Seeing how critical the situation had become, Tang Xiao also unleashed a desperate strike with the Clear Sky Nine Absolutes, driving back the two Titled Douluo facing him. He swiftly flew to his father's side, finally easing Tang Zhen's crisis.
Seeing this, Tang Zhen knew that defeat was certain and the situation could no longer be salvaged. He roared, "All Clear Sky Sect disciples, retreat to the ancestral grounds immediately!"
Immediately afterward, all the remaining Soul Rings on Tang Zhen's Martial Soul, the Clear Sky Hammer, exploded. The Clear Sky Hammer grew larger once again, and the small-mountain-sized hammer cut off everyone from Spirit Hall.
Hearing their sect master's command, everyone from the Clear Sky Sect swiftly surged toward the ancestral grounds. Tang Zhen's final, desperate Ring Detonation bought them all a sliver of time.
Only moments later, everyone from the Clear Sky Sect had retreated into the ancestral grounds, and Spirit Hall's forces had also arrived outside them.
But Qian Jun Douluo and Demon Subduing Douluo stood at the front without pursuing. What met everyone's eyes was an enormous sword scar.
When the others wanted to continue the pursuit, Demon Subduing Douluo stopped them outright. "This mark was drawn by the Great Enshrined. By his command, no Spirit Hall disciple may cross this straight line."
The newly appointed Pope, Bibi Dong, fell far short of the Great Enshrined Qian Daoliu in both strength and prestige, and she could not refute Demon Subduing Douluo's words.
But Bibi Dong still said angrily, "Our Spirit Hall's Pope died in battle, yet the Clear Sky Sect merely returns to its ancestral grounds. Are we to abandon avenging the Pope simply because of an agreement? Remember, the Pope was the Great Enshrined's own son."
At these words, everyone remained silent, neither retreating nor attacking.
Within the Clear Sky Sect's ancestral grounds, Tang Zhen was already at death's door after repeatedly using Ring Detonation. The First Elder's injuries were also extremely grave, and he would likely be difficult to save.
Tang Zhen forced himself to speak. "Xiao'er, elders, for the survival of our Clear Sky Sect, I, Tang Zhen, an unworthy disciple of the Clear Sky Sect, hereby announce my final orders as sect master."
"From this moment on, I pass the position of Clear Sky Sect Master to Tang Xiao."
"Furthermore, immediately announce to the outside world that the unfilial disciple Tang Hao is expelled from the Clear Sky Sect. From now on, our Clear Sky Sect will withdraw from the Soul Master World and never take another step beyond our ancestral grounds. This will serve as our answer for the death of Spirit Hall's Pope, and our answer to the Soul Master World."
After saying these words, Tang Zhen breathed his last.
All the Clear Sky Sect disciples knelt, their faces filled with grief and indignation as they cried, "Sect Master, Sect Master..."
The elders' faces were also filled with grief and indignation. "Our Clear Sky Sect is the magnificent number one sect under heaven, yet we have fallen so low that our sect master has died in battle. We absolutely refuse to retreat. We will live and die with the Clear Sky Sect."
Many people present echoed them in grief and indignation, ready at any moment to fight the Spirit Hall Soul Masters outside the ancestral grounds to the death.
At that moment, Tang Xiao stood and looked at everyone with a gloomy gaze. "Our Clear Sky Sect is the magnificent number one sect under heaven. Its legacy must never end in my hands, or in any of ours. If we continue fighting, the entire Clear Sky Sect will be razed to the ground. We lost this time, so we must cultivate even harder and strive to restore our former glory."
After saying this, Tang Xiao walked outside the ancestral grounds without another word.
When Spirit Hall's forces saw Tang Xiao walk out alone, they were all somewhat surprised.
Tang Xiao wore a strip of white cloth around his head, his face filled with indignation. "People of Spirit Hall, we do indeed owe you an answer for your Pope's death. Now, our Clear Sky Sect Master Tang Zhen has died in battle, and our First Elder has died in battle. The Clear Sky Sect has expelled Tang Hao. From this day forth, our Clear Sky Sect will withdraw from the Soul Master World and return to our ancestral grounds."
"I wonder whether this answer is enough?"
Tang Xiao's words resounded throughout heaven and earth. Every Soul Master present heard them, and they all began whispering among themselves.
Spirit Hall had lost its Pope, but now the Clear Sky Sect had lost both its sect master and First Elder, and was withdrawing from the Soul Master World. No one would dare say anything more about such an answer. Continuing to fight would instead mean Spirit Hall was using its power to bully others.
Pope Bibi Dong gritted her teeth and glanced at the two Titled Douluo, Qian Jun and Jiang Mo. They were clearly very satisfied with this outcome and would not attack the Clear Sky Sect's ancestral grounds again. The others also seemed somewhat moved.
Finally, Pope Bibi Dong spoke. "I hope the Clear Sky Sect will honor its promise and withdraw from the Soul Master World forever. Furthermore, I hope the Clear Sky Sect will draw a clear line between itself and Tang Hao, the murderer who killed the Pope. Otherwise, you will be breaking today's promise."
Hearing these words, everyone from both Spirit Hall and the Clear Sky Sect breathed a sigh of relief.
At this moment, Chrysanthemum Douluo Yue Guan spoke. "Your Holiness, how should we deal with the Clear Sky Sect's subordinate sects now?"
Pope Bibi Dong thought for a moment. "Drive them toward the Clear Sky Sect's ancestral grounds and see what the Clear Sky Sect chooses. If the Clear Sky Sect takes them in, we will seize the opportunity to resume the battle. If the Clear Sky Sect abandons them, we will teach these subordinate sects a lesson, so they never dare submit to the Clear Sky Sect again, and so no power under heaven dares submit to it again either."
Then, under the deliberate guidance of Spirit Hall's Soul Masters, the Four Single-Attribute Clans also arrived outside the Clear Sky Sect's ancestral grounds. But the gates to the ancestral grounds did not open.
Yang Wudi called loudly toward the ancestral grounds, "Sect Master, our Breaking Clan is willing to follow the Clear Sky Sect into seclusion!"
The leaders of the other three clans also declared their positions in turn.
But the gates remained immovable, clearly indicating that outsiders were forbidden from entering the Clear Sky Sect's ancestral grounds.
At this moment, on the mountain within the ancestral grounds, Tang Xiao and several elders began arguing.
"Elders, the Four Single-Attribute Clans have been utterly loyal to our Clear Sky Sect and have rendered countless meritorious services. Why not let them enter the Clear Sky Sect's ancestral grounds as well?"
The Second Elder hurriedly spoke. "Sect Master, absolutely not. Spirit Hall is clearly waiting for our decision as well. If we accept the Four Single-Attribute Clans, Spirit Hall will use this as a pretext to seize the opportunity to attack us."
"Furthermore, the ancestral grounds are our Clear Sky Sect's most secret location and concern the very survival of our sect. We must not let outsiders enter."
Tang Xiao still hesitated somewhat. "Then won't the Four Single-Attribute Clans outside be in grave danger?"
"The Four Single-Attribute Clans relied on our Clear Sky Sect to grow and prosper. Now, this is their fate as well."
The surrounding elders also spoke up in turn, refusing to open the mountain gates.
On Spirit Hall's side, Chrysanthemum Douluo spoke again. "Your Holiness, what should we do now?"
"The Four Single-Attribute Clans have always been the Clear Sky Sect's claws and fangs, serving as accomplices to the tiger. Give them a lesson they will never forget. Let us kill the chicken to warn the monkeys, so the Soul Master World will never dare defy our Spirit Hall again."
Hearing this, Chrysanthemum Douluo immediately issued orders and assigned people to attack.
Thus, several thousand Spirit Hall Soul Masters began besieging the Four Single-Attribute Clans, but none of the Titled Douluo were deployed.
Yang Wudi, Niu Gao, Tai Tan, and Bai He fought desperately, bathed in blood, while countless clan disciples fell.
For the Four Single-Attribute Clans, who had fought Spirit Hall for so long, surrender was impossible. Their only option now was to break out.
After the four conferred, it was clear that the Clear Sky Sect had now abandoned them, so they all decided to break out together. Spirit Hall clearly had no intention of cutting out the Four Single-Attribute Clans by the roots, allowing them to break through-striking at their hearts as well as taking lives.
After a battle, the Four Single-Attribute Clans successfully broke out. With that, the great battle at the Clear Sky Sect had essentially ended.