Chapter 213: The Clear Sky Clan War (Part Two)
The Clear Sky Clan's emergence shocked the world, shaking up the balance of power among all spirit master forces, even slowing Spirit Hall's recruitment efforts. In the secluded chamber of Tianxing Academy, the group discussed this development before deciding to retreat to training and focus on absorbing their newly acquired spirit bones.
Yang Potian couldn't help but feel a bit regretful—he should have prioritized selecting a higher-level left arm bone for his father first, as this would have given his father a notable strength boost. Unfortunately, he hadn't obtained high-level soul bones for the right leg or torso, which his father was still lacking.
The Clear Sky Clan's reappearance seemed suspiciously complex. Yang Potian wasn't overly concerned about the Clear Sky Clan alone and could even handle an alliance of the Clear Sky and Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clans if they chose to confront Tianxing Academy. Combined, they had only seven Titled Douluos, and it was unlikely they would risk sending their full force.
What concerned Yang Potian more was the potential threat from Spirit Hall—specifically Qian Daoliu. If Qian Daoliu led a major force against them, then Tianxing Academy would face genuine danger.
Just as Yang Potian had anticipated, a brutal battle soon erupted within the Clear Sky Clan.
Over a year earlier, after Tang San had absorbed his spirit ring and reached level 61, Tang Hao decided that it was finally time for Tang San to return to the Clear Sky Clan and formally rejoin his family's lineage, with Tang Yuehua accompanying him. Tang Hao himself, however, did not reenter the Clear Sky Clan but instead took up residence nearby, as if waiting for something.
Tang San, after careful consideration, decided to teach Tang Hao the Mysterious Heaven Skill. By then, the skill had spread widely across the continent, and he saw no reason to keep it hidden. Moreover, the technique helped improve Tang Hao's injuries, stabilizing his condition and even beginning to restore his health.
Spirit Hall's Hunter mission, however, was far more extensive than in the original story. In addition to dispatching 3,000 spirit masters, six worshipers were mobilized. Besides Grand Worshiper Qian Daoliu, who remained behind to guard Spirit Hall, all the other worshipers joined the campaign.
These six worshipers possessed immense power: Golden Crocodile Douluo was at level 98, while Lion Douluo and Azure Luan Douluo were both level 97. Lightwing Douluo, Thousand Jinn Douluo, and Demon-Suppressing Douluo each held the peak of level 96. For them, facing the Clear Sky Clan's six Titled Douluos seemed a mere formality.
Spirit Hall's covert intelligence revealed that the highest-level Clear Sky Clan spirit master was Tang Xiao, at level 96. Besides him, the clan's five elders were all around level 92, with only the Second Elder reaching level 94. However, the Second Elder's advanced age made it unlikely he could unleash his full potential. Confident in their superiority, Spirit Hall's six worshipers and 3,000-strong force moved in with absolute certainty of victory.
Yet Spirit Hall's forces were unexpectedly discovered by Tang Hao, who returned to the Clear Sky Clan with unprecedented speed. Arriving at the ancestral ground, Tang Hao immediately informed his brother Tang Xiao and the clan elders.
Tang Xiao was initially stunned, but his loyalty as a brother moved him to stay Tang Lie's hand, insisting that they listen to Tang Hao's warning first.
Tang Hao hurriedly announced, "Spirit Hall is bringing a massive force to the Clear Sky Clan—they'll be here in under ten minutes, including six Titled Douluos!"
Tang Lie's expression darkened. "Only six? We have more than enough strength to handle them."
"Among the six are Thousand Jinn and Demon-Suppressing Douluo," Tang Hao replied urgently, "and their strength won't be any less than mine."
Although the elders held resentment toward Tang Hao, they didn't doubt his loyalty to the Clear Sky Clan or the truth of his warning. All eyes turned to Tang Xiao, awaiting his decision to either fight or flee.
After only a moment's deliberation, Tang Xiao's voice cut through the air with resolve. "Spirit Hall has gone too far. We're cornered here in the ancestral grounds with no way out. We fight to the death."
With Tang Xiao's command, the Clear Sky Clan prepared for battle, severing the iron chains that spanned the surrounding cliffs, hoping to exploit the mountainous terrain to hinder Spirit Hall's forces.
When the six Spirit Hall worshipers arrived at the cliffside, they were taken aback to find the chains severed, complicating their approach. Yet, their high-level prowess and confidence spurred them onward. Dividing their forces, the six Titled Douluos crossed the ravine directly, while flying spirit masters worked to set up new chains and rope bridges, bringing an arsenal of tools that showed Spirit Hall's thorough preparation.
On the opposite side of the cliff, Tang Xiao and the five elders faced the six worshipers, while Tang Hao hid nearby, unwilling to show himself, given his wanted status.
Tang Xiao addressed the group, "What business do you have with the Clear Sky Clan? We have long secluded ourselves from the world."
Golden Crocodile Douluo sneered, "Your so-called seclusion is nothing but a pretense. Tang Hao has repeatedly attacked Spirit Hall, and we know you've been in secret alliance with the other top clans, planning to overthrow us."
Tang Xiao frowned. "You must be mistaken. The Clear Sky Clan has remained secluded, without contact beyond our ancestral grounds."
Golden Crocodile Douluo's expression darkened. "Don't play innocent. You've secretly distributed spirit master techniques and supplied the Seven Treasure Clan with weapons. You and the other two top clans have already united to undermine us."
Tang Xiao looked even more puzzled. "Do you have any proof of these accusations?"
Golden Crocodile Douluo pointed behind him. "Your disciple Tang San is proof enough. As Yu Xiaogang's disciple, he's been instrumental in forming Heaven Dou Empire's first team, part of your joint plot to take down Spirit Hall."
The Second Elder spoke up, "These accusations are baseless. We have not even left our ancestral grounds, let alone allied with other clans."
Golden Crocodile Douluo's voice turned icy. "If you haven't ventured out, then where did your newly acquired Titled Douluos earn their spirit rings? And where have you been obtaining food and cultivation resources?"
The Clear Sky Clan members fell silent, as they found themselves unable to answer.
With Golden Crocodile Douluo's command, the six Spirit Hall worshipers launched their assault. In terms of raw power, the worshipers completely outmatched the Clear Sky Clan's Titled Douluos. The three Titled Douluos behind the worshipers swiftly crossed the ravine as flying spirit masters set up a network of ropes and chains, creating a web-like bridge across the gap, while additional Spirit Hall forces surged across.
The battle between the twelve Titled Douluos shook the heavens. Tang Xiao led the Clear Sky Clan in executing the clan's legendary Clear Sky Formation, taking on three Titled Douluos by himself. Yet, Golden Crocodile Douluo, along with Thousand Jinn and Demon-Suppressing Douluo, overpowered the five clan elders, who were quickly forced into desperate straits after only a few rounds.
In the midst of a dire moment, Tang Hao emerged from hiding, unleashing his Hammer Spirit Avatar and swinging his colossal Clear Sky Hammer at Golden Crocodile Douluo, clearly aiming to inflict heavy damage on the enemy's strongest fighter. However, Golden Crocodile Douluo showed no fear, instantly activating his Martial Spirit Avatar and transforming into a massive golden crocodile king, clashing head-on with Tang Hao's Clear Sky Hammer.
The collision between the enormous Clear Sky Hammer and the golden crocodile king was like a mountain crashing down, their combined aura overwhelming all around. Yet despite Tang Hao's aggressive strike, he was forced back, their three-level spirit power gap proving too much.
After repelling Tang Hao, Golden Crocodile Douluo sneered, "Clear Sky Clan and Tang Hao… Tang Hao was supposedly exiled from your clan. So why is he here now? Clearly, the Clear Sky Clan operates one way in public and another in secret."
The battle raged on, and even with Tang Hao's intervention, the Clear Sky Clan remained at a disadvantage, especially as Spirit Hall's 3,000-strong army surged onto the battlefield, overwhelming the Clear Sky Clan's meager thousand spirit masters. Having long remained secluded, the Clear Sky Clan's younger disciples lacked combat experience, and Spirit Hall's superior numbers quickly became evident.
Unexpectedly, Tang Xiao's breakthrough to level 97 showed him to be far stronger than anticipated. Yet unlike the later battle at Jialing Pass, here the clan's position was precarious, outnumbered and encircled. The sheer number of Spirit Hall attackers pounding the formation disrupted the spirit masters sustaining it, forcing Tang Xiao to split his focus from the three opposing Titled Douluos, two of whom—Lion Douluo and Azure Luan Douluo—were formidable level 97s.
Gradually, the Clear Sky Clan's situation worsened. Outnumbered and restricted by their single-focus Clear Sky Hammer spirits, the clan lacked agility and support specialists, limiting their adaptability on the field.
Tang San's performance, however, was admirable. Now at level 65, his Blue Silver Grass spirit had developed powerful poison effects over time, making his attacks unpredictable and increasingly lethal. But the overall situation made it clear that, without intervention, the Clear Sky Clan faced a grim outcome—potential annihilation.
Tang Hao, seeing Golden Crocodile Douluo forcing him back time and again, grew increasingly anxious as he watched Tang Xiao, the clan elders, and their disciples facing imminent peril. Gritting his teeth, he detonated five of his spirit rings in succession, swelling the Clear Sky Hammer to the size of a small mountain as it crashed down on Golden Crocodile Douluo, aiming to crush him.
Golden Crocodile Douluo, unwilling to retreat, activated his ninth spirit ability, Golden Crushing Force. His golden crocodile avatar lunged at the Clear Sky Hammer, his 100,000-year spirit ability unleashing massive power.
In their collision, Tang Hao gained the upper hand, as his hammer detonations granted him explosive strength. Seizing this opening, the Fourth and Fifth Elders exchanged a quick glance, each silently resolved. The Fourth Elder rushed to Tang Xiao, drawing on every ounce of spirit power in a self-detonation that created a massive explosion, hurling Lion Douluo, Azure Luan Douluo, and Lightwing Douluo away. Tang Xiao seized this moment, unleashing the Clear Sky Nine Strikes and knocking the trio even further back.
Meanwhile, the Fifth Elder took advantage of the distraction, charging Thousand Jinn Douluo and Demon-Suppressing Douluo as they wielded their coiling dragon staffs, detonating his spirit power in another self-sacrifice. The resulting explosion inflicted significant damage on the two Douluos.
The double self-detonation by two Clear Sky Clan Titled Douluos, combined with Tang Hao's desperate ring detonations, turned the tide, especially given the immense damage dealt to the surrounding Spirit Hall spirit masters. Golden Crocodile Douluo, seeing the severe injuries sustained by the worshipers and their spirit masters, reluctantly ordered a retreat. For now, they could not overcome Tang Hao's explosive tactics.
Though the Clear Sky Clan managed to repel Spirit Hall's worshipers, their victory came at a grave cost. Two of the five elders had sacrificed themselves, their self-detonations the only means of wounding the worshipers.
With Spirit Hall's forces retreating, Tang Hao collapsed, blood spewing from his mouth as he lost consciousness. His desperate strategy had detonated five spirit rings in a single blow—an act his current state could not withstand, even with the body-strengthening effects of the Mysterious Heaven Skill he had practiced for years.
Tang Xiao and Tang San rushed to support him, their expressions grave as they realized the severity of his injuries. The three remaining elders, too, bore wounds from their prolonged battle against Thousand Jinn and Demon-Suppressing Douluo.
Seventh Elder Tang Lie, casting a conflicted glance at Tang Hao, cycled between expressions of anger and grudging respect. He shook his head in silence before retreating on his own. Meanwhile, Tang Xiao and the other three elders began discussing urgent plans for the clan's next move.
In the end, Tang Xiao made the fateful decision: the Clear Sky Clan would formally emerge from seclusion, establishing its new base near the Heaven Dou City.
(End of Chapter)
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