The Clear Sky Sect is hidden in those vast mountains, isolated from the world for twelve years.
Since that great battle, the sect has closed its doors to the outside world. The outside world only knows that the number one sect in the world has retired, but no one knows how the disciples struggle to survive in this huge cage.
Five years have passed since Tang Feng left the sect.
In the past five years, Tang Feng has grown from a 1.7-meter-tall teenager into a tall young man approaching two meters, and from a child who needed to look up to the elders of the sect into Soul Master who can now stand on his own.
I wonder how the sect has changed in these past five years? Has it become despondent, or is it unwilling to remain silent?
With a mix of eagerness and trepidation, Tang Feng increased the speed of his flight.
The Clear Sky Sect is more than 2,000 kilometers away from Suotuo City. Even with Tang Feng flying at full speed, it took him a whole day and night.
Tang Feng had to stop three times along the way to find a secluded place to recover his nearly depleted Soul Power.
The next day at noon, when the sun was high overhead, Tang Feng finally arrived at the sect's ancestral land.
Looking at the towering main peak of Bright Moon Mountain that reached into the clouds, Tang Feng was filled with emotion.
The main peak pierces the sky, while the mountainside is shrouded in mist, resembling a fairyland.
But Tang Feng knew that beneath those clouds and mist lay the imprisoned youth and passion of countless disciples.
Five years later, Tang Feng is about to step into this "cage" again. This time, Tang Feng is determined to give his all, even if it means being shattered to pieces, to bring the Clear Sky Sect back to the Soul Master World.
Tang Feng took a deep breath, suppressed the surging emotions in his heart, and flew directly towards the majestic mountain gate of the Clear Sky Sect.
An ancient stone gate stands atop the mountain, with a bottomless abyss in front of it, connected only by an iron chain.
Two figures stood like javelins at the gate; they were the disciples on duty today. The one in the lead was none other than Tang Long, the chief disciple of the third generation.
Tang Long was thirty years old at this time, with a resolute face and a light stubble on his chin. He was currently a high-level Soul King with Soul Power of around level 59.
He was considered one of the best among the younger generation of the sect. Tang Hao Tang Hao, a former prodigy, only reached the Soul Saint at the age of thirty, and that was only because he received the inheritance Soul Bone provided by the sect.
Tang Long happened to be on duty guarding this most important mountain gate today. When he saw someone fly directly to the front of the mountain gate, he immediately stepped forward alertly. The Clear Sky Hammer was already in his hand, with faint lightning on its surface.
"Who goes there? This is the Clear Sky Sect ground. Anyone not affiliated with us, please leave immediately!" Tang Long shouted loudly, his voice booming like a bell.
Tang Feng slowly descended, retracted his dragon wings, and summoned his own Clear Sky Hammer. The massive hammer was even more solid than Tang Long's, emanating a powerful aura. A long-absent smile appeared on his face as he said with a grin, "Brother Tang Long, five years have passed. Don't you recognize your little brother Tang Feng?"
Tang Long was stunned upon hearing this, and carefully examined the young man in front of him. The outline of his eyebrows and eyes did indeed seem somewhat familiar, but his height had changed from being a head shorter than him back then to being half a head taller than him now.
His face shape also transformed from a slightly rounded childlike appearance into a more angular adult one.
Tang Long quickly realized what was happening and exclaimed in surprise, " Tang Feng? You're Tang Feng? You've grown so tall! I wouldn't have recognized you if I hadn't looked closely!"
"Yes, I'm back." Tang Feng strode forward, punched Tang Long lightly in the chest with his fist, and then gave Tang Long a firm hug.
Tang Long hugged Tang Feng tightly and patted Tang Feng's back with his hand.
After a moment, the two separated, and Tang Feng asked, "Brother Tang Long, how has the sect been these past few years?"
Tang Long's eyes were slightly red, and his voice was a little choked up. "It's good that you're back. Come on, I'll take you to see the sect leader!"
The mountain gate slowly opened, and memories sealed for five years rushed into my mind.
Tang Feng stepped through the mountain gate, and the familiar council hall appeared unusually silent in the afternoon light and shadow.
This hall holds too many memories for Tang Feng. When he was three years old, the bodies of his parents and hundreds of clansmen lay in this hall, a scene that became an eternal pain in Tang Feng's heart.
At the age of six, Tang Feng awakened his Martial Soul, the Clear Sky Hammer, here, gaining Innate Soul Power of level seven, which gave him the means to establish himself in this world.
At the age of ten, Tang Feng left the sect. Although it was out of necessity, it was also a true journey out into the world.
Now, Tang Feng has returned. With the strength of a peak level 48 Soul Ancestor and various extraordinary opportunities, he has returned here once again.
Instead of immediately leading Tang Feng to the "Stone House No. 6" where they used to live, Tang Long went straight through the side corridor and headed towards the forbidden area behind the ancestral land.
It was a deep tunnel, shutting out the sect's clamor and sorrow.
As Tang Long walked, he said, "The sect leader and elders are having a meeting in the Quiet Contemplation Hall. The Seventh Elder has broken through to Level 90, and everyone is discussing going to the Star Dou Great Forest to Soul Hunting."
Tang Feng paused slightly. Grandpa had broken through to Level 90? A faint smile curved his lips. He had returned just in time. He could now offer Xiao Wu to Grandpa as his Ninth Soul Ring, a gift from his grandson to his grandfather after a long separation.
Arriving at the Quiet Contemplation Hall, a place reserved for elders to hold meetings, Tang Long knocked on the stone door and announced loudly, "Sect Master, your disciple Tang Long, along with disciple Tang Feng who has just returned to the sect, have come to pay their respects."
As soon as he finished speaking, a powerful surge of Soul Power erupted from inside the door, and six figures appeared almost simultaneously.
Sect Master Tang Xiao, Second Elder Tang Zhen, Third Elder Tang Ming, Fourth Elder Tang Ran, Fifth Elder Tang Rui, and...
Tang Feng's gaze fell on the last figure, and his eyes instantly reddened.
That was Tang Feng's grandfather, Tang Lie. Five years had passed, and the old man's hair had turned even whiter.
" Feng'er?!" Tang Lie's voice trembled, tears welling up in his cloudy old eyes. He rushed forward and hugged Tang Feng tightly. "My dear grandson... you're finally back!"
The Fifth Elder's eyes also reddened, and he patted Tang Feng's shoulder heavily. "It's good that you're back... it's good that you're back! I felt guilty for years after leaving you in the Star Dou Great Forest, thinking you..."
Tang Feng's voice choked with emotion, and he didn't continue.
After exchanging pleasantries, Tang Xiao gestured for everyone to enter the hall, while Tang Long returned to his duties.
A long stone table spanned the main hall. Tang Xiao sat in the main seat, with five elders on either side. Tang Feng sat in the empty seat next to his grandfather, Tang Lie.
Tang Xiao spoke first, " Little Feng, your safe return is a blessing for the sect. The Whale Rubber you secretly sent back through Yuehua back then was truly a great service to the sect."
"The sect has been in seclusion for many years, making it difficult for disciples to improve their cultivation, and elders to break through their bottlenecks. It was the Whale Rubber you sent back that greatly improved the physique of more than thirty core disciples and elders."
Tang Feng stood up, humbly cupped his fists, and said, " Clear Sky Sect, I was raised by the sect from childhood, and my Martial Soul was also given to me by the sect. It is something every Clear Sky Sect disciple should do to contribute to the sect."
Tang Xiao and the elders were very satisfied to see that Tang Feng remained humble and composed despite his great achievement.
Tang Lie's rough hands stroked his grandson's shoulders repeatedly, tears streaming down his face. "Good boy, you're even more successful than your father was back then!"
Tang Xiao waved his hand, gesturing for Tang Feng to sit down, and continued, "Even so, the sect cannot ignore your contributions; merit must be rewarded. After discussion with the elders, we have decided to bestow upon you a 30,000-year-old strength-type Soul Bone. We hope you will continue your efforts and offer suggestions for the sect."
As soon as Tang Xiao finished speaking, his grandfather Tang Lie understood immediately and casually took out a lead box from his Storage Soul Tool.
The moment the box was opened, a domineering and arrogant aura wafted out.
It was a Right Arm Bone, dark gold in color, with thick bones and fine dark patterns covering its surface, as if infinite power lay dormant within it.
Tang Xiao's voice rang out again. "This is the Right Arm Bone a 30,000-year-old Mighty Demon Ape, from the Star Dou Mixed Zone. The sect is fair in its rewards and punishments. This Soul Bone is bestowed upon you; how you use it is up to you."
Tang Feng accepted the lead box with both hands, bowed, and said, "Thank you, Sect Master." He then put the lead box into his storage ring.
The strength-type bone, specifically the Right Arm Bone, is a perfect match for a Clear Sky Hammer Soul Master who frequently uses their right arm to swing the hammer; this reward is indeed substantial.
Tang Xiao took in Tang Feng's composure and humility, a hint of relief and anticipation flashing in his eyes. He asked with concern, " Little Feng, you've been away from the sect for five years. Has your cultivation declined?"
"Reporting to the Sect Master, I have not dared to slack off in the past five years. My Soul Power has now reached the peak of level 48 and is about to break through to level 49. I have mastered the Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer and can Nine Nines Return to One unleash eighty-one hammer blows." Tang Feng answered truthfully.
"What? Level 48?!" Tang Xiao was surprised, his face filled with disbelief.
When he left the sect at the age of ten, he was only level twenty. Five years later, he returned at the age of fifteen and had already reached level forty-eight Soul Ancestor!
What does this mean? Back then, Tang Hao was hailed as a genius that the Clear Sky Sect had only seen once in a century, and at this age, he had only just broken through to the Soul Ancestor!
The Second Elder Tang Zhen, stood up shakily and asked cautiously, " Feng'er, what you... what you said, is it true?"