Yu Yuanzhen knitted his brows. Thinking it over carefully, transferring everyone at Soul Emperor rank and above really would put enormous pressure on the clan's defenses.
If hostile forces seized the opportunity to attack, the clan truly would not be able to withstand them.
He needed to rearrange things.
"Mobilize sixty percent. The rest will stay to guard the clan."
"My mind is made up. That's what we'll do!"
Unless he recovered the clan's lost face, he simply could not swallow this insult.
It would not take long for news of Yu Xiaogang's death to spread throughout the Soul Master World.
If the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan did not respond, they would become a laughingstock.
They would not even be able to hold on to their seat among the Upper Three Sects in the future.
Anyone would be able to come and provoke them.
Helpless, Yu Luomian could only agree.
He truly could not change anything his elder brother had decided.
He could only hope that things went smoothly this time, that Spirit Hall would offer an apology, and that the matter would be over.
At noon that day, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's experts finished assembling and set off for Spirit City with an aggressive show of force.
As one of the most powerful Soul Master forces on the Douluo Continent, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan had people watching its every move.
Thus, barely had their people set out before more than half the Soul Master World received the news.
"What is Clan Leader Yu planning? What exactly is going on?"
Ning Fengzhi's brows were tightly furrowed.
The moment the news reached Seven Treasure City, he summoned Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo.
Yu Yuanzhen was leading a group straight toward Spirit City. Clearly, this was nothing good.
But they had yet to uncover the reason.
Sword Douluo's face was as still as an ancient well, but his gaze was grave.
Any action taken by any one of the Upper Three Sects carried extraordinary significance.
It could even affect the situation throughout the entire Soul Master World.
Dealing with Spirit Hall's expansion over the years had already left them exhausted. They truly did not want to shatter the stability they had finally managed to achieve.
"Could Yu Yuanzhen have been pressed too hard and decided to strike back?"
Bone Douluo offered his theory.
The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan had only one Titled Douluo, and the pressure it faced overall was considerable.
Under extreme pressure, people could easily do something impulsive.
That might very well have been the case with Yu Yuanzhen.
But such a decision seemed far too rash, and rather mad.
Ning Fengzhi pondered for a moment.
Without accurate intelligence, they could not say for certain what this meant.
Besides, the other side had not informed them before taking action.
If the aim was to curb Spirit Hall's expansion, they should have contacted the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect and the Clear Sky Sect.
"The situation remains unclear. Continue monitoring it closely, and be ready to formulate a response at any time."
"Activate the sect's emergency plan. Be ready to head to Spirit City at any moment."
Ning Fengzhi's decision greatly startled Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo.
Were they going to support the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan?
But how could his thinking have been so simple?
Supporting the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan was very necessary for the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect.
But it still depended on the circumstances.
Until they understood what had happened, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's people certainly would not move.
That was why they would monitor things closely rather than provide support immediately.
In all fairness, if the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan was suppressed, it would do the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect no good either.
Spirit Hall would become even stronger, putting enormous pressure on the sect.
But if there was a reason behind the incident, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would have to assess the circumstances.
Blind support was out of the question.
Otherwise, the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect would have been finished long ago.
Only after hearing his plan did Sword Douluo and Bone Douluo feel reassured.
As expected of Ning Fengzhi. He really did consider so much.
For now, they would maintain a wait-and-see stance and quietly await developments.
Besides, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan's actions would also let them learn just how strong Spirit Hall really was.
Over the years, all manner of speculation about Spirit Hall's strength had run rampant.
Yet no one had ever understood the true situation.
This was a good opportunity.
Only by knowing both themselves and their enemy could they fight a hundred battles without defeat.
Inside the Clear Sky Sect, the current sect master, Tang Hui, tapped his fingers against his armrest.
All the elders of the elders' council had arrived and were analyzing the reason behind Yu Yuanzhen's actions.
But however much they analyzed it, they could not reach a definite answer.
"Sect Master, why don't we send a couple of people to bolster their presence?"
The second elder made a suggestion.
In their eyes, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan was still a little weak.
Running all the way to Spirit City-wasn't that just serving themselves up on a platter?
Tang Hui shook his head gently and said, "No. We'll watch and see how things develop!"
"What?"
"Isn't that... inappropriate?"
The elders were dumbfounded.
He actually had no intention of sending support?
They were allies! The Upper Three Sects were branches of the same tree.
Was he planning to abandon an ally?
Tang Hui smiled faintly and said, "Then do you know what Yu Yuanzhen's objective is?"
"Offering blind support will only drag us into the water."
At those words, the elders fell silent.
That was indeed true.
Even now, they still did not know what the other side's objective actually was.
If they suddenly rushed over to help and it all turned out to be some embarrassing misunderstanding, the Clear Sky Sect would be the one to lose face.
"Haven't you noticed that the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect has also remained silent and motionless? The other Soul Master forces aren't making any moves either, so there's no need to rush."
Tang Hui's reasoning was sound and well supported.
If none of the other Soul Master forces were acting, why should the Clear Sky Sect be in a hurry?
As the foremost sect under heaven, the Clear Sky Sect had to act prudently.
When the situation was unclear, they had to investigate it first.
Just as Tang Hui had said, although the entire continent had been shaken, no Soul Master force had intervened.
They treated it entirely as an independent action by the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.
Every one of them feared being dragged into the water.
They did not have the courage to face Spirit Hall.
Moreover, Spirit Hall held an extremely, extremely lofty position in the hearts of commoner Soul Masters.
The support policies it had introduced over the years had greatly benefited commoner Soul Masters.
It could be said that Spirit Hall needed only to raise its arm and call, and more than a hundred thousand Soul Masters would rally to its support.
The Clear Sky Sect was indeed the foremost sect under heaven, but even it lacked that kind of rallying power.
This was the power of the people's hearts.
Spirit Hall's policies benefited hundreds of millions of families.
They allowed everyone to awaken their Martial Soul at the age of six, then determine their future based on that Martial Soul.
By contrast, Soul Master forces like the Clear Sky Sect made no real contribution to the common people. They only exploited them.
Not a single Soul Master force followed Spirit Hall's example by contributing to the common people or securing even the slightest benefit for them.
At the Pope's Palace in Spirit City.
Two days had passed, and Bibi Dong was cheerful all day long.
As soon as she reached the Eastern Abyss Pavilion, she clung to Gu Yuan's side and personally cooked all three daily meals.
But when she went to the Pope's Palace, she was a sacred, inviolable Empress.
"The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan has indeed made its move. What about the other Soul Master forces?"
Bibi Dong showed no trace of panic.
"In reply to Your Holiness, the major sects are maintaining a wait-and-see stance. We have yet to see them offer support."
Bibi Dong understood. It was just as she had expected.
Those Soul Master forces were not united in the slightest.
Had they possessed even a little unity, Spirit Hall would not have squeezed their room to maneuver over these past years.
"When will Yu Yuanzhen and his people reach Spirit City?"
"In three days at most."
"Good. Everyone, prepare. We'll put the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan under the knife first!"
Her words were domineering, and no one thought there was anything inappropriate about them.
It was merely the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. The Elder Hall alone could easily handle it.
Elites?
Elites were exactly who Spirit Hall fought!
After making the arrangements, Bibi Dong returned to the Eastern Abyss Pavilion.
Chrysanthemum Douluo and the others shook their heads inwardly.
His Holiness the Pope was rather like a monarch who no longer attended morning court.
Since Lord Gu's return, His Holiness the Pope ran straight back to the Eastern Abyss Pavilion the moment she finished her work. She truly could not wait even a moment.
Sure enough, a woman in love could be utterly mad, even if she was the Pope.
Qian Daoliu said mildly, "Everyone, go back and make your preparations. Don't disturb Lord Gu's peace."