The white-robed man stood outside for only a moment before leaping forward again, landing dozens of meters from the village entrance. As he did so, he pulled down his hood, revealing his face—Fang Chang.
Under the wary gazes of the villagers, Fang Chang approached until he was less than two meters from the entrance before stopping and cupping his hands in salute. "I am Fang Chang, Spider God Envoy, here to request an audience with Clear Sky Sect's sect master, Tang Xiao. Please inform him."
The current rumors circulating across the continent about the Clear Sky Sect's new location pointed precisely to this place.
Though it appeared to be an ordinary mountain village at first glance, anyone with a discerning eye could tell that these villagers were almost all spirit masters—and not weak ones at that.
While they might not live up to the reputation of the once-great "Number One Sect Under Heaven," they were certainly no simple folk.
A dozen or so villagers immediately surrounded the newcomer. "Spider God Church? What business do you have with our sect master?"
Though the Clear Sky Sect had closed its gates to the outside world, they still sent disciples out occasionally to nearby towns for supplies and to gather news. Thus, they had heard some rumors about the Spider God Church.
"Important matters to discuss." Fang Chang offered no further explanation, simply standing at the village entrance and waiting.
Most of the villagers were actually outer disciples of the Clear Sky Sect or remnants of affiliated branch families. Knowing they couldn't afford to offend such a figure, they had no choice but to invite Fang Chang inside and send someone to notify the sect.
Ever since the Clear Sky Sect's new location had been exposed, visitors had been arriving frequently—especially powerful figures recently—making the villagers increasingly vigilant.
Now seated in a guest room with only a tea-serving maid attending to him, Fang Chang could sense at least thirty or forty pairs of eyes secretly watching him from the shadows.
He paid them no mind. Instead, he deliberately joked with the maid, amusing her with tales and laughter from the outside world.
After about ten minutes, someone finally returned with a message. "Spider God Envoy, the sect master has agreed to meet you. However, he is currently in discussions with others, so we ask you to wait inside the sect for a short while."
"No problem." Fang Chang stood and waved a hand before following the messenger toward the true location of the Clear Sky Sect.
A few minutes later, the messenger led Fang Chang to the base of a cliff, pointing at the stone wall and explaining that the sect was built atop it—to enter, one had to pass through this barrier.
Yet before he could finish speaking, Fang Chang grabbed him, spread his blood-red wings, and soared straight into the sky, reaching the cliff's summit in moments.
"Which way now?" Fang Chang's voice was calm, lacking the oppressive tone of other powerful figures—yet this only made the messenger feel more pressured.
"T-This way. Cross that iron chain bridge, and you'll reach the real Clear Sky Sect." The messenger fumbled in his robes, pulling out two sets of harnesses before realizing someone of Fang Chang's strength likely didn't need them. He hastily stuffed them back.
Amused by his nervousness, Fang Chang took half a step back before activating his "Soaring Leap" skill and crossing the iron chains in a single bound.
The messenger instinctively clutched Fang Chang's sleeve, not daring to move a muscle.
The elders wanted me to test this Spider God Emissary's limits... How am I supposed to test this?!
Setting him down, Fang Chang glanced back at the chains and cliff behind him and sighed inwardly.
The mighty Clear Sky Sect, without a single member who can fly... Truly the weakest of fantasy settings.
The messenger pointed west, timidly saying, "Envoy, we should head this way first to the side hall and rest. The sect master is still—"
"No need. Tang Xiao is meeting with people from the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon family, correct? Our goals align—just take me directly to them."
Without waiting for a response, Fang Chang strode toward the heart of the Clear Sky Sect, forcing the messenger to scramble after him.
At the main gate, two guarding disciples frowned at Fang Chang before noticing the messenger behind him. Realizing who this must be, they reluctantly stepped aside.
"Envoy, we really should wait in the side hall first..." The messenger was nearly in tears now. "I'll be in trouble if—"
But Fang Chang ignored him. The moment he entered the sect, he had sensed several familiar auras and headed straight for them.
"Envoy! Envoy!" The messenger was on the verge of panic.
As a Soul Emperor over level 60, he was no weakling within the sect—yet before these true powerhouses, he couldn't even get a word in edgewise.
"Old Bone, you should've invited me to something like this." Fang Chang's voice carried into the main hall before he even arrived.
Several Clear Sky Sect elders' expressions darkened at the interruption, while the one addressed as "Old Bone"—Title Douluo Gu Rong—startled before rising to greet him.
"Envoy, weren't you recovering from your injuries? Why—"
"Never mind that. I heard you were here to persuade the Clear Sky Sect to join the war, so I came to observe."
Fang Chang strode into the hall and sat beside Gu Rong without so much as glancing at the Clear Sky Sect members—a blatant disregard for their dignity.
"And this is...?" Tang Xiao, less concerned with formalities, studied Fang Chang's powerful, unfathomable aura before asking Gu Rong.
"This is the Spider God Envoy," Gu Rong quickly introduced. "Not long ago, he slew the Spirit Hall's Holy Dragon Douluo on the frontlines and assisted me in killing another of their Title Douluo."
"Oh?" Tang Xiao and the other elders couldn't hide their shock. Title Douluo were rare enough—those capable of killing them were even rarer.
And the Sacred Dragon Douluo had been a long-renowned Spirit Hall elder. Anyone who could kill him was not to be underestimated.
Instantly, the Clear Sky Sect members regarded Fang Chang with newfound respect, each cupping their hands in salute.
In the spirit master world, strength commanded reverence—with enough power, one could earn respect regardless of actions.
"May I ask why the Spider God Envoy has come to our Clear Sky Sect?" Tang Xiao inquired respectfully.
If he can kill the Sacred Dragon Douluo, his strength must be at least on par with mine—possibly nearing that legendary ninety-ninth level, Tang Xiao judged silently.
Fang Chang pointed at Gu Rong and another Soul Douluo from the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon family. "Same as them—to ask the Clear Sky Sect to emerge and join our fight against the Spirit Hall."
After the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon family joined the war, the Heaven Dou Empire's frontline pressure had eased slightly, allowing Gu Rong to come seek the Clear Sky Sect's aid.
Normally, such matters required the sect masters' personal involvement. But with Ning Fengzhi dead and the young Ning Rongrong temporarily leading the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Clan, and the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon family's patriarch Yu Yuanzhen needed at the frontlines, only Gu Rong and a Spirit Douluo elder could represent them.
Their negotiations had reached an impasse—until Fang Chang's timely arrival changed everything.
Tang Xiao glanced at Fang Chang, then meaningfully at his fellow elders. "I'll be honest, Envoy—personally, I'm willing to help. But this matter is too significant for me to decide alone."