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"Watch out!"
Xiao Zhan barked, instantly entering a state of high alert. His aura became violently turbulent, as if he had transformed into a living, humanoid Fire Lord, and he lunged forward to shield Su Wen.
In the distance, a figure expanded rapidly across the horizon. A pair of cyan wings coalesced behind the assailant's back, with massive air currents swirling around them to form a high-pressure cone. The speed was blinding.
Xiao Zhan let out a guttural roar and slammed his right fist forward.
Fire erupted. On the impact side of his fist, a massive sheet of flame detonated, blanketing half the sky. The attacking Soul Master's expression shifted to one of shock, but he gritted his teeth and pressed the assault. The cyan air sharpened into a lethal point, gleaming with terrifying brilliance.
The shockwave of flames collided with the attacker. Under the sheer force of high-speed flight, the cyan cone pierced a tunnel through the wall of fire.
Xiao Zhan snorted. The flames in his hand became incredibly unstable and explosive.
Rumble!
The fire burst apart, creating a chain of violent explosions in every direction. This concussive bombardment shattered the attacker's cyan air currents, allowing the searing flames to invade his body and erode his vitals.
Bang!
The assailant slammed into the ground, his body riddled with burn wounds and mangled by the blasts. Some parts of his flesh were unrecognizable, while others were charred black. He was dead before he even hit the dirt.
Su Wen's eyes narrowed. He scanned the surrounding landscape, his gaze settling on several specific directions.
"Since you've stooped to such despicable tactics, and there are no witnesses here anyway, why continue skulking about?" he said clearly. "Is it possible that a Titled Douluo of the prestigious Clear Sky Sect lacks the confidence to face me head-on?"
Su Wen stepped past Xiao Zhan, looking directly toward a certain vantage point and openly declaring war.
Sure enough, two powerful ripples of soul power surged forth as two figures emerged from behind a cluster of boulders.
Two Titled Douluos!
The Clear Sky Sect, which currently possessed only six Titled Douluos in total, had actually dispatched two of them specifically to deal with Su Wen. Aside from the two powerhouses, other figures began to surface: three Soul Saints and two Spirit Douluos.
Su Wen smiled, but his expression was chillingly cold. "It seems there truly are many people on this continent with a death wish."
Looking at the five figures he didn't recognize, Su Wen's killing intent didn't waver. Since they had come to assassinate him, they had to be prepared to be slaughtered in return.
"We wouldn't dare be careless," Tang Xiao said in a heavy voice. "You are, after all, the Grand Scholar of the continent. You were quite the presence in Spirit City back then, killing a Titled Douluo while only a Soul King."
His voice carried a hint of begrudging wonder, but it was mostly fueled by hatred. The Titled Douluo killed back then was Tang Hao, his own younger brother. Regardless of his status as a sinner of the sect, Tang Xiao had never truly blamed his brother.
"You flatter me," Su Wen replied indifferently.
His gaze remained calm, even when faced with the combined might of two Titled Douluos, two Spirit Douluos, and three Soul Saints.
"Crown Prince Xue Qinghe," Tang Xiao said, glancing at the prince. "Our Clear Sky Sect and the Imperial Family have always minded our own business. If your family does not interfere today, the Clear Sky Sect has no desire to trouble you."
"Xue Qinghe" looked at Tang Xiao dispassionately. "The Grand Scholar belongs to the entire Soul Master community. His contributions are such that the Heaven Dou Imperial Family cannot stand by and watch you move against him."
"Does your Xue family want to die?" another Titled Douluo from the Clear Sky Sect—the Seventh Elder—snarled. It was obvious they held little respect for the royalty.
After all, the Imperial Family had no Titled Douluos of its own. Even the Poison Douluo only helped Prince Xue Xing due to personal debts; he wasn't a direct subordinate of the crown. At most, the prince would have a Spirit Douluo hidden in the shadows. The only one likely to have Titled protection was the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, and they wouldn't have both their guardians present.
Therefore, they believed they held the absolute advantage.
"You... are seeking your own graves!"
Boom!
The Seventh Elder suddenly released his martial soul. Two yellow, two purple, and five black spirit rings swirled around him as the pitch-black Clear Sky Hammer appeared in his hand, radiating a crushing sense of power.
"Su Wen, return our sect's spirit bone and commit suicide to atone for your sins. Otherwise, do not blame the Clear Sky Sect for showing no mercy and killing everyone here."
"And you, Sect Master Ning," he added, "out of respect for the bond between the Three Upper Sects, if you retreat now, we will not hold you accountable."
Ning Fengzhi's eyes narrowed to slits. This was blatant disrespect toward the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. Then again, the Clear Sky Sect had always suffered from this particular arrogance—even when the Three Upper Sects were allied, they had maintained a haughty, superior attitude.
Su Wen stepped forward slowly, the Heavenly Book appearing in his hand. One by one, spirit rings began to manifest around him.
Yellow, Purple, Purple, Black, Black, Black.
A six-ring Soul Emperor!
"A Soul Emperor!" The Seventh Elder and Tang Xiao were rocked to their core. They hadn't expected Su Wen to obtain his sixth ring and reach this level in just one short year.
This realization only intensified the pressure they felt. Today, Su Wen had to die. If he survived, it would only take a few more years before he posed a genuine existential threat to their sect. Even ignoring his martial prowess, his influence alone would be enough to endanger their very existence if he escaped.
"Sigh, what are you all thinking? Why are you still under the impression that you're leaving here alive?" Su Wen looked at the seven men before him, his voice so detached it was as if he were addressing seven corpses. "Today, the Clear Sky Sect can officially be erased from the continent."
The Seventh Elder laughed out of pure fury. "Brat, what nonsense are you spewing?"
"You don't seriously think that because the Sect Master and I are away, Spirit Hall can actually threaten our sect, do you?"
Spirit Hall was powerful, but the Clear Sky Sect still had four Titled Douluos guarding their home, which was built on treacherous, easily defensible terrain. Unless Qian Daoliu personally took the field, they were safe. And would Qian Daoliu really come out of retirement now? The last time he acted was because his only son was killed. Given his personality and his century-long policy of isolation, why would he suddenly appear for Su Wen?
Su Wen shook his head slowly. "It is you who don't understand the significance of the Clear Sky Sect's destruction to Spirit Hall—or more accurately, the significance it holds for a certain individual."
(End of Chapter)