After presenting the Clear Sky Sect's token, the two successfully entered the residence of the Strength Clan.
There weren't many people in the Strength Clan's mansion at this time. After passing through the somewhat empty courtyard, they arrived at the reception hall, where they were greeted by Tai Nuo, the son of the clan chief Tai Tan.
"Young Sect Master, Seventh Elder, you two have finally returned!" Tai Nuo recognized the two at a glance, excitedly stepped forward, and bowed deeply in respect.
Tai Nuo noticed that although Tang Feng had become thinner, the oppressive aura emanating from him was far greater than before, and he couldn't help but marvel at it inwardly.
"Uncle Tai Nuo, please rise, no need for such formalities." Tang Feng gestured for him to get up. "Where are the other four clan leaders now?"
"The four clan leaders have already set off for Cloud Mist Mountain," Tai Nuo straightened up and replied with a smile. "The new sect headquarters there is basically completed, and the members of the four clans have been moving there one after another. Now, only one or two out of ten remain in Heaven Dou City."
"Oh?" Tang Lie stroked his beard and smiled, a hint of approval flashing in his eyes. "So fast! The Defense Clan's construction skills are indeed well-deserved. It seems the sect's return to the Soul Master World is just around the corner."
Tang Feng nodded slightly, then asked, "Uncle Tai Nuo, when we entered the city just now, I saw that the crowds were several times denser than before. Has something major happened?"
"Hahaha!" Tai Nuo laughed loudly, slapping his thigh. "Young Sect Master, you don't know, the preliminary rounds of the Continental Advanced Soul Master Tournament just ended not long ago. For the past month or so, Heaven Dou City has been incredibly lively! Elite Soul Master from all the major academies have gathered, it's a grand occasion! It's a pity that you two completely missed this grand event."
The Soul Master Tournament... Tang Feng's eyes darkened slightly behind his mask, a bitter feeling rising in his heart. If he hadn't been born into the Clear Sky Sect, Tang Feng could have freely displayed his talent on that stage, garnered countless cheers and applause, and made friends with young talents from all over the continent.
As a disciple of the Clear Sky Sect, under the oppressive influence of the Spirit Hall, the arena where he shed sweat and the deafening cheers ultimately became scenery that Tang Feng had to abandon on his path of cultivation.
To save his own life and to accumulate power, Tang Feng had no choice but to hide in the shadows.
"It is indeed a pity." Tang Feng sighed softly, but his tone quickly regained its composure. "However, the sect's overall plan is of utmost importance; personal gains and losses are insignificant."
Upon hearing this, Tai Nuo's admiration for the young sect leader's composure and strategic vision beyond his years grew even stronger. Tai Nuo then changed the subject, saying, "However, that kid Tai Long was fortunate enough to participate in this competition and even managed to advance to the finals!"
"Really?" Tang Feng's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and he sincerely congratulated him, "Then congratulations, Uncle Tai Nuo! Which academy is Tai Long attending now?"
" Shrek Academy," Tai Nuo puffed out his chest, his tone full of pride, "Is the same Blue Tyrant Academy from back then, and now they've made it to the finals, their name Heaven Dou Empire!"
" Shrek Academy? Could it be that Shrek merged with the Blue Tyrant Academy after coming to Heaven Dou City?" Tang Feng wondered to himself, recalling those familiar figures. " Oscar, Ning Rongrong, and Zhu Zhuqing must be in Heaven Dou City too. I need to make time to visit them."
"Uncle Tai Nuo, could you please take us to Cloud Mist Mountain first? We need to meet with the four clan leaders to discuss our next steps," Tang Feng said.
"Alright, Young Sect Master, let's go now." Tai Nuo readily agreed and immediately summoned a luxurious carriage, which was pulled by two Cloud-Treading Steed.
The three boarded the carriage and sat down. The carriage drove Strength Clan's mansion and sped towards Cloud Mist Mountain. The carriage was equipped with shock absorption devices, so there was no bumpy feeling.
Cloud Mist Mountain is less than a hundred miles from Heaven Dou City, and the carriage arrived in less than half an hour.
Night had completely fallen, but the mountains were still brightly lit, like a city that never sleeps.
From a distance, the entire mountain peak has been transformed into a massive fortress, with countless torches and bonfires clearly outlining its contours and illuminating the busy figures of people.
Many people have already moved in, but they are all from the Four Great Single-Attribute Clans. They are currently doing the final tidying up and defense deployment.
Upon arriving at the gate, the gatekeepers spotted Tai Nuo's distinctive figure from afar and immediately allowed him to pass.
The carriage slowly came to a stop, and the three of them stepped down. Looking up, even in the darkness of night, the newly built sect headquarters still exuded a breathtaking and majestic aura.
Before us stood a colossal mountain gate, ten zhang high, carved from a single block of gray granite. Its surface remained unpolished, retaining the rough marks of chisels and axes, and gleamed with a metallic sheen under the cool moonlight.
The door frame was not decorated with ornate carvings, but rather with various totems engraved by the Strength Clan. Each line was three inches deep into the stone, lifelike, as if it might burst out of the stone at any moment and roar to the sky.
At the very center of the mountain gate hung only a huge blank plaque. This plaque would only be replaced with the true name of the sect when the Clear Sky Sect officially emerged from seclusion. At present, it only made the sect appear more mysterious and majestic.
The city walls on both sides wind their way up the mountain, and were actually built by the Defense Clan using an alternating combination of obsidian and local granite.
This " Dragon Scale Stacking Method " requires no adhesive. Each boulder weighs tens of thousands of kilograms, yet they fit together so tightly that even the sharpest dagger cannot be inserted into the gaps. The wall has undergone hammering tests, and even continuous bombardment by a battering ram can only leave shallow dents.
Every fifty steps along the wall stands a stone watchtower, with a huge bronze alarm bell hanging from its roof. In case of an alarm, the bell's sound can be heard for miles. Inside the watchtowers, guards take turns on duty day and night. Their sharp eyes, combined with the scent carried by the mountain wind, ensure that no movement is missed.
Tang Lie's eyes narrowed slightly. With the keen perception of Titled Douluo, Tang Lie immediately sensed the hidden danger beneath the seemingly ancient city wall.
The walls conceal hundreds of arrow slits, allowing the archers of the Breaking Clan to unleash a barrage of arrows from the hidden chambers within, creating a 360-degree deathly curtain.
At the base of the city wall, there are mechanisms designed by the Defense Clan. Once triggered, the bluestone road within a hundred feet will instantly collapse, burying the invaders into a pre-set pit.
In front of the mountain gate is a moat about five zhang wide, which is filled with spring water flowing down from the Cloud Mist Mountain. The water is crystal clear but icy cold.
The stone bridge over the river appears ancient and sturdy, but in reality, each plank is an independent mechanism controlled by guards on the city wall via a winch, which can flip in an instant and throw intruders into the river.
Looking through the mountain gate, the entire settlement is built against the Cloud Mist Mountain, divided into nine courtyards, one after another, like a giant dragon coiled in the mountains.
The brightest lights were on the central square halfway up the mountain, where torches and bonfires illuminated the entire square as if it were daytime. A huge stone-built martial arts arena stood in the center, its surface made of a single piece of diamond, incredibly hard, and surrounded by reliefs of various totems, creating a magnificent atmosphere.
Further up, at the mountain peak, a colossal, pitch-black palace looms in the night. The palace is entirely constructed of basalt, with a roof covered in three-foot-thick stone tiles. The thirty-six stone pillars in front of the palace require three people to encircle them, and the pillars are covered with various bas-reliefs.
"What an impregnable fortress!" Tang Lie stroked his beard in admiration, his eyes filled with satisfaction. "The work of the Defense Clan truly lives up to their reputation as the 'Number One Craftsmen of the Continent'."
Tai Nuo laughed, "Seventh Elder is absolutely right. This sect is practically armed to the teeth. Now that the four major clans are working together, the rise of the Clear Sky Sect is just around the corner!"
A slight smile played on Tang Feng's lips beneath his mask, the cold iron face unable to conceal the burning passion in Tang Feng eyes. All that he saw filled him with boundless pride. With such an impregnable fortress, with such a group of loyal followers, the revival of the Tang Feng Clear Sky Sect was just around the corner!
The three of them climbed the steps and arrived at the council hall halfway up the mountain. The hall was brightly lit, with eight thick stone pillars with coiled dragons supporting the dome. The pillars were carved from a single piece of granite, and each dragon's eye was inlaid with a luminous pearl, making them lifelike in the firelight.
The ground was paved with black iron bricks, and each step echoed steadily. Above, in the main position, hung a huge Clear Sky Hammer totem, its body Entanglement with dark gold patterns. Even though it was just a relief, it exuded a chilling pressure.
Before long, five figures arrived one after another. Leading them was the Third Elder, Tang Ming, who walked with a powerful stride, his long silver beard fluttering in front of his chest, and his laughter as loud as a bell. Following closely behind were the four clan leaders.
"Hahaha, Seventh Brother, Little Feng, you're finally back!" The Third Elder's voice boomed like thunder as he stepped forward, grabbed Tang Lie's shoulder, and patted him hard. "These past two years have kept me waiting!"
"Greetings, Third Grandfather, Maternal Grandfather, and the three clan elders." Tang Feng bowed respectfully, his posture respectful yet dignified.