"Your Holiness, could you tell—why did Tuoba Xi suddenly freeze?"
Yue Guan and Gui Mei both frowned and looked toward Bibi Dong.
Bibi Dong's jade-like fingers tightened slightly. After a brief silence, she said calmly:
"It should have been one of Li Zhexian's Spirit Abilities."
"If either of you ever encounter him again, you must act with extreme caution."
"Yes, Your Holiness." ×2
Yue Guan and Gui Mei exchanged solemn glances.
Their eyes fell upon the white-robed youth sprinting across the Secret Realm, their expressions grave.
They still remembered their first encounter with Li Zhexian—
He had been competing in the Spirit Master Tournament, ambushed midway by the two of them.
Back then, he had needed a Titled protector just to survive and had been utterly powerless before them.
But now—
He had grown strong enough that even they would have to treat him with respect.
"What a terrifying Spirit Ability…"
...
Atop the Divine Mountain.
The Worship Elders' expressions were all grim.
The instant Li Zhexian had unleashed that Spirit Ability—
Even they hadn't sensed it.
So strange and unfathomable, impossible to guard against.
"If this kid becomes an enemy someday, he'll be a nightmare to deal with," Glowing Feather Douluo said with a light chuckle, lazily swaying on a hanging swing.
...
Under the dark purple sky.
Li Zhexian moved swiftly through the deep mountain forest.
"I've already agreed with the seniors…"
"If we're separated, the top priority is to regroup first."
He had traveled for several dozen miles—
—and hadn't encountered a single person.
Touching down lightly on his toes, he leapt atop a towering tree.
From there, he surveyed the vast expanse of endless forest stretching out in rolling waves before him.
At first glance, nothing stood out—
Except, far at the edge of his vision, lay a desolate, abandoned city.
"That city… a lot of people will be heading there."
"Whether to seize Command Banners or regroup with the others…"
"I have to go there."
As that thought flashed through his mind, the air around him began to ripple.
Sword qi coalesced throughout the forest—
Each streak of light marked one of his future steps.
His white figure flickered several times—
—and in an instant, he was already a thousand meters away.
...
The enormous light screen above the plaza was divided into hundreds of sub-panels.
Each panel displayed scenes of powerful cultivators from the great sects battling within the Secret Realm.
Rustle—
Rustle—
Throughout the realm, combatants were beginning to meet.
The sharp crack of shattering keys echoed again and again.
Flickering silhouettes, pale with shock, were ejected from the realm one after another.
A red-robed bishop of Spirit Hall announced loudly:
"Tuoba Xi of the Sacred Dragon Sect has fallen!"
"Huo Mingkong of the Fire Leopard Sect has been eliminated!"
"Leng Hanfeng of the Iron Armor Sect is eliminated, the Command Banner is lost, and the Iron Armor Sect withdraws from this Seven Sects Re-Selection!"
"Yan Lixue of the Shadow Sect is eliminated, the Command Banner is lost, and the Shadow Sect withdraws from this Seven Sects Re-Selection!"
With each elimination and every Command Banner that appeared,
The crowd outside roared louder and louder, excitement swelling like waves.
"Only an hour has passed, and over a hundred people have been eliminated already!"
"Only Tuoba Xi has died so far—Li Zhexian's methods are merciless!"
"But why didn't Tuoba Xi have the Sacred Dragon Sect's Command Banner on him? Li Zhexian still hasn't taken one yet!"
"As expected of the world's number one sect—three elders of the Clear Sky Clan have already seized eight Command Banners and hold first place!"
"Still, no battle has matched the one between Li Zhexian and Tuoba Xi. Aside from that, no other Titled or peak Spirit Douluo clash has occurred!"
"Huh?! The direction Li Zhexian's heading… it's toward that ruined city! The Clear Sky Clan's Seventh Elder, Lord Lie Yang, is stationed there!"
"Li Zhexian… is about to run into a Clear Sky Clan Titled Douluo?!"
...
"Zhexian, my young friend…"
Dugu Bo's greenish-red eyes narrowed slightly.
Even though he trusted the white-robed youth's strength,
the reputation of the Clear Sky Clan—and of the Clear Sky Hammer—was far too great to underestimate.
...
Within Spirit City's plaza.
At the seating area of the Clear Sky Clan,
The Third Elder Tang Cang sat calmly, his aura deep and unshakable.
Even with Li Zhexian's power now brushing the level of a Titled Douluo,
He remained utterly confident in his fellow sect elder.
"Tang San."
Sitting behind him, Tang San immediately answered,
"Third Elder."
"Watch closely," Tang Cang said slowly, "and see how the Clear Sky Hammer is used."
"Yes."
Tang San nodded solemnly, then raised his head toward the light screen, his fists tightening silently.
Could the Seventh Elder, Tang Lie, truly defeat Li Zhexian?
To be honest—
He wasn't as certain as the Third Elder seemed to be.
"When will I ever be like Li Zhexian…"
"Every move commanding the wind and clouds, drawing the gaze of thousands."
"Li Zhexian…"
Jealousy and determination surged in Tang San's heart.
His desire to become stronger—
Had never once wavered.
Just like his grudge against Li Zhexian—
It could never be resolved.
...
Half an hour later, moving swiftly through the wilderness,
Li Zhexian finally broke free of the endless forest.
And in the distance, beneath the shadow of a ruined city,
several figures suddenly came into view.
"Hm?"
"Finally, someone again!"
Without hesitation, Li Zhexian dashed toward them.
Within moments, he arrived.
Whoosh—
He landed lightly, white robes fluttering.
Before him stood a burly old man, hair and beard bristling, flanked by three wounded Spirit Masters from other sects.
Li Zhexian smiled lightly.
"Greetings, Lord Lie Yang."
The old man was none other than Tang Lie,
Seventh Elder of the Clear Sky Clan—
Lie Yang Douluo (Flaming Sun Titled Douluo).
"Oh?"
As his gaze fell upon the white-robed youth a dozen meters away,
Tang Lie's aura flared—hot and heavy—
a wave of heat sweeping out like rolling smoke and dust.
"Boy, you see me—and you don't run?"
"The Wind Sword Sect's command Bannder—is it on you?"
"Run?"
"Why should I run?"
Li Zhexian flicked his wrist, spinning his sword in a brilliant flourish.
Then, glancing at the three Spirit Masters caught between him and Tang Lie, he said with a calm smile,
"You three should have a Command Banner, shouldn't you?"
The three exchanged glances, then sighed in despair.
Ahead stood a Clear Sky Clan elder, blocking the road.
Behind them, the strongest youth of his generation, rivaling Titled Douluo, cutting off escape.
Their luck could not have been worse.
Even unwilling as they were, they could only crush their keys.
Crack—!
With a soft sound, the keys shattered.
Dark purple Spirit Power enveloped them; space rippled.
In an instant, the three vanished—
leaving behind only a single banner,
lying quietly on the ground between Li Zhexian and Tang Lie.
Tang Lie, as if no one else were present, stepped forward to claim it.
But in that very instant—
Clang—!
A flash of sword qi split the air toward him.
Tang Lie's eyes narrowed sharply,
and he swung a heavy fist to meet it head-on.
Boom—!
Sword qi exploded, Spirit Spirit surged, dust and shockwaves roared outward.
Through the haze of smoke,
the burly elder stepped forward, lifting a massive hammer in one hand.
Thud!
The hammer's head struck the ground,
splitting the earth beneath him with spiderweb cracks.
Tang Lie's eyes burned like torches as he looked at the white-robed youth.
"Boy," he said in a deep, thunderous voice,
"you dare strike at me?"
Li Zhexian's eyes gleamed with battle intent,
a proud, fearless smile curving his lips.
"Tang Lie…"
"The Clear Sky Sect's Command Bannder—
is it on you?"
His words mirrored Tang Lie's earlier challenge—
a direct, mocking reply in kind.
Tang Lie's eyes narrowed to slits.
His aura surged like a roaring volcano—
hot as fire, heavy as a mountain.
The muscles on his arms coiled like serpents,
and in his palm, red flames burst forth,
molten fire wrapping the entire Clear Sky Hammer.
"Coveting the Clear Sky Clan's Command Banner…"
"Brat—you've got guts."