For a while afterward, the children lived normally in Heaven Dou City.
His father, Yang Zhentian, bought quite a bit of whale rubber at the auction house and even went to the black market to buy some. As a result, everyone looked at Yang Zhentian strangely during this time. Even Second Grandpa Yang Wushuang came looking for him, leaving his father utterly embarrassed.
Yang Podi and Niu Jinfeng snickered in secret. Of course, his mother, Yang Jinfeng, also took a good piece of whale rubber. Her Soul Power rose by one rank, making her a rank 64 Soul Emperor.
What none of them knew was that a major event affecting the entire world had already occurred.
In Fasinuo Province of the Heaven Dou Empire, a fierce battle was raging.
Tang Hao, who had already reached rank 90, was with his wife, Ah Yin, and their newborn child, Tang San. Facing him were Spirit Hall's Pope Qian Xunji, Chrysanthemum Douluo, and Ghost Douluo. Their target in coming here was clearly Tang Hao's wife, Ah Yin-the Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast, the Blue Silver Emperor.
Just as in the original story, the Blue Silver Emperor Ah Yin ultimately chose to sacrifice herself for her husband and son. Tang Hao finally obtained a precious Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring from his own wife. With the boost this Hundred Thousand Year Soul Ring gave him, along with the Clear Sky Sect's secret techniques, Ring Detonation and the Great Sumeru Hammer, he ultimately defeated Qian Xunji and the other two. He also severely wounded Qian Xunji, forcing the three to retreat.
Having only just become a Titled Douluo, Tang Hao was able to defeat three Titled Douluos at once. Qian Xunji had even reached rank 95 and possessed the god-level Martial Soul, the Six-Winged Angel. This battle could be called the most famous instance of fighting above one's rank on the entire Douluo Continent.
But there were no winners in this battle. Although Tang Hao had won, he had lost his wife. Qian Xunji's plan to hunt the Soul Beast had failed, and he returned to Spirit Hall severely wounded.
One day, while Yang Podi was eating with his parents, Second Grandpa hurried into the room, looking extremely rushed. "Zhentian, something terrible has happened."
Yang Zhentian hurriedly asked, "Second Uncle, what happened? Why are you in such a hurry?"
"We just received the latest news. Spirit Hall's Pope Qian Xunji was severely wounded by Tang Hao, and after returning to Spirit Hall, he succumbed to his injuries."
"Second Uncle, how is that possible? Spirit Hall's Pope Qian Xunji was a rank 95 Titled Douluo, and Chrysanthemum Douluo and Ghost Douluo were always at his side. No matter how strong Tang Hao is, he couldn't possibly defeat all three of them at once."
Second Grandpa's face was full of worry. "Spirit Hall also sent word that Tang Hao has advanced to Titled Douluo. Moreover, he broke through at the age of forty-four, becoming the youngest Titled Douluo in history."
His father, Yang Zhentian, was also extremely anxious. "Second Uncle, what do we do now? Even Spirit Hall's Pope is dead. They certainly won't let this rest. And where is Tang Hao now? Has he returned to the Clear Sky Sect?"
"Where exactly is Tang Hao? There's no news at all right now. The entire Clear Sky Sect is jumping at the sound of the wind and the cries of cranes."
"Second Uncle, what do we do now? Should we return to the Breaking Clan immediately?"
Second Grandpa Yang Wushuang glanced at Yang Podi and slowly began to calm down. "No, we can't go back. Don't forget, we have more than fifty children here. If we go back, what will happen to them?"
"Second Uncle, wouldn't it look bad if none of us went back? Dad will be under a lot of pressure then."
"No, Zhentian, you're wrong. Everyone in the Breaking Clan right now is a Soul Master. Without children tying them down, they can fight better. And don't forget the task your father entrusted to the two of us."
Yang Zhentian was a little anxious. "But won't Dad be in great danger like this?"
Second Grandpa Yang Wushuang's expression shifted unpredictably, worry one moment and fear the next, before finally settling into resolve. "Zhentian, before we left this time, your father also had a very bad feeling. He probably sensed the danger coming. That was why he had us bring all the children in the sect to Heaven Dou City."
"Our Breaking Clan is a subordinate sect of the Clear Sky Sect and enjoys its protection. Now that the sect is in trouble, there would be no issue even if my elder brother and every last clan member died fighting. But these children are innocent. Our responsibility is to raise all of them to adulthood and preserve the roots of our Breaking Clan."
"Second Uncle, what should we do now, then?"
"Zhentian, gather all the adults for a meeting immediately. Starting today, no one is allowed out. We must be ready for battle at any moment, tighten security, and ensure these children's safety."
"All right, Second Uncle. I'll make the arrangements immediately." With that, Yang Zhentian hurried away.
Over the next few days, all outings were canceled. All the adults were assigned to patrol or stand guard, and no one was permitted to go out. Every adult was weighed down with worry, as though mountain rain were about to descend. Still, they seemed full of confidence in the Clear Sky Sect.
Over the following days, all kinds of news arrived.
The first news they received was that Tang Hao had announced his withdrawal from the Clear Sky Sect from some unknown location, immediately sending the world into an uproar.
Immediately afterward, Spirit Hall announced that Holy Maiden Bibi Dong, the disciple of the former Pope Qian Xunji, would succeed him as Pope of Spirit Hall.
At the same time, Spirit Hall declared war on the Clear Sky Sect. The new Pope, Bibi Dong, personally led numerous elders and dispatched large legions of Soul Masters toward the Clear Sky Sect. They seemed determined not to turn back until they had destroyed the Clear Sky Sect and taken revenge. For a time, everyone in the Soul Master World feared for their own safety.
The next news was that the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect had both sent Soul Master armies toward the Clear Sky Sect. Even the leaders of both sects had set out, while the Heaven Dou Empire sent an army led by Prince Xue Xing to the Clear Sky Sect.
From the looks of things, a great war could erupt between the four major powers at any moment.
At this moment, everyone within the Clear Sky Sect was like an ant on a hot pan, deeply uneasy. Sect Master Tang Zhen, his son Tang Xiao, and all the elders had gathered together. Everyone present wore an extremely grave expression.
Finally, Tang Zhen spoke. "First Elder, what is the situation outside?"
"Sect Master, the situation outside is very bad. Spirit Hall is being led by its new Pope, Bibi Dong. We estimate that more than ten thousand Soul Masters are coming to attack the Clear Sky Sect this time, with at least six Titled Douluos."
"Spirit Hall has actually sent so many people. It seems this must be their full strength."
"Indeed. I received word that Spirit Hall has already recalled many of its Soul Masters stationed throughout the continent."
"Has Qian Daoliu come this time?"
"We haven't received any news of Qian Daoliu yet. He is probably deterred by our former sect master and doesn't dare come for now."
"But it's his son who died. I'm afraid he'll come sooner or later. When that happens, we'll truly be in trouble."
"Right, what is the current situation with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, and the Heaven Dou Empire?"
"The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's master, Ning Fengzhi, is on his way with Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo. They have dispatched one thousand Soul Masters for this journey. The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan is being personally led by its master, Yu Yuanzhen, who is bringing eight hundred Soul Masters. As for the Heaven Dou Empire, Prince Xue Xing is leading an army of fifty thousand and is currently on his way."
Worry appeared on Tang Zhen's face. "Our Clear Sky Sect probably has only four thousand Soul Masters between the inner and outer sects. The inner sect has two thousand, while the outer sect's Four Single-Attribute Clans probably have only two thousand as well. Even with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, our total number of Soul Masters is only fifty-eight hundred. Spirit Hall has sent ten thousand Soul Masters outright. The gap in strength is still enormous."