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The Village at the Foot of Clear Sky Sect's Mountain
Tang San arrived at his destination, but as he stood before it, confusion flickered across his face.
Was this tiny village—the size of his own birthplace, Holy Spirit Village—truly the number one sect under the heavens, as his father had claimed?
With doubt in his heart, he stepped forward, entering the village. Almost immediately, several robust young men blocked his path.
At first glance, they appeared to be ordinary villagers, dressed in patched-up coarse linen clothing. However, their physiques told a different story—each of them stood over 1.8 meters tall, broad-shouldered, and thickly muscled. No ordinary village could produce men like these.
Their eyes locked onto Tang San with obvious wariness. One of them spoke in a deep, gruff voice:
"Who are you? What business do you have here?"
In response, Tang San raised his left hand, summoning the Clear Sky Hammer and displaying it openly.
"I am Tang San, son of Tang Hao. I have come to reclaim my heritage and seek justice from the sect."
As soon as the words left his mouth, the young men's expressions darkened with fury. One after another, they lashed out in anger:
"So you're Tang San? How dare you show your face here after the trouble you've brought to the sect!"
"Get lost! You're not welcome here!"
"…"
The scolding wasn't enough for them—they clenched their fists, looking ready to beat him on the spot.
But at least Tang San had confirmed one thing—this was indeed the Clear Sky Sect. Even if these people didn't welcome him, his connection to the sect ran deep. There was no way he would leave so easily.
Bowing deeply, he said solemnly:
"I will not leave unless I am granted entry into the sect. At the very least, allow me to meet with my uncle. If he orders me to go, then I will never return."
The young men exchanged glances, murmuring amongst themselves. Finally, one of them sneered and said coldly:
"Fine. We'll let you give up on your own. Wait here—I'll report to the sect master."
With that, he turned and made his way toward the true sect. The process of delivering the message and receiving a response took the better part of a day.
During this time, Tang San remained outside the village, guarded closely by the Clear Sky Sect disciples—watched like a prisoner.
Tang San lowered his head, his mind consumed by rage. Thoughts of his father's execution and Xiao Wu's capture sent waves of killing intent surging through him. He wished for nothing more than to march into Spirit Hall and tear it apart with his own hands.
Finally, the young man returned, his expression smug with schadenfreude.
"Come on, the sect master took pity on you and is willing to meet with you."
Tang San's heart leaped with joy. As long as he could enter the sect, he would have a chance to leverage its strength.
---
Following the Clear Sky Sect disciples, Tang San passed through the village and ascended the mountain behind it. Eventually, they arrived at a sheer cliffside.
Beyond the abyss, an even more perilous snow-covered peak loomed in the distance. This was the true location of Clear Sky Sect.
Between the two mountains, there was no bridge—only a set of iron chains stretching across the vast chasm. Below the chains was an unfathomable void, shrouded in darkness.
The Clear Sky Sect disciples confidently stepped onto the chains, walking across as if it were solid ground. These were elite disciples—only those strong enough to traverse the chains could serve as sentries at the sect's outpost.
Observing this, Tang San understood—Clear Sky Sect's true base was across the precipice. Activating his Ghost Shadow Perplexing Track, he stepped onto the chains. With over a decade of rigorous training behind him, this iron chain was far from an obstacle.
The Clear Sky Sect disciples, expecting him to falter, were instead taken aback. They had anticipated his humiliation, but Tang San's skill was undeniable.
Before long, he successfully crossed the chasm, arriving at the sect's entrance. Carved into a massive stone at the gate were three powerful characters:
"Clear Sky Sect"
---
Waiting for Tang San inside was not only the sect master, Tang Xiao, but also the five remaining elders of the Clear Sky Sect—each with a unique and highly respected status within the clan.
However, their expressions were grim. Even Tang Xiao's face was dark with displeasure.
Moon Pavilion had been sealed off.
Tang Yuehua had been arrested.
And with her capture, Clear Sky Sect had lost its only external supply chain.
That's right—the entire Clear Sky Sect had been sustained by Tang Yuehua. Her efforts had allowed the men of the sect to focus solely on their cultivation. But now, with their resources cut off, they were facing an enormous crisis.
And at the center of this catastrophe?
The very person who had just walked through their doors.
Of course, they had to see him.
The moment Tang San stepped into the hall, he didn't wait for anyone to speak. Instead, he immediately fell to his knees with a loud thud, bowing deeply.
"Tang San, son of Tang Hao, has come to reclaim his heritage! I implore the sect to seek justice!"
His words, however, had the opposite effect of what he had hoped.
The seventh elder, Lie Yang, shot to his feet in fury.
"Never mention that name again!" he roared. "Both father and son are disgraces! Decades ago, instead of marrying a human, he chose to wed a spirit beast—bringing disaster upon the sect!
"His foolishness made the old sect master cough up blood and die in rage! He offended Spirit Hall, forcing the Clear Sky Sect into hiding!
"And now you dare to crawl back here, asking for justice?!"
The elder's voice carried heavy discontent as he continued his reprimand.
"Even after decades, this trouble still hasn't ended. Offending the wrong people, dragging the sect into disaster—now even that girl, Yuehua, has been captured. The sect is on the verge of collapse! Are you telling me that, from now on, our disciples should abandon cultivation and turn to farming and hunting just to survive?"
Another elder, his voice laced with fury, stood up and spat his condemnation:
"Disgrace! Disgrace! Disgrace! He couldn't even defeat a single Soul Douluo! The title of 'Clear Sky'—our sect's highest honor—was truly wasted on him. And now, you expect us to seek justice for him? Wishful thinking! Absolutely impossible!"
Under this barrage of insults, Tang San did not dare to argue. He understood his current strength was lacking. If he wanted to retaliate, he needed power. Until then, he could only endure.
With his head pressed against the cold stone floor, he knelt and gave a forceful bow, the impact echoing through the hall. Gritting his teeth, he spoke with a mixture of anger and grief:
"My father is already dead..."
The hall fell into dead silence.
Tang Xiao shot up from his seat, eyes wide with disbelief. His voice thundered across the chamber:
"Impossible! Absolutely impossible! My brother's strength was unparalleled. Even if he couldn't win, he could have escaped! Who could possibly take his life?"
Tang San's body trembled with barely contained rage as he gritted out:
"It was Spirit Hall. They deployed four Titled Douluo—along with a golden-haired woman who had six spirit rings and an angelic martial soul. Even the Titled Douluo followed her commands..."
He then proceeded to recount the entire battle, embellishing the details as he spoke. He made sure not to omit Wang Li, emphasizing how that man had grievously injured Tang Hao, leaving him incapable of escape. It was only after this that the golden-haired woman struck the fatal blow, beheading him.
Once he finished speaking, Tang San reached for his soul tool, pulling out his father's only remaining relic—his right arm, which had been ravaged by the opposing forces of ice and fire.
The limb was barely recognizable, charred black like burnt wood, yet encased in crystalline ice—a strange and eerie sight.
Tang San solemnly continued:
"Spirit Hall took my father's body. This arm is all that remains. It is still laced with an incredibly potent ice-fire poison."
Tang Xiao approached slowly, his expression dark and unreadable. He extended his palm and released a surge of soul power. With a single strike, the arm shattered, leaving behind only one thing—a spirit bone.
A treasured relic of Clear Sky Sect.
Tang Xiao picked up the spirit bone, gripping it tightly as his sorrow erupted into fury:
"The Qian Clan's Six-Winged Angel… I will make you pay in blood!"
Boom!
Even though Tang Xiao had yet to reach his future peak of Rank 97, his Rank 96 soul power was already fearsome. The entire hall trembled under the force of his rage.
The five elders remained silent. Despite their resentment toward Tang Hao's reckless past, he had still been their sect's most brilliant talent—someone they had watched grow up. And now, to learn he had died such a tragic death… an overwhelming sense of grief and helplessness settled over them.
Tang San's heart surged with joy. Seeing that the sect was stirred, he slammed his forehead against the ground once more and pleaded:
"I beg the sect to seek justice!"
Tang Xiao was on the verge of giving his answer. His voice was filled with resolve:
"Elders, it is time for the Clear Sky Sect to rise once more—"
However, before he could finish, the Second Elder, the oldest among them, interjected with a grave tone:
"Sect Master, I understand your pain. That boy, Tang Hao—though he was reckless—was still one of our own. His death pains us all."
"But the survival of the Clear Sky Sect must come first. As long as I still breathe, I will not allow you to act recklessly over a momentary impulse. Only by staying alive can we even begin to talk about the future."
Tang Xiao's brows furrowed deeply. He understood the logic, but it felt like a heavy weight pressing on his chest. He clenched his fists, his voice strained as he put forth a compromise:
"Second Elder, the sect's survival is already at stake. With Yuehua captured, our supply lines are completely severed. If this continues, we won't even be able to remain in seclusion."
"Yuehua must be rescued. Someone from the sect must go to the palace and explain the situation—plead with His Majesty to show mercy. If all else fails, then we must send one of our strongest to serve as a guest elder for the Heaven Dou Imperial Family."
"We'll step out of seclusion, but not entirely. We'll ally with the Heaven Dou Imperial Family. First, to secure our supply lines; second, with this ally, we'll be better prepared when the time comes to confront Spirit Hall."
"As for actively taking on Spirit Hall, we can wait until we have a true peerless powerhouse. As for this Tang San, let him remain here. He is the son of Tang Hao, his talent cannot be too far behind. Once his soul power increases, he might even become a Titled Douluo."
The five elders exchanged looks and briefly discussed the matter before agreeing to this plan. Finally, the Second Elder sighed deeply and spoke with a resolute tone:
"Then I'll go personally. After all, Tang Hao is dead, and no matter how much dissatisfaction we have, we cannot vent it on a dead man. I'll go to the Emperor and explain the situation. If he's willing to show mercy, the Clear Sky Sect will offer one or two Titled Douluo and several Soul Douluos and Soul Saints to serve as guest elders for the royal family."
"The Clear Sky Sect, once so glorious, now reduced to this—relying on becoming royal lapdogs just to secure supplies. However..."
The Second Elder's eyes hardened.
"This wild brat, we absolutely cannot recognize him. Sect Master, you may train him, but we will never allow him to claim the Clear Sky Sect as his ancestral home unless he proves he can become the pillar of this sect—a true Titled Douluo powerhouse."
Tang San's face went pale. He had hoped to use the sect's power to take revenge on Spirit Hall and search for Xiao Wu, but things were not unfolding as he had expected.
The sect didn't want him, nor would they help him. What was he to do now? He needed power—strength...
Tang Xiao glanced at Tang San, his expression unreadable. He gave a small nod and spoke with a tone that showed some reluctance:
"Second Elder, I'll leave everything to you. Depart as soon as possible—who knows how much more Yuehua will suffer if we wait."
The Second Elder gave a nod of agreement.
"I understand."
---
That same day, the Second Elder left Clear Sky Sect, accompanied by a small group of followers, heading for Heaven Dou City.
Back at Tang Xiao's residence...
He gazed at Tang San with a furrowed brow. He saw no trace of Tang Hao's strength or A Yin's gentle grace in Tang San. The boy seemed completely unremarkable, almost like a stranger—he bore no resemblance to his legendary parents.
Tang Xiao sighed before speaking:
"Tang San, your return has upset the elders and disciples of the sect. There is nothing I can do to change that. You'll have to rely on yourself from here on out."
"After all, you are the son of Tang Hao and A Yin. If you need help, as your uncle, I'll do what I can."
Tang San's face lit up with joy at this unexpected offer.
"Uncle, please help me hunt a soul beast. I need to add a soul ring to the Clear Sky Hammer. Right now, all I need is strength. My Blue Silver Grass is already at the level of a Soul Emperor, but its power is limited. I believe with the Clear Sky Hammer's strength, I can rapidly increase my power."
Tang Xiao's mind raced as he thought about A Yin's Blue Silver Emperor. In Tang San, it seemed only the power of Blue Silver Grass could manifest. Thankfully, he had the Clear Sky Hammer; without it, Tang San would have been entirely useless.
"That's a good idea. At your age, reaching Soul Emperor is impressive. Your Clear Sky Hammer will be able to add a ten-thousand-year soul ring as its first. This could be your chance to prove yourself worthy of our recognition. Tomorrow, we'll go out and hunt for your soul rings."
Tang San eagerly responded:
"Thank you, Uncle!"
---
The next day, Tang Xiao took Tang San out to hunt soul beasts. After a great deal of effort, they succeeded in adding the first three soul rings to the Clear Sky Hammer. These soul rings ranged from ten thousand to thirty thousand years in age, all drawn from powerful soul beasts.
As a result, Tang San's soul power reached level 69. However, this also came with drawbacks. He could feel a conflict within his soul power—his internal energy was difficult to control. The clashing energies caused frequent pain in his body, especially in several key pressure points.
Tang San knew that this was the limit of the soul rings he could absorb for now. If he pushed further, he might risk exploding from the overload of energy.
He thought back to the plans his father had for him—using the Clear Sky Hammer to rapidly increase his power before entering the Slaughter City to seek the favor of the gods.
But now, without Tang Hao's protection, he knew he was no match for the Slaughter King. If he returned to the Slaughter City, he would have to proceed in secret, seeking the gods' favor in stealth.
Before that, he needed to reach level 70 and add the seventh soul ring to his Blue Silver Grass, becoming a Soul Saint. This would give him more power and self-preservation abilities.
But all of that was still far off...
---
Meanwhile, in Heaven Dou City, the Second Elder arrived at the Emperor's Palace.
Upon meeting Emperor Xue Ye, he lowered his stance and explained the situation.
He emphasized that Tang Hao and Tang San had long been expelled from Clear Sky Sect and were no longer disciples of the sect. As for their actions—whether against Wang Li or the disappearance of Xue Qinghe—Clear Sky Sect had no involvement.
To make amends, Clear Sky Sect was willing to offer one Titled Douluo, two Soul Douluos, and four Soul Saints to serve as guest elders to the royal family, helping protect the Heaven Dou Empire.
With this offer, the Second Elder successfully convinced Emperor Xue Ye, who, as an emperor, was eager to strengthen the Heaven Dou Empire. He readily accepted, promising not to make things difficult for Clear Sky Sect and even offering to mediate their issues with Wang Li.
---
(End of Chapter)