The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan, one of the Upper Three Sects and the clan known for possessing the number one beast Martial Soul under heaven, had been exterminated.
The news swept across the entire continent like a hurricane. In only a single week, everyone knew it, from emperors to commoners.
This was not the same as Spirit Hall wiping out a few Lower Four Sects. Forces whose strongest members were only Spirit Emperors might intimidate ordinary people, but before Spirit Hall and the two great empires, they were only that.
The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan was different. It was a family with hundreds, perhaps more than a thousand years of inheritance. That one clan alone was comparable to the four Lower Four Sects from before, perhaps even greater than all of them combined. After all, a single level-ninety-six Titled Sage was not something four Spirit Emperors could compare to.
Because Stephen Drake, who had surrendered, was secretly hidden by Spirit Hall, outsiders saw only this: a family with no less than a thousand years of inheritance had been suddenly and silently destroyed. At most, a few outside-branch clan members remained. But what could outside-branch members accomplish by themselves?
The cause and effect of this incident were also heavily promoted by Spirit Hall. Yes, promoted.
Compared with Spirit Hall, which had branch halls in every city, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan was far too distant from common people. An ordinary person might never meet a Spirit Master whose Martial Soul was the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon in their entire life, but they could see Spirit Masters from the local Spirit Hall every day.
On top of that, unlike the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan did not operate any merchant associations tied to people's livelihoods. Because of that, their extermination was no more than after-meal conversation to most commoners.
So after Spirit Hall, or rather Wu Ling, deliberately promoted the story, the public version became this: the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan coveted the cultivation techniques and Soulcraft devices created by Spirit Hall's Saint, then acted first by attempting to assassinate him. The Saint not only refrained from anger, but even intended to negotiate with the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. On the way, however, he was attacked again by the son of the clan leader. Finally, after enduring beyond all limits, Spirit Hall launched a counterattack. The Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan resisted to the end and was exterminated as a result.
The residents of Polaris Imperial City could testify to this. After all, most of them had seen the Golden Sacred Dragon flying in the sky that day. It absolutely was not because of the ten eggs and one cabbage Spirit Hall distributed to "comfort" them.
Just like that, the momentum of Spirit Hall and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan rose and fell in opposite directions. In the end, the exterminated Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan changed from victim to aggressor, while Spirit Hall's reputation among commoners rose another step because it had "removed a threat for the people."
The Polaris imperial family and the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect said nothing.
Emperor Noctis remained silent because of Aurelia and the three education board members' advice, because of his fear of Spirit Hall, and because of his dissatisfaction with the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan. He decided not to touch Spirit Hall's sore point.
Most importantly, he had clearly seen that sun-rivaling strike from inside the palace. He had also personally visited the huge crater where the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan once stood. Without knowing exactly how Spirit Hall had produced such an attack or how to guard against it, he was afraid that the next Spirit Hall strike would fall on his own head. Naturally, he did not dare say much to Spirit Hall.
As for Alistair Jewel, he now sat alone in his study, constantly reading intelligence reports from every side. The reason he had not made a statement was simple: one week ago, he had already compromised.
That day, when Wu Ling produced that scroll, the atmosphere in the entire room drew taut. Wu Ling had just displayed that world-shaking shot, but in their eyes, such an attack could not possibly be fired continuously. Even if Wu Ling looked perfectly fine, he might have been forcing himself to stand.
In the end, however, Alistair still compromised.
Because he did not dare gamble.
At that time, both sides had two Titled Sages, each with one agility type and one power type. Even their levels were similar. Under those circumstances, as long as Wu Ling had even one more shot left, or even half of one, the entire Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect might vanish at once. Even if he, Cecilia Jewel, and the two Titled Sages survived, what then? Spirit Hall would simply hunt them endlessly afterward.
Of course, the most important weight on the scale in Alistair's judgment was Wu Ling himself.
Several months earlier, from Wu Ling's actions in destroying two of the Lower Four Sects one after another, Alistair already knew Wu Ling was ruthless. Back then, he had also predicted that if Wu Ling successfully seized Spirit Hall's authority, the world would fall into chaos and an age of great contention would arrive.
But one week ago, after seeing Wu Ling's true strength and methods, Alistair understood something.
The age of great contention had already ended. The moment its first signs appeared, the boy who had created that situation crushed it by force.
Before Wu Ling's Soulcraft devices, the Star Stripe Empire's numerical advantage had disappeared. In the Polaris Empire, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan had been exterminated. The Clear Sky Sect remained hidden from the world, and even if it emerged, it could not possibly match Spirit Hall. As for the Polaris imperial family, Emperor Noctis's continued silence was deeply meaningful. Even Poison Sage, who served as an imperial consecrator, now showed the shadow of Spirit Hall through his daughter's occasional appearances.
Looking at the entire board, it seemed as if Wu Ling, the Saint, had only just begun placing stones across the continent. Even if one counted the earlier Soulcraft devices and cultivation techniques, he had only placed a few stones in advance. But now, with Spirit Hall, the greatest power on the continent, supporting those few pieces, he had already formed a checkmate over the entire board.
Alistair set down the letter in his hand. After taking a sip of tea, he raised his head to look at the white clouds in the sky. While marveling at how peaceful life still seemed, he murmured to himself, "The age of great contention is already past. The new order has taken shape. As for when the net closes, that will depend on that Saint's methods and preparations."
At the same time, the Saint in Alistair's thoughts was sitting with total focus inside the Throne of Heroic Spirits. In front of him floated three gray souls. After a week of preparation, he had chosen this auspicious day to begin summoning.
There were not many Servants connected to dragons who were weak. But once dragons were mentioned, it was impossible not to think of a certain "Red Dragon of Britain," Artoria, the King of Knights, and Saber herself.
After all, the saying about ten thousand Type-Moon fans and a million King fans was not empty. Back then, Wu Ling could be considered half a King fan as well. He was not obsessed, but being able to meet one of his childhood fictional crushes would make up for a small regret.
Under Wu Ling's control, the soul in the center, the one representing a level-ninety-six Titled Sage, sank into the summoning circle. Golden light bloomed at once.
"It came!"
Wu Ling stood in excitement and stared at the spinning summoning circle.
Finally, light erupted. Wu Ling skillfully closed his eyes. Before he could open them again, a voice entered his ears.
"Saber, Siegfried. I have answered your summons. Give me your orders."