The Clear Sky Sect Blew Up

Bombshell news spread like wildfire through the continent's Soul Master World.

Clear Sky Douluo Tang Hao, who had hammered Spirit Hall's Pope to death all those years ago, had spent years hiding under an assumed name,

only to be captured in one fell swoop by elites dispatched by Spirit Hall in a remote village in Fasinuo Province.

As the news spread, the entire Soul Master World was shaken.

Three hundred li east of Heaven Dou City, peaks rose like swords.

Across an iron-chain stone bridge between two sheer cliffs lay the Clear Sky Sect's home, hidden from the world for many years.

Its grayish-white bluestone hall was built against the mountain, its doors shut year-round.

But today, an urgent secret letter that had reached them by a roundabout route from below the mountain broke the ancient mountain sect's years of silence.

Inside the council hall, the light was dim and cold.

The current sect master, Howling Sky Douluo Tang Xiao, sat upright in the broad bluestone chair at the head of the hall.

He was powerfully built, his features resolute, but the five fingers gripping that thin sheet of paper had turned slightly white.

Below the steps, the sect's five elders sat in order on either side.

All five elders were old men with white hair and beards. Having just heard Tang Xiao read the letter's contents aloud, everyone present was stunned.

"Absurd! Utter nonsense!"

The Seventh Elder, seated last on the left, was the first to lose his composure, slamming his palm heavily against his stone chair's armrest.

His eyes widened as he looked at Tang Xiao in the seat of honor and said:

"Sect Master, in my opinion, this news is most likely a smokescreen put out by Spirit Hall!

Tang Hao has been hiding for years. Back then, even when Spirit Hall poured out in full force, they couldn't find so much as his shadow.

How could he suddenly have been captured?

Clearly, Spirit Hall couldn't find him, so they're deliberately spreading false news to trick our Clear Sky Sect into showing itself!"

At this, the Seventh Elder leaned back in his chair and snorted.

"Our sect has lived in seclusion for years because of Tang Hao's affair and has never concerned itself with worldly matters.

With the truth still uncertain, how could we suddenly descend the mountain again to interfere with Spirit Hall?

If we send people down to investigate, wouldn't we be walking straight into Spirit Hall's trap?"

No sooner had he finished than the Second Elder, seated first on the left, slowly stroked his beard and took up the thread with a grim expression.

"Seventh Brother is right. But in my opinion, whether this is true or false, our Clear Sky Sect must absolutely not intervene!"

The Second Elder swept his gaze over everyone in the hall, his voice cold and hard.

"Have you forgotten why our sect chose to seal off the mountain and withdraw from the world instead of continuing our perfectly good lives?

It was because of the trouble Tang Hao caused outside.

He reduced the Clear Sky Sect from the continent's foremost sect to a turtle hiding in its shell!"

The more the Second Elder spoke, the angrier he grew. He struck his dragon-headed cane heavily against the bluestone floor.

"All these years, we've sealed our gates and cut off outside affairs

precisely to deny Spirit Hall any excuse to make trouble for our sect.

Now that he's been captured, he's brought it upon himself. How could we step forward and plunge our sect into fire and water?"

At his words, agreement appeared on the faces of the other elders in the hall.

Just as everyone was preparing to wash their hands of the matter entirely,

the Third Elder narrowed his eyes slightly and spoke in a lowered voice.

"Second Brother's words are reasonable, but have you all forgotten something?

If this is true, Hao'er has our Clear Sky Sect's two great inherited Soul Bones on him. Wouldn't they fall into Spirit Hall's hands for nothing?

Those two Soul Bones have been passed down through generations of sect masters and are bound to our sect's bloodline Martial Soul.

They are the foundation of our standing as the world's foremost sect.

If they fall into Spirit Hall's hands just like that, our sect's overall strength will drop an entire major tier in the future!"

At the words "inherited Soul Bones," the somewhat noisy hall abruptly fell quiet, and everyone sank into silence.

The Second and Seventh Elders' previously cold, hard expressions stiffened as well. For a long while, neither could utter another word.

The Third Elder tapped his fingers lightly against the stone tabletop and continued.

"Tang Hao's life or death is a small matter. The sect's inheritance is what matters.

If Spirit Hall strips those two inherited Soul Bones from Tang Hao, then never mind restoring the sect's prestige-

I'm afraid that within a few decades, our Clear Sky Sect won't even be able to keep its title as the foremost of the Upper Three Sects."

The atmosphere in the hall grew exceedingly grave.

Looking at everyone's ugly expressions, the Fourth Elder could not help letting out a heavy sigh, his tone full of regret and complaint.

"Alas, the grand former sect master has been gone for so many years, paying no heed to us younger generations.

Back when he was still on the mountain, what Soul Master in the world dared not show our Clear Sky Sect some respect?

Even Spirit Hall treated us courteously. How would they have dared act as they do now?"

Hearing the Fourth Elder mention the first-generation sect master, the Fifth Elder, seated farther down, raised his eyelids slightly.

His gaze swept over Tang Xiao in the seat of honor, and he spoke in a barbed tone.

"What use is there in bringing up the grand former sect master now, Fourth Brother?

In the end, our own backs simply aren't strong enough.

If this sect master of ours were strong enough, why would we fear Spirit Hall?

And why would we be trapped in a city of worry over two inherited Soul Bones of our own, without even the confidence to challenge Spirit Hall?"

After the Fifth Elder finished, none of the other elders voiced agreement, but they all lowered their eyes and remained silent.

Faced with the elders' evasions and veiled mockery, Tang Xiao, who had remained silent all along, finally raised his head slowly.

He looked calmly at the five men below the steps, neither arguing nor becoming angry, and merely said in a low voice:

"Fifth Uncle, there's no need to goad me.

Tang Hao is my own younger brother, and what's more, he has two inherited Soul Bones on him. I certainly won't stand by and do nothing.

Since the elders are worried about implicating the sect, I'll handle this matter myself. I won't use the sect's forces."

Hearing that Tang Xiao intended to descend the mountain alone, the elders' expressions all changed slightly.

The Second Elder hurriedly said in a grave voice:

"Sect Master, you mustn't act rashly!

As the master of a sect, if you step forward recklessly, Spirit Hall will see you as representing the entire Clear Sky Sect!

What's more, Spirit Hall's current Pope, Bibi Dong, is renowned throughout the Soul Master World as an iron-blooded woman.

Her methods are extremely ruthless.

If you go alone to demand his release and happen to anger her, forcing her to send troops to attack the mountain,

must these old bones of ours die along with Tang Hao?"

The Seventh Elder also hurriedly spoke.

"That's right, Sect Master. That Bibi Dong is no one to trifle with. If you fall in Spirit City alone,

the sect won't even have anyone to oversee matters. You can't gamble with the safety of the entire sect!"

Tang Xiao braced himself against his stone chair and slowly rose, his tall frame casting a shadow across the hall.

"Rest assured, elders. I don't intend to storm Spirit City alone.

The Three Upper Sects are branches of the same tree. When the lips are gone, the teeth grow cold.

If Spirit Hall dares capture Tang Hao today, they may well strike at the other two sects tomorrow.

On this trip down the mountain, I'll join forces with the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan to pressure Spirit Hall into releasing him."

Hearing that Tang Xiao not only had no intention of deploying the sect's elders but also planned to bring in the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan,

the five elders' tense expressions finally eased.

They exchanged glances before nodding one after another.