Tang Feng remained unfazed, bowed again, and said in an even more sincere voice, "This junior knows that the clan leaders harbor resentment, which is only natural."
Tang Feng slowly straightened up, his gaze sweeping over everyone. Although more than ten years had passed, the pain of losing loved ones was still evident in everyone's eyes.
"Everyone here is well aware of the rights and wrongs of what happened back then. The old sect leader had just passed away, Tang Xiao had just taken over as sect leader. The Spirit Hall army was pressing in with overwhelming force, and the sect was filled with fear and unease."
"But our entire clan did not back down and fought a great battle against the Spirit Hall. However, the disparity in strength was too great, and more than half of our clansmen were killed or wounded."
"Most of you here lost your loved ones in that great war, including my own parents."
Tang Feng's voice trembled slightly as he continued with a pained expression, "To preserve the Clear Sky Sect's millennia-old heritage, the Sect Master had no choice but to order the mountain to be sealed off. Faced with pressure from the Spirit Hall, we were forced to disperse the four clans. This decision left you all displaced, the four clans stained with blood, and families torn apart. I myself was separated from my grandfather for over ten years before we were able to reunite. This is the debt that my Clear Sky Sect owes you."
After speaking, Tang Feng bowed deeply once again.
Tang Lie, who was standing to the side, was also slightly moved. Yang Wudi, with tears streaming down his face, patted Tang Feng on the shoulder.
For a moment, only the sound of breathing could be heard in the hall, but a barely perceptible ripple flashed in the eyes of the three clan leaders, revealing both empathy and regret.
Tang Feng straightened up, his gaze hardening.
"We all bear the deep-seated hatred of the blood feud between our relatives and clansmen. That is why I was appointed as the young sect leader, and the entire Clear Sky Sect places its hopes on us to avenge ourselves against the Spirit Hall. Now is the time for us to join hands once again and fight together against this common enemy."
"Today, I, Tang Feng, in the name of the Young Sect Master of the Clear Sky Sect, swear that as long as the four clans are willing to return, the Clear Sky Sect will treat the disciples of the four clans and their direct descendants equally, without distinction! The clan leaders of the four clans will all enjoy the position of elder, enter the core decision-making of the sect, and discuss important matters together!"
"Secondly, on behalf of the sect, I am willing to offer an opportunity for each clan leader to potentially break through to the Titled Douluo, as a small compensation for the irreparable losses caused by the forced disbandment of the four clans!"
After Tang Feng finished speaking, he looked sincerely at the people present, and everyone sighed, a slight tremor rising in their hearts.
Niu Gao was rather simple-minded. Upon hearing Tang Feng's last sentence, he immediately retorted, "Are you bragging, kid? Giving us all hope of breaking through to the Titled Douluo? Who would believe that!"
Tang Feng smiled slightly. Facing Niu Gao, this simpleton, he knew he had to conquer him with strength. Tang Feng confidently said, "If Clan Chief Niu Gao doesn't believe me, let's make a bet. You and I will have a match. If I win, the Defense Clan will return to the Clear Sky Sect; if I lose, the opportunity will still be offered, and I will not force the Defense Clan to return. How about it?"
Niu Gao's pupils widened upon hearing this, and he looked at Tang Feng with disdain. "You're just a greenhorn, how dare you speak so arrogantly! What did Old Goat say your age was again?"
"I'm fifteen and a half years old," Tang Feng said, straightening his back.
"Hahaha! Good!" Niu Gao laughed in fury, taking a sudden step forward, his Level 84 Soul Power erupting like a torrent. "I promise you! If you can last an incense stick's time against me, I'll admit defeat!"
"It's a deal." Tang Feng was secretly delighted and quickly agreed. Tang Feng was least afraid of Defense System Soul Master like Niu Gao. If he wanted to defeat Niu Gao, he really wasn't confident.
However, if he only needs to hold out for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, with the skills of his two high-age Soul Bone and External Soul Bone, Tang Feng is at least 90% confident that he can at least remain invincible.
"Hahaha, good!" Yang Wudi laughed heartily upon hearing this, looking at Niu Gao with amusement, " Old Rhino, don't try to cheat if you lose later!"
Tai Tan and Bai He exchanged a glance, then waved their hands simultaneously, leading everyone to the training ground outside.
In an instant, the training ground, with a radius of more than ten meters, was cleared out, leaving only Tang Feng and Niu Gao standing facing each other in the center. A member of the Strength Clan lit incense sticks and inserted them into the bronze incense burner, where wisps of smoke rose.
In the center of the training ground, Soul Power surged like a tide, and the two men's auras collided with a thunderous roar.
Tang Feng flipped his right palm, and as dark golden light flowed, the Clear Sky Hammer appeared. Five Soul Ring slowly rose from beneath his feet: yellow, yellow, purple, black, and black. The black Fourth Soul Ring, in particular, caused a suppressed gasp from the entire audience.
" Five-Ring Soul King? Fourth Soul Ring after ten thousand years... How is this possible!" Bai He stared intently at the Soul Ring, his voice trembling.
Tang Feng stood with his hammer in hand, his back ramrod straight, and declared in a resounding voice, " Tang Feng, a level 56 Power Attack System Battle Soul King, humbly requesting guidance from Senior Niu!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the entire audience erupted in uproar.
"Level 56?!"
Niu Gao's pupils shrank to pinpoints, his initial contempt vanishing instantly. Niu Gao took a deep breath and said in a low voice, "Good lad, no wonder you dare challenge me. But the difference in Soul Power is as vast as an incense stick's width. You'll have to endure for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn—that's no small feat!"
"Then please enlighten me, senior!" Before Tang Feng finished speaking, his first and Second Soul Ring lit up at the same time, their light as intense as the sun.
" First Soul Skill, King Kong's Wrath!"
" Second Soul Skill, Dark Gold Berserk!"
His physical strength surged, and his speed also increased dramatically. The dark gold patterns on the Clear Sky Hammer surged like magma on the hammer's body, and the terrifying power fluctuations made the air roar.
Niu Gao dared not be negligent and roared, " Armored Giant Rhino, Possession!"
boom!
A gigantic phantom of a rhinoceros appeared behind Niu Gao, roaring to the sky before merging into his body. His already imposing figure swelled even more, with thick, wall-like armor patterns appearing on his skin, reaching a height of over two zhang (approximately 6.6 meters), resembling a mobile war fortress!
Niu Gao clashed his fists together, producing a metallic clang, and his First Soul Ring lit up.
" First Soul Skill, Stomp!"
Thump!
Niu Gao took a step forward, and the ground collapsed with a roar. The shockwave spread like ripples, and the entire training ground trembled. Niu Gao did not take the initiative to attack, but stood in place like a mountain, waiting for Tang Feng to attack. He wanted to test the young man's attack power first.
Tang Feng swayed, exerted force with his feet, and shot out like an arrow. He swung the Clear Sky Hammer in a wide arc, bringing it crashing down with immense force!
" Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer!"
The hammer blows came in a continuous stream, each one heavier than the last, like a whirlwind sweeping away clouds or a torrential downpour. Niu Gao crossed his arms to block, letting the hammer rain fall, producing a series of loud "clangs" and sparks flying like fireworks, illuminating half the night sky!
For the first ten blows, Niu Gao remained completely still, even displaying a slight, contemptuous smile.
Twenty blows later, Niu Gao frowned slightly, a tingling sensation spreading through his arm.
Thirty hammer blows later, Niu Gao's pupils shrank drastically; the power of the Clear Sky Hammer was increasing wildly!
At the fortieth strike, Niu Gao's foot sank, and a deep pit was carved into the hard granite slab. Tiny cracks even appeared in the plate armor on his arms!
Fifty hammer blows!
Niu Gao's expression changed slightly. He could clearly feel that the force of this hammer blow had been amplified to a terrifying level. If he were to take it head-on, even with his defenses, he would be injured!
"We can't let this kid keep piling up!"
Niu Gao stomped his foot and activated his First Soul Skill, " Stomp," once again. But this time, instead of stepping on the ground, he stepped on Tang Feng's hammer shadow trajectory!
boom!
The shockwave forcefully interrupted the rhythm of Disorder Splitting Wind Hammer, abruptly breaking its unstoppable momentum! Tang Feng's figure froze, and an opening appeared in his hammer technique.
"Kid, that's enough!"
Niu Gao seized the opening and activated his Second Soul Ring.
" Second Soul Skill, Fury!"
Although Niu Gao was large, his speed was astonishing. His fist, as big as a casserole dish and glowing with an earthy yellow light, slammed towards Tang Feng's chest. Wherever the fist passed, the air was compressed into a tangible form.
Tang Feng remained calm and composed, his figure gracefully retreating like a willow catkin. At the same time, he withdrew his Clear Sky Hammer attack, avoiding the punch.
"Senior, you have quite the skill, managing to break the Chaotic Cloak," Tang Feng laughed. "Then you'd better be careful from now on, Senior."
As Tang Feng finished speaking, a pair of dragon wings burning with golden-red flames suddenly unfolded behind him, spanning three zhang, and a wave of heat rushed towards them!
" External Soul Bone!" The crowd gasped in shock once again.
With the support of the External Soul Bone, Tang Feng's speed increased dramatically, and his figure became elusive, like Gui Mei phantom, rapidly moving around Niu Gao. Niu Gao's clumsy body simply couldn't keep up with Tang Feng's eerie movements.
The Clear Sky Hammer transformed into a sky full of hammer shadows, each strike precisely landing on Niu Gao's joints, ribs, back of the neck, knees, and other vulnerable points, so fast that it was difficult to see with the naked eye.
It is precisely the Clear Sky Nine Absolutes Entanglement Formula!