The ancestral grounds of the Clear Sky Sect were surrounded by mountains, perpetually isolated from the mundane world. Yet on this day, the tranquil silence was violently broken by the arrival of two terrifying presences.
Two towering old men flew into the sky like meteors, instantly hovering above the Clear Sky Sect's buildings. Gazing down, Golden Crocodile Douluo let out a thunderous roar towards the heavens; the sound wave spread like visible force, causing the roof tiles below to tremble.
Yellow, yellow, purple, purple, black, black, black, black, red!
Nine soul rings rose at his feet, their brilliance startling, especially the final one—a 100,000-year-old red soul ring that exuded an aura so overpowering it seemed to freeze the very air.
In the next instant, the giant crocodile tail behind Golden Crocodile Douluo suddenly swelled, its attack splitting the air without subtlety, smashing down with unstoppable force onto the largest stone hall of the Clear Sky Sect.
"Who dares to insult our Clear Sky Sect!"
Roars of shock and anger echoed from below, nearly simultaneously. Four figures soared skyward, each displaying nine soul rings—the four elders of the Clear Sky Sect. The quartet erupted with soul power, joining forces to resist the mountain-shaking assault.
"Heh, mere ants trying to block our way?" Lion Douluo sneered with malicious intent. Muscles bulged on his right arm, the five fingers transforming into claws wreathed in a savage aura, slicing down from above as if to tear everything apart.
The first to suffer were the Third and Seventh Elders. Their hastily-erected soul force defenses were shredded like paper, and the pair were slammed to the ground by the vicious claws with shrieks of agony.
At the same time, the crocodile's mountainous tail crashed down—
Boom!
In a deafening roar, under the terrified gaze of the Second and Fourth Elders, the stone hall—the sect's symbol of power and succession—crumbled into a pile of rubble.
Smoke and dust billowed into the sky, swallowing half the sect.
"Golden Crocodile! Lion! What are you doing? Are you breaking the oath from back then!?"
The Second and Fourth Elders staggered back, faces ashen, blood running from the corners of their mouths as they shouted in shock and fury, barely regaining their footing.
Their greatest fear had become reality.
During Qian Daoliu's battle with Tang Chen, he had been pushed into a slight disadvantage, and he and the Spirit Hall's subordinates had sworn never to set foot in the ancestral lands of the Clear Sky Sect again. That oath was the only talisman the Clear Sky Sect possessed to maintain their seclusion.
Lion Douluo licked his lips, eyes blazing fiercely. "A treaty? It was your Clear Sky Sect that wiped its feet with that first, secretly gathering power and nurturing five new Title Douluo. You think we're blind?"
The Second Elder's expression changed. He retorted sternly, "It's only natural for disciples to break through through training. Do we have to report to the Spirit Hall every time someone advances in cultivation after swearing fealty to our ancestors?"
The Fourth Elder shouted in astonishment and anger, "We've hit bottlenecks—what's so wrong with seeking spirit rings elsewhere? The Douluo Continent is not your Spirit Hall's private garden!"
"Ancestral land?" Golden Crocodile Douluo finally spoke. His voice was like two steel shards grinding together, cold as ice as it pierced the bone. "It seems you really have forgotten the agreement back then. Very well… let me show you the rules in Tang Chen's stead today!"
Before he finished, the seventh soul ring on Golden Crocodile Douluo's body burst into blinding black light.
"Martial Soul True Body!"
Golden Crocodile Douluo's body swelled, transforming into an ancient crocodile tens of meters long, as if cast from pure gold. Lion Douluo also roared—the seventh soul ring shone, and his form shifted into a blazing giant lion, a fiery mane encircling his head as a scorching aura expanded outwards.
The dual-peak Douluo unleashed their martial soul avatars at once, targeting the four Clear Sky Sect elders below.
"Formation! The Pentagon!"
The Second Elder's pupils contracted sharply as he cried out. The four instantly took their positions, sending their soul force rising as they attempted to form a coherent array. But, with the original fifth elder absent (protecting Tang San in faraway Heaven Dou City), they were forced to substitute with a mid-level Soul Douluo to fill the gap, greatly weakening the formation.
"A line of ants dares to block our way? Break through!"
The giant golden crocodile, swinging its tail with immense force, struck the newly-forged pentagon shield of light. Lion Douluo's claws fell like meteor streaks, trailing red light.
Bang! Crackle!
Soon, under the terrifying onslaught of the two peak Douluo, the pentagon collapsed. The substitute Soul Douluo was seized by Lion Douluo's claw aura, bursting into a bloody cloud in midair before he could even scream.
With the formation shattered, the four elders were violently shaken by the backlash. Yet, the golden crocodile and lion's attacks were already upon them.
"Fourth Soul Skill!"
The immense golden crocodile's body suddenly extended its forelimbs and claws—moving so fast that only streaks of golden afterimages remained in the air. The Fourth Elder barely had time to see a flash of gold before the protective soul force was shredded, a searing pain split his chest, and he was sent flying uncontrollably—embedded deep into the mountain wall behind, stone and dust exploding outward.
"Fourth brother!"
"No—!"
A chilling light passed through Golden Crocodile Douluo's eyes. He crashed forward, his true form like a golden chariot smashing into the mountain wall.
"Golden Crocodile, you dare!"
A shout thundered from outside the gate as a gray figure rushed in, wielding a huge pitch-black hammer that extended in the wind—smashing toward Golden Crocodile Douluo's back with enough force to shatter mountains.
Returning in haste was the sect master, Tang Xiao.
"Face me!"
The flaming lion, transformed from Lion Douluo, abandoned the suppression of the Second and Third Elders and charged in with roaring laughter. His flaming claws collided head-on with Tang Xiao's mighty Clear Sky Hammer.
Boom—!
A thunderous roar and shockwave rocked the air. The lion's body shuddered, flames spraying, halting Tang Xiao's advance. At level 96, Tang Xiao still could not compare to Lion Douluo, whose years at level 97 gave him overwhelming advantage.
"Fifth Soul Skill—Mighty Stomp!"
Amid the dust embedded in the wall, Golden Crocodile Douluo's frigid voice emerged. Muffled sounds echoed within the rock, and a scream abruptly ceased. When the dust cleared, a huge crater was visible in the cliff. At its center, the Fourth Elder's body was unrecognizable—a corpse exuding no further breath.
From his ruined body, two soul bones glimmered, radiating shocking energy. Golden Crocodile Douluo casually snatched them up.
"Golden Crocodile!"
Tang Xiao watched helplessly and red-eyed as the Fourth Elder died and his soul bones were stolen. In the end, he was too late. What Ning Fengzhi had foreseen, so had he—and after the Moon Pavillion incident, he had already rushed back critically wounded, but could not prevent this disaster.
"Interesting, boy. Level 96?"
Golden Crocodile Douluo emerged slowly from the crater, his gaze locked onto Tang Xiao with the glint of eager battle.
"Let this old man see what worth remains in Tang Chen's descendants!"
Before his words faded, the phantom tail of the huge crocodile struck—not to attack, but to draw a dark-golden arc, suddenly creating a powerful gravitational force that dragged Tang Xiao and the nearby Second Elder into the battlefield.
"Break!"
The Third and Seventh Elders shouted in shock and tried to assist, but were repelled by the searing blast of air.
Lion Douluo licked his lips, eyes burning with fighting spirit. "The two of you are no match for me!"
He rose again, single-handedly suppressing the Third and Seventh Elders, fighting wildly to wound and press them. The two Clear Sky elders could only defend, unable to fight back. The battle had grown perilous.
Elsewhere, Tang Xiao and the Second Elder struggled desperately. Though Tang Xiao was level 96, the difference against level 98 Golden Crocodile Douluo, wielding a 100,000-year spirit ring, was insurmountable. The Second Elder was overpowered and could only support from the sidelines.
"Seventh Spirit Skill—Clear Sky True Body!"
Tang Xiao unleashed the full form of the Clear Sky Hammer. Huge hammer-shadows clashed endlessly against the crocodile's attacks, thunder roaring. The Second Elder also gave his all, causing a rain of shadows, but the crocodile's defense was monstrous—thick scales withstood the hammer's bombardment, sending only a few sparks flying, barely leaving any scars.
Each counterattack from Golden Crocodile Douluo sent Tang Xiao and the Second Elder's blood boiling.
Boom!
A vicious claw landed on Tang Xiao's hammer arm, forcing him back, his tiger's mouth torn open.
Golden Crocodile Douluo, emboldened by his own dominance, whipped his massive tail toward the Second Elder.
"Second Elder, watch out!" Tang Xiao cried.
Snap!
The crack of breaking bone rang out. The Second Elder spat blood as he was hurled backwards, crashing into a stone house below, an arm hanging limply, about to drop his hammer.
At that moment, a heart-stopping scream arose from the battlefield's other side.
"Seventh brother—!"
Lion Douluo's fiery claws pierced the hammer raised by the Seventh Elder and impaled his chest. Flames burst within, the Seventh Elder's body convulsed and was reduced to a charred remnant.
Lion Douluo, grinning wickedly, wrenched off the still-burning head and grasped it in his hand.
Unlike the others, the Seventh Elder had broken through without using any forbidden art. Aside from Tang Xiao, he was the elder of Clear Sky with the most potential and the firmest foundations.
"No!"
Witnessing this, Tang Xiao wavered and a tiny gap appeared in his defense.
"Getting distracted in a fight? It's death for you!"
Golden Crocodile Douluo's cold voice rang out at his side as he seized the moment, his massive tail smashing into Tang Xiao's chest.
Puff—!
Tang Xiao's body was sent flying like a snapped kite, crashing into the ruins and coughing blood and viscera. A huge dent caved his chest, countless ribs shattered.
Lion Douluo tossed the severed head of the Seventh Elder at Tang Xiao's feet, then stood beside Golden Crocodile Douluo, looking down coldly as if viewing a lamb to slaughter.
Bearing the devastation below and the screams from the disciples, Tang Xiao tried to rise, his voice hoarse.
"Our Clear Sky Sect… has lost two titled elders, and the sect is ruined… Isn't this enough?"
"Enough?"
Golden Crocodile Douluo seemed to hear a great joke. His crocodile form shrank back to human size, but his aura did not.
"Tang Xiao, your sect broke the promise and defied the authority of our Spirit Hall. Do you think the deaths of two new Title Douluo can be forgiven with this? You must be dreaming!"
"Then what more do you want?" Tang Xiao shouted, grief and rage mixing in his cry.
Lion Douluo, licking the blood from his claws and eyes glinting with cruelty, said, "Simple. Hand over the Clear Sky inheritance."
"Impossible!" Tang Xiao refused sharply on reflex. That inheritance was the sect's foundation—how could it be leaked?
"Oh?"
Golden Crocodile Douluo narrowed his eyes, glancing at the cowering disciples and the severely wounded Second and Third Elders. Murderous intent flickered again.
"It seems not enough people have died yet."
Tang Xiao trembled. If he refused again, the sect would surely be slaughtered. The inheritance was important, but if the sect itself ceased to exist, what meaning would the inheritance have? The two Spirit Hall Douluo were here to reassert authority and demand compensation.
Clenching his fists so hard his nails dug into his palms, Tang Xiao finally collapsed in exhaustion, murmuring as if all strength had left him.
"The Nine Absolute Skills of Clear Sky... can be given. But the Sumeru Hammer… absolutely not!"
"Hand it over." Golden Crocodile Douluo, unsurprised by the choice, extended his hand.
From his robe, Tang Xiao removed an ancient book of special material, not gold nor jade, and flung it to Golden Crocodile Douluo as if it burned.
Lion Douluo caught it, rifled through the pages, and gave a satisfied grin.
"Tang Xiao," Golden Crocodile Douluo said coldly, casting a final sweeping look at the battered sect, "Remember today's lesson. Rules are not to be broken. Consider this encouragement for your future efforts."
With that, he and Lion Douluo turned into streaks of light and vanished into the sky, leaving only overwhelming murderous aura and the reek of blood behind.
With a dull plop, Tang Xiao dropped to one knee, again vomiting blood. Looking on as the disciples wailed, the Second and Third Elders fell into despair, and the Fourth Elder's cold corpse lay before them, Tang Xiao's face was filled only with desolation and defeat.
"Treat the wounded… give the Fourth and Seventh Elders proper burial…"
He forced out these orders in a voice as dry as sandpaper.
The Second and Third Elders nodded numbly, as if they had aged decades in an instant.
Dragging his gravely wounded body, Tang Xiao staggered toward the ruins.
The setting sun cast a long shadow behind him, making him seem all the more alone and desolate.
High on a distant mountain, a figure in green robes observed the one-sided slaughter in silence.
"All it took was two ants dying for them to seize the core cultivation techniques." The Grand Elder shook his head and murmured to himself, "Qian Daoliu, in the end… you showed mercy, after all."
…