Before his fortune waned, Tang San could always find help in desperate straits.
Forcing a move might not yield the best result.
Since that was the case, he would dismantle Shrek first.
Flender.
Yu Xiaogang.
Liu Erlong.
Dai Mubai.
Oscar.
Ma Hongjun.
These people had supported one another alongside Tang San, ultimately allowing Shrek to grow.
As long as he severed these ties one by one, Tang San would have no one left to call upon.
Qian Daoliu looked toward Heaven Dou City.
"Keep watching."
"I want to know every person Tang San has been in contact with."
Dugu Bo bowed and accepted the order.
"Understood, Senior."
Qian Daoliu withdrew his gaze.
"We'll start with Shrek."
"I want him to watch the people around him leave, one after another."
In the inn's rear courtyard.
Qian Daoliu put away the secret letter in his hand.
Dugu Bo stood outside the courtyard wall, awaiting his instructions.
"Return to Sunset Forest first."
"Keep watching Shrek Academy."
Qian Daoliu looked toward Heaven Dou City.
"If they make any new moves, send word to me immediately."
Dugu Bo cupped his hands. "Understood, Senior."
Qian Daoliu said nothing more.
He raised his right hand, and golden soul power gathered in his palm.
A special communication seal emerged.
Bearing the sacred aura of the Six-Winged Angel, the seal passed above the inn and headed straight for the Spirit Hall Branch outside Heaven Dou City.
A short while later.
Dozens of miles away, Snake Lance Douluo She Long sensed the aura.
He was handling Spirit Hall's affairs.
The moment he saw the communication seal, he immediately set down the files in his hands.
"The Great Enshrined summons me."
Snake Lance Douluo did not delay.
He released his martial soul and turned into a black shadow, charging toward Heaven Dou City.
In less than a quarter of an hour.
Snake Lance Douluo had arrived outside the inn.
He withdrew his martial soul and strode into the courtyard.
Just as Dugu Bo was about to leave, he turned to glance at the newcomer.
Snake Lance Douluo also stopped in his tracks.
The two Titled Douluos met each other's gazes, both recognizing the other's identity.
Dugu Bo asked no further questions.
He cupped his hands toward the room where Qian Daoliu was, then rose into the air and headed for Sunset Forest.
Snake Lance Douluo approached Qian Daoliu.
He dropped to one knee.
"Great Enshrined."
Qian Daoliu looked at him.
"Rise."
Snake Lance Douluo straightened.
"May I ask what instructions you summoned me for, Great Enshrined?"
Qian Daoliu rose from beside the desk.
Qian Renxue was in the courtyard, stabilizing her rank-seventy soul power.
Golden soul power circled her body, and her Six-Winged Angel Martial Soul hovered silently behind her.
Qian Daoliu did not disturb her.
"Relay my command."
"Announce it to the world."
Snake Lance Douluo's expression turned solemn.
"Please give your instructions, Great Enshrined."
Qian Daoliu raised his eyes to look into the distance.
"Order the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, and the Clear Sky Sect to submit to Spirit Hall immediately."
Snake Lance Douluo's gaze abruptly sharpened.
"Submit?"
"Tell them they must give an answer within three days."
"Those who still fail to respond after three days will have their sects annihilated."
Those few brief sentences fell.
The courtyard immediately fell silent.
Snake Lance Douluo looked at Qian Daoliu before him, waves surging in his heart.
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo.
The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan had Yu Yuanzhen presiding over it.
Although the Clear Sky Sect had remained in seclusion for years, the brothers Tang Hao and Tang Xiao were both powerhouses long renowned across the continent.
The Great Enshrined was actually issuing an ultimatum to all three great sects at once.
If they did not surrender within three days, their sects would be annihilated.
Such an order was enough to change the situation across the entire continent.
"Great Enshrined."
Snake Lance Douluo hesitated for a moment.
"Should we inform His Holiness the Pope?"
Qian Daoliu glanced at him.
"No need."
"This is my command."
Snake Lance Douluo's heart tightened.
He immediately lowered his head.
"As you command."
"Spread the word."
"I want everyone to know that Spirit Hall no longer needs to wait."
Snake Lance Douluo bowed again.
"Yes."
He turned and left the inn.
A short while later.
Messenger soul beasts flew out from all over Heaven Dou City.
The Spirit Hall Branch also rang its bells at the same time.
A public proclamation swiftly spread across the continent.
"By order of Qian Daoliu, Great Enshrined of Spirit Hall."
"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, and the Clear Sky Sect must submit to Spirit Hall within three days."
"Those who fail to surrender by the deadline will have their sects annihilated."
The instant the news spread.
An uproar erupted inside and outside Heaven Dou City.
No one had expected Spirit Hall to move against all three great sects at this time.
Still less had anyone expected the person issuing the order to be Qian Daoliu.
That Great Enshrined of Spirit Hall who had not appeared in public for years.
The various powers dispatched their spies one after another.
Large numbers of communication soul tools operated without pause.
In just half a day.
The entire continent learned of the order.
The Clear Sky Sect.
The council hall.
Tang Xiao sat at the head.
Several Clear Sky Sect elders sat on either side.
A disciple hurried into the hall and presented the news he had just received.
Tang Xiao opened the letter.
After reading it, he placed the paper on the desk.
"Spirit Hall wants us to submit."
An elder frowned.
"Qian Daoliu is far too arrogant."
"Does he truly think Spirit Hall can already crush the entire continent beneath it?"
Tang Xiao's expression remained calm.
"Spirit Hall is indeed powerful."
"But they are not yet strong enough to destroy all three great sects at once."
"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has two Titled Douluos."
"Yu Yuanzhen of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan is no easy opponent either."
"As for the Clear Sky Sect..."
Tang Xiao raised his head.
"The Clear Sky Hammer's mighty reputation has not faded yet."
He did not take Spirit Hall's proclamation to heart.
"Tell the messenger disciple."
"The Clear Sky Sect accepts no threats."
The elder nodded.
"Then, after three days..."
Tang Xiao lifted his teacup.
"Pay it no heed."
"If Spirit Hall wants war, the Clear Sky Sect will oblige."
The elders in the hall nodded one after another.
No one believed Spirit Hall could truly strike at the Clear Sky Sect within three days.
The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
The sect's main hall.
Yu Yuanzhen sat atop the raised platform.
He, too, held a proclamation in his hand.
After Yu Yuanzhen finished reading it, the soul power in his palm gave a slight pulse.
The paper instantly disintegrated into scraps.
"Make the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan submit to Spirit Hall?"
"What does Qian Daoliu take us for?"
Yu Yuanzhen stood.
His tall, imposing frame bore a heavy pressure.
"The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's legacy stretches back thousands of years."
"Generations of our ancestors established their place on the continent through the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Martial Soul."
"We may suffer defeat, but we cannot bow our heads."
A clan elder said gravely, "Sect Master, Spirit Hall is immensely powerful now. If they truly make a move..."
Yu Yuanzhen looked out of the great hall.
"I take pride in my Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon bloodline."
"And in my clan's legacy."
"Making me submit to Spirit Hall is absolutely out of the question."
"Spread the word."
"Three days from now, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan will await Spirit Hall's challenge."
The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
The council hall.
Ning Fengzhi stood by the window.
He had already read the notice in his hand several times.
Sword Douluo Chen Xin and Bone Douluo Gu Rong sat on either side.
Neither man's expression had changed much.
Ning Fengzhi set down the letter.
"Qian Daoliu is bluffing."
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