With the support of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon family, the Heaven Dou Empire's forces saw their pressure significantly reduced.
Among the three major powers, the Star Luo Empire's Dai family was already formidable, and their national strength far surpassed the Heaven Dou Empire's. If not for the Spirit Hall maintaining balance over the years, they might have already unified the continent.
As for the Spirit Hall, needless to say, had they been allowed to prepare thoroughly and launch their Spirit Hunting Operation as in the original timeline—without Tang San's sudden emergence—their unification of the continent would have been only a matter of time.
By comparison, the Heaven Dou Empire could be considered the weakest among the three factions. But now, with the support of both the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon family, they finally possessed the strength to resist the Spirit Hall.
The frontlines grew increasingly chaotic, with countless human spirit masters perishing daily. Yet, Fang Chang quietly returned to Heaven Dou City at this time.
Before arriving, he deliberately changed into a loose white robe and concealed his face with a mask.
He then made his way to the southern district, stopping before a mansion with the character "力" (Strength) hanging above its gate. He raised his hand and knocked heavily on the door.
"Who is it?" The door cracked open slightly, revealing a burly old man with white hair and beard, his muscles bulging as he peered through the gap impatiently.
With the world in turmoil and the Spirit Hall having committed numerous atrocities in Heaven Dou City, the Strength Clan—once a subordinate sect of the Clear Sky Sect—had naturally heightened its vigilance.
"Please inform Elder Tai Tan that this junior, Tang San, is currently being pursued and seeks shelter within your clan for a few days." Fang Chang feigned nervousness, even glancing around as if checking for pursuers.
The old man widened the gap slightly, scrutinizing the figure shrouded in white robes before closing the door again and retreating inside.
After about five or six minutes, three or four massive, gorilla-like men hurried over.
The leader, Tai Tan, patriarch of the Strength Clan and already acquainted with Tang San, swung the heavy gates open and ushered Fang Chang inside before swiftly closing them again.
"Young Master, who is pursuing you?" Tai Tan asked urgently, having rushed out upon hearing Tang San was in danger.
But as soon as he finished speaking, his brows furrowed. The figure before him didn't match Tang San's build, demeanor, or aura. "Are you really Tang San?"
As he spoke, he released Fang Chang and pulled his son and grandson back several steps.
Fang Chang slowly raised his head, revealing the masked face beneath his robe. Then, flames erupted from one hand while frost coalesced around the other before he abruptly clapped them together.
A glacial spear wreathed in tongues of fire materialized between him and Tai Tan—the Icefire Demon Spear.
The spear had barely appeared before Fang Chang thrust it forward, launching a sudden assault on Tai Tan.
"You—!" Tai Tan bellowed in rage, instantly realizing this man's true intentions. He unleashed his full soul power, his iron fists smashing down toward the oncoming spear.
The Icefire Demon Spear, originally aimed at his chest, veered slightly off course under the blow but still struck with terrifying force between his left leg and abdomen.
With a sickening crunch, Tai Tan's massive frame lurched sideways, nearly collapsing.
The spear had impaled halfway through his abdomen, blood gushing from the wound.
Clutching his stomach, Tai Tan tried to pull the spear free, but Fang Chang's figure blurred forward, a palm strike slamming into his chest and sending him flying five or six meters.
Before his body even hit the ground, nine icy spikes erupted from within him, piercing through his organs. A Soul Douluo-level expert had been slain without even a chance to fight back.
Only then did the rest of the Strength Clan react. Some attacked in fury, seeking vengeance for Tai Tan's death, while others shouted to rally their clansmen.
But if even Tai Tan had fallen so easily, the others stood no chance. Within half an hour, Fang Chang had slaughtered all two hundred core members of the Strength Clan.
The clan's tightly sealed compound became the perfect slaughterhouse—no matter how brutal the carnage inside, almost no sound escaped.
After completing his grim work, Fang Chang removed his bloodstained robe and donned an identical one. Whether intentional or not, a Spirit Hall token remained attached to the discarded garment.
Emerging from the Strength Clan's compound, Fang Chang's figure vanished into the sky, streaking toward his next target.
After the Strength Clan came the Defense Clan, the Speed Clan, and finally the Breaking Clan—all four single-attribute sects once subordinate to the Clear Sky Sect were annihilated in a single night.
These four clans had been the foundation of Tang San's future Tang Sect. With them eradicated, even if the Tang Sect still emerged, its strength would be severely diminished.
Without the Strength Clan forging hidden weapons or the Breaking Clan providing poisons, Tang San's dream of mass-producing Tang Sect weaponry became an impossibility.
Unexpectedly, the destruction of these four clans triggered a chain reaction. Many smaller sects that had previously remained neutral now joined the war after careful consideration.
While the four single-attribute clans' influence paled compared to the top three sects—even falling short of the lower four—they still dwarfed most minor sects.
Their effortless annihilation signaled that the "Spirit Hall" would tolerate no neutrality.
Especially among sects affiliated with the top three clans or those who had rejected the Spirit Hall's recruitment offers, fear spread like wildfire—everyone feared they might be next.
Amid this atmosphere, even as the three major powers clashed, the number of participating spirit masters didn't decrease—instead, it grew daily...
Countless minor sects and even independent spirit masters chose sides, joining either of the two empires or submitting to the Spirit Hall.
If any major power remained inactive, it was the Clear Sky Sect.
Since Fang Chang exposed their location, scrutiny of them had steadily intensified.
The Spirit Hall's forces were obviously watching them closely, but even the two empires' factions attempted to establish contact.
The Clear Sky Sect's participation at this critical juncture could significantly impact the entire war.
Yet they seemed paralyzed by fear of the Spirit Hall, showing no movement whatsoever.
They continued living their simple, reclusive lives in their mountain village as if completely detached from the outside world.
Just outside their village, among the surrounding peaks, a white-robed man slowly descended, his gaze sweeping across the settlement.