Deep within the Elder Hall of Spirit Hall, in the main council chamber, the lights were dim; only a few soul lamps cast cold reflections on Qian Daoliu's solemn face and the elders below.
Golden Crocodile Douluo recounted everything he saw and heard in Martial City, especially his brief confrontation with Wisdom Brain Douluo, his assessment of power, and the appearance of the ten-year-old young sect master Chen Yi.
The golden crocodile's deep, majestic voice echoed in the hall, plunging it into dead silence.
Qian Daoliu, seated at the top, seldom showed surprise, but even with a century of experience and determination, he was shaken by the report.
He knew the strength of Golden Crocodile Douluo and the missing Tang Chen; aside from them, it was hard to find equals on the continent. But now, even Golden Crocodile believed himself inferior to the Body Sect's Grand Elder?
Wisdom Brain Douluo… Is he truly stronger than the golden crocodile? Qian Daoliu's heart grew even more solemn. The strength of the Body Sect was far more terrifying than he had first imagined.
And when Golden Crocodile Douluo evaluated the young sect master Chen Yi, expecting him to reach the rank of Douluo before thirty, Qian Daoliu was even more shocked. That talent was no less than his own granddaughter's. This Body Sect was frightening not just because of its senior generation, but also its descendants.
On the opposite side, Bibi Dong listened coldly, unconsciously clutching her jade-like hand in her luxurious papal robe. Her beautiful face was frosted over, but when she heard the evaluation of Chen Yi, a piercing light flashed in her eyes.
After a long moment, Qian Daoliu finally raised his head from thought and broke the silence. Though calm, his voice held undeniable coldness.
"From now on, Azure Luan Douluo will serve as the Dean of Spirit Hall Academy, overseeing all affairs, strengthening the academy's power, and preparing for future changes."
His gaze swept over the worships and elders below. "Additionally, three more elders will be sent from the Elder Hall to reside in the academy as heads or honorary deans, assisting in management and training core disciples."
This order stirred many elders' hearts. Usually, Spirit Hall elders devoted themselves to cultivation and rarely managed affairs. Now, sending them to the academy made it clear that Qian Daoliu intended to turn Spirit Hall Academy into a fortress against Grand Martial Academy, deploying his core combat power without hesitation.
Bibi Dong frowned slightly, a flash of unwillingness and anger in her eyes. Spirit Hall Academy was a crucial place for her to train loyal subordinates. Now Qian Daoliu was sending not only a 97th-level Worship but also three titled elders, undoubtedly weakening her own control. But she had no one at the level of Azure Luan Douluo under her command. Dissatisfied as she was, she could only suppress her feelings for now.
Qian Daoliu's voice sounded again, heavy as mountain rain, ordering all students to abandon arrogance and prepare for the coming struggle.
"The next Continental Advanced Soul Master Academy Elite Tournament… will be extremely difficult."
At these words, everyone in the hall, including Bibi Dong, looked grim.
...
Inside a simple, sturdy stone house.
Tang Xiao slowly withdrew his palm from Second Elder's back, a bit of sweat on his brow—evidently, the treatment had taken much effort. He let out a breath and turned, worry and anger in his gaze as he looked at the elders around him.
"Second Elder's internal organs have suffered severe shock, and his soul has been greatly affected. Fortunately…" Tang Xiao's voice was low and weary. The opponent hadn't meant to kill, there was enough distance, and their power had waned. Second Elder's life was not in danger; with a few months' recovery, he should heal.
Tang Xiao's words were filled with deep helplessness. During the sect's closure, he had forbidden disciples and elders from leaving the mountain and especially from provoking the mysterious Body Sect. And yet? The just-broken-through Second Elder and the impulsive Seventh Elder had not listened, sneaking down the mountain and even trying to spy on the opening ceremony!
Now, they hadn't even approached the gates; just a few miles out, Second Elder was severely injured by a mysterious grand elder, forced to flee home in shame, nearly losing his life.
Hearing Second Elder was not in danger, several elders sighed in relief, but their momentary joy was soon erased by a surge of fury.
Seventh Elder slammed his fist on the stone table, cracking it instantly, his beard and hair disheveled as he roared in anger.
"Body Sect dogs! How dare they injure Second Brother! This must not go unpunished; a blood debt must be paid!"
"Exactly!" Elder Third's face was frosted, his eyes full of killing intent. "If this grudge isn't avenged, what face does our Clear Sky Sect have left in the world?"
Fifth Elder and other powerful members also voiced their anger, the stone house filled with indignation and shouts for vengeance.
Tang Xiao looked at the angry crowd, feeling a headache. He rubbed his brow, suppressing his irritation, and tried to reason in a low voice.
"Elders, don't be rash. The sect is in a period of seclusion; gathering strength is our top priority. The Body Sect's power is unfathomable—even Spirit Hall is envious. It's unwise to provoke them now!"
He tried to guide their thinking. "Besides, in the future, Spirit Hall and the Body Sect may become enemies. That may not be a bad thing for us. The enemy of my enemy is my friend."
"We could try to ally with them, or at least… join forces to resist Spirit Hall's pressure…"
"Join forces? Nonsense!" Seventh Elder rudely interrupted before Tang Xiao could finish, pointing in his face. "Tang Xiao! Why are you talking about the big picture now? Did those useless Spirit Masters ever think about the big picture when they hurt Second Brother?"
"When they openly founded an academy and coveted our Clear Sky Sect's title of 'number one sect in the world,' did they think of the big picture?"
"Exactly!" another elder interjected disdainfully. "In the end, it's you, the sect master, who are useless. Always looking forward and back, afraid! When Uncle was here, how glorious was our Clear Sky Sect? What Spirit Hall, what Body Sect—who dared act arrogant before us? Who dared harm a single hair of our elders?"
"Now look, the tiger has fallen from the mountain and is bullied by dogs! Even unheard-of sects now defecate on us from above!"
"And that Tang Hao! If he hadn't caused such a disaster, we wouldn't have been forced into hiding, and those useless Spirit Masters wouldn't have risen!"
"Exactly!" another elder chimed in, full of nostalgia for past glory and dissatisfaction with the present. "If Uncle comes back, he'll definitely slaughter those Body Sect elders! No—he'll destroy their entire sect! That group of useless Spirit Masters dreaming of our title—it's just wishful thinking!"
"And Spirit Hall!" Seventh Elder added, his anger deepening. "The grudge from when they forced us into seclusion must also be erased!"
Looking at the elders before him, righteous and indignant, incapable of rational analysis and lost in dreams of "what will happen when Tang Chen returns," Tang Xiao felt a deep sense of helplessness, almost drowning in it.
After hearing detailed information about the Body Sect and Grand Martial Academy from his sister Yuehua, he had initially invited a few elders to calmly analyze the changing situation on the continent and discuss future strategies. But as soon as they heard that a sect calling itself "the world's number one mysterious sect" even hinted at challenging Clear Sky Sect's status, they exploded.
Second Elder, who had just broken through, dragged Seventh Elder down the mountain… and after suffering great loss and returning in shame, they learned nothing, only blaming him and Tang Hao, and clinging harder to their fantasy of "Tang Chen returning and sweeping everything away."
Tang Xiao opened his mouth to try to reason again, but seeing the elders' excited, unreasonable faces, he could only sigh in exhaustion and helplessness. He turned away in silence, no longer looking at them, as their eyes grew ever more excited and detached from reality, entirely focused on their "grand revenge plan" for flattening the Body Sect and destroying Spirit Hall after Tang Chen's return.
Within that stone house, Tang Xiao's broad, desolate back seemed especially lonely.
...
Bonus chapter at 300 PS