Once the world's premier sect, the Clear Sky Sect had now fallen so far, it could only be described as ruined. Years ago, after two elders from the Spirit Hall descended with the power of thunder and utterly destroyed this place, the very backbone of the Clear Sky Sect was snapped.
Even though the sect tried with all its might to rebuild afterwards, their former glory was little more than a memory, almost impossible to regain. Rather, it was as if the whole order was surviving in makeshift shacks amid the ruins, the entire organization on the verge of collapse, an atmosphere of barely scraping by spreading through all corners.
Suddenly, a figure wrapped in a large black cloak appeared atop the Hall of the Clear Sky, without a flicker of warning.
This figure floated in midair. No spirit rings were visible at their feet, not a trace of spirit power could be sensed from their body—they seemed to have become one with the surrounding air itself.
Yet merely standing there, a vast and majestic aura quietly swept outward, so oppressive that none below could even think of escape.
"Who… who's that!? Is it someone from Spirit Hall again? What more do they want?"
"We're already like this… Do they really have to wipe us out completely?"
"Ah… I don't want to die…"
Panic spread through the simple structures below like an outbreak of plague. The disciples, already traumatized from the last devastating blow, were so frightened that even the smallest disturbance shattered their composure.
Shuuuu—!
Several gleaming streaks shot up.
From the main hall—the largest building, and the one least damaged—three figures swiftly emerged and soared into midair, blocking the path of the figure in black.
These were the Clan Master of the Clear Sky Sect—Tang Xiao—and the two remaining Second and Third Elders.
All three wore solemn expressions. Their soul power gathered in secret, their eyes full of vigilance and hardly suppressed fear. For they could all sense: this uninvited guest before them possessed an unimaginable power far beyond their ability to confront.
"Who are you? What brings you to my Clear Sky Sect?" Tang Xiao managed to ask, in a low tone, struggling to keep calm.
The person in the black cloak didn't reply. Instead, they simply raised their head a little. From under the broad hood, a locked gaze landed squarely on Tang Xiao's face.
"Tang Xiao."
A gentle, graceful woman's voice rang clear in Tang Xiao's ears.
That voice—it was…! He'd heard it someplace before, but just couldn't recall where.
In the next moment, the cloaked figure raised a hand, and with a gentle motion, lifted back the hood covering her face.
An indescribably beautiful countenance appeared. She looked to be about thirty, with snow-white skin and refined features. Her brow carried a depth reminiscent of the embracing sea, wisdom and authority tempered through the flow of years.
Most impressive of all were her deep blue eyes—in them shimmered the light of the entire ocean.
"You… you're… Senior Bo Saixi?!"
Tang Xiao's pupils shrank sharply, recognizing her!
More than twenty years ago, he and Tang Hao had been sent by their grandfather Tang Chen on a mission to Seagod Island across the seas, delivering a love letter. It was then they'd had the honor of meeting Bo Saixi, the legendary High Priestess of Sea God Island, the Invincible Sea God Douluo.
"Indeed, it's me."
Bo Saixi nodded slightly, her gaze switching to the fearful, anxious disciples cowering below, then to Tang Xiao and the two elders. Their furrowed brows and blue eyes betrayed lingering doubts and unease.
"What has happened? When did those who wield the Clear Sky Hammer become so… cowardly?"
In her memory, the disciples of the Clear Sky Sect were supposed to be bold, uninhibited, full of dominance and dignity, wielding the Clear Sky Hammer with heroic spirit to challenge the world.
But here, all she saw were people drained of energy and spirit, not a trace of the pride or aura that a Clear Sky Hammer soul master ought to possess. They looked like a pack of stray dogs, huddled in fear.
Upon hearing these words, tremendous hope suddenly kindled in Tang Xiao's eyes, and with a thud, he dropped to his knees before Bo Saixi.
"Senior Bo Saixi! Please… grant us justice!"
Tang Xiao's voice was heavy with sorrow and pleading, tinged faintly with sobs.
The experienced Second and Third Elders, on hearing Bo Saixi and seeing Tang Xiao's response, immediately guessed her true identity. Overcome with joy, they too dropped all pride and hurried to kneel.
"Senior, please bring us justice!"
"Senior, the Clear Sky Sect has suffered such injustice!"
In this moment, their former dignity as leaders of one of the three great sects vanished. They looked like pitiful folk with no one to appeal to after suffering great wrongs.
Bo Saixi's frown deepened. She gently raised her right hand, helping Tang Xiao up.
"Stand, and speak. What happened here? Why has Tang Chen's Clear Sky Sect come to this state? Tell me everything."
To Tang Chen, her old friend, these descendants held special meaning.
…
Next, inside the Main Hall of the Clear Sky Sect—a council chamber so plain it almost didn't deserve the name.
Bang!
With a dull sound, the heavy bluestone slab beside Bo Saixi—once used as a table—shattered under her palm.
"Well done… Qian Daoliu! Spirit Hall! Body Sect!"
Bo Saixi's voice remained calm, but the anger in it seemed to chill the very air.
Moments earlier, Tang Xiao had recounted, with tears streaming down his cheeks, the longstanding misery of the Clear Sky Sect: Spirit Hall's coercion, their threats to the outside world that forced the sect into hiding, their subsequent arrogant and outrageous actions that resulted in the murder of two titled Douluo elders from the sect; and the Body Sect, so overbearing and tyrannical, colluding with Spirit Hall to suppress the Clear Sky Sect to the limits…
Rage swelled in Bo Saixi's chest.
Qian Daoliu… once he had wooed her, though she'd refused. Yet from all she had seen, he seemed a principled, upright true gentleman. Who would've thought he'd treat Tang Chen's descendants in such a fashion—forcing the world's top sect to the brink of ruin over such petty matters!
And that upstart Body Sect, their arrogance was truly outrageous. Did they think none in this world could control them!?
"Please, Senior… for my grandfather's sake, help my Clear Sky Sect!"
Tang Xiao once again fell to his knees, his voice full of heartbreak.
"If we don't get outside help, Spirit Hall and the Body Sect will never leave us alone. The Clear Sky Sect—the foundation of hundreds of years—is about to disappear in an instant! If only my grandfather were alive, how could he rest easy?!"
Both the Second and Third Elders bowed and wept repeatedly.
Bo Saixi drew a deep breath, her chest heaving, forcibly restraining her surging emotions. Looking at the three kneeling before her, and the ruined sect all around, she recalled the memory of Tang Chen—the man who once swung a giant hammer, brimming with heroic spirit.
"Rest assured." Bo Saixi's voice returned to its usual gentle cadence.
"I might have ignored all this had I not known. But now, how could I possibly stand by and watch Tang Chen's descendants be bullied like this?"
"I will deal with this personally!"
Bo Saixi was certain—though Qian Daoliu had failed to win her heart, he still harbored feelings for her. If she intervened, surely he would not refuse her this favor.
As for the Body Sect… Bo Saixi's eyes flashed with disdain.
Chu Shanhe's cultivation was only at rank 98. Even on land, he was no match for Qian Daoliu. Even if he somehow attained the so-called golden third awakening and barely reached rank 99, for a veteran peerless Douluo like herself—there would be nothing to fear.
And as for that legendary Wisdom Brain Douluo... Bo Saixi's eyes narrowed thoughtfully, then returned to their usual indifference.
Divine origin-level spirit power? Impressive, perhaps, but this time… things would be different.
These thoughts flashed through her mind as she unconsciously caressed her right wrist. Beneath the wide sleeve, a golden trident mark shimmered with a faint light.
When Tang Xiao, the Second Elder and Third Elder heard this clear declaration of support from Bo Saixi, they were overjoyed.
Wasn't she one of the Big Three peerless Douluo, alongside Tang Chen and Qian Daoliu—revered as the Invincible Sea?
To them now, Bo Saixi was the only peerless expert comparable to their grandfather. With her help, could the Clear Sky Sect finally survive this calamity?
As for Qian Daoliu, in their deeply-rooted beliefs—he had lost to Tang Chen on the ancestral ground of the Clear Sky Sect and later been decisively defeated by Bo Saixi herself on Sea God Island. Among all the masters of Spirit Hall, he was certainly the weakest.
With Bo Saixi's support, they could not only resist, but probably even suppress Spirit Hall and the Body Sect's threat!
…