in battle.
Golden Crocodile swept his gaze over the six figures flying through the air opposite him. He clapped his hands and spoke coldly:
"Well, well, well. The Clear Sky Sect certainly lives up to its name. Even after sealing itself away, it still produced six Titled Douluo. No wonder the Sky Screen said your sect would have a hand in Spirit Hall's destruction."
"Every one of you dies today!"
"Kill them all..."
Before you continue